Helping Build A V12 Wasn't My Only Surprise At The Lamborghini FactoryLooking Into Summit Materials's Recent Short InterestThe singer Pamela Franco revealed how she has her partner, Christian Cueva, registered on her cell phone, which generated surprise among her followers and criticism from Magaly Medina. Pamela Franco, singer and partner of Christian Cueva, starred in a moment that caught attention during a radio interview, where she revealed that she has the soccer player saved on her cell phone with the nickname ‘Mickey’. This revelation sparked curiosity among her followers and criticism of Magaly Medina in ‘Magaly TV, the firm ‘, generating a debate about the meaning behind this peculiar nickname. What is the meaning of Pamela Franco’s peculiar nickname for Christian Cueva? During a radio interview, the singer Pamela Franco experienced an unexpected moment when Christian Cueva, her partner, surprised her with a call in which he sang his song ‘We love each other and what’. However, what caught the most attention was the nickname with which Pamela has the footballer registered on her cell phone: ‘Mickey’. This detail not only generated laughter and curiosity among those present, but also among her followers, who wondered why the artist chose that name instead of her own or a traditional romantic nickname. Pamela, when asked about the subject, reacted with humor: “My Mickey, my king. That’s Luis Miguel, that’s Luis Miguel,” referring to the famous singer nicknamed ‘El Sol de México’. Magaly Medina criticizes Pamela Franco The issue did not go unnoticed Magaly Medina who in his program ‘ Magaly TV, the firm ‘ questioned the fact that Pamela Franco does not register Christian Cueva with his real name. “I think that’s called the clandestine syndrome, when you don’t have a person registered with their real name, but rather as the gasfitter, something like that. She has it registered as ‘Mickey’. Did she always have it registered like that? For that no one notices and he never changed his name?” Medina expressed with his characteristic critical style. Medina’s words provoked divided reactions on social networks. While some users defended Pamela Franco by pointing out that couples can choose nicknames based on their relationship, others shared the presenter’s position, pointing out that there could be a hidden meaning behind this decision. Join our entertainment channelwinner777 。

Diamondback Energy Inc. stock underperforms Tuesday when compared to competitorsAn investor who can find a stock that goes up 15% annually has found a remarkable thing. The S&P 500 itself goes up roughly 10% per year, and investors who pick individual stocks want to beat this. While there are market-beaters out there, there are relatively few, so it's a big deal when an investor finds one. Supposing someone invested in a stock that went up 15% per year, it would gain about 300% over the course of a decade. Therefore, a stock that quadruples in value in a single decade is a big deal. But shares of The RealReal ( REAL -1.18% ) , Carvana ( CVNA -4.00% ) , and Byrna Technologies ( BYRN -3.47% ) have done this just in 2024. In other words, if this trio had quadrupled over 10 years, it would have been significant. But considering they've done it in just one year, each one warrants a closer look. 1. The RealReal: Up 421% The RealReal has the go-to e-commerce platform for preowned luxury goods that have been authenticated. For a time, its user base was declining, and it was burning cash, dropping the stock to a very cheap valuation. In early 2023, it dropped to below 0.2 times its sales -- stocks often trade between 1 and 2 times sales. And investor Michael Burry took notice. Burry is famous for his successful (and large) bet that the mortgage space would collapse right before the Great Recession . Since that windfall trade, he's continued to invest in select stocks and gravitates toward stocks that are cheap , such as The RealReal stock in early 2023. Since initially taking a stake, Burry's hedge fund Scion Asset Management has increased and reduced its position in The RealReal stock, as the table shows. But he still owns 500,000 shares as of the third quarter of 2024. Quarter Q1 2023 Q2 2023 Q3 2023 Q4 2023 Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Shares held 684,442 1,500,000 750,000 654,806 1,412,692 1,000,000 500,000 Percentage change n/a 119% (50%) (13%) 116% (29%) (50%) Data source: Figures from financial filings for Burry's hedge fund Scion Asset Management. Table by author. Investors can only speculate why Burry likes The RealReal stock, but there are things to like besides its bargain-basement valuation. For starters, the number of active buyers on the company's platform just hit its highest level since the fourth quarter of 2022. Moreover, its take rate for the third quarter of 2024 was at an all-time high of 38.6%. This allowed it to profit $2 million in Q3 free cash flow , which is just the second time it's ever generated positive free cash flow. These positive developments are why The RealReal stock was one of the best stocks in 2024 , and Burry's eye for value helped him buy at an opportune time. 2. Carvana: Up 323% In 2022, Carvana stock dropped below $4 per share as investors feared bankruptcy. The company renegotiated its debt, mitigating this risk. That sent shares soaring into the stratosphere, including in 2024, as they've more than quadrupled in value. Carvana takes the common task of buying a car and makes it less strenuous by digitizing the entire process. This has proved undeniably popular with consumers, as evidenced by the company's more than 200% revenue growth in the last five years. So the company does deserve some credit. But there are still financial headwinds. For starters, 2024 has been one of Carvana's best years for sales. But could sales take a step back in 2025? One thing to consider is that auto loan delinquencies are rising fast and are at their highest levels in nearly four years. This could slow things down for Carvana if its financial partners decide to take on less risk by buying fewer of its loans. US Auto Loans Delinquent by 90 or More Days data by YCharts Moreover, Carvana made a deal in 2023 to temporarily reduce the interest it paid on its debt. But it could ultimately result in higher payments when it reaches the end of its two-year deal with lenders . Considering it's set to expire in 2025, Carvana could wind up using most of its cash flow to service its debt, which could put a damper on shareholder returns for the foreseeable future. 3. Byrna Technologies: Up 379% Most people have heard of Carvana. And many investors have heard of The RealReal, thanks to Michael Burry. But almost no one has heard of Byrna Technologies. This small company makes self-defense devices that look similar to handguns, but deliver less-lethal projectiles filled with chemical irritants or plain hard plastic projectiles. And sales are really taking off. Byrna calls its primary devices "launchers," and it only launched them in 2019. It's already sold 500,000 as of November 2024. But management believes its market is huge. It hopes to reach 5% of non-gun owners and 10% of gun owners. Management says that this is a $17.5 billion goal, whereas it only has $73 million in trailing-12-month revenue -- that's a lot of potential upside. Byrna may be small, but its financials still have desirable traits. First, revenue in the third quarter of 2024 jumped 194% year over year to a record $20.9 million. Second, the company has over $3 million in net income through the first three quarters of 2024, compared with a loss of $8 million in the same period of 2023. Finally, it may only have around $20 million in cash, but it also has zero debt, which gives it a relatively strong balance sheet for its size. Trading at 10 times sales, Byrna stock isn't exactly cheap. But considering it's chasing a big opportunity and is fast-growing, profitable, and debt-free, this little stock could still have a lot of long-term upside, even after quadrupling in value in 2024.

Pamela Franco surprises by comparing Christian Cueva with Luis Miguel: “My Mickey, my king” | Magaly TV, the firm | ShowsPrawit confidant refutes iCon rumoursA new energy flowed in the Czechoslovakia after Alexander Dubcek became its leader in 1968. The statesman championed reforms that expanded freedom of speech, protection of press rights and economic programs prioritizing working class people without radically disrupting the nation’s communist framework. The Soviet Union loathed the plan and sought to suppress it with force. Their military intervention, in which the government and its Warsaw Pact allies sent in troops to end that period now known as the Prague Spring. In the Czech Republic’s submission for the 2025 Oscars, Jirí Mádl crafts a propulsive thriller about a team of journalists doggedly pursuing the truth in the months before the Prague Spring and the days of the Soviet Union’s aggressive occupation. The film is inspired by true events, which while researching how the International News Office of Czechoslovak Radio operated in the ’60s. At the time, the office was helmed by Milan Weiner, a tenacious manager who ushered in editorial changes to help the state-sanctioned radio station circumvent censorship. He encouraged reporters to verify information with independent sources (rather than those offered by the Czechoslovak government) and invited dissenting opinions to discussion. With its focus on the news gathering process, affirms the importance of independent and ethical reporting. Mádl’s film, which as of now is still seeking U.S. distribution, might have particular resonance with American audiences wrestling with the reality of misinformation and the shifting image of the journalist in the public imagination. How the press research and present their stories has never been more important. probes its moral concerns through an intimate tale of two brothers trying to survive. After the death of their parents, Tomás (an excellent Vojtech Vodochodský), a politically aloof young man, assumes guardianship of his teenage sibling Paja (Ondrej Stupka). Their situation is precarious: Early on, in a sign of the household’s impoverishment, Tomás cuts around the mold on a piece of sourdough bread to supplement a paltry meal. At any point, representatives from child services can separate the brothers. But Paja isn’t as concerned about that kind of state intervention. The youngest wants a revolution; he participates in clandestine meetings and demonstrations with other student activists fighting for free speech. They are inspired by the work of Weiner (Stanislav Majer) at the radio station. Mádl begins with a deft staging of the brothers’ diverging interests. The opening montage introduces a thrilling tension that the director smartly maintains throughout the film, interspersing chaotic scenes of protestors, Paja somewhere in their midst, fending off police, with quiet, domestic ones of Tomás toasting bread and calling neighbors in search of his brother. Upon returning home, Paja tells Tomás in an excited burst of energy about an opening at the Weiner’s radio show. There’s an audition — a test of sorts — for the coveted position the next day, and Paja wants to apply. Tomás forbids it, but Paja, in the style of rebellious teens and younger siblings everywhere, ignores him. Somehow both brothers end up at the test and, in an ironic twist, Tomás gets the job. moves quickly and efficiently after these establishing moments. Mádl uses a handful of time jumps to build momentum and translate the dizzying pace with which the political climate changed. Tomás, at the encouragement of his current boss, takes the job as a technician at Weiner’s station. (He keeps the news from Paja in a manner that requires some suspension of disbelief.) Once embedded within this team of intrepid reporters, Tomás learns more about newsgathering and radio broadcasting methods and starts to appreciate the value of what Weiner and his comrades are fighting for. He becomes friends with Weiner, who serves as a distant inspiration, and becomes intimately involved with Vera (Tatiana Pauhofová), a translator whom everyone finds cold. But just as Tomás acclimates to his new life, he is asked by his former boss (and then threatened by state police forces) to essentially become an informant. He reluctantly agrees, and Vodochodský’s performance soars in these moments where the soft-spoken Tomás finds himself in ethically murky territory. A visceral sense of hurt and anxiety flash across the actor’s face as his character weighs the pain of snitching on his colleagues and the grief of losing his only surviving family, which complicates our understanding of his character. There are times, though, when Mádl’s screenplay undercuts this work by briefly abandoning Tomás and Paja to consider secondary plotlines (office affairs, general politicking). There are moments when Mádl leaves Paja for so long that his re-entry into the story feels abrupt. One wishes that the brothers were given more screen time to wrestle with how their respective political leanings challenge and change their relationship. Still, excels in other areas, particularly when it comes to Mádl’s use of archival footage. The director scatters these clips throughout this film, sometimes making the grainy footage of Czech citizens storming the streets during a protest or the Soviet Union tanks rolling into Prague seem indistinguishable from this fictionalized retelling. The effect is dizzying in a good way. It elegantly connects to the real-life past, making it easier for viewers to leave understanding why protecting this kind of principled reporting will be necessary to the future. Full credits THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day More from The Hollywood Reporter

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The goals are flying in again for Arsenal — and it just happens to coincide with the return from injury of Martin Odegaard. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The goals are flying in again for Arsenal — and it just happens to coincide with the return from injury of Martin Odegaard. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The goals are flying in again for Arsenal — and it just happens to coincide with the return from injury of Martin Odegaard. Make that eight goals in two games since the international break for Arsenal after its 5-1 hammering of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, tying the English team’s heaviest ever away win in the competition. Odegaard is back in Arsenal’s team after missing two months with an ankle injury. In that time, Mikel Arteta’s attack stuttered, with a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth and a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle dropping the Gunners well off the pace in the Premier League. There was also a 0-0 draw at Atalanta in the Champions League as well as a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan last month, when Odegaard made his comeback from injury as an 89th-minute substitute. Since then, Arsenal hasn’t lost and the goals have returned. After a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday came the cruise in Lisbon — and Odegaard was at the heart of everything as Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end. “He’s an unbelievable player,” Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka said of Odegaard. “The day he returned, there was a big smile on my face. You can see the chemistry we have. I hope he stays fit for the rest of the season.” Odegaard was involved in the build-up to Arsenal’s first two goals against Sporting — scored by Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz — and was fouled to win the penalty converted by Saka in the 65th to restore Arsenal’s three-goal lead at 4-1. Odegaard was seen flexing his leg after that but continued untroubled and was substituted in the 78th minute. The last thing Arteta would want now is another injury to Odegaard as Arsenal attempts to reel in first-place Liverpool in the Premier League. Liverpool is already nine points ahead of fourth-place Arsenal after 12 games. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer Advertisement Advertisement

NoneAfter all the noise, after all the disruption centering around Jacob Trouba, the week will end with an affirmative exclamation point. The Rangers have made a commitment to the future. The Rangers have made a commitment to the present. The Rangers have made a commitment to Igor Shesterkin. And Igor Shesterkin has made a commitment to the Rangers. The Post has learned that the Blueshirts and their franchise goaltender have reached agreement on an eight-year, $92 million contract extension that will kick in next season under which Shesterkin will earn a record annual average value of $11.5 million for an NHL goaltender. The signing at that number represents a coup for the Rangers and GM Chris Dury in an environment in which speculation has run rampant on whether the Blueshirts, a) might trade Shesterkin; or, b) be able to keep him off the free agent market next July. The signing represents the most positive news of a season in which the team has been buffeted by outside noise while enmeshed in internal turmoil while losing six of its last seven games heading into Friday’s Garden match against the Penguins.. This is a statement that Drury and the hierarchy are not turning their backs on this season or the near future and indeed believe in this team. One issue down. Montreal’s Carey Price had been the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history under an eight-year, $84 million deal with annual average salary of $10.5 million that commenced in 2018. Price has been on LTIR because of knee issues since the end of the 2021-22 season. If the 2025-26 cap is set at the current projected $92.4 million, Shesterkin’s contract will account for 12.44 percent of the total. Artemi Panarin, who remains the highest-paid player in franchise history at $11,642,857 per, accounted for 14.29 percent of the cap in his first year in New York. When Henrik Lundqvist’s final contract kicked in in 2014-15, the King accounted for 12.32 percent of the cap while earning $8.5 million per. This was not an exercise in greed from Shesterkin, represented by Rick Komarow and Maxim Moliver. Not in the least. After securing a record second contract for a goaltender four years ago under which the netminder is earning an AAV of $5,666,667, it was a matter of finding the number that would keep the team’s most valuable player in New York. The native of Moscow, who will turn 29 on Dec. 30, had rejected an eight-year, $88 million offer on the eve of the opener that put him on track to test the July 1 unrestricted free agent market. But though the netminder’s camp indicated there would be no further talks until the season’s end, Drury reached out early this week and reopened negotiations that came to fruition Friday. Shesterkin, whose early brilliance carried the Blueshirts to 5-0-1 and 12-4-1 getaways, went 6-2-1 with a 2.22 GAA and .933 save percentage through Nov. 3. But he has understandably buckled while facing a succession of odd-man rushes and high-danger chances created by repeated breakdowns at both ends of the ice. Perhaps ironically, the 2022 Vezina winner is in the midst of a career-high five-game losing streak. He stands 8-9-1 with a 3.05 GAA and .908 save percentage, though he has been the Rangers’ best player through this challenging first quarter. The Blueshirts selected the Russian in the fourth round (114th overall) of the 2014 draft out of Moscow Spartak Jr. Shesterkin graduated to St. Petersburg of the KHL before coming to North America for the 2019-20 season. Shesterkin was promoted to the Rangers on Jan. 6, 2020 after a half-season with the AHL Wolf Pack and displaced Lundqvist from the No. 1 job in a three-goalie scenario that included Alex Georgiev under then head coach David Quinn. No. 31 then commanded the No. 1 job the following 56-game season after Lundqvist had been bought out with Georgiev serving as the backup. A year later, Shesterkin posted a .935 save percentage that ranks as the third-best in NHL history behind Tim Thomas’ .938 in 2010-11 and Dominik Hasek’s .937 in 1998-99 (50-game minimum) to secure the Vezina before leading the Rangers to the conference final. Indeed, Shesterkin has been the Blueshirts’ best player in each of the last three playoff seasons, recording a .928 save percentage and a 2.39 GAA while taking his team to the final four twice. He is generally recognized as the NHL’s best goaltender. That is why next year he will become the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history.

