The Latest: Police in Pennsylvania question a man over the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO Police arrested a “strong person of interest” Monday in the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after a quick-thinking McDonald’s employee in Pennsylvania alerted authorities to a customer who was found with a weapon and writings linking him to the ambush. The 26-year-old man had a gun believed to be the one used in the killing and writings suggesting his anger with corporate America, police officials said. He was taken into custody after police got a tip that he was eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. Police identified the suspect as Luigi Mangione. Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco, and his last known address is in Honolulu, Hawaii, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. Here's the latest: Freddie Leatherbury hasn’t spoken to Mangione since they graduated in 2016 from Gilman School in Maryland. He said Mangione was a smart, friendly and athletic student who came from a wealthy family, even by the private school’s standards. Man in custody had a gun, mask and writings tying him to killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO, police say NEW YORK (AP) — Police arrested a suspect Monday in the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO after a quick-thinking McDonald’s employee in Pennsylvania alerted authorities to a customer who was found with a weapon, mask and writings linking him to the ambush. The chance sighting at the restaurant in Altoona led to a dramatic break in a challenging but fast-moving investigation that had captivated the public in the five days since the shooting that shook the health insurance industry. The suspect, identified by police as 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione, had a gun believed to be the one used in last Wednesday’s shooting of Brian Thompson, as well as writings suggesting anger with corporate America, police said. Mangione was taken into custody about 9:15 a.m. after police got a tip that he was eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, police said. "He is believed to be our person of interest in the brazen, targeted murder of Brian Thompson,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Syrian government services come to a 'complete halt' as state workers stay home after rebel takeover DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the command said in a statement on social media. As Israel advances on a Syrian buffer zone, it sees peril and opportunity TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The dramatic downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad presents possible danger, and an opening, for neighboring Israel. After fighting wars on multiple fronts for months, Israel is now concerned that unrest in Syria could spill over into its territory. Israel also views the end of the Assad regime as a chance to disrupt Iran's ability to smuggle weapons through Syria to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The Israeli military over the weekend began seizing control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. It said the move was temporary and meant to secure its border. But the incursion sparked condemnation, with critics accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire and possibly exploiting the chaos in Syria for a land grab. Israel still controls the Golan Heights that it captured from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed — a move not recognized by most of the international community. Here’s a look at recent developments along the Syrian frontier. Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it? WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. But any efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It's been in place for decades and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. It's not the practice of every country, and Trump and his supporters have argued that the system is being abused and that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen. But others say this is a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, it would be extremely difficult to overturn and even if it's possible, it's a bad idea. Veteran Daniel Penny is acquitted in NYC subway chokehold case over Jordan Neely's death NEW YORK (AP) — A Marine veteran who used a chokehold on an agitated subway rider was acquitted on Monday in a death that became a prism for differing views about public safety, valor and vigilantism. A Manhattan jury cleared Daniel Penny of criminally negligent homicide in Jordan Neely ’s 2023 death. A more serious manslaughter charge was dismissed last week because the jury deadlocked on that count. Penny, who had shown little expression during the trial, briefly smiled as the verdict was read. While celebrating later with his attorneys, he said he felt “great.” Both applause and anger erupted in the courtroom, and Neely's father and two supporters were ushered out after audibly reacting. Another person also left, wailing with tears. “It really, really hurts,” Neely’s father, Andre Zachery, said outside the courthouse. “I had enough of this. The system is rigged." Zelenskyy open to Western troops providing security for end to war in Ukraine KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that he's open to the potential deployment of Western troops in Ukraine to guarantee the country’s security as part of a broad effort to end the almost three-year war with Russia. The deployment would be a step toward Ukraine joining NATO, Zelenskyy said in a post on his Telegram channel. “But before that, we must have a clear understanding of when Ukraine will be in the European Union and when Ukraine will be in NATO,” Zelenskyy said. His proposals tread a delicate diplomatic path amid international efforts to find a way of ending Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II at a time when Russia has gained an upper hand in the fighting. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is seeking to bring about a ceasefire and met with Zelenskyy in Paris on Saturday. But Zelenskyy said Monday that he would approach outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden about Ukraine’s possible NATO membership because he's still in office, while Trump doesn't yet have “legal rights” to decide on the matter. Jay-Z says lawsuit accusing him of raping a child at awards after-party is part of an extortion ploy NEW YORK (AP) — Jay-Z says a rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13, amended the lawsuit Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. The 24-time Grammy award winning rapper, producer and music mogul called the allegations “idiotic” and “heinous in nature" in a statement released by Roc Nation, one of his companies. His lawyer also argued Monday that his accuser, who is only identified as Jane Doe, should have to reveal her identity, or have her lawsuit dismissed outright. Attorney Alex Spiro said in a filing in Manhattan federal court that the woman hasn’t provided any specific evidence to justify her anonymity and that her “vague assertions of potential harm fall far short of the stringent requirements” under law. Netanyahu is set to take the witness stand for the first time in his corruption trial in Israel JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to take to the witness stand Tuesday for the first time in his trial on corruption allegations, a pivotal point in the drawn-out proceedings that comes as he wages war in Gaza and faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes charges. Netanyahu is on trial at home on accusations of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate matters. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, but his appearance on the witness stand will be a low point in his decades-long political career, standing in contrast to the image of a sophisticated, respected leader he has tried to cultivate. The trial will take up a chunk of Netanyahu's time at a crucial point for Israel. While he makes his case for weeks from the stand, he will still be tasked with managing the war in Gaza, maintaining a fragile ceasefire with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and keeping tabs on threats from the wider Middle East, including Iran. It will be the first time an Israeli prime minister has taken the stand as a criminal defendant. Netanyahu has repeatedly sought to delay the proceedings, citing the war in Gaza and security concerns. The judges ordered the trial to resume Tuesday, moving the proceedings to an underground chamber in a Tel Aviv court as a security precaution. Netanyahu's appearance in the courtroom will also draw attention to other legal issues in the Israeli leader's orbit. Close advisers in his office are embroiled in a separate series of scandals surrounding leaked classified information and doctored documents. While Netanyahu is not suspected of direct involvement in those, they could weaken his public image. 'Emilia Pérez' leads Golden Globe nominations with 10, followed by 'The Brutalist' and 'Conclave' Jacques Audiard’s audacious musical “Emilia Pérez,” about a Mexican drug lord who undergoes gender affirming surgery, led nominations to the 82nd Golden Globes on Monday, scoring 10 nods to lead it over other contenders like the musical smash “Wicked,” the papal thriller “Conclave” and the postwar epic “The Brutalist.” The nominations for the Globes, which will be televised by CBS and streamed on Paramount+ on Jan. 5, were announced on Monday morning by Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut. The embattled Globes, which are no longer presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are still in comeback mode after years of scandal and organizational upheaval. Working in the Globes favor this year: a especially starry field of nominees. Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig, Denzel Washington, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Glen Powell and Selena Gomez all scored nominations. The young Donald Trump drama “The Apprentice” also landed nominations for its two central performances, by Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn. The president elect has called “The Apprentice” a “politically disgusting hatchet job" made by "human scum.” How much the recent president election will figure into Hollywood's awards season remains to be seen. In the season's first awards ceremony, the Gotham Awards, Trump went unmentioned but sometimes alluded to. Stan also received a nomination Monday for the dark comedy “A Different Man.”Oklahoma State WR Da'Wain Lofton plans to enter transfer portal

Brendan Rodgers praises Celtic and Cameron Carter-Vickers’ mentality

Microchip Technology Updates December 2024 Quarter Revenue Guidance, and Announces Manufacturing Restructuring PlansSanté Québec considering "a selective reduction of services" to cut costs: sourcePortland Mayor-elect Keith Wilson blazed a path to victory last month as a political outsider keen on upending City Hall’s status quo and delivering faster, more effective results on homelessness and other serious challenges. For at least his first year in office, however, Wilson plans to keep a fixture of Portland’s oft-maligned bureaucracy at the center of power: Michael Jordan .

