777slot 10jili
Why would Apple make a Bluetooth chip?Autodesk director Lorrie Norrington sells $543,925 in stockControl Valves Market: Overview, Scope, Market Trends, and Influential Factors 2028
Low adoption of solar tech in the Philippines is not just due to cost, study findsAirport surfaces most likely to have a deadly virus lurking on them
Gophers football continues to restock offensive linemen for 2025
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. His threat was directed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have applied to become members and several other countries have expressed interest in joining. While the U.S. dollar is by far the most-used currency in global business and has survived past challenges to its preeminence, members of the alliance and other developing nations say they are fed up with America’s dominance of the global financial system . The dollar represents roughly 58% of the world’s foreign exchange reserves, according to the IMF and major commodities like oil are still primarily bought and sold using dollars. The dollar's dominance is threatened, however, with BRICS' growing share of GDP and the alliance's intent to trade in non-dollar currencies — a process known as de-dollarization. Trump, in a Truth Social post, said: “We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy." At a summit of BRIC nations in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. of “weaponizing” the dollar and described it as a “big mistake.” “It’s not us who refuse to use the dollar,” Putin said at the time. “But if they don’t let us work, what can we do? We are forced to search for alternatives.” Russia has specifically pushed for the creation of a new payment system that would offer an alternative to the global bank messaging network, SWIFT, and allow Moscow to dodge Western sanctions and trade with partners. Trump said there is "no chance" BRIC will replace the U.S. dollar in global trade and any country that tries to make that happen "should wave goodbye to America.” Research shows that the U.S. dollar's role as the primary global reserve currency is not threatened in the near future. An Atlantic Council model that assesses the dollar’s place as the primary global reserve currency states the dollar is “secure in the near and medium term” and continues to dominate other currencies. Trump's latest tariff threat comes after he threatened to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% tax on goods from China, as a way to force the countries to do more to halt the flow of illegal immigration and drugs into the U.S. He has since held a call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who said Thursday she is confident that a tariff war with the United States can be averted. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned home Saturday after meeting Trump, without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on Canada.The Washington Commanders are 10-5 following Sunday's thrilling 36-33 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles , marking the first time since 1991 that they've won at least 10 of their first 15 games. In that 1991 season, they went 14-2 and won the Super Bowl . This season has been, without exaggeration, the best one Washington has seen on the football field in more than 30 years. The Commanders still have two games to go, and if they can win either one of them, they'll reach 11 victories. Again, this has not been done in D.C. since 1991. There's more. In Sunday's win, rookie QB Jayden Daniels had the best game of his young career thus far, throwing for five touchdown passes. The last time a quarterback in Washington did this? Mark Rypien in -- you guessed it -- 1991. Some historic parallels seem to be aligning here for the Commanders, who've already earned their first 10-win season since 2012 and are on the verge of clinching their first playoff berth since 2020. Washington currently holds a 94 percent chance to make the postseason, per NFL.com, and a Week 17 win over the Atlanta Falcons would clinch it. Of course, making (let alone winning) the Super Bowl is still quite a few steps beyond that, and the Commanders can't get too carried away. They'll probably be on the road for any playoff game they play, and will be heavy underdogs against the Eagles, Detroit Lions or Los Angeles Rams , one of which is likely to be their Wild Card opponent. Nevertheless, if you're of the superstitious variety, perhaps these trends can be considered positive omens for the Commanders as the NFL playoffs approach. Something special is brewing in the nation's capital, and history just may have a chance to repeat itself.
