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Furthermore, the Commission urged the public to report any misleading or false information to relevant authorities to prevent the spread of rumors and misinformation. They reassured parents, students, and the general public that the Tianjin government remains dedicated to providing quality education and support to all students within the city.

Celebrations are in order as two Chinese scientists have been named among the top 10 scientific figures by the prestigious journal Nature. This honor is a testament to their groundbreaking contributions to the field of science and their tireless dedication to advancing human knowledge and understanding.

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it “game-changing” for his state’s expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the amount of energy it would use — and whether it could lead to higher energy bills in the future. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city’s chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be “establishing operations in Memphis,” without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of seeking to lure big tech firms in need of energy-intensive data centers with tax credits and other incentives. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren’t enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company’s largest AI data center to date, he added. “We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level,” Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation’s largest utilities providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta’s data center over a 15 year period — nearly one-tenth of Entergy’s existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy’s proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta’s contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. “There’s no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they’re not going to use,” Hendricks said. “And we want to make sure that there’s safeguards in place.” Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisianians and views it as vital for his region. “It’s going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America,” Foster said. “I’m for it 100%.” Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated from Musk’s AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI’s south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with “a stunning lack of transparency” in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. “Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them,” he said, “and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made.” _____ Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. _____ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: Jack Brook And Adrian Sainz, The Associated PressBlack Friday Streaming Deals: Read the Fine Print First

MISTRAS Group Appoints Natalia Shuman as President and Chief Executive OfficerNEW 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.Wake Forest still experimenting ahead of Detroit Mercy gameMISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kruger Products Inc. (“Kruger Products”), a company in which KP Tissue Inc. (TSX: KPT) holds an equity interest, announced today that, after successfully starting-up its new tissue plant in Sherbrooke, Quebec, it is evaluating advancing the construction of its next tissue plant in response to increased market competition in the fast-growing ultra-premium segment. This proposed new plant would contain a state-of-the-art Through-Air-Dry paper machine along with three converting lines. The result of the evaluation is expected to be announced in early 2025. This decision is being made in support of the Company’s continued focus on growing its business, protecting market share, and continuing to offer high quality tissue products to customers across North America. About Kruger Products Inc. (Kruger Products) Kruger Products is Canada’s leading manufacturer of quality tissue products for household, industrial and commercial use. Kruger Products serves the Canadian consumer market with such well-known brands as Cashmere®, Purex®, SpongeTowels®, Scotties®, White Swan® and Bonterra®. In the U.S., Kruger Products manufactures the White Cloud® brand, as well as many private label products. Kruger Products has approximately 2,800 employees and operates ten FSC® COC-certified (FSC® C-104904) production facilities in North America. For more information visit www.krugerproducts.ca . About KP Tissue Inc. (KPT) KPT was created to acquire, and its business is limited to holding, a limited equity interest in Kruger Products, which is accounted for as an investment on the equity basis. KPT currently holds a 12.6% interest in Kruger Products. For more information visit www.kptissueinc.com . Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release about KPT’s and Kruger Products' current and future plans, expectations and intentions, results, levels of activity, performance, goals or achievements or any other future events or developments constitute forward-looking statements. The words "may", "will", "would", "should", "could", "expects", "plans", "intends", "trends", "indications", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "likely" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Kruger Products’ intention to construct a new tissue plant and its potential benefits. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on several assumptions, including regarding the availability of financing for a new tissue plant on acceptable terms. Although KPT and Kruger Products believe that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements since no assurance can be given that such expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct. Many factors could cause Kruger Products’ actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the following factors, which are discussed in greater detail in the “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Kruger Products’ Business” section of the KPT Annual Information Form dated March 7, 2024 available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca: Kruger Inc.’s influence over Kruger Products; Kruger Products’ reliance on Kruger Inc.; consequences of an event of insolvency relating to Kruger Inc.; risks associated with the ownership of the TAD Sherbrooke Project; risks associated with the operation of the TAD Sherbrooke Project; risks associated with the Sherbrooke Expansion Project; operational risks; significant increases in input costs; reduction in supply of fibre; increased pricing pressure and intense competition; Kruger Products’ inability to innovate effectively; adverse economic conditions; dependence on key retail trade customers; damage to the reputation of Kruger Products or Kruger Products’ brands; Kruger Products’ sales being less than anticipated; Kruger Products’ failure to implement its business and operating strategies; Kruger Products’ obligation to make regular capital expenditures; Kruger Products entering into unsuccessful acquisitions; Kruger Products’ dependence on key personnel; Kruger Products’ inability to retain its existing customers or obtain new customers; Kruger Products’ loss of key suppliers; Kruger Products’ failure to adequately protect its intellectual property rights; Kruger Products’ reliance on third party intellectual property licenses; adverse litigation and other claims affecting Kruger Products; material expenditures due to comprehensive environmental regulation affecting Kruger Products’ cash flow; Kruger Products’ pension obligations are significant and can be materially higher than predicted if Kruger Products Management’s underlying assumptions are incorrect; labour disputes adversely affecting Kruger Products’ cost structure and Kruger Products’ ability to run its plants; exchange rate and U.S. competitors; Kruger Products’ inability to service all of its indebtedness; exposure to potential consumer product liability; covenant compliance; interest rate and refinancing risk; and risks relating to information technology; cyber-security; insurance; internal controls; and trade. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made herein. The forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of press release and KPT undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. INFORMATION

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CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Rage Against The Regime: Iran on BBC2: Beaten, gunned down - the women willing to die for democracy in Iran By CHRISTOPHER STEVENS Published: 23:24 GMT, 4 December 2024 | Updated: 23:28 GMT, 4 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Rage Against the Regime: Iran (BBC2) Rating: Teenager Zaniyar feels no anger at the thuggish riot police who blasted his face with a shotgun and left him blind in one eye. It’s not that he forgives them, or understands why they acted with such brutality during a wave of protests in Iran that left more than 500 dead and many hundreds more maimed. Zaniyar, 18, who once dreamed of becoming a boxer, has eight pellets too deeply embedded in his head to be removed. The brain damage these caused, he says, left him unable to express emotion. He was one of multiple interviewees giving their testimony in the second part of the extraordinary documentary Rage Against The Regime: Iran. Some were blinded, others had lost loved ones or seen people murdered. One woman was shot in the arm at point blank range by a sadistic policeman who looked her in the eyes as he did it. The intent, she said, was to inflict injuries that would be a lifelong warning to her and other women: conform, or else. Zaniyar Tondro, shot in the eye during the 2022 protests in Iran, which began with the death of Mahsa Amini Zeinab Sahafy,Zeinab Sahafy, Iranian football fan. Zeinab had to disguise herself as a man in order to watch Persepolis FC Rage Against the Regime tells the story of those who survived antigovernment protests in Iran These stories should have been horrifying and depressing, and they were. But the lasting impact of the accounts, expertly compiled and set in the context of Iran’s political history by director James Newton, was to leave us with a sense of hope. So completely do the Ayatollah and his mullahs in Tehran control the messages coming out of Iran, it’s easy for the West to believe the entire country is a seething mob of fundamentalists dedicated to death and global war. Light Display of the Night: For the semi-final of Portrait Artist Of the Year (Sky Arts), host Stephen Mangan installed a chandelier the size and shape of a UFO in the studio. Sitting to be painted, actress Joely Richardson looked like she was about to get beamed up. Advertisement But these exiles, most of whom fled to avoid imprisonment for daring to protest and who now live in hiding, shared an unswerving confidence that the Islamic Republic was close to collapse — and that democracy would soon assert itself in one of the oldest civilisations on Earth. Women are the driving force of this change, precisely because they are so oppressed. The more that ordinary wives and mothers are beaten for failing to cover their hair with a scarf, or gunned down at bus stops for posting videos on social media, the more opposition grows to the 85-year-old ‘supreme leader’, Ayatollah Khamenei, and his morality police. ‘They manage to control everyone by controlling women,’ said Azam, who was forced into an arranged marriage after she fell in love with a man her own mother deemed unsuitable. Her husband beat her, punching her in the stomach so hard when she was pregnant that she almost lost her baby. But when she appealed for a divorce, her story was dismissed — because no one else had witnessed the assault. Some have killed themselves as a protest against the oppression. ‘Setting yourself on fire is actually easier than living in Iran as a woman,’ said a young activist named Kiki, sobbing. And another exile, who was also left blinded on one side of her face, declared: ‘One eye is enough to see the downfall of a dictator.’ The whole world wants to see that. Iran Earth Share or comment on this article: CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Rage Against The Regime: Iran on BBC2: Beaten, gunned down - the women willing to die for democracy in Iran e-mail Add comment‘World at dawn of third nuclear age’, armed forces chief warns

How to choose Safe Sustainable Soft Alternative Material (Overmolding Materials) to create competitive pet toys? 11-22-2024 11:36 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire The ancestors of dogs live by hunting and eating prey, although pet dogs don't have to do hunting or other work anymore, but they need to have another spiritual support, and playing with toys just meets this need of dogs. There is no doubt that all dogs love to play, but not all dogs know how to play with toys, and this is where we need to be guided. Choosing pet toys need to consider the issue from the pet's point of view, more about whether they like and love to play, the main need to consider the durability of the toy material, diversity, safety of these 3 factors. Pet toy materials, common choices such as silicone, non-toxic, can be sterilised at high temperatures, the product performance is more stable, but the cost of this type of material is high; PVC, the cost is cheap, but most PVC is still using phthalates such as DOP as plasticisers, and its toxicity mainly stems from plasticisers, long-term contact with pets will cause some harm to their health; TPE, TPU, will not be a costly. TPE, TPU, will not have the concern of high cost and toxicity and unsafe, but the touch and abrasion resistance and other aspects need to be upgraded. Compared to PVC, most soft TPUs and TPEs, Si-TPV Overmolding Materials [ https://www.si-tpv.com/si-tpv-safe-sustainable-soft-alternative-material-more-durable-solutions-for-toys-and-pet-products-product/]have a unique silky, skin-friendly feel and stain resistance, contain no plasticisers, are self-adhesive to hard plastics for a unique overmoulding option, and can be easily bonded to PC, ABS, PC/ABS, TPU, PA6 and similar polar substrates. This process not only provides a pleasant tactile experience for pets, but also improves durability. It is a Si-TPV with excellent bonding to polypropylene/High Tactile TPU Compounds/Dirt-Resistant thermoplastic vulcanizate Elastomers Innovations/ Safe Sustainable Soft Alternative Material. Safe Sustainable Soft Alternative Material, with innovative Plasticizer-Free Overmolding technology [ https://www.si-tpv.com/si-tpv-safe-sustainable-soft-alternative-material-more-durable-solutions-for-toys-and-pet-products-product/ ], can be a good substitute for Silicone Overmolding, and is a good Safe Sustainable Soft Alternative Material for Toys/Non-Toxic Material for Resistant to Biting Toys. Image: https://www.si-tpv.com/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/%E4%BC%81%E4%B8%9A%E5%BE%AE%E4%BF%A1%E6%88%AA%E5%9B%BE_17322615344929-circle.png 1. Enhanced Comfort and Safety: Soft-touch overmoulding provides a comfortable and gentle texture that adds to the overall appeal of pet toys. The silky, skin-friendly feel of the material ensures that your pet will not be uncomfortable or potentially harmed while playing with the toy; 2. Improved Durability: Durability is enhanced by overmoulding with Si-TPV Overmolding Materials. The added layer of material provides protection against damage caused by daily wear and tear, chewing and rough play; 3. Reduces dust attraction: non-sticky feel, dirt-resistant, free of plasticisers and softening oils, no deposits, no odours; 4. Noise reduction: many pets are sensitive to loud noises or squeaks from toys. si-TPV soft touch overmoulding can help dampen the sound, creating a quieter play experience and reducing stress for noise sensitive pets; 5. Aesthetics and Design Flexibility: Si-TPV Overmolding Materials [ https://www.si-tpv.com/si-tpv-safe-sustainable-soft-alternative-material-more-durable-solutions-for-toys-and-pet-products-product/ ] have excellent colourability, providing manufacturers with the freedom to create unique and visually appealing designs. So, if you need a soft covering material for pet toys that lasts longer, protects your pet's mouth better, is safe and non-toxic, and is soft and flexible to the touch, try Si-TPV Overmolding Materials, and upgrade your pet toys today and have fun like never before! For effective strategies to improve the soft covering of pet toys, contact us at amy.wang@silike.cn [mailto:amy.wang@silike.cn]. Media Contact Company Name: Chengdu Silike Technology Co., Ltd. Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=how-to-choose-safe-sustainable-soft-alternative-material-overmolding-materials-to-create-competitive-pet-toys ] Country: China Website: https://www.si-tpv.com/ This release was published on openPR.

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Phoenix's Giving Tree Cafe, known for its entirely plant-based offerings and recognized as the Best Vegan Restaurant in the Valley in 2020, is set to close its doors on December 28, marking the end of a five-year journey. The health-conscious eatery situated on Seventh Street near downtown Phoenix served organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free meals, purifying its ingredients with reverse osmosis water and banning processed sugars and seed oils from its kitchen, an ethos that made it stand out as a culinary health haven for vegans and vegetarians alike, according to Phoenix New Times . David Warr, owner and chef of Giving Tree Cafe, expressed his gratitude on social media, stating, "We treasure the shared experiences with you all and appreciate all your support through the years," further reflecting on the cafe's role in providing not only bodily nourishment but also, what he hopes was, sustenance for the soul, Phoenix New Times noted. Meanwhile, in Southern California, another plant-based initiative by Kevin Hart called Hart House shuttered all its locations overnight on September 10, a surprising turn considering the chain's goal to offer affordable vegan fast-food alternatives and its strategic establishment of stores in competitive fast-food landscapes including Westchester and Hollywood Boulevard. Despite the fervor to promote a vegan lifestyle and construct a quick-service alternative to meat-centric chains, Hart House abruptly ceased operations, Andy Hooper, Hart House CEO, expressed his appreciation for a community that embraced their mission, with an acknowledgment to Eater , "The response to the product has been incredible, and we thank our committed team, our customers, and our community partners for helping make the change we all craved, and for their unwavering support of Hart House."AP News Summary at 4:06 p.m. EST

Australia is banning social media for people under 16. Could this work elsewhere — or even there?MrBeast reveals first thing Elon Musk said to him when they metKane hat trick against Augsburg hides Bayern's concerning lack of goals

Farage: Badenoch must apologise for ‘crazy conspiracy theory’ on Reform numbers

A man in Albania was arrested after allegedly breaking into a bank and knocking its front door down while streaming on TikTok. On December 21, a man reportedly went live on TikTok and broadcasted himself breaking down the door to a bank in Korça, Albania. According to Telegrafi , the man, later identified as 38-year-old Valter Xhellillari, forcibly entered the bank at around 10:05 PM and stayed there for a bit without being able to take anything, as he escaped when the alarm started going off, alerting not only police, but security in the building. However, the authorities soon began to investigate and track down the man, with two agencies working together to catch and identify him. Man claims he was ‘too intoxicated’ to remember breaking into bank on TikTok Newsbomb reports that the man had entered the bank with the intent to rob it. After checking out the security footage, they noticed he held a phone in his hand and was recording the incident on TikTok. The police eventually discovered the man’s identity and searched areas where he could have taken refuge without any luck. Not giving up, police were stationed outside his apartment and watched it in case he returned home. Sure enough, three days later, Xhellillari showed up and was immediately handcuffed by officers, but the accused claims he had no idea what happened. When he was arrested, Xhellillari said he was ‘too drunk’ to remember ever breaking into the bank or the entire day’s events, including streaming the alleged bank break-in on TikTok. Nonetheless, the case was sent to the Prosecutor’s Office for further action. Related: This is hardly the first time an alleged crime has been posted to a video platform. In November, a Florida woman was arrested for shoplifting after posting a video showing her Target haul on TikTok . Earlier in 2024, street racer Squeeze Benz was arrested for numerous social media stunts, including a video where he allegedly eluded the police at high speeds . Authorities also found clips of the creator “committing various traffic violations throughout the Tri-State area.”U.S. government agencies held a classified briefing for all senators on Wednesday on China's alleged efforts known as Salt Typhoon to burrow deep into American telecommunications companies and steal data about U.S. calls. The FBI, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, the National Security Council and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency were among the participants in the closed-door briefing, officials told Reuters. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden told reporters after the briefing he was working to draft legislation on this issue, while Senator Bob Casey said he had "great concern" about the breach and added it may not be until next year before Congress can address the issue. Republican Senator Rick Scott expressed frustration with the briefing. "They have not told us why they didn't catch it; what they could have done to prevent it," he said. Chinese officials have previously described the allegations as disinformation and said Beijing "firmly opposes and combats cyberattacks and cyber theft in all forms." Separately, a Senate Commerce subcommittee will hold a December 11 hearing on Salt Typhoon and how "security threats pose risks to our communications networks and review best practices." The hearing will include Competitive Carriers Association CEO Tim Donovan. There is growing concern about the size and scope of the reported Chinese hacking into U.S. telecommunications networks and questions about when companies and the government can assure Americans over the matter. A U.S. official told reporters a large number of Americans' metadata has been stolen in the sweeping cyber espionage campaign, adding that dozens of companies across the world had been hit by the hackers, including at least eight telecommunications and telecom infrastructure firms in the United States. "The extent and depth and breadth of Chinese hacking is absolutely mind-boggling — that we would permit as much as has happened in just the last year is terrifying," Senator Richard Blumenthal said. Incoming FCC Chair Brendan Carr said Wednesday he will work "with national security agencies through the transition and next year in an effort to root out the threat and secure our networks." U.S. officials have previously alleged the hackers targeted Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Lumen and others and stole phone audio intercepts along with a large tranche of call record data. T-Mobile said it does not believe hackers got access to its customer information. Lumen said there is no evidence customer data was accessed on its network. Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg, AT&T CEO John Stankey, Lumen CEO Kate Johnson and T-Mobile took part in a November 22 White House meeting on the issue. Verizon said "several weeks ago, we became aware that a highly sophisticated, nation-state actor accessed several of the nation’s telecom company networks, including Verizon" adding the incident was focused on a very small subset of individuals in government and politics. AT&T said it is "working in close coordination with federal law enforcement, industry peers and cyber security experts to identify and remediate any impact on our networks." CISA told reporters on Tuesday that it could not offer a timetable for ridding America's telecom networks of all hackers. "It would be impossible for us to predict when we'll have full eviction," CISA official Jeff Greene said.

It 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!