Share Tweet Share Share Email Reimagined, Gamified Learning Delivers Endless Math Questions, Targeted Social Engagement, and Rigorous Privacy Controls 100x announces the launch of its inventive digital learning environment dedicated to boosting children’s mathematical abilities. Available at play100x.com , this no-cost application leverages a highly scalable algorithm to produce unlimited exercises in BIDMAS, multiplication, LCM, HCF, percentages, and other core topics—providing a transformative experience for students, educators, and academic institutions. Built on state-of-the-art gamification , 100x incorporates top-tier engagement methods that maintain steady participation, heightened motivation, and clear skill development outcomes. Kids can add or remove friends, compete on leaderboards, and display their progress—all in a protected, privacy-focused setting. They can also deactivate their accounts whenever they wish, safeguarding personal autonomy. This approach, coupled with robust safety protocols, aligns with international data protection standards and parental expectations, establishing a new benchmark for trusted educational tools. At 100x, our vision is to unite cutting-edge technology with proven academic strategies so children can enjoy a secure and dynamic space to master essential math skills,” said Vish Murugesan, Founder of 100x . “We believe open access to quality resources, strong privacy controls, and peer-based learning activities help nurture both confidence and subject mastery.” Key Differentiators Infinite Math Content Proprietary algorithms adjust to each learner’s level, offering an endless supply of math challenges that reinforce understanding and promote long-term mastery. Gamification-Driven Engagement A thoughtfully crafted rewards system—including points, badges, and friendly competitions—turns everyday math drills into interactive exercises that inspire self-guided learning. Safe Social Networking Kids can add or remove friends while checking their rankings in a closely monitored environment. This approach fosters healthy rivalry without compromising privacy. Data Privacy and Autonomy 100x refrains from tracking individual activity, reducing compliance issues while ensuring an ethical user framework. The option to deactivate an account highlights the platform’s commitment to personal control. No Barriers to Entry Entirely free, 100x removes financial hurdles and brings top-tier math instruction to learners everywhere, reflecting a philosophy of equality and inclusion. A Strategic Value Proposition for Teachers and Schools Educators can seamlessly integrate 100x into lesson plans, assessments, or support programs. The system’s adaptive questions in BIDMAS, multiplication, LCM, HCF, percentages, and beyond allow teachers to pinpoint student needs, address gaps, and apply diverse instructional methods effectively. Classroom competitions spark motivation, improve collaboration, and strengthen understanding of math concepts. By adopting 100x, schools can nurture a sense of academic achievement and encourage a lasting appreciation for mathematics. Stringent privacy measures enable safe deployment on any scale. Ongoing refinements and alignment with recognized academic standards confirm 100x as a reliable partner for schools prioritizing innovation and learner-centric practices. About 100x 100x was founded on the belief that all children deserve a supportive, engaging space for mastering math skills. By uniting advanced algorithmic design, user-cantered principles, and proven engagement tactics, the platform equips learners with the mathematical foundation crucial for academic and professional success. Guided by a multidisciplinary team of mathematicians, educators, child psychologists, and technologists, 100x continues to evolve as a versatile and high-calibre educational solution. This comprehensive approach tackles challenges in traditional learning systems and champions new standards in educational excellence. Related Items: Elevate , math skills Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you High Tea Menu Ideas: Classic vs. Contemporary Elevate Your Freelance Career: Harnessing the Power of Digital Business Cards Elevate Your Construction Career: The Advantages of Holding a CSCS Labourer Card CommentsNoneIt turns out that the slang "brain rot" may not be an inaccurate description of what's actually going on in our domes while we endlessly scroll TikTok. As Spanish newspaper El País reports , a growing body of scientific evidence over the past decade suggests that consuming mind-numbing content, from sources ranging from algorithmically driven social media junk to sensationalist news, can literally reduce the physical gray matter in our brains . That's along with wreaking other pernicious effects like shortened attention spans and weakened memory. The nefarious thing? These symptoms are often by design. The most infamous example is the implementation of infinite scrolling in apps, which is intended to feed our compulsive desire to endlessly consume content, or "doomscroll." "This can significantly impair attention and executive functions by overwhelming our focus and altering the way we perceive and respond to the world," Michoel Moshel, lead author of a 2023 meta-analysis documenting the neuropsychological impacts of disordered screen use, told El País . According to Moshel, who is a researcher at Macquarie University, doomscrolling is a consequence "of our brain's natural tendency to seek out new things, especially when it comes to potentially harmful or alarming information, a trait that once helped us survive." Some research has suggested that this mindless digital consumption induces a dissociative state , which explains why we often lose track of time while glued to our phones. One 2023 study which surveyed around 1,100 people found that compulsive digital content consumption could lead to poor physical and mental health outcomes, especially high levels of stress. The US Surgeon General has even warned against letting anyone younger than 13-year-old use social media sites. These sites and apps constantly bombard us with rapidly changing and variable stimuli, explained Eduaordo Fernández Jiménez, a clinical psychologist at Hospital La Paz Madrid, forcing us to constantly change our focus, too. In the long run, this degrades our ability to concentrate on one task for long periods of time, he told El País . "It is the one that is linked to academic learning processes." The physical effects on the brain are perhaps the most alarming. In brain regions involved with decision-making, reward processing, and impulse control, Moshel's meta-analysis indicated that excessive internet use was linked with decreased gray matter volume. "These changes reflect patterns observed in substance addictions," Moshel told El País , likening them to the toll of methamphetamines or alcohol. So it may be time to put the phone down. If the rot hasn't fully taken hold yet, that is. More on neuroscience: You'll Laugh When You Hear How Many Bits Per Second the Human Brain Processes... Once Your Sluggish Human Brain Finally Comprehends It, That Is Share This Article

It is not surprising that after decades of Coalition and Labor neoliberal governments robbing the poor to give to the rich that voters have been steadily deserting the major parties for smaller parties and independents. A by The Australia Institute (TAI), released in October, found that the share of the non-major party vote in federal elections rose from just 6.9% in 1982 to 31.5% in 2022. A similar pattern can be observed in all states over this same time. The Coalition and Labor parties have been the sole government parties in this country for more than a century and they are determined not to relinquish their political duopoly. As the last term of federal parliament draws to an end, the major parties are set to rush through the to give themselves even more of an election funding advantage over smaller parties and independents. The ruling elite has enjoyed the benefits of this two-party system because whichever side wins an election, they are guaranteed to have a pro-capitalist government! Most big corporations make donations to both major parties. The major parties already receive the lion’s share of public electoral funding, and the new bill will ensure that that share grows even bigger. As TAI : “In Australia, parties and candidates receive about $3 per vote they receive. Everyone casts two votes — one for the House of Representatives and one for the Senate — so every election you decide how about $6 of taxpayer money is distributed. “Because parties and candidates get this money after the votes are counted, it only benefits those who are contesting the next election. A new party or candidate doesn’t get any money for their first campaign. “This bill would increase per-vote public funding to $5 per vote. This will cost another $41 million per three-year election cycle, with about three-quarters (75%, or $32 million) going to major parties.” The bill also provides for $17 million in new administrative funding — $90,000 for each election cycle for an MP, and $45,000 per cycle for a senator, the TAI added. “If this funding were already in place, it would have been worth $8.1 million for Labor, $4.7 million for the Liberals, $1.6 million for the Nationals and $0.9 million for the Greens. “New parties and candidates — who also have administrative costs — get nothing.” The bill also introduces a $20,000 cap on election campaign donations, which will advantage the major parties because they register multiple parties for various states and territories. TAI reported that “there are actually nine registered Labor parties: one for every state and territory and one federal”. This means that there are “nine opportunities to give to Labor in a given calendar year ($180,000 per year or $720,000 in an election cycle)”. It said the Liberal Party has eight parties and the National Party five — “so someone can still donate over a million dollars to the Coalition every election cycle”. Furthermore, the bill creates “nominated entities,” which will give the major parties another way around these donation caps. The bill also creates election spending caps, but once again provides loopholes for the major parties. This system of unfairly distributed electoral funding and corporate donations to the major parties is used to pay for deceptive and manipulative advertising campaigns to misinform the public and stir up racism, misogyny and bigotry against minorities. It acts as a political scapegoating exercise to deflect from the pain the major parties’ neoliberal policies inflict on the majority. This new bill is the latest of several election law changes, at federal and state levels, which aim to advantage the major parties and made it harder for smaller and newer parties to contest. In Victoria, proportional voting through multi-member seats was replaced by a with the express intention of reducing the number of Greens and socialist local councillors. Changes to federal election laws over decades have made it harder to register new parties and to keep that registration. Candidate deposits for the House of Representatives and the Senate have also increased — a move that makes it harder for smaller and newer parties, as well as for independents. Unfortunately, some of these changes were . Even without the rigged funding, the major parties are already entrenched by the single-member electorates for the House of Representatives and in the lower houses in every state parliament except Tasmania. Proportional representation for all houses of parliament would be part of a more democratic and representative system. The current and replaced by a new system under which the electoral commissions have the duty to distribute and publicise the policies and profiles of all candidates.Target Corp. stock underperforms Tuesday when compared to competitors

Liverpool punish rivals’ errors with dominant win over Leicester to stretch lead

Biden did the second-guessing as he delivered a speech at the Brookings Institution defending his economic record and challenging Trump to preserve Democratic policy ideas when he returns to the White House next month.How deepfake technology worksDWTS' Sasha Farber and Jenn Tran reunite with familiar face at Christmas marketNonewinner777 login 。

Trump escalates tariff threat and suggestion to turn Canada into 51st stateUS President-elect Donald Trump has appointed a prominent Indian-American technologist, Sriram Krishnan, as the senior policy advisor for artificial intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In this capacity, Krishnan will work closely with Trump’s AI and crypto czar, David Sacks, and have a say in shaping the wider policy landscape around AI. While the Joe Biden administration made it a key priority to highlight the possible risks of AI and draw a policy framework that limited harm, the incoming Trump administration has viewed AI primarily through the lens of an opportunity, prioritised the ideas of growth and innovation and been publicly critical of regulatory attempts as an attempt by bigger tech firms to stymie the growth of smaller tech firms. Announcing the appointment, Trump said that his tech policy team “will unleash scientific breakthroughs, ensure America’s technological dominance, and usher in a Golden Age of American Innovation!” He posted on Truth Social, “Working closely with David Sacks, Sriram will focus on ensuring continued American leadership in A.I., and help shape and coordinate A.I. policy across Government, including working with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.“ Krishnan said that he was honoured to be able to serve his country and “ensure continued American leadership in AI”. Krishnan, 40, was born in Chennai and did his bachelors in technology at SRM university. He worked in Microsoft between 2005 and 2011 where his focus was Windows Azure. From 2013 to 2016, he worked in what was then Facebook, where he led strategy and execution across businesses in mobile monetisation and created Facebook Audience Network. Krishnan then went on to work on product at Snap and Twitter before branching off to become an investor. In 2020, he became a general partner at the venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz, which invests both in seed and late stage tech companies. It is here that Krishnan has closely worked with AI, consumer and crypto firms, and worked with governments on AI policy. Krishnan, in his current role, worked closely with the founder of the VC, Marc Andreessen, who is a key Trump supporter. He also has a good relationship with top Trump advisor and supporter, Elon Musk, and is an investor in X and SpaceX. Along with his wife, Krishnan also hosts the Aarthi and Sriram show featuring conversations with Silicon Valley’s top technologists and entrepreneurs. Krishnan’s appointment may also leave an imprint on the debate on immigration. While the Trump ecosystem is fiercely opposed to illegal immigration, the tech constituency within Trump’s coalition is a strong advocate of continued legal immigration as a way to sustain American tech dominance, with Trump committing on a tech podcast with Sacks during the campaign that he was even in favour of giving green cards to those who studied in the US. In a post on X earlier this month, Krishnan offered a glimpse into his worldview and listed out specific suggestions to improve entrepreneurship. These included creating a startup founder or entrepreneur visa category, allowing H1B visa holders to start companies or transition to entrepreneur visa, and fast tracking green cards for technical fields. On crypto, he suggested clarity on the legal definition and departmental jurisdiction, a task that Trump has now assigned to a newly created crypto council. Krishnan also recommended creating a real time payment system for instant transfers, giving the example of UPI in India. With Usha Vance serving as the Second Lady, Vivek Ramaswamy co-heading the Department of Government Efficiency, Kash Patel running the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Harmeet Dhillon in charge of civil rights at the Department of Justice, and now Krishnan playing a key role in AI policy, from January 20, the Donald Trump administration is all set to have desis in key positions that will shape American state, security, science and the world. Commenting on Krishnan’s appointment, Sanjeev Joshipura of Indiaspora, a leading diaspora group, said, “For several years, Sriram has been an insightful thinker and influential commentator in the artificial intelligence realm. His previous work blending public policy, international affairs, investing and technology will stand him in good stead as he serves the nation in this important role. As Indiaspora continues our convening and thought leadership work on AI in the United States and abroad, we look forward to engaging closely with Sriram.”

5 Tech Stocks to Buy as AI Hype FizzlesFrench President Emmanuel Macron named a new government Monday evening, putting together a team under Francois Bayrou, his fourth prime minister of the year, to drag the second-largest EU economy out of political crisis. Macron named former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, 63, education minister in a new cabinet under centrist Bayrou, announced Elysee secretary-general Alexis Kohler. Another former premier, Manuel Valls, 62, returned as overseas territories minister, while former interior minister Gerald Darmanin became justice minister. Both Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot kept their jobs, the presidency said. Lecornu, a 38-year-old loyalist with a keen political nose, has served in every government since Macron's first election as president in 2017. Conservative Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who has vowed to crack down on illegal immigration, and right-wing Culture Minister Rachida Dati, also stayed in their posts. The difficult job of delivering a budget plan for next year falls to Eric Lombard, head of public-sector lender Caisse des Depots (CDC), who was named economy minister. "I'm very proud of the team we're presenting this evening," Bayrou said on X, adding his "experienced" cabinet would aim to "rebuild trust". The inclusion of two former prime ministers indicates Macron's desire for a heavyweight government that will enjoy stability and not share the fate of Bayrou's predecessor, Michel Barnier, ousted in a no-confidence vote. Bayrou had hoped to bring in figures from the left, right and centre to protect his government from possible censure, but his 35-member team does not include any members of the left-wing coalition New Popular Front. Macron will assemble Bayrou's team on January 3 for a first Council of Ministers meeting, the presidency said. Barnier was brought down over his failure to win support for an austerity budget to shore up France's shaky finances with spending cuts and tax rises. The priority for 73-year-old Bayrou is to make sure his government can survive a no-confidence vote and that it passes a cost-cutting budget for 2025. The unexpected comeback of Valls, premier from 2014 to 2016, as the head of the overseas territories ministry indicates the importance of the post after authorities were strongly criticised for their response to the deadly cyclone on the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, which killed at least 35 people. Darmanin had long been known to covet the post of foreign minister, but after days of intense discussions will have to content himself with the justice ministry. - Far-right 'backing' - Just before the official announcement, heavyweight right-wing politician Xavier Bertrand, who had been tipped for the health ministry, announced he would not be part of the government. He alleged that it had been formed with the implicit "backing" of far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who will play a key role in ensuring its survival. "The prime minister informed me this morning, contrary to what he had proposed yesterday, that he was no longer in a position to entrust me with responsibility for the justice ministry due to opposition from (Le Pen's) National Rally," Bertrand said in a statement. "Despite his new proposals, I refuse to take part in a government of France formed with the backing of Marine Le Pen." Bertrand is a major irritant for the far right, which he has long opposed. Le Pen on March 31, 2025 faces the verdict in an embezzlement trial on charges she denies. If convicted, she could lose the chance of standing in the 2027 elections and with it her best chance yet of winning the presidency. The announcement came as France observed a day of mourning for victims in cyclone-hit Mayotte, France's poorest overseas territory. Bayrou, the head of the centrist MoDem group, which is allied to Macron's party, was appointed on December 13. He is the sixth prime minister of Macron's mandate. Many already predict Bayrou will struggle to survive. France has been mired in deadlock since Macron gambled on snap elections this summer in the hopes of bolstering his authority. The move backfired, with voters electing a parliament fractured between three rival blocs. Le Pen suggested Macron has been weakened by months of political crisis and would eventually have to resign. "I am preparing for an early presidential election," she told French newspaper Le Parisien last week. bur-as/jhbTop 7 must-read transportation stories of 2024 — Interesting Engineering

Bitcoin ticks closer to $100,000 in extended surge following US elections

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Ghana's former president John Drahami Mahama won a historic comeback election victory on Sunday after the ruling party accepted defeat with voters appearing to punish them for the government's handling of an economic crisis. Following Saturday's election, New Patriotic Party candidate Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia on Sunday conceded Ghanaians wanted change after he failed to shake off widespread frustration over high costs of living. His defeat ended eight years in power for the NPP under President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose last term was marked by the west African state's worst economic turmoil in years, high inflation and a debt default. For opposition National Democratic Congress party's Mahama, president from 2012-2017, it was his third attempt to reclaim the top post after falling short in 2016 and 2020 elections. "Former president Mahama has won the presidential election decisively," Bawumia told a press conference. Mahama's NDC also won the parliament elections, Bawumia said, referring to the NPP's own internal collation of election results. "The people of Ghana have spoken, the people have voted for change at this time and we respect it with all humility," he said. The speedy concession came as official vote tallies were still arriving. Electoral authorities have yet to announce the results for the presidential and parliament ballots. Blaring horns and whistles and waving the party's green, white and red flags, Mahama supporters took the streets to celebrate outside the party campaign office in the capital Accra. "They said he can't come back, and he has come. The nation builder is back to build our Ghana for us," said trader and Mahama supporter Leyla Alhassan enjoying the celebrations. Mahama has yet to speak publicly. But on his X account, Mahama confirmed he received Bawumia's congratulatory call over his "emphatic victory". The US embassy in Accra also applauded a "successful election that reflects the will of the Ghanaian people." "The United States looks forward to continuing our strong partnerships under" Mahama, it said on X. Ghana's economic woes dominated the election, after the continent's top gold producer and world's second cacao exporter went through a crisis of default and currency devaluation, ending with a $3 billion IMF bailout. Earlier, NDC spokesman Sammy Gyamfi told reporters the party's internal review of results showed Mahama won 56.3 percent of the vote against 41.3 percent for Bawumia. Political parties had agents at polling stations to observe and tally the initial vote counts before the ballots were sent for official collation by the election commission. The commission had said official results were likely due by Tuesday. With a history of democratic stability, Ghana's two main parties, the NPP and NDC, have alternated in power equally since the return to multi-party politics in 1992. Under the slogan "Break the 8" -- a reference to two terms in power -- Bawumia had sought to lead the NPP to an unprecedented third term. But he struggled to break away from criticism of Akufo-Addo's economic record. Though inflation slowed from more than 50 percent to around 23 percent, and other macro-economic indicators are stabilising, economic struggles were still a clear election issue for many. That frustration opened the way for a comeback from Mahama, who came to the presidency in 2012 when he was serving as vice president and then President John Atta Mills died in office. During campaigning this year, the former president also faced criticism from those who remember his government's own financial problems especially the massive power cuts that marked his time in office. bur/pma/giv/ju