No. 3 Nittany Lions relying on defensive depth in Big Ten title game and postseason runPlayoff game at Ohio State has sold 34% more tickets than Notre Dame game on StubHub

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.A new petition has called for food allergy measures to be issued in California after Disney influencer Dominique Brown died due to an allergic reaction at a holiday food event. Brown, 34, experienced the allergic reaction at an event hosted by retailer BoxLunch in downtown Los Angeles on December 5. According to the Daily Mail , fellow influencers at the event said the item she ate was unmarked, and she was allegedly told that the food item did not contain the ingredient she was allergic to. The influencer, who frequently posted about her love for Disney on her social media accounts , received CPR at the event before 911 was contacted, People reported. Following Brown’s death, her close friend Marcus Medley shared a Change.org petition aiming to “mandate life-saving food allergy measures at all food establishments.” The petition already has more than 19,000 signers as of Monday (December 9). “Allegedly, despite informing staff of her life-threatening allergy, she was served a dish containing the allergen,” Medley wrote about Brown in the petition’s description. “Allegedly, the establishment lacked critical life-saving tools like epinephrine autoinjectors (EpiPens) and trained staff to respond effectively.” The petition has called for legislation requiring three demands, the first being “mandatory epinephrine autoinjectors at all establishments that serve food.” Supporters are also urging for “staff training on recognizing and treating allergic reactions,” and “real-time ingredient transparency, including clear communication protocols between chefs, servers, and patrons to ensure all ingredients in a dish are disclosed.” Speaking to local California news station KTLA , Medley said that while food allergies have been treated as “a preference,” they’re actually “life or death serious.” “Domo’s story isn’t unique, and that’s why we want justice and change. People should be able to eat out without fear that their next meal could be their last,” he said. A representative for BoxLunch told the outlet that when Brown suffered her allergic reaction, emergency services were immediately called. The DJ at the event reportedly made two announcements to ask if someone had an EpiPen, as well as measures taken to ensure the venue knew all of the guests’ allergies. The spokesperson said the company is arranging grief counseling for its team, and an investigation into the incident has been launched. Following the event, BoxLunch also issued a statement about Brown’s death and sent condolences to her family. “We are devastated by the passing of Dominique Brown, a beloved member of the BoxLunch Collective, who suffered a medical emergency at an event hosted by BoxLunch on Thursday in Los Angeles,” the company said in the statement. “Our hearts go out to her family and friends, and we will do everything we can to support them and the members of the BoxLunch Collective and our team during this painful time.” The Independent had contacted BoxLunch for comment. Brown was a long-time Walt Disney World enthusiast, with more than 21,000 followers on Instagram . The influencer was also the co-creator of the account Black Girl Disney, which she ran with her friend Mia Von, who’s based in Texas. Last month, she attended the premiere of Moana 2 at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. Her final Instagram post was a video of herself at a Disney store. Brown was seen wearing a hat featuring the Disney cartoon Winnie the Pooh , along with a yellow and brown Winnie the Pooh -themed sweater and brown pants. “Since this Winnie the Pooh hat is now available on @disneystore website, you should get it!” she wrote in the caption.

