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After Trump’s win, Russian disinformation aims to drive a wedge between the US and Ukraine
CHARLESTON, S.C., Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time to focus on winter wellness and thoughtful gifting ideas for health-conscious entertaining. Renowned Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Mia Syn shares her top recommendations to help people feel their best while enjoying all the season has to offer. COMBAT HOLIDAY CONGESTION “So many of us look forward to holiday parties and quality time with loved ones,” says Syn, “But we often find ourselves battling sinus congestion from dry air, cold weather, or seasonal allergies.” Her go-to solution? The NEW Mucinex® Sinus Saline Nasal Spray, the first-ever saline product featuring a 2-in-1 nozzle with customizable spray settings. Consumers can choose the ‘Power Jet’ to tackle tough nasal congestion or the ‘Gentle Mist’ to clear everyday congestion and soothe your nose. With its dual-nozzle technology, Mucinex® Sinus Saline Nasal Spray helps relieve congestion caused by allergens, irritants, and colds. Available at major retailers, pharmacies, and on Amazon, you can find your nearest store at Mucinex.com . Direct link: https://www.mucinex.com/ Social Media Handle: Facebook: @mucinex IG: @mucinex_us HOLIDAY TREATS WITH A HEALTHY TWIST Syn also encourages swapping ingredients in traditional holiday recipes with better-for-you alternatives. “One of my favorite holiday ingredients is Almond Breeze Almondmilk,” she shares. “Santa might even prefer Almond Breeze with his cookies this year!” jokes Syn. Direct link: www.AlmondBreeze.com Social Media Handle: Facebook: Almond Breeze Instagram: @AlmondBreeze Twitter: @AlmondBreeze SKINCARE MUST-HAVES FOR WINTER Cold, harsh air can wreak havoc on your skin, causing dryness and accentuating fine lines. "Nobody enjoys that itchy, uncomfortable feeling that winter brings," says Syn, a skincare enthusiast. "That’s why I turn to Mediheal—a trusted name in Korean skincare that’s been raising the bar for years." Mediheal’s toner pads have become a hit on social media, especially on TikTok, where users are swearing by their magic. Leading the charge are two fan-favorite products: "Mediheal’s toner pads are absolute game-changers," Syn adds. "They’re versatile, targeting multiple skin concerns, so there’s something for everyone." With a diverse lineup of toner pads and skincare products designed to tackle winter skin woes, Mediheal cements its place as the ultimate go-to for glowing, healthy skin—even in the harshest seasons. For a limited time, the Madecassoside Blemish Pad, Collagen Ampoule Pad and Vitamide Brightening Pad will be available in festive holiday packaging—perfect for gifting to loved ones or treating yourself this season! Direct link: Mediheal Amazon Website Social Media Handle: Facebook: @Mediheal US Instagram: @mediheal_us TikTok: @mediheal_us Twitter (X): @medihealus About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a property of D S Simon Media. The video included and release was part of a media tour that was produced by D S Simon Media on behalf of Almond Breeze, Mediheal, and Mucinex. Media Contact: Michael O’Donnell D S Simon Media 212-736-2727 modonnell@dssimon.com A video accompanying this release is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74283b19-564e-43c4-a467-440c7d109074Indexes dip with UnitedHealth, tech, ahead of jobs report - Reuters
NEW YORK (AP) — The man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer and may have targeted it because of its size and influence, a senior police official said Thursday. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York in an interview Thursday that investigators have uncovered evidence that Luigi Mangione had prior knowledge UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York City. Mangione also mentioned the company in a note found in his possession when he was detained by police in Pennsylvania. “We have no indication that he was ever a client of United Healthcare, but he does make mention that it is the fifth largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest healthcare organization in America. So that’s possibly why he targeted that company,” said Kenny. UnitedHealthcare is in the top 20 largest U.S. companies by market capitalization but is not the fifth largest. It is the largest U.S. health insurer. Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday after being spotted at a McDonald's in the city of Altoona, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City. His lawyer there, Thomas Dickey, has said Mangione intends to plead not guilty. Dickey also said he has yet to see evidence decisively linking his client to the crime. Mangione's arrest came five days after the caught-on-camera killing of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. Police say the shooter waited outside the hotel, where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, early on the morning of Dec. 4. He approached Thompson from behind and shot him before fleeing on a bicycle through Central Park. Mangione is fighting attempts to extradite him back to New York so that he can face a murder charge in Thompson's killing. A hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 30. The 26-year-old, who police say was found with a “ ghost gun ” matching shell casings found at the site of the shooting, is charged in Pennsylvania with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Mangione is an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family. In posts on social media, Mangione wrote about experiencing severe chronic back pain before undergoing a spinal fusion surgery in 2023. Afterward, he posted that the operation had been a success and that his pain had improved and mobility returned. He urged others to consider the same type of surgery. On Wednesday, police said investigators are looking at his writings about his health problems and his criticism of corporate America and the U.S. health care system . Kenny said in the NBC interview that Mangione's family reported him missing to San Francisco authorities in November.Prehistoric Tailoring? 13,000-Year-Old Bone Needles Show How Ice Age Humans Stitched Winter Clothing
