top646 VANCOUVER — Online predators are becoming increasingly resourceful in trolling media platforms where children gravitate, prompting an explosion in police case loads, said an officer who works for the RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit in British Columbia. Data show the problem spiked during COVID-19 when children began spending more time online — but rates did not wane as police anticipated after lockdowns ended. In B.C., they soared, almost quadrupling from 2021 to 2023. Const. Solana Pare is now warning exploitation of children is likely here to stay, as a technological race between police and predators gains momentum. “Technology is becoming more and more available, and online platforms and social media sites are being used by children younger and younger, which provides an opportunity for predators to connect with them,” Pare said in an interview. Police say child exploitation cases in B.C. went from about 4,600 in 2021 to 9,600 in 2022 to 15,920 reports last year. The upwards trend is seen nationally, too. Statistics Canada says the rate of online child sexual exploitation reported to police rose by 58 per cent from 2019 to 2022, and police data show cases have continued to rise. The RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre reported that from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, it received 118,162 reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation offences — a 15 per cent increase compared with the previous year. Online child sexual exploitation, Pare explained, includes offences such as sextortion, child luring and the creation or distribution of sexually explicit images of a minor. “We don’t see these types of reports going away,” Pare said. “We only see them increasing because the use of electronic devices and social media, and kids being online earlier and earlier is becoming more common. There’s going to be more opportunity for predators to target children online.” Monique St. Germain, general counsel for the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, said the most common type of child luring is communicating with a youth online in order get them to produce sexual abuse material. She said “the pandemic accelerated those types of cases, and it hasn’t slowed down.” “The tools (Canadian authorities) have to deal with this type of behaviour are inadequate for the scope and the scale of what’s going on,” she said. THE RISE OF ‘SEXTORTION’ Online exploitation gained international attention in 2015 in the case of Port Coquitlam, B.C., teenager, Amanda Todd, who died by suicide after being blackmailed and harassed online by a man for years, starting when she was 12. The month before the 15-year-old died, she uploaded a nine-minute video using a series of flash cards detailing the abuse she experienced by the stranger and how it had affected her life. It’s been viewed millions of times. Dutch national Aydin Coban was extradited to Canada for trial and, in October 2022, he was convicted of charges including the extortion and harassment of Todd. Since then, the term “sextortion” has made its way into the vernacular as more cases come to light. Among them was Carson Cleland, a 12-year-old Prince George, B.C., boy who died by suicide in October 2023 after falling victim to the crime. In New Brunswick that same month, 16-year-old William Doiron took his own life after falling victim to a global sextortion scheme. Mounties across Canada have issued news releases warning of increased cases in their communities, noting that the consequences for the victims can include self-harm and suicide. St. Germain said technology, such as artificial intelligence, is also becoming more user-friendly. “The existence of that technology and its ease of use and ready accessibility is a problem, and it is going to be an increasingly large problem as we move forward,” she said. Pare said police are also adapting to technological advancements in order to keep up with the ever-changing online landscape. “Police are constantly obtaining training on digital technologies to increase our knowledge and understanding of all the intricacies involving their use and how to capture any digital evidence,” she said. Pare said the true rates of the crime are impossible to determine, but pointed to increased social awareness and legislation across North America around mandatory reporting of child abuse material from social media companies as a potential reason for the increase. It’s not going undetected any longer, she said. “Additionally, there’s been a lot of use in artificial intelligence to detect child exploitation materials within those platforms.” Pare said “it’s up to each individual platform” to ensure there is no child sexual abuse material on their sites or apps. “With mandatory reporting, it’s putting the onus back on the electronic service providers to ensure they have measures in place to prevent this from happening, and if it is happening that it is being reported,” she said. “That being said, there are times when things don’t get located.” That is why the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has been advocating for the adoption of the Online Harms Bill that the federal government introduced in February, St. Germain said. “It’s shocking that up until now, we’ve relied on companies to self regulate, meaning we’ve just relied on them to do the right thing,” she said. “What we are seeing in terms of the number of offences and in terms of all the harm that is happening in society as a result of online platforms is completely tied to the decision not to regulate. We need to have rules in any sector, and this sector is no different.” ‘CANADA IS REALLY BEHIND’ The Online Harms Bill covers seven types of harms, from non-consensual sharing of intimate images to content that can be used to bully a child. Earlier this month, Justice Minister Arif Virani announced the Liberal government will split the bill into two parts: dealing with keeping children safe online, and combating predators and issues related to revenge pornography. “We are putting our emphasis and prioritization and our time and efforts on the first portion of the bill,” Virani told reporters on Dec. 5. Such measures would include a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada, which would compel social media companies to outline how they plan to reduce the risks their platforms pose to users, particularly minors. It would have the power to levy fines and evaluate companies’ digital safety plans. St. Germain said such a split “makes sense,” noting that most objections to the bill are related to changes to the Criminal Code and not measures around curbing harms to children. “There obviously are differences of opinion in terms of what is the best way forward, and what kind of regulatory approach makes sense, and who should the regulator be, but there does seem to be consensus on the idea that we need to do more in terms of protecting children online,” she said, adding that the organization is still in support of the second half of the bill. She said the United Kingdom previously passed its own Online Safety Act that will come into effect in 2025, which includes requiring social media firms to protect children from content such as self-harm material, pornography and violent content. Failure to do so will result in fines. “Canada is really behind,” she said. “The amount of information that has come out of the U.K., the amount of time and care and attention that their legislatures have paid to this issue is really quite remarkable, and we really hope that Canada steps up and does something for Canadian children soon.” In the absence of national legislation, province’s have filled the void. In January, B.C. enacted the Intimate Images Protection Act, providing a path for victims to have online photos, videos or deep fakes expeditiously removed. Individuals are fined up to $500 per day and websites up to $5,000 a day if they don’t comply with orders to stop distributing images that are posted without consent. B.C.’s Ministry of the Attorney General said that as of Dec. 11, the Civil Resolution Tribunal had received a total of 199 disputes under the Intimate Images Protection Act. It said the Intimate Images Protection Service had served more than 240 clients impacted by the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, adding that four awards of $5,000 each and one for $3,000 had been supplied as of mid-December. Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta and Saskatchewan have also enacted legislation targeting unauthorized distribution of intimate images. St. Germain said the use of provincial powers is also necessary, but it’s not enough. “A piece of provincial legislation is going to be very difficult to be effective against multiple actors in multiple countries,” she said, noting that the online crime is borderless. “We need something bigger — more comprehensive. We need to use all tools in the tool box.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024. Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press

Half of people with HIV in the United States are living in places that are vulnerable to extreme weather and climate disasters, according to a new analysis from the left-leaning Center for American Progress (CAP). The report from CAP released Wednesday finds that the areas of the country where HIV is being diagnosed at disproportionately high rates are also places most at risk of disasters. The analysis used data from the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) program, a federal program that aims to reduce the rate of new HIV infections, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) national risk index. FEMA’s tool takes into account the frequency of disasters, but also the vulnerability of the population, accounting for certain at-risk demographics like low-income and socially disadvantaged people. Fifty locations, including 48 counties, Washington, D.C., and San Juan, Puerto Rico, have been designated by EHE as high-priority areas to combat HIV because they are where more than 50 percent of new HIV cases occur. On average, those places had a national risk index score of 96.8 out of a 100. “It is not surprising that those most at-risk live in areas particularly vulnerable to extreme weather and climate events. That is true for many other climate-sensitive health outcomes,” said Kristie Ebi, professor of global health at the University of Washington, who reviewed the analysis. “The poor and marginalized are generally at higher risk and often live in less desirable locations that are less desirable because of vulnerability to extreme weather and climate events.” Haley Norris, policy analyst with CAP and author of the report, said what stood out to them was the variability in threats faced by the different parts of the country. On the West Coast, wildfires cause issues for people with HIV because many develop lung conditions that are exacerbated by wildfire smoke. In the South and Northeast, flooding and hurricanes pose unique health issues for people with HIV by making it more difficult to access medical care. All three of these types of climate disasters are becoming more destructive due to climate change. “We’re seeing extreme weather and climate events that are quite far outside of historic experience,” Ebi said, pointing to flooding in Asheville, North Carolina, as one recent example. For those with HIV, those extreme events are making it harder to stay on track with their medications, which stop the disease from progressing to AIDS and prevent transmission to others. Vatsana Chanthala is director of the New Orleans Health Department’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, a federal initiative that provides funding for clinics and treatments that support low-income people. New Orleans is located in one of the priority jurisdictions to combat new HIV infections. After Hurricane Ida in 2021, her team surveyed patients in the program to gain a better understanding of how the disaster may have disrupted their care or access to medications. HIV treatment involves taking antiretrovirals daily or bimonthly injections to suppress the virus and keep it at a level that prevents it from spreading. After Ida, pharmacies closed due to damage; electricity was also out for nearly two weeks in parts of the city, making it difficult to contact pharmacies to refill lost prescriptions or others that had run out, Chanthala said. The high cost of the drugs means some pharmacies were hesitant to fill prescriptions, worried that people wouldn’t come to pick them up. The cost of the drugs were also an issue for those who evacuated: Many did not know that they could use their insurance to cover medication out of state, so they did not attempt to purchase the medication due to out-of-pocket costs, Chanthala found. Of the 194 patients surveyed, 30 percent of those who evacuated said they had trouble accessing care, and of those who stayed in New Orleans, 32 percent also had trouble accessing care. Another barrier to taking medications is the stigma surrounding HIV. In times of disaster, many people evacuate to the homes of family and friends, and some people in the survey said their family was unaware they had HIV. “There’s still a lot of fear with HIV and so many clients don’t disclose their status,” Chanthala said. “And so they find ways to hide their medications, and if they’re around people, they’re less likely to take those medications out.” Norris, the author of the CAP report, said one study on HIV care and wildfires in California also found that people expressed fear of disclosing they had the disease. “These are people who are going through extremely stressful, life-destroying situations and they have to do the emotional calculation of, ‘will disclosing this make me less safe?’” they said. “That is the hardest part of the puzzle for us to figure out. It is not just about access, it is the reality that HIV stigma is still very alive and well and still very powerful.” The risk associated with not taking medications is high for people with HIV. If someone stops taking their antiretrovirals, also known as ART, or if they run out of medication, their viral load will go up over time, said Dr. Paula Seal, who works at the HIV Outpatient Clinic at the University Medical Center New Orleans. The length of time it would take for that to happen depends on the individual patient and when they were diagnosed with HIV. But Seal said they stress the importance of patients staying on their medication. “When you have trouble is when patients are running out of medications because if they don’t have enough medicine, then they start skipping doses to make it last longer, that’s when we run into problems, and then the virus can become resistant to those medications,” Seal said. To offset those risks, Seal and other providers follow a hurricane preparedness protocol, talking with patients every year before hurricane season hits and urging them to refill their prescriptions. In many instances people can get up to 90 days covered by insurance, which could last through a hurricane season. Seal also provides numbers to pharmacies they can contact if something happens to their medication. This October, the Biden administration updated its guidelines for providers who are treating people with HIV who have been displaced, Norris said. The new guidelines walk providers, who might not have expertise in treating HIV, through how to assess and prescribe medication for new patients who otherwise may have disruption in their care. “Providing ART is very complex, it’s really really good that they were able to get that out when they did,” they said. One way that the Ryan White Program could become more nimble is by having its services follow the enrolled patients, Chanthala said. Currently patients at the Ryan White clinics have access to wrap-around services, like transportation and help with housing, but they lose that support if they evacuate. “Medications are important, and adherence is important. But if a person needs food, needs a place to stay, that’s going to be first on their minds,” she said. Currently these supports are not provided through money directly, but Chanthala thinks that in disaster situations having that flexibility to provide funds for people with high medical needs could also help: “If they can’t afford gas to get out of the area, they aren’t going to evacuate.”

NoneStop the illegalities in Kogi – Aggrieved aspirant urges PDP NWCPiers Morgan stuck the boot in on Erling Haaland on social media after watching the Manchester City striker blank in their chastening 4-0 loss at home to Tottenham . The Premier League champions were on the end of a shocking upset at The Etihad as they fell to a FIFTH successive defeat ahead of next weekend's meeting with top of the table Liverpool . It was another afternoon to forget for Haaland, who spurned two golden chances early on. It's now just two goals in his seven appearances for the Norway star, who cut a frustrated figure throughout the afternoon. A brace from James Maddison and additional goals from Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson sealed victory for the visitors. And Morgan , a renowned Arsenal fan, wasted no time in digging Haaland out on social media in the wake of City's latest setback. Alongside an image showing the striker telling Gunners boss Mikel Arteta to "be humble" after their draw earlier in the season, Morgan quipped on X: "You’d DEFINITELY better stay humble after this, @ErlingHaaland," along with laughing emojis. Ironically, Haaland's recent slump in form has come in the aftermath of said fixture. It's a far cry from his early season form, where he plundered 10 goals in City's first five Premier League matches. With Haaland struggling to find the net, City have failed to rack up the points in their recent games. It's now three league defeats in a row for the defending champions, who could start next weekend's huge title showdown with Liverpool a staggering EIGHT points behind Arne Slot's men. Join the debate! What did you make of Man City's performance against Spurs? Let us know here Speaking post-match on BBC Radio 5 Live, Guardiola admitted that City's current collapse in form is unlikely anything else he has experienced during his trophy-laden eight-year spell at the club. He said: "In eight years we have never lived this kind of situation. Now we have to live it and break it winning the next games, especially the next one. Now we see things in one way, maybe in a few weeks we see it differently." When he was asked if players were struggling, Guardiola added: "Of course. We are happy when we win and concerned when we don't win. It's normal. There would be a problem if they were not worried or I am not worried. "We are not used to doing this situation but life is like this. Sometimes it happens and we have to accept it. It is what it is now and we will stand up and do it." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Nick Fuentes—a known white nationalist , anti-semite and self-described incel who gained prominence by rallying the far-right around Donald Trump —has been charged with battery for allegedly spraying mace at a 57-year-old woman and pushing her down the stairs of his home in the suburbs of Chicago, according to documents obtained by The Smoking Gun . The charge stems from an incident that occurred on November 10, when a resident of Fuentes’ town visited his residence. Marla Rose, a 57-year-old Berwyn, Illinois resident, learned where Fuentes lived after his address was published online—the result of widespread backlash against the bigot after he posted “ Your body, my choice. Forever ” on Twitter following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 Presidential election. Rose told Vice she initially only intended to visit the address and see if he had been subject to any protests or received any deliveries of diapers or menstrual products, as people online were threatening to do. Once she arrived, another person who seemed to be similarly curious about Fuentes’ home encouraged Rose to ring his doorbell and talk to him. Rose said she intended to ask Fuentes, “Why do you feel comfortable saying the things that you say?” but he opened the door and immediately pepper sprayed her before she could confront him. He then allegedly pushed her down the three concrete steps that led to his door. “It was obvious he’s very scared, probably extremely paranoid,” she said to Vice. “I’m 5 foot 1. He’s not a big man himself, but I’m 57, he’s 26.” Rose was taking a video recording with her phone during the incident, and Fuentes can be seen in the footage grabbing her phone from the ground, bringing it into his home, and stomping on it. Police arrived and took statements from both parties. Per the documents obtained by The Smoking Gun, Fuentes told police he had “posted a political joke online and for the past three days has been getting online death threats and people showing up at his house unannounced,” and claimed that he was “in fear for his life.” He allegedly became uncooperative with police when asked questions about the confrontation with Rose. In the wake of the incident, which made national news , Rose told police she received a suspicious sealed envelope in the mail that she was nervous about opening. When police opened the envelope, they found a number of documents related to Donald Trump, Nick Fuentes, and “other memes.” She also posted on Facebook that she and her husband were subject to a swatting attempt at their home, a harassment tactic that seeks to get police to respond to a false situation at a given location. Fuentes is required to appear in court over the battery charge on December 19.