Florida students are giving up Saturdays to learn Black history lessons their schools don’t teachThousands of Syrians celebrate in central Damascus during first Friday prayers since Assad's fall DAMASCUS (AP) — Thousands of Syrians have celebrated in Umayyad Square, the largest in Damascus, after the first Muslim Friday prayers following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. The leader of the insurgency that toppled Assad, Ahmad al-Sharaa, appeared in a video message in which he congratulated “the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.” Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the Turkish capital of Ankara that there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the United States on what they would like to see in Syria. The top U.S. diplomat also called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian" interim government. American released from Syrian prison is flown out of the country, a US official says WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has transported an American who was imprisoned in Syria for seven months out of the country. That's according to a U.S. official, who says Travis Timmerman was flown out on a U.S. military helicopter. Timmerman, 29, told The Associated Press he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in Palestine Branch, a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.” Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she 'sustained an injury' from fall on official trip to Luxembourg WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been hospitalized after she “sustained an injury” during an official engagement in Luxembourg, according to a spokesman. Pelosi is 84. She was in Europe to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Her spokesman, Ian Krager, did not describe the nature of her injury or give any additional details, but a person familiar with the incident said that Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event with the other members of Congress. The person requested anonymity to discuss the fall because they were not authorized to speak about it publicly. Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen's friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes to seafood, one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy. Some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture, as they fear Trump’s pending trade hostilities with major trading partners Canada and China could make an already pricy kind of protein more expensive. Conservationists also fear Trump’s emphasis on deregulation could jeopardize fish stocks already in peril. But many in the commercial fishing and seafood processing industries said they expect Trump to allow fishing in protected areas and crack down on offshore wind expansion. Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure with a massive attack by cruise missiles and drones KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia fired 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones in Friday's bombardments. He says it is one of the heaviest bombardments of the country’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago. He says Ukrainian defenses shot down 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles that were intercepted by F-16 warplanes provided by Western allies earlier this year. Zelenskyy renewed his plea for international unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin. But uncertainty surrounds how the war might unfold next year. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the war and has thrown into doubt whether vital U.S. military support for Kyiv will continue. Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump's suite at football game FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A military veteran who choked an agitated New York subway rider and was acquitted of homicide this week has been invited by Vice President-elect JD Vance to join Donald Trump’s suite at the Army-Navy football game on Saturday. Daniel Penny was cleared of criminally negligent homicide in Jordan Neely’s 2023 death. A more serious manslaughter charge was dismissed last week. Vance served in the Marine Corps and had commented on the acquittal earlier this week. He said that “justice was done in this case” and Penny should never have been prosecuted. New Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightings TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has asked the Biden administration to put more resources into the ongoing investigation of mysterious drone sightings being reported in the state and other parts of the region. Murphy, a Democrat, made the request in a letter Thursday, noting that state and local law enforcement remain “hamstrung” by existing laws and policies in their efforts to successfully counteract any nefarious drone activity. Murphy and other officials say there is no evidence that the drones pose a national security or a public safety threat. A state lawmaker says up to 180 aircraft have been reported to authorities since Nov. 18. About 3 in 10 are highly confident in Trump on Cabinet, spending or military oversight: AP-NORC poll WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans may have elected Donald Trump to a second term in November, but that doesn’t mean they have high confidence in his ability to choose well-qualified people for his Cabinet or effectively manage government spending, the military and the White House. That's according to a new poll from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About half of U.S. adults are “not at all confident” in Trump’s ability to appoint well-qualified people for high-level government positions. Only about 3 in 10 are “extremely” or “very” confident that Trump will pick qualified people to serve in his administration. President Macron names centrist ally Bayrou as France's next prime minister PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has named centrist ally François Bayrou as prime minister, after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the previous government last week. The 73-year-old is a crucial partner in Macron’s centrist alliance and has been a well-known figure in French politics for decades. His political experience is seen as key in efforts to restore stability as no single party holds a majority in the National Assembly. Bayrou was recently cleared in a case relating to embezzlement of European Parliament funds. His predecessor resigned last week following a no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes in the parliament, leaving France without a functioning government. Macron vowed last week to remain in office until his term ends in 2027. Yankees to get closer Devin Williams from Brewers for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin, AP source says NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the trade tells The Associated Press that the New York Yankees have agreed to acquire All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin and cash. A 30-year-old right-hander, Williams is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. He was diagnosed during spring training with two stress fractures in his back and didn’t make his season debut until July 28.
