An Azerbaijan Airlines flight which crashed on Christmas Day in Kazakhstan was reportedly hit by “external interference” over Russia, according to Azerbaijan’s transport minister, Rashad Nabiyev . The crash, which claimed 38 lives, occurred after the plane, a Brazilian-made Embraer 190, was diverted to Kazakhstan from Russia’s Chechnya region due to damage sustained during flight, reports BBC. Passengers onboard reported hearing three blasts above Grozny, leading to speculation that the aircraft had been struck by Russian air defense systems. Also Read: Azerbaijan Airliner Crash Kills 38: Weather, Russia Under Scrutiny Russian authorities have yet to comment, though Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia’s civil aviation agency, claimed that the region was under threat from Ukrainian drone attacks, and a “Carpet plan” was enacted, clearing aircraft from the area. He also mentioned dense fog over Grozny airport, which could have contributed to the incident. The U.S. government has confirmed receiving early indications that Russian air defense systems may have downed the plane, although they have refrained from making a definitive statement. Azerbaijan Airlines has pointed to “physical and technical external interference,” which experts believe involved GPS jamming and missile shrapnel damage, BBC adds. One flight attendant described hearing a “strike,” which injured her arm. Pilot Tahir Agaguliev speculated that the missile exploded nearby, with shrapnel damaging the aircraft’s hydraulics. Despite the damage, the pilots managed to land the plane, saving 29 lives. Azerbaijan is demanding Russia acknowledge its responsibility for the incident, similar to the apology Russia extended in 2020 when it shot down an Azerbaijani helicopter. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan Airlines suspended flights to several Russian cities, including Grozny and Sochi, citing security concerns. The investigation is ongoing, with Azerbaijan pushing for an international inquiry rather than one led by Russia or Kazakhstan. Read Next: Russian Firms Adopt Bitcoin For Global Trade In Response To Western Sanctions: ‘Should Be Expanded And Developed Further’ © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.December in the Garden for Central FloridaThe AFL draftee who wants to banish ‘toxic masculinity’
The Fabric and Apparel Accessory Manufacturer’s Association (FAAMA), a subsidiary association of the Joint Apparel Association Forum of Sri Lanka (JAAF), hosted its 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2024, at Jetwing Colombo Seven on October 29. The chief guest was the Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka, Doug Sonnek and the guest of honour was Chairman of JAAF, Saif Jafferjee. Representatives of JAAF member associations including JAAF Secretary General Yohan Lawrence, BOI Director General Mrs. Renuka M. Weerakoon and Director General of the Central Environmental Authority, P.B. Hemantha Jayasinghe were also present. Outgoing Chairman Pubudu de Silva outlined the association’s progress over the past financial year ending March 31, 2024. He highlighted several challenges faced by the textile and apparel industry due to uncertain global demand, brought about by geopolitical tensions and economic fluctuation. He said that these challenges greatly impacted supply chains and costs of raw material. Despite these challenges, Sri Lanka’s apparel was the largest contributor to the local economy. He outlined FAAMA’s pivotal role in the apparel industry, emphasising the fact that the association is working closely with stakeholders and government to implement favourable policies for the apparel industry. The Association would continue its focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives such as beach clean ups and ocean strainers. FAAMA hopes to strengthen its partnership with JAAF and further expand global demand for Sri Lankan apparel, he said. Chairman of JAAF, Saif Jafferjee said the JAAF, in spite of the challenges, will continue to collaborate with FAAMA to strengthen the apparel industry and turn Sri Lanka’s apparel industry into an USD $8 billion industry over the next two years. Chief guest, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Doug Sonnek said, “The United States is proud to be Sri Lanka’s top export market, with $2.8 billion in goods exported to the U.S. in 2023. Organisations such as FAAMA play a critical role in strengthening our bilateral economic relations. By promoting good governance, supporting workers’ rights, and advancing environmental sustainability, FAAMA is not only driving the apparel industry forward but also contributing to Sri Lanka’s long-term economic resilience and growth. The United States looks forward to continuing our partnership to create opportunities and prosperity for both our nations.” The new office-bearers: Chairman Samal Dissanaike, Secretary Shahid Sangani, Treasurer Suranga Gallage, Vice Chair 1 Niroshan Samarasinghe, Vice Chair 2 Vasu Wijegoonawardene. Exco members: Beauno Fernando, Jonah Goh, Husni Salieh, Chamila Bakmeewewa, Sanjaya Weerasinghe, Harin Gabriel, Shehan Olegarasam.
