Unlike 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 $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their 19-9 win over the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay’s team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” RELATED COVERAGE The Darnold-Jefferson connection is thriving for the surging Vikings Patriots coach Jerod Mayo believes narrow loss to Bills shows potential of his young team Garrett’s comments about his future add wrinkle to Browns’ worst season since 0-16 in 2017 The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don’t stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they’ve mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other’s weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay’s fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. What’s working Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams’ offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. What needs help Stafford’s 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday’s weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Stock up Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. Stock down CB Cobie Durant didn’t play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA’s first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon’s recent play when asked why Durant didn’t get on the field in New Jersey. Injuries The Rams’ improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee’s successful season debut. Key number 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. Next steps The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can’t clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC’s third seed, but that doesn’t matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North’s two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFLPromotion Affirms Company's Commitment to Galvanize New Era of Tech-Driven Real Estate Investment NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Underscoring its commitment to revolutionize investment strategies by leveraging advanced technologies to drive investor value, real estate investment firm AWH Partners announces the promotion of Devashish (Dev) Sharma to director of analytics. Sharma, who has been with the New York -based firm since July 2023 , has played a pivotal role in enhancing returns for investors by strengthening the integration of technology and data analytics in his previous role in asset management. In this new position, he will leverage the firm's data assets to create insights that sharpen acquisition strategies, improve asset performance, and strengthen overall decision-making and corporate governance, ultimately driving superior outcomes for stakeholders. In leading this newly created role, Sharma will focus on enhancing AWH Partners' cross-functional data ecosystem and optimizing technology-enabled processes to deliver actionable investment insights, streamline analysis, automate recurring tasks, and identify market opportunities ahead of industry trends. By developing business intelligence tools and mechanisms, he will ensure the firm's leadership and continuity in hospitality real estate, delivering enhanced transparency and scalability of tech-driven initiatives to foster sustainable growth and maximize investor returns. With dual master's degrees in business administration and hospitality management from Cornell University , Sharma has 13 years' experience across investment banking, real estate financing, hotel acquisition and hotel asset management. Before relocating to the U.S. for his graduate studies, Sharma was the investment manager at SAMHI Hotels, which specializes in hotel investments in India , and an associate investment manager at Piramal Fund Management, one of the first firms to enter real estate fund management in India . His global expertise in real estate financing and operational excellence has directly contributed to the success of the firm's high-value investment portfolios. "Dev brings a truly exceptional background to this new role with his experience in real estate financing and data analytics, as well as earning advanced degrees in business and hospitality from one of this country's premier Ivy League universities. Since joining AWH, he has demonstrated dedication and passion for helping the firm realize the next level of data-driven decision-making," said Chad Cooley , co-founder and managing partner of AWH Partners. "His work has strengthened our ability to deliver consistent value to our investors, helping us stand out in an increasingly competitive market." AWH Partners has made substantial investments in technology to identify and acquire differentiated investment opportunities in a highly competitive marketplace. This position underscores the firm's strategic focus on combining innovation and expertise to generate superior investor outcomes. By empowering its team with leadership opportunities, AWH Partners fosters an environment where talent thrives, furthering its goal of shaping the future of real estate investment. Sharma's leadership will continue to advance the firm's mission to deliver sustainable growth and performance across its portfolio. A native of India , Sharma is a chartered accountant and earned his bachelor's degree in finance from Sri Venkateswara College at the University of Delhi in 2009. Sharma's global perspective and track record of integrating analytics into investment strategies position him as a key player in advancing AWH Partners' investor-centric vision. "My goal is to further integrate analytics into every aspect of our investment process to ensure we are at the forefront of data and technology use in real estate investment worldwide," he said. About AWH Partners: AWH Partners (AWH) is a leading national platform for hotel real estate investment, management and development. Privately held, it was founded in 2010 by alumni of The Blackstone Group and The Related Companies. The firm partners with marquee institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals around the world. Its portfolio includes properties from renowned brands, including the Marriott and Hilton corporations, as well as independently branded assets. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/awh-partners-promotes-dev-sharma-as-director-of-analytics-302330763.html SOURCE AWH Partners
An Israeli airstrike flattened a multistory building in central Gaza, killing at least 25 people and wounding dozens more, according to Palestinian medical officials, after strikes Thursday across the Gaza Strip killed at least 28 others. The latest deadly strike hit the urban Nuseirat refugee camp just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem that the recent ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for a potential deal to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the deadly strike in Nuseirat. Israel says it is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine in some of the hardest-hit parts of the territory. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 others were taken hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: Syrian exile group says transitional government should be formed through a U.N.-backed process DAMASCUS, Syria — Mohammad Salim Alkhateb, an official with the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces — an internationally backed group of the opposition in exile — said his group wants to see a transitional government formed via a United Nations-backed process in the wake of Bashar Assad ouster. It is not yet clear if Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group now in control of Syria, will pursue such a process. The insurgents have said an interim government headed by Mohammad al-Bashir, who is also the head of the “salvation government” of HTS in its former stronghold in northern Syria, will oversee the country until March but have not made clear how the transition to a new, fully empowered government would take place. “The transitional governing body should be formed in Geneva to have international legitimacy,” said Alkhateb, who is now in Damascus. “The transitional governing body, whatever its form, whether it is the ‘salvation government’ or any other, what matters is that it has international recognition.” Alkhateb said that the unexpectedly rapid fall of Damascus and departure of Assad after opposition forces launched their offensive had created confusion and a governance vacuum. A day before the insurgents pushed into Damascus, diplomats from countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Iran and Russia met in Qatar to discuss the situation in Syria. Alkhateb said that they had discussed a scenario in which the rebels would halt their advance, keeping the territory they had captured so far in the north — including Syria’s largest city, Aleppo — and the opposition and Assad’s government would go to Geneva for talks on a political settlement to the conflict. However, he noted, “there were no Syrians in that meeting.” Assad fled to Russia before the rebel forces arrived in Damascus but has not officially announced his resignation, which is “why we are living in a vacuum rather than a political transition,” Alkhateb said. He added that creating a professional army should be a priority of the transitional government. “We do not want a civilian who was trained during the revolution to carry military weapons to become the military,” he said. Israel bombed hundreds of military sites in Syria this week in a wave of airstrikes that destroyed “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the wave of airstrikes in neighboring Syria was necessary to keep the weapons from being used against Israel following the Syrian government’s stunning collapse . Biden administration says missing American journalist in Syria ‘is a top priority’ WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Karine Jean-Peirre says Austin Tice, an American journalist missing in Syria for 12 years, “is a top priority for this president.” During a briefing with reporters on Thursday, Jean-Pierre said of Tice, “There is no indication that he is not alive. There’s also no indication about his location or condition.” “What our goal is, is to bring him home. And so, we hope certainly that he is alive and, as we have stated many times before, we are talking through this with the Turks and we want to do everything we can to bring him home,” she said. Four Israeli strikes in Lebanon should be investigated as war crimes, rights group says BEIRUT — Amnesty International said Thursday that four Israeli airstrikes between September and October that killed at least 49 civilians in Lebanon “must be investigated as war crimes.” The rights organization said in a new report that the four strikes targeted homes in the Bekaa Valley, northern and eastern Lebanon, and municipal offices in the south. “These four attacks are emblematic of Israel’s shocking disregard for civilian lives in Lebanon and their willingness to flout international law,” said Amnesty International’s Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns. The rights group said this report was part of its ongoing investigation into violations of the laws of war in Lebanon. Amnesty International investigated four Israeli airstrikes, including one on Sept. 29 in al-Ain that killed all nine members of the same family. On Oct. 21, a strike in Baalbek city in eastern Lebanon killed six members of the same family. Another on Oct. 14 in the village of Aitou in northern Lebanon killed 23 displaced people, including a 5-month-old baby. A fragment from the attack site in Aitou was identified by an Amnesty weapons expert as likely part of a Mk-80 series aerial bomb, weighing at least 500 pounds. These munitions are primarily supplied to Israel by the United States, Amnesty said. The fourth strike Amnesty investigated was the strike that hit the municipal headquarters in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon, on Oct. 16, killing 11 civilians including the mayor. “The air strike took place without warning, just as the municipality’s crisis unit was meeting to coordinate deliveries of aid, including food, water and medicine, to residents and internally displaced people who had fled bombardment in other parts of southern Lebanon,” Amnesty said. The rights group said it interviewed survivors and witnesses, examined evidence, and found no military targets near the sites of the four strikes. The Israeli military gave no warnings and did not respond to Amnesty’s inquiries, the group said. Israeli strike on a multistory building in Gaza kills at least 25 people and wounds dozens DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike hit the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 25 Palestinians and wounding dozens more, Palestinian medics said, just hours after President Joe Biden’s national security adviser raised hopes about a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. Photos from the scene of the blast that circulated on social media showed a completely collapsed building with people walking through its mangled and charred remains, smoke rising from piles of belongings strewn over the rubble. Officials at two hospitals in the Gaza Strip, al-Awda Hospital in the north and al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, reported they received a combined total of 25 bodies from an Israeli strike on a multistory residential building in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp. Palestinian medics also reported that over 40 people, most of them children, were receiving treatment at the two hospitals. The al-Aqsa Hospital said that the Israeli attack also damaged several nearby houses in Nuseirat. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the deadly strike. Israel is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UN food agency faces challenges in Syria UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. food agency is trying to deal with massive needs in Syria not only from escalating war-related food insecurity and an upsurge in displaced people fleeing Lebanon but also the dramatically new environment following the ouster of Bashar Assad, a senior U.N. official says. “It’s a triple crisis and the needs are going to be massive,” said Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, in an interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday. The WFP estimated that 3 million people in Syria were “acutely food insecure” and very hungry. However, that estimate was made before the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon pushed many Syrian refugees back to their home country, plus the instability caused by the overthrow of Assad. Due to funding cuts, the WFP had been targeting only 2 million of those people, he said. Because WFP has been working in Syria during the 13-year civil war, he said, it has pre-positioned food in the country. It has 500 staff in seven offices nationwide and has operated across conflict lines, across borders, and with all different parties, he said. Skau said Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group now in control of Syria, has promised to provide security for WFP warehouses. Humanitarian aid supplies had been looted at U.N. warehouses in the disorder after Assad fell. “We’re not really up and running in Damascus because of the continued kind of uncertainty there,” he said. WFP initially thought of relocating non-essential staff but the situation in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, has been “quite calm and orderly," he said. In the short term, Skau said, “what we’re seeing is that markets are disrupted, the value of the currency dropped dramatically, food prices are going up, transport lines don’t work,” and it’s unclear who will stamp required papers for imports and exports. This means that a bigger humanitarian response is needed initially, he said, but in the next phase, the U,N. will be looking at contributing to Syria’s recovery, and ultimately the country will need reconstruction. Skau said he expects a new funding appeal for Syria and urged donors to be generous. A top US official says the truce in Lebanon may help seal a Gaza ceasefire deal JERUSALEM — President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem on Thursday that Israel’s ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for another deal to end the war in Gaza. He plans to travel next to Qatar and Egypt — key mediators in the ceasefire talks — as the Biden administration makes a final push on negotiations before Donald Trump is inaugurated. Sullivan said “Hamas’ posture at the negotiating table did adapt” after Israel decimated the leadership of its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon and reached a ceasefire there. “We believe it puts us in a position to close this negotiation,” he said. Sullivan dismissed speculation that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was waiting for Trump to take office to finalize a deal. He the U.S. believes there are three American hostages still alive in Gaza, but it’s hard to know for sure. He also said “the balance of power in the Middle East has changed significantly” since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, especially with the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of Hezbollah and Iran. “We are now faced with a dramatically reshaped Middle East in which Israel is stronger, Iran is weaker, its proxies decimated, and a ceasefire that is new and will be lasting in Lebanon that ensures Israel’s security over the long term,” he said. Israel launches deadly strike on a Lebanese border town just hours after withdrawing troops KHIAM, Lebanon — An Israeli strike killed at least one person Thursday in the Lebanese border town of Khiam, the Health Ministry said, less than a day after Israeli troops handed the hilltop village back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, Khiam is the first Lebanese town Israel has pull out of since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants began two weeks ago, and marks an important test of the fragile truce . Lebanon's Health Ministry and state news agency did not provide details on who was killed, and did not report airstrikes elsewhere on Thursday. The Israeli military said the airstrike in Khiam targeted Hezbollah fighters. Lebanese troops deployed in the northern section of the town on Thursday morning and were coordinating with U.N. peacekeepers to finalize Israel’s withdrawal before fully entering into other neighborhoods. An Associated Press reporter who visited Khiam on Thursday observed widespread destruction, with most houses reduced to rubble. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, with collapsed walls and debris scattered across the streets. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, sharply criticized Israel for striking the town less than 24 hours after the Lebanese army returned, saying it was “a violation of the pledges made by the parties that sponsored the ceasefire agreement, who must act to curb Israeli aggression.” The truce was brokered by the U.S. and France. Israel has previously said the ceasefire deal allows it to use military force against perceived violations. Near-daily attacks by Israel during the ceasefire, mostly in southern Lebanon, have killed at least 29 people and wounded 27 others. Khiam, which sits on a ridge less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the border with Israel, saw some of the most intense fighting during the war. The Lebanese army was clearing debris and reopening roads in the northern section of the town. Civilian access to other areas remained challenging as the army clears roads and works alongside the U.N. peacekeepers to ensure the area is free of unexploded ordnance. Blinken urges the many players in Syria to avoid taking any steps that could lead to violence AQABA, Jordan -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging the many players in Syria to avoid taking any steps that could lead to further violence. Blinken spoke to reporters in Jordan on Thursday shortly after meeting King Abdullah II as he opened a trip in the region to discuss Syria's future after former President Bashar Assad's ouster. Blinken will next visit Turkey, a NATO ally and a main backer of Syrian rebel groups. Blinken called this “a time of both real promise but also peril for Syria and for its neighbors.” He said he was focused on coordinating efforts in the region “to support the Syrian people as they transition away from Assad’s brutal dictatorship” and establish a government that isn’t dominated by one religion or ethnic group or outside power. Blinken was asked about Israel’s incursion into a buffer zone that had been demilitarized for the past half century. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the move is temporary and defensive, but also indicated Israel will remain in the area for a long time. Blinken declined to say whether the U.S. supports the move, but said the U.S. would be speaking to Israel and other partners in the region. “I think, across the board, when it comes to any actors who have real interests in Syria, it’s also really important at this time that, we all try to make sure that we’re not sparking any additional conflicts,” he said. Turkish spy chief makes symbolic visit to pray in Damascus after Assad's fall ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, arrived in Damascus on Thursday, according to Turkish media reports. Kalin was seen arriving at the Umayyad Mosque to pray, surrounded by a large crowd, according to video shown on Turkish television. The visit is highly symbolic. Turkish officials, who supported the opposition against Syria’s government, had predicted at the start of the civil war in 2011 that President Bashar Assad’s government would fall, allowing them to pray at the Umayyad Mosque. Paraguay reopens embassy in Jerusalem in diplomatic victory for Netanyahu JERUSALEM — Paraguay reopened its embassy in Jerusalem Thursday, becoming one of a small handful of nations to recognize the city as Israel’s capital and marking a diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel’s international isolation has increased as the war in Gaza drags on, and Paraguay was the first country to move its embassy to Jerusalem since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that kickstarted the war. The United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Papua New Guinea are among the few countries with Jerusalem embassies. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 but it wasn’t recognized by the international community, and most countries run their embassies out of Tel Aviv. Spirits were high at the ceremony marking the embassy’s inauguration Thursday, with Netanyahu and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar lavishing praise on Paraguayan President Santiago Pena. “My good friend Santiago,” said Netanyahu, addressing Pena. “We’re a small nation. You’re a small nation. We suffered horrible things but we overcame the odds of history...we can win and we are winning.” Paraguay had an embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, under Former President Horacio Cartes. That embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv by Cartes’ successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Asuncion. Saar said Israel and Paraguay shared a “friendship based not only on interests but also values and principles.” He and the Paraguayan foreign minister, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, signed a series of bilateral agreements and Saar said he would soon visit Asunción with a delegation from the Israeli private sector. “Israel is going to win and the countries we are standing next to Israel, we are going to win," Pena said. US Secretary of State Blinken renews calls for inclusion, stability in Syria in Mideast visit AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is renewing calls for Syria’s new leadership to respect women and minority rights, prevent extremists from gaining new footholds in the country and keeping suspected chemical weapons stocks secure as he makes his first visit to the Mideast since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad . Making his 12th trip to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war erupted lasted year but amid fresh concerns about security following the upheaval in Syria, Blinken emphasized Thursday to Jordan’s King Abdullah II U.S. “support for an inclusive transition that can lead to an accountable and representative Syrian government chosen by the Syrian people,” the State Department said. Blinken also repeated the importance the outgoing Biden administration puts on respect for human rights and international law, the protection of civilians and stopping terrorist groups from reconstituting. Blinken met with the monarch and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Aqaba before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on the situation in Syria and the urgency of securing a long-elusive deal to release hostages and end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Abdullah told Blinken that “the first step to reach comprehensive regional calm is to end the Israeli war on Gaza." UN envoy urges authorities to collect evidence from Syrian detention centers GENEVA — The U.N. envoy for Syria is calling on authorities to save evidence from detention centers that were a hub of “unimaginable barbarity” that Syrians have faced for many years and cooperate with international investigators looking into such crimes. Geir Pederson referred to new images from the notorious Saydnaya military prison north of the capital, Damascus, after President Bashar Assad fled Syria as armed groups stormed in to overthrow his government over the weekend. “The images from Saydnaya and other detention facilities starkly underscore the unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured and reported for years,” Pedersen said in a statement. Documentation and testimonies “only scratch the surface of the carceral system’s horrors,” he added. Pedersen urged authorities to cooperate with U.N. bodies like an independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which was created in 2011, and an independent group known as the IIIM that was set up five years later to also compile evidence of crimes. G7 leaders say they support an inclusive political transition in Syria ROME — Leaders of the Group of 7 industrialized nations offered their full support for an inclusive political transition in Syria and invited all parties to preserve the country’s territorial integrity. In a message released by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office, the leaders said they were ready to support a transition that “leads to a credible government, inclusive and not sectarian, that guarantees respect for the state of law, universal human rights, including rights for women, (and) the protection of all Syrians, including religious and ethnic minorities.” The leaders also underlined the importance that ousted President Bashar Assad’s government is held responsible for crimes, citing “decades of atrocities.” They said they would also cooperate with groups working to prohibit chemical weapons “to secure, declare and destroy” remaining chemical arms in Syria. Italy currently holds the rotating presidency of the G-7, which also includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. Israel's military says it hit Hamas militants in two locations in southern Gaza JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it struck Hamas militants in two locations in the southern Gaza Strip who planned to hijack aid convoys. Palestinian Health officials had earlier said that the two strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid deliveries. The committees have been organized in cooperation with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza. It was not possible to independently confirm either account of the strikes, which occurred overnight into Thursday. Israel has long accused Hamas of hijacking humanitarian aid deliveries, while U.N. officials have said there is no systemic diversion of aid . U.N. agencies and aid groups say deliveries are held up by Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid and movement within Gaza, as well as the breakdown of law and order more than 14 months into the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel has repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, which maintained internal security before the war. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the main aid provider in Gaza, said a U.N. convoy of 70 trucks carrying humanitarian aid in southern Gaza “was involved in a serious incident,” resulting in just one of the trucks reaching its destination. It did not provide further details on the incident but said the same route had been used successfully two days earlier. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has caused vast destruction and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, leaving the territory heavily reliant on international food aid. American who says he crossed into Syria by foot is free after 7 months in detention DAMASCUS, Syria — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago. Travis Timmerman appears to have been among thousands of people released from the country’s notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend, overthrowing President Bashar Assad and ending his family’s 54-year rule. As video emerged online of Timmerman on Thursday, he was initially mistaken by some for Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria 12 years ago. In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said he was being treated well and would be safely returned home. The Biden administration is working to bring Timmerman home, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Aqaba, Jordan, without offering details, citing privacy. Timmerman later gave an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago, before being detained. He said he was treated well in detention but could hear other men being tortured. US Secretary of State Blinken visits Mideast after Assad's ouster in Syria AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Jordan on his 12th visit to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year and his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad that has sparked new fears of instability in a region wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. Blinken was meeting in Aqaba with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on Friday. The meetings will focus largely on Syria but also touch on long-elusive hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Blinken is the latest senior U.S. official to visit the Middle East in the five days since Assad was deposed as the Biden administration navigates more volatility in the region in its last few weeks in office and as President-elect Donald Trump has said the U.S. should stay out of the Syrian conflict. Other include national security adviser Jake Sullivan and a top military commander who traveled there as the U.S. and Israel have launched airstrikes to prevent the Islamic State militant group from reconstituting and prevent materiel and suspected chemical weapons stocks from falling into militant hands. Blinken “will discuss the need for the transition process and new government in Syria to respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, prevent Syria from being used as a base of terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that chemical weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed,” the State Department said. The U.S. would be willing to recognize and fully support a new Syrian government that met those criteria. U.S. officials say they are not actively reviewing the foreign terrorist organization designation of the main Syrian rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known as HTS, which was once an al-Qaida affiliate, but stressed they are not barred from speaking to its members. Netanyahu says Israeli forces will remain in Syrian buffer zone until border security is guaranteed JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will remain in a Syrian buffer zone until a new force on the other side of the border can guarantee security. After the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Israeli forces pushed into a buffer zone that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war. The military says it has seized additional strategic points nearby. Israeli officials have said the move is temporary, but Netanyahu’s conditions could take months or even years to fulfill as Syria charts its post-Assad future, raising the prospect of an open-ended Israeli presence in the country. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Thursday that Assad’s overthrow by jihadi rebels created a vacuum on the border. “Israel will not permit jihadi groups to fill that vacuum and threaten Israeli communities on the Golan Heights with October 7th style attacks,” it said, referring to Hamas’ 2023 attack out of Gaza, which ignited the war there. “That is why Israeli forces entered the buffer zone and took control of strategic sites near Israel’s border.” The statement added that “this deployment is temporary until a force that is committed to the 1974 agreement can be established and security on our border can be guaranteed.” The buffer zone is adjacent to the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed. The international community, except for the United States, views the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. Attacker who fatally shot boy on a bus in the West Bank turns himself in, military says JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said Thursday that the attacker who fatally shot a 12-year-old Israeli boy in the occupied West Bank overnight turned himself in to authorities. The attacker opened fire on a bus near the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit, critically wounding the boy, who hospital authorities pronounced dead in the early morning. Three others were wounded in the attack, paramedics said. The shooting took place just outside Jerusalem in an area near major Israeli settlements. Indonesia evacuates 37 citizens from Syria JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian government has evacuated 37 citizens from Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government, officials said Thursday. The evacuees were taken by land from Damascus to Beirut, where they boarded three commercial flights to Jakarta, said Judha Nugraha, director of citizen protection at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Indonesian Embassy in Damascus said all 1,162 Indonesian citizens in Syria were safe. Indonesian Ambassador to Syria Wajid Fauzi said the situation in Syria has gradually returned to normal. “I can say that 98% of people’s lives are back to normal, shops are open, public transportation has started running,” Fauzi said, adding that most Indonesian nationals living in Syria had chosen to stay. Israeli airstrikes kill at least 28 people, including 7 children, Palestinian medical officials say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian medical officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 28 people in the Gaza Strip, including seven children and a woman. One of the strikes overnight and into Thursday flattened a house in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the hospital’s morgue. Two other strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid convoys . The committees were set up by displaced Palestinians in coordination with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. The Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies and an AP reporter counted them. The hospital said eight were killed in a strike near the southern border town of Rafah and seven others in a strike 30 minutes later near Khan Younis. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UN General Assembly demands ceasefire in Gaza and backs UN agency helping Palestinian refugees UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban . The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions to support the agency known as UNRWA. The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group . General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly. Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions.Blast of Ontario snow brings weather warnings, signs of white ChristmasThe Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIF) has urged political leaders to commit to immediate and meaningful support for local contractors.“The survival and growth o ... 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Kumho Tire CEO Jung Il-taik poses with the EnnoV electric vehicle tire during a promotion event in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, March 15. Courtesy of Kumho Tire By Nam Hyun-woo Kumho Tire is on track to meet its sales targets for 2024, supported by positive global assessments of its premium tire products, the tire maker said, Monday. Kumho Tire set its 2024 revenue target at 4.56 trillion won ($3.15 billion), aiming to improve its sales mix for 18-inch or larger tires to 42 percent, as well as securing over 16 percent of its global original equipment (OE) tire sales from electric vehicle (EV) tires. OE tires are the original tires installed in a vehicle when it comes from the factory. As of the third quarter of this year, the company achieved 72 percent of its revenue target with cumulative sales of 3.29 trillion won. It has also reached 41.8 percent in large tire sales and 14 percent in supplying OE tires for EVs. The company attributed its solid earnings trajectory to its technologies, which were highly recognized by influential car magazines across the world this year. Earlier this year, Kumho Tire’s ECSTA HS52 ranked third overall with a "Good" rating in a summer tire performance test conducted by German magazine ADAC. The same tire also secured fourth place with a "Good" rating in a summer tire test organized by the German automotive magazine Auto Bild. The ECSTA PS71 SUV also claimed fourth place in a summer tire test for SUVs conducted by Auto Bild Allrad. In the United States, Kumho Tire ranked third among 18 global tire brands in the passenger vehicle OE tire customer satisfaction study by J.D. Power. To take the early lead in the growing EV market, the company launched the EV tire brand EnnoV this year as part of its efforts to focus its resources on developing and supplying EV tires. Beginning with EnnoV Premium, launched in March, premium products such as EnnoV WINTER and EnnoV SUPERMILE made their debut to improve the company’s sales mix. To respond to the future mobility market, Kumho Tire said it is developing advanced “Airborne Tires” for urban air mobility, and is also actively exploring the commercialization of smart tire systems equipped with sensors. Additionally, Kumho Tire has set a goal to transition all its raw materials to sustainable materials by 2045. Last year, the company successfully developed tires with 80 percent sustainable material. “Through collaborations with prestigious automakers and research and development efforts for advanced products, Kumho Tire aims to