Pelican-2 & 36 SuperDoves Arrived in Vandenberg, California For Launch
Stocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda’s U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. On Monday: The S&P 500 rose 43.22 points, or 0.7%, to 5,974.07. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 66.69 points, or 0.2%, to 42,906.95. The Nasdaq composite rose 192.29 points, or 1%, to 19,764.89. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 4.93 points, or 0.2%, to 2,237.44. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,204.24 points, or 25.2%. The Dow is up 5,217.41 points, or 13.8%. The Nasdaq is up 4,753.53 points, or 31.7%. The Russell 2000 is up 210.36 points, or 10.4%.Gophers football continues to restock offensive linemen for 2025Joshua Jackson ’s foray into dark drama was never by design. “It wasn’t like I sat down and was like, ‘I’m going to be heavy in my thirties,’” says the star of shows like The Affair , Dr. Death and Fatal Attraction . “Murder, adultery, drug addiction—I had the whole basket of bad things.” In Doctor Odyssey , Jackson leaves the darkness behind for blue skies and open waters in Ryan Murphy ’s weekly leisure cruise that mixes cultural phenomena like Quackers (people obsessed with rubber ducks) with quirky medical mysteries. To top it off, Dr. Max Bankman and his colleagues quickly get enmeshed in the kind of intra-office intrigue that would have HR departments quaking in their boots. Audiences are lapping it all up, and so is Jackson: “We have a pretty good time making it, so I’m glad you have a good time watching it.” DEADLINE: I truly associate you with lightness and humor, but your resumé is a long list of dark stuff. Why is that? JOSHUA JACKSON: It certainly wasn’t by intention. It was on a case-by-case, project-by-project basis. It’s also been a long time since somebody was willing to hire me on the light side, and that’s just the truth, right? Part of the reason I wanted to come and work for Ryan is—and this is no knock against the shows that I’ve done —I really wanted to work on something where the dialogue was spicy and crackling and fast-paced and on the front foot. Honestly, it’s been since Dawson’s Creek that I really worked on a show where that was the intention, where everybody was moving quick. And I love that stuff. I don’t mind stretching the dramatic muscle, as well. But last year when I was looking for a new job, I definitely put the word out that I would really like to do something where I’m having a good time doing it, and the intention is for you to have a good time watching it—because it’s been too long. DEADLINE: Did Doctor Odyssey come to you as a script or as a concept? JACKSON: As an idea. Ryan reached out, and obviously you take that call. He pitched me the broad strokes of the idea, but really what he pitched me was the feeling of the show. His description of it was, “I feel like we’ve all been holding our breath for the last three or four years, and I want this show to be the exhale,” and I love that idea. I’ve also been going through a couple of stressful years and went through the strike and the pandemic with everybody. At the same time, I became a father, and my life has become more beautiful and more rich than I ever could have imagined, and I wanted to work in a space that was reflective of that—that it’s not so serious every day, that you’re not taking home all the heaviness and having to sit in these heavy places. Our show has its dramatic moments, and it has its romantic moments, but really, it’s built for you to enjoy yourself. The whole point is, “Come with us. We’re going to sail away, we’re going to be silly, funny, dramatic, sometimes action-packed. We’ll be all those things, and at the end of 45 minutes, hopefully you’ll be like, ‘Ah, that was nice.’” DEADLINE: It’s like Love Boat , but bonkers. JACKSON: Yeah, exactly. It’s like Love Boat , if you ran it through Ryan Murphy’s mind. DEADLINE: Are there professional challenges in it that wouldn’t occur to us? JACKSON: The obvious one is the one you can see, which is I am not a doctor. Sometimes I have to beg the writers like, “Hey, man, I’m sure some human being can say these words, in a row, very fast, but I am not that human being, so cut me some slack.” Other than that, no. Ryan’s marching orders to us from the very beginning was that the tone is more important to him than anything that’s put on the page. He is like, “I don’t really care about the specifics of the words. I want you to get the feeling right, and the feeling is supposed to be fast, light and sparkly.” It’s a ton of fun to do that. And I will say this—so here’s maybe an unexpected challenge—I find it is easier to make the dramatic choice in a scene. It is harder sometimes to find lightness in a moment. It is easier to turn inward and get dark, quiet and serious, and it’s harder to find the upbeat, passing the ball around. I guess that is the challenge, but everybody here is engaged by it. I’m engaged by it. DEADLINE: Also, there’s talk of a Broadway episode. JACKSON: Well, when you say there’s talk of Broadway episode, I think that’s me talking about it. I am the core advocate. I think it would be almost criminally stupid to employ [Broadway star] Phillipa Soo and not give her the opportunity to do all of the things that she does better than most people on the planet. So, I will say it here again—I have said it often, loudly and in her presence—that we absolutely need to do a musical episode and only one of us needs to sing and dance. DEADLINE: Do the rest of you sing? JACKSON: I sing loudly all the time, but it’s nothing that anybody wants to hear. I think I’ll leave it in the hands of the professionals. But Pippa, now she can sing sing. DEADLINE: You brought up the Covid years, which are the impetus for your character seeking employment on The Odyssey. Did that time have a profound effect on your life as well? JACKSON: Yes, in an unexpected way. My daughter was born three weeks into the