In a stunning display of computational power, Google’s latest 105-qubit ‘Willow’ quantum chip has outpaced the world’s most sophisticated supercomputers. ‘Willow’ solved in minutes what would take the fastest supercomputers over a quadrillion lifetimes of the universe to figure out. Additionally, the advanced chip showcases an exceptional ability to manage quantum noise, significantly reducing error rates as the system expands. This vital development improves the fidelity of quantum calculations and makes it possible to tackle larger, more complex problems with unprecedented accuracy. Despite these achievements, experts note that Willow remains in the experimental phase, with the full spectrum of its capabilities yet to unfold in tackling real-world applications. Major breakthroughs with Willow Exponential reduction in error rates Willow, Google’s latest quantum chip , is a major leap in addressing one of the intrinsic challenges of quantum computing, the issue of error rates. As quantum systems scale, the number of qubits increases, typically heightening the probability of errors, which can disrupt the accuracy of computations. Quantum computers are inherently “noisy,” meaning that without advanced error-correction technologies, every one in 1,000 qubits, the fundamental building blocks of a quantum computer, fails. This noise significantly limits how long qubits can remain in a superposition state, which is crucial for parallel processing calculations. However, Willow has demonstrated an ability to exponentially reduce error rates by adding more qubits. This breakthrough has been achieved through advanced quantum error correction techniques, which allow the system to handle larger arrays of qubits from a 3×3 grid to a 5×5 and, finally, a 7×7 grid while continually halving the error rate with each increase in scale. By contrast, in conventional computing, every one in 1 billion billion bits fails. This achievement overcomes a barrier that has persisted since quantum error correction was conceptualized by Peter Shor in 1995 and makes quantum computers less error-prone as they scale up. Performance on RCS benchmark Willow’s efficacy is dramatically highlighted by its performance on the Random Circuit Sampling (RCS) benchmark, a pivotal test for quantum computing capabilities. This benchmark is one of the most challenging for quantum processors and serves as a litmus test to determine whether quantum systems can outperform classical computers on specific tasks. RCS measures if a quantum computer can solve infeasible problems for classical systems, setting a high bar for genuine quantum superiority. In a recent demonstration, Willow completed a computation in less than five minutes that, based on conservative estimates, would take one of today’s most advanced classical supercomputers, Frontier , about 10 septillion years to solve. To put this into perspective, that time—10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years—far exceeds the current estimated age of the universe, underscoring the profound speed at which quantum computing can operate. Hartmut Neven, Founder and Lead of Google Quantum AI reflected on this achievement, stating, “It lends credence to the notion that quantum computation occurs in many parallel universes, in line with the idea that we live in a multiverse, a prediction first made by David Deutsch.” Moreover, Google’s use of RCS to track progress from one chip generation to the next, including previous assessments like the Sycamore results from 2019 and 2024, indicates a significant and accelerating departure from classical computing capabilities. The making of Willow Willow, Google’s advanced quantum chip, was crafted at a state-of-the-art fabrication facility in Santa Barbara, specifically designed for quantum technology. This facility is among a select few worldwide, purpose-built from the ground up to handle the unique challenges of quantum chip production. The engineering of Willow was a holistic endeavor involving the precise integration of various quantum components. Key elements such as single and two-qubit gates, qubit resets, and readouts were seamlessly combined to ensure optimal performance. These components’ success in harmony is crucial, while any lag or misalignment can significantly impact the overall system performance. In the quest for quantum superiority, Google has emphasized quality over quantity. Willow boasts 105 qubits, but the quality of each qubit sets it apart, evident in its performance across rigorous benchmarks like quantum error correction and random circuit sampling. These benchmarks are vital for assessing the chip’s overall performance and have demonstrated Willow’s top-tier capabilities. Notably, Willow has remarkably improved T1 times—measuring how long qubits retain excitation, a critical quantum computing resource. Achieving T1 times approaching 100 microseconds represents approximately a fivefold improvement over previous generations, underlining significant advancements in qubit stability and longevity. Future prospects and challenges Bridging theory and practical application Looking ahead, the challenge for Google and the quantum computing community is transitioning from demonstrating theoretical capabilities to performing computations with tangible real-world applications. Willow aims to achieve the first “useful, beyond-classical” computation that addresses practical problems. While RCS benchmarks and quantum system simulations have demonstrated the potential of quantum computing, they have yet to yield results that directly translate into commercial applications. Google’s goal is to merge these two strands, achieving scientifically significant simulations and developing algorithms that can solve commercially