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Is Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughingFormer Maryland governor and commissioner of the Social Security Administration Martin O’Malley has been called to testify before the House Oversight Committee next month about an agreement he signed to allow some Social Security employees to work remotely through 2029. O’Malley signed the agreement in late November, two days before leaving his Social Security Administration position. James Comer, a Republican representative from Kentucky who serves as the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, to O’Malley that his agreement with the American Federation of Government Employees to guarantee a minimum amount of telework for 42,000 Social Security employees through 2029 “will tie the hands of your successor at SSA for the duration of the next administration, and beyond.” O’Malley hasn’t commented publicly on the letter. Comer questioned O’Malley’s motives and how the move would serve the public. Comer’s letter implies the move was politically motivated, saying it was popular with AFGE members and other unions “that form a core constituency of the DNC that you are now running to chair.” O’Malley resigned from the Social Security Administration in November, around when he announced his run for chair of the Democratic National Committee. Comer claimed the administration’s nearly 60,000 employees have spent less than half their time in the office as disability claim processing times have increased since the pandemic. “We believe your testimony will shed light on why so much of the federal workforce is currently at home, and federal agency offices are largely vacant,” he wrote. “We also expect it will educate Members as to how federal collective bargaining law and practice has helped facilitate this situation.” The AFGE represents 800,000 federal and D.C. employees across 900 different local unions, according to its website. “We support telework where it delivers for both the taxpayers and the workers who serve them. Telework and remote work are tools that have helped the federal government increase productivity and efficiency, maintain continuity of operations, and increase disaster preparedness. These policies also assist agencies across the government, including the Social Security Administration, in recruiting and retaining top talent,” said AFGE president Everett Kelley in a Dec. 16. Kelley went on to dispel “rumors of widespread federal telework,” saying only 10% of federal employees are fully remote while hybrid employees spend over 60% of working hours in-office. However, the majority of federal employees, he said, were completely ineligible for remote work due to the nature of their jobs. The election for DNC chair amongst its 447 committee members will take place in early 2025, according to .

Back in 2019, Shiza Shahid set out to transform the cookware market forever. According to the Pakistani entrepreneur and social activist, the $23 billion category was “tired” and urgently needed “design and innovation.” And so, she launched Our Place, a brand specializing in aesthetically pleasing, multifunctional, nontoxic cookware. Nearly six years later, the company is a certified hit: It’s a social media sensation (largely because of its sleek designs and multiple color ways) and just recently, the new titanium version of its now-iconic Always Pan was named one of Time’s Best Inventions of 2024. @shiza | Instagram RELATED: Is Enamel Cookware Non-Toxic? Our Top Picks According to Shahid, the key to Our Place’s continued success is its commitment to forward-thinking innovative designs in a great-looking package. “It was very important for us to bring joy and inspiration to the kitchen,” she told Forbes recently. “That’s what beautiful design is—it inspires you. Before Our Place, everything in the kitchen looked the same—black and stainless steel—and was hidden in the back of our cluttered cabinets.” She added: “We say our Always Pan is 10-in-1, but it’s really 11-in-1—enchantment is the eleventh function!” If you want to add a little bit of that enchantment to your kitchen, we’ve picked some of our favorite products from the brand below—from Always Pans to tableware to ovens and more. What is the Our Place pan made of? Our Place offers a wide range of pans and other cookware and bakeware items in a variety of materials. Its classic Always Pan design, for example, features a proprietary long-lasting ceramic non-stick coating called Thermakind, which is entirely free of PFAS. The pan is also available in “heirloom-quality” enameled cast iron , and as of 2024, the ultra-durable Titanium Always Pan Pro is available, too. Our Place BECOME A VEGNEWS VIP : Get exclusive product deals, freebies, and perks galore! According to the brand, the new titanium pan features a patented NoCo (“no-coating”), non-stick technology and a surface that is 300-percent harder than stainless steel. “It’s the first nonstick with zero coating,” Shahid told Forbes. “You can throw it in the dishwasher, scrub it with metal, light it on fire—it’s so easy to use and made to last a lifetime.” 7 product picks from Our Place Our Place offers great-looking, long-lasting, durable pans, but you can also buy everything from knives to ovens from the brand, too. Our Place When it comes to multi-purpose cookware, the new, sleek, hydrophobic Titanium Always Pan Pro is hard to beat. You can use it to sear, fry, bake, roast—you name it, the pan can do it. “It’s not too heavy or lightweight - feels great in my hand and everything cooks evenly without sticking,” says one reviewer on the Our Place website. Another adds: “Size is perfect and finish is beautiful.” Find it here Our Place If you’re short on cabinet space and don’t need to cater family-sized meals, the Mini Always Pan 2.0 is a great alternative to the larger options. Despite its size, it can do everything the original design can do, including baking, sautéing, braising, and so much more. Of course, it comes in multiple colors, including Sage, Spice, and Blue Salt. “Perfect pan for cooking a small meal for one person. Easy clean and healthy,” says one reviewer on the Our Place website. Find it here Our Place Our Place also offers a handy range of kitchen tools, including kitchen shears, a knife block, and a serrated slicing knife, but for a premium tool you can rely on to chop and mince multiple ingredients, check out the Everyday Chef’s Knife. “The best knife there is,” reads one Our Place website review. “Love the selection of colors, how comfortable it is to hold, and the sharpness of it.” Find it here Our Place With 36 pieces, Our Place’s premium, restaurant-grade, chip-resistant Complete Stacking Set has everything you need to fully stock or refresh your tableware, including mugs, platters, serving bowls, and salad plates. The glossy satin exterior of each piece will bring a touch of sophistication to your kitchen. “They stack perfectly and take up so little space,” says one buyer on the Our Place website. Find it here Our Place The Wonder Oven may be small—but do not underestimate its capabilities. The super efficient, high-performance countertop appliance can perform multiple functions, including air-frying, roasting, and baking, and it has multiple levels, so you can fit plenty of food inside. Plus, it looks great, thanks to its colorful retro design. “I’m surprised so much functionality can fit into such a small machine,” says one Our Place customer. Another added: “I don’t think I’ve needed my full-sized oven once since it arrived.” Find it here Our Place A Dutch oven is a kitchen must-have, especially if you enjoy cooking stews, casseroles, curries, and roasts. This one from Our Place comes with enameled cast iron , which means it won’t require any work to season before you use it. The design ticks all of the boxes: It’s sleek, good-looking, durable, and multifunctional. “The color is perfect and is great to even leave out on the counter. Has been perfect for soups & baking sourdough,” said one Our Place reviewer. Find it here Our Place Can’t decide between the Always Pan, the Perfect Pot, and bakeware? The Ultimate Cookware Set gives you the chance to buy everything. It boasts eight of the brand’s most popular pieces, making it the perfect investment for a full kitchen restock. Find it here DON'T MISS OUT : Get breaking news, recipes, and our weekly vegan deal by signing up for our FREE VegNewsletter Love Good Strong Coffee? Check Out These Top Espresso Makers How Important Is a Good Quality Kitchen Knife? Plus, the Best Blades to Try Now Ditch Toxic Black Plastic and Use These Safer Kitchen Utensils Instead JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Subscribe Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast. Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.(Reuters) - At least 229 people detained in Nicaragua for political reasons have suffered various forms of torture and other "crimes against humanity" at the hands of the government over the past seven years, a human rights NGO said on Tuesday. The Nicaragua Never Again Human Rights Collective said in a report that it had documented the torture of 183 men and 46 women out of some 2,000 people arrested in connection to 2018 anti-government protests. Nicaraguan Vice President and government spokesperson Rosario Murillo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ortega's government in the past has ignored reports from NGOs, as well as from the UN and the Organization of American States, saying they are part of an international campaign against it. The NGO, which is based in neighboring Costa Rica, said at least 178 of those who testified reported suffering abuse such as beatings, beatings with weapons, rape, death threats and threats or aggression against family members. It said it identified over 40 forms of torture through the testimonies, including 159 cases of beatings, 22 of asphyxiation or strangulation, 17 cases of electric shocks, 21 burns with plastic or iron and 18 fingernail or tooth removals. At least 117 people were deprived of medical attention and 85 kept in isolation for over two weeks, it said. The majority of detentions were violent and arbitrary and detainees were not presented with an arrest warrant, the NGO said, while in 40% of cases they reported "participation of paramilitary agents who have acted as a third armed force." The report accused President Daniel Ortega's Sandinista government of committing crimes against humanity. The U.N. Human Rights Office had on Monday issued a warning in which it said the situation was continuing to deteriorate in Nicaragua, where citizens were subject to a "severe and repressive climate." Nicaragua's government has recently passed a set of reforms that critics say formalize President Ortega's already broad-ranging power over the state. These include an expansion to presidential powers and those of the police and military. (Reporting by Gabriela Selser; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Alistair Bell) Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cellectis (Euronext Growth: ALCLS – NASDAQ: CLLS) (the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company using its pioneering gene-editing platform to develop life-saving cell and gene therapies, today announced that it has drawn down the final tranche of €5 million (“Tranche C”) under the credit facility agreement for up to €40 million entered into with the European Investment Bank (the “EIB) on December 28, 2022 (the "Finance Contract"). With the drawdown of Tranche C, the Company has drawn down the full €40 million available under the Finance Contract. Tranche C is expected to be disbursed by the EIB by December 18, 2024. The Company plans to use the proceeds of Tranche C towards the development of its pipeline of allogeneic CAR T-cell product candidates: UCART22 and UCART20x22. As a condition to the disbursement of Tranche C the Company issued 611,426 warrants to the benefit of the EIB, in accordance with the terms of the 14th resolution of the shareholders’ meeting held on June 28, 2024 and articles L. 228-91 and seq. of the French Commercial Code (the “Tranche C Warrants”). Each Tranche C Warrant allows the EIB to subscribe for one ordinary share of the Company, at a price of €1.70, corresponding to 99% of the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s ordinary shares over the last 3 trading days preceding the decision of the board of directors of the Company to issue the Tranche C Warrants. The total number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Tranche C Warrants represent circa 0.6% of the Company’s outstanding share capital as at their issuance date. Tranche C will mature six years from its disbursement date and will accrue interest at a rate of 6% per annum capitalized annually and payable at maturity. The other terms of the Tranche C Warrants and prepayment events of Tranche C under the Finance Contract are as set forth in the Company’s press release of April 4, 2023 and Form 6-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on such date. About Cellectis Cellectis is a clinical-stage biotechnology company using its pioneering gene-editing platform to develop life-saving cell and gene therapies. Cellectis utilizes an allogeneic approach for CAR-T immunotherapies in oncology, pioneering the concept of off-the-shelf and ready-to-use gene-edited CAR T-cells to treat cancer patients, and a platform to make therapeutic gene editing in hemopoietic stem cells for various diseases. As a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with 25 years of experience and expertise in gene editing, Cellectis is developing life-changing product candidates utilizing TALEN®, its gene editing technology, and PulseAgile, its pioneering electroporation system to harness the power of the immune system in order to treat diseases with unmet medical needs. Cellectis’ headquarters are in Paris, France, with locations in New York, New York and Raleigh, North Carolina. Cellectis is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (ticker: CLLS) and on Euronext Growth (ticker: ALCLS). To find out more, visit our website: www.cellectis.com Follow Cellectis on social networks @cellectis on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) TALEN® is a registered trademark owned by Cellectis. Cautionary Statement This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “expect,” “plan,” and “will,” or the negative of these and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements, which are based on our management’s current expectations and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements include statements about the date of disbursement of the Tranche C and the use of the proceeds of amounts received under the Finance Contract. These forward-looking statements are made in light of information currently available to us and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including with respect to the numerous risks associated with market conditions, and our ability to satisfy the conditions precedent under the Finance Contract. Furthermore, many other important factors, including those described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F as amended and in our annual financial report (including the management report) for the year ended December 31, 2023 and subsequent filings Cellectis makes with the Securities Exchange Commission from time to time, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov , as well as other known and unknown risks and uncertainties may adversely affect such forward-looking statements and cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. For further information on Cellectis, please contact: Media contacts: Pascalyne Wilson, Director, Communications, + 33 (0)7 76 99 14 33, media@cellectis.com Patricia Sosa Navarro, Chief of Staff to the CEO, +33 (0)7 76 77 46 93 Investor Relations contact: Arthur Stril, Interim Chief Financial Officer, investors@cellectis.com AttachmentRestoration Center to open in Lowell

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Epic rooftop bar plans for popular Brisbane pubGlobal stocks experienced a downturn and major Wall Street indexes declined following the European Central Bank's decision to cut interest rates for the fourth time this year, amidst economic challenges and political risks. The Swiss franc weakened after the Swiss National Bank announced its largest rate reduction in nearly a decade. This move coincided with the U.S. Labor Department's report of a 0.4% increase in the producer price index, which surpassed expectations. Amid these developments, oil prices fell over 1%, and markets predicted further rate cuts from the Federal Reserve and ECB. Notably, emerging market stocks and U.S. benchmark 10-year note yields rose slightly. (With inputs from agencies.)

Kingsview Wealth Management LLC Lowers Position in First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)

BEDFORD, Mass. , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader in consumer robots, today announced that the company's management team will present at the following investor conferences: Raymond James TMT and Consumer Conference Date: Monday, December 9, 2024 Location: New York, NY Presentation: 3:00 p.m. ET ICR Conference 2025 Date: Monday, January 13, 2025 Location: Orlando, FL Presentation: 2:30 p.m. ET 27th Annual Needham Growth Conference Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 Location: New York, NY Presentation: 8:45 a.m. ET iRobot Chief Executive Officer Gary Cohen and Chief Financial Officer Karian Wong will be available for one-on-one meetings with investors during the three events. Live webcasts of the presentations will be available on the company's investor relations website, https://investor.irobot.com . Archived versions of the webcasts will be available after the event. For more information, please visit https://investor.irobot.com . About iRobot Corporation iRobot is a global consumer robot company that designs and builds thoughtful robots and intelligent home innovations that make life better. iRobot introduced the first Roomba robot vacuum in 2002. Today, iRobot is a global enterprise that has sold more than 50 million robots worldwide. iRobot's product portfolio features technologies and advanced concepts in cleaning, mapping and navigation. Working from this portfolio, iRobot engineers are building robots and smart home devices to help consumers make their homes easier to maintain and healthier places to live. For more information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/irobot-to-present-at-upcoming-investor-conferences-302321521.html SOURCE iRobot Corporation

PARIS, Dec 11 — The 2030 Fifa World Cup will send dozens of football teams and hordes of fans crisscrossing the globe for matches on three continents, sparking alarm over the environmental cost. An announcement on the 2030 and 2034 World Cups will be made on Wednesday, with expectations of a dramatic expansion of geographic footprint — and with that planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions. While Saudi Arabia is the lone candidate for 2034, Morocco, Spain and Portugal have formed a joint bid for the 2030 tournament, with Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay each also set to host a match. Guillaume Gouze, of the Centre of Sports Law and Economics at the University of Limoges, said Fifa has a “moral responsibility” to integrate climate concerns into its tournament plans. Instead, he said, it had proposed World Cups that are an “ecological aberration”. ‘Crazy idea’ Benja Faecks of the NGO Carbon Market Watch, which evaluates climate promises of major events, told AFP that in general attempts at greenwashing in sport — or “sportswashing” — are harder than they used to be, with academics and campaigners holding organisations to account. But she said that the 2030 tournament was “an unfortunate geographic choice”. When an event is spread over sites thousands of kilometres apart, teams and potentially hundreds of thousands of their loyal fans have to travel by plane. The three matches in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay are to mark the 100th anniversary of the event, which was born in Montevideo. Fifa is keen to support access to football across different parts of the world, said David Gogishvili, a researcher at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. But “it is a crazy idea in terms of the impact this choice will have on the planet”, he added. Fifa has already expanded participation in the competition, which will see 48 teams take part in the 2026 edition — held in Mexico, the United States and Canada — compared to 32 in 2022. This “is almost worse than the Cup on three continents,” says Aurelien Francois, who teaches sports management at the University of Rouen in France. More teams means more fans wanting to visit the venues, more capacity needed in the hotel and catering sector, and more waste, among other issues. Fifa says that, with the exception of the games in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay “for 101 games, the tournament will be played in a footprint of neighbouring countries in close geographic proximity and with extensive and well developed transport links and infrastructure”. Meanwhile, oil and gas giant Saudi Aramco became a major sponsor earlier this year in a controversial deal that runs through to 2027. In October, an open letter from more than a hundred female professional footballers across 24 countries called for the deal to be cancelled on the grounds of human rights and environmental concerns, saying: “Fifa might as well pour oil on the pitch and set it alight”. Fan zones Just shrinking the geographic footprint is not enough, researchers said. While the 2022 World Cup was held in a “compact” site in Qatar, it was necessary to build new air-conditioned stadiums that were rarely reused. Potential improvements could include a policy of not awarding the World Cup to a city where everything has yet to be built, echoing a rule by the International Olympic Committee, said Gogishvili. Another idea to reduce air travel is to reserve a large proportion of stadium tickets for fans travelling from within a few hundred kilometres, and encourage transport by train. Gouze, like other experts interviewed by AFP, supports creating more fan zones in football-loving cities for “a collective experience” that recreates the stadium atmosphere in front of a big screen. But this would need Fifa to accept the impact on the economic profitability of the World Cup. Football fans are a reflection of the population as a whole, so a growing percentage are more environmentally conscious than even a few years ago, said Ronan Evain of Hamburg-based Football Supporters Europe. He said that while co-hosting is not a problem in and of itself, citing the example of the 2002 Cup co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, the 2030 tournament poses “too many questions” for fans. These include the environmental costs, as well as financial considerations for fans trying to follow their teams across the planet. But die-hard supporters will not let the long-haul flight put them off, said Antoine Miche, director of Football Ecologie France. “Passion can make you do things that don’t make sense,” he added. — AFPRussian billionaire Alisher Usmanov re-elected president of fencing's governing body

What lies ahead for the global economy as Donald Trump prepares to take officePresident Joe Biden ’s decision to commute the death sentences of 37 federal inmates has sparked an uproar in the legal and political worlds, with critics calling the move a blatant overreach of executive power. The action, taken in Biden’s final days in office, converted the sentences of those on federal death row to life imprisonment without parole, leaving only three inmates awaiting federal execution. Former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy criticized the decision as a misuse of presidential authority, arguing it bypassed congressional intent. “I think it’s yet another abuse of the pardon power,” McCarthy told Fox News on Monday. “He wiped the slate clean on everyone else, and he did it in a way that is a categorical change of the law that’s for Congress to make.” Legal experts slam move as inconsistent and contrary to popular positions McCarthy also noted the apparent inconsistency in Biden’s approach, pointing out that the president did not spare the sentences of high-profile death row inmates such as Dylann Roof, convicted of the racist massacre of nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina; Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; and Pittsburgh synagogue shooter Robert Bowers. “Last week, the Biden Justice Department filed death charges against somebody ... who I don't think is even a terrorism case, it's a grisly murder,” McCarthy said of the UnitedHealthCare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione, highlighting the inconsistencies for Biden's own classifications for terroristic acts. “Now today, he’s wiping the slate clean on death penalty charges brought by other administrations. But not in cases where he and his Justice Department actually had to deal with the victims and obviously the families of the victims of these brutal homicides," McCarthy added. Civil rights attorney Leo Terrell was even more scathing, describing the decision as a “slap in the face” to victims’ families. “Children were murdered, a naval officer was murdered — these are the worst of the worst,” Terrell said. “Joe Biden, who is mentally unfit to stand trial for himself, is not making these decisions. This is the social progressive left dictating policy as Biden burns down the house in his last 30 days in office.” Terrell emphasized that the decision contradicted public sentiment. “52 to 53% of Americans support the death penalty,” he said. “These murderers received justice through trials and a death penalty phase. Biden’s actions erase that.” Biden, who kicked off his last-ditch acts of grace by pardoning his own son Hunter Biden on Dec. 1 , defended his decision in a statement, acknowledging the heinous crimes but emphasizing the need for systemic change. “Make no mistake, I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden said in a statement. Mixed public reactions spotlight the death penalty divide Victims’ families expressed a mix of reactions, according to the Associated Press. Heather Turner, whose mother was killed during a 2017 bank robbery, called the move a “gross abuse of power,” accusing Biden of disregarding the victims. Others, like retired police officer Donnie Oliverio, said the commutations reflected Biden’s faith and moral conviction. Supporters of Biden’s decision, including advocacy groups like the ACLU, argue that it highlights the flaws of capital punishment and advances criminal justice reform. Across the pond, major religious figures like Pope Francis recently prayed that the sentences of death row prisoners in the United States “be commuted or changed." But critics in Congress, including Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, see it as another example of Democrats favoring “depraved criminals over their victims, public order, and common decency.” For many, the debate underscores the deep divisions in the U.S. legal system and the enduring controversy surrounding the death penalty. Biden adds complexity to Trump's capital punishment plans The commutations have fueled a political firestorm as President-elect Donald Trump, an advocate for expanding capital punishment, prepares to take office again. Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, called the decision “a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones.” Biden's decision is likely to pose at least an optical hurdle for Trump as he aims to ramp up capital punishment over his next four years in office. Unlike his ability to reverse his predecessor's executive orders, commuted death sentences cannot be reapplied by a future president. Meanwhile, the Justice Department is nearing the release of its long-awaited review of the lethal injection protocol introduced by the Trump administration in 2019. This protocol employs a single sedative, pentobarbital, for executions, a method adopted amid shortages of other drugs traditionally used. Critics and death penalty opponents argue that pentobarbital can inflict severe pain during a prisoner’s final moments. Activists suggest the DOJ’s findings could strengthen calls for clemency. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Additionally, the Supreme Court is weighing a high-profile case surrounding a longtime Oklahoma inmate, Richard Glossip , who is slated for capital punishment. Glossip has argued, and even gained support from state Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R), for the justices to consider whether he was falsely accused of murder in the 1990s. A decision in the Glossip case is expected before the end of June.

