1xbet vs bet365 Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of guest commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here . ••• At some point, if you haven’t already, you’ll experience a mental health challenge. Each year, one in five American adults has a mental health disorder and this number continues to grow. To keep up, therapists have incorporated artificial intelligence into their practices. While AI makes therapy more accessible, it raises several ethical issues. These concerns include bias as well as the lack of privacy, transparency and meaningful relationships. AI has become woven into the fabric of our society. It can be beneficial but only if implemented ethically. So far, this hasn’t been the case. AI is being used for therapy and administrative tasks, subsequently replacing humans. Chatbots converse with patients and other types of AI categorize documents. AI also quickly analyzes data such as brain scans. But at what cost? AI is inherently biased. It’s developed through human-generated data that is incomplete or unevenly favors one group. This results in one patient receiving different and potentially better advice than another patient based on factors such as gender or race. This is especially problematic because users tend to believe any information provided by AI. The implementation of AI in health care often glosses over informed consent. Users, especially those already vulnerable due to mental health disorders, should be aware of all the risks and benefits. These issues with informed consent showcase the lack of transparency in AI. Decisions made by AI also lack transparency. They don’t provide evidence or an explanation. This is especially concerning in health care because clinicians can’t determine how or why a recommendation was given. There is no way to prove or replicate AI’s interpretation making it difficult to adjust a treatment plan. Another concern with AI is that it collects and stores your personal data. This includes sensitive information such as your address. Many AI systems work independently without human support. The unchecked operation of AI could lead to your data being leaked. Some companies also sell data to third parties. For example, AI can track your location to personalize advertisements. Users often don’t consent to this and aren’t aware it’s happening. AI is also insufficient in understanding human connection. It doesn’t respond effectively to human emotions. AI only considers the empirical evidence when making recommendations and diagnoses. The recommendations are not always accurate because AI doesn’t consider the nuances of human behavior. Human connection not only solves these problems but should be prioritized because it has benefits such as a longer life span and higher self-esteem. In 2023, one user of Tessa, an AI chatbot deployed by the National Eating Disorders Association, shared her experience. The purpose of this chatbot was to provide advice and help those struggling with an eating disorder. When she asked Tessa how it supports people with eating disorders, it replied by giving her tips on how to lose weight. This advice could be detrimental to those trying to recover from an eating disorder because it triggers negative thoughts about body image. This situation emphasizes the importance of informed consent and human assistance. Despite all the benefits of AI, it isn’t perfect. Users should know this and understand that they can’t take every AI-generated response at face value. There are some guidelines already in place to combat the ethical concerns of AI. For example, Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI put rules in place to protect fairness, accountability and respect for human autonomy. However, current policies fail to account for full transparency. The best solution is for the collaboration of humans and AI. Humans can ensure patients fully understand how AI works and explain the intricacies of their diagnosis. This solves several other problems as well. Humans can monitor AI and step in when necessary to reduce inaccurate responses from AI. Human involvement would also improve the sensitivity of AI suggestions while building a relationship with the patients. AI will continue to be integrated into our lives. It can either be destructive or revolutionary. The best hope for current AI technology to succeed in ethical practices of health care is to support it with human intervention. We can’t rely solely on AI to protect our information and give us accurate responses. The connection with real people is, and forever will be, impossible to replace. Abigail Paulnock, from Eden Prairie, is a senior at Bucknell University studying psychology and linguistics.

