online slot games for money Global stock markets mostly retreated Tuesday as traders eyed looming US inflation data and a key European interest rate call amid global political upheaval. After winning numerous records in the weeks since the November 5 US presidential election, US stocks fell for the second straight day as analysts pointed to profit-taking. But Alphabet jumped more than five percent after Google showed off a new quantum computing chip that it described as a significant breakthrough in the field, arguing it could lead to advances in drug discovery, fusion energy and other areas. The Paris stock market retreated as French party leaders gathered at President Emmanuel Macron's Elysee Palace office to chart a route towards a new government. The euro also fell ahead of the European Central Bank's monetary policy meeting on Thursday. The ECB is expected to lower interest rates by 25 basis points amid weak eurozone growth. Independent analyst Andreas Lipkow said traders were taking a cautious approach ahead of the ECB meeting. The main US indexes struggled as traders eyed US consumer price inflation (CPI) data due Wednesday, which could play a role in whether the US Federal Reserve decides to cut interest rates next week. On Wall Street, "tomorrow's CPI report is in full focus with a looming rate-decision from the Fed coming," analyst Bret Kenwell of trading platform eToro said in a note. Following recent spending and jobs data "traders have felt even more emboldened to bet on a December rate cut, while the Fed has done little... to quiet that expectation," he added. Earlier, stock markets weighed "concerns that China's economic stimulus measures might not have a long-lasting effect", noted Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell. The growth plan comes as Beijing contemplates Donald Trump's second term in the White House. The US president-elect has indicated he will reignite his hardball trade policies, fueling fears of another standoff between the economic superpowers. The Shanghai stock market ended higher but Hong Kong fell. Seoul's Kospi index rallied more than two percent after tumbling since President Yoon Suk Yeol declared short-lived martial law on December 3. On the corporate front, shares in Stellantis rose around one percent on the Paris stock exchange after the car giant and Chinese manufacturer CATL announced plans for a $4.3-billion factory making electric-vehicle batteries in Spain. Walgreens Boots Alliance soared 17.7 percent following reports that it could be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. Boeing jumped 4.5 percent as it announced it was resuming production at two Seattle-area plants that had been shuttered for nearly three months due to a labor strike. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.4 percent at 44,247.83 (close) New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.3 percent at 6,034.91 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 19,687.24 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.1 percent at 7,394.78 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.1 percent at 20,329.16 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.9 percent at 8,280.36 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.5 percent at 20,311.28 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.6 percent at 3,422.66 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.5 percent at 39,367.58 (close) Seoul - Kospi: UP 2.4 percent at 2,417.84 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0529 from $1.0554 on Monday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2773 from $1.2757 Dollar/yen: UP at 151.92 yen from 151.21 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.42 from 82.73 pence West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $68.59 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.1 percent at $72.19 per barrel burs-jmb/nro3 recipes to help you through the busy holiday season

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump was on the verge of backing a 16-week federal abortion ban earlier this year when aides staged an intervention. According to Time magazine's cover story on his selection as its 2024 Person of the Year, Trump's aides first raised concerns in mid-March that the abortion cutoff being pushed by some allies would be stricter than existing law in numerous states. It was seen as a potential political liability amid ongoing fallout over the overturning of Roe v. Wade by a conservative majority on the Supreme Court that includes three justices nominated by Trump in his first term. Trump political director James Blair went to work assembling a slide deck — eventually titled “How a national abortion ban will cost Trump the election" — that argued a 16-week ban would hurt the Republican candidate in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, the magazine reported. “After flipping through Blair’s presentation" on a flight to a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in April, Trump dropped the idea, according to the report. "So we leave it to the states, right?" Trump was quoted as saying. He soon released a video articulating that position. At the time, Trump’s campaign denied that he was considering supporting the 16-week ban, calling it “fake news” and saying Trump planned to “negotiate a deal” on abortion if elected to the White House. Here are other highlights from the story and the president-elect's 65-minute interview with the magazine: Trump reaffirmed his plans to pardon most of those convicted for their actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. “It’s going to start in the first hour,” he said of the pardons. “Maybe the first nine minutes.” Trump said he would look at individuals