Trump names billionaire private astronaut as next NASA chief

UC Santa Cruz innovators recognized for impact at 2024 Santa Cruz Works Titans Awards1. A daily planner to help you track school schedules, chores, and even your water intake! Thanks, A-types, for finding a way to keep the house clean *and* stay hydrated...with a planner. Each planner comes with 50 tear-off sheets the size of a standard piece of paper. Promising review: "Bought this last week. Love the set up. I can begin in the morning and then reflect at night. It covers everything from what you're grateful for to what you ate that day. I will definitely be using these for a long time!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!" — Chloe Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ . 2. A pumice cleaning stone for saving your toilet bowl from a bleak existence. Over 17,000 reviewers have given this a 5-star rating for getting rid of their harsh hard water stains from rust, lime, and calcium — sans harsh chemicals. Promising review: "I have very hard water that leaves hard-water buildup and nasty stains. It’s embarrassing to have guests over because the toilets are so gross! I have tried so many products and cleaning solutions — from natural essential oils to harsh chemicals so strong I was lightheaded for the rest of the day. Well, I tried out this pumice stone after reading about it in a BuzzFeed article, and honestly the hype is real! It does take some elbow grease, but the after picture is from only 20 minutes of scrubbing, light enough that I didn’t break a sweat! The stone does get used up, but I think this one should last me a couple years at least. So if you have embarrassing toilets, try this! " — Stephanie Ray Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (also available in a pack of two and four). 3. A touch-up paint pen that'll soothe your soul if that one scuff mark on your wall has been MOCKING you for weeks now. Yes, trying to put up a shelf on your own ended in disaster. Thank you for reminding me, scuff mark! Slobproof is a woman-owned small business. Promising reviews: "Works great, no mess! This was easy to use to touch up our son's bedroom corner walls." — Elizabeth "Love this — absolutely perfect for touchin' up little spots that need touchin' up. I have several sets filled with different paints, and so far, they've stayed usable without the paint drying out. I rinse the brush really well after each use (latex paints) and recap it. It would be nice if the manufacturer put an area on the pen where you could easily label the paint info, but I use a permanent marker, and it works okay." — Hooked on AMZN! Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in two pack sizes). 4. A ChomChom pet hair remover roller — this is gonna pick up fur and lock it inside the roller, making cleanup a breeze. Plus, it doesn't lose its effectiveness with heavy use. We love our pets but woof, shedding is their greatest skill. Promising review: "I have a golden retriever and the shedding is out of control. My fabric sofa is constantly covered in hair and I finally decided to try this after reading an article about popular TikTok products. The reviews do not lie, this thing works magic!! I wish I had taken a before and after picture because the difference is noticeable. I watched the video tutorial before I tried it to ensure I was using it properly and everything he says is true, you do really have to put your arm to work with vigorous back and forth movement! However I find it's a great arm workout and it works wonders." — Joanne Ertel Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in three colors). 5. A bottle of Better Life all-natural tile and tub cleaner that'll banish soap scum, mold, mildew, rust, and hard-water stains from tired, worn-down tiles. Promising review : "I have an old shower/bathtub. I tried name-brand shower cleaners and bleach to try and clean the soap scum off the tiles and tub. I had no luck and I would cough and get sick because of how strong the smell was. I thought I would try this to save my lungs. I sprayed my entire shower and left it for about 15 minutes. I came back and rinsed off the walls and they were shiny! I've never had such a clean shower. The smell is amazing and subtle. All I smell is tea tree and it didn't affect me at all. The price is also a good deal since the bottle is pretty large. It came with the sprayer separate and the bottle sealed so it wouldn't leak in the box. I highly recommend this." — Amber Erwin Get a pack of two from Amazon for $15.99 . 6. A set of reusable microfiber mop pads so you don't have to worry about running out of disposable pads right when you need them most. Save some time and money with these extra-thick microfiber versions! They can be used wet or dry and on basically every type of flooring and even drywall if you're so inclined. Since they can be thrown in the wash, one microfiber pad can replace up to 100 single-use pads. Promising review : "Just used these for the first time with my Swiffer WetJet , and I gotta say I am impressed! Went on easily and cleaned the floors easily! I always hated the one-time-use pads and never felt like they got my floor clean. This review is NOT sponsored, I bought these with my own money because I’m sick of single-use products. Seriously, buy these now!!! " — AKGross Get a set of two from Amazon for $18.99 . 7. A Bissell multipurpose carpet and upholstery cleaner — this spiffy (and portable!) system uses warm water and a special formula to save the day when slips turn into spills, which turn into stains. Each cleaner comes with a trial size of Bissell's Spot & Stain Formula , which is also available on Amazon for $16.99 ! Promising review : "I have four expensive fabric-covered chairs in my kitchen dining area that were long overdue to be cleaned and were so heavily soiled that I wasn't sure even a good cleaning would help. I researched all the available portable cleaning machines and this seemed to be the one with the best ratings and recommendations. I was amazed at the results when I used it on the chairs. Years of ground-in dirt and grime came out easily, and when I looked at the solution that was vacuumed out it was the color of dark chocolate. I did a second cleaning and then used a spray bottle to apply clean water to rinse. Honestly, the chairs looked so good even my son was so impressed he bought one. I want to add that I am very close to eighty. and I had no problems operating it. I highly recommend it, and I rate it five stars plus!" — Kathleen Petro Get it from Amazon for $120+ (available in three versions) 8. A silverware cubby for upgrading your currently cluttered utensil drawer. This space-saving solution practically flat packs your flatware. I use this in my kitchen! I have to admit...it hasn't exaaactly helped with organization. What it *has* done is created a neat and orderly spot for my utensils...opening up a ton of extra drawer space for my unruly stash of pens, bouillon cubes, drink flavor packets, and the like. Long story short — I recommend this for tidy and messy folks alike! Promising review: "We were short on storage and drawer space and this worked perfectly for our tiny drawer!" — Angela McMichael Get it from Amazon for $9.69 . 9. A jar of The Pink Stuff (the internet's favorite cleaning product) that'll clean everything from pots and pans to blotches in your bathtub. Move over firefighters, I want a calendar of THIS sexy stuff and its shiny results. Promising review: "I used this product for my stove because it's one thing I dislike cleaning. I have used different degreaser sprays and they all are so toxic and don't work for me. The Magic Eraser was okay but I used several at a time and I had to scrub so hard . But this product oh my goodness, legit a miracle. It doesn't have any type of smell . I put the paste on a cloth, clean the area then wipe it off with a damp cloth and voilà, magic!" — May Get it from Amazon for $5.97 . 10. A TBH *too* nice Tineco 2-in-1 cordless vacuum and mop created to both vacuum and mop at the same time. Unlike our old dummy mops, this robot has a separate tank that stores the dirty water, and it retains 90% of the stuff, so your floors will be clean and dry in just minutes . It also self-propels so you just need to steer, no hard pushing! Promising review: "I confess I can be a lackadaisical housekeeper, which is problematic since my new dog sheds enough in a week for me to build an entirely new dog. What's worse, vacuuming doesn't pick up a lot of his fur. This Tineco is magic, though. Not only does it pick everything up (dust, fur, hair, crumbs, Nature's Miracle, errant Cheerios), but because the wheels are motorized, vacuuming/mopping is a breeze. I get exhausted using my canister vac, but this thing is a blast to use. Here is what I've learned: I always use the 'extra water' feature, which seems to work better. I clean the dirty water holder and parts every time I empty it, and I run the self-clean cycle after every second emptying session. This means I can do my primary bath and my 10x12 TV room before self-cleaning and recharging for a little bit. Or I can do my kitchen, entryway, and hall before self-cleaning, or my living room. In other words, you're not going to do your whole house on one battery charge or without running the self-cleaning feature several times. Of course, the reason you have to run the self-cleaning so often is because this little beauty is picking up So. Much. Stuff. It's magic. If it broke tomorrow (and I don't think it will break for a very long time), I would buy another. " — Tsippi Get it from Amazon for $259.99+ (available in three styles). 11. A set of microfiber cloths that'll provide a 100% lint- and streak-free finish, because what's the point of cleaning clear surfaces if you're stuck with streaks after all your hard work? Thanks to these, that'll never be the case again. They're great for windows or any glassware, too! Promising review : "I couldn't get my windows clean using cleaning solution, newsprint, and a lot of elbow grease. There were always streaks and dirt left behind. Enter these things. One quick cleaning, and I do mean quick, and my windows are now cleaner than any windows I've ever cleaned. It's simply amazing. We were all standing around in utter shock and delight before running around trying the cloths on other stuff: the TV, the picture glass, etc. I know it sounds corny, but I couldn't wait to get up this morning, because I woke up in the middle of the night excitedly thinking about trying it on the car today. They are truly, truly amazing." — Xena the Warrior Mama Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $15.98 . 12. A fabric defuzzer is gonna clean up sweaters, sofas, and other aging fabrics that have been a real ~pill~ lately. The battery-operated model requires two AA batteries , not included. Promising review: "Okay, I don’t normally rave about things like this. I bought this on a whim in a last attempt to save my favorite duvet cover. The pills had gotten to the point where it was seriously uncomfortable to sleep with them getting all up in my leg space. I thought I was going to have to get a new duvet cover entirely. Along came this lil' baby. Not only is my duvet cover basically brand new, but I have found a new hobby. I’m depilling everything. Sweatshirts, leggings, blankets, socks, anything that looks like it needs some love. It does the job quickly and leaves everything looking fresh. Hi, I’m obsessed. I can’t stop. I should send this back. I’ve started asking if my neighbors need anything depilled. I’m going to buy one of these for everyone in my life. Everyone needs to own this. Take it away from me." — Sydney Jensen Get it from Amazon for $12.69+ (available in six colors and two styles). 13. A customizable set of plastic storage cubes that'll snap together and create a perfect storage masterpiece, no matter where you place them. Promising review: "I used to have a two-tier metal rack that was nowhere near enough storage space and there were always shoes all over the floor. I put this together in a rather short while and now my closet is clean! Totally love this because it is so spacious and you can build it in any shape you want. " — Mama D Get a 16-cube set on sale from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors). 14. A CovoBox that's hollow on the inside, so you can cover your Wi-Fi router with elegant "books" instead of leaving it out on display. What a *novel* idea! Before adding this to your cart, you have the option to customize it, including selecting from 14 lengths and 15 colors (including custom colors). The CovoBox is made from reclaimed books and sustainable wood. BTW — Covogoods is a small family-owned business creating home decor in Utah! Promising review: "I’m pretty sure I’ve never loved a purchase from Amazon as much as I love this one. This product is EXTREMELY well made and very unique. Plus, it does the job of hiding the ugly routers and cords. And the customer service was great and responsive. I was a little hesitant to spend the money on this but after years of living with the husband’s pile of technology, the money was well spent!" — AmazonEmme Get it from Covogoods on Amazon Handmade for $29+ (available in customizable sizes and colors). 15. An over-the-door organizer with clear pockets sure to make finding things (whether in your pantry, garage, or bathroom) as easy as it is to put them back in their place — keep that tidy flow going! Promising review: "Great for organizing the pantry, craft rooms, and bathrooms. Finally have a way to keep all the junk off my counters. The pockets are huge, the hooks leave a low profile (so no issue with scratching), and it seems very sturdy for holding all my junk so far (it's mostly holding way too many hair products in my bathroom at the moment). I love that this is clear so you can see everything ." — Breanna Get it from Amazon for $14.87 (for a two-pack). 16. A hanger stacker for keeping you from making a mess if you like to hang onto hangers. Promising review: "I grew tired of throwing my empty hangers into a pile in my closet. They would get all tangled up and really frustrated the heck out of me every time I had to put away clothes! This hanger stacker seemed like an easy solution and boy, was I right! It assembles really easily (just two screws and an Allen wrench) and it is good at keeping my hangers organized. Buy one — you won't regret it!" — Bubbles456 Get it from Amazon for $31.38 . 17. A clever storage cube so you can keep 96 pens, pencils, markers, brushes, and other tiny tools upright and organized. Promising review: "I love everything about this. It's perfect for my desk. I'm an artist, and I bought two for all my markers. It's lightweight, very classy-looking, and the price is great. I put one on each end of my desk. They're small but hold so many markers or pencils." — Sherrie Stone Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in two styles). 18. A nontoxic leather conditioner that'll bring your beloved leather reading chair back to life. All you need is a thin spread of this spiffy conditioner and you''ll be g2g! Now, what page did you leave off on? Promising review: "I use this for my everyday boots, as well as my dress shoes. I'm not always gentle with my boots and I thought I had ruined them the other day (worn out color, scuffs all over), but I cleaned the muck off, gave them a brushing, then applied this leather honey and after letting it sit, my boots look almost like the day I bought them! It keeps the leather supple and restores color. You only need to use a small amount per use!" — David H Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in three sizes). 19. A sock and underwear organizer to make sure your ~drawers~ are organized. Promising review: "I LOVE LOVE LOVE these organizers!! I almost did not purchase them due to the reviews saying that larger than a C-cup would not fit into the bra organizer. At just $15 for four organizers I took my chances and ordered two sets of four. I figured, worst case scenario I would have to cut the dividers out of the bra organizers. I wear a 32DD and the bras fit beautifully in the organizers. I am so glad I took the chance and did not listen to the reviews. I would have missed out on the best cheapest organizers I have ever found. I ordered another set for tank tops and other extras I did not think of before. I will also order my boyfriend the brown ones for his drawers . Great product for a great price!" — Elizabeth L. Blackwell Get a four-pack from Amazon for $13.87 (available in seven colors). 20. A 10-piece set of drawer organizers so that even the hidden parts of your house look like perfection. Promising review: "I needed to organize all the stuff that ends up in the bathroom vanity cabinet. These were perfect in every way . Being clear it is easy to see what is in each bin. Assorted sizes made it easy to sort out what I had and make best use of the space. The bins are beautifully made and look great on a shelf, in a drawer, in a cabinet, or even on the countertop. I would definitely buy again and have already suggested them to my friends. Happy to find quality products that are Made in the USA!" — Linda Get the 10-piece set from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in three set sizes). 21. A towel holder you can mount on the wall to give your bathroom a spa-worthy vibe while making sure your fresh towels are not confused for (egads!) used ones. Promising review: " Absolutely love these! We have extra large towels and these racks hold them perfectly when rolled up! It's such a great modern style and gives the bathroom a great look. They are sturdy and come with wall anchors as well. Will be buying another set of these for our other bathroom, and perhaps another for the dining room for some wine bottles! Don't even have to think twice before buying these!" — Erin Cech Get it from Amazon for $27.99 . 22. A stainless steel cleaner for wiping up grease, stains, and fingerprints faster than you're able to say "cleaning the sink sucks." Turns out, it doesn't have to with this stuff. This stainless-steel cleaning spray also comes with a handy dandy microfiber cloth. Promising review: "This cleaner doesn’t leave a residue and actually works! Highly recommend!!" — Courtney B. Get it from Amazon for $19.95 . 23. A cabinet door organizer so your awkwardly shaped plastic wrap and cutting boards won't get left out when your kids can't find an obvious place to put them. Promising review: "This organizer is so useful! I recently moved and ended up with a much smaller kitchen, so I've been doing everything I can to make sure there's a place for everything and no wasted space. Luckily, I have pretty wide cabinets, so this works out perfectly. I have one holding my cutting boards (four standard plastic boards) and another holding my foil, cling wrap, and parchment paper boxes. The organizer is super easy to assemble and it's completely versatile. Hang it over the cabinet door or attach it to the wall/cabinet door, which means it's great for renters and owners. " — Kerry Get it from Amazon for $17.97 . 24. A touchless vacuum — go ahead and throw that dust pan in the GARBAGE where it belongs. You will no longer have to bend and snap every time you sweep. Bless. Promising review: " 10/10, would recommend . Got this initially for cleaning up the hair in my salon. It works perfectly! I love it. It’s so easy. This is AMAZING!!" — Alyssa Get it from Amazon for $199 (available in five colors). 25. An ultra-thin socket cover with an attached six-plug power strip to help your furniture actually sit directly against the wall, thank you very much. Promising review: "This product is awesome! We bought one in the office to stop a nearby chair from continuously hitting the outlet plugs. It solved the problem right away. So we ordered three more to use anywhere there is bulk on the wall. It saves space, makes arranging furniture and desks easy, it's clean looking. Someone is a genius. Thanks so much!" — Jay Get it from Amazon for $24.95 . 26. A set of shelf dividers that'll make stacking your folded laundry a much neater process. Promising review: "I love these! I just have a shelf on top of my closet. I keep my leggings there. These dividers separate the leggings and make everything so much more organized. I’m buying more to do my linen closet! You need these! " — Lynn Blue Get a pair from Amazon for $17.99 . 27. A set of hidden magnetic locks that install in seconds with tape to keep your pint-sized cat burglar from breaking into your secret candy stash (and thus, leaving wrappers *everywhere*). The set comes with 12 locks (with strong 3M double-sided tape on the back) and two keys. Promising review: "These are awesome! I spent hours with a drill and screwdriver installing push down locks on cupboards five years ago. I now have another crawling baby, and those ones are all broken. I was dreading installing new ones and saw these. They literally go on in seconds, the bracket means it lines up perfectly, and the adhesive is strong! My older kids think the magnet key is super fun. Baby stays out of the chemicals, and I put one on the trash door, so the dog stays out of the trash so everyone gets to live longer. Win-win. I also love that you can 'turn' them off and on, so when my kids are bigger, we can flip the switch, but if little kids were visiting, we could put them back on." — Joseph J. Krakker Get a set of nine from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in five pack sizes). 28. An extra-large dry erase calendar so everyone in your family is able to see *exactly* what is going on each day. You've managed all their schedules to a T and all they need to do is look at them . Promising review: "I got this to replace my old dry erase board that was a lot smaller and I needed a bigger one to fit the space above my desk. The day squares are large enough to write many things in them if you need to. I definitely would recommend purchasing a frame so it’s easier to take down (just a suggestion).' — Klair Get it from Amazon for $25.99 . You, after realizing how easy these products make organization IRL: Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.3 sections of roulette wheel 。

In this article AMZN Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman delivers a keynote address during the AWS re:Invent conference in Las Vegas on Dec. 3, 2024. Noah Berger | Getty Images In 2022, Amazon introduced the Buy with Prime button, allowing premium subscribers to make purchases using their Amazon account even when shopping on other websites. Now the company is bringing a similar concept to its cloud-computing business. At its Reinvent conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Amazon Web Services said a new Buy with AWS button will be available for cloud software partners to embed on their sites as a way for customers to pay. AWS is the leading provider of cloud infrastructure, ahead of Microsoft and Google , reeling in over $100 billion in revenue in the past four quarters. Prominent cloud software vendors like Databricks, Wiz and Workday run their products on top of AWS, as well as other clouds, and will now be able to sell services directly to users with AWS accounts via the new button. The checkout option will allow buyers to take advantage of Amazon discounts. "The intention here is to increase customer loyalty and partner loyalty and, ultimately, win rates," Matt Yanchyshyn, AWS' vice president of marketplace and partner services, told CNBC in an interview. For software companies, the only requirement is that they need to be selling their products through the AWS Marketplace. Amazon reduced fees to 3% or lower in some cases this year, after Microsoft and Google decreased their rates . On the consumer side, Amazon has an estimated 180 million Prime subscribers in the U.S. The $139 annual subscription includes speedy shipping as well as two-hour grocery delivery and digital services like Prime Video and Amazon Music. Retailers that want to take advantage of Prime's massive customer base can pay a fee to add Buy with Prime to their site, and utilize Amazon's fulfillment network when purchases are made using the button. Amazon said in September that Buy with Prime orders through merchants' sites are up more than 45% this year from a year earlier. Buy with AWS has one key difference in that it's free for software companies to embed. Because the services are running on top of AWS, the purchases result in more revenue for Amazon. watch now VIDEO 3:13 03:13 AWS CEO Matt Garman: Generative AI offers huge opportunity to improve productivity Closing Bell "Buy with Prime is a separate initiative, but we're very close to that team and collaborate on technical implementation," Yanchyshyn said. He added that, while "we definitely sort of trade notes on success," Buy with AWS is "ultimately a very different use case." Yanchyshyn said that Matt Garman, who was tapped to lead AWS earlier this year, is focused on making partners the center of the customer journey. "It's not lip service. He means it," Yanchyshyn said. Databricks has enjoyed a clean integration with Microsoft's cloud since Microsoft started selling a service called Azure Databricks in 2018. Setting up Databricks on AWS has been more complicated, said David Meyer, senior vice president of product management at the data analytics software startup. Buy with AWS should lead to a higher share of revenue coming from Amazon deployments, he said. "We should really see an acceleration of people that go and use it on AWS, because it's so easy," Meyer said. "I would say that this will give AWS the advantage over other clouds, because AWS will be simpler than the other ones, much like historically Azure was simpler for Databricks." Workday plans to employ the button on its Adaptive Planning product, stemming from the $1.5 billion acquisition of Adaptive Insights in 2018. The company, which sells finance and human resources software, wants to see if procurement will be faster when buyers use the button and go through the AWS Marketplace. "Can we get software in the hands of business users faster with this? That's the theory that were testing with this capability," said Matthew Brandt, Workday's senior vice president of global partners. Brandt said that if the evaluation goes well, Workday could use the button for more products. "We have buyers who are not as familiar with us who are very familiar with AWS," he said. "It validates Workday as a potential provider." Ed Anderson, a vice president at industry researcher Gartner, said he wouldn't be surprised to see other cloud providers launch buy buttons for third-party websites. "It's generally all upside," he said. WATCH: Cloud computing environment remains 'very healthy', says Goldman Sachs' Eric Sheridan watch now VIDEO 4:13 04:13 Cloud computing environment remains 'very healthy', says Goldman Sachs' Eric Sheridan Closing Bell: Overtime

The Supreme Court enters its teenager era

NEW YORK — The man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train used a shirt to fan the flames, a prosecutor said Tuesday at his arraignment on murder charges. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally, was not required to enter a plea and did not speak at the hearing in Brooklyn criminal court. Zapeta, wearing a white jumpsuit over a weathered black hooded sweatshirt, will remain jailed and is due back in court on Friday. His lawyer did not ask for bail. Zapeta is charged with two counts of murder, accusing him of intentionally killing the woman and killing her while committing arson. He is also charged with one count of arson. The top charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called the attack a "gruesome and senseless act of violence" and said it would be "met with the most serious consequences." The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on an F train that was stopped at the Coney Island station. The victim's identification is still pending. Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who may have been sleeping in the train, and set her clothing on fire with a lighter. Zapeta then fanned the flames with a shirt, engulfing her in fire, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said in court Tuesday. Zapeta then sat on a bench on the subway platform and watched, Rottenberg said. According to Rottenberg, Zapeta told detectives that he didn't know what happened but identified himself in images of the attack. Zapeta's lawyer, Andrew Friedman, did not speak to reporters after the arraignment. Video on social media appears to show some people looking on from the platform and at least one police officer walking by while the woman is on fire inside the train. NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Gulotta said Sunday that several officers responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the crime scene "the way it's supposed to be" while the others went to get fire extinguishers and transit workers. "Officers who were on patrol on an upper level of that station smelled and saw smoke and went to investigate. What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames," Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. They eventually put the fire out, but "unfortunately, it was too late," Tisch said, and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Zapeta was taken into custody Sunday afternoon while riding a train on the same subway line after teenagers recognized him from images circulated by the police. A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support. The shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal immigration officials said Zapeta was deported in 2018 but later reentered the U.S. illegally. The crime deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system, amplified by graphic video of the attack that ricocheted across social media. Overall, crime is down in the transit system compared to last year. Major felonies declined 6% between January and November compared to the same time period last year, according to data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. But murders are up, with nine killings this year through November compared to five during the same period last year. There have also been several high-profile incidents, including one in September where police inadvertently shot two bystanders and a fellow officer when they opened fire on a man holding a knife in front of a train. Earlier this month, a Manhattan jury acquitted former Marine Daniel Penny in the chokehold death last year of an agitated subway rider. The case became a flashpoint in debates over safety, homelessness and mental illness on the system. Policing the subway is difficult, given the vast network of trains moving between 472 stations. Each stop contains multiple entry points and, in many stations, multiple floors and platforms.Just about everyone dreams about cars they wish they could own, and there’s no better time than the holidays to make a list of vehicles you’d love to have in your driveway. The car pros at Edmunds rounded up five of their favorite dream-worthy vehicles. But rather than just list the most outlandish and expensive exotics, they focused on highlighting models that are expensive but not so pricey that it’d be completely unrealistic for you to own one one day. The vehicles are ordered in ascending order of price and include destination fees. Ford F-150 Raptor R Off-road trucks look fantastic and are extremely capable. What truck enthusiast wouldn’t have one topping their wish list? The king of the hill for 2025 is the F-150 Raptor R. The regular Raptor is already impressive, and the R takes it to the next level with a bonkers 720-horsepower supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine, upgraded Fox dual-value shock absorbers, and massive 37-inch all-terrain tires. An R-specific grille and hood are also part of the R’s upgrades. Thankfully, the Raptor R isn’t all bark and bite. It also has plenty of features to make it a livable truck for daily driving. Standard features include leather upholstery, cooling front seats, a premium sound system, and a surround-view camera to help make this big truck easier to park. Starting Price: $112,825 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Few sedans can match the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for opulence, luxury and prestige. This grand sedan showcases nearly every luxury, technology and performance innovation that Mercedes-Benz has concocted. Everything you touch inside is likely covered in leather, heated, or bathed in disco-worthy ambient light. A novel could be written about all of the S-Class’ luxury and comfort features, but one of the most notable is the E-Active Body Control system. It scans the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension to deliver the best ride possible. The S-Class also boasts an extensive list of advanced safety features and has an augmented reality head-up display that projects images that appear to float in front of the car. For the ultimate S-Class, get the 791-horsepower AMG S 63 E Performance model. Starting Price: $118,900 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Who needs a European exotic car when the Corvette ZR1 is just as capable? A sports car fanatic’s wish list wouldn’t be right without the ZR1. The new Corvette hit a record-setting top speed of 233 mph, making it the fastest car ever built by an American automaker and the fastest current production car priced under $1 million, according to Chevrolet. The top speed record was possible thanks to the ZR1’s turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine that cranks out a staggering 1,064 horsepower. Its carbon-fiber aero package kept it glued to the track by generating over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. Chevrolet also says the ZR1 can accelerate through the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. We expect the Corvette ZR1 to go on sale in early 2025. Estimated starting price: $150,000 Cadillac Escalade-V Does your wish list include a big and powerful SUV? If it does, the Escalade-V should top it. The big Caddy roars like a muscle car thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that churns out 682 horsepower and helps it hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The Escalade-V also boasts enormous 24-inch wheels and large Brembo brakes that help bring the three-ton SUV to a stop. But the Escalade-V isn’t only about brute power. It also has three rows of seating, plenty of cargo space and offers impressive tech like Super Cruise, a hands-free highway driving system, and an enormous 55-inch curved display that spans the dashboard. Starting Price: $161,990 Lucid Air Sapphire What if we told you there was a car that could outpace almost anything on a drag strip, keep up with high-end sports cars on a racetrack, and be comfortable enough for daily errands? Well, if that sounds amazing, add the Air Sapphire to your dream list. The Air Sapphire is a high-performance electric luxury sedan made by Lucid, an electric vehicle startup. It’s one of the most powerful production cars in the world, producing an astonishing 1,234 horsepower from its three electric motors. Lucid says it has a top speed of 205 mph and can rocket to 60 mph in a mind-numbing 1.9 seconds. You can adjust the vehicle’s setting for exceptional track performance or simply provide a comfortable ride around town. Starting price: $250,500 Edmunds says Even if you can’t afford any of these vehicles, you can still picture one sitting in your driveway or imagine yourself cruising around town in it. And who knows, maybe holiday magic will give you the opportunity to own one in the future. ____ This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Michael Cantu is a contributor at Edmunds.Kyle Walters doesn’t believe losing a third consecutive Grey Cup means the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ roster should be blown up. The CFL club’s general manager told reporters at his year-end availability Tuesday that reaching a fifth straight championship game by overcoming lots of injuries was a big accomplishment. Even before Winnipeg’s recent 41-24 Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts, Walters said he was looking forward to next season. “I was excited for next year based on what I’m looking at, compared to years past, where we’ve got more young guys that have contributed that are under contract,” he said. “We’ve got more young players in the building. So, the idea of, ‘This is the end of the road. The team is in a free-for-all downward,’ I don’t think is accurate. “We have a good group of guys and we were in a one-point (Grey Cup) game with 10 minutes left ... before things went downhill.” The Blue Bombers started the season 0-4, moved to 2-6 and finished 11-7 to claim the West Division title. Star receiver Dalton Schoen, veteran linebacker Adam Bighill and backup quarterback Chris Streveler all suffered season-ending injuries and are pending free agents. Negotiating with the team’s 27 unsigned players could be impacted by moves across the league among coaches, personnel staff and players such as quarterbacks, Walters said. The Bombers have given permission for offensive coordinator Buck Pierce to speak to the B.C. Lions and Edmonton Elks about those teams’ vacant head-coaching jobs, he said. Walters also revealed the Ottawa Redblacks were given the go-ahead to talk to Richie Hall about their defensive coordinator vacancy. Hall was a Winnipeg defensive assistant this season after Jordan Younger took over from him as defensive coordinator. Walters said the Bombers received permission to speak to Lions offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic in case Pierce leaves. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have already been given the OK to talk to Winnipeg assistant general managers Danny McManus and Ted Goveia about the Ticats’ GM opening. “You’re hesitant to have too much conversation with people who may not be in the organization next year, so it’s just been me and (head coach) Mike (O’Shea) in this moment huddled together and talking about next year,” Walters said. He said an NFL team had asked Tuesday morning to work out one Blue Bomber, but he didn’t reveal the player’s name in case he wasn’t aware of the request yet. The Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup in 2019 and ’21, but lost 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes last year and 24-23 to Toronto in 2022. Winnipeg re-signed placekicker Sergio Castillo last week. Walters said he’d like to have deals done with three or four main players before the end of the year. The team has some up-and-coming young players inked for next year, and injuries gave others valuable experience on both sides of the ball, Walters said. Receivers such as rookie Ontaria Wilson (1,026 yards receiving in 18 games) and Keric Wheatfall (273 yards in seven games) are signed through next season. “The experience that they got was invaluable,” Walters said. Re-signing players who missed time because of injuries can get tricky. “Organizationally, can we approach (their agents) and say, ‘Well, your guy was hurt, he should come back for less money?’” Walters said. “Generally, they don’t view it like that. They view that they’ll be back 100 per cent.” One question mark is the backup to starting quarterback Zach Collaros, who suffered a deep cut to the index finger of his throwing hand late in the third quarter of the Grey Cup. Collaros got five stitches and numbing agent applied to his finger. He returned with a bandage on it, but admitted he had a hard time gripping the ball. “We’ll have to find out who our offensive coordinator is first,” Walters said when asked who might be Collaros’s backup. Terry Wilson, who briefly replaced Collaros in the Grey Cup, and Jake Dolegala are signed for next year.