It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. They are believed to be the two richest contracts in pro sports history. The way it's going, a contract approaching $1 billion doesn't seem out of the question. But several factors are working against it — at least in the near future. There's reason to believe the megadeals for Ohtani and Soto are unicorns in the baseball world. Both players are uniquely talented, surely, but both also had unusual circumstances propelling their value into the stratosphere. Ohtani is the greatest two-way player in baseball history, capable of improving any team on both sides of the ball. He's also the rare baseball player who has true international appeal. His every move ( like his unexpected marriage announcement ) is followed closely in his native Japan, adding another 125 million potential fans who buy merchandise, watch him play and help fill the Dodgers' coffers. Then there's Soto — a four-time All-Star and on-base machine who won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019. The X-factor for him is he became a free agent at the prime age of 26, which is extremely hard to do under current MLB rules. Players have to be in the big leagues for six years before testing free agency. The precocious Soto debuted at 19 with the Nats, making him part of a rare group of players who reached the highest level of professional baseball as a teenager. That accelerated his free agency timeline. It's rare for players to debut that young, and rarer still for them to develop into stars and test the open market the first chance they get. Two recent examples are Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, who both reached free agency in 2019. Machado signed a free-agent record $300 million contract with San Diego, and Harper overtook him days later with a $330 million contract to join the Phillies. Most players debut in the big leagues from ages 22 to 26, which means free agency comes in their late 20s or early 30s. A typical example is Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is one of this generation's great players but didn't hit the market until he was 30. Judge played three seasons of college baseball for Fresno State before getting drafted by the Yankees in 2013 at age 21 — already two years older than Soto was when he made his MLB debut. It took a few years for the budding superstar to reach the majors, and he was 25 when he had his breakout season in 2018, smashing 52 homers to earn AL Rookie of the Year honors. By the time he reached free agency after the 2022 season, he had already passed age 30. It's a major factor that led to him signing a $360 million, nine-year deal with the Yankees, which seems downright reasonable these days after the Ohtani and Soto deals. Two major trends are colliding that will make it harder for guys like Soto to hit free agency in their mid 20s. First, MLB teams have been more likely in recent years to take college players early in the draft, betting on more experienced talents. Just 10 high school players were drafted among the top 30 picks in the 2024 draft. Second, teams are more eager to lock up young, premium talent on long-term deals very early in their careers, well before they hit free agency. Sometimes before they even reach the majors. Since Soto, just two players have debuted in MLB before their 20th birthday — Elvis Luciano and Junior Caminero. Luciano hasn't been back to the majors since his 2019 cup of coffee. Caminero is now 21 and has only played in 50 big league games. Among those that debuted at 20: Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a $340 million, 14-year deal with San Diego in 2021, years before reaching the open market. Milwaukee's Jackson Chourio got an $82 million, eight-year deal before even reaching the big leagues. Young stars Corbin Carroll ($111 million, eight years with Arizona), Bobby Witt Jr. ($288 million, 11 years with Kansas City) and Julio Rodriguez ($209.3 million, 12 years with Seattle) also got massive guarantees early in their 20s to forgo an early free agency. The exception and wild card: Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be a 26-year-old free agent next offseason. Guerrero hasn't been as consistent in his young career as Soto, but a standout 2025 season could position him to threaten Soto's deal. More likely is that the player to pass Soto isn't in the majors yet — and might not even be in pro baseball. When 25-year-old Alex Rodriguez signed his record $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas in 2001, it took over a decade for another player to match that total, when Albert Pujols got $240 million over 10 years from the Angels in 2012. For many players, passing up life-changing money in their early or mid 20s is too enticing, even if it means that they might not maximize their value on the free agent market later in their careers. Soto was determined to test the market. He famously turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer to stay with the Washington Nationals in 2022, betting that he could make even more as a free agent. Not many players would turn down that kind of cash. Then again, that's what makes Soto so unique. And it's also why his $765 million deal could be the industry standard for some time.

Thai ace unfazed by artificial pitch threat

Tyler Technologies executive chair Marr sells $7.36 million in stockIncoming official opposition party Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has lodged an urgent court challenge seeking, among others, an order compelling the Electoral Commission of ... If you are an active subscriber and the article is not showing, please log out and back in. Free access to articles from 12:00.

The NBA fined Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards $75,000 on Monday for criticizing the referees of Saturday's game between Minnesota and the visiting Golden State Warriors. In a release, the league said Edwards used "inappropriate and profane language" during a postgame media session after the Timberwolves' 113-103 loss. It marks the second time in two weeks Edwards' postgame comments have cost him some cash. The 23-year-old was fined $25,000 on Dec. 9 for using profane language during an interview after Minnesota won at Golden State 107-90 three days earlier. A two-time All-Star, Edwards leads the Timberwolves (14-13) with 25.6 points per game this season to go along with 5.4 rebounds and four assists per contest. --Field Level MediaIn this digital era, groundbreaking research by Babita Kumari reveals how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing data governance frameworks, offering innovative solutions for modern data management challenges. The Data Explosion Challenge As organizations grapple with an exponential surge in data volumes, traditional governance methods are proving inadequate. By 2025, the global datasphere is projected to reach 175 zettabytes, creating an urgent need for more sophisticated management approaches. This explosive growth, combined with increasingly complex regulatory requirements, has pushed organizations to seek innovative solutions. Intelligent Systems Take the Lead AI-driven governance frameworks are emerging as game-changers, demonstrating remarkable capabilities in automating complex tasks and ensuring compliance. These systems leverage advanced machine learning algorithms and natural language processing to create adaptive, real-time governance mechanisms that evolve with changing regulations and enterprise needs. Breaking Down the Innovation The new intelligent frameworks operate through a modular microservices architecture deployed on scalable cloud infrastructure. This design enables organizations to adapt swiftly to changing data governance needs while maintaining robust security measures. The systems employ sophisticated AI algorithms that can process up to 1 million records per hour, a task that would traditionally take weeks to complete manually. Compliance Gets Smarter One of the most significant innovations is the integration of AI-powered compliance monitoring. These systems can identify up to 90% of potential compliance issues, compared to just 70% with traditional methods. Organizations implementing these solutions have reported a 47% improvement in compliance accuracy across various regulatory frameworks, substantially reducing the risk of penalties. The Power of Predictive Analytics The frameworks incorporate advanced predictive analytics capabilities that can anticipate potential data governance risks before they materialize. This proactive approach has enabled organizations to reduce data breach incidents by up to 65% and improve their response times to regulatory changes by 41%. Breaking Language Barriers Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies within these frameworks have revolutionized how organizations interpret and implement regulatory requirements. The systems can reduce the time spent on regulatory document analysis by up to 60%, while AI-powered policy generation tools can create and update governance policies ten times faster than traditional methods. Future-Proofing Data Management The integration of federated learning and blockchain technology promises even greater advancements. These technologies enable cross-organizational collaboration while maintaining data privacy and creating immutable audit trails. Organizations implementing these solutions have reported up to 95% improvement in data traceability throughout its lifecycle. The Economic Impact The financial benefits of these innovations are substantial. Organizations have reported an average 30% reduction in compliance-related costs and a significant decrease in the resources required for routine governance tasks. Large enterprises implementing these systems have saved between $2.5-4 million annually in compliance-related legal costs. Challenges and Considerations While the implementation of these systems presents notable challenges, including system interoperability concerns, AI bias mitigation, and computational resource management, organizations recognize their transformative potential. Despite these initial hurdles, the significant benefits in data governance efficiency and decision-making capabilities make these intelligent solutions invaluable for future-focused enterprises. The Road Ahead The future of data governance lies in the continued evolution of these intelligent systems. With the integration of explainable AI and advanced reinforcement learning, these frameworks are expected to become even more sophisticated and effective. Organizations investing in these technologies today are positioning themselves at the forefront of data management innovation. In conclusion, Babita Kumari 's research illuminates the transformative power of AI-driven frameworks in data governance. Her findings reveal that intelligent systems do more than enhance compliance and efficiency they fundamentally reshape how organizations manage and leverage their data assets, paving the way for a future where AI and data governance converge to unlock unprecedented business value.Western pressure drives Iran and Russia closerCapital project: plugging in profits from a big battery

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EMMA PATON stole the show at Alexandra Palace as the World Darts Championship returned from its Christmas break. The Sky Sports presenter was front and centre of the pre-tournament advertising, including one hilarious "marriage proposal gone wrong" skit made by Paddy Power. 4 Emma Paton stunned fans in a black dress as the darts returned following a Christmas break Credit: Sky Sports 4 Fan-favourite Paton was back on presenting duties for Sky Sports Credit: Sky Sports 4 Paton was front and centre of pre-tournament advertising Credit: supplied 4 Paton began presenting for Sky Sports in 2019 Credit: Rex And her popularity among darts fans has certainly not diminished during the tournament. Paton , 30, was seen back on TV screens in a dazzling black dress which came with some glistening silver flowers. Taking to social media, fans were loving the look. One fan said: "Emma Paton. Deary me." READ MORE IN DARTS LUKE OUT Luke Littler apologises to World Darts Championship fan over 'frustration' SPARK OUT I was World finalist at 1,000-1 - now I'm electrician after crippling dartitis A second said: "Emma Paton back on the telly today happy days." A third added: "Looking absolutely gorgeous!!" Another said: "Is Emma Paton the best presenter on the old box atm??" Today's darts action has seen Damon Heta hit the tournament's second nine-darter en route to a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Luke Woodhouse. Most read in Darts FOOTIE SHOCK Footage emerges of Hibs star in vow about 'Jambo b*******' before derby win CHASE ARREST Fourth man nicked at airport over death of Scots mum who died after car chase TOUGH CALLS Former top refs issue strong verdicts on Celtic-Motherwell penalty flash points SNOW END Exact date snow storms to hit Scotland as weather map reveals Arctic freeze on way Follow all the action from the World Darts Championship as it happens with SunSport's LIVE blog Jonny Clayton and Stephen Bunting also won in their respective games against Daryl Gurney and Madars Razma. The evening session see Gerwyn Price taking on Joe Cullen, with Peter Wright and Luke Humphries both in action later as well. Emma Paton labelled a 'dream' by adoring fans as Sky Sports host stuns in leggy outfit at World Matchplay Darts final Paton made the move into presenting in 2019. In an exclusive interview with SunSport earlier this year, Paton revealed some of the difficulties of working in front of a raucous darts crowd. She said: "It is really loud. There are some occasions when it’s just a wall of noise. "There are times when I actually can’t hear what Wayne Mardle , Mark Webster or John Part are saying. I can’t even hear the director in my ear. "I just have to hope we are on the same page for running order and not too much has changed. Read more on the Scottish Sun SNOW WAY Weather maps show heavy snow for Scotland in DAYS – with -2C New Year’s chill NO CRIME Orange Order slam cops after Celtic activist was cleared over 'sectarian rants' "Working with Wayne has helped me, he is someone who has always backs me. He’s one of those people who wants people around him to succeed. "He’s like the Gary Neville of Sky Sports Darts. He’s so engaging and his analysis is second to none and his stories are ridiculous!" World Darts Championship - top stories READ MORE on all the build-up to the Ally Pally extravaganza... All the info: All the action as it happens in our LIVE BLOG Everything you need to know about the Ally Pally extravaganza How much prize money can be won? What is the format for the tournament? Who are the Sky Sports presenters and pundits ? News, features and interviews: Mardle to take step back after tragic death of wife Donna Emma Paton reveals rise as Queen of Darts MVG pays tribute to Wayne Mardle's wife Donna Watch Littler hit 180 as Bullseye makes return to TV Littler reveals why he broke down in tears Sosing diagnosed with serious and rare condition after falling ill at Alexandra Palace Barry from EastEnders entertains crowd with singing 'Weird Kettering lad' Ricky Evans wins one of the 'greatest games ever'

What's the outlook for Sayona Mining shares in 2025? You're reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool's Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources , and more. Learn More Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA) shares had a rough run in 2024, with the stock down more than 63% as we near the year's close. Shares in the lithium miner currently fetch 2.6 cents, down more than 18% in the past month alone, reflecting broader challenges in the lithium sector. As we look to 2025, many are asking if Sayona Mining shares can rebound. Let's see what the experts think. A tough year for Sayona Mining shares Sayona Mining shares have been hit hard this year, but the stock isn't alone in its pain. The lithium market has faced chronic oversupply issues, and weaker demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has... Zach Bristow

Georgetown ventures out of D.C. for first time to face West VirginiaMILWAUKEE — Mount Mary University is intersecting technology and healthcare. Its UX Design Department, under the direction of Mary Burton, is making its mark in the artificial intelligence sector. "Applying the skills and being world-class problem solvers in any domain, we teach and provide tools to students to solve problems in ways that serve humanity," Burton said. UX Design student Galilea Jrnica is leading the way with the creation of "Culturabot," an AI tool designed to assist healthcare professionals while treating patients. Watch: How Mount Mary UX Design students use A-I Technology to mainstream healthcare Specifically, Jrnica is addressing the culture gap often felt by doctors and patients from varying backgrounds or those with language barriers. "Understanding them a bit more, with something that you may not be familiar with just because you don't identify with that culture, you haven't had experience, but you want to help them in the best way you can," Jrnica said. Occupational Therapy Doctoral student Jessica Meissner uses the chatbot to better serve her patients and expand the reach of her coursework. "Having resources that help you understand different aspects of each client is the best possible way to ensure each patient feels like their own person," Meissner said. Mount Mary's UX Design major is making its imprint in advanced technology. As AI grows and user experience advances, Burton reminds us: "Technology doesn't lead humans, humans lead how technology is used in their day-to-day lives." It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device. Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are bringing Trump's DOGE to Capitol Hill

Republicans lash out at Democrats’ claims that Trump intelligence pick Gabbard is ‘compromised’Bill Clinton grapples with his past in memoir – too much, too little, too lateBy DAVID McHUGH The Associated Press FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany’s technology and services company Bosch said Friday it planned to reduce its automotive division workforce by as many as 5,500 jobs in the next several years in another sign of the headwinds hitting the German and global auto industries. The company cited stagnating global auto sales, too much factory capacity in the auto industry compared with sales prospects and a slower than expected transition to electric-powered, software-controlled vehicles. The news comes two days after Ford Motor Co. announced plans to drop 4,000 jobs in Europe , and with Volkswagen employees threatening work stoppages over what they say management has told them are plans to close as many as three factories in Germany. Revenue at Stellantis , created through the 2021 merger of PSA Peugeot and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, tumbled 27% in its most recent quarter that ended this fall. Auto sales have slowed this year in Europe as consumers stung by inflation hold back on spending, while automakers have sunk billions into developing electric cars only to see slower sales than expected and new competition from cheaper Chinese brands. The German government abruptly cancelled purchase incentives at the end of last year, sending electric vehicles sales in that country down by 27% over the first nine months of this year. Some 3,500 of the job reductions at Bosch would come before the end of 2027 and would hit the part of the company that develops advanced driver assistance and automated driving technologies, as well as centralized vehicle software, said Bosch, which is headquartered in Gerlingen near Stuttgart. About half those job reductions would be at locations in Germany. “The auto industry has significant overcapacities,” the company said in a statement. “In addition, the market for future technologies is not developing as originally expected ... At the moment, many projects in this business area are being put off or abandoned by automakers.” Related Articles In addition, 750 jobs would be lost at a plant in Hildesheim, Germany by end 2032, 600 of those by the end of 2026. A plant in Schwaebisch Gmund would lose some 1,300 over between 2027 and 2030. The reductions are still in the planning stage and final numbers would have to be agreed with employee representatives and carried out in what the company said would be a socially responsible way. While automakers put their names on the cars they sell, most of the car is actually made by a series of suppliers Some 230,000 people work for Bosch’s mobility division, out of a global workforce of 429,000. In addition to its business as an auto industry technology supplier Bosch makes factory and building equipment and software across a range of products including industrial boilers and waste-heat recovery systems, video security systems, and power tools.

