y888 KIM Kardashian makes her fans cross by wearing rosary beads while posing in her underwear. The star’s shoot for her SKIMS collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana saw her website crash as so many rushed to place orders. The limited-edition A Duo A La Dolce Vita collection was almost sold out yesterday. But the pictures proved a little racy for some of her social media followers, who accused Kim, 44, of mocking Catholicism. One said: “Wearing a cross while being half-naked. "Would you make a mockery out of other religions too?” Kim's scantily clad style seems to be growing increasingly similar to that of Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori. She is starring in a new SKKN advert and has left very little to the imagination with her barely there outfit. In one snap Kim reclines on a sofa in a fur coat and white tights as she looks into the camera while applying lip gloss, as she promotes the new SKNN Holiday collection. In another, she wears a different fur coat, while holding two small dogs and looking away from the camera.Trump's Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It's a shift seen in his labor pickDejan Kulusevski cannot wait for the opportunity to play against Manchester City again after Tottenham ran riot at the Etihad Stadium. The Sweden midfielder hailed Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of the champions as the best game of his career. The 24-year-old delivered an outstanding performance as Spurs shattered the champions’ 52-game unbeaten home run, helping start the rout with a superb cross for James Maddison’s opening goal. Kulusevski said: “I believed (we would win) this because in the past years, we’ve come here and played really well. “So this is the game I look forward to most in the year and, once again, it happened – glory to God. “I’d say it’s the best result ever in my career. It’s a big night for the whole club, for the coach, for the players. “Because City have a lot of the ball sometimes, we can rest when we defend. There’s also so much space up there, we play one against one and then it’s always dangerous because we have a lot of quality. “It’s always great to play great teams because they always want to play football. When you play lower teams, sometimes it’s not. There’s not much football played because they are a lot of fouls, a lot of injuries and it’s slow going.” Maddison stole the show with two goals in quick succession in the first half while Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson later got on the scoresheet. Yet Kulusevski’s performance was also eye-catching and the player himself believes there is plenty more to come from him. Asked if his form made him feel “unstoppable”, Kulusevski said: “I feel like that. I feel very good and I’m trying to keep this way. I’m very happy, I’m trying to improve. “I started the season good but there is over half of the season left and I hope I can do much better. “I think I have something that no other player has. With my engine, with my heart – I don’t get tired – I feel like I can do a lot still in my career.” Tottenham’s scintillating performance marked a spectacular return to form after their dismal loss to Ipswich in their previous Premier League outing. Kulusevski said: “We have to be much more consistent. It’s not a turning point. We just have to be better in other games. “This game suited us perfectly but we have a lot of improvement to make in the other games.”

When the snow is falling and hot chocolate is piping, few activities are more refreshing and relaxing than plopping down on the couch and turning on the television. Some will watch live Christmas events from Rockefeller Center, while others will tune into a bowl game. But if you’re of a certain age, you clearly remember the excitement when Nickelodeon began to roll out its litany of timeless Christmas specials. From Kenan & Kel in the 1990s to Danny Phantom in the late 2000s, Nickelodeon has entered the pantheon of networks that have consistently rolled out classic holiday specials. While Nickelodeon’s legacy is cemented, the ranking of its best holiday season episodes is and will always be hotly contested. Not to start a debate at the holiday dinner table, but here are the 10 best classic Nickelodeon holiday specials. Show: Keenan & Kel Air Date: December 14, 1996 Kel ( Kel Mitchell ) loves orange soda and Kenan ( Kenan Thompson ) loves Christmas. He spends the entire year saving money to buy a new bike and takes an extra job as Santa at the mall to help get the last few dollars he needs. However, his plans are derailed when he comes across a brother and sister who dream of a great Christmas filled with presents that their mother can’t afford. In a selfless mood, Kenan uses the money he makes as Santa to surprise the kids and their mom with presents. Kenan’s upset that he didn’t get the bike he wanted, but he knows he did the right thing and Santa rewards him with a bike of his own. As with many Nickelodeon holiday specials, Kenan’s act of giving underscores the importance of family, friends, community, and giving throughout the holiday season. Show: Invader Zim Air Date: December 10, 2002 Name two more idiotically entertaining rivals than Zim ( Richard Steven Horvitz ) and Dib (Andy Berman). I’ll wait. While I wait, also figure out why Dib’s dad, Professor Membrane ( Rodger Bumpass ), named him Dib. Anyway, Zim and Dib’s rivalry takes center stage when Zim learns about the lure of Santa, kidnaps a man dressed up in a Santa suit and drains his brain. Normal holiday festivities, right? Once Zim drains the man’s brain and learns more about the lure of Santa, he devises a plan to build a Santa suit and convince all of humankind that he’s worthy of following and giving their undying devotion too. For the most part, it works and Zim is close to bringing all of human kind to the Tallest in order to extend his rule. However, Dib intervenes and garners the support of his sister, Gaz (Melissa Fahn), and his father, Professor Membrane, and stops Zim before he’s able to fully takeover. Overall, it’s a pretty weird storyline for a