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U.S. stocks rose to records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to set its own record. Treasury yields eased after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. On Friday: The S&P 500 rose 15.16 points, or 0.2%, to 6,090.27. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 123.19 points, or 0.3%, to 44,642.52. The Nasdaq composite rose 159.05 points, or 0.8%, to 19,859.77. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 12.83 points, or 0.5%, to 2,408.99. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 57.89 points, or 1%. The Dow is down 268.13 points, or 0.6%. The Nasdaq is up 641.61 points, or 3.3%. The Russell 2000 is down 25.73 points, or 1.1%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,320.44 points, or 27.7%. The Dow is up 6,952.98 points, or 18.4%. The Nasdaq is up 4,848.42 points, or 32.3%. The Russell 2000 is up 381.92 points, or 18.8%.The downfall of America's 'most hated mayor' as he sparks fresh outrage among despairing residents

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Former Trump policy adviser now expected to be pick for Agriculture secretaryUnlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her health insurance covered all but US$25 to US$50 of the monthly cost. For Griffin, the hardest part of using the new drugs wasn’t access. It was finding out that the much-hyped medications didn’t really work for her. “I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds,” said Griffin, who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. “I’ve done everything right with no success. It’s discouraging.” In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15 per cent to 22 per cent of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10 per cent to 15 per cent of patients in those trials were “nonresponders” who lost less than five per cent of their body weight. Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20 per cent of patients — as many as one in five — may not respond well to the medications. It's a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results “It's all about explaining that different people have different responses,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital The drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight — and a person's response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives. “This is a disease that stems from the brain,” said Stanford. “The dysfunction may not be the same” from patient to patient. Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge. “It can be devastating,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. “With such high expectations, there’s so much room for disappointment.” That was the case for Griffin, who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “You want it to work like it does for everybody else.” The medications are typically prescribed along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes. It’s usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesn't happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think they’re out of options. “I tell them: It's not game over,” Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. Griffin, who didn't respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost seven pounds. “I'm hoping it's slow and steady,” she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. “Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively,” she said. “If what we’re prescribing doesn’t work, we always have a backup plan.” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.UCF, LSU face off with improved focus in mind

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Fury as Labour were warned MONTHS ago by Vauxhall owners that electric car targets threatened Luton factory By DAVID CHURCHIL CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 17:32 EST, 27 November 2024 | Updated: 17:32 EST, 27 November 2024 e-mail View comments Ministers came under fire today after admitting they were warned months ago that a Vauxhall factory could close because of electric car sales targets. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the Commons that the boss of Stellantis, which owns Vauxhall, first warned him just 10 days after the election in mid-July. But he failed to launch a review of the EV sales mandate until this week - too late to save the Luton-based factory and up to 1,100 jobs. During a heated debate in the Commons, the Tories ’ business spokesman Andrew Griffith jumped on the admission, accusing the Government of ‘killing’ jobs by dragging its feet. It came as industry figures obtained by the Daily Mail revealed that less than one in five EVs have been sold to private buyers this year, plunging Labour’s net-zero plans deeper into chaos. Between January and October just 19.8 per cent of EVs were sold to private motorists, with businesses buying the rest. This was down from 23.5 per cent for the same period last year. It is a major blow for the Government’s target of banning new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030 - which it brought forward five years - because convincing more than 30million drivers to make the switch to EVs is one of the biggest hurdles it faces. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the Commons that the boss of Stellantis, which owns Vauxhall, first warned him just 10 days after the election in mid-July. But he failed to launch a review of the EV sales mandate until this week Today the chairman of Ford in Britain, Lisa Brankin (pictured), said the car giant supports the Government’s net-zero ambitions but that there currently ‘isn’t customer demand’ for EVs The Vauxhall factory in Luton. Ministers came under fire today after admitting they were warned months ago that a Vauxhall factory could close because of electric car sales targets Today the chairman of Ford in Britain, Lisa Brankin, said the car giant supports the Government’s net-zero ambitions but that there currently ‘isn’t customer demand’ for EVs, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘Without demand the [sales] mandate just doesn’t work.’ She called on the government to create financial incentives for private buyers to stimulate demand. By contrast, businesses enjoy tax breaks if they buy EVs. Stellantis announced the closure of the Vauxhall van-making factory on Tuesday, putting around 1,100 jobs at risk. The firm said the sales targets, known as the ‘ZEV mandate’ and initially introduced by the previous Tory government, were partly to blame. Ministers are now expected to drastically water down the mandate. Quizzed in the Commons about how long he’d known that the Vauxhall factory was under threat, Mr Reynolds said he was informed ten days after the election by Stellantis’s CEO. Mr Griffith replied: ‘The government’s policy on zero-emission vehicles is a jobs killer. They say they have been talking [to Stellantis] since July. ‘So why, Mr Speaker, this panicked U-turn when it’s already too late?’ He added: ‘The closure of the Luton plant, I fear, is just a downpayment on jobs that will be lost under this Government’s relentless attacks on industry, its neglect of the realities of business and its failure to meet its promise not to raise taxes.’ Vauxhall factory in Luton. Stellantis announced the closure of the Vauxhall van-making factory on Tuesday, putting around 1,100 jobs at risk During a heated debate in the Commons, the Tories ’ business spokesman Andrew Griffith jumped on the admission, accusing the Government of ‘killing’ jobs by dragging its feet Mr Reynolds hit back, saying the attack was ‘the single most dishonest statement I have heard’ because it was the Tories who introduced the ZEV mandate. But he was accused of hypocrisy by Tory MP Saqib Bhatti, who pointed out that Mr Reynolds voted in favour of the sales mandate when it went through the Commons. Under the mandate, at least 22 per cent of new cars sold by manufacturers in the UK this year must have zero-emission capability. For vans it is 10 per cent. This is set to increase to 28 per cent next year and will rise each year over the next decade - to 80 per cent in 2030 and 100 per cent in 2035. Labour Share or comment on this article: Fury as Labour were warned MONTHS ago by Vauxhall owners that electric car targets threatened Luton factory e-mail Add commentPrecious metals prices soared in the past year, but the share prices of some and silver producers have underperformed the commodities. Investors who missed the rally are wondering if gold stocks or silver stocks are and good to buy for a self-directed portfolio. Gold outlook Gold trades near US$2,710 per ounce at the time of writing. The price of the yellow metal is up 25% over the past 12 months. Central banks around the world have been stocking up on gold. Retail sales through banks and stores like ( ) have also made it easier for people to buy physical gold. Gold exchange-traded funds (EFTs) have also driven demand. Investors are increasingly looking for alternatives to stocks to diversify their portfolios. People who live in countries with currencies that are volatile or steadily weakening can hold gold as a hedge to preserve wealth. On the supply side, finding new deposits that are low cost to mine is getting increasingly harder, although China recently announced a major new gold discovery that could impact the market in the coming years. Finally, investors often turn to gold at times of geopolitical or economic uncertainty. In the near term, the outlook for the price of gold should be positive. Silver outlook The price of silver often moves with gold as buyers tend to pick up or sell the precious metals in tandem. Silver trades near US$32.50 per ounce at the time of writing, up about 40% over the past year. Silver has extensive industrial uses that make it different from gold. This could be the reason it has outperformed in the last 12 months. Silver has high conductivity and anti-bacterial qualities that make it ideal for medical instruments, solar panels, and charging stations for electric vehicles, among other industrial uses. The metal also remains popular for jewellery. Industrial demand for silver is expected to surge in the coming years amid the shift to renewable energy and electric vehicles. Gold stocks or silver stocks In the current environment, it might be worthwhile to focus on the streaming players or the major producers that have underperformed. Streamers are companies that do not operate mines; they negotiate contracts to buy production from mining companies at discounted prices during the ramp-up stage. Miners will enter these contracts to raise capital to get mines built. ( ) is a good example of a streaming company to consider. Originally focused mainly on silver, WPM pivoted to add more gold to diversify its exposure. That strategy has paid off in the past few years. WPM stock trades near $88 on the TSX at the time of writing. It is up 35% in the past year and has risen 135% in the past five years. Gold majors, like ( ), could also be worth a look as contrarian picks. ABX stock is only up 7% in the past year compared to the much better performance by gold. High inflation and mining disruptions have hindered producers, but there should be better days on the horizon. Barrick reported third-quarter 2024 results that came in much better than last year. Adjusted net earnings rose to US$529 million from US$418 million. Free cash flow jumped to US$444 million from US$359 million. The Pueblo Viejo expansion project is finally starting to deliver as expected. Barrick says its exploration activities are on track to deliver another year of reserve replacement. The bottom line on gold and silver stocks Investors seeking to boost their precious metals exposure should look at diversifying across gold and silver opportunities. The streamers, like WPM, give you good exposure to price hikes without the operational risks that come with owning the miners. Contrarian investors, however, might want to start nibbling on the miners like Barrick that have underperformed but could see a meaningful rebound in the next few years.

NoneRussia’s newly unveiled Oreshnik missile has quickly become the focus of major international attention. Announced by President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, this medium-range hypersonic weapon is seen as a significant advancement in the country’s missile capabilities. One that could have far-reaching consequences for both the Ukraine conflict and broader international security. With its apparently unmatched speed and precision, and the prospect of mass production on the immediate horizon, this missile could be a game-changer for Moscow’s military operation. Here’s what we know so far about the Oreshnik and its potential impact. A new weapon, not an upgrade Contrary to some claims, the Oreshnik is not an upgrade of Soviet-era missile systems, according to Putin. Instead, it is a completely new development built on modern Russian technology. The president emphasized that the missile represents the culmination of efforts within “New Russia,” referring to developments after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. “It was created on the basis of modern, latest developments,” he stated. Hypersonic capabilities and precision The Oreshnik missile is described as a high-precision, medium-range weapon, with hypersonic speed. Putin clarified that while it is not considered a “strategic” weapon, its capabilities are still formidable. “Due to its striking power, especially with massive, collective use, and even in combination with other high-precision long-range systems, the use of Oreshnik will be comparable in power to strategic weapons,” he said. This missile is designed to fly at speeds of up to Mach 10 (around 7,600 miles/12,200km per hour), which is roughly ten times the speed of sound. The high velocity makes it extremely difficult to intercept using current missile defense systems. “There are no means of counteracting Oreshnik-type complexes in the world,” Putin asserted, explaining that Western missile defense systems, including those deployed in Western Europe, cannot intercept such fast-moving projectiles. First combat use and response to Ukraine The Oreshnik missile was first used in combat on November 21, 2024, when it struck a Ukrainian defense facility in the city of Dnepropetrovsk. The target was the Yuzhmash industrial complex, a key Ukrainian defense site inherited from the USSR that produces missile equipment. Putin justified the strike as a response to Kiev’s use of long-range missiles, like the American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow systems, against Russian territory. “The regional conflict in Ukraine has acquired elements of a global character,” Putin said, highlighting the broader implications of Western involvement. Mass production and deployment Following the successful test and first use of the new weapon, Russia has committed to mass-producing the system. “Serial production of Oreshnik is practically organized,” Putin confirmed, with the missiles slated for inclusion in Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces (RSVS). This suggests that they will become a key part of Russia’s long-term military strategy, with the potential for widespread deployment in the coming months. Putin noted that the missile’s development process was swift and efficient, with domestic technologies ensuring that Moscow has “resolved import substitution issues.” This suggests that Russia has managed to develop the Oreshnik entirely with its own resources, minimizing reliance on foreign components. Global impact and strategic significance The Oreshnik missile has the potential to change the dynamics of the Ukraine conflict. According to General Sergei Karakayev, the head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, the Oreshnik “can hit targets throughout Europe.” This makes the missile not only a powerful weapon in the context of Ukraine but also one that could have wider geopolitical implications if tensions escalate further. While Russia has not explicitly described the missile as a weapon of mass destruction, its precision and destructive power mean that it could be used to target critical infrastructure in enemy states. In Putin’s view, it provides Russia with a technological advantage that currently cannot be matched by any other country. International reactions and future developments The Oreshnik missile has raised alarms in the West. The use of this new weapon, combined with the conflict in Ukraine, has spurred calls to strengthen air defenses. Ukrainian officials have already approached the US to discuss receiving advanced systems, which could include modernized Patriots or even Aegis missile defense platforms. However, there is no evidence to suggest they would be effective against the Oreshnik.BIRMINGHAM, Mich. , Nov. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OneStream, Inc. ("OneStream") (Nasdaq: OS) announced today that in connection with the previously announced underwritten public offering of 15,000,000 shares of its Class A common stock, which closed on November 18, 2024 , the underwriters have exercised in full their option to purchase an additional 2,250,000 shares of Class A common stock at the public offering price of $31.00 per share, less underwriting discounts and commissions. Of the additional shares, 1,351,043 shares were sold by selling stockholders and 898,957 shares were sold by OneStream as part of a non-dilutive "synthetic secondary" transaction (the "Synthetic Secondary"). OneStream did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders in the public offering. OneStream used all of the net proceeds to it from the public offering to purchase LLC units of OneStream Software LLC (and purchase and cancel an equal number of shares of Class C common stock) from KKR Dream Holdings LLC in the Synthetic Secondary, at a purchase price per unit equal to the public offering price per share of Class A common stock sold in the public offering, net of underwriting discounts and commissions. Accordingly, OneStream did not retain any proceeds from the public offering and, upon the closing of the public offering and the Synthetic Secondary, the total number of outstanding shares of common stock of OneStream and LLC units of OneStream Software LLC remained the same. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Oregon beats San Diego State, improves to 7-0US Senate passes government funding bill, averts shutdown