NDP will not support Liberal GST holiday bill unless rebate expanded: Singh

5./15 WEST Uber ( NYSE: UBER ) Technology shares look very attractive after the nearly 30% sell-off from all-time highs in mid-October. In my view, market participants are clearly overreacting to the narrative that autonomous driving/ robotaxis will replace the business models of traditional ride-hailing services. But looking beyond Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of UBER either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Not financial advice Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.After a disappointing COP29, here's how to design global climate talks that might actually work

Villa came into the game winless in eight matches in all competitions but they jumped back into the top half of the Premier League with a scintillating performance in the opening 45 minutes. Unai Emery has never gone nine matches without a win as manager but Brentford never posed a threat to prolong that run as Villa cashed in on a dominant first period with goals from Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash. Brentford have only managed one point away from home all season and Mikkel Damsgaard’s effort after the break proved to be in vain as their miserable run on the road continued. Tyrone Mings made his first start in the Premier League since August 2023 in place of Pau Torres while Leon Bailey was brought into the side following their heavy loss to Chelsea. Bees boss Thomas Frank opted for Vitaly Janelt and Yehor Yarmoliuk over Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen. Kevin Schade completed his first career hat-trick at the weekend and showed his confidence six minutes in when his drilled shot was deflected narrowly behind. It took a quarter of an hour but Villa began to knock the ball about and Watkins bent an effort towards goal but Mark Flekken was brought into action for the first time to collect. The tension inside Villa Park alleviated as the hosts took the lead in the 21st minute. Boubacar Kamara’s beautiful turn in the middle of the park set Watkins on his way and he teed up Rogers outside the box who whipped into the far corner in magnificent fashion. The hosts almost added a second straight away as Bailey got in behind the Bees back line but blasted straight at Flekken. Villa had another opportunity to go two in front when Ethan Pinnock dragged Watkins down inside the area and the penalty was eventually given by referee Lewis Smith. And England striker Watkins dusted himself down and snuck his spot-kick into the bottom right corner from 12 yards. Emery’s side showed no mercy and added a third 11 minutes before the break as Lucas Digne’s cross fell to Cash who was waiting at the back post to slam home. Things threatened to get worse for Brentford after the interval when Flekken came to punch Youri Tielemans’ corner away but almost diverted it into his own goal before he got back to push behind for a corner. The Bees got themselves on the scoresheet in the 54th minute as Bryan Mbeumo’s cross was diverted into the path of Damsgaard who cut back and lashed high into the net. Watkins wasted an opportunity to restore Villa’s three-goal advantage as he pounced on a loose pass but aimed straight at Flekken. The visiting goalkeeper was again called on to deny substitute Jhon Duran but Villa settle dfor three goals as they returned to winning ways.Pals looks back on almost half a century of law enforcement in North Iowa

Sophie Hediger, a member of Switzerland's snowboard cross team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, has died following an avalanche at a mountain resort, the country's skiing federation said on Tuesday. The incident occurred on Monday at the Arosa resort in Switzerland. Hediger, 26, competed at the Beijing Games in the women’s snowboard cross and the mixed team version of the same event. Hediger achieved her first two World Cup podium finishes in the 2023-24 season. Her best result was a second place in St. Moritz in January. “We are shocked and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we offer our deepest condolences,” said Swiss-Ski CEO Walter Reusser in a statement. “(She lost her life) tragically, brutally and far too soon.” AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

YOU could lose out on a £1million Lotto jackpot due to a hidden rule in the small-print. Sub-postmaster Gerald Lowery, 67, has warned scratchcard players over the little-known mistake. Gerald sells National Lottery scratchcards at his Post Office branch in the Cumbrian village of Millom. Earlier this year a customer came in to claim a £5 prize on their scratchcard. But Gerald spotted the scratchcard had been accidentally sold after its expiry date. A baffled Gerald refunded the customer himself - saying it was lucky they hadn't won the £1million jackpot. Most read in Money FOOD FIGHT BBC chef apologises after closing restaurant - leaving customers out of pocket FOR LUCK'S SAKE Watch moment £100k lotto jackpot 'DISAPPEARS' leaving player with nothing If you scratched off the maximum £1million Scratchcard prize, you could lose out if your winning ticket expired before sale. Gerald was puzzled why the out-of-date ticket had slipped through and flagged the problem with lotto operator Allywn. The firm told him that he had missed the deadline to sell the scratchcard pack - and could not get a refund for unsold cards. Gerald told The Sun: "I haven't done anything wrong, but I'm out of pocket." Most read in Money FESTIVE BEER Full list of Wetherspoons opening in Scotland on Xmas Day, is one near you? WINTER WONDERLAND First look inside award-winning Santa's Grotto just 20mins from Glasgow FARM LIFE Farm with Scotland's only lake up for sale LUXURY LIVING Scots tycoon smashes house sale record at neighbourhood loved by celebs He put the pack on sale in September 1 last year, two months before the deadline for "activating" them. National Lottery Winners' advisors tell The Sun what it's like to give away £7bn The last day where he could officially sell the cards was January 29 this year, and the deadline for players to claim their prizes was July 27. Gerald kept the cards on sale on the understanding Allwyn would not send a new pack until the old one had sold out. He said he must have accidentally sold a scratchcard after the January 29 deadline, but is confused how it could have happened. The sub-postmaster said he was used to the old system where Post Office middlemen dealt with longtime Lotto operator Camelot. Under the old system, Post Office officials would refund shopkeepers for any unsold cards. But new operator Allwyn deals with shopkeepers directly - and Gerald likely fell foul of the small print while adjusting. He said the rule changes have left him out of pocket even though he has done nothing wrong. Gerald said: " I am just disappointed in Allywn and very wary of them. "They've had people come to visit my shop and they were of no help whatsoever. It's gone on long enough now." Allwyn said it will send someone to Gerald's shop to help him figure out any issues and get used to the system. The operator said Gerald doesn't owe any money - but isn't due a refund for unsold scratchcards either. UK's biggest lottery winners By Ethan Singh Anonymous winner - £195,707,000 A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time. The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket. Joe and Jess Thwaite - £184,262,899.10 Britain's previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite. The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children's ponies. Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news. As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping. Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children. Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000 Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019. They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck. But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019 his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m . He spent the millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported. Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years. He left money for their children Carly and Jamie. Adrian and Gillian Brayford - £148,600,000 Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million. But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win. The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021. After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge. She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought. It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year. Frances and Patrick Connolly - £114,969,775 Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot. They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019. She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family. Richard and Debbie Nuttall - £61,000,000 The couple from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61 million on January 30 2024. Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win. Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account. Other eye-watering anonymous winners: 2019 - £123million Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover. 2021 - £122million Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April. The successful participant chose to remain anonymous. 2018 - £121million Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187. An Allwyn spokesperson said: "This pack of 60 Scratchcards was activated for sale on September 1 last year. "The game closed for sale on 29 January 2024 – over four months later. "Once the pack was activated, the Scratchcards became the retailer’s property. "To be clear, Mr Lowery doesn't owe anything, and he isn't due anything either. "We don't offer refunds for activated partial packs, nor did the previous National Lottery operator. "This is because retailers are given plenty of time to sell through the packs. "Full, unactivated Scratchcard packs should be returned, free of charge. "The retailer would've previously contracted directly with Post Office Limited in relation to his National Lottery account." Read more on the Scottish Sun FESTIVE FIZZ Coca-Cola Christmas truck in Scotland: Dates, locations & all you need to know AND RELAX Scots seaside hotel with outdoor hot tub and firepit named UK's top spa resort Allwyn added: "Post Office Limited may have had different processes to follow. "We'll get a member of our team to arrange a visit with Mr Lowery to offer him further support." 1 Sub-postmaster Gerald Lowery, 67, warned scratchcard players over the mistake Credit: Alamy What are my chances of winning the lottery? EVERYONE wants to know how to beat the odds and win the lottery. But unfortunately, the lottery is a game of luck and there are no tips or tricks that can guarantee you'll take home a top prize. The odds show how likely you are to win any particular prize - the lower the number, the better the odds. For example, odds of 1 in 10 are better than odds of 1 in 100 or 1 in 1,000. There are several major lottery games in the UK including Lotto by the National Lottery, Camelot's EuroMillions and Thunderball. Chances of winning the Lotto Lotto by the National Lottery is a game where you pick six numbers from 1 to 59. You can play up to seven lines of numbers on each slip. The game costs £2 to play per slip. The odds of winning any prize on the Lotto are 1 in 9.3. But to win the jackpot on the Lotto, the odds are considerably slimmer. To bag the top prize , you need to have six matching balls. The odds of doing this and scooping the jackpot are currently 1 in 45,057,474. The next highest prize of £1,000,000 is for getting five main matching balls plus the bonus ball. The odds of taking home the million pound prize are 1 in 7,509,579 - far higher than the jackpot, but still unlikely. The odds of taking home £1,750 for getting five main numbers without the bonus ball are 1 in 2,180, while you have a 1 in 97 chance of bagging £140 for getting four main numbers. Your chances of taking home £30 for getting 3 main numbers are much better at 1 in 97. And you have a roughly 1 in 10 chance of getting a free lucky dip for 2 matching numbers. Chances of winning the EuroMillions The EuroMillions costs £2.50 to play and is open on Tuesdays and Fridays. To play, you must pick five numbers from 1-50 and two "Lucky Stars" from 1-12. Players with the most matching numbers win the top prizes. Your chance of bagging the EuroMillions jackpot is even slimmer than winning the top Lotto prize. This is because it generally has higher jackpots on offer, meaning it attracts more attention . Currently, the odds of matching five numbers and two lucky stars - the top win - stand at 1 in 139,838,160. The average jackpot prize is £57,923,499, according to EuroMillions. The odds of winning the second top prize for matching 5 balls and a lucky star, which is typically around £262,346, are 1 in 6,991,908. The chances of taking home the third prize for five matching balls, with an average payout of £26,277, are 1 in 3,107,515. For four matching balls with two lucky stars, it's 1 in 621,503, and for four balls with one lucky star, it's 1 in 31,076. These come with an average prize of £1,489 and £95, respectively. Chances of winning the Thunderball Thunderball is another game run by National Lottery where you pick five numbers and one "Thunderball". It costs just £1 to play and you can enter up to four times a week. The jackpot of £500,000 for matching five balls plus the Thunderball is 1 in 8,060,598. Your odds of bagging the next highest prize of £5,000 for matching five balls is currently 1 in 620,046, while the chances of winning £250 for four balls plus the Thunderball is 1 in 47,416. You have the best chance of winning £3 for matching the Thunderball, with odds of 1 in 29.

RCM Technologies' division president Michael Saks sells $235,006 in stockHealth In Tech Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering

2024 in pop culture: In a bruising year, we sought out fantasy, escapism — and cute little animalsNone

For Janice Myles and her seven siblings, their lives are forever bound up in the life — and death — of their father’s church. The Rev. Leonard L. Hester and his wife, Parthena, founded New Light Baptist Church in 1954, and right from the outset, it was a family endeavor. Myles and her two sisters grew up singing in the choir, conducted by their eldest brother and accompanied by their younger brother on drums. In 1977, when Hester moved New Light from Oakland to a former Swedish church in South Berkeley, Myles remembers pitching in to redecorate. The Hesters hung chandeliers and trimmed the sanctuary in gold leaf paint. It all cost her father a fortune, but it was worth it, she said. “It was his sanctuary to God.” Today, though, the gold leaf paint and chandeliers are long gone, and the building has a radically different decor. Its salmon exterior now slate gray, the property has a wrought-iron spiral staircase, a domed movie screen where the altar once was, and a rooftop jacuzzi with panoramic views of Berkeley and the Bay. After decades of dwindling membership and donations, the Hesters lost New Light to foreclosure in 2014. Two years later, architect Josiah Maddock bought the historic Black church and spent six years converting it into a six-bedroom, multi-story residence. Maddock currently rents it out to five tenants — a collective of artists and tech workers, none of whom are Black, who say they’re creating a “congregation” of their own. Since its construction in 1907, the church at the corner of Parker Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way has meant many things to many people, from a gathering place for Scandinavian immigrants to the backdrop of a . Now, the former church has become a complex symbol — of the Bay Area’s ; of South Berkeley’s ; of debates over gentrification, the legacy of exclusionary zoning and how to solve the housing crisis; and of the neighborhood’s past and future. A time of growth and thriving Leonard and Parthena Hester saw moving to South Berkeley as a logical next step, in New Light’s trajectory and their own. The son of a Methodist minister in Texas, Hester and his family relocated to Oakland in the 1950s; he accepted a music director position at his brother-in-law’s church. Then, in 1954, Hester ventured out on his own, starting New Light Baptist Church at 1451 16th St. in West Oakland and moving to a larger building on 54th Street two years later. Hester quickly established his church as a musical powerhouse. New Light’s Sunday evening services were broadcast live on KDIA, the Bay Area’s go-to soul music radio station throughout the 1960s and ’70s. Hester’s eldest son, Larry, directed music from 1963 to 1986, but before that, it was conducted by a young , who would go on to form the award-winning choral group “ ” and work with the biggest names in gospel music. Some of those stars even performed at New Light, like Oakland-born gospel pioneer Edwin Hawkins, best known for his chart-topper, “ .” New Light also built a reputation for the miraculous. In 1972, 10-year-old Cloretta Starks reportedly exhibited the signs of stigmata — bleeding from her palms, feet and side, each of the places where Christ was wounded. Larry Hester said he witnessed it: “My mother wiped the blood with her handkerchief.” The phenomena drew widespread media coverage as well as numerous miracle-seekers. Over the next five years, Starks claimed to have experienced the stigmata three more times, and Rev. Hester helped organize a week of healing services around the girl called the “Youth Supernatural End-Time Revival.” “Bring the sick, troubled, the dope addict and the possessed, and depressed,” one newspaper ad exhorted. In 1977, Hester moved his growing congregation to a church at 1841 Parker St. The building had already lived two full lives since its construction in 1907 for a longtime sailor’s missionary and his congregation. First called “Svenska Missionen,” or Swedish Mission Church, and later renamed Berkeley Covenant Church, it remained a hub for Scandinavian immigrants and their descendants, offering Sunday services in the “mother tongue” well into the 1920s. Then, in 1954, Berkeley Covenant moved to a larger building on Hopkins Street. In a ceremony that year, church leaders handed off the keys to Grove Street Christian Church — a predominantly Black congregation that thrived until 1977. Like so many churches of the era, Grove Street regularly served as a civil rights gathering place. Along with other Berkeley churches, the church helped host the Black Odyssey Festival, a series of lectures and cultural activities created to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. after his death and sponsored by the Graduate Theological Union. And throughout the 1970s, the Berkeley chapter of the — a multigenerational advocacy group established to combat ageism and fight for other social justice issues — consistently met at 1837 Parker St., the pastor’s residence next door to the church. Eventually, Grove Street sold its property to Hester, but only because its 200 members successfully merged with a shrinking white congregation in East Oakland. The Parker Street church’s transition from a Scandinavian church to a largely Black one tracks with South Berkeley’s evolution in the middle of the 20th century. “It was this time of growth, specifically of Black people,” explains Brandi T. Summers, an associate professor of Geography at UC Berkeley. “Many of them were now able to move to parts of Berkeley and create their kind of community.” Before and during the Second World War, thousands of Black Americans arrived in the Bay Area as part of , fleeing the strictures of the Jim Crow South and seeking the promise of industrial jobs. In the 1940s, Berkeley’s Black population nearly quadrupled — even as largely confined them to neighborhoods south of Dwight Way and west of Grove Street (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way). At the same time, white residents exited the flats in droves, often relocating to more spacious suburbs like Orinda and Moraga, Summers said. South Berkeley lost roughly a third of its white residents between 1940 and 1950. When New Light took up residence on Parker Street, the neighborhood was 80% Black. Still, even with all the demographic changes, Larry Hester doesn’t recall too many Black Baptist churches in the area back then, at least with music like New Light. “We definitely brought, I like to say, a little soul to Berkeley,” he said. Hester had the church repainted, inside and out, and flung the doors open wide every Sunday “so the music could go out to the community,” Myles said. She remembers New Light as interracial and interdenominational, drawing in hundreds of neighbors, Cal students and Sunday commuters. “We had members that drove from Tracy and Stockton just to come to service.” A struggle to stay open in a changing neighborhood In 1985, Leonard Hester died at age 64 after a sudden illness. At his memorial service, Myles was overwhelmed by the turnout. “We literally had to block the street off and put chairs outside ... he was a pillar of that community.” Hester’s death sent shockwaves through the family and, by extension, the ministry. Larry Hester, grieving the loss of his father “and his particular way of church,” left New Light entirely, while Myles soon moved to Arizona with her husband and family. Michael Hester, the second youngest son, took over for his father, with his older brother Ernest at his side. (Michael and Ernest Hester did not respond to requests for an interview for this story.) Michael Hester took New Light in some bold new directions. “He wanted to extend his ministry beyond the traditional boundaries of the local church,” observed Rev. Robert McKnight of The Rock of Truth Church. He drew in a younger crowd and even briefly moved the church to the — a since demolished art deco movie palace on MacArthur Boulevard — leasing out the Parker Street property to McKnight’s church. But the changes did not sit well with some longtime members, and many left. Within a few years, Michael Hester and New Light returned to the smaller sanctuary on Parker Street. The church body fluctuated over the coming decades. Still, New Light remained an epicenter of gospel music for years. Michael Hester’s cousin, James L. Richard II, recalled regularly seeing international students among the usual crowd; apparently, an instructor at UC Berkeley Extension recommended the church as “a taste of Black culture.” In 1990, the church got an unexpected dose of publicity: Oakland native MC Hammer chose New Light as one of the settings for “Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em: The Movie,” the direct-to-video companion for his multi-platinum album of the same name. shows rap’s first megastar strutting behind the pulpit and rapping his hit “Pray,” flanked by record-spinning deacons and backed by a hip-hop choir. By the 2000s, though, New Light (its name changed to New Light Christian Center) struggled. Alameda County put multiple liens on the church, which Michael Hester later resolved. But then, in 2008, Ernest Hester started his own church, Tremendous Faith Christian Center. He took many New Light members with him, gathering at an Adventist church only a few blocks down Parker Street. Simmering beneath all of this, of course, was a rapidly transforming Berkeley. The greater Bay Area was on its way to becoming . In conjunction, South Berkeley’s Black population, around 80% in 1980, dropped to 30% by 2010. This was largely displacement — the result of gentrification, soaring rents and home prices, the racial wealth gap, the 2008 financial crash and the region’s failure to build enough housing. But in some cases, it was also a sign of success, Summers emphasized. Many middle-class Black families could now move elsewhere, she said, buying larger homes with yards and walkable neighborhoods, achieving “what they’d been desiring for so long.” Michael Hester endeavored to keep New Light alive despite a reconfiguring neighborhood and declining attendance. Finally, though, in 2014, the bank foreclosed his church. For the first time in nearly half a century, the Parker Street church was out of the Hesters’ hands. A new use for an old church When architect Josiah Maddock bought the church for $539,000 in March 2016, “it was the only building in Berkeley I could afford,” he said. He already had a few major projects under his belt, including a luxury high-rise in Honolulu and another tower in San Francisco. But at 36, a few years into running his own , he was looking for something unique — a project he, his partner and his dog could live in while they rebuilt it. Then he visited the church and was immediately smitten: “I could tell as soon as I walked into the building how special it was.” Maddock said his primary concern was what the community would think. “The last thing I wanted to do was be a disrespectful, non-present developer that just chopped the building up into a bunch of pieces and maximized the profit.” He made a point of going around to his neighbors — some of whom had attended New Light — and letting them know his plan to rehabilitate and repair the space. Maddock and his partner spent six years converting the church. They repaired the walls and roof, removed the pews and installed a kitchen island, and built offices in the steeples. Throughout the process, there was very little community outcry, Maddock said. On Facebook, however, some former parishioners grieved. “I’m feeling some kinda way about this gentrification,” one member posted in October 2019, sharing a photo of the refurbished property, now adorned with Halloween decorations. Reactions were strong. “God is not pleased period,” one commenter wrote. “Sad,” another replied. “We have to fight to keep our history.” But there was never any concerted pushback — perhaps, McKnight believes, because those who cared were gone. “Long-time members of that community had passed away or moved on. And the next generation, they went away to school, they found jobs, they were able to purchase homes, and many never returned.” In late 2022, Maddock and his partner moved to Los Angeles and handed the property off to renters for the first time, marketing it at over $10,000 per month. They were choosy about who would take over the building, looking for tenants who “understood the space” and would care for it, Maddock said. Eventually, they found their match: a collective of artists and tech workers who had come together in San Francisco. The building was formally converted to a single-family home, which the five tenants see as fitting. “We are a single family,” said one resident, an aerial acrobat who daylights as a technical writer for Google. After trying out another living situation, she said, the group felt this space could truly be a “canvas for community building.” They’re still experimenting to find what that looks like in practice. In the last year, they’ve housed artists-in-residence for free or cheap and hope to provide performance space for up-and-coming bands and playwrights. First and foremost, though, the group views the space as a home. Another resident, a musician and software engineer, sees poignancy in the fact that they live in a former place of worship. “We’re trying to build something here that is long-lasting and intentional,” he said. “None of us are Black in this place that was predominantly Black,” he recognized. They’re still new to the area, he noted, and getting to know their neighbors. But they feel a “reasonably high degree of responsibility” to “provide a space that helps the people around us, helps the community grow, and helps folks feel supported.” As for how to honor the property’s heritage, the tenants are still finding their way. During a tour of their home, as we were about to scale the spiral staircase on our way to view the rooftop jacuzzi, a resident gestured downward. The floorboards — left unchanged in Maddock’s remodel — were discolored in conspicuous rows, revealing where pews once were. The resident eagerly pointed out numerous shoe-sized scuffs where congregants’ feet had worn grooves in the floor. “It’s cool to see,” he said, “thinking about the history and all that.” ‘It’s not about the building’ Larry Hester still lives in Berkeley and frequently drives past his father’s former church. It pains him, he said. “My Camelot hope was always that it would be the monument of my dad’s life.” Instead, he’s had to face a very different reality. As religious demographics reconfigure, experts say that , in the Bay Area and beyond. With death comes new possibilities, although what those are depends on who you ask. In San Francisco, century-old churches like New Light have been resurrected as , , and other community spaces. Maddock, for his part, believes former churches can be used to address Berkeley’s housing crisis, albeit imperfectly. “Every unit of housing is a good thing in the Bay Area,” he said. He hopes to build “a bunch more co-living spaces” like 1841 Parker St. in the future. Housing advocate Darrell Owens, who grew up not far from New Light, generally agrees, although he contends that single-family residences like Maddock’s are “insufficient to meet Berkeley’s needs.” After decades of producing little housing, Berkeley is now exceeding state housing goals but still . Ideally, Owens would like to see former church plots converted into subsidized housing. That’s the kind of project other Berkeley churches are already pursuing. In May 2022, North Berkeley’s opened on land belonging to All Souls Episcopal Parish. The century-old McGee Avenue Baptist Church recently partnered with to transform a dilapidated church building on Stuart Street into an And St. Paul AME Church on Ashby Avenue plans to develop its old offices into a , with 10 units reserved for formerly homeless individuals. Given the city’s dire need for affordable housing, the project was “obvious,” said Pastor Anthony Hughes of St. Paul AME. He recognizes that Berkeley should have a range of housing options, including single-family homes. Still, Hughes said, quoting Matthew 25, “I’d hope that anybody who is repurposing a property would build something to help ‘ ’ among us.” aims to stem the housing shortage by encouraging projects like these. SB4, , allows faith-based organizations to more easily convert parking lots and unused land into affordable housing. The law frees up some 171,000 acres throughout the state — nearly five times the size of Oakland — according to by Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley. It’s possible that legislation like this, if passed earlier, could have kept New Light alive; in addition to the church, the Hesters owned the four-bedroom pastor’s residence next door, which was sold in 2015. For struggling churches today, the chance to transform excess land into affordable housing could be a “lifeline” in helping “churches leverage their land and avoid foreclosures,” said David Garcia, policy director at the Terner Center. Owens said he was shocked but not really that surprised to learn of New Light’s fate. “An old Black church becoming a mansion is perfectly in line with all the other changes in South Berkeley,” he said. Still, he noted, the onus is not on Maddock for building a home; it’s on the city. Berkeley zoning laws only allow for one unit per 1,650 square feet at the site. With a small lot under 3,000 square feet, a single unit was the most Maddock could build. “A measly single-family home doesn’t do anything,” Owens said. “But Berkeley zoning more or less asks for it.” City leaders , though it may be before actual zoning changes are made in South Berkeley. For Summers, the Cal geographer, the Parker Street property and its tenants encapsulate Berkeley’s gentrification to a “dystopian” degree. “The artists are attempting to beautify and create community as if community doesn’t already exist,” she said. While she is all for affordable housing, Summers believes former churches like New Light should remain spaces that serve the broader community, like parks and food co-ops. Addressing gentrification requires more than building apartments, she argues. “We need to think more holistically as it relates to life, not just a place to sleep, or cook dinner, or park your car.” Like her brother, Janice Myles wishes New Light could have lived on, or at least remained a church. At the same time, she’s convinced her parents’ legacy extends far beyond Parker Street, carried on in the lives of present-day pastors like her brother Ernest. “Buildings fade away,” she said. Still, there’d been so much singing over the decades, she joked, that she wondered if the tenants ever hear voices emanating from the drywall. “I’m sure they’re there. I’m positive they’re still coming out of those walls.” “It’s not about the building,” Myles added. “It’s about the people.” " " indicates required fields To remove this article -