Ministers warned of cuts as ‘every pound’ of spending to face reviewAdobe Stock image A Fresno area nonprofit organization whose goal is to reduce the number of feral and community cats suffering in the area reached a milestone this year, spaying and neutering nearly 12,000 cats over the course of 2024. Through the support of community members and Dogwood Animal Rescue Project, Fresno TNR’s mission — “to reduce the feral cat population through education and targeted Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs” — aims to prevent thousands of unwanted kittens from walking the streets, but also improves the health and well-being of the existing feline population. “A single unspayed female cat can theoretically produce up to 12,000 kittens in her lifetime when accounting for survival rates,” explains a Fresno TNR spokesperson in a news release Thursday. “Our work directly impacts our community by preventing this exponential growth and reducing the strain on local shelters and neighborhoods.” Partnered with the Central California Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CCSPCA), Valley Animal Center, Valley Veterinary Services and Fresno Animal Control, Fresno TNR provides spay and neuter services, relying solely on volunteers to reach their goal. The organization does not have a physical facility, but continues to make an impact, motivated by the passion and dedication of its volunteers. Recently, a $10,000 donation from the Lewis-Harlow Foundation will allow the organization to expand its services. Fresno TNR also hopes to one day operate a brick-and-mortar facility, enhancing its service to the region. More information about Fresno TNR can be found on their website. A Fresno area nonprofit organization whose goal is to reduce Fresno County is closing in on its $400,000 goal to (AP) — Several environmental groups are suing California air regulators Marjaree Mason Center officials announced Thursday that a $1 million donationThe Iowa Hawkeyes were hoping that they'd get their starting quarterback Cade McNamara back for their Week 13 contest against the Maryland Terrapins, but he ended up being ruled out for the game. And as a result, rumors began circulating that McNamara's career with the Hawkeyes was over. McNamara suffered a concussion in Iowa's 40-14 win over Northwestern back on Oct. 26th, and ever since then, he's been working his way back to action. While the initial expectation was that he could play against Maryland, the fact that he was mysteriously ruled out led to speculation about his future with the team. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.

How to transform your kitchen in 2025 with 4 top trends

Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens nextMicrosoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Shares Down 1.2% – Time to Sell?

NoneSoundHound AI (NASDAQ:SOUN) Trading Up 3.5% – Still a Buy?Ruben Amorim impressed with Arsenal’s corners after first defeat as Man Utd boss

By Chris Johnston , Pierre LeBrun and Julian McKenzie Team Canada revealed its 23-man roster for February’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament on Wednesday. Forwards Mitch Marner , Sam Reinhart , Anthony Cirelli , Brandon Hagel , Travis Konecny , Mark Stone and Seth Jarvis were added to Canada’s roster, with Alex Pietrangelo , Shea Theodore , Travis Sanheim , Devon Toews , Colton Parayko and Josh Morrissey joining as defensemen. Advertisement Forwards Connor McDavid , Nathan MacKinnon , Brayden Point , Brad Marchand and Sidney Crosby , along with defenseman Cale Makar had already been named as the first six members of Team Canada in June. Canada’s goaltending has been subject to much debate in anticipation of Wednesday’s roster reveal. The Canadians’ trio consists of Jordan Binnington , Adin Hill and Sam Montembeault . Canada is being led by Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper behind the bench, flanked by assistant coaches Bruce Cassidy, Pete DeBoer, Rick Tocchet, Mishka Donskov and Lightning video coach James Emery. Cooper is also expected to lead Canada at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The 4 Nations Face-Off will run Feb. 12 to 20 in Montreal and Boston. Full roster (Note: Highlighted players had already been named to the roster.) Snubs Every Team Canada has more qualified forwards than the number of available roster spots, so the most notable omissions can be found there in Zach Hyman , John Tavares , Mark Scheifele and Connor Bedard . Hyman is coming off a 70-goal season (postseason included) spent playing alongside Connor McDavid. Tavares has been in a top form for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season and has a vast international resume that includes serving as Canada’s captain at the IIHF World Hockey Championship in May. Scheifele is scoring at better than a point-per-game pace for the high-flying Winnipeg Jets . And Bedard is a 19-year-old wunderkind who rewrote the record book while representing his country at the world junior championship. The snubs on the back end include Evan Bouchard and Noah Dobson , aged 25 and 24, respectively. They’re both high-end puck distributors coming off big seasons. — Chris Johnston Surprises Jarvis jumps off the page as the player least expected to battle his way onto this version of Team Canada. He doesn’t have the resume of many other players left at home. And at 5-foot-10, he doesn’t have the size, either. Advertisement But the 22-year-old Carolina Hurricanes