on a “case-by-case" basis, but that “a vast majority of them should not be in jail.” More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot that left more than 100 police officers injured and sent lawmakers running into hiding as they met to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 victory . More than 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial of charges, including misdemeanor trespassing offenses, assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Trump insisted he has the authority to use the military to assist with his promised mass deportations , even though, as his interviewers noted, the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of the military in domestic law enforcement. “It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country, and I consider it an invasion of our country," he said. “I’ll only do what the law allows, but I will go up to the maximum level of what the law allows. And I think in many cases, the sheriffs and law enforcement is going to need help." Trump did not deny that camps would be needed to hold detained migrants as they are processed for deportation. “Whatever it takes to get them out. I don’t care," he said. “I hope we’re not going to need too many because I want to get them out and I don’t want them sitting in camp for the next 20 years.” Trump told Time he does not plan to restore the policy of separating children from their families to deter border crossings, but he did not rule it out. The practice led to thousands of children being separated from their parents and was condemned around the globe as inhumane. “I don’t believe we’ll have to because we will send the whole family back,” he said. “I would much rather deport them together, yes, than separate.” Trump dismissed the idea that Elon Musk will face conflicts of interest as he takes the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency , an advisory group that Trump has selected him to lead. The panel is supposed to find waste and cut regulations, including many that could affect Musk's wide-ranging interests , which include electric cars, rockets and telecommunications. “I don’t think so," Trump said. “I think that Elon puts the country long before his company. ... He considers this to be his most important project." Trump lowered expectations about his ability to drive down grocery prices. “I’d like to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up. You know, it’s very hard. But I think that they will,” he said. Trump said he is planning “a virtual closure" of the "Department of Education in Washington.” “You’re going to need some people just to make sure they’re teaching English in the schools," he said. “But we want to move education back to the states.” Yet Trump has proposed exerting enormous influence over schools. He has threatened to cut funding for schools with vaccine mandates while forcing them to “teach students to love their country" and promote “the nuclear family,” including “the roles of mothers and fathers” and the “things that make men and women different and unique.” Asked to clarify whether he was committed to preventing the Food and Drug Administration from stripping access to abortion pills , Trump replied, “It’s always been my commitment.” But Trump has offered numerous conflicting stances on the issue, including to Time. Earlier in the interview, he was asked whether he would promise that his FDA would not do anything to limit access to medication abortion or abortion pills. "We’re going to take a look at all of that,” he said, before calling the prospect “very unlikely.” “Look, I’ve stated it very clearly and I just stated it again very clearly. I think it would be highly unlikely. I can’t imagine, but with, you know, we’re looking at everything, but highly unlikely. I guess I could say probably as close to ruling it out as possible, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to do anything now.” Pressed on whether he would abandon Ukraine in its efforts to stave off Russia's invasion , Trump said he would use U.S. support for Kyiv as leverage against Moscow in negotiating an end to the war. “I want to reach an agreement,” he said, “and the only way you’re going to reach an agreement is not to abandon.” Trump would not commit to supporting a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state alongside Israel, as he had previously. “I support whatever solution we can do to get peace," he said. "There are other ideas other than two state, but I support whatever, whatever is necessary to get not just peace, a lasting peace. It can’t go on where every five years you end up in tragedy. There are other alternatives.” Asked whether he trusted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , he told Time: “I don’t trust anybody.” Trump would not rule out the possibility of war with Iran during his second term. “Anything can happen. It’s a very volatile situation," he said. Asked if he has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin since the Nov. 5 election, Trump continued to play coy: "I can’t tell you. It’s just inappropriate.” Trump insisted that his bid to install Matt Gaetz as attorney general ”wasn’t blocked. I had the votes (in the Senate) if I needed them, but I had to work very hard.” When the scope of resistance to the former Republican congressman from Florida became clear, Trump said, “I talked to him, and I said, ‘You know, Matt, I don’t think this is worth the fight.'" Gaetz pulled out amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations, and Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the Cabinet post. Trump, who has named anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, did not rule out the possibility of eliminating some