relevant, complex problems currently beyond the reach of classical computers. Invitation to collaborate Google invites researchers, engineers, and developers to join this pioneering journey. Google fosters a collaborative environment through initiatives like open-source software and educational courses on platforms like Coursera. These resources are designed to educate upcoming talents on quantum error correction and algorithm development, further pushing the boundaries of what quantum computing can achieve. As Google continues to refine Willow and develop future generations of quantum chips, the focus remains on overcoming the inherent challenges of quantum computing to unlock a wide range of applications across AI, medicine, and beyond. This journey represents a collaborative effort to transform theoretical quantum mechanics into technology that can revolutionize industries and change our understanding of computation and the universe itself.CHANDLER, Ariz., Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Microchip Technology Incorporated, a leading provider of smart, connected, and secure embedded control solutions, provided lower updated revenue guidance for the December 2024 quarter and announced manufacturing restructuring plans. "In the first two weeks of my newly appointed role as Interim CEO and President, I have done a deep dive into the operations of the Company and determined that certain actions are necessary. I want to clarify for investors that I plan to stay in this role, even though the title is interim, for as long as it is necessary, so there is no definitive timeline for my successor," said Steve Sanghi, Microchip's CEO, President and Chair of the Board. Mr. Sanghi continued, "We indicated in our November 2, 2024 earnings call that significant turns orders were required to achieve the midpoint of our December 2024 quarter revenue guidance. Those turns orders have been slower than anticipated and we now expect our December 2024 revenue to be close to the low end of our original guidance which is $1.025 billion." Mr. Sanghi added, "With inventory levels high and having ample capacity in place, we have decided to shut down our Tempe wafer fabrication facility that we refer to as Fab 2. Many of the process technologies that run in Fab 2 also run in our Oregon and Colorado factories, which both have ample clean room space for expansion. We expect to be able to shut down Fab 2 in the September 2025 quarter at which time we expect that it will generate annual cash savings of approximately $90 million. Due to the high inventory of the products which are manufactured in Fab 2, we do not expect to see P&L savings from the shutdown until the start of the June 2026 quarter based on a First-In First-Out basis. We expect that the Fab 2 closure will begin to help us moderate our inventory levels beginning in the March 2025 quarter. We anticipate near-term restructuring costs to be between $3 million and $8 million from these actions, and it is possible that we could incur other restructuring and shut-down costs in the future of up to an additional $15 million. The estimates of the restructuring costs will be refined over time as more information becomes available." Mr. Sanghi concluded, "I want to ensure investors of my confidence in the long-term growth and profitability of Microchip. Our design-in momentum continues to remain strong, driven by our Total System Solutions strategy and key market megatrends. The fab restructuring is a big step in right-sizing our manufacturing footprint, and we will continue to evaluate any further actions that are required to position Microchip for outsized growth and financial performance." Microchip will be participating in and presenting at the UBS Global Technology and AI Conference on December 3 and 4, 2024. Cautionary Statement: The statements in this release relating to Mr. Sanghi planning to stay in the CEO and President role for as long as it is necessary, no definitive timeline for his successor, that turns orders have been slower than anticipated and that we now expect our December 2024 revenue to be close to the low end of our original guidance which is $1.025 billion, that we have ample capacity in place, that our Oregon and Colorado factories both have ample clean room space for expansion, that we expect to be able to shut down Fab 2 in the September 2025 quarter at which time it is expected to generate annual cash savings of approximately $90 million, that we do not expect to see P&L savings from the shutdown until the start of the June 2026 quarter, that we expect that the Fab 2 closure will begin to help us moderate our inventory levels beginning in the March 2025 quarter, that we anticipate near-term restructuring costs to be between $3 million and $8 million, that is is possible that we could incur other restructuring and shut-down costs of up to an additional $15 million, ensuring investors of my confidence in the long-term growth and profitability of Microchip, that our design-in momentum continues to remain strong driven by our Total System Solutions strategy and key market megatrends, that the fab restructuring is a big step in right sizing our manufacturing footprint, that we will continue to evaluate any further actions that are required to position Microchip for outsized growth and financial performance are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to: any continued uncertainty, fluctuations or weakness in the U.S. and world economies (including China and Europe) due to changes in interest rates, high inflation, actions taken or which may be taken by the Biden administration or the U.S. Congress or by the incoming Trump administration and the incoming U.S. Congress, monetary