provide better mobility experiences for customers, as well as proving the company’s technological competitiveness in the global market,” a Kumho Tire official said.By Kaushalya Perera Sri Lankans love their educational qualifications. Qualifications permit envious comparisons of value, similar to the ownership of gold jewellery, an expensive watch or a branded pair of shoes, resulting in exactly the same questions of provenance, worth and authenticity, but from a much higher moral ground. For the past two weeks we, the people, have watched as allegations that the (now) ex-Speaker’s educational qualifications were faked, proliferated across the news and social media. We waited for him to prove otherwise, all the while observing how his party and his current place of work (the Parliament) seemed to have neither the will nor the means to verify these claims. As I write, the ‘qualifications war’ has turned into an Absurd play. Why were the ex-Speaker’s qualifications so important? This is a two-fold problem related to the unhealthy relationship that Sri Lankans have with qualifications, coupled with NPP’s self-branding as a ‘clean’ party. Let’s take the second part first. One of the NPP’s pledges was that they would give ‘sudussata sudusu thaena’, i.e., appropriate positions to suitable individuals. This was a constant thread of their election rhetoric and it was accepted as a counter to the rampant nepotism and cronyism we have been seeing. After the (ex) Speaker stepped down, the Prime Minister said in Parliament that her Party includes members with no certificates, as well as those with many qualifications; that all are equally valued because her party values all types of knowledge; and that knowledge cannot be understood narrowly. I fully agree. It is the kind of vision I expect from a Minister of Education. At the same time, it cannot be denied that the NPP knowingly played the qualifications game during their long drawn-out campaign. The JVP’s image—associated in public discourse with ragging, student protests and workers’ strikes—was subsumed into the NPP’s much-vaunted membership of professionals, academics and artists. And the reason why the ‘qualifications game’ was so effective as election currency is precisely because Sri Lankans value qualifications so highly, in such a problematic way. It provided legitimacy to the NPP’s portrayal of themselves as a party standing against a host of corrupt charlatans. This brings us to the first part of the problem – our love of qualifications. In the education sectors, we’re all familiar with that little line: ‘A certificate will be provided’, which is included to increase participant numbers. Also familiar are instances of people registering for a specific course disappearing from the actual class and turning up at the ‘certificate-awarding ceremony’. Further, degrees are often demanded in some sectors for jobs that do not require one. This love of qualifications is not a new phenomenon. In an interesting article, titled ‘The growth of foreign qualification suppliers in Sri Lanka’, published in 2005, Angela W. Little and Jane Evans describe the growth of the ‘qualification marketplace’ in Sri Lanka. They found that advertisements by ‘qualification-suppliers’ in three national newspapers (Sinhala, Tamil and English) grew steeply over three decades, rising from 15 qualification-suppliers in 1965 to 153 in 2000. One can only imagine what a post-2000 study would reveal! The authors chart the rise of the qualifications industry in parallel with the economic liberalisation and economic growth that occurred post-1980. Though they did not make this link, we can connect this rise to the failure to expand higher and vocational education to a growing population and a fast-changing economy, during two decades of political upheaval. During this period, public funds for education declined, and declined even more sharply post-2000, despite large loans from international financial organisations. This is the context for both the deterioration of public education and the rise of privately-funded education, which is symbolised by the desire for a qualification, rather than an education. Qualification versus education Re-creating a society that values learning and education over a certificate of qualification would involve a protracted and difficult journey. It would require a few decades of high quality, widely-accessible education as well as moral re-socialisation: a simple-sounding solution, yet one that is very difficult to initiate and achieve. Indeed, it would be illogical to expect any kind of moral or ethical socialisation from an underfunded and damaged education system, embedded in a decaying society. The fact remains that the education sector desperately needs actual physical resources. Today, while a small proportion of schools in Sri Lanka contemplate installing computer labs, other schools are deprived of the basics; school meals, electricity, running water, uniforms, chairs, desks and books. We also need more and better paid teachers, plus national regulations and explicit minimum standards for the teaching profession, regardless of whether they are in the state, private or international sectors. A larger issue that is not discussed is that we actually do not know enough about our own education system. Our attention has for too long been focused on the state education system, resulting in a lack of attention towards other sectors, e.g., early education, private and international education. The education ecosystem in the country needs urgent study, and researchers across disciplines can contribute to this need. And while the education sector has accepted multiple donations and loans, it is not at all clear if these funds are used in a manner that best fits the purpose. In summary, it is vitally important that the fundamentals must be fixed. But we need to also re-think the way we over-estimate the value of a qualification, as against a wholesome education. A re-examination of values and ethics The fact that we value qualifications rather than an education has been apparent for a long time now. The prevalence of forged certificates and honorary doctorates is not the only indicator. Long before ChatGPT arrived, newspapers and social media were advertising ghostwriting services, i.e., the writing of assignments and dissertations for a fee. This is a business that is clearly unethical and must surely be illegal, but it is now so common that both the suppliers and their clients appear to consider it perfectly normal. We have come to value quantity over quality: two degrees simultaneously, more qualifications, promotions and rankings based on numerical criteria and so on. Start somewhere It is obvious that ethics socialisation has not happened through education in Sri Lanka. This is a major problem that has no simple or quick solution. When the Parliament that is supposed to be discussing the interim budget of a financially distressed country spends that time trading accusations with each other about each other’s educational qualifications; when an MP is unable to prove – even after a week – the qualifications he claims to possess and then imagines that it is sufficient to resign from his position but not from his seat in Parliament; when a party that has pledged immediate action on corruption-related issues takes several days to effect a resignation from a powerful position; and when the Prime Minister and Cabinet Spokesperson are angered when questioned about matters of veracity and authenticity – we know we still have a long way to go to re-socialise a population into ethical beliefs and conduct. It is not enough to prevent bribes and reduce wasteful spending. We also need to start looking at providing meaningful and broad-based public education, where learning and integrity go hand in hand. (Kaushalya Perera teaches at the Department of English, University of Colombo.) Kuppi is a politics and pedagogy happening on the margins of the lecture hall that parodies, subverts, and simultaneously reaffirms social hierarchies.Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. Israeli attorney general orders probe into report that alleged Netanyahu's wife harassed opponents JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and witnesses in the Israeli leader’s corruption trial. The Israeli Justice Ministry made the announcement in a terse message late Thursday., saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the “Uvda” investigative program into Sara Netanyahu. The program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs. Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organize protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. Earlier Thursday, Netanyahu blasted the Uvda report as “lies.” The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, architect of economic reforms, dies aged 92 NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. The hospital said Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to “sudden loss of consciousness at home." He was “being treated for age-related medical conditions,” the statement added. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and earned a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose.
