NEW YORK — The masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words "deny," "defend" and "depose," two law enforcement officials said Thursday. The words were written in permanent marker, according to one of the officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. With the gunman still at large, police also released photos of a person they said was wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company's annual investor conference at a Hilton hotel in Midtown. The reason behind the killing remained unknown, but investigators believe it was a targeted attack. This image shows a man wanted for questioning in connection to the investigation of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. The message left on the ammunition echoes the phrase "delay, deny, defend," which is commonly used by attorneys and insurance industry critics to describe tactics used to avoid paying claims. It refers to insurers delaying payment, denying a claim and then defending their actions. Health insurers like UnitedHealthcare have become frequent targets of criticism from doctors and patients for complicating access to care. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. Inside a nearby trash can, they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper that they say the gunman purchased from a nearby Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The city's medical examiner was looking for fingerprints. The killing and the shooter's movements in the minutes before and after were captured on some of the multitudes of security cameras present in that part of the city. The shooter fled on a bike and was last seen riding into Central Park. Bullets lie on the sidewalk Wednesday outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in New York. The hunt for the shooter brought New York City police to at least two hostels on Manhattan's Upper West Side on Thursday morning, based on a tip that the suspected shooter might have stayed at one of the residences, according to one of the law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation. The photos police released Thursday of a man wanted for questioning were taken in the lobby of the HI New York City hostel. "We are fully cooperating with the NYPD and, as this is an active investigation, can not comment at this time," said Danielle Brumfitt, a spokesperson for the hostel. Police received a flood of tips from members of the public, many of them unfounded. On Wednesday evening, police searched a Long Island Rail Road train after a commuter claimed to have spotted the shooter, but found no sign of the gunman. "We're following up on every single tip that comes in," said Carlos Nieves, a police spokesperson. "That little piece of information could be the missing piece of the puzzle that ties everything together." Investigators believe, judging from surveillance video and evidence collected from the scene, that the shooter had at least some prior firearms training and experience with guns and the weapon was equipped with a silencer, said one of the law enforcement officials who spoke with the AP. This still image from surveillance video shows the suspect, left, sought in the the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, center, Wednesday outside a Manhattan hotel. Security camera video showed the killer approach Thompson from behind, level his pistol and fire several shots, barely pausing to clear a gun jam while the health executive tumbled to the pavement. Cameras showed him fleeing the block across a pedestrian plaza before getting on the bicycle. Police issued several surveillance images of the man wearing a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face, which wouldn't have attracted attention on a frigid day. Authorities also used drones, helicopters and dogs in an intensive search, but the killer's whereabouts remained unknown. Thompson, a father of two sons who lived in suburban Minneapolis, was with UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years. The insurer's Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., was holding its annual meeting with investors in New York to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid programs. In the U.S. healthcare system, even the simplest act, like booking an appointment with your primary care physician, may feel intimidating. As you wade through intake forms and insurance statements, and research out-of-network coverage , you might wonder, "When did U.S. health care get so confusing?" Short answer? It's complicated. The history of modern U.S. health care spans nearly a century, with social movements, legislation, and politics driving change. Take a trip back in time as Thatch highlights some of the most impactful legislation and policies that gave us the existing healthcare system, particularly how and when things got complicated. In the beginning, a common perception of American doctors was that they were kindly old men stepping right out of a Saturday Evening Post cover illustration to make house calls. If their patients couldn't afford their fee, they'd accept payment in chicken or goats. Health care was relatively affordable and accessible. Then it all fell apart during the Great Depression of the 1930s. That's when hospital administrators started looking for ways to guarantee payment. According to the American College of Healthcare Executives, this is when the earliest form of health insurance was born. Interestingly, doctors would have none of it at first. The earliest health plans covered hospitalization only. A new set of challenges from the Second World War required a new set of responses. During the Depression, there were far too many people and too few jobs. The war economy had the opposite effect. Suddenly, all able-bodied men were in the military, but somebody still had to build the weapons and provision the troops. Even with women entering the workforce in unprecedented numbers, there was simply too much to get done. The competition for skilled labor was brutal. A wage freeze starting in 1942 forced employers to find other means of recruiting and retaining workers. Building on the recently mandated workers' compensation plans, employers or their union counterparts started offering insurance to cover hospital and doctor visits. Of course, the wage freeze ended soon after the war. However, the tax code and the courts soon clarified that employer-sponsored health insurance was non-taxable. Medicare, a government-sponsored health plan for retirees 65 and older, debuted in 1965. Nowadays, Medicare is offered in Parts A, B, C, and D; each offering a different layer of coverage for older Americans. As of 2023, over a quarter of all U.S. adults are enrolled in Medicare. The structure of Medicare is not dissimilar to universal health care offered in other countries, although the policy covers everyone, not just people over a certain age. Medicaid was also signed into law with Medicare. Medicaid provides health care coverage for Americans with low incomes. Over 74 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid today. The Obama administration was neither the first nor the last to champion new ways to provide health care coverage to a wider swath of Americans. The first attempts to harmonize U.S. healthcare delivery systems with those of other developed economies came just five years after Medicare and Medicaid. Two separate bills were introduced in 1970 alone. Both bills aimed to widen affordable health benefits for Americans, either by making people Medicare-eligible or providing free health benefits for all Americans. As is the case with many bills, both these died, even though there was bipartisan support. But the chairman of the relevant Senate panel had his own bill in mind, which got through the committee. It effectively said that all Americans were entitled to the kind of health benefits enjoyed by the United Auto Workers Union or AFL-CIO—for free. But shortly after Sen. Edward Kennedy began hearings on his bill in early 1971 , a competing proposal came from an unexpected source: Richard Nixon's White House. President Nixon's approach , in retrospect, had some commonalities with what Obamacare turned out to be. There was the employer mandate, for example, and an expansion of Medicaid. It favored healthcare delivery via health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, which was a novel idea at the time. HMOs, which offer managed care within a tight network of health care providers, descended from the prepaid health plans that flourished briefly in the 1910s and 1920s. They were first conceived in their current form around 1970 by Dr. Paul M. Ellwood, Jr. In 1973, a law was passed to require large companies to give their employees an HMO option as well as a traditional health insurance option. But that was always intended to be ancillary to Nixon's more ambitious proposal, which got even closer to what exists now after it wallowed in the swamp for a while. When Nixon reintroduced the proposal in 1974, it featured state-run health insurance plans as a substitute for Medicaid—not a far cry from the tax credit-fueled state-run exchanges of today. Of course, Nixon had other things to worry about in 1974: inflation, recession, a nation just beginning to heal from its first lost war—and his looming impeachment. His successor, Gerald Ford, tried to keep the proposal moving forward, but to no avail. But this raises a good question: If the Republican president and the Democratic Senate majority both see the same problem and have competing but not irreconcilable proposals to address it, why wasn't there some kind of compromise? What major issue divided the two parties? It was a matter of funding. The Democrats wanted to pay for universal health coverage through the U.S. Treasury's general fund, acknowledging that Congress would have to raise taxes to pay for it. The Republicans wanted it to pay for itself by charging participants insurance premiums, which would be, in effect, a new tax. The next significant legislation came from President Reagan, who signed the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, in 1985. COBRA enabled laid-off workers to hold onto their health insurance—providing that they pay 100% of the premium, which had been wholly or at least in part subsidized by their erstwhile employer. While COBRA offers continued coverage, its high expense doesn't offer much relief for the unemployed. A 2006 Commonwealth Fund survey found that only 9% of people eligible for COBRA coverage actually signed up for it. The COBRA law had a section, though, that was only tangentially related. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, or EMTALA, which was incorporated into COBRA, required all emergency medical facilities that take Medicare—that is, all of them—to treat patients irrespective of their insurance status or ability to pay. As Forbes staff writer Avik Roy wrote during the Obamacare debate, EMTALA has come to overshadow the rest of the COBRA law in its influence on American health care policy. More on that soon. It wasn't until the 1990s that Washington saw another serious attempt at healthcare reform. Bill Clinton's first order of business as president was to establish a new health care plan. For the first time, the First Lady took on the role of heavy-lifting policy advisor to the president and became the White House point person on universal health care. Hillary Clinton's proposal mandated : The Clintons' plan centralized decision-making in Washington, with a "National Health Board" overseeing quality assurance, training physicians, guaranteeing abortion coverage, and running both long-term care facilities and rural health systems. The insurance lobbyists had a field day with that. The famous "Harry and Louise" ads portrayed a generic American couple having tense conversations in their breakfast nook about how the federal government would come between them and their doctor. By the 1994 midterms, any chance of universal health care in America had died. In this case, it wasn't funding but the debate between big and small governments that killed the Clinton reform. It would be another generation before the U.S. saw universal health care take the stage. Fast-forward to 2010. It was clear that employer-sponsored plans were vestiges of another time. They made sense when people stayed with the same company for their entire careers, but as job-hopping and layoffs became more prevalent, plans tied to the job became obsolete. Thus the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, was proposed by Barack Obama's White House and squeaked by Congress and the Supreme Court with the narrowest of margins. The ACA introduced an individual mandate requiring everyone to have health insurance regardless of job status. It set up an array of government-sponsored online exchanges where individuals could buy coverage . It also provided advance premium tax credits to defray the cost to consumers. But it didn't ignore hat most people were already getting health insurance through work, and a significant proportion didn't want to change . So the ACA also required employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees to provide health coverage to at least 95% of them. The law, nicknamed Obamacare by supporters and detractors, set a minimum baseline of coverage and affordability. The penalty for an employer that offers inadequate or unaffordable coverage can never be greater than the penalty for not offering coverage at all. The model for Obamacare was the health care reform package that went into effect in Massachusetts in 2006. The initial proposal was made by then-Governor Mitt Romney, a Republican who now serves as a senator from Utah. Despite an onslaught of court challenges, Obamacare remains the law of the land. For a while, Republican congressional candidates ran on a "repeal-and-replace" platform plank, but even when they were in the majority, there was little legislative action to do either. Still, Obamacare is not the last word in American health care reform. Since then, there have been two important improvements to Health Reimbursement Arrangements, through which companies pay employees back for out-of-pocket medical-related expenses. HRAs had been evolving informally since at least the 1960s but were first addressed by the Internal Revenue Service in 2002. Not much more happened on that front until Obama's lame-duck period. In December 2016, he signed the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which was mainly a funding bill supporting the National Institutes of Health as it addressed the opioid crisis. But, just like the right to free emergency room treatment was nested in the larger COBRA law, the legal framework of Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangements was tucked away in a corner of the Cures Act. QSEHRAs, offered only by companies with fewer than 50 full-time employees, allow firms to let their employees pick their insurance coverage off the Obamacare exchanges. The firms pay the employees back for some or all of the cost of those premiums. The employees then become ineligible for the premium tax credit provided by the ACA, but a well-constructed QSEHRA will meet or exceed the value of that subsidy. That brings this timeline to one last innovation, which expands QSEHRA-like treatment to companies with more than 50 employees or aspiring to have them. Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements , or ICHRAs, were established by a 2019 IRS rule . ICHRAs allow firms of any size to offer employees tax-free contributions to cover up to 100% of their individual health insurance premiums as well as other eligible medical expenses. Instead of offering insurance policies directly, companies advise employees to shop on a government-sponsored exchange and select the best plan that suits their needs. Employer reimbursement rather than an advance premium tax credit reduces premiums. And because these plans are already ACA-compliant, there's no risk to the employer that they won't meet coverage or affordability standards. The U.S. is never going back to the mid-20th century model of lifetime employment at one company. Now, with remote employees and gig workers characterizing the workforce, the portability of an ICHRA provides some consistency for those who expect to be independent contractors for their entire careers. Simultaneously, allows bootstrap-phase startups to offer the dignity of health coverage to their Day One associates. The U.S. health care system can feel clunky and confusing to navigate. It is also regressive and penalizes startups and small businesses. For a country founded by entrepreneurs, it's sad that corporations like Google pay less for health care per employee than a small coffee shop in Florida. In many ways, ICHRA democratizes procuring health care coverage. In the same way that large employers enjoy the benefits of better rates, ICHRA plan quality and prices improve as the ICHRA risk pool grows. Moving away from the traditional employer model will change the incentive structure of the healthcare industry. Insurers will be able to compete and differentiate on the merits of their product. They will be incentivized to build products for people, not one-size-fits-all solutions for employers. This story was produced by Thatch and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.winph99 。

The House of Representatives voted to block the immediate release of the ethics report involving former Rep. Matt Gaetz. The vote was 206 to 198 — with all but one Republican, Rep. Tom McClintock, voting to refer the report back to the Ethics Committee. The House Ethics Committee investigated allegations of sexual misconduct involving Gaetz, along with accusations of illicit drug use and the alleged acceptance of improper gifts. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and the Department of Justice announced last year it would not bring charges against him. “Today, the majority of the House of Representatives took the easy way out,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “They could have ensured a vote on whether or not former Members should be held accountable when they face serious and credible allegations of sexual misconduct, including having sex with minors. Instead, the House voted to sweep these allegations under the rug and set an unfortunate precedent that, if you are ever facing scrutiny, resigning from Congress can make your problems go away. Gaetz resigned from Congress in November, days before the potential release of the report. His resignation set off a debate in Washington about whether the report should still be released since he was no longer a sitting member of Congress. RELATED STORY | Johnson against release of House Ethics Committee report involving Gaetz House Speaker Mike Johnson said the report shouldn't be released, claiming it set a bad precedent. "The rules of the House have always been that a former member is beyond the jurisdiction of the Ethics Committee," he said in November. However, there was mounting pressure to release the report from Democrats and some Republicans as Gaetz was the nominee to be the next attorney general. The former congressman ultimately decided to withdraw his name from consideration, saying the nomination had become a distraction. RELATED STORY | Matt Gaetz says he's removing his name for consideration for attorney generalNoneJonBenét Ramsey case gets renewed attention 28 years after her murder

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, is getting a brand new subway system that will showcase archaeological discoveries made during construction that held up the project for decades. The 9.6-kilometer inaugural line will officially open on Nov. 30, using driverless trains and platform screen doors. Construction began in earnest in 2003 and unearthed a treasure trove of antiquities in a vast excavation beneath the densely populated city of a million residents. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The plan for the Minnesota Vikings was to bring in Sam Darnold as the bridge between Kirk Cousins and J.J. McCarthy, confident his strong arm and starting experience would sufficiently run a high-caliber offense until the rookie was deemed ready to play. Darnold's performance to date has been much closer to superstar than mere stopgap. “He’s a baller," Vikings safety Harrison Smith said. "He can make stuff happen when he needs to. I know with the outside narrative on him and his path and everything, you might not think that, but ever since he got here, it felt like that was going to happen.” Having led the Vikings (10-2) to their fifth consecutive victory with the go-ahead touchdown pass against Arizona last week, one game after a stellar overtime drive to beat Chicago , Darnold has become one of the darlings of this NFL this season with his success in coach Kevin O'Connell's system after the third overall pick in the 2018 draft started his career in rather bleak fashion. His first year in Minnesota sure has been smoother than what Cousins has gone through in his debut with the Atlanta Falcons . Last week in a loss at home to the Los Angeles Chargers, Cousins matched his career high with four interceptions. “I don’t think anybody can put any more pressure on Kirk than he has for himself. He’s carried us through this season when we were figuring out a lot of things on defense,” Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “He’s just having a hard time right now. There’s nothing to say he can’t catch fire and light it up like he’s been doing.” The Falcons (6-6) take their three-game losing streak on the road to face the Vikings, with division races for both teams in full swing. The quarterback contrasts have made this matchup all the more intriguing, with Cousins coming back to the place where he spent the previous six seasons. Cousins has a $25 million salary cap hit this season, the 11th-highest among quarterbacks in the league. Even if the Falcons were to move on in 2026 and swallow the dead money for two more years with eighth overall pick Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings, Cousins will carry a $40 million charge in 2025. Darnold’s cap charge is $5 million this season, just 31st on the list. Though he will become a free agent in March, the Vikings structured his contract with void years to spread his cap hit into next season for another $5 million. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick, won't be ready until next year after having surgery to repair the meniscus he tore in his right knee in his first preseason game. Though Darnold has had a couple of clunkers this year, the Vikings still won those games and he's bounced back strong without letting interceptions linger into future decisions. "He’s kind of found a little balance, at least the last few weeks, of ‘When is it too risky?’ and ‘When can I take my shot at something?’” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. The Falcons have seen as much on tape. “I think he’s playing free,” Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates said. “It’s not a lot of complicated throws or anything that he’s doing. I just think that he’s finally able to feel comfortable in himself.” Acknowledging the moment Falcons coach Raheem Morris decided to address the significance of Cousins’ homecoming with the team, bracing for the type of crowd reaction that will only intensify the noise at U.S. Bank Stadium that's already daunting for opponents. Minnesota's defense has thrived this season at home, using the fans to enhance the effectiveness of a disguise-based, aggressive scheme that leads the league with 18 interceptions and has also been adept at rushing the passer and stuffing the run. “The environment they create up in Minnesota is absolutely outstanding,” Morris said. Cousins isn't the only key figure from the Falcons who's well-known to Vikings coaches. Morris was the defensive coordinator in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams when O'Connell was the offensive coordinator and Phillips was the tight ends coach on that Super Bowl champion team. Listen to your mother Vikings running back Aaron Jones has fumbled three times in the last two games, losing two of them, but he hasn't lost the confidence of coaches or teammates as evidenced by the pass called for his go-ahead touchdown catch against the Cardinals. Family is a strong support system for him, too, but sometimes that means tough love. His mother, Vurgess Jones, let him have it after the game when they talked about the turnovers. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to learn from it,'” Jones said. “She was like, ‘You didn’t learn last week?'” He has matched his career high in 2024 with five fumbles and three lost, a fact not lost on a Falcons defense that's aggressive with dislodging techniques despite only four recovered fumbles in 12 games. “You can see it all over the tape: Those guys are coaching it," Phillips said. Greenard is going strong Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, who was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month after racking up eight tackles for loss in November, carried his pass-rushing mojo into December with a couple of clutch plays in the final minute to preserve the victory over Arizona. Greenard has 10 of the team's 39 sacks. “How many times this year has he affected the quarterback, drawn a penalty, sacked the quarterback, strip-sacked like last week in these critical moments where you need your best players to go make those plays?” O'Connell said. “He’s done it time and time again.” Bijan is busy Falcons running back Bijan Robinson set a career high last week with 26 carries. He had 102 yards rushing and was again a significant part of the passing attack with six catches against the Chargers. “I just do whatever I can to help us as a team,” said Robinson, who’s fifth in the NFL with 1,277 combined yards from scrimmage. “I just trust whatever they have in the plan.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLFinancial institutions double down on more checks for tech partners