NoneBy Political Reporter- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba, has issued a chilling warning to the country’s most popular opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, threatening aggressive state action if he fails to distance himself from what the ruling party claims is a neo-colonial agenda. Charamba, who interchangeably uses the user name dhonzamusoro007 on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, accused Chamisa of being a pawn of Western powers and implied that the opposition leader’s silence over the alleged “Back-to-Rhodesia” campaign by his supporters signifies complicity. Char amba’s post read: “HE NEEDS TO PRONOUNCE HIMSELF ON THIS BACK-TO-RHODESIA CAMPAIGN WHICH IS BEING RAN BY HIS WELL-KNOWN ACOLYTES. In the absence of his public disavowal of that shabby campaign by his renegades, we will paste it on him and go for him full throttle!!! Certain recidivist politics are a NO, NO, NO!!!!!!!” Analysing this statement is a direct challenge to Chamisa, demanding public rejection of the alleged campaign or face intensified political persecution. The accusations of promoting a “Back-to-Rhodesia” agenda are a clear attempt by ZANU PF to portray Chamisa as a symbol of neo-colonialism, a narrative designed to tarnish his nationalist credentials and alienate voters. The “Back-to-Rhodesia” claim diverts public attention from ZANU PF’s governance failures and frames the opposition as unpatriotic, capitalising on the country’s strong anti-colonial sentiments. Charamba’s demand forces Chamisa into a lose-lose scenario—his silence could be interpreted as support for the campaign, while a public denial risks alienating his grassroots supporters. By framing Chamisa as a Western puppet, ZANU PF seeks to consolidate its image as the defender of the country’s sovereignty and delegitimise the opposition’s calls for democratic reforms. The “full throttle” warning signals potential escalation in state-sponsored crackdowns, including propaganda, legal charges, or suppression of opposition activities. ZANU PF has a long history of weaponising patriotism to suppress dissent. Opposition figures have faced arrests, violence, and smear campaigns, often under the guise of protecting the country’s sovereignty. Charamba’s statement follows this well-worn playbook, signaling a calculated effort to discredit Chamisa ahead of future elections. HE NEEDS TO PRONOUNCE HIMSELF ON THIS BACK-TO-RHODESIA CAMPAIGN WHICH IS BEING RAN BY HIS WELL-KNOWN ACOLYTES. In the absence of his public disavowal of that shabby campaign by his renegades, we will paste it on him and go for him full throttle!!! Certain recidivist politics are...

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GE Aerospace stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitorsAmidst the complexities of the Syrian conflict, China's position remains focused on upholding the principles of peace, stability, and respect for international law. The Chinese government believes that a political solution, reached through dialogue and negotiation, is the only way to bring an end to the bloodshed and turmoil in Syria. China stands ready to work with the international community, including the United Nations and regional stakeholders, to support efforts towards a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the Syrian crisis.Statistics support Reinekel's observations, with Arsenal ranking among the bottom teams in the Premier League in terms of goals scored from set pieces. This deficiency has been a major contributing factor to the Gunners' struggles in front of goal and their inconsistent performances in key matches.

In a heartfelt statement posted on her Instagram and Weibo accounts, Vine Xiaoxuan expressed her gratitude for the support and love from her fans while addressing the ongoing speculations surrounding her personal life. She emphasized that she values her privacy and respects the boundaries between her public persona and personal relationships. The internet star firmly denied any romantic involvement with the actor in question and urged her followers to focus on her work and creativity rather than baseless rumors.Taylor Swift's tour not only rocked the stage, but also boosted the local economy with fans spending an average of $1,300 per person. The recent concert tour featuring the pop superstar, also known as TayTay or simply T-Swizzle, created a frenzy of excitement among her loyal followers, leading to a surge in economic activity in every city she visited.

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NoneDURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Duke coach Manny Diaz says quarterback Maalik Murphy will face discipline “internally” after extending both of his middle fingers skyward in celebration after throwing a long touchdown pass early in the weekend win against Virginia Tech . Diaz said Monday that Murphy's exuberant gesture, caught on the ACC Network national broadcast, was directed at offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer in the booth after a bit of practice “banter” from a few days earlier. Diaz said the Texas transfer just let his excitement get away from him but still called it “unacceptable in our program." “There was a practice in the middle of last week when we throwing post after post after post, and we weren't completing them,” Diaz said. “And it was again and again and again and again. And at the end of that, there was a remark made in jest that, ‘If you throw a post for a touchdown in the game, then you can flick me off,’ from Coach Brewer.” Murphy's gesture came after he uncorked a deep ball from deep in Duke's own end and caught Eli Pancol perfectly in stride across midfield, with Pancol racing untouched for an 86-yard score barely 2 minutes into the game. As he began skipping downfield to celebrate, Murphy chest-bumped teammate Star Thomas and then extended both arms in the air with his middle fingers raised. Brewer said Monday he missed the gesture in real time, but then saw it on a replay moments later. “Some things you say on the field when you're coaching obviously isn't meant to be taken literally when you're trying to get after somebody in that world,” Brewer said. Murphy threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions in the 31-28 win for the Blue Devils (8-3, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who close the regular season at Wake Forest. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football‘World of Warcraft’ still going strong as it celebrates 20 years

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Lawyer Submits Anti-AI Document That Appears to Have Been Created Using AINoneKANSAS CITY, Mo. — Taylor Swift once raved about the sweet potato casserole served at a New York City restaurant and now that recipe pops up every now and again at Thanksgiving. The holidays encourage many of us to try new recipes. Social media right now is flooded with recipes for appetizers, side dishes and desserts. Anyone making that cornbread casserole from TikTok? While we might not get to share a Thanksgiving feast with Swift — is your name Blake Lively? — or other celebrities beloved by Kansas City, we can eat like them. So here’s the recipe for that casserole Swift loved so much, and favorite family side dish recipes from Donna Kelce and Eric Stonestreet. Enjoy. Travis Kelce's mother, Donna Kelce, seen here last year at her son's music festival, dined on a cheesesteak made by actor Bradley Cooper at QVC festivities in Las Vegas this week. (Emily Curiel/Kansas City Star/TNS) Donna Kelce’s dinner rolls If we tried to guess how many holiday dinner rolls Travis Kelce and his brother, Jason Kelce, have scarfed over the years, would it be in the hundreds? Thousands? Their mom has spoken often about the batches of holiday crescent rolls she has baked over the years. Based on the recipe that won the 1969 Pillsbury Bake-Off, Pillsbury’s Magic Marshmallow Crescent Puffs , they’re now known as Mama Kelce’s Dinner Rolls. They blend the crescent roll pastry with marshmallows, cinnamon and sugar. Dinner roll or dessert? We bet they didn’t last long enough in front of Travis and Jason for that debate. Ingredients Rolls •1/4 cup granulated sugar •2 tablespoons Pillsbury Best all-purpose flour •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon •2 (8-ounce) cans refrigerated Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count) •16 large marshmallows •1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted Glaze •1/2 cup powdered sugar •1/2 teaspoon vanilla •2-3 teaspoons milk •1/4 cup chopped nuts Directions Make the rolls 1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 16 medium muffin cups with nonstick baking spray. 2. In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon. 3. Separate the dough into 16 triangles. For each roll, dip 1 marshmallow into melted butter; roll in the sugar mixture. Place marshmallow on the shortest side of a triangle. Roll up, starting at shortest side and rolling to opposite point. Completely cover the marshmallow with the dough; firmly pinch edges to seal. Dip 1 end in remaining butter; place butter side down in muffin cup. 4. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. 5. When done, remove from the oven and let the puffs cool in the pan for 1 minute. Remove rolls from muffin cups; place on cooling racks set over waxed paper. Make the glaze and assemble In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls. Sprinkle with nuts. Serve warm. Eric Stonestreet attends 'Eric Stonestreet visits The SiriusXM Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles' at SiriusXM Studios on Oct. 8, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM/TNS) Eric Stonestreet’s Roasted Brussels Sprouts Thanksgiving is one of the “Modern Family” star’s favorite holidays. Three years ago, as part of a campaign honoring hometown heroes , he shared one of his favorite recipe with McCormick Spices: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Butternut Squash . This recipe serves eight. Ingredients •1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved •1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into bite-size cubes •1 tablespoon olive oil •1/2 teaspoon garlic powder •1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves •1/2 teaspoon salt •1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper •5 slices bacon, chopped •1 shallot, finely chopped •1/2 cup dried cranberries •1/4 cup balsamic vinegar •1 teaspoon whole grain mustard •1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional) •1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese, (optional) Directions 1. Preheat oven to 475°F. Spray large shallow baking pan with no stick cooking spray; set aside. Place Brussels sprouts and squash in large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper; toss to coat evenly. Spread in single layer on prepared pan. 2. Roast 16 to 18 minutes or until tender and lightly browned, stirring halfway through cooking. 3. Meanwhile, cook bacon in medium skillet on medium heat about 6 minutes or until crispy. Remove using slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain. Add shallot to same skillet; cook and stir 2 minutes until softened and lightly browned. Stir in cranberries, vinegar and mustard until well blended. Transfer mixture to small bowl; set aside. 4. Arrange roasted Brussels sprouts and squash on serving platter. Drizzle with cranberry balsamic glaze and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with cooked bacon, toasted pecans, and crumbled blue cheese, if desired. Serve immediately. Donna Kelce, left, mother of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce watched the game with pop superstar Taylor Swift, center, during the first-half on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. (Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/TNS) Taylor Swift’s favorite sweet potato casserole Swift gushed about the sweet potato casserole served at Del Frisco’s Grille in New York City, a dish crowned with a crunchy candied pecan and oatmeal crumble. “I’ve never enjoyed anything with the word casserole in it ever before, but it’s basically sweet potatoes with this brown sugary crust,” she told InStyle. ”Oh my God, it’s amazing.” The media rushed to find the recipe, which Parade has published this Thanksgiving season . “Similar to T. Swift herself, we think this recipe is a mastermind, especially if you’ve been asked to bring the sweet potato side dish to this year’s Thanksgiving feast. It seriously begs the question: who needs pumpkin pie?” the magazine writes. Ingredients •4 lbs sweet potatoes •1⁄3 cup oats •12 oz unsalted butter, divided •1⁄2 cup packed brown sugar •1⁄2 cup toasted pecans •1⁄2 cup granulated sugar •1 tsp kosher salt •2 tsp vanilla extract •4 large eggs, beaten Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. 1. Scrub sweet potatoes. Pierce each several times with a fork and wrap tightly in foil. Place on a sheet pan. Bake 90 minutes or until tender. Set aside until cool enough to handle. 2. Meanwhile, place oats in a food processor; process 1 minute. Add 4 oz butter, brown sugar and pecans; pulse five times to combine. Spread mixture on a baking sheet; bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven, crumble. Bake 5 minutes or until golden brown. 3. Melt remaining 8 oz butter. Remove skin from cooled sweet potatoes. In a large bowl, whisk sweet potatoes, melted butter, granulated sugar and remaining ingredients until slightly lumpy. Transfer to a greased baking dish, smoothing surface evenly. Top with oat mixture. Bake 12 minutes or until heated through. Make-ahead tips •Sweet potato filling can be made up to 2 days in advance. Prepare the sweet potato filling, cool, place in a casserole dish and keep refrigerated. •Oat-pecan crust can also be made up to 2 days ahead. Make the crust according to recipe directions, cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature. Sprinkle over the sweet potato filling just before baking. More Thanksgiving recipes Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food.

I t’s felt like a week on the brink. But of what exactly? It ended with warlike noises from Moscow, but every major party to the Ukraine war is now jockeying for advantage, trying to end that conflict on the best terms for itself. “So, that’s what you wanted?” Russia’s former president and a noted hawk, Dmitry Medvedev, posted on social media, with video of Russian missile warheads raining down on a Ukrainian city. “Well, you’ve damn well got it!” This, and a more temperate TV address on Thursday night by Vladimir Putin, sought to drive home a forceful response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets earlier in the week, after President Biden’s agreement to allow the use of western-supplied weapons in that way. In truth,

Dreaming about leaving the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life behind? If you’ve got your eyes fixed on a farm-centric future, you’re far from alone. According to the Big Movers 2023 report, 614,144 Australians made the move from our capital cities to regional areas across the country during the last census period (2016-21) – an increase of 120,750 on the prior one, with COVID restrictions probably driving some of this. Interestingly, the same report shows that Millennials left Sydney and Melbourne (the cities experiencing the greatest loss) in the highest numbers, as they likely embraced greater work flexibility and chased better affordability and work/life balance around the country. But is the move worth it? Three women who’ve done it in recent years share their highs and lows. “We lost everything in the floods, but we have no regrets” Sue Bourke, 54, PR and marketing professional “My husband, Brad, was diagnosed with prostate cancer seven years ago, aged 51. Until that point, we’d been living like many urbanites [in Sydney’s north], often feeling like hamsters running on a wheel but never able to get ahead. We we were exhausted and dreaming of getting out of the rat race. When Brad was undergoing treatment we said, ‘If we make it through this, let’s move to a country town.’ Moving to Wauchope [in the NSW Mid North Coast region] made sense from the get-go. We wanted a country town experience, yet still be close to the sea as well as a regional centre – and Wauchope ticked those boxes. When a local work opportunity landed in my lap, everything fell into place. We moved up here in 2019 and, straight after settling into our new home, went into a six-month period where we were badly affected by two natural disasters and the pandemic. The bushfires at the end of 2019 left many of the towns around us cut off, but we lost almost everything we owned in the floods of March 2020. I can still remember having to swim out from the house late at night in the dark and returning to find 90 per cent of our stuff either gone or destroyed. It wasn’t ideal but since we were insured, we were luckier than most. It also gave us a moment to detach ourselves from ‘stuff’; it’s not often you’re given a chance to start with a clean slate. The first thing you notice when you move to a country town is the depth of the community spirit; people share their abundance with their neighbours here. Some will drop off fruit and vegetables from their garden, and others will drop off jams they’ve made themselves. I put a post on our local Facebook community group the other day asking about manure and someone dropped off 16 bags of it for free. There are challenges with making a tree change; obviously we’re exposed to natural disasters in a way you only ever see on TV back in metropolitan areas, and I must admit I still really miss my hairdresser, but outside of that, I’d say we’ve never really looked back - especially since our son (now 25) moved up here three years ago. Living between the mountains and the sea means we’ve adopted a healthier, outdoor lifestyle which has seen me shed close to 50 kilos and drop from a size 22 to a size 12. Work has picked up too - I’m now working with The Rural Woman [a co-op putting women in touch with services] helping women living in rural and regional areas become digitally savvy. Women living in the bush are chronically underrepresented in Parliament, which is a real shame because there are so many forward-thinking, fearless female entrepreneurs doing amazing things around the country and their voices - their talents - should be amplified.” “Our family gap year gave us the courage to make the leap” Tamara Scenna, 47, caravan park operator “Our tree change began as a 12-month family gap year around Australia. Before we fled Sydney’s inner west in our caravan at the start of 2019, life was all hustle and bustle. I worked in public service, leaving the house at 7am to avoid heavy traffic that saw my journey to work take more than an hour. With the kids [now 16 and 13, respectively] at school, it often felt as if we all were ships in the night, so we thought a year to travel and bond before our eldest started high school would help us reset and ease back into city life with a fresh mindset. Of course, we then all realised there was so much more to life than what Sydney offered; during our time on the road, the seed to try something else was planted. Initially, we tried to settle down back in Sydney; we even got a new dog and a cat, but when COVID-19 hit, we started to think about buying a caravan park as a way to earn a living outside the city. We looked at a few options in Queensland, then we fell in love with what is now Daintree Siesta [in the state’s far north], which also had motel rooms and a restaurant. With school-aged children, timing is important and we were aware that if we wanted a tree change, it was now or never. So after serious discussions with our kids, we sold up and – after a few border closure complications – arrived to our new lives at the end of 2021. Moving to a remote location, particularly with teenagers, isn’t for everyone. Mossman is our closest town, so our local supermarket and pharmacy is an hour away, while Cairns is 21⁄2 hours away. My kids have always played soccer, so one of the non-negotiables of our move was that they would continue to do so. But for that to happen, we have to take them to training in Mossman every week and down to Cairns for games on Saturdays. It’s a lot of time spent driving, but we get someone to cover for us at the park and do it as a family, which provides quality time to talk about the big topics. The benefits have been plentiful. The schools my children attend are much smaller than the ones they went to in Sydney – my daughter’s primary school has 20 kids – so they get plenty of one-on-one with teachers. Shared experience has brought our children closer, and now they’re working after school in our restaurant and navigating all sorts of interesting situations, they’ve blossomed into wonderful young adults. Of course, we’re mindful they’ll likely leave for university, so it’s important to enjoy this time we have living and working together.” “Buying in Sydney made little financial sens e ” Tahlia Crinis, 40, PR consultant “I never realised how over the whole ‘Sydney thing’ I was until lockdowns forced us to live indoors for an extended period of time. Until that point, life felt like one social event after another. My husband, Alex, and I must have had at least three dinners out with friends each week, and there were endless work events during the day as well as casual coffee catch-ups and morning gym sessions. Once we were cooped up inside, we realised how much we enjoyed not having to go to places and being able to take life at a slower pace. When we started looking for a place to buy, it soon became apparent that we either had to downsize into a shoebox apartment or look well beyond city limits. Sydney has many wonderful attributes but affordability is not one of them The move to Wombarra [on the Illawarra coast south of Sydney] made sense from the get-go; I grew up in nearby Bulli so knew the area well, plus we needed a seachange location that was still close enough to Sydney to make Alex’s commute to the office at least three days a week a little easier to bear. The house we bought was the first one we looked at, and we couldn’t believe what our budget could stretch to once we left Sydney. In place of a one-bedroom apartment in Potts Point, we now have a three-bedroom home with ocean views and a large backyard. Life has changed in the way we’d planned since we made our move in 2023. I work from home, so during warmer weather I start my days with a swim at the beach. I always make time for the things I’d forgotten how much I’d always enjoyed, like sitting in the garden with a book and a cup of tea. Alex enjoys his commute, too; he says doing a lengthy train trip twice a day gives him a chance to complete any outstanding work, so his brain can be clutter-free by the time he gets home. A sea change isn’t only about moving house, but about changing aspects of how you live your life – or so we found out pretty quickly. Down here, we can no longer rely on ordering takeaway, which was a big part of our week in the city, and our suburb doesn’t even have a cafe or grocery store. Over time, however, we’ve learnt the importance of buying a good-quality coffee machine, and planning meals adequately so you don’t have to drive to the nearest shop, but they’re small adjustments in the grand scheme of things. We’re enjoying the peace and quiet so much – not to mention all this space we suddenly have – that we’ve never really given Sydney a second thought!” Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter .LAHAINA, Hawaii – Tyrese Hunter scored 17 of his 26 points after halftime to lead Memphis to a 99-97 overtime win against two-time defending national champion and second-ranked UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational . Hunter shot 7 of 10 from 3-point range for the Tigers (5-0), who were 12 of 22 from beyond at the arc as a team. PJ Haggerty had 22 points and five assists, Colby Rogers had 19 points and Dain Dainja scored 14. Recommended Videos Tarris Reed Jr. had 22 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Huskies (4-1). Alex Karaban had 19 points and six assists, and Jaylin Stewart scored 16. Memphis led by as many as 13 with about four minutes left in regulation, but UConn chipped away and eventually tied it on Solo Ball’s 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining. Takeaways Memphis: The Tigers ranked second nationally in field goal percentage going into the game and shot it at a 54.7% clip. UConn: The Huskies saw their string of 17 consecutive wins dating back to February come to an end. Key moment The teams were tied at 92 with less than a minute remaining in overtime when UConn coach Dan Hurley was assessed a technical foul for his displeasure with an over-the-back call against Liam McNeeley. PJ Carter hit four straight free throws — two for the tech and the other pair for the personal foul — to give Memphis a 96-92 lead with 40.3 seconds to play. Key stat UConn had three players foul out. Memphis attempted 40 free throws and made 29 of them. Up next Memphis will play the winner of Colorado-Michigan State on Tuesday in the second round of the invitational. UConn will play the loser of that game in the consolation bracket. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball .

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Israel's Pulse can fire rockets and precision-attack missiles. Published: November 23, 2024 9:06 PM IST By Edited by Israel has achieved great success in the midst of the Gaza and Lebanon wars. Israeli defence company Elbit Systems Ltd has announced that it has received an order worth $ 335 million from an unnamed European country. Israeli defence company Elbit Systems Ltd is going to supply state-of-the-art rocket launcher Pulse and Hermès 900 killer drones. This is the same Hermès 900 drone that the Israeli army is using to wreak havoc from Gaza to Lebanon. With the help of this drone and rocket, this European country will be able to increase its defence capability manifold. At the same time, India’s arms manufacturer Adani Defense is also going to benefit from this multi-million-dollar deal. Israel’s Pulse, similar to India’s Pinaka, is a low-cost system that can fire everything from rockets to precision-attack missiles. At the same time, talking about Hermès 900, it is the largest drone of the Elbit company. This killer drone can fly at medium altitude for long distances. This drone is equipped with the capability to spy, monitor, and destroy targets from land to sea. Hermès 900 drones to be made in India About 20 countries of the world, including India, use Hermes 900 drones. “With these arms deals, we are proud to support our European customer, which is effective and can be used anywhere,” Elbit CEO Bezhalel Machlis said in a statement. He said the Hermès 900 drone is designed to meet a variety of mission needs. This Hermès 900 drone deal between Israel and the European country is going to benefit India too as Indian company Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited will manufacture these drones in Hyderabad and from there they will be exported to the European country. With this latest deal, India’s role in the global arms market is going to increase significantly. What makes Hermès 900 so special Adani Defence is making this drone in India in collaboration with Elbit. This drone has been handed over to the Indian armed forces and Israel has also taken this drone from India amid the Gaza war. Not only this, many parts of Hermes 900 drones will also be purchased from other companies present in India, which is also going to benefit them. Hermès 900 drone specializes in capturing high quality pictures which is a big advantage for this UAV. The Hermès 900 drone can stay in the air for about 30 hours and can fly at an altitude of about 30 thousand feet. It weighs 970 kg and can carry 300 kg of payload. It has many types of sensors that also identify the fleeing target. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on or follow us on and . Read more on Latest on . Topics

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More 2024 has been a banner year for Perplexity . The AI search startup, founded by former DeepMind and OpenAI researcher Aravind Srinivas, raised hundreds of millions of dollars — its latest funding round reportedly valuing the company at $9 billion — and introduced several notable features, including Pages , Spaces , and innovative shopping experiences. These developments have solidified Perplexity’s reputation as an “AI-first” knowledge discovery engine, standing apart from traditional search giants like Google and Bing, which are bolting AI capabilities onto their existing engines. However, the journey is far from over. Facing intensifying competition, Perplexity is broadening its scope with a new addition to its portfolio: Carbon . The company has just acquired this startup, for an undisclosed sum, to address the “data gap” enterprises encounter with AI search and streamline the knowledge discovery process in their workflows. Carbon has developed a comprehensive retrieval framework that streamlines the process of connecting external data sources to LLMs. Users can tap the Carbon universal API or SDKs to sync their data sources and retrieve the data to use with LLMs. It offers native integrations with over 20 data connectors and supports more than 20 file formats, including text, audio and video files. The expanding scope of AI search From individuals to business users, almost everyone today uses AI search as part of their workflows. The idea of the technology is pretty simple — you don’t have to go through a swathe of links and content to find relevant insights and information. Instead, the information will come to you as the direct answer to your query. Perplexity has thrived on this approach, using a range of large language models to retrieve information from the web and simplifying how users work. It even allows teams to extract information from their personal or business files such as PDFs and Word documents. But, here’s the thing. The web is home to public information, and uploading internal files — PDFs, conversations, images — individually is not feasible for business users dealing with large volumes of proprietary data. This affects the quality of answers, keeping them generic and devoid of important organization-relevant contexts. Highlighting this “data gap,” Sanjeev Mohan, the former Gartner Research VP for data and analytics, told VentureBeat that one of the biggest AI trends for 2025 will be ETL for unstructured data . It will allow teams to extract and transform data from dispersed internal sources, ultimately powering their LLMs to generate highly relevant and accurate responses. Now, this is exactly what Perplexity plans to do with the acquisition of Carbon’s comprehensive, streamlined retrieval framework. Perplexity will integrate Carbon’s retrieval engine and connectors into its tech stack, giving users of the search platform a direct way to plug in their diverse sources of data, from Google Docs and Notion to Hubspot and Slack. This, the company says, will expand the knowledge pool powering the AI search engine, making its responses more comprehensive, relevant and personalized to users. What can users expect from Carbon-powered Perplexity? While Perplexity has just acquired Carbon and the integration is yet to be executed, it’s pretty easy to imagine how the additional data connectors will improve the workflows of enterprise teams using the AI search engine. For instance, if one has to move the date for a launch and needs to figure out the latest deadline and guidelines set by their team, Perplexity would be able to parse through all the data in Google Docs, Notion, and Slack — and make necessary correlations — to find the information that answers the question. In essence, there would be no more worrying about stitching together context from the web, individual apps, and messages. The platform does everything on its own to provide the answer. “The notable benefit of this setup is that our technology can find the answer without making you pinpoint the document/database where that information is stored,” Sara Platnick, who leads communications at Perplexity, told VentureBeat. Another example, she said, could be extracting customer meeting insights. Perplexity would be able to fetch the details and focus of the conversation from connected CRMs in no time. Notably, by leveraging Carbon’s retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) workflows, Perplexity is making enterprise search more accessible, saving companies the hassle of building their own RAG pipelines from scratch. “By finding and interpreting proprietary data with Perplexity and Carbon, companies can address a range of multi-faceted gen AI use cases. We find the leading adopters are most focused on customer service, document processing, image processing and recommendation engines, Kevin Petrie,” VP of research at BARC US, told VentureBeat. Execution will be key Acquiring Carbon is just the beginning. The real key will be execution, or how seamlessly and safely the startup’s tech is integrated. After all, we are talking about proprietary data from some of the most critical knowledge repositories that enterprises maintain. “Companies are rightly wary of exposing their intellectual property to the public. So Perplexity and Carbon will need to provide governance controls that ensure companies can keep their data inside their own firewalls. They have no interest in sharing secrets or training a public model to mimic their intellectual property,” Petrie added. On Perplexity’s part, Platnick noted that “all information from internal and private sources on the engine is encrypted, as is all data transmitted and stored in Carbon’s data connectors.” She also pointed out that the company has additional protections to ensure that private documents stay private and aren’t accessible to non-authorized users. As of now, there’s no specific timeline for the integration of Carbon with Perplexity. However, the startup will cease operations of its managed API on March 31, 2025. Existing customers using the API have already been notified for offboarding, with the Carbon team assisting them in the transition. If you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI. Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here . An error occured.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Mike McDaniel has seen a change in quarterback Tua Tagovailoa over the past month. “He's found a way to improve the way he plays the position throughout the game,” the Dolphins coach said Sunday, after Tagovailoa threw for four touchdowns in a dominant 34-15 win over the New England Patriots. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.No. 25 Illinois rebounds in big way, blasts UMES 87-40

Sports on TV for Nov. 23 - 24

UPDATE 1-Syria's new foreign minister tells Iran not to spread chaos in SyriaHighlights The HHS-OIG released a favorable opinion regarding a customer loyalty program in which members earn redeemable points for future product purchases and tiered benefits by purchasing company products The “discount” safe harbor to the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) does not apply to the proposed arrangement’s loyalty program The proposed arrangement includes factors, the agency said, that limit risk under the AKS and the civil monetary penalty laws (CMP) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) recently released Advisory Opinion No. 24-10 , a favorable opinion regarding the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and civil monetary penalty laws (CMP) against beneficiary inducements as applied to a customer loyalty program. The program, which involves redeemable points and tiered benefits based on product purchases, was offered by a distributor that provides dental and laboratory supplies, equipment and technology, repair services and business support services to office-based dental practitioners. The distributor operates a customer loyalty program in which members earn points on dental supply purchases, which can then be redeemed on future purchases. Redeeming points reduces the price of those future purchases. The membership is divided into tier levels. The tiers are designated based on members’ annual spending levels, and each tier provides additional offerings and promotions. According to the opinion, the proposed arrangement expands the existing customer loyalty program beyond the company’s dental division. Members can earn points on purchases from the company’s dental division and some of its other subsidiaries. The subsidiaries offer specialty dental services and provide general business software and financial services. The members can earn points on items and services that are both reimbursable and non-reimbursable by federal health care programs. The proposal still includes the tiered membership levels, with benefits and discounts increasing with each tier level. HHS-OIG’s Analysis The HHS-OIG concluded both parts of the proposed arrangement implicated the AKS and that neither the points program nor the tier benefits are protected by the “discount” safe harbor to the AKS. However, because the proposed program has safeguards designed to mitigate the risk of fraud and abuse, the HHS-OIG would not impose sanctions against the distributor of dental supplies. The HHS-OIG analyzed the redeemable points and tier benefits separately. The agency found the points implicated the AKS, but determined they created little risk of fraud and abuse because of the following factors: Each point awarded to members is of a low dollar value ($0.005). As a result, there is minimal risk of unfairly steering members to the company. The program includes features that prevent influencing members to purchase particular items or services. All qualifying purchases earn points in the same way, so there is no incentive for members to purchase any certain product. The program prevents members from using their points to cover more than 50 percent of the purchase price. This safeguard prevents against the provision of free items in exchange for purchases of federally reimbursable items. There are protections in place that ensure members use their points only for the purchase of redeemable products. Members cannot redeem points for cash, points have no value if they are not redeemed, and points are not transferable to other members or non-member customers. With respect to the tiered benefits, the HHS-OIG similarly found that the benefits implicated the AKS, but that they posed little risk of fraud and abuse due to the following factors: The types of benefits offered limit the risk of unfair competition and improper steering of customers to the company. The benefits relate to the company’s customer service offerings, such as priority service and extended labor warranties, instead of unrelated rewards like concert and sport tickets. The benefits are structured so that they are unlikely to cause overutilization or corrupt medical decision making. When members spend more on company products, they earn more benefits, which are comprised of support services for those products. The benefits design limits the risk that certain members or types of purchases would be selectively rewarded. The tiered benefits are based on objective criteria set in advance and shared with members. The HHS-OIG determined the proposed arrangement presented a low risk of fraud and abuse because of the safeguards that mitigate the risk of steering customers to the company and improperly influencing medical decision-making. Key Takeaways This advisory opinion, while highly fact-specific, highlights an example of a customer loyalty program that implicates the AKS and CMP, but does not warrant sanctions due to sufficient safeguards that mitigate risk of fraud and abuse. Suppliers, wholesalers, and distributors may wish to revisit their customer loyalty awards program to ensure compliance with the advisory opinion.

Homeland Security shares new details of mysterious drone flights over New Jersey A New Jersey lawmaker from part of the state where several mysterious drones have been spotted in recent week says the devices appear to avoid detection by traditional methods. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia was among state officials who met Wednesday with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security. She says lawmakers were told the drones have dodged detection by helicopters and radio. Fantasia says DHS described the devices as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights off. The Morris County Republican made the comments in a post on X shortly after she and several other state and local lawmakers met with state police and Homeland Security officials. Juan Soto gets free luxury suite and up to 4 premium tickets for home games in $765M Mets deal DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto gets free use of a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets behind home plate for regular-season and postseason New York Mets home games as part of his record $765 million, 15-year contract. The Mets agreed to provide personal team security for the All-Star outfielder and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games, according to details of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press. New York agreed to assist Soto’s family for in-season travel arrangements, guaranteed he gets uniform No. 22 and included eight types of award bonuses. Rape allegation against Jay-Z won’t impact NFL's relationship with music mogul, Goodell says IRVING, Texas (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says a rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z won’t impact the NFL's relationship with the music mogul. Jay-Z's company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show. A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 amended the lawsuit Sunday to include an allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z says the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Ohio politician proposes make flag planting a felony after fight in Michigan rivalry game An Ohio politician has seen enough flag planting. Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. A fight ensued and police had to use pepper spray to disperse the players. Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield famously planted a flag in the middle of the field at Ohio State after the Sooners beat the Buckeyes in 2017. Gastineau confronts Favre in documentary for his 'dive' on Strahan's record-breaking sack Former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau confronted Brett Favre last year at a memorabilia show and angrily accused the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback of deliberately going down on a record-breaking sack. The tense exchange is shown in the new ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “The New York Sack Exchange." It chronicles the Jets’ fearsome foursome defensive line of the 1980s that included Gastineau. Gastineau set an NFL record with 22 sacks in 1984, but Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan broke the mark when he sacked Favre in 2002 in a game between the Giants and Packers. Many have accused Favre of purposely taking the sack so Strahan could set the single-season record with 22 1/2. What happens next with Alex Jones' Infowars? No certainty yet after sale to The Onion is rejected Lawyers in the Alex Jones bankruptcy case are now in discussions on what could happen next after a federal judge in Texas rejected the auction sale of Jones’ Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet. The next steps remained unclear Wednesday as the judge ordered the trustee who oversaw the auction to come up with a new plan. Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston rejected the bid late Tuesday, saying there was too much confusion about The Onion’s bid. The bankruptcy case was in the wake of the nearly $1.5 billion that courts have ordered Jones to pay for calling the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut a hoax. Sandy Hook families had backed The Onion’s bid. NFL and Nike extend their partnership with a 10-year deal, will focus on growing the sport globally IRVING, Texas (AP) — The NFL’s desire to become a global powerhouse is no secret. Nike is committed to helping the league continue expanding its worldwide reach. The league and the apparel giant announced Wednesday a 10-year partnership extension. The NFL and Nike will focus on working together to grow the game’s global reach, increase participation, develop new talent, and expand the football fan base. Nike, the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel, has been the NFL’s exclusive provider of uniforms and sideline, practice and base layer apparel for all 32 NFL teams for 12 years. George Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, dies at age 89 NEW YORK (AP) — George Joseph Kresge Jr., otherwise known to TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, has died at age 89. Kreskin’s friend and former road manager, Ryan Galway, says he died Tuesday at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey. Kreskin launched his television career in the 1960s and remained popular for decades, appearing with everyone from Merv Griffin to Johnny Carson to Jimmy Fallon. Fans would welcome, if not entirely figure out, his favorite mind tricks — whether correctly guessing a playing card chosen at random, or, most famously, divining where his paycheck had been planted among the audience. He also hosted a show in the 1970s, gave live performances and wrote numerous books. Albertsons sues Kroger for failing to win approval of their proposed supermarket merger Kroger and Albertsons’ plan for the largest U.S. supermarket merger in history has crumbled. The two companies have accused each other of not doing enough to push their proposed alliance through, and Albertsons pulled out of the $24.6 billion deal on Wednesday. The bitter breakup came the day after a federal judge in Oregon and a state judge in Washington issued injunctions to block the merger, saying that combining the two grocery chains could reduce competition and harm consumers. Albertsons is now suing Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee, as well as billions of dollars in legal fees and lost shareholder value. Kroger says the legal claims are “baseless.” Keynote Selena Gomez spotlights prioritizing mental health during Academy Women's Luncheon LOS ANGELES (AP) — While surveying a room packed with Hollywood’s most influential figures, “Emilia Pérez” star Selena Gomez took center stage at the Academy Women’s Luncheon to spotlight a critical issue: Prioritizing mental health and supporting underserved communities often left behind in the conversation. The singer-actor has been public about her mental health struggles, revealing she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Gomez was the keynote speaker Tuesday at the event held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with attendees including Ariana Grande, Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Pamela Anderson, Rita Wilson, Ava DuVernay and Awkwafina.Facebook, Instagram down for thousands of users, Downdetector showsNEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train used a shirt to fan the flames, a prosecutor said Tuesday at his arraignment on murder charges. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally, was not required to enter a plea and did not speak at the hearing in Brooklyn criminal court. Zapeta, wearing a white jumpsuit over a weathered black hooded sweatshirt, will remain jailed at the city's Rikers Island complex and is due back in court on Friday. His lawyer did not ask for bail. Zapeta is charged with two counts of murder, accusing him of intentionally killing the woman and killing her while committing arson. He is also charged with one count of arson. The top charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called the attack a “gruesome and senseless act of violence” and said it would be “met with the most serious consequences.” The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on an F train that was stopped at the Coney Island station. The victim's identification is still pending. Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who may have been sleeping in the train, and set her clothing on fire with a lighter. Zapeta then fanned the flames with a shirt, engulfing her in fire, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said in court Tuesday. Zapeta then sat on a bench on the subway platform and watched, Rottenberg said. According to Rottenberg, Zapeta told detectives that he didn’t know what happened but identified himself in images of the attack. Zapeta's lawyer, public defender Andrew Friedman, did not speak to reporters after the arraignment. A message seeking comment was left for him. Video on social media appears to show some people looking on from the platform and at least one police officer walking by while the woman is on fire inside the train. NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Gulotta said Sunday that several officers responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the crime scene “the way it’s supposed to be" while the others went to get fire extinguishers and transit workers. “Officers who were on patrol on an upper level of that station smelled and saw smoke and went to investigate. What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. They eventually put the fire out, but “unfortunately, it was too late,” Tisch said, and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Zapeta was taken into custody Sunday afternoon while riding a train on the same subway line after teenagers recognized him from images circulated by the police. A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support. The shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal immigration officials said Zapeta was deported in 2018 but later reentered the U.S. illegally. The crime deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system, amplified by graphic video of the attack that ricocheted across social media. “It creeped me out real bad,” said Deandre Nelson, 22. Others said the attack hasn’t changed their daily routine or how they feel about the subway. “I don’t think it gave me pause," said Collin Burroughs, 24. “I think it mostly just made me sad.” Overall, crime is down in the transit system compared to last year. Major felonies declined 6% between January and November compared to the same time period last year, according to data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. But murders are up, with nine killings this year through November compared to five during the same period last year. There have also been several high-profile incidents, including one in September where police inadvertently shot two bystanders and a fellow officer when they opened fire on a man holding a knife in front of a train. Earlier this month, a Manhattan jury acquitted former Marine Daniel Penny in the chokehold death last year of an agitated subway rider. The case became a flashpoint in debates over safety, homelessness and mental illness on the system. Policing the subway is difficult, given the vast network of trains moving between 472 stations. Each stop contains multiple entry points and, in many stations, multiple floors and platforms. This story has been corrected to show that the name of Zapeta's lawyer is Andrew Friedman, not Ed Friedman. Associated Press reporter Melissa Goldin contributed to this report.

Almond FinTech Wins CrossTech Innovation Award

A digital wallet for farmers in New Zealand developed by and has won a Constellation Research SuperNova Award for its secure data-sharing ecosystem based on verifiable credentials. The Trust Alliance New Zealand (TANZ) Digital Farm Wallet lets farmers store data on farm boundaries and greenhouse gas emissions, along with credentials like their farm ID, and was recognized in the “Digital Safety, Governance, Privacy, and Cybersecurity” category. The development partners say the TANZ Digital Farm Wallet could transform the country’s agriculture industry through decentralized identity, increasing supply chain transparency and allowing farmers and consumers to confirm attributes like organic certification. Each company is also working on applying existing protocols and standards for digital identities and the wallets that hold and present them more broadly. Indicio set out its involvement in developing and supporting the OpenID for Verifiable Credentials (OID4VC) and OpenID for Verifiable Presentations (OID4VP) standards in an article on its website earlier this month. The OpenID protocols are key to making decentralized identity accessible and practical for adoption in the real world, according to . Anonyome Labs co-presented a paper on the use of device hardware security modules (HSMs) by existing digital identity wallets to meet the requirements for EU Digital Identity Wallets at the in Brisbane, Australia in late-November. The paper, presented in collaboration with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), argues that digital identity wallet applications can feasibly support the EUDI Wallet technical (ARF), but with some tradeoffs in terms of algorithmic compatibility, user experience and performance. | | | | | | | | |WWE backstage host Cathy Kelley has become quite popular over the years, there's no doubt about it. The Illinois native has built an impressive social media following because of her work. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.