Nokia Corporation Stock Exchange Release 12 December 2024 at 22:30 EET Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 12.12.2024 Espoo, Finland - On 12 December 2024 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows: On 22 November 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to offset the dilutive effect of new Nokia shares issued to the shareholders of Infinera Corporation and certain Infinera Corporation share-based incentives. The repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia's Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 25 November 2024 and end by 31 December 2025 and target to repurchase 150 million shares for a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 900 million. Total cost of transactions executed on 12 December 2024 was EUR 3,676,744. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 213,393,499 treasury shares. Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement. On behalf of Nokia Corporation BofA Securities Europe SA About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today - and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. Inquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: [email protected] Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications Nokia Investor Relations Phone: +358 40 803 4080 Email: [email protected] Attachment Daily Report 2024-12-12Level Up in Cybersecurity with InfosecTrain's Latest Courses 12-26-2024 09:42 PM CET | Science & Education Press release from: ABNewswire In the rapidly evolving world of technology, staying ahead of the curve is essential-especially for professionals in the cybersecurity field. Whether you're looking to enhance your skills, open doors to new opportunities, or specialize in a specific area of cybersecurity, InfosecTrain has just launched a series of new, cutting-edge courses designed to equip you with the knowledge and hands-on experience to take your career to the next level. InfosecTrain's latest offerings are tailored to tech-savvy professionals who are eager to tackle the challenges of an ever-changing digital landscape. Let's dive into the exciting new courses that are making waves in the cybersecurity industry: 1. CompTIA DataSys+ (DS0-001) Certification Training Data management and system security are becoming increasingly critical as businesses continue to generate massive amounts of data. If you're looking to specialize in data security, the CompTIA DataSys+ (DS0-001) certification is a must-have. This course is designed for IT professionals who want to gain expertise in the storage, management, and protection of critical data assets. What's in it for you? With the CompTIA DataSys+ certification, you'll be equipped to handle complex data systems, perform risk assessments, and implement robust data protection strategies. The training covers vital aspects of data management, such as data encryption, secure data handling practices, disaster recovery protocols, and how to ensure data availability and integrity. Why should you take this course? The CompTIA DataSys+ course [ https://www.infosectrain.com/courses/comptia-datasys-certification-training/ ] offers practical, hands-on experience to ensure you're not just familiar with concepts, but able to apply them in real-world scenarios. As businesses become more reliant on data, the demand for skilled professionals who can manage and protect this data will only continue to grow. This certification will give you a competitive edge in fields like cloud computing, data protection, and IT infrastructure management. 2. EC-Council E|CSS Certification Training Course In today's world, cybersecurity attacks are becoming more sophisticated, and organizations need experts who can defend against these ever-evolving threats. Enter the EC-Council E|CSS Certification Training Course [ https://www.infosectrain.com/courses/ec-council-certified-security-specialist-ecss-training-certification-course/ ] a dynamic program crafted to give you a deeper understanding of network defense strategies and ethical hacking methodologies. What's in it for you? The E|CSS course covers everything from secure network architecture to ethical hacking techniques that can be used to identify vulnerabilities and mitigate risks. As part of this comprehensive training, you'll learn how to use advanced tools to defend against cyberattacks, monitor and manage network security, and ensure compliance with international security standards. Why should you take this course? If you're interested in becoming a key player in your organization's cybersecurity defense, this course is a perfect fit. The EC-Council's reputation and the E|CSS certification will position you as an authority in cybersecurity, offering you the chance to work with some of the top organizations and tackle cybersecurity challenges at the highest level. 3. Splunk Practical Approach Training Course When it comes to handling large volumes of data in real-time, Splunk stands out as one of the most widely used and trusted platforms. InfosecTrain's Splunk Practical Approach Training [ https://www.infosectrain.com/courses/splunk-training/ ] Course is designed for cybersecurity professionals who want to develop a deep understanding of how to use Splunk for data analysis, monitoring, and security incident detection. What's in it for you? This course will teach you how to leverage Splunk's powerful features for log management, security data collection, real-time data monitoring, and security information and event management (SIEM). Through hands-on labs and real-world case studies, you'll gain practical experience using Splunk to uncover hidden threats and anomalies in network traffic. Why should you take this course? The Splunk Practical Approach Training Course is perfect for professionals looking to advance their skills in data analytics, security operations, and IT infrastructure management. With Splunk being a leading tool in the industry, expertise in this platform is highly sought after. This course is an investment in your future career as it will provide you with the practical skills needed to solve security challenges in real-time, making you an indispensable asset to any organization. 4. Generative AI Application Builder on AWS Training Course Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a game-changer in various industries, and cybersecurity is no exception. The Generative AI Application Builder on AWS Training Course [ https://www.infosectrain.com/courses/developing-generative-ai-applications-aws-course/ ] is InfosecTrain's newest offering, aimed at professionals who want to explore the intersection of AI and cloud computing, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity. What's in it for you? This course provides you with the tools and knowledge to build AI-driven applications on the AWS platform. You'll learn how to leverage AWS's AI tools to develop smart applications, including security models, threat detection algorithms, and data protection mechanisms. With a focus on generative AI, you'll also explore how AI can be used to automate and optimize cybersecurity tasks, making organizations more resilient against evolving threats. Why should you take this course? AI and cloud computing are two of the most powerful forces shaping the future of cybersecurity. By mastering Generative AI on AWS, you'll gain the ability to create innovative solutions that enhance security, streamline processes, and reduce human error. This course will equip you with cutting-edge skills that will position you at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation, enabling you to tackle tomorrow's challenges today. Conclusion InfosecTrain's newly launched courses CompTIA DataSys+ (DS0-001) Certification Training, EC-Council E|CSS Certification Training Course, Splunk Practical Approach Training, and Generative AI Application Builder on AWS Training Course are a perfect match for tech enthusiasts who are serious about advancing their careers in cybersecurity. These courses combine expert-led training, practical experience, and cutting-edge technology to ensure you're fully equipped to navigate the complexities of today's digital world. If you're looking to boost your cybersecurity career, these courses provide a comprehensive learning experience that will not only enhance your skillset but also increase your employability in the competitive tech market. Don't miss out on the opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and become a leader in the cybersecurity field. For more information or to enroll in any of these courses, visit InfosecTrain's website and take the next step in your cybersecurity career today! Media Contact Company Name: InfosecTrain (An Intiative by Azpirantz Technologies LLP) Contact Person: Vikas Agrawal Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=level-up-in-cybersecurity-with-infosectrains-latest-courses ] Phone: 18008437890 Address:B7, Sector 1 City: Noida State: Uttar Pradesh 201301 Country: India Website: http://www.infosectrain.com This release was published on openPR.