childhood vaccinations even though they have been proved safe in extensive studies and real world use in hundreds of millions of people over decades and are considered among the most effective public health measures in modern history. Pressed on whether “getting rid of some vaccinations” — neither Trump nor the interviewers specified which ones — might be part of the plan to improve the health of the country, Trump responded: “It could if I think it’s dangerous, if I think they are not beneficial, but I don’t think it’s going to be very controversial in the end.” “I think there could be, yeah," Trump said of the prospect of others in his family continuing in his footsteps. He pointed to daughter-in-law Lara Trump , who served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee and is now being talked about as a potential replacement for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom Trump has chosen for secretary of state. Trump said the former and soon-to-be first lady Melania Trump will be joining him at the White House during second term and will "be active, when she needs to be.” “Oh yes,” he said. “She’s very beloved by the people, Melania. And they like the fact that she’s not out there in your face all the time for many reasons.”What's Cool in School: Celebrating the holidays and looking forward to a new year

Here’s what you shouldn’t do about those unidentified drones over New Jersey: Shoot themTravis Hunter named AP player of the yearFORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CorVel Corporation (NASDAQ: CRVL) announces that its Board of Directors approved a three-for-one forward stock split of its common stock. The Board also approved a proportionate increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock to accommodate the stock split. The Board did not approve an increase in the number of authorized shares of preferred stock. The implementation of the stock split and authorized share increase is subject to the filing of an amendment to the Company's Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which the Company expects to file on December 24, 2024. "Our stock price has seen extraordinary growth over the past several years fueled by our strong financial performance and the successful execution of our strategic plan. We believe it is the right time to effect a forward stock split to increase the accessibility of our stock to potential investors while maintaining our focus on delivering our customers enhanced technological solutions for the management of their healthcare needs,” said Michael G. Combs, the Company's President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Following the filing and effectiveness of the amendment, every one share of common stock outstanding or held in treasury on December 23, 2024, the record date for the stock split, will be split into three shares of common stock. Subject to final approval by the Nasdaq Global Select Market, trading is currently expected to begin on a post-stock split adjusted basis at market open on December 26, 2024. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This Press Release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements are subject to considerable risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this Press Release, including statements regarding the implementation and timing of the stock split and authorized share increase, and the timing of trading on a post-stock split basis. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed, assumed, or implied by the forward-looking statements. Some of the risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements are described in the section entitled "Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, as well as in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release is based only on information currently available to the Company and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable law or the listing rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, whether to conform such statements to actual results or changes in expectations, or as a result of the availability of new information. Contact: Melissa Storan Phone: 949-851-1473 www.corvel.com

The Taliban terrorist organization governing Afghanistan was among the global actors celebrating the demise of the Iran-backed regime of Bashar Assad in Syria, congratulating the Sunni jihadist outfit Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) following Assad’s flight from the country on Sunday. HTS, an al-Qaeda offshoot militia with similar repressive politics to the Taliban, had been fighting the Assad regime for years before a surprise breakthrough in late November, when its fighters captured the city of Aleppo. Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, when Assad, who received support from the world’s premier sponsor of terrorism Iran, crushed violent protests against his family’s decades-long rule of the country. Following the capture of Aleppo, HTS stormed multiple cities and faced little resistance from Assad’s army. On Saturday, HTS leaders announced they had reached Damascus, sending Assad fleeing to Russia. HTS is currently the entity in power in Syria and claims to be relying on Mohammed al-Bashir, a political ally of the militia, to serve as “caretaker” prime minister and build a functional government out of the anti-Assad resistance. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani told CNN last week that he intends to impose an Islamist regime on the country, alarming the nation’s sizeable Christian population. While HTS is a radical Islamist terror organization, Assad was also responsible for a long list of atrocities against his own people before fleeing the country. In the aftermath of his departure, scores of political prisoners, many disappeared for decades, have begun to resurface from their detention centers. The news agency Al Jazeera published a report on Tuesday showing the tortured bodies of dead political prisoners at a prison morgue. The Taliban, which seized power in Afghanistan in similar form in 2021, welcomed the arrival of another Sunni Islamist government to the world. The jihadists’ “foreign ministry” issued a statement congratulating “the leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) movement and the people of Syria on their recent advancements resulting in the removal of factor of conflict and instability,” referring to Assad. “We express hope that the remaining phases of the revolution will be managed in a way that secures a peaceful, unified, and stable system,” Taliban jihadists said. “It is hoped that the power transition process is advanced in a manner that lays the foundations of a sovereign and service-oriented Islamic government in line with the aspirations of the Syrian people;” their statement continued, recommending the use of a “general amnesty” for remaining members of the Assad regime. The terrorists also suggested HTS adopt “a positive foreign policy with world countries that safeguards Syria from the threat of negative rivalries of foreign actors and creates conditions for the return of millions of refugees.” “Moreover, IEA-MoFA calls on all foreign actors involved in Syria to adopt policies of positive engagement & cooperation, both with each other and with the new leadership, that enables Syria to embark on a path towards good governance, security, and stability,” the statement concluded, a message apparently meant for the U.S. government and the greater West. Unlike the Afghan Taliban, HTS is officially on America’s list of designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The U.S. is offering a $10 million bounty for information leading to al-Jolani’s capture. The terror chief is working to present himself as a preferable diplomatic partner to Assad, however. CNN noted that his rebrand includes wearing blazers and gushed that the jihadist is “soft-spoken with a well-groomed beard” in a recent profile. Al-Jolani was unapologetic in his remarks to a female CNN reporter, who covered her head in the interview, about his goals of imposing sharia on the country, however. “People who fear Islamic governance either have seen incorrect implementations of it or do not understand it properly,” he declared , before promising to protect minority groups. The Taliban similarly presented a “moderate” image to the world after storming Kabul and sending then-Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fleeing . The Taliban is a violent, extremist Islamic organization that ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s with an iron fist, essentially erasing the civil rights of women entirely and imposing onerous limitations on the rights of all citizens. The Taliban of 2024 strongly resembles that of 1997, but prior to the restoration of repressive sharia , the group promised an “inclusive” government. “We will be witnessing the formation of a strong Islamic and inclusive government, Inshallah ,” top Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters during the first press conference after the fall of Kabul in August 2021. “We will do our most to make sure that everybody is included in the country, even those people against us in the past, so we are going to wait until those announcements are made.” “We’re continuing our communication with them we will do our most to make sure that all Afghans are included,” he insisted. “Nobody should be left out, or any anybody with interests to serve the nation, they’re not going to be ignored. So the future government will be inclusive.” The Taliban has since banned women from leaving their homes unless necessary, from obtaining an education, and from speaking aloud almost entirely. Mujahid published a list of Taliban “women’s rights” achievements in November. Follow Frances Martel on Facebook and Twitter.

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors move forward with two-unit development rules

The price of health insurance cover has continued to grow over the past year – so how do you get a good deal? Health insurance premiums are now up 11% compared to 2023 but there is a new provider in the mix - could this see a change in insurance prices? On The Pat Kenny Show , insurance expert Dermot Goode said it is the “worst time for consumers” as about half a million people will have received insurance renewal notices over the last week. “Literally half the market will be renewing between December and the end of February,” he said. “The rate increases are quite staggering. “If you're lucky, you'll get away with 6%, most people are facing 15% and some people on the older plans are facing 19% to 25%.” Mr Goode said consumers need to “brace themselves” when opening insurance renewal notices. “A lot of plans are being retired, so people are going to have to shop around for replacement cover,” he said. “Benefits are being cut as well. “So everything negative that could potentially hit consumers just before Christmas, that's exactly what's happening.” The “light at the end of the tunnel” is new provider Level Health who launched about three weeks ago , Mr Goode said. “It looks like they're already making an impact, and their rates are very, very competitive,” he said. “At least now, people who are struggling to pay those renewal premiums, and if they can't find an option that suits them from their existing provider now there's another alternative there that definitely is worth considering.” Mr Goode said that people need to switch up their health insurance more frequently. “People need to think of this like car and home insurance - if in 12 months’ time they're not happy, they can always switch back to [their original provider],” he said. “People need to realise there's no such thing as loyalty in health insurance. “You really should check out the best deals, see if you can get a better deal from the current provider. “The best question that [you] can put to any health insurance company is, ‘Do you have a lower cost, similar plan to what I currently have?’ Don't be afraid to tell insurance providers your budget, Mr Goode said. "To be fair to the insurance companies, that will focus their attention, they'll have to find you a plan that fits that budget, and if you don't like what they offer you then they you simply repeat the process with the other insurance companies," he said. “The biggest mistake that people will make is not picking up the phone and not engaging.” Mr Goode said if consumers stay on the same plan consistently, they might end up “paying 25% more for less cover” because benefits are being reduced. It is “too important” to let it “roll over”, he said. Listen back here: Doctor writing prescriptions. Image: Wavebreak Media ltd / Alamy Stock PhotoGMA's Lara Spencer gives painful health update that leaves co-hosts in shock

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Maryland turned the ball over 25 times, blew a 17-point lead and was outrebounded in the second half. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Maryland turned the ball over 25 times, blew a 17-point lead and was outrebounded in the second half. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Maryland turned the ball over 25 times, blew a 17-point lead and was outrebounded in the second half. Coach Brenda Frese still had plenty to be happy about. “I thought it was a phenomenal game from two really competitive teams,” Frese said. “Credit Michigan State. We knew they were going to play hard for 40 minutes.” No. 8 Maryland faced its biggest test in a while Sunday, and the Terrapins held off the No. 19 Spartans 72-66. It wasn’t a pretty game from an offensive standpoint, but the Terps were able to execute when they needed to at the end. Up by two in the final minute, Shyanne Sellers found Christina Dalce on a pick-and-roll for an easy layup with 36.3 seconds left — her only points of the game. Michigan State didn’t score again, falling short in this matchup between two ranked Big Ten teams. This was nearly a clash of unbeatens, but the Spartans (11-2, 1-1 Big Ten) lost to Alabama in their last game before this one. Maryland (12-0, 2-0) has equaled the second-best start in team history. “It’s one of the most competitive groups I’ve ever coached,” Frese said. “It’s not really about being undefeated. Of course we love it. I think it shows just the work that they’re putting in. But for us, as long as we just continue to keep our head down and work hard through this process, I think that’s where you’re seeing the results pay off.” The Terrapins beat Duke last month, but this was their first ranked opponent since. It was a physical game in which rebounds were not for the faint of heart. “One thing I’ve loved about our team all year is our effort’s always been in a great space,” said Michigan State coach Robyn Fralick, whose team had a 10-1 edge in offensive rebounds in the second half. Maryland let a big lead get away, but with the score tied at 57, Saylor Poffenbarger and Bri McDaniel made 3-pointers to put the Terps up by six. McDaniel had to leave the game earlier in the fourth after falling to the ground with a thud, but she was able to return. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball Advertisement

Park Hyo-shin / Courtesy of Herbigharo Singer Park Hyo-shin will release his new song “HERO” this month to deliver a message of hope. The singer announced the upcoming release, slated for next Monday, on social media, sharing a teaser video of the new single. “Under the theme of ‘Heroes in Everyday Life,’ the video visualizes the messages of sacrifice, love and hope that the song ‘HERO’ holds through the relationship between a father and his daughter,” the singer’s agency Herbigharo said in the release. The two-minute video begins with a child lost in thought and drawing something before waiting by the window for her father. After coming home late at night to see his daughter asleep, he goes back to work in the early morning. As he puts on earphones, Park’s voice along with the melody for “HERO” briefly plays for an emotional touch, showing the daughter’s drawing that writes “My dad is a hero.” The singer took part in composing and writing the lyrics for the song, which was used on the soundtrack for the newly released movie “We had postponed the originally planned release date (of the song) several times to observe the current situation with a heavy heart. However, we felt that if this song could bring even a small sense of comfort and hope to people’s hearts, it would be better not to delay it any further, which led us to release it now,” the agency said. This will be his first solo release in five years since the 2019 song “Lover.” The singer recently released a duet song “Winter Ahead” with BTS’ V on Nov. 29. To remove this article -I was deeply disturbed and disheartened upon witnessing university students at Federal University Dutsin-Ma resorting to hitching rides on tankers to get to school. This was may be due to a severe shortage of buses to transport them or financial constraints to afford paying transportation fee to the newly opened campus, which is located far from the main campus and town of Dutsin-Ma. The recent pictures circulating on social media of tankers carrying students to school at the new campus