Portland Public Schools maps a 3rd way in the nationally charged debate over middle school algebraWhy C3.ai Stock Is Surging TodayNEWARK — After a recount, the results of a Newark City Council race have held, with Jactina Arteaga headed toward victory with a four vote advantage. By Friday afternoon, Arteaga had a 0.1% lead, with 6,446 votes to Julie Del Catancio’s 6,442 votes. The Alameda County Registrar of Voters manually recounted all of the race’s ballots by Friday afternoon and the results appeared to hold the same, an official said Friday. Tim DuPuis, the Alameda County registrar, said Friday that he personally made the decision to review the race’s results because it was within 10 votes of separation – the closest race in the county. The results of the recount appeared to hold, Dupuis said Friday. The only other tight race in the county, he added, was the Fremont District 6 council race where Raymond Liu had a 36-vote lead over incumbent Teresa Cox. At one point, the contest had been as close as 12 votes before more ballots were counted.Dupuis said he did not elect to recount that race. Arteaga received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cal State University, Hayward. She has previous experience as a child support officer for San Mateo County, in finance and public safety administration in San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe’s office and as an assistant agency director with the Social Services Agency. “Although it has been a roller coaster with the results these past few weeks, it is important that every vote gets counted. I’m glad the ROV is doing a manual count and I hope that I remain in the lead,” Arteaga said in a statement Friday before the recount was completed. “Either way the voters have spoken and we will have new leadership on the council beginning in December.” The latest campaign finance records show Arteaga raised $14,902 through October, mostly through small donations, including a $2,500 personal loan. She spent $5,820, largely on print ads and other campaign advertising materials. “It seems like what people really want to see is that they’re safe, that their families are safe, and that we’re responsible,” Del Catancio said in an interview Friday. “I feel like I’d fit in wholeheartedly because I really love Newark, I’m a long term resident here and I also work in the area.” Del Catancio received a law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law and a master’s degree in administration from the University of Kansas. She is currently a Newark planning commissioner and educator in the Newark Unified School District. “Win or lose, I feel like we put our heart and soul into it and we tried the best that we could. And so I think that it’s really up to the people,” Del Catancio added. “The fact is that in any race, you set out, you try your hardest, you meet the people and they make a decision. We’ll see how it goes, fingers crossed.” The registrar’s office expects to certify the Nov. 5 election results in December.vo casino 。

November 24 - John Parker Romo made a 29-yard field goal to lift the Minnesota Vikings to a 30-27 overtime win against the host Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon. Romo buried the game-winning kick in his third career game for Minnesota (9-2), which won its fourth game in a row. The score capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive for the Vikings after the Bears went three-and-out on the first overtime possession. Sam Darnold completed 22 of 34 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Vikings. Wideout Jordan Addison finished with eight catches for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown. The overtime defeat spoiled an impressive performance from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who completed 32 of 47 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns for Chicago (4-7). D.J. Moore had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Keenan Allen finished with nine catches for 86 yards and a score. Chicago erased an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime. Romo had put Minnesota on top 27-16 when he made a 26-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams trimmed the Bears' deficit to 27-24 with 22 seconds to go. He rolled right and found Allen wide open in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, and moments later he fired a strike to Moore for a two-point conversion. The Bears recovered an onside kick on the next play to regain possession at their 43-yard line with 21 seconds left. Cairo Santos' onside kick bounced off the foot of Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt, and Tarvarius Moore recovered it. D.J. Moore put the Bears in field-goal position with a 27-yard reception across the middle of the field, and Santos made a 48-yarder as time expired to even the score at 27-all. Minnesota led 24-10 after three quarters. Romo made a 40-yard field goal early in the third quarter, and Aaron Jones punched in a 2-yard run with 1:22 left in the period to put the Vikings on top by two touchdowns. Addison and Jalen Nailor each had receiving touchdowns in the first half for Minnesota. Roschon Johnson scored on a 1-yard run for the Bears' only touchdown of the first half. Chicago trailed 14-10 at the break. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabNone

(Image: Private Media/Zennie) One of the great things about becoming a parent is you learn you are not the lead character in your own life story. The best you can hope for is a supporting role. As your children grow older, you become a featured player, provide comic relief or maybe get the occasional non-speaking walk-on as someone’s butler or maid. Towards the end, you’re earning two dollars a day as a background extra and aren’t allowed to eat in the catering tent. At the beginning though, when your name’s still above the title, your job is to try and create an ideal world for those with whom you’re sharing the bill. At the same time you’re building this safe fairytale space where bad things don’t happen, you have to equip them with all the skills they’ll need to live in the world as it really is: a meaningless roundelay of happenstance that can only be made sense of by one’s actions (or distractions). That’s the trick with rearing children. You’ve got to keep them as innocent as possible without bedding in a naiveté that will render them crushed once they find out sunshine and lollipops give them skin cancer and diabetes. Da pacem, Domine: Why Trump is what democracy needs Read More Self-awareness is an essential part of the human condition, but you don’t want it turning up too early or it risks becoming self-consciousness. Realising that you are beautiful or not, smart or not, sporty or not, funny or not — this can ruin the person you might have become, especially if that realisation is the product of someone else’s judgment. Better to stumble across that sort of thing in private and deal with it than be buffeted about by public opinion while you’re working on getting a decent ATAR. The playground is a hard enough place without a video of yourself being stuffed into a bin doing the rounds on social media. In a playground you can at least see where the gate is; with social media there’s nowhere to run. You think the whole world is witnessing your humiliation and then reading the comments underneath. Of course, it isn’t the whole world at all, but you don’t know that when you’re a kid: it’s hard to take the long view on something when you’ve only seen 13 summers, the first three or four of which you can’t even remember. Fame or infamy is experienced by most of us from the outside looking in. Being a vaguely recognisable person on TV is a poor and distant cousin, so I can’t tell you what it’s like to be the object of everyone’s attention all the time, but I imagine it would get wearying, even if it’s adoring. I’ve had my share of people being unimpressed with something I’ve done on TV over the years — and not all of them have been network executives — but that has always felt like a rejection of my work rather than me as a person, so it’s easily shrugged off. Or so I pretend. The judgment of others, damning or propitious, for simply being rather than just doing , messes with your head when you’re a fully grown adult wandering about on Married at First Sight, let alone when you’re a child being made fun of because you posted a picture you liked of yourself in a dress your grandmother made for you. As T.S. Eliot said: “Humankind cannot bear very much reality”. I know I can’t stomach more than five minutes of it (particularly Married at First Sight ). A child deserves as much of an ideal and perfect world as we can possibly confect and maintain for them, so I’m all for being a chirpy Pollyanna until my kids are old enough to roll their eyes at me. They’re in their twenties now and I still think I’m getting away with it. And like the prayers everyone joins in on at the opening of the parliamentary day, I’m happy for our lawmakers to engage in some fiction here and there if it helps make for that Benthamite definition of good: the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. A snottily superior plea for tolerance Read More Now, the Elon Musks of this world (and there is at least one we’re certain of) will say that Australia’s proposed law compelling social media platforms to set up age-verification systems is a draconian stranglehold around the throat of free speech and, worse, “a backdoor way to control access to the internet”, like Musk said . They will point to X and Facebook and Instagram and TikTok and MySpace (my favourite) and say that these concatenations of code are today’s town squares and the marketplaces of free ideas. But are if you’re giving away ideas for free in a marketplace, you’re not going to cover your overheads. You need some margin. It may be old-fashioned to say so, but the best ideas are the ones you have to pay for, either by buying a book, forking out for an education or costing you dearly later because the idea came to you unbidden while you were bored in a cave one day, was about God and you started telling people about it (though if it really catches on, civilisation usually ends up attending to the account on your behalf). There’s also the question of nametags and friendly customer service. In an actual marketplace, it’s rare that a stall holder will be wearing a balaclava or spruiking their wares through a voice-altering microphone. Plus, the customer tends to visit the stall rather than have an algorithm make it appear in front of them unbidden so they end up getting annoyed and start fighting with the stallholder. Then there’s the behaviour of the other customers. In a real marketplace, people will visit the stalls and look at what’s for sale and politely enquire after this or that so they can make an informed purchase. There’s civility and courtesy between the potential customer and the balaclava-less, non-voice-altered stallholder. Customers rarely run through the market shouting abuse, asking sarcastic rhetorical questions and making incoherent declarative statements. Nor will they try and pass off a GIF of Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men as a counter-argument. To paraphrase something Sigmund Freud apparently never said about cigars: “Sometimes a meme of a dog going to the toilet is just a meme of a dog going to the toilet.” An opinion needs to have some rational underpinning to it for it to be worth anything. It also helps if the words are spelled properly, in the right order, and the whole thing is punctuated. If Clarence Darrow had employed the inarticulate sophistry of social media in his court cases, then Scopes’ monkey would be teaching bible studies in American schools today and Leopold and Loeb would still be writing their wonderful musicals. Labor gave the public one day to weigh in on teen social media ban. It got 15,000 responses Read More Ditto all this nonsense about freedom of speech. People forget (or more likely never knew because, according to some government-led enquiry into early childhood learning, lunchtimes are more