University accused of ‘attributing inherited guilt’ over slavery links

The Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world track Santa Claus as he sweeps across the earth, delivering presents and defying time. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online in nine languages , from English to Japanese. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats , such as last year’s Chinese spy balloon . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” “There are screams and giggles and laughter,” said Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, “Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early.” NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War , predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics . Here’s how it began and why the phones keep ringing. It started with a child’s accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy’s mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80 foot (18-by-24 meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from “those who do not believe in Christmas.” Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup’s story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy’s call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child’s call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. “When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,’” Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. “People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada — known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That’s when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, Mountain Standard Time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.December 11, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Carnegie Institution for Science A team of researchers led by Carnegie Science's Will Ludington, Karina Gutiérrez-García, and Kevin Aumiller identified genes that enable a beneficial bacterial species to colonize specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract. Their work, published in Science , could revolutionize our understanding of how the composition of the gut microbiome is determined and open the door to microbiome engineering. The gut microbiome is an ecosystem of hundreds to thousands of microbial species living within the human body and influencing our health, fertility, and even longevity. These populations can aid digestion, inform immune responses, and help fight off pathogens among other functions. However, the microbiome isn't uniform throughout the gut. Just as various organs within the gastrointestinal system have different specialties when it comes to digesting food and absorbing nutrients, different microbial communities are localized within each zone and play unique roles there. Successful colonization of each region of the G.I. tract by different microbial populations is dependent on a variety of factors such as nutrient requirements of the bacteria; the local pH and dissolved oxygen content ; competition with other bacterial strains; and survivability in harsh conditions —including stomach acid, bile salts, and immune-response cells. "We're talking about an incredibly complex system of interconnected microbial communities, and each species needs to get to the right place where it can thrive and contribute to host health," explained Ludington, who has been probing microbiome acquisition and composition for several years at Carnegie. "Researchers have been trying to figure out how each bacterial species is directed to the right location and how colonization by harmful or less-than-ideal species is minimized." Think about checked luggage moving through the system of conveyor belts behind the scenes at a busy, urban airport. The baggage handling system may look disorganized and chaotic, but the majority of bags get to the plane where they need to be. And processes are in place to correct any erroneous sorting that occurs over time. "Likewise, in the gut, beneficial bacteria need to get to the region where they can successfully create a colony," co-lead author Gutiérrez-García indicated. "We worked to reveal the mechanisms that enable this to happen." Successful colonization hinges on proteins in bacterial cell walls called adhesins. As you might guess from their name, they can stick to a variety of different surfaces within the body. But they typically bind non-specifically, meaning they could just as soon attach to one tissue as another. So how do symbiotic microbiome species get to the place they need to go? To tackle this mystery, Ludington, Gutiérrez-García, Aumiller and their colleagues developed technology that enabled them to watch a single cell of the bacterial species Lactiplantibacillus plantarum colonize its niche within the fruit fly gut in real time. The team also included Carnegie's Ren Dodge, Benjamin Obadia, Haolong Zhu, and Ru-Ching Hsia, as well as Ann Deng, Sneha Agrawal, and Xincheng Yuan from Johns Hopkins University and, Richard Wolff and Nandita Garud from UCLA. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . The fruit fly may be a pest in the kitchen, but it's a workhorse in the laboratory and the perfect organism for this type of research, because the species that comprise its microbiome are well defined and small in number. Watching the events unfold in such high-resolution detail enabled the scientists to see the difference between short-lived colonization and long-term success. "Developing this imaging technique was an exciting challenge," said Dodge, a key contributor to the study. "It allowed us to see the interactions of individual bacteria cells with the host gut in unprecedented detail." They found that L. plantarum isolated from the guts of wild fruit flies was able to stably attach to host tissue whereas L. plantarum from humans and other sources formed only transient attachments. With this information in hand, the researchers set out to determine the genetic basis for this super-affinity. Through diligent and painstaking work, they were able to identify a set of genes for symbiotic gut colonization within a niche. "By identifying the genes that enable L. plantarum to colonize specific niches, we now have the insights into how to engineer greater precision into other bacteria," said Aumiller, a co-lead author on the project. "This opens the door to creating probiotics that are optimized for specific niches in the human gut." "Looking ahead, we will attempt to elucidate the mechanism underlying this binding specificity," Ludington concluded. More information: Karina Gutiérrez-García et al, A conserved bacterial genetic basis for commensal-host specificity, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adp7748 Journal information: Science Provided by Carnegie Institution for ScienceNone

No Sanctions: Anti-Fraud Safeguards Protect Medical Supply Distributor’s Customer Loyalty ProgramNo club wins an Draft on the night, but when you own a third of the top 24 it was always going to be tough for the Tigers to lose it. Richmond capitalised on its historic hand by swinging for upside and landing North Melbourne's future first-rounder - which has finished as a top two pick for the past four consecutive seasons. West Coast and Port Adelaide capitalised on sliders, Brisbane and Gold Coast matched bids on top 10 talents and we saw 71 selections for the first time since 2018, proving the lauded depth of 2024's draft pool. This is how ESPN has graded every club's haul from both nights of the 2024 AFL Draft. Adelaide Sid Draper (4), Tyler Welsh (59) No midfielder better fits Adelaide's on-ball brigade than boyhood Crow Sid Draper. His speed, agility, clean hands and damage on the outside of the contest will complement the likes of Jordan Dawson and Jake Soligo perfectly. Draper was so keen on the Crows he called Matthew Nicks days out from the draft, imploring the coach to read out his name with pick 4. Adelaide only planned to use two selections and listed father-son Tyler Welsh at pick 59. The key forward offers strength in abundance and has kicked goals at every level this year. A Levi Ashcroft (5), Sam Marshall (25), Ty Gallop (42) What a result for the Lions gaining access to Levi Ashcroft at pick 5. A bid at pick 1 would have made finding points for both he and Sam Marshall near impossible, but they were afforded room to trade into 2025's draft with an eye on Academy midfielder Daniel Annable. Ashcroft's drive and intensity about his football is stunning -- he refused to touch the premiership cup on Grand Final day. Sam Marshall is an elite runner who could also play early senior football for the Lions as a wingman or halfback. Brisbane would have liked a later bid on Academy forward Ty Gallop, but were keen to add him to the list given his athletic traits at 194cm. A Jagga Smith (3), Harry O'Farrell (40), Ben Camporeale (43), Lucas Camporeale (54) Jagga Smith was the man for the Blues all along. It was a coup for the finalists to trade up to pick 3, and seeing the midfielder they rated no. 1 in the draft at their selection must have felt like Christmas morning for Nick Austin and his team. Smith also landed at no. 1 on ESPN's draft board - he's a ball magnet that will thrive alongside Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh. The Blues held their nerve on the pick in Ben Camporeale's bidding range, and were rewarded with athletic key defender Harry O'Farrell whose father is the much-beloved Carlton lawyer Patrick Cripps can thank for his first Brownlow Medal. The Camporeale twins are one of the great stories stemming from the second night. Ben is a tough and physical inside midfielder built for the clinches. Lucas has class and courage, able to run up and down a wing all day. Both will take time to develop in the VFL but have traits to be unlocked in a professional environment. A+ Joel Cochran (47), Charlie West (50), Will Hayes (56) The Pies entered the draft late and immediately bid on Sydney's academy graduate Joel Cochran which was not matched. The key defender took out the combine 2km time trial - he's an elite runner and can play on a variety of forwards. South Australia's Charlie West will take time to develop but presents upside as a bustling key forward that loves to take pack marks. Finally, the Pies grabbed specialist wingman Will Hayes who can run all day and makes smart decisions. He's one that could impact in 2025, but Collingwood would have loved to gain access to more ready-made talent. C Isaac Kako (13), Kayle Gerreyn (37), Angus Clarke (39), Rhys Unwin (61), Zak Johnson (70) Isaac Kako is the crown jewel for Matt Rosa's team in 2024, the best small forward for a goal-hungry side that has lacked depth in the area for a long time. Kako has the talent and temperament to play AFL football right away with a full pre-season. At pick 37, Kayle Gerreyn was top of ESPN's available prospects, and Port was sweating on his availability at pick 38. The gifted ruck-forward can pinpoint passes off both feet, is nimble in congestion and plays with a physical edge. He's likely to play his best football as a marking forward that can cameo in the ruck. Two selections later, Essendon added SA halfback Angus Clarke, who grew up in the same town as Mason Redman and plays a similarly damaging game from defence. He loves to fly for his intercept marks and kickstart transition. They added Rhys Unwin whose speed in the forward half is of value, and classy halfback Zak Johnson who can also run on-ball. The Dons will add NGA small Jayden Nguyen to their category-B rookie list on Friday after he got through without a bid. A- Murphy Reid (17), Charlie Nicholls (34), Jaren Carr (63) The Dockers were surprised that Murphy Reid was still on the board at 17. The Dragons midfielder took out Vic Metro's carnival MVP after an impressive block of football where he proved to be a damaging accumulator. Charlie Nicholls is a project tall out of South Australia that could end up at either end of the ground, but has done most of his work as a hard-leading forward. Finally, Fremantle committed to father-son Jaren Carr who made his WAFL debut this year and can play in a variety of roles at 191cm. B- Jay Polkinghorne (44), Jacob Molier (52), Lennox Hofmann (66), Keighton Matofai-Forbes (69) The Cats entered the draft late on night two and took two South Australian prospects with their first two picks. Jay Polkinghorne presents as an X-factor forward at 191cm, able to clunk marks and kick accurately for goal. Jacob Molier was the first pure ruckman taken in the draft; his excellent state combine was capped off with an elite 20m sprint time at 201cm. Geelong were shocked to see St Kilda pass on their Lennox Hofmann bid, who had interest much higher up the order. The defender plays lockdown roles but also loves to get forward and use his supreme pace to break the game open. Finally, Keighton Matofai-Forbes got his chance late in the piece. The powerful forward relishes one-on-ones and has an incredible fluidity to his game at 188cm. C+ Leo Lombard (9), Cooper Bell (49) Leo Lombard is another academy coup for the Suns, and would have been taken higher if he was in the open draft. The midfielder comes into the AFL as one of its most explosive athletes ever based on combine results, and it translates to the field where his power, physicality and speed shine. GWS opted not to match a bid on academy key defender Cooper Bell who adds depth to Gold Coast's defensive stocks. B Ollie Hannaford (18), Harrison Oliver (19), Cody Angove (24), Jack Ough (36), Logan Smith (71) GWS swung the biggest surprise on night one again, grabbing West Australian speedster Cody Angove at pick 24. A bolter from nowhere, the Claremont product has smarts and creativity forward of the ball, and has a valuable speed-endurance blend that Adrian Caruso's team craves. Before that, they took massive riser Ollie Hannaford, completing the swing from no national combine invite to top 20 pick. The forward's speed and competitiveness are highlights of his exciting game. They also grabbed tough and balanced running defender Harrison Oliver, who had suitors in the late first round. The Giants finished off their haul with 194cm smooth-moving midfielder Jack Ough, and athletic academy ruckman Logan Smith, who didn't attract a bid. The Giants will add NGA prospect Josaia Delana to their rookie list. C+ Noah Mraz (35), Cody Anderson (64) It was a quiet draft for the Hawks after a busy trade period of bringing in two key defenders, and they grabbed another one to boot. Noah Mraz was a forgotten man after a navicular fracture wiped out his season, but his capabilities as a key defender to intercept and lock down shouldn't be underestimated. Hawthorn also snared NGA prospect Cody Anderson, dubbed 'The Beast From The East' for his attack on the man and the ball out of the Eastern Ranges. He's an exciting player with a great defensive game through the midfield and up forward. C+ Harvey Langford (6), Xavier Lindsay (11), Aiden Johnson (68) The Demons traded up with the Dons and were stoked to land two of the best midfielders in the pool. Harvey Langford was a joint Larke Medallist this year after an outstanding campaign as a 190cm on-baller than finds a lot of ball and gains territory with his massive left boot. Xavier Lindsay adds polish and craft on the outside, a beautiful user and hard runner with leadership aspirations. The Dees rounded out their selections with mature-age VFL premiership Bee Aidan Johnson who adds depth to their key forward stocks at 193cm. Indigenous small forward Ricky Mentha will land at the Dees via the category-B rookie list. A- Finn O'Sullivan (2), Matt Whitlock (27), Luke Urquhart (57), River Stevens (67) North took big swings on the first night. They grabbed their no. 1 prospect in the draft in Finn O'Sullivan, whose elite body of work across his junior career warranted the pick. He's another midfielder but has versatility with his aerial ability and capacity to hit the scoreboard. They then pulled a stunner, trading their future first-rounder for pick 27 to grab project key defender Matt Whitlock, who they rated inside the top 10. North's first round pick has landed inside the top 2 for the past five seasons. On night two they grabbed WA hard-nosed midfielder Luke Urquhart whose athletic profile, intensity and clearance work saw him dominate the championships. They then finished up with small forward River Stevens, the son of former captain Anthony. North needs to catapult up the ladder to justify the decision to trade their 2025 first round selection. D Joe Berry (15), Jack Whitlock (33), Christian Moraes (38) Port Adelaide pulled the first live trade of the draft, moving up a spot to grab half forward Joe Berry. The Bushrangers goalkicker models his game on Robbie Gray and boasts similarities in his silky ball use and penchant for standing up in big games. They were considering Jack Whitlock at 15, and were stunned to see him slide all the way to pick 33 where they snatched him up. He will take time to develop his 200cm frame but presents as a long-term Charlie Dixon replacement leading out of full forward. Finally, Christian Moraes was another slider they were keen to grab. The Ranges midfielder has played across all three areas of the ground and does not stop running. It means he finds plenty of ball and can kick goals. Benny Barrett will slot onto their rookie list as an NGA small forward. The Power needed to capitalise on this draft after trading Dan Houston, and they grabbed three high quality prospects with two likely to play AFL football next year. A Sam Lalor (1), Josh Smillie (7), Taj Hotton (12), Jonty Faull (14), Luke Trainor (21), Harry Armstrong (23), Thomas Sims (28), Jasper Alger (58) It was difficult for Richmond to not capitalise on their incredible draft hand, but they were also able to maximise their 2025 hand with North's future first-rounder. It gives them a genuine chance at securing the top two picks in 12 months' time. Many of their selections were drafted with upside in mind. Sam Lalor has the highest upside of all prospects and was taken at pick 1. The powerful midfielder will start his career as a dangerous forward. Josh Smillie then fell at pick 7 - the 195cm battering ram through the middle will eventually form a physical one-two punch with Lalor. Taj Hotton was a slight surprise, but was again a punt on tantalising upside after dominating the first month of the season. We won't see him in action until the back half of 2025 as the mercurial forward-half accumulator recovers from a torn ACL. Three key forwards were taken in a sign of the long-term view. Jonty Faull is a consistent and hard-working key forward that could impact early, Harry Armstrong is the best set shot in the pool and brings a strong athletic profile, and Tom Sims is a wildcard selection with the first pick of night two. At 199cm with a long reach he has physical traits that give him a shot at becoming a great AFL forward. Luke Trainor's slide was halted by the Tigers and he will learn plenty from Nick Vlastuin. The Dragons interceptor is an elite reader of the play and also possesses tidy foot skills. Finally, the Tigers traded back into the draft to snatch up Jasper Alger, with the small forward sliding into the 50s. He adds ground level pressure in the forward 50. We will wait and see if Richmond nailed this draft, but Blair Hartley's team has put the club in a position to achieve long-term success once more. A+ Tobie Travaglia (8), Alix Tauru (10), James Barrat (32), Hugh Boxshall (45), Alex Dodson (53), Patrick Said (60) The Saints were busy on both nights, and shaped the draft by taking the blonde defenders in the top 10. Tobie Travaglia is the ultimate competitor off halfback. He's a great interceptor and goes on long runs down the ground with an elite work rate. He harbours ambitions of moving into the midfield as a Will Day type player. Alix Tauru rose into top 10 contention with incredible aerial exploits. He's an elite mark and brings a physical edge to his game. His confidence and strong hands could make him one of the game's best interceptors. St Kilda took a third defender in James Barrat, who could be the Josh Battle replacement as a tough lockdown defender. His physicality and positional flexibility will be highly valued by Ross Lyon. Hugh Boxshall is an elite runner and a strong inside midfielder out of Claremont, Alex Dodson tumbled down the order despite being ranked by ESPN as the draft's best ruckman, and Patrick Said adds ground level pressure to the forward 50. They surprisingly ended the night without their NGA prospects, not matching Geelong's bid on Lennox Hofmann and seeing Adrian Cole fall through the draft. They're yet to make a decision on Cole and father-son prospect Elwood Peckett. The Saints needed midfield depth but opted for best available at their top selections. There may be some short-term pain for long-term gain. B Jesse Dattoli (22), Ned Bowman (26), Riley Bice (41), Riak Andrew (55) The Swans loomed as favourites to land key position talent in the first round, but instead opted for more scoreboard impact from medium forwards. Jesse Dattoli could be anything at the next level, able to take contested marks, run through the midfield, and kick bags of goals. Ned Bowman is a human highlight reel and has special aerial ability inside forward 50. He had suitors in the 30s, so Sydney had to pounce if they wanted him. Riley Bice adds ready-made polish off halfback. He won a flag with Werribee in the VFL and as a 24-year-old is ready to go. With their final pick, the Swans scored Riak Andrew after Melbourne chose not to match the bid. His lockdown capabilities improved greatly this year and it's that rate of development that sold Sydney. Interestingly, they chose not to match Collingwood's bid on academy defender Joel Cochran, instead opting to bid on Andrew. C- Bo Allen (16), Jobe Shanahan (30), Tom Gross (46), Luca Greggo (48), Hamish Davis (65) West Coast rivals Richmond for the biggest winners of the 2024 AFL Draft. It was tough to envisage after trading back from pick 3 to 12 in the Liam Baker deal, but WA's best prospect Bo Allan slid through to the selection after they traded back with Port Adelaide and the Eagles scooped him up. Allan is a ready-made, physical midfielder who leads from the front. He will start his career at halfback but it won't be long before he joins Harley Reid in the engine room. Another minor miracle occurred with highly-rated key forward Jobe Shanahan falling all the way to pick 30 despite receiving a draft invitation on night one. Shanahan's ceiling is immense as a 194cm goalkicking power forward, but some clubs also see his future down back where he reads the play and his athleticism is on show. They snared tough inside midfielder Tom Gross at 46, with his point of difference being an underrated aerial ability. Luca Greggo offers serious speed on the edge of contests, while massive slider Hamish Davis was scooped up at 65 out of Claremont. The 190cm forward kicked four goals in a WAFL final this year, won 40 disposals in a midfield masterclass at Colts level and also took out best on ground honours in the Colts Grand Final. He could play football early for the Eagles, but needs to re-work his kicking action to become more reliable distributing the ball. West Coast can list Malakai Champion as a category-B rookie after he slid through the national draft. A+ Cooper Hynes (20), Lachie Jaques (29), Josh Dolan (31), Sam Davidson (51), Luke Kennedy (62) The Dogs were sweating on Murphy Reid's availability but were happy to grab Cooper Hynes who adds the power, speed, and aggression this list lacks in the forward half. Hynes has played a lot through the midfield but should start his career as an impact medium forward. Lachie Jaques was added out of the Falcons as a dashing halfback with the ability to play on talls and smalls, while Josh Dolan's smarts and leadership in the forward half will be valuable. Sam Davidson presents as the ready-made forward at 190cm after winning the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medal with Richmond. After starting his pre-season with VFL side Coburg, Luke Kennedy will also be heading to the Kennel. The consistent Sandy midfielder brings poise and class. B+

Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left legNoneSALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Department of Homeland Security agent who the FBI says conspired with another agent to sell an illicit drug known as “bath salts” pleaded not guilty to a drug distribution conspiracy charge Friday in federal court. A grand jury in Salt Lake City brought the criminal charge against Special Agent David Cole of the Homeland Security Investigations unit earlier this week. The indictment alleges that Cole abused his position as a federal law enforcement agent to obtain and sell drugs for profit. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Cole took drugs that had been seized as evidence, telling colleagues he was using them for legitimate investigations, and instead sold them to a confidential informant who resold the drugs for profit on the streets of Utah, according to the indictment. The informant, who has a lengthy criminal history, had been recruited by federal agents to work for them upon his release from prison. But in addition to conducting controlled buys from suspected drug dealers as directed by investigators, the informant said he was compelled by Cole and another agent to also engage in illegal sales. The investigation began after the informant’s defense attorney contacted the U.S. Attorney in Utah in October to report that agents had required him to engage in potentially illegal acts dating from last spring to early December. Details of drug sales offered by the informant were confirmed through surveillance and other sources, the FBI said. Cole and the second agent — identified in court documents only as “Person A” — profited up to $300,000 from the illegal scheme, according to an FBI affidavit filed in the case. FBI spokesperson Sandra Barker said Friday that “Person A” had not been arrested or charged, but the investigation was ongoing. Cole, 50, of South Jordan, Utah, entered the courtroom Friday handcuffed and hunched over, wearing a white and gray, striped jumpsuit. U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead accepted Cole's not guilty plea and scheduled a trial for the week of Feb. 24. Federal officials say Cole’s indictment sends a message that officers who break the law and undermine the public’s trust in law enforcement will be prosecuted. “A drug dealer who carries a badge is still a drug dealer — and one who has violated an oath to uphold the law and protect the public,” said Nicole Argentieri, head of the U.S. Justice Department’s Criminal Division. "No one is above the law.” Special Agent Shohini Sinha, who leads the FBI's Salt Lake City field office, said Cole’s alleged actions helped fuel an already devastating drug crisis . Ingestion of synthetic bath salts, also known as Alpha-PVP or cathinone, can lead to bizarre behavior such as paranoia and extreme strength, according to authorities who say it’s similar to methamphetamine, cocaine or ecstasy. They are unrelated to actual bathing products. Cole’s attorney, Alexander Ramos, has declined to directly address the criminal allegations but said his client has a strong reputation within the federal law enforcement community. Ramos did not immediately respond Friday to emails seeking comment on the not guilty plea. The Homeland Security Investigations department where Cole worked conducts federal criminal investigations into the illegal movement of people, goods, money, weapons, drugs and sensitive technology into, out of and across the U.S. Cole and the second agent had their credentials suspended but have not been fired, according to court documents.

Penticton Vees captain Conyr Hellyer is heading east when his time in the BCHL comes to an end. Hellyer has committed to play next season at Clarkson University, based in Potsdam, N.Y., the Vees announced Tuesday, Dec. 10. The Alberta-born forward has 15 points in 18 games this season, his first as captain of the Vees. “I’m excited for a new chapter with Clarkson,” Hellyer said. “Their staff and facilities are the professional environment that I was looking for and I was immediately impressed with what they had to offer." Hellyer, who was named Penticton's captain ahead of the 2024-2025 campaign, is slated to be the team's lone representative at the 2025 BCHL's three-on-three all-star game next month in Salmon Arm. This season is his fourth in junior hockey, as the forward played for the Okotoks Oilers for two years before coming to Penticton in the fall of 2023. Hellyer and the Vees are back in action on Friday, Dec. 13, when they host the West Kelowna Warriors at the South Okanagan Events Centre.New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) India and the European Union (EU) have finalised an extensive roadmap for the green hydrogen sector that includes development of infrastructure, technology cooperation and boosting supply chains. The two sides deliberated on ways to enhance cooperation in the sector at the 10th meeting of the India-EU Energy Panel held on Thursday in Brussels. At the meeting, a "work plan" was adopted for the third phase of the India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership 2025-28, which will focus on deeper cooperation in five priority areas, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The priority areas are green hydrogen, offshore wind energy, regional connectivity, electricity market integration and smart grids, energy efficiency, and energy and climate diplomacy. "The two sides have set out an extensive agenda for green hydrogen cooperation, which includes assessing infrastructure development feasibility, regulatory and technology cooperation, and strengthening of supply chains," the MEA said on Saturday. It said the energy panel focused on the energy transition priorities of the two sides and took stock of the achievements of the second phase of the India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership 2021-2024. The two sides undertook and completed joint initiatives involving technical cooperation in 51 activities divided into nine sectors, it added. "The two sides have also charted out the framework for green hydrogen cooperation, which includes cooperation on green hydrogen policies of India and the EU," the MEA said. The EU and EU member states participated in the international conference on green hydrogen this year in India. On its part, India joined as an exclusive country partner of European Hydrogen Week 2024. "India and the EU also entered into long-term research commitments to jointly support research in clean energy projects as part of the India-EU trade and technology council working group on clean and green technologies, which was established in January 2023," the MEA said. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)Where do Democrats go from here?