Calls for further reforms to create a universal childcare system are mounting, after major government announcements to improve access for families. or signup to continue reading Anthony Albanese has promised a re-elected Labor government would abolish the childcare activity test and offer three days of subsidised care to families earning up to $530,000 a year. The proposal would scrap the activity test, which determines the level of childcare subsidies parents get based on the number of hours they work, opening up childcare to an estimated 150,000 children. Removing the activity test was "the first plank towards a truly universal system", Impact Economics and Policy lead economist Angela Jackson said. "We can see very clearly that the current market just isn't working," Dr Jackson said. Over the past year, childcare fees have increased by 10.6 per cent, eroding the benefits of the $5 billion Cheaper Child Care Reforms introduced in July 2023. "I think the next step is to really have a look at the way in which support for people using early childhood education and care has often failed to deliver in terms of access, quality and the cost, and whether or not we need some really fundamental reform," Dr Jackson said. A $1 billion fund to build or expand more than 160 early childhood education and care services has also been announced, following parliament's approval of a 15 per cent wage rise over two years for early childhood educators. "I can't tell you how important this week was for these kids who were missing out from disadvantaged backgrounds," Dr Jackson said. The fund, which will prioritise not-for-profit and government centres, will give providers more security through direct funding and had genuine potential to eradicate the nation's childcare desert, The Parenthood's Maddy Butler said. A childcare desert is an area where three or more children compete for one childcare place, and they predominantly exist in outer-suburban, regional, rural and remote communities. "The current early education market has failed country towns," Ms Butler said. "Providers don't have the financial incentive to set up or stay open there and the early educator workforce means existing services often can't run at full capacity." Jay Weatherill, from Minderoo Foundation's Thrive by Five campaign, said the fund was "what rural and outer-suburban communities have been crying out for". "Not having access to childcare and early learning affects everyone, because parents can't get back to work when they want to, and local businesses and services suffer," the former South Australian premier said. "The next step should be a commitment to free early learning for low income families and a $10-a-day cap on out-of-pocket fees for everyone else." Labor is believed to be considering the cap as a federal election promise as it pursues its long-term goal of universal childcare. Parents pay about $50 per child per day, and childcare was recently identified as the third fastest-growing cost in the Consumer Price Index. Each time governments increased subsidies, the value of the gains was eroded by increases in the cost of care, Dr Jackson said. "The current market settings encourage providers to charge higher fees, rather than drive more cost-effective and higher quality care," she said. A supply-side system, where providers were funded based on service delivery costs and parents paid $10 to $20 per day, was "wholly achievable", she said. "There are debates about whether ... higher-income earners should contribute more, and I think you can have those debates within this context," she said. Australian Childcare Alliance president Paul Mondo said rushing change increased the chance of getting it wrong and causing long-term damage to the sector that would be difficult to reverse. A report commissioned by the alliance found that if the costs of delivering high-quality services weren't considered in supply-side funding, centres might be forced to take a minimalist approach to staffing. "Universal application of a supply-side funding model would be complex and costly to get right, taking years to implement which is too late for many families struggling under the cost-of-living crisis that is happening now," Mr Mondo said. Dr Jackson said there was no need to rush into a supply-side system and it could be delivered sensibly. "We need to outline just how a universal system could work, and how it can be delivered in a way that we know the benefits of the additional government investment aren't going to be eroded," she said. The government's proposals were a "game-changer" that would mean thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children could access early education and care, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children chief executive Catherine Liddle said. "The activity test effectively denied many children the opportunity to access crucial early learning services," she said. "Our families are five times more likely to access only one day of care as a result of the activity test, and many families disengage completely because of the small amount of subsidised care available." Dr Jackson said it was important to recognise that childcare was "a critical market for the Australian economy". "It's the key mechanism by which we invest in the next generation of workers, but it is also a huge enabler in terms of participation of women," she said. "So if we can get the market working in terms of the quality and the cost and access, then we can also help unlock a lot of economic potential." 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House torpedoes Democratic-led effort to release Ethics report on Matt GaetzNEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” The Manhattan district attorney's office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won't include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn't sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump" who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Jets running back Hall 'looks promising' to play vs. Jags, but cornerback Reed is doubtfulWASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. People are also reading... Driver of car dead after crash in downtown Lincoln; part of O Street closed Man found dead in north Lincoln, police say Here's what Nebraska volleyball's loss to Penn State means for Huskers' Big Ten title hopes Wisconsin officer grabbing Donovan Raiola's arm a 'misunderstanding,' UW police say Iowa players say Nebraska refused pregame handshake, among other perceived slights Nebraska defensive lineman announces he’ll return for 2025 season Tony White leaves Nebraska for Florida State defensive coordinator job Sound waves: What others are saying about Nebraska's loss to Iowa Paige Hubl, former Nebraska volleyball player and Lincoln Southeast coach, dies at age 34 Just Askin': What is the best-case scenario for Nebraska football’s bowl destination? Matt Rhule, Luke Fickell both downplay postgame encounter between Fickell, Donovan Raiola Taco restaurant started by brothers in Grand Island expands to Lincoln Nebraska portal tracker: Jimari Butler and reserve RB among Huskers entering Amie Just: Takeaways from Nebraska volleyball's NCAA tourney, including a Rattler flashback Security keeps Nebraska players, coaches off Iowa logo as rivalry heats up in freezing temps The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online.A SUPERMARKET giant is selling Terry's Chocolate Orange for just £1 just in time for Christmas. Co-op has slashed the price from £1.50 to just a quid for certain shoppers. But you have to be signed up to the chain's loyalty scheme to bag the bargain. News of the discount was posted to the deal-finding site HotUKDeals. The shopper said: "Terry's Chocolate Oranges £1 members price at the Co-op, seen in Dronfield but this is likely to be a National deal." Users were quick to respond in the comments hailing the low price. Read more on chocolate One said: "Yes....the proper price!!" Another commented: "The price they should be." The post also received a 749% heat rating which means fellow shoppers agree it's a bargain price. According to the comments the deal only appears to be available to Orange member cards, not Blue. Most read in Money Co-op membership also gives you access to discounts across all its brands, including insurance , funeral care, and legal services. You can either join online , via the Co-op app, or in-store. If you're not currently a member, signing up is easy and costs just £1. This gives you access to all their lower prices in stores for members as well as personalised offers. It's worth calling ahead to your local store to check if they are offering the deal before you head out. You can use websites like Trolley, Price Spy and Price Runner which let you compare prices on thousands of products. A quick search with the Google Shopping/Product tab can bring up what some retailers are selling items for too. It's worth going direct to discounters' websites like B&M and Home Bargains too as they often have cheap chocs on sale. Plus the closer we get to Christmas it's likely even more offers will pop up too. But these deals do seem to come and go quickly so it's worth stocking up while you have the chance. This appears to be the lowest price available on Terry's Chocolate Oranges currently according to Trolley. Tesco and Aldi are selling the treats for £1.49, while Asda, Morrisons and Iceland have priced them at £1.50. Sainsbury's Nectar card customers can also bag them for £1.50. While Morrisons and Ocado are the most expensive at £2. READ MORE SUN STORIES We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar. Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs... Go own brand - if you're not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you'll save by going for the supermarket's own brand bars. Shop around - if you've spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it's cheaper elsewhere. Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you're getting the best deal. Look out for yellow stickers - supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they've been reduced. They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged. Buy bigger bars - most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar. So if you've got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger. Elsewhere, Morrisons has slashed the price of Cadbury selection boxes to just £1. Plus, Co-op has reduced the price of Celebrations from £5.50 to just £4.50 for most of December. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk . Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and storiesNew Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightings

U.S.-based has launched its biometric scanner specially designed for infant and neo-natal identification in the Brazilian market. The Neo fingerprint scanner is currently being tested in four proof-of-concept initiatives in multiple Brazilian states, with more pending. Children’s biometrics are enrolled in hospital maternity wards shortly after birth, in part to . The strategic expansion is a key development for Synolo because the country is currently working towards regulations for infant and child identification, Co-founder CEO Greg Scott tells in an interview. There are no certifications or standards for infant biometrics yet, and FBI fingerprint technology certifications are for matching adults, but Brazil’s government has “established a committee that’s been working on the regulations associated with this,” Scott explains. “Brazil is the one place in the world that really has more than aspirations, its actually implementing infant IDs.” Originally, Brazil wanted rules for infant biometrics to be part of the certification framework for the new National Identity Card, the , Synolo Business Development Manager Rafael Lucchesi says during the same call. Lucchesi also points out that Brazil’s LGPD imposes a data protection standard “kind of like GDPR.” “We feel that if we’re successful in Brazil, that’s going to be the launching pad for the rest of the world,” Scott says. Distribution will be through the Synolo Solutions Provider Program, which is run by the company’s São Paulo-based team, which includes Lucchesi. The company was founded in 2021, spinning out of a from the University of California San Diego with Gates Foundation backing. Though there is not certification for fingerprint biometrics technology designed for children and newborns, Synolo’s technology has been evaluated in papers published by the and Nature, Gates OpenResearch and most recently in collaboration with CITeR. Synolo is also in the midst of collaborations with NIST, and the National Science Foundation to help with the development of standards for children’s fingerprint biometrics. | | | | | | |

I’m A Celebrity’s Rev Coles shares hilarious nickname after shock habit is revealed in campThousands of Syrians gathered in Damascus’ main square and a historic mosque for the first Muslim Friday prayers since former President Bashar Assad was overthrown , a major symbolic moment for the country’s dramatic change of power. The rebels are now working to establish security and start a political transition after seizing the capital on Sunday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Friday, pressing ahead with efforts to unify Middle East nations in support of a peaceful political transition in Syria. It’s part of Blinken’s 12th trip to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year in Gaza but his first after Assad was ousted. The U.S. is also making a renewed push for an ceasefire in Gaza, where the war has plunged more than 2 million Palestinians into a severe humanitarian crisis. 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 October 2023 attack by Hamas in southern Israel that sparked the war 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: WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has transported out of Syria an American who disappeared seven months ago into former President Bashar Assad’s notorious prison system and was among the thousands released this week by rebels, a U.S. official said Friday. Travis Timmerman was flown out of Syria on a U.S. military helicopter, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing operation. Timmerman, 29, told The Associated Press he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in Palestine Branch, a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.” Timmerman said he was released Monday morning alongside a young Syrian man and 70 female prisoners, some of whom had their children with them. He had been held separately from Syrian and other Arab prisoners and said he didn’t know of any other Americans held in the facility. — By Lolita C. Baldor THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Dutch court on Friday rejected a bid from human rights groups to block weapons exports to Israel and trading with the occupied territories, after finding there were sufficient checks already in place to comply with international law. The ten organizations told The Hague District Court last month that they thought the Netherlands was in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, drawn up following World War II, by continuing to sell weapons to Israel more than a year into the conflict in Gaza. “The government uses my own tax money, that I pay, to kill my own family. I’ve lost 18 members of my own family,” Ahmed Abofoul, a legal adviser for the pro-Palestinian organization Al-Haq, one of the groups involved in the lawsuit, told the court during a hearing in November . The court ruling said that “it is not up to the interim relief judge to order the state to reconsider government policy. That is primarily a political responsibility.” Lawyers for the government argued it wasn’t up to a judge to decide foreign policy for the Netherlands. The activist groups pointed to several emergency orders from another court, the International Court of Justice, as confirming the obligation to stop weapons sales. In January, the top U.N. court said it was plausible Palestinians were being deprived of some rights protected under the Genocide Convention. The coalition said it will review the court’s ruling and is considering an appeal. CAIRO — Israeli attacks in and around a hospital in northern Gaza wounded three medical staff overnight into Friday and caused damage to the isolated medical facility, according to its director. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya said Israeli quadcopter drones carrying explosives deliberately targeted the emergency and reception area of Kamal Adwan Hospital, where one doctor was wounded for a third time. Abu Safiya said “relentless” drone and artillery strikes throughout the night exploded “alarmingly close” to the hospital, heavily damaging nearby buildings and destroying most of the water tanks on the hospital’s roof and blowing out doors and windows. Kamal Adwan Hospital in the town of Beit Lahiya has been hit multiple times over the past two months since Israel launched a fierce military operation against Hamas in northern Gaza. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strikes. “We demand international protection for the hospital and its staff,” Abu Safiya said in a statement released via the U.K.-based aid group Medical Aid for Palestinians, “as well as the entry of delegations with surgical expertise, medical supplies, and essential medications to ensure we can adequately serve the people we are treating.” Abu Safiya said there were 72 wounded patients at the hospital, one of the few medical facilities left in northern Gaza. He said he expected Israeli forces would allow a World Health Organization aid convoy to bring supplies to the hospital on Friday or Saturday, as well as a team of doctors from Indonesia. Israel has allowed almost no humanitarian or medical aid to enter the three besieged communities in northern Gaza — Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and the urban Jabaliya refugee camp — and ordered tens of thousands to flee to nearby Gaza City. Israeli officials have said the three communities are mostly deserted, but the United Nations humanitarian office said Tuesday it believes around 65,000 to 75,000 people are still there, with little access to food, water, electricity or health care. Experts have warned that the north may be experiencing famine . BAGHDAD — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced stop in Iraq on Friday on his latest visit to the Middle East aimed at stabilizing the situation in Syria to prevent further regional turmoil. Blinken met in Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani as part of the hastily arranged trip, his 12th to the region since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian strongman Bashar Assad. Blinken has already been to Jordan and Turkey on his current tour and will return to the Jordanian city of Aqaba for meetings on Saturday with Arab foreign ministers, Turkey’s foreign minister and the United Nations special envoy for Syria, the U.N. said. Blinken will try to unify support for an inclusive post-Assad transition that does not allow the Islamic State group to take advantage of the political vacuum in Syria and secures suspected chemical weapons stocks. In Baghdad, Blinken underscored “U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership and to Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty,” the State Department said. “He will also discuss regional security opportunities and challenges, as well as enduring U.S. support for engagement with all communities in Syria to establish an inclusive transition,” it said in a statement. His trip comes as the Biden administration winds down with just over a month left before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump has been highly critical of Biden’s approach to the Middle East and skeptical of the U.S. military presence in both Iraq and Syria. The U.S. and Iraq agreed in September to wrap up U.S.-led military operations against the Islamic State group in Iraq next year, although Assad’s ouster and the potential for the group taking advantage of a political vacuum in Syria could complicate the timing of the withdrawal, according to American officials. DAMASCUS — The kingdom of Bahrain sent a message Friday to Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It said Bahrain is “fully prepared to consult with you continuously and to provide support in regional and international organizations to achieve what is in the interest of the brotherly Syrian people.” It added, “We look forward to Syria regaining its authentic role in the Arab League.” Bahrain is the current head of the Arab summit. Syria was readmitted to the Arab League last year after 12 years of ostracization. It is still unclear how the international community will deal officially with the new interim government in Syria. JERUSALEM - Israel’s defense minister told troops to prepare to remain through the winter months on the peak of Mount Hermon, Syria’s highest point, located in a swath of southern Syria that Israeli troops moved into after the fall of Damascus to insurgents. The comments by Defense Minister Israel Katz signaled that the military will extend its occupation of the zone along the border, which Israel says it seized to create a buffer zone. In a statement Friday, Katz said that holding the peak was of major importance for Israel’s security and that it would be necessary to build facilities there to sustain troops through the winter. The summit of Mount Hermon, the highest peak on the eastern Mediterranean coast at 2,814 meters (9,232 feet), gives a commanding view over the plains of southern Syria. It also positions Israeli troops about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the center of Damascus. The mount is divided between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Lebanon and Syria. Only the United States recognizes Israel’s control of the Golan Heights. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israeli troops would remain in the zone until another force across the border in Syria could guarantee security. Israeli troops moved into the zone -– set as a demilitarized area inside Syrian territory under truce deals that ended the 1973 Mideast war -- after the regime of Bashar al-Assad fell last weekend. ANKARA, Turkey -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the United States on what they would like to see in Syria following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. “There’s broad agreement on what we would like to see going forward, starting with the interim government in Syria, one that is inclusive and non-sectarian and one that protects the rights of minorities and women” and does not “pose any kind of threat to any of Syria’s neighbors,” Blinken said in joint statements with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The insurgent groups that toppled Assad in Syria have not made clear their policy or stance on Israel, whose military in recent days has bombed sites all over the country, saying it is trying to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands. Blinken also said it was crucial to keep the Islamic State group under control. “We also discussed the imperative of continuing the efforts to keep ISIS down. Our countries worked very hard and gave a lot over many years to ensure the elimination of the territorial caliphate of ISIS to ensure that that threat doesn’t rear its head again,” Blinken said. The Turkish foreign minister said the two discussed ways of establishing prosperity in Syria and ending terrorism in the country. “Our priority is establishing stability in Syria as soon as possible, preventing terrorism from gaining ground, and ensuring that IS and the PKK aren’t dominant,” Fidan said, in a reference to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party. Blinken said: “We’re very focused on Syria, very focused on the opportunity that now is before us and before the Syrian people to move from out from under the shackles of Bashar al-Assad to a different and better future for the Syrian people, one that the Syrian people decide for themselves.” Blinken and Fidan said they had also discussed a ceasefire for Gaza. “We’ve seen in the last couple of weeks more encouraging signs that (a ceasefire) is possible,” Blinken said. Blinken, who is making his 12th trip to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but first since the weekend ouster of Assad, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Thursday. The outgoing Biden administration is particularly concerned that a power vacuum in Syria could exacerbate already heightened tensions in the region, which is already wracked by multiple conflicts, and create conditions for the Islamic State group to regain territory and influence. Later Friday, Blinken is to return to Jordan for meetings on Saturday with Arab foreign ministers and senior officials from the European Union, the Arab League and the United Nations. ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkey has appointed a temporary charge d’affaires to reopen its embassy in Syria, Turkey’s state-run news agency reported. The Turkish Embassy in Damascus had suspended operations in 2012 due to the escalating security problems during the Syrian civil war and embassy staff and their families were recalled to Turkey. The Anadolu Agency said late Thursday that Turkey appointed Burhan Koroglu, its ambassador in Mauritania, to the post. UNITED NATIONS- – Two U.N. aid convoys were violently attacked in Gaza, making it virtually impossible for humanitarian agencies to operate without putting staff and civilians at risk, the U.N. food agency says. On Wednesday, a 70-truck convoy from Kerem Shalom was waiting for personnel to safeguard the food and other aid destined for central Gaza when there were reported attacks by Israeli forces in the nearby humanitarian zone, the U.N. World Food Program said Thursday. More than 50 people are now estimated to have died in the attacks, including civilians and local security personnel who had been expected to ensure the convoy’s safety, WFP said. The Rome-based agency said the convoy was forced to proceed from Kerem Shalom to central Gaza without any security arrangements, using the Philadelphi corridor, an Israeli-controlled route that had been recently approved and successfully utilized twice. On the way, WFP said, conflict and insecurity led to a loss of communication with the convoy for more than 12 hours. ”Eventually, the trucks were found but all food and aid supplies were looted,” the U.N. agency said. In a second incident, Israeli soldiers approached a WFP convoy moving out of the Kissufim crossing into central Gaza, fired warning shots, conducted extensive security checks, and temporarily detained drivers and staff, the agency said. “As the trucks were delayed, four out of the five trucks were lost to violent armed looting,” WFP said. UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations chief has a message for Israel: Stop the attacks on Syria. Secretary-General António Guterres is particularly concerned about several hundred Israeli airstrikes on several Syrian locations and stresses “the urgent need to de-escalate violence on all fronts throughout the country," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Thursday. The Israeli military said Tuesday it carried out more than 350 strikes in Syria over the previous 48 hours, hitting “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country to stop them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also acknowledged pushing into a buffer zone inside Syria following last week’s overthrow of President Bashar Assad. The buffer zone was established after Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1973 war. Dujarric said Guterres condemns all actions violating the 1974 ceasefire agreement between the two countries that remain in force. And the U.N. chief calls on the parties to uphold the agreement and end “all unauthorized presence in the area of separation” and refrain from any action undermining the ceasefire and stability in the Golan Heights, the spokesman said.