important than an extra hour inside learning about civics) that freedom of speech is a right accorded you by society. It’s not some cosplay version of what we imagine our early hominid ancestors got away with when they came down from the trees. Yes, whoever yelled the loudest could be heard more, but someone sneaking up behind him with a rock probably got the final say. The unfettered expression of some brute instinct is curbed in exchange for the benefits of social cohesion. As a community, we say that individuals can say whatever they like providing it doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s ability to enjoy their other rights. Most of these are societal norms that have grown from the tolerance needed to facilitate commerce (the aforementioned civility, politeness and courtesy). There’s wriggle room there but then there are the laws that are more fixed in stone that cover things like defamation, racial vilification, sexual harassment, inciting violence, and even making gestures that remind people of certain things people might have said back in the 1940s. Now, because freedom of speech is a right given by society to the individual, its parameters are worked out by the stakeholders, viz. the individuals working in concert with each other for the common good, usually through those we voted for to act on our behalf in the various parliament houses across the land. If we’re in the minority in terms of what we believe is fit and proper to say in public then tough shit, the mob rules and you can go fuck yourself. That’s democracy. Of course, you have the right to voice your disapproval of how narrow or broad-minded the bulk of the people are being, providing you don’t use rocks (law) or yell over someone else when that someone else is talking (politeness). So, when people like Elon Musk (and indeed, Musk himself) bang on about how Judge de Moraes is suppressing freedom of speech in Brazil, or weighs in on Australia’s height requirement to go for a ride on the internet, we have to remember that neither he nor his company are actual stakeholders. Most of these companies aren’t corporate citizens of the countries for which they’re championing this freedom so vociferously (and usually on the very platforms under scrutiny). All they’re doing is fishing over the fence and complaining about the quality of the pond water. No registered office = no say in the matter. Of course, they can complain about it till their Bluesky in the face — that’s their right, but freedom of speech does not imply the right to be heard or listened to. That depends on the soundness of what is being said. A real town square where people can get up and have their say usually has a speaker’s corner. People take their turn and will gather around or drift away depending on what is being said, how and why it’s being said, and perhaps who is saying it. A few people are in the town square just to have their sandwich, others will engage with the speaker on their soapbox. But there’s an understanding that the occasional “Boo” or “Rubbish!” isn’t going to drown them out; and if it does, the others gathered about won’t allow it (convention). Social media bill shows liberalism has fled Dutton’s Liberal Party Read More Every square inch of the internet version of the town square has a soapbox on it and each person standing on one is holding forth on something that interests them or that they hope will encourage someone to yell “Boo” or “Rubbish!”. Those gathered around to listen are also on soapboxes, as are those just eating their sandwiches. Some have a loudhailer with a blue tick on it (for sale at popular prices), but there’s some debate about whether these items actually amplify the voices going through them or just make the user look silly. The thing is the people on the soapboxes aren’t making any allowance in delivery or arrogance for the fact that there are millions upon millions of others doing exactly the same thing; and that with so many soapboxes, everyone is on the same level. What they’re on is not a platform at all. If anything, they’re down in an orchestra pit where everybody’s trying to play Stockhausen’s “Licht: Die sieben Tage der Woche” . Lack of engagement causes a rush of dynorphins and even though you’re screaming into a void most of the time there’s still enough reverb for it to work well as an echo chamber. So, I’m all for our children not running amok in town squares and marketplaces by themselves, and despite my reservations about giving tech companies access to our birth certificates and possibly even our fingerprints (they no doubt have them already anyway), I support the further erosion of our privacy for us adults too, if only for that blissful period of transition where social media will have to close down while everyone’s age is authenticated. No-one will be able to post anything until the new systems are up and running and folks can get back to rolling hoops and running a stick along the palings of a neighbour’s fence to have their fun. It is my hope that when and if social media returns to colonise the remaining hinterland of our minds, it shall have to use everyone’s freshly authenticated real name and untouched non-Dall-E photo; no stallholder will wear a mask, voices will be identifiable, civility will return to our discourse, GIFs will be banished due to harsher penalties under copyright law, memes will be eradicated forever by some sort of state-mandated magnetic pulse and our children will at last be able to live for eternity in an ideal world where nothing bad ever happens and perhaps some sort of animated dog teaches critical thinking and civics so that when AI finally does rise up and achieve consciousness, our children can turn off our computers for us, make it all go away and take to the real world as fully rounded human beings. And solve global warming, obviously. Have something to say about this article? Write to us at letters@crikey.com.au . Please include your full name to be considered for publication in Crikey’s Your Say . We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.

