The recently unveiled teaser trailer has already generated a buzz among fans, featuring breathtaking animation, intense battle sequences, and a glimpse of the ominous Infinity Castle. The iconic and emotional soundtrack that accompanies the footage further amplifies the anticipation for what promises to be an epic and unforgettable cinematic experience.
IGO Limited (OTCMKTS:IPGDF) Short Interest Up 28.3% in DecemberFurthermore, the controversy surrounding casualty figures in the Russia-Ukraine conflict underscores the need for a renewed commitment to peace and dialogue to end the cycle of violence and suffering. Only through a transparent and honest assessment of the human cost of war can meaningful progress towards de-escalation and resolution be achieved.
Former lawmaker Mary Murphy, longest-serving woman in Minnesota House, suffers stroke
Education has always been contentious — K-12 education, particularly so. Few locales of public life are more vulnerable to the imposition (and questioning) of values than are schools: the places where we send our children to be prepared for life as citizens. So, in times of civic distance and discord, it’s not surprising that education, too, has become a political battleground. And yet, as dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Education, I am hopeful. I see evidence that no matter the election outcome, American educators will continue to connect across differences to deliver better student outcomes, close opportunity gaps and strengthen our communities. Here is what gives me that confidence. Kat Locke-Jones, Maryland’s Teacher of the Year, is a case in point. Motivated by her brother’s death by suicide, this seventh-grade teacher has dedicated herself to supporting the mental health of her students, transforming her classroom into what she calls a “brave space.” At the start of each academic year, Locke-Jones shares her story with her students at Baltimore’s Hampstead Hill Academy, building a sense of family and trust within the classroom. She encourages them to write and share their own stories, helping them find the courage to be authentic and vulnerable while learning to navigate conflict. At Hampstead Hill, a public charter school, 39% of the students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and 18% are immigrants just learning English. Locke-Jones’ students have excelled in English language arts. While the English assessment pass rate for seventh graders was 29% in Baltimore City, and 47% statewide, 82% of Hampstead Hill students passed — and more than a quarter of her students scored at the advanced level. For the majority of American families, schools are important community anchors. It is no accident that a great many of them serve as voting sites. Schools are still among our most trusted public institutions and most valuable connectors. One of these is our Johns Hopkins neighborhood partner, Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle School. Approximately one-third of Margaret Brent’s students speak English as a second language, and 85% are students of color. The school offers an innovative curriculum that embeds the visual and performing arts into strategies to help students retain academic content — especially those who are struggling with STEM subjects. When I visit the school each year for its arts celebration, parents reach out to tell me how grateful they are that Margaret Brent and its teachers use the arts to engage and develop their children in culturally relevant ways. One teacher said she counted nine different languages in her first-grade class alone. In such a diverse community, this arts-rich school builds relationships across all kinds of differences. At the Johns Hopkins School of Education, we examine interventions and models, new and old, for one basic measure: Does it work? Does distributing eyeglasses to children with vision problems improve learning? (Yes.) Does in-class surveillance technology promote school safety? (Possibly, but likely at the expense of academic performance.) One system model that works in most democracies around the world is educational pluralism — in which the government funds a broad range of schools that are owned and administered by private and public organizations, including churches and other civil society organizations, as well as secular agencies. In our education system, about 83% of K-12 students today attend public schools — 90% if we include public charter schools. That’s a heavy load for one sector — and an unwieldy one, when administered by 50-plus different government entities. Well-designed educationally pluralist systems support the distinctive character of different schools while holding them accountable for academic quality. The Netherlands funds 36 kinds of schools while requiring students in all of them to take common, knowledge-rich assessments. Belgium, England, South Africa and Indonesia operate in similar fashion. Importantly, leaders in these systems don’t pit entire school sectors against one another but seek to help all schools serve students well. Faculty and students at our school of education practice this approach by researching public, private, charter and homeschooling models and preparing leaders for all sectors. There are many more examples of the power of education to connect across divides, and my colleagues at the Johns Hopkins School of Education prove it every day as we work to prepare a new generation of education leaders and scholars to solve common problems together. We know that no matter what, we will work together to benefit the nation’s students — wherever they attend school.
Katahdin Bankshares Corp. announces quarterly dividendIn addition to the highly anticipated GTA6, the launch of NS2 is also generating a lot of buzz. The sequel to the wildly popular NS1 is expected to push the boundaries of what a multiplayer shooter can be. With enhanced graphics, new gameplay mechanics, and a dynamic storyline, NS2 promises to deliver an adrenaline-pumping experience that will keep players on the edge of their seats.
Chase to break 96-year-old record in hands for India to win MCG Test2. Kurdish Forces: The Kurdish forces, particularly the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have experienced setbacks following the change in the Syrian dynamics. Despite their pivotal role in fighting against the Islamic State (ISIS) and controlling territories in northern Syria, the Kurdish forces have faced challenges from both the Assad regime and Turkey. The uncertain future of Kurdish autonomy and ongoing hostilities have created a volatile situation for the Kurdish forces.