By Yuji Yoshikata / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent 7:00 JST, December 11, 2024 TEHRAN — Last year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, who has been released temporarily from a Tehran prison on medical grounds, vowed to continue her fight for women’s rights. “I will not keep silent,” she said during an exclusive interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun. Mohammadi gave her first in-person interview with a media organization since receiving her Nobel Prize at her home in the Iranian capital on Thursday. Mohammadi, 52, a political prisoner, had surgery about three weeks ago mainly to remove a tumor from her right leg. She was granted temporary medical leave from prison on Dec. 4 for a period of 21 days. She has a brace on her right leg and currently uses a walker. But with her high spirits, she does not look like a longtime prisoner. “Within these 21 days, I will not keep silent,” Mohammadi said in the interview. “It doesn’t matter if these 21 days are going to change into two days or 22 days. It will not affect my decision.” She expressed deep concern about the oppression of women in Iran and Afghanistan, saying, “I think talking about peace and democracy in the current world without paying attention to women’s rights is impossible or meaningless.” Mohammadi on Thursday evening invited Yomiuri Shimbun reporters to her home, along with her relatives, fellow human rights activists and supporters. With the painful-looking brace on her right leg, she talked with the visitors for more than five hours. Mohammadi is a political prisoner who has been sentenced to lashings and a total of more than 30 years in prison on charges that include spreading propaganda against the state. However, the authorities have imposed no major restrictions on her during her release. No obvious signs of surveillance were seen around her home. Even if restrictions are imposed, “I will not accept them,” she insisted. According to Mohammadi, news of the Nobel prize win in October last year reached her through an inmate who had learned about it from another inmate who was allowed to talk on the phone with people outside the prison. “I think the Nobel Peace Prize created an opportunity not only for me but also for Iranian women and the country to accomplish democracy and achieve women’s rights,” said Mohammadi. Her 55-year-old brother, Mehdi, and his wife are currently in Tehran from Mashhad, northeastern Iran, to take care of Mohammadi. “Twenty-one days is too short. I hope the temporary release will become a full release,” he said. During the interview, Mohammadi also delivered a message for women in Japan. “I think that the interaction and dialogue between women in various societies can lead to reciprocal growth of the societies,” she said. “I hope that such dialogues and interactions will be created between women of Iran and Japan.” When the topic shifted to her 18-year-old twin children — Ali and Kiana, who live in exile in Paris with their 65-year-old father, Taghi Rahmani — Mohammadi walked over to where the wallpaper had been marked with the twins’ heights, and wondered aloud how tall her children had grown. About a decade ago, her twins fled Iran amid growing government pressure on Mohammadi, and Rahmani later joined them. Since then, Mohammadi has been unable to see them in person as she has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times. “When they were leaving [Iran], they were a bit taller than 1 meter,” she said while tracing with her finger over the wallpaper of cartoon animals where her twins’ heights had been marked. “I have kept this, so that when they come back someday, I will measure their height and know how much I have lost,” she said. Though a strong-willed human rights activist who has refused to buckle under pressure, Mohammadi is also motherly, and related how missing out on so much time with her children caused her “deep sorrow.” , human rights activist and journalist Born in Zanjan, northwestern Iran, in 1972, Mohammadi was arrested and imprisoned multiple times after writing articles criticizing the Iranian government in 1998. She has been sentenced to a total of more than 30 years in prison and 154 lashes. In 2023, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to Luton Today, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you. Luton boss Rob Edwards declared it was a ‘magical’ feeling to see Elijah Adebayo’s mood-changing last minute goal hit the net to secure a much-needed 2-1 victory over Stoke City at Kenilworth Road this evening. The Hatters had fallen behind early to Tom Cannon’s close range strike only to see Carlton Morris level the scores with 24 minutes on the clock, heading home Jordan Clark’s excellent corner. A tight second half was just about to enter stoppage time when Clark sent another dangerous set-piece into the box which was cleared out to Tom Krauß. Advertisement Advertisement The German midfielder returned it with interest, as Adebayo, who had already seen two shots cleared off the line, was able to divert his attempt over any covering defenders on this occasion for his third goal in three matches. Discussing the manner of the winner, Edwards said: “My initial thought was to look at the linesman. I saw him running back and was ‘yes, okay, I can enjoy that now,’ it’s a good feeling. It is great, I don't think there’s a better feeling. I always know how hard it is for them, it’s a horrible game at times football but it’s a good night for us tonight and it does feel great. "It changes the mood somehow. If we’d have scored in the 70th minute and then seen the game out 2-1, I don’t think the feel around the place would have felt as good as it does now. In that dressing room it was really lively after at the end. There is something magical about a last minute winner, a really good feeling. I think it was deserved, you take those moments and you try and enjoy it.” Having seen Town produce a thoroughly uninspiring display when drawing 1-1 with Swansea City at the weekend, Edwards was far happier with what his team produced this evening, especially having fallen behind inside the opening six minutes. He added: “Overall the performance was good, better than the weekend. I’m proud of how everyone reacted, proud of how everyone reacted after going 1-0 down early on. We showed some real character to get back on the front foot and find a way to win the game, so It was a good night for us in quite difficult circumstances. “I think we’re about 18 points from the past nine games at home, so we’ve been doing that here, it’s away we need to try and find that now. The form here is all right and I’m not concerned about that. We’ve come out on the right side of a number of games, not necessarily with a late winner like that, but tight games. Now we’ve got to try and find consistency which I've been saying for quite a long time, that’s our challenge at the moment, but let’s try and enjoy this one for a night.”

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Five things to know about Panama Canal, in Trump's sightsISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest. Ambassador Zaidong called on Bilawal at Zardari House, Islamabad, on Tuesday afternoon. Bilawal and Ambassador Zaidong discussed promotion of bilateral relations, social and cultural cooperation and also discussed matters of mutual interests. The former minister for foreign affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, was also present. The meeting comes more than a month after the Chinese ambassador urged Islamabad to crack down on terrorist groups targeting Chinese nationals in the country. “Top priority should be the security of the Chinese personnel in Pakistan because they come to Pakistan to participate in Pakistan’s development,” Zaidong had told journalists at a press conference at his residence at the Chinese Embassy. “They [Chinese] are innocent and they don’t deserve this kind of sacrifice and their families do not deserve this kind of tragedy,” the envoy had said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

South Korean stock markets have shed more than 250 trillion won in market capitalization this year. (Image courtesy of Yonhap) SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean stock markets have shed more than 250 trillion won in market capitalization this year, standing in stark contrast to the record-setting rallies seen in other major global markets. According to the Korea Exchange, as of December 27, the main KOSPI market’s capitalization stood at 1,966.96 trillion won, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ reached 333.87 trillion won. These figures represent declines of 159.42 trillion won and 94.52 trillion won respectively from the last trading day of 2023, amounting to a combined loss of 253.93 trillion won. Samsung Electronics accounted for more than half of the total market value decline, losing 148.05 trillion won. The tech giant was particularly hit by foreign investors and institutional sellers, who net sold 10.38 trillion won and 3.94 trillion won worth of shares, respectively. In percentage terms, the KOSPI has fallen 9.43% this year, dropping from 2,655.28 on January 2 to 2,404.77 on December 27. The KOSDAQ suffered an even steeper decline of 23.15%, falling from 866.57 to 665.97. These losses stand in sharp contrast to the performance of other major global indices. The U.S. S&P 500 surged 26.58% while the Nasdaq jumped 33.37% during the same period. Asian markets also showed strong performance, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising 20.37%, and China’s Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng indices gaining 14.26% and 17.82% respectively. According to Yonhap Infomax, among 40 major national indices across 34 countries, the KOSDAQ recorded the steepest decline. The KOSPI’s decline was the fourth worst, surpassed only by Russia (-18.94%) and Brazil (-9.77%). “We’ve never seen the KOSPI so disconnected from global markets, nor has it faced such a diverse and continuous stream of challenges and negative events,” said Lee Kyung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities. “Investor sentiment is severely suppressed, and markets – including stocks, currency, and bonds – are particularly sensitive to negative news rather than positive developments.” Looking ahead to next year, analysts expect challenges to persist for South Korean markets. While the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and subsequent policy changes present shared challenges for global markets, Korea-specific political uncertainties are expected to further dampen investment sentiment. “Considering the deteriorating domestic and external environment, there’s an increased possibility of negative GDP growth in Q4 this year or Q1 next year,” said Park Sang-hyun, an analyst at iM Securities. “The weakening economic fundamentals will likely pressure the exchange rate, and prolonged political instability could further contribute to growth slowdown and national credit rating concerns, inevitably leading to additional upward pressure on exchange rates.” Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)Grasping at playoff hopes, Dolphins face downtrodden Brownsspin ph 6 。

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Buchanan scores 28 off the bench, Boise State downs South Dakota State 83-82Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The top diplomats met for the final time before a new U.S. administration takes office with wars raging in the Mideast and Ukraine. “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, the so-called “Arab Quintet,” as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. “Everyone favors a ceasefire in both scenarios,” Tajani told reporters, adding that Italy had offered to take on an even greater peacekeeping role in Lebanon to oversee any ceasefire deal. As the ministers arrived in Italy, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Mike Herzog, told Israeli Army Radio on Monday a ceasefire deal to end fighting between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah could be reached “within days.” Several Arab ministers reiterated calls for a ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza during a G7-affiliated conference in Rome. “We need a ceasefire, a permanent ceasefire. That will stop the killings and stop the destruction and restore a sense of normalcy to life,” Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told the conference. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, for his part, reaffirmed that Cairo would host a minister-level conference next Monday on mobilizing international aid for Gaza. The so-called “Quintet” has been working with the U.S. to finalize a “day after” plan for Gaza. There is some urgency to make progress before the Trump administration takes over in January. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to pursue a policy that strongly favors Israel over the aspirations of the Palestinians. Tajani added another item to the G7 agenda last week after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief. Italy is a founding member of the court and hosted the 1998 Rome conference that gave birth to it. But Italy’s right-wing government has been a strong supporter of Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, while also providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. The Italian government has taken a cautious line, reaffirming its support and respect for the court but expressing concern that the warrants were politically motivated. The United States, Israel's closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Tajani acknowledged consensus hadn't been reached among the G7 members but hoped for agreement to have a unified position. He noted that all sides need Netanyahu to make any deal. “We can also not agree with how his government has led the reaction after the massacre of Oct. 7, but now we have to deal with Netanyahu to arrive at peace in Lebanon, peace in Palestine,” Tajani said. Nathalie Tocci, director of the Rome-based Institute for International Affairs think tank, warned that inserting the ICC warrant into the G7 agenda was risky, since the U.S. is the lone member that is not a signatory to the court and yet tends to dictate the G7 line. “If Italy and the other (five G7) signatories of the ICC are unable to maintain the line on international law, they will not only erode it anyway but will be acting against our interests,” Tocci wrote in La Stampa daily this weekend, recalling Italy’s recourse to international law in demanding protection for Italian U.N. peacekeepers who have come under fire in southern Lebanon. The other major talking point of the G7 meeting is Ukraine, and tensions have only heightened since Russia attacked Ukraine last week with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strike was retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. The G7 has been at the forefront of providing military and economic support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022 and G7 members are particularly concerned about how a Trump administration will change the U.S. approach. Trump has criticized the billions of dollars that the Biden administration has poured into Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. “It’s hugely important that this G7, that all colleagues across the G7 continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it lasts,” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said as he arrived. He announced new sanctions on vessels of Russia's “shadow fleet” of ships that are evading sanctions to export Russian oil. “And we are confident that Ukraine can have the funds and the military equipment and kit to get through 2025,” Lammy said. The G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, the second of the Italian presidency after ministers gathered in Capri in April, is being held in the medieval town of Fiuggi southeast of Rome, best known for its thermal spas. On Monday, which coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ministers were attending the inauguration of a red bench meant to symbolize Italy’s focus on fighting gender-based violence. Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people marched in Rome to protest gender-based violence, which in Italy so far this year has claimed the lives of 99 women, according to a report last week by the Eures think tank.

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Toll Brothers Announces New Luxury Home Community Coming Soon to Hurst, Texas in Dallas-Fort Worth AreaVERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Chase Forte scored 21 points as South Dakota beat Western Illinois 89-66 on Saturday. Forte added six rebounds and five assists for the Coyotes (9-4). Cameron Fens added 17 points while going 5 of 8 and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line while grabbing six rebounds. Isaac Bruns had 13 points and shot 4 for 10 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line. Marko Maletic led the Leathernecks (6-5) in scoring, finishing with 24 points. Julius Rollins added 13 points for Western Illinois. Sean Smith had 11 points. South Dakota's next game is Thursday against Utah Tech on the road. Western Illinois hosts Tennessee Tech on Tuesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .spinph5 。

WILDLIGHT, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 2, 2024-- Rayonier Inc. (the “Company” or “Rayonier”) (NYSE:RYN) announced today that the Company’s board of directors has declared a one-time, special dividend of $1.80 per common share, consisting of a combination of cash and the Company's common shares. The dividend is payable on January 30, 2025 to shareholders of record on December 12, 2024. The special dividend is being made in connection with the taxable gains arising from the $495 million of timberland dispositions the Company completed during the fourth quarter as part of its previously announced asset disposition and capital structure realignment plan. The cash component of the special dividend (other than cash paid in lieu of fractional shares) will not exceed 25% in the aggregate, with the balance payable in the Company’s common shares. The Company expects the dividend will be a taxable dividend, regardless of whether received in the form of cash or common shares. “The substantial progress we made on our disposition plan this year is allowing us to return cash to our shareholders while also providing us with considerable capital allocation capacity to act opportunistically to enhance long-term shareholder value going forward,” said Mark McHugh, President and Chief Executive Officer. “By using both cash and shares to comply with our REIT taxable income distribution requirements, we will retain significant flexibility to further reduce leverage, execute on share repurchases, or fund other future capital allocation priorities.” Shareholders will be asked to make an election to receive the dividend all in cash or all in common shares. To the extent that more than 25% of cash is elected in the aggregate, the cash portion will be prorated among the shareholders electing to receive cash. Shareholders who elect to receive the dividend in cash will receive a cash payment of at least $0.45 per common share. Shareholders who do not make an election will receive the dividend 25% in cash and 75% in common shares. The number of common shares issued as a result of the dividend will be calculated based on the volume weighted average trading prices of the Company's common shares on the New York Stock Exchange on January 17, January 21, and January 22, 2025. An information letter and election form will be mailed to shareholders of record after the record date. The properly completed election form to receive cash or common shares must be received by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Company's transfer agent, prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 16, 2025. Registered shareholders with questions regarding the dividend election may call Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at (800) 659-0158, or (201) 680-6578 for international callers. Shareholders who hold their shares through a bank, broker or nominee and have questions regarding the dividend election should contact such bank, broker or nominee, who will also be responsible for distributing to them the letter and election form and submitting the election form on their behalf. The Company also announced today that the Company’s board of directors, in its capacity as the board of directors of the general partner of Rayonier, L.P., has declared a one-time, special distribution to holders of operating partnership units of (i) an aggregate number of operating partnership units that would result in the Company receiving a number of operating partnership units corresponding to the aggregate number of the Company’s common shares issued to shareholders in the special dividend and (ii) an aggregate amount of cash equal to an amount that would result in the Company receiving the aggregate amount of cash payable to shareholders in the special dividend. Additional details regarding the special dividend can be found in a supplemental presentation posted to Rayonier’s website. About Rayonier Rayonier is a leading timberland real estate investment trust with assets located in some of the most productive softwood timber growing regions in the United States and New Zealand. As of September 30, 2024, Rayonier owned or leased under long-term agreements approximately 2.7 million acres of timberlands located in the U.S. South (1.84 million acres), U.S. Pacific Northwest (417,000 acres) and New Zealand (411,000 acres). On November 6, 2024, the Company announced dispositions comprising approximately 91,000 acres in the U.S. South and 109,000 acres in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. More information is available at www.rayonier.com . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release regarding anticipated events, including the amount, timing and form of expected payment of dividends on the Company's common shares, are “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements include, among other things, the factors set forth in Item 1A - Risk Factors in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and similar discussion included in other reports that we subsequently file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our subsequent reports filed with the SEC. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241202823263/en/ CONTACT: Investors: Collin Mings,investorrelations@rayonier.com, 904-357-9100 Media: Alejandro Barbero,alejandro.barbero@rayonier.com KEYWORD: FLORIDA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY REIT HOME GOODS FOREST PRODUCTS RETAIL AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES RESIDENTIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE SOURCE: Rayonier Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/02/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/02/2024 04:17 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241202823263/enLAS VEGAS -- A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women's volleyball program will again be faced with the decision whether to play the school , this time in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five schools forfeited matches in the regular season against San Jose State, which carried a No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in Las Vegas. Among those schools: No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will face off Wednesday with the winner scheduled to play the Spartans in the semifinals on Friday. Wyoming, Nevada and Southern Utah — which is not a Mountain West member — also canceled regular-season matches, all without explicitly saying why they were forfeiting. Nevada players cited fairness in women’s sports as a reason to boycott their match, while political figures from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada suggested the cancellations center around protecting women’s sports. In a lawsuit filed against the NCAA , plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. A judge on Monday rejected a request made by nine current conference players to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on grounds that she is transgender. That ruling was upheld Tuesday by an appeals court. “The team looks forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement issued after the appeals court decision. “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.” Chris Kutz, a Boise State athletics spokesman, said in an email the university would not “comment on potential matchups at this time.” Doug Hoffman, an Aggies athletics spokesman, said in an email Utah State is reviewing the court’s order. “Right now, our women’s volleyball program is focused on the game this Wednesday, and we’ll be cheering them on,” Hoffman wrote. San Jose State, which had a first-round bye, would be sent directly to the conference title game if Utah State or Boise State were to forfeit again. If the Spartans make the title game, it's likely the opponent would not forfeit. They would face top-seeded Colorado State, No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State — all teams that played the Spartans this season. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. ___ AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

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Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.

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LUQUE, Paraguay — Sake is perhaps more Japanese than the world-famous sushi. It's brewed in centuries-old mountaintop warehouses, savored in the country’s pub-like izakayas, poured during weddings and served slightly chilled for special toasts. The smooth rice wine that plays a crucial role in Japan's culinary traditions was enshrined on Wednesday by UNESCO on its list of the “intangible cultural heritage of humanity." At a meeting in Luque, Paraguay, members of UNESCO’s committee for safeguarding humanity's cultural heritage voted to recognize 45 cultural practices and products around the world, including Brazilian white cheese, Caribbean cassava bread and Palestinian olive oil soap. People are also reading... Nebraska transportation director: Expressway system won't be done until 2042 27-year-old Beatrice man sentenced for May assault Shoplifting investigation leads to arrest for possession of controlled substance At the courthouse, Nov. 30, 2024 Nebraska football signing day preview: Potential flips and a 5-star up for grabs Gage County Sheriff's Office helps catch Fairbury suspect Mother to Mother supporting families Stabler scores 22 in Lady O's season opening win Beatrice company seeks to break China's stranglehold on rare-earth minerals Hospice foundation helps with extra support Orangemen open season with win over Nebraska City Holiday Lighted Parade happening Saturday Shatel: Emotions are still simmering, but Nebraska delivered the bottom line for 2024 — a bowl game Missouri man sentenced for attempted sexual assault Clarissa Ruh Unlike UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which includes sites considered important to humanity like the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Intangible Cultural Heritage designation names products and practices of different cultures that are deserving of recognition. Japan's Takehiro Kano, ambassador to UNESCO, reacts after the traditional Japanese brewing of sake was officially named to UNESCO's "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" list during a World Heritage Convention in Asuncion, Paraguay on Wednesday. A Japanese delegation welcomed the announcement in Luque. “Sake is considered a divine gift and is essential for social and cultural events in Japan,” Kano Takehiro, the Japanese ambassador to UNESCO, told The Associated Press. The basic ingredients of sake are few: rice, water, yeast and koji, a rice mold that breaks down the starches into fermentable sugars like malting does in beer production. The whole two-month process of steaming, stirring, fermenting and pressing can be grueling. The rice — which wields tremendous marketing power as part of Japan's broader cultural identity — is key to the alcoholic brew. For a product to be categorized Japanese sake, the rice must be Japanese. Japanese sake, a nominee for UNESCO's "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" list, are displayed on Japan's delegation table, during a UNESCO World Heritage Convention in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Wednesday. The UNESCO recognition, the delegation said, captured more than the craft knowledge of making high-quality sake. It also honored a tradition dating back some 1,000 years — sake makes a cameo in Japan’s famous 11th century novel, “The Tale of Genji,” as the drink of choice in the refined Heian court. Now, officials hope to restore sake's image as Japan's premier alcoholic drink even as the younger drinkers in the country switch to imported wine or domestic beer and whiskey. Japanese breweries also expressed hope the listing could give a lift to the country's export economy as the popularity of sake booms around the world and in the United States amid heightened interest in Japanese cuisine. “I hope that this will also be an opportunity for Japanese people to take another look at sake, shochu and awamori, which are the essence of their culture," Hitoshi Utsunomiya, director of the trade group Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, said in Tokyo. "I would like them to try it even once and see what it tastes like,” he said. Sake exports, mostly to the U.S. and China, now rake in over $265 million a year, according to the association. Japan's Takehiro Kano, ambassador to UNESCO, reacts as the traditional Japanese brewing of sake was named to UNESCO's "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" list during a World Heritage Convention in Asuncion, Paraguay on Wednesday. Japan's delegation appeared ready to celebrate Wednesday — in classic Japanese style. After the announcement, Takehiro raised a cypress box full of sake to toast the alcoholic brew and cultural rite. “It means a lot to Japan and to the Japanese,” he said of the UNESCO designation. "This will help to renew interest in traditional sake elaboration.” In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he was “delighted” by UNESCO's recognition of traditional sake-making techniques, and he congratulated those dedicated to preserving and promoting the tradition. How to host the ultimate wine tasting How to host the ultimate wine tasting The crisp autumn air ushers in more than just pumpkin spice latte season. Consider cozying up inside with friends for a wine tasting and sharing delicious food and drinks with more complex flavors than cinnamon and sugar. Perhaps once thought of as stuffy affairs only for wine connoisseurs, today a tasting can be as casual as pouring a few bottles while doing another activity—say, bar games like darts or art activities like painting. The tasting can also be more traditional, especially if held at a winery or local wine shop, which is a great way to learn about what wines you might like to later serve at home. To host the ultimate wine tasting, it pays to do some R&D. One of the best aspects of hosting a wine tasting at home is that you get to establish the mood, tone, and guest list for the gathering—you can't pick a playlist when you sample wines at a bar or wine shop or make the dress code loungewear. So whether the mood is serious or playful, sophisticated or laid-back, the key to a successful tasting is enjoying and appreciating the wine and having fun with friends and family. Of course, there are a few other things to figure out along the way. Peerspace put together a few tips for hosting your wine-tasting party. Tip 1: Determine the vibe A tasting party is all about sampling different wines and evaluating and hopefully enjoying them—and there are a variety of ways to do that. Would you like to host a playful gathering where each guest brings a mystery bottle of wine within a certain price range—a BYOB affair? Or would it be better to have more control over which wines are featured by curating and supplying all the wines as a host? This decision sets the tone—a tasting where guests contribute wine can be a bit of a free-for-all, whereas one where you select wines you supply allows guests to sit back and simply enjoy. And you don't have to break the bank to buy excellent wines—there are lots of wine experts ready to share their affordable picks. How much folks know about wine differs—and that's a good thing. Tastings are group learning experiences. Expertise isn't necessary to host or attend a tasting, but it is helpful to think about what will keep guests comfortable and having fun. Decide whether the vibe will be relaxed and laid-back, like friends sipping wine fireside, or more upbeat and formal. Think about elements like the atmosphere and the location, and consider whether folks will be seated or standing. Will you have a spirited playlist (couldn't resist) or live music? Do you want an expert to introduce each wine, or will you be that expert? Consider how guests will share their thoughts on what they are tasting. Do you want to just talk about them or do something more organized, like take notes or give ratings? Then supply notebooks or notecards and pencils, with categories or questions established ahead of time—all of which can reflect your evening's tone as well. Tip 2: Know your numbers How many people to invite is a question largely informed by the answers to tip #1: Are you having a big, formal affair or an intimate catch-up with close friends? Or something in between? Whatever the case, an RSVP is essential because not only do you need to plan the setup of the space, but you must also make sure there's enough wine for everyone to taste, including each of the wines featured. There's nothing worse than a tasting that runs dry! The math to determine how much wine you need considers the size of the tasting pours—a full glass of wine at a restaurant is usually around 5 ounces, which yields around five glasses of wine from a standard bottle. For tastings, you'll want to do less, depending on how many wines you are featuring—say, 2 ounces if you'll be trying a lot of different wines. Experts agree, having more wine than you need is always a good idea—that way you can send guests home with a bottle should there be a prize at the end of the night. Tip 3: Set a theme Picking a theme is essential to curating the selection of wines—it's the organizing principle behind your selections. Otherwise, your tasting might as well be just walking down the wine aisle at the grocery store and taking sips from random bottles. There's too much wine out there not to be strategic about this. Plus, a theme helps you to tell the story of each wine better—it's the plot line of the night, if you will. Common themes are types of wine, regions they are from, or even price points—really, one can get as creative as they wish. For inspiration, check out local wine shops and see what they do for tastings. Often, they will follow seasonality and group wines in novel ways for their own in-house tastings. Tip 4: Don't forget food Don't let food be an afterthought for the festivities—after all, food can enhance particular qualities of wine and vice versa. There are many rules around what foods to pair with which wines, but consider this simple advice from Alder Yarrow's Vinography : "Stick with eating good food and drinking good wine." Since the focus is on the wines, allow the drinks to determine what food makes sense, but don't overthink it. Food is a supporting character here—at the very least, guests will need something to soak up all the alcohol (unless you are spitting it out). Eating foods that contain a mixture of protein, fats, and carbs when drinking helps increase the rate of alcohol elimination . Whether it's a full meal or heavy hors d'oeuvres, thoughtful noshes are necessary. Tip 5: Small pours = big fun The bottom line is, however you do it, hosting the ultimate wine tasting should be fun. Wine can feel intimidating to many people, but most wine experts are passionate, inspired folks who want to share what they know and help you find wines you like. So visit your local wine store or winemaker and ask questions. There are good guides specifically concerning how to taste wine. Dig a little, taste a lot, and have fun. It's all research for your next ultimate wine tasting. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Peerspace and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Lions CBs Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. out vs. Colts