policy, political, geopolitical, trade or other issues in the U.S. or internationally (including the military conflicts in Ukraine-Russia and the Middle East), further changes in demand or market acceptance of our products and the products of our customers and our ability to respond to any increases or decreases in market demand or customer requests to reschedule or cancel orders; the mix of inventory we hold, our ability to satisfy any short-term orders from our inventory and our ability to effectively manage our inventory levels; the impact that the CHIPS Act will have on increasing manufacturing capacity in our industry by providing incentives for us, our competitors and foundries to build new wafer manufacturing facilities or expand existing facilities; the amount and timing of any incentives we may receive under the CHIPS Act, the impact of current and future changes in U.S. corporate tax laws (including the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017), foreign currency effects on our business; changes in utilization of our manufacturing capacity and our ability to effectively manage our production levels to meet any increases or decreases in market demand or any customer requests to reschedule or cancel orders; the impact of inflation on our business; competitive developments including pricing pressures; the level of orders that are received and can be shipped in a quarter; our ability to realize the expected benefits of our long-term supply assurance program; changes or fluctuations in customer order patterns and seasonality; our ability to effectively manage our supply of wafers from third party wafer foundries to meet any decreases or increases in our needs and the cost of such wafers, our ability to obtain additional capacity from our suppliers to increase production to meet any future increases in market demand; our ability to successfully integrate the operations and employees, retain key employees and customers and otherwise realize the expected synergies and benefits of our acquisitions; the impact of any future significant acquisitions or strategic transactions we may make; the costs and outcome of any current or future litigation or other matters involving our acquisitions (including the acquired business, intellectual property, customers, or other issues); the costs and outcome of any current or future tax audit or investigation regarding our business or our acquired businesses; fluctuations in our stock price and trading volume which could impact the number of shares we acquire under our share repurchase program and the timing of such repurchases; disruptions in our business or the businesses of our customers or suppliers due to natural disasters (including any floods in Thailand), terrorist activity, armed conflict, war, worldwide oil prices and supply, public health concerns or disruptions in the transportation system; and general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally. For a detailed discussion of these and other risk factors, please refer to Microchip's filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. You can obtain copies of Forms 10-K and 10-Q and other relevant documents for free at Microchip's website ( www.microchip.com ) or the SEC's website ( www.sec.gov ) or from commercial document retrieval services. Stockholders of Microchip are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date such statements are made. Microchip does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or new information after this December 2, 2024 press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. About Microchip: Microchip Technology Incorporated is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs, which reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time to market. Our solutions serve approximately 116,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com . Note: The Microchip name and logo are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies. INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: J. Eric Bjornholt, Senior Vice President and CFO (480) 792-7804

Fox News' William La Jeunesse provides details on the efforts to call two California House races as critics urge the state to fix its drawn-out counting process. The Republican National Committee (RNC) said it has filed national lawsuits to stop several states from counting mail-in-ballots after Election Day, as California has taken nearly a month to certify some races. "It is absurd for California to accept ballots by mail up to 7 days after Election Day and take almost a month to count them," RNC Chairman Michael Whatley wrote on X. Whatley said the RNC, alongside the California Republican Party, "will continue to fight aggressively to force all states to stop accepting ballots after Election Day." Republicans on the ground in California are working with attorneys and observers "throughout the process of voting, curing, and counting," he added. The RNC has also partnered with the National Republican Congressional Committee and Elon Musk's PAC to launch a new statewide ballot curing operation. "The RNC, NRCC, and CAGOP's election integrity operation was on the ground in California before Election Day, on Election Day, and has continued working ever since November 5th. Our attorneys and trained volunteers are in place to ensure transparency throughout the election process," Gates McGavick, senior adviser to Whatley, told Fox News Digital in a statement. CALIFORNIA COASTAL ENCLAVE NEAR SANCTUARY CITY TRIES TO 'NEWSOM-PROOF' ITSELF Voters cast ballots during the Super Tuesday primary at a polling station in an American Legion post in Hawthorne, California, March 5, 2024. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) California's vote-counting process has been prolonged due to the high volume of mail-in-ballots, with a majority of Californians opting to vote by mail. In the state's 2022 election, nearly 90% of votes were cast via mail-in ballots. State law also permits mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive up to a week later. Mail-in ballots are typically put through a verification process that can also lengthen the amount of time they are tallied. The election certification deadline is Dec. 16. As of Wednesday, several races remain undecided in the Golden State, including for the 13th Congressional District, where Republican Rep. John Duarte is being challenged by Democrat Adam Gray. MIGRANT MURDERS PUT AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ON EDGE AS OVER 1.4 MILLION AVOID DEPORTATION WITH SHADY TACTICS The California Capitol July 17, 2022, in Sacramento (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) "Every vote in every state matters, and the RNC will work with our state parties and candidates to ensure Election Integrity across the country," Whatley said. "It is clear that we need real election reforms to Protect the Vote in California." Liberal Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several laws during his term to expand mail-in voting. In 2021, Newsom signed AB 37, making California one of the first states to require that all active registered voters automatically receive absentee ballots, codifying a temporary COVID-era emergency measure passed in 2020. Two laws signed in 2023, AB 626 and AB 545, require a curbside voting option at all polling places and permit voters to drop off their mail-in ballots at polling stations to have them counted immediately. NEW WALL CONSTRUCTION AT TEXAS BORDER KICKS OFF WITH FAMILY OF SLAIN JOCELYN NUNGARAY WATCHING California Gov. Gavin Newsom greets people, July 8, 2024, in Hooksett, New Hampshire. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) California is one of 14 states where voters are not required to show voter ID at polling stations. In March 2024, Huntington Beach – a conservative hotspot on the southern coastal line – officials passed a local measure requiring voter ID to vote in elections, which Newsom quickly bucked through state legislation in September that prohibited local governments from enforcing laws that require voter ID. "The right to freely cast your vote is the foundation of our democracy and Huntington Beach's voter ID policy flies in the face of this principle," state Attorney General Bob Bonta said in a statement at the time. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Republican criticism of extended vote-counting periods has intensified this election cycle, including in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Prior to Sen. Bob Casey's concession last week in Pennsylvania's Senate race to his Republican opponent, Dave McCormick, national and state Republican parties went to court arguing counties should not count mail-in-ballots where the voter either didn't write a date on the return envelope or wrote the wrong one, the AP reported. President-Elect Trump has also taken notice of California's voter ID laws, writing on his Truth Social account he would demand proof of citizenship and voter ID in elections. Meanwhile, Newsom is gearing up to "Trump-proof" the state and has called an emergency special legislative session on Dec. 2. "California is ready to fight," Newsom wrote on X after the election. "Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate action – we refuse to turn back the clock and allow our values and laws to be attacked." Jamie Joseph is a writer who covers politics. She leads Fox News Digital coverage of the Senate.

Aus billionaire Gina Rinehart closer to opening contentious coal mine in AlbertaTennessee is the new No. 1 in men’s college basketball after a massive shakeup in the AP Top 25. The Vols received 58 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel Monday to reach No. 1 for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Tennessee climbed two spots from last week after Kansas lost twice and Auburn fell to No. 4 Duke. The Tigers remained No. 2 and received three first-place votes. No. 3 Iowa State had one first-place vote and climbed three places from last week for its highest ranking since 1956-57. Kentucky rounded out the top five. In all, 14 ranked teams lost last week, including six teams in the top 10; Kansas and then-No. 11 Wisconsin lost twice. Only two teams — Auburn and No. 12 Oregon — remained in the same poll spots they were a week ago, and the volatility saw five teams jump into the rankings. Tennessee (8-0) is off to its best start since opening the 2000-01 season 9-0 and is No. 1 in the NET rankings. The Vols also are second in the KenPom ratings, ranking second in defensive efficiency and ninth in offensive efficiency despite losing four starters from last year’s SEC championship team. Tennessee beat Syracuse 96-70 in its only game last week. Kansas had been No. 1 since the preseason poll before losing to 76-63 to Creighton and 76-67 to rival Missouri. The losses dropped the Jayhawks to No. 10. Auburn was poised to move into the No. 1 spot for the first time since 2021-22 but lost 84-78 at Duke before beating Richmond. Iowa State had its highest preseason ranking at No. 5 after reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 a year ago. The Cyclones lost by two to Auburn in the Maui Invitational but have reeled off four straight wins since. Iowa State blew out Jackson State 100-58 in its only game last week before facing rival Iowa this week. Huskies rebound Two-time reigning national champion UConn nearly dropped out of the poll last week following a 0-for-3 run in Maui. The Huskies bounced back nicely last