FREIBURG, Germany (AP) — Freiburg survived a late comeback to beat Wolfsburg 3-2 and move into fifth place in the Bundesliga on Friday. The sides started the day equal on points and Wolfsburg had won its last five games in the league and cup. But Lukas Kübler scored an opportunist opener three minutes before the break and added a second with his head six minutes into the second half to put Freiburg in the driving seat. Michael Gregoritsch added the third in the 62nd. Jonas Wind came off the bench to score his third goal in two games and Mattias Svanberg cut the deficit seven minutes from time as Wolfsburg desperately looked for a way into the game. But it was too late, and Freiburg moved above Wolfsburg to fifth place on the table and equal on points with Leipzig, which has a game in hand. The match was an important one for two teams vying for a Champions League place next year. Although Bayern Munich have a six-point advantage over second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, only eight points separate the next nine clubs. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerFive-star center Chris Cenac Jr. commits to Houston

OTTAWA - Cowessess First Nation Chief Erica Beaudin says she is “disappointed’ that Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer used clean drinking water legislation as a political “tactic.” Bill C-61 recognizes First Nations have an inherent right to clean drinking water and commits the government to providing “adequate and sustainable” funding for water services in First Nations. It remains stalled at third reading in the House of Commons because of an ongoing privilege debate that has prevented the consideration of bills since late September. Today Liberal MP Jaime Battiste asked for unanimous consent to forward the First Nations Clean Drinking Water Act to the Senate but several MPs said no. Scheer, who’s riding includes Cowessess, rose immediately afterward for a similar motion that also condemned the Liberal government for inaction but it was also defeated. While Cowessess doesn’t currently have a boil water advisory, Beaudin says people in her community rely on bottled water because they don’t trust what comes from their taps. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024.

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

Elden Ring Neightreign was one of the biggest reveals from The Game Awards on Thursday night. There were many questions about what the heck this game is, but fans of the original action roleplaying game can see for themselves in just two months. The network test for Neightreign will take place in February, according to the game's website . Those interested in trying the game early can sign up for the test and get an idea of what this standalone, multiplayer-focused take on Elden Ring is. Here's how you can partake in the upcoming Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test. A network test is like a demo for a game, but intended for people to play online with each other. It acts as a stress test for the game's servers and gives the developer some last-minute feedback before the game goes live. There was also a network test for Elden Ring before it launched back in 2022. Sign-ups for the network test will start on Jan. 10, according to the Nightreign website . The network test is planned for sometime in February. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles. Elden Ring Nightreign is a spinoff of Elden Ring that has a focus on co-op survival action. Three players team up to explore a portion of Limgrave from the game, but places and enemies are randomly generated, according to IGN . Players move a bit faster and have to level up quickly as they have to survive three days that last just 15 minutes. Every night, they'll have to move to safer areas or else die, similar to battle royale games. Each night, a boss will appear and players will need to defeat it to continue on. While this is a multiplayer-focused standalone game, developer FromSoftware says Nightreign is not a live service game where you'll need to play online only and be forced into microtransactions. Players will be able to play offline and by themselves if they wish.

Jaylen Blakes, Maxime Raynaud and Oziyah Sellers combined for 35 points in a 47-point, first half explosion Saturday afternoon and Stanford ran away from California for an 89-81 Atlantic Coast Conference road win in Berkeley, Calif. Raynaud and Blakes finished with 20 points apiece for the Cardinal (8-2, 1-0 ACC), who won their first ever game in ACC competition. Andrej Stojakovic had a game-high 25 points and Jovan Blacksher Jr. added 14 for the Golden Bears (6-3, 0-1), who dropped their second in a row after a 6-1 start. Playing just its second true road game of the season, Stanford scored 14 of the game's first 18 points and never looked back. Raynaud and Ryan Agarwal hit 3-pointers in the run. Blakes had 14 points, Raynaud 11 and Sellers 10 in the first half, which ended with Stanford in front 47-31. Cal was still down 81-65, after two free throws by Stanford's Chisom Okpara with 3:58 remaining before making a little run. Mady Sissoko converted a three-point play and Rytis Petraitis and Joshua Ola-Joseph connected on consecutive 3-pointers in a 9-0 flurry that made it a seven-point game with still 2:13 to go. It got as close as six when Stojakovic drilled a 3-pointer with 1:21 left, but Okpara and Blakes dropped in late layups to keep the hosts at arm's length. Seven of the nine Cardinal who saw action hit at least half his field goal attempts, led by Raynaud's 8-for-15 and Blakes' 7-for-13. Stanford finished 52.6 percent as a team. Both were deadly from the 3-point line as well, with Raynaud going 4-for-6 and Blakes 2-for-4. With Sellers adding 3-for-6, the Cardinal made 11 of their 23 attempts (47.8 percent) from beyond the arc. Raynaud also found time for five blocks, while Agarwal and Aidan Cammann shared Stanford rebound honors with seven. Blakes complemented his 20 points with a team-high six assists and two blocks. The Cardinal registered 19 assists on 30 baskets, while Cal had just five on its 30 hoops. Agarwal and Okpara each also scored in double figures with 11 points. Facing his old team for the first time after transferring to Cal over the summer, Stojakovic shot 11-for-25. The Golden Bears finished at 42.3 percent overall and 38.1 percent (8 of 21) on 3-pointers. Ola-Joseph and Sissoko, who had 11 points, were the game's leading rebounders with eight apiece. -Field Level MediaFILE PHOTO: This pool image distributed by Sputnik agency shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (L) shaking hands during their meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur region on September 13, 2023, ahead of planned talks that could lead to a weapons deal with Russian President. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, on June 12, 2024, hailed his country’s ties with Russia, saying the two nations were “invincible comrades-in-arms”, amid reports President Vladimir Putin will visit Pyongyang imminently. (Photo by Vladimir SMIRNOV / POOL / Agence France-Presse) SEOUL, South Korea — A landmark defense pact between North Korea and Russia, signed by its leaders in June, has gone into effect after the two sides exchanged ratification documents, North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said Thursday. The formalization of the treaty comes as the United States and South Korea have accused the nuclear-armed North of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine. Experts say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is keen to acquire advanced technology from Moscow and battle experience for his troops in return. Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the strategic partnership deal during the Kremlin chief’s visit to Pyongyang. It obligates both states to provide military assistance “without delay” in the case of an attack on the other and to oppose Western sanctions jointly. It came into effect from Wednesday, December 4, when the ratification documents were exchanged in Moscow by the countries’ vice foreign ministers Kim Jong Gyu and Andrei Rudenko, KCNA reported. READ: North Korea ratifies defense treaty with Russia Lawmakers in Moscow last month voted unanimously for the deal and it was later signed by Putin. Pyongyang said it was ratified by a decree from Kim. The treaty will serve “as a strong driving force accelerating the establishment of an independent and just multi-polarized world order without domination, subjugation and hegemony,” KCNA said. Analysts have suggested Pyongyang could be using Ukraine as a means of realigning its foreign policy. READ: Seoul slams Russia’s treaty with North Korea By sending soldiers, North Korea is positioning itself within the Russian war economy as a supplier of weapons, military support and labor — potentially even bypassing traditional ally, neighbour and main trading partner China, they say. North Korea and Russia have strengthened their military ties since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Both countries are under rafts of UN sanctions — the former for its nuclear weapons program and the latter for the Ukraine conflict. Kim said last week during a visit to Pyongyang by Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov that his government, army and people would “invariably support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity”. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Putin hailed the deal in June as a “breakthrough document.”winner 777 slot 。

By KATE BRUMBACK ATLANTA (AP) — A judge is weighing whether a Georgia state Senate committee has the right to subpoena testimony and documents from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as it looks into whether she has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump. The Republican-led committee sent subpoenas to Willis in August seeking to compel her to testify at its September meeting and to produce scores of documents. The committee was formed earlier this year to examine allegations of “various forms of misconduct” by Willis, an elected Democrat, during her prosecution of Trump and others over their efforts to overturn the former president’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. Willis’ attorney, former Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes, told Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram during a hearing Tuesday that although the Georgia General Assembly has subpoena power, that power is not automatically conferred on a single legislative chamber or its committees. Even if the committee did have such power, he argued, the subpoenas in question are overly broad and not related to a legitimate legislative need. Barnes said the focus on Willis and her investigation into Trump shows that the committee was politically motivated and not a legitimate inquiry into the practices of district attorneys’ offices: “What they were trying to do is chill the prosecution of Donald Trump and find out what they had.” Josh Belinfante, a lawyer representing the lawmakers, said there is nothing in the Georgia Constitution that prohibits the Senate from issuing a subpoena. The duly formed interim committee is looking into whether new legislation is needed to regulate the practices of district attorneys’ offices in the state, he argued. “They are investigating and making an inquiry into these allegations that may show that existing state laws, including those establishing the processes for selecting, hiring and compensating special assistant district attorneys, are inadequate,” Belinfante said. The resolution creating the committee focused in particular on Willis’ hiring of special prosecutor Nathan Wade , with whom she had a romantic relationship , to lead the prosecution against Trump and others. It says the relationship amounted to a “clear conflict of interest and a fraud upon the taxpayers” of the county and state. One of the committee’s subpoenas orders Wills to produce documents related to Wade, including documents related to his hiring and payment, documents related to money or items of value that Wade and Willis may have exchanged, text messages and emails between the two, and their phone records. The committee also requested any documents her office sent in response to requests from the U.S. House, as well as communications Willis and her office had with the White House, the U.S. Justice Department and the House relating to the 2020 presidential election. And they asked for documents related to federal grant money Willis’ office has received. Before the deadlines in the subpoenas, Willis challenged them in court. Willis’ challenge was pending in mid-September when she skipped a hearing during which the committee members had hoped to question her. In October, the committee asked Ingram to require Willis to comply with the subpoenas. The committee’s lawyers wrote in a court filing that Willis’ failure to do so had delayed its ability to finish its inquiry and to provide recommendations for any legislation or changes in appropriations that might result. Barnes also argued that once the regular legislative session has adjourned, which happened in March this year, legislative committees can meet to study issues and come up with recommendations but do not have the power to compel someone to appear or produce documents. Belinfante rejected that, saying the state Constitution expressly permits the creation of interim committees and allows them to make their rules. Even if these subpoenas were validly issued, Barnes argued, they ask for too much, including private and personal information that is not a legitimate target of a legislative subpoena. Related Articles National News | Are you a former SmileDirectClub customer? You might be eligible for a refund National News | Justice Department announces sweeping reforms to curb suicides in federal prisons and jails National News | Defense makes closing argument in murder trial of Cash App founder Bob Lee National News | A judge has once again rejected Musk’s multi-billion-dollar Tesla pay package. Now what? National News | Is Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughing Belinfante said the lawmakers are simply trying to do their jobs. He asked that Willis be ordered to appear before the committee in early January. He also asked that she be ordered to provide the requested documents and explain what privilege justifies any that are excluded. With a glaring lack of state case law on the issue of the General Assembly’s subpoena power, that’s one issue Ingram will have to address. She said she will consider the arguments and release her order as soon as she can. Willis and Wade have acknowledged that they had a relationship but have said it began after he was hired and ended before the indictment against Trump was filed. Trump and other defendants argued that the relationship created a conflict of interest that should disqualify Willis and her office from continuing with her prosecution of the case. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Willis’ actions showed a “tremendous lapse in judgment,” but he did not find a conflict of interest that would disqualify Willis. He said she could continue her prosecution as long as Wade stepped aside, which he did. Trump and others have appealed that ruling to the Georgia Court of Appeals, and that appeal remains pending.NGT-appointed officer exposes Ludh waste mgmt crisis

Filamon Limited, an Australian biotech company focused on developing next-gen anti-inflammatory drugs, has announced its breakthrough dementia treatment. ALPHA-003 is designed to preserve the integrity of vital brain cell structures and protect them against destruction caused by brain inflammation. In healthy neurons, the tau protein stabilizes , crucial tube-like structures that, together with neurofilaments, maintain the neurons’ shape and provide mechanical support. However, when it’s modified, tau can form – tangles that degrade these key structures. This is seen in a group of diseases called tauopathies, such as dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and (CTE). Existing dementia treatments focus on reducing the consequences of this structural damage but have enjoyed only moderate success. Now, an Australian biotech company, Filamon Limited, has announced its breakthrough treatment, , which is aimed at halting the progression of dementia by preventing microtubular destruction. “The underlying problem with most forms of dementia is the destruction of a key structural component of brain cells known as microtubules,” said Associate Professor Kieran Scott, Professor of Oncology at Western Sydney University, and co-founder of Filamon. “These long, hollow tubes are vital to healthy brain function. In dementia, these microtubules degrade, resulting in the death of brain cells. “To date, no one has found a way of preventing microtubular destruction,” Scott said. “We believe ALPHA-003 has the potential to be that first drug by stabilizing the two main brain cell components whose job is to protect microtubules from damage – tau and neurofilaments.” ALPHA-003 is designed to prevent damaging brain inflammation by binding to tau and neurofilaments, providing the microtubular protection that Scott is referring to. The result of deep-learning, computational drug design technology developed in Australia, ALPHA-003 started life as a more general anti-inflammatory drug, countering the effects of human group IIA secretory phospholipase A (hGIIA), a significant player in inflammatory conditions, before its developers realized its potential for treating neuroinflammation, specifically. “ALPHA-003 was under development as a new form of anti-inflammatory drug that worked by blocking the activating effects of the key inflammatory ligand, hGIIA, on a range of cell structural proteins,” Professor Graham Kelly, Filamon’s co-founder, CEO, and Managing Director said in an interview with . “Activation of those proteins underlies most chronic inflammatory changes. Recent published data has shown that tau is another structural protein that responds to hGIIA, so we simply asked the question whether ALPHA-003 would have the same protective effect on tau. Our studies showed that it does, to the extent of blocking the ability of tau to form sheets of oligomers that comprise the ‘tau neurofibrillary tangles.’” But it wasn’t just the need to fill a treatment niche that drove the drug’s development. Kelly explained to that experiencing the devastating effects of dementia first-hand was also a motivating factor. “The personal angle has been the confronting experience of seeing a very good friend who has always been a bundle of energy and force of nature deteriorate into a tragic, sunken, shell of a woman who has lost all recognition of friends and family,” he said. But does ALPHA-003 work? Pre-clinical studies strongly suggest that it does. Importantly, the drug has been found to cross the blood-brain barrier in mammals, meaning it can exert a direct effect on brain cells. The team at Filamon were so happy with the results that they announced them prior to journal publication. “The announced news is literally freshly generated,” Kelly told . “We considered it to be of such importance to warrant being released pre-publication. More studies are underway, and the results of those studies will be the subject of journal submissions.” Kelly foresees ALPHA-003 being used to treat dementia at the time of diagnosis. “We see dementia as a two-step process involving (i) creation of an ongoing neuroinflammatory trigger, and (ii) the consequences of that trigger,” he told . “ALPHA-003 is aiming at blocking the latter, but that requires accepting that the underlying neuroinflammation trigger continues unabated. ALPHA-003 simply is aiming to mitigate the effects of the trigger. Another Filamon experimental drug program underway with another drug technology aims to deactivate this trigger.” Filamon aims to have ALPHA-003 available for use in 2026. It’s expected that the drug will treat tauopathies other than the two major forms of dementia – Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia – such as progressive supranuclear palsy, an uncommon Parkinson’s-like disorder, and CTE, caused by repeated concussions. Source: [PDF]

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s allies on Capitol Hill rallied around Pete Hegseth , Trump’s Pentagon pick, on Thursday even as new details surfaced about allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. The GOP embrace of Hegseth came as another controversial Trump nominee, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration for attorney general. Gaetz said it was clear he had become a “distraction" amid pressure on the House to release an ethics report about allegations of his own sexual misconduct. An attorney for two women has said that his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. People are also reading... Fresh questions over the two nominees' pasts, and their treatment of women, arose with Republicans under pressure from Trump and his allies to quickly confirm his Cabinet. At the same time, his transition has so far balked at the vetting and background checks that have traditionally been required. While few Republican senators have publicly criticized any of Trump's nominees, it became clear after Gaetz's withdrawal that many had been harboring private concerns about him. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, said it was a “positive move.” Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker said it was a “positive development.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” After meeting with Hegseth, though, Republicans rallied around him. “I think he’s going to be in pretty good shape,” said Wicker, who is expected to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next Congress. Republican senators' careful words, and their early reluctance to publicly question Trump's picks, illustrated not only their fear of retribution from the incoming president but also some of their hopes that the confirmation process can proceed normally, with proper vetting and background checks that could potentially disqualify problematic nominees earlier. Gaetz withdrew after meeting with senators on Wednesday. Sen. Thom Tillis said Gaetz was “in a pressure cooker” when he decided to withdraw, but suggested that it would have little bearing on Trump’s other nominees. “Transactions — one at a time,” he said. As the Hegseth nomination proceeds, Republicans also appear to be betting that they won't face much backlash for publicly setting aside the allegations of sexual misconduct — especially after Trump won election after being found liable for sexual abuse last year. Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance on Thursday in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.” A 22-page police report report made public late Wednesday offered the first detailed account of the allegations against him. A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. The report cited police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who treated her, a hotel staffer, another woman at the event and Hegseth. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Palatore, said the incident was “fully investigated and police found the allegations to be false.” Hegseth paid the woman in 2023 as part of a confidential settlement to head off the threat of what he described as a baseless lawsuit, Palatore has said. Wicker played down the allegations against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, saying that “since no charges were brought from the authorities, we only have press reports.” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said after his meeting with Hegseth that he "shared with him the fact that I was saddened by the attacks that are coming his way.” Hagerty dismissed the allegations as “a he-said, she-said thing” and called it a “shame” that they were being raised at all. The senator said attention should instead be focused on the Defense Department that Hegseth would head. It's one of the most complex parts of the federal government with more than 3 million employees, including military service members and civilians. Sexual assault has been a persistent problem in the military, though Pentagon officials have been cautiously optimistic they are seeing a decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and the military academies. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who will be the No. 2 Republican in the Senate next year, said after his meeting with Hegseth that the nominee is a strong candidate who “pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power – not the current administration’s woke political agenda.” Senate Republicans are under pressure to hold hearings once they take office in January and confirm nominees as soon as Trump is inaugurated, despite questions about whether Trump’s choices will be properly screened or if some, like Hegseth, have enough experience for the job. Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, who will be the top Democrat on the panel next year, said the reports on Hegseth “emphasized the need for a thorough investigation by the FBI on the background of all the nominees.” It takes a simple majority to approve Cabinet nominations, meaning that if Democrats all opposed a nominee, four Republican senators would also have to defect for any Trump choice to be defeated. Trump has made clear he’s willing to put maximum pressure on Senate Republicans to give him the nominees he wants – even suggesting at one point that they allow him to just appoint his nominees with no Senate votes. But senators insist, for now, that they are not giving up their constitutional power to have a say. “The president has the right to make the nominations that he sees fit, but the Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consent,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. In the case of Gaetz, he said, “I think there was advice offered rather than consent.” Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!

