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Blake's career receiving day helps Charlotte beat FAU 39-27Airbnb ( ABNB 3.06% ) has become so popular that the company's name is often used as a verb when people are looking to travel and book their accommodations. Shares have recently been a disappointment, though, as they are down 2% year to date, as of this writing. Meanwhile, the major market indexes have soared in 2024. With this top travel stock trading at $133 per share, nearly 40% below its all-time high, is buying Airbnb at this level a smart idea? Moat and profits As a two-sided platform with tremendous scale, Airbnb connects millions of hosts and travelers across the globe. The 123 million nights and experiences booked in Q3 serve as clear evidence of the network effects the company enjoys, and this is key to the company's economic moat. This moat is so important because it makes success extremely difficult for new entrants. Someone launching a new competitor to Airbnb would have to bring hosts and travelers onto the platform, but without a large enough base of either user group, this is a tall order. For existing rivals to Airbnb, it's hard to match the depth of offerings. Airbnb currently has 5 million hosts and 8 million active listings in 220 countries. It's the default choice for many hosts and travelers, which creates a positive feedback loop. Airbnb is also consistently profitable. Through the first nine months of this year, Airbnb reported $2.1 billion in operating income, good for a 25% margin. And it generated $1.1 billion in free cash flow (FCF) in Q3, capital that management has used to repurchase outstanding shares. Airbnb's risks Airbnb registered impressive growth during the post-pandemic travel boom. In 2021 and 2022, it posted 77% and 40% revenue growth, respectively. Consumer demand for travel was clearly strong. However, those monster gains are now a thing of the past. After recording an 18% sales increase last year, Airbnb saw the top line expand by just 12% through the first nine months of 2024. The company's performance is stabilizing, so investors expecting the high double-digit growth of years past should temper their expectations. As is often the case with disruptive and innovative businesses that upend entire industries, which is precisely what Airbnb did to the travel sector, there's always uncertainty around the regulatory landscape that investors need to be mindful of. In this instance, Airbnb's presence in some markets has led some local residents and businesses to push for new rules around short-term rentals. The fact that Airbnb operates in so many markets, coupled with the fact that no single city represents more than 2% of overall revenue, adds diversification to the business that protects it from downside. However, it may only take a few major cities or countries to adopt laws that limit short-term rentals to kick off a domino effect. Shares are trading 39% off their peak from Feb. 2021. Don't let that fool you, though. The stock still sells at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 33. This is expensive given FCF is only projected to increase at a 6% annualized pace between 2024 and 2026. Weigh the two sides There are valid bull and bear arguments when it comes to Airbnb stock . The bulls will call out the company's powerful network effects, as well as its ability to generate lots of cash. On the other hand, bears will point to slower growth, regulatory risk, and an expensive valuation. I side with the bears, so I'm keeping the stock on my watch list for now, waiting for a more compelling valuation before making a decision.

When a man in his 60s transferred $70,000 to another bank account and wanted to withdraw the rest of his life savings of more than $600,000, a DBS Bank officer stepped in. Instead of providing a valid reason when the officer asked what it was for, the man grew agitated and refused to say much, which were immediate red flags. Recalling the case which took place in September, Mr Uthayakumar Chellappan Silvaraju, a senior associate with DBS’ anti-scam team, said he was determined to prevent the man from losing his life savings. Said Mr Kumar: “During the first two calls I had with him, he was evasive. On the third call, I asked him, ‘Are you sure you want to risk your life savings you worked so hard for?’ “That was when he broke down and said he was doing this under someone’s instructions, but he still refused to believe that he was being scammed.” The bank subsequently handed the case over to the police’s Anti-Scam Centre (ASC). At least $2.7m lost to property rental scams this year Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Timothy Ng, officer-in-charge at the ASC, said he suspected the man was a victim of a government official impersonation scam as his answers sounded coached and rehearsed. “At first he was evasive, then he told me he wanted to withdraw his life savings and put them in an account with better interest rates. “But knowing that a scammer impersonating the police had probably got to him, my role was to calm him down and tell him that he was not under investigation or in trouble with the authorities,” said DSP Ng. The next morning, the man realised he had been scammed, changed his mind about transferring the $600,000, and lodged a police report. DSP Ng said: “It was a relief because he would have lost such a large amount of money.” Not all scam victims can be convinced they are being duped. That is why the Protection from Scams Bill was introduced in Parliament on Nov 11. In what is believed to be a world first, it proposes giving the police powers to control the bank accounts of victims. If passed, the police will be allowed to issue restriction orders to banks, which will then limit the banking transactions of an individual’s accounts. Bank officers and officers at the ASC said they often need to spend a lot of time convincing victims they have been scammed. Dr Lim Boon Leng, a psychiatrist at Gleneagles Hospital, said scammers often spend a great deal of time and effort emotionally manipulating their victims to gain their trust. He said: “They often exploit psychological vulnerabilities of the victims, such as loneliness and greed. By doing so, they create an intense emotional bond with the victims, and these intense emotions override rational thinking.” Dr Lim said some victims could be in a state of grief after having already lost a certain amount of money. He added: “So, when the police or the authorities tell them they’ve been scammed, it is in a way confirming that loss, and they may refuse to listen because they are in denial about it.” In other cases, scammers may employ social engineering and tell the victim details of his own life, like how the scammer himself had been cheated before, to build rapport. Then, when the police or bank officers inform the victims they have been scammed, it is harder to convince them, as trust has already been built with the scammer, Dr Lim said. He added that in government official impersonation scams, scammers may even pre-empt their victims that there would be “other authorities” who would try to convince them that they have been scammed. Said Dr Lim: “This may then follow with threats that if the victim does not go through with the instructions given, there would be consequences. “So when the scammer’s narrative pans out and ‘another authority figure’ calls the victim, the victim would then be more likely to believe the scammer instead of the real authorities.” Government official impersonation scams were among the top 10 scams in the first half of 2024, with victims losing more than $67 million. DBS’ Mr Kumar said he has encountered victims who clearly have been coached in their responses. He said: “In such cases, we know that the victims have already been hooked by the scammers, and the banks can only do so much. “But we will still try our best to convince them, no matter the amount of money involved, because these are the savings our customers have worked so hard for.”‘Love Connection’ Host Chuck Woolery Dies at 83Stewart Announces Contract Extension for CEO Fred Eppinger

The Inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix was the highest-profile new sporting event in the world last year. The collision of luxury and high-octane adrenaline left spectators in awe, showcasing the extravagant lifestyle and hospitality synonymous with Las Vegas. Stretching over 3.8 miles, the custom-designed street circuit features 17 high-speed turns and two DRS zones against the dazzling Las Vegas backdrop. Last year's event garnered 315,000 fans to witness drivers racing down the strip at 215 mph. The last time Las Vegas hosted a Grand Prix was in 1982 when Formula One drivers competed on a track set up in a parking lot next to Caesars Palace. The success of Netflix reality show Drive to Survive has boosted Formula One's stateside popularity in the United States in recent years. But the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix isn't just about what happens on the track; Sin City also offers high-end hospitality options for attendees. VIP packages include exclusive lounges, gourmet dining experiences, and up-close views of the action from private suites. The ultimate ticket to this year's Grand Prix race is the Bellagio Fountain Club , which sits mere feet from the 1.2-mile high-speed straight. This exclusive package constructed next to the city's famous fountains is a powerhouse trifecta of indulgence, hospitality, and exhilaration. "Bellagio Fountain Club's debut at last year's Las Vegas Grand Prix event surpassed all expectations," said Andrew Lanzino, MGM Resorts' Vice President of Citywide Events Strategy. The private indoor and rooftop deck gives guests unobstructed trackside viewing. Celebrity chefs like Mario Carbone, David Chang, Alain Ducasse, Masaharu Morimoto, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten serve exquisite culinary offerings. At the same time, drinks flow at the open bar from master sommeliers and mixologists. The Bellagio Fountain Club is a highly sought-after ticket for race weekend, yet the hotel offers numerous activities everyone can enjoy. The Shoey Bar is back! Drink from a newly designed white shoe at the wildly popular tribute to one of racing's most iconic celebrations (thanks to Daniel Ricciardo). The Bellagio's Ferrari pop-up boutique returns for the second consecutive year, exclusively housing men's and women's collections, luxury leather accessories, one-of-a-kind items, and signed collectibles. Exclusive Balmain Racing menswear capsule and the French house's iconic ready-to-wear, handbags, and shoes will be available at a temporary boutique at the Bellagio through January 5. The Fontainebleau Las Vegas is a luxurious new addition to the Vegas Strip. A long-anticipated sister property to the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach, this Las Vegas counterpart brings high-end design and world-class dining. As the official event partner for the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix, Fontainebleau will host the international elite at Papi Steak Garage, fusing high-energy dining and trackside action. Hosted by Papi Steak, a renowned David Grutman's Groot Hospitality hotspot, this package places guests within the pulse of the race, the Pit Lane. Known for its signature "Papi Steak," a richly seasoned and expertly cooked Tomahawk, the restaurant blends vintage glamour with a vibrant, high-energy atmosphere. For racing enthusiasts looking to pair fine dining with Formula 1 excitement, the VIP ultra-luxe package experience includes: No matter what team you cheer for, Sin City comes alive during race weekend. For those looking to get a taste of the action off-track, F1-themed activations throughout the city keep the energy high. The lobby at ARIA is the epicenter of excitement for Mercedes-AMG Petronas fans. A fully decked-out installation features race simulators, team merchandise, and photo opportunities with a show car, among other specialized experiences. The Cosmopolitan elevates race weekend with The Boulevard Experience, a souped-up watch party atop the Boulevard Pool. New for this year's race is a closed-circuit viewing of the live Las Vegas Grand Prix TV feed. The Brooklyn Bridge will transform into a motorsport fan's dream with Williams Racing team-curated interactive experiences. The free event offers fans an inside look at what it means to be on the team. Guests wandering The Cosmopolitan will find a variety of complimentary race weekend experiences, including MoneyGram Haas F1 Team memorabilia and photo opportunities with a team show car. As an official partner of the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix, the resort is a high-energy destination for sports, entertainment, and exclusive experiences. More than 20 displayed Aston Martin models give fans unprecedented opportunities to experience the exquisite craftsmanship and advanced technology defining this prestigious brand. Aston Martin's Global Chief Brand and Commercial Officer, Marco Mattiacci, says, "It's an opportunity to connect with our community of owners and bring our brand to enthusiasts from across North America during a landmark moment in the F1 calendar." The exclusive Aston Martin British Bloodline experience presents a curated selection of current and rare vintage performance cars. Among them is the return of an icon, the Vanquish, Aston Martin's V12 flagship. This collection also features the newly launched Vantage sports car, the groundbreaking DB12 Super Tourer, and the DBX707, hailed as the supercar of SUVs. "As the excitement builds toward Race Week, we are thrilled to offer our guests an intimate look at the history and evolution of Aston Martin, a brand that symbolizes both excellence and sophistication," says Fontainebleau Las Vegas President Maurice Wooden. "As a resort, we pride ourselves on bringing top-tier experiences to our guests, creating once-in-a-lifetime memories. Fontainebleau Las Vegas is extremely proud to be the exclusive partner of Aston Martin, and we are honored to bring this iconic luxury brand for the ultimate Race Week experience." The hotel invites guests to experience Race Week in VIP style with the Aston Martin Million Dollar Package . This epitome of luxury allows guests to tailor their own Race Week adventure. It offers the extraordinary opportunity to take home an Aston Martin Vanquish, the stunning new flagship model from the prestigious British performance car brand. The Aston Martin Million Dollar Package also includes: Experience the Grand Prix without the craziness of The Strip with a retreat to Crockfords Las Vegas , an ultra-luxe property located directly on Las Vegas Boulevard just outside the high-energy zone. Recharge at this exclusive hotel within Resorts World after an action-fueled day at the track. The Chairman's Villa is an exclusive four-bedroom suite with direct views of the strip and race track from its private balcony on the 65th floor. This opulent suite includes a private lobby experience, a personal butler, and access to all of Crockford's amenities. A large media room, formal dining room, chef's kitchen, and billiards table bar mean guests can relax in the expansive living room while enjoying cocktails from a private bar or watching the drivers speed down the straight from the strip-facing balcony. The Chairman's Villa is also supreme for hosting exclusive events or parties during race weekend. It is truly a one-of-a-kind accommodation that embodies the glamour and extravagance of Las Vegas and Formula 1. Inspired by his nickname "Smooth Operator," Carlos Sainz will bring the vibes to Las Vegas with the 'Smooth Operator' Dance Lounge at ARIA Resort & Casino. Sainz famously earned his moniker by singing the song while overtaking competitors during global Grand Prix events. The charismatic Grand Prix driver will take over ARIA's ALIBI Ultra Lounge before racing around the Las Vegas streets. "Collaborating with Carlos Sainz on this exclusive party further strengthens the way we're delivering the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix experience to fans unlike any other race of the year," continues Lanzino. "Whether it's one-of-a-kind dining experiences with world-famous chefs, virtual reality Grand Prix moments with championship teams, or dancing with the Smooth Operator himself, we are creating a variety of ways for visitors and locals to have the time of their lives."President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money convictionMore than 10 million people empowered so far through the 34 by 34 initiative ATLANTA , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Enterprises today announced that it has empowered 10.6 million people to live more prosperous lives since 2020, a significant milestone in its 34 by 34 social impact initiative . This achievement represents a wide range of efforts across Cox and its businesses, Cox Communications and Cox Automotive. Cox is committed to solving business problems that also remove obstacles present in communities and society at large, from bridging the digital divide to addressing social equity and environmental sustainability challenges. "Cox is a company of innovators, changemakers and believers of being part of something bigger than ourselves," said Maury Wolfe , vice president of Corporate Responsibility and Social Impact at Cox Enterprises. "To drive our 34 by 34 social impact initiative forward, employees across our businesses have led countless acts of volunteering and community engagement, from cleaning up waterways and building outdoor learning labs to mentoring students. We're humbled to see the ripple effect throughout our communities." 34 by 34 focuses on six key pathways to create positive change: technology access, access to lifelong education, employment skills, social equity, environmental sustainability, and good health. These pathways provide a holistic approach to empowering individuals and communities. Key examples of Cox's business and employee volunteering impact include: Visit Cox34by34.com to see stories of our impact and watch this video to learn more about the 34 by 34 initiative. About Cox Enterprises Cox Enterprises is dedicated to empowering people to build a better future for the next generation. Cox is a leader in the broadband, automotive, and media industries, as well as a leading investment platform with strategic positions in emerging technologies driving the future of agriculture, renewable energy, healthtech, and public sector software. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia , Cox is a global company with $23 billion in annual revenues and a proud history spanning more than 125 years. To learn more about Cox and its commitment to its people, planet and communities, visit coxenterprises.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cox-enterprises-nearing-one-third-of-its-ambitious-goal-to-empower-34-million-people-to-live-more-prosperous-lives-by-2034-302324319.html SOURCE Cox Enterprises Stay Informed: Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today

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Millard South and Omaha Westside spent the previous few months making the regular season a formality. Now the game everyone has wanted to see is here. Incredible talent on the field for both sides and two head coaches who have pushed their programs to new heights. Primetime viewing at its finest. (Note: Journal Star rankings are used instead of playoff seeds.) Time and day: 7:15 p.m. Monday Place: Memorial Stadium TV: Nebraska Public Media No. 1 Millard South Record: 11-1 Coach: Ty Wisdom Road to the finals: First round — def. Papillion-La Vista South 56-19. Quarterfinals — def. Millard North 49-10. Semifinals — def. Kearney 49-14. People are also reading... State playoff appearances: 27 Finals appearances: Sixth Impact players QB Jett Thomalla, 6-4, 190, jr., 3,444 passing yards, 44 TDs; TE Chase Loftin, 6-6, 220, sr., 54 catches, 811 yards, 12 TDs; WR Amarion Jackson, 6-2, 185, jr., 48 catches, 733 yards, 7 TDs; TE Isaac Jensen, 6-6, 225, jr., 36 catches, 593 yards, 9 TDs; WR Aamir Hill, 5-8, 150, sr., 36 catches, 573 yards, 8 TDs; RB Gabriel Prucha, 5-11, 215, jr., 853 rushing yards, 17 TDs, 32 catches, 296 yards, 2 TDs. Millard South's Jett Thomalla throws the ball against Papillion-La Vista last month in Omaha. Bread and butter There's no quantifiable way to measure swagger, but if there were, Millard South would lead the world in it. They are better than you, they know it, and they will happily show you for 48 minutes. From the head coach on down, everyone associated with the program has an unshakable belief in their ability to dominate football games. Does not hurt either that the Patriots have perhaps the best passing attack the state has ever seen — Jett Thomalla last week broke the Class A record for passing yards in a season and five players, three of them Power 4 prospects, have 32 or more catches. No. 2 Omaha Westside Record: 12-0 Coach: Paul Limongi Road to the finals: First round — def. Omaha Westview 48-0. Quarterfinals — def. Papillion-La Vista 36-0. Semifinals — def. Omaha North 47-14. State playoff appearances: 40 Finals appearances: 12th Impact players RB Tay Tay Jenkins, 5-8, 175, so., 1,879 rushing yards, 21 TDs, 11 catches, 198 yards, 4 TDs; QB Braylen Warren, 6-3, 200, so., 2,053 passing yards, 30 TDs, 175 rushing yards, 2 TDs; WR Keynan Cotton, 5-11, 190, sr., 40 catches, 688 yards, 11 TDs; WR Eli Johnson, 6-4, 205, jr., 33 catches, 500 yards, 10 TDs; LB Christian Jones, 6-4, 220, sr., 86 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception; DB Reid McIntyre, 6-0, 180, jr., 98 tackles, 76 solo, 2 fumble recoveries. Bread and butter Outstanding complementary football, led by a defense that has allowed just 99 points in 12 games. Nearly half of those points came in a three-game stretch in September. Since October started, Westside's defense, led by Nebraska commit Christian Jones, is allowing just six points per game. That's been plenty for a talented young offense, led by a couple of sophomores in running back Tay Tay Jenkins and quarterback Braylen Warren. Basnett's pick Westside is rarely the underdog, and perhaps the Warriors shouldn't be here, with their Class A-record 32-game winning streak. But Millard South's collection of talent is nearly unprecedented in this state, and has led to a string of lopsided scores against the best Class A has to offer. Does that change in primetime under the lights? Can Westside use experience gleaned from a half-decade of consecutive finals appearances to apply some pressure to a Patriots program that has not faced much in 2024? Or does Millard South simply overwhelm another foe? This will be the closest game Millard South plays against a Nebraska foe this year. It will also be another game the Patriots win. Download the new Journal Star News Mobile App Top Journal Star photos for November 2024 Lincoln firefighter Andrew Brenner sprays water from the top of a ladder truck on to the roof of a former Village Inn at 29th and O streets Wednesday morning. Luca Gustafson, 6, rides to school Tuesday with the bike bus at Riley Elementary School. Each Tuesday, students can bike to school with adult chaperones along a specific route. Wahoo's Braylon Iversen celebrates with Warrior players after they defeated Auburn in a Class C-1 state semifinal game Friday in Wahoo. Lincoln Fire Fighters Association member Andy Evans works to assemble a headboard during a bed-building day hosted by Sleep in Heavenly Peace on Saturday at Hampton Enterprises. Volunteers helped build 20 beds for children in need. Second-time mother giraffe Allie nuzzles her new calf in the giraffe experience enclosure on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Lincoln Children's Zoo. Nebraska celebrates during the first set of the match against Minnesota on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center. Iris Gonnerman, 8 (from right), her brother Oliver, 6, and cousin Noreen Milana, 9, wave flags while watching Veterans Parade outside the state Capitol on Sunday. Nebraska's Connor Essegian scores against Bethune-Cookma on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Covered by a canopy of changing leaves, a car cruises along A street in a neighborhood north of Downtown Lincoln on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Mild temperatures continue into the mid weeks of November. Wednesday calls for a chance of rain showers before noon with gusty winds. Most days this week are expected to be accompanied by mostly sunny skies and consistent breezes. Norris' Anna Jelinek (left) lifts the the Class B championship trophy alongside Rya Borer on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Lincoln Lutheran players embrace one another as threy celebrate defeating Thayer Central in four sets to win the Class C-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Superior players celebrate their three set win over EMF during the Class D-1 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Reflected in a ceiling beam, Leyton takes on Shelton in the first set of the Class D-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Omaha Skutt's Nicole Ott (left) and Addison West react after a point in the second set during a Class B semifinal match Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Hasan Khalil, owner of Golden Scissors, trims the beard of Vitaliy Martynyuk on Friday at his barbershop in Lincoln. Southwest fans Kylea Stritt (from left), Peg Rice, and Stacey Wilson cheer on their team as the "horsemen" during a Class D-1 first-round match Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Millard West players dogpile on the floor after defeating Lincoln Southwest in five set match during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Lincoln Southwest's Shelby Harding dives to save the ball from hitting the ground in the first set during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Second graders Eli Gonzalez (left) and Shrutoshome Datta look at drawings that first and second grade students made at the Monster Jam Art Show on Wednesday at Elliott Elementary School. The elementary school students made drawings of monsters to be turned into different types of art by Lincoln High School students. Norris players celebrate a point against Lincoln Pius X in a Class B state volleyball tournament match, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (right) talks with supporters, including Darlene Starman of Lincoln, at her campaign office on Tuesday in Lincoln. A cutout of Jesus watches over voters on Tuesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln. Abigail Webb votes on Tuesday at F Street Community Center. Nebraska's Rollie Worster (24) shoots a layup while defended by Texas Rio Grande Valley's Marshal Destremau (left) and Trey Miller (right) on Nov. 4 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska's Allison Weidner (left) autographs a poster for Freeman Public Schools student Godwil Muthiani, 12 (center), after the game against UNO on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Muthiani's sign says, "#3 Allison Weinder is the GOAT! Sorry I'm only 12." Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule speaks to an official after a targeting call on Nebraska during the first quarter of the game against UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. The call was overturned after review. Nebraska's Dante Dowdell scores against UCLA in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Cadet Elena Burgwald (left) and Cadet Mason Beck look up as a B-1B Lancer flies over Memorial Stadium before the UCLA game against Nebraska on Saturday. UCLA's K.J. Wallace (7) defends Nebraska's Jacory Barney (17) as he makes a diving 40-yard catch in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Lincoln Southeast quarterback Tre Bollen (left) and Tate Sandman react after losing a Class A football playoff game against Millard North on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Seacrest Field. Millard North won 10-3. After the field clears, Norris' Jarrett Behrends (17) kicks his helmet after the Titans fell to Waverly 16-17 in a Class B football playoff game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Waverly High School. A line of people waiting to vote has been normal at the Lancaster County Election Commission Office at 601 N. 46th St., as it was Friday afternoon. The office will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to allow voters to cast an early ballot. If they wait until Election Day, they will need to go to their precinct or drop off their ballots at one of five drop boxes across the city. For more stories about about Tuesday's election, go to Journalstar.com . Reach the writer at (402) 473-7436 or cbasnett@journalstar.com . On Twitter @ChrisBasnettLJS. .​ Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Assistant sports editor/high schools {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.NORTH CHARLESTON — "Christmas comes early for South Carolina," said Senator Lindsey Graham, celebrating president-elect Trump's pick for Treasury secretary. The choice, native South Carolinian Scott Bessent, will be of "enormous benefit" to the people of the state and nationwide, Graham added. President-elect Donald Trump named Bessent his nominee for leader of the U.S. Department of Treasury on Nov. 22 after several weeks of candidate interviews and indecision. Bessent beamed when waving to reporters inside a conference room Nov. 24 at the Charleston International Airport. He shook hands with Graham before departing. Bessent did not take questions from reporters. "[Bessent] has the best combination of academic credentials and real world experience," said Graham. After speaking with both Bessent and Trump, Graham believes they have an agenda that can bring the U.S. economy into what Graham calls a "golden age." Born in Conway and a longtime resident of Charleston, Bessent knows South Carolina economy and "knows how we can fit in," Graham said. "He will be President Trump's right-hand man to jumpstart the American economy and to deal with bad actors throughout the world," he said. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks with reporters after introducing Scott Bessent, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, at a press conference at Charleston International Airport, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in North Charleston. Bessent, 62, has long been a front-runner for the position, as he served as a close financial advisor to Trump during the campaign and raised millions for his reelection. Bessent has also been a vocal critic of President Joe Biden’s economic plan, according to prior reporting from The Post and Courier . The road to becoming Trump’s pick for treasury secretary was rocky, with several candidates causing shake ups, one placing a last-minute bid for the post. When concerns around Bessent’s ties to liberal megadonor George Soros arose, Elon Musk endorsed Trump’s transition team co-chair and Wall Street businessman Howard Lutnick on his social media website X. In the X post , Musk called Bessent a “business as usual” pick, arguing that America needs a change to avoid future economic failures. A few others were considered for the post, including former Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Kevin Warsh and Wall Streeter Marc Rowan, according to The New York Times and other outlets. "South Carolina could not be in better shape," Graham said. There are premier, worldwide businesses stationed in the state, like Boeing and BMW, that can greatly benefit from having a S.C. native chairing initiatives in national economy, according to Graham. Trump promised he would pardon Jan. 6 Capitol rioters. Here's what that means for 34 in SC. Aside from lowering inflation and handling the national debt — some of Graham's perceived biggest priorities for the coming administration — using the Treasury Department to influence foreign policy will be "indispensable," Graham said. He also asserted that implementing foreign tariffs will play a key role in discouraging illegal immigration and holding other countries accountable. Scott Bessent (left), President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, stands with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham before a press conference at Charleston International Airport, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in North Charleston. "We can create carrots for allies and sticks for the bad guys," Graham said, explaining that import tariffs on goods obtained from other countries can create "economic pressure." Graham wants to see Trump increase tariffs on oil purchased from Iran, "the largest state sponsor of terrorism on the planet." Similarly, Graham hopes that the Treasury Department can help reduce fentanyl poisoning by enacting policies to hold Mexico accountable; "If they don't work with us, they need to pay a heavy price," he said. Soybean, corn tariffs and mass deportations could cost SC farmers who backed Trump The future administration should use tariffs as a "tool to change behavior," Graham said. He hopes to use his role as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee to embolden Treasury initiatives. "I intend to be very aggressive when it comes to locking in Trump economic policies through budget reconciliation," Graham said. Budget reconciliation can allow for policy changes within certain parameters without any democratic party votes, Graham said. Budget chairman will be "one of the most important jobs I've ever had," Graham said. He intends to draft a budget reconciliation bill that will keep tax cuts from expiring and forward fund money to secure the border, he said. In part, Graham is adamant in his hope for an end to conflict between Israel and Palestinians and peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia. South Carolina industry has a "unique opportunity" to be a part of a changing and newly-emerging economy in the Middle East, said Graham. He credits Saudi Arabian development of new airlines, and their subsequent purchase of around $38 billion worth of Charleston-made Boeing 787 airplanes , as the beginning of a "tremendous" economic opportunity. Graham said he is working with the Biden administration and is coordinating with the Trump administration. Graham will soon be departing for a trip to Saudi Arabia and Israel to meet with the Crown Prince and elected Israeli officials, his eighth or ninth visit since October 2023, he said.

Las Vegas Grand Prix Puts Luxury on Overdrive and Delivers High-Octane Hospitality

MUMBAI: Six months is a long time in politics. The ruling Mahayuti had suffered a major setback in the state in the Lok Sabha elections. But it has made a crushing comeback in the assembly elections, winning 230 of the state's 288 assembly seats - at 80%, that's more than a three-fourths majority. MVA, which led in 153 assembly segments in the LS polls, has been reduced to an abysmal 46 seats in the state. The Ladki Bahin Yojana, its cash transfer scheme for women, is being widely credited as a gamechanger. Consolidation of the OBC vote and pro-Hindutva vote have acted as a force multiplier. For the Mahayuti alliance of BJP , CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP , this is a remarkable turnaround. BJP, apart from scoring a hat-trick of assembly poll victories - crossing 100 seats each time - has won its biggest mandate ever in the state with its 132 eclipsing its 2014 tally of 122. The victory, under deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis , heralds his return as a strong contender for the top post. It is also Congress's worst-ever showing in its one-time bastion of Maharashtra (which sends the largest number of MPs to Lok Sabha after UP). The party had been reduced to 42 assembly seats during the 2014 Modi wave. Now it has managed to win less than half that tally, with just 16 seats. Maharashtra Jharkhand Maharashtra Alliance View i Party View Seats: 288 Results Majority: 145 BJP+ 229 MVA 47 OTH 12 Results : 288 / 288 BJP+ WON Jharkhand Alliance View i Party View Seats: 81 Results Majority: 41 INDIA 56 NDA 24 OTH 1 Results : 81 / 81 INDIA WON Source: PValue Equally significant is that the verdict has legitimised Eknath Shinde 's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar 's NCP. They can now claim to be the real inheritors of the party leadership. Shiv Sena has won 57 seats compared to Shiv Sena (UBT)'s 20. And Ajit Pawar's NCP has won 41 seats compared to the NCP (Sharad Pawar's) 10 seats. Uddhav Thackeray , who was anointed party chief by his father Bal Thackeray, could well be staring at political oblivion, having lost control of the party's vote base to a non-Thackeray. For 84-year-old Sharad Pawar whose pragmatic political alignments have helped him play a long innings, this presents a existential crisis and perhaps the end of the road for the party as he had envisaged it. The Ladki Bahin scheme, among other sops, a good monsoon and counter-consolidation of OBCs in response to Maratha quota aggression during the LS polls were factors that held across regions to deliver a saffron sweep. Hindutva consolidation through slogans like Yogi Adityanath's 'Batenge Toh Katenge' tapped into concerns within the Hindu community that the Muslim vote had consolidated behind MVA. Within Mahayuti, BJP has achieved a strike rate of 88.5%, with wins in 132 of the 149 seats contested. This is all the more impressive given that it contested the largest number of seats among the six main parties. Shiv Sena's strike rate was 70.4% while NCP's was 69.4%. Within MVA, Shiv Sena has the highest strike rate of 21%, winning 20 of the 95 seats contested. Congress's strike rate is 15.8% while that of NCP (SP) is 11.6%. Observers also said Mahayuti setback in LS polls was largely a vote against incumbency, not the state leadership. "There was an anti-Modi vote in LS polls and a united campaign by INDIA bloc. Concerns about the Constitution being changed if BJP had absolute majority was a huge issue," said an NCP member. In Vidarbha and Marathwada, where farmer anger over low prices for cotton and soyabean crop was expected to go against govt, Mahayuti emerged victorious. Opposition was unable to exploit the issue and Mahayuti countered it by offering up to 20% support to MSP to cover price variations if elected. It had also announced a free power scheme for farmers with agricultural pumps up to 7.5 HP in the run-up to polls. In Marathwada, Maratha quota agitation had scarred BJP in LS polls, leading to defeat of stalwarts like Raosaheb Danve and Pankaja Munde. But the impact of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange waned in this election after he withdrew his initial plan to field candidates. Counter-consolidation of OBCs in response to Maratha agitation helped BJP. In north Maharashtra, Mahayuti had faced a major setback in LS polls owing to export restrictions on onion crop. Ahead of assembly polls, Centre slashed export duty on onions and removed the minimum export price. In western Maharashtra, where NCP factions were expected to clash, Ajit Pawar's party dominated. This is primarily because most of NCP's satraps who command a following in their constituencies regardless of party affiliations had joined Ajit Pawar. Their control over the rural network of cooperative sugar factories, banks and dairies helped them sail through. In Konkan and Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which is largely urban, Mahayuti's dominance in LS polls continued into the assembly elections. In Mumbai, once Shiv Sena's bastion, BJP dominated by winning 15 seats. Sena UBT managed a respectable 10 seats, a higher tally than Eknath Shinde's 6 seats. Sena UBT won the Mahim seat where Shiv Sena Bhavan is located. However, finally it was Mahayuti's recognition of the growing number of women voters that won it the greatest dividend. Gender ratio in women voters has risen from 929 in 2011 to 933 in 2024. Ladki Bahin Yojana, patterned on MP govt's Ladli Behna scheme, has been key to Mahayuti's win. It provides a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500 to underprivileged women between 21 and 65 with an annual family income below Rs 2.5 lakh. Mahayuti promised to raise it to Rs 2,100 if elected and claimed MVA would halt the scheme if it came to office. Over 2.4 crore women received the stipend in their bank accounts by voting day. Many had received stipends worth Rs 7,500 in three instalments. The instalments began rolling out in Aug, with the Nov stipend being delivered in Oct to beat the code of conduct. Besides, the state also announced 3 free gas cylinders for 52 lakh households and free higher education for girls from families with annual income of below Rs 8 lakh. It's evident the women-oriented schemes enthused women voters since there was a six percentage point surge in female voter turnout in the state - from 59.2% in the 2019 assembly polls to 65.2%.US ambassador praises charity founded by Gordon Brown

wild 9 gameplay 'We need to do better': Canadian leaders respond to Trump's border concernsHowever, it wasn't long before they realized that the differences between the two houses were more than just the direction they faced. The East-facing House, with its cozy nooks and warm sunlight streaming in through the windows each morning, had a sense of familiarity and comfort that was deeply missed. The West-facing House, on the other hand, had a more grandiose feel, with its high ceilings and expansive views, but lacked the intimate charm of their old home.

Boothby scores 16, William & Mary beats Navy 82-76As the competition progressed, the intensity only grew as both teams traded blows, each attempting to outdo the other in a display of raw power and athleticism. Spectators around the world held their breath as the North Korean team made a bold move, attempting a record-breaking lift that would secure their victory and etch their names in the annals of weightlifting history.The upcoming speech and press conference by BOJ officials are expected to provide further insights into the central bank's thinking and its plans for the future. Market participants will be closely watching for any hints or indications of a possible rate hike, as well as any updates on the bank's economic outlook and policy objectives.

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With this impressive win, the Timberwolves solidified their position as a formidable force in the Eastern Conference, currently sitting comfortably in the fourth spot. Towns' outstanding performance not only showcased his individual brilliance but also highlighted the team's potential to compete with the best teams in the league. As the season progresses, the Timberwolves will undoubtedly look to Towns to continue leading by example and guiding them towards further success.Jimmy Carter, 39th US president, Nobel winner, dies at 100

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Upon being found, Samantha was disoriented and incoherent, exhibiting signs of distress and confusion. She was immediately taken to the nearest hospital for a thorough evaluation and medical treatment. Doctors suspect that she may have experienced a mental health crisis or suffered a trauma that led to her disappearance and subsequent state of disorientation.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (AP) — Elijah Lewis scored 21 points as Marist beat Binghamton 69-51 on Sunday. Lewis also had six rebounds and six assists for the Red Foxes (9-2). Josh Pascarelli added 15 points while shooting 6 for 12, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc and grabbed seven rebounds. Jason Schofield shot 5 of 13 from the field to finish with 10 points. The Bearcats (8-7) were led by Ben Callahan-Gold, who posted 10 points. Gavin Walsh added nine points, 11 rebounds and three steals for Binghamton. Tymu Chenery had nine points and five assists. The loss snapped the Bearcats' six-game winning streak. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .US stocks rally despite Trump tariff threat but European stocks fall

NoneIn conclusion, China should encourage its young players to move to Europe to further their careers, as the adaptation process is crucial for their growth and success. By exposing young talents to the higher level of competition, professional environment, and cultural diversity of European football, Chinese players can reach their full potential and contribute to the development of football in China. With the right support and resources in place, young Chinese players can thrive in Europe and bring back valuable experience to benefit Chinese football in the long run.