winph 777 ‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained?Some people might go on holidays to relax, tick off tourist sights or see the local wildlife. I like to do all of those things, I'll admit. But I also love to shop . From France, Italy and Greece to Japan , America and Canada, I love to fill my bags with curios, clothes and cosmetics and everything else. READ MORE: Camping essentials that won't break the budget for under $60 I started at a young age, despite family holidays being pretty frugal back then. While other kids likely wanted fridge magnets, I lusted after a polka dotted red flamenco dress in Spain. I tried it on but my parents wouldn't let me have it (unsurprisingly). I then recall moving on to easier targets, like the Spanish equivalent of the dollar shop. I lugged home vases and fragranced candles from Barcelona which I proudly displayed in my bedroom. Later, also in Spain, I discovered Zara, which back then was the height of fashion and wasn't yet available in England. Then, the first couple of times I went to New York City as a teenager, was jaw-dropping. Suddenly I could get all the things I'd read about in magazines and seen on TV shows like Sex and the City . READ MORE: World hidden under the busiest streets in Seoul Hard Candy nail polish, Carmex lip balm, Oreos and DKNY T-shirts filled my case. I'd also come home laden with CD's - remember those - which were much cheaper there. And as I started earning my own money, things escalated. Going on a ranch holiday in Arizona was an excuse to head to the local western shop, Boot Barn and holler, "GET ME EVERYTHING". READ MORE: NYC: Everything to know before visiting Now, the definition of a souvenir is "a thing that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event." And we've been collecting them for thousands of years apparently, as ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used to cart rare artefacts home. Of course, social media has recently sent travel shopping stratospheric. What are being dubbed 'goods getaways' are 'trending', travel firm Expedia says. Because a lot of the time, it's all about showing off, isn't it? And where better to do that than online. "Here is this decadent chocolate from Dubai!' "My butter is better than yours because I got it in Paris! "See these cheeks, they look as shiny as glass due to this face cream from South Korea!" Indeed without TikTok I would have had no idea about the best things to snap up in Tokyo. Turns out it was strangely flavoured Kit Kats, hair and face stuff and heated eye masks, all from discount store Don Quijote. Garish, packed, cheap and found all across Japan, it's possibly the best shop I've ever been to. But I don't just follow the trends. Perhaps the most unusual thing I have bought on holiday was the $40 (empty) Fortnum and Mason hamper I found in a charity shop in London. It took some effort to cram that in the overhead locker. And the best goodies would be the second hand clothes I've unearthed everywhere from Phoenix to Kyoto.  However, with the cost of living and exchange rates the way they are, recently I have recently scaled back my holiday shopping. Plus, you can now get most things online which has really killed the novelty of coming home with stuff nobody else has. I've also started to realise memories are much more valuable than things. Or maybe I'm just sick of trying to squeeze it all in my luggage.

The Reform UK leader pushed back against reports suggesting that legal action would be the next step, saying he would make a decision in the next couple of days about his response if there is no apology for the “crazy conspiracy theory”. Mr Farage also said the party has “opened up our systems” to media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times, in the interests of “full transparency to verify that our numbers are correct”. His remarks came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Farage of “fakery” in response to Reform claiming they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members. Mrs Badenoch said Reform’s counter was “coded to tick up automatically”. A digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally before lunchtime on Boxing Day ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party during its leadership election earlier this year. Mr Farage, on whether he was threatening legal action or not, told the PA news agency: “I haven’t threatened anything. I’ve just said that unless I get an apology, I will take some action. “I haven’t said whether it’s legal or anything.” He added: “All I’ve said is I want an apology. If I don’t get an apology, I will take action. “I will decide in the next couple of days what that is. So I’ve not specified what it is.” Mr Farage, on the move to make membership data available to media organisations, said: “We feel our arguments are fully validated. “She (Mrs Badenoch) has put out this crazy conspiracy theory and she needs to apologise.” On why Mrs Badenoch had reacted as she did, Mr Farage said: “I would imagine she was at home without anybody advising her and was just angry.” Mr Farage, in a statement issued on social media site X, also said: “The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. “Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News and FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. “I am now demanding Kemi Badenoch apologises.” A Conservative Party source claimed Mr Farage was “rattled” that his Boxing Day “publicity stunt is facing serious questions”. They added: “Like most normal people around the UK, Kemi is enjoying Christmas with her family and looking forward to taking on the challenges of renewing the Conservative Party in the New Year.” Mrs Badenoch, in a series of messages posted on X on Thursday, said: “Farage doesn’t understand the digital age. This kind of fakery gets found out pretty quickly, although not before many are fooled.” There were 131,680 Conservative members eligible to vote during the party’s leadership election to replace Rishi Sunak in the autumn. Mrs Badenoch claimed in her thread that “the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election”.

DrM, Dr. Mueller AGRobbie Robertson on Jimmy Carter: ‘A Kind, Wonderful Human Being’Leicester City have sacked manager Steve Cooper following a poor run of form that has left the club languishing in 16th place in the Premier League, just two points above the relegation zone after 12 games. The decision to sack Cooper was made on Sunday, a day after a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, who are managed by former Leicester boss Enzo Maresca. Cooper, 44, was appointed when he replaced Maresca in June due to his previous ties with local rivals Nottingham Forest. His tenure at Leicester saw the Foxes win only two of their 12 Premier League games, leaving the club close to the drop zone. In a statement, Leicester announced that first-team training will temporarily be led by coach Ben Dawson, with assistance from Danny Alcock and Andy Hughes, as the search for a new manager gets underway. The club hopes to conclude the hiring process swiftly. In addition to Cooper, assistant manager Alan Tate and first-team coach and analyst Steve Rands have also departed. Cooper’s short stint at Leicester followed Maresca’s successful 2023/24 campaign, in which he led the Foxes to the Championship title and earned promotion back to the Premier League. However, the current season has seen the club struggle, with six top-flight defeats already recorded. After Saturday’s loss to Chelsea, Cooper voiced frustration with the officiating, criticizing referee Andrew Madley for decisions he felt went against Leicester. Speaking to BBC Sport, Cooper acknowledged the challenges of returning to the Premier League: “I knew how tough the challenge of the season was going to be both on and off the pitch, and it’s proving to be that, but that’s just how it is coming back into the league. I believe we can do better, so that’s got to come in the performances to get the results.” His dismissal makes him the second managerial casualty in the Premier League this season, following Manchester United’s sacking of Erik ten Hag in October. Before his Leicester appointment, Cooper had a notable track record with Nottingham Forest, guiding them to Premier League promotion in 2022 and keeping them in the division the following season. However, he was dismissed midway through the 2023/24 season with Forest hovering just above the relegation zone. Cooper is also known for leading England’s Under-17s to World Cup glory in 2017 and taking Swansea to the Championship play-off final in 2021, where they narrowly lost to Brentford.

These are the four up-and-coming British companies I recommend investing in for real rewards next year and beyond, by shares guru JOANNE HART By JOANNE HART Updated: 16:55, 29 December 2024 e-mail 2 View comments Stock markets are intended to help companies grow. However, that theory has been sorely tested this year, with many firms hit by a cruel combination of economic uncertainty and investor apathy. Rachel Reeves's Budget made matters worse but this is no time for investors to turn their backs on Britain. Many UK stocks have huge potential. Often undervalued by the stock market, they have proved their resilience in recent years and shown they can move forward, even when conditions are tough. Midas top picks for 2025 include four such businesses, drawn from very different markets but all expected to deliver real rewards for shareholders next year and beyond. Assura The NHS is in a mess. More than six million people are waiting for treatment and half of them have been on waiting lists for four months or more. Cancer targets are continually missed, A&E waiting times are a national disgrace, and GPs are stretched to breaking point. To cap it all, the nation is becoming less healthy, with obesity levels rising, heart disease increasing, and life expectancy falling in the poorest parts of Britain. Change is needed – and Assura is helping to provide this. It designs, builds and manages healthcare facilities, from GP surgeries and NHS training centres to mental health units and private hospitals. Today, Assura has about 620 properties, two-thirds of which are GP surgeries, while private hospitals account for a quarter of the group. Many households regard private hospitals as greedy, price-gouging businesses. However, these are not just used by wealthy clients but also the NHS, helping to shorten waiting times and offering specialist services that the state simply cannot afford. Nuffield Health for example, Assura's largest customer on the private side, is a charity focused on community wellbeing. Assura designs, builds and manages healthcare facilities, from GP surgeries and NHS training centres to mental health units and private hospitals (picture posed by models) On the GP front, Assura surgeries are often modern and purpose-built, designed in consultation with doctors to create an environment that works for patients and medics alike. Chief executive Jonathan Murphy joined the group as finance director in 2013, rising to the top job four years later. Well regarded, Murphy is determined to build a business that improves Britain's health and delivers rewards for investors. Earnings and dividends have risen steadily over the past decade and last summer, Murphy spent £500 million on a portfolio of 14 hospitals, which are expected to drive growth for 2025 and beyond. Even after splashing out on the new assets, Assura is still forecast to increase dividends by 3 per cent to 3.3 p in the year to March 2025, putting the shares on a generous 8.5 per cent yield. Midas verdict: Property firms have been savaged recently and Assura is no exception, with its shares almost halving in value since 2022. This seems excessive. Health Secretary Wes Streeting is determined to make his mark and Assura is well positioned to benefit, as the government strives to ease pressure on the Health Service by encouraging greater use of GP surgeries and private hospitals. At 38p, the shares offer long-term growth and highly attractive dividends. Buy. Traded on: Main market Ticker: AGR Contact: assuraplc.com Telecom Plus American statesman Benjamin Franklin is credited with coining the phrase that nothing in this world is certain except death and taxes. But its first recorded mention was actually in a work by British playwright Christopher Bullock. For most of us today, though, another certainty is monthly bills. Never welcome, their number seems to increase on a regular basis – gas, electricity, broadband, mobile, insurance, plus numerous subscriptions to everything from TV to toilet paper. Telecom Plus aims to simplify customers' lives, with one bill covering energy, internet use, mobile phones and home insurance. Starting out from a pub in Henley-on-Thames in 1996, the company has more than a million customers and is valued on the stock market at almost £1.4 billion. Operating under the brand name Utility Warehouse, the group is focused on delivering top-tier service, ease of use and consistently competitive pricing. Accolades and awards suggest that the business is true to its word, as it has just been ranked number one for energy by Citizens Advice. Not only does Telecom Plus differ from peers in the range of services on offer, but it also acquires customers primarily by recommendations from existing users. Ordinary people – teachers, nurses, firefighters, police – tell friends, family or neighbours about Utility Warehouse and are rewarded for every person that they convert. Payment comes as a percentage of the new customer's bill – generally about 2.5 per cent – and for serial recommenders, known as agents, the rewards can be substantial, stretching to hundreds of pounds a year. The system is highly unusual but it works, with customer numbers – and profits – growing by more than 10 per cent a year for the past three years and set to continue. Chief executive Stuart Burnett is keen to double customer numbers to two million over the next five to seven years and add more services to his roster, with motor and pet insurance high on his list. Customers receive a loyalty card too, which takes money off their bill when they buy goods at chains such as Sainsbury's and Boots. Savings can run into hundreds of pounds for committed customers. The more customers join the group, the more profitable it becomes and the more dividends can be paid to shareholders. Shares guru Joanne Hart recommends that you buy and hold shares in Telecom Plus Brokers forecast a dividend of 94p for the year to March 2025, rising to £1.07 the following year and £1.18 in 2027. With the shares at £17.28, that puts Telecom Plus on a yield of almost 5.5 per cent. Midas verdict: Telecom Plus shares peaked at more than £25 two years ago, when energy prices were soaring and inflation was rampant. They have fallen 30 per cent since then to £17.28, with investors worried that new customers will be harder to find in today's environment. Evidence to date would suggest otherwise and the shares should bounce back in 2025 and beyond. Buy and hold. Traded on: Main market Ticker: TEP Contact: telecomplus.co.uk Distribution Finance Capital Staycations came into their own after the Covid pandemic and many holidaymakers decided they preferred them. More than 500,000 caravans trundle round the UK each year, demand for campervans and motorhomes has been soaring, and sales of new vehicles top 25,000 annually. Manchester-based Distribution Finance (DF) Capital oils the wheels of this market and its prospects are bright. The company provides finance to hundreds of dealers nationwide, via loans that are repaid as soon as vehicles are sold. Loans are subsidised by manufacturers so DF works with these firms as well, ensuring processes run smoothly from start to finish. Founded in 2016 by a trio of financial specialists who cut their teeth at US giant GE Capital, DF aims to stand out from larger competitors through a combination of top-tier technology and old-fashioned, personal service. Read More Where you should invest your money to set yourself up for a prosperous 2025, by JEFF PRESTRIDGE Rivals tend to be large banks, saddled with legacy IT. DF has built its own systems, which are easy to use by makers and dealers. Motorhomes and caravans account for about a quarter of DF's business. However, the group operates in several other areas too, from boats and motorbikes to pre-fabricated holiday homes and lodges for retirement communities. The latter are increasingly popular for older couples looking to downsize, release some funds and have fun in their senior years. Trading is brisk across the group. Working with almost 100 manufacturers and about 1,200 dealers, DF is growing fast. Chief executive Carl D'Ammassa revealed earlier this month that results for 2024 would be significantly ahead of expectations with profits of more than £18.5 million, a fourfold increase over 2023. There are high hopes for 2025 as well, with D'Ammassa planning to offer loans not just to dealers but to their customers too. The motor finance market has become enmeshed in scandal, with dealers and lenders accused of hiding commissions and overcharging customers. DF Capital will focus on specialist vehicles rather than cars, but should benefit as lenders across the industry struggle with past problems. D'Ammassa intends to start small as well, so he can be choosy in his choice of customers and keep credit quality high. DF runs a fully licensed savings bank too, financing its lending activity by offering consumers attractive rates, simple online processes and, again, friendly personal service for those who need it. Midas verdicT: Distribution Finance shares topped £1.30 in 2019. Today, they are 36p, hit by concerns about Covid, high interest rates and the collapse of a troublesome manufacturer, Royale Life, in 2023. That issue has been resolved, important lessons have been learned and DF shares have come off earlier lows. However, they are still too cheap at 36p and should deliver strong growth in 2025 and beyond. Buy. Traded on: Aim Ticker: DFCH Contact: dfcapital-investors.com IIG Gambling in China dates back at least 3,000 years, starting with an ancient precursor to chess, known as liubo. Today, however, most forms of gambling are illegal in the People's Republic, with two notable exceptions: the Welfare Lottery and the Sports Lottery, both of which are state-owned. Here too, there are restrictions, with lottery tickets historically available at just 200,000 designated shops, scattered across a country almost 40 times larger than Britain. Chinese New Year lottery tickets. About 100 million Chinese play the lottery today, out of a population of 1.4 billion Ten years ago, Englishman Daniel Levine and his Chinese colleague Frank Li Tong decided this presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drag Chinese lottery systems into the modern era and allow consumers to buy tickets online. The duo founded Hui10 to bring their idea to fruition and in 2023, UK-listed Intuitive Investments Group (IIG) acquired the business via a $365 million all-share deal. Aim-listed IIG boasts an impressive team. Chief executive Robert Naylor and chief investment officer Giles Willits have made serious money for shareholders in recent roles and hope to do the same again. Chairman Sir Nigel Rudd has a 40-year history of backing winners and believes Hui10 will turn IIG into a FTSE 100 business, so much so that he has persuaded top financiers to invest in the company. At the coalface, Levine and Tong have spent the past decade working with Chinese government bodies and local businesses. Now they are on the cusp of delivery. Systems have been approved and steps are under way to make China's lottery digital, including trial runs in certain parts of the country and promotional schemes with giants such as AliBaba, the Chinese equivalent of Amazon. A full roll-out is expected next year and the stakes are high. About 100 million Chinese play the lottery today, out of a population of 1.4 billion. If China were to follow the UK and America, those numbers could rise to at least 300 million over the next five years, sending IIG revenues from virtually nothing today to more than £1.5 billion, with profits running into hundreds of millions of pounds. Midas verdict: IIG shares are £1.10 today. If all goes according to plan, the stock could soar. Like any early-stage business, IIG is not without risk. But the board is top drawer, backers are savvy and Hui10 is determined to succeed. An appealing punt for the adventurous investor. Traded on: Aim Ticker: IIG Contact: iigplc.com Share or comment on this article: These are the four up-and-coming British companies I recommend investing in for real rewards next year and beyond, by shares guru JOANNE HART e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.Albertsons sues Kroger for $600 million over failed grocery mergerspinph99 。

President Moon Jae-in, who is already facing criticism for his handling of the economy and his approach to North Korea, is now facing a new crisis with the arrest of Yoon Seok-youl. The president's close ties to the ruling party and his perceived influence over the prosecution have raised questions about his involvement in the decision to arrest Yoon. Many are calling for greater transparency and accountability in the government's actions to ensure that justice is served without political interference.