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Yangdup Lama, one of India’s most celebrated bartenders thanks to his experimental cocktails, and co-founder of artisanal cocktail bar Sidecar, recently opened Brook in Haryana’s Gurugram. Amid the concrete soullessness of the mall which is its home, Brook is an anomaly—something like walking into the sole bar at the end of a hill town’s Mall Road, pun intended. For the hill-station aesthetic is exactly what Lama had aimed to create. The bar’s staple menu is a tribute to hill fare: Happy Himachali Hi Ball that uses blended whiskey with Himachali apple cider vinegar, the Thou Cha with gin and pinewood smoked Himalayan tea—an ode to Lama’s Darjeeling origins. Brook isn’t a one-off concept—today, India’s top bartenders are taking to niche flavours to create versions of popular cocktails highly attuned to Indian tastebuds. In Bandra, Shahrom Oshtori’s Sixteen33 is close to what Lama has done with Brook. Here, the cocktails narrate the story of Bandra—one of India’s most well-known urban neighbourhoods. Bandra, like most cities, was a collection of villages once; each cocktail here is themed on one, namely, Ranwar, Chimbai, Chuim, Pali and Kantwadi. In Goa, Pankaj Balachandran’s Countertop India has clinked glasses with Varca resort Amaraanth to launch The Lab, an experiential cocktail bar with an emphasis on local produce. The drinks on the menu pay homage to Goa and its singular spirits— the indigenous cashew feni, local beers and various homegrown gins and rums. “The job is not just about knowing and creating cocktail recipes any longer, originality is the focus. Earlier, bartending used to be derivative, and making a cocktail that already exists was the norm for bars across the world,” says Lama. He assesses that while following the norm is what gave rise to classic, timeless cocktails such as martinis, sours and negronis, there’s much more to the art of bartending. “Today, a bartender consciously adds a touch of their personality and experience to their creations. That one is able to practise the concept of farm-to-glass today is a great advantage in letting bartenders celebrate unique aspects of their native regions,” he adds. Nikhil Merchant, a veteran writer and consulting mixologist subscribes to this philosophy. His festive bar takeover project at Ishaara in Mumbai’s Lower Parel was about Diwali-inspired cocktails. “The bar menu celebrated ingredients popular in traditional celebration of Diwali, such as milk, rice and sugarcane,” Merchant says. Sixteen33’s menu takes celebrating local to an even more microscopic level. For instance, the Ranwar extols the fact that over four centuries ago, this tiny village was surrounded by paddy fields. Oshtori’s cocktail features the indigenous Indrayani rice liqueur, gin, lemon tincture, and a mist of absinthe, “served in a clay glass with crispy rice garnish”. Similarly, Chuim, which is the namesake to a bygone place which a posh Bandra neighbourhood today, blends white rum, sherry, coconut syrup and jasmine air “to evoke the village’s history of flower cultivation”. Other bartistes have climbed on the bandwagon. Mumbai’s Bandra seems to be where the action is. Bandra Born, situated in the eponymous suburb promotes a cocktail menu that includes mahua—an indigenous liquor commonplace in India's tribal belts. Often called the world’s “oldest distilled liquor”, mahua fell from grace after it was outlawed by the British in colonial India. Today, Bandra Born presents itself as “India’s first mahua-dedicated bar”. Out east, Rajan Sethi’s contemporary dining venture AM/PM opened its doors in Kolkata with a cocktail menu that is an ode to the grand old city’s soon-to-be-discontinued trams. For instance, a cocktail from AM/PM’s menu is called Line 25 to Yesterday, and features aged rum, banana oil, mixed nuts, all-spice, vanilla and chocolate bitters. It is a homage to the city’s hawkers who sell treats on trams. Balachandran adds that the focus on local ingredients, dishes and produce have helped his bar create a niche for itself. Crafts are not just textiles and brass, it is spirits too. “Our beverages honour Goa by working with local farms, producers and artisans to highlight regional flavours and locally-made spirits. We’re trying to promote Goa’s locally crafted spirits in our creations,” he says. In Delhi, Ravish Bhavnani, co-founder and chief mixologist of Fig ‘n Maple, has created a cocktails menu that taps into India’s fondness for sharbats. “We took cues from our extensive travels through the country to create a refreshing new experience,” says Bhavnani, adding, “In our homes now, many traditional ingredients that were once commonplace have faded into obscurity. We’re trying to revive these forgotten treasures, such as nannari (a herb, known better as sarsaparilla or sugandhi), gond katira (tragacanth gum), palash (an edible flower) and more. We’re using them in our cocktails today.” With Indians shedding social inhibitions even in small towns towards drinking alcohol, new cocktail projects take their inspiration from little-known native spirits and ingredients to create fabulous mixes that show the diversity of cultures and tastes.

He died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest: The longest-lived American president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.” A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world.AfD leader Alice Weidel "has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Come on!" Musk wrote. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Elon Musk is nothing if not shameless. He proved that again this weekend, when he published an op-ed in one of Germany’s biggest newspapers, Die Welt , doubling down on his earlier support for the racist, far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD). In the op-ed—reportedly published online Saturday and in print Sunday—Musk writes that the AfD is “the last spark of hope for this country” and, essentially, that his vast wealth makes his politics a matter of public interest. “As someone who has made significant investments in Germany’s industrial and technological landscape, I believe I have the right to speak openly about its political orientation,” Musk writes, according to a Google translation of the text. As the country approaches a snap election on February 23, following the November collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government, AfD is polling second, at 19 percent, behind the center-right Christian Democratic Union of Germany. Musk outlines five areas in which he claims AfD reigns supreme: His op-ed was published alongside a rebuttal from editor Jan Philipp Burgard, who writes that “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach that only the AfD can save Germany is fatally wrong.” Burgard notes that the AfD wants to remove Germany from the EU, which he says would be a “catastrophe” given the nation’s reliance on exports and the reliance of German citizens on the EU single market. He further argues that AfD’s isolationist focus could harm its relationship with the US in particular—and “doesn’t Elon Musk want to see many Teslas rolling along Germany’s highways in the future?” And, Burgard points out, Musk’s claims that the party isn’t so bad ignore the reality that Björn Höcke, another AfD leader, has been convicted—twice—of using banned Nazi slogans. The publication of Musk’s op-ed elicited immediate internal backlash. Die Welt ‘s opinion editor, Eva Marie Kogel, announced on X on Saturday that she’d resigned after it posted online. Musk’s piece was meant to expand upon Musk’s December 20 X post that “only the AfD can save Germany.” (The party thanked him with a public video from party leader Weidel.) But as my colleague Alex Nguyen wrote , AfD is even controversial among Europe’s nationalists. In May, France’s far-right party led by Marine Le Pen split from the AfD in its European Parliament coalition after the German party’s top candidate, Maximilian Krah, said that a person was “not automatically a criminal” just because they had been a member of the SS, Adolph Hitler’s paramilitary organization. When you dig more into the priorities of AfD leaders, it makes sense that they’re on an island of their own—and why Musk is trying to court them. Some party officials, like Trump , have been clear about their desire to carry out mass deportations. As Mother Jones contributor Josh Axelrod, a Berlin-based reporter, wrote recently: The AfD’s central pledge is to counteract the so-called Great Replacement, a conspiracy theory that claims white Europeans or Americans are the victims of a plot by nonwhite immigrants to “replace” them and poison their societies. It was the inspiration for shooters to take up arms and target Muslim victims in Christchurch, Jews in Pittsburgh, Black people in Buffalo, and gay people in Bratislava. “It’s the thing that brings together the far-right in multiple countries,” Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the nonprofit Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, told Mother Jones . As Burgard put it in his Musk rebuttal: “Even a genius can be wrong.”

NEW YORK — The holiday shopping season is about to reach full speed with Black Friday, which kicks off the post-Thanksgiving retail rush later this week. The annual sales event no longer creates the midnight mall crowds or doorbuster mayhem of recent decades, in large part due to the ease of online shopping and habits forged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hoping to entice equivocating consumers, retailers already have spent weeks bombarding customers with ads and early offers. Still, whether visiting stores or clicking on countless emails promising huge savings, tens of millions of U.S. shoppers are expected to spend money on Black Friday itself this year. Industry forecasts estimate that 183.4 million people will shop in U.S. stores and online between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, according to the National Retail Federation and consumer research firm Prosper Insights & Analytics. Of that number, 131.7 million are expected to shop on Black Friday. At the same time, earlier and earlier Black Friday-like promotions, as well as the growing strength of other shopping events (hello Cyber Monday), continue to change the holiday spending landscape. Here's what you need to know about Black Friday's history and where things stand in 2024. Black Friday falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving each year, or Nov. 29 this year. The term "Black Friday" is several generations old, but it wasn't always associated with the holiday retail frenzy that we know today. The gold market crash of September 1869, for example, was notably dubbed Black Friday. The phrase's use in relation to shopping the day after Thanksgiving, however, is most often traced to Philadelphia in the mid-20th century — when police and other city workers had to deal with large crowds that congregated before the annual Army-Navy football game and to take advantage of seasonal sales. "That's why the bus drivers and cab drivers call today 'Black Friday.' They think in terms of headaches it gives them," a Gimbels department store sales manager told The Associated Press in 1975, while watching a police officer try to control jaywalkers the day after Thanksgiving. Earlier references date back to the 1950s and 1960s. Jie Zhang, a professor of marketing at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, points to a 1951 mention of "Black Friday" in a New-York based trade publication — which noted that many workers simply called in sick the day after Thanksgiving in hopes of having a long holiday weekend. Starting in the 1980s, national retailers began claiming that Black Friday represented when they went from operating in the red to in the black thanks to holiday demand. But since many retail companies now operate in the black at various times of the year, this interpretation should be taken with a grain of salt, experts say. In recent decades, Black Friday became infamous for floods of people in jam-packed stores. Endless lines of shoppers camped out at midnight in hopes of scoring deep discounts. But online shopping has made it possible to make most, if not all, holiday purchases without ever stepping foot inside a store. And while foot traffic at malls and other shopping areas has bounced back since the start of the pandemic, e-commerce isn't going away. November sales at brick and mortar stores peaked more than 20 years ago. In 2003, for example, e-commerce accounted for just 1.7% of total retail sales in the fourth quarter, according to Commerce Department data. Unsurprisingly, online sales make up for a much bigger slice of the pie today. For last year's holiday season, e-commerce accounted for about 17.1% of all nonadjusted retail sales in the fourth quarter, Commerce Department data shows. That's up from 12.7% seen at the end of 2019. Beyond the rise of online shopping, some big ticket items that used to get shoppers in the door on the Black Friday — like a new TV — are significantly cheaper than they were decades ago, notes Jay Zagorsky, a clinical associate professor at Boston University's Questrom School of Business. "There is less need to stand in line at midnight when the items typically associated with doorbuster sales are now much cheaper," Zagorsky told The Associated Press via email. He pointed to Bureau of Labor Statistics data that shows the average price for a TV has fallen 75% since 2014. While plenty of people will do most of their Black Friday shopping online, projections from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights indicated that a majority of Black Friday shoppers (65%) still planned to shop in stores this year. It's no secret that Black Friday sales don't last just 24 hours anymore. Emails promising holiday deals now start arriving before Halloween. "Black Friday is no longer the start of the holiday shopping season. It has become the crescendo of the holiday shopping season" during what now feels like "Black Friday month," Zhang said. Some retailers have updated their official marketing to refer to "Black Friday week." Retailers trying to get a head start on the competition and to manage shipping logistics helps explain the rush, Zhang said. Offering early holiday deals spreads out purchases, giving shippers more breathing room to complete orders. Zhang therefore doesn't expect the five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year to cause significant strain because retailers would have taken them into account. Linking pre-Thanksgiving sales with Black Friday is also a marketing technique since it's a name consumers recognize and associate with big, limited-time bargains, Zhang said. Multiple post-Thanksgiving sales events keep shoppers enticed after Black Friday, including Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, which the National Retail Federation's online arm designated in 2005. U.S. consumers spent a record $12.4 billion on Cyber Monday in 2023, and $15.7 million per minute during the day's peak sales hour, acccording to Adobe Analytics. On Black Friday, they spent $9.8 billion online, Adobe Analytics said. Enough people still enjoy shopping in person after Thanksgiving that the activity is unlikely to become extinct, Boston University's Zagorsky said. While Black Friday's significance "is being slightly diminished" over time, the shopping event is still "a way to connect with others," he said. "This social aspect is important and will not disappear, ensuring that Black Friday is still an important day for retailers."US News Today Live Updates: In today’s dynamic landscape, staying updated on the latest developments across the United States is essential. US News delivers the most impactful and current stories from coast to coast, covering a broad spectrum of topics, including politics, economic trends, healthcare, social issues, and cultural shifts. From significant government actions and economic shifts to breakthroughs in technology and the latest social debates, we provide real-time updates and thoughtful analysis to keep you informed. Our goal is to keep you connected to the stories that shape American life, ensuring you’re always in the know on the news that matters. US News Today Live: Panama President Jose Raul Mulino slams Donald Trump’s claims of Chinese control over Panama Canal

Arsenal, Manchester City and Bayern Munich all advanced to the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals with with two games to spare on Thursday. Late substitute Lina Hurtig scored the winner in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Juventus in London. Khadija Shaw scored twice for City in a 2-1 win at Swedish club Hammarby. City stayed perfect in Group D with four victories and reached the last eight for the first time since 2021. Bayern Munich was held 1-1 at Vålerenga in Norway and still earned a quarterfinal berth after Juventus' loss. Arsenal, Bayern and City join Chelsea, Lyon and Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. Two-time defending champion Barcelona routed Austrian champion St. Pölten 4-1. The Catalan club trails City by three points in their group and is in a strong position to advance. Bayern tops Group C with 10 points, Arsenal has nine followed by Juventus (3) and Vålerenga (1). Man City responded to its first loss of the season, 2-0 at Chelsea in the Women's Super League on Saturday. Still without injured star Vivianne Miedema , Shaw took charge, proving her scoring instincts after half an hour. The forward scored from inside the penalty area with a deflected shot that flew over goalkeeper Anna Tamminen to frustrate more than 20,000 noisy fans at the Stockholm Arena in the Swedish capital. Ellen Wangerheim equalized soon after the interval from close range to rejuvenate the crowd but Shaw struck again to restore the lead just minutes later. This time, she delivered a powerful right-footed finish from the edge of the area. Bayern dominated possession but could not translate it into goals until the 75th minute. It had to rely on substitute Jovana Damnjanović, who gave the visitors a late lead after connecting on a pass from Giulia Gwinn. The Norwegians, who have retained their domestic title, equalized in the 88th on Elise Thorsnes' header following a corner. Pernille Harder, who found the back of the net five times for Bayern in the previous three games, could not do it again on Thursday and was substituted. Hurtig came on with 10 minutes remaining and made her presence immediately felt with several headers. She finally made the breakthrough with a minute remaining in regulation, tapping in from close range after Juventus’ poor clearance of a low cross by Stina Blackstenius. Hurtig won the Italian title with Juventus in 2021 and 2022 before joining the Gunners. Juventus seemed to learn a lesson from its 4-0 loss to Arsenal last week as its defense held firm till Hurtig’s arrival. In an 11-minute span in the first half, Francisca Nazareth netted twice and 18-year-old Vicky Lopez scored once to put Barcelona in control. Nazareth's double was followed by Lopez hitting the third with a shot high into the net for her first Champions League goal. Alexia Putellas made it 4-0 in the second half, finishing a fast attack that tore apart the defense in Vienna. It was her 200th goal for Barcelona and the 100th the club scored in the Champions League’s group stage. Valentina Mädl, an 18-year-old forward, netted a consolation goal for the hosts. Barcelona has scored 20 goals in its past three games and can still become the first club to win its group in all four years since the introduction of the format. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerLions CBs Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. out vs. Colts

NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lument Finance Trust, Inc. (NYSE: LFT ) ("LFT" or the "Company") announced the declaration of a cash dividend of $0.08 per share of common stock with respect to the fourth quarter of 2024. The Company also announced the declaration of a one-time special cash dividend of $0.09 per share of common stock due to real estate investment trust tax considerations. These dividends are payable on January 15, 2025 , to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024 . Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Top trending stories from the past week. News, Sports, and more throughout the week. The week's obituaries, delivered to your inbox.NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting. He didn't pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Ohtani joined Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. He was the first player to twice become an unanimous MVP. He had combined with Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023 for the first year both MVPs were unanimous. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title, playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. "The ultimate goal from the beginning was to win a World Series, which we are able to accomplish," he said through a translator. "The next goal is for me to do it again and so right now I'm in the middle of rehab and working out and getting stronger." When Ohtani returns to the mound, could he win MVP and the Cy Young Award in the same year? "That would obviously be great, but right now my focus is just to get to get back healthy, come back stronger, get back on the mound and show everybody what I can do," Ohtani said. Ohtani became the first primary DH to win an MVP in a season that started with the revelation his longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, had stolen nearly $17 million from the star to fund gambling. Ohtani is the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each). Balloting was conducted before the postseason. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 31 stolen bases and 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. Judge had discussed the MVP award with Philadelphia's Bryce Harper, the NL winner in 2015 and '21. "I was telling him, `Man, I'm going to try to catch up to you with these MVPs here, man,'" Judge recalled. "He'd say, hopefully, he could stay a couple ahead of me, which I think he'll do." When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. He is the Yankees' 22nd MVP winner, four more than any other team. Judge was hitting .207 with six homers and 18 RBIs through April, then batted .352 with 52 homers and 126 RBIs in 127 games. "March and April were not my friend this year." Judge said. "Just keep putting in the work and things are going to change. You can't mope. You can't feel sorry for yourself. Especially in New York, nobody's going to feel sorry for you. So you just got to go out there and put up the numbers?" ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg City Council reversed course Thursday on whether to spend more than $23 million to repair the hurricane-shredded roof of the Tampa Bay Rays' ballpark, initially voting narrowly for approval and hours later changing course. The reversal on fixing Tropicana Field came after the council voted to delay consideration of revenue bonds for a proposed new $1.3 billion Rays ballpark. Just two days before, the Pinellas County Commission postponed a vote on its share of the new stadium bonds, leaving that project in limbo. “This is a sad place. I'm really disappointed,” council chair Deborah Figg-Sanders said. “We won’t get there if we keep finding ways we can’t.” The Rays say the lack of progress puts the new stadium plan and the future of Tropicana Field in jeopardy. “I can't say I'm confident about anything,” Rays co-president Brian Auld told the council members. The Trop's translucent fiberglass roof was ripped to pieces on Oct. 9 when Hurricane Milton swept ashore just south of Tampa Bay. There was also significant water damage inside the ballpark, with a city estimate of the total repair costs pegged at $55.7 million. The extensive repairs cannot be finished before the 2026 season, city documents show. The Rays made a deal with the Yankees to play next season at 11,000-seat Steinbrenner Field, New York's spring training home across the bay in Tampa. The initial vote Thursday was to get moving on the roof portion of the repair. Once that's done, crews could begin working on laying down a new baseball field, fixing damaged seating and office areas and a variety of electronic systems — which would require another vote to approve money for the remaining restoration. The subsequent vote reversing funding for the roof repair essentially means the city and Rays must work on an alternative in the coming weeks so that Tropicana Field can possibly be ready for the 2026 season. The city is legally obligated to fix the roof. BRIEFLY PIRATES: Pittsburgh hired Matt Hague as its hitting coach, bringing him back to the team that drafted him in 2008. Hague replaces Andy Haines, who was fired after Pittsburgh finished in the bottom 10 in the majors in every significant statistical category last season, including runs (24th) and home runs (25th), while also striking out a club-record 1,504 times, second-most in the National League behind Colorado. The 39-year-old Hague spent last season as an assistant hitting coach with the Toronto Blue Jays. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