IBC Advanced Alloys' Reports Financial Results For Quarter Ended September 2024State, national officials remember Jimmy Carter

top 646 As we reflect on this touching moment of farewell and unity, may we be inspired to live our lives with the same sense of generosity and compassion that this man displayed in his final act. Let us remember that even in death, there is a chance to bring hope and healing to others, and to create a legacy of love that will never fade.No. 9 SMU aims to improve playoff odds vs. CalNone

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Javan Buchanan’s 28 points off of the bench led Boise State to an 83-82 victory against South Dakota State on Monday. Buchanan went 11 of 17 from the field (4 for 8 from 3-point range) for the Broncos (5-1). Alvaro Cardenas Torre added 16 points while going 6 of 13 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) while they also had seven assists. Julian Bowie went 4 of 4 from the field (3 for 3 from 3-point range) to finish with 13 points. Oscar Cluff finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Jackrabbits (5-2). Joe Sayler added 19 points for South Dakota State. Kalen Garry had 13 points and five assists. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Resolution to Arrest President Yoon Seok-hyue Passed, Civil Unrest Investigation Launched

top.646 Chuks Okocha in Abuja Human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has thanked Nigerians for standing by him during his time in prison, regardless of his tribe or religion. Farotimi was remanded by the Ekiti State magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti court for 21 days after he was accused of “criminally defaming” Afe Babalola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in a book titled: ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’. He regained his freedom on December 24, after being granted bail of N30 million by the court. In a social media interview following his release, Farotimi broke down in tears while thanking Nigerians who rallied support for him. “We stopped being humans because we became Nigerians. They divided us and we fell for it. Because you would not see me as a Yoruba man, you spoke for me. “You would not see me as a Christian, you spoke for me. Because you spoke, Nigeria could not happen to me. You found your voices, I became you and in our collective, we could not be silenced,” he said. The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) had rejected a request by Emmanuel Chambers, Afe Babalola’s law firm, to debar Farotimi for alleged unethical conduct. Isaq Bello, chairman of the LPDC, said the allegations pertained to Farotimi’s role as an author and not his practice as a lawyer.

NoneBuilding right organizational strategy a big challenge in AI adoption: TCS CTO

Presbyterian wins 71-61 over Monmouth

None

Snowfall Hits Higher Reaches of Himachal’s Kullu and Lahaul-SpitiMinister Of Agriculture Addresses World Food Security Summit In Abu Dhabi

NEW YORK (AP) — appears on a timetable to decide on where to sign either before or during baseball's winter meetings in Dallas, which run from Dec. 8-12. with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations said last week, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were not announced. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, asked teams to submit initial offers by Thanksgiving, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because it was not announced. Soto is the top player available among . A four-time All-Star, Soto finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons. Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from Washington in 2022, prompting the Nationals to trade him to San Diego, which then dealt him to the Yankees last December. Soto then combined with Aaron Judge to lead New York to the World Series, . In his pitch to teams, Boras highlighted that Soto joined Mickey Mantle as the only players with seven RBIs in a World Series at age 21 or younger when he was with Washington, and at 20 became the youngest player with five postseason homers. Soto's .906 postseason OPS through age 25 topped Mantle (.900) and Derek Jeter (.852). Soto is likely to seek a record contract, topping Shohei Ohtani's with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. That might not mean Soto gets more than $700 million, though. Because Ohtani's deal included $680 million in deferred money payable through 2043, it can be valued by different methods. For instance, Ohtani's contract is valued at $46.1 million per season ($461 million total) under MLB's luxury tax system, which used a 4.43% discount rate. The players' association uses a 5% rate, which puts Ohtani's contract at $43.8 million per year. For MLB's regular payroll calculations, a 10% discount rates values Ohtani's deal at just $28.2 million. Which means if Soto gets even $462 million without deferred payments, there's an argument that his deal is the most valuable in MLB history. By average annual value, pitchers and are tied for second in baseball history at $43.33 million as part of contracts they signed with the New York Mets, deals that expired at the end of the 2024 season. In terms of total value, Ohtani surpassed outfielder through 2030. MLB’s longest contract is outfielder through 2034. The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies all are likely to enter 2025 having paid luxury tax for three straight years, putting them at the highest rate: a 50% surcharge on payroll between $241 million and $261 million, 62% from $261 million to $281 million, 95% from $281 million to $301 million and 110% for each dollar above $301 million. Toronto may have dropped below the initial tax threshold this year, pending final figures next month. If the Blue Jays did fall under, their rates next year would reset to 20%, 32%, 62.5% and 80% for the four thresholds. If Soto reaches or announces an agreement at the winter meetings in Dallas' Hilton Anatole, it would be a familiar location for a big Boras deal. Alex Rodriguez's record $252 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers was announced in December 2000 at what then was called the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. A-Rod's deal more than doubled MLB's previous high, a $121 million, eight-year contract between pitcher Mike Hampton and Colorado that was announced just two days earlier. “In two days, we’ve doubled a new highest salary,′′ said Sandy Alderson, then an executive vice president in the commissioner’s office. ”I don’t like the exponentiality of that." Rodriguez was 25 at the time of the agreement with Texas, a free agent before entering his likely prime, like Soto. Third baseman Alex Bregman, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, and outfielders Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are among the significant bats available to pursue and likely would interest some of the teams who fail to sign Soto. Bregman and Alonso, like Soto, are represented by Boras. AP MLB:London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) Stock were little changed in and on Wall Street Thursday after claimed that fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, ratcheting up fears of further escalation in the war on 's doorstep. Quarterly earnings the AI chip giant Nvidia also gave investors reason for pause, failing to match the sky-high expectations of many analysts that might underpin further tech stock gains. But resumed its higher at around $97,000 on expectations that , spurred by cheerleader , will bring it further into everyday use upon re-entering the in . "Will Americans be able to use crypto to pay their taxes in future? There is a bigger possibility of this happening now than before the ," said Kathleen , research director at XTB. But the mood was decidedly more cautious in mainstream after this week's developments in the war, with the US and Britain authorising Kyiv to make long-distance strikes into , prompting warnings of retaliation by . 's claim Thursday that had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time in combat added to uncertainty over what might come next. also rose "as geopolitical tensions outweighed concerns over rising US crude supplies", said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. "Geopolitical fears have also sent higher in recent sessions as investors look for some safety as Russia-Ukraine tensions escalate," he added. had mostly fallen earlier Thursday under pressure Nvidia's earnings, though analysts said profit-taking was unlikely to dampen enthusiasm for the key AI player. "The negative reaction to Nvidia's suggests investors are now focusing on the minutiae rather than the big picture," said Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell. "That's a natural evolution as the more people zoom in on a , the more they learn about it, and the more granular detail they want." Elsewhere on the corporate front, shares in conglomerate Adani Group tanked after US prosecutors charged its owner Gautam Adani with handing out more than $250 in bribes for key contracts. Flagship operation Adani Enterprises dived almost 20 percent, while several of its subsidiaries -- coal to businesses -- lost 10 to 20 percent. - Key figures around 1455 GMT - - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 43,489.58 points - S&P 500: DOWN 0.1 percent at 5,907.37 - Nasdaq: DOWN 0.4 percent at 18,887.91 - FTSE 100: UP 0.5 percent at 8,123.38 - CAC 40: DOWN 0.1 percent at 7,190.62 - DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 19,065.93 - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.9 percent at 38,026.17 (close) - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.5 percent at 19,601.11 (close) - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,370.40 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0531 $1.0545 on Wednesday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2632 $1.2652 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 154.09 155.45 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.38 pence 83.33 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.3 percent at $74.07 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.3 percent at $70.04 per

The Titans have issues to fix and hope to keep slim playoff hopes alive when they host the JagsBOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Adam Jones ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns and Montana State ran over Montana 34-11 on Saturday to reclaim the Brawl of the Wild trophy. The Bobcats (12-0, 8-0 Big Sky Conference) wrapped up the 123rd meeting in this rivalry with 420 yards, 326 on the ground. Montana State capped its first unbeaten season and can match the school record for consecutive wins with a playoff win in two weeks. The Bobcats, ranked second in the FCS coaches poll, should be the top seed in the playoffs after top-ranked North Dakota State lost its finale to fifth-ranked South Dakota. Montana (8-4, 5-3), ranked 10th, is expected to add to its record 27 FCS playoff appearances but will not have a first-round bye in the 24-team bracket. Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott was 6-of-12 passing for 94 yards with a touchdown in poor conditions and added 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He has helped the Bobcats score at least 30 points in every game this season Mellott had a 5-yard touchdown run on MSU's first possession and Mellott found Jones for a 35-yard touchdown early in the second quarter for a 14-3 lead. Myles Sansted had two field goals in the final two minutes, including a 49-yarder as time expired for a 20-3 halftime lead. Jones dominated the second half and scored two short touchdowns. Eli Gillman scored on a 1-yard run for Montana's touchdown between the Jones' touchdowns. The Grizzlies had just 234 yards and went 2 of 12 on third down. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25

Trader Joe’s is pure magic year-round, but during the holidays , it truly shines. Walking in feels like stepping into a cozy wonderland filled with festive goodies, seasonal treats and unique finds that make hosting or gifting a breeze. From Peppermint Jo-Jos to their famous holiday stuffing mix, every aisle brims with joy and cheer. The store’s whimsical vibe, friendly crew and budget-friendly prices turn holiday shopping into a delightful experience. Whether you’re hunting for delicious snacks, last-minute gifts or the perfect wine for a cozy night in, Trader Joe’s is your go-to destination for all things merry and bright. And the return of a fan-favorite sweet treat is one big reason why you'll want to stop by soon. 😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳 🍔 Trader Joe’s has done it again by bringing back a popular delight: Sweet Cannoli Dip ! Priced at an irresistible $3.99 per container, this creamy, indulgent dip is the perfect blend of smooth sweetness and versatility, making it a must-have for your snack lineup. View the original article to see embedded media. Made with a base of cream cheese, sour cream and ricotta, this dip has a rich, velvety texture that’s perfect for spreading, dipping, or even drizzling atop your favorite treats. Its subtle sweetness pairs beautifully with everything from fresh fruits and graham crackers to pretzels and toast. Whether you’re looking to elevate a snack platter or add a little flair to your everyday breakfast, this dip delivers every time. Related: A Beloved Holiday Trader Joe’s Bakery Item Is Back, and Fans Are Buying 5 at a Time Not just for sweet pairings, though, this dip can also balance salty flavors to create a fun addition to charcuterie boards or creative recipes. As with many Trader Joe’s products, however, fans will want to stock up as there's no telling how long this will be around. At just $3.99, it’s a budget-friendly indulgence that deserves a space on your list every year. And if the above options aren't your preference for dipping, Trader Joe's shoppers suggest the store's popular Hold the Cone Tips as an option. Either way, happy snacking! Up Next: Related: Costco Just Brought Back the Fan-Favorite Holiday Item That Fans Say Is the 'Best in the Entire World,' and It's Guaranteed to Fly Off Shelves Fast

NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto appears on a timetable to decide on where to sign either before or during baseball's winter meetings in Dallas, which run from Dec. 8-12. Soto met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations said last week, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were not announced. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, asked teams to submit initial offers by Thanksgiving, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because it was not announced. Soto is the top player available among this year's free agents . A four-time All-Star, Soto finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons. Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from Washington in 2022, prompting the Nationals to trade him to San Diego, which then dealt him to the Yankees last December. Soto then combined with Aaron Judge to lead New York to the World Series, where the Yankees lost to the Dodgers . In his pitch to teams, Boras highlighted that Soto joined Mickey Mantle as the only players with seven RBIs in a World Series at age 21 or younger when he was with Washington, and at 20 became the youngest player with five postseason homers. Soto's .906 postseason OPS through age 25 topped Mantle (.900) and Derek Jeter (.852). How much money will Soto get? Soto is likely to seek a record contract, topping Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. That might not mean Soto gets more than $700 million, though. Because Ohtani's deal included $680 million in deferred money payable through 2043, it can be valued by different methods. For instance, Ohtani's contract is valued at $46.1 million per season ($461 million total) under MLB's luxury tax system, which used a 4.43% discount rate. The players' association uses a 5% rate, which puts Ohtani's contract at $43.8 million per year. For MLB's regular payroll calculations, a 10% discount rates values Ohtani's deal at just $28.2 million. Which means if Soto gets even $462 million without deferred payments, there's an argument that his deal is the most valuable in MLB history. By average annual value, pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are tied for second in baseball history at $43.33 million as part of contracts they signed with the New York Mets, deals that expired at the end of the 2024 season. In terms of total value, Ohtani surpassed outfielder Mike Trout’s $426.5 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels through 2030. MLB’s longest contract is outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year deal with the San Diego Padres through 2034. How could MLB's luxury tax factor into team's bids on Soto? The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies all are likely to enter 2025 having paid luxury tax for three straight years, putting them at the highest rate: a 50% surcharge on payroll between $241 million and $261 million, 62% from $261 million to $281 million, 95% from $281 million to $301 million and 110% for each dollar above $301 million. Toronto may have dropped below the initial tax threshold this year, pending final figures next month. If the Blue Jays did fall under, their rates next year would reset to 20%, 32%, 62.5% and 80% for the four thresholds. The winter meetings would be a fitting place for Boras to announce a record deal If Soto reaches or announces an agreement at the winter meetings in Dallas' Hilton Anatole, it would be a familiar location for a big Boras deal. Alex Rodriguez's record $252 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers was announced in December 2000 at what then was called the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. A-Rod's deal more than doubled MLB's previous high, a $121 million, eight-year contract between pitcher Mike Hampton and Colorado that was announced just two days earlier. “In two days, we’ve doubled a new highest salary,′′ said Sandy Alderson, then an executive vice president in the commissioner’s office. ”I don’t like the exponentiality of that." Rodriguez was 25 at the time of the agreement with Texas, a free agent before entering his likely prime, like Soto. Besides Soto, which free agent hitters are available? Third baseman Alex Bregman, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, and outfielders Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are among the significant bats available to pursue and likely would interest some of the teams who fail to sign Soto. Bregman and Alonso, like Soto, are represented by Boras. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLBGovt committed to revolutionise agriculture, allied sectors through HADP: Javid Dar