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

NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --The global travel market size is estimated to grow by USD 5.50 trillion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 18.52% during the forecast period. Growing popularity of experiential travel is driving market growth, with a trend towards increasing international tourist footfall. However, threat from growing terrorism poses a challenge. Key market players include Accor S.A., American Express Global Business Travel GBT, Balkan Holidays Ltd., BCD Travel Services BV, Booking Holdings Inc., Carlson Inc., Corporate Travel Management Ltd., Expedia Group Inc., Fareportal Inc., Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd., G Adventures, JPMorgan Chase and Co., JTB Corp., MakeMyTrip Ltd., Marriott International Inc., Omega World Travel Inc., PT Global Digital Niaga, Traveloka, The Scott Travel Group Ltd., Travel Leaders Group Holdings LLC, World Travel Holdings, and World Travel Inc., Airbnb, Inc., Hilton Worldwide, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group. Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Market Driver Inbound tourism has experienced significant growth worldwide, leading to an increase in the number of tourists and demand for travel activities. Business travel, both international and domestic, is a significant contributor to this trend. The presence of numerous multinational corporations drives corporate visits, boosting the travel industry. Online travel platforms cater to the rising demand for travel activities from an increasing number of international tourists, primarily from North America , Europe , and the Pacific region. Government initiatives, such as improved connectivity through new airports, further fuel tourism growth. Overall, these factors are expected to expand the global travel market during the forecast period. The travel industry is experiencing significant shifts driven by trends such as the growing middle class population, heightened security and health concerns, and the increasing role of foreign tour operators and online platforms. Digital transformation is at the forefront, with tourists relying on online resources for trip planning, booking flight tickets and hotels, and even renting cars. Economic stability and leisure activities continue to be key motivators for vacations and holiday packages. The pandemic has created an acquisition opportunity for online travel agents, with promotional activities and new year holidays driving bookings. Mobile apps and holiday packages for international cities cater to elite travelers seeking new experiences in unexplored destinations. The luxury travel market remains strong, with a focus on security and personalized services. Overall, the online travel market is thriving, offering tourists convenience, affordability, and access to a world of new opportunities. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! Market Challenges Terrorist activities have grown globally since 2016, with the primary goal being to instill fear and alter people's behavior. An example is the bombing on January 1, 2023 , at a Kabul checkpoint near the commercial airport, resulting in injuries and fatalities. This incident directly affects industries like hotels and travel, as border clearances experience delays and stricter inspections. Furthermore, heightened security around oil and gas pipelines and electricity transmission lines leads to increased costs. Travel insurance and reinsurance also become more expensive. Consequently, the rise in terrorist activities may impede the expansion of the global travel market during the forecast period. The travel market faces various challenges in both the tourism sector and beyond. Micro trips are popular, but providing personalized services, reliable transport, and professional interaction remains crucial for customer satisfaction. Political stability is essential for business growth, especially for customized tours and private tours. Technological advancements, such as the adoption of IoT, impact airlines, cruise liners, hotels, and resorts. Natural disasters and stringent immigration policies pose risks. Business, sports, and cultural events drive domestic and overseas travel. Governmental support and infrastructural development are vital for addressing challenges like public transportation and accommodation facilities. Rapid globalization and the interconnected world increase competition, requiring technical integration and online booking platforms. Social media networks and influencer marketing influence travel decisions. Country revenue depends on addressing challenges like political instability, natural disasters, and stringent immigration policies. Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! Segment Overview This travel market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Transportation 1.2 Hotel 1.3 Travel activities 2.1 Leisure 2.2 Business 3.1 APAC 3.2 Europe 3.3 North America 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 Transportation- The Travel Market is a thriving industry that connects service providers with customers seeking unique travel experiences. It offers various opportunities for businesses to expand their reach and increase sales. By utilizing effective marketing strategies and providing exceptional customer service, companies can attract and retain customers. The Travel Market also encourages innovation and collaboration, allowing businesses to offer competitive prices and diverse offerings. Overall, it is a dynamic and profitable sector that continues to grow and evolve. Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics Research Analysis The online travel market has experienced significant shifts in the wake of the pandemic, with a growth in domestic tourism and an increase in bookings for New Year holidays. Mobile apps have become essential tools for travelers, allowing them to easily compare holiday packages, book flights, hotels, car rentals, and more. The adoption of IoT technology in the tourism sector offers new experiences and personalized services, creating opportunities for innovation. However, political instability, natural disasters, and stringent immigration policies pose challenges. The acquisition of smaller players in the online travel market presents opportunities for growth, particularly in the luxury travel market catering to elite travelers. Unexplored destinations and micro trips are also gaining popularity as travelers seek new experiences. Business and sports travel are expected to rebound as restrictions ease. Despite these trends, the tourism sector continues to face uncertainty and must adapt to changing consumer preferences and external factors. Market Research Overview The online travel market has seen a significant growth during the pandemic as people look for acquisition opportunities in the tourism sector. Domestic tourism has become a popular choice for travelers, leading to an increase in bookings for new year holidays. Mobile apps and online travel agents offer convenience for holiday packages, car rentals, and international city explorations. The luxury travel market caters to elite travelers seeking new experiences in unexplored destinations. Micro trips and personalized services are also in demand, as is reliable transport and professional interaction. Political stability, customized tours, and private tours are essential for some travelers, while others prioritize baby boomers, Gen X, and millennials' preferences. Technological advancements, such as the adoption of IoT, have transformed the industry, with online booking platforms, travel websites, and rapid globalization playing key roles. However, challenges such as political instability, natural disasters, and stringent immigration policies persist. Business, sports, and leisure activities continue to drive travel, with economic stability and infrastructure development crucial for the tourist industry's digital transformation. Online resources, flight tickets, hotels, and trip planning remain essential, with health and security concerns also influencing travel decisions. Foreign tour operators and online platforms cater to various tourist destinations, while influencer marketing, travel blogs, and user-generated content shape travel trends. Country revenue depends on public transportation, accommodation facilities, and the middle class population's growing demand for travel. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Sector Transportation Hotel Travel Activities Type Leisure Business Booking Type Mode of Travel Geography APAC Europe North America South America Middle East And Africa 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio

AP Top 25: Alabama, Mississippi out of top 10 and Miami, SMU are in; Oregon remains unanimous No. 1 Alabama and Mississippi tumbled out of the top 10 of The Associated Press college football poll and Miami and SMU moved in following a chaotic weekend in the SEC. Oregon is No. 1 for the sixth straight week and Ohio State, Texas and Penn State held their places behind the Ducks. The shuffling begins at No. 5, where Notre Dame returned for the first time since Week 2 after beating Army for its ninth straight win. No. 6 Georgia and No. 7 Tennessee each moved up two spots. Miami, SMU and Indiana round out the top 10. Jannik Sinner leads Italy past the Netherlands for its second consecutive Davis Cup title MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Jannik Sinner clinched Italy's second consecutive Davis Cup title and capped his breakthrough season at the top of tennis by beating Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (2), 6-2 for a 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the final of the team competition in Malaga, Spain. Matteo Berrettini won Sunday's opening singles match 6-4, 6-2 against Botic van de Zandschulp. The Italians are the first country to win the Davis Cup twice in a row since the Czech Republic in 2012 and 2013. The No. 1-ranked Sinner stretched his unbeaten streak in singles to 14 matches and 26 sets. Netherlands reached the Davis Cup final for the first time. Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 NEW YORK (AP) — 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, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He teamed up with Young for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and became a full supporter Donald Trump. St. Louis Blues fire Drew Bannister and hire Jim Montgomery as coach The St. Louis Blues have fired coach Drew Bannister and hired Jim Montgomery as his replacement. The 2022 Jack Adams Award winner, Montgomery joins the Blues five days after he was fired by the Boston Bruins. Bannister had been on the job in St. Louis for less than a year since succeeding Stanley Cup-winning coach Craig Berube and getting the interim tag removed after last season. The Blues have lost 13 of their first 22 games. Montgomery spent two seasons as an assistant on Berube's staff in St. Louis between coaching Dallas and Boston. The team signed Montgomery to a five-year contract. Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, dies at 85 Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball, the players’ association and the Braves have paid tribute to Carty on social media. A family friend told Listín Diario — a newspaper in Carty’s native Dominican Republic — that he died Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise’s first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Dartmouth sorority, two members of fraternity face charges after student who attended party drowned HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — A sorority at Dartmouth College and two members of a fraternity faces charges related to the death of a student who drowned after attending an off-campus party. The Hanover, New Hampshire police department, where Dartmouth is located, said Friday that Alpha Phi was charged with one count of facilitating an underage alcohol house. Two members of the Beta Alpha Omega face a charge of providing alcohol to a person under 21. Won Jang, 20, of Middletown, Delaware, had attended an off-campus party in July hosted by Alpha Phi sorority. Police said the alcohol was provided by Beta Alpha Omega. Tens of thousands of Spaniards protest housing crunch and high rents in Barcelona BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards are marching in downtown Barcelona to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living." The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States. The average rent for Spain has doubled in the last decade. In cities like Barcelona, rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Verstappen captures 4th F1 championship after Mercedes sweep of Las Vegas Grand Prix LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen cruised to a fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship Saturday night by finishing fifth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Verstappen needed only to finish ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren to give Red Bull a fourth straight driver championship. The Dutchman started fifth but was already up to second by the 10th lap around the street circuit that includes the famed Las Vegas Strip. Norris, who had to score at least three points more than Verstappen to extend the championship fight, finished sixth. The race was won by George Russell who was followed by Lewis Hamilton in the first 1-2 sweep for the Mercedes drivers since 2022. 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday. Jason Kelce's wife announces she is pregnant with the couple's fourth child Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce's wife is announcing she's pregnant with the couple's fourth child. Kylie Kelce posted a photo on Instagram on Friday of the couple's three young daughters reacting to the news. The oldest daughter, Wyatt, appears to be cupping her head in shock. The middle daughter, Ellioette, is smiling. The youngest, Bennett, is in tears. A caption attached to the photo reads: “I feel like we captured a very accurate representation of how each of the girls feel about getting another sister. At least Ellie, mom and dad are on the same page!”Water Ways Reports Share ConsolidationLAND rezoning must be done before any assessment can be carried out on the incinerator project in Batu Arang, Selayang. Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) deputy president Adi Faizal Ahmad Tarmizi said without rezoning the site from residential to heavy industrial use, necessary assessments on the traffic, social and environmental impact could not be carried out. “We are still waiting for the rezoning and the area to be gazetted. “The process may take up to a year as we need time to gather the site’s geological information. “Once the area has been gazetted, we will analyse the comments and objections from experts and stakeholders,” he said during the MPS full board meeting yesterday. He said the council was aware of opposition to the RM4.5bil project but procedures had to be followed. StarMetro had reported about concerns raised by the Jaringan Rawang Tolak Insinerator group. They had urged the state government to reject the MPS Draft Local Plan 2030 that included the project. On a separate matter, Adi Faizal said MPS would consider a proposal to turn Jalan Welman, Rawang into Selayang’s “Little India”. The proposal was made by Zone 16 councillor Anmuniandy Vellymalai during the full board meeting, who said by creating a “unique identity”, it could attract more tourists to Selayang. Adi Faizal said Jalan Welman has always been a trading hub for people of all races. “The road is especially lively during festivals. “During Deepavali, a majority of traders there are Indians and during Ramadan, the traders are Malays. “Therefore, the needs of all races must be considered when studying the proposal to turn the road into Selayang’s Little India. “For now, we will focus on maintaining cleanliness and beautifying the road with street art to make it more attractive,” he said.