Furthermore, the communication of policy intentions and decision-making processes is central to managing market expectations and fostering transparency. Clarity and consistency in policy statements, coupled with proactive engagement with stakeholders, can enhance the credibility of policy actions and instill trust in the policy framework. By establishing a clear communication strategy, policymakers can align market perceptions with policy objectives and facilitate a smoother transmission of policy actions to the real economy.

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As the flames engulfed the data center, thick plumes of smoke billowed into the sky, darkening the surrounding area and serving as a stark reminder of the danger that lay within. The sound of sirens wailed in the distance, echoing through the streets as emergency responders rushed to the scene, hoping to contain the inferno and rescue those trapped inside.

Beijing, China - The China International Barter Trading Center officially kicked off its signing launch ceremony in Beijing, marking a significant milestone in the development of barter trade services in China. The event, held on [Date], gathered industry leaders, government officials, and representatives from various sectors to witness the signing of agreements and partnerships that will shape the future of barter trade in the country.IRVING, Texas (AP) — A rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL's entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show, won’t impact the league's relationship with the music mogul. “We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday after the conclusion of the league's winter meetings. "We know the litigation is happening now. From our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl.” A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13 years old, amended the lawsuit Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, said the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt . The 24-time Grammy Award winner called the allegations “idiotic” and “heinous in nature” in a statement released by Roc Nation, one of his companies. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Kendrick Lamar will perform the Super Bowl halftime show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. Beyonce, who is married to Jay-Z, will perform at halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game on Christmas. “I think they’re getting incredibly comfortable with not just with the Super Bowl but other events they’ve advised us on and helped us with,” Goodell said. “They’ve been a big help in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They’ve been great partners.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Industry-First Cyber Resilience Certification from KR Obtained Cyber Resilience Certification in BWMS sector Continues proactive security leadership following 2022 LR cyber security certificationAs a seasoned copywriter, I have outlined below a comprehensive article on the 12 shortcomings of Governor Larragus during his tenure, including his inconsistent attitude towards Tanghag. According to the expert, the situation in Syria has created a massive refugee crisis, with millions of Syrians forced to flee their homes in search of safety and shelter. The neighboring countries, such as Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan, have borne the brunt of hosting these refugees, straining their resources and infrastructure. The sheer number of refugees has put immense pressure on these host countries, leading to economic challenges, social tensions, and potential security risks.

The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday. Trump's Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It's a shift seen in his labor pick WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members. It's a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members. They're a key part of the Democratic base but are gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. Trump raced to pick many Cabinet posts. He took more time to settle on a treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump launched a blitz of picks for his Cabinet, but he took his time settling on billionaire investor Scott Bessent as his choice for treasury secretary. The Republican not only wanted someone who jibes with him, but an official who can execute his economic vision and look straight out of central casting while doing so. With his Yale University education and pedigree trading for Soros Fund Management before establishing his own funds, Bessent will be tasked with a delicate balancing act. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. Trump chooses Bessent to be treasury secretary, Vought as budget chief, Chavez-DeRemer for Labor WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent, 62, is founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. He previously had worked on and off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. Trump also said he would nominate Russell Vought, 48, to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a position he held during Trump's first term. And Trump chose Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, an Oregon Republican, as his labor secretary, and Scott Turner, a former football player who worked in Trump’s first administration, as his housing secretary. Afraid of losing the US-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has been taking a bashing for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America. Officials here are terrified that a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Justin Trudeau could simply expel their country from the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Mexico's ruling Morena party is so afraid its has gone on a campaign to get companies to replace Chinese parts with locally made ones. And its legislators are consciously tweaking the wording of major laws to try to make them compatible with the trade pact's language. Mexico hopes the rules of the trade pact would prevent the U.S. or Canada from simply walking away. Australia withdraws a misinformation bill after critics compare it to censorship CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s government has withdrawn a bill that would give a media watchdog power to monitor digital platforms and require them to keep records about misinformation and disinformation on their networks. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Sunday that the government was unable to drum up the support needed to pass the legislation. The opposition spokesman, David Coleman, said the bill “betrayed our democracy” and amounted to “censorship laws in Australia.” The bill would have granted the Australian Communications and Media Authority power over digital platforms by approving an enforceable code of conduct or standards for social media companies if self-regulation fell short. He'll be the last meatpacker in the Meatpacking District. Here's how NYC's gritty 'hood got chic NEW YORK (AP) — The last meatpackers in New York's Meatpacking District have agreed to end their leases early and make way for development on their city-owned lot. A third-generation meatpacker says he is ready to retire and he'll be proud to be there when the building closes. The closure date has not been set, but will mark the end of over a century of industrial life in the Meatpacking District. Starting in the 1970s, a new nightlife scene emerged as bars and nightclubs moved in. Today it's a hub for shopping, tourism, and recreation and only echoes of that grit remain. US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. What to know about Scott Bessent, Trump's pick for treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen money manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction and deregulation, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent is a past supporter of Democrats who has become an enthusiastic supporter of Trump. He’s an advocate of cutting spending while extending the tax cuts approved by Congress in Trump’s first term. He has said tariffs imposed during a second Trump administration would be directed primarily at China.Envisaged to be launched by December 1, the Chandigarh Health Education Centre (CHEC) at Government Model High School, Sector 22, has been pushed back to February 2025 amid delays in acquisition of exhibits. A first-of-its-kind initiative at a government school in the country, the centre is being set up by the UT administration in partnership with the Chandigarh Rotary Club to impart health education to students of city’s government schools. The focus of the centre will be on general health, oral health, nutrition/physical activity, drug/alcohol/tobacco prevention, pregnancy/STI prevention, and social and emotional health. Officials attributed the hold-up in the centre’s launch to delay in acquisition of exhibits to be donated by Rotary Club. As per the proposal, Rotary Club will provide exhibits, including latest holographic models and technologies, estimated to cost around ₹ 1 crore. “There has been a slight delay and we are scheduled to commence the centre by February. It will be started before the next academic session commences,” said UT director school education Harsuhinderpal Singh Brar. In the works since 2017 The project was conceived in 2017, when Rotary International Chandigarh submitted a proposal for establishment of CHEC. After the UT administrator’s approval, Dr Atul Sachdev, then head of department of general medicine at GMCH, Sector 32, and Dr JS Thakur from Rotary Club had visited Education Health Centres in USA. Subsequently, they submitted a report, recommending a Health Education Centre in Chandigarh on the lines of McMillan Center in USA. As per the proposal, the facility should be able to impart health education to at least 1.5 lakh students of government schools every year initially. It should have at least six high-class dedicated teaching rooms with a capacity of 75 students each and an auditorium with a capacity of 150 students. All students will visit this centre at least once a year. The education department had pitched CHEC as an “innovative project” with the Centre in the project approval board meeting of Samagra Shiksha Scheme 2024, chaired by the Union education secretary. The central government had approved ₹ 50 lakh initially, with an understanding that an additional ₹ 1.2 crore will be considered for the next year based on recommendation by senior officers who visit the completed project. It was also conveyed that such a project has the potential of being replicated across the country, therefore the UT administration must ensure that the project is developed and made functional within this financial year.winph99 login 。

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Will crime in Delhi decrease by stopping me?: Arvind Kejriwal trains guns on Amit Shah after attack

US actress Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, hostile work environment and embarking on a “multi-tiered plan” to damage her reputation with claims of a targeted social media campaign. The legal complaint states that Baldoni, 40, hired crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan, the same publicist who actor Johnny Depp is said to have hired during his high-profile defamation trial against Heard in 2022. In a statement given to NBC News, Aquaman star Heard said: “Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying, a lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on. “I saw this first-hand and up close. “It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.” Depp successfully sued ex-wife Heard over a 2018 article she wrote for The Washington Post about her experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse, which his lawyers said falsely accused him of being an abuser. At the time, Heard said the jury’s verdict “sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated”. Bryan Freedman, a lawyer representing Baldoni and the other named defendants, said Lively’s claims were “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious”, adding that the studio “made the decision to proactively hire a crisis manager prior to the marketing campaign of the film”. It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name, is about a woman’s pursuit of a loving and healthy relationship, with Lively playing lead character Lily Bloom and Baldoni as her love interest Ryle Kincaid amid a backdrop of domestic violence. After the legal action was filed, Hoover appeared to voice support for 37-year-old Lively, writing on her Instagram stories: “@blakelively you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met. “Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. “Never change. Never wilt.” Hoover posted a link to a New York Times article titled We Can Bury Anyone: Inside A Hollywood Smear Machine. Lively’s former cast members from the 2005 film The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel, also released a joint social media statement to defend their long-time friend. “As Blake’s friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation,” the statement said. “Throughout the filming of It Ends With Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice.” They added: “We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment,” the statement continues. “We are inspired by our sister’s courage to stand up for herself and others.”

Chandigarh, Nov 30 (IANS): Terming the medium of literature as the most potent weapon to inspire youngsters towards defence services, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Saturday said that valour exhibited by sons and daughters of Punjab in different wars was a perennial source of motivation for the entire nation. The Governor was speaking here after inaugurating the eighth edition of the Military Literature Festival (MLF) being organised at the Lake Sports Complex. The two-day event is being held here to offer youngsters a peep into military life and to nurture future defence leaders. "The festival not only celebrates India’s glorious military heritage but also underscores the role of military literature in enhancing knowledge and fostering patriotism among citizens," the Governor said. Highlighting the increasing participation of women in the armed forces, the Governor said it marked a progressive step towards gender equality and inclusivity in the forces. The Governor commended the efforts of the literature festival organisers in encouraging and preparing young boys and girls to join the military, contributing significantly to national security and defence. India's strides toward self-reliance in defence under the vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat were another focal point of the Governor's address. He noted that India "is not only manufacturing state-of-the-art weapons and military equipment but is also emerging as a key exporter of defence technology to other nations". This, he said, reflects India's growing stature as a global power in military innovation. The Governor recalled India's historic achievement under the leadership of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam during the Pokhran nuclear tests. "Pokhran was a turning point that showcased to the world India's capability and resolve. It was a moment of national pride that established our nation as a formidable nuclear power," he remarked, urging the youth to draw inspiration from such milestones in India's military history. The festival's theme, "Wars Under the Nuclear Umbrella", aligns with discussions on contemporary global challenges and India's preparedness for future conflicts. Various panel discussions are scheduled on topics like the war in Ukraine, regional instability, and advancements in defence technology. The event also features a grand military equipment exhibition organised by the Army's Western Command, showcasing India's defence capabilities. The Governor lauded the efforts of Lt Gen (retd) T.S. Shergill and Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar for organising this world-class festival and urged all citizens to reflect on India’s journey toward self-reliance in defence and military excellence.Netflix getting set to air NFL on Christmas DayI gave away my genetic information to a now imploding company for results that inspired nothing but ambivalence

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey gambling regulators have handed out $40,000 in fines to two sportsbooks and a tech company for violations that included taking bets on unauthorized events, and on games that had already ended. In information made public Monday, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement fined DraftKings $20,000. It also levied $10,000 fines on Rush Street Interactive NJ and the sports betting technology company Kambi. According to documents released by the state, Rush Street accepted 16 bets worth $1,523 in Nov. 2021 on a college basketball game between the University of North Carolina-Asheville and Tennessee Tech University after the game had already concluded with a UNC victory. Kambi told the enforcement division that a trader had failed to manually remove that game from its betting markets, saying it had stopped receiving messages from its own sports data provider due to a network connectivity error. Kambi said it has updated its guidelines and retrained its traders to prevent a recurrence. Kambi, which is based in Malta, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday. Rush Street declined comment, and DraftKings had no immediate comment Monday. DraftKings stopped using Kambi in 2021. In March 2022 Rush Street took seven bets totaling just under $2,900 on three Magic City Jai Alai games after the results were already known. Kambi told the division it experienced a connectivity issue that allowed the bets to be accepted after the games were over. An explanation of what Kambi did to address the situation was blacked out in documents released by the division. A month earlier Rush Street took 13 wagers worth $8,150 with pre-match odds on a Professional Golf Association match after the event had already begun. In this case, Kambi told the division a newly hired trader failed to enter the correct closing time time for bets on the event. The trader and a supervisor underwent retraining. DraftKings was fined for taking bets on unapproved events including Russian basketball for nine months in 2020 and 2021. It eventually voided over $61,000 in bets and returned the money to customers after being directed to do so by the state. In this case, Kambi told the division it misidentified this particular Russian basketball league as one that was approved for wagering in New Jersey. DraftKings told the state it did not catch the error, either. In 2020, DraftKings accepted 484 wagers on unapproved table tennis matches. Kambi incorrectly enabled the events for wagering without conditions required by the state, the division said. In Feb. 2022, the division said DraftKings took pre-season NFL bets involving specific players but did not give the state specific information on what information was to be included in the bets, drawing 182 wagers worth nearly $7,000 that were later voided and refunded to customers. Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryACCHICAGO — It looked like the Vikings had put the game away for good on Sunday afternoon at Solider Field when a chip-shot field goal attempt from kicker Parker Romo sailed through the uprights in the final minutes. ADVERTISEMENT That made it 27-16 in favor of the Vikings with the Chicago Bears needing a miracle. They got it. After a big kick return put the Bears in very good field position, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams led an impressive drive, throwing a touchdown pass to receiver Keenan Allen to cut the deficit to 27-24. A blunder by the Vikings on the onside kick allowed the Bears to recover, then kicker Cairo Santos nailed a 48-yard field goal as time expired to tie the game at 27-27 and send it into overtime. In the extra session, veteran quarterback Sam Darnold took over for the Vikings. He went 6 for 6 passing on the final drive, setting up Romo for a game-winning field goal that helped the Vikings escape with a 30-27 win. The game looked like it was going to be a hot start for the Vikings after running back Aaron Jones got loose for a 41-yard gain. He was stripped of the ball at the goal line a couple of plays later, however, marking another missed opportunity for the Vikings in the red zone. ADVERTISEMENT That cracked the door open for the Bears, and the mobility of their rookie quarterback took centerstage. On a particular play, Williams avoided pressure from Andrew Van Ginkel off the edge, rolled to his right, then dropped a dime to D’Andre Swift along the sideline. That put the Bears in position to score, and running back Roschon Johnson found the into the end zone shortly thereafter to make it 7-0. In need of a response, the Vikings got it almost immediately when Darnold dropped back and unleashed a deep pass to receiver Jordan Addison. It was an incredible catch from Addison as he hauled it in while being dragged down from behind. On the very next play, Addison finished the drive, catching a touchdown pass in traffic to help the Vikings to tie the game at 7-7. The vibes shifted in favor of the Vikings on the following possession. ADVERTISEMENT It looked like the Bears had picked up a big gain when receiver Keenan Allen caught a ball along the sideline. After a challenge flag thrown by head coach Kevin O’Connell, however, the officials ruled that Allen did not get both feet in bounds. On the very next play defensive tackle Jerry Tillery blocked a field goal, and the Vikings kept the Bears off the board. That paved the way for the Vikings to take control as star receiver Justin Jefferson drew a 35-yard defensive pass interference penalty that put the ball in the red zone. A couple of plays later, Darnold found receiver Jalen Nailor for a touchdown to make it 14-7 in favor of the Vikings. After a punt by the Vikings, the Bears got a field goal Santos to cut the deficit to 14-10 at halftime. ADVERTISEMENT With an opportunity to take control coming out of halftime, Darnold found Addison with a perfect ball near the sideline that went for 69-yard gain. Unfortunately for the Vikings, they stalled out in the red zone, setting for a field goal from kicker Parker Romo to stretch the lead to 17-10. The biggest swing of the game came when receiver DeAndre Carter muffed a punt for the Bears, and edge rusher Bo Richter recovered the fumble for the Vikings. Not long after that, Jones atoned for his fumble with a touchdown to make it 24-10. After the Bears got a touchdown to cut the deficit to 24-16, it seemed like the Vikings put the game away with a field goal to restore the lead to 27-16. Not so fast. ADVERTISEMENT After an impressive drive by Williams helped cut the deficit to 27-24, the Bears recovered the onside kick. That set the stage for Santos to nail a 48-yard field goal to tie the score at 27-27 and send the game into overtime. In the extra session, the Vikings stepped up on defense by forcing a punt, then stepped up on offense with Darnold leading an impressive drive of his own. That set the stage for Romo and he nailed a 29-yard field goal to give the Vikings the win. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .

Super Micro Computer 's stock soared more than 30% on Nov. 19 after it appointed a new independent auditor and submitted a compliance plan to Nasdaq to avoid a potential delisting. Those announcements addressed its two pressing issues: the departure of its auditor Ernst & Young in October, and a delayed filing for its 10-K report, which could cause its stock to be delisted. But even after that rally, Supermicro's stock remains 76% below its all-time high from this March. The server maker's shares are still being weighed down by concerns about its sliding gross margins, competition from bigger server makers like Dell Technologies and Hewlett Packard Enterprise , and troubling allegations of inflated revenues from a prolific short seller. Its delayed annual report and loss of Ernst & Young seemed to support that bearish thesis, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly getting ready to probe Supermicro's business. Supermicro's stock looks dirt cheap at 8 times forward earnings , but it will likely trade at that discount until it fully resolves its accounting and regulatory issues. So instead of betting on Supermicro's long-shot turnaround, investors would probably be better off sticking with these two millionaire-maker blue chip AI stocks instead: Microsoft ( MSFT 1.00% ) and Broadcom ( AVGO 0.18% ) . The AI software leader: Microsoft Microsoft generated a total return of more than 900% over the past decade. That rally, which was mainly driven by the explosive growth of its cloud business, would have turned a $100,000 investment into more than $1 million. Microsoft turned into a growth stock again after Satya Nadella, who became its CEO in 2014, drove the company to transform its desktop-based software into cloud-based services and mobile apps. It also turned Azure into the world's second-largest cloud infrastructure platform and expanded its hardware and gaming businesses. Over the past five years, Microsoft ramped up its investments in OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, and integrated the start-up's generative AI tools into its own search and cloud services. Thanks to that foresight, it tethered more businesses and consumers to its cloud ecosystem, and it gained a first-mover's advantage against Alphabet 's Google and other tech giants in the nascent generative AI market. In fiscal 2024 (which ended this June), Microsoft's AI-driven transformation boosted its total cloud revenues by 23% to $135 billion -- which represented 55% of its top line. From fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2027, analysts expect its revenue and earnings per share (EPS) to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14% and 15%, respectively. Its stock still looks reasonably valued at 28 times next year's earnings, and it will likely remain a top play on the AI market for years to come. The AI chipmaking play: Broadcom Broadcom, which was known as Avago before it took over the original Broadcom in 2016, has generated a total return of 2,300% over the past 10 years. That rally would have turned a $50,000 investment into $1.2 million. Broadcom's semiconductor business sells a broad range of chips for the mobile, wireless, networking, data storage, and industrial markets. But over the past few years, it built a massive infrastructure software business by acquiring CA Technologies, Symantec's enterprise security division, and the cloud software giant VMware. Broadcom's chipmaking and software businesses are both growing. But over the past two years, its sales of networking and optical chips for the AI-oriented data center market skyrocketed as more companies upgraded their infrastructure. For fiscal 2024 (which ended in October), it expects its sales of AI-oriented chips to roughly triple to $12 billion, or nearly a quarter of its projected sales for the full year. That rapid growth should offset its slower sales of non-AI chips and infrastructure software, which are both more sensitive to macro headwinds. From fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2026, analysts expect Broadcom's revenue to grow at a CAGR of 15% as its EPS increases at a CAGR of 124%. That earnings growth should be driven by brisk sales of AI chips and the expansion of its higher-margin software business. Its stock might seem a bit pricey at 42 times forward earnings, but its track record of smart acquisitions, high exposure to the AI market, and robust growth could justify that higher valuation.The Montana High School Association executive board took action regarding realignment for football at a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday. Per a press release issued on Wednesday from the MHSA, at the meeting the board approved the following schools to move classifications: Broadus will move from 8-Man to 6-Man football, Hays-Lodgepole will move from 8-Man to 6-Man football, Harlowton-Ryegate will change from 6-Man to 8-Man football and Deer Lodge will shift from 8-Man to Class B football. After the board heard appeals, it placed several schools in a higher football classification. According to a MHSA news release, these schools will choose whether to participate fully in the higher classification or opt to participate in the lower classification but not be postseason eligible. Those schools are: Arlee was placed in Class B football, Box Elder was placed in 8-Man football, Centerville was placed in 8-Man football, Joliet remained in Class B football, Shelby was placed in Class B football, Westby-Grenora was placed in 8-Man football. Whitehall-Harrison is moving from the Western to the Southern Conference in Class B football. The MHSA executive board also approved the proposed four-division alignment for Class A football. In other realignment news, the board approved the proposals for Class C in basketball, track and field and volleyball. Districts will be finalized at the 2025 MHSA Annual Meeting on Jan. 20, 2025 at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. The executive board, per the MHSA news release, submitted proposals to be considered at the annual meeting and the board also approved the 2026-27 calendar. In addition, other decisions were made by the board, for which schools are granted a two-week notice. Finalization of these items will occur during the January 2025 board meeting. Those actions are: „ ■ Approval of baseball conferences for the 2025 season. ■„ Approval of the Class B golf qualifying criteria to revert to the same number of qualifying players and teams as last year. „ ■ Approval in Class C girls divisional wrestling for a trophy to be awarded to the first-, second and third-place teams. ■„ Approval of a change in the procedures for football realignment where divisions impacted by reclassification can present their conference alignment (if needed) at the executive board meeting. Schools can also appeal their conference alignment at the January meeting. ■„ Approval of the MHSA office in Helena to relocate to a new site in the city. The new building will help MHSA staff to host board and membership meetings ensuring ADA compliance and advanced technology. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Giants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn’t improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. Red Bull brings wrong rear wing to Las Vegas in mistake that could stall Verstappen's title chances LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen is suddenly in jeopardy of being denied a fourth consecutive Formula 1 title Saturday night. Red Bull apparently brought the wrong rear wing to Las Vegas and GPS data showed its two cars to be significantly slower on the straights than both McLaren and Mercedes, which led both practice sessions. Red Bull says it doesn’t have a replacement rear wing in Las Vegas to fix the issue and little chance of getting two flown in from England ahead of the race. Lawyer says ex-Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller met with NCAA for hours amid gambling probe PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A lawyer for former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller says the 22-year-old sat for a long interview with the NCAA amid an investigation into unusual gambling activity. But neither the lawyer nor federal law enforcement officials on Friday would confirm reports that a federal probe is now under way. Lawyer Jason Bologna says Miller cooperated because he hopes to play again. Miller was released last month after transferring to Virginia Tech. Temple President John Fry says the Philadelphia school has not been asked for any information from federal law enforcement officials. Caitlin Clark to join Cincinnati bid for 16th National Women's Soccer League team WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined Cincinnati’s bid for an expansion National Women’s Soccer League team. Major League Soccer franchise FC Cincinnati is heading the group vying to bring a women’s pro team to the city. The club issued a statement confirming Clark had joined the bid group. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has said the league plans to announce the league’s 16th team by the end of the year. The league's 15th team will begin play in 2026 in Boston. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Aaron Judge won't be bothered if Juan Soto gets bigger contract from Yankees than his $360M deal NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge won’t be bothered if Juan Soto gets a bigger deal from the New York Yankees than the captain’s $360 million, nine-year contract. Speaking a day after he was a unanimous winner of his second MVP, Judge says “It ain’t my money” and adds "that’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most.” Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in his first season with the Yankees, then became a free agent at age 26.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Jared Spurgeon scored 1:00 into overtime and the Minnesota Wild beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Saturday night. Kirill Kaprizov and Declan Chisholm also scored for the Wild, who are 5-1-1 in their last seven games. Filip Gustavsson stopped 25 shots. Fedor Svechkov and Ryan O’Reilly scored and Roman Josi had two assists for the Predators, who have lost four in a row — the last three in overtime. Juuse Saros had 25 saves. Spurgeon, who scored twice in Friday's win against Chicago, took a pass from Kaprizov in the slot and fired a high wrist shot that beat Saros for his third of the season. Takeaways Predators: Nashville is tied for the fewest road wins in the league with two, and this loss kicked off a four-game road swing that also includes stops in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. Wild: For the second time in two nights, the Wild struggled to put away one of the bottom-dwellers in the Central Division. But they ran their record to 5-1-2 when tied after two periods and got just their second overtime win in six chances this season. Key moment With 3:44 to play in the third period, Zachary L'Heureux broke in alone on Gustavsson, but the Wild goalie kicked aside a wrist shot to keep the score tied. Minnesota Wild defenseman Declan Chisholm (47) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Credit: AP/Bailey Hillesheim Key stat The Predators are 1-6 in overtime this season, and all six losses were by a 3-2 score. Up Next Wild host Vancouver on Tuesday, while the Predators visit Toronto on Wednesday.More young workers worried about wage cuts, falling behind on skills

winph 99 by Reemus FeRnando After being bowled out for 147 runs Mahanama fought back to restrict S. Thomas’ to the same score to record a first innings tie in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ tournament match at Mount Lavinia on Sunday. Geeth Sandaruwan led the way with a four-wicket haul while Anuka Wijewardana and Chamika Heenatigala took two wickets each. Sachithra Gunasinghe’s 30 was the top score for Thomians as the home team batted for 84 overs.In the batting department, Chamika Heenatigala stood out with back-to-back half centuries. In their second essay, Mahanama were 157 for six wickets at close with Heenatigala unbeaten on 51 runs. Scores: Mahanama 147 all out in 53 overs (Chamika Heenatigala 55, Osanda Muthugama 26, Venura Kaveethra 23; Dineth Goonewardana 5/40, Abeeth Paranawidana 2/32) and 157 for 6 in 36 overs (Chamika Heenatigala 51n.o.,Eshan Withanage 37; Abeeth Paranawidana 3/44, Aaron de Silva 3/51) Thomas 72 for 5 overnight 147 all out in 84.2 overs (Sachithra Gunasinghe 30; Geeth Sandaruwan 4/19, Anuka Wijewardana 2/33, Chamika Heenatigala 2/39)

In First Contacts, US Officials Urge Syrian Rebels to Support Inclusive GovernmentSaints hope to ride the Rizzi factor back to relevance after their bye weekTexans foiled by mistake after mistake in 32-27 loss to Titans

In a notable shift within college football, Gus Malzahn is leaving his role as UCF head coach to take on the offensive coordinator position at Florida State, uniting with coach Mike Norvell. The move is part of a staff overhaul at Florida, as reported by ESPN on Saturday. Meanwhile, tensions flared at Ohio Stadium following Michigan's narrow victory over Ohio State. The postgame scuffle saw Michigan players planting their flag at midfield as Ohio State players sang their alma mater in the south end zone. Across other sports, key highlights include Anthony Edwards leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a narrow win over the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto FC entering the search for a new head coach after John Herdman's resignation. (With inputs from agencies.)There are engines with reputations for being able to rack up over 500,000 miles with steady maintenance. Among those, Mercedes-Benz and its diesel engines are legendary. Here, we look at one of them in particular — the OM617A, which is the turbocharged version of the five-cylinder Mercedes-Benz OM617 engine . Mercedes-Benz drivers in the 2000s were reporting cars with up to 600,000 miles on them, with many stating that they could go even further by keeping up with routine maintenance. Fitting the turbocharged OM617 engine into a W116 platform for select markets outside of Europe created the world's first turbo diesel sedan. There were three slightly different versions of the turbocharged OM617 engine produced, though a mid-life upgrade of the first version made the most difference in terms of performance. Mercedes-Benz had three different platforms that utilized this engine base: Namely the 1978-1980 W116, 1981-1985 W126 S-Class sedans, as well as some of the 1978-1986 W123-platform cars. The first version of the turbo-charged OM617 engine was the OM617.950, built for the W116 platform, which made the resulting 300SD the world's first passenger car with a turbo-diesel engine. While the turbo-diesel helped improve the brand's overall fuel economy rating for its vehicle fleet, the W116 was also the first Mercedes-Benz to be officially called an S-Class — this was a flagship Mercedes-Benz model , and not an economy car by any means. Mercedes says that 28,634 300SD models were produced out of the 473,035 total W116 platform automobiles. Mercedes-Benz's OM617 engine in the first 300SD models produced 111 horsepower — up from 80 horsepower for the naturally aspirated version in the 300D. In late 1979, this was bumped up to 121 horsepower, versus 88 horsepower for the non-turbo variant. That extra power was sorely needed, especially for cars with automatic transmissions. The same data show that early 300Ds ran 0-62mph in 20.8 seconds. Even after the 1979 upgrade, the 300D took 19.2 seconds. The 300SD turbodiesel? At first, 17.0 seconds — and after late 1979, 16.2 seconds. The W126 platform was rolled out starting in 1979, but a version with the OM617 turbodiesel became available in the 1981 model year. Like its previous iteration, the 300SD Turbo sedan was built for the U.S. and Canadian markets, and up through 1985, there were 78,725 of them were built. The turbocharged W126 came out at a perfect moment for Mercedes-Benz. American manufacturers had begun attempts at improving gas mileage; at first by dropping both engine and body sizes. Cadillac, for example, dropped engines over 400 cubic inches after 1979, and introduced smaller cars such as the Cadillac Cimarron. However, in the early 1980s, Cadillac also experimented with a technology they called V8-6-4 , which shut off some pistons at certain speeds. This failed to produce a long-lived engine for Cadillac because while the tech was novel, the onboard computer in Cadillac vehicles couldn't keep up and caused some severe mechanical issues. By contrast, with Mercedes-Benz taking an under-stressed engine and adding a turbo, its sedans were able to maintain reliability while improving performance and fuel economy. Mercedes-Benz claims that, at first, the OM617.951 produced the same output as its predecessor. That was then raised after the October 1982 revision to make 125 horsepower. Europeans who wanted the three-liter turbocharged diesel could not get one on the W126 platform. Instead, they came in the form of the W123 series station wagon, the 300TD Turbodiesel — or "kombi," as they are known in Central Europe. In 1981, it briefly came with the OM617.951 engine. However, in 1982, the OM617.951 was reworked slightly to better fit the W123 platform. This engine — called the OM617.952 — made it into the 300TD Turbo models that were sold in Europe. Overall, 28,219 300TD Turbodiesels were made. The W123 also came in a coupe version for the North American market. This was the 300CD Turbodiesel, and 8,007 of them made it across the Atlantic. While it shared the same overall drivetrain as the other two vehicles, the coupe was up to 200 lbs lighter than the sedan, which affected acceleration significantly. According to Mercedes-Benz, the 300CD Turbo reached 62 mph in 14 seconds, versus 15.2 seconds for the full-sized four-door version. In the mid-1980s, Mercedes-Benz updated its various platforms, providing a visual a refresh to several vehicles in its lineup. The engines, however, underwent an even greater overhaul. The success of the turbodiesel led to further developments, and the successor to the OM617:952 was called the OM602. The new engine was introduced in 1985, and it went into the new E-Class cars in 2.5 liter normally aspirated variants (from 1985) and turbocharged versions (from 1988). In case the OM617A bug has bit and you're looking to snag your own classic S-Class, remember that the youngest cars with these engines are almost 40 years old now. Their positive reputation has never really declined, either. In 2018, Hemmings put it bluntly, writing that "both the coupes and the wagons are bona fide cult cars. Fewer than 200,000 wagons were built worldwide, and coupes are even rarer — not quite 100,000 were built over the decade." That said, the Mercedes-Benz 300SD is a different story. Even in 2024, a sedan with over 200,000 miles can still be picked up for under $10,000.

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Voters say a house divided on abortion can stand — for now

Trump asks US Supreme Court to pause law threatening TikTok banNo matter how much a financial system is fortified against scams, there is always a fraudster, a conman, or a swindler aiming to game that system. Financial crimes, a la white-collar crimes, are committed, interestingly, by those working closely with the system or those having the innate skill to justify the art through the framework of ‘fraud triangle’, that is in the terms of opportunity, incentive and rationalization. Scams, mainly the pecuniary ones, involve conduct of dishonest practices leading to perversion, depravity and debasement of the entire morals of the social fabric. Financial scandals, like any other scandal, have a story of their own and, of course, the denouement. The truth of the scandals appears to be a drama at times, and at times an enthralling thriller. Vijay Narayan Govind, in his book Fraudster Tales, promises to tell select 10 true stories of financial scams, spread across centuries and continents, and in his own words, “these frauds were significant enough at the time to send major ripples through the systems they challenged, with many of them serving as the catalyst for key legal and regulatory reforms.” The book introduces 10 swindlers, each with their own story of fraud in a separate chapter with a suitable story-title to it. In Govind’s fraudster tales, Hegestratos’s tale emerges as the ‘First Fraudster’, circa 300 BCE, in Athens. He, along with his crime partner Zenosthemis, working as ship merchants, planned to steal the cargos, sink the vessel, and con the vessel’s insurers of shipload of valuable goods through enforcement of the clauses of bottomry and respondentia contracts. However, the plans went awry due to the alert captain and crew members and Hegestratos jumped and drowned himself in the sea. Zenosthemis was arrested, tried and imprisoned in Athens for a long time. The author picks stories, random perhaps, from Athens and other countries, including India. Haridas Mundhra in the tale of ‘The Great Investor’ and Natwarlal in ‘The Master Manipulator’ are the two Indians figuring in the book. The Mundhra scandal, first of its kind in independent India, not only was embroiled with the stock markets and financial institutions but was an expose of the wicked nexus between political party, bureaucracy, ministers and business class, perhaps a prototype of ‘crony capitalism’. The conman Mudhra duped Life Insurance Company (LIC) by forging share certificates, using them as collateral for loans, and amassing huge loans to the tune of Rs 15.60 crore by the mid of 1957. It was Feroz Gandhi, the law maker, who brought this scam to public attention that led to nationalization of LIC, resignation of TT Krishnamachari – then finance minister, indictment of finance secretary and some senior LIC officials, and, of course, sentencing of Haridas Mundhra to 22 years in prison. In the Mithilesh Kumar alias Natwarlal’s case, the story, though intriguing, is simple. From forging signatures and withdrawing money from banks, he graduated to nefarious crimes such as decamping cash from merchants and siphoning off goods from the cargo areas while using more than 50 aliases. Natwarlal even sold, impersonating himself as government official, the Taj Mahal thrice, the Red Fort twice, and the Rashtrapati Bhawan and Parliament once. He had developed this shrewd art of escaping prison, and one heard him saying quite often that ‘no jail is enough to hold me for too long’. Then, there is a story of how an expert William Chaloner counterfeited coins, notes, and lottery tickets, in the 1600s, but finally got caught by Sir Issac Newton, and sent to gallows for he was guilty of multiple currency frauds. Hugh Cameron’s story is about his conspiracy to cheat Royal British Banks and its customers, eventually which led to the Bank’s collapse. However, in due course, it triggered major legislative reforms in the corporate governance systems in Britain. Oscar Hartzell, a brazen rook, in another story, swindled millions of dollars from investors in a popularly known Sir Francis Drake estate scam. Another story, rather smutty and historical, called the ‘necklace scandal’, involves one French noble woman Jeanne de valois as the key conspirator. It became one of the scandals that led to French Revolution. US major Enron bankruptcy, led by Kenneth Lay, and the Ponzi scheme by Charles Ponzi, the two white-collar financial crimes, rocked the financial systems in the US. The 10 tales are fun, and a riveting read and, in the tales, the readers would find themselves in the murky world of scandals. The criminals of the stories have two things in common, one they dreamt of becoming filthy rich in a trice, and when caught they tried to justify that all is done in good faith, and second, all of them are caught and punished, which the author seems to lay down as the moral of the book.