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Former heavyweight champion of the world Anthony Joshua could be entering his final year in the sport, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn. In an interview with The Times, the Matchroom Sport chief has hinted at what the future could look like for the 35-year-old. Joshua was beaten by Daniel Dubois earlier this year, a damaging defeat for the two-time heavyweight champion of the world who had been eyeing a third stint at the top of the division.. Hearn had previously stated that Joshua would consider activating the rematch clause in the deal, with a rematch mooted for February 2025. However, Joshua has sustained a few niggling injuries, casting doubt over the rematch, likely pushing the fight back to later in the year. Brentwood-born promoter Hearn has been by Joshua’s side throughout his career, having also worked with the likes of Canelo Álvarez, Gennady Golovkin, Vasyl Lomachenko and Katie Taylor, all of whom have gone on to be world champions. Joshua was forced to deny retirement calls after his defeat to Dubois, insisting he still had more to give in the sport. Related News YouTuber Paul eyes Joshua showdown ‘Joshua should wait for Fury fight’ Ajagba poised for world title shot Speaking after Katie Taylor’s recent win over Amada Serrano, with retirement looming for the Irish fighter, Hearn also said, “this could be [Joshua’s] last year in the sport.” The general consensus is that AJ, who has amassed an estimated £175m from his boxing career, will face Tyson Fury in his final fight before hanging up his gloves. Joshua is said to chomping at the bit to arrange a rematch with Dubois, which will likely take place in May or June, according to Hearn. Speaking to The Sun earlier this month, Hearn said: “He wanted to fight on February 22 but unfortunately we kind of had to overrule him on this and say no because we can’t afford not to get this right. “If you get beaten again by Daniel Dubois you have to seriously consider your future. We got one last chapter in this career that we need to make sure we get 100 per cent spot on. “So when he comes back in May or June or whenever that’s gonna be you got to be physically mentally 100 per cent ready. He wants to rematch Daniel so bad.”Disney Entertainment's eight owned ABC stations are multiplatform leaders in local news and information. For over 70 years, ABC13 has been Houston's news and weather leader, and the station remains the dominant #1 choice for Houstonians today. ABC13 provides live local news and weather coverage 24/7 through its linear and streaming newscasts, as well as its website, apps and social media platforms. ABC13 is deeply engrained in the Houston community, the most diverse city in the nation. ABC13 Localish stories celebrate the good people and places that make Houston so unique. The station is the community leader, giving back through tentpole events throughout the year, including Share Your Holidays food drive, E-Cycle Earth Day electronics recycling event, and Pick Your Pet adoption drive. The biggest events in Houston all happen on ABC13! The station is the proud media partner for the Houston Marathon, Galveston Mardi Gras, the Houston Rodeo Parade and the Houston Pride Parade, and the Freedom Over Texas July 4th celebration. KTRK-TV, the Disney TV station located in Houston, TX is looking for an aggressive, motivated and dedicated Associate Producer who is ready for the next step in their career. Our Associate News Producer must have a passion for writing and for producing. We want to see you learn and grow into a Newscast Producer. This role assists producers with writing content for all platforms and must write clearly and compelling broadcast copy. Once trained, will produce and booth live cut-ins. Must be able to produce for any newscast: any day, any shift. Basic Qualifications: The ideal candidate would have experience at a local news station. Demonstrate ability to work under deadline pressures and work in a rapid, fast-paced environment Must be flexible to work any shift/any day including weekends and holidays Preferred Qualifications: Line producing experience Preferred Education: Bachelor's degree in journalism, communication or related field Interested candidates apply via Disneycareers.com reference JOB ID # 10107230 About Disney Entertainment: At Disney Corporate you can see how the businesses behind the Company's powerful brands come together to create the most innovative, far-reaching and admired entertainment company in the world. As a member of a corporate team, you'll work with world-class leaders driving the strategies that keep The Walt Disney Company at the leading edge of entertainment. See and be seen by other innovative thinkers as you enable the greatest storytellers in the world to create memories for millions of families around the globe. About The Walt Disney Company: The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with the following business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, Disney Parks, and Experiences and Products. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney's stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished. This position is with KTRK Television, Inc, which is part of a business we call Disney Entertainment. KTRK Television, Inc is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.

Marta has lived through long, lean years. Now she has another titleFox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Mats Zuccarello took a puck where no man ever wants to be hit. The Minnesota Wild star was in front of the net in a game against the Montreal Canadiens Nov. 14, when a shot hit him in the groin. Zuccarello immediately dropped to the ice and needed help leaving the rink. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Mats Zuccarello (36) of the Minnesota Wild is helped off of the ice by a trainer after being injured during a game against the Montreal Canadiens at Xcel Energy Center Nov. 14, 2024, in Saint Paul, Minn. (Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) Zuccarello has not played since. According to teammate Marcus Foligno, Zuccarello ruptured a testicle. "Poor guy got hit where the sun don’t shine, and it ruptured his testicle. He can’t even lift anything," Foligno told the 93X "Half-Assed Morning Show" Wednesday. Foligno said he and his teammates "thought he was gonna lose one nut." "But it actually survived, and he’s got them both still," Foligno added. Folgino said Zuccarello's protective cup had a "massive dent in it." Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello, center, is helped off the ice after being injured during the first period of a game against the Montreal Canadiens Nov. 14, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn) ALEX OVECHKIN'S QUEST TO BREAK WAYNE GRETZKY'S COVETED NHL RECORD ON HOLD AFTER BRUTAL INJURY "It was hilarious," Foligno said. "It’s funny after, now that he’s OK." Zuccarello underwent surgery after the injury, and he's expected to miss about four weeks. Zuccarello is fourth on the team with 14 points (six goals, eight assists) and has skated on the first line with three-time All-Star Kirill Kaprizov and center Marco Rossi. "Zuccy’s such an important part of the team. I’ve really enjoyed coaching him. He’s a veteran player. He’s an extreme competitor. He’s got great hockey sense, his value on the power play, obviously his chemistry with Kirill. But, to me, the way he’s come in this year and he’s played, he’s a real key guy," head coach John Hynes said. "That being said, he’s played a long time, too. So, I know when he comes back, he’s going to be back to where he is." Mats Zuccarello of the Minnesota Wild passes the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during a game at Xcel Energy Center Nov. 3, 2024, in Saint Paul, Minn. (Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP This is Zuccarello's 15th season in the NHL. He spent his first nine with the New York Rangers before a brief stint in Dallas with the Stars. He joined Minnesota in 2019. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .Japan’s antitrust watchdog to find Google violated law in search case, Nikkei reports

Cibus director Gerhard Prante sells $4,439 worth of stockTikTok's future in the U.S. appeared uncertain on Friday after a federal appeals court rejected a legal challenge to a law that requires the social media platform to cut ties with its China-based parent company or be banned by mid-January. A panel of three judges on The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled unanimously that the law withstood constitutional scrutiny, rebuffing arguments from the two companies that the statute violated their rights and the rights of TikTok users in the U.S. The government has said it wants ByteDance to divest its stakes in TikTok. But if it doesn't and the platform goes away, it would have a seismic impact on the lives of content creators who rely on the platform for income as well as users who use it for entertainment and connection. Here are some details on the ruling and what could happen next: What does the ruling say? In their lawsuit, TikTok and ByteDance, which is also a plaintiff in the case, had challenged the law on various fronts, arguing in part that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and was an unconstitutional bill of attainder that unfairly targeted the two companies. But the court sided with attorneys for the Justice Department who said that the government was attempting to address national security concerns and the way in which it chose to do so did not violate the constitution. The Justice Department has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say that Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok's U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread, or suppress, information. However, the U.S. hasn't publicly provided examples of that happening. The appeals court ruling, written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg, said the law was “carefully crafted to deal only with control by a foreign adversary." The judges also rejected the claim that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Furthermore, Ginsburg wrote the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to “suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok. What happens next? TikTok and ByteDance are expected to appeal the case to the Supreme Court, but it's unclear whether the court will take up the case. TikTok indicated in a statement on Friday the two companies are preparing to take their case to high court, saying the Supreme Court has “an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech." "We expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” a company spokesperson said. Alan Morrison, a professor at The George Washington University Law School, said he expects the Supreme Court to take up the case because of the novelty of the issues raised in the lawsuit. If that happens, attorneys for the two companies still have to convince the court to grant them an emergency stay that will prevent the government from enforcing the Jan. 19 divestiture deadline stipulated in the law, Morrison said. Such a move could drag out the process until the Justices make a ruling. Tiffany Cianci, a TikTok content creator who has supported the platform, said she was not shocked about the outcome of the court's ruling on Friday because lower courts typically defer to the executive branch on these types of cases. She believes the company will have a stronger case at the Supreme Court. “I believe that the next stages are more likely to produce a victory for TikTokers and for TikTok as a whole,” Cianci said. What about Trump? Another wild card is President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the recent presidential campaign that he is now against such action . The Trump transition team has not offered details on how Trump plans to carry out his pledge to “save TikTok." But spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement last month that he plans to “deliver” on his campaign promises. After Trump takes office on Jan. 20th, it would fall on his Justice Department to enforce the law and punish any potential violators. Penalties would apply to any app stores that would violate a prohibition on TikTok and to internet hosting services which would be barred from supporting it. Some have speculated that Trump could ask his Justice Department to abstain from enforcing the law. But tech companies like Apple and Google, which offer TikTok's app on their app stores, would then have to trust that the administration would not come after them for any violations. Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said enforcement discretion — or executive orders — can not override existing law, leaving Trump with “limited room for unilateral action." There are other things Trump could potentially do. It's possible he could invoke provisions of the law that allow the president to determine whether a sale or a similar transaction frees TikTok from “foreign adversary” control. Another option is to urge Congress to repeal the law. But that too would require support from congressional Republicans who have overwhelmingly supported the prospect of getting TikTok out of the hands of a Chinese company. In a statement issued Friday, Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, said he was “optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok” and allow its continued use in the United States. Is anyone trying to buy TikTok? ByteDance has said it won't sell TikTok . And even if it wanted to, a sale of the proprietary algorithm that powers TikTok is likely to get blocked under Chinese export controls that the country issued in 2020. That means if TikTok is sold without the algorithm, its likely that the buyer would only purchase a shell of the platform that doesn't contain the technology that made the app a cultural powerhouse. Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in buying it. This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital. The spokesperson did not disclose the identity of the participants. Haleluya Hadero, The Associated PressCibus director Gerhard Prante sells $4,439 worth of stock

NonePALERMO, Calif. (AP) — Two children were wounded in a shooting Wednesday at a small religious K-8 school in Northern California and the shooter died from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot, sheriff’s officials said. The children’s conditions were not immediately known. The shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, a private, K-8 school in Palermo, a community of 5,500 people about 65 miles (104 km) north of Sacramento. Related Articles National News | Abandoned mines in the US pose dangers to people and property when land gives way National News | Dog food recalled in 7 states for salmonella risk after puppy litter gets sick, FDA says National News | White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign National News | Powell: Fed’s independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions National News | United Healthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said the 911 calls reported “an individual on campus who had fired shots at students,” and said that the shooter did not appear to have a connection to the school. The motive was not immediately known, he continued. One student was flown to a nearby hospital, Honea said. Authorities rushed students to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene to be reunited with their families, the sheriff’s office said. The school has been open since 1965 and caters to fewer than three dozen children, according to its website.

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winner777 login app COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — EJ Neal had 12 points in Sacramento State's 63-61 win against Air Force on Wednesday night. Neal had five rebounds for the Hornets (2-4). Julian Vaughns shot 5 for 8, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc to add 12 points. Jacob Holt had 10 points and shot 3 of 5 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. The Falcons (2-5) were led by Jeffrey Mills, who posted 19 points. Ethan Taylor added 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals for Air Force. Vaughns scored eight points in the first half and Sacramento State went into halftime trailing 33-22. Sacramento State used a 12-0 second-half run to take the lead at 34-33. Lachlan Brewer scored 10 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .From waste to wealth: Part - II This production could reduce carbon emissions by 70-80 per cent compared to conventional jet fuels This representational image shows a solid waste dump. — AFP/File The metropolitan municipal solid waste (MSW) generation, of which 75 per cent is organic, remains largely untapped. Organic MSW with higher calorific value given our national consumption of fatty oils and foods holds significant potential for conversion into biofuels, while non-recyclable fractions can be processed into biodiesel and SAF through technologies like hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA). Feedstocks such as used cooking oil (UCO), soap stock, and poultry feather acid oil can enable Pakistan to produce around 680,000 MT of SAF annually. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); This production could reduce carbon emissions by 70-80 per cent compared to conventional jet fuels. Beyond meeting domestic SAF requirements, Pakistan’s annual production capacity positions it to export significant quantities to regions with high demand, such as Europe and North America. Formalised waste collection systems, particularly in urban centres such as Karachi where an estimated 22,000 MT per day is generated, are crucial and offer another climate-linked investment opportunity on a PPP basis as there are use cases in other countries. Engaging informal waste pickers in structured recycling programmes can further enhance feedstock availability and encourage financial inclusion by incentivising them through rewards participation programmes as the estimated earnings for waste pickers in Karachi is over Rs100,000 per month. Results-based financing (RBF) can be used to reward waste processors for achieving recycling and energy production targets. Effective waste management systems in urban areas reduce environmental pollution, enhance resource recovery, and foster sustainable cities which are central to SDG11. Thus far there has only been one SAF project in Pakistan where two multilateral development banks have supported with patient capital the climate-linked project. New projects can attract funding by local investors and authorities linking up with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which has provided grants and technical support for SAF R&D and pilot projects in developing countries including in India to support decarbonisation of the aviation sector. Another avenue Pakistani lenders and investors should explore is the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) which channels concessional finance to private investors in emerging markets primarily through its Clean Technology Fund to scale SAF production. Although the federal government introduced a biodiesel programme in 2008 targeting a 5.0 per cent biodiesel blend in diesel fuel by 2015 and a 10 per cent blend by 2025, it is not being promoted even after the Alternative and Renewable Energy (ARE) Policy of 2011 was developed to promote biofuels as part of the country's renewable energy. The ministries of energy and finance ought to design a specific framework which promotes and incentivises producers and investors as well as mandates via provincial departments the collection and recycling of organic and agricultural waste. Tax incentives for biofuel and SAF producers and SAF blending targets for the aviation industry will stimulate investment in this sector, as well as capital relief on risk-weighted assets deployed by domestic lenders to provide transition and climate-friendly development financing to biofuel facilities and refineries. To unlock this potential via the SIFC, which champions the successful ‘whole of government’ approach, opportunities must be created for sovereign wealth funds and institutional investors to invest and build infrastructure for WtB on a public-private partnership basis too. In May 2024 for instance, the UAE’s Mubadala Capital announced a $13.5 billion investment into Brazil through Acelen Renovaveis to produce up to 1 billion litres of biofuels/SAF annually with the US giant Honeywell which shall implement renewable fuels technology and begin moduled production by the end of 2026. The investment would be through a mix of equity and debt tranched into five modules, and each will consist of a new biorefinery with associated infrastructure and planted areas to grow the input crop with an output processing capacity of 20,000 barrels of fuel per day. Why should the UAE not invest so close to home with low freight charges when it has its SAF targets set to produce 700 million litres of SAF annually by 2030, accounting for at least 1.0 per cent of the total fuel supplied at its airports by 2031 where up to $9 billion of investment is required in SAF facilities and supporting value chains to meet these targets. A similar case can be made for the Saudis since the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has announced a target to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and should be invited to assess alongside ARAMCO the potential to set up biofuels refineries in Pakistan using agricultural and municipal waste. Pakistan must not miss out on this climate-linked development finance opportunity. By adopting a multi-stakeholder partnership approach that aligns with SDG17 the private sector should lead, fueled primarily by viability gap funding (VCF) from state-owned banks and development finance institutions whose prime responsibility is to create economic growth avenues, and the government which facilitates the PPP model, Pakistan should enhance energy security while driving inclusive and export-oriented economic growth. (If you are interested in the dynamics and opportunities of the biofuel and waste management sectors, please contact the writer for a detailed white paper on ‘Creating a Sustainable Circular Economy in Waste Management’). Concluded The writer is a seasoned banker with 30 years of international expertise in global markets and developmentfinance. He can be reached at:1adnanpasha@gmail.comHollyoaks ‘confirms’ Abe comeuppance as Cleo escapes her captor in unexpected wedding twistGunman wounds two children at US school, kills self

Mumbai: After noticing sub-standard road concretisation work at several locations, the BMC has imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakhs on the contractor and the quality control agency responsible for the poor work. On Thursday, during a visit to a road concretisation project in Borivali, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani instructed civic officials and engineers to personally inspect the work sites and closely monitor the progress. The civic authorities have taken action after complaints about poor construction quality in certain locations, initiating an inquiry into ongoing concretisation work. The evaluation is being conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay (IIT-B). "A contractor and a quality control agency were fined Rs 1.5 lakhs each for substandard work on a road in Lokhandwala, Andheri West. Similar actions have been taken in other areas where poor quality road concretisation was found. Additionally, the contractor will be instructed to carry out rectification work to address the issues," said a senior civic official. Meanwhile, Gagrani inspected ongoing concretisation work in R- Central - Borivali area along with deputy municipal commissioner (Zone- 7) Bhagyashree Kapse and Assistant municipal commissioner Sandhya Nandedkar on Thursday. Gagrani instructed the officials to ensure that all roadworks in the area are completed before the onset of the monsoon. The area near Borivali (East) station experiences waterlogging every year during the rainy season. During his visit, Gagrani also reviewed the proposed drainage improvement work by the Stormwater Drain Department, emphasising the need for timely execution to prevent the usual waterlogging issues. The BMC's ambitious project to concretise roads in Mumbai had faced setbacks due to substandard work at some locations. In Phase 1, the BMC has completed only 46 km of the planned 324 km of concretisation within a year. Currently, work is ongoing on 213 roads, with 298 roads yet to be concretised. In Phase 2, of the 1,420 roads scheduled for concretisation, 433 are currently under construction, with many still pending.