BOSTON, Dec. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The more-than-likeness of Google's Willow chip and AI-119 Gen AI patent technology have led to the development of AI Legal Mate, an AI Law research organization that aims to provide free legal assistance to disabled Veterans, LBGTQIA+ youth, and foreign nationals in legal actions, usually in situations where they cannot afford the cost of a bail bond or an attorney to help them out during their very unfortunate situation they've caught themselves up in. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AI LEGAL MATE As previously reported , AI Legal Mate has filed its Gen AI 'Law and Health' technology utility patent updates, utilizing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and quantum computing. QM-Ware is designed exclusively for remote and physical users, and will continue to be under (nonpartisan) exploration delegations with organizations like the Veterans Recovery Network , The Gaygency , Fugees Lives Matte PAC , The Trump S.A.F.E. Act - Department of Government Efficiency 2025, SMART Recovery Network , and Harvard I-Labs. The AI Legal Mate launched a project to assist disabled Harvard students in civil rights actions concerning overly ‘X'd up Harvard degrees, and military veterans at the Veterans Recovery Network seeking settlement claims through the PACT Act Relief programs. With quantum computing, AI Legal Mate works as an ultimate API conduit between a pro-bono law client and live attorneys and AI Law technicians to handle batches of similarly situated claimants within a shorter time than a well-staffed civil rights organization with a dozen or more attorneys. AI PATENT TECH NEWS AI119 Tech's propel development team has filed a second utility patent update application for their 'third generation' AI Law and Health technology, designed similar to military ISACs established in the late-90s. This technology uses quantum computer technology under Grover's algorithms for quantum-error corrections in human-driven transactions. The newer version of AI119's technology is capable of resolving tens of thousands of administrative complaint cases within a few days by integrating live attorneys with AI Law resources and SOC-2 applications to certify legal documents. AI Legal Mate's next generation plan is to complete its fifth-generation technology with innovative lab affiliates, including their "QM-ware" approach, which aims to integrate AI with assistive technology like earbuds, eye-ware, wrist-ware , head-ware , and body-ware to enable adaptive learning at ‘meta-speed. ' This will empower users to receive treatment or training for mental health disabilities or professional skills through peer-to-peer transmission of Generative AI at meta-speeds . For more information about AI Legal Mate or AI119 Gen AI Law technology, visit www.ailegalmate.com . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/003b80da-a76f-4c3a-a31b-d6e18633e78e A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eb54f06e-c40b-4edd-8083-473447a37d5f © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.While the woman in this case may have learned a costly lesson, her courage in sharing her story serves as a cautionary tale for others. By raising awareness about the risks associated with unqualified beauty salons, she hopes to prevent others from experiencing similar hardships and suffering the consequences of inadequately performed treatments.
The circumstances surrounding Liu Dabeili's death have raised questions about the risks of cosmetic procedures and the pressure that social media influencers face to maintain a certain image. While liposuction is a common cosmetic surgery with relatively low risks, any surgical procedure carries potential complications, especially when performed for non-medical reasons.Around half of accident and emergency departments, polled by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), have said they are "full to bursting" this Christmas. The vice-president of the RCEM, Dr Ian Higginson, told Sky News' Gareth Barlow on Christmas Eve that the situation for the NHS in the UK is "pretty grim" at the moment. The group, representing emergency doctors, put a call out to senior managers on Friday night. Dr Higginson said half responded and "all but two of them said that the emergency departments were absolutely full to bursting". "Normally just before Christmas, we'd expect a bit of a lull. So I'm afraid things are looking pretty difficult out there for our patients and for our staff," he added. The NHS has warned that hospitals are under severe pressure because of winter flu cases and a so-called "quad-demic", combining respiratory infections with norovirus. Commenting on the challenges facing the NHS, Dr Higginson said: "We simply don't have enough beds in our hospitals for patients who are admitted as emergencies. "We don't have enough staff for those beds and we don't have any headroom at all. So if something like flu hits as it has done, it makes a bad situation even worse." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player England 'about 10,000 beds short' Dr Higginson added he believes the answer is "strategic solutions and strategic investment". He said: "In England alone, we reckon we're about 10,000 beds short in our hospitals to deal with the predictable, urgent and emergency care... the equivalent of approximately two wards in every hospital." Recently the RCEM also attacked the "nonsensical" guidance on how to treat patients in corridors - describing it as "out of touch" and "normalising the dangerous". Read more from Sky News: UK's oldest man celebrates 110th birthday Boost in Denmark's defence spending after Trump comments Corrie star leaves after 50 years Be the first to get Breaking News Install the Sky News app for free Dr Higginson said recent pressures mean "we've got patients all the way through our corridors because we can't admit them to hospital when they need to". He added: "It may be that their ambulance is outside in car parks because those patients can't get into our emergency departments." And he argued that social care is "in a really difficult place at the moment" - needing investment to prevent older patients from remaining in hospital longer than they need to. "When