WASHINGTON (AP) — A machinists strike. Another safety problem involving its troubled top-selling airliner. A plunging stock price. 2024 was already a dispiriting year for Boeing, the American aviation giant. But when one of the company's jets crash-landed in South Korea on Sunday, killing all but two of the 181 people on board, it brought to a close an especially unfortunate year for Boeing. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and aviation experts were quick to distinguish Sunday's incident from the company’s earlier safety problems. Alan Price, a former chief pilot at Delta Air Lines who is now a consultant, said it would be inappropriate to link the incident Sunday to two fatal crashes involving Boeing’s troubled 737 Max jetliner in 2018 and 2019. In January this year, a door plug blew off a 737 Max while it was in flight, raising more questions about the plane. The Boeing 737-800 that crash-landed in Korea, Price noted, is “a very proven airplane. "It’s different from the Max ...It’s a very safe airplane.’’ For decades, Boeing has maintained a role as one of the giants of American manufacturing. But the the past year's repeated troubles have been damaging. The company's stock price is down more than 30% in 2024. The company's reputation for safety was especially tarnished by the 737 Max crashes, which occurred off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019 and left a combined 346 people dead. In the five years since then, Boeing has lost more than $23 billion. And it has fallen behind its European rival, Airbus, in selling and delivering new planes. Last fall, 33,000 Boeing machinists went on strike, crippling the production of the 737 Max, the company's bestseller, the 777 airliner and 767 cargo plane. The walkout lasted seven weeks, until members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers agreed to an offer that included 38% pay raises over four years. In January, a door plug blew off a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight. Federal regulators responded by imposing limits on Boeing aircraft production that they said would remain in place until they felt confident about manufacturing safety at the company. In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud for deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration regulators who approved the 737 Max. Acting on Boeing’s incomplete disclosures, the FAA approved minimal, computer-based training instead of more intensive training in flight simulators. Simulator training would have increased the cost for airlines to operate the Max and might have pushed some to buy planes from Airbus instead. (Prosecutors said they lacked evidence to argue that Boeing’s deception had played a role in the crashes.) But the plea deal was rejected this month by a federal judge in Texas, Reed O’Connor , who decided that diversity, inclusion and equity or DEI policies in the government and at Boeing could result in race being a factor in choosing an official to oversee Boeing’s compliance with the agreement. Boeing has sought to change its culture. Under intense pressure over safety issues, David Calhoun departed as CEO in August. Since January, 70,000 Boeing employees have participated in meetings to discuss ways to improve safety.

Bestselling British authors mourning the “demise of handwriting” are encouraging more people to put pen to paper. Novelists including Philip Pullman, Tracy Chevalier, Joanne Harris and Julia Donaldson have told The Times of their efforts to keep penmanship part of their creative process despite the takeover of technology. They are among a cohort of creatives who have handwritten the opening sentences of their most famous works for charity before Christmas. Other authors auctioning off personalised passages from their books include Stephen Fry, Michael Morpurgo, Mark Haddon, Jacqueline Wilson and Adele Parks. Singers and screenwriters, such as Richard Curtis and Rick Astley, have also scribbled down words from their best movies and songs. The auction, which is raising funds for the charity Three Peas, follows warnings from education experts that the use of computers, tablets and smartphones has made some young children’s handwriting so illegible that they may need lessons in secondary school.How Trump’s bet on voters electing him managed to silence some of his legal woesFlag football uses talent camps to uncover new stars

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Adam Jones ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns and Montana State ran over Montana 34-11 on Saturday to reclaim the Brawl of the Wild trophy. The Bobcats (12-0, 8-0 Big Sky Conference) wrapped up the 123rd meeting in this rivalry with 420 yards, 326 on the ground. Montana State capped its first unbeaten season and can match the school record for consecutive wins with a playoff win in two weeks. The Bobcats, ranked second in the FCS coaches poll, should be the top seed in the playoffs after top-ranked North Dakota State lost its finale to fifth-ranked South Dakota. Montana (8-4, 5-3), ranked 10th, is expected to add to its record 27 FCS playoff appearances but will not have a first-round bye in the 24-team bracket. Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott was 6-of-12 passing for 94 yards with a touchdown in poor conditions and added 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He has helped the Bobcats score at least 30 points in every game this season Mellott had a 5-yard touchdown run on MSU’s first possession and Mellott found Jones for a 35-yard touchdown early in the second quarter for a 14-3 lead. Myles Sansted had two field goals in the final two minutes, including a 49-yarder as time expired for a 20-3 halftime lead. Jones dominated the second half and scored two short touchdowns. Eli Gillman scored on a 1-yard run for Montana’s touchdown between the Jones’ touchdowns. The Grizzlies had just 234 yards and went 2 of 12 on third down. ___ AP college football: and . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter:WASHINGTON: Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president and the third American leader to visit India during which a village in Haryana was named Carterpuri in his honour has died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia surrounded by his family, the Carter Centre said. Carter died on Sunday aged 100. He was the longest-lived president in US history. “Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” President Joe Biden said in a statement mourning his loss. Carter is survived by his children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Rosalynn and one grandchild. “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs,” Chip Carter said. In his statement, Biden said over six decades, with his compassion and moral clarity, Carter worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among the people. He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe. “He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism. We will miss them both dearly, but take solace knowing they are reunited once again and will remain forever in our hearts,” said Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden. President-elect Donald Trump said while he "strongly disagreed" with Carter "philosophically and politically", he also realised that he truly loved and respected "our country, and all it stands for". "He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect. He was a truly good man and, of course, will be greatly missed. He was also very consequential, far more than most Presidents, after he left the Oval Office,” Trump said. Carter was considered a friend of India. He was the first American president to visit India after the removal of emergency and victory of the Janata Party in 1977. In his address to the Indian parliament, Carter spoke against authoritarian rule. “India's difficulties, which we often experience ourselves and which are typical of the problems faced in the developing world, remind us of the tasks that lie ahead. Not the Authoritarian Way,” Carter said on January 2, 1978. “But India's successes are just as important because they decisively refute the theory that in order to achieve economic and social progress, a developing country must accept an authoritarian or totalitarian government and all the damage to the health of the human spirit which that kind of rule brings with it,” he told members of parliament. “Is democracy important? Is human freedom valued by all people?... India has given her affirmative answer in a thunderous voice, a voice heard around the world. Something momentous happened here last March, not because any particular party won or lost but rather, I think, because the largest electorate on earth freely and wisely choose its leaders at the polls. In this sense, democracy itself was the victor,” Carter said. A day later at the signing of the Delhi declaration along with then Prime Minister Morarji Desai, Carter said at the heart of the friendship between India and the US is their determination that the moral values of the people must also guide the actions of the states, the governments. “The United States gave the world an illustration of a new form of government, with a new relation between the citizen and the state — a relation in which the state exists to serve the citizen, and not the citizen to serve the state,” he said. “India experimented with creating political unity from overwhelming human diversity, enabling people of different cultures and languages and religions to work together, both in independence and also in freedom. Yours is an experiment whose success the world is celebrating anew,” Carter said in the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. According to the Carter Centre, on January 3, 1978, Carter and then First Lady Rosalynn Carter travelled to the village of Daulatpur Nasirabad, an hour southwest of New Delhi. He was the third American president to visit India and the only one with a personal connection to the country – his mother, Lillian, had worked there as a health volunteer with the Peace Corps during the late 1960s. “The visit was so successful that shortly after, village residents renamed the area 'Carterpuri' and remained in contact with the White House for the rest of President Carter’s tenure. The trip made a lasting impression: Festivities abounded in the village when President Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, and January 3 remains a holiday in Carterpuri,” the Carter Centre said, adding that the visit laid the groundwork for an enduring partnership that has greatly benefited both countries. President Carter understood that shared democratic principles formed a strong foundation for a long, fruitful relationship between the US and India. It is, therefore, no surprise that the two nations grew steadily closer in the decades after he left office, it said. “In fact, since the Carter administration, the US and India have worked closely on energy, humanitarian aid, technology, space cooperation, maritime security, disaster relief, counterterrorism, and more. In the mid-2000s, the United States and India struck a landmark agreement to work toward full civil nuclear cooperation, and bilateral trade has since skyrocketed,” the centre said. "In 2010, the first US-India Strategic Dialogue took place in Washington DC, launching what President Barack Obama called 'an unprecedented partnership'. The arc of US-India ties from the Carter administration to the Biden administration is one of increasing cooperation in both depth and breadth. There are many areas of mutual interest — particularly trade and defense — where successful collaboration has fostered interdependency between the two countries,” it said. Ronak D Desai, Partner and India Practice Leader at Paul Hastings law firm, said Carter's presidency marked a pivotal moment in US-India relations. After the strain caused by the Nixon administration's infamous “tilt” toward Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, Carter understood the critical importance of re-engaging with India as a democratic partner in a rapidly evolving global order. His visit to India in 1978 was not merely symbolic but a substantive effort to rebuild trust and establish a framework for dialogue rooted in mutual respect and shared values, he said. “While Carter’s presidency was often viewed through the lens of domestic challenges, his contributions to US-India relations were transformative," Desai said.

top646 com login SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Dan Campbell stood at the podium after Detroit blew a 17-point lead to San Francisco in last season's NFC title game and talked about how that might have been the Lions' only shot at reaching the Super Bowl. The coach knew how difficult it would be to maintain that high level of play through injuries, attrition and with a target on their back as a top contender in the NFC. Eleven months later as Campbell and the Lions prepare to return to Levi's Stadium for the first time since that loss , that has proved to be prophetic — for San Francisco instead of Detroit. The Lions (13-2) head into the rematch Monday night with the inside track at the top seed in the NFC playoffs, while the 49ers (6-9) have already been eliminated from postseason contention . The element of revenge for last season's 34-31 loss is secondary for Detroit, considering what's on the line the last two weeks of the season. The Lions can clinch the top seed in the NFC by winning their final two games or with a win against the Niners if Minnesota loses to Green Bay on Sunday. “Anytime we lose, the thought of losing is going to motivate you to not want to lose again, particularly with where you were at,” Campbell said. “So, that’s always going to bring its own level of motivation to it. But this is where we’re at in the season, we know that we need another win, we understand where we’re at in the division and the NFC, so I think it’s all encompassing.” While the Lions have no need to search for motivation, that's not the case for the 49ers, who are playing out the string of a lost season after making losing back-to-back NFC title games in 2021-22 and the Super Bowl last season. A run of injuries to key players like Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Nick Bosa and Brandon Aiyuk, combined with inconsistent play all season have led to the 49ers having nothing to play for in the final two games. “It’s obviously not where you want to be this time of year,” Bosa said. "It’s different, especially watching where we’re at last year against this team. Just that feeling of December, January football is a feeling that I’ve gotten used to being really competitive and being in the mix. I think we’re doing a good job of staying engaged and obviously this is our job, so we’re going to finish it strong. Detroit’s faith in Jameson Williams is paying off, taking advantage of his game-breaking abilities with big plays. Jared Goff heaved an 82-yard touchdown pass over Williams’ shoulders and into his hands in last week’s win at Chicago. Earlier this season, Goff threw 70-, 64- and 52-yard passes for scores to the third-year receiver. “We work on it a ton, him and I do, and it’s a testament to him,” Goff said. “He’s asking for it. He wants that work, and I’m more than happy to give it to him during the week. It’s good. Our connection continues to grow. He’s obviously one of the best deep threats in our league, even when it’s not perfect.” The 49ers head into the game scrambling to put together an offensive line. Williams has been out for more than a month with an ankle injury and his backup at left tackle, Jaylon Moore, is now sidelined by a quadriceps injury. Left guard Aaron Banks injured his knee last week, while his backup Ben Bartch is already out with an ankle injury. That will leave the Niners with two third-stringers protecting Brock Purdy. But Shanahan said he isn’t thinking of sitting Purdy to protect him. “People deal with that throughout the year on other weeks, too,” he said. “I mean, we’ve got a football team. We’ve got to go out and we’ve got two games here and we’ve got to see what guys we can put out there and whatever we do we’re going to put a game plan together to, as best as we can to give us a chance to win.” Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who may have a chance for the second straight offseason to be an NFL head coach, routinely pulls off trick plays and his latest was a doozy. Goff intentionally stumbled after taking a snap and Jahmyr Gibbs went to the ground as their teammates yelled, “fumble,” to fool the Bears on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta. “Those make you feel good because everybody is invested in it,” Campbell said. “It’s fun. It’s different. It’s sound. “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s sound.” San Francisco kicker Jake Moody is having a rough second season after being drafted in the third round a year ago. Moody has missed seven field goals this season, including a 41-yarder last week at Miami. Moody is just 10 for 16 since coming back from a high ankle sprain in his kicking foot, but Shanahan said he still has confidence in him. “I still feel the same about him, that I believe he’ll be our guy,” Shanahan said. "I mean everyone’s got to perform and do things like that. I think he has had a tough year. Before his high ankle sprain, he missed one. ... I think he was 12 of 13 before that, so I thought he was doing really well." AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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Doctored images have been around for decades. The term "Photoshopped" is part of everyday language. But in recent years, it has seemingly been replaced by a new word: deepfake. It's almost everywhere online, but you likely won't find it in your dictionary at home. What exactly is a deepfake, and how does the technology work? RELATED STORY | Scripps News Reports: Sex, Lies, and Deepfakes A deepfake is an image or video that has been generated by artificial intelligence to look real. Most deepfakes use a type of AI called a "diffusion model." In a nutshell, a diffusion model creates content by stripping away noise. "With diffusion models, they found a very clever way of taking an image and then constructing that procedure to go from here to there," said Lucas Hansen said. He and Siddharth Hiregowdara are cofounders of CivAI, a nonprofit educating the public on the potential — and dangers — of AI. How diffusion models work It can get complicated, so imagine the AI – or diffusion model – as a detective trying to catch a suspect. Like a detective, it relies on its experience and training. It recalls a previous case -– a sneaky cat on the run. Every day it added more and more disguises. On Monday, no disguise. Tuesday, it put on a little wig. Wednesday, it added some jewelry. By Sunday, it's unrecognizable and wearing a cheeseburger mask. The detective learned these changes can tell you what it wore and on what day. AI diffusion models do something similar with noise, learning what something looks like at each step. "The job of the diffusion model is to remove noise," Hiregowdara said. "You would give the model this picture, and then it will give you a slightly de-noised version of this picture." RELATED STORY | Scripps News got deepfaked to see how AI could impact elections When it's time to solve the case and generate a suspect, we give it a clue: the prompts we give when we create an AI-generated image. "We have been given the hint that this is supposed to look like a cat. So what catlike things can we see in here? Okay, we see this curve, maybe that's an ear," Hiregowdara said. The "detective" works backward, recalling its training. It sees a noisy image. Thanks to the clue, it is looking for a suspect — a cat. It subtracts disguises (noise) until it finds the new suspect. Case closed. Now imagine the "detective" living and solving crimes for years and years. It learns and studies everything — landscapes, objects, animals, people, anything at all. So when it needs to generate a suspect or an image, it remembers its training and creates an image. Deepfakes and faceswaps Many deepfake images and videos employ some type of face swapping technology. You've probably experienced this kind of technology already — faceswapping filters like on Snapchat, Instagram or Tiktok use technology similar to diffusion models, recognizing faces and replacing things in real time. "It will find the face in the image and then cut that out kind of, then take the face and convert it to its internal representation," Hansen said. The results are refined then repeated frame by frame. The future and becoming our own detectives As deepfakes become more and more realistic and tougher to detect, understanding how the technology works at a basic level can help us prepare for any dangers or misuse. Deepfakes have already been used to spread election disinformation, create fake explicit images of a teenager, even frame a principal with AI-created racist audio. "All the netizens on social media also have a role to play," Siwei Lyu said. Lyu is a SUNY Empire Innovation Professor at the University of Buffalo's Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and the director of the Media Forensics Lab. His team has created a tool to help spot deepfakes called "DeepFake-o-meter." "We do not know how to handle, how to deal, with these kinds of problems. It's very new. And also requires technical knowledge to understand some of the subtleties there," Lyu said. "The media, the government, can play a very active role to improve user awareness and education. Especially for vulnerable groups like seniors, the kids, who will start to understand the social media world and start to become exposed to AI technologies. They can easily fall for AI magic or start using AI without knowing the limits." RELATED STORY | AI voice cloning: How programs are learning to pick up on pitch and tone Both Lyu and CivAI believe in exposure and education to help combat any potential misuse of deepfake technology. "Our overall goal is that we think AI is going t impact pretty much everyone in a lot of different ways," Hansen said. "And we think that everyone should be aware of the ways that it's going to change them because it's going to impact everyone." "More than just general education — just knowing the facts and having heard what's going to happen," he added. "We want to give people a really intuitive experience of what's going on." Hansen goes on to explain CivAI's role in educating the public. "We try and make all of our demonstrations personalized as much as possible. What we're working on is making it so people can see it themselves. So they know it's real, and they feel that it's real," Hansen said. "And they can have a deep gut level feel for tthe impact that it's going to have." "A big part of the solution is essentially just going to be education and sort of cultural changes," he added. "A lot of this synthetic content is sort of like a new virus that is attacking society right now, and people need to become immune to it in some ways. They need to be more suspicious about what's real and what's not, and I think that will help a lot as well."NoneKULR Technology: Bearish Technicals, But Could Be An Acquisition Target