lockdown, and as scary and uncertain as that was, because nobody had been through that before, what it also did was force both me and my soon-to-be ex-wife to stop and just be there. And I won’t speak for her, but for me, I would’ve definitely gone back to work sooner than I ultimately did, and I would’ve missed out on a lot of those core early times just by virtue of the hours that I worked. So weirdly, for me, it was a godsend because it allowed me to get to know my daughter and to figure out what it means to be a dad. It was stressful for all the normal reasons: financial, health scares for a couple of family members, but it just gave me a chance to be with my little girl. DEADLINE: So, it wasn’t too hard to imagine that someone would switch their entire life around as a result of this time period? JACKSON: Oh, no. I fully understand Max’s reasoning. I also think we, in the show, use Covid as the big event, but oftentimes it happens when you have a brush with death or somebody close to you passes away and you have that moment of taking stock, like, “Wow, is this life that I’m living of value to me? When I get to the end of the day, am I going to be super stoked about that extra promotion?” My life is a perfect example. I don’t even have to be dying to know this, thank God. Would I be more excited if Covid hadn’t happened and I went and did another job? Would I look back on the time that I spent on that job, no matter how it turned out, and think that that was of more value to me as a person than spending that time with my daughter? No, I would not, right? I was forced to do that because we were all forced to do that. But I think the origin story of Max, for this show, makes sense. Almost all people have been through some major life event that forces you in the moment to be like, “Huh, is all this effort that I’m putting into this relationship, job, whatever, is all of that going to be worth it at the end of the day if I’m sacrificing this?” I think that’s a really human thing. DEADLINE: What have you learned from working with Phillipa, Sean Teale and Don Johnson? JACKSON: Well, I wish I could learn what Phillipa was teaching me, because her approach to work and her insight into material is really, truly magical. When we have scenes that have some meat to them, it’s so fun to get into it with her and just watch how she approaches, processes and then performs the scenes. It’s truly a joy. With Don it’s really just sitting and listening to the stories. I can listen to that man tell the stories about his life for the rest of my life. And Sean and I are contemporary enough that what I appreciate about him is something that I always try to bring to work, too. He’s an incredibly hard worker, very talented guy, but there’s lots of talented people, and he always comes with an idea. He’s pretty fearless in his willingness to experiment and try things out and has no shame about being silly or looking goofy on camera when he is trying something out. And I really appreciate that. I really just appreciate someone who’s there to do it without any pretense. It’s a lovely gang, and I think you can see that on camera. I think it translates how much we enjoy working with each other. DEADLINE: Were you surprised that there would be a threesome so early on, on broadcast television, and one that results in a pregnancy no less? JACKSON: Well, if you’re going to go there, go all the way there, I guess. [Laughs] I was a little surprised. Ryan told us early on that we would be doing a threesome, so we all knew it. I was a little surprised it happened so early and then that she got pregnant was also a surprise, as pregnancies often are. But I was really proud of it. There’s still so much constriction from the censorship laws in the States about what you can put on broadcast television, so I was really proud of us that we were able, with all of the rules—and we didn’t break any of the rules—to get what I think was a really effective scene about the sexy piece of a threesome, which is more about the power dynamic than it is about the bump and the grind. Unless that’s your kink, and no judgements. And I think having Phillipa’s character be in control of it, we were able to build a pretty sexy scene inside of the very strict box that network TV puts you in. I thought we did a good job with that scene. DEADLINE: It’s also interesting, the way the male support plays out. It is something I’m not used to seeing on television, with Max wanting to offer solutions and Tristan saying it’s just their job to be there for Avery. JACKSON: Yeah, I love that because one, I think it’s really true. I have a tendency to do that, where something unexpected happens—and I think this maybe is a very masculine trait— you’re like, “Oh, there’s a problem. I’ll just solve it. We get to the solution and then we don’t have to deal with the problem.” As opposed to Tristan, who is like, “It might be a problem, it might not be a problem, but you get to choose and whatever you choose, we’re just here to listen and support,” which is a much more humane way of dealing with somebody who is in what may or may not be a crisis, but it’s definitely a moment of decision, right? I thought, because there’s three of us, there’s the opportunity for all three real things to portrayed inside the scene: Her very real, “Well, this has happened, and I’m not sure yet,” and Max’s very real, “Oh, okay, well, we’ll deal with that. Here’s what we do, step by step by step by step by step.” And Tristan’s version of, “Oh, okay, surprise, but you let me know and on your own timeframe. And if you want to talk it out, we’ll talk it out. If you don’t want to talk about it at all, we won’t talk about it at all. But I’m just here to listen and support,” which I think was a beautiful thing to put in that scene. DEADLINE: Before we go, can we talk about Karate Kid: Legends that you are in next? What drew you to that? JACKSON: Well, partially what drew me to it was making anything—a movie, a TV show— that my daughter could see before she graduates from high school. If she is ever, in the future, interested in what dad does for a living, it would be nice to be able to point her to something. “Daddy, what do you do for a living?” “Well, I’ll tell you when you’re in college.” DEADLINE: What was that experience like? JACKSON: The experience was that I was there in support of the story, so I didn’t have to carry the whole thing. And Jonathan [Entwistle], the director, is a lovely guy and a true believer in these stories, so there was nothing cynical about the way he went about it. He loves the original movies. We’re basically the same age, so these are the movies of our childhood, and it was really lovely to be around somebody who was so completely engaged in telling the best, most kick-ass version of a new Karate Kid . And then to have all the Hong Kong guys over, to put together all the fight sequences, is something to behold, man, because they go at it. DEADLINE: Do you get to go at it? JACKSON: I had a different fight discipline than karate in the movie, so I don’t have to go at it quite like them. I think I used to be able to do, not a standing back flip but a back flip, when I was in my late twenties, early thirties. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say I probably can’t do that anymore, or at least can’t do that and walk away from it. So thankfully I didn’t have to do any of the truly high-flying stuff, and something a little more in my wheelhouse. That’s all I can tell you. ‘Doctor Odyssey’ is streaming now on Hulu and Disney+
PM orders flood aid dispatch to Malaysia Shehbaz expresses admiration for swift response of Malaysian govt in dealing with natural calamity ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called his Malaysian counterpart Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim to offer his deepest sympathies on the loss of lives and property caused by the recent floods in several states of Malaysia. He assured the Malaysian prime minister that the people of Pakistan stand in solidarity with their Malaysian brothers and sisters in these testing times. He also expressed admiration for the swift response of the Malaysian government in dealing with this natural calamity. The prime minister offered all possible assistance to Malaysia and announced the immediate dispatch of humanitarian assistance as a token of Pakistan’s support to their Malaysian brethren. Shehbaz expressed satisfaction at the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. The Malaysian prime minister thanked the Premier Shehbaz for his support and agreed that the two countries need to continue to work closely on advancing ties in all important areas. He said that PM Shehbaz offered prayers for the well-being of more than 140,000 affected Malaysians and conveyed his intention to send aid as gesture of support and friendship of two nations. “I extended my greatest gratitude for his generosity and took the opportunity to invite him to visit Malaysia early next year”, the Malaysian PM in a post on X said. Both the leaders also agreed to continue the momentum of high level visits, with both the prime ministers as well as deputy prime minister expected to visit Kuala Lumpur early next year. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said Pakistan stood united with the global community in reaffirming its firm commitment to strengthening the national HIV response and ensuring that no one was left behind. The theme, “Take the Rights Path : My health, My right,” reminds us that the journey to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat begins with a firm commitment to human rights, the prime minister said in a message in connection with World AIDS Day 2024. He said upholding the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and promoting the inclusion of all communities were essential for eradicating AIDS as a public health threat. “Healthcare is a fundamental right. Through our collective efforts, we will ensure that all our citizens enjoy this fundamental right in an equitable manner. By working together, we will continue to strengthen our health systems and expand access to essential services for our citizens,” the prime minister added. He highlighted that HIV/AIDS remained a health challenge and a significant socio-economic issue that threatened livelihoods, disrupts families, and deepens inequalities. Gaps in testing and treatment coverage call for deep introspection – a call to reach the most vulnerable, making strategies to be truly responsive to those at risk, and ensuring that our policies evolve to meet the shifting dynamics of the epidemic. “Despite our collective efforts, the HIV epidemic in Pakistan continues to grow, underscoring the need for bold, innovative, and sustainable interventions. It is only through the strategy rooted in equality and inclusion that we can halt the spread of HIV. Strong political will, effective leadership, and enhanced financial commitments are essential to implementing a rights-based national HIV strategy,” he remarked. PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the urgent challenges that needed our attention were eliminating spread of HIV/AIDS through needle sharing among people who inject drugs, safe blood transfusion, and eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission. We must also address the vulnerabilities of marginalized groups, particularly adolescent girls and young women, who face heightened risks of HIV infection. “On this World AIDS Day, let us stand united to ‘take the rights path’ towards an AIDS-free Pakistan. A future free from AIDS can only be achieved through collective action that upholds human dignity, equity, and inclusion,” he said adding, “Let us act decisively and compassionately, empowering those most affected by HIV to lead the way. Together, we can safeguard the health and well-being of our future generations and build a healthier and just society for all”.