NoneSACRAMENTO, Calif. — Pacific Gas & Electric Co. could receive up to $15 billion in federal loans to help the utility modernize its power grid and expand clean energy infrastructure across central and northern California, officials announced Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Energy announced a conditional commitment for one of the largest loan guarantees ever under its Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment program. When finalized, the money would be loaned in installments over several years. The funds would support a portfolio of projects to expand hydropower generation and battery storage, upgrade transmission capacity, and enable virtual power plants throughout PG&E's service area, the energy department said. PG&E submitted its application to the agency's Loan Programs Office in June 2023. Partially funding its projects with lower-cost federal loans could save customers up to $1 billion over the life of the financing, the utility said in a statement Tuesday. "Investments in a clean and resilient grid for northern and central California will have significant returns for our customers in safety, reliability and economic growth. The DOE loan program can help us accelerate the pace and impact of this work, which supports thousands of living wage jobs, at a lower cost to our customers," PG&E CEO Patti Poppe said in the statement. The Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy group, cheered PG&E's commitment to modernizing the power grid and expanding clean energy infrastructure. "This innovative loan program will help ensure that Californians will see more stable rates, enjoy more good clean energy jobs and live with fewer harmful emissions. This unprecedented windfall also offers a unique opportunity for PG&E to update its outdated transmission infrastructure with more efficient, climate-friendly and fire-safe technology," Sierra Club organizer Julia Dowell said in a statement Tuesday. The loan office hopes to finalize the commitment before President Joe Biden leaves office next month. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
Fantasy Football Week 15 Sleepers: Titans stars primed to get teams to next round of Fantasy playoffsWhy you can trust AppleInsider Read how we test products or view our ethics policy . If you shop through our links, we may get a commission. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The pinnacle of the portable Mac Andrew O'Hara | Nov 22, 2024 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Peak MacBook Pro 3 Facebook x.com Reddit The latest MacBook Pro update arrived in November, alongside multiple other Macs. We similarly got a new M4 -powered iMac and a completely redesigned Mac mini . Looking at the MacBook Pros specifically, they come in both 14- and 16-inch versions. You can get the 14-inch in M4 and M4 Pro versions and the 16-inch with the M4 Pro or M4 Max. This review is sponsored by tomtoc . Tomtoc is a design-driven, tech-savvy brand focused on providing innovative protection for your digital devices. With an emphasis on quality, functionality, and a perfect fit, tomtoc's products keep your gear safe in style. Get ready for their Black Friday sale with up to 50% off and don't miss your chance to upgrade your protection! We're looking at the Space Black 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Max processor and its 40-core GPU. It has 1TB of storage and 64GB of unified memory. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Internals and ports Much of this machine is the same as before. The design is unchanged on the outside, other than that the base M4 model can now be obtained in the Space Black colorway that's become so popular. We still wish it was a bit darker. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The left side has MagSafe 3, Thunderbolt 5 ports, and an audio jack As you face it, on the left of the machine is a MagSafe 3 port for charging at up to 140W, saddled by two Thunderbolt ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. The right has an SDXC card reader, another Thunderbolt port, and an HDMI connector. You get Apple's excellent built in keyboard above the still-spacious glass trackpad. Years later, Apple's trackpad is still unmatched by the competition. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The keyboard is as good as ever and a joy to type on The display is 16.2-inches on the diagonal and measures 3456 by 2234 in resolution. It looks beautiful, has 1000 nits of typical brightness, ProMotion up to 120Hz, supports the P3 wide color gamut, and has TrueTone. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: What's new this time around? There are a number of improvements here, even if Apple kept the body the same. For example, the display's 1000 nit max brightness is 400 nits above where it was before. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The screen looks gorgeous with the matte finish That's particularly useful when outdoors, no matter if you opted for the glossy or the new nano-texture finish. Similarly, it can get dimmer too. If you've ever worked into the wee hours or tried to use your computer in bed in the dark, you may have tried to turn your display brightness extremely low. Like the iPhone 16 line, it can now go as low as 1 nit. We certainly work into the wee hours of the night, frequently. So, this, like it was on the iPhone, has been a surprisingly useful feature. Not everyone is going to need this and it's not really that heavily promoted by Apple. For us, though, it's so helpful and more comfortable on our eyes. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The new camera is 12MP and supports desk view Also on the display is a beefed up camera hiding in the notch. It's now 12MP and supports Desk View. Video is still capped at 1080p though. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Desk View on the upgraded camera Even if you don't use Desk View, the higher resolution and improved M4 ISP is welcomed and we were shocked at how much better we looked. We did a side-by-side with our M3 Max MacBook Pro and it was drastic. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The old versus new camera quality The photo was richer with more contrast and better colors. It frankly makes the camera much more usable for processional applications. Thunderbolt 5 will be a standout feature — eventually After we got our first look at Thunderbolt 5 prototype devices at CES 2024, we're finally seeing the first cables and docks coming to market. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: A third party Thunderbolt 5 cable It's capable of 120Gb/s of aggregated data which is up to three times that of Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4. There aren't many devices now, but we're going to see many over the lifespan of this machine. When buying a Mac that you plan to use three, five, or even ten years you want it to support the latest technology. That's what this offers. It'll make more of a difference when there are more peripherals available. At the time of writing, only a few things have been announced. One thing we didn't get here was Wi-Fi 7 and we're sorely disappointed. This is the one upgrade we expected to get and didn't, purely based on the new wireless standard being finalized earlier this year. The iPhone 16 series also already supports it. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Apple has plenty of ports Once more, when you want a machine that will last, you want the latest standards and it's frustrating to see that omitted here. We'd prefer it on our Macs versus our iPhones. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Nano texture display Filed under "new changes in 2024" for the MacBook Pro is an optional nano texture finish. It's similar to what the iPad Pro , iMac, and Studio Display offer. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Trying to flash a light at the glossy (left) and matte (right) finish options We're not going to get into it again, given that this isn't Apple's first product with it. In short, it reduces glare and the impact of bright lights on the display. This diffused light, in our experience, makes the screen even better. There will be debate on what's better for color-specific workflows like video color grading or professional editing in Lightroom and Photoshop, but for us, it makes sense. Side by side, the color difference is minimal. If you are worrying that much about the color representation, a dedicated reference monitor may make more sense. With a laptop, the idea is to be portable and the nano texture affords that. The only downside is that because of the diffused light, it does appear slightly dimmer in certain environments. That's a worthwhile tradeoff though because we'd usually have to crank the brightness to battle the glare. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Testing the two displays outside When outside and the brightness cranks up to that 1000 nit level, that difference goes away and the new model looks just as bright as the older one. It also has great viewing angles, which is a plus. In all the environments we tested, the nano texture looked better. Even the clarity loss is minimal and we'd happily pay the $150 upgrade cost. Funny enough, the nano texture also kept out display cleaner. It still showed some oils, but overall looked and stayed cleaner than the normal glossy one. We've disliked the traditional anti-glare screens found on PCs and it's clear why Apple waited for a more suitable technology before introducing their own Mac-specific version of it. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Performance Here, we're testing the M4 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro which is a 16-core CPU with 12 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Geekbench single-core results That's the same breakdown as the M3 Max. It's now faster though, increasing the clockspeed from 3.68GHz to 4.5GHz. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Geekbench multi-core results In terms of benchmarked performance, Geekbench 6 is showing us a 25% boost in the single core performance. We also saw a 30% boost in the multi-core performance. The Metal graphics test was a little more modest, going to 189752 from 163927. That's about a 15% increase for that 40-core GPU. Putting these numbers into perspective, the M4 Max easily outperforms the M2 Ultra CPU. That shouldn't be a huge surprise since we never got an M3 Ultra chip to compare with. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Blender GPU benchmarks Perhaps even more impressive, the M4 Max is also comparable to the GeForce 4080 super GPU in some workloads. That's a huge, desktop graphics card that has similar performance to a laptop. We wanted throw something different at the new machine in our testing, which was perfectly timed with Apple's new update to Final Cut Pro. One of the new features to that is Magnetic Mask, which is one of the more computationally intensive video tasks we do, outside of 3D motion graphics. It uses AI to track a subject, masking out the background without the need for a green screen. We applied it to a 12 minute 4K 24FPS video and it took 14 minutes and 27 seconds to complete. On the M3 Max model, it took a minute and 32 seconds longer. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Testing editing with Final Cut Pro Overall it's about a 10% boost in that performance. That's not a ton but on a longer or higher resolution project, that could amount to a serious time savings. Of course, higher-end workflows probably aren't using Magnetic Mask, but still. For completeness sake, we ran Cinebench R23 on both our last-gen and current gen machines. The M4 Max achieved 27108 for the multi-core sore and 2237 for the single-core, compared to 21355 and 1816 for the M3 Max respectively. That once more is showing about a 30% increase in multi-core performance. For a yearly update, that's a solid increase, and even more impressive compared to the exceptional M1 Max machine many still use. This may be a big enough jump to encourage holdouts to make the jump to Apple's latest and greatest portable Mac. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: M4 Pro is where it's at While the M4 Max is an incredibly powerful chip, and also points to a mind-bending M4 Ultra release down the pike, the real story seems to be the M4 Pro. Generationally, it's a bigger increase than its predecessor and at the rate of Apple Silicon , it's still more power than a lot of pro users will need. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Apple's M4 series chips are great Our most demanding workflow, multi-cam 4K video, is now barely taxing even for a base M4 processor. We'd be fine with an M4 Pro these days, even if we opt for the extra headroom and better performance the M4 Max offers. Notably, the M4 Pro is up to a 14-core, two more than before, but also increased the performance cores from six to ten. We'd have been fine had Apple gave us just more efficiency cores. Memory bandwidth also nearly doubled from 150GB/s to 273GB/s. It all amounts to an exceptional upgrade for the mid-tier chip. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Some of our benchmarking suite Last year, the M3 Pro felt like we got slighted with a middling update. It gave users more of a reason to jump to the "max" variant. This year, it feels like the M4 Pro is where it's at and unless you have an ultra-demanding workflow, it will probably keep up. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Should you buy Apple's new flagship portable Mac? Not every year of Apple Silicon needs to be a monumental increase. This year it was probably above average for the M4 Max, between 20% and 30% for the CPU and less for the GPU. Still, it's so impressive how much power Apple is able to pack into a laptop that is so incredibly portable. And unlike many Windows-based PCs, you don't see a massive performance dip when running on battery. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Sliding the MacBook Pro into a backpack is easy, even at 16 inches There's very little to criticize here as Apple has continued to refine and push the MacBook Pro line. There's the absence of Wi-Fi 7, but otherwise Apple knocked it out of the park. It's powerful, fast, elegant, portable, and reliable. It's the machine we turn to most often to get work done. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The new MacBook Pro is incredibly good The only reason not to buy the M4 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro is if you don't need this much power. In that case, the M4 Pro model is perfectly suitable. Next year it's rumored we'll see a redesigned MacBook Pro that's even thinner and presumably adding Wi-Fi 7 and upgraded OLED displays. That's what's on the roadmap which will hopefully make any upgrade decisions easier. This is a workhorse of a machine and would be a solid upgrade choice before jumping to a redesigned model in a few years, when Apple has any first-gen bugs worked out. This is peak MacBook Pro. And we're here for it. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Pros Nano-texture display is incredible upgrade Performance of M4 Pro and M4 Max are both outstanding New camera is markedly better Peak design and performance of the portable Mac Thunderbolt 5 will be a game changer New minimum brightness is great for late night working 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Cons No Wi-Fi 7 Thunderbolt 5 accessories are still scarce to start 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max rating: 5 out of 5 This review is sponsored by tomtoc . Tomtoc is a design-driven, tech-savvy brand focused on providing innovative protection for your digital devices. With an emphasis on quality, functionality, and a perfect fit, tomtoc's products keep your gear safe in style. Get ready for their Black Friday sale with up to 50% off and don't miss your chance to upgrade your protection! Where to buy Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max at a discount The 2024 MacBook Pro 16-inch is already on sale at numerous Apple resellers, with discounted prices starting at $2,199 in our 16-inch MacBook Pro Price Guide . Amazon has M4 Max models marked down to as low as $3,199 at press time, reflecting a triple-digit discount off MSRP. AppleInsider readers can also save up to $300 on every CTO M4 MacBook Pro configuration with promo code APINSIDER at Apple Authorized Reseller Adorama. The same code takes $30 off three years of AppleCare for the 14-inch models and $40 off three years of AppleCare for the 16-inch MacBook Pro. You can also find the latest 14-inch MacBook Pro deals in our Price Guides: 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 prices 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro & M4 Max pricesSCHAUMBURG, Ill. , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative Group, a full-service meeting, event, and incentive agency, is proud to highlight its insights and contributions to Skift Meetings' Megatrends 2025 report. The report reveals a dynamic landscape shaped by transformative forces, from artificial intelligence and sustainability to mental health and generational inclusivity. Creative Group's expertise underscores how strategic event design can address complex organizational goals while delivering exceptional attendee experiences. Trends Redefining the Events Landscape 1. Events Have Become More Strategic Melissa Van Dyke , Creative Group's Senior Vice President of Integrated Marketing, Design, and Innovation, highlights the shift in event strategy. "Today's events must go beyond flawless logistics to deeply align with business initiatives," Van Dyke states in the report. Events must begin with a deep understanding of their purpose. Creative Group advocates for aligning all aspects of event planning with business initiatives, ensuring every element—from agenda to attendee engagement—supports organizational goals. By starting with the "why," planners can craft experiences that not only meet attendee expectations but also drive organizational objectives forward. This more intentional design focus is the crucial middle between events that check a box and events that move the needle. 2. Addressing Generational Shifts With Millennials and Gen Z comprising an increasing share of the workforce, event strategies must reflect values like sustainability, inclusivity, and experiential depth—with more immersive and interactive experiences. Creative Group's methods integrate these elements seamlessly, ensuring events resonate with all age groups while fostering connections across diverse demographics. 3. Immersive and Interactive Engagement Understanding the purpose of an event also shapes how planners design interactions. Creative Group incorporates principles of behavioral economics—awareness, engagement, and nudges—to create meaningful moments before, during, and after the event, ensuring participants stay inspired by and connected to event messaging, brand and core business objectives. Meeting New Expectations in 2025 Sustainability as a Business Imperative As sustainability becomes non-negotiable for many attendees, Creative Group emphasizes adopting eco-friendly practices, such as waste reduction and locally sourced elements, to meet expectations while reflecting each brand's business values. Mental Health Integration Event designers are increasingly tasked with addressing attendee well-being, making it essential to create events that reduce stress and promote emotional connection. Creative Group's approach integrates wellness strategies that are empathy-based and customizable to meet the needs of the modern attendee. Looking Ahead Creative Group's contributions to the Megatrends 2025 report reinforce the idea that understanding the "why" behind every event is crucial in today's meetings landscape, especially critical given the additional scrutiny on event budgets in 2025. "Corporate events are no longer about simply gathering people for a single objective—they are about achieving complex business challenges, reinforcing organizational culture, boosting brand loyalty, and recognizing and retaining top talent," says Van Dyke . To explore how Creative Group and other industry leaders are addressing the trends shaping 2025, download the full Skift Meetings Megatrends 2025 report. About Creative Group Creative Group is a full-service meeting, event, and incentive agency that delivers business results by inspiring people to thrive. An industry leader, Creative Group has been honored with numerous Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) awards and the CMI 25 Award, which recognizes the top 25 most influential meeting and incentive management companies in the U.S. Creative Group was founded in 1970, and has served clients in financial services, life sciences, insurance, manufacturing, retail, technology, automotive, and hospitality. Employing 220+ people, the company is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois , and maintains offices in San Francisco , Appleton, Wisconsin , and Toronto, Canada . For more information about Creative Group, visit http://www.creativegroupinc.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/creative-group-spotlights-event-industrys-2025-megatrends-in-skift-meetings-report-302334125.html SOURCE Creative Group, Inc.