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Pelham has hiked its development charges for the first time since 2018, a move said to better align with the town’s growth and infrastructure needs. Developers will see an increase of 19.5 per cent in residential and non-residential charges — about 10 per cent lower than what was initially proposed. A new development charges bylaw was approved during a town council meeting last week. Development charges are one-time fees collected when developers receive a building permit in order to help pay for the cost of growth infrastructure such as roads, water and wastewater pipes, parks and firefighting services. Residential rates will increase to $34,999, up from $29,240 (effective Jan. 1, 2024). For non-residential units, rates will be about $16.35 per square foot, up from $13.47. The rates did not come without criticism from developers. Stephen Kaiser of Kaiser and Associates, participating virtually during the meeting, said the town’s background report supporting the rates is “fundamentally flawed and places a multitude of costs on the new homebuyer that should be borne by the existing ratepayers.” “The process to date in developing this bylaw has left a great deal to be desired,” he said, adding there was little consultation with local developers to find a solution that works for both sides. Ward 2 Coun. Brian Eckhardt asked what percentage would be fair. “I don’t really think that’s the game, so to speak,” replied Kaiser. “It’s what is fair, what’s our proportion as growth we should pay as new development.” Niagara Home Builders’ Association chief executive officer Chuck McShane urged council to defer the bylaw approval pending more dialogue, until charges are “equitable to all stakeholders, including the citizens of Pelham, the new purchaser and the industry.” “We know we have to pay DC charges ... but at the end of the day we just want what’s fair for all.” Mayor Marvin Junkin said staff went through the bylaw line-by-line with McShane to reduce the charges to their new level. However, McShane said, those numbers “need to be looked at to ensure they are not only fair for the town, but fair for the new home purchaser.” Town treasurer Teresa Quinlin-Murphy said that from 2018 to 2024, the cost of construction has “gone up significantly,” putting pressure on the town’s capital expenditures plan and the development charges (DC) study. “That’s the pressure we’re all having and that’s why the DC have gone up across all municipalities, not just ours,” she said. Ward 3 Coun. Shellee Niznik said residents expect good roads, working street lights and a rapid response from firefighters, and her own taxes have “increased greatly” about 35 per cent since the last time a DC rate chart was presented. “I really feel this is a balancing out of the fees.” Eckhardt said he struggles to understand how Pelham allocates development charges, with some of the charges placed on what appears to be old projects rather than new development. But he said he has “no qualms” about the work staff did in getting the percentage hike below 20. “You’re always doing a juggling act. The lower DC rates you have, it maybe promotes growth, and then you get tax revenue, but then we’re nailing taxpayers to put in infrastructure that should be being paid with new growth,” he said. Junkin defended the work of the background study and said he was happy with the numbers, as it is “what the town needs going forward.” Ward 1 Coun. Wayne Olson said the town has been working on its debt, and the new bylaw is reasonable, “but it doesn’t really fully take into account the future cost of growth we’re going to see ... I think this strikes a balance.”To channel Adam Brody ’s character in The O.C. , this year was truly Chrismukkah, as the first night of Hanukkah fell on Christmas Day. Gwyneth Paltrow kicked off the celebrations on Wednesday, December 25, by lighting a menorah with activist and fellow actress Noa Tishby . “I think my most favorite [memory] is when I go back to being at my grandparents’ house getting the Hanukkah gelt,” Paltrow recalled in a social media video , referring to the traditional chocolate coins. “I have such a strong memory of the gold, round coins and my brother and I tearing into them.” Paltrow grew up celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah as her mother, Blythe Danner , is Christian, while her father, the late Bruce Paltrow , was raised Jewish. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News Now that Paltrow has grown up, she makes sure to bring Hanukkah traditions into her home with husband Brad Falchuk and their blended family. (They each share two children from past marriages.) “We always light the menorah,” Paltrow said. “We always gather together and after we light the candles, it’s very sweet actually, we all hug and we bring in the light.” Other stars including Karlie Kloss and Andy Cohen also celebrated the Festival of Lights this year. Scroll below to see their festive photos: Credit: WireImage; Getty Images Gwyneth Paltrow, Karlie Kloss and More Stars Celebrating Hanukkah 2024: See Photos To channel Adam Brody ’s character in The O.C. , this year was truly Chrismukkah, as the first night of Hanukkah fell on Christmas Day. Gwyneth Paltrow kicked off the celebrations on Wednesday, December 25, by lighting a menorah with activist and fellow actress Noa Tishby . “I think my most favorite [memory] is when I go back to being at my grandparents’ house getting the Hanukkah gelt,” Paltrow recalled in a social media video , referring to the traditional chocolate coins. “I have such a strong memory of the gold, round coins and my brother and I tearing into them.” Paltrow grew up celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah as her mother, Blythe Danner , is Christian, while her father, the late Bruce Paltrow , was raised Jewish. Now that Paltrow has grown up, she makes sure to bring Hanukkah traditions into her home with husband Brad Falchuk and their blended family. (They each share two children from past marriages.) Other stars including Karlie Kloss and Andy Cohen also celebrated the Festival of Lights this year. Scroll below to see their festive photos: Credit: Courtesy of Karlie Kloss/Instagram Karlie Kloss and Josh Kushner The supermodel and husband Kushner lit four menorahs on the first night, sharing the tradition with sons Levi and Elijah. Credit: Courtesy of Noa Tishby/TikTok Gwyneth Paltrow Paltrow led Tishby in prayer in a social media video. Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Michelle Gellar/Instagram Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. Gellar and Prinze went to a joint Christmas and Hanukkah bash on Wednesday, which included noshing on latkes and brisket. Credit: Courtesy of Noa Tishby/YouTube Mila Kunis Tishby marked night 2 on Thursday, December 26, with Kunis. “I never lit Hanukkah candles until I had kids,” Kunis, who immigrated to the United States from Ukraine as a child, said in a YouTube video. “I grew up doing nothing. I always knew I was Jewish, but I was told to never talk about it.” Once Kunis married Ashton Kutcher and later welcomed two children, she started to see her Judaism as a point of pride. (According to Kunis, Kutcher identifies as Jewish “by choice.”) “I fell in love with my religion because he explained it to me,” Kunis recalled. “There’s no right or wrong way to be Jewish.” Credit: Courtesy of Andy Cohen/Instagram Andy Cohen Cohen kicked off Chabad West Village’s neighborhood menorah lighting in New York City on Wednesday. Credit: Courtesy of Val Chmerkovskiy/Instagram Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson “Happy Christmas & Merry Hanukkah,” Chmerkovskiy wrote via Instagram, sharing dancing footage with wife Johnson. The married Dancing With the Stars pros celebrate both holidays. Credit: Courtesy of Mayim Bialik/Instagram Mayim Bialik Bialik acknowledged via Instagram that she set her menorah atop a “cookie sheet” to avoid candle wax dripping on her table, a custom that is all too relatable to Us. Credit: Courtesy of Leslie Grossman/Instagram Leslie Grossman Grossman shared a photo of her menorah on Wednesday night. Credit: Courtesy of Jake Cohen/Instagram Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco Gomez joined her fiancé, who identifies as Jewish, at a star-studded Hanukkah party that also hosted Debra Messing, Erin Lichy, Alex Edelman and Benj Pasek . Credit: Courtesy of Jake Cohen/Instagram Debra Messing and Erin Lichy Messing hugged the pregnant Real Housewives of New York City star at Pasek’s Hanukkah bash. Credit: Courtesy of Alexa Lemieux/Instagram Brennon and Alexa Lemieux The Love Is Blind season 3 couple, who celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas, dressed in matching festive pajamas with daughter Vienna. In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!