Mashburn scores 18 as Temple beats Buffalo 91-71NoneForeign media outlets were quick to recognize the significance of Zheng's victory, with many praising her for her hard work, perseverance, and commitment to the sport. The match between Zheng and Swiatek was widely regarded as one of the most memorable and exciting moments in tennis this year, and Zheng's win was seen as a triumph of the underdog.

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Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Ohio State Buckeyes center Aaron Bradshaw is being investigated for a potential "domestic incident," according to The Columbus Dispatch , which has led to him being absent from team activities. This accusation would explain a rather open-ended statement by the team this past Friday before Ohio State played Campbell. "Aaron Bradshaw is not currently participating in team activities," the statement read. "The university is following its established process. Due to federal privacy laws, we cannot share further information at this time." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Ohio State Buckeyes forward Aaron Bradshaw drives around Evansville Purple Aces forward Connor Turnbull at Value City Arena in Columbus on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (IMAGN) Head coach Jake Diebler wouldn’t elaborate on Bradshaw’s situation following the 104-60 win over Campbell. He’s not expected to play in the team’s contest against Green Bay on Monday as well, with no timeline on when he could rejoin the Buckeyes on the court. 2025 MEN'S MARCH MADNESS ODDS: DUKE BECOMES NEW FAVORITE The Columbus Dispatch reports that no charges have been filed against Bradshaw, though an incident allegedly occurred at his off-campus apartment this past week. Bradshaw has started the four games he’s played for Ohio State this year, which is his first with the program after transferring from Kentucky after his freshman year in 2023. Ohio State Buckeyes forward Aaron Bradshaw drives to the basket against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. (Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images) Over 23.5 minutes on the floor, Bradshaw is averaging 7.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game with 31 total points scored. Bradshaw was the top center prospect coming out of Camden High School in New Jersey in 2023, ultimately choosing Kentucky to play under head coach John Calipari. However, after a surprise early exit in the NCAA tournament earlier this year, Calipari left to coach Arkansas in a shocking move given his history with the Wildcats. It led to multiple transfers with Mark Pope taking over in Kentucky. Despite speculation that Bradshaw would return to his home state to play for Rutgers after they landed stars Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, he chose the Buckeyes. Ohio State Buckeyes forward Aaron Bradshaw during a timeout in the Texas A&M Aggies game at Reed Arena. (IMAGN) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Bradshaw played in 26 games for Kentucky last season, starting 10 of them, where he averaged 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter . Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.ResMed Inc. stock falls Wednesday, underperforms marketAustralia is banning social media for people under 16. Could this work elsewhere — or even there?Microsoft: Windows 11 requirement for a TPM 2.0 chip is "non-negotiable"

NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.Join our newsletter to get the latest military space news every Tuesday by veteran defense journalist Sandra Erwin. WASHINGTON — Umbra Space secured a contract extension with the National Reconnaissance Office, the company announced Dec. 4. The California-based startup, which specializes in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology, has been working with the agency since 2022 under the Strategic Commercial Enhancements initiative. The extension offers the company continued opportunities to demonstrate its technology and refine its offerings to meet government needs, said Joe Morrison, Umbra’s vice president of remote sensing. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. Unlike traditional optical imaging satellites, SAR can penetrate clouds and capture high-resolution images in all weather conditions, day or night. This makes the technology valuable for applications such as environmental monitoring, disaster response, maritime surveillance and intelligence gathering. Umbra currently operates five spacecraft, with more in production. The company is positioning itself in the government and commercial markets, Morrison noted, developing satellites for its own constellation and for international government clients. Umbra is one of several SAR imaging companies the NRO selected in 2022 for study contracts. Companies’ performance under these cooperative agreements positions them to compete in an upcoming “ Commercial Radar Layer ” program, a multi-year initiative modeled after the agency’s Electro Optical Commercial Layer program, which awarded contracts to three firms in 2022. The NRO, a U.S. intelligence agency responsible for designing, building and operating reconnaissance satellites, has a Commercial Systems Program Office that plays a pivotal role in integrating technology from private industry into national security operations. “The beautiful thing about the NRO is that they’re incredibly meritocratic,” Morrison said. “They don’t reward bluster or marketing. They reward performance.” Morrison credited the NRO’s expertise with helping commercial firms navigate the complex demands of government markets. “If you can go in humbly and ask, ‘What do you need?’ they will tell you exactly what they need to see.” Under the NRO’s Strategic Commercial Enhancements initiative, Umbra is also working with the agency to provide radio frequency (RF) data collected by its SAR satellites that can be used to locate and track electronic emissions.

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NoneIt looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. "The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more," Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction." In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation, did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist "saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities." But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's "decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable." A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug "then entered the market through illegal channels," he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles," Li said. "The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice." This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. "Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated," he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. "It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. "Which clearly it has not." Get local news delivered to your inbox!

A judicial magistrate in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Sudhnoti district on Monday remanded two suspects into police custody for a week following their arrest in a case of allegedly blackmailing and extorting money from a married woman. A first information report (FIR) was filed at Baloch Police Station on Saturday under Sections 292 (obscene material), 322 (manslaughter), 384 (extortion), and 489-Y (related to harm to privacy of and reputation) of the Azad Penal Code as well as section 10(3) of the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979. Complainant Arshad Mahmood, a resident of Kehala village currently working in Saudi Arabia, reported that he was informed by his brother-in-law on November 15 about his wife’s sudden hospitalisation due to a critical health issue. He said that hours later, he received another call from his brother-in-law about her death and returned home the following day for her burial. He said that while investigating the circumstances surrounding his wife’s sudden death, he discovered that two men had developed illicit relations with his wife over the past two months. According to the FIR, the accused recorded compromising footage of the woman during video calls and used it to blackmail her into giving them money and other valuables. Mahmood said that his wife handed over more than Rs3 million to the suspects, including Rs976,000 from selling her jewellery. Despite meeting their repeated demands, she continued to face blackmail and threats, ultimately leading her to consume poison, he said, urging strict legal action against both suspects and any accomplices. Baloch Station House Officer (SHO) Waqar Azeem told Dawn.com that both suspects were apprehended the same night after police used local intelligence and technology to track their whereabouts. He said preliminary investigation revealed that the first suspect, a neighbour of Mahmood, had allegedly shared the woman’s contact details and other information with the second suspect, asking him to trap her to fulfil their demands. SHO Azeem said the second suspect reportedly initiated contact with the victim and recorded compromising video calls, which he later used for extortion and exploitation. He added that on October 19, the second suspect impersonated a third blackmailer, using an unknown SIM card and a local dialect to demand Rs2m, threatening to leak the footage if his demands were not met. Azeem said that under duress, the woman sold her jewellery and handed over Rs 976,000 to the second suspect, who kept his face hidden, at Kehala Chowk on October 20. Days later, continuing to impersonate a third party, he demanded an additional Rs1.5m, which the woman was unable to arrange, the SHO added. Azeem said that unable to fulfil the demands, the woman sought financial help from relatives under the pretext that her husband needed the money in Saudi Arabia and allegedly died by suicide when her efforts failed. The SHO said the police had recovered incriminating evidence, including the compromising material, from the suspects’ mobile phones and booked them under the FIR’s sections. “More disclosures will come up during further investigation, on the basis of which we will definitely ensure justice for the victim and her family,” the SHO said.A Deep Dive Into Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley’s Relationship Timeline and Breakup

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Nita Simpson has lived more lives than many. She’s coached basketball. She’s coached volleyball. She’s coached boxing. She’s run a record label. She’s been a radio personality. All of these phases of her life have allowed her to find her purpose. Simpson is the founder and chief executive officer of Battle Tested Kids , a nonprofit organization that formed in 2019 and provides mentorship and sports training for low-income and underserved youth in Oakland. During the fifth annual Juneteenth in Oakland’s Town Jubilee, Simpson was recognized with the Town Hero award for her efforts. “It’s being able to see what a person is lacking and what a situation is lacking,” Simpson said, “and then being able to fill those gaps. That seems to be my gift. Giving people my work ethic, tapping into the mind, that seems to be the gift that God gave me.” With that gift, Simpson and her organization have been able to influence members of the next generation. Like Jamahl Foster, one of the first people who Simpson ever mentored. Simpson, having shared a church with Foster’s parents, has known Foster his entire life. When she began coaching him in basketball when he was in the eighth grade, she wasn’t afraid to challenge him. Foster recalls learning the importance of “extreme numbers” like making 1,000 shots per day and, on one occasion, running around a gym while carrying a rice bag. Simpson connected the work ethic needed to succeed in basketball with the work ethic necessary to succeed academically. Upon graduating from KIPP King Collegiate in San Lorenzo, Foster graduated with a degree in kinesiology at Cal State East Bay. Currently, the 29-year-old works as a financial consultant and personal trainer while serving as an assistant coach for Battle Tested Kids. “Some of these kids don’t really know work ethic,” Foster said. “So, we really try to teach these kids work ethic. They think they know with their little big heads, but then they get into our program. Then, they’re like, ‘Oh, I don’t know.’” Like Shariff Salzman, who was, by his own admission, “going down the wrong path” when he met Simpson at 16. Before working with Simpson, Salzman recalls “not really doing anything with my life.” He relied on marijuana to deal with childhood trauma. What Simpson provided was structure. Fresh off graduating high school, Salzman now has his hand in several businesses and makes music under the moniker Young Legend. “I would just be hanging out, not taking school seriously,” Salzman said. “I was failing my classes. When I joined the program, now I had to do (well) in school. She helped me get more laser focused, not just in basketball, but in life.” Like Yuniqque Robinson, who won a state championship under Simpson last season at Oakland High. If not for Simpson, Robinson might have quit on basketball entirely. Robinson recalled having a lack of motivation as she entered her senior year of high school. She didn’t want to play basketball. She didn’t want to run track. During early-season basketball practices, Robinson would storm off the court when she felt frustrated. Simpson, an honorable mention selection by this publication last season for coach of the year , was always there to provide equanimity, and Robinson believes she would’ve quit if not for Simpson’s influence. “She would sit me down and talk to me and tell me, ‘It’s OK, you’re not going to be perfect the first time you try it. Just keep going,’” said Robinson, who’s in her freshman year at Alabama A&M. “She motivated me to do better and keep trying and not give up on myself, because there was a time I wanted to quit basketball because I felt like I wasn’t good enough to play.” The path to forming Battle Tested Kids started, in essence, when Simpson was entering high school. Simpson grew up in East Oakland, but instead of attending an Oakland-area high school, she elected to attend Marin Academy, a private college preparatory school in San Rafael. Simpson, who attended public schools leading up to high school, knew that attending high school in Marin County would be starkly different compared to Oakland. But even as a preteen, she understood the value of branching out. “I remember my parents asked, ‘Are you sure you want to go there? This is the one?’ I told them, whoever offers the most money, that’s the place I’ll go,” Simpson said. “The reality was when you look at the population at the time, it is predominantly white. So, for me, as someone who wanted to operate in high places, it was a replica of what I would be dealing with in the real world.” From Marin Academy, Simpson attended Whittier College. Along with majoring in business, Simpson started her first business, Prime Dymes Entertainment, with her friend, Rita Forte. Simpson served as a personality on Whittier’s college radio station, which allowed her to become familiar with working with record labels. That experience set the stage for her to run Rah Muzik, otherwise known as Black & White Entertainment, from 2004 to 2007, their main artist being legendary Oakland rapper Keak Da Sneak. Following her time in the music industry, Simpson found her way back to the sporting world, spending time coaching basketball at Marin Academy, AIMS College Prep (both boys and girls) and, now, Oakland High School, which Simpson led to a state title in her first season as head coach. It was the totality of these lived experiences that set the stage for Battle Tested Kids to come into formation. Simpson’s ambitions, though, only begin here. She envisions one day having a dedicated facility, one that will allow the organization to stop renting out other spaces. From there? She wants a full-blown campus. “I want so much technology in (my facility). People will probably think, ‘She’s crazy.’ I am a little bit of that,” Simpson says with a smile. “There’s not even a professional facility that has what I want in mind. But this is the mecca of technology, so why can’t I have it? It’s just a matter of getting in the room with the right people to be able to make it happen.” If history is any indicator, doubt Simpson at your own risk. For more information, and to donate, go to sharethespiriteastbay.org/donate . Donations will help Battle Tested Kids to offer camp to 150 underserved youth, and to support and fund three paid internships for at-risk youth wanting to pursue careers in sports, social media management, photography, web design, entrepreneurship or marketing.NASA’s SWIM Robot on Glacial Ice in AlaskaAnthony Albanese treats world leaders to $60k worth of flowers and entertainment

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FIFA report praises Saudi Arabia 2034 World Cup bidATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Senate Republicans recommended on Friday that the state write laws banning transgender girls and women from participating in high school and college sports, setting the stage for action in the 2025 legislative session. The vote by a committee that was studying the issue is hardly a surprise. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — a possible Republican contender for governor in 2026 — announced almost identical goals at the panel's first meeting in August . It’s an issue that’s already been addressed in Georgia. Legislators in 2022 empowered the Georgia High School Association to regulate transgender students' participation in sports. The association, which regulates sports and activities for all public schools and some private schools, then banned transgender boys and girls from playing on the school sports teams matching their gender identity. Jones and others argue that doesn't go far enough and that lawmakers themselves need to act. It's a sign Republicans believe there is more political gain in fears about transgender women playing women’s sports or using women’s bathrooms. At least 26 mostly Republican states have passed laws or rules to restrict transgender girls from participating high school sports and, in some cases, transgender women from college sports , according to the Movement Advancement Project, a gay rights group. In Georgia, additional action appears more likely now after House Speaker Jon Burns and Gov. Brian Kemp, both Republicans, have voiced support for further legislation. Jeff Graham, executive director of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Georgia Equality, said his group is playing defense, concerned about the possibility of other bills that could further restrict gender-affirming care or ban transgender people from using public bathrooms that match their gender identity. “We’re expecting that it’ll be at least what we saw in 2023 and 2024, with the number of bills and more than likely laws,” Graham told reporters Friday. Story continues below video But Burns, from Newington, has said he's not interested in other bills dealing with transgender people besides those dealing with girls' and women's sports. Republican State Sen. Greg Dolezal, of Cumming, who led the Senate study committee, said Friday that he, too, is not interested in a broader bill regulating bathroom usage, although his committee recommended that schools that host sporting events require athletes to use locker rooms based on their assigned sex at birth. Dolezal said senators would seek to write legislation that regulated public schools and colleges, as well as private institutions that compete against public schools and colleges. The committee also recommends that people be able to sue or file grievances if schools break the rules, and that state money be withheld from schools that break the rules. Supporters of more action have focused on the 2022 NCAA women’s swimming championships at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where Lia Thomas, a transgender woman, swam for the University of Pennsylvania and won the 500-meter freestyle . The NCAA has since revised its policy on transgender women’s participation, saying it will follow the rules of respective athletics federations. World Aquatics, the swimming governing body, banned transgender women who have been through male puberty from competing in women’s races. That means Thomas wouldn’t be allowed to swim in NCAA events today. “My basic contention that this is a solution in search of a problem remains,” Graham said. He said he fears that many people who oppose laws that seek to restrict transgender people will be afraid to testify and lobby at the Georgia Capitol, citing assault charges against a man accused of shaking U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace in a Capitol office building in Washington, D.C. Dolezal repeatedly tried to turn down the emotional temperature of the issue on Friday. “I think that there’s a group of people that wants to be respected and I think that they deserve respect,” Dolezal told reporters. “But I also think that you can be respectful, but also recognize that in the sporting arena, fairness and competition is important.”wild ace bingo plus 。

Edmunds: The longest-range EVs you can buy for under $50,000Global File Recovery Software Market Size, Share and Forecast By Key Players-Recover My Files, Piriform Recuva, MiniTool, Zerto, Veeam 11-22-2024 06:14 PM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: Market Research Intellect File Recovery Software Market USA, New Jersey- According to the Market Research Intellect, the global File Recovery Software market is projected to grow at a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.25% from 2024 to 2031. Starting with a valuation of 8.36 Billion in 2024, the market is expected to reach approximately 18.59 Billion by 2031, driven by factors such as File Recovery Software and File Recovery Software. This significant growth underscores the expanding demand for File Recovery Software across various sectors. The File Recovery Software Market is experiencing significant growth as the increasing reliance on digital data drives demand for robust data recovery solutions. Rising instances of accidental file deletion, hardware failures, and cyberattacks are encouraging both individuals and businesses to invest in file recovery software. Technological advancements, such as support for cloud storage, multi-device compatibility, and the ability to recover data from various formats, are boosting the market. With the growing use of personal and business data for cloud storage and remote operations, the need for reliable recovery solutions is more critical than ever. Additionally, the expanding e-commerce, healthcare, and banking sectors are fueling demand for file recovery tools, ensuring that the market continues its upward trajectory. The dynamics of the File Recovery Software Market are influenced by the increasing frequency of data loss events and the rising importance of data protection. Key drivers include the growing dependency on digital information and the need for disaster recovery solutions across industries. Integration of advanced features like automated backups, AI-powered recovery tools, and cloud-based options are shaping market trends. However, challenges such as the high cost of premium software, along with competition from free alternatives, can hinder growth. The expansion of the mobile and consumer electronics markets is driving demand for data recovery solutions in personal devices. As data becomes more valuable, the market is adapting with continuous innovations to cater to the evolving needs of users. Request PDF Sample Copy of Report: (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) @ https://www.marketresearchintellect.com/download-sample/?rid=4212620&utm_source=OpenPr&utm_medium=046 Key Drivers: The growth of the File Recovery Software market is driven by several key factors. Technological advancements in File Recovery Software have enabled greater efficiency and enhanced capabilities, spurring adoption across industries. Additionally, the rising demand for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions is pushing companies to innovate and adopt greener practices. Expanding applications in sectors like File Recovery Software and File Recovery Software are further contributing to market demand, as these industries seek advanced solutions to streamline operations and enhance product quality. Favorable government policies and incentives in regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific support investment and growth. Moreover, an increasing focus on File Recovery Software for improving operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness is encouraging businesses to embrace new technologies, fostering sustained market expansion. Mergers and Acquisitions Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) play a pivotal role in the File Recovery Software market, as companies look to expand their capabilities, access new technologies, and strengthen market presence. Leading players engage in strategic acquisitions to consolidate their position and gain a competitive edge. These transactions often facilitate the integration of advanced File Recovery Software solutions, helping firms broaden their product portfolios and meet growing customer demands. Additionally, M&A activities support companies in achieving economies of scale and penetrating new regional markets, particularly in high-growth areas like Asia-Pacific. Through such strategic alliances, businesses aim to accelerate innovation, enhance operational efficiency, and address evolving market challenges, ultimately driving the overall growth of the File Recovery Software market. Get a Discount On The Purchase Of This Report @ https://www.marketresearchintellect.com/ask-for-discount/?rid=4212620&utm_source=OpenPr&utm_medium=046 The following Key Segments Are Covered in Our Report By Type Cloud Based Web Based By Application Large Enterprises SMEs Major companies in File Recovery Software Market are: Recover My Files, Piriform Recuva, MiniTool, Zerto, Veeam, Wondershare, RS Photo Recovery, Outlook PST Recovery Tool, Active Disk Image, Disk Drill, Iobit, Vmware, Stellar, olo Searc, TestDisk Global File Recovery Software Market -Regional Analysis North America: North America is expected to hold a significant share of the File Recovery Software market due to advanced technological infrastructure and the presence of major market players. High demand across sectors like File Recovery Software and File Recovery Software is driving growth, with the U.S. being a key contributor. Additionally, ongoing investments in R&D and innovation reinforce the region's strong market position. Europe: Europe is projected to experience steady growth, driven by stringent regulatory standards and a rising focus on sustainability in File Recovery Software practices. Countries like Germany, France, and the UK are leading due to their advanced industrial base and supportive government policies. The demand for eco-friendly and efficient File Recovery Software solutions is expected to continue fostering market expansion. Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing region, fueled by rapid industrialization and urbanization. Countries such as China, India, and Japan are driving demand due to expanding consumer bases and increasing investments in infrastructure. The region's robust manufacturing sector and favorable economic policies further enhance growth opportunities in the File Recovery Software market. Latin America: Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are expected to show moderate growth in the File Recovery Software market. In Latin America, growth is supported by rising industrial activities in countries like Brazil and Mexico. Meanwhile, in the Middle East & Africa, infrastructure development and an increasing focus on innovation in sectors like File Recovery Software are key drivers of market expansion. Middle East and Africa: The Middle East and Africa represent emerging markets in the global File Recovery Software market, with countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Nigeria showing promising growth potential. Economic diversification efforts, urbanization, and a young population are driving demand for File Recovery Software products and services in the region. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 1. What is the current size of the File Recovery Software market? Answer: The File Recovery Software market was valued at approximately 8.36 Billion in 2024, with projections suggesting it will reach 18.59 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 14.25%. 2. What factors are driving the growth of the File Recovery Software market? Answer: The market's expansion is attributed to several factors, including increased demand for File Recovery Software, advancements in File Recovery Software technology, and the adoption of File Recovery Software across various sectors. 3. Which regions are expected to dominate the File Recovery Software market? Answer: Regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific are anticipated to lead due to the presence of major industry players and growing investments in File Recovery Software. 4. Who are the key players in the File Recovery Software market? Answer: Prominent companies in the File Recovery Software market include File Recovery Software, File Recovery Software, and File Recovery Software, each contributing to market growth through innovations and strategic partnerships. 5. What challenges does the File Recovery Software market face? Answer: The market faces challenges such as File Recovery Software, regulatory compliance, and competition from alternative solutions. However, ongoing advancements aim to address these issues. 6. What are the future trends in the File Recovery Software market? Emerging trends include the integration of File Recovery Software technology, sustainability practices, and digital transformation in processes, all expected to shape the market's future. 7. How can businesses benefit from the File Recovery Software market? Answer: Businesses can leverage growth opportunities in the File Recovery Software market by adopting new solutions, enhancing operational efficiency, and expanding their offerings to meet evolving consumer demands. 8. Why invest in a File Recovery Software market report from MRI? Answer: MRI's report provides in-depth analysis, future projections, and key insights to support strategic decision-making, enabling businesses to stay competitive and capitalize on growth trends in the File Recovery Software market. 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https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/connectorized-collimator-sales-market-2024-consistent-coalf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/uncooled-infrared-lens-ir-sales-market-2024-steady-627-amxef/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/uncooled-infrared-lens-ir-sales-market-2024-steady-627-amxef/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fluoropolymer-pfa-sales-market-2024-606-cagr-growth-vdxlf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/disposable-vacuum-blood-collection-tubes-sales-market-gjgof/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dissolved-acetylene-gas-sales-market-2024-632-cagr-growth-twucf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cordless-electrostatic-backpack-sprayer-sales-market-mckvf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hygienic-hand-dryer-sales-market-report-2024-latest-fe41f/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chicken-feet-wings-sales-market-2024-growth-rate-62-88xdf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/disposable-industrial-gloves-sales-market-2024-growth-0bclf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chlorophyllin-extract-sales-market-2024-667-cagr-overview-ixwtf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lithium-ion-batteries-aerospace-sales-market-2024-671-ulajf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/regofinil-sales-market-2024-maintaining-682-cagr-next-information-hyu1f/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/injectable-skin-fillers-sales-market-2024-655-growth-qthyf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pasteurized-milk-sales-market-2024-675-cagr-insights-bpskf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/anlotinib-drugs-sales-market-2024-68-cagr-overview-next-information-cnx1f/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/acoustic-underlay-sales-market-2024-consistent-652-growth-rmkvf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/praseodymium-neodymium-oxide-sales-market-2024-668-growth-gi3sf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/disposable-cigarette-lighters-sales-market-2024-sustained-rkqef/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chlorophyll-chlorophyllin-sales-market-2024-steady-666-ken4f/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lanthanum-fluoride-laf3-sales-market-report-2024-latest-frfrf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/railway-lithium-battery-sales-market-2024-growth-rate-e2hof/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/edible-gold-beverage-sales-market-2024-consistent-678-ansbf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rigid-vinyl-films-sales-market-2024-maintaining-643-cagr-qhlzf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/reflective-insulation-material-sales-market-2024-maintaining-obsnf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/anti-corrosion-coating-pipelines-sales-market-2024-662-4f7of/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/static-fluid-bed-dryer-sales-market-2024-continuous-growth-kovqf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/motion-sensing-faucet-sales-market-2024-645-cagr-growth-svv3f/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/soundproof-underlayment-sales-market-2024-steady-653-zkexf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lanthanum-oxide-la2o3-sales-market-2024-maintaining-669-dyiqf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/anti-fog-packaging-films-sales-market-2024-66-caqgr-update-dki6f/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/high-performance-anticorrosion-coatings-sales-market-ik8qf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/electrostatic-chuck-semiconductor-process-sales-market-ck9cf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rigid-pvc-films-sales-market-2024-642-growth-projection-jujkf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/automatic-commercial-sensor-faucets-sales-market-2024-ptwgf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/icotinib-hydrochloride-tablets-sales-market-2024-684-ubduf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rigid-polyester-film-sales-market-2024-steady-64-cagr-90nof/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/asphalt-milling-machines-sales-market-2024-654-cagr-overview-oqedf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/icotinib-sales-market-2024-growth-rate-685-next-information-vdiyf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ultra-high-temperature-processing-uht-milk-sales-market-ysp8f/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/osimertinib-drugs-sales-market-2024-681-growth-projection-eec3f/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/anti-corrosion-packaging-sales-market-2024-continuous-iundf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/seaweed-extracts-cosmetics-food-beverage-sales-market-fci5f/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pe-conduits-polyethylene-sales-market-2024-consistent-e5saf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/surgical-vacuum-regulator-sales-market-2024-649-cagr-9widf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/vegetable-carbon-charcoal-sales-market-2024-consistent-5cktf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/high-purity-niobium-product-sales-market-2024-673-cagr-mcowf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rigid-films-sales-market-report-2024-latest-size-growth-czz7f/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/healthcare-gloves-sales-market-2024-658-cagr-growth-vzgdf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/transparent-rigid-pvc-film-sales-market-2024-641-cagr-wjvpf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/anti-reflective-film-sales-market-2024-sustained-664-3m5yf/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/alectinib-drugs-sales-market-report-2024-latest-size-zovxf/ About Us: Market Research Intellect Market Research Intellect is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ global clients. 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Penn State rolls past Maryland, clinches berth in Big Ten title game

Gaetz withdraws as Trump's pick for attorney general, averting confirmation battle in the Senate WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz has withdrawn as Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation. The Florida Republican made the announcement Thursday. Gaetz’s withdrawal is a blow to Trump’s push to install steadfast loyalists in his incoming administration and the first sign that Trump could face resistance from members of his own party. Trump said in a social media post that Gaetz “did not want to be a distraction for the Administration.” Gaetz said “it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work" of the transition team. He added, “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle.” Warrants put Israeli PM and others in a small group of leaders accused of crimes against humanity Arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas leader put them in a small group of leaders to be accused of crimes against humanity. The International Criminal Court in the Hague issued the warrants Thursday for Netanyahu, his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, and Mohammed Deif, a Hamas leader Israel claims it killed. The court says Hamas committed murder, rape and torture in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the Israel-Hamas war. The court also says Israel used starvation as a method of warfare and committed murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. Several of Trump's Cabinet picks — and Trump himself — have been accused of sexual misconduct WASHINGTON (AP) — Former congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his name as President-elect Donald Trump's choice for attorney general in the face of sexual misconduct allegations. He's not the only member of Trump’s chosen staff and Cabinet accused of some form of misconduct. Others include: Elon Musk, his choice to help lead a new outside panel seeking to boost government efficiency, Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Trump’s choice for defense secretary Pete Hegseth and Linda McMahon, his choice to lead the Department of Education. They all deny the claims. Elon Musk's budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump's second term WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has put Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in charge of finding ways to cut government spending and regulations. It's possible that their efforts will lead to a constitutional clash. This week, Musk and Ramaswamy said they would encourage the Republican president-elect to refuse to spend money allocated by Congress, which would conflict with a 1974 law that's intended to prevent presidents from blocking funds. If Trump takes such a step, it would quickly become one of the most closely watched legal battles of his second administration. Musk and Ramaswamy also aim to dramatically reduce the size of the federal workforce. Death toll in Gaza from Israel-Hamas war passes 44,000, Palestinian officials say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year. Putin touts Russia's new missile and delivers a menacing warning to NATO The new ballistic missile fired by Russia struck a military-industrial facility in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, but its real mission was delivering a deadly new message to NATO. Hours after Thursday’s strike touched off a debate over whether the Ukrainian plant was hit by an intercontinental ballistic missile, President Vladimir Putin cleared up the mystery in a rare and surprise appearance on Russian television. He described it as a new, intermediate-range ballistic missile that raced to its target at 10 times the speed of sound and couldn't be stopped by modern anti-missile systems. One Western expert said it was the first time that such a missile was used in the war — and perhaps in any conflict. What to know about a storm bringing high winds, heavy rain, snow to California and Pacific Northwest SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — One of the strongest storms on the West Coast in decades knocked out power for thousands of people and unleashed strong winds that toppled trees and left two dead in Washington before making its way through Oregon to Northern California. The storm was dumping heavy snow and record amounts of rain in the region on Thursday. The National Weather Service extended a flood watch into Saturday for areas north of San Francisco. The storm system roared ashore Tuesday and it’s expected to bring moderate to heavy rain through Saturday, increasing the risk of flash flooding and rockslides in some areas. Brazilian police indict former President Bolsonaro and aides over alleged 2022 coup attempt SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Federal Police have indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people on charges of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his electoral defeat in the 2022 elections. The findings are to be delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will either formally charge Bolsonaro and put the former president on trial or toss the investigation. The former right-wing president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then. Jussie Smollett’s conviction in 2019 attack on himself is overturned SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Supreme Court has overturned actor Jussie Smollett’s conviction on charges that he staged a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and lied to Chicago police. The state’s highest court ruled Thursday on Smollett’s argument that a special prosecutor should not have been allowed to intervene after the local state’s attorney initially dropped charges. The 5-0 decision did not address Smollett's claims of innocence. The Black, gay actor claimed two men assaulted him, spouted slurs and tossed a noose around his neck. Smollett was on the television drama “Empire,” which filmed in Chicago. Testimony at his trial indicated Smollett paid $3,500 to two men to carry out the attack. Aaron Judge wins second AL MVP in 3 seasons. Shohei Ohtani expected to win NL honor NEW YORK (AP) — New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was a unanimous pick to win his second American League Most Valuable Player Award in three seasons on Thursday, easily outdistancing Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Shohei Ohtani was expected to win the National League honor later Thursday, his third MVP and first in the NL. Judge received all 30 first-place votes in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Witt got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322.MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jamichael Stillwell had 22 points in Milwaukee's 69-65 win over St. Thomas on Sunday. Stillwell added eight rebounds for the Panthers (5-2). Aaron Franklin had 15 points and eight rebounds. AJ McKee added nine points. Drake Dobbs led the way for the Tommies (4-4) with 16 points and five assists. Kendall Blue added 11 points and Miles Barnstable scored 10 with two steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .'Irony Man': Elon Musk's Hilarious Superhero Moment Takes Over Social Media

Vasundhara Oswal spoke about her detention in Uganda, claiming that she was wrongfully accused of the crime, which was a politically motivated attack. New Delhi: Days after Indian-origin billionaire Pankaj Oswal’s daughter Vasundhara Oswal was released on bail from detention in Uganda, she has spoken about the incident for the first time publicly in a social media post on Instagram since her release. Oswal, the Executive Director of PRO Industries, in a post shared on social media, spoke about the harrowing experience of getting detained in Uganda, revealing that she was wrongfully accused of the crime which was a politically motivated attack. Oswal’s social media post implied that the charges were fabricated, accusing political and business competitors of orchestrating the incident in a bid to undermine her business. Notably, the charges against Vasundhara shocked everyone, when she was arrested and charged with an "attempt to murder" of a man. However, after the man, whose attempted murder charges were implied in the case, was found alive in another country. This cast a doubt on the credibility of the allegations and the case. Oswal Claimed Her Detention Was Part of Conspiracy to Damage Her Business Interests "I somehow managed to find the courage to write and create this post today," Oswal wrote. "Though my younger sister was pressuring me to create it straight after I was released on bail, it was difficult opening up my Instagram or communicating with my friends or family." She further expressed that much of what had happened still remained difficult to explain and that she had been forced to contend with fabricated charges under immense political pressure. Oswal suggested that her detention was part of a larger conspiracy to damage her business interests, particularly as her company, PRO Industries, had started making significant inroads into Uganda’s competitive market. She accused several high-profile businessmen of using their influence to target her, pretending to offer support during her detention while secretly working against her. “First a false charge of “attempt to murder” was put on me and then they found the guy alive in another country after throwing me in jail. Fabricated and exaggerated beyond doubt by political pressure put by business competitors (few of which pretended to help my release and even visited me during the time I was detained by the police under the pretense of being my allies),” she stated. Describing Uganda as a "mafia state," Oswal raised concerns about the safety and feasibility of conducting business in the country. She noted that the ordeal had made her rethink plans to expand her business in the region. "It has definitely made us think twice about setting up larger-scale projects in the country," she added. Despite the ordeal, Oswal's resolve remains unshaken. She firmly stated that the businessmen behind the alleged plot would never gain control of PRO Industries, despite their attempts to trade her freedom for shares in the company. The incident has sparked outrage among some local observers, who believe it highlights deeper issues of corruption and political interference in Uganda's business environment. About Vasundhara Oswal and Charges Against Her Vasundhara Oswal, the 26-year-old daughter of Indian-origin Swiss billionaire Pankaj Oswal, was arrested in Uganda on October 1, 2023, and spent over three weeks in custody. She faces serious charges of kidnapping and attempting to kill Mukesh Menaria, a former employee who had worked on her family’s private jet and provided domestic assistance at their residences globally. Vasundhara’s father, Pankaj Oswal is the son of industrialist Abhay Kumar Oswal, founder of Oswal Agro Mills and Oswal Greentech. The Oswal Group Global is involved in the business of petrochemicals, real estate, fertilisers, and mining. The Oswal family claims that the allegations against Vasundhara stem from a former employee who took out a $200,000 loan from them. They assert that the accusations of kidnapping and murder were fabricated as a means to avoid repaying the loan. Mukesh Menaria, the man Vasundhara is accused of murdering, was reportedly found alive in Tanzania, leading to questions about the validity of the charges against her. Vasundhara’s sister Riddhi Oswal noted that Menaria provided a notarised affidavit stating that he had not been mistreated by Vasundhara or her family. Despite this evidence, Ugandan authorities have not acknowledged the claims. In light of the situation, the Oswal family filed an urgent appeal with the United Nations on October 11, seeking intervention in the case. Riddhi expressed gratitude for the media and the UN's support. According to reports, Vasundhara was in Uganda as part of the Group’s $100 million investment to establish East Africa’s first grain-based Extra-Neutral Alcohol (ENA) production facility. In an open letter to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Pankaj Oswal urged to restore her personal freedom, claiming the charges against his eldest daughter stemmed from a former employee taking a loan of $200,000 from the family. The former employee accused Vasundhara of kidnapping with intent to kill, but the billionaire Oswal family claims these charges are trumped up by the ex-employee to avoid paying the loan. “The worst part - the man she has been accused of kidnapping and murdering, the one on whom this entire case is falsely based, was already found in Tanzania, in state custody, and awaits his own investigations there. When Tanzanian authorities apprehended him, he was found with his passport, clearly indicating that he was not kidnapped. And definitely isn’t murdered,” Ridi Oswal said in her Instagram post. Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. Published 23:25 IST, November 24th 2024recruit was asked which is more intimidating - standing next to Olympic gold medallist Kyle Chalmers on the starting blocks or marking a 'monster' forward? or signup to continue reading "(Laughs) That's a difficult one, I'm not sure I can answer that. It's pretty similar but nothing will beat the adrenaline of a race against those boys," he replied. Mooney will be one of the more unique players in the Ovens and Murray Football League. Few come from elite-level swimming, where the 100-200m freestyler was around two seconds from making Australia's Olympic team for Paris. Just weeks after missing selection, Mooney played football for the first time in four years. Four months later, he was a Riverina Football League premiership player at Colingullie-Wagga. "I will still stay in the water to keep fit, but it felt more like a chore," he admitted of the gruelling nine swim and three gym sessions a week, plus a dry land session and various recovery activities, such as yoga and pilates. Some sessions started around 5am. "I saw close mates who I grew up with getting drafted and getting opportunities in footy, so I missed it," he said. Mooney had such an impact his coach Shane Lenon said the Demons would not have beaten the previously undefeated Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong in the grand final if he did not play. "It couldn't have been a better return really winning a flag at 'Gullie," he reasoned. "That's all I could have asked for in my first year back, to be coached by 'Sparks' (Lenon) and Nick Perryman and play alongside my brother Nathanael." The super-fit 195cm, 95kg defender was surprised at the sporting transition. "I thought it was going to be a lot harder coming from that elite level in another sport, just the contact side of it (was difficult), I was walking around like I had whiplash for a month after," he laughed. Mooney is hoping to play VFL full-time next year, but is training twice a week with the Hoppers. Only 20, he will look to utilise his experiences from swimming. "100 per cent, the discipline and professionalism, the effort you put in directly correlates with the performance you put out." DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementIn Pakistan, small traders and shopkeepers are facing a severe downturn, with sales plummeting by 70% amid economic instability fueled by political unrest. All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Chairman, Atiq Mir, expressed grave concern about the declining sales in markets and bazaars, attributing the drop to soaring food inflation, high energy tariffs, shrinking incomes, rising taxes, and persistent political and economic instability, according to the Express Tribune. On a contrasting note, e-commerce sales have seen a steady rise, spurred by significant sales events like Blessed Friday, Big Friday, and 11.11, offering limited-time, tempting discounts. Mir conveyed his worry that a staggering 80% of traders can no longer afford essentials such as electricity bills, salaries, or shop rents. He also criticized the government's misleading portrayal of an economic uptick in the Pakistan Stock Exchange and excessive debt, as Pakistan's financial hub continues to face escalating economic challenges. Mir called upon policymakers and the Pakistan Army to intervene, demanding cuts in energy tariffs, inflation control, job creation, and immediate measures to resolve the ongoing political and economic instability. He stressed the need for regulation of artificial price hikes in essential goods and the eradication of corruption within government departments. Meanwhile, Asif Gulfam, Chairman of the Arambagh Markets Association, highlighted the challenges faced by businesses amid the current economic scenario, with uncertainty affecting all stakeholders. Despite concerns over scams, Gulfam noted the growing traction of e-commerce, with more than 350 online stores in Saddar ensuring prompt deliveries. E-commerce, well-established in the West, is witnessing a surge in Pakistan as well, with retailers competing on price, timing, and delivery savings. A spokesperson for Daraz detailed the significance of the 11.11 event, highlighting its success and how it bridges the gap between urban and rural buyers, providing access to national products and delivering significant savings during times of high costs. (With inputs from agencies.)

Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” was not expecting the blowback she received after she and her co-host husband, Joe Scarborough, met with President-elect Donald Trump last week. “I’ve been surprised at the backlash. And the way I look at it is people are really scared,” Brzezinski said on the Nov. 21 episode of The Daily Beast Podcast. “It’s one of the reasons we went in there, is people are really scared about Donald Trump’s comments about, you know, political adversaries. A lot of people are scared because of what has happened with abortion. These are all issues that are important to me, and in some ways personal to me, but definitely personal to the people I really care about.” Brzezinski and Scarborough disclosed the meeting with Trump on their show on Nov. 18, saying that they had visited his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, three days prior to discuss his Cabinet selections and policy agenda face-to-face. The pair said that they disagreed with the president-elect on many issues—a fact they have repeatedly made clear on their show in recent years. While noting their “deep concerns” with some of Trump’s actions and words, they said he seemed interested in “finding common ground with Democrats on some of the most divisive issues.” But that did not stem the flow of criticism they have received since. “I’ve heard from a lot of people in my phone, people that I respect a great deal, leaders, people I don’t usually hear from who are really powerful, who just wanted to let me know that that was the right thing to do. And then I have seen ... the very opposite happening online,” Brzezinski said. Negative reactions to the visit—from mockery to disgust—poured in on social media. While much of the backlash surrounded objections to Trump’s character, there were others who took issue with the hosts’ attempt at finding common ground with the man they’d spent years vilifying on air. “You called him Hitler!” late-night host Jon Stewart noted on “The Daily Show.” Brzezinski, however, defended the meeting as a valid journalistic exercise. “You can interview Vladimir Putin as a journalist and not normalize him. You can learn, and you can also take a lot of what he says and put it within the context of what we know about him,” she said. “Many things can be true at one time, and as journalists, I think we have to be open to conversation, and we have to be open to learning, and we have to be open to talking face-to-face and talking about each other. And quite frankly, coming after me and Joe about doing this is exactly what someone with nefarious intentions would want,” she added in a pointed note to her critics.New York, Dec 8 (AP) Police don't know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 am Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company's annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson's body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics. The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any possible clues and found his backpack there Friday. They didn't immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analysed. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn't as quick as it looks like on TV. Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson's family and coworkers and the shooter's randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman's steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a USD 50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to USD 10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven't been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask. (AP) GSP (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $50,000 In Marqeta To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $50,000 in Marqeta between May 7, 2024 and November 4, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP , a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Marqeta, Inc. (“Marqeta” or the“Company”) (NASDAQ: MQ) and reminds investors of the February 7, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See . As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Marqeta understated the regulatory challenges affecting its business outlook; (2) as a result, Marqeta would have to cut its guidance for the fourth quarter of 2024; and (3) as a result, defendants public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. On November 4, 2024, Marqeta, Inc. issued a press release entitled“Marqeta Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results.” In addition to reporting its third quarter results, Marqeta announced lower fourth quarter guidance which reflected“several changes that became apparent over the last few months with regards to the heightened scrutiny of the banking environment and specific customer program changes.” On this news, the price of Marqeta stock fell $2.53 per share, or 42.5%, to close at $3.42 per share on November 5, 2024. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Marqeta's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Marqeta class action, go to /MQ or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . Follow us for updates on LinkedIn , on X , or on Facebook . Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at MENAFN26122024004107003653ID1109033438 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. 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Landmark lawsuit brought on behalf of thousands of survivors of child sexual abuse images and videos (CSAM) traded on Apple platforms CUPERTINO, Calif. , Dec. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This weekend, a class action lawsuit was filed against Apple on behalf of thousands of survivors of child sexual abuse for knowingly allowing the storage of images and videos documenting their abuse on iCloud and the company's defectively designed products. The lawsuit alleges that Apple has known about this content for years, but has refused to act to detect or remove it, despite developing advanced technology to do so. The plaintiffs are being represented by Marsh Law Firm. Additionally, Heat Initiative is providing some support for this lawsuit as part of the organization's broader Ignite program , which provides legal and advocacy support for victims of child sexual abuse through referrals, research, and funding to empower them to use their voices and hold technology companies accountable. The images and videos of the plaintiffs' childhood sexual abuse, which have been stored thousands of times, would have been identified and removed had Apple implemented its 2021 "CSAM Detection" technology. However, Apple terminated the program after its announcement. Other leading technology providers have been proactively detecting and reporting illegal child sex abuse images and videos for more than a decade. Apple's belated efforts, and subsequent cancellation, leave it among the very few major platforms that do not engage in proactive detection and removal. The full complaint, as well as a fact sheet and other supporting materials, can be found HERE . "The knowledge that images of my abuse are still out there is a never-ending nightmare – Apple could have stopped this, but has chosen not to act," said Jane Doe , a plaintiff in the lawsuit. "Apple has the technology to stop this from continuing, yet they knowingly turn a blind eye. This isn't just about my story – it's about standing up for every survivor who deserves safety and dignity. Apple has a responsibility to protect us, and I'm here to demand that they fulfill it." "Today, thousands of brave survivors are coming forward to demand accountability from one of the most successful technology companies on the planet. Apple has not only rejected helping these victims, it has advertised the fact that it does not detect child sex abuse material on its platform or devices thereby exponentially increasing the ongoing harm caused to these victims," said Margaret E. Mabie , Partner at Marsh Law Firm, representing the plaintiffs. "Our clients have endured unimaginable abuse, and yet Apple's top executives continue to ignore their pleas, fully aware that this illegal contraband remains on their platform. By abandoning their state-of-the-art detection program without offering an alternative, Apple has chosen to prioritize its own corporate agenda over the lives and dignity of survivors. This lawsuit is a call for justice and a demand for Apple to finally take responsibility and protect these victims." "Apple wants people to think they are the 'responsible' tech company, and this lawsuit demonstrates clearly that, on this issue, they are not," said Sarah Gardner , Founder and CEO of the Heat Initiative, an organization dedicated to encouraging leading technology companies to combat child sex abuse on their platforms. "The plaintiffs and countless other survivors of child sexual abuse are forced to relive the worst moments imaginable because Apple refuses to implement common sense practices that are standard across the tech industry. They will argue that this is a privacy issue, but they are failing to acknowledge the privacy and basic humanity of the children being raped and sexually assaulted in the videos and images Apple stores on iCloud." In August 2021 , Apple announced it would implement a new "CSAM Detection" feature, which would have identified known child sexual abuse material in iCloud using NeuralHash, a type of hashing technology that Apple developed. However, after the program was announced, Apple executives reversed their decision and ultimately killed the implementation of the program . At the same time, in 2023, five major tech companies collectively reported more than 32 million pieces of child sexual abuse images and videos on their platforms– Apple reported only 267 . The lawsuit is seeking injunctive relief for Apple to implement basic child safety measures on behalf of the plaintiffs. The claim of negligence and failing to fulfill their duty of care resulting in harms to the plaintiffs stems from two main factors: Marsh Law Firm focuses its legal practice exclusively on representing survivors of sexual abuse and online exploitation. They are a survivor-focused, trauma-informed, and justice-oriented law firm that advocates for clients both in and out of the courtroom to secure justice and hold perpetrators and the institutions that enable abuse accountable. Heat Initiative is a collective effort of concerned child safety experts and advocates encouraging leading technology companies to combat child sexual abuse on their platforms. Heat Initiative sees a future where children's safety is at the forefront of any existing and future technological developments. The Heat Initiative's Ignite program catalyzes impact litigation to hold technology companies accountable to their duty to prevent and address the sexual exploitation of children on their platforms. Contact: press@heatinitiative.org View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/apple-sued-for-knowingly-hosting-child-sexual-abuse-material-on-its-products-failing-to-protect-survivors-302325571.html SOURCE Heat InitiativeSAO PAULO (Reuters): Brazilian meatpackers have reportedly stopped supplying meat to the Carrefour group in Brazil after the retailer’s global CEO vowed to keep South American meat off its shelves in France in solidarity with French farmers, according to local media reports that cited anonymous industry sources. One of the reports said the interruption in meat supplies has already affected 150 stores of the retailer in Brazil, naming JBS and Marfrig among the companies which allegedly interrupted deliveries. Carrefour dismissed the reports as “unfounded.” The French retailer told Reuters on Sunday that meat supplies are normal at its local stores, denying any shortages and calling the reports “misinformation.” Meat lobby ABPA, which represents large Brazilian pork and chicken processors, did not have an immediate comment. JBS and Marfrig declined to comment. Beef industry group Abiec did not confirm the interruption of supplies, referring to a previous statement last week in which it called Carrefour’s plan to ban South American meat as “contradictory.” Abiec said Carrefour Brasil operates 1,200 stores in the country that sell mostly domestic beef. Brazil’s government also blasted Carrefour for the plan to ban South American meat. Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro called the pledge part of an “orchestrated action” by French companies to sabotage the trade pact between the European Union and Mercosur nations. In a social media post addressed to leaders of France’s farm lobbies, Carrefour’s CEO Alexandre Bompard said the EU-Mercosur deal presented the “risk of meat production spilling over into the French market (and) failing to meet its requirements and standards.” “Carrefour’s adoption of a protectionist stance in defense of French farmers undermines its own business and exposes the European market to shortage risks,” Abiec said in reaction to Bompard’s post.

Ruben Amorim indicated Marcus Rashford is still not doing enough for his liking after leaving the forward out of Manchester United ’s squad for a fourth straight game. The 27-year-old has not appeared for the Red Devils since being taken off early in the second half of the Europa League comeback win at Viktoria Plzen on December 12. Rashford was left out of the following game at Manchester City, after which he revealed he was “ ready for a new challenge ”, and was then omitted from the Tottenham and Bournemouth defeats. The Boxing Day trip to Wolves extended that losing run to a third match and Amorim suggested he still wanted more from the absent England international. “It’s always the same reason it’s going to be,” the United head coach said after the 2-0 loss at Molineux. “We have to be the same professionals and I have to be the same guy, winning or losing. “Losing, I have to be stronger, so I will continue with my idea until the end.” Asked if Rashford had not been showing him anything different since being left out, Amorim told Amazon Prime: “If he’s not here, you can make your mind (up).”

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 30, 2024-- On National Small Business Saturday, The Wright Way Enterprises (TWW) celebrates its continued success with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Cybersecurity organization, marking its second contract award: a $4.4 million sole-source 8(a) award to establish and lead the Cybersecurity Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Zero Trust (ZT) Project Management Office (PMO). This milestone demonstrates TWW’s pivotal role in federal cybersecurity modernization and highlights the vital contributions of small businesses to national security and economic growth. Small businesses account for nearly 44% of U.S. economic activity and employ more than 61 million Americans, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Programs like the SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program empower small businesses, especially those from historically disadvantaged communities, to drive innovation and provide critical services across federal agencies. “The SBA’s 8(a) program has been instrumental in enabling TWW to secure opportunities that not only contribute to our growth but also to the modernization and resilience of U.S. cybersecurity,” said Kenice Middleton, Managing Partner of TWW. “On this National Small Business Saturday, we reflect on the importance of investing in small businesses, which are the backbone of the U.S. economy. As a Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), TWW takes pride in supporting the federal government’s mission to allocate 15% of contract spending to SDBs by FY 2025. Our deep expertise in cybersecurity, Zero Trust architecture, and IT modernization positions us to help agencies like the IRS meet critical objectives while safeguarding the nation’s assets.” The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in August 2022, provides unprecedented funding to the IRS to transform tax administration and enhance services. Cybersecurity is the foundation of this transformation, requiring robust implementation of Zero Trust architecture to meet federal mandates. TWW’s support of the Cybersecurity PMO integrates IRA and ZT initiatives under a unified framework, ensuring compliance, risk mitigation, and operational excellence. As a trusted partner to the IRS, TWW provides comprehensive support, including: Kenice Middleton, a former Senior Executive Service (SES) Director in the IRS Cybersecurity organization, brings invaluable insight into the complexities of safeguarding federal systems that support trillions of dollars in revenue. “Our leadership in developing the Cybersecurity PMO reflects TWW’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and delivering measurable results,” Middleton added. National Small Business Saturday shines a spotlight on the power of small businesses in spurring innovation, creating jobs, and driving economic resilience. TWW is proud to exemplify how small businesses play a transformative role in shaping the federal cybersecurity landscape. About TWW The Wright Way Enterprises (TWW) is certified as an SBA 8(a) and HUBZone minority-owned, small business, stewarding organizations in addressing the dynamic needs of an ever-changing global economy. Founded in 2020, TWW’s comprehensive capabilities fortify federal and private infrastructure. The impact-driven consultancy specializes in program management, auditing, cyber risk management, environmental consulting, and compliance. TWW’s vision is to be globally trusted advisors in delivering robust solutions that protect data, preserve vital resources, ensure compliance, and optimize operations for excellence. For more information, visit twwenterprises.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241130362118/en/ CONTACT: Maxwell Young Marketing Communications Manager Email:maxwell.young@twwenterprises.com KEYWORD: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINTECH DATA MANAGEMENT WHITE HOUSE/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY OTHER POLICY ISSUES SECURITY HOMELAND SECURITY CONSULTING PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT SOURCE: The Wright Way Enterprises Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/30/2024 09:00 AM/DISC: 11/30/2024 08:58 AM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241130362118/enOur HS sports photos like the ones above put you right up close with the action and the whole experience. Check them out by clicking anywhere in the collage above to open the photo gallery. Don’t forget to share the gallery with friends and relatives. These photos are also available for purchase in a variety of sizes and finishes – just click the “BUY IMAGE” link below any photo to see available options and make a purchase. NJ.com subscribers can also get free print-quality digital downloads of any images in this gallery. Note: Because we are trying to make these galleries available for viewing as quickly as possible, the gallery may not be in its final form. If you only see a few photos, you are probably seeing an early version and more photos will be added later. Please return and refresh the page to see additions. RECOMMENDED • nj .com Boys soccer photos: No. 12 Randolph vs. No. 6 Shawnee, Group 3 final, Nov. 24, 2024 Nov. 24, 2024, 11:09 a.m. Boys soccer photos: No. 9 Princeton at Southern, Group 4 semifinals, Nov. 19, 2024 Nov. 19, 2024, 4:36 p.m. Mobile device users: For the best experience downloading high-resolution images (available free and to subscribers only) and making photo purchases, it’s best to visit this page from your desktop or laptop computer. The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)Kobe Sanders, Nevada beat Oklahoma St. for fifth place in CharlestonCHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs acquired All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros on Friday, paying a big price for one of baseball's best hitters. The Cubs sent third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith, one of their top infield prospects, to the Astros for Tucker, who is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. Tucker was limited to 78 games this year because of a fractured right shin, but he hit .289 with 23 homers and 49 RBIs for the AL West champions. He batted .284 with 29 homers, an AL-best 112 RBIs and 30 steals for Houston in 2023. Tucker, who turns 28 on Jan. 17, joins a crowded situation in Chicago's outfield, but the Cubs are reportedly looking to trade Cody Bellinger, who also can play first base. They also have talked to Seiya Suzuki's agent about the outfielder's no-trade clause. The Cubs have finished second in the NL Central with an 83-79 record in each of the past two years, and there is increased pressure on president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to get the team back into the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The New York Yankees also were in the mix for Tucker before the trade was completed. “We certainly had many conversations with the Astros.” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “At the end of the day I’m glad that Mr. Tucker is not in the American League East or the American League at all. But it’s a big get for the Chicago Cubs.” Paredes is an option for Houston at third base if Alex Bregman departs in free agency. The 25-year-old Paredes hit .238 with 19 homers and 80 RBIs in 153 games this year. He made the AL All-Star team with Tampa Bay and then was traded to Chicago in July. Wesneski, a Houston native who played college ball for Sam Houston State, likely will compete for a spot in the Astros’ rotation. The right-hander, who turned 27 on Dec. 5, went 3-6 with a 3.86 ERA over 21 relief appearances and seven starts this year. He was on the injured list from July 20 to Sept. 20 with a right forearm strain. Houston is hoping the addition of Paredes and Wesneski will help the team continue its impressive run as one of baseball's best teams. It has made the playoffs for eight straight years, winning the World Series in 2017 and 2022. It was swept by Detroit in the wild-card round this year. While Paredes and Wesneski could have an immediate impact, Smith also was a key component of the deal. Smith, 21, was selected by Chicago with the No. 14 pick in this year's draft out of Florida State University. He hit .313 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in 32 games over three minor league stops, finishing the year with Double-A Knoxville. Tucker was Houston's first-round pick in 2015, taken No. 5 overall. He made his big league debut with the Astros in 2018. Tucker had a breakout performance three years after his debut, hitting a career-best .294 with 30 homers and 92 RBIs in 140 games in 2021. He won a Gold Glove the following year. The Tampa, Florida, native is a .274 hitter with 125 homers, 417 RBIs and an .869 OPS in 633 career games — all with Houston. He also has appeared in 64 postseason games, batting .229 with eight homers and 28 RBIs. ___ AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb Jay Cohen, The Associated Press