Article content (Bloomberg) — FBI Director Christopher Wray announced he will resign before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, prematurely ending his historic and tumultuous tenure as head of the nation’s top investigative law enforcement agency. Recommended Videos Wray said in a speech to agency staff Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of Joe Biden’s term as president next month. Trump, who will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, made it clear he won’t keep Wray on as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, even though he’s serving a 10-year term that doesn’t end until 2027. Wray told the the agency’s workforce that stepping down is the “best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray.” “What absolutely cannot, must not change is our commitment to doing the right thing, the right way, every time,” Wray said, in a speech provided to reporters. “Our adherence to our core values, our dedication to independence and objectivity, and our defense of the rule of law — those fundamental aspects of who we are must never change.” Trump posted on his Truth Social network on Nov. 30 that he plans to nominate as FBI director Kash Patel, a loyalist who has pledged to overhaul the bureau and even said he would shut down the agency’s headquarters in Washington. Trump will be able to pick an acting director to serve until the Senate confirms his nominee. Trump chose Wray to lead the FBI in June 2017 after he fired then-Director James Comey, who launched the investigation into whether Trump’s campaign conspired with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election. The probe was later taken over by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. But Trump and his allies eventually turned on Wray and have repeatedly lambasted him for actions the FBI took that they didn’t approve of or for not taking certain actions that they wanted. “We will now restore the Rule of Law for all Americans,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday. “We want our FBI back, and that will now happen.” Meanwhile, Attorney General Merrick Garland praised Wray in a statement, saying he “has worked tirelessly to protect the American people and to lead an agency of 38,000 dedicated public servants, many of whom put their lives on the line every day to serve their communities.” Wray said in his speech that his “goal is to keep the focus on our mission.” He decried those who judge actions based on whether or not they liked the result. “That’s not how independence and objectivity work,” Wray said. “We’re not on any one side. We’re on the American people’s side. The Constitution’s side” Mild mannered and soft spoken, Wray, a New York City native, tried to steer the bureau away from political turbulence during his tenure. He replaced the bureau’s leadership when he took over as director and worked to stay out of the public spotlight as he emphasized the agency’s core missions of investigating corporate crime, espionage cases, cyber attacks and violent offenses. He also oversaw implementation of new restrictions on how analysts can search intelligence databases and obtain classified warrants. But Wray was never able to escape controversy. He came under heated criticism by conservatives when FBI agents carried out a court-authorized search of Trump’s Florida resort in 2022 to retrieve classified documents. His agents also participated in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s probe into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and investigated Trump supporters who attacked the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to stop the congressional certification of the election. The classified documents and election probes led to indictments of Trump. However, Smith had to dismiss the election case because of the Justice Department’s policy barring prosecution of a sitting president. A federal judge dismissed the classified documents case but the department wants to reinstate it without Trump. Wray also became the target of criticism by conservatives for an assessment generated by an FBI field office in Richmond, Virginia, in 2023 that warned of possible threats posed by “radical-traditionalist” Catholics. The assessment was withdrawn and Wray has condemned it, but critics have alleged without evidence that it represented an effort to persecute Catholics and conservatives over their beliefs. Meanwhile, Patel has vowed to carry out reforms to defeat what he calls “the deep state” in the FBI and elsewhere. In his book Government Gangsters, Patel endorsed calls to fire government employees who undermine the president’s agenda. “We must identify the people in government that are crippling our constitutional republic,” Patel told the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year.