kid’s show during the holiday season, but Invader Zim is at its best when it’s weird. Show: Rocko’s Modern Life Air Date: December 1, 1994 Rocko ( Carlos Alazraqui ) is a better person than most because his grace throughout this Christmas special is unmatched. For nearly the entire episode, Rocko works to put together beautiful holiday decorations and host a lovely holiday party. Instead, his friends treat him poorly, other characters bully him, and no one except a magic elf shows up to his party. The elf works his magic and creates a memorable snowfall around Rocko’s house and Rocko’s house only. When the blizzard leaves a perfect amount of snow and holiday cheer around his house, Rocko’s friends show up at his front door to apologize and make the most of the holiday party. Rocko, being the kind soul he is, lets them in and thanks them for coming. Show: iCarly Air Date: December 13, 2008 Timmy Turner ( Tara Strong ) isn’t the only character in the Nickelodeon multiverse to have their dreams come true during the holiday season. When Carly’s brother, Spencer ( Jerry Trainor ), builds an electromagnet Christmas tree that sets fire to holiday gifts, Carly ( Miranda Cosgrove ) wishes that her brother was a bit more normal. However, things aren’t as great as Carly hoped they’d be. Spencer becomes a “normal” lawyer dating Ms. Benson (Mary Scheer) while Freddie ( Nathan Kress ) no longer has a crush on Carly, and Sam ( Jennette McCurdy ) is in a juvenile detention center. Most shockingly, Carly, Spencer, and Freddie were never friends in this alternate universe and never launched a webcast. The weirdness of the episode pays off in the end because Carly realizes what we’ve always known: her life is pretty great as is. Show: As Told by Ginger Air Date: December 10, 2001 As Told by Ginger is one of the most underrated series in the Nickelodeon catalog for various reasons, including its humor and ability to reach both young and older audiences. Case in point, the show’s “Even Steven” holiday special is immaculate. In the tertiary plot, Ginger (Melissa Disney) discovers that her grandfather is Jewish and immediately pivots from celebrating Christmas to celebrating Hanukkah. Her shift from Christmas to Hanukkah happens so quickly that it causes a rift between her and Dodie (Aspen Miller) because Ginger refuses to go to Dodie’s Christmas party and hosts her own instead. Splitting the room down the middle, half of Ginger’s party is devoted to celebrating Hanukkah, and the other half is adorned with Christmas decorations. Meanwhile, Hoodsie ( Tress MacNeille) is writing letters to Santa, asking him to give him rhythm for Christmas. Yes, you read that correctly. He genuinely asked Santa for rhythm, the ability to dance on beat. When Ginger’s brother, Carl (Jeannie Elias), finds Hoodsie begging Santa for rhythm, he not only makes fun of him, but also declares that Santa isn’t real. As a result, Carl spends the remainder of the episode attempting to prove that Santa is real. Through this effort, he learns that Carl is not a fan of the holiday season because he routinely asked Santa to bring his father home for Christmas as a kid, and his dad rarely stopped by on the holidays. With this information, Hoodsie runs up to a man dressed as Santa on the street and asks him to bring Hoodsie’s Dad home for Christmas. Little does Hoodsie know, the man dressed up as Santa is Carl’s dad. In the end, Carl’s dad visits him for Christmas, and while they’re talking in the driveway, a fire starts inside as Ginger is hosting her holiday party. Carl’s dad runs in, puts out the fire, and saves the day, making Ginger realize that the most important part of the holidays is being surrounded by family and friends. And no, Carl does not get rhythm. Show: The Fairly OddParents Air Date: December 12, 2001 Clichés may be annoying, but they’ve stood the test of time for a reason. However, when an elder said, “Be careful what you wish for,” Timmy Turner clearly wasn’t listening. Instead, he had to learn the hard way when he told Wanda (Susanne Blakeslee) and Cosmo ( Daran Norris ) that he’d like it to be Christmas every day. In his head, there’d never be school, and he’d get presents every time he woke up. Conversely, Wanda and Cosmo are magically depleted, his parents can’t work, and the other holidays become envious of Santa Claus. As a result, Timmy must make a trip up to the North Pole all alone. Tough luck for a kid who can literally wish for whatever he wants every other day of the year already. Show: Drake & Josh Air Date: December 5, 2008 Give a little girl named Mary Alice the best Christmas ever, or go back to jail. That’s essentially the plot of “Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh.” Drake ( Drake Bell ) desperately wants to host a party on the rooftop of Josh’s workplace, Premier Theater. To the surprise of just about everyone, Josh’s boss agrees to let Drake host the party as long as he volunteers to dress up as Santa for kids in the mall. Drake agrees, but things go haywire when a woman tries to kiss him, and he runs away. While hiding, he runs into a little girl named Mary Alice ( Bailee Madison ) and promises to give her the best Christmas ever. Drake finishes his shift as Santa and gets to host the party after all, but it’s cut short when a few uninvited guests show up, and Josh ( Josh Peck ) calls the police. However, there’s a mixup when the police arrive and Josh gets arrested. Being the good stepbrother he is, Drake tries to break Josh out of jail. Unfortunately, Drake gets arrested, too. When Drake and Josh get to speak to a judge, they explain that they need to get out to fulfill Drake’s promises to Mary Alice. The judge releases them, but warns that they will be brought back if they do not give Mary Alice the best Christmas ever. No pressure, right? Show: Rugrats Air Date: December 6, 1992 It may not seem like it, but there is not much of a difference between The Boondocks ‘ Huey Freeman ( Regina King ) and the children of Rugrats . Huey chases Santa around the mall with a BB gun, screaming, “You gon’ pay what you owe.” Meanwhile, Tommy ( Elizabeth