are so fearful,that necessitate immediate attention and action from the government and the management of the institution. Though I have seen a video clips of the of the Federal university Dutsin-Ma Dr. Muhammad Gazalli Garba in an interview stating that the picture is not true, I doubt what he said because the picture has been circulated by the students of the university on their social media platforms.However, whether the picture is true or not, it’s a matter of saving lives that are under serious risk!!! We all witnessed, the lives lost in the Majia area of Jigawa State, and other reports have also confirmed the incidents that occurred in so many states that led the lost of lives and huge amount of property due the frequent tanker exploitation in the country . This is only for the people who came to took fuel after Tanker exploitation or living close to the location where the tanker exploded, Sadly, still people are yet to learn a lesson from such tragic happenings and continuously using it for transportation or leaf in some places across the country. Why are we so forgetful about anything that multiple times done harm to us? The government in this country, at all levels, should set measures to ban people from using tankers for transportation to other places. This is because when a tanker explosion happens, there’s no guarantee that a single life might be rescued, as even people close by may be affected. It would be recalled that the removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration on May 29, 2023, has brought about serious and undesirable conditions for citizens. This has forced the citizens to adopt new ways of life in their daily activities. This includes reducing their eating habits from three meals a day, and some find it difficult to have one meal a day in their houses. The policy has no doubt brought serious chaos and critical conditions to all individuals in Nigeria. Some lecturers in the university have been forced to abondan thier cars and choose alternatives because of the high prices in fuel . Indeed, not only lecturers at universities in Nigeria have been affected reports from national dailies showed how people have abandoned their cars and motorbikes for Keke Napep, while others have resorted to using bicycles in some states. Choosing alternative modes of transportation has become necessary for citizens, as the government has refused to reduce the fuel price.This is the harsh reality for salary earners, but how are the lives of students on campuses being affected? If salary earners and business owners are facing hectic situations and serious transportation challenges, there’s no doubt that students across campuses are also affected, particularly in some universities and colleges running their activities within two campuses. This may lead the students to use some alternative for transportation, which is not advisable. Furthermore, I call on the federal government and state government to provide adequate school buses that can transport students to some of their areas, which may ease the difficulties of transportation. Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umra Zulum, is doing well in this regard because students and people are provided with buses transporting students to some notable areas, making transportation easy for residents of Maiduguri and students at large. For instance, students from Borno State University are using these buses at just 100 naira, which transports them to the Post office Which is the main rounderbout in Maiduguri. If they were to use a private car, they would pay 400 to 500 naira, making the 1,000 or 800 -naira journey cost just 200 naira. Another development in the recent budget presented by the Governor of Borno State indicates that buses will be purchased to make transportation easier for residents and students at secondary schools and tertiary institutions in the state. This is a commendable initiative, and other states in the federation should emulate this example to make transportation easier and prevent the students and people from the use of tankers and trailers for travel.RH: Fiscal Q3 Earnings SnapshotQatar tribune QNA Doha Minister of Communications and Information Technology HE Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai has said that the launch of Arabic Artificial Intelligence Large Language Model (LLM) ‘Fanar’ is a big achievement that reflects Qatar’s commitment to enhancing the presence of the Arabic language and the Arabic and Islamic culture in the AI age. Speaking at the opening of the two-day World Summit AI, the minister said the project comes as a result of fruitful cooperation between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Hamad Bin Khalifa University, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. He said, “The Fanar project exemplifies Qatar’s commitment to supporting research projects and transforming them into strategic governmental initiatives that position Qatar as a leader in artificial intelligence and modern technologies. Fanar is not merely a digital project, but a comprehensive vision aimed at creating a global impact. “It is an ambitious initiative that seeks to empower the Arab community with advanced tools that respect our cultural identity and contribute to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030. I extend my gratitude to Qatar Foundation and the Qatar Computing Research Institute for their outstanding efforts in developing this ambitious project.” For his part, President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University Dr Ahmad Hasnah emphasised the significance of the project. “In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, Fanar is a reflection of our university’s commitment to developing