Helen Flanagan treats children Delilah, 6, and Charlie, 3, to a day on the red carpet as they attend The Paddington Bear Experience in LondonAP News Summary at 5:18 a.m. ESTDaily Horoscope, December 30, 2024: Check Today's Astrological Prediction For Your Zodiac Sign

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Libyan military officials said Monday they apprehended hundreds of migrants traversing the country’s vast desert hoping to ultimately cross the Mediterranean Sea in pursuit of a better life in Europe. The 444 Brigade, a powerful militia group that operates under the auspices of the Libyan army, said in a statement that its patrolling commanders detained more than 300 migrants and referred them to authorities. The group in a post on Facebook condemned smuggling and human trafficking and said its patrols would continue efforts to block smuggling routes. It posted satellite images of the desert and pictures of what appeared to be migrants sitting in rows in front of armed and masked militants. The apprehensions come as Libya remains a primary point of departure for men, women and children from the Middle East and Africa aiming to reach Europe. Many are escaping war or poverty and many employ smugglers to help them negotiate treacherous deserts and sea routes. Roughly 38,000 people have arrived in Italy and Malta from Libya this year, according to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. The overcrowded boats used by migrants and smugglers are known to routinely capsize and a key priority for European leaders has been to encourage North African countries to prevent migrants from reaching the sea. But unlike in Morocco and Tunisia — where tens of thousands of migrants also attempt to pass through en route to the southern shores of Europe — fighting between rival governments in Libya has added additional challenges to migration management partnerships. Migrant apprehensions are rarely reported in Libya, though the country’s state news service LANA reported more than 2,000 arrests in July. plunged into turmoil after a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Since then, the country has been divided between dueling governments in the east and west, each backed by militias and foreign powers. Human traffickers have for years benefited from the political chaos. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in July said migrants in the country had been subjected to torture, forced labor and starvation while being detained.Popular Mozambique rapper Nikotina KF is rattled and stressed after facing police tear gas and rubber bullets just hours earlier but is determined to bring his voice to the youth-led protests running through his country. On the streets and in music videos that get thousands of views on YouTube, the 32-year-old musician is throwing himself into the waves of demonstrations that have gripped Mozambique since disputed October 9 elections. “I don’t think this is a political issue. It’s a social issue,” Nikotina told AFP on a busy street in Maputo’s rundown Mafalala neighborhood, his face tired and drawn after that morning’s protest dispersed by police. Rights groups say security forces killed dozens of people in youth-led protests called by opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who rejects results showing he lost the presidential election to the Frelimo party that has governed for nearly 50 years. “People already had the gunpowder; Venancio lit the fuse,” said Nikotina, whose real name is Higino Fumo. “People realize that one group of people has a lot and another has very little. This creates social divides.” The southern African nation has ample resources — including newly discovered natural offshore gas — but more than 70 percent of its people live in poverty, according to the African Development Bank. Around two-thirds of the population of 33 million is under 25, according to UN figures, and young people are most affected by unemployment or underemployment. The despair of Mozambique’s youth, for whom the election had held the promise of change, is the theme of Nikotina’s latest collaboration, “Pray for Mozambique”, which shows him selling loaves of bread in a humble market. “You want to make a living, but you end up losing it when a policeman takes your peace away,” he sings in Portuguese in the clip, which had nearly 100,000 views in the week after it was published in early December. “I can die for everything, but I won’t live for nothing,” he sings. At least to dream “I’m not mobilizing young people because of Venancio,” the rapper, who often wears his trademark baseball cap and a single earring, told AFP. “I’m using my influence to promote the fundamental right to demonstrate that is in the Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique.” It is a point he makes in “Artigo 51 Uma Aula De Direito” (“Article 51 A Lesson in Law”). “For me, the biggest problem of young people is lack of hope. It is important that the government creates mechanisms for young people to at least dream.” His message and music inspire a huge following of fans and he is regularly stopped in the street to sign autographs or take pictures. As long as there is no hope for a better future, young people will not give up the protests, said Zilton Macas, a 29-year-old barber in Maputo’s Maxaquene neighborhood that has become a demonstration hotspot. “We young people really lack jobs,” he said. “In the past 10 years, Mozambique has become a lion’s den where only some people are able to survive.” Juvencia Bila, 43, graduated more than a dozen years ago with a degree in environmental management but has only found work selling fast food. “You grow up being encouraged by your mum and dad to study to have a better future. I went to school and even looked for a job from an early age, but it came to nothing,” she said from her stall, her university graduation cap on her head. Wilson Lobo, 24, ekes out a meagre living as an agent for mobile wallet apps, a far cry from his plans for a better life that led him to leave his rural province of Zambezia. “We want a different government to see if the country is poor or if it’s the leaders who are making the country poor,” he told AFP. Power to the people Using his profile to speak out in Mozambique’s increasingly bitter standoff has led to threats against him and his family, Nikotina said. It is a mission to which he committed after the death in March 2023 of his idol Mano Azagaia, one of the most respected social justice rappers in Mozambique and other Portuguese-speaking countries. In front of a mural of Azagaia, whose 2008 “Povo no Poder” (“People Power”) has long been an anthem of anti-government protests in Mozambique, he raises a fist of solidarity. — AFP

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