What's New President-elect Donald Trump is once again suggesting that the U.S. buy Greenland, an autonomous territory that has been part of Denmark for more than 600 years. And once again, experts are explaining why it's not possible for Trump to carry out what he sees as an "absolute necessity" for America. "Here we go again," Malte Humpert, a senior fellow at the Arctic Institute and its founder, told Newsweek on Monday. "This idea remains as ludicrous as it was in 2019." Why This Matters Greenland has access to the Arctic, where an international competition has arisen in recent years as nations race to claim northern territory in hopes of accessing natural resources abundant in the region, like gold, silver, copper and uranium. The U.S. has tried to acquire Greenland four times in the past, with the most recent attempt in 2019, when Trump first considered the idea. In recent weeks, Trump has also suggested that Canada become the 51st U.S. state and has referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "governor" of the "Great State of Canada." Which Country Owns Greenland? Greenland, which is home to 56,000 residents, has been part of Denmark since the 18th century but was granted home rule in 1979 and has been a self-governed nation since 2009. Still, Denmark contributes two-thirds of Greenland's budget, and its association with the world's largest island that's not a continent has allowed Greenland to receive funding from the European Union . Although the island is self-ruled, it is home to a large U.S. military base. Besides Trump, Democrats have proposed buying Greenland. President Harry Truman offered to purchase it from Denmark in 1946 for $100 million in gold. What To Know While announcing Sunday that he had selected PayPal co-founder Ken Howery to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote on Truth Social, "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." Marc Jacobsen, who researches and advises on Arctic security politics and diplomacy, told Newsweek , "While Trump's rhetoric and choice of words is 'one of a kind,' his interest in Greenland echoes the U.S.'s historic interest focusing on geostrategic location and mineral wealth. He went on: "The worsened relations to China, Russia and others intensify Greenland's geostrategic importance at the moment, while Greenland's vast deposits of rare earth elements are extra interesting due to their potential use in modern technologies." Jacobsen, who is also an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defense College, said it's worth noting Greenland's reactions to Trump's purchase idea. While it was seen as "neocolonial provocation" in 2019, this time it has been viewed as "an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties between Greenland and the U.S.," Jacobsen said. "Following the 2019 idea—and the amplified American attention toward the Arctic—Greenland experienced enhanced agency in international politics," he said. "This is important for Greenland in its strive toward independence. Today, several Greenlandic politicians state that of course Greenland is not for sale, but they are very interested in strengthening ties with the U.S., especially in ways that can improve the Greenlandic economy." What Has Trump Said About Greenland? In 2019, Trump told reporters, "We're very good allies with Denmark. We protect Denmark like we protect large portions of the world. So the concept came up and I said, 'Certainly I'd be.' Strategically, it's interesting and we'd be interested, but we'll talk to them a little bit. It's not No. 1 on the burner, I can tell you that. "Essentially, it's a large real estate deal. A lot of things can be done," he said about a Greenland purchase. After his comments were widely criticized by Danish officials, Trump announced he was canceling his scheduled meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who called Trump's suggestion "an absurd discussion." What People Are Saying Humpert told Newsweek : "Rather than focusing on grandiose and unrealistic plans to buy sovereign territories, the incoming Trump administration should direct its focus to help the U.S. strengthen its Arctic presence by finally sufficiently funding the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker program and removing hurdles to acquire foreign-built icebreakers." Howery wrote on X (formerly Twitter) : "I know first-hand the power of diplomacy to advance American interests and strengthen alliances, and I am grateful for the opportunity to return to Europe to promote the President's agenda. I look forward to working with the dedicated teams at U.S. Embassy Copenhagen and U.S. Consulate Nuuk in Greenland to deepen the bonds between our countries." Republicans Against Trump posted on X : "Donald Trump suggested taking ownership of Greenland as he announced Ken Howery as his pick for U.S. ambassador to Denmark. Trump isn't even in office yet, and we're already becoming the laughingstock of the world." What's Next Greenland's prime minister, Múte Bourup Egede, responded to Trump's remarks on Monday, saying in a statement, "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and we will never be for sale. We must not lose our long fight for freedom." What Has Trump Said About the Panama Canal? In separate remarks made earlier in the weekend, Trump demanded that Panamanian authorities lower fees for U.S. ships or risk having the U.S. regain control of the Panama Canal. The Central American country was given ownership of the canal in 1999 following a treaty signed in 1979. "If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question," Trump wrote in a series of lengthy Truth Social posts on Saturday. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino hit back at Trump's comments, saying, "Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zones is part of Panama, and it will continue to be."
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Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi to mergeThe attracting Aussie Baby Boomers are changing: Bangladesh is in, and the Cook Islands are out. or signup to continue reading The over-55s generation is opting for adventure and cultural immersion over traditional , according to a new report from . Maldives, Colombia, Congo, Scotland and Bangladesh are , with the former jumping 257 per cent in the popularity stakes. But it's farewell to once popular destinations including Cook Islands, China, Switzerland and Hong Kong, with declines in interest of up to 97 per cent. "Once attracted to traditional, well-known destinations, this demographic is now exploring lesser-known parts of the world, driven by an appetite for meaningful and authentic experiences," the report said. Forward Travel founder and director, David Smyth, said Boomers have "time and income on their side" and were "shunning traditional holidays". "Not content to sit still, they are redefining what it means to retire, immersing themselves in diverse cultures, landscapes and experiences with an energy and enthusiasm you'd expect to see in people decades younger," Mr Smyth said. Older travellers are drawn to Congo for its raw wilderness, untouched rainforests and the opportunity to have experiences like trekking with gorillas, according to Mr Smyth. Colombia is a "rising star" for adventurous travellers, enjoying a "certain mystique, along with colonial charm, breathtaking natural beautiful and a thriving cultural scene", Mr Smyth said. The USA is losing appeal due to its over-commercialisation, overcrowded tourist spots, and the unfavourable exchange rate against the Aussie dollar, the report said. Mauritius, once loved by the older crowd for its luxury resorts, was falling out of fashion as Boomers moved away from resort-based tourism in favour of more immersive and culturally engaging experiences. Meanwhile, more Australians plan to travel solo in 2025 than travellers from any other country, and Gen Z (adults aged 27 and under) are leading the charge, according to 5. The report found 24 per cent of Gen Z travellers planned to go on a solo adventure in the new year. The most popular international destinations for solo adventurers will be the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand, Thailand and Japan, the report said. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement
Boeuf Bourguignon, a classic French beef stew, is a culinary masterpiece that embodies the warmth and comfort of the holiday season. The rich and flavourful dish, often considered king of stews, features tender chunks of beef slow-cooked in red wine, creating a symphony of savoury flavours that will tantalise your taste buds. While Sengkang MP Jamus Lim admits his meat consumption has decreased in recent years, the dish remains a special-occasion indulgence. Perfect for a cozy Christmas gathering, this Boeuf Bourguignon recipe that we picked up from Dr Lim is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. So gather your ingredients, embrace the festive spirit and prepare to embark on a culinary adventure that embodies the essence of festive cheer! Yields: 6 servings Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 3-4 hours Driver caught trying to enter Johor with 21kg of wagyu beef Ingredients 1.6kg lean stewing beef (chuck or shin), cut into 5cm pieces 170g bacon, diced or cut into thin strips 45g butter 340g pearl onions 340g small button mushrooms 1 onion, finely chopped 1 carrot, finely chopped 2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 45g all-purpose flour 750ml red wine 45g tomato paste Bouquet garni (tied bundle of herbs: typically parsley, thyme, bay leaf) 600-750ml beef broth 15ml chopped fresh parsley Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Instructions In a large, heavy, flameproof casserole or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat. "Spread it into a layer and just let the fat render,” says Dr Lim. “As the fat renders, it will start to cook in its own fat – and that's when it gets good." Once golden brown, remove with a slotted spoon, drain and set aside. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the rendered bacon fat. In the same casserole, brown the beef in batches over medium-high heat, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. "The goal here is to get the Maillard reaction going, to get a brown layer on the beef,” Dr Lim explains. “If you go to France these days, they don't really bother with all that, but it really lends a bit of character if you can get it." Once done, set the browned beef aside. Dr Lim insists that pearl onions – and not any other kind – are key to the dish. "I don't know if they're so much the 'secret ingredient' of the dish, but I wouldn't cook it without them,” he muses. “These are little packs of joy that soak in the stew of stock and wine and juices." For the pearl onions, melt one-third of the butter in a separate frying pan over medium heat and cook until golden, stirring frequently. Set aside. Sauté the mushrooms in the remaining butter until golden brown. Set aside. Add the remaining butter to the casserole. Once melted, add the chopped onion, carrot, garlic, and celery. Cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, or until softened, stirring frequently. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. "Typically, the recipe calls for Burgundy, but I think any cheap red wine works just fine," assures Dr Lim. Pour in the red wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits. Add the tomato paste and bouquet garni. Bring to a boil. Return the browned beef and bacon to the casserole. Pour in enough beef broth to cover the meat and vegetables. Cover the casserole and simmer gently over low heat for about 3 hours, or until the beef is very tender, stirring occasionally. Discard the bouquet garni. Stir in the fresh parsley. Serve hot with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or your favorite sides. Enjoy!Finding and accessing capital investment continues to be a challenge for many small businesses in Manitoba. In an effort to address this issue, among other funding activities and policy initiatives, the Government of Manitoba can be credited with implementing the Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit Program (the “Program”). This innovative program offers eligible investors a 45% tax credit on taxes payable in Manitoba for investments made in approved small businesses in the province. Under the Program, each investor making the maximum investment allowed of $500,000 per eligible small business is entitled to a $225,000 tax credit. As the Program is effective for generating capital investment for Manitoba small businesses, we’ve observed its use among our clients continue to expand. The Program has two notable limitations, however, that likely make it inaccessible to most Manitoban investors: First, the eligible investors must either qualify as an accredited investor under applicable securities laws (they meet a prescribed income or financial asset threshold that would allow them to sustain risky investments), or qualify for another exemption under applicable securities laws, such as being a close friend, family member and/or business associate of an officer, director or founder of the issuer company. Second, the minimum investment under the Program is $10,000. An individual is an accredited investor if they earned over $200,000 net income, or $300,000 including their spouse’s income, in the two recent calendar years with the expectation of earning the same for the current year. They are also viewed as such if they have financial assets with an aggregate realizable value of more than $1 million, before taxes but net of any related liabilities. Financial assets are cash and securities and therefore, exclude the value of an individual’s house, cottage and other assets. According to Statistics Canada’s census data, in 2021, only 2.3% of Manitobans of working age earned more than $150,000. We thereby assume that the percentage of Manitobans that individually earn over $200,000 a year, or who have a household income of more than $300,000, is substantially lower. While securities laws are, in part, designed to protect people from high-risk and/or speculative investments that could be unsuitable, the current rules create a situation where highly educated, experienced and sophisticated investors are prohibited from taking advantage of offerings qualified and approved under the Program. There are two practical solutions that are potentially available: Implementing the self-certified investor exemption in Manitoba and allowing the self-certified investor exemption to be used concurrently with the Program and lowering the minimum investment in the Program from $10,000 to $5,000. The exemption was implemented on a trial-run basis in Alberta and Saskatchewan in 2021 and in Ontario in 2022. All three provinces have since extended these exemptions. The exemption allows issuers to raise capital without a prospectus from investors who may not meet the test to qualify as an accredited investor, subject to a number of technical requirements. In order to use the exemption, in Ontario, the investor must sign prescribed certificates to the issuer certifying that they possess certain knowledge, skills or experience, and they acknowledge that they have read and understood a regulated list of risks that are associated with investing. The issuer cannot know or would reasonably be expected to know that the statements made by the investor in the certificates are false. In Ontario, the exemption may also only be used for a maximum of $30,000, in the aggregate, in any and all businesses in Ontario in any 12-month period. To that end, the subscription agreement between the investor and the company for the investment must include a contractual representation from the investor to the company that the aggregate acquisition cost of the securities of all companies acquired by that investor in the preceding 12 months as a self-certified investor does not exceed $30,000. In Ontario, to be considered qualified under the self-certified exemption, investors need to have at least one of the following: • A designation as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Chartered Investment Manager (CIM), Chartered Business Valuator (CBV), Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM) from the Canadian Securities Institute, or Certified Financial Planner (CFP) from FP Canada; • A Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree focused on finance, a finance degree or a business and/or commerce degree focused on finance or investment from a Canadian university or accredited foreign university; • Admitted to practice law and actively practises with at least one-third of the practice in securities law or mergers and acquisitions; • Passed the Canadian Securities Course Exam administered by the Canadian Securities Institute; • Passed the Exempt Market Products Exam administered by the IFSE Institute; • Passed the Canadian Investment Funds Course Exam administered by the IFSE Institute; • Passed the Investment Funds in Canada Course Exam administered by the Canadian Securities Institute; • Passed the Series 7 Exam administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in the United States; • Holds a financial planner or financial advisor credential from a credentialling body approved by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario; or • Has management, policy-making, engineering, product or other relevant operational experience at a business that operates in the same industry or sector as the company that the investor wishes to invest in. As a result of this experience, the individual is able to adequately assess and understand the risk of investment in that company. There are some notable differences between the exemptions in Alberta and Saskatchewan and Ontario. We note that in Alberta and Saskatchewan: • The list of potential qualified investors in Saskatchewan and Alberta is smaller than Ontario; • There is a limitation on the exemption of $10,000 per year in any one single company in a year, provided that the $30,000 aggregate limitation and the $10,000 single company limitation does not apply if the company is listed on a Canadian stock exchange and that investor receives advice regarding suitability of the investment from a qualified advisor. • A distribution to anyone that is using the self-certified exemption must occur concurrently with a distribution to an accredited investor and the self-certified investor must have access to the same information about the distributed securities as any accredited investor. • In addition to the prescribed certificates certifying the investor’s eligibility and that the investor has read and understood the risks of investing, as in is the case in Ontario, in Alberta and Saskatchewan, investors must also provide to the issuer a statutory declaration in a prescribed form. The statutory declaration cannot be older than 36 months from the date of distribution and the issuer must hold a copy of that acknowledgement and statutory declaration for a period of 8 years after the distribution. • Special purpose vehicles may be considered self-certified investors if certain technical conditions are met. The self-certified investor exemption is designed to strike an appropriate balance between lowering the high barrier of entry for investors to participate in private placement offerings, while ensuring that those investors have the requisite knowledge, experience and skill to do so. If the Government of Manitoba and The Manitoba Securities Commission consider and deem the self-certified exemption to be appropriate for Manitoba, they could adopt either of the existing models or take a customized approach. Implementing the exemption and allowing it to be used concurrently with the Program would effectively unlock a whole new pool of prospective investors for Manitoba small businesses to access and allow more Manitobans to use and take advantage of the Program. — Kyle Mirecki is private equity and securities lawyer in the Winnipeg office at MLT Aikins LLP. This article is of a general nature only and is not exhaustive of all possible legal rights or remedies. In addition, laws may change over time and should be interpreted only in the context of particular circumstances such that these materials are not intended to be relied upon or taken as legal advice or opinion. Readers should consult a legal professional for specific advice in any particular situation.Recently members of the Minster FFA competed in the state finals competition of the Ohio FFA State Agricultural and Technology Mechanical Systems Career Development Event. The competition was held at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster. As mechanical technology continues to drive advancement, contestants demonstrated knowledge and technical skill development in agricultural engineering technology and mechanical systems. The competition began with a general knowledge test. After placing in one of the top ten teams in the state, the team qualified for the state finals.