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In the two years since its formation, ’s 13th National Guard Brigade – called “Khartiya” – has gained a reputation not only for prowess in battle but also for its culture of respect and innovative approach to technology. Khartiya helped to halt Russian forces who launched a surprise incursion last May that threatened to overwhelm , from where many of its original members come. The brigade was deployed to confront the Russian incursion around the village of Lyptsi, north of Ukraine’s second-largest city, last June; the forested area has since been a pivotal battleground. And it was there last week that the Khartiya announced it had fought a battle for the first time using only drones – both unmanned aerial vehicles and robotic ground vehicles that sprayed the enemy using remote-control machine guns and laid anti-tank mines, inflicting large casualties and preventing a Russian attack without the loss of a single Ukrainian life. The brigade’s spokesperson, Sergeant Volodymyr Dehtyarev, said Khartiya is committed to creating a “new Ukrainian army” using Nato standards of training that, unlike the Soviet-style hierarchical structures that still linger in many parts of the Ukrainian military, show respect for every member of the fighting force and use education and discussion to cultivate, rather than suppress, individual initiative. He said that the brigade had particularly benefited from British training that emphasised the need for every soldier, of whatever rank, to be able to take part in the planning of a mission or battle and, if necessary, to take over leadership from a superior trank. On Christmas Eve, was taken in a four-wheel-drive vehicle to one of Khartiya’s drone units covering a section of the brigades’s trenches and bunkers in the Lyptsi area. After leaving the highway northwards from Kharkiv, our vehicles headed along country roads and largely deserted villages cloaked in fog as the temperature dipped toward freezing. Along the way, we visited two bases where Khartiya brigade members were resting for a few days before returning to the front lines. As in many other European countries, Ukrainians have their main festive meal on Christmas Eve rather than 25 December. Dinner traditionally consists of 12 dishes, one for each of the disciples. All 12 courses were not a practical proposition in the spartan conditions of the village houses being used by the resting soldiers. But the brigade provided some dishes while the soldiers themselves prepared others. An essential ingredient of the traditional Ukrainian Christmas meal is kutia, an ancient sweet dish of grains, honey and poppyseed. Dehtyarev, accompanying , distributed some. The mood was subdued but not sad. A company commander with the call sign “Czech” said: “Of course tonight everybody is thinking about the families they have left behind. I have a wife and a girl aged 18 and a boy 14 years old. I miss them and this is the third Christmas I will not be with them. But I have to be here as long as is needed and I know my family understands that.” Czech said he and his men spent seven days at the front followed by seven days rest. Many of the Ukrainian soldiers have occupied trenches and tunnel networks abandoned by Russians they have driven out. Others they have dug themselves. In a pattern repeated everywhere along the front lines, small groups of Russians, sometimes brought close to Ukrainian lines in armoured personnel carriers, or riding off-load bikes or quad vehicles, try to press forward despite horrendous losses. Ukrainian and western sources estimate ’s daily losses are at 1,200 dead and 1,500 wounded. Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his generals are indifferent to the high losses because Putin has eliminated all opposition voices so there is no political blowback for him. Czech said: “The fighting is intense and the enemy is sometimes only 25 or 50m away. We can see them. There is no let up and after seven days everyone needs a rest. “On a night like this, we’re also thinking about our comrades that have been killed and will never see their families again or those who have been badly wounded.” One of the brigade’s chaplains, protestant Pastor Oleksandr, visited the bases talking with those who wanted to speak with him and leading a short prayer meeting. A family of four, dressed in traditional costumes, also visited the bases to sing carols. Moving along narrow roads that had been turned to mud, Dehtyarev drove to a concealed location that is home to a drone unit. As the fairy lights on the Yuletide tree in their bunker twinkled in the closing minutes of Christmas Eve, two soldiers, working above ground, adorned a large “Vampire” drone with a deadly 20-pound bomb intended to deliver a lethal greeting behind the Russian lines. The black, lorry wheel-sized drone with six propellers is called Vampire because it is equipped with a thermal imaging camera allowing it to operate by night. The two soldiers worked using red lights that are less visible for an enemy to spot and which bathed the scene in a bizarre, almost festive glow. Controlled by a third member of their unit, the Vampire’s propellers churned the air generating a surprisingly loud, intimidatory clatter as it lifted off the ground, momentarily hovered, and then swung toward its target in the battlegrounds around the village of Lyptsi. Inside the bunker, everyone watched as the lorry wheel-sized Vampire was guided by an operator called Sova – owl, in Ukrainian – using a tiny joystick to keep the drone on course, plotted in blue on one of three screens. Two other screens showed a different version of the map with information about the drone’s height and speed. The drones are called Vampires because they are equipped with thermal imaging cameras enabling them to “see” at night. But the skies over Lyptsi this Christmas Eve were murky with low clouds and fog. The target was a Russian bunker, spotted earlier by another unit operating reconnaissance drones. However, the camera showed the flashes of tracer bullets as the Russians, alerted by the noise of the Vampire’s propellers, tried to down the unmanned craft with machine gun fire. Sova released the bomb around 20 minutes past midnight and into Christmas Day as the monitors showed the drone was precisely above its target. This is only the second Christmas since Ukraine adopted the modern Gregorian calendar that celebrates Christmas on 25 December rather than 27 January. Even without direct sight of the bunker, Sova was confident some of the Russians 130ft below the drone would not live to see the remainder of Ukrainian Christmas Day, let alone the Russian one. The unit’s commander, with the call-sign Makalatura, explained there had been unusually fierce battles raging all day on Christmas Eve as waves of Russian troops accompanied the Khartiya Brigade section he is responsible for protecting. He said that usually, his unit launched planned attacks against targets that had been spotted by reconnaissance drones and scheduled for bombing days or even weeks before by the Khartiya Brigades headquarters. But on Christmas Eve he had sent Vampire drones on three unplanned flights in support of his fellow Khartiya brigade members whose positions had been in danger of falling to Russian forces. In between lethal bombing runs, Makalatura said they use the Vampires to fly food, water and other supplies to their comrades in outposts where deliveries by vehicles on the ground are suicidally vulnerable to the Russians’ own formidable drone forces. The third member of the unit calls himself “Bandera”. Like the other two, he is in his early twenties and like them was thinking of family and friends far away. He said: “My wife and I had a child three and a half months ago, a girl. I’ve only seen her briefly once.” And like most of the Ukrainian soldiers spoke to, Bandera longs for the war to end but only on terms that guarantee Ukrainian independence and security. “We have to make sure that my child and her generation don’t face another future Russian war.” A few hours after returned to Kharkiv on Christmas morning the city was hit by at least six missiles as part of an intense aerial attack affecting much of Ukraine. The Ukrainian air force said Moscow had launched more than 180 missiles and drones which caused many casualties and had targeted energy-generating facilities. Moscow said it had “carried out a massive strike with long-range precision weapons and strike drones.”By Erin Banco WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration has urged the rebel group that led the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad not to assume automatic leadership of the country but instead run an inclusive process to form a transitional government, according to two U.S. officials and a congressional aide briefed on the first U.S. contacts with the group. The communications with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group formerly allied with al Qaeda and designated a terrorist organization by the United States, are being conducted in coordination with Washington's Middle East allies, including Turkey. The administration is also in touch with President-elect Donald Trump's team about the matter, one of the officials said. The discussions, which have taken place over the last several days, are part of a larger effort by Washington to coordinate with various groups inside Syria as it tries to navigate the chaotic aftermath of the sudden collapse of the Assad regime on Sunday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. has sent messages to the group to help guide early efforts to establish a formal governing structure for the country. The sources declined to say whether the messages were being sent directly or via an intermediary. Washington believes the transitional government should represent the desires of the Syrian people and would not support HTS taking control without a formal process to select new leaders, the officials said. The U.S. National Security Council declined to comment. TERRORIST DESIGNATION The United States in 2013 designated HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a terrorist, saying al Qaeda in Iraq had tasked him with overthrowing Assad's rule and establishing Islamic sharia law in Syria. It said the Nusra Front, the predecessor of HTS, carried out suicide attacks that killed civilians and espoused a violent sectarian vision. The official said the administration is not clear about Golani's role in a future Syrian government - or whether he still holds extremist ideologies. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid out on Tuesday criteria for Syria's political transition, saying Washington would recognize a future Syrian government that amounts to a credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governing body. Some lawmakers on Capitol Hill are pushing the administration to consider lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria, including sanctions specifically related to HTS, in exchange for the group meeting certain U.S. demands, the congressional aide told Reuters. The aide said there is a growing feeling among some members of Congress that the U.S. will need to help a transitional government in Syria connect to the global economy and rebuild the country. Sanctions are preventing that from happening, the aide said. Washington is also in communication with HTS and other actors on the ground about battlefield operations, one of the officials said. Senior U.S. officials have repeatedly said they intend to continue military operations in northeastern Syria against ISIS, to ensure the radical extremist group does not become a threat again, given the current power vacuum in the country. U.S. forces in Syria will also continue to prevent Iranian-backed proxy groups from gaining ground, one of the officials said. (Reporting by Erin Banco; Editing by Humeyra Pamuk and Rod Nickel) Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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top 646.ph Trump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations if they act to undermine US dollar WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is threatening 100% tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. His threat was directed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.. Trump says he wants a commitment from the bloc that it will not create a new currency or otherwise try to undermine the U.S. dollar. Emboldened 'manosphere' accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after US election CHICAGO (AP) — An emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers has seized on Donald Trump’s presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring “Your body, my choice,” and have been using it publicly on college campuses and even in public schools. While none of the current online rhetoric is being amplified by Trump, experts say many young men see the former president’s return to the White House as vindication of their views on women. For many women, the words are a worrying sign of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women’s rights. Young men swung to the right for Trump after a campaign dominated by masculine appeals WASHINGTON (AP) — Young men shifted toward Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election in a change from recent years, when most young male voters backed the Democratic candidate. Young white men already supported him in 2020 and shifted slightly farther right this time. Young Latino men were about evenly split between the two candidates. Most young Black men backed Democrat Kamala Harris, though about a third supported Trump. Trump's campaign for the Oval Office was dominated by appeals to traditional masculinity, conveyed in appearances in nontraditional media. His campaign believed that tactic would boost his support among men who otherwise do not pay attention to political media. After entering Aleppo, Syrian insurgents advance to a nearby province. Assad says he'll defeat them BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of Syrian insurgents have taken over most of Aleppo, establishing positions in the country’s largest city and controlling its airport before expanding their shock offensive to a nearby province. They faced little to no resistance from government troops Saturday, according to fighters and activists. Thousands of fighters also moved on, facing almost no defense from government forces. They seized towns and villages in northern Hama, a province where they had a presence before being expelled by government troops in 2016. They claimed to have entered the city of Hama. In his first public comments since the offensive began, President Bashar Assad said Syria will continue to “defend its stability and territorial integrity against terrorists and their supporters.” An Israeli strike in Gaza kills World Central Kitchen workers. Israel says 1 was an Oct. 7 attacker DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike on a car in the Gaza Strip killed five people including employees of World Central Kitchen. The charity says it is “urgently seeking more details” Saturday after Israel’s military said it targeted a World Central Kitchen worker who had been part of the Hamas attack that sparked the war. The charity says it is “heartbroken” and adds that it had no knowledge anyone in the car had alleged ties to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. It says it is pausing operations in Gaza. It paused them earlier this year after an Israeli strike killed seven of its workers. Also on Saturday, Hamas released a new hostage video of Israeli-American Edan Alexander. Lebanese fishermen hope ceasefire with Israel means normal life returning TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is bringing hope for normality back to many in southern Lebanon. That includes fishermen who’ve long launched their single-engine wooden boats into the Mediterranean at dawn. For months, Israel imposed a siege that kept hundreds of fishermen at this ancient Phoenician port ashore. That upended their lives and dealt the industry a major blow. The port siege also cut people off from key ingredients for traditional Lebanese dishes. As war devastated their country, the loss of fish damaged a deep association with home. Now, the possibility of renewed fishing is helping fuel hope. Heavy snow blankets parts of the US during busy holiday travel weekend BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The first big snowfall of the season is blanketing towns in upstate New York and northwestern Pennsylvania as the hectic holiday travel and shopping weekend winds down. Numbing cold and heavy snow could persist into next week and cause hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest regions. A state of emergency has been declared for parts of New York, making it problematic for Thanksgiving travelers. This week’s blast of frigid Arctic air also brought bitterly cold temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below average to the Northern Plains. Cold air is expected to move over the eastern third of the U.S. by Monday with temperatures about 10 degrees below average. Southwest Airlines says it is ending cabin service earlier to reduce chance of injury Southwest Airlines is ending its cabin service earlier starting next month. Beginning on Dec. 4, a company spokesperson says flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. The company says it's making the changes to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries. For passengers, that means they will need to return their seats to an upright position or do other pre-landing procedures earlier than before. While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, injuries have piled up over the years. What to know about the plastic pollution crisis as treaty talks conclude in South Korea BUSAN, South Korea (AP) — The world’s nations will wrap up negotiating a treaty this weekend to address the global crisis of plastic pollution. The world produces more than 400 million tons of new plastic yearly. That could climb about 70% by 2040 without policy changes. China was by far the biggest exporter of plastic products in 2023, followed by Germany and the United States. Less than 10% of plastics are recycled. Many plastics are used for packaging. Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers and lakes. Romania's parliamentary vote risks being overshadowed by presidential race chaos BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanians are preparing to go to the polls in a parliamentary vote that will determine a new government and prime minister to lead the European Union and NATO member country. However, Sunday's vote is sandwiched between a two-round presidential race and is overshadowed by controversies and chaos following the outcome of the first vote. While the president has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security and foreign policy, the prime minister is the head of the nation’s government. Sunday’s vote will determine the formation of the country’s 466-seat legislature.

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TSLA Stock: A Gamer’s Investment Strategy? Exploring the Future of GameTechBrown will race a Red Bulland NextGen-supported Toyota FT-60 in three rounds of theforthcoming 2025 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional OceaniaChampionship, fulfilling a long-held desire to compete inthe series. All three appearances will be at TripleEight Race Engineering shareholder Tony Quinn’s NewZealand tracks. That means Brown will be in action in thefirst two rounds at Taupo International Motorsport Park andHampton Downs before racing in the season finale, the 69thNew Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands MotorsportPark. Although comparison to Shane van Gisbergen’sfamous win as the reigning Supercars champion in a RedBull-backed car in the 2021 New Zealand Grand Prix will beinevitable, Brown says his surprise inclusion in thechampionship is more about exploring his own abilities as aracing driver. “Single seaters are a bit of an itchI want to scratch and there’s no better place to do itthan in this championship,” he said. “I was watchingFormula 2 and Formula 3 races earlier this year and thoughtit would be great to race in a competitive field of singleseaters once again.” Brown wanted to compete in thechampionship as far back as 2017 but couldn’t quite pullthe right deal together. That all changed thisyear. “When Tony’s organisation took over thepromotion of the major New Zealand championships, the desireto have another go started to look like a much morerealistic possibility. I’m delighted to be part of thosethree weekends and am looking forward to some excellentracing. “I’m not coming to take part, I’m comingto New Zealand to win. It’s no different to why I havewanted to try NASCAR and TCR. As a racing driver I want totest myself against the best and I know this championshiphas a fantastic record of helping produce some world classdrivers.” Brown will join GilesMotorsport for his three big weekends – one of the fourteams who run all of the drivers during the championship’sfive weekends. He’ll be in good hands. Team principalStephen Giles was chief engineer to Mika Häkkinen in histwo F1 world championship winning seasons of 1998 and1999. Like the vast majority of top single seaterracers around the world, Brown followed the ‘classic’route in motorsport, competing in karts from the age of 13before switching to circuit racing and winning theAustralian Formula Ford Championship and the Formula 4Championship in 2016. He won theAustralian Toyota 86 Championship the same year and thatproved a turning point as he headed down the tin top routeon a trajectory to Supercars. But despite his phenomenalsuccess in Australia’s main game, he’s never lost theappetite for driving fast open-wheeled racingcars. His last appearance in single seaters was in theAustralian S5000 series in 2019 where he took on the likesof Rubens Barrichello, but Brown says he’ll be ready tofight at the front. “Hopefully I’ll be able to getsome testing in a single seater at some stage, but I knowTaupo well from Supercars, I’ve done some laps at HamptonDowns in a Toyota 86 and I’ve done a few laps at Highlandsas well, so the tracks will not be new to me.” Round 01: 10 - 12 January 2025, TaupoInternational Motorsport Park Round 02: 17 - 19 January2025, Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park Round03: 24 - 26 January 2025, Manfeild, Circuit ChrisAmon Round 04: 31 January – 2 February 2025, TeretongaPark, Invercargill Round 05: 7 - 9 February 2025,Highlands Motorsport Park, :

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Ex-Ireland AM star Grainne Seoige ‘ran very spirited campaign’ insists FF leader as TV star set for Dail disappointment

top 646.ph login Lucid Is Shifting Into Higher Gear. Is the Stock a Buy Now?Kathmandu, Dec 29: CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has inquired about the health condition of CPN (Maoist Revolutionary)'s General-Secretary Mohan Baidhya on Sunday evening. General-Secretary Baidhya is undergoing treatment at the Suresh Wagle Memorial Cancer Centre at the TU Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for chest and asthma infections. Doctors attending to him briefed Prachanda that Baidhya needs rest in a favorable environment for some more time as the infection was still there. Prachanda met Baidhya's families as well and discussed about Baidhya's health condition with them. Baidhya also mentioned Dahal that he was feeling a bit easier after he was referred to the ICU facility. Sharing about an improvement in Baidhya's health, Prachanda extended his best wishes for Baidhya's speedy recovery. (RSS)