What you need to know about the Swiss footwear and active brand OnNigel Farage blasts Alastair Campbell in angry Brexit row as QT tensions explode
Javon Small scored 31 points to rally West Virginia to an 86-78 overtime upset of No. 3 Gonzaga in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, Wednesday in Nassau, Bahamas. The Mountaineers (4-1) trailed by 10 points early in the second half and by five in the final minute. But over the final 19 seconds of regulation, Tucker DeVries scored five straight points to send the game to overtime. In the extra session, Small scored five points and West Virginia held Gonzaga to a single field goal, which came after the outcome was decided with 19 seconds left. Amani Hansberry added a career-high 19 points and eight rebounds for West Virginia, which advances to the semifinals Thursday against another surprise first-round winner, Louisville, which stunned No. 15 Indiana. Braden Huff scored 19 points and Khalif Battle added 16 points for Gonzaga (5-1) which settles for a consolation-round game Thursday against Indiana. Nolan Hickman tallied 13 points. Ryan Nembhard delivered seven points and 12 assists for the Bulldogs. Huff put Gonzaga in position to win when he made three hook shots in the final 2:34 of regulation as the Bulldogs turned a one-point deficit into a 69-66 lead. Two free throws by Nembhard expanded the lead to 71-66 with 25 seconds left. But DeVries followed with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and then made a mid-court steal and drew a foul with 5.9 seconds left. His two free throws sent it to overtime. The Mountaineers never trailed in overtime. Sencire Harris wrapped it up with a steal and a breakaway slam that put West Virginia up 84-76 with 26 seconds left. Battle, a transfer from Arkansas, scored eight points in a span of 90 seconds late in the first half as the Bulldogs took control on their way to a 39-31 lead at the break. Gonzaga earned its biggest lead early in the second half when Graham Ike scored inside with an assist from Nembhard to make it 43-33. But West Virginia responded with a 17-2 run, fueled by Small as he hit two 3-pointers and two layups. Hansberry drained a trey and DeVries grinded for a putback layup to give the Mountaineers a 50-45 lead with 12:26 left. DeVries finished the game with 16 points and four blocks. --Field Level MediaKylian Mbappe misses penalty and Real Madrid loses ground in Champions League
AP Business SummaryBrief at 2:56 p.m. EST
( MENAFN - Asia Times) Too often in the West we suffer from dictator envy, feeling jealous and a bit afraid of the power and decisiveness of today's autocracies such as Russia and China. This month should act as a corrective for such feelings, for it has been a terrible December for dictators. This does not mean that the liberal West has triumphed. But it does mean that our chances of competing with the autocrats are better than our melancholic form of self-flagellation has led us to believe. No one need feel sorry for Bashar al-Assad and his family, and the fact that Syria's brutal dictator has had to swap his palaces in Damascus for humbler premises in Moscow. Let us also not feel pity for President Vladimir Putin for having to act as host to this failed leader whose collapse has exposed Russia's own weakness, potentially depriving it of its naval and air bases on the Mediterranean. We also need feel no sorrow for the Ayatollahs and Revolutionary Guards of Iran, who this year have seen their allies in Gaza, Lebanon and now Syria all destroyed, and the weaknesses in Iran's own defense systems cruelly exposed. Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen can be re-armed and re-born, but the strategy of using these militias to project Iranian power and undermine the Ayatollahs' enemy, Israel, is in tatters. We can feel pity for the estimated 12,000 North Korean soldiers who have been sent to fight alongside Russia's weakened army, as they are now being targeted and many may soon be killed by long-range Ukrainian weaponry. But their dictator back home in Pyongyang deserves no pity for his strategy of supporting Russia. It has gained him some money and some missile technology, but little more. Across the“Demilitarized Zone” that since 1953 has separated North and South Korea, President Kim Jong-un has watched his democratically elected counterpart, President Yoon Suk Yeol make a fool of himself on December 3 by attempting to use martial law to control an unfriendly parliament, but Kim has little to gloat about. President Yoon's failed coup d'etat demonstrated the strength and resilience of South Korea's democracy. The big question is where these December disasters will leave the global axis connecting Russia, China, Iran and North Korea as opponents of the West. Three of the four have been aggressive breakers of international law, while the real superpower in the axis, China, has tried to present itself as a rising, peace-seeking nation that stands as an alternative to the declining, hypocritical United States. Anyone who stood in awe of China and its fellow-travellers as this year began should now have had their eyes opened to the much-less impressive reality. Make no mistake: the West has plenty of problems too. Japan has a weak government; Germany, a collapsed government; France, no government; and the United States has re-elected a president who holds America's own allies in contempt and (like the late Silvio Berlusconi) prefers talking to Putin, Xi and Kim to having to deal with democratic governments. But with such weak opponents the West also has reason to feel optimistic about what could be achieved in 2025. The first opportunity concerns the war in Ukraine. In military terms, both the Ukrainian and the Russian forces are exhausted. During 2024, both armies made gains: the Ukrainians