winger does possess slick playmaking ability and a competitive spirit, which makes him a selection with upside. He could become a Team Canada fixture if things go well. On the back end, few saw Parayko securing a spot among Canada’s top seven, but as a big man with Stanley Cup-winning pedigree who is capable of logging tough minutes, he brought more security than some other choices. Montembeault isn’t a surprise, per se, but his save percentage this season is lagging behind Cam Talbot , Logan Thompson , Mackenzie Blackwood , Marc-Andre Fleury and Darcy Kuemper . Each of those other Canadian goalies will be watching the tournament from home. — Johnston Expectations Fair or not, any player that pulls a Canadian national team sweater over their head is expected to win. That’s especially true in best-on-best men’s competition, where Canada has won four of the past five tournaments and nine of 13 overall. Even with the country’s decade of dominance now a long way in the rear-view mirror, the high hopes remain. Canada will try to overwhelm opponents with its depth. Cooper can run out McDavid, Crosby, Point and Cirelli down the middle. If for whatever reason that isn’t working, he’s got MacKinnon and Bennett as ready-made options to slide to center. And for good measure, Cooper’s got Makar to serve as the heartbeat of a blue line that features a nice blend of size, smarts and elite decision-makers. Even with the questions (or doubts) in goal, this is a roster built to execute at a high level that intends to keep opponents at bay in hard-fought games by limiting mistakes. Canada expects three goals to be good enough to win against any team in the tournament. — Johnston Required reading Other rosters (Photo of Mitch Marner scoring on Jordan Binnington: Jeff Curry / USA Today)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Thomas Brown insists he's focused on the job at hand and not the one he might have down the line. His immediate task as the interim coach of the Chicago Bears is helping the team finish strong over the final five games, starting this weekend at San Francisco. The rest of his life can wait. “I think about just the moment. ... I obviously understand the role that I'm in, understand what might come with it," he said Wednesday. "But I also understand that we make most situations bigger than what it has to be because of the outside noise, what everybody else puts a value on it.” The Bears are in a moment unlike any other in the history of the founding NFL franchise. They fired a head coach for the first time during a season when they let Matt Eberflus go on Friday with a 4-8 record and the team in a six-game losing streak marked by head-scratching decisions. They promoted Brown, who in a span of three weeks went from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator and now the person in charge. The tipping point was a 23-20 loss at Detroit on Thanksgiving, when the Bears let the clock run down rather than call a timeout following a sack. It led to Caleb Williams throwing an incomplete pass from the Lions 41 as time expired when Chicago should have been able to run more than one play. Star cornerback Jaylon Johnson interrupted Eberflus' postgame speech and made his feelings clear. Other players had gone public in recent weeks with their frustrations over the coaching decisions, and they didn't exactly hide their emotions following the Detroit game. On Wednesday, defensive end DeMarcus Walker said he sensed a change was coming after the loss to the Lions. “You guys just look at the whole turnaround, how everything had been going, we just knew some changes were going to be made,” he said. The 38-year-old Brown now has a huge opportunity. He spent last season as Carolina's offensive coordinator and the previous three on Sean McVay's staff with the Los Angeles Rams — the final two as assistant head coach. Prior to that, he spent nine years as a college assistant, including stops at Wisconsin, Georgia, Miami and South Carolina. It's his job to help right a team that came into the season thinking a playoff spot was in reach. Williams' development obviously will be front and center. To that end, the No. 1 overall draft pick has looked more comfortable in the three games since Brown took over for the fired Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator, completing 75 of 117 passes for 827 yards with five touchdowns, no interceptions and a rating of 99.2. Though Brown will continue to call plays, the Bears have another new offensive coordinator in wide receivers coach Chris Beatty. “I think it is a stepping stone actually with my development because I think down the line I’ll have different OCs or different head coaches or whatever the case may be,” Williams said. “And so being able to handle it my first year, handle a new playbook, handle all these different changes, handle all of this I think it definitely will help the development instead of hurting it or anything like that.” Beyond the development of the prized quarterback, Brown also will be judged during his audition for the regular job on his preparation, decisions during games and command of the locker room. He said he reached out to each player individually on Friday and Saturday and tried to set a tone when the team met on Monday. “I want them to be excellent,” Brown said. “I can nitpick at every single play and tell a guy how he wasn’t perfect. And, so, perfection’s not the goal. It’s to excel at your craft.” Notes: The Bears had a lengthy