Reports: Delaware State hires DeSean Jackson as head coachNoneHudson Meek, the 16-year-old actor who appeared in “Baby Driver,” died last week after falling from a moving vehicle in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, according to CNN affiliate WVTM. The teen sustained blunt force trauma in the fall on Dec. 19 and was admitted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, where he died from his injuries on Dec. 21, the Jefferson County Coroner’s office told CNN affiliate WVTM . “His 16 years on this earth were far too short, but he accomplished so much and significantly impacted everyone he met,” reads a post on his Instagram account . Hudson Meek attends the "A Different Man" premiere during the Deauville American Film Festival in Deauville, France, on September 9. The teen actor had various acting and voice over credits, most notably playing a younger version of Ansel Elgort’s character Baby in 2017 movie “Baby Driver.” Meek also voiced the lead in “Badanamu Stories” — a children’s show that examines themes relevant to preschoolers, according to IMDb . He also appeared in shows including NBC’s “Found” and The CW’s “Legacies,” as well as the recently released thriller “The School Duel.” Meek’s obituary described the teenager as a “reflective and thoughtful” avid traveler and fan of the outdoors. “He loved snow-skiing and could easily navigate the hardest trails that no one else in the family would dare attempt,” the obituary read. “One of his favorite places to be was at the lake, tubing and wakeboarding.” The Vestavia Hills Police Department is still investigating the circumstances surrounding Meek’s death, WTVM reported. CNN has reached out to Vestavia Hills police for more information on the incident. Glynis Johns, a Tony Award-winning stage and screen star who played the mother opposite Julie Andrews in the classic movie “Mary Poppins” and introduced the world to the bittersweet standard-to-be “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim, died, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. She was 100. Adan Canto, the Mexican singer and actor best known for his roles in “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and “Agent Game” as well as the TV series “The Cleaning Lady,” “Narcos,” and “Designated Survivor,” died Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, after a private battle with appendiceal cancer. He was 42. Bud Harrelson, the scrappy and sure-handed shortstop who fought Pete Rose on the field during a playoff game and helped the New York Mets win an astonishing championship, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. He was 79. The Mets said that Harrelson died at a hospice house in East Northport, New York after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević, a mentor to two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and a former star player in his native Serbia, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, after suffering a heart attack, the team announced. He was 46. Jack Burke Jr., the oldest living Masters champion who staged the greatest comeback ever at Augusta National for one of his two majors, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Houston. He was 100. Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “The Leader of the Pack,” died Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Palm Springs, Calif. She was 75. Norman Jewison, a three-time Oscar nominee who in 1999 received an Academy Award for lifetime achievement, died “peacefully” Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, according to publicist Jeff Sanderson. He was 97. Charles Osgood, who anchored “CBS Sunday Morning” for more than two decades, hosted the long-running radio program “The Osgood File” and was referred to as CBS News’ poet-in-residence, died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. He was 91. Melanie, a singer-songwriter behind 1970s hits including “Brand New Key,” died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. She was 76. Born Melanie Safka, the singer rose through the New York folk scene and was one of only three solo women to perform at Woodstock. Her hits included “Lay Down” and “Look What They've Done to My Song Ma.” Chita Rivera, the dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists, died Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. She was 91. Carl Weathers, a former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” movies, facing-off against Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore,” died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. He was 76. Wayne Kramer, the co-founder of the protopunk Detroit band the MC5 that thrashed out such hardcore anthems as “Kick Out the Jams” and influenced everyone from the Clash to Rage Against the Machine, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles, according to Jason Heath, a close friend and executive director of Kramer's charity, Jail Guitar Doors. Heath said the cause of death was pancreatic cancer. He was 75. Actor Ian Lavender, who played a hapless Home Guard soldier in the classic British sitcom “Dad’s Army,” died Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. He was 77. Country music singer-songwriter Toby Keith, whose pro-American anthems were both beloved and criticized, died Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. He was 62. Henry Fambrough, the last surviving original member of the iconic R&B group The Spinners, whose hits included “It’s a Shame,” “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” and “The Rubberband Man,” died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, of natural causes, according to a statement from his spokeswoman. He was 85. Bob Edwards, right, the news anchor many Americans woke up to as founding host of National Public Radio's “Morning Edition” for nearly a quarter-century, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 20243. He was 76. He's shown here with sports announcer Red Barber. Don Gullett, a former major league pitcher and coach who played for four consecutive World Series champions in the 1970s, died Feb. 14. He was 73. He finished his playing career with a 109-50 record playing for the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees. Lefty Driesell, the coach whose folksy drawl belied a fiery on-court demeanor that put Maryland on the college basketball map and enabled him to rebuild several struggling programs, died Feb. 17, 2024, at age 92. Germany players celebrate after Andreas Brehme, left on ground, scores the winning goal in the World Cup soccer final match against Argentina, in the Olympic Stadium, in Rome, July 8, 1990. Andreas Brehme, who scored the only goal as West Germany beat Argentina to win the 1990 World Cup final, died Feb. 20, 2024. He was 63. Despite the effort of Denver Broncos defensive back Steve Foley (43), Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Golden Richards hauls in a touchdown pass during NFL football's Super Bowl 12 in New Orleans on Jan 15, 1978. Richards died Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, of congestive heart failure at his home in Murray, Utah. He was 73. Richards' nephew Lance Richards confirmed his death in a post on his Facebook page. Comedian Richard Lewis attends an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on Dec. 25, 2012. Lewis, an acclaimed comedian known for exploring his neuroses in frantic, stream-of-consciousness diatribes while dressed in all-black, leading to his nickname “The Prince of Pain,” died Feb. 27, 2024. He was 76. He died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday night after suffering a heart attack, according to his publicist Jeff Abraham. Former Soviet Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov attends a session of the Federation Council, Russian parliament's upper house, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, June 25, 2014. Ryzhkov, former Soviet prime minister who presided over failed efforts to shore up the crumbling economy in the final years before the collapse of the USSR, died Feb. 28, 2024, at age 94. Brian Mulroney, the former prime minister of Canada, listens during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico relationship, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mulroney died at the age of 84 on Feb. 29, 2024. Akira Toriyama is pictured in 1982. Toriyama, the creator of one of Japan's best-selling “Dragon Ball” and other popular anime who influenced Japanese comics, died March 1, 2024. He was 68. Iris Apfel, a textile expert, interior designer and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric style, died March 1, 2024, at 102. Andy Russell, the standout linebacker who was an integral part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ evolution from perennial losers to champions, died Feb. 29, 2024. He was 82. Russell won two Super Bowls during a 12-year NFL career between 1963-76 that was briefly interrupted by a stint in the military. Russell played in 168 consecutive games and spent 10 years as a team captain. He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times. Russell remained active in the Pittsburgh community after retiring, writing several books and launching the Andy Russell Charitable Foundation. Pittsburgh Pirates' Ed Ott slides across home late out of reach of Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey to score the winning run in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the World Series at Baltimore, Oct. 11, 1979. Ott, a former major league catcher and coach who helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1979 World Series, died March 3, 2024. He was 72. He batted .259 with 33 homers and 195 RBIs in 567 major league games. Ott and Steve Nicosia were the main catchers when the Pirates won it all in 1979. In a photo supplied by ESPN, Chris Mortensen appears on the set of Sunday NFL Countdown at ESPN's studios in Bristol, Conn., on Sept. 22, 2019. Mortensen, the award-winning journalist who covered the NFL for close to four decades, including 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN, died March 3, 2024. He was 72. Mortensen announced in 2016 that he he had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Even while undergoing treatment, he was the first to confirm the retirement of Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. Mortensen announced his retirement after the NFL draft last year so that he could “focus on my health, family and faith.” Singer Steve Lawrence, left, and his wife Eydie Gorme arrive at a black-tie gala called honoring Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas on May 30, 1998. Lawrence, a singer and top stage act who as a solo performer and in tandem with his wife Gorme kept Tin Pan Alley alive during the rock era, died Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at age 88. Gorme died on Aug. 10, 2013. Martin Luther King III, right, the son of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., walks with his daughter Yolanda, and Naomi Barber King, left, the wife of Rev. King's brother, A.D., through an exhibition devoted to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to King at the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, in Atlanta. Civil rights activist Naomi Barber King died Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Atlanta, according to family members. She was 92. A Texas man who spent decades using an iron lung after contracting polio as a child died March 11, 2024, at the age of 78. Paul Alexander's longtime friend Daniel Spinks says Alexander died Monday at a Dallas hospital. Spinks called his friend one of the "bright stars of the world.” Friends of Alexander, who graduated from law school and had a career as an attorney, say he was a man who had a great joy for life. Alexander was a child when he began using an iron lung, a cylinder that encased his body as the air pressure in the chamber forced air in and out of his lungs. Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford stands near the NASA Motor Vessel Retriever during training Aug. 23, 1965, in the Gulf of Mexico. Stafford, who commanded a dress rehearsal flight for the 1969 moon landing and the first U.S.-Soviet space linkup, died March 18, 2024, at 93. New York Rangers' Chris Simon celebrates his second-period goal against the New York Islanders, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004, at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. Former NHL enforcer Chris Simon has died. He was 52. Simon died March 18, 2024, according to a spokesperson for the NHL Players' Association. M. Emmet Walsh arrives at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards, March 1, 2014, in Santa Monica, Calif. Walsh, the character actor who brought his unmistakable face and unsettling presence to films including “Blood Simple” and “Blade Runner,” died March 19, 2024, at age 88, his manager said Wednesday. "Babar" author Laurent de Brunhoff, who revived his father's popular picture book series about an elephant-king, has died at 98 after being in hospice care for two weeks. De Brunhoff was a Paris native who moved to the U.S. in the 1980s. He died March 22, 2024, at his home in Key West, Florida. Just 12 years old when his father, Jean de Brunhoff, died of tuberculosis, Laurent drew upon his own gifts as a painter and storyteller and as an adult released dozens of books about the elephant who reigns over Celesteville, among them "Babar at the Circus" and "Babar's Yoga for Elephants." Longtime Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos has died at the age of 94. His family announced in a statement that Angelos, who had been ill for several years, died March 23, 2024. Angelos was owner of an Orioles team that endured long losing stretches and shrewd proprietor of a law firm that won high-profile cases against industry titans such as tobacco giant Philip Morris. Angelos’ death came as his son, John, was in the process of selling the Orioles to a group headed by Carlyle Group Inc. co-founder David Rubenstein. Peter Angelos purchased the team for $173 million in 1993, at the time the highest for a sports franchise. His public role diminished significantly in his final years. Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore, left, and his running mate, vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, wave to supporters Oct. 25, 2000, at a campaign rally in Jackson, Tenn. Lieberman died March 27, 2024. He was 82 and died Wednesday of complications from a fall. Lieberman nearly won the vice presidency on Democrat Al Gore's ticket in the disputed 2000 White House race. Eight years later, he came close to joining the GOP ticket as John McCain’s running mate. The Democrat-turned-independent stepped down from the Senate in January 2013 after 24 years. His independent streak often irked Senate Democrats he aligned with. Yet his support for gay rights, civil rights, abortion rights and environmental causes at times won him the praise of many liberals over the years. Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots,” died March 28, 2024. He was 87. Gossett always thought of his early career as a reverse Cinderella story, with success finding him from an early age and propelling him forward, toward his Academy Award for “An Officer and a Gentleman.” He also was a star on Broadway, replacing Billy Daniels in “Golden Boy” with Sammy Davis Jr. in 1964 and recently played an obstinate patriarch in the 2023 remake of “The Color Purple.” Former cast members of SCTV, from left, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, foreground, Harold Ramis, Eugene Levy and Martin Short, pose at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival on March 6, 1999, in Aspen, Colo. Flaherty, a founding member of the Canadian sketch series “SCTV,” died Monday, April 1, 2024 at age 82. John Sinclair talks at the John Sinclair Foundation Café and Coffeeshop, Dec. 26, 2018, in Detroit. Sinclair, a poet, music producer and counterculture figure whose lengthy prison sentence after a series of small-time pot busts inspired a John Lennon song and a star-studded 1971 concert to free him, has died at age 82. Sinclair died Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Detroit Receiving Hospital of congestive heart failure following an illness, his publicist Matt Lee said. Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, right, tips his cap to fans as majority owner John Henry holds the 2013 World Series championship trophy during a parade in celebration of the baseball team's win, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, in Boston. Larry Lucchino, the force behind baseball’s retro ballpark revolution and the transformation of the Boston Red Sox from cursed losers to World Series champions, has died. He was 78. Lucchino had suffered from cancer. The Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, his last project in a career that also included three major league baseball franchises and one in the NFL, confirmed his death on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Playwright Christopher Durang appears on stage with producers to accept the award for best play for "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" at the 67th Annual Tony Awards, on June 9, 2013 in New York. Also on stage are actors, background from left, Shalita Grant, Kristine Nielsen and Billy Magnussen. Durang died Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at his home in Pipersville, Pennsylvania, of complications from logopenic primary progressive aphasia. He was 75. In this Oct. 16, 1969 file photo, New York Mets catcher Jerry Grote, right, embraces pitcher Jerry Koosman as Ed Charles, left, joins the celebration after the Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the Game 5 to win the baseball World Series at New York's Shea Stadium. Grote, the catcher who helped transform the New York Mets from a perennial loser into the 1969 World Series champion, died Sunday, April 7, 2024. He was 81. In this July 8, 2003 photo, Lori, left, and George Schappell, conjoined twins, are photographed in their Reading, Pa., apartment. Lori and George Schappell, who pursued separate careers, interests and relationships during lives that defied medical expectations, died April 7, 2024, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. They were 62. The University of Edinburgh says Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed the existence of a sub-atomic particle that came to be known as the Higgs boson, died April 8, 2024, at 94. Higgs predicted the existence of the particle in 1964. But it would be almost 50 years before the its existence could be confirmed at a particle collider in Switzerland called the Large Hadron Collider. Higgs’ work helps scientists understand of the most fundamental riddles of the universe: how the Big Bang created something out of nothing 13.7 billion years ago. Higgs won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work, alongside Francois Englert of Belgium. A retired U.S. Army colonel who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Korean War died April 8, 2024, at age 97. A funeral home says that Ralph Puckett Jr. died Monday at his home in Columbus, Georgia. President Joe Biden presented Puckett with the Medal of Honor in 2021, more than seven decades after Puckett was seriously wounded leading an outnumbered company of Army Rangers in battle. Puckett refused a medical discharge and served as an Army officer for another 20 years before retiring in 1971. Puckett received the U.S. military's highest honor from President Joe Biden on May 21, 2021, following a policy change that lifted a requirement for medals to be given within five years of a valorous act. O.J. Simpson, left, grimaces June 15, 1995, in a Los Angeles courtroom as he famously tries on one of the leather gloves prosecutors say he wore the night his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered. Simpson, t he decorated football star who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend but wound up in prison years later in an unrelated case, died April 10, 2024. He was 76. His family made an announcement Thursday in a statement on Simpson's X account. Simpson said last year that he was battling prostate cancer. Simpson’s gridiron legacy was forever overshadowed by the 1994 knife slayings of Brown Simpson and Goldman. A criminal court jury found him not guilty of murder, but a separate civil trial jury found him liable. Simpson's nine-year prison stint in Nevada was for the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers. Francis Coppola and wife, Eleanor, pose July 16, 1991, in Los Angeles. Eleanor Coppola, who documented the making of some of her husband Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic films, including the infamously tortured production of “Apocalypse Now,” and who raised a family of filmmakers, has died. She was 87. Coppola died April 12, 2024, at home in Rutherford, California, her family announced in a statement. Eleanor, who grew in Orange County, California, met Francis while working as an assistant art director on his directorial debut, the Roger Corman-produced 1963 horror film “Dementia 13.” Their first-born, Gian-Carlo, quickly became a regular presence in his father’s films, as did their subsequent children, Roman, and Sofia. After acting in their father’s films and growing up on sets, all would go into the movies. Robert MacNeil, seen in February 1978, who created the even-handed, no-frills PBS newscast “The MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour” in the 1970s and co-anchored the show for with his late partner, Jim Lehrer, for two decades, died April 12, 2024, at age 93. Artist Faith Ringgold poses for a portrait in front of a painted self-portrait during a press preview of her exhibition, "American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold's Paintings of the 1960s" at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, June 19, 2013. Ringgold, an award-winning author and artist who broke down barriers for Black female artists and became famous for her richly colored and detailed quilts combining painting, textiles and storytelling, died Friday, April 12, 2024, at her home in Englewood, N.J. She was 93. Alabama coach Bear Bryant, left, talks with his former star quarterback Steve Sloan, right, after practice in Miami for the Orange Bowl game New Years' night against Nebraska, Dec. 29, 1968. Former college coach and administrator Sloan, who played quarterback and served as athletic director at Alabama. has passed away. He was 79. Sloan died Sunday, April 14, 2024, after three months of memory care at Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, according to an obituary from former Alabama sports information director Wayne Atcheson. Oakland A's pitcher Ken Holtzman poses for a photo in March 1975. Holtzman, who pitched two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and helped the Oakland Athletics win three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, died April 14, 2024. He finished with a career record of 174-150 over 15 season with four teams and was the winningest Jewish pitcher in baseball history. Carl Erskine, center, pictured with teammate Duke Snider, left, and manager Charley Dressen in 1952, after beating the Yankees 6-5 in Game 5 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium in New York, Oct. 5, 1952. Erskine, who pitched two no-hitters for the Brooklyn Dodgers and was a 20-game winner in 1953 when he struck out a then-record 14 in the World Series, has died. Among the last survivors from the celebrated Brooklyn teams of the 1950s, Erskine spent his entire major league career with the Dodgers. He helped them win five National League pennants from 1948-59. Erskine won Game 3 of the 1953 World Series, beating the Yankees 3-2. He appeared in five World Series, with the Dodgers beating the Yankees in 1955 for their only championship in Brooklyn. Erksine died April 16 in his hometown of Anderson, Indiana, according to a hospital official. He was 97. St. Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog lets umpire John Shulock, right, know how he feels about Shulock's call on the tag attempt on Kansas City Royals Jim Sundberg by Cardinals catcher Tom Nieto, second from left, in the second inning of Game 5 of the 1985 World Series in St. Louis. Herzog, the gruff and ingenious Hall of Fame manager who guided the St. Louis Cardinals to three pennants and a World Series title and perfected an intricate, nail-biting strategy known as “Whiteyball,” has died. Herzog, affectionately nicknamed “The White Rat,” was a manager for 18 seasons, compiling an overall record of 1,281 wins and 1,125 losses. He was named Manager of the Year in 1985. Under Herzog, the Cardinals won pennants in 1982, 1985 and 1987 and won the World Series in 1982, when they edged the Milwaukee Brewers in seven games. He died April 15, 2024, and was 92. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., gestures as he answers questions regarding the ongoing security hearing on Capitol Hill, June 18, 2002, in Washington. Graham, who chaired the Intelligence Committee following the 2001 terrorist attacks and opposed the Iraq invasion, died April 16, 2024. He was 87. His family announced the death Tuesday in a statement posted on X by his daughter Gwen Graham. Graham served three terms in the Senate and two terms as Florida's governor. He made an unsuccessful bid for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, emphasizing his opposition to the Iraq invasion. But that bid was delayed by heart surgery in January 2003, and he was never able to gain enough traction with voters to catch up. He didn’t seek re-election in 2004 and was replaced by Republican Mel Martinez. Guitar legend and Allman Brothers Band co-founder Dickey Betts died April 18, 2024, at age 80. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer wrote the band's biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man.” Manager David Spero told The Associated Press that Betts died early Thursday at his home in Osprey, Florida. He says Betts had been battling cancer for more than a year and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Betts shared lead guitar duties with Duane Allman in the original Allman Brothers Band to help give the group its distinctive sound and create a new genre: Southern rock. Acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Kid Rock were influenced by the Allmans’ music, which combined blues, country, R&B and jazz with ’60s rock. Contemporary Christian singer Mandisa, who appeared on “American Idol” and won a Grammy for her 2013 album “Overcomer,” died April 18, 2024. She was 47. Mandisa gained stardom after finishing ninth on “American Idol” in 2006. In 2014, she won a Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album for “Overcomer,” her fifth album. She spoke openly about her struggles with depression, releasing a memoir that detailed her experiences with severe depression, weight-related challenges, the coronavirus pandemic and her faith. David Pryor, a former Arkansas governor and U.S. senator who was one of the state’s most beloved and active political figures, died April 20, 2024, at the age of 89. His son, former two-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, says the Democrat died Saturday of natural causes in Little Rock surrounded by family. David Pryor was considered one of the Democratic party’s giants in Arkansas and remained active in public life after he left office, including serving on the University of Arkansas’s Board of Trustees. Roman Gabriel was known for his big size and big arm. He was the first Filipino-American quarterback in the NFL. And he still holds the Los Angeles Rams record for touchdown passes. Gabriel died April 20, 2024, at age 83. His son posted the news on social media. He says Gabriel died at home of natural causes. Gabriel starred at North Carolina State and was the No. 2 pick by the Rams in the 1962 draft. The Oakland Raider of the rival AFL made him the No. 1 pick. Gabriel signed with the Rams and later played with the Philadelphia Eagles. Andrew Davis, an acclaimed British conductor who was music director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and orchestras on three continents, died April 20, 2024. He was 80. Davis died Saturday at Rusk Institute in Chicago from leukemia. That is according to his manager, Jonathan Brill of Opus 3 Artists. Davis had been managing the disease for 1 1/2 to 2 years but it became acute shortly after his 80th birthday on Feb. 2. Davis was music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1975-88, Britain’s Glyndebourne Festival from 1988-2000, chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1989-2000, then was music director of the Lyric Opera from 2000-21. Former hostage Terry Anderson waves to the crowd as he rides in a parade in Lorain, Ohio, June 22, 1992. Anderson, the globe-trotting Associated Press correspondent who became one of America’s longest-held hostages, died April 21, 2024. Anderson was snatched from a street in war-torn Lebanon in 1985 and held for nearly seven years. Anderson, who was tortured and chained to a wall, wrote about his experiences in the best-selling memoir, “Den of Lions.” After returning to the United States in 1991, Anderson gave public speeches, taught journalism and, at various times, operated a blues bar, Cajun restaurant, horse ranch and gourmet restaurant. He also struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. British army veteran Bill Gladden, who survived a glider landing on D-Day and a bullet that tore through his ankle a few days later, wanted to return to France for the 80th anniversary of the invasion so he could honor the men who didn’t come home. It was not to be. Gladden, one of the dwindling number of veterans who took part in the landings that kicked off the campaign to liberate Western Europe from the Nazis during World War II, died April 24, his family said. He was 100. With fewer and fewer veterans taking part each year, the ceremony may be one of the last big events marking the assault that began on June 6, 1944. Duane Eddy, a pioneering guitar hero whose reverberating electric sound on instrumentals such as “Rebel Rouser,” “Forty Miles of Bad Road" and “Cannonball” helped put the twang in early rock ‘n’ roll and influenced George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and countless other musicians, died April 30 at age 86. With his raucous rhythms, and backing hollers and hand claps, Eddy sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and mastered a distinctive sound based on the premise that a guitar’s bass strings sounded better on tape than the high ones. Author Paul Auster has died at age 77. Auster was a prolific, prize-winning man of letters and filmmaker known for such inventive narratives and meta-narratives as “The New York Trilogy” and “4 3 2 1." Auster’s death on April 30 was confirmed by his literary representatives. Auster completed more than 30 books, translated into dozens of languages. He never achieved major commercial success in the U.S., but he was widely admired overseas for his cosmopolitan worldview and erudite and introspective style. Auster’s novels were a mix of history, politics, genre experiments, existential quests and self-conscious references to writers and writing. Co-pilots Dick Rutan, right, and Jeana Yeager, no relationship to test pilot Chuck Yeager, pose for a photo after a test flight over the Mojave Desert, Dec. 19, 1985. Rutan, a decorated Vietnam War pilot, who along with copilot Yeager completed one of the greatest milestones in aviation history: the first round-the-world flight with no stops or refueling, died late Friday, May 3, 2024. He was 85. Music producer Steve Albini, seen in his Chicago studio in 2014, produced albums by Nirvana, the Pixies and PJ Harvey. Albini died at 61. Brian Fox, an engineer at Albini’s studio, Electrical Audio, says Albini died after a heart attack May 7. In addition to his work on canonized rock albums such as Nirvana‘s “In Utero,” the Pixies’ breakthrough “Surfer Rosa,” and PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me,” Albini was the frontman of the underground bands Big Black and Shellac. He dismissed the term “producer” and requested he be credited with “Recorded by Steve Albini." San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame football player Jimmy Johnson, left, is honored by owner Jed York before a 2011 game between against the St. Louis Rams in San Francisco. Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Jimmy Johnson, a three-time All-Pro and member of the All-Decade Team of the 1970s, has died. He was 86. Johnson's family told the Pro Football Hall of Fame that he died May 8. Johnson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994. He played his entire 16-year pro career with San Francisco. He played in 213 games, more than any other 49ers player at the time of his retirement. San Diego Padres third baseman Sean Burroughs fires a throw to first from his knees but is unable to get Los Angeles Dodgers' D. J. Houlton at first during the third inning of a baseball game June 22, 2005, in San Diego. Burroughs, a two-time Little League World Series champion who won an Olympic gold medal and went on to a major league career that was interrupted by substance abuse, has died. He was 43. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s online records said Burroughs died Thursday, May 9, 2024, with the cause of death deferred. Producer Roger Corman poses in his Los Angeles office, May 8, 2013. Corman, the Oscar-winning “King of the Bs” who helped turn out such low-budget classics as “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Attack of the Crab Monsters” and gave many of Hollywood's most famous actors and directors an early break, died Thursday, May 9, 2024. He was 98. A.J. Smith, a longtime NFL executive who was the winningest general manager in Chargers history, has died. He was 75. His son, Atlanta assistant general manager Kyle Smith, announced in a statement released by the Falcons that his father died May 12. Kyle Smith said his father had been battling prostate cancer for seven years. The Chargers won five division titles during Smith’s 10 seasons as GM. The franchise’s 98 wins, including the playoffs, were the sixth most in the league from 2003-12. Saxophone player David Sanborn performs during his concert at the Stravinski hall at the "Colours of Music night" during the 34th Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland on July 10, 2000. Sanborn, the Grammy-winning saxophonist who played lively solos on such hits as David Bowie's “Young Americans” and James Taylor's “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and enjoyed his own highly successful recording career as a leading performer of contemporary jazz, died Sunday, May 12, 2024, at age 78. Nobel laureate Alice Munro has died. The Canadian literary giant who became one of the world’s most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history’s most honored short story writers was 92. Munro achieved stature rare for an art form traditionally placed beneath the novel. She was the first lifelong Canadian to win the Nobel and the first recipient cited exclusively for short fiction. Munro was little known beyond Canada until her late 30s but became one of the few short story writers to enjoy ongoing commercial success. A spokesperson for publisher Penguin Random House Canada said Munro died May 13 at home in Port Hope, Ontario. Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in “9 to 5” and the nasty TV director in “Tootsie,” died May 16. He was 92. For two decades Coleman labored in movies and TV shows as a talented but largely unnoticed performer. That changed abruptly in 1976 when he was cast as the incorrigibly corrupt mayor of the hamlet of Fernwood in “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” a satirical soap opera. He won a Golden Globe for “The Slap Maxwell Story” and an Emmy Award for best supporting actor in Peter Levin’s 1987 small screen legal drama “Sworn to Silence.” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi listens to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, not in photo, during a joint news conference following their meeting at the Presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Jan. 24, 2024. Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others were found dead at the site of a helicopter crash site, state media reported Monday, May 20, 2024. Jim Otto, the Hall of Fame center known as Mr. Raider for his durability through a litany of injuries, died May 19. He was 86. The cause of death was not immediately known. Otto joined the Raiders for their inaugural season in the American Football League in 1960 and was a fixture on the team for the next 15 years. He never missed a game because of injuries and competed in 210 consecutive regular-season games and 308 straight total contests despite undergoing nine operations on his knees during his playing career. His right leg was amputated in 2007. Ivan F. Boesky, the flamboyant stock trader whose cooperation with the government cracked open one of the largest insider trading scandals on Wall Street, has died at the age of 87. A representative at the Marianne Boesky Gallery, owned by his daughter, confirmed his death. The son of a Detroit delicatessen owner, Boesky was once considered one of the richest and most influential risk-takers on Wall Street. He had parlayed $700,000 from his late mother-in-law’s estate into a fortune estimated at more than $200 million. Once implicated in insider trading, Boesky cooperated with a brash young U.S. attorney named Rudolph Giuliani, uncovering a scandal that blemished some of the most respected U.S. investment brokerages. Boesky died May 20. Jan. A.P. Kaczmarek poses with the Oscar for best original score for his work on "Finding Neverland" during the 77th Academy Awards, Feb. 27, 2005, in Los Angeles. Polish composer Kaczmarek, who won a 2005 Oscar for the movie “Finding Neverland,” has died on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at age 71. Kaczmarek’s death was announced by Poland’s Music Foundation. Train bassist and founding member Charlie Colin has died at 58. Colin’s sister confirmed the musician's death Wednesday to The Associated Press. Variety reported Colin slipped and fell in the shower while house-sitting for a friend in Brussels. Train formed in San Francisco in the early ’90s. Colin played on Train's first three records, 1998’s self-titled album, 2001’s “Drops of Jupiter” and 2003’s “My Private Nation.” The track “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” hit No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned two Grammys. Colin left the band in 2003. He also worked with the Newport Beach Film Festival. Colin died May 22. Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, an Oscar nominee whose most famous works skewered America’s food industry and who notably ate only at McDonald’s for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet, has died of cancer. He was 53. Spurlock made a splash in 2004 with his groundbreaking film “Super Size Me,” and returned in 2019 with “Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!” — a sober look at an industry that processes 9 billion animals a year in America. Spurlock was a gonzo-like filmmaker who leaned into the bizarre and ridiculous. His stylistic touches included zippy graphics and amusing music. Spurlock died May 23. Richard M. Sherman, one half of the prolific, award-winning pair of brothers who helped form millions of childhoods by penning classic Disney tunes, has died. He was 95. Sherman, along with his late brother Robert, wrote hundreds of songs together, including songs for “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” — as well as the most-played tune on Earth, “It’s a Small World (After All).” The Walt Disney Co. announced that Sherman died Saturday due to age-related illness. The brothers won two Academy Awards for Walt Disney’s 1964 smash “Mary Poppins.” Robert Sherman died May 25 in London in 2012. Basketball Hall of Fame legend Bill Walton laughs during a practice session for the NBA All-Star basketball game in Cleveland, Feb. 19, 2022. Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Basketball Hall of Famer and one of the biggest stars of basketball broadcasting, died Monday, May 27, 2024, the league announced on behalf of his family. He was 71. “The Godfather” producer Albert S. Ruddy died May 25 at 94. The Canadian-born producer and writer won Oscars for “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby,” developed the raucous prison-sports comedy “The Longest Yard” and helped create the hit sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes." A spokesperson says Ruddy died Saturday at the UCLA Medical Center. Ruddy produced more than 30 movies and was on hand for the very top and the very bottom. “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby” were box office hits and winners of best picture Oscars. But Ruddy also helped give us “Cannonball Run II” and “Megaforce,” nominees for Golden Raspberry awards for worst movie of the year. Larry Allen, one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL during a 12-year career spent mostly with the Dallas Cowboys, died June 2. He was 52. The Cowboys say Allen died suddenly on Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico. Allen was named an All-Pro six consecutive years from 1996-2001 and was inducted into the Pro Football of Hall of Fame in 2013. He said few words but let his blocking do the talking. Allen once bench-pressed 700 pounds and had the speed to chase down opposing running backs. Bob Hope and Janis Paige hug during the annual Christmas show in Saigon, Vietnam, Dec. 25, 1964. Paige, a popular actor in Hollywood and in Broadway musicals and comedies who danced with Fred Astaire, toured with Bob Hope and continued to perform into her 80s, died Sunday, June 2, 2024, of natural causes at her Los Angeles home, longtime friend Stuart Lampert said Monday, June 3. Parnelli Jones, the 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner, died June 4 at Torrance Memorial Medical Center after a battle with Parkinson’s disease, his son said. Jones was 90. At the time of his death, Jones was the oldest living winner of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Rufus Parnell Jones was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, in 1933 but moved to Torrance as a young child and never left. It was there that he became “Parnelli” because his given name of Rufus was too well known for him to compete without locals knowing that he wasn’t old enough to race. Boston Celtics' John Havlicek (17) is defended by Philadelphia 76ers' Chet Walker (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball playoff game April 14, 1968, in Boston. Walker, a seven-time All-Star forward who helped Wilt Chamberlain and the 76ers win the 1967 NBA title, died June 8. He was 84. The National Basketball Players Association confirmed Walker's death, according to NBA.com . The 76ers, Chicago Bulls and National Basketball Retired Players Association also extended their condolences on social media on Saturday, June 8, 2024. The Rev. James Lawson Jr. speaks Sept. 17, 2015, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Lawson Jr., an apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction, has died, his family said Monday. He was 95. His family said Lawson died on Sunday after a short illness in Los Angeles, where he spent decades working as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor. Lawson was a close adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who called him “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.” Lawson met King in 1957, after spending three years in India soaking up knowledge about Mohandas K. Gandhi’s independence movement. King would travel to India himself two years later, but at the time, he had only read about Gandhi in books. Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Jerry West, representing the 1960 USA Olympic Team, is seen Aug. 13, 2010, during the enshrinement news conference at the Hall of Fame Museum in Springfield, Mass. Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive, and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died June 12, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. He was 86. West, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his late-game exploits as a player, was an NBA champion who went into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. He will be enshrined for a third time later this year as a contributor, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called West “one of the greatest executives in sports history.” Actor and director Ron Simons, seen Jan. 23, 2011, during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, died June 12. Simons turned into a formidable screen and stage producer, winning four Tony Awards and having several films selected at the Sundance Film Festival. He won Tonys for producing “Porgy and Bess,” “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” and “Jitney.” He also co-produced “Hughie,” with Forest Whitaker, “The Gin Game,” starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones, “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations,” an all-Black production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” the revival of "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf" and the original work “Thoughts of a Colored Man.” He was in the films “27 Dresses” and “Mystery Team,” as well as on the small screen in “The Resident,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “Law & Order: SVU.” Bob Schul of West Milton, Ohio, hits the tape Oct. 18, 1964, to win the 5,000 meter run at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Schul, the only American distance runner to win the 5,000 meters at the Olympics, died June 16. He was 86. His death was announced by Miami University in Ohio , where Schul shined on the track and was inducted into the school’s hall of fame in 1973. Schul predicted gold leading into the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and followed through with his promise. On a rainy day in Japan, he finished the final lap in a blistering 54.8 seconds to sprint to the win. His white shorts were covered in mud at the finish. He was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1991. He also helped write a book called “In the Long Run.” San Francisco Giants superstar Willie Mays poses for a photo during baseball spring training in 1972. Mays, the electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players, died June 18. He was 93. The center fielder, who began his professional career in the Negro Leagues in 1948, had been baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer. He was voted into the Hall in 1979, his first year of eligibility, and in 1999 followed only Babe Ruth on The Sporting News’ list of the game’s top stars. The Giants retired his uniform number, 24, and set their AT&T Park in San Francisco on Willie Mays Plaza. Mays died two days before a game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals to honor the Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field in Birmingham , Alabama. Over 23 major league seasons, virtually all with the New York/San Francisco Giants but also including one in the Negro Leagues, Mays batted .301, hit 660 home runs, totaled 3,293 hits, scored more than 2,000 runs and won 12 Gold Gloves. He was Rookie of the Year in 1951, twice was named the Most Valuable Player and finished in the top 10 for the MVP 10 other times. His lightning sprint and over-the-shoulder grab of an apparent extra base hit in the 1954 World Series remains the most celebrated defensive play in baseball history. For millions in the 1950s and ’60s and after, the smiling ballplayer with the friendly, high-pitched voice was a signature athlete and showman during an era when baseball was still the signature pastime. Awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015, Mays left his fans with countless memories. But a single feat served to capture his magic — one so untoppable it was simply called “The Catch.” Actor Donald Sutherland appears Oct. 13, 2017, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sutherland, the Canadian actor whose wry, arrestingly off-kilter screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games,” died June 20. He was 88. Kiefer Sutherland said on X he believed his father was one of the most important actors in the history of film: “Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that.” The tall and gaunt Sutherland, who flashed a grin that could be sweet or diabolical, was known for offbeat characters like Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman's "M.A.S.H.," the hippie tank commander in "Kelly's Heroes" and the stoned professor in "Animal House." Before transitioning into a long career as a respected character actor, Sutherland epitomized the unpredictable, antiestablishment cinema of the 1970s. He never stopped working, appearing in nearly 200 films and series. Over the decades, Sutherland showed his range in more buttoned-down — but still eccentric — roles in Robert Redford's "Ordinary People" and Oliver Stone's "JFK." More, recently, he starred in the “Hunger Games” films. A memoir, “Made Up, But Still True,” is due out in November. Actor Bill Cobbs, a cast member in "Get Low," arrives July 27, 2010, at the premiere of the film in Beverly Hills, Calif. Cobbs, the veteran character actor who became a ubiquitous and sage screen presence as an older man, died June 25. He was 90. A Cleveland native, Cobbs acted in such films as “The Hudsucker Proxy,” “The Bodyguard” and “Night at the Museum.” He made his first big-screen appearance in a fleeting role in 1974's “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three." He became a lifelong actor with some 200 film and TV credits. The lion share of those came in his 50s, 60s, and 70s, as filmmakers and TV producers turned to him again and again to imbue small but pivotal parts with a wizened and worn soulfulness. Cobbs appeared on television shows including “The Sopranos," “The West Wing,” “Sesame Street” and “Good Times.” He was Whitney Houston's manager in “The Bodyguard” (1992), the mystical clock man of the Coen brothers' “The Hudsucker Proxy” (1994) and the doctor of John Sayles' “Sunshine State” (2002). He played the coach in “Air Bud” (1997), the security guard in “Night at the Museum” (2006) and the father on “The Gregory Hines Show." Cobbs rarely got the kinds of major parts that stand out and win awards. Instead, Cobbs was a familiar and memorable everyman who left an impression on audiences, regardless of screen time. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding limited performance in a daytime program for the series “Dino Dana” in 2020. Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman speaks with the media Nov. 7, 2009, at his campaign headquarters in Austin, Texas. The singer, songwriter, satirist and novelist, who led the alt-country band Texas Jewboys, toured with Bob Dylan, sang with Willie Nelson, and dabbled in politics with campaigns for Texas governor and other statewide offices, died June 27. He was 79 and had suffered from Parkinson's disease. Often called “The Kinkster" and sporting sideburns, a thick mustache and cowboy hat, Friedman earned a cult following and reputation as a provocateur throughout his career across musical and literary genres. In the 1970s, his satirical country band Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys wrote songs with titles such as “They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in Bed.” Friedman joined part of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1976. By the 1980s, Friedman was writing crime novels that often included a version of himself, and he wrote a column for Texas Monthly magazine in the 2000s. Friedman's run at politics brought his brand of irreverence to the serious world of public policy. In 2006, Friedman ran for governor as an independent in a five-way race that included incumbent Republican Rick Perry. Friedman launched his campaign against the backdrop of the Alamo. Martin Mull participates in "The Cool Kids" panel during the Fox Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour on Aug. 2, 2018, at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Mull, whose droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including “Roseanne” and “Arrested Development,” died June 28. He was 80. Mull, who was also a guitarist and painter, came to national fame with a recurring role on the Norman Lear-created satirical soap opera “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” and the starring role in its spinoff, “Fernwood Tonight." His first foray into show business was as a songwriter, penning the 1970 semi-hit “A Girl Named Johnny Cash” for singer Jane Morgan. He would combine music and comedy in an act that he brought to hip Hollywood clubs in the 1970s. Mull often played slightly sleazy, somewhat slimy and often smarmy characters as he did as Teri Garr's boss and Michael Keaton's foe in 1983's “Mr. Mom.” He played Colonel Mustard in the 1985 movie adaptation of the board game “Clue,” which, like many things Mull appeared in, has become a cult classic. The 1980s also brought what many thought was his best work, “A History of White People in America,” a mockumentary that first aired on Cinemax. Mull co-created the show and starred as a “60 Minutes” style investigative reporter investigating all things milquetoast and mundane. Willard was again a co-star. In the 1990s he was best known for his recurring role on several seasons on “Roseanne,” in which he played a warmer, less sleazy boss to the title character, an openly gay man whose partner was played by Willard, who died in 2020 . Mull would later play private eye Gene Parmesan on “Arrested Development,” a cult-classic character on a cult-classic show, and would be nominated for an Emmy, his first, in 2016 for a guest run on “Veep.” Screenwriter Robert Towne poses at The Regency Hotel, March 7, 2006, in New York. Towne, the Oscar-winning screenplay writer of "Shampoo," "The Last Detail" and other acclaimed films whose work on "Chinatown" became a model of the art form and helped define the jaded allure of his native Los Angeles, died Monday, July 1, 2024, surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles, said publicist Carri McClure. She declined to comment on any cause of death. Vic Seixas of the United States backhands a volley from Denmark's Jurgen Ulrich in the first round of men's singles match at Wimbledon, England, June 27, 1967. Vic Seixas, a Wimbledon winner and tennis Hall of Famer who was the oldest living Grand Slam champion, has died July 5 at the age of 100. The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced Seixas’ death on Saturday July 6, 2024, based on confirmation from his daughter Tori. In this June 30, 2020, file photo, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., speaks to reporters following a GOP policy meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Former Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma died July 9. He was 89. The family says in a statement that the Republican had a stroke during the July Fourth holiday and died Tuesday morning. Inhofe was a powerful fixture in state politics for decades. He doubted that climate change was caused by human activity, calling the theory “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” As Oklahoma’s senior U.S. senator, he was a staunch supporter of the state’s military installations. He was elected to a fifth Senate term in 2020 and stepped down in early 2023. The Oak Ridge Boys, from left, Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban, Duane Allen and William Lee Golden hold their awards for Top Vocal Group and Best Album of the Year for "Ya'll Come Back Saloon", during the 14th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., May 3, 1979. Bonsall died on July 9, 2024, from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Hendersonville, Tenn. He was 76. A Philadelphia native and resident of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Bonsall joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1973, which originally formed in the 1940s. He saw the band through its golden period in the '80s and beyond, which included their signature 1981 song “Elvira.” The hit marked a massive crossover moment for the group, reaching No. 1 on the country chart and No. 5 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100. The group is also known for such hits as 1982’s “Bobbie Sue." Shelley Duvall poses for photographers at the 30th Cannes Film Festival in France, May 27, 1977. Duvall, whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick's “The Shining,” died July 11. She was 75. Dr. Ruth Westheimer holds a copy of her book "Sex for Dummies" at the International Frankfurt Book Fair 'Frankfurter Buchmesse' in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007. Westheimer, the sex therapist who became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics, died on July 12, 2024. She was 96. Richard Simmons sits for a portrait in Los Angeles, June 23, 1982. Simmons, a fitness guru who urged the overweight to exercise and eat better, died July 13 at the age of 76. Simmons was a court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better. Simmons was a former 268-pound teen who shared his hard-won weight loss tips as the host of the Emmy-winning daytime “Richard Simmons Show" and the “Sweatin' to the Oldies” line of exercise videos, which became a cultural phenomenon. Former NFL receiver Jacoby Jones died July 14 at age 40. Jones' 108-yard kickoff return in 2013 remains the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history. The Houston Texans were Jones’ team for the first five seasons of his career. They announced his death on Sunday. In a statement released by the NFL Players Association, his family said he died at his home in New Orleans. A cause of death was not given. Jones played from 2007-15 for the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers. He made several huge plays for the Ravens during their most recent Super Bowl title season, including that kick return. The "Beverly Hills, 90210" star whose life and career were roiled by tabloid stories, Shannen Doherty died July 13 at 53. Doherty's publicist said the actor died Saturday following years with breast cancer. Catapulted to fame as Brenda in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” she worked in big-screen films including "Mallrats" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and in TV movies including "A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story," in which she played the "Gone with the Wind" author. Doherty co-starred with Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano in the series “Charmed” from 1998-2001; appeared in the “90210” sequel series seven years later and competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010. Actor James Sikking poses for a photograph at the Los Angeles gala celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Organization for Women, Dec. 1, 1986. Sikking, who starred as a hardened police lieutenant on “Hill Street Blues” and as the titular character's kindhearted dad on “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” died July 13 of complications from dementia, his publicist Cynthia Snyder said in a statement. He was 90. Pat Williams chats with media before the 2004 NBA draft in Orlando, Fla. Williams, a co-founder of the Orlando Magic and someone who spent more than a half-century working within the NBA, died July 17 from complications related to viral pneumonia. The team announced the death Wednesday. Williams was 84. He started his NBA career as business manager of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1968, then had stints as general manager of the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks and the 76ers — helping that franchise win a title in 1983. Williams was later involved in starting the process of bringing an NBA team to Orlando. The league’s board of governors granted an expansion franchise in 1987, and the team began play in 1989. Lou Dobbs speaks Feb. 24, 2017, at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Md. Dobbs, the conservative political pundit and veteran cable TV host who was a founding anchor for CNN and later was a nightly presence on Fox Business Network for more than a decade, died July 18. He was 78. His death was announced in a post on his official X account, which called him a “fighter till the very end – fighting for what mattered to him the most, God, his family and the country.” He hosted “Lou Dobbs Tonight” on Fox from 2011 to 2021, following two separate stints at CNN. No cause of death was given. Bob Newhart, center, poses with members of the cast and crew of the "Bob Newhart Show," from top left, Marcia Wallace, Bill Daily, Jack Riley, and, Suzanne Pleshette, foreground left, and Dick Martin at TV Land's 35th anniversary tribute to "The Bob Newhart Show" on Sept. 5, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Newhart has died at age 94. Jerry Digney, Newhart’s publicist, says the actor died July 18 in Los Angeles after a series of short illnesses. The accountant-turned-comedian gained fame with a smash album and became one of the most popular TV stars of his time. Newhart was a Chicago psychologist in “The Bob Newhart Show” in the 1970s and a Vermont innkeeper on “Newhart” in the 1980s. Both shows featured a low-key Newhart surrounded by eccentric characters. The second had a twist ending in its final show — the whole series was revealed to have been a dream by the psychologist he played in the other show. Cheng Pei-pei, a Chinese-born martial arts film actor who starred in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” died July 17 at age 78. Her family says Cheng, who had been diagnosed with a rare illness with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, passed away Wednesday at home surrounded by her loved ones. The Shanghai-born film star became a household name in Hong Kong, once dubbed the Hollywood of the Far East, for her performances in martial arts movies in the 1960s. She played Jade Fox, who uses poisoned needles, in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” which was released in 2000, grossed $128 million in North America and won four Oscars. Abdul “Duke” Fakir holds his life time achievement award backstage at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. The last surviving original member of the Four Tops died July 22. Abdul “Duke” Fakir was 88. He was a charter member of the Motown group along with lead singer Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton. Between 1964 and 1967, the Tops had 11 top 20 hits and two No. 1′s: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and the operatic classic “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” Other songs, often stories of romantic pain and longing, included “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” “Bernadette” and “Just Ask the Lonely.” Sculptress Elizabeth Catlett, left, then-Washington D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon, center, and then-curator, division of community life, Smithsonian institution Bernice Johnson Reagon chat during the reception at the Candace awards on June 25, 1991 in New York. Reagon, a musician and scholar who used her rich, powerful contralto voice in the service of the American Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggles around the world, died on July 16, 2024, according to her daughter's social media post. She was 81. John Mayall, the British blues musician whose influential band the Bluesbreakers was a training ground for Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and many other superstars, died July 22. He was 90. He is credited with helping develop the English take on urban, Chicago-style rhythm and blues that played an important role in the blues revival of the late 1960s. A statement on Mayall's official Instagram page says he died Monday at his home in California. Though Mayall never approached the fame of some of his illustrious alumni, he was still performing in his late 80s, pounding out his version of Chicago blues. Erica Ash, an actor and comedian skilled in sketch comedy who starred in the parody series “Mad TV” and “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” has died. She was 46. Her publicist and a statement by her mother, Diann, says Ash died July 28 in Los Angeles of cancer. Ash impersonated Michelle Obama and Condoleeza Rice on “Mad TV,” a Fox sketch series, and was a key performer on the Rosie O’Donnell-created series “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” Her other credits included “Scary Movie V,” “Uncle Drew” and the LeBron James-produced basketball dramedy “Survivor’s Remorse.” On the BET series “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” Ash played the ex-wife of Kevin Hart’s character. Jack Russell, the lead singer of the bluesy '80s metal band Great White whose hits included “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me” and was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island, died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. He was 63. Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, a Hall of Fame golfer whose antics on the greens and inspiring life story made him among the sport’s most popular players during a long professional career, died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. Susan Wojcicki, the former YouTube chief executive officer and longtime Google executive, died Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, after suffering with non small cell lung cancer for the past two years. She was 56. Frank Selvy, an All-America guard at Furman who scored an NCAA Division I-record 100 points in a game and later played nine NBA seasons, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. He was 91. Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, from complications with dementia. He was 88. Gena Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and who later charmed audiences in her son's tear-jerker “The Notebook,” died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. She was 94. Peter Marshall, the actor and singer turned game show host who played straight man to the stars for 16 years on “The Hollywood Squares,” died. Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 He was 98. Alain Delon, the internationally acclaimed French actor who embodied both the bad guy and the policeman and made hearts throb around the world, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. He was 88. Phil Donahue, whose pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre that brought success to Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and many others, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, after a long illness. He was 88. Al Attles, a Hall of Famer who coached the 1975 NBA champion Warriors and spent more than six decades with the organization as a player, general manager and most recently team ambassador, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. He was 87. John Amos, who starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots,” died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. He was 84. James Darren, a teen idol who helped ignite the 1960s surfing craze as a charismatic beach boy paired off with Sandra Dee in the hit film “Gidget,” died Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. He was 88. James Earl Jones, who overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen has died. He was 93. His agent, Barry McPherson, confirmed Jones died Sept. 9 at home. Jones was a pioneering actor who eventually lent his deep, commanding voice to CNN, “The Lion King” and Darth Vader. Working deep into his 80s, he won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tony Awards, a Grammy, the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors and was given an honorary Oscar and a special Tony for lifetime achievement. In 2022, a Broadway theater was renamed in his honor. Frankie Beverly, who with his band Maze inspired generations of fans with his smooth, soulful voice and lasting anthems including “Before I Let Go,” has died. He was 77. His family said in a post on the band’s website and social media accounts that Beverly died Sept. 10. In the post, which asked for privacy, the family said “he lived his life with a pure soul, as one would say, and for us, no one did it better.” The post did not say his cause of death or where he died. Beverly, whose songs include “Joy and Pain,” “Love is the Key,” and “Southern Girl,” finished his farewell “I Wanna Thank You Tour” in his hometown of Philadelphia in July. Joe Schmidt, the Hall of Fame linebacker who helped the Detroit Lions win NFL championships in 1953 and 1957 and later coached the team, has died. He was 92. The Lions said family informed the team Schmidt died Sept. 11. A cause of death was not provided. One of pro football’s first great middle linebackers, Schmidt played his entire NFL career with the Lions from 1953-65. An eight-time All-Pro, he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and the college football version in 2000. Born in Pittsburgh, Schmidt played college football in his hometown at Pitt. Chad McQueen, an actor known for his performances in the “Karate Kid” movies and the son of the late actor and racer Steve McQueen, died Sep. 11. His lawyer confirmed his death at age 63. McQueen's family shared a statement on social media saying he lived a life “filled with love and dedication.” McQueen was a professional race car driver, like his father, and competed in the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona races. He is survived by his wife Jeanie and three children, Chase, Madison and Steven, who is an actor best known for “The Vampire Diaries.” Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5, died at age 70 on Sept. 15. Jackson was the third of nine children, including global superstars Michael and Janet. The Jackson 5 included brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. They signed with Berry Gordy’s Motown empire in the 1960s. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and produced several No. 1 hits in the 1970s, including “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.” John David “JD” Souther has died. He was a prolific songwriter and musician whose collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s. Souther joined in on some of the Eagles’ biggest hits, such as “Best of My Love,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight." The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee also collaborated with James Taylor, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and many more. His biggest hit as a solo artist was “You’re Only Lonely.” He was about to tour with Karla Bonoff. Souther died Sept. 17 at his home in New Mexico, at 78. In this photo, JD Souther and Alison Krauss attend the Songwriters Hall of Fame 44th annual induction and awards gala on Thursday, June 13, 2013 in New York. Sen. Dan Evans stands with his three sons, from left, Mark, Bruce and Dan Jr., after he won the election for Washington's senate seat in Seattle, Nov. 8, 1983. Evans, a former Washington state governor and a U.S. Senator, died Sept. 20. The popular Republican was 98. He served as governor from 1965 to 1977, and he was the keynote speaker at the 1968 National Republican Convention. In 1983, Evans was appointed to served out the term of Democratic Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson after he died in office. Evans opted not to stand for election in 1988, citing the “tediousness" of the Senate. He later served as a regent at the University of Washington, where the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance bears his name. Eugene “Mercury” Morris, who starred for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins as part of a star-studded backfield and helped the team win two Super Bowl titles, died Sept. 21. He was 77. The team on Sunday confirmed the death of Morris, a three-time Pro Bowl selection. In a statement, his family said his “talent and passion left an indelible mark on the sport.” Morris was the starting halfback and one of three go-to runners that Dolphins coach Don Shula utilized in Miami’s back-to-back title seasons of 1972 and 1973, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. Morris led the Dolphins in rushing touchdowns in both of those seasons. John Ashton, the veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. He was 76. Maggie Smith, who won an Oscar for 1969 film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and won new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, died Sept. 27 at 89. Smith's publicist announced the news Friday. She was frequently rated the preeminent British female performer of a generation that included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench. “Jean Brodie” brought her the Academy Award for best actress in 1969. Smith added a supporting actress Oscar for “California Suite” in 1978. Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. He was 88. Drake Hogestyn, the “Days of Our Lives” star who appeared on the show for 38 years, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. He was 70. Ron Ely, the tall, musclebound actor who played the title character in the 1960s NBC series “Tarzan,” died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, at age 86. Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, from brain cancer, the league announced. He was 58. Frank Fritz, left, part of a two-man team who drove around the U.S. looking for antiques and collectibles to buy and resell on the reality show “American Pickers,” died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was 60. He's shown here with co-host Mike Wolfe at the A+E Networks 2015 Upfront in New York on April 30, 2015. Pete Rose, baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was 83. Cissy Houston, the mother of Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in her New Jersey home. She was 91. Ethel Kennedy, the wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who raised their 11 children after he was assassinated and remained dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter, died on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, her family said. She was 96. Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans, was found dead Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local officials said. He was 31. Mitzi Gaynor, among the last survivors of the so-called golden age of the Hollywood musical, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. She was 93. Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, died Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. He was 63. Jack Jones, a Grammy-winning crooner known for “The Love Boat” television show theme song, died, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. He was 86. Phil Lesh, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at age 84. Teri Garr, the quirky comedy actor who rose from background dancer in Elvis Presley movies to co-star of such favorites as "Young Frankenstein" and "Tootsie," died Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024. She was 79. Quincy Jones, the multitalented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists, died Sunday, Nov 3, 2024. He was 91 Bobby Allison, founder of racing’s “Alabama Gang” and a NASCAR Hall of Famer, died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. He was 86. Song Jae-lim, a South Korean actor known for his roles in K-dramas “Moon Embracing the Sun” and “Queen Woo,” was found dead at his home in capital Seoul, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. He was 39. British actor Timothy West, who played the classic Shakespeare roles of King Lear and Macbeth and who in recent years along with his wife, Prunella Scales, enchanted millions of people with their boating exploits on Britain's waterways, died Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024. He was 90. Bela Karolyi, the charismatic if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport, died Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. He was 82. Arthur Frommer, whose "Europe on 5 Dollars a Day" guidebooks revolutionized leisure travel by convincing average Americans to take budget vacations abroad, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. He was 95. Former Chicago Bulls forward Bob Love, a three-time All-Star who spent 11 years in the NBA, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. He was 81. Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. He was 83. Barbara Taylor Bradford, a British journalist who became a publishing sensation in her 40s with the saga "A Woman of Substance" and wrote more than a dozen other novels that sold tens of millions of copies, died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. She was 91. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