Court challenge over vote to extend post-Brexit trading arrangements dismissed

Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid mixed trading. The S & P 500 rose 0.2% Monday after closing November at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared after saying an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or the company’s board. Retailers were mixed coming off Black Friday and heading into what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. On Monday: The S & P 500 rose 14.77 points, or 0.2%, to 6,047.15. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128.65 points, or 0.3%, to 44,782. The Nasdaq composite rose 185.78 points, or 1%, to 19,403.95. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 0.59 points, or less than 0.1%, to 2,434.14. For the year: The S & P 500 is up 1,277.32 points, or 26.8%. The Dow is up 7,092.46 points, or 18.8%. The Nasdaq is up 4,392.60 points, or 29.3%. The Russell 2000 is up 407.06 points, or 20.1%.Daily Update: Ratings, WWE Raw, Tetsuya Naito

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By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70

No one needs festive red cookware for the holiday season, but is it nice to have? Absolutely! Kohl’s has a major Cyber Monday sale happening now that includes its highest-rated cookware set , the Food Network 10-Piece Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set, with its price reduced from $130 to $42 and another 10% off for Kohl’s Rewards members. With the Kohl’s Rewards member-exclusive code YOUR10, you can knock $5 off the cost to bring your total spend to $37. This Cyber Monday discount is better than the deal Kohl’s offered during its Prime Day competitor sale, Summer Cyber Deals, in July. If your pots and pans have seen better days, then it might be time to level up with the ceramic cookware customers bill as the “best they’ve ever owned.” You’ll get a variety of electric, gas, and glass cooktop and oven-safe (up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit) pots and pans with 4.5-star ratings. That includes two saucepans, two skillets, and a stockpot, all with tempered glass lids that promise to seal in moisture and flavor. According to the brand, the durable, two-layer ceramic coating makes for easy food release and an even simpler clean up, while the comfortable, stay-cool silicone handles lend bonus user-friendliness and heat safety. What’s more, the cranberry red color can add a yuletide touch to your kitchen throughout December and well into 2025. Shop the $37 Food Network 10-Piece Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set deal at Kohl’s, only for Cyber Monday . More Kohl’s holiday deals Food Network Farmstead 10-Piece Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set for $69, instead of $180 Cuisinart Mix It In Soft-Serve Ice Cream Maker for $130, instead of $200 BLACK+DECKER BEV Cocktail Maker with Bonus Bar Mat for $180, instead of $370 The Best Cyber Monday & Leftover Black Friday Deals Amazon has these HotPal palm-sized rechargeable hand warmers on sale for up to 46% off Kate Spade’s Cyber Monday sale has the best handbags up to 50% off — and almost everything else is discounted too Amazon has AncestryDNA kits on sale for their best price ever ahead of the holidays Amazon has this Masterbilt digital smoker back in stock and on sale for a whopping $80 off in a huge Cyber Monday deal HOKA sneakers are now marked even cheaper in a huge holiday sale — but these low-price deals won’t last Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Danielle Halibey can be reached at dhalibey@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .

By BILL BARROW, Associated Press PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Newly married and sworn as a Naval officer, Jimmy Carter left his tiny hometown in 1946 hoping to climb the ranks and see the world. Less than a decade later, the death of his father and namesake, a merchant farmer and local politician who went by “Mr. Earl,” prompted the submariner and his wife, Rosalynn, to return to the rural life of Plains, Georgia, they thought they’d escaped. The lieutenant never would be an admiral. Instead, he became commander in chief. Years after his presidency ended in humbling defeat, he would add a Nobel Peace Prize, awarded not for his White House accomplishments but “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” The life of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, ended Sunday at the age of 100 where it began: Plains, the town of 600 that fueled his political rise, welcomed him after his fall and sustained him during 40 years of service that redefined what it means to be a former president. With the stubborn confidence of an engineer and an optimism rooted in his Baptist faith, Carter described his motivations in politics and beyond in the same way: an almost missionary zeal to solve problems and improve lives. Carter was raised amid racism, abject poverty and hard rural living — realities that shaped both his deliberate politics and emphasis on human rights. “He always felt a responsibility to help people,” said Jill Stuckey, a longtime friend of Carter’s in Plains. “And when he couldn’t make change wherever he was, he decided he had to go higher.” Carter’s path, a mix of happenstance and calculation , pitted moral imperatives against political pragmatism; and it defied typical labels of American politics, especially caricatures of one-term presidents as failures. “We shouldn’t judge presidents by how popular they are in their day. That’s a very narrow way of assessing them,” Carter biographer Jonathan Alter told the Associated Press. “We should judge them by how they changed the country and the world for the better. On that score, Jimmy Carter is not in the first rank of American presidents, but he stands up quite well.” Later in life, Carter conceded that many Americans, even those too young to remember his tenure, judged him ineffective for failing to contain inflation or interest rates, end the energy crisis or quickly bring home American hostages in Iran. He gained admirers instead for his work at The Carter Center — advocating globally for public health, human rights and democracy since 1982 — and the decades he and Rosalynn wore hardhats and swung hammers with Habitat for Humanity. Yet the common view that he was better after the Oval Office than in it annoyed Carter, and his allies relished him living long enough to see historians reassess his presidency. “He doesn’t quite fit in today’s terms” of a left-right, red-blue scoreboard, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the former president multiple times during his own White House bid. At various points in his political career, Carter labeled himself “progressive” or “conservative” — sometimes both at once. His most ambitious health care bill failed — perhaps one of his biggest legislative disappointments — because it didn’t go far enough to suit liberals. Republicans, especially after his 1980 defeat, cast him as a left-wing cartoon. It would be easiest to classify Carter as a centrist, Buttigieg said, “but there’s also something radical about the depth of his commitment to looking after those who are left out of society and out of the economy.” Indeed, Carter’s legacy is stitched with complexities, contradictions and evolutions — personal and political. The self-styled peacemaker was a war-trained Naval Academy graduate who promised Democratic challenger Ted Kennedy that he’d “kick his ass.” But he campaigned with a call to treat everyone with “respect and compassion and with love.” Carter vowed to restore America’s virtue after the shame of Vietnam and Watergate, and his technocratic, good-government approach didn’t suit Republicans who tagged government itself as the problem. It also sometimes put Carter at odds with fellow Democrats. The result still was a notable legislative record, with wins on the environment, education, and mental health care. He dramatically expanded federally protected lands, began deregulating air travel, railroads and trucking, and he put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. As a fiscal hawk, Carter added a relative pittance to the national debt, unlike successors from both parties. Carter nonetheless struggled to make his achievements resonate with the electorate he charmed in 1976. Quoting Bob Dylan and grinning enthusiastically, he had promised voters he would “never tell a lie.” Once in Washington, though, he led like a joyless engineer, insisting his ideas would become reality and he’d be rewarded politically if only he could convince enough people with facts and logic. This served him well at Camp David, where he brokered peace between Israel’s Menachem Begin and Epypt’s Anwar Sadat, an experience that later sparked the idea of The Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter’s tenacity helped the center grow to a global force that monitored elections across five continents, enabled his freelance diplomacy and sent public health experts across the developing world. The center’s wins were personal for Carter, who hoped to outlive the last Guinea worm parasite, and nearly did. As president, though, the approach fell short when he urged consumers beleaguered by energy costs to turn down their thermostats. Or when he tried to be the nation’s cheerleader, beseeching Americans to overcome a collective “crisis of confidence.” Republican Ronald Reagan exploited Carter’s lecturing tone with a belittling quip in their lone 1980 debate. “There you go again,” the former Hollywood actor said in response to a wonky answer from the sitting president. “The Great Communicator” outpaced Carter in all but six states. Carter later suggested he “tried to do too much, too soon” and mused that he was incompatible with Washington culture: media figures, lobbyists and Georgetown social elites who looked down on the Georgians and their inner circle as “country come to town.” Carter carefully navigated divides on race and class on his way to the Oval Office. Born Oct. 1, 1924 , Carter was raised in the mostly Black community of Archery, just outside Plains, by a progressive mother and white supremacist father. Their home had no running water or electricity but the future president still grew up with the relative advantages of a locally prominent, land-owning family in a system of Jim Crow segregation. He wrote of President Franklin Roosevelt’s towering presence and his family’s Democratic Party roots, but his father soured on FDR, and Jimmy Carter never campaigned or governed as a New Deal liberal. He offered himself as a small-town peanut farmer with an understated style, carrying his own luggage, bunking with supporters during his first presidential campaign and always using his nickname. And he began his political career in a whites-only Democratic Party. As private citizens, he and Rosalynn supported integration as early as the 1950s and believed it inevitable. Carter refused to join the White Citizens Council in Plains and spoke out in his Baptist church against denying Black people access to worship services. “This is not my house; this is not your house,” he said in a churchwide meeting, reminding fellow parishioners their sanctuary belonged to God. Yet as the appointed chairman of Sumter County schools he never pushed to desegregate, thinking it impractical after the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board decision. And while presidential candidate Carter would hail the 1965 Voting Rights Act, signed by fellow Democrat Lyndon Johnson when Carter was a state senator, there is no record of Carter publicly supporting it at the time. Carter overcame a ballot-stuffing opponent to win his legislative seat, then lost the 1966 governor’s race to an arch-segregationist. He won four years later by avoiding explicit mentions of race and campaigning to the right of his rival, who he mocked as “Cufflinks Carl” — the insult of an ascendant politician who never saw himself as part the establishment. Carter’s rural and small-town coalition in 1970 would match any victorious Republican electoral map in 2024. Once elected, though, Carter shocked his white conservative supporters — and landed on the cover of Time magazine — by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Before making the jump to Washington, Carter befriended the family of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whom he’d never sought out as he eyed the governor’s office. Carter lamented his foot-dragging on school integration as a “mistake.” But he also met, conspicuously, with Alabama’s segregationist Gov. George Wallace to accept his primary rival’s endorsement ahead of the 1976 Democratic convention. “He very shrewdly took advantage of his own Southerness,” said Amber Roessner, a University of Tennessee professor and expert on Carter’s campaigns. A coalition of Black voters and white moderate Democrats ultimately made Carter the last Democratic presidential nominee to sweep the Deep South. Then, just as he did in Georgia, he used his power in office to appoint more non-whites than all his predecessors had, combined. He once acknowledged “the secret shame” of white Americans who didn’t fight segregation. But he also told Alter that doing more would have sacrificed his political viability – and thus everything he accomplished in office and after. King’s daughter, Bernice King, described Carter as wisely “strategic” in winning higher offices to enact change. “He was a leader of conscience,” she said in an interview. Rosalynn Carter, who died on Nov. 19 at the age of 96, was identified by both husband and wife as the “more political” of the pair; she sat in on Cabinet meetings and urged him to postpone certain priorities, like pressing the Senate to relinquish control of the Panama Canal. “Let that go until the second term,” she would sometimes say. The president, recalled her former aide Kathy Cade, retorted that he was “going to do what’s right” even if “it might cut short the time I have.” Rosalynn held firm, Cade said: “She’d remind him you have to win to govern.” Carter also was the first president to appoint multiple women as Cabinet officers. Yet by his own telling, his career sprouted from chauvinism in the Carters’ early marriage: He did not consult Rosalynn when deciding to move back to Plains in 1953 or before launching his state Senate bid a decade later. Many years later, he called it “inconceivable” that he didn’t confer with the woman he described as his “full partner,” at home, in government and at The Carter Center. “We developed a partnership when we were working in the farm supply business, and it continued when Jimmy got involved in politics,” Rosalynn Carter told AP in 2021. So deep was their trust that when Carter remained tethered to the White House in 1980 as 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran, it was Rosalynn who campaigned on her husband’s behalf. “I just loved it,” she said, despite the bitterness of defeat. Fair or not, the label of a disastrous presidency had leading Democrats keep their distance, at least publicly, for many years, but Carter managed to remain relevant, writing books and weighing in on societal challenges. He lamented widening wealth gaps and the influence of money in politics. He voted for democratic socialist Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and later declared that America had devolved from fully functioning democracy to “oligarchy.” Yet looking ahead to 2020, with Sanders running again, Carter warned Democrats not to “move to a very liberal program,” lest they help re-elect President Donald Trump. Carter scolded the Republican for his serial lies and threats to democracy, and chided the U.S. establishment for misunderstanding Trump’s populist appeal. He delighted in yearly convocations with Emory University freshmen, often asking them to guess how much he’d raised in his two general election campaigns. “Zero,” he’d gesture with a smile, explaining the public financing system candidates now avoid so they can raise billions. Carter still remained quite practical in partnering with wealthy corporations and foundations to advance Carter Center programs. Carter recognized that economic woes and the Iran crisis doomed his presidency, but offered no apologies for appointing Paul Volcker as the Federal Reserve chairman whose interest rate hikes would not curb inflation until Reagan’s presidency. He was proud of getting all the hostages home without starting a shooting war, even though Tehran would not free them until Reagan’s Inauguration Day. “Carter didn’t look at it” as a failure, Alter emphasized. “He said, ‘They came home safely.’ And that’s what he wanted.” Well into their 90s, the Carters greeted visitors at Plains’ Maranatha Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and where he will have his last funeral before being buried on family property alongside Rosalynn . Carter, who made the congregation’s collection plates in his woodworking shop, still garnered headlines there, calling for women’s rights within religious institutions, many of which, he said, “subjugate” women in church and society. Carter was not one to dwell on regrets. “I am at peace with the accomplishments, regret the unrealized goals and utilize my former political position to enhance everything we do,” he wrote around his 90th birthday. The politician who had supposedly hated Washington politics also enjoyed hosting Democratic presidential contenders as public pilgrimages to Plains became advantageous again. Carter sat with Buttigieg for the final time March 1, 2020, hours before the Indiana mayor ended his campaign and endorsed eventual winner Joe Biden. “He asked me how I thought the campaign was going,” Buttigieg said, recalling that Carter flashed his signature grin and nodded along as the young candidate, born a year after Carter left office, “put the best face” on the walloping he endured the day before in South Carolina. Never breaking his smile, the 95-year-old host fired back, “I think you ought to drop out.” “So matter of fact,” Buttigieg said with a laugh. “It was somehow encouraging.” Carter had lived enough, won plenty and lost enough to take the long view. “He talked a lot about coming from nowhere,” Buttigieg said, not just to attain the presidency but to leverage “all of the instruments you have in life” and “make the world more peaceful.” In his farewell address as president, Carter said as much to the country that had embraced and rejected him. “The struggle for human rights overrides all differences of color, nation or language,” he declared. “Those who hunger for freedom, who thirst for human dignity and who suffer for the sake of justice — they are the patriots of this cause.” Carter pledged to remain engaged with and for them as he returned “home to the South where I was born and raised,” home to Plains, where that young lieutenant had indeed become “a fellow citizen of the world.” —- Bill Barrow, based in Atlanta, has covered national politics including multiple presidential campaigns for the AP since 2012.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — John Elway says any remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL draft is quickly dissipating with rookie Bo Nix's rapid rise, suggesting the Denver Broncos have finally found their next franchise quarterback. Elway said Nix, the sixth passer selected in April's draft, is an ideal fit in Denver with coach Sean Payton navigating his transition to the pros and Vance Joseph's defense serving as a pressure release valve for the former Oregon QB. "We've seen the progression of Bo in continuing to get better and better each week and Sean giving him more each week and trusting him more and more to where last week we saw his best game of the year," Elway said in a nod to Nix's first game with 300 yards and four touchdown throws in a rout of Atlanta. For that performance, Nix earned his second straight NFL Rookie of the Week honor along with the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. "I think the sky's the limit," Elway said, "and that's just going to continue to get better and better." In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Elway also touted former coach Mike Shanahan's Hall of Fame credentials, spoke about the future of University of Colorado star and Heisman favorite Travis Hunter and discussed his ongoing bout with a chronic hand condition. Elway spent the last half of his decade as the Broncos' GM in a futile search for a worthy successor to Peyton Manning, a pursuit that continued as he transitioned into a two-year consultant role that ended after the 2022 season. "You have all these young quarterbacks and you look at the ones that make it and the ones that don't and it's so important to have the right system and a coach that really knows how to tutelage quarterbacks, and Sean's really good at that," Elway said. "I think the combination of Bo's maturity, having started 61 games in college, his athletic ability and his knowledge of the game has been such a tremendous help for him,'" Elway added. "But also Vance Joseph's done a heck of a job on the defensive side to where all that pressure's not being put on Bo and the offense to score all the time." Payton and his staff have methodically expanded Nix's repertoire and incorporated his speed into their blueprints. Elway lauded them for "what they're doing offensively and how they're breaking Bo into the NFL because it's a huge jump and I think patience is something that goes a long way in the NFL when it comes down to quarterbacks." Elway said he hopes to sit down with Nix at some point when things slow down for the rookie. Nix, whose six wins are one more than Elway had as a rookie, said he looks forward to meeting the man who won two Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame playing career and another from the front office. "He's a legend not only here for this organization, but for the entire NFL," Nix said, adding, "most guys, they would love to have a chat with John Elway, just pick his brain. It's just awesome that I'm even in that situation." Hall of Fame Orange Crush linebacker Randy Gradishar joined Elway in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, something Elway called "way, way overdue." Elway suggested it's also long past time for the Hall to honor Shanahan, who won back-to-back Super Bowls in Denver with Elway at QB and whose footprint you see every weekend in the NFL because of his expansive coaching tree. Sanders & Hunter Elway called University of Colorado stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders "both great athletes." He said he really hopes Sanders gets drafted by a team that will bring him along like the Broncos have done with Nix, and he sees Hunter being able to play both ways in the pros — but not full time. Elway said he thinks Hunter will be primarily a corner in the NFL but with significant contributions on offense: "He's great at both. He's got great instincts, and that's what you need at corner." Hand condition It's been five years since Elway announced he was dealing with Dupuytren's contracture, a chronic condition that typically appears after age 40 and causes one or more fingers to permanently bend toward the palm. Elway's ring fingers on both hands were originally affected and he said now the middle finger on his right hand is starting to pull forward. So, he'll get another injection of a drug called Xiaflex, which is the only FDA-approved non-surgical treatment, one that he's endorsing in an awareness campaign for the chronic condition that affects 17 million Americans. The condition can make it difficult to do everyday tasks such as shaking hands or picking up a coffee mug. Elway said what bothered him most was "I couldn't pick up a football and I could not imagine not being able to put my hand around a football."Analysis: Kevin O‘Connell’s Vikings show resilience in racking up more one-score wins