By Ally Rosenbloom , CNN Musician Drake alleges that Universal Music Group "conspired" to artificially boost Kendrick Lamar's searing diss track 'Not Like Us' on Spotify, according to a pre-action petition submitted to a New York court on Monday. According to a copy of the petition, obtained by CNN, the rapper claims that UMG "launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves" with Lamar's song "in order to make that song go viral, including by using 'bots' and pay-to-play agreements." The song, part of what has become a very public feud between Lamar and the 'Hotline Bling' rapper , debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 when it was released in May, according to Billboard. It has also amassed almost 900 million streams on Spotify to date, according to the petition. Drake also alleges UMG used these "bots," which are essentially fake social media accounts, "to artificially inflate the spread of 'Not Like Us' and deceive consumers into believing the Song was more popular than it was in reality." The petition does not accuse Lamar of any wrongdoing. Drake is currently represented by Republic Records, a division of UMG and Lamar is currently represented by Interscope records, also a division of UMG. "The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns," a spokesperson for UMG told CNN in a statement on Monday. "No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear." CNN has reached out to representatives for Drake, Lamar and Spotify for comment. The petition, filed by attorneys representing Drake's Frozen Moments LLC, describes several tactics that Drake claims UMG used to falsely promote "Not Like Us" on music streamers and radio stations, including an illegal practice known as "payola," in which a record company essentially pays for airplay. Drake's petition accuses UMG of paying an independent radio promoter acting as an intermediary, who then paid other radio stations to boost airplay of Lamar's track. The petition also claims UMG paid Apple, or approved payments to the company, to purposefully use its voice-activated assistant Siri to misdirect users to 'Not Like Us'. Apple is not a named as a party to the action or the target of any discovery but CNN has reached out to Apple for comment. Drake claims that UMG was motivated to inflate the popularity of the song, in part, "to maximize their own profits," the petition read, and that the label has "refused" Drake's attempt to work together in resolving the "ongoing harm he has suffered." He filed Monday's pre-action petition to request further documents as he prepares to file further legal action. Both rappers, who are former collaborators, released multiple diss tracks amid their feud which transpired earlier this year. 'Not Like Us' became the most successful song spawned by the feud and earned five Grammy nominations earlier this month. - CNNBrazil's top court takes on regulation of social mediaPolitical observers appear to be on the same page that the path has been laid for fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to return home. Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's latest comments about the possible return of his sister in April next year have rekindled public attention about the issue. Nikkei Asia on Monday published an interview Thaksin gave in Udon Thani province, where he helped campaign for a local election. Thaksin was quoted as saying that he did not see any obstacles to her return, possibly during or just prior to the Songkran festival in April, depending on timing and opportunities. Yingluck, 57, has been a fugitive since August 2017, when she failed to appear before the Supreme Court's Criminal Case Division for Holders of Political Positions for the reading of its ruling on a charge of dereliction of duty in a rice-pledging programme that ran up at least 500 billion baht in losses. She was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison, and a warrant for her arrest in the rice-pledging case remains active. Talks about her possible return began to gain momentum in March this year following the Supreme Court's failure to uphold the malfeasance and collusion case involving her government's 2-trillion-baht infrastructure projects. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) decided not to appeal the ruling. In December last year, the Supreme Court also acquitted her of malfeasance in relation to the 2011 transfer of a National Security Council secretary-general. Furthermore, the NACC's investigations into cases stemming from her tenure have been terminated, intensifying speculation she is closer to returning home. The only remaining obstacle is Yingluck's five-year jail term. The Bangkok Post spoke to analysts about the possible avenues Yingluck may pursue to the escape criminal penalty, including the "Thaksin's model" and an amnesty bill. The road home Thanaporn Sriyakul, director of the Political and Public Policy Analysis Institute, said a Yingluck return in April next year is not so far-fetched. The fugitive former prime minister can follow the same course of action as Thaksin, who sought a royal pardon and was released on parole after six months of hospital detention, he said. Department of Corrections (DoC) regulations regarding parole and the detention of inmates outside prison will benefit Yingluck, he said, noting the detention venue may even be announced before her arrival. Mr Thanaporn said the DoC also has regulations in place concerning sentence reduction, meaning Yingluck's detention might be far shorter than five years. "I don't think an amnesty law will be in effect by that time. Her return is likely to follow the model of the 'big boss' [Thaksin]. The DoC has the procedures in place that will be applied to others as well to avoid criticism," he said. The academic said there are more than 100 others who will benefit from the DoC's regulations on the detention of inmates outside prison, and their families will be more than happy to accept the arrangement. "If Yingluck meets the criteria, it's the end of the debate. Critics will keep nagging but that's also understandable," he said. He said the justice minister, who oversees the DoC, will have to address all questions presented by the public over the matter. Mr Thanaporn also said it remains to be seen how the ruling Pheu Thai Party will capitalise on Yingluck's situation to boost its popularity. Asked about Thaksin's goal of Pheu Thai winning 200 MP seats in the next polls, he said the outcome of the election for the Udon Thani Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) chairman will be key. The election, which takes place on Sunday, is a two-horse race between Pheu Thai and the main opposition People's Party (PP). Both parties sent their heavyweights to help canvass in the province. Mr Thanaporn said the Pheu Thai Party must secure a landslide win, and anything less would signal that the party is losing its grip on this northeastern province, which is seen as the "capital" of the red-shirt group in the Northeast region. With 80% of MPs in parliament representing Pheu Thai, the party will face a tough time ahead if it loses, as it must also compete with the Bhumjaithai Party, he added. Thanaporn: Families will be happy No amnesty expected Pheu Thai list-MP Wisut Chainaroon said an amnesty law is unlikely to be in effect by April because the bills have made little progress. Pheu Thai is expected to propose its own version of an amnesty bill and the issue must be brought before the party's strategic committee first to determine the party's position and direction, he said. "There are four amnesty proposals to be submitted for the House review and the party will compare them with the party's strategy and decide on the direction it should take," he said. While the party has yet to take an position on the amnesty, having it cover lese majeste offences is off the table, while political cases will be thoroughly considered, Mr Wisut insisted. Besides internal discussions, Pheu Thai will have to hold talks with coalition partners, and the government cannot focus on one individual, Mr Wisut said. Early this month, PM's Office Minister Chousak Sirinil said the party is expected to table an amnesty bill to parliament along with other versions from other parties on Dec 12 when the next parliament session starts. Mr Chousak, who is also Pheu Thai's legal expert and head of the House committee studying an amnesty bill, said four other amnesty bills have been separately proposed by other parties. Mr Wisut, who is also chief government whip, said Yingluck's possible return has not been discussed because MPs are back to work in their respective provinces during the parliament break. He also rejected speculation Yingluck's return would strengthen the party and help it fend off the opposition PP. "We're happy if she comes back after several years [in self-imposed exile]. But we have no expectations about what she'll do," said Mr Wisut. Wisut: We have no expectations A matter of how Pol Maj Gen Supisal Pakdinaruenart, deputy leader of the PP, said Yingluck's return is plausible given the comments from various figures, including Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. Pol Col Tawee was quoted as saying that if Yingluck returned home, she would have to follow legal procedures which start with going through a court process and following the Corrections Department's rules. However, Pol Maj Gen Supisal said it remains to be seen how the regulations will create a pathway for her to avoid spending time in jail. He said the justice administration system long ago collapsed and the country's conservatives and elites have used all means possible to retain power and protect their own interest. Yingluck's comeback may also help bolster Pheu Thai's support base in the northern province of Chiang Mai, but it does not threaten his party, Pol Maj Gen Supisal said. "We could see them consolidating to fight the PP. But Pheu Thai has other strong opponents too, like Bhumjaithai in the Northeast," Pol Maj Gen Supisal said. The PP deputy leader raised the possibility of a Pheu Thai-PP coalition when asked about Thaksin's comments that Pheu Thai aims to win 200 seats in the next general election. If the Pheu Thai Party grabs as many as 200 seats, it will have to take the additional seats from the Bhumjaithai Party, not the PP, he noted. Supisal: No threat to People's Party

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In conclusion, the decision to adopt a linear narrative structure in the latest "Brothers of the Four Seas" film has proven to be a masterstroke that has redefined the classic gangster film experience for a new era. By combining intricate storytelling with powerful character development and stunning visuals, the film has raised the bar for the genre, setting a new standard for excellence in cinematic storytelling. As audiences continue to be captivated by the gripping saga of the Four Seas brothers, one thing is certain – the legacy of this legendary franchise will endure for generations to come.

SAN FRANCISCO , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Docusign, Inc. (NASDAQ: DOCU) today announced results for its fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2024. Prepared remarks and the news release with the financial results will be accessible on Docusign's website at investor.docusign.com prior to its webcast. "Docusign delivered powerful new innovation for customers highlighted by new capabilities to its Intelligent Agreement Management ("IAM") platform," said Allan Thygesen , CEO of Docusign. "In Q3, early IAM momentum outpaced expectations, and we continued to drive improvement in our core business with strong revenue growth and operating profit." Third Quarter Financial Highlights A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures has been provided in the tables included in this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Key Metrics." Key Business Highlights: IAM Product Releases and Highlights : Docusign announced new product capabilities to its IAM platform. Highlights from recent product releases include: Contract Lifecycle Management ("CLM") Product Releases and Highlights : Developer Ecosystem: Guidance The company currently expects the following guidance: Total revenue $758 to $762 Subscription revenue $741 to $745 Billings $870 to $880 Non-GAAP gross margin 81.0 % to 82.0 % Non-GAAP operating margin 27.5 % to 28.5 % Non-GAAP diluted weighted-average shares outstanding 209 to 214 Total revenue $2,959 to $2,963 Subscription revenue $2,885 to $2,889 Billings $3,056 to $3,066 Non-GAAP gross margin 81.9 % to 82.1 % Non-GAAP operating margin 29.5 % to 29.7 % Non-GAAP diluted weighted-average shares outstanding 210 to 212 A reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to corresponding GAAP guidance measures is not available on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort due to the uncertainty regarding, and the potential variability of, expenses that may be incurred in the future. Stock-based compensation-related charges, including employer payroll tax-related items on employee stock transactions, are impacted by many factors, including the timing of employee stock transactions, the future fair market value of our common stock, and our future hiring and retention needs, all of which are difficult to predict and subject to constant change. We have provided a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures in the financial statement tables for our historical non-GAAP financial results included in this release. Webcast Conference Call Information The company will host a conference call on December 5, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. PT ( 5:00 p.m. ET ) to discuss its financial results. A live webcast of the event will be available on the Docusign Investor Relations website at investor.docusign.com . Prepared remarks and the news release with the financial results will also be accessible on Docusign's website prior to the webcast. A live dial-in will be available domestically at 877-407-0784 or internationally at 201-689-8560. A replay will be available domestically at 844-512-2921 or internationally at 412-317-6671 until midnight (EST) December 19, 2024 using the passcode 13750095. About Docusign Docusign brings agreements to life. Over 1.6 million customers and more than a billion people in over 180 countries use Docusign solutions to accelerate the process of doing business and simplify people's lives. With intelligent agreement management, Docusign unleashes business critical data that is trapped inside of documents. Until now, these were disconnected from business systems of record, costing businesses time, money, and opportunity. Using Docusign's IAM platform, companies can create, commit, and manage agreements with solutions created by the #1 company in e-signature and CLM. Learn more at www.docusign.com . Copyright 2024. Docusign, Inc. is the owner of DOCUSIGN® and all its other marks (www.docusign.com/IP). Investor Relations: Docusign Investor Relations investors@docusign.com Media Relations: Docusign Corporate Communications media@docusign.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are based on our management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management, and which statements involve substantial risk and uncertainties. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our future operating results and financial position, our business strategy and plans, market growth and trends, objectives for future operations, and the impact of such assumptions on our financial condition and results of operations are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release also include, among other things, statements under "Guidance" above and any other statements about expected financial metrics, such as revenue, billings, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP diluted weighted-average shares outstanding, and non-financial metrics, as well as statements related to our expectations regarding the benefits, rollout and customer demand of the Docusign IAM platform. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "target," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue" or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about: our expectations regarding global macro-economic conditions, including the effects of inflation, volatile interest rates, and market volatility on the global economy; our ability to estimate the size and growth of our total addressable market; our ability to compete effectively in an evolving and competitive market; the impact of any data breaches, cyberattacks or other malicious activity on our technology systems; our ability to effectively sustain and manage our growth and future expenses and maintain or increase future profitability; our ability to attract new customers and maintain and expand our existing customer base; our ability to effectively implement and execute our restructuring plans; our ability to scale and update our platform to respond to customers' needs and rapid technological change, including our ability to successfully incorporate generative artificial intelligence into our existing and future products; our ability to successfully execute our technical developments, go-to-market and sales strategy for our IAM platform; our ability to expand use cases within existing customers and vertical solutions; our ability to expand our operations and increase adoption of our platform internationally; our ability to strengthen and foster our relationships with developers; our ability to retain our direct sales force, customer success team and strategic partnerships around the world; our ability to identify targets for and execute potential acquisitions and to successfully integrate and realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions; our ability to maintain, protect and enhance our brand; the sufficiency of our cash, cash equivalents and capital resources to satisfy our liquidity needs; limitations on us due to obligations we have under our credit facility or other indebtedness; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of our stock repurchase program; our failure or the failure of our software to comply with applicable industry standards, laws and regulations; our ability to maintain, protect and enhance our intellectual property; our ability to successfully defend litigation against us; our ability to attract large organizations as users; our ability to maintain our corporate culture; our ability to offer high-quality customer support; our ability to hire, retain and motivate qualified personnel, including executive level management; our ability to successfully manage and integrate executive management transitions; uncertainties regarding the impact of general economic and market conditions, including as a result of regional and global conflicts; and our ability to maintain proper and effective internal controls. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect our financial results are included in the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024 filed on March 21, 2024 , our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2024 , which we expect to file on December 6, 2024 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and other filings that we make from time to time with the SEC. The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which such statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this press release or to conform such statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law. Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Key Metrics To supplement our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, we use certain non-GAAP financial measures, as described below, to understand and evaluate our core operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures, which may be different than similarly-titled measures used by other companies, are presented to enhance investors' overall understanding of our financial performance and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about our financial performance, enhance the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to important metrics used by our management for financial and operational decision-making. We present these non-GAAP measures to assist investors in seeing our financial performance using a management view, and because we believe that these measures provide an additional tool for investors to use in comparing our core financial performance over multiple periods with other companies in our industry. However, these non-GAAP measures are not intended to be considered in isolation from, a substitute for, or superior to our GAAP results. Non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share : We define these non-GAAP financial measures as the respective GAAP measures, excluding expenses related to stock-based compensation, employer payroll tax on employee stock transactions, amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, amortization of debt discount and issuance costs, fair value adjustments to strategic investments, acquisition-related expenses, lease-related impairment and lease-related charges, restructuring and other related charges, as these costs are not reflective of ongoing operations and, as applicable, other special items. The amount of employer payroll tax-related items on employee stock transactions is dependent on our stock price and other factors that are beyond our control and do not correlate to the operation of the business. When evaluating the performance of our business and making operating plans, we do not consider these items (for example, when considering the impact of equity award grants, we place a greater emphasis on overall stockholder dilution rather than the accounting charges associated with such grants). We believe it is useful to exclude these expenses in order to better understand the long-term performance of our core business and to facilitate comparison of our results to those of peer companies and over multiple periods. In addition to these exclusions, we subtract an assumed provision for income taxes to calculate non-GAAP net income. We utilize a fixed long-term projected tax rate in our computation of the non-GAAP income tax provision to provide better consistency across the reporting periods. For fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025, we have determined the projected non-GAAP tax rate to be 20%. Free cash flow : We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. We believe free cash flow is an important liquidity measure of the cash that is available (if any), after purchases of property and equipment, for operational expenses, investment in our business, and to make acquisitions. Free cash flow is useful to investors as a liquidity measure because it measures our ability to generate or use cash in excess of our capital investments in property and equipment. Once our business needs and obligations are met, cash can be used to maintain a strong balance sheet and invest in future growth. Billings : We define billings as total revenues plus the change in our contract liabilities and refund liability less contract assets and unbilled accounts receivable in a given period. Billings reflects sales to new customers plus subscription renewals and additional sales to existing customers. Only amounts invoiced to a customer in a given period are included in billings. We believe billings can be used to measure our periodic performance, when taking into consideration the timing aspects of customer renewals, which represents a large component of our business. Given that most of our customers pay in annual installments one year in advance, but we typically recognize a majority of the related revenue ratably over time, we use billings to measure and monitor our ability to provide our business with the working capital generated by upfront payments from our customers. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, please see "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, (in thousands, except per share data) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Revenue: Subscription $ 734,693 $ 682,352 $ 2,143,542 $ 1,991,026 Professional services and other 20,127 18,069 56,945 58,470 Total revenue 754,820 700,421 2,200,487 2,049,496 Cost of revenue: Subscription 134,587 114,227 393,561 339,354 Professional services and other 21,950 28,418 67,887 85,360 Total cost of revenue 156,537 142,645 461,448 424,714 Gross profit 598,283 557,776 1,739,039 1,624,782 Operating expenses: Sales and marketing 290,597 292,473 859,705 867,916 Research and development 151,101 136,640 432,992 387,964 General and administrative 97,555 108,215 277,162 316,910 Restructuring and other related charges — 710 29,721 30,293 Total operating expenses 539,253 538,038 1,599,580 1,603,083 Income from operations 59,030 19,738 139,459 21,699 Interest expense (462) (1,577) (1,150) (5,135) Interest income and other income, net 13,006 17,673 41,745 47,373 Income before provision for (benefit from) income taxes 71,574 35,834 180,054 63,937 Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 9,151 (2,971) (804,340) 17,198 Net income $ 62,423 $ 38,805 $ 984,394 $ 46,739 Net income per share attributable to common stockholders: Basic $ 0.31 $ 0.19 $ 4.81 $ 0.23 Diluted $ 0.30 $ 0.19 $ 4.69 $ 0.23 Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share: Basic 203,567 204,456 204,674 203,609 Diluted 208,706 208,054 209,755 208,317 Stock-based compensation expense included in costs and expenses: Cost of revenue—subscription $ 14,862 $ 13,705 $ 44,636 $ 38,143 Cost of revenue—professional services and other 4,765 7,343 14,465 21,359 Sales and marketing 49,347 53,715 154,396 150,604 Research and development 53,184 48,310 150,816 129,458 General and administrative 31,070 36,337 91,239 111,271 Restructuring and other related charges — 8 4,836 4,996 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (in thousands) October 31, 2024 January 31, 2024 Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 610,870 $ 797,060 Investments—current 331,506 248,402 Accounts receivable, net 300,444 439,299 Contract assets—current 13,645 15,922 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 75,412 66,984 Total current assets 1,331,877 1,567,667 Investments—noncurrent 112,805 121,977 Property and equipment, net 278,623 245,173 Operating lease right-of-use assets 113,365 123,188 Goodwill 455,678 353,138 Intangible assets, net 83,307 50,905 Deferred contract acquisition costs—noncurrent 445,987 409,627 Deferred tax assets—noncurrent 816,538 2,031 Other assets—noncurrent 132,028 97,584 Total assets $ 3,770,208 $ 2,971,290 Liabilities and Equity Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 18,144 $ 19,029 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 94,591 104,037 Accrued compensation 158,779 195,266 Contract liabilities—current 1,307,749 1,320,059 Operating lease liabilities—current 19,507 22,230 Total current liabilities 1,598,770 1,660,621 Contract liabilities—noncurrent 22,931 21,980

NVIDIA Co. (NASDAQ:NVDA) is Custom Index Systems LLC’s 2nd Largest PositionStock market today: Wall Street edges back from its records as bitcoin briefly pops above $100,000

KaiXia, a leading tech company specializing in artificial intelligence and robotics, has recently announced its initial public offering (IPO) with an issuance price of 1455 Japanese yen per share. The IPO valuation has soared to a record high in Japan this year, solidifying KaiXia's position as a powerhouse in the tech industry.Huge law change for smokers and vapers will get MPs vote this week

In what has become a bit of an annual tradition , I sat down with Amazon CTO Werner Vogels at AWS re:Invent this week . Another annual tradition now is that Vogels, who joined Amazon in 2004, publishes a series of predictions for the next year. It’d be easy to think that this year’s predictions are all about AI, but instead, Vogels focuses on how Millennials and Gen Z think about being part of the workforce, nuclear energy, combatting misinformation, open data for disaster preparedness, and the need for intention-driven technology. Unlike his employer, whose keynotes this week focused almost exclusively on AI, Vogels only mentions it three times in his written predictions “ for 2025 and beyond .” And while AI is now a steady drone in the background, he seems to be more preoccupied with how technology in general is shaping the world right now. The next generation of employees “I’ve been very much interested in looking at companies that are interested in solving really hard human problems, really big problems, like economic equality, whether it’s food, health care globally,” he told me. “And with that whole ‘Now Go Build’ documentary series, we’ve raised some of those. But one of the things that I’ve been noticing in the past, let’s say four or five years, is that there is a new generation of workers out there that are actually willing to take a pay cut if they can work for a company that has sustainability in mind — all these issues.” He also said that he has heard from a number of NGOs that there is a massive increase in tech workers who would like to volunteer at these organizations. “Where, in the past — five, ten years ago, you would have to beg for people to come. Now people knock on the door,” he said. “The problem that these companies have is how to manage them. They don’t actually have the people. An organization like Mercy Corps, for example, they only have two people that are in tech, right? Because that money goes to the area [where] they can actually have impact. They don’t go on the tech side....Now, they have an engineer for two weeks. They have all these great ideas that they want to do, and even companies that are coming to them saying: ‘Oh, you can have our products for free.’ But they do not have the people to work on this.” Vogels believes — and I think a lot of people would back him up — that the next generation of workers will also bring this mindset to the companies they work for, and that these companies will have to adapt to them. “That means as employers, if you’re interested in actually hiring the absolute best engineers, you better make sure that you change your company culture to actually be able to attract these people. It’s no longer: do I get the best laptop? Do I get the best screen? Do I get two screens, right? But does my work matter? And that’s a really big shift, because it’s no longer about what’s the salary I’m getting? Because I’m willing to give up some of it if the work I’m doing means something right. And that means that, as an employer, you need to change that as well.” When I asked him if this means that Amazon itself may also have to change its vaunted set of leadership principles (the ones new employee at Amazon basically has to memorize), he noted that “with scale and success comes broad responsibility” — the final of the 16 leadership principles. Amazon, he stressed, also has a whole division focused on Social Responsibility and Impact. Who can you even trust anymore? In that context, he also noted that one of his predictions for next year is about fighting misinformation and — within that context — supporting open source intelligence. “We have rapidly shifted from an era of prolonged news cycles that lasted weeks or months to a constant stream of updates that break at the speed of a click. Social media platforms have become a primary source for disseminating and consuming news, and it’s never been harder to distinguish between what’s true and false,” he writes in his prediction blog post. If technology brought us fake news, “then it’s also our responsibility as technologists to go the other way around to find solutions,” he told me. He believes that solutions like browser sidebars that display relevant context — and maybe academic research — about a given topic, could be helpful, for example. “Elon is really good in time to push the story that media can’t be trusted,” Vogels said. “And since there’s many competing voices, can you trust the Washington Post and The New York Times and LA Times? Can you, or not? I mean, in the past, these used to be the source of truth. There was no discussion. If you were published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine, everybody in Germany would read that and know that that’s the truth. But can we help with technology? Is there a general perception, at least during the US, recent US elections, that the general media can be trusted? At least one candidate is pushing that story very hard. Then we need to make sure that there is context around those stories that demonstrate which ones are telling the truth or not.” “If we look at X and sort of the community notes, I’m not really sure whether the community notes are terribly useful, but [they] should be. And the question is, can we automate these kind of things?” Meanwhile, the organizations doing open-source intelligence work, he said, are often not using the most advanced technology. He believes that locating where an image was taken, for example, should be automated by using image recognition. Similarly, he hopes that access to open data will help NGOs to improve their disaster preparedness by allowing them to build better maps in areas where commercial mapping isn’t financially viable, for example, or by building new real-time data sources for tracking wildfires. Fighting tech addiction Vogels also noted that one of the reasons technology has been such an accelerant for the spread of misinformation is because our devices and apps have become so addictive. “We have tremendous impact with our technology on the lives of people, not only in terms of whether we advocate for what’s the truth, but the amount of time we spend with technology,” he said. Applications today, he said, are essentially built to be sticky and addictive. “We as adults may be able to handle that,” he said (though I’ll interject here that I’m not sure if adults actually can). “You know, if your kid of four years old is sitting in the back of the car, and, you know, in the past, they will be singing or yammering: ‘Are we there? Are we there?’ But [what] parents now do is just give them an iPad. Kids at four or five years old know how to use YouTube, but it also means that they get on a cycle of continuous highs, continuous highs, continuous highs. So the expectation is that these kids, and we already see that, are more prone to other types of addiction later as well, because you need to continuously get this next high whether it’s drugs, food, drinking, sex, or whatever.” People, he believes, are realizing this now and starting to take some action — maybe that’s using a dumb phone or going offline for extended periods. He noted that new regulations in Australia, which seek to ban kids under 16 from using social media, “is a pretty brute force approach, but it does signal a problem,” even if forbidding something to teenagers will make it more appealing, of course. “After all, you know, in the Netherlands [where cannabis has long been tolerated], a lot [fewer] kids continue to smoke weed because it wasn’t cool.” It’s up to technologists to ensure that their applications aren’t addictive — maybe by making the interfaces simpler, for example. “I mean, probably for TechCrunch, if somebody reads one article, you wanted them to read more articles. After all, pageviews equals income. It’s a business. But you know, how addictive do you make your interfaces, right? And yes, of course, as a company, you have a responsibility to shareholders to do that, but I think these days, we also have a social responsibility to make sure that our society is healthy enough in ten, twenty years from now that you can continue to be in business.” The nuclear option This year’s set of predictions is a bit of “all over the place” (Vogels’ words, not mine), and his next one is about the use of nuclear energy. In Vogels’ view, the expansion of nuclear energy and the growth of renewable energy “will lay the groundwork for a future where our energy infrastructure is a catalyst for innovation, not a constraint.” “We know how to do small nuclear,” he told me — referring to the reactors used to power military submarines, for example. “We just never built them because they weren’t commercially interesting. Plus, society didn’t accept them as being [located] somewhere near them. If your submarine will go up in flame, fine, submarine, you chose for that. It’s a different story.” But we’ve now also reached a point where large businesses aren’t allowed to build new facilities near cities like Amsterdam, where Vogels lives, because the energy companies can’t deliver enough electricity to them anymore — not because they can’t generate enough. A few years ago, Vogels told me that he wasn’t ready to retire yet . I don’t get the sense that anything has changed for him. He’s clearly still enjoying his role — even if his predictions this year are a bit darker than usual.