Dr. Manmohan Singh, India’s 13th Prime Minister, was a leader known for his profound intellect, economic reforms, and unwavering dedication to public service. Beyond his political and economic contributions, his family, particularly his daughters, have also made remarkable achievements in their respective fields. ET Year-end Special Reads Corporate Kalesh: Top family disputes of India Inc in 2024 The world of business lost these eminent people in 2024 Fast, faster, fastest: How 2024 put more speed into your shopping Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah (now in Pakistan), Dr. Singh's journey to prominence began with stellar academic credentials. He studied economics at Panjab University, followed by the University of Cambridge and later earned a DPhil from the University of Oxford. Before entering politics, he was an acclaimed economist and served in various prestigious roles, including Chief Economic Advisor, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. His most notable contribution as a public servant was the economic liberalization of 1991 , which he spearheaded as the Finance Minister under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. These reforms set India on a path of rapid economic growth and globalization. Dr. Singh served two consecutive terms as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. During his tenure, he oversaw significant initiatives like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and policies aimed at boosting India’s infrastructure and technological growth. His calm demeanor and scholarly approach earned him respect globally, even amid political challenges. Meet Dr. Manmohan Singh's Daughters Dr. Singh’s personal life was marked by his deep bond with his family, particularly his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters: Upinder Singh, Amrit Singh, and Daman Singh. Each of his daughters has carved a niche for themselves in their respective fields. Upinder Singh Upinder Singh is a renowned historian and the Dean of Faculty at Ashoka University. She previously served as the head of the History Department at the University of Delhi. An alumna of St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and McGill University, Montreal, she has extensively researched ancient Indian history, archaeology, and political ideas. Her works include critically acclaimed books such as A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India and Political Violence in Ancient India. Her academic journey has been enriched by fellowships at institutions like Harvard, Cambridge, and Leiden. In 2009, she was honored with the Infosys Prize in Social Sciences. Amrit Singh Amrit Singh is a prominent human rights lawyer and Professor of the Practice of Law at Stanford Law School. She also serves as the founding Executive Director of the Rule of Law Impact Lab. With degrees from Yale Law School, Oxford, and Cambridge University, Amrit has championed global human rights cases, including landmark litigation against torture and arbitrary detention practices. Her work spans international advocacy, including cases before the European Court of Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Her writings on democracy and rule of law have appeared in esteemed publications like The Guardian and The New York Times. Daman Singh Daman Singh is an accomplished writer known for her deeply personal and analytical works. She is the author of Strictly Personal: Manmohan and Gursharan, a memoir that provides intimate insights into her parents’ lives. Her other books, including The Sacred Grove and Nine by Nine, reflect her versatility as a storyteller. Born in Chandigarh in 1963, she holds a rich cultural and intellectual legacy, complementing her father’s achievements. Dr. Manmohan Singh's Death Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26, 2024, at the age of 92. He had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. AIIMS released a statement detailing the efforts made to revive him after he was brought to the emergency ward. Despite all measures, he was declared dead at 9:51 PM. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters. While his contributions to India’s economic and political landscape remain unparalleled, the achievements of his daughters reflect the values he instilled in his family.NEW YORK — Police don't know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack , not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics . The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any possible clues and found his backpack there Friday. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn’t as quick as it looks like on TV . Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven’t been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask.FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Zavian McLean scored 18 points to lead FGCU and Michael Duax secured the victory with a free throw with 21 seconds left as the Eagles defeated Florida International 60-59 on Sunday. McLean shot 7 for 12, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc for the Eagles (2-5). Rahmir Barno scored 11 points and added five assists and three steals. Jevin Muniz shot 2 of 7 from the field and 5 for 5 from the line to finish with nine points. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Satellite Phone Store Steps in to Support Malibu Wildfire Recovery with Lifesaving Communication ToolsThe central government's capital expenditure is expected to surge by an impressive 25 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the second half of the financial year 2025, according to a report by Jefferies. The report also noted that the overall expenditure of the government is also expected to surge by 15 per cent. It highlights that despite an increase in populist schemes in the run-up to elections, the central government remains committed to investing in infrastructure development over welfare-driven measures. Central governments spending show balanced approach The report underlined that while populist policies have gained traction, especially in state elections, the central government's spending priorities show a balanced approach. It said "Jefferies' India office expects total central government expenditure to rise by around 15 per cent YoY in 2HFY25 ending 31 March 2025 with capex rising by over 25 per cent YoY.. Still the rise of such populist policies should be seen in the context of a central government which is still spending more on capex than welfare". Let us know! 👂 What type of content would you like to see from us this year? Sucess of handout schemes The report noted that the growing success of handout schemes in state elections, such as Maharashtra's welfare programme costing Rs 460 billion annually (1.1 per cent of the state's GDP), does raise concerns about a potential wave of populism. The report analysis showed that 14 out of 28 Indian states already have similar schemes, covering approximately 120 million households and costing a combined 0.7-0.8 per cent of India's GDP. However, the central government's focus remains on creating long-term economic assets through infrastructure development, which is vital for sustained growth. Indian market is stabilising after correction In the financial markets, the report suggested a reasonable chance that the Indian stock market is stabilizing after a recent correction, particularly in the mid-cap segment. It said "Meanwhile, there is a reasonable possibility that the Indian stock market is bottoming out after a correction which has been primarily in the more expensive mid-cap stocks" While foreign investors sold more than USD 12.5 billion worth of Indian equities in the last two months, a significant amount by historical standards--domestic investors have absorbed the outflows. October saw record inflows in MF Notably, October saw record inflows into equity mutual funds, even as the stock market was undergoing a correction. The report emphasized that the strong domestic inflows are a reassuring factor for India's markets. The combined effects of government capex spending and robust local investment suggest a stable outlook, even amid concerns over rising populist measures at the state level.

Strange lights in the sky, little green men and crashed vessels secreted away to government labs — the relatively modern history of UFOs is replete with conspiracy theories and allegations of coverups. But beyond the endless arguments between believers and debunkers over what could be behind the phenomena, the fact remains that many people have looked into the sky and reported seeing things they cannot explain. So what do UFO reports tell us about ourselves? To discuss UFO sightings, how and why they first emerged, and the ways they tie into the cultural and political trends of the past and present, Live Science spoke with Greg Eghigian , a professor of history and bioethics at Penn State University, whose new book, " After The Flying Saucers Came " (Oxford University press, 2024), is one of the first social histories of UFOs, or unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). Here's what he had to say. Ben Turner: A lot of people assume UFOs entered public consciousness with the Roswell incident . But your book says otherwise. When did it all begin? Greg Eghigian: I think when we look at this as a social phenomenon — not just simply someone saw something strange in the sky, but that the object was made by somebody, and that one of the probable scenarios is they were extraterrestrials — we can mark the moment that starts to evolve in June 24, 1947. The private pilot Kenneth Arnold sees these objects [that day] over Washington state when he's flying his plane. He lands and reports it to the military and to journalists. When asked how they flew, he answered that these things flew kind of like saucers skipping across the water. Then, within a day or two, a journalist comes up with this great headline: "Flying saucers." Once we had flying saucers, everything else fell into place. Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. BT: But then Roswell happened just a few weeks later. How did a fairly small city in New Mexico become famous all over the world for UFOs, while Arnold's name remains relatively unknown? GE: Here's the thing about Roswell that a lot of people don't realize. The story that came out of Roswell is that some material had been retrieved around an Air Force base there that they believe could be from a crashed flying saucer. Within a day, the Air Force rolls that back, saying that it's not the case, the people who first found it were mistaken. The reality is that the people who were on the ground and found this stuff were not terribly qualified to talk about it. They didn't understand what they had, literally, in their hands, and the people who usually dealt with the material were actually off at a conference. When they did finally get a chance to look at it, they said, "Oh this is pretty mundane stuff," and they corrected themselves. So the Roswell thing gets a lot of air play, a lot of global news coverage for about 24 to 48 hours, and then it disappears. It's not really ever talked about, and leaves very little imprint on the UFO world for decades. It's then only in the late 1970s that some ufologists (and this is a very common thing in the UFO world) go back over the records, dig deeper into the story and believe that they found all these contradictions in it. That's when Roswell became a focal point. BT: Looking at the period of history where all of this kicked off, we have growing Cold War rivalry, the new existential threat of nuclear weapons, McCarthyism, fear of communism and Soviet Russia. It seems like a time that's ripe for paranoia and conspiracism. How much is all of the UFO stuff tied into that? GE: Oh, it's very tied in. I make the point in the book that I don't think the UFO phenomenon as we know it would exist without the Cold War. There are a variety of reasons for that, but one of the often forgotten aspects of this is World War II. WWII and the Cold War bring a number of critical things to the table for how UFO stories were built. Firstly, you have big governments. Big governments and big militaries. You look at the United States federal government in 1900 and it's not a big thing, it's not this monstrosity. By 1945, the U.S. government was a large bureaucracy with a big military. Secondly, what WWII taught everybody was that this institution can have secret programs that build remarkable technology, like the atomic bomb , as well as new kinds of airplanes such as jets. And of course, both conflicts also have a lot of spying. So when the UFO phenomenon emerges, the initial thought of just about everybody is that it has to be one of these superpowers. This has to be somebody doing surveillance. That's also a lot of the ways it's still spoken about today: Who's doing this? Who's keeping it a secret? What are their intentions? And could it harm us? So it's very much a part of it, and it haunts the story of UFOs for decades. BT: There are also interesting preludes to the Kenneth Arnold moment in 1947. One thing that flashes to mind is Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast of the "War of The Worlds ," which caused a mass panic that aliens were actually invading. Why did flying saucers take off in 1947 and not earlier? GE: I think the game changer is the atomic bomb. That something could be invented that we had no idea about, that is just presented to the world, and has this enormous destructive power that could wipe out all of humanity almost in an instant. When you ask why now, some people will respond that alien visitors have always been here and we're just noticing them now. But the argument that's usually presented is that it's probably because they [the aliens] saw us explode atomic bombs. This makes us capable of being conversed with, or a possible threat down the road. BT: There's an appeal to a higher power in it too, right? In a time when religion is falling by the wayside, after all the horrors of the past century, people were looking for something that could save us from ourselves. GE: There are certainly people who believe exactly that. The figure who lays all of this out is the psychologist Carl Jung. In the late 1950s, he wrote one of the first, and still one of the best, scholarly books on the topic . It makes this argument that, real or not, what they [UFOs] represent to people is this idea of salvation from something, at least that's the hope. By the early 1950s you see the beginning of UFO religious communities, almost all of them tied to the New Age Movement. BT: Everything you've said so far makes this seem like a firmly mid-20th century American phenomenon. I confess to having been partial to the History Channel's "Ancient Aliens" back in the day. Do sightings stretch across cultures and into the past, as they claimed? Or is that a post-hoc narrative? GE: This is a question that people debate pretty vigorously. There's no question that people reported seeing strange things in the sky dating back to ancient times. The most famous example is probably meteorites. For a long time the idea that rocks could fall from the sky seemed patently absurd, until people found out the reason is because there are a lot of rocks in space. The problem with going backward in time and retrospectively looking at stuff and saying: "Aha! Here's another example of a UFO," is that it's deeply, deeply problematic from a historical standpoint. Most of the time it involves an unintentional, and sometimes outright deliberate misreading of documents, artifacts or paintings. I've seen very good art historians, for instance, talk about paintings and say: "Oh my gosh, these things are clearly flying saucers!" When the objects they're referring to are objects in a particular religious ritual. or serve as a very symbolic trope. So it's very, very difficult to do that stuff [accurately]. BT: This touches on the methodology in your book. You take an agnostic approach: You don't take reports at face value, but neither do you dismiss them out of hand. How does one go about impartially assessing a UFO report? That's going to seem like a weird concept to people. GE: Yeah it is strange to people, and I know a lot of people who still don't like that I do that. For me, as a historian, it's partly the idea that I don't feel qualified to adjudicate some of these matters. I think some of these things have to be done by a meteorologist, a physicist, an astronomer or an engineer — someone who is far better qualified than I am to say what's possible and what's anomalous. But the other part is that this is the way I get to the things that most interest me, which are human beings. I say in the introduction of the book that UFOs don't make history, people make UFOs make history. That really is the main point; it's that I'm interested in the human part of that history. As far as we know today, UFOs don't have a natural history, they have a human history. Everything about them is related to our perception of them, our speculations and our discussions about them. The social fact of the UFO is very real, and it needs to be chronicled now. Whether these things also have a natural history I'm going to leave up to the researchers who do that stuff for a living. BT: When you work through these reports, I'm sure some of them on their surface are obviously bogus. But others come from people, pilots for instance, who have no interest in UFOs and are speaking out at significant personal and professional cost. Have you come across any real headscratchers? GE: Yeah a lot of them can be, or at least certain elements of them. Back in the 1950s, there was one case that the U.S. Air Force looked into that really set them back on their heels. These two seasoned civilian pilots for Eastern Airlines, reasonable fellows, who saw this very strange object during a flight, they could even make out details from it and it was like nothing they'd seen before. That's eerie and strange. They didn't have any explanation for it and certainly had no call to make it up — they weren't seeking fame and that wasn't a time you could make any money off this stuff. Then there's the case of Lonnie Zamora in the 1960s, he was a police officer in the American Southwest who stopped his vehicle because he thought he saw a crashed car. He sees this strange object with people in a kind of white uniform working around it. Then they flit off in it. By everybody's assessment at the time, he was a mild mannered guy, very cool headed and with absolutely no interest in publicity. He comes across as very sheepish in the radio interviews. That's another case where you sit there and think it's hard not to believe he saw something. Then you try to come up with explanations for what the possibilities could be. BT: How do the reports evolve over time? Do they change as the culture surrounding them comes into sharper focus? GE: Some things don't change that much. The overwhelming number of them are seeing patterns of lights, orbs or spheres of some kind that move in a strange way then whoosh away with no sound . That remains relatively unchanged from the beginning. But people also see cigar shaped things or triangles. A lot of these things are common across the world. What has changed more dramatically over the years and over different areas, has been the description of the occupants of these vessels, the aliens themselves. Early on in the 1950s and 1960s, a very common thing would have been to talk about seeing what appeared to be robots — looking like the Tin Man from the "Wizard of Oz." We don't tend to see robots anymore. Another very common thing during the 1950s and 1960s were what were dubbed, "little men." They weren't really described as green but little and usually gendered male for some reason. They typically stood at about 4 feet [1.2 meters], and in places like Malaysia, they were under 6 inches [15 centimeters] tall. Another very common thing in their descriptions was they were wearing old divers suits. Then you get to the 1970s and 1980s, and there's a veritable zoo of creatures: things that look like insects; in South America and [in] the Soviet Union big hairy creatures that look like a Bigfoot or a Sasquatch are particularly common. The one we have come to know as "the gray" is not all that common until the publication of Whitley Strieber's "Communion" book in 1987, from that point the idea of what an alien looks like really crystallized. BT: That's got to be one of the things debunkers point to: the fact that the culture is shaping what people see makes it easier to call it a mass delusion. GE: Yeah, the debunkers look at it and do that. What debunkers would like to do is to get even more concrete than that and say why somebody would see something at a particular time. They say there was a television show two weeks before someone's sighting. Then the person comes back and says I never watched it, and they go back and forth. I firmly believe that the media of all sorts plays a formative role shaping the way people think, talk about and even see things. But from my standpoint, this is where I might deviate from the debunkers. I don't think that simply explains things away. It just means that people are human beings, they are doing what we always do. When something happens to us that is really bizarre or unexplainable, it's not a surprise that what we tend to do is turn to analogies and to metaphors. It helps us to say, "Well, this was a little like this." BT: These debates persist up to the present day, but things have changed a lot too. We're sitting at the tail end of our own UFO — or should I say UAP — wave. And this time, after U.S. Navy footage of mysterious flying objects was released in 2017, we've seen a very different reaction from officials. There have been Senate hearings , task forces set up, and NASA has even been roped in . What happened? Is it because everyone in the U.S. government now also grew up on UFO lore? GE: A number of things have changed that have led to this becoming something seen as legitimate to ask questions about, and considered, even in academic circles, to be respectable to discuss. One thing is the reality of new surveillance and sensors to detect surveillance. In the United States, China and Russia there is an awareness of those technologies and, of course, a Keeping up with the Joneses attitude about them. The proliferation of drones is one thing. Drones are everywhere now. I was speaking to a Swedish ufologist a few years ago and he said that the number of sightings that involve drones has skyrocketed. On the extraterrestrial dimension, since the late 1990s astronomers have found out that exoplanets are pretty ubiquitous. That introduces the idea that planets are really all over the place, and that habitable planets are really pretty likely. I think that's made it easier to conceive of these things as possible. I've heard debunkers say they believe it's probable that there are extraterrestrial civilizations out there, they just don't think they're visiting us. You also have people who are actively involved in lobbying people to take this seriously. There's Robert Bigelow, the billionaire, who's funneled a lot of money into this cause. Lobbyists now have the ear of certain politicians in America who see this as a valuable issue to them in some ways. I think you have to always be a little cynical about politicians — they tend to be very pragmatic, and the fact that they come to this subject doesn't necessarily mean they're interested in UFOs, but in other things they can achieve. BT: What are politicians trying to achieve by embracing it? GE: I could conceive of them using this as a way to say they're going to keep money away from the military because they're not being honest brokers about this. The number one thing I keep hearing over and over again, from people on these committees and those who are maybe less interested, is spending and classification. U.S. military secrecy has been a big priority since at least WWII, certainly since the Manhattan Project, and it's only increased over the years. Then 9/11 really doubled, tripled down on that. This makes the UFO/UAP thing a great example for all these folks to say, "We've got all these whistleblowers saying all this stuff is going on. We haven't heard anything about it. You're keeping this from us. It's all supposedly classified. So we want in." BT: One of the frustrating things about covering these questions is that you get task forces that are essentially military task forces. People come out to say all kinds of spooky stuff , and when they're probed further they say we'll tell you the rest behind closed doors, and no we won't allow scientists into the bases where we saw this. Now that NASA 's involved, do you have more faith for civilian science projects to get to the bottom of things? GE: Yeah, spot on. I agree with you completely. It's why I always tell people that, personally, I don't think these military intelligence branches will be key to addressing these questions. I don't think you're ever going to get it from them. I'm also not someone who believes in full transparency, sometimes it's important to keep secrets. NASA's endorsement of research in this area is unprecedented, and I think it's very welcome. I know a lot of scientists who have started to try to conduct research along these lines. The problem we have is it has not translated into funding yet. A lot of the current efforts are on shoestring budgets and it's unclear whether that money is ever going to be forthcoming. So far, at least in the United States, it has not been. But there is a hope among a lot of researchers that that will change, because the climate has changed. Civilian scientists and researchers are going to be the key, because we operate in a world of transparency, with an openness that contractors and government don't have. BT: Do you think we'll ever get a solid answer? GE: I suspect we will be revisiting and speculating over this for a good long time to come. The world's been at this for over 75 years, and the most seasoned ufology veterans will tell you that not a lot has changed. If there is an opportunity for serious, empirically driven researchers to get involved, maybe then we'll actually start to see some real progress. But until that time, it seems to me we're still stuck in a cycle where we largely rely on hearsay and references to evidence that never turns up. Or, as you say, people saying I've got some information, but I can only tell you behind closed doors. That just leaves us with the mystery, which I know some people are satisfied with. Editors note: This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. After the Flying Saucers Came: A Global History of the UFO Phenomenon $15.99 on Amazon If you enjoyed this interview with Greg Eghigian, you can read more about the history of UFO sightings in his new book, "After the Flying Saucers Came." It's a fascinating account of the global cultural phenomenon.With the launch of the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series, Apple is once again asserting its dominance in the smartphone arena. The introduction of the A18 Bionic chip and upgraded Apple Intelligence has everyone buzzing about features like real-time translation, advanced computational photography, and a more intuitive Siri. However, just when you thought the competition couldn’t get fiercer, Infinix has stepped onto the scene with its ground-breaking Infinix AI ♾️ system, ready to challenge Apple’s supremacy. While Apple focuses on refining its impressive tech, Infinix is making bold moves that could potentially outshine some of Apple’s latest offerings. Let’s take a closer look at how Infinix AI ♾️ is raising the bar and why you should pay attention. Apple Intelligence has Siri; Infinix AI ♾️ has Folax, and it offers much more than a typical voice assistant. Embracing multimodal input, it allows you to interact through text, voice, and even file commands. Imagine asking Infinix AI ♾️to summarize an article, fetch the latest headlines, or solve complex math problems—all through effortless voice interaction. It is set to provide a richer experience, making even the iPhone 16’s advanced features feel ordinary. Infinix AI ♾️ is not just about taking photos; it’s about providing solutions. Got a tricky math problem? Snap a picture, and Infinix AI ♾️ will not only give you the answer but also guide you through the solution step-by-step. It’s like having a personal tutor in your pocket—ideal for students and lifelong learners alike. While Apple’s Live Text allows you to copy text from images, solving problems in real time is a step Apple hasn’t taken yet. Apple’s Visual Look-Up can identify landmarks, but Infinix AI ♾️ goes far beyond mere recognition. Imagine pointing your camera at a monument and not just learning its name, but receiving rich historical context, fun facts, and nearby recommendations. Infinix’s Visual Look Up ♾️ acts as your historian, botanist, and travel guide all in one. For travel enthusiasts, Infinix transforms adventures into immersive experiences, while Apple’s offerings still feel a bit surface-level Time is precious, and Infinix AI’s Live Texts ♾️ feature shines in this aspect. Whether you’re dealing with lengthy notes or complex reports, simply take a snap, and it will summarize the key points instantly. Forget the tedious task of reading entire PDFs or emails— it cuts straight to the essentials. While Apple’s Live Text helps extract text, summarizing it is still left to the user, giving Infinix a clear edge for those juggling tight schedules. Sure, Apple’s Visual Look-Up can identify objects, but Infinix AI ♾️ adds a creative flair that Apple can’t match. Capture a photo, and watch Infinix AI ♾️ generate witty captions, imaginative storylines, or creative tags for your social media. Whether you’re a content creator or just looking to enhance your Instagram game, Infinix AI’s Magic Create ♾️ turns each snapshot into a storytelling moment. While Apple leaves creativity up to you, Infinix is providing a helping hand for those wanting to instantly elevate their content. Infinix AI ♾️ doesn’t stop at basic identification; it dives deeper. Snap a picture of a plant, and Infinix AI ♾️ will not only tell you its species but also provide detailed information about its care, origin, and even medicinal uses. It’s like carrying an encyclopedia in your pocket, ready to teach you something new with every click. Apple’s Visual Look Up offers basic identification, but Infinix AI ♾️ enriches the learning experience with insightful knowledge that truly expands your understanding. While Apple’s iPhone 16 is undoubtedly a technological marvel, Infinix AI ♾️ presents a fresh, versatile, and engaging experience that extends beyond traditional functionality. From solving complex problems to enriching your travel experiences, Infinix AI ♾️ showcases features that Apple has yet to explore fully. As the tech world gears up for the iPhone 16 launch, don’t overlook Infinix AI ♾️. With its impending debut in early October 2024, we could witness a significant shift in the AI landscape. This new contender might be the breakthrough needed to challenge Apple’s longstanding dominance. The future of AI innovation is shaping up to be an exciting battle, and it’s one you won’t want to miss. Also Read: PTA Taxes Portal Find PTA Taxes on All Phones on a Single Page using the PhoneWorld PTA Taxes PortalThe circumstances of Laken Riley's death are both shocking and depressingly familiar. A young woman going about her life, in this case jogging in broad daylight on a university campus, is overpowered and murdered by a male attacker apparently intent on raping her. An autopsy would later indicate the 22-year-old nursing student died from repeated blows to the head and asphyxiation. It's every woman's worst nightmare. And what does it say about the pervasive fear of violence against women that, within half an hour of trying to reach her daughter, Riley's mother appeared to be panicking? A chilling timeline It's early on February 22 when Laken Riley texts her mum. "Good morning, about to go for a run if you're free to talk," she writes at 8.55am. The two were in the habit of chatting when Riley was out pounding the trails. Riley's mother doesn't immediately answer the text, or a follow-up call at 9:03am. Around that time, CCTV captures Riley jogging along a paved walkway on a university campus in Athens, Georgia. She passes by several people out walking. Around 9:06am she's seen veering left into fields. Just minutes later, she's attacked. At 9:11am, the SOS function on her phone is activated, but the emergency dispatcher can't discern anyone on the line. Riley's mother, meanwhile, is trying to contact her daughter. "You're making me nervous, not answering when you're out running," she texts at 9:58am. "Are you OK?" Riley wasn't OK at 9:58am. Data retrieved from her phone indicated her heart had stopped beating exactly half an hour earlier. When Riley didn't return from her run, her roommates reported her missing. At 12:38pm, her body was found by a police officer searching a wooded area near the jogging trail. "Ma'am, ma'am", the officer, breathing heavily, can be heard saying in bodycam footage shown in court. "I need EMS immediately. Ma'am, ma'am, ma'am. She's down, she's not breathing!" The physical evidence suggests Riley endured a protracted struggle with her attacker. The man who would later be sentenced for her murder had multiple scratch marks on his arms when apprehended by police the next day. His DNA was found under Riley's fingernails. A Republican rallying cry The timeline of Riley's murder was established in court proceedings that were broadcast, in part, on live TV. The media attention was not just a result of the senseless, brutal murder of a young woman in a place she should have felt safe. It was also a result of who did it. The man now sentenced over the killing is an undocumented migrant from Venezuela, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra. Ibarra entered the US illegally in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas. He was detained by immigration authorities but allowed to go free as his case was processed. Ibarra headed for New York before moving to Georgia, where his brother was living. Ibarra's travel from New York to Georgia was paid for under a process known as re-ticketing. It saw the state, which at the time was dealing with a huge influx of migrants, fork out to move them elsewhere. When Ibarra killed Riley early this year, the presidential campaign was picking up pace. Georgia is a swing state which Joe Biden won by fewer than 12,000 votes in 2020, and Republicans were hopeful of taking it back (they did). They campaigned heavily on the issue of illegal immigration, arguing the Biden administration had failed to control the southern border. Illegal immigrants, they argued, were taking jobs, receiving taxpayer funded benefits and committing crimes. There's no evidence that illegal immigrants are committing violent crimes at higher rates than the rest of the population , but the killing of Riley seemed tailor-made for this narrative. The student's death soon became a MAGA rallying cry. Two weeks after her death, Majorie Taylor Greene, a Republican congresswoman from Georgia and fierce Trump loyalist, goaded Biden into saying Riley's name during his State of the Union address . The president did say her name, but managed to mangle it, calling her Lincoln, not Laken. Biden also referred to the man who killed her as "an illegal", raising the ire of the progressive wing of his party. The botched moment would later seem like a bad omen for the Democrats' handling of the issue of illegal migration during the campaign. Political advertising Laken Riley's name, and those of other women and girls allegedly killed by illegal immigrants, featured prominently in Donald Trump's campaign. Relatives of the victims appeared with him at events, and in campaign ads. They included the mother of 12-year-old Joceyln Nungaray, whose body was dumped in a Texas creek, allegedly by two men who'd entered the US illegally. At a time when many Americans feel they're doing it tough, resentment and fear of immigrants proved relatively easy to stoke. The Democrats were seen by many voters as having done too little too late to address what they latterly accepted was a crisis at the border . When I interviewed a young woman in Georgia in September, she cited fear of an illegal immigrant harming any children she might have as a reason she'd decided, for the first time in her life, to vote for Trump. Coincidentally, we spoke the day after a high school shooting in Georgia. Not too far from where we met, a 14-year-old is alleged to have shot and killed two students and two teachers. It felt telling that, for this woman, the fear of an illegal immigrant murdering her future children was more prescient than the threat of them being impacted by the scourge of gun violence. Republicans were not alone in using emotive stories about women's deaths in their campaign. Democrats highlighted the cases of several women who died, or almost did, as a result of abortion restrictions implemented after the overturning of Roe v Wade. Reproductive rights had proved to be a winning issue for Democrats in the 2022 midterms. But while the majority of state initiatives to protect abortion have succeeded, the issue did not galvanise voters in the presidential election to nearly the extent the Democrats had hoped. Life sentence Jose Ibarra waived his right to a trial by jury. The defendant, who sat impassively through four days of evidence, listening on headphones via an interpreter, also chose not to take the stand in his defence. He was convicted on 10 charges, including murder, kidnapping with bodily injury and aggravated assault with intent to rape. Donald Trump was following proceedings from afar. "JUSTICE FOR LAKEN RILEY!", he posted from Florida after Ibarra was found guilty. "We love you, Laken, and our hearts will always be with you. It is time to secure our border, and remove these criminals and thugs from our country, so nothing like this can happen again!" Taylor Greene was also quick on the draw, saying Trump's election win amounted to a "decisive mandate" to carry out his plan to carry out mass deportations. "January 20th cannot come soon enough ... If you're in this country illegally: PACK. YOUR. BAGS." Before Ibarra was sentenced to life without parole, the court was shown harrowing bodycam footage of the moment her family was told she'd been found. Her mother, Allyson Phillips, could often be heard sobbing from the gallery as her daughter's last moments were relived in court. In her impact statement, she called Ibarra a "monster", who she said had robbed the family of their hopes and dreams for Riley. "There is no end to the pain, suffering and loss that we have experienced or will continue to endure". ABC