injury report on Wednesday. WRs Keenan Allen (ankle) and DJ Moore (quad), RBs D'Andre Swift (quad) and Roschon Johnson (concussion), DB Elijah Hicks (ankle) and OL Ryan Bates (concussion) all missed practice. S Kevin Byard (shoulder) and OLs Darnnell Wright (knee) and Coleman Shelton (knee) were limited. AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Former prime minister Gordon Brown and Scottish First Minister John Swinney were among those who remembered a “giant of a man” during a memorial service for Alex Salmond. Tributes were paid to the former Scottish first minister, who died suddenly in North Macedonia in October at the age of 69. A private family funeral has already taken place, with Saturday’s memorial service in Edinburgh held to celebrate his love of Scotland and his commitment to the cause of independence. But while some 500 people, including family, friends and politicians from across the spectrum attended the service at St Giles’ Cathedral, his successor Nicola Sturgeon was not present. A rift between her and Mr Salmond – who she had previously described as her mentor – developed during her term as SNP leader. Ms Sturgeon attended the funeral of Scottish comedian Janey Godley in Glasgow on Saturday morning. Her successor, Mr Swinney, was met with boos as he arrived at the service – held on St Andrew’s Day – with at least one person in the crowd outside on the Royal Mile shouting “traitor”. Mr Salmond stood down as SNP leader and first minister after the 2014 referendum in which Scots voted to stay part of the UK. He helped found and went on to lead another pro-independence party, Alba, with Kenny MacAskill, a long-time friend who served as justice secretary in Holyrood under Mr Salmond. Mr MacAskill, now the acting Alba leader, told the congregation – which included Mr Salmond’s widow Moira as well as Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, former Labour first minister Henry McLeish and Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay – that Mr Salmond had been a “giant of man”. Mr MacAskill, who quit the SNP to join Alba, hailed Mr Salmond as “an inspiration, a political genius” and being “most of all a man who had the cause of independence burned into his heart and seared in his soul”. The cause of independence was Mr Salmond’s “guiding light, his north star”, the former justice secretary said, adding that “he came so close to achieving it”. He added: “Those of us who share his dream must conclude that journey on his behalf. That’s the legacy he’d expect and the duty we owe him.” Recalling Mr Salmond’s words from when he stood down as first minister that “the dream shall never die”, Mr MacAskill concluded his address with the words: “Your dream shall be delivered.” Former Conservative Brexit minister and long-time friend of Mr Salmond, David Davis, gave a reading as did former Scottish government minister SNP MSP Fergus Ewing. Scottish folk singer Dougie MacLean performed his famous song Caledonia, while singer Sheena Wellington led mourners in a rendition of Robert Burns’ classic A Man’s A Man For A’ That. Scottish rock duo the Proclaimers were applauded for their performance of Cap in Hand – a pro-independence song which features the line “I can’t understand why we let someone else rule our land, cap in hand”. Brothers Craig and Charlie Reid said: “We’re going to do this for Alex, with love and respect and eternal gratitude for everything you did for our country.” Christina Hendry described her Uncle Alex as a “political giant, a strong leader, a fearless campaigner” but also remembered his as a “dearly loved husband, brother and uncle”. While she said he had been “the top man in Scotland”, he had “always made time for his family”, recalling how he phoned her brother on his birthday – the day after the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 – to apologise for not posting a card “as he’d been busy”, before telling them he would “resigning in 10 minutes”. She told the congregation: “As his family, we always felt loved no matter how far away he was or the time that passed before we saw him next. “We always knew he was standing up for our country, and for that we were grateful.” Ms Hendry continued: “The world will be a much quieter place without Uncle Alex, for Moira, for the wider family and for Scotland. “Uncle Alex passing means a great loss for many. A loss of Scotland’s voice on the international stage. A loss of integrity in Scottish politics. And a great loss to Scotland’s independence movement. “As a family it is likely a loss we will never get over.” Duncan Hamilton KC, who was an SNP MSP after the first Scottish Parliament elections, but also served as a political adviser and legal counsel to Mr Salmond, said the former first minister had “rightly been hailed as one of the greatest Scottish politicians of this, or any, generation”. He told how Mr Salmond took the SNP from being “a fringe act trying to get onto the main stage” to a party of government. “In Scottish politics, his success was both spectacular and unrivalled,” Mr Hamilton said. “Alex Salmond will forever be a pivotal figure in Scotland’s story. He changed a nation. He inspired a country. “History will certainly remember him as a man of talent, charisma and substance. But also as a political leader of courage, vision and intelligence. “He dared to dream. And so should we.” As the service finished the crowd gathered outside applauded and chanted “Alex, Alex” before singing Flower Of Scotland.