The decision to field Franck Kessie in place of Ismael Bennacer is a strategic one, aimed at maximizing Milan's chances of success in the Champions League. Kessie's physical presence and defensive abilities will be crucial in helping Milan navigate the challenges posed by some of Europe's top clubs. While Bennacer's skills are undeniable, Kessie's attributes bring a different dimension to Milan's midfield and offer a new tactical approach for the team.

Maravai LifeSciences Appoints R. Andrew Eckert as Chairman of the Board of DirectorsThe leaked recruitment advertisement suggests that Rockstar Games is not only focused on developing a top-tier game in "GTA 6" but also on creating a buzzworthy promotional campaign to drive excitement and anticipation among fans. With the gaming landscape becoming increasingly competitive, a strong marketing push can make all the difference in ensuring the success of a blockbuster title like "GTA 6."Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is Sitrin Capital Management LLC’s 10th Largest Position

In conclusion, the groundbreaking method proposed by JHU and other leading institutions offers a glimpse into a future where speed and efficiency are no longer limiting factors but powerful drivers of progress. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible, this revolutionary approach is set to redefine the way we approach performance optimization and unlock a new era of innovation and growth.NVIDIA Co. (NASDAQ:NVDA) Stock Position Increased by Fortis Group Advisors LLCNone

At just 27 years old, Rashford is entering what many consider to be the peak years of his career. With his combination of skill, athleticism, and experience, he is primed to continue delivering top-level performances for years to come. This, combined with his marketability and off-field impact, positions Rashford as a valuable asset both on and off the pitch.The impact of the Syrian conflict on refugees is equally alarming. Millions of Syrians have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighboring countries and beyond. The sheer scale of the refugee crisis has put a strain on host countries' resources and infrastructure, exacerbating social tensions and creating fertile ground for radicalization. As refugees face uncertain futures and bleak prospects, they become vulnerable to exploitation by extremist groups who prey on their desperation.

While Thailand's real estate sector should remain stable next year, developers are upbeat about the possibility of easing loan-to-value (LTV) measures to help the sector, particularly the middle-income segment, according to Pruksa Real Estate. Dhira Thongwilai, chief executive of Pruksa Real Estate, said the sector shrank 20% year-on-year in 2024 and this trend should continue in 2025. However, in the first quarter next year the industry should improve as most developers can drain their stocks, he said. Regarding the anticipated relaxation of LTV rules next year, Mr Dhira said this factor should help encourage purchasing from buyers looking for second homes, leading to more affordable mid-priced project developments. The company plans to emphasise this segment next year, with single houses priced 7-15 million baht, he said. "We will focus on appropriate supply and project size, targeting niche markets instead of the mass market in the past," Mr Dhira said. Pruksa has an accumulated backlog worth 3-4 billion baht. Revenue from this backlog should be recognised by the end of this year, he said. The firm's inventory of single house projects has a total value of 4 billion baht, of which 40% are houses valued at 3-5 million baht. Pruksa Real Estate recently launched luxury single detached houses called The Palm Residences Pattanakarn worth 2.6 billion baht, offering 57 units of three-storey houses, ranging from 421-500 square metres. The presale prices start from 45-80 million baht. This project is its fifth residence offering launched this year under the wellness living theme. The total value of wellness living residences this year tallied 10 billion baht, accounting for 50% of the total value of new projects in 2024, said Mr Dhira. He said the strength of this new project is its location within Pruksa Avenue Pattanakarn, which comprises 14 Pruksa projects. Pattanakarn has become a popular Bangkok location with convenient connections to downtown, Suvarnabhumi airport and Chon Buri, said Mr Dhira. The project is certified by the Thai Green Building Institute based on its environmentally friendly materials and construction, allowing up to 50% energy savings. The project provides smart home facilities and solar cells, as well as 24-hour concierge and health services from Vimut Hospital.spin ph online casino 。

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised the recent workers’ appreciation rally held in support of Governor Ademola Adeleke, questioning its purpose and dismissing it as a publicity stunt. The rally, organised by Osun State workers under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was held to appreciate the governor’s approval of a new minimum wage of ₦75,558.24 for workers and ₦25,000 for pensioners. Speaking during the event on Monday, Governor Adeleke declared himself a “Talk and Do Governor,” reiterating his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises, with workers’ welfare as a top priority. In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Information, Mr Kola Olabisi, the APC accused Governor Adeleke of seeking “cheap political popularity” through the rally. The party criticised the administration for allegedly sponsoring the event, claiming it lacked authenticity as no worker had yet received the promised minimum wage. Olabisi described the rally as “a superfluous theatrical show” and questioned why the appreciation did not originate directly from the workers. He said: “It is absurd that the state government under Governor Adeleke would stoop to sponsoring a civil servants’ rally, all in the name of announcing a minimum wage that has not yet been implemented. This is nothing but an attempt to fraudulently curry non-existent political popularity.” The APC also raised concerns about other unresolved issues in the state, including the alleged encroachment on the Ido-Osun Airport land by Adeleke Secondary School, a property linked to the governor’s family. The appreciation rally, held at the Government Secretariat in Osogbo, attracted a large turnout of workers who sang and danced while awaiting Governor Adeleke’s arrival. “We are here today to show appreciation for the kindness of Governor Ademola Adeleke in approving a minimum wage of ₦75,558.24. We, as workers, pledge to ensure quality service delivery for the benefit of Osun State.” In his speech, Governor Adeleke reaffirmed his commitment to workers’ welfare, stating, “They call me the Talk and Do Governor. During my campaign, I made workers’ happiness my priority. It’s a sin for someone to work and not get paid. Even with limited resources, I’ll continue to prioritise your welfare.” The governor also hinted at plans to improve the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), promising that these efforts would benefit the workforce. The APC, however, accused Governor Adeleke of neglecting pressing issues such as resolving the Ido-Osun Airport relocation crisis and addressing allegations of favouritism in the extension of the Head of Service’s tenure. The party argued that the rally was a distraction from these critical matters, warning: “If Governor Adeleke thinks this sycophantic rally will earn him political leverage beyond 2026, he is wasting his time and daydreaming.”

Larson Financial Group LLC Increases Stake in Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF (NASDAQ:VIGI)ATLANTA (AP) — Even the woeful NFC South, where no team has a winning record, can't hide the Atlanta Falcons' offensive shortcomings. Three straight setbacks, including an ugly to the Los Angeles Chargers, has left the Falcons 6-6 and feeling the pressure. Only a tiebreaker advantage over Tampa Bay has kept the Falcons atop the division. Now the Falcons must prepare to visit streaking Minnesota, which has . Veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett knows the Falcons must solve the flaws which have been exposed in the losing streak. “It’s now or never,” Jarrett said. “You have to flip the mindset fast.” Kirk Cousins threw four interceptions in the loss, matching his career high. Coach Raheem Morris said he didn't consider playing rookie Michael Penix Jr. against the Chargers and won't think about this week. Morris acknowledged the Falcons can't expect to win when turning the ball over four times. It was the latest example of Atlanta's offensive decline. In the three-game losing streak, Cousins has thrown six interceptions with no touchdowns. The Falcons were held under 20 points in each loss. What’s working If not for the rash of interceptions which has contributed to the scoring problems, more attention would be devoted to the surge of big plays on defense. The defense forced two fumbles and set a season high with five sacks, including two by Arnold Ebiketie. The Falcons ranked last in the league with only 10 sacks before finding success with their pass rush against Justin Herbert. Herbert was forced to hold the ball while looking for an open receiver, so some credit for the pass-rush success belongs to Atlanta's secondary. The Falcons gave up only two first downs in the second half and 187 yards for the game. What needs help Cousins, 36, was expected to be the reliable leader on offense after he signed The four interceptions were his most since 2014 with Washington. Cousins now will be in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons as he returns to Minnesota, his NFL home from 2018-23. Cousins has thrown 13 interceptions, one shy of his career high set in 2022. His passer rating of 90.8 is his lowest since his 86.4 mark as a part-time starter in 2014 with Washington. “Certainly when you haven’t played at the standard you want to a few weeks in a row, you know, you do want to change that, turn it around,” Cousins said. Stock up Running back Bijan Robinson had his busiest day of the season, perhaps in an attempt to take heat off Cousins. Robinson's 26 carries set a career high. He ran for 102 yards with a touchdown, his third 100-yard game of the season. He also was heavily involved as a receiver with six catches for 33 yards. With 135 yards from scrimmage, Robinson has eight games this season with more than 100 yards combined as a rusher and receiver, the second-most in the league. Stock down Tight end Kyle Pitts had no catches on only two targets. He has only six catches in the last four games after appearing to establish momentum for a big season with two seven-catch games in a span of three weeks in October. Morris noted the Falcons have “so many people that we've got to get the ball to” but noted he'd like to see Pitts more involved. Injuries Younghoe Koo's were such a concern that kicker Riley Patterson was signed to the practice squad on Friday and added to the active roster Saturday. Patterson was on the inactive list as Koo was good on two of three field goals, missing from 35 yards. Koo has made 21 of 29 attempts this season. He did not have more than five misses in any of his first five seasons with Atlanta. Key number 70 — WR Drake London had nine receptions for 86 yards, giving him 70 catches for the season. London, a 2022 first-round draft pick, is the first player in team history with at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. While Ray-Ray McCloud III led the team with a career-best 95 yards on four catches against the Chargers and Darnell Mooney has had some big games, London has been the most consistent receiver. Next steps The Falcons face a difficult test Sunday in their visit to Minnesota (10-2), which has five straight wins and is 5-1 at home. ___ AP NFL: Charles Odum, The Associated Press

The struggling Oklahoma-based electric van startup Canoo appears to have reached the end of the road . According to an internal email obtained by TechCrunch , the startup has placed employees on a " mandatory unpaid break " through the end of the year. The email said that just a few days before Christmas, the company locked employees out of Canoo's systems . As of mid-November, the startup had $700k in cash or cash equivalents as it rounded out a very turbulent year amid an ongoing EV downturn . "It recently closed the Los Angeles office that used to serve as its headquarters. It has lost a lot of executives , including its chief technology officer, chief financial officer, and general counsel," TechCrunch noted. Auto blog Jalopnik provided more color on Canoo's struggles , including how "the company spent twice as much on a private jet for its CEO than it had earned for the entire year of 2023. It burned through capital and now seems unable to wrap up the year." "Canoo was supposed to bring automotive manufacturing back to the state of Oklahoma, and the company received taxpayer-funded, performance-based incentives totaling $100 million spaced out over 10 years to do exactly that," Jalopnik said, adding, "But the way things are going right now, it's questionable whether Canoo will last long enough to bring those promised steady jobs to the Sooner State." A former employee provided Oklahoma news outlet KFOR with deeper insight into the startup, alleging that it has produced nothing... "They have tons of equipment," the former employee said. "It looks great. They have literally everything to run an entire assembly line for cars." Last December, Canoo proudly announced it had built its first three vehicles in the Oklahoma City plant, before selling them to the state. The former employee told News 4 that "made in Oklahoma" announcement gave him a good laugh . "I can tell you, those did not come off our assembly line," the former employee said. "If you talk to any Canoo employee, they'll tell you those do not come off the assembly line." He says Canoo never paid the company that provided the software that the machines use to operate. The former employee also says the company only ran the machines when showing them off to media or investors . "The majority of those folks that were employed there, especially those hourly people, were just standing around twiddling their thumbs ," the former employee said. The company has boasted about partnerships with Walmart, DoD, and the USPS over the years... Shares (GOEV) plunged into the abyss since it SPAC'd in late 2020. What a giant waste of money.Buchanan scores 28 off the bench, Boise State downs South Dakota State 83-82

Karachi Bar Association challenges 26th AmendmentMotorists who think they’re okay to drive after ‘just a couple of drinks’ at any time, especially during the holidays, should think twice before deciding to get behind the wheel. The Chatham-Kent Police Service launched its annual Festival Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere program last Wednesday. The CKPS set up a total of 39 R.I.D.E. spot checks in all of 2023. When the police set up their traditional first spot check on Keil Dr. S. in Chatham last Wednesday evening, it was their 40th R.I.D.E. of 2024. “We’ve stepped up the amount of R.I.D.E.’s were conducting,” said Cst. Lisa Rodger, who is heading up this year’s Festival program. “You’re going to see us out in full force, not only the Festival R.I.D.E. programs but guys on general patrol as well; they’ll be setting up R.I.D.E. programs whenever they have a chance.” Rodger said you can expect to see spot checks at any time of the day across Chatham-Kent. “We understand it’s the holiday season; people like to celebrate, but do it responsibly,” Rodger said. “If you plan to drink, designate a driver, call a taxi, use a ride-share service or arrange alternative transportation.” “We want to ensure everyone is safe on our roads,” she said. Of the 39 R.I.D.E. spot checks set up by the CKPS this year, a total of 4,502 vehicles have been stopped, resulting in 14 roadside checks, one three-day suspension, no Criminal Code charges and five Highway Traffic Act tickets. In 2023, the CKPS conducted 39 R.I.D.E. spot checks, stopping 6,581 vehicles, resulting in two three-day suspensions, three Criminal Code charges, and eight HTA tickets. The West Region of the Ontario Provincial Police also began its Festival R.I.D.E. program last week. They will be setting up spot checks on OPP patrolled roads in Chatham-Kent. The local Festival R.I.D.E. programs are conducted in partnership with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and receive provincial funding. The province-wide program traditionally begins on National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, which is observed on the third Wednesday to honour and remember those who lost their lives or were seriously injured in preventable road crashes. Chatham-Kent Police’s first spot check is traditionally set up on Keil Dr. N., between McNaughton Ave. W. and Baldoon Road, in remembrance of the Pie Ladies – Verna Neaves, Marion Dawson, Jean Ripley and Bernice Phillips – who were killed when their vehicle was struck head-on by an impaired driver in the early evening hours of Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007, as they were returning from a church function. “Every life lost in a road crash is a life filled with potential, dreams and loved ones,” Rodger said. “Behind every statistic is a family member, a friend, a colleague – a person whose absence leaves an irreplaceable void.” “In remembering these victims, we not only honour their memories, but we also renew our commitment to preventing further tragedies,” she said. Rodger said the choices people make to get behind the wheel can change lives instantly. “A decision to drive impaired may seem harmless or justifiable at the moment, but the consequences can be far-reaching,” Rodger said. “From crashes that cause injury or death to the long-term effects on families and communities, no one wins when impaired driving takes place.” Rodger said it is still “frustrating” to officers when they attend an accident and find it is alcohol or drug-related, despite all of the ‘don’t drink and drive’ campaigns and education. “It is frustrating to know that it could have been prevented,” she said. “Just don’t get behind the wheel is our message; find an alternative ride.” Inspector Mike Thompson said the CKPS doesare okay with when people post about the location of spot checks on social media. “Setting up R.I.D.E. lanes isn’t just to detect people who are actually out there driving when they shouldn’t be; it’s also hopefully an awareness part and deterrent,” Thompson said. “If people find out about them on social media and if that prevents someone from getting behind the wheel, we’re quite happy with that.”

NICEVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Aaliyah Nye scored 15 points and No. 23 Alabama coasted to an 83-33 win over Alabama State on Monday at the Emerald Coast Classic. Sarah Ashlee Barker and Karly Weathers both added 12 points for the Crimson Tide (7-0). Zaay Green had 11. Barker, Weathers and Green combined to go 12 of 16 from the field as Alabama shot 51% and made 23 of 34 free throws. Cordasia Harris had eight points for the Hornets (2-3), who shot 27.5% and had 28 turnovers while being outrebounded by 17. Alabama entered ranked 17th in scoring offense through the first two weeks of the season, averaging 87.3 points per game. Barker opened the scoring and contributed another layup before her 3-pointer made it 14-0. The Tide led 26-8 after one quarter. Alabama also had a 13-2 run in the second quarter and Weathers had a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lead 46-20 at halftime. Alabama plays the winner of UAB-Clemson on Tuesday and the Hornets face the loser. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, t-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. "Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you," Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's Disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues' van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He's doing that too,” she said. Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be." Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96The third game in the Taito Milestones trilogy is out now on Nintendo Switch , complete with ten arcade classics from the 1980s and 90s. While the first two collections were a little hit and miss, Taito Milestones 3 is a far more consistent package. You've got absolute bangers like Rastan Saga (the inspiration for the excellent Volgarr the Viking ), atmospheric adventure games like Cadash, as well as all-time classics like Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands. However, there are three games, in particular, that make Taito Milestones 3 a must-buy for retro gaming fans. Dead Connection is the sort of game you'd see on a hidden gems video from someone like MetalJesusRocks (I'm pretty sure that's where I first heard about it, in fact). It's not something you see in many collections or best-of lists, despite featuring top-tier gameplay that's kind of similar to Wild Guns. Instead of taking place in the Wild West, however, Dead Connection sees players battle mobsters in 1950s America. The game's epic shootouts take place in locations such as restaurants, scrapyards and hotel lobbies, all of which are teeming with bad guys. Better yet, the environments are highly destructible, giving players new and inventive ways to dish out punishment to the seemingly never-ending supply of gangsters. Most beat-em-ups take place in decaying urban cities full of graffiti covered walls, denim clad biker gangs and baseball bat-wielding street punks. This is not the case with Runark, however. This wonderfully bizarre beat-em-up pits rangers (including one who bears more than a striking resemblance to Indiana Jones) against an eclectic mix of animal poachers. The satisfying hand-to-hand combat is complemented by an absolute feast of high-powered weaponry, including rocket launchers, machine guns, swords, grenades and exploding barrels. Even the animals will occasionally help you. The icing on the cake is Batman-style visual effects when things go boom (or SHRBOOM). And did I mention that you get to beat up animal poachers? Until recently I didn't know there was a third game in the Rastan Saga series, or that it was available as part of Taito Milestones 3 in the form of Warrior Blade. Indeed, Warrior Blade doesn't just ditch the Rastan Saga name, but also the side-scrolling platforming gameplay. Instead, you've got a fantasy beat-em-up that's not too dissimilar to Golden Axe. Like Golden Axe Revenge of Death Adder, the game also features branching paths, letting you choose which order you tackle the lizard men, swamp monsters and corrupt knights. Perhaps Taito had a few Darius twin screen displays knocking about, because Warrior Blade features a similar ultra-wide aspect ratio that actually works pretty well on the Nintendo Switch. It also makes up for the dreadful Rastan Saga sequel, ensuring the series ends on a high.AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Any Texas or Texas A&M player has heard the lore of the rivalry between the two schools, a grudge match that dates to 1894. But for more than a decade — two generations of college football players — that's all it has been: Ghostly memories of great games and great plays made by heroes of the distant past. That changes this week when one of college football's great rivalries is reborn. Third-ranked Texas (10-1, 6-1) and No. 20 Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2) meet Saturday night for the first time since 2011, with a berth in the Southeastern Conference championship game on the line . “Guys that have been in my position and bleed burnt orange, they have not gotten to play this game,” said Texas fourth-year junior safety Michael Taaffe, who grew up in Austin. “Remember them when you step on Kyle Field.” For Aggies fans, who have carried the misery of Texas' 27-25 win in 2011, getting the Longhorns back in front of a frenzied crowd in College Station is a chance for some serious payback. “I was born and raised an Aggie, so I’ve been dreaming about playing in this game my whole life,” Texas A&M offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III said. Zuhn played high school football in Colorado, but his parents and grandparents attended A&M. At SEC media days back in August, Zuhn said his family would turn Texas gear upside down in stores. He keeps a picture of a longhorn in his room, hanging upside down, of course. “It should be the most amazing atmosphere that I’ve ever experienced,” Zuhn said. "I can’t wait for that, and I feel bad for Texas having to play in that." Texas players said they are ready. “That place is going to be rocking,” Texas senior cornerback Jahdae Barron said. “It's good to go on the road and play in hostile environments.” The Longhorns have overcome big and loud road crowds before. They won at Alabama in 2023. They won at Michigan and Arkansas, another old rival, this year. The Longhorns have won 10 in a row on an opponent’s home field. “When the hate is on us, we love it. We enjoy it,” Taaffe said. But some former Texas players say the current group has faced nothing like what awaits them in College Station. Playing at Texas A&M is more than just noise and a lot of “Horns down” hand signals. The “Aggie War Hymn” fight song calls for Aggies to “Saw varsity’s horns off." Beating Texas is their passion, said former Longhorns All-American offensive lineman Dan Neil, who won at Texas A&M in in 1995. He calls that win one of the best of his career. “I was done showering and getting ready to leave, and their fans were still standing outside the locker room screaming and throwing things,” he said. “The (Texas) players have no idea what they are walking into. They have no clue. No one on that team has walked into that stadium in burnt orange.” The rivalry broke up when Texas A&M left the Big 12 for the SEC in 2012. The Aggies have twice finished tied for second but have otherwise found little success there. Texas is in its first year in the SEC and has smashed its way to the top. Texas is the only SEC team with one loss this late in the season, which would make beating Texas that much sweeter for A&M. “The hype is definitely saying it's a rivalry. History says it's a rivalry, but for us, it's the football game we have this week,” Texas senior center Jake Majors said. “It's important for us to not let the environment, the game, get the best of us. ... I get to go out there and play not only for me and my team, but for the guys who came before me, so that's a true honor to have.” Even though the game hasn't been played since 2011, there has always been an element of the rivalry simmering under the surface, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said. Elko is in his first year as the Aggies' coach, but he was the Texas A&M defensive coordinator under Jimbo Fisher from 2018-2021. “Even though it hasn’t been played, it just doesn’t feel like it’s ever really left the fabric. I really don’t think it’s as removed from the psyche as maybe it feels,” Elko said. “I think our kids are very much aware of what this is all about.” Rieken reported from College Station, Texas. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Algert Global LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Upstart Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:UPST – Free Report ) by 75.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 19,010 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 8,194 shares during the quarter. Algert Global LLC’s holdings in Upstart were worth $761,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Atomi Financial Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Upstart by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. now owns 59,009 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,392,000 after purchasing an additional 406 shares during the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its holdings in Upstart by 18.2% during the second quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 2,657 shares of the company’s stock worth $63,000 after buying an additional 409 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its position in Upstart by 4.2% in the second quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 10,405 shares of the company’s stock worth $245,000 after acquiring an additional 422 shares during the period. Inspire Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Upstart by 3.0% in the second quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 16,623 shares of the company’s stock valued at $392,000 after acquiring an additional 480 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in shares of Upstart by 125.3% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 989 shares of the company’s stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 550 shares during the period. 63.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Insider Buying and Selling at Upstart In other news, Chief Legal Officer Scott Darling sold 7,190 shares of Upstart stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.15, for a total transaction of $281,464.77. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 176,870 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,923,876.83. This trade represents a 3.91 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . Also, CFO Sanjay Datta sold 1,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.77, for a total value of $62,655.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 346,093 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,456,304.61. The trade was a 0.43 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 502,939 shares of company stock valued at $28,887,725 in the last three months. Company insiders own 18.06% of the company’s stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Check Out Our Latest Analysis on UPST Upstart Trading Up 0.5 % Shares of NASDAQ:UPST opened at $78.79 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $55.46 and a 200 day moving average of $38.53. The stock has a market cap of $7.19 billion, a P/E ratio of -40.82 and a beta of 1.97. Upstart Holdings, Inc. has a 12 month low of $20.60 and a 12 month high of $86.07. About Upstart ( Free Report ) Upstart Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) lending platform in the United States. Its platform includes personal loans, automotive retail and refinance loans, home equity lines of credit, and small dollar loans that connects consumer demand for loans to its to bank and credit unions. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UPST? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Upstart Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:UPST – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Upstart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Upstart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’