Daily ), Chuckie (Christine Cavanaugh), and the crew are setting dangerous traps for Santa , so they can question him about his character. “The Santa Experience” kicks off at the mall where Angelica (Cheryl Chase) bum rushes the line to see Santa and tells Mr. Claus how much she needs a dream dollhouse for Cynthia. While Mr. Claus pushed her away, mall staff gave her a box of free toys to apologize for Santa rightfully pushing her away. Even with the free presents, Angelica is ungrateful and doesn’t want them. Meanwhile, Tommy and Chuckie are debating whether or not Santa is a good person. You know, typical baby stuff, right? Tommy is convinced Santa is a great guy, while Chuckie is, of course, scared of Saint Nick and thinks he’s a bad guy. In the kitchen, the parents are having a relatable conversation about their challenges and struggles, trying to ensure each of their children has a good holiday season. Later, the kids and parents head north to celebrate Christmas in a cabin. There, Chuckie and Tommy set up a booby trap to catch Santa. Much to their disappointment, the trap only manages to catch Stu ( Jack Riley ). Ultimately, everything turns out for the best as Santa just rings the front doorbell and delivers the presents face-to-face. Angelica gets her doll house, Chuckie determines Santa is a good person after all, and the Rugrats get the perfect Christmas. Show: SpongeBob SquarePants Air Date: December 6, 2000 If you ask most fans of SpongeBob SquarePants about Squidward (Rodger Bumpass), most would say he’s closer to being the Grinch than Santa Claus. However, “Christmas Who?” proves otherwise. Spongebob ( Tom Kenny ) visits Sandy ( Carolyn Lawrence ) and finds the proud Texan setting up Christmas decorations around her house. Instead of helping her, Spongebob freaks out because he thinks the lights and decorations have started a fire. It would be nearly impossible to start a fire that far underwater, but I digress. Anyway, Sandy stops him and explains to Spongebob who Santa Claus is and what happens on Christmas. Excited and enchanted, Spongebob shares the story of Christmas and Santa Claus with nearly everyone in Bikini Bottom. As a result, everyone but Squidward sends letters to Santa and spends all night caroling. When Santa doesn’t show up, everyone calls Spongebob a fraud and mocks him, including Squidward. However, Spongebob turns Squidward’s heart from coal to gold when he gives him a handcrafted clarinet for Christmas so that he won’t go without a gift. In return, Squidward dresses up as Santa and surprises Spongebob, who is delighted, and wishes him a merry Christmas. Squidward didn’t account for all of the other citizens of Bikini Bottom spotting him and asking for gifts. Instead of ruining the charade, Squidward ends up giving away nearly everything in his home away as a gift. Thankfully, Squidward is rewarded when the real Santa Claus sends a letter thanking Squidward for helping keep the spirit of Christmas alive. Show: Hey Arnold! Air Date: December 11, 1996 “Arnold’s Christmas” is not only the best Nickelodeon late-year holiday special, but it’s arguably one of the best episodes of the entire series. The series revolves around Arnold (Toran Caudell) attempting to pull off a Christmas miracle for his neighbor, Mr. Hyunh (Baoan Coleman). Through this endeavor, much of Mr. Hyunh’s backstory is revealed, including the heartbreaking story of how he and his daughter, Mai (Hiep Thi Le), have been separated for more than 20 years. While Arnold and his best friend, Gerald (Jamil Walker Smith), fall short in their quest to find Mai and reconnect her with Mr. Hyunh, Helga (Francesca Marie Smith) unexpectedly saves the day and gets Mai in touch with her father. Helga never gets the credit for creating this touching reunion, but she will always be remembered for being the driving force behind one of the most touching moments in Nickelodeon history. More Headlines:In today’s trading, several major stocks made significant moves, capturing investors’ attention. Super Micro , a key player in the technology sector, saw a substantial increase in its stock price, drawing interest from market watchers. Meanwhile, the semiconductor giants, Nvidia and Broadcom , both experienced notable gains, reinforcing their positions in the booming chip industry. While chips were on an upward trajectory, steel was also in the spotlight. U.S. Steel showed impressive growth, surprising some, especially since Nippon Steel’s ambitious bid to acquire the American company is currently under the scrutiny of President Biden. His administration has expressed concerns about the deal, potentially affecting its future. In the electric vehicle sector, Tesla continued to make waves, as investors reacted positively to the company’s latest developments. Their innovative strides in the automotive field keep them at the forefront of industry interest. Finally, in the entertainment realm, Netflix remains a favorite among investors. The streaming giant’s stock price movement reflects its enduring strength in the competitive market. These fluctuations in stock prices illustrate the dynamic nature of the market, with various factors influencing investor decisions. Companies across different industries are navigating challenges and opportunities, as they strive to attract and maintain investor confidence. Stock Market Dynamics: Latest Trends and Insights The stock market showed dynamic changes in recent trading sessions, with several major companies experiencing significant shifts in their stock prices. Here’s a closer look at the developments and what they might mean for investors and the relevant sectors. Super Micro , a leading entity in the technology space, made headlines with a substantial increase in its stock price. This surge highlights the growing interest in companies driving technological advancements. The tech sector is expected to continue innovating, especially in areas like AI and automation, which could sustain interest in companies like Super Micro. In the semiconductor industry, both Nvidia and Broadcom witnessed notable gains, suggesting a robust growth