The RSS journalists from the respective districts reported that the voters were participating in the election enthusiastically. Duhu rural municipality-5 of Darchula is electing a new chair, while ward no 5 of Gorkha is also voting for the same. Ward no 1 of Musiko municipality of Gulmi is electing a new chair. Election officer Rishiram Ghimire informed that five percent voting was over there.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to Kushner's own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, sought. Christie blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

Biden did the second-guessing as he delivered a speech at the Brookings Institution defending his economic record and challenging Trump to preserve Democratic policy ideas when he returns to the White House next month.

Hezbollah fires about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel in heaviest barrage in weeks BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah has fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding seven people in one of the militant group’s heaviest barrages in months. Sunday's attacks in northern and central Israel came in response to deadly Israeli strikes in central Beirut on Saturday. Israel struck southern Beirut on Sunday. Meanwhile, negotiators press on with cease-fire efforts to halt the all-out war. And Lebanon's military says an Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center in the southwest killed one soldier and wounded 18 others. Israel's military has expressed regret and said its operations are directed solely against the militants. Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Somalia says 24 people have died after 2 boats capsized in the Indian Ocean MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's government says 24 people died after two boats capsized off the Madagascar coast in the Indian Ocean. Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said 46 people were rescued. Most of the passengers were young Somalis, and their intended destination remains unclear. Many young Somalis embark every year on dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities abroad. A delegation led by the Somali ambassador to Ethiopia is scheduled to travel to Madagascar on Monday to investigate the incident and coordinate efforts to help survivors. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Sunday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast last week, killing two people. Republicans lash out at Democrats' claims that Trump intelligence pick Gabbard is 'compromised' FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Republican lawmakers are pushing back against criticism from some Democrats that President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead U.S. intelligence services is “compromised” by her comments supportive of Russia and a meeting with an ally of that country. The accusation came from Sen. Tammy Duckworth. The Illinois Democrat says she has concerns about the pro-Russian views expressed by Tulsi Gabbard, who was tapped for the post of director of national intelligence. Duckworth’s comments on Sunday drew immediate backlash from Republicans. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. Moscow offers debt forgiveness to new recruits and AP sees wreckage of a new Russian missile KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting debt forgiveness to new army recruits who enlist to fight in Ukraine. The measure, whose final version appeared on a government website Saturday, underscores Russia’s needs for military personnel in the nearly 3-year-old war, even as it fired last week a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. Russia has ramped up military recruitment by offering increasing financial incentives to those willing to fight in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Security Service on Sunday showed The Associated Press wreckage of the new intermediate-range ballistic missile that struck a factory in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. After Trump's win, Black women are rethinking their role as America's reliable political organizers ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump's victory has dismayed many politically engaged Black women, and they're reassessing their enthusiasm for politics and organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote, and they had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Kamala Harris. AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. Heavy rains in Bolivia send mud crashing into the capital, leaving 1 missing and destroying homes LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Authorities say that a landslide caused by heavy rains has flooded dozens of homes in La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. It swept away a young girl, spurred evacuations and left parts of the city without electricity. Torrential rain on Saturday caused a river to spill its banks Sunday, dislodging mud from a southwestern La Paz neighborhood where low-slung, shoddily built dwellings dot the hillside. The torrent of debris and soil surged down a narrow ravine early Sunday, wrecking some two dozen homes and flooding another 40. Hours after the rain subsided, rescuers were still searching for the missing 5-year-old girl. Emergency workers saved six residents suffering from hypothermia. 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday.

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winph99 com login Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login To glance at Donald Trump’s feed on his Truth Social platform this weekend, you would be forgiven for thinking all was well in MAGA world. The incoming president has been serving up his normal diet of provocation and self-promotion: railing against the Democrats’ alleged financing of celebrity endorsements, for example; reposting a dig at Joe Biden’s fitness for office; plugging a Newsmax interview with his wife Melania. All fairly standard Trumpian fare. The Telegraph London Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Fetching latest articles“Unlocking the Secrets of Lightchain AI: The Next Big Thing in Blockchain Explored!”

Public access television stations across New Hampshire face growing uncertainty as their funding declines, forcing stations to seek new sources of revenue to support community television. Funding for the television stations derives from franchise fees, a charge that appears on a customer’s cable bill. They are an annual payment by a cable company to a municipality in exchange for the use of public property to operate its cable lines. But the ongoing preference by viewers to “cut the cord” and instead opt for streaming services, as well as a growing customer preference for more customized and cost-effective television options, have led to a dramatic decrease in cable subscriptions nationwide, including in the Granite State. Nashua Community Television, a city-owned station with four public-access channels, is currently working with the city's Board of Aldermen to cover “a sizable deficit” this fiscal year, said Pete Johnson, NCTV’s education channel access director. The station, which has a $600,000 operating budget, received $383,000 in franchise fee revenues this year — down nearly 7% from last fiscal year. “We took a pretty substantial hit this year,” Johnson said. “We knew this downturn was coming (but now) we’ve blown through our reserves.” For several years, the station supplemented its revenue with money from a surplus reserve, Johnson said. But that reserve is now depleted. Since 2017, cable subscriptions in the U.S. have declined annually by nearly 5% — from 96 million subscriptions to 68 million in 2024, according to IBISWorld, a global research firm. Comcast, the largest cable TV provider in New Hampshire and second-largest in the U.S., reported a nationwide loss of over 1.8 million cable subscribers between March 2023 and August 2024. In Nashua, the revenues from franchise fees have declined 21% since 2017, when the station received $483,000. The problem, said community television advocates, lies in the federal government’s funding rules for public access stations, which are 40 years old and outdated. “Consumers are switching to other services (through broadband) that are not regulated the same way as cable,” said Mike Wassenaar, president of the Alliance for Community Media, a national trade organization. “The irony is that there is more and more video being watched today but less and less money going toward the public stations that produce local content.” The funding conundrum Franchise fees are governed under the Cable Communications Act of 1984, which sets a national policy for the regulation of cable television communications. Under federal law, municipalities are entitled to a maximum of 5% of a cable operator’s gross revenues derived from cable subscriptions and related services, such as pay-per-view orders. In New Hampshire, the local government and cable provider negotiate the percentage of this fee when initiating or renewing a franchise agreement. Municipalities may use these revenues for a variety of local purposes, including to fund public, education and government access, or PEG, channels. “There should be a related public benefit in exchange for allowing private companies to make money off of public property,” said Owen Provencher, director of Derry Community Access Media and president of the N.H. Coalition of Community Media, a group of nearly 40 public access outlets in the state. But the federal rule allows a fee charged only to cable services, not to broadband providers. “The law hasn’t caught up to the industry,” Nick Lavallee, executive director of Merrimack TV, told the Town Council at a meeting Sept. 26. “One can purchase broadband and run streaming apps to access the same video content as cable television (without paying a franchise fee),” Wassenaar said. “It’s a problem across the country, and unless there’s a change in the federal law, this problem will still exist.” Community television advocates believe that federal law should expand the application of franchise fees to all companies that use public right-of-ways to deliver video content, including internet providers and streaming services. “The broadband and fiber optics lines are going over the same public right-of-ways as the cable one,” Provencher said in an interview. Meanwhile, community television stations are already serving a large and growing viewership on internet-based platforms, particularly due to the ability to stream recorded programs, several station managers said. Jason Cote, executive director of Manchester Public Television, said a live government meeting might draw between 75 and 100 viewers, whereas the video recording of that meeting online will receive “hundreds of views.” “I brought up 10 years ago that (internet providers) should be involved in funding public access stations,” Cote said. “The federal government should be saying that this service is essential for communities.” The COVID pandemic, in addition to accelerating the market shift toward video streaming, opened new opportunities for public access television to engage audiences. For example, Nashua Community TV began covering live school sporting events because the games were closed to the public, Johnson said. The station still provides live game coverage due to its popularity. “So we find ourselves busier than ever, because people have come to expect that kind of coverage,” Johnson said. “And those are things that we want to continue for the community.” ‘Not sustainable in the long term’ As revenues shrink, some stations are seeking support from their local governments. This includes requests for additional funding or proposals to raise the franchise fee rate. The Merrimack Town Council, at a meeting Sept. 26, discussed whether to include Merrimack TV in the town budget and fund it from local property taxes instead of franchise fees. The station’s franchise fee revenue this year — $368,000 — is 7% lower than in 2021, Town Manager Paul Micali told the council. A recent study projected that the station may be operating at a deficit in three years, based on the rate of declining funds and estimated cost increases. At the meeting, Micali proposed that the council increase the franchise fee rate, from the current 3.75% of cable revenues to 5%, when the agreement is up for renewal in 2029. This increase would not resolve the problem, though it would provide a few additional years of sustainability, Micali said. Several councilors expressed concern about increasing the burden on cable subscribers for a station accessed by the broader community. Among them was Thomas Koenig, who said, “I think that’s wrong. If we need to fund it, I think we (all) need to fund it.” The council has not yet made a decision on the station’s funding. More from this section On the Seacoast, Portsmouth Public Media TV which operates PPMtv, announced in July that its channel may shut down operations after 14 years unless the city council renegotiates a 2009 agreement with the station to increase its funding. Under that agreement, the city retains $360,000 of the annual franchise fee it receives from Comcast — 5% of the company’s cable revenues — and PPMtv receives the remainder of the revenue. In prior years, the station’s share has averaged roughly between $120,000 and $130,000, said Executive Director Chad Cordner. But in May, PPMtv learned that its funding share this year would be $86,000 — a 27% drop from 2023 — and that next year’s funding is projected to be a similar amount, Cordner said. The allotted funding is barely enough to pay Cordner’s full-time salary, $46,000, and the station’s two part-time employees, at $20,000 apiece, he said. “PPMtv is tremendously underfunded as compared to other stations,” Studio Operations Manager Jake Webb wrote in an online petition seeking community support. “A more equal split of this fee would allow PPMtv to continue to operate and even grow.” The station’s Youtube channel has 14,000 subscribers, and its video library has received 4 million total views, Cordner said. The station is seeking between $50,000 and $100,000 in additional franchise fee revenues to cover equipment and programming costs, including media education workshops and internships, Cordner said. Several city councilors, at a meeting Sept. 3, expressed reservations about increasing the station’s funding from a shrinking revenue source. “Even if we gave PPMtv 100% of the franchise fee, that is not sustainable in the long term because that (revenue) will go down significantly, " Councilor Kate Cook said at the meeting. The city’s franchise fees also fund a government channel that streams municipal meetings, which has a budget of over $200,000 a year, Cook said. The council directed city staff on Sept. 3 to present recommendations at a future council meeting for ways to sustainably fund PPMtv. State solutions Despite a strong consensus in support of changing the federal law, several industry members said that is unlikely to happen. Congress would need to approve any amendments to the Cable Communications Act. The political divide in Washington already makes bipartisanship difficult, Wassenaar noted. And many lawmakers would be reluctant to support a fee on Internet services, said Lauren-Glenn Davitian, public policy director at Center for Media & Democracy, a public media advocacy group based in Burlington, Vt. The Internet Tax Freedom Act, a federal law passed in 1998, prohibits state and local governments from imposing taxes directly on the internet or online activity, including taxes on email accounts or internet access. The law’s stated intent was to support the internet’s use as a commercial, educational and informational tool. Some states, including Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts, are taking steps to aid their public access stations through legislation or direct funding. Provencher said there is currently no legislation in New Hampshire pertaining to community television funding. In February, the Maine Legislature passed LD 1967, a law that allows municipalities to charge a franchise fee to any video service provider that uses a public right-of-way, regardless of the technology employed. The law requires any provider of video, audio or digital entertainment that owns or operates facilities in the public right-of-way to have an agreement with the municipality, said Tony Vigue, a public media advocate in Maine. The bill’s stated intent is to ensure that all providers of video services, regardless of the platform, receive equal treatment in respect to franchising and regulating. “Just because the technology has changed, the town still owns a public right-of-way,” Vigue said. The law, which was not signed by the governor, went into effect in August. The Maine Municipal Association and Maine Connectivity Authority are still drafting a standard agreement form for towns and cities to use, Vigue said. Massachusetts lawmakers are considering legislation that would levy fees on streaming companies like Netflix and Roku to help fund community media. Senate Bill 2771 proposes a 5% fee on digital streaming providers, based on a company’s gross annual revenue in the state. A portion of the fee would be distributed to municipalities to support their public access television programs. The bill, introduced last year, is still under review in the Massachusetts Senate. Vermont is considering a similar bill, S.181, which is currently under committee review in the House. That bill would also charge a 5% tax on a company’s statewide revenue. Though she would like to see a legislative plan, Davitian said she does not support a streaming tax, which would result in many consumers being charged more than once for the same use of a right-of-way, such as cable customers with add-on streaming channels. “There needs to be a tax on the infrastructure, not streaming (services),” Davitian said. A separate bill, proposing a $15-per-pole attachment tax for each fiber or copper line attached to a utility pole, was abandoned by the House Ways and Means Committee in February. The bill received heavy opposition from various stakeholders, including local telephone companies, which said they wouldn’t be able to afford the cost, Davitian said. In June, the Vermont Legislature approved a one-time appropriation of $1 million in this year’s budget to help Vermont’s community television stations absorb the impact of declining franchise fees. That money is intended to be a stopgap as legislators continue to seek a funding solution, Davitian said. “It was an interesting victory,” Davitian said. “We are happy to get the money, but we didn’t get to make a public policy.” The money will be distributed through the Vermont Access Network, an organization representing the state’s 24 public access media centers, which operate more than 80 local cable channels in the state. ••• These articles are being shared by partners in the Granite State News Collaborative. For more information, visit collaborativenh.org .CROWN ROYAL JOINS FORCES WITH NATE SMITH AND SCOTTY HASTING TO SUPPORT VETERANS AS THE AWARD-WINNING WHISKY DONATES $50,000 TO CREATIVETS ON COUNTRY MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHTPatriots honor Randy Moss at Week 17 game against Chargers

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Shares of Versarien plc ( LON:VRS – Get Free Report ) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as GBX 0.03 ($0.00) and last traded at GBX 0.04 ($0.00), with a volume of 15767909 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.03 ($0.00). Versarien Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of £908,700.00, a PE ratio of -0.98 and a beta of 1.13. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is GBX 0.03 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 0.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 655.61, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a current ratio of 1.58. About Versarien ( Get Free Report ) Versarien plc provides engineering solutions for various industry sectors in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Technology Business and Mature Business. It offers Nanene, a few-layer graphene; Polygrene, a graphene enhanced polymer; Hexotene, a few-layer hexagonal boron nitride nano-platelet powder; and graphene-based nanomaterials for energy storage devices, as well as a range of electrically conductive graphene inks for various printing processes, substrates, and applications under the Graphinks name. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Versarien Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Versarien and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

phwin9 Sam Prendergast and Jodie Barrett at Leinster - there is magic in the air following opening Champions Cup winAssad’s decades-long autocratic rule ends as rebels seize Damascus

The ”concluded with historic moments celebrating the shared legacy of Bermuda and the Caribbean in golf,” the BTA said. A spokesperson said, “The Honourable Kim Swan, JP MP was awarded the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award by the Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA]. His award presentation was followed by a milestone victory for the Caribbean, as Puerto Rico’s Rafael Campos became the first Caribbean Champion of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship PGA Tour, claiming the coveted Bermuda Triangle Trophy. “The Caribbean connection was further emphasised with the presence of CARICOM representatives, including Prime Minister Mitchell of Grenada, head of Caricom, who joined Bermuda’s Premier at the tournament. Representatives of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation [CTO] were also on-island to witness the event, which underscores Bermuda’s strong ties to the region, particularly as the island advances its bid to upgrade its CARICOM membership from Associate to Full. “The award recognised Kim Swan for his lifelong contributions to the sport of golf, spanning his trailblazing playing career and his impactful work in politics and on industry boards, which have significantly shaped Bermuda’s golf legacy. Swan has been an advocate for making golf more accessible and promoting Bermuda as a premier golfing destination, using the sport as a platform to foster youth development and community engagement. Reflecting on the honour, Kim Swan, JP, MP remarked: “This award is humbling and reminds me of 1987 when I hired Bermuda’s first two women golf professionals and staged an International Ladies Pro Am in their honour – in the spirit of the power of belief, perseverance and in the potential of all – I envisage us hosting the LPGA Tour Pros in Bermuda someday. Golf has been my life’s passion, not just as a sport but as a means to create opportunities for all people and to showcase Bermuda’s beauty and culture to the world.” Wayne Caines, Chairman of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, praised Swan’s enduring influence: “Kim Swan has been a trailblazer in every sense, from his pioneering golf career to his dedication to making golf more inclusive. His vision and commitment have elevated both Bermuda and the region on the world stage. And his work inspires a legacy that will resonate for generations to come.” Tracy Berkeley, CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, highlighted how this recognition aligns with Bermuda’s National Tourism Plan: “Kim Swan’s life’s work perfectly embodies the principles of Bermuda’s National Tourism Plan. His contributions reflect the importance of connecting our cultural and sporting heritage with opportunities for community growth and inclusivity. We are proud to honour him during this extraordinary championship.” A spokesperson added, “Kim Swan’s career has been marked by a commitment to breaking barriers—first as a golfer competing internationally and then as a leader dedicated to preserving Bermuda’s golfing history and expanding its accessibility. His influence continues to inspire young Bermudians, particularly those from underserved communities, to see the sport as a pathway to opportunity and growth. “Rafael Campos’ victory in the Championship is a groundbreaking moment for the region. The 2024 Butterfield Bermuda PGA Tour Championship’s grand finale marked the first time a Caribbean player won the Bermuda Triangle Trophy and only the second time a Puerto Rican—following the legendary Chi Chi Rodriguez—claimed a PGA Tour title. This achievement underscores the tournament’s growing significance as a platform for celebrating regional and global golf excellence. “Ladies and gentlemen, as we close another spectacular chapter of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, we pause to honour a cornerstone of Bermuda’s golfing legacy—a man whose passion, dedication, and vision have elevated the game of golf in our island and beyond. It is my privilege to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to The Honourable Kim Swan, JP MP—a name synonymous with excellence, perseverance, and inspiration in Bermudian sports. His remarkable journey is not just his own; it has shaped the foundation upon which Bermuda’s golfing success now thrives. A Trailblazing Career Kim Swan’s career has been a series of firsts and triumphs. He holds the historic distinction of being the first Bermudian to compete on the prestigious PGA European Tour. His name is etched in local and international records, with victories including three Bermuda Open Championships and representation in global competitions such as the World Amateur Team Championship, the World Cup of Golf, and the Dunhill Cup. As a collegiate golfer at Troy State University, he clinched multiple championship titles, cementing his status as a formidable talent. A Visionary Leader and Mentor Kim’s legacy goes beyond trophies. As former President of the Bermuda Professional Golfers Association, he nurtured a new generation of talent, ensuring young Bermudians could follow in his footsteps. He is also Bermuda’s most enthusiastic golf historian. Through coaching, articles, and golf management ventures, Kim tirelessly championed Bermuda as a premier golfing destination. Connecting the Past to the Present Without Kim Swan’s foundational work in building Bermuda’s golf infrastructure, the Butterfield Bermuda Championship—this flagship event showcasing our island to the world—might never have been possible. His vision and influence brought Bermuda to the global stage, inspiring pride in our nation’s talent and fostering opportunities for future generations. A Legacy That Inspires Kim Swan embodies the spirit of excellence, resilience, and community. His contributions remind us that greatness isn’t just measured by accolades but by the lives impacted and paths paved for others. Today, we celebrate not only his achievements but his enduring legacy for all Bermudians. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in honouring a true trailblazer and ambassador of Bermuda. It is with pride we present this Lifetime Achievement Award to The Honourable Kim Swan, JP MP—a champion in every sense of the word.” : , ,3 Supercharged Growth Stocks That Billionaires Are Buying