TOKYO — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan have announced plans to work toward a merger that would form the world’s third-largest automaker by sales, as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors Corp. also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Automakers in Japan have lagged behind their big rivals in electric vehicles and are trying to cut costs and make up for lost time as newcomers like China’s BYD and EV market leader Tesla devour market share. Honda’s president, Toshihiro Mibe, said Honda and Nissan will attempt to unify their operations under a joint holding company. Honda will lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. They aim to have a formal merger agreement by June and to complete the deal and list the holding company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by August 2026, he said. No dollar value was given and the formal talks are just starting, Mibe said. There are “points that need to be studied and discussed,” he said. “Frankly speaking, the possibility of this not being implemented is not zero.” A merger could result in a behemoth worth more than $50 billion based on the market capitalization of all three automakers. Together, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi would gain scale to compete with Toyota Motor Corp. and with Germany’s Volkswagen AG. Toyota has technology partnerships with Japan’s Mazda Motor Corp. and Subaru Corp. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month, with unconfirmed reports saying Taiwan iPhone maker Foxconn was seeking to tie up with Nissan by buying shares from the Japan’s company’s other alliance partner, Renault SA of France. Nissan’s CEO Makoto Uchida said Foxconn had not directly approach his company. He also acknowledged that Nissan’s situation was “severe.” Even after a merger Toyota, which rolled out 11.5 million vehicles in 2023, would remain the leading Japanese automaker. If they join, the three smaller companies would make about 8 million vehicles. In 2023, Honda made 4 million and Nissan produced 3.4 million. Mitsubishi Motors made just over 1 million. “We have come to the realization that in order for both parties to be leaders in this mobility transformation, it is necessary to make a more bold change than a collaboration in specific areas,” Mibe said. Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi earlier agreed to share components for electric vehicles like batteries and to jointly research software for autonomous driving to adapt better to electrification. Nissan has struggled following a scandal that began with the arrest of its former chairman Carlos Ghosn in late 2018 on charges of fraud and misuse of company assets, allegations that he denies. He eventually was released on bail and fled to Lebanon. Speaking Monday to reporters in Tokyo via a video link, Ghosn derided the planned merger as a “desperate move.” From Nissan, Honda could get truck-based body-on-frame large SUVs such as the Armada and Infiniti QX80 that Honda doesn’t have, with large towing capacities and good off-road performance, Sam Fiorani, vice president of AutoForecast Solutions, told The Associated Press. Nissan also has years of experience building batteries and electric vehicles, and gas-electric hybrid powertrains that could help Honda in developing its own EVs and next generation of hybrids, he said. But the company said in November that it was slashing 9,000 jobs, or about 6% of its global work force, and reducing its global production capacity by 20% after reporting a quarterly loss of 9.3 billion yen ($61 million). It recently reshuffled its management and Uchida, its chief executive, took a 50% pay cut while acknowledging responsibility for the financial woes, saying Nissan needed to become more efficient and respond better to market tastes, rising costs and other global changes. “We anticipate that if this integration comes to fruition, we will be able to deliver even greater value to a wider customer base,” Uchida said. Fitch Ratings recently downgraded Nissan’s credit outlook to “negative,” citing worsening profitability, partly due to price cuts in the North American market. But it noted that it has a strong financial structure and solid cash reserves that amounted to 1.44 trillion yen ($9.4 billion). Nissan’s share price also had fallen to the point where it is considered something of a bargain. On Monday, its Tokyo-traded shares gained 1.6%. They jumped more than 20% after news of the possible merger broke last week. Honda’s shares surged 3.8%. Honda’s net profit slipped nearly 20% in the first half of the April-March fiscal year from a year earlier, as its sales suffered in China. The merger reflects an industry-wide trend toward consolidation. At a routine briefing Monday, Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said he would not comment on details of the automakers’ plans, but said Japanese companies need to stay competitive in the fast changing market. “As the business environment surrounding the automobile industry largely changes, with competitiveness in storage batteries and software is increasingly important, we expect measures needed to survive international competition will be taken,” Hayashi said.Homeless could move from Edinburgh in licence plan

With his presidency ending in a few weeks, Joe Biden’s legacy is only getting messier. For many Democrats, he’s the man to blame for returning Donald Trump to the White House. If only Biden hadn’t selfishly run for reelection, the story goes, Kamala Harris would have had time to mount a better campaign — or maybe the party could have had a proper primary contest to find somebody, anybody, stronger than Biden or Harris. The trouble with that theory is that Democrats haven’t won a presidential election without Biden on the ticket since 1996. Perhaps Barack Obama didn’t really need Biden as his running mate in 2008 and 2012; yet he needed someone for the No. 2 slot, and he evidently thought Biden the best thing available. Democrats at the time should have pondered what that said about their talent pool. If they’d done so, they might have avoided the mistake that really set them up to lose this year — a mistake named Kamala Harris. Elite Democrats knew perfectly well Biden was already showing his age, then 77, when he won the 2020 nomination, but at the height of COVID lockdowns, his lack of cogency and energy wouldn’t be noticed on the campaign trail — because there wouldn’t be a campaign trail. If Biden was the best the party could field at the ticket’s top, though, what was left below him? By making Biden his veep, Obama had missed the chance to elevate a leader from his own generation. And Hillary Clinton, hell-bent on having the White House for herself, sucked all the air out of the 2016 primaries, leaving only enough oxygen for Bernie Sanders to challenge her from the left — which the then-75-year-old Vermont democratic socialist did surprisingly well. Senior Democrats in effect prevented the next generation of leadership from being born — perhaps a fitting thing for a party so fiercely dedicated to abortion. What they had in lieu of fresh presidential material was identity politics. So, fully aware Biden wasn’t fit to be a two-term president, Democrats accepted Harris as his running mate. Her qualification as Biden’s heir apparent wasn’t that she was popular with voters: On the contrary, she never made it to the first primary in her bid for the 2020 nomination, so pathetic were her polls. Nor did Harris represent, like Sanders, an ideological force within the party; her opportunism was already transparent long before she turned repudiating her own words and past policies into the hallmark of her ’24 campaign. What argued for making her Biden’s running mate was simply her race and sex. After all, the central message of Clinton’s campaign four years earlier had been that a woman deserved to be president. How could a party that ran on that not put any woman on its ticket next time? Yet it was also the year of George Floyd, and the party of Black Lives Matter couldn’t afford not to take color into consideration as well. Harris wasn’t popular, she wasn’t principled, but she was ambitious — and she ticked the right boxes. Yet when a party selects candidates this way, it can’t be surprised that it loses, especially after Clinton had already proved identity politics wouldn’t beat Trump. Elite Democrats may blame Biden now, but the truth is they knew all about his condition and still preferred to have him run again rather than risk the party’s fortunes on Harris. There was no one else: The choice was Biden or Harris, and until his debate meltdown — and for some time afterward, in fact — Democratic insiders saw Biden as obviously the stronger candidate. The party sealed its fate in 2020 when it elevated Harris for reasons having nothing to do with electability. Yet Democrats put their philosophy to the test: If race and gender preferences are needed in higher education and corporate America to right the wrongs of racism and sexism, isn’t it all the more important those wrongs be righted with preferences at the highest level, that of presidential politics? But trying to do that landed Democrats with a substitute for Biden who couldn’t win, even with the media branding her opponent an outright fascist. Harris’ campaign has revealed its internal polling never showed her ahead. Biden, Harris, Clinton and Obama led Democrats to a dead end. To escape, the party will have to rethink its identity politics — but given Trump’s gains with black men and Latinos , Democrats may fear any retreat from affirmative action will unravel their already fraying coalition. By rejecting Harris and electing Trump, however, the nation’s voters — of both sexes and all colors — sent Democrats a clear message. The question is whether they’re willing to hear it.

Why Does Warren Buffett See Opportunity in This Highly Valued Pizza Giant?BIG 12 THIS WEEKALPINE, Texas (AP) — Three U.S. Army soldiers at Fort Cavazos, Texas, have been arrested on human smuggling charges, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas said Thursday. Soldiers Emilio Mendoza Lopez, Angel Palma, 20, and Enrique Jauregui, 25, were arrested after a vehicle allegedly driven by Palma and carrying Mendoza Lopez, a Mexican national and two Guatemalan nationals was stopped Nov. 27 by law enforcement in Presidio along the border with Mexico, about 500 miles (805 kilometers) southwest of Dallas. Mike Lahrman, a spokesman for Esparza, said he did not know the soldier’s ranks or whether action had been taken against them by the military. A spokesman for Fort Cavazos did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “Mendoza Lopez and Palma allegedly traveled from Fort Cavazos to Presidio for the purpose of picking up and transporting undocumented noncitizens,” Esparza said in a statement. “Jauregui is alleged to be the recruiter and facilitator of the human smuggling conspiracy,” according to Esparza. “Data extracted from Palma’s phone through a search warrant revealed messages between the three soldiers indicating collaboration in the smuggling operation.” Related Articles National News | White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign National News | Powell: Fed’s independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions National News | US senators grill airline officials about fees for seats and checked bags National News | California ranks No. 9 for economic ‘balance’ between bosses and workers National News | Shooter kills UnitedHealthcare CEO in New York ambush, pedals into Central Park Mendoza Lopez was arrested at the scene of the Nov. 27 traffic stop while Palma, who prosecutors said fled the scene of the traffic stop, and Jauregui were arrested Tuesday at Fort Cavazos, about 125 miles (201 kilometers) south of Dallas, Lahrman said. Mendoza Lopez’s attorney, Shane Chriesman, said he is awaiting more information, known as discovery, from prosecutors on the charge. “Once I get discovery and have a chance to assess the case we’ll develop a plan of attack” and will try to get a bond set for Mendoza Lopez, who is currently jailed without bail, Chriesman said. No attorneys are listed in jail records who could speak for for Palma and Jauregui, who are awaiting their first court appearance on Friday, according to Esparza.

winner 777 casino Image credit: Canva Elon Musk wants Mars to be renamed as " New World ". The SpaceX and Tesla CEO shared this idea while drawing a parallel to the historical naming of America. In a post on social media platform X (earlier Twitter), the world’s richest man shared his idea and a photo of the Red planet’s Gale Crater captured by the Curiosity rover. Previously, Musk has shared his vision to transform Mars into a self-sufficient backup planet for humans and make our species a multi-planetary one. Take a look at the new post here Sharing the post, Musk wrote: “Mars will be called the “New World”, just as America was in past centuries. Such an inspiring adventure!” The post has received over 55 million views and over 1.3 lakh likes. Musk’s vision of Mars colonisation Earlier this month, Musk addressed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson's critique of his Mars colonisation plans. Defending his concept on X, the billionaire highlighted the importance of creating a self-sustaining human settlement on Mars, viewing it as critical for humanity's long-term survival. Musk’s remarks followed Tyson’s dismissal of Mars colonisation concepts during a discussion on Bill Maher’s talk show, where the scientist argued that the initiative lacks tangible returns on investment and suggested that resources would be better directed toward addressing urgent issues on Earth. Responding to the criticism, Musk wrote that establishing a significant human presence on Mars could protect the species from existential threats on Earth and ensure the continuity of humans. Musk-led SpaceX continues to develop technologies aimed at transporting humans to Mars and supporting the infrastructure for such a settlement. Earlier this month, researchers at the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad discovered evidence of the possible existence of ancient microbial life on Mars. Their study, published in JGR Planet, highlights chloride-rich depressions in the Terra Sirenum region, which likely experienced repeated wetting and drying cycles, making them potentially habitable.SUZHOU, China, Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- YXT.com Group Holding Limited (NASDAQ: YXT) (“YXT.com” or the “Company”), a leader and disruptor of the digital corporate learning industry in China, today announced changes to its senior management team. Mr. Teng Zu has resigned from his position as the chief executive officer (“CEO”) due to personal reasons, effective today. Mr. Zu’s resignation did not result from any disagreement with the Company. In addition, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) appointed Mr. Zu as the vice chairman of the Board, effective today. Mr. Zu will remain with the Company as a director and the vice chairman of the Board. Following this transition, the Board has appointed Mr. Xiaoyan Lu, the Company's director, founder, and chairman of the Board, to serve as the CEO of the Company, effective today. Mr. Lu will continue his role as chairman of the Board. Additionally, the Board has appointed Mr. Yazhou Wu, the Company's chief technology officer (“CTO”), to the additional role of chief operating officer (“COO”). In this expanded capacity, Mr. Wu will oversee the Company’s overall operational management while continuing his technology leadership role. “I am honored to return as CEO at this pivotal time,” said Mr. Xiaoyan Lu. “Mr. Zu has built a strong foundation in digital corporate learning, and I am confident that with our enhanced management structure and dedicated team, we are well-positioned to accelerate our growth strategy. We remain committed to driving innovation in digital corporate learning and creating lasting value for our stakeholders.” Safe Harbor Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to”, or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law. About YXT.com As a technology company, YXT.com provides corporations with digital corporate learning solutions, including SaaS platforms, learning content, and other services. YXT.com is a leader and disruptor of the digital corporate learning industry in China. Established in 2011, YXT.com has supported Fortune 500 companies and other leading companies with their transformation and digitalization of learning and development, and has received recognition, respect and recurring business. Contact Robin Yang ICR, LLC YXT.IR@icrinc.com +1 (646) 405-4883Manhattan police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione , suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, while carrying a gun, mask and writings linking him to the ambush. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Here's the latest: That’s according to a spokesperson for the governor who said Gov. Hochul will do it as soon as possible. Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation’s top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. ▶ Read more about Luigi Mangione Peter Weeks, the Blair County district attorney, says he’ll work with New York officials to try to return suspect Luigi Mangione there to face charges. Weeks said the New York charges are “more serious” than in Blair County. “We believe their charges take precedent,” Weeks said, promising to do what’s needed to accommodate New York’s prosecution first. Weeks spoke to reporters after a brief hearing at which a defense lawyer said Mangione will fight extradition. The defense asked for a hearing on the issue. In the meantime, Mangione will be detained at a state prison in western Pennsylvania. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said Tuesday it will seek a Governor’s warrant to secure Mangione’s extradition to Manhattan. Under state law, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul can issue a warrant of arrest demanding Mangione’s return to the state. Such a warrant must recite the facts necessary to the validity of its issuance and be sealed with the state seal. It would then be presented to law enforcement in Pennsylvania to expedite Mangione’s return to New York. But Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks says it won’t be a substantial barrier to returning Mangione to New York. He noted that defendants contest extradition “all the time,” including in simple retail theft cases. Dickey, his defense lawyer, questioned whether the second-degree murder charge filed in New York might be eligible for bail under Pennsylvania law, but prosecutors raised concerns about both public safety and Mangione being a potential flight risk, and the judge denied it. Mangione will continue to be housed at a state prison in Huntingdon. He has 14 days to challenge the detention. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have a month to seek a governor’s warrant out of New York. Mangione, wearing an orange jumpsuit, mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion, but was quieted by his lawyer. Luigi Mangione, 26, has also been denied bail at a brief court hearing in western Pennsylvania. He has 14 days to challenge the bail decision. That’s with some intervention from owner Elon Musk. The account, which hasn’t posted since June, was briefly suspended by X. But after a user inquired about it in a post Monday, Musk responded “This happened without my knowledge. Looking into it.” The account was later reinstated. Other social media companies such as Meta have removed his accounts. According to X rules, the platform removes “any accounts maintained by individual perpetrators of terrorist, violent extremist, or mass violent attacks, as well as any accounts glorifying the perpetrator(s), or dedicated to sharing manifestos and/or third party links where related content is hosted.” Mangione is not accused of perpetrating a terrorist or mass attack — he has been charged with murder — and his account doesn’t appear to share any writings about the case. He shouted something that was partly unintelligible, but referred to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people.” He’s there for an arraignment on local charges stemming from his arrest Monday. He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit as officers led him from a vehicle into the courthouse. Local defense lawyer Thomas Dickey is expected to represent the 26-year-old at a Tuesday afternoon hearing at the Blair County Courthouse. Dickey declined comment before the hearing. Mangione could have the Pennsylvania charges read aloud to him and may be asked to enter a plea. They include possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. In New York, he was charged late Monday with murder in the death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione likely was motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain with corporate greed, said a a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s hand-written notes and social media postings. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. A felony warrant filed in New York cites Altoona Officer Christy Wasser as saying she found the writings along with a semi-automatic pistol and an apparent silencer. The filing echoes earlier statements from NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny who said Mangione had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America.” Mangione is now charged in Pennsylvania with being a fugitive of justice. A customer at the McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested said one of his friends had commented beforehand that the man looked like the suspect wanted for the shooting in New York City. “It started out almost a little bit like a joke, my one friend thought he looked like the shooter,” said the customer, who declined to give his full name, on Tuesday. “It wasn’t really a joke, but we laughed about it,” he added. The warrant on murder and other charges is a step that could help expedite his extradition from Pennsylvania. In court papers made public Tuesday, a New York City police detective reiterated key findings in the investigation he said tied Mangione to the killing, including surveillance footage and a fake ID he used to check into a Manhattan hostel on Nov. 24. Police officers in Altoona, Pennsylvania, found that ID when they arrested Mangione on Monday. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Mangione doesn’t yet have a lawyer who can speak on his behalf, court officials said. Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and ski cap. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. Mangione’s cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione, announced Tuesday morning that he’s postponing a fundraiser planned later this week at the Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore, which was purchased by the Mangione family in 1986. “Because of the nature of this terrible situation involving my Cousin I do not believe it is appropriate to hold my fundraising event scheduled for this Thursday at Hayfields,” Nino Mangione said in a social media post. “I want to thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. My family and I are heartbroken and ask that you remember the family of Mr. Thompson in your prayers. Thank you.” Officers used New York City’s muscular surveillance system . Investigators analyzed DNA samples, fingerprints and internet addresses. Police went door to door looking for witnesses. When an arrest came five days later , those sprawling investigative efforts shared credit with an alert civilian’s instincts. A customer at a McDonald’s restaurant in Pennsylvania noticed another patron who resembled the man in the oblique security-camera photos New York police had publicized. He remains jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. By late Monday evening, prosecutors in Manhattan had added a charge of murder, according to an online court docket. It’s unclear whether Luigi Nicholas Mangione has an attorney who can comment on the allegations. Asked at Monday’s arraignment whether he needed a public defender, Mangione asked whether he could “answer that at a future date.”