Andrew met the individual through “official channels” with “nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed”, a statement from his office said. The businessman – known only as H6 – lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the UK on national security grounds. He brought a case to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) after then-home secretary Suella Braverman said he should be excluded from the UK in March 2023. H6 was described as a “close confidante” of The Duke. Judges were told that in a briefing for the home secretary in July 2023, officials claimed H6 had been in a position to generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials “that could be leveraged for political interference purposes”. They also said that H6 had downplayed his relationship with the Chinese state, which combined with his relationship with Andrew, 64, represented a threat to national security. A statement from Andrew’s office said: “The Duke of York followed advice from His Majesty’s Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised. “The Duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed. “He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.” At a hearing in July, the specialist tribunal heard that the businessman was told by an adviser to Andrew that he could act on the duke’s behalf when dealing with potential investors in China, and that H6 had been invited to Andrew’s birthday party in 2020. A letter referencing the birthday party from the adviser, Dominic Hampshire, was discovered on H6’s devices when he was stopped at a port in November 2021. In a ruling on Thursday, Mr Justice Bourne, Judge Stephen Smith and Sir Stewart Eldon, dismissed the challenge.
NoneLeft on Read: America’s Taiwan Warning CrisisNone
COSTA MESA, Calif. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Automatic, a leading fintech firm specializing in facilitating seamless connections between used independent car dealerships and lenders, today announced a strategic partnership with MeridianLink, Inc. (NYSE: MLNK), a leading provider of modern software platforms for financial institutions and consumer reporting agencies. This collaboration leverages Automatic's robust dealership network technology and MeridianLink's advanced decisioning capabilities to empower financial institutions within the automotive lending sector. Automatic's platform serves as a pivotal link for lenders across its expansive independent dealer network, offering tailored solutions that optimize loan aggregation and enhance operational efficiencies. MeridianLink's innovative Advanced Decisioning capabilities, integrated within Automatic's framework, augments decision-making for lenders across a vast network of dealerships. This integration enables real-time loan analysis, improves risk management capabilities, and facilitates faster, more precise lending decisions tailored to specific borrower profiles. "Partnering with MeridianLink ® marks a significant milestone for Automatic as we continue to innovate within the automotive financing landscape," said Eric Burney , CEO of Automatic. "Our mission to foster an 'Open Marketplace' is further realized through this collaboration, empowering lenders with tools to access new clients in a safe way." Financial institutions already integrated with MeridianLink will gain seamless access to Automatic's platform, empowering them to further streamline their lending processes, in the used independent space, enhancing member satisfaction, and capitalizing on market opportunities. For more information about Automatic and its comprehensive auto financing solutions, visit https://www.automaticusa.com . About Automatic Automatic is a pioneering fintech company dedicated to facilitating efficient connections between automotive lenders and independent pre-owned vehicle dealerships. Automatic's platform serves as a cost-effective solution for the automotive financing sector, fostering an open marketplace for stakeholders. About MeridianLink MeridianLink ® (NYSE: MLNK) empowers financial institutions and consumer reporting agencies to drive efficient growth. MeridianLink's cloud-based digital lending, account opening, background screening, and data verification solutions leverage shared intelligence from a unified data platform, MeridianLink ® One, to enable customers of all sizes to identify growth opportunities, effectively scale up, and support compliance efforts, all while powering an enhanced experience for staff and consumers alike. For more than 25 years, MeridianLink has prioritized the democratization of lending for consumers, businesses, and communities. Learn more at www.meridianlink.com . For media inquiries, please contact: nikki@automaticusa.co View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/automatic-partners-with-meridianlink-to-revolutionize-lender-dealership-connectivity-302331536.html SOURCE Automatic Best trending stories from the week. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. You may occasionally receive promotions exclusive discounted subscription offers from the Roswell Daily Record. Feel free to cancel any time via the unsubscribe link in the newsletter you received. You can also control your newsletter options via your user dashboard by signing in.The National Labour Commission (NLC) has organised a sector-specific labour education initiative, beginning with the education sector, in response to the rising number of industrial disputes and strikes within the industry. The forum, which brought together key stakeholders from the public education sector, including the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), and the Ministry of Education, marked the first time the National Labour Commission has tailored its educational efforts to a specific sector. The initiative seeks to address long-standing challenges, foster more harmonious labour relations, and promote effective cooperation between labour and management within the education sector. Speaking at the programme last Friday in Accra, the Executive Secretary of the NLC, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, revealed that the education sector accounts for approximately 80 per cent of industrial disputes leading to strikes in Ghana over the past four years. He emphasised the importance of labour education in fostering understanding of the Labour Law, managing disputes, and maintaining harmony in the workplace. “Today it’s UTAG, tomorrow it’s TUTAG, then it’s the Teacher Unions, FUSA, or the Senior Staff Association. The education sector has a myriad of associations, and this has made it a focal point for disputes,” he explained. According to him, the NLC has also engaged key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, the FWSC and the Ministry of Employment, since many of the recurring disputes stem from unfulfilled promises made during negotiations. Mr Asamoah highlighted the lack of adequate labour law knowledge among union leaders and government officials as a significant challenge. He noted that union leaders are often elected for their vocal nature rather than their negotiation skills, leading to ineffective engagements with management and other social partners. He also called for enhanced labour education for government appointees and media practitioners, citing misinterpretation and lack of knowledge in labour-related reportage as a concern. Despite the importance of labour education, Mr Asamoah lamented the lack of financial support from the government, which has limited the commission’s ability to organise such programmes regularly. “If we had enough funding, we could undertake these sessions quarterly or even every other month. This would significantly reduce industrial disputes and strikes,” he noted. He added that the NLC plans to expand its sector-specific education initiative to other industries, such as health, in the near future. Mr Asamoah urged the media and the public to prioritise discussions on labour issues alongside politics, arguing that a harmonious industrial front is key to national development. “When we have a harmonious industrial front, production can go on, businesses will expand, taxes will be paid, and more people will be employed,” he concluded. The event featured a series of presentations, focusing on key aspects of Ghana’s Labour Law, Act 651, and practical approaches to labour relations. A member of NLC, Mr Francis Kofi Davoh in his presentation, underscored the importance of communication, negotiation skills, and stakeholder engagement in fostering transparency and trust. BY RAISSA SAMBOU
NoneNC Central 131, Va.-Lynchburg 51'Digital Punjab' my dream, says Maryam
Russian President Vladimir Putin claims the ballistic missile strike on Ukraine on Thursday was the debut of a new ‘unstoppable’ weapon as he blamed the West for turning his invasion of Ukraine into a global war. Ukraine reported what it claimed as an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) strike on the central city of Dnipro on Thursday morning, prompting a flurry of global concern at what could be the first use of a true ICBM in anger in history. Yet Western governments and intelligence agencies were apparently reluctant to openly acknowledge the claim, Russia itself refused comment, and eventually even Ukraine itself cast doubts on its own assertions. Now Russia’s President Putin has given his own version of events, saying the strike was not by ICBM — weapons which travel into space before plunging back to earth, with ranges of thousands of miles — but rather by a never-before-seen nuclear-capable Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). Putin identified as the ‘Oreshnik’ (‘Hazel’) type which he claimed is totally impervious to Western countermeasures in a televised speech on Thursday night. Separately, Putin ally and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now a Kremlin attack dog frequently employed in making lurid nuclear threats, called the new missile “hypersonic” and published what purported to be footage of the strike. Such claims are difficult to take at face value, given the importance of propaganda in wartime and the fact President Putin’s television conferences are as much for domestic consumption and Russian morale as they are to inform foreign observers. Russia has also made bold claims about its new missile systems in the past, not least about its “hypersonics”. The Kinzhal missile was said to be so fast and maneuverable it was impossible to shoot down, however the makers of the United States Patriot missile shield system probably enjoyed a healthy bump in their order books from having shot down a number of them in the skies over Ukraine last year. Nevertheless, Putin was so bullish about the invulnerability of Oreshnik missiles, he offered a somewhat cynical reassurance to civilians he said he would even give public advance warnings of future launches. The Russian President said in his televised address on Thursday night, per Kremlin media: “We will do it due to humanitarian concerns – openly, publicly, without any concerns about any countermeasures from the enemy, who will also receive this information... Why without any concerns? Because there are currently no countermeasures for this weapon at this moment. Russia has no obligation to notify third parties about IRBM launches in advance, as it does with ICBMs, per a year 2000 memorandum signed with the United States to reduce the likelihood of tests and military exercises being misinterpreted as sneak attacks. The very term hypersonic is also somewhat problematic. Very much the subject of the zeitgeist in military thought and technology, the theoretical concept of a hypersonic missile is one that can maneuver rapidly to avoid enemy fire at extremely high speeds, over five times the speed of sound. While many missiles achieve such speeds, it is the evasive action at speed factor which seems to be basically unproven. Nevertheless, Russia has made its claims, not least that Oreshnik flies at mach-10, or 7,600 miles per hour. As well as discussing the alleged weapon itself, President Putin also spoke to what he claimed were his motives, blaming Western states backing Ukraine’s defence against his invasion. On this point he was quite explicit, stating the Dnipro attack was: “in response to the use of American and British long-range weapons”. Testing the new Oreshnik missile against a live target — a Ukrainian city — was a “response to the aggressive actions of NATO regarding Russia”, he said. By supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles — which have been used to strike inside Russia itself for the first time this week — President Putin said “the conflict in Ukraine, provoked by the West, has acquired elements of global nature”. While these remarks made no reflection on Russia’s culpability in the conflict, nevertheless it clearly underlined the Kremlin attitude that Western states were involving themselves in what they consider their own private war. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had earlier in the day referred to Russia as his “insane neighbor” for firing ballistic missiles at his cities, was prompt in responding to President Putin’s speech. He said Russia had “escalated and expanded” the war again with the strike and compared it in magnitude to Russia deploying North Korean soldiers to fight against Ukraine. Zelensky rejected Russia’s pleading over Ukrainian missile strikes into their territory, saying it was no more or less than Russia already inflictys on Ukraine daily. He said: “Putin lies when he claims that Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons is somehow a new step for us. This is not the first time we have used such weapons, and we have every right to do so under international law. Our right to self-defense is the same as that of any other nation. “And when Russian missiles hit our cities, when Iranian “Shaheds” attack Ukraine every night, when a North Korean contingent is deployed on our borders, Putin is not only prolonging the war—he is spitting in the face of those in the world who genuinely want peace to be restored.”Karn Kalptinan, a candidate from the ruling Pheu Thai Party, secured a decisive victory in the Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) chairman election on Sunday. Unofficial election results indicate Mr Karn, also a former PAO chief, received 387,456 votes, significantly outrunning his competitors. Independent candidate Jittawan Wangsuphakijkosol came second with 322,986 votes, followed by Sitthiphon Laohawanich of the main opposition People's Party (PP) with 138,837 votes. Athipatai Kuisrimongkol trailed behind with 3,620 votes. Mr Karn's supporters gathered late on Sunday at the Kriang Kalptinan Law Office in Ubon Ratchathani's Muang district to celebrate the win. Kriang Kalptinan, Mr Karn's elder brother, congratulated him with a garland of lowers and thanked the campaign staff and voters. He emphasised the importance of completing unfinished projects to develop the province and praised former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's influence in rallying support for him. Mr Kriang credited his brother's victory to the grassroots efforts and his dedication to community development over the past four years. He said Mr Karn once in office will push policies aligned with Pheu Thai's national agenda, including the 10,000-baht cash handout scheme and promote welfare for the elderly. "I feel proud that the people of Ubon Ratchathani have consistently valued our work," he said. "I firmly believe in the continued support of the public to allow us to carry on with our work," he added. Mr Sitthiphon and PP key party figures, including party executive Phicharn Chaowapatanawong, yesterday released a statement conceding defeat in the election. However, the party said the poll outcome shows its support base in Ubon Ratchathani has grown since last year's general election. Mr Sitthiphon urged the PAO leader-elect to consider adopting some of the PP's proposed campaign policies. The party reiterated its commitment to grassroots politics, highlighting its plans to field candidates in 17 provinces in the PAO elections early next year.