took and held on to territory in Kursk, inside Russia; the Russians moved slowly forward in the eastern region of Ukraine, but despite huge casualties have succeeded in occupying only a further 0.4% of Ukraine's territory since January 1. And now the weakness of both Russia and Iran has led to Assad's fall in Syria. This has greatly reduced President-elect Trump's incentive to bully Ukraine into accepting Russia's extravagant and unrealistic peace conditions. And it has greatly increased Putin's incentive to weaken those conditions in the hope of avoiding further humiliations. Trump has the chance to begin his presidency by looking like a strong representative of the free world rather than someone begging autocrats for favours. A ceasefire in the spring of 2025 could be in both sides' interest. If Ukraine's European allies, led by Poland, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Finland, and the Baltic States can agree to offer security guarantees and finance, which in Russia's weakened state looks an easier task than before, there must be a good chance that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be able to find a deal that maintains his country's sovereignty, democracy and European future. The second opportunity, which is more one for Europe and Japan to exploit than Trump's self-centered America, is to improve relations with the vast, and fast-growing, parts of the world that have preferred to avoid alignments either with China and its axis or with the West. Southeast Asia, the Gulf countries of the Middle East, Africa and Latin America have all avoided supporting the West over Ukraine while welcoming money from China and Russia but not domination. The proven weakness of the anti-Western axis means that the attractiveness of China as an alternative global leader has diminished. China's economy remains important but is now suffering from the sort of slow growth and debilitating deflation that made Japan stagnate during the 1990s. Countries of the so-called“Global South” will not want to antagonize China nor to lose its money, but they will be more open to alternative offers from the West. Italy's Mattei Plan for North Africa now stands a better chance of success, especially given the regime change under way in Syria, as does Japan's effort to provide military aid and guidance in Southeast Asia. Russia's weakness makes it more important than ever that Europe should promote its own values and influence in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, but now with a good chance of being taken seriously. Once a new government is in office after Germany's February elections, this new agenda can take shape, hopefully with a new confidence about the strengths of the liberal West against these fragile autocrats. First published in English on the substack Bill Emmott's Global View, this is the English original of an article published in Italian December 16 by La Stampa. It is republished with permission. Thank you for registering! An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. 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My love of movie scoundrels has been sorely tested this year. When I was young, I daydreamed of exotic heists, slick con artists and lovable crooks I’d seen on screen. For most of my moviegoing life, I’ve been a sucker for larceny done well. Most of us are, probably. But now it’s late 2024. Mood is wrong. In the real world, in America, it’s scoundrel time all the time. Maybe Charles Dickens was right. In “American Notes for General Circulation” (1842), the English literary superstar chronicled his travels and detected a widespread, peculiarly American “love of ‘smart’ dealing” across the land. In business and in politics, Dickens observed, slavish admiration of the con men among them “gilds over many a swindle and gross breach of trust.” And here we are. It’ll pass, this scoundrel reprieve of mine. In fact it just did. All it took was thinking about the conspicuous, roguish outlier on my best-of-2024 list: “Challengers.” It’s what this year needed and didn’t know it: a tricky story of lying, duplicitous weasels on and off the court. The best films this year showed me things I hadn’t seen, following familiar character dynamics into fresh territory. Some were more visually distinctive than others; all made eloquent cases for how, and where, their stories unfolded. “All We Imagine as Light,” recently at the Gene Siskel Film Center, works like a poem, or a sustained exhalation of breath, in its simply designed narrative of three Mumbai hospital workers. Fluid, subtly political, filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s achievement is very nearly perfect. So is cowriter-director RaMell Ross’ adaptation of the Colson Whitehead novel “The Nickel Boys,” arriving in Chicago-area theaters on Jan. 3, 2025. “Nickel Boys,” the film, loses the “the” in Whitehead’s title but gains an astonishingly realized visual perspective. If Ross never makes another movie, he’ll have an American masterpiece to his credit. The following top 10 movies of 2024 are in alphabetical order. Both a mosaic of urban ebb and flow, and a delicate revelation of character, director and writer Payal Kapadia’s Mumbai story is hypnotic, patient and in its more traditional story progression, a second feature every bit as good as Kapadia’s first, 2021’s “A Night of Knowing Nothing.” Mikey Madison gives one of the year’s funniest, saddest, truest performances as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who takes a shine to the gangly son of a Russian oligarch, and he to her. Their transactional courtship and dizzying Vegas marriage, followed by violently escalating complications, add up to filmmaker Sean Baker’s triumph, capped by an ending full of exquisite mysteries of the human heart. As played by Adrien Brody, the title character is a visionary architect and Hungarian Jewish emigre arriving in America in 1947 after the Holocaust. (That said, the title refers to more than one character.) His patron, and his nemesis, is the Philadelphia blueblood industrialist played by Guy Pearce. Director/co-writer Brady Corbet’s thrillingly ambitious epic, imperfect but loaded with rewarding risks, was shot mostly in widescreen VistaVision. Worth seeing on the biggest screen you can find. Opens in Chicago-area theaters on Jan. 10, 2025. Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor play games with each other, on the tennis court and in beds, while director Luca Guadagnino builds to a match-point climax that can’t possibly work, and doesn’t quite — but I saw the thing twice anyway. In Bucharest, production assistant Angela zigzags around the city interviewing people for her employer’s workplace safety video. If that sounds less than promising, even for a deadpan Romanian slice-of-life tragicomedy, go ahead and make the mistake of skipping this one. llinca Manolache is terrific as Angela. Like “Do Not Expect Too Much,” director Agnieszka Holland’s harrowing slice of recent history was a 2023 release, making it to Chicago in early 2024. Set along the densely forested Poland/Belarus border, this is a model of well-dramatized fiction honoring what refugees have always known: the fully justified, ever-present fear of the unknown. A quiet marvel of a feature debut from writer-director Annie Baker, this is a mother/daughter tale rich in ambiguities and wry humor, set in a lovely, slightly forlorn corner of rural Massachusetts. Julianne Nicholson, never better; Zoe Ziegler as young, hawk-eyed Lacy, equally memorable. I love this year’s nicest surprise. The premise: A teenager’s future 39-year-old self appears to her, magically, via a strong dose of mushrooms. The surprise: Writer-director Megan Park gradually deepens her scenario and sticks a powerfully emotional landing. Wonderful work from Aubrey Plaza, Maisy Stella, Maria Dizzia and everybody, really. From the horrific true story of a Florida reform school and its decades of abuse, neglect and enraging injustice toward its Black residents, novelist Colson Whitehead’s fictionalized novel makes a remarkable jump to the screen thanks to co-writer/director RaMell Ross’s feature debut. Cousins, not as close as they once were, reunite for a Holocaust heritage tour in Poland and their own search for their late grandmother’s childhood home. They’re the rootless Benji (Kieran Culkin) and tightly sprung David (Jesse Eisenberg, who wrote and directed). Small but very sure, this movie’s themes of genocidal trauma and Jewish legacy support the narrative every step of the way. Culkin is marvelous; so is the perpetually undervalued Eisenberg. To the above, I’ll add 10 more runners-up, again in alphabetical order: “Blink Twice,” directed by Zoe Kravitz. “Conclave,” directed by Edward Berger. “Dune: Part Two ,” directed by Denis Villeneuve. “Good One ,” directed by India Donaldson. “Hit Man,” directed by Richard Linklater. “Joker: Folie a Deux,” directed by Todd Phillips. “Nosferatu,” directed by Robert Eggers, opens in Chicago-area theaters on Dec. 25. “The Outrun,” directed by Nora Fingscheidt. “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat,” directed by Johan Grimonprez. “Tuesday,” directed by Daina O. Pusić. Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular A shooter kills UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in an ambush in New York, police say A shooter kills UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in an ambush in New York, police say Amazon same-day delivery center opens in Hampton — the 1st of its kind in Hampton Roads Amazon same-day delivery center opens in Hampton — the 1st of its kind in Hampton Roads Amber Alert: 3 children in extreme danger last seen at Augusta County bus stop, police say Amber Alert: 3 children in extreme danger last seen at Augusta County bus stop, police say Here are the top 50 high school football recruits in Hampton Roads’ Class of 2025 Here are the top 50 high school football recruits in Hampton Roads’ Class of 2025 ‘Deny,’ ‘defend’ and ‘depose’: Ammunition used in CEO’s killing had writing on it, AP source says ‘Deny,’ ‘defend’ and ‘depose’: Ammunition used in CEO’s killing had writing on it, AP source says John Hinckley Jr., who tried to kill Ronald Reagan, announces plans to open music store in Williamsburg John Hinckley Jr., who tried to kill Ronald Reagan, announces plans to open music store in Williamsburg Newport News retiree warns of losing access to doctors under city’s insurance provider Newport News retiree warns of losing access to doctors under city’s insurance provider German restaurant Deutsche Ecke opens in Newport News German restaurant Deutsche Ecke opens in Newport News Attend the German Christmas Market this weekend in Newport News Attend the German Christmas Market this weekend in Newport News The latest business openings and closings in Hampton Roads The latest business openings and closings in Hampton Roads Trending Nationally UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson killed by masked gunman outside NYC hotel Pennsylvania-based Yuengling, the oldest brewery in America, is bringing its beer to Chicago Maverick operator of California raw milk dairy that sickened children could have role in Trump’s FDA DeSantis interested in Defense secretary job, replacing Hegseth: insider Hugh Jackman’s ex-wife not ready for ‘blended’ family with Sutton Foster
One of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used "physician work time values," which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it's unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to “reverse the proposal immediately,” saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It's not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were posted in Virginia and Colorado . People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced, unpredictable human element” of surgery and was a clear “money grab.” “It’s incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care,” he said. "If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we’re delighted that they came to their senses.” Prior to Anthem's announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy wouldn't affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant’s policy change came one day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare , another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
HELENA — The Montana High School Association executive board took action regarding realignment for football at a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday. Per a press release issued on Wednesday from the MHSA, at the meeting the board approved the following schools to move classifications: Broadus will move from 8-Man to 6-Man football, Hays-Lodgepole will move from 8-Man to 6-Man football, Harlowton-Ryegate will change from 6-Man to 8-Man football and Deer Lodge will shift from 8-Man to Class B football. After the board heard appeals, it placed several schools in a higher football classification. According to a MHSA news release, these schools will choose whether to participate fully in the higher classification or opt to participate in the lower classification but not be postseason eligible. Those schools are: Arlee was placed in Class B football, Box Elder was placed in 8-Man football, Centerville was placed in 8-Man football, Joliet remained in Class B football, Shelby was placed in Class B football, Westby-Grenora was placed in 8-Man football. Whitehall-Harrison is moving from the Western to the Southern Conference in Class B football. The MHSA executive board also approved the proposed four-division alignment for Class A football. In other realignment news, the board approved the proposals for Class C in basketball, track and field and volleyball. Districts will be finalized at the 2025 MHSA Annual Meeting on Jan. 20, 2025 at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. The executive board, per the MHSA news release, submitted proposals to be considered at the annual meeting and the board also approved the 2026-27 calendar. In addition, other decisions were made by the board, for which schools are granted a two-week notice. Finalization of these items will occur during the January 2025 board meeting. Those actions are: • Approval of baseball conferences for the 2025 season . • Approval of the Class B golf qualifying criteria to revert to the same number of qualifying players and teams as last year. • Approval in Class C girls divisional wrestling for a trophy to be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place teams. • Approval of a change in the procedures for football realignment where divisions impacted by reclassification can present their conference alignment (if needed) at the executive board meeting. Schools can also appeal their conference alignment at the January meeting. • Approval of the MHSA office in Helena to relocate to a new site in the city. The new building will help MHSA staff to host board and membership meetings ensuring ADA compliance and advanced technology. Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
June Jordan’s Utopian Vision for HarlemKrispy Kreme doughnut deliveries have been disrupted by a cyberattack, the company says. Krispy Kreme stores are open for in-person orders, but the company is "experiencing certain operational disruptions, including with online ordering in parts of the United States," it says in a report filed Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission . In the report, Krispy Kreme said it learned about "unauthorized activity on a portion of its information technology systems" on Nov. 29. The company "immediately began taking steps to investigate, contain, and remediate the incident with the assistance of leading cybersecurity experts," the company said in the report. Online ordering and delivery of doughnuts is unavailable in some areas, but "daily fresh deliveries to our retail and restaurant partners are uninterrupted," Krispy Kreme said in the report. Krispy Kreme began offering doughnuts in some McDonald's locations earlier this year. Customers hankering for Krispy Kreme doughnuts can got to the company website to find a nearby grocery or convenience store that receives deliveries. Holiday deals: Shop this season’s top products and sales curated by our editors. "The Company, along with its external cybersecurity experts, continues to work diligently to respond to and mitigate the impact from the incident, including the restoration of online ordering, and has notified federal law enforcement." Recall: Some batches of MadeGood granola bars recalled over possible metal contamination The investigation of the breach continues and the company doesn't yet know the full impact of the incident. But, the incident will likely have "a material impact on the Company’s business operations until recovery efforts are completed," Krispy Kreme said. However, the incident isn't expected to have "a long-term material impact" on operations and finances, the company said. Expected costs include lost revenue from online sales, costs for cybersecurity experts and any system restoration costs. Cybersecurity insurance "is expected to offset a portion of the costs of the incident," the company said. Shares of the company were down about 2% Wednesday and are down 33% so far this year. Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider . What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day