week, picking up impressive wins over Baylor and Texas to move up seven spots in this week’s poll to No. 18. “Maybe the people with the shovels and the dirt, maybe they were too quick to grab the shovel and throw the dirt on us,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. Rising and falling Oklahoma had the biggest jump within this week’s poll, climbing eight spots to No. 13 after beating Georgia Tech and Alcorn State. Duke and No. 17 Texas A&M each moved up five spots. Kansas had the biggest drop, followed by No. 20 Wisconsin, which fell nine spots. No. 22 Cincinnati dropped eight places. In and out Multiple teams moved in and out of this week’s poll. No. 14 Michigan is ranked for the first time in nearly three years after tight wins over Wisconsin and Iowa. The Wolverines have won seven straight under first-year coach Dusty May. No. 16 Clemson is ranked for the first time this season following wins over Kentucky and Miami. No. 21 Michigan State also is ranked for the first time after wins over Nebraska and Minnesota. No. 24 UCLA is ranked for the first time since the preseason poll following wins over Washington and Oregon. No. 25 Mississippi State is back in the poll after blowing out Pittsburgh 90-57 and beating Prairie View A&M. Baylor, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Illinois and North Carolina all dropped out of the rankings. Conference watch The SEC led all conferences with nine ranked teams, followed by the Big Ten with six and the Big 12 with four. The Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East each had two ranked teams, while the West Coast and Mountain West conferences each had one.Mariah Carey cancels 2 New York, New Jersey Christmas concerts

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released and are returning to the United States, the White House said Wednesday, announcing a diplomatic agreement with Beijing in the final months of the Biden administration. The three are Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung , all of whom had been designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained by China. Swidan had been facing a death sentence on drug charges while Li and Leung were imprisoned on espionage charges. “Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years,” the White House said in a statement. The release comes just two months after China freed David Lin, a Christian pastor from California who had spent nearly 20 years behind bars after being convicted of contract fraud. U.S.-China relations have been roiled for years over major disagreements between the world’s two largest economies on trade, human rights, the production of fentanyl precursors, security issues that include espionage and hacking, China’s aggressiveness toward Taiwan and its smaller neighbors in the South China Sea, and Beijing’s support for Russia’s military-industrial sector. The release of Americans deemed wrongfully detained in China has been a top agenda item in each conversation between the U.S. and China, and Wednesday’s development suggests a willingness by Beijing to engage with the outgoing Democratic administration before Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January. Trump took significant actions against China on trade and diplomacy during his first term. He has pledged to continue those policies in his second term, leading to unease among many who fear that an all-out trade war will greatly affect the international economy and could spur potential Chinese military action against Taiwan. Still, the two countries have maintained a dialogue that has included a partial restoration of military-to-military contacts. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met earlier this month to discuss potential improvements. A U.S. official said the Biden administration had raised the cases of the detained Americans with China in multiple meetings over the past several years, including earlier this month when Biden spoke to Xi on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru. Politico was first to report the men’s release, which it said was part of a prisoner swap with the U.S. The White House did not immediately confirm that any Chinese citizens had been returned home. Li, a Chinese immigrant who started an export business in the U.S., was detained in September 2016 after flying into Shanghai. He was placed under surveillance, interrogated without a lawyer and accused of providing state secrets to the FBI. A U.N. working group called his 10-year prison sentence arbitrary and his family said the charges were politically motivated. Leung was sentenced last year to life in prison on spying charges. He was detained in 2021, by the local bureau of China’s counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of COVID-19. Swidan had been jailed for 12 years on a drug charge and, along with Li and Leung, had considered by the State Department to be wrongfully detained.

The Philadelphia Phillies signed two-time All-Star closer Jordan Romano to a one-year contract on Monday. Financial terms were not disclosed, but ESPN and The Athletic reported the deal was worth $7.75 million. The 31-year-old right-hander was non-tendered by Toronto earlier this offseason. The Phillies bolstered their bullpen after Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez hit free agency. Romano went 1-2 with a 6.59 ERA in 15 relief appearances with the Blue Jays in 2024. Romano battled injuries last season and underwent season-ending right elbow surgery in July. He saved 36 games in 2022 and 2023, earning All-Star nods in each season. Overall, Romano is 20-17 in 231 career relief appearances with 105 saves and a 2.90 ERA. --Field Level Media

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