Jets still struggling to secure wins and stop blowing late leads in another playoff-less season

Two additional arrests made in connection with Val-des-Monts death investigationREDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2024-- Zuora, Inc. (NYSE: ZUO), a leading monetization suite for modern business, today announced financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended October 31, 2024. Descriptions of our non-GAAP financial measures are contained in the section titled "Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below and reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures are contained in the tables below. On October 17, 2024, we announced that Zuora entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Silver Lake, the global leader in technology investing, in partnership with an affiliate of GIC Pte. Ltd. (“GIC”). The transaction is valued at $1.7 billion, with Silver Lake and GIC to acquire all outstanding shares of Zuora common stock for $10.00 per share in cash. The acquisition is expected to close in the first calendar quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions and approvals, including the receipt of the required regulatory approvals. Upon completion of the transaction, Zuora will become a privately held company. Given the proposed acquisition of Zuora, we will not be holding a conference call or live webcast to discuss Zuora's third quarter of fiscal 2025 financial results, we will not be providing any forward looking guidance, and we are withdrawing all previously provided goals, outlook, and guidance. . We define ACV as the subscription revenue we would contractually expect to recognize from a customer over the next twelve months, assuming no increases or reductions in their subscriptions. We define the number of customers at the end of any particular period as the number of parties or organizations that have entered into a distinct subscription contract with us and for which the term has not ended. Each party with whom we have entered into a distinct subscription contract is considered a unique customer, and in some cases, there may be more than one customer within a single organization. . We calculate DBRR as of a period end by starting with the sum of the ACV from all customers as of twelve months prior to such period end, or prior period ACV. We then calculate the sum of the ACV from these same customers as of the current period end, or current period ACV. Current period ACV includes any upsells and also reflects contraction or attrition over the trailing twelve months but excludes revenue from new customers added in the current period. We then divide the current period ACV by the prior period ACV to arrive at our dollar-based retention rate. ARR represents the annualized recurring value at the time of initial booking or contract modification for all active subscription contracts at the end of a reporting period. ARR excludes the value of non-recurring revenue such as professional services revenue as well as contracts with new customers with a term of less than one year. ARR should be viewed independently of revenue and deferred revenue, and is not intended to be a substitute for, or combined with, any of these items. ARR growth is calculated by dividing the ARR as of a period end by the ARR for the corresponding period end of the prior fiscal year. In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this press release and the accompanying tables contain non-GAAP financial measures including: non-GAAP cost of subscription revenue; non-GAAP subscription gross margin; non-GAAP cost of professional services revenue; non-GAAP professional services gross margin; non-GAAP gross profit; non-GAAP gross margin; non-GAAP income from operations; non-GAAP operating margin; non-GAAP net income; non-GAAP net income per share; and adjusted free cash flow. The presentation of these financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. We use non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with GAAP measures as part of our overall assessment of our performance, including the preparation of our annual operating budget and quarterly forecasts, to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies and to communicate with our Board of Directors concerning our financial performance. We believe these non-GAAP measures provide investors consistency and comparability with our past financial performance and facilitate period-to-period comparisons of our operating results. We also believe these non-GAAP measures are useful in evaluating our operating performance compared to that of other companies in our industry, as they generally eliminate the effects of certain items that may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance. We exclude the following items from one or more of our non-GAAP financial measures: Additionally, we disclose "adjusted free cash flow", which is a non-GAAP measure that includes adjustments to operating cash flows for cash impacts related to and described above, and net purchases of property and equipment. We include the impact of net purchases of property and equipment in our adjusted free cash flow calculation because we consider these capital expenditures to be a necessary component of our ongoing operations. We believe this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews cash flows generated from operations excluding such expenditures that are not related to our ongoing operations. Investors are cautioned that there are material limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as an analytical tool. The non-GAAP measures we use may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, limiting their usefulness for comparison purposes. We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP items excluded from these non-GAAP financial measures. This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words such as “believes,” “may,” “will,” “determine,” “estimates,” “potential,” “continues,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “expects,” “could,” “would,” “projects,” “plans,” “targets,” “strategy,” “likely,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding the proposed acquisition of Zuora, including the expected timing of the closing of the acquisition, and expectations for Zuora following the completion of the acquisition. Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations as of the date of this filing and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. Our actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed in our Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29, 2024 as well as other documents that may be filed by us from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2024. In particular, the following factors, among others, could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: the possibility that the closing conditions to the proposed acquisition are not satisfied (or waived), including the risk that required approvals from Zuora’s stockholders for the proposed acquisition or required regulatory approvals to consummate the acquisition are not obtained in a timely manner (or at all); the outcome of the current complaint and any potential litigation relating to the proposed acquisition; uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the proposed acquisition; the ability of each party to consummate the proposed acquisition; our ability to attract new customers and retain and expand sales to existing customers; our ability to manage our future revenue and profitability plans effectively; adoption of monetization platform software and related solutions, as well as consumer adoption of products and services that are provided through such solutions; our ability to develop and release new products and services, or successful enhancements, new features and modifications; challenges related to growing our relationships with strategic partners; loss of key employees; our ability to compete in our markets; adverse impacts on our business and financial condition due to macroeconomic or market conditions; the impact of actions to improve operational efficiencies and operating costs; our history of net losses and ability to achieve or sustain profitability; market acceptance of our products; the success of our product development efforts; risks associated with currency exchange rate fluctuations; risks associated with our debt obligations; successful deployment of our solutions by customers after entering into a subscription agreement with us; the success of our sales and product initiatives; our security measures; our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property; interruptions or performance problems; litigation and other shareholder related costs; the anticipated benefits of acquisitions and ability to integrate operations and technology of any acquired company; geopolitical conflicts or destabilizing events; other business effects, including those related to industry, market, economic, political, regulatory and global health conditions and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. We undertake no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. In connection with the proposed acquisition, Zuora has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a proxy statement in preliminary form on November 25, 2024, a definitive version of which will be mailed or otherwise provided to its stockholders. The Company and affiliates of the Company have jointly filed a transaction statement on Schedule 13E-3 (the Schedule 13E-3). Zuora may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the potential transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, ZUORA’S STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement, the Schedule 13E-3 and other documents that Zuora files with the SEC from the SEC’s website at and Zuora’s website at . In addition, the proxy statement, the Schedule 13E-3 and other documents filed by Zuora with the SEC (when available) may be obtained from Zuora free of charge by directing a request to Zuora’s Investor Relations at . Zuora and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Zuora’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Zuora in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise will be set forth in the proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 and other materials to be filed with the SEC. You may also find additional information about Zuora’s directors and executive officers in Zuora’s proxy statement for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on May 16, 2024 (the “Annual Meeting Proxy Statement”). To the extent holdings of securities by potential participants (or the identity of such participants) have changed since the information printed in the Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, such information has been or will be reflected in Zuora’s Statements of Change in Ownership on Forms 3 and 4 filed with the SEC. You can obtain free copies of these documents from Zuora using the contact information above. Zuora provides a leading monetization suite to build, run and grow a modern business through a dynamic mix of usage-based models, subscription bundles and everything in between. From pricing and packaging, to billing, payments and revenue accounting, Zuora’s flexible, modular software platform is designed to help companies evolve monetization strategies with customer demand. More than 1,000 customers around the world, including BMC Software, Box, Caterpillar, General Motors, The New York Times, Schneider Electric and Zoom use Zuora’s leading combination of technology and expertise to turn recurring relationships and recurring revenue into recurring growth. Zuora is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in the Americas, EMEA and APAC. To learn more, please visit . © 2024 Zuora, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Zuora, Subscribed, Subscription Economy, Powering the Subscription Economy, Subscription Economy Index, Zephr, and Subscription Experience Platform are trademarks or registered trademarks of Zuora, Inc. Third party trademarks mentioned above are owned by their respective companies. Nothing in this press release should be construed to the contrary, or as an approval, endorsement or sponsorship by any third parties of Zuora, Inc. or any aspect of this press release. SOURCE: ZUORA, INC. Revenue: Subscription $ 105,253 $ 98,048 $ 308,263 $ 283,232 Professional services 11,676 11,801 33,831 37,760 Total revenue 116,929 109,849 342,094 320,992 Cost of revenue: Subscription 1 23,954 20,378 67,207 62,304 Professional services 1 14,383 14,650 43,483 47,851 Total cost of revenue 38,337 35,028 110,690 110,155 Gross profit 78,592 74,821 231,404 210,837 Operating expenses: Research and development 1 26,833 27,504 76,853 79,428 Sales and marketing 1 36,597 40,245 108,579 124,488 General and administrative 1 26,880 15,893 71,351 54,160 Total operating expenses 90,310 83,642 256,783 258,076 Loss from operations (11,718 ) (8,821 ) (25,379 ) (47,239 ) Change in fair value of debt derivative and warrant liabilities (20,174 ) 6,997 (29,115 ) 2,241 Interest expense (7,045 ) (5,610 ) (20,781 ) (14,604 ) Interest and other income (expense), net 6,505 2,272 19,988 13,639 Loss before income taxes (32,432 ) (5,162 ) (55,287 ) (45,963 ) Income tax (benefit) provision (226 ) 340 (2,152 ) 1,396 Net loss (32,206 ) (5,502 ) (53,135 ) (47,359 ) Comprehensive loss: Foreign currency translation adjustment 462 (696 ) 386 (1,383 ) Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities 248 (18 ) 63 494 Comprehensive loss $ (31,496 ) $ (6,216 ) $ (52,686 ) $ (48,248 ) Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (0.21 ) $ (0.04 ) $ (0.36 ) $ (0.34 ) Weighted-average shares outstanding used in calculating net loss per share, basic and diluted 152,263 141,488 149,457 138,789 (1) Stock-based compensation expense was recorded in the following cost and expense categories: Cost of subscription revenue $ 2,331 $ 2,350 $ 6,291 $ 6,889 Cost of professional services revenue 2,598 2,747 7,359 8,997 Research and development 7,697 7,165 21,680 20,661 Sales and marketing 7,613 8,191 20,609 24,857 General and administrative 4,694 5,648 13,163 16,569 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 24,933 $ 26,101 $ 69,102 $ 77,973 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 277,615 $ 256,065 Short-term investments 280,909 258,120 Accounts receivable, net 82,414 124,602 Deferred commissions, current portion 15,995 15,870 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 25,183 23,261 Total current assets 682,116 677,918 Property and equipment, net 27,403 25,961 Operating lease right-of-use assets 20,591 22,462 Purchased intangibles, net 23,146 10,082 Deferred commissions, net of current portion 24,941 27,250 Goodwill 73,903 56,657 Other assets 4,972 3,506 Total assets $ 857,072 $ 823,836 Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 761 $ 3,161 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 45,167 32,157 Accrued employee liabilities 29,860 37,722 Deferred revenue, current portion 177,436 199,615 Operating lease liabilities, current portion 7,030 6,760 Total current liabilities 260,254 279,415 Long-term debt 368,348 359,525 Deferred revenue, net of current portion 860 2,802 Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion 32,573 37,100 Deferred tax liabilities 4,066 3,725 Other long-term liabilities 6,781 7,582 Total liabilities 672,882 690,149 Stockholders’ equity: Class A common stock 15 14 Class B common stock 1 1 Additional paid-in capital 1,067,329 964,141 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (410 ) (859 ) Accumulated deficit (882,745 ) (829,610 ) Total stockholders’ equity 184,190 133,687 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 857,072 $ 823,836 Net loss $ (53,135 ) $ (47,359 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation, amortization and accretion 14,715 13,684 Stock-based compensation 69,102 77,973 Provision for credit losses 2,117 457 Amortization of deferred commissions 13,946 14,415 Reduction in carrying amount of right-of-use assets 3,470 4,876 Change in fair value of debt derivative and warrant liabilities 29,115 (2,241 ) Other (2,418 ) 2,630 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 40,149 12,476 Prepaid expenses and other assets (2,657 ) 878 Deferred commissions (12,107 ) (12,013 ) Accounts payable (2,529 ) (634 ) Accrued expenses and other liabilities 6,843 (82,904 ) Accrued employee liabilities (7,986 ) 509 Deferred revenue (24,439 ) (7,461 ) Operating lease liabilities (7,476 ) (10,962 ) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 66,710 (35,676 ) Purchases of property and equipment (9,252 ) (6,913 ) Purchases of short-term investments (240,093 ) (66,665 ) Maturities of short-term investments 222,279 175,128 Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired (24,786 ) (4,524 ) Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (51,852 ) 97,026 Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options 3,372 1,000 Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan 4,481 4,765 Payment for taxes related to net share settlement of stock options (1,547 ) — Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes, net of issuance costs — 145,861 Net cash provided by financing activities 6,306 151,626 Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents 386 (1,383 ) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 21,550 211,593 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 256,065 203,239 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 277,615 $ 414,832 Reconciliation of cost of subscription revenue: GAAP cost of subscription revenue $ 23,954 $ 20,378 $ 67,207 $ 62,304 Less: Stock-based compensation (2,331 ) (2,350 ) (6,291 ) (6,889 ) Amortization of acquired intangibles (1,164 ) (607 ) (2,706 ) (2,083 ) Workforce reductions (228 ) — (796 ) (38 ) Acquisition-related expenses (12 ) — (103 ) — Asset impairment — (439 ) — (439 ) Shareholder matters — — (20 ) — Non-GAAP cost of subscription revenue $ 20,219 $ 16,982 $ 57,291 $ 52,855 GAAP subscription gross margin 77 % 79 % 78 % 78 % Non-GAAP subscription gross margin 81 % 83 % 81 % 81 % Reconciliation of cost of professional services revenue: GAAP cost of professional services revenue $ 14,383 $ 14,650 $ 43,483 $ 47,851 Less: Stock-based compensation (2,598 ) (2,747 ) (7,359 ) (8,997 ) Acquisition-related expenses (22 ) — (22 ) — Shareholder matters — — (28 ) — Workforce reductions — — (5 ) (46 ) Non-GAAP cost of professional services revenue $ 11,763 $ 11,903 $ 36,069 $ 38,808 GAAP professional services gross margin (23 )% (24 )% (29 )% (27 )% Non-GAAP professional services gross margin (1 )% (1 )% (7 )% (3 )% Reconciliation of gross profit: GAAP gross profit $ 78,592 $ 74,821 $ 231,404 $ 210,837 Add: Stock-based compensation 4,929 5,097 13,650 15,886 Amortization of acquired intangibles 1,164 607 2,706 2,083 Workforce reductions 228 — 801 84 Acquisition-related expenses 34 — 125 — Asset impairment — 439 — 439 Shareholder matters — — 48 — Non-GAAP gross profit $ 84,947 $ 80,964 $ 248,734 $ 229,329 GAAP gross margin 67 % 68 % 68 % 66 % Non-GAAP gross margin 73 % 74 % 73 % 71 % Reconciliation of (loss) income from operations: GAAP loss from operations $ (11,718 ) $ (8,821 ) $ (25,379 ) $ (47,239 ) Add: Stock-based compensation 24,933 26,101 69,102 77,973 Acquisition-related expenses 10,299 19 17,100 211 Amortization of acquired intangibles 1,164 607 2,706 2,083 Workforce reductions 241 — 1,518 265 Shareholder matters 181 (3,508 ) 4,240 (3,265 ) Asset impairment — 1,592 — 1,592 Non-GAAP income from operations $ 25,100 $ 15,990 $ 69,287 $ 31,620 GAAP operating margin (10 )% (8 )% (7 )% (15 )% Non-GAAP operating margin 21 % 15 % 20 % 10 % Reconciliation of net (loss) income: GAAP net loss $ (32,206 ) $ (5,502 ) $ (53,135 ) $ (47,359 ) Add: Stock-based compensation 24,933 26,101 69,102 77,973 Change in fair value of debt derivative and warrant liabilities 20,174 (6,997 ) 29,115 (2,241 ) Acquisition-related expenses 10,299 19 17,100 211 Amortization of acquired intangibles 1,164 607 2,706 2,083 Workforce reductions 241 — 1,518 265 Shareholder matters 181 (3,508 ) 4,240 (3,265 ) Asset impairment — 1,592 — 1,592 Non-GAAP net income $ 24,786 $ 12,312 $ 70,646 $ 29,259 GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted 1 $ (0.21 ) $ (0.04 ) $ (0.36 ) $ (0.34 ) Non-GAAP net income per share, basic and diluted 1 $ 0.16 $ 0.09 $ 0.47 $ 0.21 (1) For the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, GAAP and Non-GAAP net (loss) income per share are calculated based upon 152.3 million and 141.5 million basic and diluted weighted-average shares of common stock, respectively. For the nine months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, GAAP and Non-GAAP net (loss) income per share are calculated based upon 149.5 million and 138.8 million basic and diluted weighted-average shares of common stock, respectively. Reconciliation of adjusted free cash flow: Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (GAAP) $ 22,408 $ (55,657 ) $ 66,710 $ (35,676 ) Add: Acquisition-related expenses 5,587 28 7,300 135 Shareholder matters 824 71,377 4,379 72,130 Less: Purchases of property and equipment (3,330 ) (3,075 ) (9,252 ) (6,913 ) Adjusted free cash flow (non-GAAP) $ 25,489 $ 12,673 $ 69,137 $ 29,676 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (GAAP) $ 18,999 $ 2,005 $ (51,852 ) $ 97,026 Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (GAAP) $ (1,295 ) $ 145,899 $ 6,306 $ 151,626 View source version on : CONTACT: Investor Relations Contact: Luana Wolk 650-419-1377Media Relations Contact: Margaret Juhnke 619-609-3919 KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE PAYMENTS ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY ELECTRONIC COMMERCE FINTECH OTHER TECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Zuora, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/09/2024 04:10 PM/DISC: 12/09/2024 04:08 PM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson reiterated that peaceful protest was a fundamental right enshrined in the constitution, and the nation remained resolute in exercising this right despite the incumbent government’s incessant threats, intimidation, and attempts to convert the country into a war zone through massive troop deployments and containerization. PTI Spokesperson, in a reaction to Atta Tarar’s outbursts, stated that the touts and the courtiers unleashed to target and intimidate people for participating in the revolutionary PTI’s peaceful march should bear in mind that 240 million people were fed-up of their self-centred and incompetent masters, who ruined the country economically, socially and politically during the past two and a half years. He lashed out at the mandate thief government for taking away the people’s fundamental rights, including freedom of movement, trade, employment and communication, besides confining 240 million people to their homes. PTI Spokesperson strongly condemned the government’s open threats and intimidation tactics against young people, traders, teachers, students, transporters and government officials. He emphasized that the nation would not be intimidated by threats and would not give up its fundamental rights and the peaceful protest would be the prelude to restore the constitution and the law in its true sense. PTI Spokesperson made it clear that the undeterred and unfazed nation would come out in large number peacefully from across the country for achieving true freedom in total disregard of the threats hurled by the touts and added that the government would be responsible for the riots and anarchy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );What's next for Gautam Adani after U.S. bribery, fraud charges?

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Traveling this holiday season? 10 things the TSA wants you to knowStarmer says ‘bulging benefits bill’ is ‘blighting our society’Chiefs DT Discusses Catching Child Who Fell Out of Stands

NoneThe Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang, has denied rumours that he has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Governor said the reports about him defecting from PDP to APC are nothing but lies. He also insisted that a purported picture of him alongside some APC governors, purportedly preparing to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Edo State, is fake. The Governor affirmed his commitment and loyalty to the PDP while urging his supporters to ignore the fake news making the rounds on social media. Governor Muftwang , in a statement on Thursday by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, said mischief makers are the ones behind the rumours of his said defection. “Governor Caleb Mutfwang, has unequivocally dismissed rumours circulating on social media that he has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Mutfwang described the claims as the handiwork of mischief makers and agents of division, aimed at misleading the public about his political allegiance and unwavering commitment to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). “The Governor specifically condemned the doctored content being circulated, which falsely depicted his image alongside APC governors, purportedly preparing to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Edo State. He pointed out that the fabrication was a deliberate ploy to create confusion and cast doubt on his loyalty to the PDP. “Governor Mutfwang reiterated his steadfast dedication to serving the people of Plateau State under the PDP, the platform through which he earned the people’s mandate. He categorically stated that he has never contemplated leaving the PDP for any other political Party,” the statement read. He also reassured PDP members in Plateau State and the North Central Zone that consultations with critical stakeholders are ongoing to resolve lingering issues affecting the Party in the zone and further reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, in the collective interest of Plateau State’s development.TN Delta farmers worried over fertiliser shortage

New putting grip, same old Scottie Scheffler. The World No. 1 shot a blazing 9-under-par 63 on Sunday to repeat at the Hero World Challenge, winning by six shots over South Korea's Tom Kim at Albany Golf Course in Nassau, Bahamas. Scheffler rolled in nine birdie putts, the longest a 49-footer at the par-4 fourth hole, as he finished the week at 25-under-par 263 to win Tiger Woods' exclusive exhibition tournament for the second straight December. He stuck his approach shot at the par-4 18th inside 4 feet and finished up with a birdie. Scheffler completed a banner year in which he won The Players Championship, the Masters, an Olympic gold medal and the Tour Championship. "I think it's been a great year, it's been a fun year," Scheffler said. "I've been fortunate to get some wins and have some really good golf. This was another week when I played really solid and was able to see some nice results from that. Overall it was a pretty, pretty fun year." That said, he wasn't satisfied with his game and debuted a new putting grip that he said was introduced to him by his putting coach, Phil Kenyon. "I think Phil calls it a claw, but he really doesn't even say that," Scheffler said Thursday. "He just says ‘I want you to try a little bit' and he points his hand like that and wherever my hand felt good, that's where we settled. Not trying to think too much about it, trying to keep things simple." Scheffler held the 36-hole lead but was passed by Justin Thomas on Saturday. Thomas had an uneven fourth round for his highest score of the week, a 71 (five birdies, four bogeys), and he finished third at 18 under, seven behind Scheffler and one behind Kim (final-round 68). "It's just disappointing," said Thomas, who hasn't won a tournament of any kind since the 2022 PGA Championship. "I would have liked to put a little more heat obviously on Scottie going in the back nine. You know, I felt like I got a couple bad breaks there on the par 3s, the wind completely died or switched on 5. But I mean, you know, obviously I can't expect to have good things happen when I'm leading by 1 over Scottie and only shooting 1 under on Sunday." Akshay Bhatia (69) placed fourth at 15 under and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (71) took fifth at 14 under. Other notable finishes included Sweden's Ludvig Aberg in sixth at 12 under; Patrick Cantlay in 11th at 7 under; Brian Harman in 12th at 6 under; and Australian Jason Day tied for 19th (last) at 1 over with Russell Henley. Woods did not play this week, saying before the tournament his health is "still not there" and he is not "tournament-sharp" at the moment. --Field Level Media

NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack , not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics . The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any possible clues and found his backpack there Friday. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn’t as quick as it looks like on TV . Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven’t been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask. Michael R. Sisak And Cedar Attanasio, The Associated Press

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Zuora Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results

Warri – The monarch of Idjerhe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Udurhie I, has called for national recognition of High Chief (Dr.) Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, for his unwavering dedication to combating crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region. Speaking at his palace in Idjerhe, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, on Sunday, the monarch praised Tompolo for his efforts, which have significantly contributed to Nigeria’s crude oil production reaching 1.8 million barrels per day, as recently announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). According to the monarch, “Tompolo deserves commendation and, indeed, a national award. The President should invite him to Abuja to confer on him a national honor for accomplishing what others could not.” He lauded the staff and management of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, led by Tompolo, for their exceptional efforts in the fight against oil theft. Udurhie I emphasized that the section of pipeline surveillance under Tantita’s jurisdiction has performed remarkably well compared to other security agencies. “Tompolo is not just protecting national installations; he has gone above and beyond, taking enormous personal risks to confront oil cabals siphoning the country’s crude oil,” the monarch stated. He highlighted three major achievements of Tompolo and Tantita Security Servicesto include, i ncreased Oil Production,he noted that, before Tantita took over, Nigeria’s oil production had dropped to less than one million barrels per day. Through their efforts, production has surged to 1.8 million barrels per day, with a target of reaching two million barrels. The king said, in terms of environmental restoration,Tompolo’s work has contributed to restoring the degraded environment of the Niger Delta, reviving aquatic life, and improving water quality in the region. “Before Tantita’s involvement, the water was black with oil pollution, but now aquatic life is returning,” the monarch noted. Speaking further, the king said, on youth employment and Technology Deployment, that, The Tantita project has created significant job opportunities for youths in the Niger Delta, exposing them to advanced technological tools and reducing unemployment. The monarch also criticized some security agencies for conspiring with oil thieves instead of safeguarding national assets. He urged the federal government to expand the Tantita project to cover more areas, thereby providing employment to more youths and ensuring regular funding for the initiative. “Now that Tompolo has leveraged his native wisdom to unite formerly dreaded youths under this program, the federal government must ensure salaries are paid regularly and the workforce expanded. The security contract has not only enhanced oil production but also sustained environmental protection for the Niger Delta people. For these feats, Tompolo deserves a national award,” the monarch concluded.

winph99 com In conclusion, the debate surrounding Liu Chuanxing's performance and his departure from 11 from 9! team continues to brew among basketball fans. While some question Zhu Fangyu's decision to let him go, others applaud Liu's resilience and determination to succeed. As Liu Chuanxing emerges as a key player for his current team, his performance against Zhou Qi serves as a reminder of his potential and talent on the court. Only time will tell whether Zhu Fangyu will come to regret his decision, but one thing is certain – Liu Chuanxing's performance has left a lasting impact on basketball fans and analysts alike.

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AP News Summary at 4:49 p.m. EST

Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball, the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. No further details on Carty’s death were provided. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players’ association said in its statement. The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise’s first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB AdvertisementAccording to the official statement released by the authorities, Bu was located in a remote area outside the city after a thorough search operation. The circumstances surrounding Bu's disappearance are still under investigation, and further details have not been disclosed to the public.

The Intensifying Brain Drain Crisis in Iran: A Look at Academic, Economic, and Healthcare ChallengesAs the NBA continues to evolve and teams seek to assemble winning rosters, the role of the head coach remains a pivotal one in shaping the direction and identity of a franchise. Coaches like Tyronn Lue, with their wealth of experience and proven track records, serve as invaluable assets to teams looking to achieve greatness on the court.On the other hand, there are those who believe that NVIDIA is being unfairly targeted as part of the broader tech rivalry between the US and China. The escalating tensions between the two global superpowers have led to increased scrutiny of tech companies with dual operations in both countries. NVIDIA, with its significant presence in both markets, has found itself caught in the crossfire.

In conclusion, the leaked pink and blue skin for Assassin's Creed: Shadow has generated significant buzz and excitement within the gaming community. The striking color scheme, intricate design details, and potential narrative implications have all contributed to the intrigue surrounding this leak. Whether it proves to be authentic or not, one thing is certain: the pink and blue color scheme is a definite wow factor that has captured the attention of fans and ignited their curiosity for the upcoming game.WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s allies on Capitol Hill rallied around Pete Hegseth , Trump’s Pentagon pick, on Thursday even as new details surfaced about allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. The GOP embrace of Hegseth came as another controversial Trump nominee, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration for attorney general. Gaetz said it was clear he had become a “distraction" amid pressure on the House to release an ethics report about allegations of his own sexual misconduct. An attorney for two women has said that his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. Fresh questions over the two nominees' pasts, and their treatment of women, arose with Republicans under pressure from Trump and his allies to quickly confirm his Cabinet. At the same time, his transition has so far balked at the vetting and background checks that have traditionally been required. While few Republican senators have publicly criticized any of Trump's nominees, it became clear after Gaetz's withdrawal that many had been harboring private concerns about him. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, said it was a “positive move.” Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker said it was a “positive development.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” After meeting with Hegseth, though, Republicans rallied around him. “I think he’s going to be in pretty good shape,” said Wicker, who is expected to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next Congress. Republican senators' careful words, and their early reluctance to publicly question Trump's picks, illustrated not only their fear of retribution from the incoming president but also some of their hopes that the confirmation process can proceed normally, with proper vetting and background checks that could potentially disqualify problematic nominees earlier. Gaetz withdrew after meeting with senators on Wednesday. Sen. Thom Tillis said Gaetz was “in a pressure cooker” when he decided to withdraw, but suggested that it would have little bearing on Trump’s other nominees. “Transactions — one at a time,” he said. As the Hegseth nomination proceeds, Republicans also appear to be betting that they won't face much backlash for publicly setting aside the allegations of sexual misconduct — especially after Trump won election after being found liable for sexual abuse last year. Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance on Thursday in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.” A 22-page police report report made public late Wednesday offered the first detailed account of the allegations against him. A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. The report cited police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who treated her, a hotel staffer, another woman at the event and Hegseth. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Palatore, said the incident was “fully investigated and police found the allegations to be false.” Hegseth paid the woman in 2023 as part of a confidential settlement to head off the threat of what he described as a baseless lawsuit, Palatore has said. Wicker played down the allegations against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, saying that “since no charges were brought from the authorities, we only have press reports.” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said after his meeting with Hegseth that he "shared with him the fact that I was saddened by the attacks that are coming his way.” Hagerty dismissed the allegations as “a he-said, she-said thing” and called it a “shame” that they were being raised at all. The senator said attention should instead be focused on the Defense Department that Hegseth would head. It's one of the most complex parts of the federal government with more than 3 million employees, including military service members and civilians. Sexual assault has been a persistent problem in the military, though Pentagon officials have been cautiously optimistic they are seeing a decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and the military academies. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who will be the No. 2 Republican in the Senate next year, said after his meeting with Hegseth that the nominee is a strong candidate who “pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power – not the current administration’s woke political agenda.” Senate Republicans are under pressure to hold hearings once they take office in January and confirm nominees as soon as Trump is inaugurated, despite questions about whether Trump’s choices will be properly screened or if some, like Hegseth, have enough experience for the job. Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, who will be the top Democrat on the panel next year, said the reports on Hegseth “emphasized the need for a thorough investigation by the FBI on the background of all the nominees.” It takes a simple majority to approve Cabinet nominations, meaning that if Democrats all opposed a nominee, four Republican senators would also have to defect for any Trump choice to be defeated. Trump has made clear he’s willing to put maximum pressure on Senate Republicans to give him the nominees he wants – even suggesting at one point that they allow him to just appoint his nominees with no Senate votes. But senators insist, for now, that they are not giving up their constitutional power to have a say. “The president has the right to make the nominations that he sees fit, but the Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consent,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. In the case of Gaetz, he said, “I think there was advice offered rather than consent.” Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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The situation escalated when one of the neighbors, Mrs. Smith, publicly voiced her concerns about the inauspicious nature of Qiongyao's house. In a heated exchange with reporters, she claimed to have experienced strange occurrences and unsettling vibes whenever she passed by the imposing structure. Her allegations were met with a mix of skepticism and curiosity, as other residents came forward to share their own eerie encounters and inexplicable fears.

AI Ranks the 20 Greatest Stadiums in British Football HistoryTheir unconventional journey to acquire the frozen pig's head had been a wild ride, but the end result was nothing short of delicious. With their bellies full and their hearts content, they reflected on their adventure with a sense of pride and fulfillment.

Qatar tribune QNA Doha Momentum has returned to negotiations aimed at reaching a truce and exchanging hostages in the Gaza Strip after the US elections, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has said. Speaking at a dialogue session titled ‘Conflict Resolution in a New Era’, as part of the activities of the 22nd Doha Forum, the PM said that they felt after the US elections that momentum was returning to the path of negotiations and there is much encouragement from the next US administration to reach an agreement, even before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. He added that this prompted them to return to the path and put the negotiations back on track, noting that they resumed the negotiations in the past weeks. “There will be some differences in the approach of the administration of President Joe Biden and that of President Trump to certain issues and matters. This approach affects the decisions taken and what happens on the ground. However, we have not noticed any differences or rejection by the new administration regarding the main goal, which is to end the war in Gaza,” he said. While referring to many fluctuations that the negotiations have witnessed since the beginning of the war, the prime minister said a deal was reached on November 23, 2023, under which 109 Israeli hostages and 15 foreign hostages were released in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners. “Since then, the same process and the same framework have continued. Discussions within this framework have continued until today,” he said. He added that they went through several stages during the negotiation process, in which this process was exploited for political reasons by one party or another, and they went through a lot of scrutiny and examination because one party or another tried to score political points. Sheikh Mohammed pointed out that the momentum of the negotiations had slackened significantly in the last days before the US elections in particular, and they did not feel a real will or readiness to reach a conclusion to the events that were sweeping the Strip. “At that moment, Qatar decided to take a step back similar to what it did last April to see if there was a possibility of regaining this momentum.” The PM stressed that this issue affects many people, whether the residents of Gaza or the families of the hostages. Unfortunately, and given the way things were managed during this year and the exposure of all these details to the public, raising the level of hope among these innocent people had negative effects because we felt frustrated every time as a result of these disappointments. “That’s why we’re focused on achieving meaningful results, and what we expect and hope for is that we reach results as soon as possible,” he said, adding that all parties have a real will to deal with things in good faith. The prime minister pointed out that the gaps and points of difference between Hamas and Israel are not big and are not of a magnitude that would affect the negotiations. He added, “The question is simple: Is there a will to end the war? Yes or no? And is there a will to reach an exchange deal? Yes or no? Two simple questions and two simple answers.” Regarding the developments in Syria, Sheikh Mohammed said that there were two main factors related to what is taking place today in Syria. The first factor was expected given the current events in Gaza, noting that Qatar warned against the expansion of the conflict and the consequences of the war in Gaza on the entire region. He added that they have noticed the expansion of this situation and the extension of this conflict, whether to Lebanon, the Red Sea, or other areas within the Middle East, expressing belief that it is wrong to consider that Syria is immune to this conflict. He explained that the second factor is related to ignoring the situation in Syria, adding that there was a golden opportunity during the period when the fighting calmed down but this opportunity was not seized, for Bashar Al Assad to begin correcting his relationship with his people. The PM said everyone in the world was surprised by the events witnessed in the past few days, and surprised by the speed of progress achieved by the opposition in Syria. “This situation may develop and its danger may increase,” he added, expressing concern about the escalation of the situation and the return of internal violence and civil war that threaten the territorial integrity of the Syrian state. He said that the current situation could undoubtedly destroy what remains of Syria, unless all parties act responsibly and quickly to establish the necessary framework to address this issue politically and reach a sustainable solution. He said Qatar’s role is to ensure the stability of the region and that of its own, for which it needs to deal with all sides, work for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and ensure a better future for the region. Copy 09/12/2024 10

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Another possible outcome is a military victory by the opposition forces, leading to the overthrow of the Assad government. Rebel groups, supported by Western and Arab allies, have made significant gains in recent years, capturing key territory and weakening the regime's grip on power. If these forces are able to unite and coordinate their efforts, they could potentially march on Damascus and oust Assad from power.