Jelly Roll reportedly wants to lose more weight after shedding 100 pounds. According to the latest findings of Life & Style , the singing sensation is adamant that he will lose more weight. However, amid his strict diet, the 39-year-old allows himself to enjoy cheat meals. A source close to the artist weighed in on this approach and shared, “Occasionally, he will splurge but by and large he does good, and people are proud of him.” “He tries so hard,” the tipster continued. They remarked before signing off from the chat, “His chef [Chef Larios] is helping and whipping up healthy versions of his favorite meals, and reminding him, is that second helping worth it?” This report comes after Jelly said in an Instagram video posted last month that “Next year when y’all see me, you won’t recognize me." He also said in the video he shared on his social media, “I’m going to get under a pile of weights in a way that I never had.” The singer's nutrition coach chimed in to show how Jelly Roll is sticking to his weight loss journey while he is also on his Beautifully Broken tour. “We just passed the halfway point of the tour, and Jelly’s been crushing it,” Larios said. “We’re either walking [around] the arena, playing basketball, boxing,” the fitness guru explained, noting, “He just surpassed his 100-pound weight loss.” Larios also shared the singer's pre-show meal which “fuels him before a show.”
Minnesota is focused on one final task before it sets its sights on the Big Ten Conference season. The Golden Gophers (7-5) will look to finish 2024 on a high note when they host Morgan State on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. It will be the final nonconference game for Minnesota before it begins conference play in earnest with a home date against No. 21 Purdue on Thursday. Meanwhile, Morgan State (6-9) is hoping to break out of a skid that has included seven losses in its past 10 games. The Bears are coming off a 99-72 loss against No. 3 Iowa State on Dec. 22. The highest scorer on either team is Minnesota's Dawson Garcia, who is averaging 19.2 points to go along with a team-high 7.3 rebounds this season. Garcia is shooting 49.7 percent from the field, 85 percent from the free-throw line and 31.8 percent from 3-point range. Mike Mitchell Jr. ranks second on the Golden Gophers with 11.6 points per game. Lu'Cye Patterson is next with 10 points per contest, and Parker Fox is fourth with 6.8 points per game. "At the end of the day, we're all here for a reason," Mitchell said. "We have to produce when we're out there, but once (Garcia) gets going, it helps us all figure it out together." Minnesota coach Ben Johnson has seen opponents focus on slowing down Garcia as the season has progressed. That strategy could create opportunities for other teammates, he said. "Teams are always going to guard Dawson differently," Johnson said. "Are they not switching ball screens? Can you play through him in the post? ... When you get two on the ball, you can (kick) it out. Now you've got an advantage on the backside." For Morgan State, Wynston Tabbs leads the way with 16.1 points per game on 45.9 percent shooting from the field. Three other players are scoring in double figures: Amahrie Simpkins (12.7 points per game), Will Thomas (12.1) and Kameron Hobbs (10.7). Morgan State coach Kevin Broadus wants his players to be more disciplined on defense. "That's one of the things that we have to change," Broadus said. "We're fouling too much." This is the second meeting between the schools. Minnesota pulled away for a 94-64 win on its home court in the inaugural matchup on Dec. 8, 2009. --Field Level Media
LONDON — Pooches in pullovers paraded past Buckingham Palace on Saturday for a gathering of dogs in Christmas sweaters to raise funds for rescue charities. People and dogs take part in the Rescue Dogs of London and Friends Christmas Jumper Parade on Saturday outside Buckingham Palace in central London. About 130 pets, and their owners, walked Saturday from St. James's Park and along the Mall, the wide boulevard that leads to the royal palace as part of the Christmas Jumper Parade. Flossie the dog barks Saturday during the Rescue Dogs of London and Friends Christmas Jumper Parade in central London. Prizes were awarded for best-dressed pets, with contenders including canine Santas, puppy elves and a French bulldog dressed in a red beret and pink jacket adorned with red bows. People and dogs take part in the Rescue Dogs of London and Friends Christmas Jumper Parade on Saturday in central London. The event was organized by Rescue Dogs of London and Friends to raise money for charities that rehome dogs from overseas. People take part in the Rescue Dogs of London and Friends Christmas Jumper Parade on Saturday in central London. Christmas sweater animal parades have become something of an annual tradition in London. People and dogs take part in the Rescue Dogs of London and Friends Christmas Jumper Parade on Saturday outside Buckingham Palace in central London. There are more to come this year, including an event for corgis — the late Queen Elizabeth II's favorite breed — on Dec. 7 and the dachshund-friendly Hyde Park Sausage Walk on Dec 15. From bags of kibble in the grocery store to modern home sizes, things are getting smaller—and evidently, Americans are starting to look for furry friends that match. Small breeds like terriers and toys have largely dethroned the retrievers that once dominated the most popular breed rankings. This is a continuation of a trend that began in 2022 when the Labrador retriever lost its 31-year-long streak as #1 to the French bulldog, according to the American Kennel Club. This shift may be partially attributable