trajectory. As the demand for semiconductor technologies expands, primarily driven by artificial intelligence, automotive innovations, and data centers, these companies are solidifying their positions. Analysts predict this trend will continue, performing as a backbone for technological evolution and digital transformation. The steel industry saw surprising developments with U.S. Steel ‘s impressive growth amid an acquisition bid by Nippon Steel, which is currently under the Biden administration’s scrutiny. This indicates a potential realignment within the steel sector, responding to global trade policies and infrastructure demands. The administration’s concerns could reflect broader policy implications on foreign investments, particularly in key industry sectors. Tesla remains a focal point in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. The company’s stock movement reflects ongoing confidence in its innovative capabilities. Tesla’s developments in sustainable energy solutions and self-driving technologies continue to captivate investor interest. As the EV market expands, further environmental regulatory pushes could benefit companies like Tesla leading this technological shift. Turning to entertainment, Netflix stays ahead in the competitive streaming market. While competitors grow in number and strategy, Netflix’s strong market presence and content diversification help maintain its appeal among investors. The streaming giant is expected to navigate these challenges through strategic content creation and international market expansion. These stock price fluctuations reflect a dynamic market landscape where investor decisions are swayed by varied factors, including technological advancements, policy impacts, and competitive positioning. Moving forward, market analysts expect to see continued growth in sectors embracing innovation and adjusting well to external challenges. For more insights and latest trends, check leading financial news sites or visit trusted sources like MarketWatch to stay updated.Jimmy Carter, a former peanut farmer who rose from rural Georgia to the White House and went on to a storied post-presidency that included winning the Nobel Peace Prize, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Ga. He was 100. An outsider, free from the baggage of Washington, Carter defeated President Gerald R. Ford in 1976, a victory seen as representing a clean break with the Watergate era. But the 39th president’s solitary term in office was hamstrung by a sluggish economy and crises at home and abroad. His presidency was also an anomaly, sandwiched between a total of two decades of Republican presidents. Carter, who was born on Oct. 1, 1924, was predeceased by his wife, Rosalynn Carter, who died on Nov. 19, 2023. The couple was married for more than 77 years. Their son Chip Carter confirmed the former president’s death Sunday to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . The Carter Center announced in February 2023 that the former president had decided to receive hospice care and spend his remaining time at home with family, rather than seek further medical treatment “after a series of short hospital stays.” Years before, Carter had been diagnosed with melanoma, which he announced in August 2015 had extended to his brain. He said at the time that he expected to have a short time to live, but after aggressive treatment he was reported free of the melanoma by December of that year. In what was perhaps the high point of his post-presidency years, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Oct. 11, 2002, for what the Nobel Foundation called “his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” In his acceptance speech, Carter criticized the very notion of preemptive war as having “catastrophic consequences.” He added: “If we accept the premise that the United Nations is the best avenue for the maintenance of peace, then the carefully considered decisions of the United Nations Security Council must be enforced. All too often, the alternative has proven to be uncontrollable violence and expanding spheres of hostility.” Relationship with Congress Scholars have judged Carter’s dealings with Congress critically. Democrats controlled both the Senate and the House for the entirety of his presidency. But many experts have argued that the former agribusinessman was largely disinterested in working directly with lawmakers. After leaving the White House, Carter tried to reverse the conventional wisdom about his relationship with Congress, arguing that lawmakers mostly supported his initiatives. “Despite the controversial and often unpopular nature of my proposals to the Congress, I had remarkably good success in congressional approval of bills I supported,” he wrote in his 2010 book “White House Diary.” Carter pointed to congressional vote data compiled by CQ, writing that at the time his book was published it showed he ranked third among all presidents, behind Lyndon B. Johnson and John F. Kennedy, when it came to garnering congressional approval for legislation on which he took a position and was voted on by lawmakers. Congress gave Carter his way 76.6% of the time, according to the CQ Almanac data. But Politifact, an independent fact-checking organization, found the former Georgia governor’s batting average with Congress was “unexceptional.” That’s because few of Carter’s initiatives actually became law; CQ’s methodology handed out successful scores for a positive vote in one chamber, even if a bill never became law. The roots of Carter’s struggles with Congress can be traced to his time in the governor’s mansion, according to scholars at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, which specializes in presidential studies. “As when he was governor, Carter had an abiding dislike for the backroom dealing that is so pervasive in Washington,” Robert Strong, a politics professor at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., wrote for the Miller Center. Strong said lawmakers “found the new president hard to deal with.” Soon after he entered the White House, lawmakers sensed he lacked the support of many Americans — and they pounced. “Congress asserted its power over the president by shooting down (a) consumer-protection bill and (a) labor reform package,” Strong said. “Carter responded by vetoing a public works package in 1978 on the grounds that it was inflationary. A pattern of mutual distrust and contempt had been set.” Energy policy Also complicating his dealings with Congress was his opposition, soon after taking office, to a rivers and harbors bill supported by Democratic leaders that he felt was full of wasteful spending. Perhaps his biggest achievement was on energy policy, which Carter pushed at a time when U.S. oil imports had risen 65% in the four years before he became president. Carter’s advocacy also came when America was heavily reliant on imports from the OPEC cartel. He convinced lawmakers to pass several measures credited with increasing oil and natural gas supplies and generally lowering prices, as well as others that reshaped mileage standards for cars and American companies’ use of fuel. Carter faced an economy besieged by so-called stagflation, a combination of high inflation, high unemployment and plodding growth. His often-troubled presidency was a drag on congressional Democrats — and his own reelection effort — in 1980. Former California Gov. Ronald Reagan walloped Carter, taking 489 of 538 Electoral College votes. Carter won just six states, including Georgia, as well as the District of Columbia. Republicans picked up 34 House seats and 12 in the Senate, enough to take control of that chamber. After the presidency Carter revealed during an August 2015 press conference that the Iranian hostage crisis, in which an attempted military rescue of embassy employees ended in the deaths of eight American servicemembers, was among his biggest regrets. “I wish I had sent one more helicopter to get the hostages, and we would’ve rescued them,” Carter said, “and I would’ve been reelected.” The New York Times reported in March 2023 that allies of Reagan went on a mission to the Middle East seeking to stop the Iranians from releasing 52 American hostages before Election Day in 1980. After leaving the White House, Carter was among the most active former presidents of the modern era. He participated in election monitoring around the globe, and regularly worked with Habitat for Humanity. What’s more, the Carter Center in Atlanta studied issues such as mental health and fought lesser-known problems, including Guinea-worm disease. Before leaving office in 2001, then-President Bill Clinton reportedly told confidants that the Carter Center was the model for the kind of post-presidency pursuits he envisioned. ©2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members, a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members, a key part of the Democratic base but gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. “Lori’s strong support from both the Business and Labor communities will ensure that the Labor Department can unite Americans of all backgrounds behind our Agenda for unprecedented National Success – Making America Richer, Wealthier, Stronger and more Prosperous than ever before!” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice Friday night. For decades, labor unions have sided with Democrats and been greeted largely with hostility by Republicans. But with Trump’s populist appeal, his working-class base saw a decent share of union rank-and-file voting for Republicans this year, even as major unions, including the AFL-CIO and the , endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the White House race. Trump and members this year, and when he emerged from that meeting, he boasted that a significant chunk of union voters were backing him. Of a possible Teamsters endorsement, he said, “Stranger things have happened.” The Teamsters ultimately declined to endorse either Trump, the former president, or Harris, the vice president, though leader Sean O’Brien had a prominent speaking slot at the Republican National Convention. Kara Deniz, a Teamsters spokesperson, told the Associated Press that O’Brien met with more than a dozen House Republicans this past week to lobby on behalf of Chavez-DeRemer. “Chavez-DeRemer would be an excellent choice for labor secretary and has his backing,” Deniz said. The work of the Labor Department affects workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employers’ rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. On Election Day, Trump deepened his support among voters without a college degree after running just slightly ahead of Democrat Joe Biden with noncollege voters in 2020. Trump made modest gains, earning a clear majority of this group, while only about 4 in 10 supported Harris, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide. Roughly 18% of voters in this year’s election were from union households, with Harris winning a majority of the group. But Trump’s performance among union members kept him competitive and helped him win key states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Chavez-DeRemer was one of few House Republicans to endorse the which would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The measure would weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Trump’s first term saw firmly pro-business policies from his appointees across government, including those on the National Labor Relations Board. Trump, a real estate developer and businessman before winning the presidency, generally has backed policies that would make it harder for workers to unionize. During his recent campaign, Trump criticized union bosses, and at one point suggested that UAW members should not pay their dues. His first administration did expand overtime eligibility rules, but not nearly as much as Democrats wanted, and a Trump-appointed judge has since struck down the Biden administration’s more generous overtime rules. He has stacked his incoming administration with officials who worked on the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” blueprint, which includes a sharp swing away from Biden’s pro-union policies. “Chavez-DeRemer’s record suggests she understands the value of policies that strengthen workers’ rights and economic security,” said Rebecca Dixon, president and CEO of National Employment Law Project, which is backed my many of the country’s major labor unions. “But the Trump administration’s agenda is fundamentally at odds with these principles, threatening to roll back workplace protections, undermine collective bargaining, and prioritize corporate profits over the needs of working people. This is where her true commitment to workers will be tested.” Other union leaders also issued praise, but also sounded a note of caution. “Educators and working families across the nation will be watching ... as she moves through the confirmation process,” the president of the National Education Association, Becky Pringle, said in a statement, “and hope to hear a pledge from her to continue to stand up for workers and students as her record suggests, not blind loyalty to the Project 2025 agenda.” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler welcomed the choice while taking care to note Trump’s history of opposing polices that support unions. “It remains to be seen what she will be permitted to do as secretary of labor in an administration with a dramatically anti-worker agenda,” Shuler said. Josh Boak And Zeke Miller, The Associated PressCanucks lines vs Sharks, December 23, 2024Don't Miss These Incredible AiRROBO Black Friday Deals - Unbeatable Prices Await!

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You can get Orcs Must Die 3 for free from the Epic Games Store, today onlyIn this digital era, groundbreaking research by Babita Kumari reveals how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing data governance frameworks, offering innovative solutions for modern data management challenges. The Data Explosion Challenge As organizations grapple with an exponential surge in data volumes, traditional governance methods are proving inadequate. By 2025, the global datasphere is projected to reach 175 zettabytes, creating an urgent need for more sophisticated management approaches. This explosive growth, combined with increasingly complex regulatory requirements, has pushed organizations to seek innovative solutions. Intelligent Systems Take the Lead AI-driven governance frameworks are emerging as game-changers, demonstrating remarkable capabilities in automating complex tasks and ensuring compliance. These systems leverage advanced machine learning algorithms and natural language processing to create adaptive, real-time governance mechanisms that evolve with changing regulations and enterprise needs. Breaking Down the Innovation The new intelligent frameworks operate through a modular microservices architecture deployed on scalable cloud infrastructure. This design enables organizations to adapt swiftly to changing data governance needs while maintaining robust security measures. The systems employ sophisticated AI algorithms that can process up to 1 million records per hour, a task that would traditionally take weeks to complete manually. Compliance Gets Smarter One of the most significant innovations is the integration of AI-powered compliance monitoring. These systems can identify up to 90% of potential compliance issues, compared to just 70% with traditional methods. Organizations implementing these solutions have reported a 47% improvement in compliance accuracy across various regulatory frameworks, substantially reducing the risk of penalties. The Power of Predictive Analytics The frameworks incorporate advanced predictive analytics capabilities that can anticipate potential data governance risks before they materialize. This proactive approach has enabled organizations to reduce data breach incidents by up to 65% and improve their response times to regulatory changes by 41%. Breaking Language Barriers Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies within these frameworks have revolutionized how organizations interpret and implement regulatory requirements. The systems can reduce the time spent on regulatory document analysis by up to 60%, while AI-powered policy generation tools can create and update governance policies ten times faster than traditional methods. Future-Proofing Data Management The integration of federated learning and blockchain technology promises even greater advancements. These technologies enable cross-organizational collaboration while maintaining data privacy and creating immutable audit trails. Organizations implementing these solutions have reported up to 95% improvement in data traceability throughout its lifecycle. The Economic Impact The financial benefits of these innovations are substantial. Organizations have reported an average 30% reduction in compliance-related costs and a significant decrease in the resources required for routine governance tasks. Large enterprises implementing these systems have saved between $2.5-4 million annually in compliance-related legal costs. Challenges and Considerations While the implementation of these systems presents notable challenges, including system interoperability concerns, AI bias mitigation, and computational resource management, organizations recognize their transformative potential. Despite these initial hurdles, the significant benefits in data governance efficiency and decision-making capabilities make these intelligent solutions invaluable for future-focused enterprises. The Road Ahead The future of data governance lies in the continued evolution of these intelligent systems. With the integration of explainable AI and advanced reinforcement learning, these frameworks are expected to become even more sophisticated and effective. Organizations investing in these technologies today are positioning themselves at the forefront of data management innovation. In conclusion, Babita Kumari 's research illuminates the transformative power of AI-driven frameworks in data governance. Her findings reveal that intelligent systems do more than enhance compliance and efficiency they fundamentally reshape how organizations manage and leverage their data assets, paving the way for a future where AI and data governance converge to unlock unprecedented business value.RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Matt Morrissey threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Calwise Jr. that ended the scoring midway through the fourth quarter and Eastern Kentucky beat North Alabama 21-15 on Saturday for its fifth straight win. TJ Smith drove North Alabama to the EKU 45-yard line before he threw an interception to Mike Smith Jr. to end the game. Smith threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dakota Warfield to give North Alabama a 15-14 lead with 10:37 to play. Morrissey completed 9 of 15 passes for 154 yards and added 60 yards on the ground with a touchdown run. Brayden Latham added 103 yards rushing on 19 carries that included a 2-yard score for Eastern Kentucky (8-4, 6-2 United Athletic Conference). Smith was 23-of-39 passing for 325 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for North Alabama (3-9, 2-5). Tanaka Scott had 109 yards receiving and a touchdown catch. ___ Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll 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

QUETTA: A massive rally under the banner of “Duki Bachao Tehreek” was organized in Balochistan’s Duki district on Sunday, drawing significant participation from local residents. The rally, featuring banners, placards, and national flags, echoed with chants of “Pakistan Zindabad” as participants expressed their patriotism and solidarity with national security forces. The gathering demonstrated robust support for the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps (FC) in their ongoing efforts to combat terrorism. During the event, organizers and speakers highlighted the local community’s unwavering support for the armed forces, police, and Levies. One of the key messages from the speakers was the deep-rooted patriotism of the Duki residents. “The people of Duki are patriotic and cannot be misled against the country,” asserted one of the speakers, underscoring the community’s loyalty and commitment to Pakistan’s stability and security. Meanwhile, in the neighboring Harnai district, the All Parties Harnai (APH) called on authorities to urgently address the deteriorating law and order situation. This appeal came during a meeting held at the district Secretariat of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), chaired by District Ameer Molvi Abdul Hanan. The meeting saw participation from leaders across various political spectrums including the Pushtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Awami National Party, National Democratic Movement, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Balochistan National Party-Mengal, as well as representatives from coal mines unions, Subzi Mandi Union, Trucks Union, tribal elders, and religious figures. The APH meeting discussed several critical issues impacting the district, such as the recent killing of young police officer Khalil Mulazai, the burning of coal-loaded trucks, proposed military operations, extortion, and challenges faced by mine owners and workers. The inefficiencies of government departments in dealing with these issues were also highlighted, with leaders warning of a potential protest movement if immediate action is not taken. Adding to the region’s unrest, a complete ‘wheeljam strike’ is set to be observed across Balochistan on Monday in response to the abduction of ten-year-old Muhammad Musawir Kakar. The school-going child was kidnapped on November 15 by unidentified armed men who intercepted his school van in the Patel Bagh area of Quetta and took him at gunpoint. In reaction to this alarming incident, the boy’s relatives and other concerned citizens have begun a sit-in protest at Serena Chowk in Quetta, demanding his safe release. The participants of the sit-in committee issued a statement confirming the strike on November 25, urging transporters not to operate their vehicles and citizens to avoid traveling as a form of protest against the abduction. The sit-in aims to draw attention to the abduction and pressure authorities to take swift action to ensure the child’s safe return, highlighting the ongoing challenges of security and governance in the region. These events in Balochistan underline the complex security and social issues facing the region, prompting calls for concerted action from both local leaders and national authorities to restore order and protect its citizens. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Matt Morrissey threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Calwise Jr. that ended the scoring midway through the fourth quarter and Eastern Kentucky beat North Alabama 21-15 on Saturday for its fifth straight win. TJ Smith drove North Alabama to the EKU 45-yard line before he threw an interception to Mike Smith Jr. to end the game. Smith threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dakota Warfield to give North Alabama a 15-14 lead with 10:37 to play. Morrissey completed 9 of 15 passes for 154 yards and added 60 yards on the ground with a touchdown run. Brayden Latham added 103 yards rushing on 19 carries that included a 2-yard score for Eastern Kentucky (8-4, 6-2 United Athletic Conference). Smith was 23-of-39 passing for 325 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for North Alabama (3-9, 2-5). Tanaka Scott had 109 yards receiving and a touchdown catch. ___ Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. ___ AP college football: and The Associated Press

Increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have caused intense hurricanes, wildfires, extreme heat, floods, droughts and more in recent years. Alongside efforts to reduce emissions of the gas from burning fossil fuels, some scientists are also looking for processes that could remove some of the carbon dioxide that’s already up there. “You have to take CO2 from the air—there’s no way around it,” Omar Yaghi , a chemist at UC Berkeley tells the Los Angeles Times ’ Karen Kaplan. “Even if we stop emitting CO2, we still need to take it out of the air. We don’t have any other options.” Now, Yaghi and his team have developed a new material that they say could be a game changer for this task and potentially be used in industrial facilities within the next few years. To the naked eye, it looks like a yellow powder. Under a microscope, it looks like tiny basketballs with billions of miniscule holes, per the L.A. Times . The powder has a hexagonal structure made of carbon and nitrogen, held together by covalent bonds—some of the strongest bonds in chemistry. The porous material, known as a covalent organic framework, is called COF-999. Within the framework are compounds called amines, which have a basic pH. When air flows through the material, most components pass freely through, but the amines snatch up acidic molecules of carbon dioxide. The team’s research into covalent organic frameworks has been ongoing for about 20 years. In results recently reported in the journal Nature , Yaghi and his team found that COF-999 performs remarkably well at absorbing carbon dioxide. In one experiment, they put a tube filled with the material outside and measured the carbon dioxide concentrations after air passed through. The exiting air was totally free of the greenhouse gas. “We were scrubbing the CO2 out of the air entirely,” Yaghi tells Scientific American ’s Alec Luhn. Study lead author Zihui Zhou , a materials chemist at UC Berkeley, says in a statement that a mere 200 grams of COF-999, or just under half a pound of material, can absorb up to 44 pounds of carbon dioxide in one year—the same as a large tree. “There’s nothing like it out there in terms of performance,” Yaghi adds in the statement. “It breaks new ground in our efforts to address the climate problem.” Especially promising is how COF-999 releases carbon dioxide after absorbing the molecules. Typically, after carbon capture technologies remove the gas from the atmosphere, engineers have to heat the material to get it to release the absorbed carbon dioxide. Then, the gas is often used in industrial applications or sequestered in geologic reservoirs deep in bedrock. This heating process is expensive and energy-intensive, since traditional carbon capture materials must be heated to high temperatures. But COF-999 releases its stores at just 140 degrees Fahrenheit—more than 100 degrees cooler than the materials currently in use, reports the L.A. Times . What’s more, it can go through more than 100 cycles of absorbing and releasing carbon dioxide without losing any effectiveness. Some experts caution that it’s too soon to regard COF-999 as a miracle savior for the planet, as it hasn’t yet been tested in real-life situations. Jennifer Wilcox , a chemical engineer at the University of Pennsylvania not involved with the work, tells Scientific American that many questions remain, like whether COF-999 might restrict airflow when applied to a filter and whether that would increase energy consumption, in turn. The answers, says Wilcox, “will ultimately dictate costs”—and determine the material’s usefulness. Regardless, chemists will continue to work on new carbon capture technologies. As Yaghi tells Chemical & Engineering News ’ Brianna Barbu, “carbon capture is the problem of our society today ... it’s also a fantastic chemistry problem.” Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday. Rudy Molinek | READ MORE Rudy Molinek is Smithsonian magazine's 2024 AAAS Mass Media Fellow.39 Skincare Products From Amazon Our Readers Loved In 2024

Don't Miss These Incredible AiRROBO Black Friday Deals - Unbeatable Prices Await!Aaron Rodgers has no chance of getting the Jets back into the playoff hunt and as such, this could be the end of the experiment. Aaron Rodgers is rapidly approaching the end of his NFL career. While the exact time he calls it is unknown, the New York Jets quarterback has much less ahead of him than behind. Still, with roughly half a dozen other teams potentially needing a starting quarterback next season, the former Green Bay Packers quarterback might have a market brewing. While seas of analysts have given negative reviews on Rodgers , he only needs one team to accept him to extend his career. The question is whether it will be the Jets. If not, the second question regarding Rodgers is who his successor will be in New York. Two possible replacements for Rodgers One NFL analyst appears to have some ideas. Speaking on a December 24 edition of “First Take,” NFL analyst and Peyton Manning’s former center Jeff Saturday offered up two potential names. He said: “When you think about Aaron Rodgers, I don’t know that there’s anybody out there, maybe Kirk Cousins, because I’m sure he’s not going to be in Atlanta long. Maybe Sam Darnold going back would be a shock,” he said. While he called a Sam Darnold return a shock, he didn’t appear to write off the possibility considering Darnold’s prowess and positive reviews put on display this season. At this point, the Jets are heading for what could be a semi-complete reset. While stars like Garrett Wilson are seemingly bolted to the team, the head coach and quarterback both could look quite different next season. Jets’ Aaron Rodgers succession plan could hinge on the next two games If the Jets quarterback moves on, the Jets will be one of many teams in pursuit of a quarterback. Perhaps the most obvious option aside from Kirk Cousins would be a rookie quarterback. According to Tankathon, the Jets currently have the eighth overall pick, tied with two other teams at 4-11. If the Jets were to hold pat at four wins this year, they’d need five teams to win the last two games to get the Jets into the top two. While that seemingly is impossible, two more losses could jump the team realistically into the top five, which could give them a shot at a premium rookie. Ironically, Rodgers must be the one to put the team in position to draft his replacement. Otherwise, a turn to the free market could be the Jets’ only option, as most of the quarterback choices go in the first few picks. Will Aaron Rodgers give the Jets the ability to move on from him? This article first appeared on NFL Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.