Elon Musk's SpaceX has announced the launch of several Starlink satellites into Earth's orbit, which will enable direct-to-cell connectivity for users anywhere on the planet. With these recent launches, Starlink has completed the constellation's first orbital shell. To make it possible, the satellites of Starlink are packed with advanced software algorithms, phased array antennas, and custom silicon to overcome the challenges with satellite networks. The advanced eNodeB modem onboard these satellites acts like your usual mobile tower but in space, enabling network integration similar to a standard roaming partner. This isn't the first time Starlink has achieved this feat; the initial batch of six satellites was launched for testing earlier this year. The satellites were launched with SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 rocket, which is built for the purpose of transporting payloads as well as people into Earth orbit and beyond safely and reliably. Described as “the world's first orbital class reusable rocket,” the reusability of the Falcon 9 enables the space technology company to refly the most expensive parts of the rocket, hence bringing down the cost of accessing space. So far, as per SpaceX's website, Falcon 9 has had 407 total launches and 336 total reflights. While Direct to Cell satellites are currently being launched on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, they will later move on to Starship. These latest launches were made last week in two different batches. The first one took place on December 5 at 10 PM EST from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base. The same day, the company confirmed the deployment, stating : “On orbit, the 13 Direct to Cell satellites will immediately connect over laser backhaul to the Starlink constellation, eliminating dead zones and providing peace of mind when customers need it most.” Then, over the weekend, on December 8, Falcon 9 launched yet another 23 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, 13 of which have Direct to Cell capabilities. With these batches of broadband satellites, SpaceX is building out the largest-ever network of satellites: the Starlink mega constellation. All these satellites are deployed in low Earth orbit (LEO), which currently houses more than 6,800 operational Starlink spacecraft. Approximately 350 of these spacecraft are capable of beaming service directly to phones. SpaceX founder Musk took to X to share that with the Starlink satellite direct-to-cell phone constellation, which is now complete, they will now “enable unmodified cellphones to have Internet connectivity in remote areas.” For now, though, the bandwidth per beam is a mere ~10Mb. However, this is just the beginning, as Musk noted: “Future constellations will be much more capable.” Back in January, the tech billionaire had shared the same thoughts when he noted that the constellation is a “great solution for locations with no cellular connectivity.” At the same time, he noted that they are in no way competitive with the existing cellular networks. There is a small increase in bandwidth, though, as earlier this year, during the initial test, the satellites only managed a bandwidth of 7 Mb, and the current one is around 10 Mb. With this, the company is progressing nicely towards its goal, which, as per the Starlink website, is to seamlessly access text for LTE phones across the globe in 2024 while support for voice and data along with the ability to connect IoT devices like smart gadgets will come next year. While the cost of the service is not yet known, the proceeds will be used to fund SpaceX's Mars mission. The Mars colonization program, also referred to as Occupy Mars, aims to make humanity multi-planetary . Musk recently shared his ambition to send crews to the ‘Red Planet' as soon as 2028. Click here to learn all about investing in Musk's endeavours. Ubiquitous Connectivity: A Leap in Telecommunications Originally proposed a couple of years ago, the direct-to-cell program received regulatory approval in the US just last month. However, Starlink successfully sent and received the first text messages using the T-Mobile network spectrum through its Direct Cell satellites on January 8. The idea with Direct to Cell capabilities is to allow people to access texting, calling, and browsing from anywhere on Earth, no matter the physical location of an individual, be it land, lakes, or coastal waters. While attempts have been made at providing satellite-to-phone service previously, this new venture stands out for removing the need to have a special handset or even a specific app to get access anywhere in the world. This is because Starlink utilizes the standard LTE (Long Term Evolution), which is a wireless data transmission standard, also known as 4G LTE, that provides faster speeds for mobile internet. Given that most phones are compatible with this protocol, Starlink is able to offer its services on regular phones. Each of Starlink's satellites has an LTE modem on board. Another big point working in Starlink's favor is its multiple partnerships with popular mobile operators. This includes T-Mobile ( TMUS +1.94% ) in the US, One in New Zealand, Optus in Australia, Rogers ( RCI -0.19% ) in Canada, Salt in Switzerland, KDDI in Japan, and Entel in Chile & Peru. The SpaceX division has also devised a system to make its service work seamlessly with your phone when it's connecting to satellites above the Earth's surface. Moreover, to offer reliable connectivity, Starlink has worked out different parameters, including latency constraints, ideal altitudes, and elevation angles. Then, Starlink's satellites are plugged into the massive constellation of spacecraft through a laser backhaul. Here, data is transmitted between satellites through laser-based optical communication systems, which take advantage of lasers over conventional radio frequency communications. This allows data rates to be as much as 100 times faster while offering increased bandwidth and improved security. Starlink is not the only player in the field, though; its rivals include Lynk Global and AST SpaceMobile. Lynk is a satellite-direct-to-mobile-phone (Sat2Phone) telecom company that, much like Musk's Starlink, aims to provide global mobile phone service coverage. Lynk also has satellites in orbit that act as “cell towers in space” that connect regular phones to low-orbiting satellites. In March, the company announced the successful deployment of two more “cell-towers-in-space,” which were launched on a SpaceX mission. Currently, Lynk allows its paid users to send and receive texts to and from space through regular mobile phones, and it plans to launch voice and mobile broadband services in the future. It has secured regulatory approvals in at least 30 countries and has 40 plus mobile network operator partners. In May this year, Lynk signed a contract with the US government to provide its services to the US Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other US government agencies, which have been field-testing Lynk's technology for several years. As per the contract, the US government agencies will commercially purchase sat2phone services for the next 5 years, with the option of extending the service for another 5 years. Meanwhile, AST SpaceMobile is building a space-based cellular broadband network that is accessible by standard smartphones without having to make any modifications to a device. The network provides connectivity at 4G/5G speeds everywhere on the planet. It has partnered with more than 40 mobile network operators, such as Vodafone, Verizon, AT&T, Telefonica, and Rakuten Mobile, which boasts over 2.5 billion users in total. AST SpaceMobile also has commercial satellites in orbit and contracts with the US government and other countries. Besides Lynk and SpaceMobile's services, the US government also utilizes Starlink's encrypted government service, Starshield, whose equipment is manufactured in the US. The Wall Street Journal called it: “A killer app on battlefields for steering next-generation drone swarms and coordinating troops.” Starlink's Expanding Role: Revolutionizing Connectivity Amid Controversy The advanced satellite system of Starlink has been gaining a lot of popularity, revolutionizing communications as well as battlefield tactics. Starlink has actually emerged as a key tool on the modern battlefield, as seen in Ukraine. Just last week, it was reported that SpaceX got a contract from the US government to expand Ukraine's access to Starshield. As per this, 2,500 Starlink terminals already in the country will get access to Starshield, in addition to 500 previously connected, bringing the total to 3,000. Starshield is an encrypted signal that's more difficult to jam or hack into. The purpose of the contract is to “facilitate internet connectivity in Ukraine,” according to a statement from the Space Systems Command's Commercial Satellite Office. This expansion was made under President Joe Biden and, as such, has an uncertain future, with President-elect Donald Trump promising to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. On top of it, Musk's history with Ukraine is also complicated. In 2022, he threatened to cut financial support for Starlink, saying his company couldn't carry the costs indefinitely and that its terminals weren't meant to be used in the military. Most recently, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) took action to block the tech company from placing nearly 22,500 Starlink satellites into low-earth orbit, citing concerns over Elon Musk's “contacts with Russia and the alleged use of his Starlink system by Russian forces in Ukraine.” The US-based non-profit that represents Ukrainian-Americans urged the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct further review before allowing SpaceX to launch additional Starlink satellites. “ There is a necessity to determine if Starlink has been used to help a foreign adversary. If yes, this is not in the national security interest of Ukrainian Americans or of the entire country.” – UCCA President Michael Sawkiw, Jr Besides seeing growing usage in the military, Starlink's services are also being utilized by Qatar Airways for its entire fleet. Its CEO, Badr Mohammed al-Meer, shared the news in an interview where he noted “that the project is moving forward...and on a very fast track.” By the end of the first half of next year, the national carrier is expecting to have it installed on as many as 60 aircraft. “Being connected is very important,” said Al-Meer, adding that there's “very high demand from people to stay connected,” and the company will offer Starlink service free of charge to everyone on board. Meanwhile, the Indian government is considering relaxing the satellite communications security norms to allow Starlink and Amazon Kuiper to enter the market. Foreign satcom companies have been unable to get the global mobile personal communication by satellite (GMPCS) license so far in the country due to rules set in place by the government, which is now looking to relax them. While Starlink's launch has been delayed in the country due to regulatory challenges, it has already been offering beta services in selected areas since 2020. So, nations across the world are clearly making use of Starlink's services, but not China. The country is actually building a Starlink system of its own. Currently, China has 1,059 satellites in orbit, almost half of which are commercial satellites. Just last week, Qianfan, or the “SpaceSail” network, launched its third batch of satellites. The goal of the Chinese state-backed company is to deploy a “mega-constellation” of thousands of satellites to beam fast internet access to users anywhere in the world. SpaceSail is also planning to launch a satellite service to compete with Starlink in Brazil, with chief executive Jie Zheng telling reporters that it is “committed to being a long-term partner” in Latin America. Meanwhile, late last month, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia issued a cease-and-desist order to Starlink for operating in the country without the required telecommunications license. The regulator has already confiscated terminals from consumers and has advised the public not to purchase the equipment or subscribe to its services. Starlink's Evolution: Becoming a Game-Changer in Satellite Internet SpaceX's satellite mega constellation, which aims to provide low-cost internet service to remote areas, has been expanding services and growing its user base despite the controversies and mounting competition. Just a few months ago, it surpassed 4 million global subscribers after being in the market for just four years. Starlink had its beta launch in Oct. 202, and by Dec. 2022, it had achieved 1 million subscribers, which increased to 2 million by Sept. 2023 and then jumped by another 1 million in May. Starlink's subscriber growth, while rising globally, is seeing a slowdown in the US. As of early August, SpaceX had over 1.4 million subscribers in the country, which is only a slight increase from 1.3 million in Dec. 2022, according to a report filed with the Federal Communications Commission. Still, the company is making a lot of splashes, and after initially targeting residential users, it has now moved on to large customers. This rapid customer growth has actually helped the company rake in huge revenue, which, according to its CEO Musk, is expected to generate $6.6 billion this year, up from $1.4 billion two years ago. An in-depth report from Quilty Space in Starlink revealed that the company is finally on the trajectory to deliver effective returns on invested capital, posting its first free cash flow positive year. It further forecasts the company reaching $3.8 billion EBITDA this year. The report stated: “By targeting consumers first, primarily via a direct-to-consumer sales model, Starlink was able to scale at an unprecedented pace for a satellite operator. Starlink is now evolving and expanding its strategy for enterprise, mobility, and government end markets.” Starlink's success, as well as the technological prowess of Starship, the fully reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle, has SpaceX's valuation surging from just $210 billion earlier this year to now around $350 billion, according to a recent Bloomberg report . This makes SpaceX one of the world's most valuable private companies. Starlink's success hasn't been without criticism, though, with astronomers raising concerns about the unintended electromagnetic radiation from its satellites, which interfere with their observations. SpaceX has since taken steps to reduce its satellites' visible brightness. The company also noted earlier this year that when developing a satellite network, several regulatory and new technical challenges like transmitting sufficiently strong radio signals emerged that have to be tackled . Despite all these challenges, Starlink continues to grow fast, and its future looks promising. Currently, the company's focus is on substantially increasing its fleet of satellites to provide fast and reliable Internet to remote areas. Increased capabilities will help expand both its subscribers and revenue, which in turn will help with Musk's Mars plan. Just last month, SpaceX proposed a constellation of satellites around Mars, referred to as “Marslink,” which would be capable of providing more than 4Mbps of bandwidth between Earth and Mars. Click here to learn why SpaceX is able to pull off Telesat's goal so cheaply. Conclusion Musk, the world's wealthiest man, is known for his innovative ventures, including Tesla ( TSLA +3.4% ), which designs, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles, energy storage devices, and solar panels; X (previously Twitter), which he bought for $43 billion and aims to turn it into an “everything app,” and Neuralink; a neurotechnology company valued at about $5 billion last year that develops a brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. There's also xAI, whose focus is on advancing artificial intelligence (AI), and The Boring Company, which wants to solve the problem of traffic and transform cities. So, Musk clearly carries a futuristic vision, and SpaceX, of which Starlink is a key part, is yet another prominent venture that is making it possible to access connectivity anywhere in the world through technological advances and continued expansion. With Starlink, Musk aims to completely transform telecommunications not only on Earth but beyond, and with the latest launch of the latest Starlink satellites, it is fast becoming a reality! Click here to learn all about buying pre-IPO shares of SpaceX.Seahawks have taken a bumpy path to first place in the NFC West

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SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action Against The Toronto-Dominion Bank - TD( MENAFN - GetNews) AIRE has introduced AI-powered software to deliver feasibility study reports in five business days, enabling faster Real estate decision-making. AIRE , a leading PropTech innovator in the Middle East and Africa, has launched an advanced AI-powered software that enables its team to deliver feasibility study reports for residential, hospitality, retail, and office developments in just five business days. This solution marks a significant step forward in applying artificial intelligence to streamline traditionally time-intensive processes in real estate development. Historically, the preparation of feasibility studies-a crucial step for developers, investors, and real estate professionals to assess project viability-has taken up to six weeks. AIRE's new platform reduces this timeframe by nearly 90%, giving clients a vital edge in a competitive and fast-moving market. “Our AI-powered solution is more than just a time-saver; it empowers stakeholders to make smarter, faster, and data-driven decisions with unparalleled accuracy,” said Simon Ardonceau , founder and CEO of AIRE.“By combining advanced technology with our deep industry expertise, we are reshaping how real estate projects are planned and executed across the Middle East and Africa.” The platform uses artificial intelligence to process vast datasets, analyze market trends, and deliver actionable insights tailored to the specific needs of each project. Whether for residential complexes, luxury hotels, retail hubs, or office spaces, AIRE ensures that clients receive detailed, high-quality reports without the prolonged wait times associated with traditional methods. With a mission to accelerate innovation in real estate, AIRE's latest offering demonstrates the transformative potential of PropTech in driving efficiency and sustainability. By enabling faster feasibility assessments, the company is helping its clients reduce project risks while supporting the creation of more innovative, more resilient urban developments across the region. This innovative approach also aligns with the growing demand for technology-driven solutions to improve operational efficiency, minimize delays, and provide highly accurate insights. AIRE aims to set new industry benchmarks by introducing tools that help stakeholders make informed decisions in record time. AIRE invites developers, investors, and professionals to experience the future of real estate decision-making. To learn more about this cutting-edge technology, visit Follow AIRE on Social Media: YouTube: LinkedIn: MENAFN19122024003238003268ID1109014531 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

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Demystifying the Local AI Ecosystem to Inform Future Growth SEATTLE , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a robust, equity-centered technology sector that empowers thriving communities, today released a comprehensiv e report detailing Washington state's artificial intelligence (AI) landscape . The Washington State Artificial Intelligence Landscape report provides a deep dive into the state's AI ecosystem, highlighting key trends, challenges, and opportunities for growth. The report was developed in partnership with Moonbeam Exchange and by the WTIA Advanced Technology Cluster , which is funded through the Washington State Department of Commerce Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program. The report highlights Washington's leadership, strengths, opportunities, and areas for improvement. The report finds that Washington state ranks 6th across the US according to 5 key innovation dimensions (Startups, Government-Industry R&D, Government-Academia R&D, Investors, Jobs). Individually, Washington ranks: " Washington state is at the forefront as it extends its global expertise in cloud computing to power the next wave of AI ," said Nirav Desai, CEO at Moonbeam Exchange. "This report underscores the state's potential to become a global leader in AI. We are excited to collaborate with the WTIA to share these insights with the broader community." "AI is transforming industries and creating new economic opportunities," said Kelly Fukai , COO at WTIA. "This report provides valuable data and analysis that will help policymakers, businesses, and investors understand the AI landscape in Washington state and capitalize on its growth potential." The report offers actionable insights that will be used to inform economic development, workforce development, and policy activities across the state to foster AI innovation and development in Washington . These recommendations include: The full report is available for download here : https://share.hsforms.com/1RAtJGiVkSwaXLwuNoZXzQgr4oir . About WTIA The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) is a consortium that includes a not-for-profit member trade association, a federally and state regulated association health plan, and a for profit corporation providing business services. The organization's mission is to foster a robust, equity-centered technology sector that empowers thriving communities. We recruit technology companies and allies that view diversity as a competitive advantage, value collaboration as essential to sustainable growth, and fully embrace the opportunity to partner with and empower the communities in which we operate. Contact: Nick Ellingson , Advanced Technology Cluster Manager, Nick@watech.org View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/washington-technology-industry-association-releases-washington-state-artificial-intelligence-landscape-report-302315909.html SOURCE Washington Technology Industry Association

Intech Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Black Hills Co. ( NYSE:BKH – Free Report ) by 176.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,189 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 8,419 shares during the quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Black Hills were worth $806,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Black Hills by 15.2% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 44,777 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,445,000 after purchasing an additional 5,906 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new stake in shares of Black Hills in the 1st quarter valued at about $83,000. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Black Hills by 99.3% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 127,845 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $6,980,000 after purchasing an additional 63,687 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Black Hills during the first quarter worth about $388,000. Finally, Pathway Financial Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Black Hills during the first quarter worth about $31,000. Institutional investors own 86.71% of the company’s stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on BKH shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Black Hills from $61.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of Black Hills from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 20th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Black Hills has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $60.25. Black Hills Price Performance NYSE:BKH opened at $64.12 on Friday. Black Hills Co. has a 52-week low of $49.33 and a 52-week high of $65.59. The company has a market cap of $4.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.26, a P/E/G ratio of 4.62 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 1.12. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $61.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $58.20. Black Hills Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th will be given a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.05%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 18th. Black Hills’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 69.89%. Black Hills Company Profile ( Free Report ) Black Hills Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in the United States. The company operates in two segments: Electric Utilities and Gas Utilities. The Electric Utilities segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 222,000 electric utility customers in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming; and owns and operates 1,394 megawatts of generation capacity and 9,106 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BKH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Black Hills Co. ( NYSE:BKH – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Black Hills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Black Hills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Nick Kern came off the bench for 20 points and 13 rebounds as Penn State remained unbeaten with an 85-66 thumping of Fordham in a semifinal of the Sunshine Slam on Monday in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Nittany Lions (6-0), who will play either San Francisco or Clemson for the tournament title on Tuesday, put four other players in double figures. Zach Hicks scored 16 points, while Puff Johnson added 15. Ace Baldwin and Yanic Konan Niederhauser each chipped in 12 points. Penn State sank nearly 53 percent of its field goal attempts and earned a 38-30 advantage on the boards, more than enough to offset missing 12 of its 32 foul shots. Four players reached double figures for the Rams (3-4), led by 15 points apiece from Jackie Johnson III and reserve Joshua Rivera. Romad Dean and Jahmere Tripp each added 13. Fordham was as close as 56-49 after Tripp made a layup with 14:25 left in the game. But the Nittany Lions responded with a 16-1 run, capped with a layup by Kern for a 22-point lead at the 9:33 mark, and they never looked back. The main storyline prior to tipoff was whether Penn State could continue its torrid early start that saw it come into the day leading Division I in steals and ranked second in scoring at 98.2 points per game. The Nittany Lions certainly played to their billing for most of the first half, establishing a 21-8 lead at the 10:08 mark via Hicks' three-point play. Fordham predictably struggled early with the pressure defense, committing four turnovers in the first four minutes. But the Rams got their bearings over the last 10 minutes and made some shots. They got as close as four on two occasions late in the half before Penn State pushed the lead to 42-34 at the half. The officials were busy in the half, calling 23 fouls and administering 27 free throws. --Field Level MediaTROY, N.Y. — The Hudson Valley Community College women’s volleyball program saw its 2024 season come to an end on Saturday, Nov. 2, as they were defeated in straight sets by rival Adirondack in the semifinal round of the NJCAA Region 3 Championships, hosted by Niagara County Community College in Sanborn, NY. The 2024 season [...]

Key Takeaways Teams are more diverse than ever. With advancements in technology, a skilled labor shortage and the booming demand for remote work , work has come to defy borders. Companies that don't embrace this reality and adapt risk being left behind. I've witnessed this transformation firsthand through my work at DOXA Talent , where we help businesses build high-performing teams leveraging talent from across the world. With team members across the Philippines, Vietnam, Kenya and Colombia, I see how today's technology and remote work are not just reshaping the future of business but also giving people equitable opportunities to earn a good living. This journey has taught me meaningful lessons about creating a truly global culture. By blending different cultural perspectives while uniting everyone under a common mission and purpose, we've seen remarkable results. Our attrition rate is less than half the acceptable industry standard, and our teams consistently deliver outstanding service with an NPS of 82. But the most important lesson I've learned is that when we put people first and maintain high standards, we create an environment where teams can truly thrive. Here are five key strategies we've discovered for building a successful global culture that brings out the best in your international workforce . Related: A Culturally Diverse Workforce Could Be a Boon to Your Business 1. Define your global culture A global culture is fundamentally about creating a shared set of values, principles and practices that transcend geographical boundaries. To this end, DOXA prioritizes a few key values. One of our most important values is curiosity, which drives us to learn about and appreciate the differences that make each culture unique while encouraging open-mindedness and new ways of working. The next is relationships matter. It's about seeking to understand and accept our differences. This means honoring the unique traditions, perspectives and practices of every culture represented in our organization, building trust and fostering an environment where everyone feels valued . Understanding the experiences and needs of team members from different backgrounds helps us create meaningful connections and fair opportunities. 2. Recognize cultural differences One of the biggest challenges in managing a culturally diverse workforce is navigating communication styles, decision-making processes and giving feedback. At DOXA, we recognize these processes are all shaped by cultural norms. For example, team members in high-context cultures, such as the Philippines, often use indirect communication, while those in low-context cultures, such as the U.S., prefer directness. When it comes to feedback delivery, certain cultures are more to the point, while others tend to soften criticism. The decision-making process also reflects differences, as I've observed how some cultures favor egalitarian input and others rely on hierarchical structures. Differences extend to time management as well, with punctuality taking precedence in some cultures while others emphasize maintaining relationships over strict schedules. Related: 3 Tips for Managing a Cross-Cultural Workforce 3. Build a framework for expectations Something I've found highly helpful is defining our DOXA culture overview, a map per se, which expresses how everyone, regardless of background, is expected to show up within our global culture. This framework sets clear expectations for behavior, communication and decision-making that transcend cultural differences. Our culture map helps all team members be aware of the cultural nuances that may impact interactions and adapt accordingly. For example, we encourage direct and respectful communication while remaining sensitive to cultural preferences. We also emphasize both relationship-building and accountability to balance task-oriented and relationship-based approaches. Ultimately, our framework is about integration: bringing out the best of every culture while aligning everyone under a common operation and purpose. 4. Adapt your leadership style Leading a global team very well might require you to adjust your natural approach. I know I've had to adapt my style to fit the more reserved and relationship-focused cultures of our Philippine and Colombian teams. This means creating a safe space by asking more questions, listening actively and resisting the urge to jump in, solve or debate. That, in turn, gives others the opportunity to share their thoughts more comfortably. As a leader, I've also adapted my communication style . I've had to temper the directness that comes instinctively to me with cultural sensitivity and invest in relationship-building to foster trust. It hasn't always been easy, but finding ways to respect my team's cultural differences while staying true to my strengths has been a successful formula. Related: 3 Ways for Leaders to Embrace the Cultural Quotient 5. Embrace continuous learning A final piece of advice to businesses looking to blend multiple cultures: Become a student. Seek out mentors who lead diverse teams and learn from their experiences. Study what other companies are doing — within and outside your industry — and take note of best practices you could leverage. By continuously learning and staying open to new ideas, you can chart a thoughtful path forward. Also, approach this journey with humility. Remember that blending cultures doesn't happen overnight. It's a process of understanding, evolving and building a workplace where everyone feels valued and aligned with your company's mission. Your ability to integrate diverse perspectives and life experiences can be the catalyst for winning in today's competitive global market.Vik Phatak on the inherent issues in native cloud firewalls

Barely hours after the fairytale finish to this year’s Melbourne Cup, corporate bookmaker Ladbrokes launched a PR blitz to trumpet the fortunes of a lucky punter who had won $3.2 million for a $100 bet. For the married mother of two, it was a life-changing event. She had cobbled together four numbers for a first four and, against the odds, they landed – Knight’s Choice (No.11), Warp Speed (No.4), Okita Soushi (No.12) and Zardozi (No.14). Robbie Dolan rides Knight’s Choice to victory in this year’s Melbourne Cup. Credit: Getty Images The first four dividend paid $728,015.70 and she had it four times. It was like winning the lotto. “When Ladbrokes called to confirm I’d won over three million, my husband literally fell to the floor. He was just sobbing,” the woman said, revealing the windfall would pay off their previously daunting mortgage. Ladbrokes was equally chuffed. “We always strive to give our customers unforgettable experiences,” a spokesman for the bookmaker said. “This is a life-changing win and we’re thrilled to be part of this incredible story and to have played a role in helping this family secure their future.” But this is not the sort of “unforgettable” experience that everyone has with a corporate bookmaker when their luck runs hot. Instead, there is a growing group of disgruntled professional punters who say the betting companies have closed down their accounts simply because they win too often. Others have had big payouts capped – reduced to a smaller amount under the small print of the bookmaker’s terms and conditions – while others’ betting activities have been severely restricted. It was a point made on a pro punting podcast two days after the Melbourne Cup. “I think if one of us on this show had got the [$3.2 million first four] collect, I don’t think it would have made the news, and we might have got caught up in the T&Cs of a maximum payout of $500,000,” one of the pros said. Another agreed: “They made sure they got their PR’s worth ... being a once-in-a-year Melbourne Cup punter, I think they [Ladbrokes] got their mileage out of the extra payment through good will and mileage in the press. That would have been a per-customer decision.” ‘The amount of winners who are voided is insane’ Luke MacDonald is a pro punter who has become so tired of waging an online war with the corporates that he has all but given up. “The amount of winners who are voided is insane,” he says. “And it shows how predatory in nature these big companies are, that they only have losers on their books.” MacDonald claims the “corporates” have a number of strategies for cutting punters off. He claims they accuse punters of working for a rival bookmaker, say your betting does not suit their operation, or use anti-money laundering or counter-terrorism funding laws. MacDonald says he knows of examples of bookmakers shutting down an account after a client has had a win and then demanding payslips and unredacted bank accounts as proof of identity before they agree to pay out winnings. That process that can take months, even years. MacDonald says he has previously shared six months of bank statements with online bookmakers, only for his private information to be leaked on social media. “A piece of information about where we shopped got leaked on Twitter,” he says. “It was too hard for me to pinpoint which operator it was and try to hunt down the staff member. But that information was used against me to try to publicly shame me, which I didn’t care about, but I just thought, ‘geez, that’s pretty bad’. “People can find out a lot about you by having six months of your bank statements. My kids’ daycare stuff is on there.” Frank Pangallo, an independent member of South Australia’s Legislative Council, wants to stop corporate bookmakers from banning or restricting punters simply because they win. South Australian politician Frank Pangallo. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen He has introduced a bill to the South Australian parliament calling for the strategy to be outlawed. Under Pangallo’s Authorised Betting Operations (User Bans) Amendment Bill 2024, betting companies would: “They enter the market willingly, and pocket billions of dollars from losers willingly – so they cannot cry poor when it comes time to pay out a winner,” Pangallo said. Pangallo believes other states will follow suit if the bill is supported in South Australia when he brings it to a vote in February. “But my concern is that governments are intoxicated by gambling taxes that they receive, and seem to be reluctant to move on issues that are trying to protect gamblers,” he said. ‘They play dumb’ Ronny* has not been able to bet with big online bookmakers for the past three years after he and a friend tapped into a successful betting system in which they outlaid about $10,000 to win $40,000 across two months. While living in Sydney, the pair had a link to a private equity firm that focused on racing algorithms that would suggest bets on “roughies”. At the time, Ronny had a separate mobile phone and SIM card that was solely connected to a 3G or 4G network so that the bookmakers could not track him to a specific IP address. “If you connect to Wi-Fi, they can immediately track it and they restrict anything that comes from that IP address,” he said. Ronny said the algorithm would feed you a message that said, “in 40 seconds this race is about to start and this horse is likely to win, or place – it is currently at 10-1 and it should be at 4-1”. “So you would put $50 to $100, sometimes $150, on the horse, and you end up with probably four bets where you lose – so, you lose $400 in four races – and then suddenly the fifth horse wins at 12-1 and you get back $1200,” he said. He said they would go through two new betting companies every “week or two”. “They are all linked, and once one betting agency realises they don’t like the way you are betting, they will ban you or restrict you betting at all,” he said. Ronny said their gambling was not without risk – “I could have lost it all” – but he was still shut down for good. Now he can’t bet with mates. “I have got a screenshot here from Sportsbet from this year after trying to join a $50 buy-in bet-with-mates group and the response is ‘you are unable to join a group, please call us to help resolve the issue’, and then you call them and they play dumb and they say, ‘sorry, we don’t have an answer for you’. “So if I want to have a bet, it is either going into a TAB or I might have to use my partner’s account occasionally to put a $50 bet on.” Laying a bet on someone else’s account, a practice called using a “bowler account”, is banned by online bookmakers under their terms and conditions. If bookmakers discover you are betting on behalf of a third party, they will refuse to pay out winnings. Punter bowled over Last month, a punter failed in his quest to have Ladbrokes release $30,000 in winnings from his account because the betting giant claimed he was operating a “bowler account”. Ladbrokes’ terms and conditions state “You must not permit another person to access your account and you must not use your account on behalf of or for the benefit of another person.” The betting giant used “variations in speech patterns” from phone calls to support its case before the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission – Ladbrokes.com.au is registered in the NT. During the October hearing, the gambling giant said it had refused to release the cash in December 2022 because the account holder was unable to complete its “two-factor authentication” – a process triggered by a text message. The punter claimed he could not access the text because he was overseas and did not have the right phone number. He later tried to register a new phone number with the bookmaker, but it was found to be connected to another Ladbrokes account. Ladbrokes told the commission that during several follow-up phone conversations “it was most likely not the complainant who engaged with Ladbrokes, but a person identifying himself as the complainant instead”. That is why it closed his account. The commission found in Ladbrokes’ favour, agreeing that on the “balance of probabilities” a third party had been involved, but it said it could “not be confirmed with absolute certainty” that the voice on the phone did not belong to the account holder. MacDonald said there would not be an issue with bowler accounts if winning punters were allowed to continue betting under their own names. “There is no reason for anyone to have to come in the back door, if they are allowed to go in and bet under their own name,” he said. “A lot of issues in the industry that have been created are on the back of restrictions.” He said if authorities really cared about anti-money laundering or counter-terrorism financing laws, they would stop online bookmakers restricting or banning winning punters, which would eliminate the need for bowler accounts. ‘Totally amoral’ Another pro-punter, Brandon*, says he restricts himself to betting in person with on-course bookmakers at city race meetings on Wednesdays and Saturdays. “It’s better value, I can get on quickly and it’s a more sociably enjoyable environment than sitting in a room with a computer screen in front of you all day,” he said. Some punters say they are unable to bet online after winning big. Credit: Jenny Evans “I find the corporates are just a blight on the industry. They’re leeches, and their business model is amoral. “You are encouraged to lose, you are promoted to lose, and you are discouraged and restricted from winning. “If you are a registered loser, and you consistently lose, they will bet you any amount. They give you free bets, they give you deposit matches, all sorts of things. To me that’s totally amoral.” Ladbrokes told this masthead it “is a company that does not ban winners”. A spokesperson for the betting giant said it adhered to the minimum bet limits required by the racing codes. In reference to capping payouts, Ladbrokes highlighted its $3.2 million payout last month to the lucky punter who landed the Melbourne Cup first four, saying “we are not afraid to pay someone if they win big”. The spokesperson said Ladbrokes sets its own betting markets, and was not reactive to what other bookmakers were doing. “If other bookies want to copy our prices that’s not something we can control,” the spokesperson said. The company said it had an obligation under legislation to clamp down on “bowler accounts”. Brandon said “bookmakers are not bookmakers any more”. He said they are not taking risks, but using algorithms and strategies to analyse punters instead. “They do form on their punters,” he said. “They say this bloke is losing 11 per cent per annum, so we can bet him to a certain amount. “This bloke’s only just losing, he is losing only 1 per cent, so we will restrict him a little bit. “This bloke is winning 3 per cent in NSW, so we won’t bet him in NSW, or he is winning 5 per cent on dogs, but losing 12 per cent on horses so we will restrict him on dogs. “So they analyse the client, not the outcome of the event. That’s how they work, so it needs to go back to how it was.” MacDonald said he knew of a case in which every member of a punters’ club had their winning bets voided by an online bookmaker 16 minutes after a race. They had all bet to win $5000. “The bet won, the bookmaker paid out the bet, and then they voided the winnings (removed the payouts from their accounts) and returned the stake,” he said. “Only one of them has received an email so far as to why the bets were voided. Everyone else has just got radio silence.” Sportsbet told this masthead that it “does not ban customers just because they are winning”. “Every customer is able to bet with us, in their own name, as defined by respective minimum bet laws set by the racing bodies,” a Sportsbet spokesperson said. “Our terms and conditions are in place to ensure a fair go for all customers, as is the case across many other industries. We responsibly manage customer accounts for regulatory, compliance and safer gambling reasons.” Minimum bets Sergio* is a full-time punter who bets on harness racing. He said he was able to get by because of minimum bet laws introduced by Harness Racing Victoria in January 2018. The laws mean online bookmakers “must stand to lose a maximum of $500 for a fixed-odds win bet” on country races from no later than 10am on a race day. The amount increases to $1000 for metropolitan races. “A lot of big punters sign up with 10-12 different accounts if they want to have a real crack because the corporates will only bet you to win $500,” Sergio says. “To win thousands, you need multiple accounts.” Some punters claim they are not paid out for big wins with some bookmakers. Credit: Nathan Perri He said it took careful planning because all the bookmakers were linked. “All of the corporates have algorithms for their odds,” he said. “They actually don’t employ someone to set the odds, do the markets, they are just copying what the main bookies have. “For example, if I hit the TAB first [with a bet], all of the other bookies will roll the odds down, following the TAB, without actually taking a bet. “So, I have got to hit them in order – smallest bookies to biggest bookies. A lot of them have algorithms but TAB, for example, won’t give a stuff if I hit something at one of those smaller bookies. “But if I go the other way around, the smaller bookie will react straight away to the TAB price.” Racing Victoria introduced a minimum bet limit for thoroughbred racing in October 2016, which applies after the final acceptances deadline. Wagering service providers have to allow punters to win up to $2000 on a metropolitan win bet and $1000 on a non-metropolitan win bet. But there are no minimum bet laws in place for betting on sports such as AFL, tennis or basketball. “Legally, they don’t have to take any money on sports bets,” Sergio said. ‘Against our policy’ Brandon said he broke with his routine recently when he tried to have a $1000 cash bet on a horse at $3.50 using an electronic betting terminal, or EBT, at a Melbourne pub TAB. “I went up to the EBT, and there was a sign on there saying, ‘no cash in this machine, please see the bar attendant for a voucher’,” he said. But when he approached the bar, he was told by a staff member there was a “limit of $200”. When he asked for five $200 vouchers in exchange for his $1000, he was told it was “against our money laundering policy”. One punter claimed he could not make a cash bet at a TAB in a pub. Credit: Louie Douvis “I couldn’t get on,” he said. “I wanted to have a cash bet and couldn’t get on. I thought, ‘no wonder the turnover is suffering’.” A TAB spokesman said: “TAB venue staff are trained in responsible gambling practices and can refuse to issue vouchers where they believe it is in the customer’s best interest not to.” The betting organisation said it did not cap payouts to punters - “as highlighted by a punter who collected $728,000 from a $24 mystery bet on the Melbourne Cup” - but it did cut off or restrict losing punters. “We are introducing new technology to detect changes in customer behaviour faster so we can intervene sooner to protect customers from gambling harm,” the spokesman said. Taxing the punter Increases in taxes have become another bugbear for punters. They say, ultimately, these extra costs are worn by the customers. From January 2019, the state government introduced a point of consumption tax to replace the wagering and betting tax structures. It was a way for the state to properly tax online bookmakers who are often licensed outside of Victoria. Both Ladbrokes.com.au and Sportsbet.com.au are licensed in the Northern Territory. Ladbrokes is owned by Entain, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, while Sportsbet is part of the Flutter Entertainment Group, which is a worldwide online gambling operator with headquarters in Dublin. “Because they [the corporate bookmakers] were eluding taxes, the governments and tax authorities said, ‘we are not getting our whack out of this’, so they introduced all these taxes,” Brandon said. “But the corporates responded by just putting up their percentages. They used to bet to 110 per cent [for a market], now they bet to 125 per cent. To the point where the turnover is now dropping.” The Victorian point of consumption tax jumped from 10 per cent to 15 per cent in July, with half of the income guaranteed to be funnelled back to all racing codes. In other words, the Victorian racing industry is now welded to an income from the online bookmaker model. “The government and racing bodies are taxing the industry to death,” MacDonald said. “When they are increased, it is passed on to the punters. When the online bookmakers have poorer margins, they have to cut down on the winners. “But winners are a big part of the game. If more winners are allowed, it would make the margins sharper. So losers would lose at a slower rate. “It is a cycle of poor management. Governments and sports administrations want greater returns from tax, but they are losing revenue.” Racing Victoria said gambling revenue fell 10 per cent last financial year, and is already down nine per cent this year. The other side effects, MacDonald said, was that more and more gamblers were turning to the black market. Political mission Whether Pangallo’s bill can start a chain reaction remains to be seen. But he is determined to make a difference. “The conglomerates who own these companies – like Flutter Entertainment (Sportsbet) or Entain Group (Neds and Ladbrokes) – have resources in the billions of dollars,” he said. “Their algorithms pick up on every tiny detail – from the way you swipe on your phone application to the IP address you use when making bets. “But advances of technology have seen a new genre of smart and well-resourced gamblers attempting to improve their chances of landing winners. Some punters are just really good at analysis, while others utilise complex computer algorithms. “As a result, these greedy betting companies have wised up and devised their own way to ensure they still hold the upper hand – by simply banning the punter. “In any other industry, that would be unconscionable, if not illegal conduct.” *Names changed to protect privacy. News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter .Nick Kern came off the bench for 20 points and 13 rebounds as Penn State remained unbeaten with an 85-66 thumping of Fordham in a semifinal of the Sunshine Slam on Monday in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Nittany Lions (6-0), who will play either San Francisco or Clemson for the tournament title on Tuesday, put four other players in double figures. Zach Hicks scored 16 points, while Puff Johnson added 15. Ace Baldwin and Yanic Konan Niederhauser each chipped in 12 points. Penn State sank nearly 53 percent of its field goal attempts and earned a 38-30 advantage on the boards, more than enough to offset missing 12 of its 32 foul shots. Four players reached double figures for the Rams (3-4), led by 15 points apiece from Jackie Johnson III and reserve Joshua Rivera. Romad Dean and Jahmere Tripp each added 13. Fordham was as close as 56-49 after Tripp made a layup with 14:25 left in the game. But the Nittany Lions responded with a 16-1 run, capped with a layup by Kern for a 22-point lead at the 9:33 mark, and they never looked back. The main storyline prior to tipoff was whether Penn State could continue its torrid early start that saw it come into the day leading Division I in steals and ranked second in scoring at 98.2 points per game. The Nittany Lions certainly played to their billing for most of the first half, establishing a 21-8 lead at the 10:08 mark via Hicks' three-point play. Fordham predictably struggled early with the pressure defense, committing four turnovers in the first four minutes. But the Rams got their bearings over the last 10 minutes and made some shots. They got as close as four on two occasions late in the half before Penn State pushed the lead to 42-34 at the half. The officials were busy in the half, calling 23 fouls and administering 27 free throws. --Field Level Media

Pakistan denounces U.S. sanctions on its missile program as biased and putting regional peace at risk

UVALDE, Texas — A Texas judge on Thursday refused to throw out criminal charges accusing the former Uvalde schools police chief of putting children at risk during a slow response to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. Pete Arredondo said he was improperly charged and that the shooter was responsible for putting the victims in danger in the school attack on May 24, 2022. Nineteen children and two teachers were killed. Arredondo also said he was scapegoated for the halting police response. Nearly 400 law enforcement agents rushed to the scene in rural South Texas but waited more than 70 minutes to confront and kill the gunman in a fourth-grade classroom. Judge Sid Harle handed down the ruling during a hearing in a Uvalde courtroom, and set a trial date for Oct. 20, 2025. Several victim family members attended the hearing but left without comment. Arredondo has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of abandoning or endangering a child, each of which carried a punishment of up to two years in jail. He and former Uvalde schools officer Adrian Gonzales are the only officers who have been charged for their actions that day. Gonzales has not asked the judge to dismiss his charges but could at a later date. Gonzales and Arredondo attended the hearing in person. Nico LaHood, an attorney for Gonzales, said he will ask for the trial to be moved out of Uvalde County because he believes his client cannot receive a fair trial there. “Everybody knows everybody,” in Uvalde, LaHood said. The indictment against Arredondo alleges he did not follow his active shooter training and made critical decisions that slowed the police response while the gunman was “hunting” his victims. It alleges that instead of confronting the gunman immediately, Arredondo caused delays by telling officers to evacuate a hallway to wait for a SWAT team, evacuating students from other areas of the building first, and trying to negotiate with the shooter while victims inside the classroom were wounded and dying. Arredondo’s attorneys say the danger that day was not caused by him, but by the shooter. They argued Arredondo was blamed for trying to save the lives of the other children in the building, and have warned that prosecuting him would open many future law enforcement actions to similar charges. “Arredondo did nothing to put those children in the path of a gunman,” said Arredondo attorney Matthew Hefti. The massacre at Robb Elementary was one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history, and the law enforcement response has been widely condemned as a massive failure. Nearly 150 U.S. Border Patrol agents, 91 state police officers, as well and school and city police rushed to the campus. While terrified students and teachers called 911 from inside classrooms, dozens of officers stood in the hallway trying to figure out what to do. More than an hour later, a team of officers breached the classroom and killed the gunman. Within days of the shooting, the focus of the slow response turned on Arredondo, who was described by other responding agencies as the incident commander in charge. Multiple federal and state investigations have laid bare cascading problems in law enforcement training, communication, leadership and technology, and questioned whether officers prioritized their own lives over those of children and teachers. Several victims or their families have filed multiple state and federal lawsuits. ___ Associated Press reporter Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, contributed.( MENAFN - GetNews) "According to a market report by Lucintel, the future of the global 3D printing medical device market looks promising with opportunities in the medical & surgical centers, Pharmaceutical & biotechnology, and academic institutions. The global 3D printing medical device market is expected to reach an estimated $4 billion by 2030 from $2.2 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 7.0% from 2024 to 2030."According to a market report by Lucintel, the future of the global 3D printing medical device market looks promising with opportunities in the medical & surgical centers, pharmaceutical & biotechnology, and academic institutions. The global 3D printing medical device market is expected to reach an estimated $4 billion by 2030 from $2.2 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 7.0% from 2024 to 2030. 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spinph com casino login Liverpool are now seven points clear at the top of the Premier league after a comeback victory against Leicester City at Anfield. The Reds recovered from Jordan Ayew's early goal by striking either side of half-time, before Mo Salah sealed the three points late on. Cody Gakpo curled in a sublime equaliser in first-half stoppage time, and just after the break Curtis Jones tapped in from Salah's cut back. And the 'Egyptian King' himself finished off matters late on with a trademark low finish. Express Sport looks brings you the Liverpool player ratings below... Liverpool player ratings: Alisson 5 Beaten by Ayew's low shot after just six minutes, but a virtual spectator thereafter. Trent Alexander-Arnold 8 Range of passing and crosses, in the first-half especially, was superb. A tense few weeks ahead as his contract negotiations continue. Joe Gomez 6 Didn't look entirely comfortable when Leicester did break forward but no glaring errors. Virgil van Dijk 6 One vital first-half interception after causing the slight deflection that aided Ayew's opener. Was fortunate Patson Daka fluffed his second-half chance though after not getting tight enough. Andy Robertson 5 Had his moments, hitting the post in the first-half, but was shoved off the ball way too easily by Ayew for his goal. Still struggling defensively. Alexis Mac Allister 7 A mixed bag early on, full of intensity but misplacing passes. Soon settled down and linked well with his forwards. Ryan Gravenberch 7 Another rock-solid display from the Dutch midfielder. Leicester's deep-lying tactics helped him bring the ball upfield with comfort. Curtis Jones 9 Another energetic display capped by him scoring the winner. Went close twice more and now a key performer for his team. Mohamed Salah 8 What can you say anymore? At times itt didn't seem his best night, but produced two stunning efforts. One hit the bar, the other nestled in the net. Cody Gakpo 8 Given a chance by Arne Slot and he took it. Great finish for his goal and teed up Salah for the clincher. Darwin Nunez 4 Once again worked hard, but his woeful time in front of goal goes on. Headed well wide early on and blasted a later chance way over. Subs Diogo Jota (for Nunez, 78) 7 Busy when he came on and offered a different option. Dominik Szoboszlai (for Jones, 77) 5 Came on, picked up a needless booking, and now suspended for the West Ham game. Not a great cameo. Waturu Endo (for Gravenberch, 87) 6 Tidy enough but on too late to make any real impact. Kostas Tsimikas (for Robertson, 86) 5 Little involvement after coming on. Harvey Elliott (for Mac Allister, 92) 5 A late change to kill seconds.A video of Mr Harris being challenged by the worker, Charlotte Fallon, in Kanturk last Friday evening went viral online. Mr Harris has rejected suggestions that contact made by Fine Gael with RTÉ was an attempt to influence how the broadcaster handled the controversial clip. However, the Taoiseach and Fine Gael have come under mounting pressure to provide more detail on who contacted RTÉ, and to provide a full account of interactions between Mr Harris’s team and the national broadcaster on the matter. On Wednesday reporters pressed Mr Harris about remarks he made during Monday night’s televised debate where he said he didn’t believe that Fine Gael had requested RTÉ not to broadcast the video from Kanturk . He was also asked about allegations that Fine Gael had suggested to RTÉ that Ms Fallon was a member of Sinn Féin. “Yeah, I’ve asked that question and I don’t believe that was the case,” he said. Pressed as to whether he didn’t believe it to be the case or knew it to be the case, Mr Harris twice repeated: “I’ve asked that question and I do not believe it to be the case”. The main opposition party Sinn Féin has seized on the issue, calling on RTÉ to publish details of any correspondence with Mr Harris’s party. Its director of elections, Matt Carthy, argued that Fine Gael has “refused to come clean on this issue which goes right to the heart of the democratic process. In the interests of transparency and to assure the public that the national broadcaster is not facing undue pressure by government parties, RTÉ needs to publish details of the correspondence with Fine Gael in relation to the Kanturk incident.” RTÉ declined to comment. Mr Harris said there was constant engagement between all parties and RTÉ – and with other media outlets – and that he was satisfied that there was nothing inappropriate about any contacts. Mr Harris added that his party – unlike the Sinn Féin leader – was not suing RTÉ or proposing to review RTÉ. Asked if he would encourage RTÉ to publish the nature of the representations from Fine Gael, Mr Harris said that RTÉ had already commented on the issue, and said it received regular contacts from parties. Elsewhere, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe said he was not aware of who made any representations from Fine Gael to RTÉ about the Kanturk video, but has satisfied himself that they were entirely appropriate. Cormac McQuinn is a Political Correspondent at The Irish Times Pat Leahy is Political Editor of The Irish Times

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.Mainstreet Bancshares chief risk officer sells $52,779 in stock

AmpliTech Group Announces Closing of $1.4 Million Registered Direct OfferingThe future of tick control: Identifying genetic tools to control cattle fever ticksWho are the Border Patrol chaplains? And why does the agency need more of them now?

Cowboys announce big news about CeeDee Lamb ahead of Week 17EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Cameron Haffner scored 13 points as Evansville beat Missouri State 57-40 on Sunday to snap a five-game losing streak. Haffner went 5 of 12 from the field (3 for 7 from 3-point range) for the Purple Aces (4-9, 1-1 Missouri Valley Conference). Joshua Hughes added 11 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Tayshawn Comer scored 11. Dez White finished with 12 points, four assists and six steals for the Bears (7-6, 0-2). Missouri State also got 10 points, 12 rebounds and two steals from Michael Osei-Bonsu. Zaxton King had eight points. Evansville carried a slim three-point lead into halftime, as Haffner led the way with seven points. Evansville took the lead for what would be the final time on Haffner's 3-pointer with 18:44 remaining in the second half. His team would outscore Missouri State by 14 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

The Gophers men’s basketball team overwhelmed Morgan State 90-68 on Sunday, but it was the final bullet point on how underwhelming Minnesota’s nonconference schedule has been this season. The Gophers (8-5) have a “strength of resume” ranked 156th in the nation, according to ESPN on Sunday. And Minnesota’s spot in the overall NET ranking (155) won’t improve come Monday, not with a win over a Morgan State team ranked nearly 200 spots lower at 353. ADVERTISEMENT Minnesota was a 22-point favorite and received a huge 22-point first half from Mike Mitchell to win easily in its final tune-up before Big Ten play resumes Thursday at home versus Purdue. Gophers head coach Ben Johnson in August expressed the difficulty to balance the competitiveness of the nonconference slate with who’s available to book and what’s best for this year’s team. “Sometimes the hardest thing for fans to grasp fully is so much of it is a numbers game,” Johnson said at the Minnesota State Fair. “It’s a give and take. You don’t know your team fully and you don’t know the other teams. Sometimes you can roll the dice and go with a team that, quote, might not have the name, but you know will be really good in their league, where if you play a Power Five team and they aren’t good in their league, the game means nothing. It’s great to have a name (opponent), but if they finish bottom four, the numbers go down.” Minnesota joined a multi-team, neutral-site event in Orlando around Thanksgiving but lost both games, to Wichita State and Wake Forest. They also lost to North Texas at The Barn earlier in November. Those three teams each have NET rankings in the Top 80. “There are a couple (of games) that we wish we had back,” Johnson said of the overall nonconference schedule. “Obviously Wichita State still stings. You feel like if you had a healthy Mike and play in the North Texas game. ... But when you have a new team, so much of it is hitting adversity and being able to figure it out.” While Morgan State (6-10) won’t help the U’s resume, the win should aid confidence before facing a Boilermakers team picked in preseason to win the Big Ten come March. Morgan State, which lost by 61 points to Xavier and by 27 to No. 3 Iowa State, played Sunday without leading scorers Winston Tabbs (16.1 points per game) and Amahrie Simpkins (12.7). Minnesota staked a 55-37 lead at the half on the back of Mitchell’s perfection. He made all eight jump shots, including six 3-pointers, for 22 points; that total bested his previous U high of 20 points against Ball State last season. Mitchell missed both of his two shots in the second half and sat during garbage time, falling one point short of his career-high while with Pepperdine in 2022. ADVERTISEMENT “I think it kind of built into that,” Mitchell said. “Teammates found me when I was open and the ball went in.” How did it feel once he finally missed? “Dang,” he said. The Gophers’ poorer start to this season came with Mitchell sidelined for seven games with a high ankle sprain — including all three defeats — and his return is vital as the U looks to dig out of an early 0-2 hole in conference play next week. Dawson Garcia added 18 points and eight rebounds, while Parker Fox chipped in 11 points as Minnesota used 11 players. Frank Mitchell returned Sunday after missing the Dec. 21 win over Farleigh Dickinson while in concussion protocol. He scored 10 points in 11 minutes on Sunday. “You want to come off (the holiday) break and have a little bit of momentum going into January,” Johnson said. “I think we did that.” ______________________________________________________ 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 .Radical Jaguar rebrand and new logo sparks ire online NEW YORK (AP) — A promotional video for a rebrand of British luxury car brand Jaguar is being criticized online for showing models in brightly colored outfits — and no car. The rebrand, which includes a new logo, is slated to launch Dec. 2 during Miami Art Week, when the company will unveil a new electric model. But Jaguar Land Rover, a unit of India’s Tata Motors Ltd., has been promoting it online. The Jaguar brand is in the middle of a transition to going all-electric. “Copy Nothing,” marketing materials read. “We’re here to delete the ordinary. To go bold. To copy nothing.” Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations DALLAS (AP) — The nation is set to mark 61 years since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as his motorcade passed through downtown Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Even after over six decades, conspiracy theories about what happened that day still swirl and the desire to follow every thread of information hasn’t waned. President-elect Donald Trump made promises over the summer that if reelected he would declassify the remaining records. At this point, only a few thousand of millions of pages of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released. And those who have studied what's been released so far say that the public shouldn’t anticipate any earth-shattering revelations even if the remaining files are declassified. Bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, rising above $98,000 for the first time Thursday. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. NFL issues security alert to teams and the players' union following recent burglaries The NFL has issued a security alert to teams and the players’ union following recent burglaries involving the homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets. Penn State wins trademark case over retailer's use of vintage logos, images PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Penn State has won a closely watched trademark fight over an online retailer’s use of its vintage logos and images. A Pennsylvania jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages earlier this week over products made and sold by the firms Vintage Brand and Sportswear Inc. Penn State accused them of selling “counterfeit” clothing and accessories. The defendants said their website makes clear they are not affiliated with Penn State. At least a dozen other schools have sued the defendants on similar grounds, but the Pennsylvania case was the first to go to trial. Has a waltz written by composer Frederic Chopin been discovered in an NYC museum? NEW YORK (AP) — A previously unknown musical work written by composer Frederic Chopin appears to have been found in a library in New York City. The Morgan Library & Museum says the untitled and unsigned piece is the first new manuscript of the Romantic era virtuoso to be discovered in nearly a century. Robinson McClellan, the museum’s curator, says he stumbled across the work in May while going through a collection brought to the Manhattan museum years earlier. He worked with outside experts to verify the document's authenticity. But there’s debate whether the waltz is an original Chopin work or merely one written in his hand. Volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula erupts for the 7th time in a year GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland is spewing lava from a fissure in its seventh eruption since December. Iceland's seismic monitors said the eruption started with little warning late Wednesday and created a long fissure but looked to be smaller than eruptions in August and May. Around 50 houses were evacuated after the Civil Protection agency issued the alert, along with guests at the famous Blue Lagoon resort, according to the national broadcaster. The repeated eruptions over the past year have caused damage to the town of Grindavík and forced people to relocate. Australian teen and British woman who drank tainted alcohol in Laos have died, bringing toll to 5 VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — An Australian teenager and a British woman have died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos in what Australia’s prime minister said was every parent’s nightmare. Officials earlier said an American and two Danish tourists also had died following reports that multiple people had been sickened in town popular with backpackers. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Parliament that 19-year-old Bianca Jones had died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng, Laos, for treatment in a Thai hospital. Her friend, also 19, remains hospitalized in Thailand. Later Thursday, Britain said a British woman also died and the media in the U.K. identified her as 28-year-old Simone White. US ahead in AI innovation, easily surpassing China in Stanford's new ranking The U.S. leads the world in developing artificial intelligence technology, surpassing China in research and other important measures of AI innovation, according to a newly released Stanford University index. There’s no surefire way to rank global AI leadership but Stanford researchers have made an attempt by measuring the “vibrancy” of the AI industry across a variety of dimensions, from how much research and investment is happening to how responsibly the technology is being pursued to prevent harm. Following the U.S. and China were the United Kingdom, India and the United Arab Emirates. Pop star Ed Sheeran helps favorite soccer team sign player before getting on stage with Taylor Swift It turns out British pop star Ed Sheeran is also good at recruiting soccer players. Sheeran is a minority shareholder at English soccer team Ipswich Town and it needed his help over the summer to get a player to join the club. Ipswich CEO Mark Ashton tells a Soccerex industry event in Miami: “Ed jumped on a Zoom call with him at the training ground, just before he stepped on stage with Taylor Swift. Hopefully that was a key part in getting the player across the line.” Ashton didn’t disclose the player in question, saying only: “He’s certainly scoring a few goals.”

The ruling Mahayuti alliance cruised to a landslide victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, winning 235 of the 288 seats, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registering its best performance ever in the state by emerging as the single largest party after securing 132 seats. The Mahayuti win crushed the opposition coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), whose joint tally was at 50, leaving it with scant opportunity to even claim the position of the leader of the Opposition in the assembly. The BJP recorded the highest ever seats won by any party in the last 34 years; the undivided Congress had won 141 seats in 1990, when there was no strong opponent against it. At the height of the Modi wave in 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, which got depleted in 2019 to 105 seats. The MVA, which was confident of making it to the halfway mark in the 288-seat house, stood decimated, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) bagging 20 seats, the NCP (SP) at 10 and the Congress getting 16, and others winning 4 seats. This was a sharp reversal of fortunes from the Lok Sabha elections six months ago when the MVA won 30 of 48 seats, while the Mahayuti won 17. Among those who lost were senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat (Sangamner), the Congress’s working president Arif Naseem Khan (Chandivali, Mumbai) and former minister Yashomati Thakur (Teosa, Amravati). What worked for Mahayuti The corrective steps taken by the ruling parties soon after the rout in the Lok Sabha by launching welfare schemes to benefit a cross-section of society (prominently, the Ladki Bahin Yojana for women), social engineering by constituting boards for various communities, and galvanising the Hindutva vote bank seem to have worked. On Saturday, chief minister Eknath Shinde attributed the win to “a combination of welfare schemes and development done by our government in the last two and a half years”. He added that through the Ladki Bahin scheme and the Shasan Apalya Dari (government at your doorstep), the government managed to reach out to 50 million people. “We gave compensation of ₹ 15,000 crore and introduced schemes worth ₹ 45,000 crore for farmers,” Shinde said. Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said: “We bow down before the people. This result has added to our responsibility. The people of Maharashtra supported PM Narendra Modi’s slogan ‘Ek Hain To Safe Hain’.” A senior BJP leader, requesting anonymity, underscored that the alliance had “pulled out all the stops in the last six months” to win over the electorate. “The Lok Sabha defeat in Maharashtra was largely due to the narrative surrounding scrapping of the Indian Constitution which led to a swing in minority and Dalit votes. Muslim voters, who are around 14%, and their high turnout led to the defeat in many constituencies. The party decided to consolidate Hindu votes instead of wooing Muslim voters,” he said, adding that metros like Mumbai saw a high voter turnout, where the BJP dominates. MVA’s losses The opposition MVA leaders termed the results “unexpected and unbelievable”. On Saturday, Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said, “We all know that the mood on the ground was against the government. Did people vote in their favour because farmers are not getting prices for soybean and cotton? Were the people happy over inflation? The secret behind the BJP’s success will be out soon.” Ten of the 20 seats which the Shiv Sena (UBT) won are in Mumbai. The party had contested 95 seats as part of the alliance. Congress in-charge for Maharashtra, Ramesh Chennithala said the verdict “does not reflect the mood of the people in the state”. “The mood of the people who voted for the MVA in the Lok Sabha cannot change in such a short period. We will probe the unexpected results,” he said.

SEATTLE (AP) — SEATTLE (AP) — Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) on Tuesday reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $46 million. The Seattle-based company said it had net income of 27 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 33 cents per share. The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 23 cents per share. The department store operator posted revenue of $3.46 billion in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $3.33 billion. Nordstrom expects full-year earnings in the range of $1.75 to $2.05 per share. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( http://automatedinsights.com/ap ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on JWN at https://www.zacks.com/ap/JWNBad Bunny has lifted the curtain on his next long-form studio release. Entitled Debí Tirar Más Fotos – which translates to “I should have taken more photos” – Benito announced the album with a teaser video starring one of Puerto Rico’s most influential film directors Jacobo Morales. “I should have lived more, I should have loved more while I could,” he says to his cartoonish companion Cocho who stands on the table. “While you’re alive, one should love as much as they can.” The official album announcement wasn’t too much of a surprise, with the musician dropping hints via socials – yesterday posting a 17-track “BOMBA” tracklist on X among a series of other posts about x100pre, his debut studio project that he released on Christmas Eve. Earlier this morning, Benito fueled the album allegations with a surprise new single “PIToRRO DE COCO” which arrived alongside its official visualizer. Shortly thereafter its release, he followed up with the trailer. Stream it in full below. A post shared by Benito Antonio (@badbunnypr) Debí Tirar Más Fotos will mark Bad Bunny’s sixth studio album, arriving a little over a year after his fifth LP Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana . Expect Debí Tirar Más Fotos to drop on January 5.

Share this Story : World juniors: Former Ottawa 67 scores in OT as Finland upsets U.S.A. at a packed CTC Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links Sports Hockey Junior Hockey World Juniors World juniors: Former Ottawa 67 scores in OT as Finland upsets U.S.A. at a packed CTC The crowd of 16,433 erupted when former Ottawa 67's winger Tuomas Uronen scored to give the Finns a 4-3 overtime victory. Author of the article: Don Brennan Published Dec 29, 2024 • 2 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. Tuomas Uronen (15) of Team Finland celebrates his overtime goal with teammate Mitja Jokinen against Team USA at the Canadian Tire Centre on Dec. 29, 2024 in Ottawa. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Article content FINLAND 4, U.S. 3 (OT) Article content We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or tap here to see other videos from our team . World juniors: Former Ottawa 67 scores in OT as Finland upsets U.S.A. at a packed CTC Back to video Article content Fans at an almost-full Canadian Tire Centre were strong and loud in their support of Finland in its Sunday matinée match against the Americans. They should have been more careful about what they wished for. The crowd of 16,433 erupted when former Ottawa 67’s winger Tuomas Uronen scored to give the Finns a 4-3 overtime victory over the U.S.A. that squeezed the interesting Group A standings. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content The Americans, who took one point from the game, are still in first place with seven, while Finland now has five as Canada had four heading into its battle against the Germans on Sunday night. Had Finland won in regulation time, it would have shot up to first place, getting the nod over the U.S. in the tie-breaker based on head-to-head record. Team Finland celebrates an overtime victory against Team USA at the Canadian Tire Centre on Dec. 29, 2024 in Ottawa. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Canada would have moved into the top spot with seven points by beating Germany, but the stage could have been set for a New Year’s Eve showdown with the U.S. that would likely have seen the winner finish first and the loser third. As it stands, Canada can move into first by defeating the Germans in regulation time, two points up on the Finns, like the U.S. Uronen, whose 2023-24 campaign with Dave Cameron’s 67’s was limited to 11 games by a knee injury that required surgery, now toils for the Kingston Frontenacs. The sixth-round Vegas Golden Knights pick is third in Frontenacs scoring with 39 points on 16 goals and 23 assists. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Uronen said of scoring the winner. “It’s nice to be back here.” Among the goal scorers for the Americans on Sunday was defenceman Cole Hutson, the brother of Montreal Canadiens D-man Lane Hutson, as a follow-up to his five-assist game against the Germans on Friday. Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Ryan Leonard of Team USA skates face first into the mask of goaltender Petteri Rimpinen of Team Finland in the first period. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images “They were ready to go and we weren’t,” Cole Hutson said of the Finns. “We took a few undisciplined penalties, including myself, and just got away from our game, and we can’t be doing that.” Of the partisan crowd, Hutson said: “They hate us out there and we were ready for it. They’re going to root against us all tournament. We love it.” American captain Ryan Leonard said his team is looking forward to the Tuesday showdown with Canada. “It’s going to be cool, especially being in Canada,” he said. “The world is against us, and we see it with any team that we play, but it’s definitely going to be a different breed when we play in Canada. It’s going to be a fun game, and we’re just going to embrace it.” Recommended from Editorial World Juniors: Easton Cowan assumes ownership of Canada's failure to score more World juniors: Reinforcements on way as Canada moves forward from devastating loss to Latvia Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : World juniors: Former Ottawa 67 scores in OT as Finland upsets U.S.A. at a packed CTC Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. Create an Account Sign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Trending World juniors: Reinforcements on way as Canada moves forward from devastating loss to Latvia World Juniors GameDay: Ottawa Senators face brilliant goalie they gave away, Minnesota Wild Ottawa Senators Confederation Line train service resumes after disruption Local News 4.1 magnitude earthquake in northwest Quebec felt in Ottawa News Canadian military fears maintenance issues will plague equipment sent to Latvia Defence Watch Read Next Latest National Stories Featured Local Savings