to the rising costs of pet products and veterinary care since smaller dogs are more economical for tighter budgets. Moreover, as remote work and nomadic living become increasingly more common, smaller dogs may appeal to those looking for pets that require less space and are easier to transport. In fact, only two sporting dog breeds are the most popular in any American state—and neither is a Labrador retriever. The most popular dog overall represents 4% of all dogs in the country—constituting over 2.3 million out of 58 million households with dogs. Ollie used data from U.S. News & World Report to further explore which dog breeds are the most popular in which states and what factors may drive residents' preferences. Named after the northern Mexican state from which it originates, the Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed and one of the oldest, with a lineage that dates as far back as the ninth century. Today, the breed makes up a remarkable 4% of all dogs in the United States and is the most popular overall in 21 states. It ranks within the top five most common breeds in 42 states in total. Requiring just 200 to 250 calories per day but boasting a lifespan of 14 to 16 years, the Chihuahua offers owners low-cost longevity and is known for its adaptability and amusing personality. The French bulldog is a compact companion known for being friendly yet quiet, making it suitable for a range of lifestyles and homes. The breed has roots in the English bulldog, which was bred to a smaller size to accompany its working English owners, many of whom were artisans. As such trades closed amid the Industrial Revolution, these workers and their little bulldogs moved to France, where the breed's popularity began. The French developed a more standardized appearance which was iterated upon in the U.S. to develop the iconic bat ears. The breed has recently seen a massive increase in popularity, with AKC registrations surging by 1,000% between 2012 and 2022. Now, the French bulldog is the most popular dog in Florida, California, and Hawaii and is in the top five most common dogs in nearly half the remaining states. With webbed paws and an affinity for water, golden retrievers are lucky pups to be the favored breed of the Midwest. They are the most popular dogs in states bordering the Great Lakes—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio; the entirety of the New England region minus Rhode Island; plus North Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Virginia. The iconic golden breed was developed in 19th-century Scotland to retrieve both from land and water during hunts, hence its swimming-related adaptations. Golden retrievers are known for their affectionate nature and eagerness to please, making them well-suited for service and other working dog roles. The shih tzu, whose name means "lion" in Chinese, is king of the Empire State (New York) as well as Iowa, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. Roughly a quarter of New York state residents live in apartments, making the dog that averages 9 to 16 pounds perfect for compact households. Despite being known for its playfulness, the breed does not require much physical activity or space. The breed dates back over 1,000 years but was first brought to America surprisingly recently, following World War II. According to the American Kennel Club, every shih tzu alive today has direct lineage to just 14 shih tzus that were saved when the breed nearly went extinct during the Communist revolution. As loyal as they are intelligent, German shepherds are among the favored breeds for guide, military, police, and search and rescue roles. The breed, which first arrived in America in the early 20th century, also enjoys peak popularity in Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Athletic in nature, the breed requires lots of exercise, making them well-suited for homes with or near lots of open land. They are also well-adapted to cold temperatures and harsher climates due to their thick double coats of fur. Representing the best of both worlds, the golden retriever and poodle hybrid is known for its friendly, sociable demeanor and trainability. Bred to be guide dogs in the 1960s, the hybrid is not recognized as an official breed by the AKC, so there is no breed standard. Goldendoodles can thus range from mini-sized to about 90 pounds and may have fur that is curly, straight, or somewhere in between. While not official, the family-friendly dog has left paw prints all over the country, ranking in the top five most popular dogs in 37 states. In Idaho and Utah, the goldendoodle is the most popular overall. Maxing out at just 7 pounds, the Yorkshire terrier is the most popular breed among Maryland and Washington D.C. residents. This is not necessarily surprising considering the housing stock of the nation's capital is comprised mostly of apartment units, making the pint-sized pup perfect for metropolitans. The toy breed was bred to chase rats out of mines and mills in 19th-century England, arriving in North America in the 1870s and gaining official recognition by the AKC in 1885. Now, the breed is among the top five most common dogs in 26 states. The breed is a true terrier at heart, known for its feisty yet affectionate nature.' Additional research by Eliza Siegel. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. This story originally appeared on Ollie and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. 