After acquiring the Arcadium Lithium operations, mining company Rio Tinto has now announced a US$2.5 billion investment to expand lithium carbonate production at its Rincón de Salta project. This will be the Anglo-Australian company’s first commercial-scale operation, and obtained its Environmental Impact Declaration a year ago. The investment decision, which will be presented for Argentina’s RIGI large investment regime, demonstrates “the company’s commitment to establishing a first-class battery materials portfolio,” Rio Tinto told the Herald ’s sister title, Energy Report , in a statement. The Rincón project involves the extraction of brine through a series of production wells and processing and effluent facilities, along with its associated infrastructure. The total production capacity is 60,000 tonnes of high-quality lithium carbonate for batteries per year. That figure includes an initial 3,000-tonne plant and a 57,000-tonne expansion plant. The project uses direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, a process that helps conserve water, reduces effluents, and produces lithium carbonates more consistently than other methods. You may also be interested in: RIGI: understanding Argentina’s new large investment regime The company reports that Rincón’s expected lifecycle is 40 years, with the construction of the expanded plant slated to begin in mid-2025, subject to permit approval. “First production is expected to begin in 2028, followed by three years of increased activity until the maximum capacity is reached, which will generate a significant number of jobs and economic opportunities for local businesses,” the company stated in a press release. Rio Tinto Group’s chief executive officer, Jakob Stausholm, welcomed the investment decision. “The attractive long-term outlook for lithium driven by the energy transition supports our investment in Rincón. We are dedicated to developing this world-class resource at a large scale and at the low end of the cost curve. We are also committed to meeting the highest ESG standards, using our advanced technology to halve the amount of water used in the refining process while continuing to strengthen our mutually beneficial partnerships with local communities and the province of Salta,” he said. Rio Tinto’s plans to enter the RIGI Company sources confirmed that the intention is to incorporate this investment into the RIGI. “Argentina’s economic reforms and the RIGI provide a favorable investment climate, with benefits such as lower tax rates, accelerated depreciation, and regulatory stability for 30 years, which protects the project from future policy changes and further safeguards investors.” You may also be interested in: Argentina launches RIGI with changes in the fine print Stausholm added: “Thanks to exceptional resources, a skilled workforce, and favorable economic policies in Argentina, we are in an excellent position to become one of the world’s leading lithium producers. This investment, along with our Arcadium acquisition proposal, ensures that lithium will be one of the key pillars of our raw materials portfolio for the next decades,” Stausholm added. Rio Tinto buys Arcadium Lithium The mining company announced in October that it had acquired Arcadium Lithium for US$6.7 billion in cash. Globally, Arcadium has 1,300 employees, manages resources in Argentina and Australia, and operates conversion plants in the U.S., China, Japan, and the United Kingdom. It also has production projects in Canada. The sale, which is expected to conclude in the first quarter of 2025, includes all of Arcadium’s operations in Argentina: the Fénix and Sal de Vida projects in Catamarca, and Olaraoz I and II and Cauchari projects in Jujuy. The Fénix project, owned by Livent before being acquired by Arcadium, currently has a production of 20,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate in situ and another 9,000 metric tonnes of lithium chloride in the town of Güemes, an external plant located on the Salta plains. With that acquisition and the decision to expand its own Salar de Rincón plant, there is no doubt that Rio Tinto has a clear goal with lithium for the next decade. “The investment will support Argentina’s current ambition to become one of the world’s leading lithium producers,” the company said. Rio Tinto invests in copper in San Juan Rio Tinto, through its tech subsidiary Nuton, recently confirmed a new US$35 million investment for McEwen Copper’s Los Azules copper project, in the San Juan town of Calingasta. With the funds from the acquisition, the world’s second-largest mining company will boost work on the feasibility study for the San Juan copper project, which is expected to be published in the first half of 2025. Michael “Mike” Meding, Vice President of McEwen Copper and General Manager of the Los Azules project, told Energy Report that with this purchase, Nuton has now invested US$100 million, confirming the growing value of the initiative. “This fourth investment by Rio Tinto is an expression of confidence in the project, its leadership, and development, in a project that, measured in resources (according to Mining Intelligence), is the eighth largest in the world in terms of resources,” Meding said. You may also be interested in: UK Ambassador Kirsty Hayes: British companies are taking a ‘wait-and-see’ approach

South Korea crisis deepens as Yoon faces probe over martial lawBNP-linked groups rally to protest attack on Agartala missionwild ace cczz 。

Apple’s bad week has suddenly gotten worse. Just a few days after the FBI warned iPhone users to stop texting Android users , given the lack of encryption in RCS, the Bureau has now confirmed that U.S. law enforcement want access to encrypted iPhone content . And now, with perfect timing, Apple is being sued for not scanning encrypted user content for dangerous material, playing right into the FBI’s hands. The net result is that the security all iPhone, iPad and Mac users rely on to keep their content safe and secure is under attack. The risk is the forced addition of backdoors into encrypted content. And once that line is crossed, there’s no going back. This new lawsuit comes at the worst possible time. According to the filing lawyers, the class action is “on behalf of thousands of survivors of child sexual abuse for [Apple] knowingly allowing the storage of images and videos documenting their abuse on iCloud and the company’s defectively designed products. The lawsuit alleges that Apple has known about this content for years, but has refused to act to detect or remove it, despite developing advanced technology to do so.” The claims relate to Apple’s proposal to scan on-device imagery for known child sexual abuse material (CSAM) before its upload to iCloud, using hashes of known images to flag matches on phones for manual review. An unsurprising backlash followed, and Apple withdrew its proposal before it was ever released. Just a few hours before details of the lawsuit were first published in the New York Times , the FBI told me that “law enforcement supports strong, responsibly managed encryption. This encryption should be designed to protect people’s privacy and also managed so U.S. tech companies can provide readable content in response to a lawful court order.” The stories are different but the point is the same. U.S. law enforcement wants to force U.S. big tech to police the content on its platforms. The lawsuit claims that “the images and videos of the plaintiffs’ childhood sexual abuse, which have been stored thousands of times, would have been identified and removed had Apple implemented its 2021 “CSAM Detection” technology.” As I commented at that time, the issue is not scanning for CSAM, the issue is introducing screening of any content on one side of Apple’s end-to-end encryption . Right now, Apple can tell China, Russia and others that it does not have the technology to monitor for political dissent or religious or sexual behaviors, but bring in a backdoor for CSAM and there’s no impediment to its expansion. Apple and others defend decisions such as the removal of certain apps as compliance with local laws. You can see the risks as to where this might go if Pandora’s box is opened . Realistically, the new lawsuit is just a sideshow to the real debate that will take place under the new Trump administration. During the last Trump presidency, Deputy U.S Attorney General Rod Rosenstein introduced the concept of “ responsible encryption ,” which aims to tackle ‘warrant-proof’ encryption, where tech platforms don’t hold any decryption keys, which law enforcement describes as “going dark.” As The New York Times explains, “the lawsuit is the second of its kind against Apple, but its scope and potential financial impact could force the company into a yearslong litigation process over an issue it has sought to put behind it. And it points to increasing concern that the privacy of Apple’s iCloud allows illegal material to be circulated without being as easily spotted as it would be on social media services like Facebook. For years, Apple has reported less abusive material than its peers, capturing and reporting a small fraction of what is caught by Google and Facebook. It has defended its practice by saying it is protecting user privacy, but child safety groups have criticized it for not doing more to stop the spread of that material.” Now the FBI has reopened the debate into “responsibly managed encryption,” under the guise of Salt Typhoon hacking U.S. telco networks and the consequent warnings for American citizens to use encrypted messaging and calls where they can. The lawsuit makes the same point in a different way, but at the same time. And there’s a third leg to this stool—Europe. EU regulators and lawmakers are still fighting amongst themselves over the proposal to resolve this problem differently. Again, taking CSAM as its starting point, the EU proposal is to introduce “chat control,” essentially making tech platforms responsible for the illegality of the content they transmit, forcing them to monitor content without actually participating in the monitoring itself. Users would need to agree to such content screening to install and use end-to-end encrypted platforms. This does not yet have the votes and sponsorship it needs amongst EU member states to proceed, but that could change. A perfect storm could now be brewing for Apple and the 2 billion users that rely on its market-leading end-to-end encryption across much of its ecosystem to secure their data—even Apple, Apple says, cannot access their data under any circumstances. But if the new Trump administration wants to push the FBI point, that “U.S. tech companies can provide readable content in response to a lawful court order,” and if Europe does the same, and if there’s a sensitive lawsuit exposing the risks in such encryption running in the background, then 2025 could prove difficult. For all those Apple’s users this is a huge risk. Any breaks in the end-to-end encrypted enclave change it completely. If you’re an Apple user, you need to take this seriously. Meanwhile, I have approached Apple for any comments on the lawsuit.

Morning Bid: China inflation eyed, global political uncertainty bubbling up

DAMASCUS: Syria’s capital woke up Sunday to chanting, cheering and gunfire in celebration of the fall of President Bashar Al-Assad, after rebels said they entered the city and toppled the longtime ruler. “I can’t believe I’m living this moment,” tearful Damascus resident Amer Batha told AFP by phone from the capital’s Ummayad Square, where witnesses said dozens of people had gathered to celebrate. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this day,” said Batha, as Islamist-led rebels and a war monitor declared the end of decades of Assad family rule amid 13 years of grinding civil war. “We are starting a new history for Syria,” Batha added. At the dawn call to prayer, some mosques were broadcasting religious chants usually reserved for festive occasions, while also urging residents to stay home with the city engulfed in uncertainty just hours into the rebels’ takeover. Rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied factions have pressed a lightning offensive since November 27, sweeping swathes of the country from government control, including major cities Aleppo, Hama and Homs and entering the capital Damascus early Sunday. In extraordinary images, rebel fighters announced on state television that they had toppled “tyrant” Assad, who war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said had “fled”. From the garden of a shopping centre, dozens of Damascenes were celebrating, chanting “Allahu akbar”, or God is greatest, and standing on a smashed statue of Assad’s father Hafez that they had torn down, AFP footage showed. Gunmen spread out through some Damascus streets, shooting into the air and chanting, “Syria is ours and not the Assad family’s.” ‘Criminal’ Local residents told AFP that dozens of soldiers, from the Assad government’s forces, had hastily taken off their military uniforms and left the Ummayad Square headquarters. State television and radio buildings were empty, a former employee said. Five strong explosions were heard in the capital early Sunday, with a fleeing soldier, requesting anonymity, saying it was probably artillery or blasts from a munitions depot. “Our direct superior told us to leave and go home, so we knew it was over,” he told AFP. In Damascus’ picturesque Old City, home to a small Christian community, young people in the streets were chanting “Syrian people are one”, a message of reassurance to minority groups in the multi-confessional country. Elsewhere, in the Shaghur neighborhood, women ululated from balconies, some throwing rice on passing fighters who were shooting into the air. Ilham Basatina, 50, said she couldn’t believe that “after today”, she would not longer have to “be afraid”. “There is huge happiness today, and it won’t be complete until the criminal has been held to account,” she said from her balcony, referring to Assad. ‘Culture of fear’ In the street, fighters in fatigues were kissing the ground, praying or taking photos as gunfire rang out. Many Syrian media workers, government employees and members of parliament quickly changed their profile pictures on social media, replacing them with the opposition flag. Waddah Abd Rabbo, editor in chief of pro-government online daily Al-Watan, wrote on social media: “Syrian media and media workers are not guilty. They, and we with them, were only carrying out instructions and publishing the news they sent us.” Assad’s Baath party ruled with an iron fist, heavily curtailing freedoms including freedom of press, with only state media or outlets close to the government permitted to operate. Famous Syrian actor Ayman Zeidan, who hadn’t publicly criticized the Assad rule before, wrote on Facebook: “How delusional I was. Perhaps we were prisoners of a culture of fear, or maybe we feared change because we imagined it would lead to blood and chaos.” “But here we are, entering a new phase with men who impressed us with their nobility... and the desire to restore the unity of the Syrian people,” he added. — AFP

PHOENIX – Sports gambling operators are using artificial intelligence to track and limit problem gambling exposure for their users, but the introduction of this technology and the use of personal data also raises questions about whether it could be used for the wrong reasons. The sports gambling world is still largely unregulated, relying mostly on self-governance, which raises the possibility of a conflict of interest when it comes to responsible gambling. Access to bettors’ data, behavior and habits opens the door to the potential for predatory behavior by sports-gambling operators. Timothy Fong, co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, believes that AI could spell trouble for gamblers susceptible to addiction, who could be easier targets for sportsbooks. “It’s really the use of AI that creates predatory scenarios, where people who are already vulnerable because of mental health issues or a gambling addiction could be manipulated or targeted without their knowledge,” Fong said. Sportsbooks are looking for ways to utilize AI, and among them is to personalize the betting experience for users through incentives or by providing specific information based on that person’s gaming habits. Shane Kraus, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at UNLV, is skeptical about the use of AI to promote safe gambling and added that he is unaware of this practice. “AI in the gambling space tailors incentives and better understands a player’s interest, so they’re ensuring the options that they are feeding to a player are going to resonate with them,” Kraus said. “It’s going to want to, A, make them engage and, B, stay on longer again.” In fact, AI can be used to essentially attract new bettors. Emerging AI technologies like SharpLink’s C4 Sports Betting Conversion engine, for instance, are used to convert sports fans into bettors, which is done by determining the best personalized betting offers and experience for the user based on their behaviors, past and present. For example, a user might receive wagering offers that are based on their favorite team, sport or player. In a guest column published on Sportico by SharpLink CEO Robert Phythian, he said that SharpLink, a company previously partnered with the now-defunct SaharaBets and currently with BetMGM, utilizes AI in their C4 engine to keep users engaged longer. Phythian said that in a sports betting category such as “Bets for You,” the technology might suggest “Because you bet on X,” to prompt a similar wager. Or, “Those who bet on X, also bet on Y,’ to suggest another bet. “Fans will be presented with a personalized experience based on the preferences they either explicitly state in their profile or implicitly demonstrate by their behavior and consumption patterns,” he said. Studies have shown that personalizing user experiences is beneficial for organizations that are trying to drive revenue. Research from European sports data organization LSports shows that 72% of sportsbooks surveyed listed a “personalized player experience” as the biggest factor in retention rates. Cost of problem gambling Fong sees a pitfall with keeping players engaged longer on platforms. While longer engagement translates to a bigger profit for the sportsbooks, the longer gamblers place bets, the more likely it could be that they develop a gambling habit, which can lead to gambling disorders. “The real story, of course, is what percentage of profits generated by the casino industry is on the backs of people with this disease?” Fong said. “I’ve seen ranges anywhere from 10% up to 80% of the bottom line profits are on the backs of people with (a) gambling disorder.” A 2018 survey report conducted by the Minnesota Department of Human Services claimed that gambling revenue generated by individuals with gambling problems seemed to rest anywhere between 15% and 33%, based on outside data. It is hard to accurately quantify the scope of the issue because it is not a tracked metric, but a significant increase in calls to national problem gambling lines have been tracked, and that trend is also reflected in Arizona. Based on data obtained from the Arizona Department of Gaming, there were 280 problem gambling calls in 2021 between March and December. In 2023, the first full year of legal sports gambling in Arizona, there were 512 problem gambling calls between January and September, which is an increase of more than 82% over the 2021 sample – and in one less month. Further data provided by Telus and LifeWorks shows 185 helpline-specific calls between July 2020 and June 2021 to the Arizona Office of Problem Gambling, which increased to 619 calls from July 2022 to June 2023 – a 234% spike. The number of calls jumped to 687 in 2024. Research released in 2023 and conducted by Dr. Lia Nower of Rutgers University found that sports gamblers in New Jersey were more likely to develop anxiety, depression, substance abuse issues and problem gambling compared to non-sports gamblers. It also found that a small percentage of bettors, around 5%, were placing 70% of the bets, which Nower concludes “means the people losing the most money are the most essential to operator profits.” Nower found 14% of sports bettors from this study to have suicidal thoughts, while 10% acted on those thoughts. Coupled with the psychology of being a sports fan, personalization for sports gamblers can be troubling. Brianne-Doura Schawohl, a leading policy consultant on problem gambling issues, finds sports gambling is distinguished from other forms of wagering because sports is in its own realm. “What separates sports betting from so many other forms of gambling out there is it entices a consumer based on this concept of skill, based on ego and arrogance,” Schawohl said. “Then when you incentivize that with things like free play and bonus offers and attractive promotions that make it seem like there’s little to no risk – when gambling always has risks – it can become a dangerous scenario for people.” A 2013 study published in Science Daily found that betting experience or knowledge of a particular sport does not improve betting outcomes. “Their identity is tied to sports but that becomes a risk factor for people taking risks,” Kraus said of sports fans. “The emotional connection and their knowledge often comes back to bite them.” Sports betting regulation FanDuel CEO Amy Howe has been an advocate for using artificial intelligence, saying the company is making “huge investments” in the technology to detect problematic gambling. Critics are skeptical. “The reality is, more often than not, there is a lot of chatter or empty promises where operators will highlight things that they are capable of, but in the absence of mandatory regulations, they don’t do it,” Schawohl said. The Responsible Online Gaming Association, a coalition formed in early 2024 by most of the major sportsbook operators in the U.S., looks to support independent research and educational tools to prevent problem gambling. Each operator has pledged $20 million toward these efforts, which will help to develop a database of problem gamblers and to promote programs that address the issues. Questions remain about how independent this research will truly be, as self-regulation presents an opportunity for non-action, and how it will be used. Many sportsbooks have developed and integrated “responsible gaming” tools but there is evidence that those tools are rarely utilized by gamblers. Data from DraftKings and PSI on online bettors in Massachusetts in 2023 revealed that less than 3% of users utilize any type of responsible gaming tools, which corresponds with national data showing similar numbers. Nower claims less than 1% of bettors ages 21-24, a rapidly rising betting population, uses responsible gambling tools available on sites. States are also seemingly lagging behind when it comes to setting the tone for responsible gambling. A report released by the NCPG on state adherence to the Internet Responsible Gaming Standards found that, on average, only 32 out of 82 player-protection measures were fulfilled through state law and regulation across the United States. The IRGS is a comprehensive set of standards and guidelines for states to follow to promote safe gambling practices and protection for users from sportsbooks. The data indicates that states could be passing more laws to protect users from sportsbooks. Right now, the United States federal government does not recognize, fund or support anything to research, prevent or treat problem gambling. The NCPG estimates that around 9 million Americans suffer from gambling addiction and the “annual social cost” is about $14 billion. “The trends I’m seeing in the U.S. market are utilizing machine learning and AI solely for customer acquisition and retention, and I think that’s really caused the political climate to percolate to the surface,” Schawohl said. U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, a Democrat from New York, recently initiated a comprehensive bill called the SAFE Bet Act that would set federal sports gambling standards for advertising, the use of AI and financial efficacy. If passed, sportsbooks would not be able to advertise during games or use “bonus” bets and “no sweat” bets as a way to engage users. It would also ban the use of AI to track behavior, provide microbets or individualize promotions. Another pending bill called the GRIT Act, proposed by Democratic U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas of Oregon and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, would set aside 50% of the federal excise tax that comes from all sports gambling activity to spend toward problem-gambling research. This would be the first time the federal government would create a source of funding to research and treat issues related to gambling. But just like Tonko’s bill, the GRIT Act may not pass and is publicly opposed by the American Gaming Association. Sports betting regulation is also murky since states make money from sportsbook operations. Last year, states made a combined $2.5 billion from sports gambling tax revenue, which is an increase from $1.8 billion the previous year. In 2023, Arizona brought in around $34 million in sports gambling tax revenue, which is up from $28.5 million in 2022. This tax revenue is generally allocated to a state’s general fund that helps operate health services, human services, education, law enforcement and public safety, and other major day-to-day governmental operations. If the money from sports gambling does not go into the general fund, it can be used for specific purposes like problem gambling services and resources. Legalization of sports betting theoretically minimizes the harm done by off-market sportsbooks, allowing the government to control, or at least benefit from, the flow of money – which continues to grow each year. Fong believes the government would rather have a person lose money to “an above board gambling operator,” where it can at least recoup money through taxes that benefit the state, rather than allow the money to go straight to unlawful sportsbooks. Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a "tragic incident" following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people, but stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible. Putin's apology came as allegations mounted that Russian air defenses shot down the plane while attempting to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference Saturday at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. An official Kremlin statement issued Saturday said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny airport as the airliner "repeatedly" attempted to land there on Wednesday. It did not explicitly say one of these hit the plane. The statement said Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev "for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace." The readout said Russia has launched a criminal probe into the incident, and Azerbaijani state prosecutors have arrived in Grozny to participate. The Kremlin also said that "relevant services" from Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are jointly investigating the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, to Grozny when it turned toward Kazakhstan, hundreds of miles across the Caspian Sea from its intended destination, and crashed while attempting to land. There were 29 survivors. According to a readout of the call provided by Aliyev's press office, the Azerbaijani president told Putin that the plane was subject to "external physical and technical interference," though he also stopped short of blaming Russian air defenses. Part of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane lies on the ground Thursday near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan. Aliyev noted the plane had holes in its fuselage and the occupants sustained injuries "due to foreign particles penetrating the cabin mid-flight." He said that a team of international experts began a probe of the incident at Azerbaijan's initiative, but provided no details. Earlier this week, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's office confirmed that investigators from Azerbaijan are working in Grozny. On Friday, a U.S. official and an Azerbaijani minister made separate statements blaming the crash on an external weapon, echoing those made by aviation experts who blamed the crash on Russian air defense systems responding to a Ukrainian attack. U.S. President Joe Biden, responding Saturday to a reporter asking whether he thought Putin should take responsibility for the crash, said: "Apparently he did but I haven't spoken to him." Biden made the comment after leaving church in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Passengers and crew members who survived the crash told Azerbaijani media they heard loud noises on the aircraft as it circled over Grozny. Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia's civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia, said Friday that as the plane was preparing to land in Grozny in deep fog, Ukrainian drones were targeting the city, prompting authorities to close the area to air traffic. Yadrov said after the captain made two unsuccessful attempts to land, he was offered other airports but decided to fly to Aktau. People attend a funeral Saturday for Mahammadali Eganov, who died in the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 crash near the Kazakhstan's airport of Aktau at the age of 13, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Earlier this past week, Rosaviatsia cited unspecified early evidence as showing that a bird strike led to an emergency on board. In the days following the crash, Azerbaijan Airlines blamed "physical and technical interference" and announced the suspension of flights to several Russian airports. It didn't say where the interference came from or provide any further details. If proven that the plane crashed after being hit by Russian fire, it would be the second deadly civil aviation accident linked to fighting in Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed with a Russian surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people aboard, as it flew over the area in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists in 2014. Russia denied responsibility but a Dutch court in 2022 convicted two Russians and a pro-Russia Ukrainian man for their role in downing the plane with an air defense system brought into Ukraine from a Russian military base. The grave of Mahammadali Eganov, 13, who died in the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 crash near the Kazakhstan's Aktau airport, is seen Saturday in Baku, Azerbaijan. Following Wednesday's suspension of flights from Baku to Grozny and nearby Makhachkala, Azerbaijan Airlines announced Friday that it would also halt service to eight more Russian cities. Several other airlines made similar announcements since the crash. Kazakhstan's Qazaq Air on Friday said it would stop flying from Astana to the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains for a month. Turkmenistan Airlines, the Central Asian country's flagship carrier, on Saturday halted flights to Moscow for at least a month, citing safety concerns. Earlier this past week, Israel's El Al carrier suspended service from Tel Aviv to the Russian capital, citing "developments in Russia's airspace." Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

PM Anwar (left) being escorted by Premier Abang Johari during the former’s visit to Kapit on Sept 29. — Bernama photo YEAR 2024 was a busy one for Kapit, somewhat correlating with the prediction for the Year of the Wood Dragon on the Chinese zodiac calendar. Many astrologers have said that the Year of the Wood Dragon will be a time of growth and changes, but not without its challenges especially in terms of the environment. Here is the list of happenings in Kapit that have taken place throughout the past 12 months. Visits by nation’s leaders On Jan 15, Deputy Health Minister Dato Lukanisman Awang Sauni visited Kapit Hospital to officiate at the presentation of the new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facility, meant to enable the medical officers in diagnosing the patients more accurately. According to Kapit Hospital director Dr Francis Lee, previously the patients had to be referred to Sibu Hospital for the MRI, which was quite burdensome for them, not to mention time-consuming. In April this year, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick performed the earth-breaking ceremony for the portable petrol pump owned by Sungai Kapit Cooperative at Kampung Sawang, Jalan Melekun in Baleh. This new facility meant to ease the congestion at the already-existing two petrol stations in town. On July 3, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi visited Punan Ba at the border of Kapit and Belaga districts. He also announced various infrastructure projects for Kapit, including the federal Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKLW)-funded works on water treatment plant, solar hybrid energy, Sungai Ba Bridge, and Jiwa Murni Belaga-Punan Ba road, set to benefit over 1,300 villagers in the area. On Sept 29, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated at the earth-breaking for the RM150-million new Kapit District police headquarters at Bletih, meant to replace the old station that was built 1970. The new police station to boost the security here. The Prime Minister also announced that the federal government agreed to give priority to the construction of several road projects in Kapit Division. He had said that the first phase of the road construction should kick off in 2025, and that he had asked Public Works Minister and Kapit MP Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi to ‘speed things up’. Anwar, who was accompanied by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, also attended a briefing on the construction of a bridge across the Rajang River in Nanga Yong during his Kapit visit. Later, Anwar attended a gathering with community leaders and longhouse chieftains in Kapit and Song districts, at Rumah Robert in Nanga Sebatu. On Kapit’s news police headquarters, Anwar said it would house 146 personnel, including senior and junior police officers and general officers. “With the new Kapit District police headquarters, it will raise the effectiveness of assignments, ensure public order and safety in the district and facilitate service delivery to the people of Kapit district. “It will also benefit police officers and personnel in Kapit by ensuring their welfare and reducing their cost of living expenses,” he said in a Facebook post, adding that the project would be implemented in two phases from 2025 to 2029, beginning with ground works and then the construction of the headquarters’ complex. On the Nanga Yong bridge project, Anwar said it would encompass a new tarred road and two bridges connecting Jalan Nanga Belawai and Jalan Song-Kapit, as well as the upgrading of two junctions scheduled to kick off in 2025, and reach completion in 2029. “This project will bring socio-economic development to residents in settlements along Rajang River, including in Nanga Belawai and Kapit town. “Upon completion, it will be a safe and comfortable rural road network for all residents, and create a platform to build other public facilities, including electricity, water and telecommunications,” he said. The Prime Minister also approved allocations of RM2 million for bank restoration works meant to overcome erosion issues along Sungai Rejang at Robert Longhouse, Nanga Sebatu. ‘A visit, 45 years later’ In May this year, 90-year-old Reverend Pastor Richard Schwenk from Chicago, USA, spent a week in Kapit, visiting his former parish and reconnecting with old colleagues, friends and the longhouse folks in town and also in Baleh. Richard, who was accompanied by his son John and grand-niece Kete, arrived in Kapit in 1965, where he served as an Agriculture Missionary under Sarawak Methodist Iban Annual Conference till 1979. (From left) John, Kete, Richard, Ling Geok Lian and Kimi Soon Peng Hai during the recent meet up in Kapit. “I was stationed at Nanga Mujong in Baleh to teach the longhouse folks about cultivating their land for paddy, vegetable and fruit tree farming, aiming for food sufficiency. “Later, I was attached to the Methodist CHEMPRO (Community, Health, Education, Motivation and Propagation). “I also taught English Language and Bible Studies at SM Methodist Kapit,” recalled Richard. Changes in leadership Year 2024 also witnessed changes in community leadership. In April, Kapit Division Chinese paramount community leader Temenggong Yong Thu Fook passed away at age 71, which resulted in promotion of several appointments. Pemanca Toh Tze Hua was later appointed as the Temenggong, Penghulu Lim Eng Hock as the Pemanca, and Kapitan John Khoo as Penghulu. Kapit Iban community leader Pemanca Enggin Nyipa, 85, retired and consequently, Penghulu Pasang Tubak became the Pemanca. Pemanca Steward Saweng also retired and was replaced by Penghulu Bunsu Geringang, while ‘Tuai Rumah’ (Longhouse Chieftain) George Tang became Penghulu. Malaysia Games 2024 On May 19, the division-leg ‘Sukma Baton Run’ kicked off with 500 participants covering the 2.3km route around Kapit town. Among them were past Malaysia Games (Sukma) top athletes Tiong Tien Kong (boxing), Stanley Jaranding (swimming), Richard Lim (weightlifting) and Jenny Saie (hockey). Deputy Minister in Sarawak Premier’s Department (Native Customs and Laws) and Bukit Goram assemblyman Datuk Jefferson Jamit Unyat performing the flag-off for the division-leg of the Sukma Baton Run, at Kapit Civic Centre. The run was conducted to promote the 21st edition of the Games, hosted by Sarawak from Sept 20 to 28. It kicked off in Limbang, proceeding to Miri, Bintulu, Mukah, Sibu, Kapit, Sarikei, Betong, Sri Aman, Serian and Samarahan, before ending in Kuching. River tragedies On March 7, a speedboat transporting five passengers from SK Lepong Baleh jetty to Nanga Tulie, capsized in Baleh River. All five men on board that ill-fated vessel were part of a team transporting explosives to a construction site in Nanga Tulie. Four of them were pulled underwater after the boat turned over, but a passing boatman managed to rescue one passenger, Muhammad Firdaus Ngui Abdullah @ Moses Ngui. On March 9, the body of Sgt Jonathan Lambet was found near Kapit Express, while the boat driver Jack Balan was found in Sibu, and Amerson John Nain was found in Meradong. On March 15, police found the body of Cpl Iskandar Ibrahim at the Seputin section of the Rajang River, about 2km from the site of the incident. On March 19, at around 2pm, Muhammad Firdaus was pronounced dead at Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching, where he was receiving treatment. On Nov 19, Tuai Rumah Bubut Benang went missing after the fibreglass boat that he was in struck a rock and sank in the Rajang River. Bubut, a contractor, together with his wife and a worker, were travelling from Rumah Belaja in Nanga Benin to Kapit town. Bubut’s wife, in her police report, said their boat struck a rock in the middle of the river and sank. She, along with the worker, managed to swim to safety, but her husband was nowhere to be seen. Bubut was returning from inspecting the ongoing construction of a bridge at Rumah Belaja, some 30km from Kapit town. His body was found at around 3.30pm on Nov 21, located some 500m downriver from where the incident occurred. On Nov 27, 75-year-old retired pastor Bangau Amping lost his life when his car was washed away during the flash floods at Sungai Selepong in Selirik. It was reported that he was driving home after dropping his wife at the Terasang Market, at around 5.30am, when the incident occurred. It was also stated that the continuous heavy rain since around 2am, had caused the water level at Sungai Selepong to rise quickly and inundate the road. The fast-flowing waters carried Bangau’s car around 50m away from the road before the vehicle got stuck in the riverbed and was almost submerged. The first responders from the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), Civil Defence Force and police arrived at the scene around 7am, where they saw Bangau trapped in the driver’s seat. However, upon extricating him from the saloon car, the retired pastor was pronounced dead at the site. This major unusual flooding was among four recorded in Kapit this year: the others occurred on July 3, Aug 22, and Oct 19. Photo shows floodwater almost submerging the vehicles at the 43-door Rumah Dennis Langok at Sungai Amang in Selirik. A century of peace The 100th anniversary of Kapit Peace Agreement Kapit was hailed as a significant milestone for this division, in that it emphasised the importance of peace in growth and development of a region. The celebration, which ran from Dec 1 to 8, commemorated the historic event at Fort Sylvia on Nov 16, 1924, which ended years of tribal warfare and division. The Tun Jugah Foundation, in a statement, highlighted the chaotic era before the Brookes administration, noting the conflicts often arose over spiritual beliefs, social status, territorial disputes and resources. Rivalries existed both between and within ethnic groups, exacerbating the unrest. Nanta (front, second left) and former federal minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leo Moggie, on his left, arriving at Kapit Civic Centre to attend the closing of the seminar, carried out in connection with 100th anniversary of Kapit Peace Agreement Kapit. It said under Rajah James Brooke’s rule starting in 1841, pacification tactics were introduced to quell uprisings and resistance movements. These efforts included symbolic peace ceremonies featuring exchanges of valuables and acts of reconciliation, such as the killing of pigs. “The Brookes administration faced serious opposition from the local leaders who fought with courage and resilience, seeking to preserve their traditions and autonomy. The Brookes resorted to pacification tactics as a way to quell uprisings, rebellions, and resistance movements,” said the foundation, as cited in a Bernama report. The Brookes also undertook punitive expeditions to restore order, including the Katibas, Ulu Ai, and Great Kayan expeditions. A notable effort, the Kayan Expedition, involved over 15,000 fighters using 500 longboats. These missions laid the groundwork for the eventual peace ceremony in Kapit. The pivotal peace ceremony of 1924 marked the end of conflicts among the Iban, the Kayan, the Kenyah and the Kajang communities. Works Minister and Kapit MP Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, also the chairman of the Tun Jugah Foundation, described the agreement as ‘a beacon for future progress in the region’. “As Kapit enters its second century, the legacy of the 1924 Peace Agreement continues to guide its journey. “The 100th anniversary celebration served as a powerful reminder of the enduring importance of peace, unity, and collaboration,” said the statement.

YDance Appoints Kelly Shearer and Anna Kenrick as Co-CEOs, Marking a New Era of Growth and Innovation YDance, Scotland’s national dance organisation for children and young people, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Kelly Shearer and Anna Kenrick as Co-Chief Executive Officers, effective immediately. This visionary leadership team brings a combined wealth of experience and a shared commitment to expanding YDance’s impact across Scotland and beyond, advancing a mission of inclusive and transformative dance programming for young people. Kelly Shearer has been with the organisation since 2008, beginning as a Dance Artist on the “Free to Dance” project. Over the years, she has risen through various roles, most recently serving as Head of Participation since 2018. In this role, Kelly led the development and delivery of a diverse portfolio of inspiring and inclusive dance programs for children and young people. Her work encompassed strategic planning, partnership management, policy development, and securing essential funding for numerous projects, ensuring alignment with cultural and governmental objectives. A champion for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Kelly played a pivotal role in implementing the organisation’s EDI strategy and has represented YDance at prominent national and international conferences. In 2024, she was appointed Executive Director and now embraces her expanded role as Co-CEO. Anna Kenrick joined the organisation as a Dance Artist and, within six weeks, was entrusted with the role of Project Manager on the DISI project. She quickly became a key leader within the organisation, developing and managing the “Free to Dance” project funded by the Scottish Government. After a year, Anna was appointed Projects Director, overseeing the development and execution of all YDance projects across various sectors, including education, community, and social justice. Since becoming Artistic Director in 2011, Anna has led the organisation’s growth, expanding its reach across Scotland, the UK, and internationally while offering rich opportunities for children and young people to thrive through dance. Her new role as Artistic Director / CEO will ensure the organisation continues to grow as the leading organisation for dance with children and young people. “We are delighted to have Kelly Shearer and Anna Kenrick step into these Co-CEO roles at such an exciting time for the organisation,” said ( Alan Busby, Chair). “Their combined expertise in project leadership, strategic growth, and dedication to empowering young people through dance will undoubtedly lead the organisation to new heights.” With Kelly and Anna at the helm, the organisation looks forward to a future filled with impactful programs and partnerships, ensuring that young people across Scotland, the UK, and the world continue to flourish through the power of dance. For more information, please contact: Emily Tryon Marketing Manager emily@ydance.org About YDance YDance (Scottish Youth Dance) is the national dance organisation for children and young people in Scotland. the organisation provides high-quality, inclusive dance programs and opportunities, helping young people develop confidence, creativity, and resilience through movement and expression.