Eagles place veteran on IR and claim edge rusher off waivers whom they could have drafted in 2017

First Commercial Nuclear Fusion Project Announced

Black plastic kitchen utensil risks were overstated. But you should still toss them, group saysPushpa 2 stampede: Tollywood biggies to meet Telangana CM tomorrow

Blake Snell, Dodgers agree to five-year, $182M contract: ReportsLast week, traders made profits from the Trump trade. This week they reversed their positions. I expect further upside into the Thanksgiving holiday. The market's performance was even more impressive considering the disappointing earnings from the number one AI player, Nvidia. The semiconductor giant reported stellar third-quarter earnings this week, but they were just not good enough to keep the stock’s upside price momentum going. Company management said supply chain issues reduced the growth rate in sales to the slowest in seven quarters. All that means, in my opinion, is that revenue will be boosted down the road when the bottlenecks are resolved. But in this market, no one is willing to wait around for that. The damage to the stock price was minor. However, Alphabet did tumble more than 6 percent after the Department of Justice moved to break up its vast technological empire. The DOJ asked a judge to force Google to sell off its Chrome browser. Short-term traders dumped the stock. To me, the chances that anything will come of this action anytime soon is just about zero. There is even a question of whether the incoming administration will pursue the case at all. Yet, it continues to sell off. This is the world of short-term equity markets that we live in. Long-term investors can profit from some of these trader temper tantrums. The biggest story in financial markets this week has been the steady climb in bitcoin and everything crypto. Last week I mentioned that bitcoin should see $100,000 in short order. Early Friday morning it topped $99,452. Bitcoin has turned out to be the Trump trade. A prominent crypto lawyer is evaluating potential candidates to succeed Gary Gensler as chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This added fuel to the fires that have lighted up all things crypto. Gensler, who has been the main impediment to the further development of the cryptocurrency market, announced he will be resigning on Jan. 20 even though his tenure runs through 2026, Two of the strongest candidates, Brian Brooks and Paul Atkins, are leading crypto advocates. Appointing the right candidate could convince many more economic actors that the time has come to get involved in this area. Gold has also reversed from a near 10 percent pullback since the election results although other metals have not fared as well. The Biden Administration's pivot in allowing Ukraine to use US missiles in Russia has caused a surge in geopolitical risk and a rush into gold as a safe-haven asset. Russian President Vladimir Putin has long said that using long-range, Army Tactical Missiles (AT-ACMS) would represent the crossing of a red line. Traders have also begun to have second thoughts about the chances for further interest rate cuts by the Fed. Traders have also begun to have second thoughts about the chances for further interest rate cuts by the Fed. The odds are no better than 50/50 at this point that the Fed will cut rates again in its December meeting. Worries that inflation may worsen under the new administration have convinced the bond market and possibly some members of the Federal Open Market Committee that holding off for the moment on rate cuts may be the wise move. I have been warning readers that I expect the Consumer Price Index to show further gains in inflation this quarter. That turned out to be true in the last month, and I suspect we will see the same again in the next report. Momentum, rotation and volatility; there was something for everyone over the last few days. I expect that to continue. Technology is no longer the only game in town and this week's top gainers — energy, crypto, gold, industrials and financials — are proof in the pudding. Markets are stretched but have been in that condition for a while now. Thanksgiving week is usually a good time for equities, so we could see stocks grind higher until the beginning of December. At that point, a pullback wouldn't surprise me. Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.The Edmonton Oilers have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL over the past five and a half weeks. Now, with the holiday break in the rearview mirror, they'll look to keep it going when they visit the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. Back on Nov. 18, the Oilers were 9-8-2 after a 3-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. They rebounded the next night with a 5-2 win against the host Ottawa Senators, spurring their current 12-3-0 stretch. Most recently, they've won three in a row, including a 3-1 home victory against the Senators on Sunday. "I think we're in a good spot," goalie Stuart Skinner said after that contest. "We're finding ways to win games. We don't want to lose two in a row, and we've been doing a pretty good job of that lately. I think the way we've been playing in all ends of the ice has been pretty consistent." Edmonton scored 2.63 goals per game and allowed 3.16 goals through the first five weeks of the season. They've done a 180-degree flip, averaging 4.07 goals for while limiting opponents to an average of 2.33 from Nov. 19 and on. Special teams have also improved, with the power play going from 16.3 percent efficiency to 28.2 percent and the penalty kill from a 67.4 percent success rate up to 86.7 percent. A resurgent Zach Hyman has helped contribute to the Oilers' success. The 32-year-old has seven goals in a six-game goal streak and has 10 of his 13 on the season in nine games since returning from injury Dec. 5. "When you're feeling good, things are easier, things slow down," he said. "When you're not feeling good, everything seems fast. ... So much of hockey and sports are results-driven. And when you're not getting the results, you know that it's about the process and about getting your looks and getting your chances and being around it." The Kings, meanwhile, kick off a five-game homestand with Saturday's tilt, hoping to rebound following back-to-back losses in the finale of a seven-game road trip that spanned 13 days. Los Angeles has struggled slightly since posting a sixth straight win against the New York Islanders, dropping four of the six games that followed (2-2-2). Despite the average results on the trip, the Kings are just one point behind the Oilers for second place in the Pacific Division. "It's a pretty good trip," coach Jim Hiller said. "We would have liked points out of (a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Sunday), but the trip itself was good. We played some pretty good hockey." The comforts of home could help fuel the team to get the results it missed out on during its road trip. Los Angeles has been one of the best home teams thus far, going 10-2-1 in 13 games. The Kings have won five straight as the hosts, with their last defeat coming on Nov. 20 against Buffalo. Defenseman Mikey Anderson has been stellar for the team on the back end in the absence of Drew Doughty, averaging a career-high 22:43 of ice time, a minute-plus more than his previous high set two seasons ago. "What an engine and he's really taking a step," Hiller said. "we've talked about that more than once. He's a really important player for us." This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.Walmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victory

JERUSALEM — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports, while the World Health Organization's director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, with a crew member injured. “The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the social media platform X. He added that he and U.N. colleagues were safe. “We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave,” he said, without mentioning the source of the bombardment. U.N. spokeswoman Stephanie Tremblay later said the injured person was with the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service. At least three people were later reported killed and dozens injured in the airport strike. The U.N. team members left the airport and were “safe and sound” in Sanaa while the injured crew member was being treated at a hospital, she said. Tremblay said the damage assessment would be made on Friday morning to see whether WHO chief and the U.N. team can leave Yemen. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalation in attacks between Yemen and Israel and described Thursday’s attacks as “especially alarming,” Tremblay said. Israel’s army later told The Associated Press it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief or delegation was at the location in Yemen. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military in a statement said it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, asserting they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel's military added it had "capabilities to strike very far from Israel’s territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively.” The strikes, carried out over 1,000 miles from Jerusalem, came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad’s regime and others learned" as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths and showed broken windows, collapsed ceilings and a bloodstained floor and vehicle. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in recent days. The U.N. has said the targeted ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014 . Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv , while other missiles and drones have been shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The U.N. Security Council has an emergency meeting Monday in response to an Israeli request that it condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying them weapons. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in Gaza overnight , the territory's Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said all were militants posing as reporters. The strike hit a car outside Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The journalists were working for local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller and more extreme ally of Hamas and took part in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. Israel's military identified four of the men as combat propagandists and said that intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives found by soldiers in Gaza, had confirmed that all five were affiliated with the group. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian militant groups operate political, media and charitable operations in addition to their armed wings. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings visible on the back doors. Sobbing young men attended the funeral. The bodies were wrapped in shrouds, with blue press vests draped over them. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel hasn't allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel has banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accused six of its Gaza reporters of being militants . The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Separately, Israel's military said a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead. Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities have been women and children, but doesn't say how many of the dead were fighters. Israel says it has killed more than 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The offensive has caused widespread destruction and hunger and driven around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Also Thursday, people mourned eight Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations in and around Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. A previous version of this story was corrected to show that the name of the local news outlet is Al-Quds Today, not the Quds News Network. Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-warSeongnam City to Participate in CES 2025, Paving the Way as a Global Innovation Hub

The Latest: UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect contests his extradition back to New York

A recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using such products. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere , experts from the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future said they detected flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in 85% of 203 items made of black plastic including kitchen utensils , take-out containers, children's toys and hair accessories. In a blog post, Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada, explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. (Dreamstime/TNS) The study initially said the potential exposure to chemicals found in one of the kitchen utensils approached the minimum levels the Environmental Protection Agency deemed a health risk. But in an update to the study, the authors say they made an error in their calculations and the real levels were "an order of magnitude lower" than the EPA's thresholds. The error was discovered by Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada. In a blog post, Schwarcz explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. Though Schwarcz said the risks outlined in the study aren't enough for him to discard his black plastic kitchen items if he had them, he agreed with the authors that flame retardants shouldn't be in these products in the first place. "The math error does not impact the study's findings, conclusions or recommendations," said Megan Liu, a co-author of the study who is the science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future . She added that any traces of flame retardants or toxic chemicals in cooking utensils should be concerning for the public. Flame retardants are getting into commonly used items because black-colored products are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives. When they're heated, the flame retardants and other toxic chemicals can migrate out. If you're wondering whether your old black plastic spoon or other utensils are a part of this group, Liu shared some more guidance. It's nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That's because these products that include recycled e-waste don't disclose a detailed list of all ingredients and contaminants in the product. Liu said it's also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products. Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study "had up to nine different harmful chemicals and harmful flame retardants in them," she said. Anytime you're looking for the type of recycled plastic a product is made of you're going to look for a number within the chasing arrows (that form a triangle) logo. Recycling symbols are numbered 1 to 7 and we commonly associate the numbers with what we can toss in our blue recycling bins. The 1 through 7 numbers stand for, respectively, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or Styrofoam, and miscellaneous plastics (including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass and nylon). The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu. There isn't a definitive timeline of when recycled electronic-waste started to be incorporated into black plastic products specifically, but e-waste started to get recycled in the early 2000s, Liu said. The way computers, cellphones, stereos, printers and copiers were being disposed of previously was to simply add them to a landfill without reusing salvageable parts. But as the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, electronics production required a significant amount of resources that could be recovered through recycling. Recovering resources such as metals, plastics and glass through recycling used a fraction of the energy needed to mine new materials. However, the study pointed out that flame retardants and other chemical contaminates have been detected in and near e-waste recycling facilities, in indoor air and dust at formal e-waste recycling facilities in Canada, China, Spain and the U.S. It also noted contamination in soil samples surrounding e-waste recycling sites in China and Vietnam. The safest nontoxic material options for kitchen utensil are wood and stainless steel. The 20th century brought airplanes, radio, television, the internet, and plastic. Lots of plastic. That plastic is now showing up on shorelines, forming islands in oceans, and generating mountains of translucent trash on land. Around 700 species of animals in the sea have been found to interact with plastic daily. Companies across every industry face pressure to reduce the amount of plastic they produce. Seventy-two percent of the world's largest have made voluntary commitments to reduce their plastic waste, according to a Duke University analysis. One industry, in particular, has greatly benefited from advancements in single-use plastic technology: the medical industry. Only in recent years have businesses and academics in the field begun to talk about minimizing their impact on our environment like beverage manufacturers and other consumer goods-producing businesses. Medical Technology Schools analyzed academic studies published in the National Library of Medicine , the American Medical Association , and news reports to shed light on the medical community's use of plastics through history, their environmental problems, and proposed solutions to reduce their impact. And the impact can be significant. A single hospital patient generates nearly 34 pounds of waste a day —as much as a quarter of it is plastic. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the problem. The pandemic pushed hospital capacity to the brink and led to a massive increase in personal protective equipment and medical supply usage. Medical-grade masks and other protective equipment like face shields, made mostly of nonrenewable plastics, were in high demand. In 2020, the World Health Organization estimated that the international need for PPE manufacturing would boost 40% to address the public health crisis. Hospitals needed an estimated 89 million masks, 76 million gloves, and 1.6 million goggles every month of the pandemic. To date, nearly 677 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, each requiring their own plastic syringe, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan estimated that the U.S. would produce a year's worth of medical waste in just two months due to the pandemic. The World Economic Forum warned that the COVID-19 crisis threatened to " stall and even reverse progress " to reduce large plastic waste. It's a challenge researchers acknowledge today as they search for solutions. Plastics introduced an era of ultraconvenience to the world. It makes our clothes. It's made bike helmets and airbags possible. And it's a cheap material to produce, meaning it's cheap for consumers too. Almost as importantly, it's durable and incredibly easy to make into complex shapes—a trait that helped plastics invented in the mid-20th century quickly replace more expensive metal and wooden goods. That adoption extended to the medical field, where the single-use nature of plastics represented a move toward more hygienic tools for physicians and hospitals. But it wasn't plastic's sanitary qualities that the industry first latched onto. Like so many other technical advancements, convenience and cost were the initial driving factors. That they were more conducive to creating a sterile environment for patients was a benefit that health care began to tout closer to the end of the 20th century. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, replaced glass bottles previously used to hold IV solution and replaced rubber tubing used throughout hospital settings. Plastic has also become the go-to material for making syringes and catheters. Plastic products are generally made from chemicals derived from the oil and natural gas refining process. Chemists use those byproducts to create synthetic materials with malleable and durable chemical structures. The low cost of these materials has helped medical device-makers support better health outcomes for communities across the U.S. since the 1900s. No longer was health care priced at rates only the elite could afford—it was accessible to a much larger swath of the public. In the last decade, the U.S., in particular, has emerged as a massive market for medical plastics. The country generally accounts for nearly half of the global market for medical devices. Plastic's durability is not only a benefit but a detriment to the environment, as the material can take many years to deteriorate when it enters landfills or trashes oceans. Estimates vary widely, but scientists ballpark that depending on the kind of plastic and the environment in which it decomposes, it could take dozens to thousands of years to break down entirely. COVID-19, which remains a burden for health care systems, isn't the only force raising the stakes for a health care industry pressured to reduce reliance on plastics or find ways to reuse them. Global annual production of plastic has doubled in the last two decades , according to the Environmental Protection Agency. As the U.S. looks toward the future, its aging population is another factor that could exacerbate the rate at which medical plastics end up in landfills. People require more medical care as they age, and aging baby boomers are expected to place increased demand on the medical device industry. At the same time, governments are under pressure to lower health care costs, which have become unaffordable even for those insured . As recently as 2021, researchers lamented a lack of data on efforts to recycle medical plastics. Around 350 hospitals participate in Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Excellence Awards . Practice Greenhealth is an organization working to help hospitals increase their sustainability. It's one of the few sources of hospital sustainability data, and its roster of participating hospitals represents a small fraction of the more than 6,000 hospitals operating in the U.S. To meet the need to reduce plastic waste generation, some hospitals are moving away from using plastic in certain applications. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center replaced health care workers' disposable plastic isolation gowns with reusable cloth gowns at its hospitals in the last decade, saving money and preventing literal tons of medical waste. It also implemented a process for sterilizing and incinerating the boxes that hold used needles, allowing them to be reassembled and reused in a health care setting. Recycling plastic medical waste is complicated by the potential for contamination and the need to separate contaminated and noncontaminated waste; once separated, they can be broken down with heat or treated with chemicals and reprocessed. However, using chemical methods to break down and dispose of plastics has drawbacks. Over 200 nongovernmental organizations signed a letter in 2023 urging the Biden administration to end federal support for methods like these, arguing they generate toxic pollutants. The Vinyl Council of Australia is working with hospitals to recover used materials made of PVC . The materials are broken down into tiny pieces, washed and heated at high temperatures, and remade into things used outside medical settings. In the U.S. and Europe, there's the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, a coalition of companies working in the health care device space that includes DuPont, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic. In 2021, the HPRC, advised by professionals at Kaiser Permanente and other health systems, rolled out a medical waste recycling pilot project with hopes of scaling it across more hospitals. Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on Medical Technology Schools and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!Michael Jordan Threw Up All Night Before Game 5 Of 1997 Finals After Eating Pizza In His Utah Hotel Room: ‘It Wasn’t The Flu Game, It Was Food Poisoning’