responses to challenges of national and global relevance which enhance the country’s prowess in the field of AI and related technologies based on the Arabic language. This can only be achieved by actively leveraging synergies with renowned partners like MCIT to facilitate expertise and build capacity in Qatar and the region.” Fanar is a groundbreaking model developed to achieve an in-depth understanding of Arabic in all its dimensions, dialects and cultural expressions. It is built on an extensive database of over 300 billion words and a trillion Arabic phonetic segments, enabling creative ability to generate, write, summarise, rephrase, or explain texts with exceptional efficiency. With an advanced technical architecture comprising seven billion parameters, it ensures flexible and rapid data processing. The Fanar project marks a pivotal step in the advancement of modern Arabic technologies. The project began as an integrated research initiative within the Qatar Computing Research Institute and was later adopted and supported by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The project aims to equip Qatari and Arab communities with cutting-edge AI tools tailoredto their specific needs, aligning with the National AI Strategy and the Digital Agenda 2030, which prioritise digital innovation as the cornerstone of building a thriving digital economy. Fanar aspires to establish a unique partnership with Arab users through its experimental version, allowing them to provide feedback and recommendations, making them integral to the development of future versions. Copy 11/12/2024 10

Drone operators worry that anxiety over mystery sightings will lead to new restrictionsLONDON: Thousands of people from the Middle East were trafficked into Europe through a vast people smuggling network based out of a British car wash. In an operation that at times resembled a travel agency, people from Syria, Iraq and Iran were offered different tiers of service to be smuggled into Europe by various routes. Two men pleaded guilty in a UK court on Friday to charges related to their roles in the people smuggling ring. The UK’s National Crime Agency said Dilshad Shamo, 41, and Ali Khdir, 40, operated from the unlikely location of a car wash in Caerphilly, a town in Wales. They were arrested in April 2023 after they had been placed under surveillance as part of an investigation that found they were trafficking about 100 people a week over a period of two years, the BBC reported. The men used messaging and social media apps to advertise their services with videos from people who had made the journeys. One video shows a man hidden in the back of a truck with other migrants. “Lorry route agreement, crossing agreement with the knowledge of driver,” he says. “Here we have men, women and children. Thank God the route was easy and good.” Another video shows a family traveling by plane. “We are very happy ... this is the visa, may God bless him, we are really happy,” the migrant says. Shamo and Khdir offered three tiers of service, the lowest being smuggling people into Europe by foot or vehicle; the next by cargo ships or yachts; and the highest level arranged travel by plane. The smuggling routes went through Turkiye, Belarus, Moldova and Bosnia and ended in Italy, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Germany and France. The NCA said many of the migrants continued to the UK. Payment was made using informal “hawala” money transfers through brokers based in Iraq and Istanbul. Once a deposit was made, Shamo and Khdir would receive a message and arrange for the migrants to be transported by their specified route or timeframe. The two men used WhatsApp to communicate with people smugglers across Europe. The NCA said they were part of a larger organized crime group and could have made hundreds of thousands or millions of pounds that is unlikely to be recovered, the BBC reported. “Ali Khdir and Dilshad Shamo were leading a double life,” NCA Branch Commander Derek Evans said. “While on the surface they seemed to be operating a successful car wash, they were actually part of a prolific people smuggling group moving migrants across Europe and taking thousands in payment. “We worked painstakingly to piece together their movements to prove their important roles in a group, from advertising their services through videos to boasting of successful trips on messaging groups.” The UK’s Minister for Border Security and Asylum Angela Eagle said criminals like Khdir and Shamo put countless lives at risk by smuggling vulnerable people in a “shameless attempt to make cash.” She added: “We are taking action against the people smuggling gangs and will stop at nothing to dismantle their networks and bring justice to the system.” Shamo and Khdir pleaded guilty 10 days into their trial at Cardiff Crown Court and will be sentenced at a later date. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer made smashing people smuggling gangs a key pledge of his election campaign earlier this year. He has vowed to treat traffickers like terrorists and announced a new Border Security Command with additional powers to track human traffickers and shut down their bank accounts. Politicians in the EU are battling to stem public anger at rising immigration with more than 380,000 illegal border crossings made into the EU in 2023. Many fear that if conflicts in the Middle East escalate, Europe could face a steep rise in illegal migration similar to 2015 at the height of the Syrian Civil War.Former President Jimmy Carter dies at age 100

Mangione family in Maryland: What we know

Turkish Airlines to Begin Operations at The New Terminal One at JFK and Unveil World-Class LoungeDrones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.