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None3 Canucks prospects who will likely play at World Juniors

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House shut down Democrats’ efforts Thursday to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz , pushing the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. The nearly party-line votes came after Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though the Florida Republican left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., was the sole Republican to support the effort. Most Republicans have argued that any congressional probe into Gaetz ended when he resigned from the House. Speaker Mike Johnson also requested that the committee not publish its report, saying it would be a terrible precedent to set. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member’s resignation, it is extremely rare. Shortly before the votes took place, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., who introduced one of the bills to force the release, said that if Republicans reject the release, they will have “succeeded in sweeping credible allegations of sexual misconduct under the rug.” Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims. Earlier Thursday, the Ethics panel met to discuss the Gaetz report but made no decision, saying in a short statement that the matter is still being discussed. It’s unclear now whether the document will ever see the light of day as lawmakers only have a few weeks left before a new session of Congress begins. It’s the culmination of weeks of pressure on the Ethics committee’s five Republicans and five Democrats who mostly work in secret as they investigate allegations of misconduct against lawmakers. The status of the Gaetz investigation became an open question last month when he abruptly resigned from Congress after Trump’s announcement that he wanted his ally in the Cabinet. It is standard practice for the committee to end investigations when members of Congress depart, but the circumstances surrounding Gaetz were unusual, given his potential role in the new administration. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., the committee chairman, said Wednesday that there is no longer the same urgency to release the report given that Gaetz has left Congress and stepped aside as Trump’s choice to head the Justice Department. “I’ve been steadfast about that. He’s no longer a member. He is no longer going to be confirmed by the Senate because he withdrew his nomination to be the attorney general,” Guest said. The Gaetz report has also caused tensions between lawmakers on the bipartisan committee. Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the panel, publicly admonished Guest last month for mischaracterizing a previous meeting to the press. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and said last year that the Justice Department’s separate investigation against him into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls ended without federal charges. His onetime political ally Joel Greenberg , a fellow Republican who served as the tax collector in Florida’s Seminole County, admitted as part of a plea deal with prosecutors in 2021 that he paid women and an underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The men were not identified in court documents when he pleaded guilty. Greenberg was sentenced in late 2022 to 11 years in prison.None

Thailand-South Korea dual narrativesBy staying informed and taking these precautions, you can reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning during the winter months when heating systems are in use. Remember, carbon monoxide is a silent killer that can be avoided with proper awareness and preventive measures. Stay safe and warm this winter by prioritizing carbon monoxide safety in your home.

The authorities, however, were not swayed by Mr. Zhang's explanation and levied a hefty fine of $100,000 on the store for endangering public health and violating food safety laws. In addition to the financial penalty, the store was also ordered to undergo regular inspections and compliance checks to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.Title: Chris Evans to Return as Captain America in "Avengers 5"

wild ace greer sc SAN DIEGO (AP) — With his stellar America’s Cup career behind him, Jimmy Spithill introduced his new Red Bull Italy SailGP Team on Thursday in Dubai just ahead of the opening regatta of the global league’s fifth season. Spithill, the team’s CEO and founder, pulled a major coup by hiring his old America’s Cup crewmate and fellow Australian, wing trimmer Kyle Langford, from the Australian team that dominated SailGP for the first three seasons. Italy, SailGP's 12th team, sailed its foiling 50-foot catamaran for the first time Thursday. After practice racing on Friday, the opening regatta will be Saturday and Sunday. “It’s been definitely a big push,” Spithill said in a video interview with The Associated Press. “It’s all come up really quick. We’re almost there.” Spithill left the U.S. SailGP team in November after 2 1⁄2 seasons to focus on starting the Italian team and on sailing in this year’s America’s Cup. He was co-helmsman of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, which was eliminated by INEOS Britannia in the challenger finals. Double Olympic gold medalist Ruggero Tita will helm the Italian team, while two-time bronze medalist and recent Women’s America’s Cup winner Giulia Fava will be the strategist and Italian national champion Andrea Tesei will be the flight controller. Alex Sinclair also followed Spithill, joining grinders Matteo Celon and Enrico Voltolini, who have extensive high-performance and America’s Cup experience. Spithill said his crew has “some absolute next-generation stars, from different backgrounds, Olympics, America’s Cup, and it’s just awesome having Kyle come in.” Spithill, 45, said he’ll be on the boat only if someone gets hurt or sick. “These young guys are too good at it,” he said. “The talent that’s coming through in Italy, I mean, the results do the talking.” More stars having been switching teams in SailGP, which was co-founded by tech billionaire Larry Ellison. Signing Langford is a big deal for the new team. Shortly before the 2013 America’s Cup on San Francisco Bay, Langford was promoted to Oracle’s race crew after wing trimmer Dirk de Ridder was suspended by an international jury. With Emirates Team New Zealand at match point at 8-1, Spithill skippered Oracle to eight straight wins in one of the greatest comebacks in sports to retain the Cup. “One thing that really attracted him was a chance to start out and really play a major role with the new team and especially the emerging talent,” Spithill said. “It would have been really easy for him to say, ‘You know what? I’m comfortable with the Aussies.’ But the fact that he’s stepped out of his comfort zone and he’s challenging himself as an athlete in this stage of his career is just massive.” While talented, the Italian crew will have the least experience together in the high-performance F50 catamaran. Spithill said Langford “is going to play a huge role in getting this team up to speed. I mean, the F50 is, without a doubt, probably the hardest boat to sail out there.” After sailing for Luna Rossa in three of his eight America’s Cup campaigns, Spithill has seen how passionate Italian fans are. “When you talk about an exciting market for the sport, I mean, it doesn’t get any better than Italy,” he said. “It has a huge following in Italy and they’ve got a real cultural attachment to the ocean and the sport itself.” Spithill said immediately after Luna Rossa’s loss in early October that it was time to step away from the America’s Cup. “The point is, we didn’t get the job done so I hold myself accountable for that. And I also am seeing firsthand that this next generation of talent coming through and I believe they deserve a shot, you know?” “I really think SailGP is the future of the sport. The whole regular season, the concept makes a lot of sense,” he said. Dubai is the first of 14 regattas. At season’s end, the top three crews will race in the $2 million, winner-take-all Grand Final. Also Thursday, Rolex was announced as SailGP's first title sponsor as part of a 10-year deal. Bernie Wilson has covered sailing for The Associated Press since 1991.

Kane to have scan after injury in 'Klassiker'Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien won’t exactly be sending Christmas cards to the SMU fanbase after the Eagles' visit to Dallas last weekend. Last Saturday, Boston College (5-5, 2-4 ACC) fell 38-28 to SMU (9-1, 6-0 ACC) at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The Eagles cut the lead to 31-28 on Kyle Robichaux’s 3-yard touchdown run, then forced a SMU punt on the ensuing drive. However, Boston College’s next possession turned sour as the team faced an unwelcoming fourth-and-19 on their own 22-yard line. Quarterback Grayson James was sacked by SMU’s Jahfari Harvey for a nine-yard loss, setting up a Mustangs touchdown just four plays later. But it wasn’t just the on-field loss that left O’Brien fuming. The first-year Eagles coach has now called out the SMU fanbase, saying the atmosphere behind Boston College’s bench last Saturday was among the worst he’s ever experienced. “I’m just going to tell you, their fans behind our bench... they were atrocious. The worst,” O’Brien said on his weekly podcast with Jon Meterparel. “I’ve been in the SEC, I’ve been in the NFL. I’ve never seen anything or heard anything like what was coming out of their fans’ mouths behind our bench. I mean, it was bad.” Those comments carry weight considering O’Brien’s extensive coaching career through different parts of the country. The 55-year-old began his career as a tight ends coach with the Cleveland Browns, then later served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the New England Patriots dynasty. He was the head coach of the Houston Texans from 2014 to 2020 and has also held college coaching roles at Georgia Tech, Maryland, Duke, and Penn State, where he led the Nittany Lions from 2012 to 2013. O’Brien’s disdain for the SMU crowd may have a logical explanation. Gerald J. Ford Stadium, with its capacity of roughly 35,000, features a student section located directly behind the visiting team’s bench. This proximity likely added to the verbal barrage aimed at O’Brien and his team. It’s worth noting that larger venues in conferences like the SEC or Big Ten often create similarly intense atmospheres, yet their student sections are nowhere near the visitors benches. At least O’Brien and Boston College can look forward to hosting SMU next season at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill. As for SMU, it’s been a season worth celebrating. In their first year as members of the ACC, the Mustangs are undefeated in conference play and well on their way to the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Dec. 7. They also recently just handed coach Rhett Lashlee a contract extension . Given their success, it’s no surprise the SMU fanbase has plenty of reasons to be fired up.

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.GLOBALISATION AND IDENTITY: Australian scholar advocates unified, inclusive path forward Islamabad : In a globalised world, where societies are increasingly multicultural, adopting a relational and decolonised approach to identity can bridge divides, foster inclusivity, and reshape cultural connections, emphasised Australian critical race scholar Prof Debbie Bargallie. "This perspective not only promotes a more equitable and interconnected future, but also resists the exploitation of values, focusing instead on the shared humanity that unites us all," Prof Bargallie told a seminar on “Reshaping Cultural Connections in a Globalised World” at the Institute of Policy Studies here. The event, chaired by member of the Supreme Court's Shariat Appellate Bench Dr Khalid Masud and attended by IPS chairman Khalid Rahman, served as a precursor to an international seminar to be organised by the IPS on Dec 5 on "The Role of Religions in Fostering Peace, Harmony and Justice.” Prof Bargallie, an associate professor and principal research fellow at the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research and the Griffith Institute for Educational Research, Griffith University, Australia, said highlighted the interconnectedness of cultural histories and identities, emphasising how relationality and positionality shape knowledge and social research. Drawing from cultural theorist Stuart Hall’s concept that all narratives are “in context” and positioned, she called for revisiting sidelined histories to foster a more inclusive understanding of cultural connections and identities. Prof Bargallie shared insight from her research and personal experiences, exploring the historical links between Australia, Islam, and cultural relations. She noted that trade and cultural exchanges between Muslims and Aboriginal Australians were established long before European colonisation, as evidenced by ancient maps by Al-Khwarizmi drawn in 820AD and Kilwa Sultanate coins found in Australia, which reveal a period of mutual engagement that predates European settlement. The scholar also said 19th-century Muslim immigrants, including Afghans, Indians, Algerians, and Malays, shaped Australia’s industries as cameleers, farmers, and hawkers, whose contributions underscored the early foundations of Australia’s multicultural fabric. She, however, she noted the challenges faced by these communities under the racially exclusionary White Australia policy, which marginalised non-European migrants. Sharing a personal connection, Prof Bargallie recounted how her great-grandfather, a Muslim from Punjab who migrated in the 1890s, was unable to leave Australia due to discriminatory policies like the English dictation test. "Despite such challenges, the resilience and growth of Australia’s Muslim community have significantly enriched the nation’s multicultural identity. Pakistani migrants, now the 17th largest migrant group in Australia, exemplify this vibrancy. Moreover, Islam, as the fastest-growing religion in the country, now accounts for 3.2 per cent of the population, highlighting the increasing acceptance of cultural diversity," she said. The scholar called for a decolonised approach to cultural studies that values indigenous epistemologies, marginalised voices, and non-Eurocentric frameworks, and narratives that emphasise shared histories, fluid identities, and relationality to address systemic challenges like displacement, marginalisation, and loss of cultural heritage. She added that national frameworks rooted in inclusivity could serve as powerful tools for promoting harmony and coexistence under a shared identity. Dr Khalid Masud noted that unlike political identity, which imposed boundaries, cultural identity offered a more inclusive and expansive sense of belonging. He said in the digital era, where identities were increasingly shaped and politicised, there was a need to resist the exploitation of values and instead focus on the shared humanity that connected all the people.

1 2 Varanasi: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said a secure nation ensures the safety of religion and individuals and added that Sanatan has the power to unite all. Participating in the 25,000 Kundiya Yajna organised at Swarveda temple as part of the centenary celebrations of the Vihangam Yoga Society on Saturday, Yogi said, "A secure nation ensures the security of religion and individuals. If the nation is secure, religion and Sanatan are also safe. Sanatan and Indianness have the power to unite all." Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the vision to dedicate every action to the nation, Yogi urged everyone to prioritise national interests, transcending personal, social, or religious boundaries, while staying connected to India's Vedic and spiritual traditions rooted in Sanatan dharma . "Good leadership brings positive outcomes while combining heritage respect with public welfare initiatives," he said. Highlighting PM Modi's role in promoting yoga globally, Yogi mentioned how over 175 countries now observe June 21 as World Yoga Day.He also praised PM Modi's efforts in ensuring that the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj is recognised as an intangible cultural heritage and in the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Yogi praised the PM for transforming his parliamentary constituency, Kashi, over the last 10 years. "Namo Ghat has been equipped with a helipad, allowing big events to take place. The ghats of Kashi have been renovated and now present a grand and majestic form," he remarked. Yogi said that since 2014, road, rail and air connectivity in Kashi improved by 100 times, and waterways connecting Kashi to Haldia expanded travel opportunities. "Kashi has now emerged as a prominent pilgrimage destination, witnessing remarkable development in sectors such as health and education," he said. Yogi said that under the PM's leadership, UP was witnessing unprecedented growth, symbolising the vision of ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat'. Yogi said that on the commencement of the centenary year celebration of the Vihangam Yoga Society on Dec 18, 2023, the PM inaugurated the Swarved Mahamandir and commended the works of the Vihangam Yoga Sant Samaj and Swarved Mahamandir Trust. Referring to the congregation of lakhs of devotees for Kundiya Mahayajna, Yogi commended the smooth arrangements made for the grand celebrations to mark the centenary year celebration of the Vihangam Yoga Sant Samaj founded by Sadguru Sadafal Dev Maharaj in 1924. Yogi highlighted his contributions and spiritual vision, mentioning that Sadguru Sadafal Dev Maharaj was born in 1888 in a small village in Ballia and dedicated his life to promoting yoga and spiritual practices. Yogi said that Sadguru composed ‘Swarved' in Uttarakhand, a practice that continues to thrive today. "A true yogi and seer cannot remain idle," he said, emphasising the role of spiritual traditions in fostering nationalism and social service. He credited Acharya Swatantra Dev Maharaj and Vigyan Dev Maharaj for continuing this legacy and leading campaigns to spread awareness. Acharya Swatantra Dev, Swatantra Pravar Vigyan Dev, and UP minister Anil Rajbhar were present at the event. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Active funds or active investing relies on leveraging available information to outperform the index. This should imply that large and mid-cap (L&M) space with higher information availability, should perform better. But the same is not reflected in the performance of active funds in the L&M space compared to small-cap funds. The latter have delivered comparable or better returns on an absolute basis and outperformed in beating the index (alpha). We measure the gap in performance between the two and the reason for outperformance. A stock in the L&M space can sometime be covered by 10-15 analysts which should significantly lower any information asymmetry. On the other hand, small cap stocks are undercovered and can sometimes have no analyst coverage. The access to management and regular investor meetings (disclosed on stock exchange websites) also favours L&M stocks though small-cap stocks are improving investor access recently. The access and reduced information gap should power active investing in L&M space to beat the index. But the higher research focus on a small group of stocks could be leading to diminishing return on research, leading to negative alphas in most cases. Macro readthroughs are much more impactful on the top end of the market compared to the bottom end. This should allow an additional lever for L&M fund managers to outperform the index compared to small-cap universe. A higher government capex outlay, a cut in repo rate, policy shifts in energy, export/imports and PLI announcements have a higher impact on L&M stocks with their conglomerate backing than on small-cap ecosystem. But this too has failed to elevate alpha performance. With diminishing return on research and inability to leverage macroeconomic indicators, the management fees paid in L&M space ranging from 100-250 bps per year has been a bearing on investor returns. Small-cap stocks are expected to fare well on absolute return metric, which is shown in the table as well. Small-cap universe is wider than L&M universe. This limits the number of positions taken in L&M funds, limit return potential. The sector selection is also wider in the small-cap space. Shifts in textile industry, evolving trade flows in chemicals and life sciences sector, growth tailwinds in electronics manufacturing, or renewable or alternate energy solutions find more resonance in small-cap space than in L&M sectors which are populated by mature sectors. Earlier small-cap stocks were disproportionally impacted by corporate governance discounts. The situation is gradually improving as well. With periodic investor/conference calls, the management is regularly answerable to their strategies which should limit governance related discounts. The recent incidence of CE Info Systems (MapmyIndia) where announced plans of new company were modified under investor scrutiny is an example. We have considered active funds with more than five years of operations for analysis. The 13 small-cap funds have delivered an average alpha of 380 bps over Nifty Smallcap 250 – TRI measured as average daily five-year rolling return CAGR for the last 10 years. In the L&M space with 19 funds, the alpha is a negative 80 bps over NIFTY LargeMidcap 250 – TRI index in the same measure. In fact only one fund in the small-cap space failed to outperform the index while only four of the 19 in L&M have managed to better the index. Nine of the small-cap active funds have beaten the index more the 75 per cent of the days on a 5-year CAGR basis while the large-cap counterpart has only three funds doing the same. SBI Small Cap Fund has delivered an average 5-year CAGR of 23.1 per cent in the last 10 years compared to index return of 14.7 per cent. The top performer in the large-cap space is Mirae Asset Large & Midcap with average returns of 21.7 per cent compared to index returns of 15.4 per cent. In the short timeframe of 1-year average returns in the last decade, volatility has impacted small-cap funds’ alpha performance. The alpha shrinks to 80 bps for small-cap funds but remains firmly at -100 bps in the large-cap space. The average Nifty Smallcap 250 – TRI returns over 1 year at 25.7 per cent though outperforms NIFTY LargeMidcap 250 – TRI average returns of 20.6 per cent. Comments

What just happened? Qualcomm has emerged victorious in a high-stakes trial against Arm Holdings over a disputed chip technology license. The case, which unfolded in federal court in Delaware, centered on Qualcomm's $1.4 billion acquisition of startup Nuvia in 2021 and the subsequent use of Arm's chip architecture. Friday's jury's verdict found that Qualcomm did not violate the terms of its agreement with Arm when incorporating the acquired technology into its chips without paying a higher licensing rate. This decision has significant implications as Arm's chip designs and instruction sets are fundamental to many of the world's largest tech companies. However, Qualcomm did not win on all counts. While the jury concluded that Qualcomm had not breached the licensing terms, they could not reach a consensus on whether Nuvia, the acquired startup, had violated its license agreement with Arm. Federal Judge Maryellen Noreika indicated that lawyers could have this unresolved issue retried later. Qualcomm hailed the verdict as a vindication of its right to innovate, stating that the jury had affirmed that the company's contract with Arm protects all Qualcomm products listed in the case. The decision allows Qualcomm to continue selling chips that incorporate Nuvia's technology, which is crucial for its expansion into the AI market, as it aims to develop laptop chips capable of handling advanced tasks such as chatbots and image generators. Qualcomm is looking to compete directly with other tech giants like Nvidia, AMD, and MediaTek, which are also planning to produce Arm-based processors for similar applications. At the heart of the legal battle was a disagreement over royalty rates. Nuvia had initially agreed to pay higher rates for Arm's technology than Qualcomm. When Qualcomm acquired Nuvia, it integrated the startup's technology into chips under its lower-rate license agreement with Arm. This move prompted Arm to claim that Qualcomm was required to renegotiate its Nuvia agreement post-acquisition. While Qualcomm celebrates its victory, Arm said it intends to seek a retrial. There is still the unresolved issue of the transferability of chip design licenses during acquisitions, a common occurrence in the fast-paced semiconductor industry. A retrial could further clarify the boundaries of licensing agreements and their applicability when companies are acquired, potentially setting important precedents for future deals in the industry. However, until that happens, companies that develop and use Arm-based technologies will have to tread carefully.

Sunday, December 22, 2024 As the travel industry continues to evolve, 2025 promises an exciting array of trends that cater to diverse preferences, from eco-conscious vacations to adrenaline-pumping adventures. Travelers are seeking unique, meaningful experiences that align with personal values, wellness goals, and a desire to explore the world beyond the ordinary. Here’s an in-depth look at the top travel trends expected to dominate the industry in 2024. Sustainability has become a cornerstone of modern travel, with more travelers prioritizing eco-friendly options. From staying at green-certified accommodations to engaging in conservation-based activities, eco-conscious tourism offers travelers the chance to connect with nature responsibly. Countries like Costa Rica, Bhutan, and Iceland are leading the way with their robust sustainability initiatives, inviting visitors to experience their stunning landscapes while preserving them for future generations. Destinations are also investing in renewable energy projects, reducing waste, and promoting sustainable transport options such as e-bikes and public transit to lower carbon footprints. Eco-tours, rewilding projects, and plastic-free resorts are setting the standard for a greener travel future. Also Read: Global Travel Predictions for 2025 with New Trends, Emerging Technologies and a Better World Solo travel continues to gain momentum as more individuals seek independence and self-discovery on their journeys. The flexibility and freedom to create personalized itineraries have made solo travel appealing, particularly for millennials and Gen Z travelers. Destinations like Japan, Portugal, and Canada are top choices for solo adventurers, offering safe environments, rich cultural experiences, and a mix of bustling cities and tranquil nature retreats. Tour operators are also adapting by curating group tours designed for solo travelers, ensuring a sense of community while allowing for individual exploration. In an increasingly stressful world, wellness tourism is flourishing. Travelers are seeking escapes that prioritize mental and physical well-being, from yoga and meditation retreats in Bali to detox spas in Switzerland. Wellness-focused vacations often combine healthy living with immersive experiences in nature, promoting mindfulness and relaxation. Thermal baths, Ayurvedic treatments, and plant-based culinary experiences are among the highlights of this trend. Wellness tourism destinations are also integrating cultural and holistic practices, offering tailored programs that cater to individual wellness needs. Cultural and heritage tourism remains a strong trend as travelers look to reconnect with history and tradition. Visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient cities, and renowned museums offer an educational and enriching experience. Destinations such as Italy, Greece, and Egypt are popular for their historical landmarks, while others like India and Turkey attract visitors with their vibrant festivals and centuries-old traditions. Heritage tourism also plays a crucial role in supporting local economies, ensuring that cultural practices are preserved and celebrated. How Railway Becomes More Indispensable for 2025 Tourism Season: New Travel Predictions Travelers are venturing off the beaten path to uncover hidden gems that provide unique, crowd-free experiences. Remote locations such as Patagonia, the Faroe Islands, and Kyrgyzstan offer a blend of stunning landscapes, cultural authenticity, and adventure opportunities. Offbeat travel destinations appeal to those seeking something different, such as stargazing in Chile’s Atacama Desert or exploring Icelandic ice caves. These destinations often provide a slower pace of travel, encouraging visitors to immerse themselves in the local culture and environment. For thrill-seekers, adventure tourism offers an adrenaline rush while exploring the great outdoors. Activities such as mountain biking, rock climbing, and white-water rafting are increasingly popular, with destinations like New Zealand, Nepal, and South Africa catering to adventurous spirits. Adventure tourism not only satisfies the need for excitement but also promotes physical activity and exploration of unspoiled natural landscapes. Operators are now emphasizing safety and sustainability to ensure the long-term viability of these thrilling experiences. The rise of affordable luxury has made high-end travel accessible to more people. Boutique hotels, all-inclusive resorts, and curated travel packages offer premium experiences at competitive prices. This trend caters to travelers who want the best of both worlds—luxury and value. Destinations like Southeast Asia, Mexico, and Eastern Europe are gaining popularity for their ability to deliver opulence without breaking the bank. From private villa stays to gourmet dining experiences, affordable luxury ensures travelers can indulge in style without overspending. Transformative 2025 Cruise Travel Predictions: Redefining Luxury, Sustainability, and Emerging Destinations for a Revolutionary Future in Sea Adventures Multigenerational travel is a growing trend, with families planning vacations to bond and create lasting memories. Destinations such as Orlando, Bali, and the Maldives offer family-friendly experiences, from theme parks to beach resorts. Travel providers are tailoring packages to include activities for all age groups, ensuring that every member of the family has a memorable vacation. This trend reflects a growing desire for shared experiences and quality time with loved ones. Discover everything and anything about travel , tourism , trade shows at the Travel And Tour World , including breaking travel news and weekly travel updates for travel trade , airlines , cruise , railways , technology , travel association , DMCs, and video interviews and promotional videos .

The San Francisco 49ers will be without both starting quarterback Brock Purdy (right shoulder) and defensive end Nick Bosa (hip/oblique) when they play the Green Bay Packers this weekend, coach Kyle Shanahan announced Friday. Purdy was listed as a limited participant in practices on both Wednesday and Thursday after entering the week with shoulder soreness following Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks . 49ers quarterbacks at the start of practice. Missing: Brock Purdy ... pic.twitter.com/2p0k9NIIhU — Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 22, 2024 The 24-year-old has started all 10 of San Francisco’s games this season, completing 66 percent of his passes for 2,613 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’s also rushed for 267 yards and four touchdowns. With Purdy out, Shanahan also confirmed Friday that backup quarterback Brandon Allen is set to start this weekend against the Packers. Kyle Shanahan said they were surprised when Purdy had trouble throwing the ball on Thursday. "We were fully prepared for Brock to go." He said Purdy's shoulder started tightening up toward the end of the game and then grew more painful after the game. — Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 22, 2024 Bosa did not participate in practices Wednesday or Thursday after exiting Sunday’s game in the second half. Bosa leads the 49ers in both sacks (seven) and tackles for loss (10) through 10 games this season, and has 36 tackles. The 49ers (5-5) travel to play the Packers (7-3) at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday. This story will be updated. Required reading (Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)Assets not liabilities There is no information if rowdy Pakistanis involved in such incidents were actually dual nationals A women holding her NICOP. — NADRA website/File A few days ago, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated in a nationally televised programme that Pakistanis should not be allowed to have dual nationalities. The minister opined that the facility to hold dual nationality, otherwise allowed by Pakistani laws, must be withdrawn and in case Pakistanis settled abroad would like to associate themselves with the country of their origin then they could only carry an identity card (NICOP) especially crafted for them. He said if these “foreign nationals” have invested in the real-estate sector or have business partnerships in Pakistan, then their investments must be treated at par with those made by non-Pakistani foreigners. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); It was not difficult for those who had watched the whole programme to construe that the federal minister was obviously perturbed by some recent events where a handful of overseas Pakistanis have misbehaved with or maltreated the leading members of the ruling party or a retired judge of the Supreme Court during their private visits to some European capitals. There is no information if the rowdy Pakistanis involved in such incidents were actually dual nationals. Khawaja Asif also said that those who have opted to abandon Pakistan for financial gains abroad should not be allowed to defame the country. However, they were not defaming the country. Politicians are often known for putting their feet in their mouths - making remarks that are outright intolerant, insensitive, imprudent and inappropriate. Many realise the mistake when confronted, apologise and retract. Others opt to remain stubborn and stick to their faux pride and bloated egos. As an overseas Pakistani and a dual national, I am fully cognizant of the debate generated in Pakistan in the last few years when courts and public servants were busy scoring points on the issue of dual nationality. Elected members of the parliaments were stripped of their offices and bureaucrats were made to renounce their acquired citizenships. But to stigmatise those Pakistanis who have opted to avail of the facility provided by Pakistani statute books purely on the basis of lopsided logic and septuagenarian anger is something that no sensible person would approve of. To jog Khawaja Sahib’s memory, his party leaders are on record praising the myriad contributions that dual nationals have made over the decades. Many high-profile Pakistanis have acquiesced when members of their immediate families opted to secure nationalities of countries with which Pakistan has bilateral arrangements and understanding. When in power, leaders of Pakistan have either been praising the routine financial contributions overseas Pakistanis have been making or have been urging Pakistanis abroad to play a similar role that has been played by the Chinese and Indian diaspora communities. One can imagine the politician in question modifying his statement by saying the target of his tirade were Pakistanis with dual nationalities only and that he respects and regards the millions of Pakistani labourers toiling in the Middle Eastern countries in order to fund and feed their poor families by remitting major portions of their meagre allowances. Making a clear distinction between overseas Pakistanis and Pakistanis with dual nationalities, let me help update the record regarding the services and contributions of the latter so that any future reference to this matter is steered by logic rather than anger. Pakistan currently has dual nationality arrangements with 22 countries. The government of Pakistan’s record puts the number of Pakistanis with dual nationality at 4,493,835. Dual nationality agreements with these countries, considered the most advanced in the world today, were not secured in a day. What would they make of the minister’s statement? There are over 11 million Pakistanis settled abroad, out of which around six million work in the Gulf and the Middle East. Most of them cannot have dual nationality as none of the Gulf states barring Bahrain allow such a facility. Out of the 22, only four countries are Muslim states. Settled in the West for generations, these dual nationals have not only kept their Pakistani nationality but have procured the same for their children, born and brought up abroad. For decades, they were the sole reason for which carriers like PIA had been flying to Western capitals for they made it a habit of bringing their children to Pakistan every year to see their grandparents and meet other family members. Today, they may not be remitting as much money as the workers in the Gulf are doing but they have invested billions of dollars in Pakistan’s volatile real estate sector even after losing their investments to fraud and corruption. North America and Western Europe are major markets for Pakistan’s feeble exports. In most cases, these 4.4 million dual nationals are the principal consumers of such exports. They are the ones who make it a point to buy Pakistani basmati rice, lentils, spices and mangoes purely out of their love for their parent country. More importantly, thousands of dual-national Pakistanis have risen from being members of an immigrant community to becoming part of mainstream societies. They are not only considered prized members of the host societies but also offer invaluable services by being a bridge between countries like the UK and US and Pakistan. There are around 25 members of Pakistani heritage in the British parliament. They have held important cabinet posts in cross-party governments. The mayor of London has created personal history by winning three terms but is always referred to as a Pakistani by extraction in the British and international media. Hundreds of others are part of the British local government system and dual national Pakistanis at the same time. There are over 12,000 doctors of Pakistani origin in the British National Health Service – valued and respected. From politics to public service, education to entertainment, literature to science and technology, law and justice to sport, dual-national Pakistanis have made us proud. Fewer in numbers but similar examples are being set in other European countries and North America too. Dual-national Pakistanis have used their influence and expertise to win favours for Pakistan in multiple ways. They do not merit any of such disrespect shown to them. In fact, they deserve an apology. Will they get it? The writer is the chairman of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation’s board of governors.

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Arsenal defender Gabriel kept Viktor Gyokeres quiet — then had the audacity to steal the in-demand Sporting Lisbon striker's trademark goal celebration. After heading in Arsenal's third first-half goal in the Champions League on Tuesday, Gabriel linked the fingers of his hands and placed them over his eyes, before laughing with his teammates. It was most likely a dig at Gyokeres, the Sweden striker who has quickly become . That is how Gyokeres celebrates his goals — and he has scored plenty of those this season. Gyokeres has scored 24 goals for Sporting in all competitions and was coming off in a Nations League match against Azerbaijan. Earlier in the first half, Gabriel had enjoyed tackling and dispossessing Gyokeres near the Arsenal area — waving both his arms in a gesture to the crowd. Gabriel's goal made it 3-0 to Arsenal at halftime and the English team went on to win 5-1, with Gyokeres failing to score. He did hit the post with a shot late in the game, however — after Gabriel had gone off with an injury. AP soccer:

Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’Steve Mensch, the president and general manager of studio operations at Tyler Perry Studios, died in a plane crash Friday night, according to officials. The Florida Highway Patrol said troopers found Mensch dead at the scene of a crash just after 8 p.m. in Citrus County, Florida. The agency does not name Mensch as the man who died, though the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office said it was Mensch, 62, from Fayetteville, Georgia. “FHP Troopers responded to a single engine fixed-wing airplane crash on West White Dogwood Drive near the intersection of US-98,” FHP said in a statement. “An adult male occupant of the aircraft was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash.” In an email to CNN on Saturday, Tyler Perry Studios said: “We are incredibly saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Steve Mensch. Steve was a cherished member of our team for more than 8 years, and well beloved in the community of Atlanta. It is hard to imagine not seeing him smiling throughout the halls. We will miss him dearly. Our heart goes out to his family as we all send them our prayers.” The Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot was the only person on board the single-engine Vans RV12, though the agency did not mention Mensch by name. A National Transportation Safety Board investigator is expected to visit the crash site Saturday to begin documenting the scene and examining the aircraft, the NTSB told CNN in an email. A preliminary report from the agency about the crash is expected within 30 days. Mensch managed the day-to-day operations at Tyler Perry Studios, a 300-acre studio lot in Atlanta, Georgia, according to his LinkedIn profile. In 2019, Mensch gave CNN a tour of the facility, saying, “What Tyler has built here is the only major motion picture studio on the East Coast.” Mensch explained at the time how the studio he oversaw blended old with new, saying, “The history on this property is immense. Founded in 1885, we have 40 buildings on the national register, we’ve built a dozen state of the art sound stages.” “We can take advantage of a hundred years of Hollywood history, of best practices and we’ve done that in incorporating the stages,” he said at the time. “Then we use the very best technology in our infrastructure, so we have the best of both.” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp expressed his condolences on social media after Mensch’s death, praising him as “a good man” and his contributions to the Peach State’s film industry. “A good man and an instrumental part of a studio Georgia is proud to call its own, his achievements made our state better and brought more opportunities to its people,” Kemp said on X. “His loved ones and the entire Tyler Perry Studios team will be in our thoughts and prayers as they mourn this loss.” CNN’s Lisa Respers France and Kia Fatahi contributed to this report.George has bone bruise, to miss at least 2 gamesThe Albanese government will delay its 2035 emissions reduction target beyond the federal election as Donald Trump’s threats to cutting emissions force the Climate Change Authority to delay its call on Australia’s ambitions. Delays to Australia’s climate agenda would create a challenge for the Albanese government before the federal election, as it mounts a campaign against the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan with warnings it would extend the life of coal plants and raise greenhouse emissions. Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen (right) with Climate Change Authority chairman Matt Kean. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Matt Kean, a former NSW Liberal government treasurer and now chairman of the Commonwealth’s independent Climate Change Authority (CCA), revealed exclusively to this masthead that the incoming US president had forced the agency to delay its report by months. “The election of Donald Trump, his statements on climate change and positions on energy policy are likely to have a global impact,” Kean said. “It’s necessary to reassess and recalculate the assumptions that will inform the Climate Change Authority’s advice to the government on Australia’s Nationally Determined Contribution. “Due to this extra work, we will require more time to deliver the target’s advice. We expect to be able to deliver this work in several months’ time.” Under the rules of the Paris Agreement on climate change, member nations must set increasingly ambitious emissions reduction targets every five years, and the deadline for Australia’s 2035 contribution is February. However, Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen cannot set his target until he considers advice from the CCA, and the election is due by May. Australia is banking on nascent technologies such as green hydrogen for its 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution – the official term under the Paris Agreement for a country’s climate target. “We’ll do further work and modelling that will take into account America’s new approach to climate change mitigation, the rest of the world’s response, and their impacts on global supply chains,” Kean said. The US became the first nation to formally withdraw from the Paris Agreement during the first Trump presidency. President Joe Biden signed an executive order to rejoin it on his first day in office in 2021. Trump declared climate change a hoax in interviews and speeches in 2022 and has pledged to scrap the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Biden’s signature climate policy, after he returns to office on January 20, 2025. The outgoing Biden administration announced on Thursday a target for the US to cut emissions by between 61 and 66 per cent by 2035, but Trump will scrap it. Currently, the IRA has $567 billion of financial assistance on offer for research and development and was set to play a major role in developing green hydrogen and commercialising technologies to help electrify industries that currently depend on fossil fuels. Donald Trump has given calls for urgent climate action short shrift. Credit: AP Green hydrogen – which is made using renewable energy to ensure it is emissions-free – is considered a promising fuel to curb planet-warming emissions due to its ability to displace coal, gas and oil in parts of the economy that are difficult to decarbonise, such as manufacturing and heavy transport. But green hydrogen remains prohibitively expensive to make and is not yet viable at scale. Kean said other countries were also likely to delay their 2035 targets as they come to grips with the potential impacts of a Trump administration. “I met with the climate delegations of over 15 countries, including some of our closest trading partners, it was clear that they were all grappling with the same issues and that most would not be delivering their targets too previous timelines,” he said. Climate action ‘off-track’ The Albanese government is under pressure to deliver on its current commitments amid warnings it is already off-track. Of the 124 projects that have applied for approval under national environmental laws, just 28 have reached a final decision – either approved or rejected – according to the Clean Energy Investor Group, which represents major energy investors such as Macquarie, Neoen and BlackRock. Boosting renewables to 82 per cent of the grid by the end of the decade is a major goal, but this is challenged by hold-ups in project approvals due to onerous environmental assessments for major projects. “There are a number of short-term fixes to the environmental assessment process the federal government could make that will unlock further renewable investments and bring international investors more confidence and predictability in entering this market,” said CEIG chief executive Richie Merzian. However, Australia could attract more green investments if Trump scraps the IRA, as global capital already committed to the energy transition finds new homes outside the US. Johns Hopkins University think tank, the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab, said a US retreat on clean energy policy could open up an $80 billion opportunity for international markets. “This is the time for Australia to lead in embracing the clean energy transition,” Merzian said. Countries are expected to announce their targets before the next United Nations climate summit in the Brazilian city of Belem in November next year. Australia will face pressure from the UK to set an ambitious goal after Keir Starmer’s Labour government committed to cut emissions by 81 per cent by 2035. Australia’s 2030 climate target, to cut emissions from 2005 levels by 43 per cent by 2030, is viewed as a relatively modest aim as it does not comply with the objective of the Paris Agreement for nations to commit to action consistent with limiting global warming to under 2 degrees. Australia’s Climate Change Authority is currently considering responses to a draft target it issued in April to reduce emissions by 65 to 75 per cent by 2035. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter .

MILAN — Shoppers laden with bags from Fendi, Loewe, Prada and other designer labels clog the narrow sidewalks of Milan's swankiest shopping street, bringing joy to the purveyors of high-end luxury goods this, and every, holiday season. There's even more to celebrate this year: a commercial real estate company crowned Via MonteNapoleone as the world's most expensive retail destination, displacing New York's Fifth Avenue. The latest version of American firm Cushman & Wakefield's annual global index, which ranks shopping areas based on the rent prices they command, is a sign of Via MonteNapoleone's desirability as an address for luxury ready-to-wear, jewelry and even pastry brands. A man walks past a shop Dec. 12 in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. The average rent on the Milan street surged to $2,047 per square foot, compared with $2,000 per square foot on an 11-block stretch of upper Fifth Avenue. Via MonteNapoleone's small size — less than a quarter-mile long — and walking distance to services and top cultural sites are among the street's key advantages, according to Guglielmo Miani, president of the MonteNapoleone District association. "Not everything can fit, which is a benefit," since the limited space makes the street even more exclusive and dynamic, said Miani, whose group also represents businesses on the intersecting side streets that together with Via MonteNapoleone form an area known as Milan's Fashion Quadrilateral. Women look a shop Dec. 12 in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. The biggest brands on the street make 50 million euros to 100 million euros in annual sales, Miani said, which goes a long way to paying the rent. Tiffany & Co. is preparing to take up residence on Via Montenapoleone, and longtime tenant Fendi is expanding. The MonteNapoleone District says 11 million people visited the area this year through November, but there's no way to say how many were big spenders vs. window shoppers. The average shopper on Via MonteNapoleone spent 2,500 euros per purchase between August and November — the highest average receipt in the world, according to the tax-free shopping firm Global Blue. The street is a magnet for holiday shoppers who arrive in Maseratis, Porsches and even Ferraris, the sports car's limited trunk space notwithstanding. A mannequin is seen Dec. 12 in a shop in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. Lights twinkle overhead, boutique windows feature mannequins engaged in warm scenes of holiday fun, and passersby snap photos of expertly decorated cakes in pastry shop displays. A visitor from China, Chen Xinghan, waited for a taxi with a half-dozen shopping bags lined up next to him on the sidewalk. He said he paid half the price for a luxury Fendi coat that he purchased in Milan than he would have at home. "I got a lot," Chen acknowledged. "It's a fantastic place, a good place for shopping." A man waits for a taxi Dec. 12 in Monte Napoleon street in Milan, Italy. A few store windows down, Franca Da Rold, who was visiting Milan from Belluno, an Italian city in the Dolomites mountain range, marveled at a chunky, yardslong knit scarf priced at 980 euros. "I could knit that in one hour, using 12-gauge knitting needles as thick as my fingers, and thick wool. Maximum two hours," Da Rold said, but acknowledged the brand appeal. Buildings are decorated Dec. 12 in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. Despite upper Fifth Avenue getting bumped to the No. 2 spot on the Cushman & Wakefield list, the organization that serves as the Manhattan street's guardian and chief promoter had praise for MonteNapoleone's achievement. "Milan's investment in its public realm is paying off, which is a win for their shoppers, businesses and city as a whole," said Madelyn Wils, interim president of the Fifth Avenue Association. She also expressed confidence that with new investments and a record year for sales on Fifth Avenue, "we'll be back on top in no time." The holiday season feels a little less jolly considering the amount of waste generated by gift-giving. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the amount of household garbage in the U.S. increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year's. After the decorations come down, all that waste heads to landfills, producing a significant contributor to climate change: methane gas. "Greening" the holidays is essential, and one simple tip is to think more about how sustainable the materials are in your decorations, decor, and, of course, gifts. Instead of plastics, you could opt for items that can be reused, are made of renewable materials or natural fibers that boast a smaller environmental impact in both production and durability. Due to consumers' desires for more eco-friendly goods, sustainable materials are among the biggest trends in home decor. Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable—and earth-conscious—home goods that make perfect holiday gifts. Made Trade rounded up a list of sustainable home decor trends in 2025 that offer dozens of creative options for holiday gift-giving. Each trend includes examples of great gifts for the home and advice for ensuring items are sustainably produced or can help create a more eco-friendly space. In the depths of winter's gray days, it's a real gift to see a little green, which is why indoor gardening gifts are a wonderful idea. Not only are they eco-friendly and promote sustainability—the more food you can grow yourself, the less you have to buy—they also foster an appreciation of nature and bring the natural world indoors to enjoy. Sprouting kits and microgreens require minimal amounts of space and sunlight, but a sunny, south-facing window will permit a small herb garden or leafy greens for salads. If you're not sure what kind of light your recipient has access to, go with gifting indoor grow lamps along with the plants, or pick a hardy, low-water houseplant—some can act as natural air purifiers too. When buying gifts for the home, consider what materials the items are made from and how far away they come from—not only are natural materials like rattan, jute, palm leaves, clay, organic cotton and linen, and ceramics more sustainable, but if they are being used by a local craftsperson, gifters are also saving on fossil fuels for the transportation. Plus, you're helping the local economy by supporting local craftspeople, so it's a win-win. Natural fiber pillows, sheets, blankets, and even doormats offer comfort and consideration of the environment. The most sustainable and eco-friendly gift is one you already have, so get creative about reusing materials already in or around your home (raid the recycling bin, find nice pieces of wood outside, wash out and reuse glass jars) to fashion them into new, thoughtful goods. Similarly, think vintage and secondhand—what items can you give a second life to by passing them along to someone who will find new meaning in them? Some of the most thoughtful gifts are small heirlooms—pieces of jewelry or a beloved ceramic dish—passed along to the next generation that will appreciate them. Green technology offers ways to reduce our carbon footprint in everyday life, and smart thermostats, solar lights, smart sprinklers, and smart plugs all make great gifts, saving people money and conserving our valuable resources. For those looking into home renovations or updating decor, try a new light fixture paired with smart blubs, or a new window treatment with smart shades. Even something as simple as a rain barrel can reduce energy use—and while the technology for that isn't very sophisticated, it certainly is, like composting, "smart." Integrated outdoor living is the ultimate gift, allowing us to bring the natural world into our homes. However, doing so sustainably takes a little more effort than simply leaving the doors to the deck open all the time. First, find eco-friendly and sustainable outdoor furniture, perhaps thrifting it or buying it used and fixing it up for a one-of-a-kind gift. If you can't go secondhand, choose furniture made of sustainable materials such as reclaimed wood, recycled plastic (great for outdoor rugs), or bamboo. For smaller gifts, consider solar lights, a water feature that recycles water, a rain barrel, or even a set of handmade wind chimes made from seashells. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on Made Trade and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.

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A young man has triggered backlash on social media after advising men to invest in their girlfriends rather than their mothers In a controversial video on TikTok, he stated that the only thing that a mother will offer to her struggling child is emotions Social media users who came across his video on the platform stormed the comments section to share their opinions Don't miss out! Join Legit.ng's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now! A Nigerian man sparked sparked outrage online after suggesting that men should prioritise investing in their romantic partners over their mothers. The advice ignited a firestorm of criticism, with many users taking to the comments section to express their strong disagreement. Man advises men to prioritise girlfriends The man, identified as @ o_powersolution3 on TikTok , claimed that mothers could only offer emotional support to their struggling children, implying that this was insufficient. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! He further asserted that the root cause of poverty in many families lay with the decisions made by the father. Read also Video of old Nigerian couple fighting at home trends online, people react His remarks were met with fierce opposition, with many accusing him of disrespecting the selfless love and sacrifices that mothers often make for their children. The young man attempted to clarify his stance, stating that his comments were not intended to convey a lack of love for his own mother. In his words: "Investing on your girlfriend is better than spending for your mother. Your father is the reason why your family is poor. "The best thing your mother can offer you in time of struggles is emotions. Asides that, nothing else again. The reason some families are suffering is because of the kind of decisions their father made. If you follow that mentality, you as the child will still raise a family of poverty. "You will think because I am talking like this, I don't love my mother. I love my mother but I still love my wife and my girlfriend than my mother. Simply because she's just my mother. My father is her husband, I'm not. Read also After building his house, Igbo man erects another costly duplex beside it for wife, video trends "You have to be able to differentiate these things. You understand. The best help you will receive in your life will come from strangers or friends not even your family. Not even your mother can even give you the ability to success. Think am well." Reactions trail man's controversial advice TikTok users shared their opinions in the comments section. @David Walker said: "This issue is really sensitive. Few days ago my father was regretting that he couldn't lay a good foundation to free us financially. Sometimes too it's d system we find ourselves. Africa is broken." @Potential Pee commented: "Guy this is your perspective, don't impose it on us Nigerian. So all those ones wen dey stand for road still follow join? Abi those people no get boyfriend?" @Tailoredbybuike reacted: "You’re making sense shaa but e be like say girl never betray you before and still asked “what have you done for me?” Read also Man cries out as dove flies and stays on his newborn baby in video, wonders what it means @Sir.skillful said: "Mama wey dey send me foodstuff when I broke, she come carry me when I sick while struggling, arindin nie." @Amco commented: "Everything we you talk now I no see any prove of what you re preaching cos how sales girl relate to investing in your wife or girlfriend. So all the sacrifices of your mum na waste." @Special man added: "Which one be invest in girlfriend, she go give me return on investment??" Watch the video below: Lady chooses man over her mum Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a Nigerian lady moved out of her home to stay with her then-20-year-old boyfriend and is now reaping the benefits of that risk. Years down the line, she shared how they moved from grass to grace and how things turned around for them when she got pregnant for him. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ngAre you wanting to make new additions to your income portfolio in January? If you are, then it could pay to listen to what analysts are saying about the ASX dividend stocks in this article. They have recently been named as buys by analysts and tipped to offer attractive . Here's what you need to know about them: ( ) The team at Bell Potter thinks that agribusiness company Elders could be an ASX dividend stock to buy in January. It was pleased with the recent announcement of a new acquisition and feels it is another reason to buy. Especially given its belief that the market is underestimating the synergies on offer with the acquisition. Outside this, it thinks that Elders' shares are trading at a discount to fair value. The broker explains: Our Buy rating is unchanged. The acquisition of delta looks a relatively low-risk stepout with upside to the synergy target based on the 15% ROIC target (i.e ~$70m EBIT vs. 3yr target of ~$55m) largely through increased backward integration in crop protection. Trading at ~7.4x PF25e EBITDA, ELD trades at a reasonable discount to its through-the-cycle EBITDA multiple of 8.5x. Bell Potter is expecting Elders to pay fully franked dividends of 38 cents per share in FY 2025 and then 43 cents per share in FY 2026. Based on the current Elders share price of $7.23, this will mean of 5.25% and 5.95%, respectively. The broker has a buy rating and $9.45 price target on its shares. ( ) Another excellent ASX dividend stock for income investors to consider buying in January is Smartgroup. It is an industry-leading provider of employee benefits, end-to-end fleet management, and software solutions. Smartgroup currently has over 400,000 salary packages and 64,000 novated leases under management. Bell Potter is also positive on the company. It believes its shares are undervalued, particularly given its defensive qualities and favourable industry tailwinds. The broker said: Our favourable investment view is predicated on: (1) defensive customer segments with strong forecast occupational growth within the disability and aged care services; (2) the Electric Car Discount Bill (2022) which exempts new energy vehicles from Fringe Benefits Tax; and (3) a greater availability and selection of new energy vehicles, particularly in the mid-to-large Sports Utility segment. In respect to income, Bell Potter is forecasting fully franked dividends of 59.7 cents in FY 2025 and then 62.7 cents in FY 2026. Based on its current share price of $7.74, this will mean big dividend yields of 7.7% and 8.1%, respectively. The broker currently has a buy rating and $10.00 price target on Smartgroup's shares.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Digicel has promoted two Jamaican associates from within its ranks to the highest level in the company’s operations. Bjorn Reynolds, is the new chief technical and innovation officer and Kristalle Chin, has been appointed general manager, consumer – Mobile and Digicel+. Reynolds’ rise through the Digicel ranks reads of a local success story. Having joined Digicel as a customer care agent in 2003, he now holds the company’s top technical job. Reynolds is responsible for the evolution of the company’s mobile and high-speed fibre networks, implementing advanced and emerging technologies, and executing partnership programmes, while overseeing its engineering operations. After leaving Campion College, Reynolds attained a Bachelor of Science in Math and Electronics, and Master of Science in Digital Technology at the University of West Indies (Mona). “This is a dynamic time in Digicel’s history as we take on an even greater role when it comes to leveraging our spirit of innovation and local knowledge to spearheading the development and deployment of advanced network technologies that will enable the convergence of new voice, data and video services for consumers and businesses across Jamaica,” Reynolds remarked. Having made early gains since being appointed as general manager for Digicel+, the company’s home internet and TV business, in December 2023, Chin’s role has now been expanded to include the Consumer Mobile portfolio. As a Campion College alumna who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Geography from Macalester College, US, and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, also in the US, Kristalle is responsible for delivering a simplified, 360° suite of services to homes and mobile customers across the country. “Convergence offers endless opportunities for creating lifetime value for our customers as they enjoy more of what Digicel has to offer them at home or on the go,” Chin stated. Digicel says the appointments are part of a strategic realignment under the guidance of Digicel Jamaica CEO, Stephen Murad, as the company shifts its focus towards further integrating its mobile and home entertainment assets to offer customers seamless experiences. “These homegrown talents are some of the finest minds in the telecoms business, and our customers are all to benefit from their diverse expertise and experience,” Murad stated.

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MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J., Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. ("OPT" or "the Company") (NYSE American: OPTT), today announced financial results for the second quarter ended October 31, 2024 (Q2FY25). Q2FY25 Financial Highlights Revenue : $2.4 million, compared to $0.9 million for the same period last year, representing a 2.7x increase. Net Loss : $3.9 million, compared to $7.2 million in the prior year period, representing a year-over-year decrease of 46%. Operating expenses have been reduced by 41%, including reduced external expenditures leading to a material reduction in third party spend. Cash Used in Operating Activities : $4.8 million, compared to $7.5 million in the prior year period, representing a year-over-year decrease of 37%. Recent Business and Operational Highlights Strategic partnerships continue to expand our market presence: In Latin America, we announced a partnership that includes $3 million in purchase order commitments over 36 months. This underscores the growing demand for our WAM-V® USVs and reinforces our leadership in cutting-edge maritime technology. In the Middle East, we partnered with Unique Group to exhibit our WAM-V at ADIPEC and to provide services to commercial customers, signed a distributor agreement with Remah International Group in the UAE to focus on defense and security applications, and entered into a partnership with 3B General Trading & Contracting Co. W.L.L. to explore offshore energy and maritime projects in Kuwait. We believe that our innovative solutions, such as PowerBuoys® and AI-powered WAM-V® USVs equipped with MerrowsTM systems, are uniquely positioned to meet the region’s demand for sustainable, energy efficient offshore solutions across commercial and defense industries. Domestically, the Company remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting national defense and other areas of focus. During Q2FY25, the Company completed the second set of exercises of the previously announced follow-on contract as a subcontractor to EpiSci and successfully deployed several WAM-V autonomous surface vehicles during the Mission Autonomy Proving Grounds (MAPG) as part of Project Overmatch. Project Overmatch is a United States Navy initiative aimed at achieving a seamless and highly integrated warfighting capability by leveraging advanced data networks, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning. Under this contract, OPT continues to ruggedize and enhance the operational capability of its autonomous maritime technologies to support the U.S. military and its allies. The first set of exercises was concluded over the summer and the completion of these most recent exercises contributed to the revenue recognition noted above. The Company reaffirms its previously issued guidance that it believes it will reach profitability (excluding unanticipated extraordinary expenses) during the fourth quarter of calendar 2025. Performance to date reflects strong demand for products, effective cost management, and progress on our strategic initiatives. Recent achievements, including previously announced partnerships, operational milestones, successful exercises and continued customer deliveries, evidence the Company’s trajectory toward achieving this stated objective. On August 12, 2024, Paragon Technologies announced via press release that its Board of Directors had resolved to terminate its shareholder campaign and all related activities targeting OPT and had terminated Hesham M. Gad as Chairman and CEO. Furthermore, on December 5, 2024, Paragon disclosed that its Audit Committee engaged legal counsel from Holland & Knight LLP to conduct an independent investigation into the conduct of Mr. Gad. These developments validate our position that the dissident shareholder campaign lacked merit. With this matter resolved, OPT can now fully focus on advancing its mission and delivering sustainable, long-term value for all shareholders. Philipp Stratmann, OPT’s CEO and President, stated “I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made this quarter. Our strategic emphasis on national security, critical infrastructure, and international market expansion continues to deliver results. This reflects not just broader macro-economic trends but our ability to penetrate diverse markets and execute for new customers. We’re successfully solving problems for our customers and thus capturing a market versus creating a market while converting our expanding pipeline into revenue, driven by increasing domestic and international demand. Our ability to scale and deliver on large contracts positions us for sustained growth, and we’re confident in our ability to capitalize and build on this momentum. We deliver science, not fiction. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Income Statement: Revenues for Q225 and year to date fiscal 2025 were $2.4 million and $3.7 million, respectively, an increase of 172% and 72%, respectively, over the prior year. Trailing twelve-month revenue for the period ended October 31, 2024, was $7.1 million, an 83% increase over the trailing twelve-month revenue of $3.9 million for the period ended October 31, 2023. Operating expenses for Q225 and year to date fiscal 2025 were $4.7 million and $9.6 million, respectively, a decrease of 41% and 40%, respectively, as compared to the prior year comparable periods, reflecting previously disclosed restructuring and streamlining activities. Net loss for Q225 and year to date fiscal 2025 was $3.9 million and $8.4 million, respectively, a decrease of 46% and 41%, as compared to the prior year. The year-over-year decrease in net loss was primarily driven by the decrease in operating expenses noted above. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Combined cash, restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of October 31, 2024, was $2.2 million, as compared to $3.3 million at April 30th, 2024. Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended Q225 was $10.9 million, compared to $15.5 million for the same period in the prior year. This improved cash flow reflects the decrease in operating expenses noted above, partially offset by the payment of the earnout related to our autonomous vehicles business acquisition due to the business exceeding expectations CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST INFORMATION A conference call to discuss OPT’s financial results will be held on Tuesday December 17, 2024 at 9:00 AM EDT. Philipp Stratmann, CEO, and Bob Powers, CFO will host the call. The dial-in numbers for the conference call are 877-407-8291 or 201-689-8345. Live webcast: Webcast | Ocean Power Technologies FY2025 Q2 Earnings Conference Call (choruscall.com) Call Replay: Call replay will be available by telephone approximately two hours after the call's completion. You may access the replay by dialing 877-660-6853 from the U.S. or 201-612-7415 for international callers and using the Conference ID 13748550. Webcast Replay: The archived webcast will be on the OPT investor relations section of its website INDIVIDUAL MEETING INFORMATION In an effort to increase relations with institutional investors, OPT management has dedicated time to hosting individual meetings with portfolio managers and analysts. If you are interested in scheduling a meeting with OPT management, please contact: Email: InvestorRelations@oceanpowertech.com , or Call: 609-730-0400 x401 ABOUT OCEAN POWER TECHNOLOGIES OPT provides intelligent maritime solutions and services that enable safer, cleaner, and more productive ocean operations for the defense and security, oil and gas, science and research, and offshore wind markets, including Merrows, which provides AI capable seamless integration of Maritime Domain Awareness Systems across platforms. Our PowerBuoy® platforms provide clean and reliable electric power and real-time data communications for remote maritime and subsea applications. We also provide WAM-V® autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) and marine robotics services. The Company’s headquarters is in Monroe Township, New Jersey, with an additional office in Richmond, California. To learn more, visit www.OceanPowerTechnologies.com . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This release may contain forward-looking statements that are within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are identified by certain words or phrases such as "may", "will", "aim", "will likely result", "believe", "expect", "will continue", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "contemplate", "seek to", "future", "objective", "goal", "project", "should", "will pursue" and similar expressions or variations of such expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations about its future plans and performance. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions and estimates that could be inaccurate and subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from those anticipated or expressed in any forward-looking statement made by the Company. Please refer to the Company's most recent Forms 10-Q and 10-K and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. The Company disclaims any obligation or intent to update the forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to provide further interim updates in the future.

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Carbon Fiber Market 2024-2033: Production Analysis, Segmentation, Key Drivers And Top Players 11-23-2024 01:28 PM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: The Business Research Company Carbon Fiber Market Trends The Business Research Company recently released a comprehensive report on the Global Carbon Fiber Market Size and Trends Analysis with Forecast 2024-2033. This latest market research report offers a wealth of valuable insights and data, including global market size, regional shares, and competitor market share. Additionally, it covers current trends, future opportunities, and essential data for success in the industry. According to The Business Research Company's, The carbon fiber market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $4.69 billion in 2023 to $5.13 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to aerospace and defense applications, automotive industry adoption, wind energy sector growth, sports and recreation applications, expanding industrial applications.. The carbon fiber market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.16 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to continued aerospace and defense demand, increased electric vehicle production, advancements in renewable energy, innovations in sports equipment, infrastructure and construction projects.. Major trends in the forecast period include advancements in recycling technologies, development of high-performance composites, integration in 3d printing processes, rise in electric vehicles adoption, focus on sustainable sourcing and production.. Get The Complete Scope Of The Report @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/carbon-fiber-global-market-report Market Drivers and Trends: The growing automotive industry is expected to propel the growth of the carbon fiber market going forward. The automotive industry is a sector that encompasses numerous organizations and firms involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, selling, and maintenance of motor vehicles. Carbon fiber makes lightweight and high-strength vehicle body parts and components in the automotive industry, improving fuel efficiency, performance, and weight reduction in vehicles, particularly vehicles. For example, according to Asia Automotive Analysis, an online publication focusing on Asia's automotive industry, South Korea's automobile production in 2022 increased by 8.5% from the previous year to 3,756,491 units. Therefore, the growing automotive industry is driving the carbon fiber market. Technological innovations are a key trend gaining popularity in the carbon fiber market going forward. Major companies operating in the carbon fiber market are developing innovative technologies to strengthen their position in the market. For instance, in December 2022, Asahi Kasei Corporation, a Japan-based chemical company, developed a recycling technology for inexpensive, high-quality carbon fiber. This innovative recycling technology aims to implement a recycling system using recycled carbon fiber from automobiles to make new carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) or carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) for cars. It has made it possible to produce high-quality, reasonably priced CFRTP using recycled carbon fiber from cars. Additionally, it will reduce vehicle weight and save energy. Key Benefits for Stakeholders: • Comprehensive Market Insights: Stakeholders gain access to detailed market statistics, trends, and analyses that help them understand the current and future landscape of their industry. • Informed Decision-Making: The reports provide crucial data that support strategic decisions, reducing risks and enhancing business planning. • Competitive Advantage: With in-depth competitor analysis and market share information, stakeholders can identify opportunities to outperform their competition. • Tailored Solutions: The Business Research Company offers customized reports that address specific needs, ensuring stakeholders receive relevant and actionable insights. • Global Perspective: The reports cover various regions and markets, providing a broad view that helps stakeholders expand and operate successfully on a global scale. Ready to Dive into Something Exciting? Get Your Free Exclusive Sample of Our Research Report @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/sample.aspx?id=10773&type=smp Major Key Players of the Market: Toray Industries Inc.; Solvay S.A.; Nippon Graphite Fiber Co. Ltd.; Teijin Limited; Hexcel Corporation; Hyosung Advanced Materials Corp.; Mitsubishi Chemical Carbon Fiber and Composites Inc.; Formosa M Co. Ltd.; DowAksa; SGL Carbon SE; Zoltek Corporation; Zhongfu Shenying Carbon Co. Ltd.; Jiangsu Hengshen Co. Ltd.; Jilin Chemical Fiber Group Co. Ltd.; BASF SE; Covestro AG; Cytec Solvay Group; Toho Tenax Co. Ltd.; Kureha Corporation; Kordsa Teknik Tekstil A.S.; AKSA Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A.S.; Carbon Conversions Inc.; Carbon-Core Corp.; Carbon Revolution; Dexcraft; Kamenskvolokno JSC; Rock West Composites; Plasan Carbon Composites; ELG Carbon Fibre; Composites Horizons; Textum Inc.; PRF Composite Materials; Glass Corporation Carbon Fiber Market 2024 Key Insights: • The carbon fiber market will grow to $7.16 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. • Carbon Fiber Market Set To Soar With Growing Automotive Industry • Asahi Kasei Corporation Develops Recycling Technology For Inexpensive, High-Quality Carbon Fiber • Western Europe was the largest region in the carbon fiber market in 2023 We Offer Customized Report, Click @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/Customise?id=10773&type=smp Contact Us: The Business Research Company Europe: +44 207 1930 708 Asia: +91 88972 63534 Americas: +1 315 623 0293 Email: info@tbrc.info Follow Us On: LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/the-business-research-company Twitter: https://twitter.com/tbrc_info Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBusinessResearchCompany YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC24_fI0rV8cR5DxlCpgmyFQ Blog: https://blog.tbrc.info/ Healthcare Blog: https://healthcareresearchreports.com/ Global Market Model: https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/global-market-model Learn More About The Business Research Company The Business Research Company ( www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com ) is a leading market intelligence firm renowned for its expertise in company, market, and consumer research. With a global presence, TBRC's consultants specialize in diverse industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, chemicals, and technology, providing unparalleled insights and strategic guidance to clients worldwide. This release was published on openPR.India’s top maritime figures visit South Korea’s big three shipyards

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Corps of Engineers will look to save 150-year-old lighthouse from crumbling into the Hudson River2 excellent ASX dividend stocks to buy in JanuaryTwo men, including a Natick resident, were charged by federal authorities in Massachusetts related to a drone attack that killed American soldiers earlier this year, United States Attorney Joshua Levy announced during a press conference on Monday. “Earlier today, two men located nearly 4,000 miles apart, one here in Massachusetts and one in Milan, Italy, were arrested on federal charges filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts,” Levy said. “These two men, Muhammad Mahdi Sadeghi and Muhammad Abedini, have been charged in a 36-page criminal complaint.” The complaint charges Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi with conspiring to violate United States export laws designed to protect sensitive technologies. Abedininajafabadi was also charged with two counts of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization resulting in death. “We often cite hypothetical risk when we talk about the dangers of American technologies getting into dangerous hands. Unfortunately in this situation, we are not speculating,” Levy said. The complaint stems from an incident on Jan. 28, when in the northeast corner of Jordan, along the border with Syria, a U.S. military base called Tower 22 faced a drone attack that killed three American soldiers and injured over 40 more , Levy said. The Army Reserve soldiers killed in the attack were Sgt. William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett of Savannah, Georgia. “The FBI’s Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center was able to recover the drone that was used in that attack and, through their forensic work, they were able to trace the sophisticated navigation equipment in that drone used in the attack to Mr. Abedini’s company located in Iran,” Levy said. The federal government is seeking Abedininajafabadi’s extradition from Italy, with charges filed against him in Massachusetts, Levy continued. He and Sadeghi were charged with conspiring to violate and evade U.S. export laws, known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This law is designed to keep sensitive American technologies out of the hands of foreign powers that may cause harm to the United States. The two men violated IEEPA and other export laws between 2016 and 2024, Levy said, by unlawfully exporting technologies to Iran. Sadeghi, of Natick, works for a semiconductor company in Massachusetts, while Abedininajafabadi is from Tehran, Iran, and has connections with the Iranian government and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization associated with Hezbollah and Hamas. Sadeghi introduced Abedininajafabadi to his employer in Massachusetts, with Abedininajafabadi establishing a front company in Switzerland as a cover to “procure American technologies from Mr. Sadeghi’s employer to Mr. Abedini [to be] transmitted [to] his company in Iran,” Levy said. Items sent to the front company included unmanned aerial devices, including drones, Levy continued. The company was directly involved in the deadly drone attack on Tower 22, he added. “These charges today underscore that the Department of Justice will not cease in its effort to seek justice for service members who are killed and harmed overseas,” Levy said. “I commend the skilled investigators at the FBI and the Department of Commerce for their dogged work on this case... As a son of a combat veteran, I humbly hope that today’s charges bring some measure of justice and accountability to those families.” Speaking with reporters, Levy and FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen said investigators searched Sadeghi’s home in Natick following his arrest. Local police and FBI agents were seen outside a home in Natick Monday afternoon. MassLive reporter Hadley Barndollar contributed to the reporting of this story. More local crime stories

Skattebo and Arizona State to the playoff after 45-19 win over Iowa State in Big 12 title game ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Big 12 newcomer Arizona State will represent the conference in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Cam Skattebo ran for 170 yards and two scores while adding a touchdown catch the 12th-ranked Sun Devils beat No. 16 Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 championship game. The Sun Devils with 34-year-old head coach Kenny Dillingham are 11-2 after being the preseason pick to finish at the bottom of their new 16-team league. They have won six games in a row. Iowa State is 10-3, already the first 10-win season in the program's 133-year history. Boise State makes the College Football Playoff as Big 12's 1st-round bye chances dim INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The first big win in college football’s postseason goes to Boise State. The have Broncos captured the Mountain West Conference title and earned their spot in the sport’s first 12-team playoff. As for the losers, there was UNLV, which fell 21-7 to Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty and the Broncos in the conference title game. But more than that, it was the Big 12, which saw one path to a first-round bye in those playoffs blocked off by Jeanty and Company. Lindsey Vonn competes in a pair of downhills, another step on her comeback trail at the age of 40 COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn finished in the middle of the pack in a pair of lower-level downhill events as she competed for the first time in nearly six years. The 40-year-old Vonn is on the comeback trail after stepping away from the sport because of injuries. Vonn wasn't concerned with times and places in the races so much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races she had enough points to enter World Cup events. Man City drops more points after draw with Crystal Palace and Man United loses again Manchester City’s Premier League title defense has taken another blow after a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. Four-time defending champion City ended a seven-game winless run on Wednesday by beating Nottingham Forest. But City has dropped more points on Saturday after the draw at Selhurst Park. It could have been worse for City after Palace led twice. Pep Guardiola’s team is fourth in the standings and eight points behind leader Liverpool. Liverpool has a game in hand after its derby with Everton was postponed due to a storm. Amber Glenn becomes first US woman in 14 years to win figure skating Grand Prix Final GRENOBLE, France (AP) — Amber Glenn has become the first American to win the women’s Grand Prix Final competition since Alissa Czisny 14 years ago. Glenn landed a triple axel on her way to a total score of 212.07 points to beat Japan's Mone Chiba and triple world champion Kaori Sakamoto. That continues a stunning breakout season at the age of 25 for Glenn. The U.S. could win two more titles later Saturday. Ilia Malinin leads the men’s event ahead of the free skate and Madison Chock and Evan Bates lead the ice dance. Norris takes pole for season-ending Abu Dhabi GP and Hamilton 18th in Mercedes farewell ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lando Norris took pole position for the last Formula 1 race of the season alongside teammate Oscar Piastri to put McLaren on the verge of a first constructors’ title in 26 years. Norris’ last lap put him .209 of a second faster than Piastri, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. .020 further back. Seven-time F1 champion Hamilton qualified 18th for his last race with Mercedes after a bizarre incident wrecked his final qualifying lap. A plastic pole marking the inside of a corner was knocked loose by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas and Hamilton drove over it. Big 12's Yormark brings up hard choices for fans before sparsely attended title game ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — College football fans are facing some hard choices in the expanded playoff system with some teams set to play away from home multiple times. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark raised that point before the sparsely attended title game between No. 12 Arizona State and 16th-ranked Iowa State. There were thousands of empty seats at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Yormark says he remains committed to having a Big 12 title game. Besides the issues of fans, there have been suggestions that some leagues might be better off without title games as it relates to playoff hopes. Everton vs. Liverpool postponed because of Storm Darragh. Other Premier League games remain on LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool has been postponed because of Storm Darragh's dangerous winds and heavy rain on the west coast. The Met office says parts of Wales have experienced wind gusts of over 90 mph. The four other Premier League games Saturday remained on as planned. Manchester United will host Nottingham Forest at 5:30 p.m. local time at Old Trafford. The remaining games start at 3 p.m. local time. Aston Villa hosts Southampton and urged fans to use extra time to get to Villa Park in Birmingham. In London, Brentford will host Newcastle, and Crystal Palace will host Manchester City. Ashton Jeanty lets his play do the talking for CFP-bound Boise State BOISE, Idaho (AP) — After Ashton Jeanty streaked through the middle of UNLV’s defense on his way to a 75-yard touchdown run Friday night in the Mountain West Conference title game, he didn’t strike the Heisman pose. He didn’t even lobby for it after the game, instead letting his play do the talking in No. 10 Boise State's 21-7 victory over No. 19 UNLV 21-7. Jeanty added another 209 yards — his sixth game over 200 yards this season — to push his total to 2,497 — just 132 yards short of passing Barry Sanders’ FBS season rushing record. The Broncos earned a spot in the College Football Playoff with the victory. No. 24 Army wins AAC championship in first attempt as Daily runs for 4 TDs in 35-14 win over Tulane WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Bryson Daily rushed for four touchdowns to tie the American Athletic Conference championship game record, and No. 24 Army completed a perfect first season in the league by beating Tulane 35-14. Kanye Udoh rushed for 158 yards, including a 72-yarder to set up a Daily TD, and a score. Daily added 126 yards on the ground for the Black Knights, who overwhelmed AAC opponents with their bruising, clock-eating rushing attack during their first around the league, then ran it to perfection in the championship game. Army moved to 11-1. Daily had runs of 5, 3, 4 and 7 yards.