Syria's New Chapter: Alawite Endorsement Marks ShiftHOUSTON , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OptiSigns, a leader in digital signage software solutions, is thrilled to announce its participation as a Platinum Sponsor in this year's Digital Signage Experience (DSE) 2024, taking place this December in Las Vegas, Nevada . The highly anticipated event, a premier gathering for digital signage innovators, professionals, and enthusiasts, will provide the perfect stage for OptiSigns to unveil its latest advancements and engage with industry leaders. Visitors of DSE 2024 will have the opportunity to experience firsthand how OptiSigns' powerful and user-friendly platform is transforming how businesses communicate, engage, and inform their audiences. From dynamic content scheduling to seamless integrations and real-time updates, OptiSigns' solutions are designed to meet the needs of businesses across industries, including retail, hospitality, healthcare, and more. "At OptiSigns, we are passionate about empowering businesses with technology that engages audiences and drives results," said Head of Sales John Shelley. "We are excited to connect with industry professionals at DSE 2024, showcase our solutions, and demonstrate how digital signage can transform communication strategies." DSE 2024 will take place from December 9, 2024 , to December 10, 2024 , at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada , and promises to bring together key players and thought leaders in digital signage, offering a unique platform to explore the latest technologies and network with industry professionals. What to Expect from OptiSigns at DSE 2024: Live Demonstrations: Visitors of DSE can visit OptiSigns booth #3134 to explore the intuitive features of the OptiSigns platform and learn how it can simplify and enhance digital signage management. Using OptiSigns innovative technology like the Pro Player and Android Stick, visitors will be treated to LIVE Demos of unique OptiSigns features like Audience Intelligence, the OptiSync Data Management System, and the Lift and Learn Interactive Kiosk Experience. New Product Announcements: Stop by OptiSigns booth #3134 and be the first to see the newest innovative Pro Max technology designed by OptiSigns and learn more about unique updates that will redefine the digital signage landscape. Our newest Pro Max technology is our most powerful digital signage player that supports 8K or 4x4K video walls. With OptiSigns experts onsite, visitors will have the opportunity to discuss trends, best practices, and strategies for maximizing the impact of digital signage. Exclusive Giveaways and Promotions: Attendees visiting OptiSigns booth #3134 will have access to special offers, giveaways, and prizes. This year, OptiSigns will unleash their interactive Opti Claw Machine, tantalizing visitors with a chance to win OptiSigns Android Sticks, Pro Players, Optibot Keychains, and more. One lucky winner will win a brand new PS5 Pro via a LinkedIn competition, and the winner will be announced LIVE at DSE! For more information on the PS5 giveaway, check out OptiSigns' LinkedIn page. About OptiSigns OptiSigns is a leading digital signage software provider dedicated to helping businesses create engaging, impactful content experiences. Focusing on simplicity, scalability, and innovation, OptiSigns empowers organizations to communicate their message effectively and captivate their audience through digital displays. For more information on OptiSigns, visit www.optisigns.com or follow us on all social media @OptiSignsInc. Media Contact: Aisha Albritton Director of Trade Show Strategy and Event Marketing Aisha.Albritton@OptiSigns.com | (404) 641-0613 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/optisigns-to-showcase-cutting-edge-digital-signage-solutions-at-the-digital-signage-experience-2024-in-las-vegas-302320107.html SOURCE OptiSigns

DETROIT — Another home of a University of Michigan leader was vandalized, including the spray-painting of a vehicle with a pro-Palestinian slogan, a regent said Monday. UM Regent Jordan Acker said his Huntington Woods home and vehicle were both vandalized early Monday. Someone threw a mason jar through one of his home's windows and spray-painted the words "Divest and Free Palestine" on an SUV, said Acker, who is Jewish. "My first thought when I heard the glass breaking is that one of my daughters had gone downstairs to get something to drink and dropped it," he said. "It was very loud and it sounded like dishes breaking. "It was only about 30 seconds later when the police arrived that I came down and realized what had happened." Acker said he later found out a neighbor called the police after seeing a couple of people running away from the house. Authorities found fragments of a glass jar inside the house along with a foul-smelling liquid as well as a second jar outside of the home, he said. Acker called the upside-down red triangle the vandals also painted on the vehicle along with the graffiti particularly disturbing and upsetting. He considers the incident a threat against his family. "That symbol has been used by Hamas to mean something is a legitimate military target," the regent said. "This is a threat. This was not a protest. This is terrorism." The incident comes about six months after vandals targeted Acker's Southfield law office. They spray-painted the words "Free Palestine" and "Divest Now" on the building. The law firm said the attack was being investigated as a hate crime. Acker said the incident at his office remains under investigation and no arrests have been made. Officials for the University of Michigan issued a statement Monday on X calling the vandalism of Acker's house "a clear act of anti-Semitic intimidation." "The University of Michigan condemns these criminal acts in the strongest possible terms," the school said. "They are abhorrent, and unfortunately, just the latest in a number of incidents where individuals have been harassed because of their work on behalf of the university. This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We call on our community to come together in solidarity and to firmly reject all forms of bigotry and violence." The university has been embroiled in debate and protests about Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 and Israel's counterattack, prompting a war that continues to this day. University events have been disrupted by demonstrators, an encampment was built on campus for a month before being dismantled by police, and regents and other university leaders have been targeted with protests and vandalism. The incident comes about two months after graffiti was spray-painted on the homes of UM President Santa Ono and Erik Lundberg, UM's chief investment officer. The vandalism was done on the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas, which runs Gaza. It also followed months of demonstrations and disruptions by UM students and their supporters, who demand the university divest from its portfolio any holdings linked to Israel since the country's counter-attack on Hamas in Gaza — which has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry. The messages at Ono's home were spray-painted in red on his house and sidewalk. They included "Coward," "Divest now," along with upside-down triangles and "intifada," an Arabic word meaning uprising or resistance. Similar words were spray painted at Lundberg's home, including "complicit" and "intifada." Officials decry vandalism Mark Bernstein, vice chair of the university's Board of Regents, decried the vandalism in a statement to The Detroit News. Bernstein, who is president and managing partner of the Sam Bernstein Law Firm PLLC, was first elected to the Board of Regents in 2012 and re-elected in 2020. “The repeated targeting of my colleague, a Jewish elected official, and his family, is conduct that demands condemnation and aggressive criminal prosecution," he said. "This act reveals the dangerous antisemitism at the core of this radical movement that has adopted terrorist symbols in their repugnant rhetoric." Others also condemned the attack on Monday. U.S. Rep. and U.S. Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, categorized the act as criminal. "This makes three attacks on University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker’s home and office in just over six months," she said in a statement. "This is targeted hate meant to intimidate and threaten him and his family, and law enforcement has a responsibility to move quickly to connect the dots and do something about it. This is not activism or free speech on behalf of a cause — indeed this criminal activity undercuts the very cause they purport to care about." U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, called the incident sickening. "Jordan Acker is a dedicated public servant and he and his family should be safe in their own home," she said in a post on X. "I am sickened by the anti-Semitic attack on his home last night. Vandalism, violence, and bigotry have no place in America. Enough. Our Jewish brothers and sisters deserve to live in security and peace." Also on X, former U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Grand Rapids Township, decried what he called "another disgusting antisemitic attack" on Acker. "Political leaders in Michigan must take this vile behavior seriously — vandalism and harassment is reprehensible enough, but left unchecked threatens to escalate into physical violence," he wrote. Acker details what happened Acker, an attorney who has been on the board since 2019, also posted about the incident on his Instagram page on Monday. "In the very early hours of this morning, while my wife, my three young daughters and I were asleep in our beds, we were awakened by the sound of two heavy thrown through the front window of our house," he said in his post. "While my eldest daughter ran into our room, frightened by the sound of breaking glass, I ran downstairs, saw the broken window, and then ran outside to find my wife’s car had been graffitied by anti-Semitic vandals." He added in the post: "This is the third time that I — and now my family — have been the target of these Klan-like tactics. We all need to call out this cowardly act attacking my family and my home for what it truly is — terrorism. And like we always do in this great nation when we’re confronted with terrorism — I will not let fear win. All this does is harden my resolve to continue to do the right thing for the University and the Michigan voters who elected me." He concluded the post with: "I call upon members of the Michigan community to publicly repudiate this vile anti-Semitic intimidation and to offer full support to law enforcement to root out these bigots so they see the consequences for their actions." Acker said he won't disclose what safety measures he will take to protect his family and himself following Monday's incident. "These messages, whether they're left at my office or my home, are intended to intimidate a Jewish elected official," he said. "But I am not going to be intimidated by them." Acker said he calls on every elected official in Michigan, whether they're on the political right or the left, to publicly condemn this sort of behavior. "It's not enough to condemn privately," he said. "We have to say publicly this is not acceptable no matter where you stand on the issue of Israel and Palestine. He said he would like to see the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit and the FBI become involved in the investigation into the attack. "It's pretty obvious this is a civil rights violation and I wish the U.S. Attorney's Office would take it seriously," Acker said. The regent also urges people on UM's campus who know who the vandals are and where they are to come forward to stop incidents like this from happening again. In mid-May, pro-Palestinian protesters delivered a list of demands to the homes of the eight regents. They also "decorated" the front lawn of then UM Board of Regents Chair Sarah Hubbard's home with "scenes of genocide in Palestine" along with a taped list of demands for divestment from Israel on the door of her home. At the time, Acker wrote on X that "around 4:40 a.m., a masked intruder came to the door of my family's home with a list of demands, including defunding the police." "My three daughters were asleep in their beds, and thankfully unaware of what transpired," Acker wrote. "This form of protest is not peaceful. Public officials should not be subject to this sort of intimidating conduct, and this behavior is unacceptable from any Michigan community member, especially one led by someone who called for the death of people they disagree with." -------- ©2024 www.detroitnews.com . Visit at detroitnews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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