they're ready to leave hospital, they get stuck in hospital, and that contributes to that shortage of beds even more," he said. Follow our channel and never miss an update. Since its election victory in July, the Labour government has acknowledged the NHS needs investment, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying it is "broken" . In October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a £22.6bn increase in day-to-day spending on the NHS in her budget. The extra cash will be used to improve hospital buildings, enable more procedures and fund new beds and diagnostic tests. The government has also promised a 10-year plan, to be published in spring 2025, to deliver "a shift from hospital to community, from analogue to digital and from sickness to prevention".Srinagar- The literary community of Jammu and Kashmir has mourned the passing of Hakim Bashir Asim, a noted poet and nouha writer and son of Hakim Muhammad Yousuf. Residing in Hakim Mohalla, Baghwanpora Lalbazar, Asim’s work resonated with themes of devotion and spirituality, earning respect across local and national platforms. Asim’s admirers said that his poetry was a cornerstone of religious gatherings, particularly during Muharram and programs commemorating the 3rd Shaban ul Muazzam at Imam Bargah Abul Fazlil Abbas (a.s.), Lalbazar. “His ability to convey profound spiritual messages through eloquent verses made his work invaluable to Urdu literature and religious poetry,” said Hakim Suhail, a socio political activist. “His sudden demise has left a significant void in the literary and religious circles. Many considered his writings a source of inspiration, blending faith and artistic expression in a manner that touched countless lives,” he added. “The loss of Hakim Bashir Asim Kashmiri will be felt deeply, but his legacy of literary and spiritual contributions remains a lasting testament to his life’s work.” Meanwhile, his congregational fateha will be held at Imam Bargah Abul Fazlil Abbas (a.s), Baghwanpora, lal Bazar today. It will commence with a sermon by Hujjatul Islam wal Muslimeen Masroor AAbbas Ansari.
Furthermore, the club's focus on developing young talents, such as Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood, provides a glimmer of hope for the future. By nurturing homegrown talent and investing in a sustainable recruitment strategy, Manchester United can build a team capable of challenging for top honors in the long term.
Daily Dose of Social Media: Sabalenka hilariously calls out her coach in viral trend, family time for Rafael Nadal
Title: D Society to Announce a New Couple on New Year's DayAs tempers flared and voices escalated, the car driver was quick to point fingers, accusing the truck driver of negligence and recklessness. "Why didn't you brake? You saw me changing lanes, didn't you?" the car driver demanded, his frustration evident.
Seasonal cuisines hold a unique charm, connecting traditions, communities, and relationships. Among winter specialties, "saag" remains a cherished dish in South Punjab, particularly in the Saraiki belt, where it is enjoyed with chillra (rice bread) or makai ki roti (cornbread). While saag with rice bread is more popular in the Saraiki region, its pairing with cornbread has a universal appeal across Punjab and beyond. Often served in traditional family settings or modern dining spaces, saag is accompanied by the richness of homemade butter, its distinct aroma signaling its preparation to neighbours. This age-old culinary tradition thrives with vibrancy, bringing families and friends closer. In rural areas, preparing saag is an art steeped in tradition. Unlike the urban use of pressure cookers, villagers slow-cook the greens overnight in clay pots over a low flame, creating a smooth, flavourful dish enriched with tempering of desi ghee, butter, and garlic. This method imparts a distinctive taste that sets it apart from city-prepared versions. Tariq Drishak from Rajanpur shared how saag and chillra continue to be made with care in his household. "I host weekly saag meals for friends, fostering love and reviving cultural roots," he said, highlighting its role in strengthening relationships. Nutrition experts praise saag for its health benefits. Dr Wisha Saeed, a PhD scholar in Food and Technology, described it as a "nutritional powerhouse," rich in vitamins A, C, and K, folic acid, calcium, and iron. "It keeps the body warm, boosts immunity, and strengthens bones," she noted. Saag also aids digestion, reduces cholesterol, and maintains blood pressure, making it a perfect winter dish. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourThe Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world track Santa Claus as he sweeps across the earth, delivering presents and defying time. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online in nine languages, from English to Japanese. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats, such as last year’s Chinese spy balloon. But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” “There are screams and giggles and laughter,” said Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, “Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early.” NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War, predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics. The tradition continues regardless of government shutdowns, such as the one in 2018, and this year. Here’s how it began and why the phones keep ringing. It started with a child’s accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy’s mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80 foot (18-by-24 meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from “those who do not believe in Christmas.” Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup’s story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy’s call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child’s call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. “When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,’” Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. “People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada —- known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That’s when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.