US House approves bill to avert shutdownHeavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flightsAs the Eras tour ended, here's what Taylor Swift has lined up next

buckshot roulette lobby music US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale costs in the United States picked up sharply last month, signaling that price pressures are still evident in the economy even though inflation has tumbled from the peak levels it hit more than two years ago. The producer price index — which tracks inflation before it reaches consumers — rose 0.4% last month from October, up from 0.3% the month before. Measured from 12 months earlier, wholesale prices climbed 3% in November, the sharpest year-over-year rise since February 2023. Higher food prices helped fuel the November wholesale inflation reading, which was higher than economists had expected. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. From a 10-year-old to a Muppet to a president-elect, NYSE bell-ringers range from famous to obscure The first guest invited to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange in 1956 wasn’t a company executive, a politician or a celebrity. It was a 10-year-old boy, Leonard Ross, who received the honor by winning a television quiz show. Since then, business titans, political giants and global film stars have all been among those ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. Ronald Reagan rang the bell as president in 1985. Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. have also rung the bell. The even list includes famous Muppets: Miss Piggy was once a bell ringer. Trump is named Time's Person of the Year and rings the New York Stock Exchange's opening bell NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange after being recognized by Time magazine as its person of the year. The honors Thursday for the businessman-turned-politician are a measure of Trump’s remarkable comeback from an ostracized former president who refused to accept his election loss four years ago to a president-elect who won the White House decisively in November. At the stock exchange, Trump was accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, daughters Ivanka and Tiffany and Vice President-elect JD Vance. Trump grinned as people chanted “USA” before he opened the trading day and raised his fist. Ontario to restrict electricity exports to US and bar American-made alcohol if Trump tariffs applied TORONTO (AP) — A senior official in Canada’s most populous province says that Ontario could bar American-made alcohol and restrict electricity to three U.S. states if President-elect Donald Trump imposes sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products. The states are Michigan, New York and Minnesota. An official in Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government said Thursday that it's contemplating restricting Ontario's liquor control board from buying American-made alcohol. Ontario is also considering restricting exports of Canadian critical minerals required for electric vehicle batteries. Stock market today: Wall Street’s rally stalls as Nasdaq pulls back from its record NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes fell following some potentially discouraging data on the economy. The S&P 500 slipped 0.5% Thursday for its fourth loss in the last six days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.7% from its record set the day before. Reports in the morning showed more U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits than expected, while inflation was hotter at the wholesale level than economists expected. Adobe helped drag the stock market lower after giving forecasts for profit and revenue in its upcoming fiscal year that fell a bit shy of analysts’. ECB cuts rates a quarter point amid concerns of tepid growth, impact of Trump trade policies FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank is cutting interest rates by a quarter percentage point amid signs of weakening growth and concern about the impact of political chaos in France and the possibility of new U.S. import tariffs. The bank’s rate-setting committee made the decision Thursday at its skyscraper headquarters in Frankfurt to lower the benchmark rate from 3.25% to 3%. Lower rates should support growth amid signs that the post-pandemic recovery is slowing in the 20 countries that use the euro currency and concerns that U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump might impose new tariffs, or import taxes, on goods imported to the US after he is inaugurated Jan. 20. YouTube TV is hiking its monthly price, again. Here's what to know NEW YORK (AP) — Are you a YouTube TV subscriber? Your monthly bills are about to get more expensive again. YouTube has announced that it’s upping the price of its streaming service’s base plan by $10 — citing rising content costs and other investments. The new $82.99 per month price tag will go into effect starting Jan. 13 for existing subscribers, and immediately for new customers who sign up going forward. YouTube TV has rolled out a series of price hikes over the years. When launched back in 2017, the going price of its streaming package was $35 a month. By 2019, that fee rose to $50 — and has climbed higher and higher since. Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor The head of the Federal Aviation Administration says he will step down next month to let President-elect Donald Trump name his choice to lead the agency. Mike Whitaker announced his pending resignation in a message to FAA employees on Thursday. Since taking the helm at the FAA in October 2023, Whitaker has dealt with challenges that include a surge in close calls between planes, a shortage of air traffic controllers and antiquated equipment. He has led a tougher enforcement policy against Boeing since a panel blew off a jetliner in January.The University of Iowa has formed a new task force to update its digital assets for compliance with a new ADA rule. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The University of Iowa has created a new task force to handle updates to the university’s websites and other digital assets in response to changes to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Accessibility Task Force will lead efforts to comply with a new rule added to Title II by the U.S. Department of Justice, according to a news release, which requires accessible web content and apps. The deadline to put these changes in place is April 24, 2026. “Ensuring compliance with Title II is crucial and required for our university,” said Liz Tovar, executive officer and associate vice president of the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Diversity, in the release. “It demonstrates our commitment to accessibility for all members of our community and builds on our strategic goal of providing a welcoming and respectful environment for all Hawkeyes.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Tovar will sponsor the 15-member task force alongside Steve Fleagle, associate vice president and chief information officer of Information Technology Services, according to the release. According to a fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Justice, the new rule places technical standards that public entities need to meet in order to have their websites and apps be accessible to those with disabilities. Entities like the UI must follow Level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines , the fact sheet stated, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium. Included in the guidelines are practices like providing alternative text for pictures and other non-text assets, making text easy to understand and ensuring that people can use inputs other than a keyboard to navigate through a website. All areas of the UI will see changes as a result of the new rule, according to the release, from academics to health care to athletics, and university policies will be updated. The task force will find which digital systems should be prioritized for a “remediation process,” the release stated, and identify where exceptions listed in the rule apply. The task force will also work with third-party vendors to implement changes, offer training and conduct regular testing and audits to ensure the university remains compliant, according to the release. Members of the UI community said they were encouraged to learn the new guidelines and review their own digital content to see what needs updating, and to collaborate with others and provide feedback to the task force when necessary, according to the release. “Our goal is to ensure that all digital content and systems are accessible to everyone,” Fleagle said in the release. “This is not just about compliance; it’s about creating a path forward where everyone can access the information and services they need.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Even blue states are embracing a tougher approach to crimeAMESBURY, Mass. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Provident Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq: PVBC ), the holding company for BankProv (the "Bank"), today announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a new stock repurchase program. Under the repurchase program, the Company may repurchase up to 883,366 shares of its common stock, or approximately five percent of the current outstanding shares. The repurchase program was adopted following the receipt of non-objection from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston . The repurchase program permits shares to be repurchased in open market or private transactions, through block trades, and pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Repurchases will be made at management's discretion at prices management considers to be attractive and in the best interests of both the Company and its stockholders, subject to the availability of stock, general market conditions, the trading price of the stock, alternative uses for capital, and the Company's financial performance. Open market purchases will be conducted in accordance with the limitations set forth in Rule 10b -18 of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other applicable legal requirements. The repurchase program may be suspended, terminated or modified at any time for any reason, including market conditions, the cost of repurchasing shares, the availability of alternative investment opportunities, liquidity, and other factors deemed appropriate. These factors may also affect the timing and amount of share repurchases. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares. About Provident Bancorp, Inc. Provident Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PVBC ) is the holding company for BankProv, a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Massachusetts . With retail branches in the Seacoast Region of Northeastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire , as well as commercial banking offices in the Manchester / Concord market in Central New Hampshire , BankProv delivers a unique combination of traditional banking services and innovative financial solutions to its markets. Founded in Amesbury, Massachusetts in 1828, BankProv holds the honor of being the 10th oldest bank in the nation. The Bank insures 100% of deposits through a combination of insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). For more information, visit bankprov.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements, such as statements of the Company's or the Bank's plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as, "expects," "subject," "believe," "will," "intends," "may," "will be" or "would." These statements are subject to change based on various important factors (some of which are beyond the Company's or the Bank's control), and actual results may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements (which reflect management's analysis of factors only as of the date on which they are given). These factors include: general economic conditions; interest rates; inflation; levels of unemployment; legislative, regulatory and accounting changes; monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Bank; deposit flows; our ability to access cost-effective funding; changes in liquidity, including the size and composition of our deposit portfolio and the percentage of uninsured deposits in the portfolio; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; competition; our ability to successfully shift the balance sheet to that of a traditional community bank; real estate values in the market area; loan demand; the adequacy of our level and methodology for calculating our allowance for credit losses; changes in the quality of our loan and securities portfolios; the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans; our ability to retain key employees; failures or breaches of our IT systems, including cyberattacks; the failure to maintain current technologies; the ability of the Company or the Bank to effectively manage its growth; global and national war and terrorism; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or any other pandemic on our operations and financial results and those of our customers; and results of regulatory examinations, among other factors. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in other documents that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Investor contact: Joseph Reilly President and Chief Executive Officer Provident Bancorp, Inc. [email protected] SOURCE Provident Bancorp, Inc.ORRVILLE, Ohio , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The J.M. Smucker Co. (NYSE: SJM) ("Company") announced today the closing of the transaction to divest the Voortman ® business to Second Nature Brands. The Company previously announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the transaction on October 22, 2024 . The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately $305 million , subject to a working capital adjustment, and reflects the Company's continued commitment to optimizing its portfolio and reallocating resources to its core growth brands. The transaction includes all Voortman ® trademarks and the Company's leased manufacturing facility in Burlington, Ontario, Canada . In addition, approximately 300 employees will transition with the business. The Company updated its full-year fiscal 2025 net sales guidance to reflect the impact of the divested business. Net sales is anticipated to increase 7.5 to 8.5 percent compared to the prior year. The updated net sales guidance reflects the removal of approximately $65 million of divested net sales in fiscal 2025, with the estimated net sales impact evenly distributed throughout the remainder of the fiscal year. On a comparable basis, net sales is expected to increase 1.0 to 2.0 percent, which excludes noncomparable sales in the current year from the acquisition of Hostess Brands and noncomparable sales in the prior year related to the divestitures of the Voortman ® , Canada condiment, and Sahale Snacks ® businesses. The Company maintains its fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings per share, free cash flow, capital expenditures, and adjusted effective income tax rate outlook as communicated in its most recent quarterly earnings announcement on November 26, 2024 . The J.M. Smucker Co. Forward Looking Statements This press release ("Release") includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements may include statements concerning our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events, conditions, plans and strategies that are not historical fact. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "will," "plan," "strive" and similar phrases. Federal securities laws provide a safe harbor for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information. We are providing this cautionary statement in connection with the safe harbor provisions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, when evaluating the information presented in this Release, as such statements are by nature subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results and experience. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances. The risks, uncertainties, important factors, and assumptions listed and discussed in this press release, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed, include: the Company's ability to successfully integrate Hostess Brands' operations and employees and to implement plans and achieve financial forecasts with respect to the Hostess Brands' business; disruptions or inefficiencies in the Company's operations or supply chain, including any impact caused by product recalls, political instability, terrorism, geopolitical conflicts (including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas), extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics, work stoppages or labor shortages (including potential strikes along the U.S. East and Gulf coast ports and potential impacts related to the duration of a recent strike at the Company's Buffalo, New York manufacturing facility), or other calamities; risks related to the availability of, and cost inflation in, supply chain inputs, including labor, raw materials, commodities, packaging, and transportation; the impact of food security concerns involving either the Company's products or its competitors' products, including changes in consumer preference, consumer litigation, actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other agencies, and product recalls; a disruption, failure, or security breach of the Company or its suppliers' information technology systems, including, but not limited to, ransomware attacks; and risks related to other factors described under "Risk Factors" in other reports and statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. About The J.M. Smucker Co. At The J.M. Smucker Co., it is our privilege to make food people and pets love by offering a diverse family of brands available across North America . We are proud to lead in the coffee, peanut butter, fruit spreads, frozen handheld, sweet baked goods, dog snacks, and cat food categories by offering brands consumers trust for themselves and their families each day, including Folgers ® , Dunkin ' ® , Café Bustelo ® , Jif ® , Uncrustables ® , Smucker's ® , Hostess ® , Milk-Bone ® , and Meow Mix ® . Through our unwavering commitment to producing quality products, operating responsibly and ethically, and delivering on our Purpose, we will continue to grow our business while making a positive impact on society. For more information, please visit jmsmucker.com . The J.M. Smucker Co. is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein, except for Dunkin ' ® , which is a trademark of DD IP Holder LLC. The Dunkin ' ® brand is licensed to The J.M. Smucker Co. for packaged coffee products sold in retail channels such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, e-commerce and drug stores, and in certain away from home channels. This information does not pertain to products for sale in Dunkin ' ® restaurants. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-jm-smucker-co-completes-the-divestiture-of-voortman-brand-to-second-nature-brands-and-updates-fiscal-year-2025-net-sales-outlook-302319978.html SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Co.

1 2 Dergaon: From dining together to sharing the same barracks to joyful moments, 1,946 newly recruited police personnel of Manipur Police and Indian Reserve Battalions from diverse communities intermingled harmoniously, fostered camaraderie, and established enduring bonds while creating cherished memories during their 44-week rigorous training at Assam's Lachit Borphukan Police Academy (LBPA). The police personnel, who pledged their allegiance to the Indian Constitution, vowing to safeguard national sovereignty and discharge their duties conscientiously during their passing out parade on Monday, unanimously proclaimed that the rigorous training period they spent together harmonised their hearts to the impeccable notes of steadfast bonding of brotherhood and camaraderie while preserving their inherent identity of community. A 35-year-old police constable, who hails from Imphal East, articulated that the community identity of the cadres was superseded by the identity of uniformity. "There was nothing like someone is a Metei or Kuki or Naga during the training periods. Everyone shared their meals, shared barracks, and stood by for others during the training period," he elaborated. He subsequently expressed that the training period transformed the cadres into entirely different individuals. "The training altered our psychology and physique. The perspective to perceive matters evolved," he remarked, noting that ultimately, everyone exists under one sky and consequently, should coexist in unity and brotherhood. Meanwhile, a 35-year-old constable, who hails from Kangkopi district and a Social Science graduate, expressed that he would miss his colleagues upon returning to his home state Manipur, where the situation is yet to be improved. "It becomes disheartening when we contemplate maintaining contact, as everyone will be stationed in different parts of the state," he added. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes .AMESBURY, Mass. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Provident Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq: PVBC ), the holding company for BankProv (the "Bank"), today announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a new stock repurchase program. Under the repurchase program, the Company may repurchase up to 883,366 shares of its common stock, or approximately five percent of the current outstanding shares. The repurchase program was adopted following the receipt of non-objection from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston . The repurchase program permits shares to be repurchased in open market or private transactions, through block trades, and pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Repurchases will be made at management's discretion at prices management considers to be attractive and in the best interests of both the Company and its stockholders, subject to the availability of stock, general market conditions, the trading price of the stock, alternative uses for capital, and the Company's financial performance. Open market purchases will be conducted in accordance with the limitations set forth in Rule 10b -18 of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other applicable legal requirements. The repurchase program may be suspended, terminated or modified at any time for any reason, including market conditions, the cost of repurchasing shares, the availability of alternative investment opportunities, liquidity, and other factors deemed appropriate. These factors may also affect the timing and amount of share repurchases. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares. About Provident Bancorp, Inc. Provident Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PVBC ) is the holding company for BankProv, a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Massachusetts . With retail branches in the Seacoast Region of Northeastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire , as well as commercial banking offices in the Manchester / Concord market in Central New Hampshire , BankProv delivers a unique combination of traditional banking services and innovative financial solutions to its markets. Founded in Amesbury, Massachusetts in 1828, BankProv holds the honor of being the 10th oldest bank in the nation. The Bank insures 100% of deposits through a combination of insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). For more information, visit bankprov.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements, such as statements of the Company's or the Bank's plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as, "expects," "subject," "believe," "will," "intends," "may," "will be" or "would." These statements are subject to change based on various important factors (some of which are beyond the Company's or the Bank's control), and actual results may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements (which reflect management's analysis of factors only as of the date on which they are given). These factors include: general economic conditions; interest rates; inflation; levels of unemployment; legislative, regulatory and accounting changes; monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Bank; deposit flows; our ability to access cost-effective funding; changes in liquidity, including the size and composition of our deposit portfolio and the percentage of uninsured deposits in the portfolio; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; competition; our ability to successfully shift the balance sheet to that of a traditional community bank; real estate values in the market area; loan demand; the adequacy of our level and methodology for calculating our allowance for credit losses; changes in the quality of our loan and securities portfolios; the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans; our ability to retain key employees; failures or breaches of our IT systems, including cyberattacks; the failure to maintain current technologies; the ability of the Company or the Bank to effectively manage its growth; global and national war and terrorism; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or any other pandemic on our operations and financial results and those of our customers; and results of regulatory examinations, among other factors. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in other documents that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Investor contact: Joseph Reilly President and Chief Executive Officer Provident Bancorp, Inc. [email protected] SOURCE Provident Bancorp, Inc.

ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Kennard Davis' 15 points helped Southern Illinois defeat Florida Tech 81-54 on Wednesday. Davis shot 6 for 13, including 1 for 5 from beyond the arc for the Salukis (3-5). Jarrett Hensley added 14 points while going 6 of 9 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and he also had six rebounds. Sheridan Sharp finished 5 of 6 from the floor to finish with 12 points. The Panthers were led in scoring by Donovan Brown, who finished with 17 points. Elhadji Thiam added 14 points, six rebounds and two steals for Florida Tech. Max Polk finished with 14 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Unions score a major win in Wisconsin with a court ruling restoring collective bargaining rights

Deion Sanders Isn't Shy About Where He Stands PoliticallyGary Neville admits 'I got it wrong' and issues apology in chat with Ruben AmorimChristopher Nolan’s Next Film Is Based on ‘The Odyssey’TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's government on Tuesday said it had lifted a ban on access to WhatsApp and Google Play after more than two years, the official IRNA news agency reported. The report said the country’s Supreme Council of Cyber Space made the decision in a meeting led by reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has vowed to remove restrictions on social media. Iran’s telecommunication minister Sattar Heshemi in a post on X called the decision a “first step” in removing restrictions and said “the path will continue" — indicating the possibility of unblocking other services. Many people reached by The Associated Press across the capital, Tehran, and other cities said they had access to the services on computers but not yet on mobile phones. WhatsApp has been the third most popular messaging platform in Iran after Instagram and Telegram. The ban on WhatsApp and Google Play was put in place in 2022 during mass protests against the government over the death of a woman held by the country’s morality police for allegedly violating the strictly enforced dress code. The protests calmed in 2023 after a crackdown by police and security forces that led to the death of hundreds of people and the imprisonment of thousands. Iran has blocked access to various social media platforms over the years but many people in the country use proxies and VPNs to access them.

Eric Trump shares Donald's 'Amazon shopping list'... and Justin Trudeau won't like itS.Sudan's Kiir holds urgent talks over shootout at ex-spy chief's home

Berkeley author wrote a book about an old painting he found on the streets of ParisDemocratic state senator’s email reveals tax ideas WA lawmakers may debate

Christopher Nolan is following his Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer” with a true epic: Homer’s “The Odyssey.” It will open in theaters on July 17, 2026, Universal Pictures said Monday. Details remain scarce, but the studio teased that it will be a “mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX technology.” It will also be the first time that an adaptation of Homer’s saga will play on IMAX film screens. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest local entertainment news, dining reviews, and more delivered right to your inbox every Thursday.West Niagara runners help Mohawk College achieve its first national cross-country medal

Senators voted to pass a new version of a stopgap spending bill early Saturday morning after the midnight deadline for a partial government shutdown came and went. A group of 51 bipartisan lawmakers is urging House negotiators to keep up the flow of dollars to a visa program for Afghans fleeing the Taliban takeover of their country. Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, wrote to the House of Representatives' top appropriators as they continue to negotiate federal funding for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2025. "We write to urge you to maintain critical provisions for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program1 in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 appropriations package. Authorizing new Afghan SIVs is critical to vetting and relocating qualified Afghan principal applicants currently in the processing pipeline," they wrote to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., and others. It comes as President-elect Trump promised to work toward steep spending cuts in the coming federal funding fights. He wrote on Truth Social last week, "The United States will cut Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in spending next year through Reconciliation!" NEW REPORT WARNS OF GROWING NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT TO U.S. AS CHINA BUILDS AI: ‘SIGNIFICANT AND CONCERNING’ Lawmakers are calling for the preservation of an Afghan visa program as President-elect Trump vows steep spending cuts. (Getty Images) People in Trump's orbit, including some House Republicans, are pushing for him to have greater control over how congressionally appropriated funds are spent. Meanwhile, Trump tapped Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy last month to lead an advisory panel on cost-cutting dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The duo have already positioned themselves as influential players in Congress' spending discussions as well, having led the revolt against a 1,547-page government funding bill that was a product of bipartisan negotiations. They have not, however, said where they want to see Congress pull back on spending. EXPERTS WARN SYRIAN REBEL VICTORY POSES ‘WILDLY COMPLEX’ NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT: ‘WHO KNOWS WHAT’S NEXT?' Reps. Jason Crow and Zach Nunn, both military veterans, led the bipartisan letter. (Getty Images) The 51 lawmakers pushing for the Afghan SIV program to be preserved argue it is "a life-saving path to safety for Afghan nationals who face serious danger as a result of their work alongside U.S. troops, diplomats, and contractors." "Congress must continue this work so that the State Department is able to issue visas to eligible Afghans who face imminent threats from the Taliban, Islamic State, and other hostile groups because of their service to the U.S. and our allies," they wrote. The Afghan SIV program was first enacted in 2009, but saw new importance after the Taliban's lightening-fast takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 – which precipitated the U.S.'s withdrawal after decades in the Middle Eastern country. Congress authorized additional visas under the program every year since FY 2019, according to the letter. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Congressional negotiators have so far failed to come to an agreement on FY 2025 spending, forcing lawmakers to pass two extensions of last year's funding levels to prevent a partial government shutdown . The most recent extension, called a continuing resolution (CR), gives lawmakers until March 14 to make a deal. Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News. Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com

In a crucial political maneuver, Poland's centrist Civic Coalition, overseen by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, conducted its primary on Friday to decide its presidential candidate. The candidates in contention were Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, known for his liberal stance and active participation in LGBTQ+ pride parades, and Radek Sikorski, the current Foreign Minister. Sikorski, leveraging his background in defense and foreign affairs, argued that his experience positions him as a definitive choice amid regional security concerns, particularly with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, his candidacy wasn't without controversy, as his wife, Anne Applebaum, has publicly criticized Donald Trump, potentially complicating US-Polish relations. The political stakes are high as Tusk aims to install an ally in the presidency to advance his legislative agenda. The winner of this primary is poised to become a significant contender against the opposition led by Law and Justice, with the presidential election anticipated in May. (With inputs from agencies.)

Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use

WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee's long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations, including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican's bid to lead the Justice Department. Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., closes a door to a private meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report's release Monday, slammed the committee's findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a Justice Department investigation into the allegations ended without any criminal charges filed against him. "Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn't ask for — and that isn't 'charged' for sex is now prostitution?!?" Gaetz wrote in one post Monday. "There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses." Here's a look at some of the committee's key findings: The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women "likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use." He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the "transactional nature" of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman's request that he send her money, "claiming she only gave him a 'drive by.'" Women interviewed by the committee said there was a "general expectation of sex," the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that "99 percent of the time" that when she hung out with Gaetz "there was sex involved." However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so "some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature," the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their "rendezvous," the report said. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., attends the cocktail hour of New York Young Republican Club's annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New York. Yuki Iwamura, Associated Press While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled "on several occasions" with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she had a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does "$400 per meet." Greenberg replied: "He understands the deal," along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asked if they were old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him "really cute." "Well, he's down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard," Greenberg replied. The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with "multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid." The committee pointed to "credible testimony" from the now-woman herself as well as "multiple individuals" who corroborated the allegation. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, "which she understood to be payment for sex," according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was "certain" of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There's no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn't tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and he didn't ask how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for "commercial sex" again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, attends the cocktail hour of New York Young Republican Club's annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New York. Yuki Iwamura, Associated Press In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. "Gaetz pointed to evidence that would 'exonerate' him yet failed to produce any such materials," the committee said. Gaetz "continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed." The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as "nosey" and a "weaponization" of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 getaway with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt "to" the destination, but declined to share his return "from" the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would "welcome" the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would "no longer" voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation "frivolous," adding, "Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration." The report said that while Gaetz's obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress "act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House." The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn't disclose information about investigations that don't result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, and after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over "publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual," according to the report. "To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses," the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn't want to "relive their experience," the committee said. "They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ's lack of action on their prior testimony," the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women's statements. The agency's lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee's probe, lawmakers said. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. George Walker IV, Associated Press Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Derik Hamilton Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Matt Rourke, Associated Press The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Matt Kelley, Associated Press Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Andy Cross, The Denver Post via AP President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Evan Vucci Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. AP Photo/Evan Vucci FILE - Former Rep. Doug Collins speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. John Bazemore - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. José Luis Villegas, Associated Press Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Matt Rourke, Associated Press Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Jonathan Newton - pool, ASSOCIATED PRESS Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, File) Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. John Raoux, Associated Press Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Andrew Harnik, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. Brynn Anderson, Associated Press/Pool A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Paul Sancya, Associated Press Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Oded Balilty, Associated Press Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign and became engaged to Don Jr. in 2020. Trump called her “a close friend and ally” and praised her “sharp intellect make her supremely qualified.” Guilfoyle was on stage with the family on election night. “I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First,” Don Jr. posted. The ambassador positions must be approved by the U.S. Senate. Guilfoyle said in a social media post that she was “honored to accept President Trump’s nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.” AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. John Bazemore, Associated Press Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Rodney Scott led during Trump's first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country's borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump's policies. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. He appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He's also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Mariam Zuhaib, Associated Press Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” AP file Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Branden Camp Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Matt Rourke, Associated Press Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Evan Vucci, Associated Press photos Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Trump says he’s picking Kari Lake as director of Voice of America, installing a staunch loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor and a Senate seat to head the congressionally funded broadcaster that provides independent news reporting around the world. Lake endeared herself to Trump through her dogmatic commitment to the falsehood that both she and Trump were the victims of election fraud. She has never acknowledged losing the gubernatorial race and called herself the “lawful governor” in her 2023 book, “Unafraid: Just Getting Started.” AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Ron Johnson, Ambassador to Mexico Johnson — not the Republican senator — served as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first administration. His nomination comes as the president-elect has been threatening tariffs on Mexican imports and the mass deportation of migrants who have arrived to the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson is also a former U.S. Army veteran and was in the Central Intelligence Agency. Tom Barrack, Ambassador to Turkey Barrack, a wealthy financier, met Trump in the 1980s while helping negotiate Trump’s purchase of the renowned Plaza Hotel. He was charged with using his personal access to the former president to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates, but was acquitted of all counts at a federal trial in 2022. Trump called him a “well-respected and experienced voice of reason.” Andrew Ferguson, Federal Trade Commission Ferguson, who is already one of the FTC's five commissioners, will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Jacob Helberg, undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment Dan Bishop, deputy director for budget at the Office of Budget and Management Leandro Rizzuto, Ambassador to the Washington-based Organization of American States Dan Newlin, Ambassador to Colombia Peter Lamelas, Ambassador to Argentina Jose Luis Magana, Associated PressGary Neville admits 'I got it wrong' and issues apology in chat with Ruben AmorimWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against Facebook parent Meta , stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. The justices heard arguments in November in Meta's bid to shut down the lawsuit. On Friday, they decided that they were wrong to take up the case in the first place. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

A number of United States’ lawmakers along with Amnesty International have voiced support for demonstrators who participated in the violence-marred protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers in Islamabad for the release of party founder-chairman Imran Khan. “The brutal repression of protesters in Pakistan and growing political violence is an attempt to suppress democracy and human rights [....] I stand with the brave Pakistanis who are rising up and protesting for change,” US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib said in a post on X – formerly Twitter. The statement comes in the wake of the PTI’s “do-or-die” protest, called off by the party following a crackdown by the law enforcement agencies (LEAs), which resulted in the martyrdom of at least four Rangers personnel along with multiple policemen. The former ruling party, too, claimed that eight of its workers were martyred during the protest. The latest protest episode was part of the PTI’s months-long efforts to secure Khan’s release who has been behind bars in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in various cases for more than a year now. The party, for quite some time, has reportedly been lobbying in Washington to garner support and secure the former prime minister’s release. Reacting to the latest political turmoil in Islamabad, Congressman Greg Casar condemned the violence and opined that the demonstration should be allowed to continue. “Thousands of Pakistanis are protesting for democracy and are being met with violent repression. I am hearing reports that the government is using live fire and tear gas against protesters [....] I condemn this violence and urge the government to allow these protests to continue peacefully,” he said in a social media post. Meanwhile, Representative Barbara Lee underscored the freedom of speech and protest peacefully and said: “I stand with pro-democracy advocates in Pakistan as they fight for justice and human rights.” Her remarks were echoed by her colleague Representative Summer Lee who said: “I am moved by the bravery demonstrated by the Pakistani people as they protest for electoral integrity, and judicial fairness.” “I condemn any violent suppression of them exercising their fundamental rights. Everyone deserves to speak out and demand democracy,” the lawmaker added. Furthermore, Congressman Brad Sherman – while recalling his role in the October 23 letter by over 60 US lawmakers to US President Joe Biden for Khan’s release – said that the PTI founder’s supporters had a right to peacefully demonstrate. Reacting to the events in Islamabad, former US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad called for the immediate commencement of a reconciliation process. “This is not the way to enforce law and order,” said Khalilzad while seemingly referring to the LEAs’ crackdown against protesters. This is not the first time that US lawmakers have directly or indirectly reacted to Pakistan’s internal political situation. The recent protest even warranted a reaction from the US State Department spokesperson who had earlier called for restraint from both sides while urging Islamabad to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. Earlier this month, 46 members of the US Congress wrote to President Biden to advocate for the immediate release of the PTI founder – making it the second time US lawmakers had reached out to the president on this issue. Meanwhile, in line with the US lawmakers’ statements, Amnesty International has said that the LEAs used “unlawful and excessive force including tear gas, live ammunition and rubber bullets against PTI protesters”. “Even if protests become non-peaceful, the authorities must respect and ensure the protesters’ rights to life and freedom from torture and other ill-treatment,” said the rights group while reminding Islamabad of its obligation to provide an enabling environment for the protesters under international human rights law. Underscoring severe restrictions on assembly, movement and mobile and internet services as well as arbitrary detentions of thousands of protesters across the country, it urged the authorities to take all necessary measures to prevent arbitrary deprivation of life and ensure effective accountability for any unlawful use of force. “Amnesty urges the government to ensure that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is respected and protected. Those detained solely for exercising their right to peaceful assembly must be released immediately,” read the statement issued by the rights watchdog.Eight dead in Mexico shooting

Early Thanksgiving in southeast Fort Worth is a child care director’s feast of gratitude

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Lobster bisque is basically the dream dish for anyone who loves lobster. If you're a lobster fan and you spot lobster bisque on a restaurant menu, it may seem like an easy decision. However, before you go ahead and order it, there's one detail that you want to look out for: Whether or not the restaurant has lobster elsewhere on the menu. If a restaurant serves lobster bisque, but not lobster, then we have a problem. The key to a high quality lobster bisque is lobster shells – essentially the shells are long-simmered to make lobster stock, which will serve as the base of the bisque. So, if the restaurant doesn't have any lobsters on the premises, then it's very likely that the lobster bisque came out of a can or was reheated from frozen. A canned version may suffice at home when you have a craving for lobster bisque but no time to make it from scratch , but it's certainly not worth the price that you're paying at a restaurant. So if you come across this predicament, you may want to check with your server before ordering the bisque. Research the restaurant before you go if you want lobster bisque If you're in the mood for lobster bisque, then it's best to research the restaurant first so that you know you're getting a fresh, made-that-day meal. All this means is looking at the menu online before you go, to make sure there are additional lobster dishes on the menu. Another easy step to take? Go to a seafood restaurant, specifically, where it's much more likely that they have the fresh lobster (and the shells) that are needed for excellent lobster bisque. If you need a recommendation, you can check out the best seafood restaurant chains in the U.S . Many of the suggestions on the list — including McCormick & Schmick's and Hook & Reel — have lobster bisque listed online (and lobster tails). And if you really want to make sure that your lobster bisque is made in-house, you can call any restaurant ahead of time and simply ask. Trust us, the difference between freshly-made lobster bisque and a canned version is worth the effort.Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs leaves game because of concussion

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 9:28 a.m. EST

NoneStock market today: Wall Street gets back to climbing, and the Nasdaq tops 20,000Democrats want unity on own terms When Democrats win the presidency and Congress, every citizen is expected to support and work with the new Democrat government, but the Democrats waste no time. A Jan. 20, 2017, headline in the Washington Post said, “The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun,” moments after his inauguration. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party and its propaganda machine used the lie that there had been Trump/Russian collusion to prevent Trump’s election and hamper his administration. Three years later, that claim was a proven lie. To discredit Trump, he was impeached two times. After announcing that he would run for the presidency in 2024, Democrats used the courts to prosecute Trump because he was their main political opposition. Trump’s appointees were also targeted to defame Trump and his administration. Voters saw the Democratic attempt to eliminate Trump as a political opposition for exactly what it was. People are also reading... Trump will take office of president. Democrats continue to oppose and fight against the Trump administration. The worst has been Biden’s recent permission for Ukraine to use missiles against Russia. That is an attempt to prevent Trump from achieving a rapid diplomatic solution to that war. California Gov. Gavin Newsom just spent $25 million “Trump proof” his state. Mayors of Denver and Chicago said they are willing to go to jail to protect illegal aliens. Those mayors are putting illegal aliens ahead of citizens. They should go to jail. And border czar Tom Homan will put them in jail. Democrats promote political opposition and civil disobedience to the new Trump administration but expect support when they control the government. Richard Pullman, Hallam Coverage didn’t offer balance I tracked headlines about the presidential race in the Lincoln Journal Star over the final 17 days (Oct. 20 through Nov. 5) leading up to Election Day. First of all there were very few articles providing actual information on the two candidates’ positions. As for the coverage, I would summarize the headlines this way: For Donald Trump, three positive and four negative. For Kamala Harris, five positive and zero negative Three were neutral. It would be my assumption the editors hope to provide vital information to voters which will aid them in their voting decisions. However, this survey points out a lack in balanced substantive information. I wish to encourage the editors to provide more balanced election coverage in future election cycles. Gary Schulte, Lincoln A fitting name for a Husker bowl game Well, it may be cold, but the Huskers upcoming bowl game at least has a classy name (the Pinstripe Bowl, sponsored by Bad Boy Mowers), connoting rugged, aggressive things apropos of football, like “Mow ‘em down, Huskers.” Not like those bowls awkwardly named after a remote product unrelated to football: “Tums Upset Stomach Bowl” or some such. Henry Eugene Brass, Lincoln Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!

NEW YORK — U.S. stock indexes got back to climbing on Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month and finished just short of its all-time high. Big Tech stocks led the way, which drove the Nasdaq composite up 1.8% to top the 20,000 level for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, lagged the market with a dip of 99 points, or 0.2%. Stocks got a boost as expectations built that Wednesday's inflation data will allow the Fed to deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. Traders are betting on a nearly 99% probability of that, according to data from CME Group, up from 89% a day before. If they're correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It's hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy and to prices for investments, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. "The data have given the Fed the 'all clear' for next week, and today's inflation data keep a January cut in active discussion," according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times this year, with the latest coming last week. The biggest boosts for the index on Wednesday came from Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks. Their massive growth has made them Wall Street's biggest stars for years, though other kinds of stocks have recently been catching up somewhat amid hopes for the broader U.S. economy. Tesla jumped 5.9% to finish above $420 at $424.77. It's a level that Elon Musk made famous in a 2018 tweet when he said he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share. Stitch Fix soared 44.3% after the company that sends clothes to your door reported a smaller loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also gave financial forecasts for the current quarter that were better than expected, including for revenue. GE Vernova rallied 5% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500. The energy company that spun out of General Electric said it would pay a 25 cent dividend every three months, and it approved a plan to send up to another $6 billion to its shareholders by buying back its own stock. On the losing end of Wall Street, Dave & Buster's Entertainment tumbled 20.1% after reporting a worse loss for the latest quarter than expected. It also said CEO Chris Morris has resigned, and the board has been working with an executive-search firm for the last few months to find its next permanent leader. Albertsons fell 1.5% after filing a lawsuit against Kroger, saying it didn't do enough for their proposed $24.6 billion merger agreement to win regulatory clearance. Albertsons said it's seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger, whose stock rose 1%. A day earlier, judges in separate cases in Oregon and Washington nixed the supermarket giants' merger. The grocers contended a combination could have helped them compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, but critics said it would hurt competition. After terminating the merger agreement with Kroger, Albertsons said it plans to boost its dividend 25% and increased the size of its program to buy back its own stock. Macy's slipped 0.8% after cutting some of its financial forecasts for the full year of 2024, including for how much profit it expects to make off each $1 of revenue. All told, the S&P 500 rose 49.28 points to 6,084.19. The Dow dipped 99.27 to 44,148.56, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 347.65 to 20,034.89. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.23% late Tuesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, edged up to 4.15% from 4.14%. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was an outlier and slipped 0.8% as Chinese leaders convened an annual planning meeting in Beijing that is expected to set economic policies and growth targets for the coming year. South Korea's Kospi rose 1%, up for a second straight day as it climbs back following last week's political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law.With the end of the calendar year in sight, many older investors will soon be making significant withdrawals from their traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 401(k)s, etc. -- in particular, those who may have been putting off beginning those withdrawals for as long as they could. See, while you don't have to take your very first required minimum distribution -- or RMD -- from most tax-deferred accounts until April 1 of the year after you turn 72, for every year beyond that first one, these withdrawals must be made by Dec. 31. So if you do postpone that first distribution into the year that you turn 73, you'll need to take two distributions that year. The starting RMD for a 73-year-old is roughly 3.7% of the account's value as of the end of the previous year, for the record. But this percentage grows a little bit every year. These distribution requirements raise an important question for many senior investors, though: If you aren't taking these disbursements anyway to cover your living expenses and other bills, what should you do with the money you're being compelled to take out of your retirement accounts? Here are five solid options to consider. 1. If you're eligible, make an IRA contribution It may sound crazy given that you're being forced to withdraw money from your retirement accounts. But presuming that you're eligible, you can simultaneously use that RMD money to help fund IRA contributions for the tax year in which you withdrew it. The chief factor in determining that eligibility, of course, will be whether or not you have earned income -- via a job that generates work-based wages. This year, anyone 50 or older can contribute the lesser of $8,000 or 100% of their workplace earnings into either a traditional IRA or (if you aren't earning too much) a Roth IRA. However, the IRS doesn't really care where the money comes from. Hitting the age when you must start taking required minimum distributions also doesn't negate your eligibility to participate in an employer-sponsored plan like a 401(k) -- assuming you're still working somewhere that offers one. Just bear in mind that depositing new money into any non-Roth IRA will cause your future RMDs to be higher than they otherwise would be. Also remember that while contributions to IRAs can be tax-deductible, required minimum distributions are also taxable income. Whatever the case, if you'd still like to keep as much money as possible in a tax-deferred account, this option would work. 2. Help cover the tax bill of a Roth conversion If you don't want to worry about any of this RMD stuff with your IRA ever again, you could make it all go away. Just convert your traditional IRA into a Roth IRA -- Roths aren't subject to required minimum distributions. This move is almost always a 100%-taxable event, however. That is to say, the entire balance you convert will be treated as taxable income in the year you perform the maneuver. While you can use some of the converted funds to cover that tax bill, that would take a sizable bite out of your balance. The conversion also doesn't negate the RMDs for any year prior to the year it is completed. With a bit of careful timing, however, you can satisfy your prior year's required minimum distribution and offset at least some of the tax cost of converting your IRA to a Roth. Something else to think about: It's better to implement Roth conversions when the stock market's down since this will minimize your tax bill. 3. Put it in a money market fund If neither of these options works for you, there are other things you can do with your RMDs that are simpler in terms of taxes. Chief among these alternatives is just taking the money and parking it somewhere safe as well as productive. A high-yield money market account will do nicely. Let's be clear. The sort of rates offered by most checking and savings accounts remain unimpressive. You'll specifically want to deposit this money into a true money market mutual fund, most of which are paying in the ballpark of 4% to 5% right now. Some of these money market funds have minimum holding periods, and in most cases, you'll need to instruct your bank or broker to sell shares of them in order to access your money. It could take a day to settle such trades. However, considering how much stronger the returns are from such accounts, they're an attractive option. 4. Invest it as your portfolio's goals dictate If you have the financial flexibility to do so, you could -- and arguably should -- reinvest your RMD money in a way that helps your overall portfolio achieve your bigger-picture goals. This could mean putting it into dividend stocks, or it could mean buying growth stocks . Or maybe both. Whatever your goal, just remember that this money is no longer in a tax-deferred account, while a sizable remainder of your retirement savings may still be in an IRA. If you're buying dividend stocks specifically to live on the income they generate, you may as well do it in a taxable brokerage account. You'll be paying taxes on that dividend income either way. 5. Give it away (tax efficiently) Finally, if you're taking required minimum distributions that you don't need now and feel confident that you'll never need in the future, you can give the money away. Of course, that's the case with any funds you might have. If you're making charitable gifts, however, you may as well make them in as tax efficient a manner as possible. Designating an RMD as a qualified charitable distribution does that job nicely. These are simply direct transfers of cash or assets to legitimate charitable organizations before they ever reach your hands or are put in your name outside of a retirement account. At first blush, this direct-gifting process seems unnecessary. After all, although required minimum distributions are taxed as income, donations are tax deductible. There is a difference, however. You have to itemize to claim regular donations as charitable deductions, but a QCD effectively acts as a deduction without itemizing by reducing what otherwise would have been taxable income. Also, for most individual filers, there are relatively low annual limits to tax deductions stemming from charitable gifts of cash or assets held in your name. That's in contrast with qualified charitable distributions, which can be used to satisfy the IRS's required minimum distribution rules, but are never put in your name to begin with and therefore don't raise your taxable income in any given year. This year's qualified charitable distribution cap is $105,000 per person, or a total of $210,000 for joint filers.

IT was a typically sunny Los Angeles afternoon and I was sitting in a trailer at the ABC Studios car park watching Bruno Tonioli strip down to his underpants. Bruno was all hot and bothered after a full afternoon rehearsing for Dancing With The Stars, the US version of the show that made him a household name, Strictly Come Dancing. I was there, in this oven-cum-caravan, to interview him about his transatlantic life as a judge on both shows in the same week. I had only met him about two minutes before he decided he simply had to get out of his TV clobber. Then suddenly there he was, mere feet away from me wearing nothing but a pair of tighty whities and a very expensive-looking gold chain. He was gesticulating wildly by now and, in between puffs on a cigarette, was tearing into then Strictly pro Anton Du Beke who had been caught out calling Laila Rouass the P-word. “You say that to me and I’m gonna punch you in the f***ing face,” he boomed. Strong stuff. A bit too strong for his BBC paymasters, who asked me to exclude it from my subsequent interview for this newspaper. I would say I am very hard to shock but he had made me feel awkward during his rant about how his fellow Strictly star had made someone else feel awkward (and worse). The irony seemed completely lost on Bruno, who has famously stripped off for the cameras on many occasions. You say that to me and I’m gonna punch you in the f***ing face Yet I made no fuss because it was by no means threatening and only mildly uncomfortable. Also, I had an interview to do and, well, I quite liked Bruno and he was giving me some good copy (most of which the Beeb would not later request to be ignored). And, well, some stars are just a bit bonkers, aren’t they? But I couldn’t help thinking later, back at my hotel, would he have done that if I was a woman? I was reminded of that episode this week when the Gregg Wallace scandal blew up again. Not that Bruno’s behaviour was anything like that which Gregg is being accused of. But I would argue there is a common thread. Here was a star doing as he pleased without much of an apparent thought for whoever else was in the vicinity. It is behaviour that smacks of a supreme sense of entitlement where the star is the only person who matters. It is behaviour that smacks of a supreme sense of entitlement where the star is the only person who matters Much of this attitude comes from the “talent” — a word now banned by BBC chief Tim Davie to describe those “front of camera”. Many believe they are God’s gift to whatever line of work it is that has propelled them on to the flat screen 55-incher on your wall. Confidence is a prerequisite of fame. Sharp elbows will get you the audition, only then will talent get you the gig. But while celebrities and their egos are the frontmen and women of TV shows, it is the production teams that get them on the air. And unfortunately television is full of enablers — nervous executives and producers who will tolerate almost anything to get the show out. When it’s a hit they care even less how badly their stars might behave. Don’t mess with success! Indeed, the industry is awash with bad behaviour from famous faces and anyone (honest) who works in it will tell you that pretty much every star they work with can behave like a complete **** (and it’s usually the full-strength Anglo-Saxon term used). I can attest to this. In my many years of covering TV I met and wrote about the biggest names on the box on a regular basis and they all had their moments. Yes, even the saintly Ant and Dec. Just ask Kelly Brook , who blamed them for her sacking as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent in 2012. So the Gregg Wallace saga goes much deeper than Gregg Wallace, his potty mouth and allegedly wandering hands. It goes much deeper than the BBC and its patently piss-poor complaints procedure. It is about how the entire industry behaves. How time after time it has been shown to foster a toxic environment where stars are considered just too important to sack, no matter how appalling their behaviour. And it will continue to be that way until the people who perpetuate it decide enough is enough and enact the changes that are so urgently needed. EMMA “don’t call me a woman” Corrin has been doing her, sorry “their”, bit for gender diversity this week by appearing at the premiere of a new horror film with a brace of presumably non-female breasts, proudly on display. The star, who plays a female character in the film, showcased the daring braless look on the blood-red carpet for the remake of the classic 1922 Dracula-inspired Nosferatu. Vainglorious Emma insists on being called “they”, in keeping with the pronoun demands of her fellow non-binaries. Well, we certainly won’t forget them. NEWSREADER, Mastermind host and one of the only male stars left at the Beeb who hasn’t been revealed to be a sex pest, Clive Myrie has got himself into a pickle. He apologised this week after confessing that due to “administrative issues” he had failed to disclose extra-curricular activities totalling up to £250,000 . Strict BBC rules insist that people like Clive, who are supposed to be impartial, declare what they are up to elsewhere. Clive says he now won’t take on any other extra stuff for the time being and will instead struggle by on the £310,000 a year he gets from our licence fees (u ok hun?). But this whole episode reveals a fundamental flaw at the heart of the BBC’s argument as to why it must pay so much. The corporation says it is because of what the commercial sector offers. So it pays “market price”, despite insisting it rarely does pay that. But once installed at the BBC, stars like Clive can trade on that to make even more cash in the commercial market. So simply by having a job at the BBC, their stock rises. That would also be the case if we paid them less. Maybe if we did, executives could stop claiming to be skint – and then stop jacking up the increasingly unjustifiable licence fee. SPOTIFY’S Unwrapped week is upon us, when folk with the audio streaming app take to social media to boast about how cool their music choices are. Unless you’re a parent of young kids. Unwrapped collates all your most-played songs to reveal a bespoke top five. So my No1 was not one of the cool new indie bands I’ve been streaming all year but a song by Taylor Swift. Now I happen to like this particular tune but not as much as my daughter, who insists on it being streamed in the car from my Spotify account at least five times a journey. But it could be worse. A friend with younger kids revealed her number one was Wheels On The Bus. Cool points for that one: Zero. A HARD-and-fast rule of any new public policy is that by the time it’s actually ready to be implemented, it will be completely outdated. Take the plan to ban “junk food” ads before 9pm on telly or in paid online adverts. We’ve heard about this since cavemen created their first brontosaurus smash burger. And still it won’t come in until October 2025. But even if it was introduced now it would a waste of time, as a cursory glance at social media will confirm. The number of junk food influencers – aka snackfluencers – is expanding faster than their viewers’ waistlines. Food porn accounts Only Scrans and El Burrito Monster already have a million followers. Instagram and TikTok are stuffed to the gills with six-patty burgers deep fried in cheese. Or my favourite, a burrito made of about ten items from McDonald’s. Once again, the internet charges ahead while government puffs and pants behind it like someone from My 600lb Life. MANCHESTER United ’s new boss, Jim “local lad” Ratcliffe , has decided to endear himself to fans by ripping us off at the turnstiles. Ratcliffe – net worth £12.5billion – has whacked up ticket prices and scrapped all concessions so my lad’s £20 ticket is now £66. Squeezing more cash out of already fed-up Reds is quite the PR masterstroke, as the huge protests outside Old Trafford at Sunday’s Everton game showed. Now, Unlucky Jim is being spoken of with the same disdain fans have for owners the Glazers. But at least he can console himself that he now has his very own terrace chant, to the tune of The Beach Boys’ Sloop John B. All together now: “Jim Ratcliffe’s a c***, Jim Ratcliffe’s a c***, just like the Glazers . . . Jim Ratcliffe’s a c***.”