( MENAFN - IANS) Bengaluru, Dec 24 (IANS) The office market in India saw a robust 14 per cent growth (year-on-year) in 2024, with leasing activity across the top six cities reaching 66.4 million square feet, according to a report on Tuesday. Bengaluru led the Grade A office space demand, with highest-ever leasing volume of 21.7 million square feet, marking an impressive 40 per cent growth, according to a Colliers report. Demand scale-up was also evident in Hyderabad and Mumbai. With 12.5 and 10.0 million square feet of leasing activity respectively, both cities witnessed double-digit annual office space demand for the first time in 2024. Delhi-NCR too witnessed healthy space uptake and Grade A demand almost touched 10 million square feet mark in 2024. “New supply during the year also remained above the 50 million sq feet mark and kept vacancy levels rangebound. 2025 demand can potentially stabilise at elevated levels and annual space uptake exceeding 60 million sq feet is likely to be the new norm over the next few years,” explained Arpit Mehrotra, Managing Director, Office services, India, Colliers. The fourth quarter (Q4) 2024 saw the highest leasing during the year, at 19.7 million square feet, a 14 per cent increase over the previous quarter. At 4.7 million square feet, flex spaces saw their highest ever quarterly leasing. The flex space demand accounted for 24 per cent of the Grade A space uptake in Q4 2024. While technology sector continued to drive annual office space demand with almost one-fourth share in overall leasing, flex spaces accounted for almost one-fifth of the Grade A space uptake in 2024. BFSI and engineering and manufacturing sectors too demonstrated healthy leasing activity, both crossing the 10 million square feet leasing this year. “The occupier preference for managed office spaces augurs well for leading operators, who are likely to increasingly foray into tier 2/3 cities throughout 2025 and expedite their fund-raising plans through primary markets as well,” said Vimal Nadar, Senior Director and Head of Research, Colliers India. On the supply side, Q4 2024 witnessed 15.9 million sq feet of new completions, pushing the total to 53.3 million sq feet for the year, said the report. MENAFN23122024000231011071ID1109025873 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.Henrietta Produce & Pantry giving back this Christmas

"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?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.

Philadelphia Flyers (11-10-3, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. St. Louis Blues (11-12-1, in the Central Division) St. Louis; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blues -140, Flyers +118; over/under is 6 BOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Blues host the Philadelphia Flyers after Dylan Holloway's two-goal game against the New Jersey Devils in the Blues' 3-0 win. St. Louis is 11-12-1 overall and 5-6-0 at home. The Blues have conceded 76 goals while scoring 60 for a -16 scoring differential. Philadelphia has gone 5-4-2 in road games and 11-10-3 overall. The Flyers have allowed 79 goals while scoring 67 for a -12 scoring differential. Saturday's game is the second time these teams square off this season. The Flyers won the last matchup 2-1. Travis Konecny scored two goals in the victory. TOP PERFORMERS: Jordan Kyrou has seven goals and 12 assists for the Blues. Jake Neighbours has three goals and two assists over the last 10 games. Konecny has 13 goals and 16 assists for the Flyers. Matvei Michkov has scored four goals and added three assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Blues: 4-5-1, averaging 2.3 goals, 3.9 assists, three penalties and six penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game. Flyers: 6-2-2, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.7 assists, 3.1 penalties and 6.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. INJURIES: Blues: None listed. Flyers: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated PressNASA Flips Efficient Wing Concept for TestingEl Salvador's Congress on Monday approved a bill promoted by President Nayib Bukele to roll back a ban on the mining of gold and other metals, dismaying environmentalists. The small Central American nation became the world's first country to outlaw metal mining in 2017, warning of the harmful effects of the chemicals used, like cyanide and mercury. The move by Bukele's predecessor, former left-wing rebel Salvador Sanchez Ceren, reflected a growing rejection of mining by rural communities in the region. But last month, Bukele, who is popular at home for his crackdown on street gangs, signaled that he wanted to change course. The bill to bring back metal mining was approved by 57 deputies out of a total of 60, said Ernesto Castro, head of the legislature -- which is dominated by the ruling party -- as environmental campaigners protested nearby. Critics fear that mining will pollute the Lempa River, which runs through a potential mining zone proposed by Bukele and supplies water to 70 percent of the inhabitants of the capital and surrounding areas. "This wretched mining will punish the people, it will contaminate our waters and rivers and that's an attack on life," activist Vidalina Morales told reporters. Bukele said last month that El Salvador, a country of 6.6 million people, had "potentially" the largest gold deposits per square kilometer in the world. "God placed a gigantic treasure underneath our feet," he wrote on social media, arguing that the mining ban was "absurd." "If we make responsible use of our natural resources, we can change the economy of El Salvador overnight," he said. The new law stipulates that the state will be the only entity authorized to search for, extract and process mined metals. However, the government may do so through companies in which it is a shareholder. The bill prohibits the use of mercury in mining operations, which may not be carried out in protected natural areas or places with important water sources. A survey by Central American University published on Monday revealed that 59 percent of respondents do not consider El Salvador "an appropriate country for metal mining." Since El Salvador dollarized its remittances-reliant economy in 2001, it has registered average annual growth of 2.1 percent. Twenty-seven percent of Salvadorans live in poverty, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and 70 percent of the workforce operates in the informal sector. Elsewhere in the region, Costa Rica and Honduras have banned open-pit mining, and Panama declared a moratorium on new mining concessions last year after mass protests over plans for a huge copper mine. ob/fj/dr/jgc

Autodesk director Lorrie Norrington sells $543,925 in stockMarlboro over Toms River North - Girls basketball recap

Tis the season to be jolly, thankful — and disciplined. And where better to get some timely tips on investing in stocks than the holiday classics "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman" and "A Christmas Carol," featuring the reformed curmudgeon Scrooge. Using ( ), ( ), ( ) and ( ), and like ( ) as examples, we'll reveal a few of the secrets to stock market success hidden within these beloved holiday specials. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer On Investing In Stocks We all know it's Rudolph's unique red nose that makes him the "most famous reindeer of all." It's the same for the best stocks to watch. As one of the key pillars of , have a product or service that is unique, innovative and in demand. It's these attributes that ultimately drive the big earnings and sales growth that attracts the buying power of institutional investors. Think about what drove the powerful moves of , , and over the years. Each company has been a game-changing innovator. Nvidia's chip technology has been at the cutting edge of computer graphics, and the self-driving car revolution. Those groundbreaking innovations have fueled explosive growth, which continues to push Nvidia stock to record highs. A and other AI chipmakers just gave it another boost. Netflix has gone through multiple industry-changing innovations since its founding in 1997. From delivering DVDs with no late fees to pioneering online streaming to becoming a major creator of original content, Netflix has continued to develop new businesses. Meta-owned Facebook, of course, remains at the forefront of the social media revolution it helped pioneer. And as the world moved from desktop to mobile in the early 2010s, CEO Mark Zuckerberg and team found their mobile mojo to avoid being left behind before evolving into a major . Back to trading near its all-time high, Tesla also continues its pioneering spirit. From spearheading the mainstream emergence of to pushing , the company continues to innovate. Frosty the Snowman On Stock Investing And Market Cycles Frosty teaches us how the market and individual stocks move in cycles. America's favorite snowman melts each year, but always returns the following winter. It's the same with the stock market. After every market "meltdown," a new bullish uptrend eventually emerges. That's an important point to remember in times of sharp market volatility. The coronavirus crash and subsequent rebound reminded all investors of that fact. So did the sharp drop in tech stocks like Nvidia, Meta and other Magnificent Seven stocks in 2022, followed by a robust bull market. Massive moves in Nvidia, Meta and Netflix only reinforce that point. Although it took longer to emerge from its slump, Tesla has also regained traction. But keep these two important facts in mind. Most leading stocks in the prior bull market do come back to lead in the next one. In fact, only about one in eight past leaders returns to lead again. So when a new bull market begins, be on the lookout for a new crop of leading stocks. When a bear market hits, former leading stocks decline 72% on average. So understand the dangers of a "buy and hold" strategy, and be sure to lock in your profits and cut short any losses when the market rolls over. Frosty the Snowman also teaches us about the importance of . In the classic TV show, it's the magic black hat that brings Frosty to life. In the stock market, the magic hat is the buying power of mutual fund managers and other large institutional investors. They provide the fuel that pushes a stock higher. Without that support from the institutions, a stock is unlikely to make a big, sustained upward move. Scrooge On The Importance Of Post-Analysis The famously stingy and grumpy Scrooge teaches us about the importance of reflection — and that we all deserve a second chance. By the end of "The Christmas Carol," Scrooge has transformed from "Bah humbug" to "Merry Christmas! God bless us, every one!" How did he make that transformation? By doing a post-analysis of his life. All investors make mistakes, but not all investors learn from them. That's the difference. To make sure you learn from your mistakes (and your successes), do a regular post-analysis of your trades. It's a profitable use of your time, and much more pleasant than being visited by ghosts in the middle of the night. Related Books: |Tributes were paid to the former Scottish first minister, who died suddenly in North Macedonia in October at the age of 69. A private family funeral has already taken place, with Saturday’s memorial service in Edinburgh held to celebrate his love of Scotland and his commitment to the cause of independence. But while some 500 people, including family, friends and politicians from across the spectrum attended the service at St Giles’ Cathedral, his successor Nicola Sturgeon was not present. A rift between her and Mr Salmond – who she had previously described as her mentor – developed during her term as SNP leader. Ms Sturgeon attended the funeral of Scottish comedian Janey Godley in Glasgow on Saturday morning. Her successor, Mr Swinney, was met with boos as he arrived at the service – held on St Andrew’s Day – with at least one person in the crowd outside on the Royal Mile shouting “traitor”. Mr Salmond stood down as SNP leader and first minister after the 2014 referendum in which Scots voted to stay part of the UK. He helped found and went on to lead another pro-independence party, Alba, with Kenny MacAskill, a long-time friend who served as justice secretary in Holyrood under Mr Salmond. Mr MacAskill, now the acting Alba leader, told the congregation – which included Mr Salmond’s widow Moira as well as Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, former Labour first minister Henry McLeish and Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay – that Mr Salmond had been a “giant of man”. Mr MacAskill, who quit the SNP to join Alba, hailed Mr Salmond as “an inspiration, a political genius” and being “most of all a man who had the cause of independence burned into his heart and seared in his soul”. The cause of independence was Mr Salmond’s “guiding light, his north star”, the former justice secretary said, adding that “he came so close to achieving it”. He added: “Those of us who share his dream must conclude that journey on his behalf. That’s the legacy he’d expect and the duty we owe him.” Recalling Mr Salmond’s words from when he stood down as first minister that “the dream shall never die”, Mr MacAskill concluded his address with the words: “Your dream shall be delivered.” Former Conservative Brexit minister and long-time friend of Mr Salmond, David Davis, gave a reading as did former Scottish government minister SNP MSP Fergus Ewing. Scottish folk singer Dougie MacLean performed his famous song Caledonia, while singer Sheena Wellington led mourners in a rendition of Robert Burns’ classic A Man’s A Man For A’ That. Scottish rock duo the Proclaimers were applauded for their performance of Cap in Hand – a pro-independence song which features the line “I can’t understand why we let someone else rule our land, cap in hand”. Brothers Craig and Charlie Reid said: “We’re going to do this for Alex, with love and respect and eternal gratitude for everything you did for our country.” Christina Hendry described her Uncle Alex as a “political giant, a strong leader, a fearless campaigner” but also remembered his as a “dearly loved husband, brother and uncle”. While she said he had been “the top man in Scotland”, he had “always made time for his family”, recalling how he phoned her brother on his birthday – the day after the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 – to apologise for not posting a card “as he’d been busy”, before telling them he would “resigning in 10 minutes”. She told the congregation: “As his family, we always felt loved no matter how far away he was or the time that passed before we saw him next. “We always knew he was standing up for our country, and for that we were grateful.” Ms Hendry continued: “The world will be a much quieter place without Uncle Alex, for Moira, for the wider family and for Scotland. “Uncle Alex passing means a great loss for many. A loss of Scotland’s voice on the international stage. A loss of integrity in Scottish politics. And a great loss to Scotland’s independence movement. “As a family it is likely a loss we will never get over.” Duncan Hamilton KC, who was an SNP MSP after the first Scottish Parliament elections, but also served as a political adviser and legal counsel to Mr Salmond, said the former first minister had “rightly been hailed as one of the greatest Scottish politicians of this, or any, generation”. He told how Mr Salmond took the SNP from being “a fringe act trying to get onto the main stage” to a party of government. “In Scottish politics, his success was both spectacular and unrivalled,” Mr Hamilton said. “Alex Salmond will forever be a pivotal figure in Scotland’s story. He changed a nation. He inspired a country. “History will certainly remember him as a man of talent, charisma and substance. But also as a political leader of courage, vision and intelligence. “He dared to dream. And so should we.” As the service finished the crowd gathered outside applauded and chanted “Alex, Alex” before singing Flower Of Scotland.