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On December 3, 2024, the Raymond James Financial, Inc. RJF Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend on shares of its common stock of $0.50 per share, payable January 16, 2025 to shareholders of record on January 2, 2025. This is an 11.1% increase over the previous dividend of $0.45 per share paid on October 15, 2024. The Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3984375 per depositary share of 6.375% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (NYSE: RJF PrB) payable January 2, 2025, to shareholders of record on December 16, 2024. The Board also authorized repurchase of the company's shares of common stock in an aggregate amount of up to $1.5 billion. The $1.5 billion authorization replaces the previous repurchase authorization of $1.5 billion announced on November 30, 2023, under which approximately $644 million was remaining as of December 3, 2024. The repurchases may be made from time to time at prices that the company deems appropriate and subject to market conditions, applicable law, regulatory constraints in connection with previously announced acquisitions and other factors. Such repurchases may be made in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise. The Board's authorization does not have a fixed expiration date. The repurchase authorization does not obligate the company to repurchase any dollar amount or number of securities and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. About Raymond James Financial, Inc. Raymond James Financial, Inc. RJF is a leading diversified financial services company providing private client group, capital markets, asset management, banking and other services to individuals, corporations and municipalities. The company has approximately 8,800 financial advisors. Total client assets are $1.54 trillion. Public since 1983, the firm is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RJF. Additional information is available at www.raymondjames.com . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include information concerning future shareholder distributions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, and they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although we make such statements based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. We caution investors not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements and urge you to carefully consider the risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") from time to time, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available at www.raymondjames.com and the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statement in the event it later turns out to be inaccurate, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.winner 777 login 。

LOS ANGELES, California — Nathan Hochman took office Tuesday as the new District Attorney of Los Angeles County, replacing George Soros-backed left-wing radical George Gascón. He was sworn in by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Hollywood action movie star and anti-Trump Republican who is also the last member of the GOP to have been elected to major statewide office, leaving under a cloud of personal scandal and fiscal mismanagement in 2010. Hochman, a Republican-turned-independent who endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race and backed the prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump, took the oath of office at the Los Angeles Hall of Justice. He delivered a speech in which he thanked his family and his campaign staff. Unlike Gascón, who used his inaugural speech to launch radical “criminal justice reforms,” Hochman promised to support line prosecutors and police. He said that he opposed “extreme policies” on “both ends of the political pendulum,” including defunding police on the left, and “mass incarceration” on the right. He said that he would focus on deterrence, rather than incarceration. He announced the reversal of previous “blanket extreme policies” that prevented prosecutors from seeking sentence enhancements or accompanying victims of crime to parole board hearings, vowing a focus on the facts and the law. Hochman also said that he would form task forces to deal with specific areas of crime, such as home break-ins, and that he would form partnerships with community groups to enhance public safety and trust in law enforcement. Hochman’s victory was one of several in California and nationwide in which Soros-backed prosecutors were defeated or replaced by “tough on crime” prosecutors. There were 21 such replacements since 2022, according to one report . Soros was said to have backed 75 prosecutors, many of them defeating incumbent Democrats, over the past decade in an effort to back the Black Lives Matter movement and change criminal justice, leading to a nationwide crime wave. Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of The Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days , available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of The Trumpian Virtues: The Lessons and Legacy of Donald Trump’s Presidency , now available on Audible. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak .None

T his is at once a wise and wonderfully enjoyable book. Mark Lilla treats weighty matters with a light touch, in an elegant prose style that crackles with dry wit. Almost every one of the short sections into which the narrative is divided – and there is a narrative, cunningly sustained within what seems a relaxed discursiveness – takes careful aim and at the end hits the bullseye with a sure and satisfying aphoristic thwock . The central premise of the book is simply stated: “How is it that we are creatures who want to know and not to know?” Lilla, professor of humanities at Columbia University, New York, and the author of a handful of masterly studies of the terrain where political and intellectual sensibilities collide, is an acute observer of the vagaries of human behaviour and thought in general, and of our tendency to self-delusion in particular. He has a genius for the telling epigraph, of which there are many here, set like jewels throughout the text. The first of these, and the most emblematic, is taken from George Eliot’s novel Daniel Deronda : “It is a common sentence that knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of ignorance?” This latter form of power, he tells us, is the subject he means to address. His book is certainly timely. As he notes, there are certain epochs, and surely we are slap bang in the middle of one, when “evident truth” is cast aside in favour of all manner of imbecile imaginings. “Mesmerised crowds still follow preposterous prophets, irrational rumours trigger fanatical acts, and magical thinking crowds out common sense and expertise.” There, encapsulated in a sentence, is the predicament we face in our present-day social and political lives. At the outset he presents a subtle retelling of Plato’s allegory of the cave . In his telling, a man and a boy are set free from the shadowed chamber and led up into the light. Soon, however, the boy is begging to return to the realm of happy delusion. “I miss my playmates,” he says tearfully. “Even if they were just pixels on a screen.” From the cave, Lilla makes a smooth ascent to the case of Oedipus, the most famous exemplar of the will to ignorance. As he notes, today Oedipus the King “seems less about fate and prophecy than about the vexed problem of self-knowledge”. And Oedipus is not alone in his state of willed blindness. What about Jocasta ? “While sharing her son’s bed all those years, wouldn’t she have noticed his disfigured feet, an unmistakable sign of his identity?” And why stop with the royal couple? Maybe they were all in on it, all of Thebes, and beyond, all “caught between the will to know and the will not to know”. It is remarkable how many instances Lilla finds of the wriggly measures humankind adopts in order not to look the facts in the face, from the Bible – that vast compendium of elaborate avoidances – through Augustine , and the giants of the Enlightenment, to the enraptured messianism of the twin mid-20th-century ideologies of fascism and communism. At the heart of the book is an invigorating excursus on St Paul, the founding father of the most consequential and, some would contend, most pernicious religious cult the world has known. Lilla knows his man: “It is no exaggeration to say that the history of western populism – spiritual and political – began with Paul.” He is “the cultured despiser of culture”, “a learned fanatic of the highest order”, who “held up as spiritual models innocent children, uneducated workmen, and lambs with vacant eyes, forever enshrining reverse snobbery as a Christian virtue”. If the next resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is in need of a patron saint, surely Paul is the one: “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent ... If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion And one more quote, not to be resisted for the tenor of its measured contempt: “Paul made possible the transformation of the Gospels’ beautiful moral ideal into an anti-intellectual ideology that was enshrined permanently in the Christian scriptures and has since passed into our secular societies. That ideology has attracted a certain sort of mind ever since – one with a death wish.” As Nietzsche put it: “There was only one Christian, and he died on the cross.” Ignorance and Bliss is a splendidly invigorating antidote to the vapid nostrums and mindless pieties – from right and left – that swirl about us in a poisoned fog. These are parlous times, and we need the likes of Lilla to help us face, and face down, the massed cohorts of “holy fools and eternal children whose distaste for the present sends them rushing, vainly, to restore an imagined past”. Ignorance and Bliss: On Wanting Not to Know by Mark Lilla is published on 12 December by C Hurst & Co (£18.99). To support the Guardian and the Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com . Delivery charges may apply

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The Conference of Parties (COP) presidency should tackle the “inequities” in the resource allocation of the current climate finance to help farmers cope with the aftermath of extreme weather conditions, according to a nongovernment organization. “The fight against climate change cannot emphasize enough the importance of agrifood systems. Ironically, this sector receives a meager share of the pie and it continues to decline,” Rice Watch and Action Network (R1) said in a statement. Citing an analysis by the Climate Policy Initiative, R1 said it showed a mere 0.8 percent share of small-scale agrifood systems or $5.53 billion of the total climate finance across all sectors of $660.2 billion in 2019 to 2020. The group also noted that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported in 2021 that climate-related development finance contributions towards agrifood systems declined by $19 billion or 12 percent compared to 2020. Asia posted the biggest decline, by 44 percent compared to 2020. “The inequities in resource allocation and worse, its further decline has cost the most vulnerable small-scale farmers and agri-micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) their remaining hope for resolution to their sad state.” R1 said the Philippines recently experienced four strong typhoons, leaving Filipino farmers barely able to recover from the devastation of one extreme weather event to another. “We join the united efforts of smallholder farmers, civil society, Indigenous Peoples (IPs), youth and women in seeking equitable share in climate financing,” R1 said. “Only then can we truly uphold climate change resilience among our sectors that are most vulnerable to the devastation of climate change impact.” The country has been grappling with successive typhoons recently that devastated agricultural farmlands and the fisheries sector, with damage reaching over P10 billion so far from typhoon Kristine to typhoon Nika. Bloomberg reported that nearly 200 countries agreed to triple the amount of money available to help developing countries confront rapidly warming temperatures. Rich countries have pledged to provide at least $300 billion annually by 2035, through a wide variety of sources, including public finance as well as bilateral and multilateral deals. The agreement also calls on parties to work toward unleashing a total of $1.3 trillion a year, with most of it expected to come through private financing. Developed and developing countries entered the negotiations far apart. At one point on Saturday, the talks appeared to be on the brink of collapse, before numerous closed-door meetings brought a deal closer. Rich nations are grappling with a slew of fiscal and political constraints, including inflation, constrained budgets and rising populism. The election of Donald Trump and his threat to pull the US out of the landmark Paris climate agreement also cast a shadow on the summit. Under a compromise, rich nations eventually agreed to commit $50 billion more than called for in a draft agreement on Friday. They had also made any agreement contingent on reaffirming last year’s COP28 outcome in Dubai that included a vow to transition away from fossil fuels. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) entered into a tripartite agreement for a $39.2-million climate change project set to benefit 1.25 million farmers in the climate-vulnerable regions of the country. The department signed the Operational Partners Agreement together with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) and FAO. The seven-year initiative aims to boost the resilience of rural communities reliant on agriculture. The project spans five regions, nine provinces, and 100 towns. The DA said a key outcome of the project is the adoption of climate-resilient farming practices by farmers, empowering them to establish sustainable enterprises. “The project also aims to strengthen regulatory frameworks, enhance market systems, and improve knowledge management to mainstream and scale up climate-resilient agriculture nationwide.”The remarkable life and death of a legendary Warrington character

Neuer gets sent off for 1st time and Bayern Munich exits German Cup early again

NoneTight race for the North Carolina Supreme Court is heading to another recount

Virtual Currency Market Look a Witness of Excellent Long-Term Growth - Worldwide Survey by 2030Alexis Mac Allister and substitute Cody Gakpo got the goals as Liverpool beat Champions League holders Real Madrid 2-0 at Anfield to make it five wins from as many games in the league phase for Arne Slot’s men. The Reds took the lead when Mac Allister played a one-two with Conor Bradley and slotted past Thibaut Courtois seven minutes into the second half. Real had the chance to equalise with a penalty just past the hour, but Kylian Mbappe saw his strike saved by Caoimhin Kelleher. 🛑🛑🛑 pic.twitter.com/bUR6j4xtT5 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 27, 2024 There was then an unsuccessful spot-kick from the hosts as Mohamed Salah missed from 12 yards, before Gakpo popped up with a 76th-minute header from Andy Robertson’s cross as the Merseysiders recorded a first win over Real in 15 years and gained some revenge for their defeats in the 2018 and 2022 finals. While Liverpool top the table, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real are down in 24th place – the final play-offs berth – with just six points from their five matches. Aston Villa are outside the top eight on goal difference after a 0-0 draw with Juventus in which Morgan Rogers had a stoppage-time finish for the hosts ruled out for a foul, with Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez having earlier made a fantastic save to deny Francisco Conceicao. Celtic, lying 20th, drew 1-1 at home with Club Brugge thanks to a curling Daizen Maeda strike that cancelled out a remarkable own goal by Cameron Carter-Vickers, who passed back without looking to send the ball into the net. Borussia Dortmund moved into the top eight with 3-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb, where Jamie Gittens, Ramy Bensebaini and Serhou Guirassy got on the scoresheet. A point apiece on matchday five in the Champions League. #AVLJUV || #UCL pic.twitter.com/rtjBsmYsO7 — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 27, 2024 Monaco dropped to eighth after suffering their first loss of the league phase, 3-2 at home to Benfica. Despite having Wilfried Singo sent off just prior to the hour mark, the French side took the lead for a second time via Soungoutou Magassa in the 67th minute, only for late goals from Arthur Cabral and Zeki Amdouni to give Benfica all three points. Lille, in 12th, have the same amount of points as Monaco and Villa thanks to a 2-1 win at Bologna, with Ngal’Ayel Mukau notching a brace. PSV Eindhoven, now 18th, produced a dramatic late turnaround to beat 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2 at home. The visitors led 2-0 through Danylo Sikan and Oleksandr Zubkov before having Pedrinho sent off in the 69th minute, and PSV then hit back with three goals in the closing stages, Malik Tilman scoring in the 87th and 90th and Ricardo Pepi then notching the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Red Star Belgrade registered their first win of the league phase by thrashing Stuttgart 5-1, as did Sturm Graz, beating Girona 1-0.In-memory processing using Python promises faster and more efficient computing by skipping the CPUNone

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The very close election for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat heads next to a hand recount even as election officials announced a machine recount of over 5.5 million ballots resulted in no margin change between the candidates. — in which ballots were run again through tabulators — that wrapped up this week showed Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs with a 734-vote lead over Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin, who is a Court of Appeals judge. Most county election boards reported minor vote changes from the machine recount requested by Griffin. But State Board of Elections data showed the post-recount lead as what Riggs held after all 100 counties fully completed their ballot canvass in November. Griffin led Riggs by about 10,000 votes on election night, and flipped to Riggs as tens of thousands of qualifying provisional and absentee ballots were added to the totals through the canvass. Griffin, who already has pending election protests challenging the validity of more than 60,000 ballots counted statewide, has asked for a partial hand-to-eye recount, which county boards will start Wednesday or Thursday. The partial hand recount applies to ballots in 3% of the voting sites in all 100 counties, chosen at random Tuesday by the state board. Once the partial recount is complete, a statewide hand recount would be ordered if the sample results differ enough from the machine recount that the result would be reversed if the difference were extrapolated to all ballots. Riggs, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2023 and now seeks an eight-year term, again claimed victory Tuesday. In a campaign news release, spokesperson Embry Owen said Griffin “needs to immediately concede – losing candidates must respect the will of voters and not needlessly waste state resources.” Riggs is one of two Democrats on the seven-member court. Through attorneys, Griffin has challenged ballots that he says may not qualify for several reasons and cast doubt on the election result. Among them: voter registration records of some voters casting ballots lack driver’s license or partial Social Security numbers, and overseas voters never living in North Carolina may run afoul of state residency requirements. State and county boards are considering the protests. Griffin’s attorneys on Monday asked the state board to accelerate the matters before it and make a final ruling early next week. “Our priority remains ensuring that every legal vote is counted and that the public can trust the integrity of this election,” state Republican Party spokesperson Matt Mercer said in a news release. Final rulings by the state board can be appealed to state court. Joining Griffin in protests are three Republican legislative candidates who still trailed narrowly in their respective races after the machine recounts. The Supreme Court race and two of these three legislative races have not been called by The Associated Press. The key pending legislative race is for a House seat covering Granville County and parts of Vance County. Republican Rep. Frank Sossamon trails Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn by 228 votes, down from 233 votes before the recount. Sossamon also asked for a partial hard recount in his race, which was to begin Tuesday. Should Cohn win, Republicans will fall one seat short of the 72 needed in the 120-member House to retain its veto-proof majority — giving more Senate Republicans already have won 30 of the 50 seats needed to retain its supermajority in their chamber. The AP on Tuesday did call another legislative race not subject to a protest, as Mecklenburg County GOP Rep. Tricia Cotham won her reelection bid over Democrat Nicole Sidman. A machine recount showed Cotham ahead of Sidman by 213 votes, compared to 216 after the county canvass. Cotham’s to the Republicans in April 2023 secured the Republicans’ 72-seat veto-proof majority so that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes could be overridden by relying solely on GOP lawmakers. Gary D. Robertson, The Associated PressDelhi Capitals Squad for IPL 2025: Mohit Sharma Sold to DC for INR 2.2 Crore at Indian Premier League Auction

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