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The US Navy is to transform three, white elephant, stealth destroyers by fitting them with first-of-their-kind shipborne hypersonic weapons. The USS Zumwalt is at a Mississippi shipyard where workers have installed missile tubes that replace twin turrets from a gun system that was never activated because it was too expensive. Once the system is complete, the Zumwalt will provide a platform for conducting fast, precision strikes from greater distances, adding to the usefulness of the warship. “It was a costly blunder. But the Navy could take victory from the jaws of defeat here, and get some utility out of (the ships) by making them into a hypersonic platform,” said Bryan Clark, a defence analyst at the Hudson Institute. The US has had several types of hypersonic weapons in development for the past two decades, but recent tests by both Russia and China have added pressure to the US military to hasten their production. Hypersonic weapons travel beyond Mach 5, five times the speed of sound, with added manoeuvrability making them harder to shoot down. Last year, The Washington Post newspaper reported that among the documents leaked by former Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was a defence department briefing that confirmed China had recently tested an intermediate-range hypersonic weapon called the DF-27. While the Pentagon had previously acknowledged the weapon’s development, it had not recognised its testing. One of the US programmes in development and planned for the Zumwalt is the Conventional Prompt Strike. It would launch like a ballistic missile and then release a hypersonic glide vehicle that would travel at speeds seven to eight times faster than the speed of sound before hitting the target. The weapon system is being developed jointly by the Navy and Army. Each of the three Zumwalt-class destroyers would be equipped with four missile tubes, each with three of the missiles for a total of 12 hypersonic weapons per ship. In choosing the Zumwalt, the Navy is attempting to add to the usefulness of a 7.5 billion US dollars (£5.9 billion) warship that is considered by critics to be an expensive mistake despite serving as a test platform for multiple innovations. The Zumwalt was envisioned as providing land-attack capability with an advanced gun system with rocket-assisted projectiles to open the way for Marines to charge ashore. But the system featuring 155mm guns hidden in stealthy turrets was cancelled because each of the rocket-assisted projectiles cost up to one million dollars (£790,000). Despite the stain on their reputation, the three Zumwalt-class destroyers: Zumwalt, Michael Monsoor and Lyndon B Johnson; remain the Navy’s most advanced surface warships in terms of new technologies. Those innovations include electric propulsion, an angular shape to minimise radar signature, an unconventional wave-piercing hull, automated fire and damage control and a composite deckhouse that hides radar and other sensors. The US is accelerating development because hypersonics have been identified as vital to US national security with “survivable and lethal capabilities”, said James Weber, principal director for hypersonics in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies. “Fielding new capabilities that are based on hypersonic technologies is a priority for the defence department to sustain and strengthen our integrated deterrence, and to build enduring advantages,” he said.
The ex-distribution date for all Open-End Funds is December 27, 2024. The ex-distribution date for all closed-end funds is December 31, 2024. Estimated December 2024 Distributions for Purpose USD Cash Management Fund, Purpose Cash Management Fund, Purpose High Interest Savings Fund, and Purpose US Cash Fund The December 2024 distribution rates for Purpose USD Cash Management Fund, Purpose Cash Management Fund, Purpose High Interest Savings Fund, and Purpose US Cash Fund are estimated to be as follows: Purpose expects to issue a press release on or about December 27, 2024, which will provide the final distribution rate for Purpose USD Cash Management Fund, Purpose Cash Management Fund, Purpose High Interest Savings Fund, and Purpose US Cash Fund. The ex-distribution date will be December 30, 2024. About Purpose Investments Inc. Purpose Investments is an asset management company with more than $23 billion in assets under management. Purpose Investments has an unrelenting focus on client-centric innovation and offers a range of managed and quantitative investment products. Purpose Investments is led by well-known entrepreneur Som Seif and is a division of Purpose Unlimited, an independent technology-driven financial services company. For further information, please contact: Keera Hart ... 905-580-1257 Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus and other disclosure documents before investing. Investment funds are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government deposit insurer. There can be no assurance that the full amount of your investment in a fund will be returned to you. If the securities are purchased or sold on a stock exchange, you may pay more or receive less than the current net asset value. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. MENAFN17122024004107003653ID1109004929 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — D’Maurian Williams scored 18 points as High Point beat Pfeiffer 81-50 on Saturday. Williams went 8 of 13 from the field (2 for 3 from 3-point range) for the Panthers (8-1). Kezza Giffa scored 14 points, going 3 of 8 from the floor, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and 7 for 8 from the line. Kimani Hamilton shot 4 for 8, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points. The Falcons were led by Doug Smith and Justin Gaten with nine points apiece. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .