48 niceph com login Curl-Salemme, Michaela Cava each score twice, Frost beat Sceptres 6-3 in PWHLIt's almost that time again: a new year and new opportunities to and ourselves. Alongside or , you might consider taking steps now that might help you begin to boost your career. Here are three ways you can start to level up your career — even before the end of 2024, according to workplace experts. Sean Barry, the vice president of talent acquisition at Allstate, told Business Insider that workers should try to become more proficient in artificial intelligence. He said it's essential to realize that the technology will put a premium on a new set of skills for many people — like how to create an appropriate prompt for generative AI. "That is not a skill that anybody talked about two years ago, and it's critically important now," Barry said, adding that people who are better at this will likely do better in their careers. One way to improve your AI skills is simply to use it. Start by and seeing what works. It's become a cliché to say that , but someone who knows how to use it will. Yet there are areas where AI might replace humans, which is why a better understanding of can be beneficial. Kiki Leutner is cofounder of SeeTalent.ai, which is developing tests run by AI that would simulate tasks associated with a job to help the hiring process. She told BI that, traditionally, employers tended to use such tests for more senior roles only where it was worth the money and effort. Or, a company might give a software developer a coding task as a way of measuring proficiency. Leutner said Generative AI can let employers test far more job seekers and across a broader range of roles than would otherwise be practical. Plus, she said, AI-run assessments can collect insights that previously were difficult to capture, such as how someone might interact with others. Success in such areas often involves the employers say they're seeking and many bosses contend too many workers lack. You might feel , yet carving out some time to help others can help you. A recent study from the found that volunteering proved more effective in boosting worker well-being than other interventions. It's especially beneficial if it involves using your skills to assist others, according to Leila Saad, CEO of Common Impact, a nonprofit that connects companies and their workers with other nonprofits. Saad told BI that many nonprofits lack the resources to meet all of their operational needs. So, when workers with that expertise can help, it benefits both the organization and the worker, she said. "It feels good to give back skills you've honed over your entire career," she said. That often trumps something like showing up for a one-off event like painting a school or planting trees, Saad said. Beyond that, she said, workers — and their employers — can benefit if the employee might develop additional skills through volunteering. Jennifer Schielke, the CEO of the staffing firm Summit Group Solutions and the author of "Leading for Impact," previously told BI that — even after something traumatic like losing a job — can help those newly out of work get a sense of perspective. "If you have time to volunteer, go do it," she said. "Go get some encouragement by sitting alongside someone who has it worse than you do." Side hustles get a lot of attention when they're lucrative, yet there can be other benefits. They can be limited to , so workers' weekdays aren't too full. In other cases, side hustles might . They can also make workers feel empowered. Daniel Zhao, the lead economist at Glassdoor, told BI that workers in some industries feel stuck in their 9-to-5 roles because of lackluster hiring. That might be one reason more workers are picking up side hustles. Zhao pointed to data gathered by Glassdoor and the Harris Poll. In a February survey of some 1,100 US adults, 39% reported having a side gig. The share was higher among younger workers: Fifty-seven percent of Gen Zers and 48% of millennials reported doing work in addition to their primary roles. "Workers are much more willing to experiment nowadays," Zhao said. He pointed to rates of entrepreneurship, which he said "skyrocketed" during the pandemic. Zhao said it's good news that entrepreneurship rates remain elevated following a "fairly weak" 2010s and said it indicates America's entrepreneurial spirit has recovered. New business applications in the US have jumped to 431,000 a month in 2024, up 47% from 293,000 a month in 2019, Zhao said. "Not only is that an opportunity for people to supplement their income on the side, but it also opens up new opportunities, new ideas, new technologies that can potentially boost the economy in the long run," he said. Read the original article onREDWOOD SHORES, Calif. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP (RJLF) has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of manufacturers, businesses, affordable housing interests, and workers seeking to prevent enforcement of South Coast Air Quality Management District regulations that effectively ban certain gas appliances. The plaintiffs, representing thousands of California residents, businesses, and workers, include Rinnai America Corporation , Noritz America Corporation , National Association of Homebuilders , California Manufacturers & Technology Association , California Restaurant Association , California Hotel & Lodging Association , and California Apartment Association , all represented by RJLF and Sean Kneafsey of the Kneafsey Law Firm . Californians for Homeownership is represented by Matt Gelfand , Restaurant Law Center is represented by Angelo Amador , and the California State Pipe Trades Council by McCracken, Stemerman & Holsberry . The coalition's suit asserts that the District's zero-NOx emissions rule for certain appliances, which effectively bans those gas appliances, is preempted by the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) and should be blocked. The District's rule not only effectively mandates the use of electric appliances in new buildings but also forces costly retrofits to electric in existing buildings when appliances are replaced. This rule threatens the reliability and affordability of energy for millions of Californians, will impose enormous costs and disruption on businesses and workers, and will reduce the availability of affordable housing. Earlier this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that Berkeley, California's ban on gas piping in new buildings was preempted by EPCA ( California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley , 89 F.4th 1094 (9th Cir. 2024)) . The District's rule is legally indistinguishable, and the same result applies. "This case is pivotal to reinforcing the federal and state roles in setting national energy policy," said Sarah Jorgensen , lead counsel for the plaintiffs at RJLF. "The District's mandate for electric appliances in both new construction and forced retrofits not only jeopardizes our clients' work, business, and interests but also disregards established federal law. California must comply with the law." The case is Rinnai America Corp. et al. v. South Coast Air Quality Management District , No. 2:24-cv-10482 , in the United States District Court for the Central District of California . About Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP (RJLF) is a national trial firm that handles high-stakes energy, commercial, intellectual property, and white collar disputes. The firm is majority women-owned, reinventing the practice of law without the billable hour in favor of fee arrangements that align client interests. RJLF's attorneys are diverse, exceptionally credentialed, and passionate about trial advocacy. From offices in Silicon Valley, New York , Washington, D.C. , Austin , and Atlanta , the firm tries cases and argues appeals throughout the country. For more information, visit www.reichmanjorgensen.com . Contact Sarah Jorgensen sjorgensen@reichmanjorgensen.com (650) 623-1403 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reichman-jorgensen-lehman--feldberg-leads-suit-against-south-coast-air-quality-management-districts-effective-ban-on-certain-gas-appliances-302324441.html SOURCE Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP

TORONTO (AP) — Britta Curl-Salemme and Michaela Cava each scored twice and the Minnesota Frost beat the Toronto Sceptres 6-3 on Saturday in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. Curl-Salemme gave Minnesota a 4-3 lead at 6:29 of the third period. Cava scored the final two goals, the last into an empty net. Claire Butorac and Dominique Petrie also scored and Maddy Rooney stopped 21 shots to help Minnesota improve to 2-0-1. Daryl Watts, Victoria Bach and Jesse Compher scored for Toronto. The Sceptres are 1-2-0. Minnesota beat Toronto for the fourth straight game dating to last season’s playoffs. The Frost won the final three games of a best-of-five semifinal after dropping the first two. Frost: Defender Maggie Flaherty served the first game of a two-game suspension for a headshot on Boston’s Alina Mueller, with Mae Batherson taking her place for her PWHL debut. Batherson is the younger sister of Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson. Sceptres: Rylind MacKinnon is one of only two Canadian university players in the PWHL, with New York's Emmy Fecteau from Concordia the other. MacKinn, a former University of British Columbia defender, has two assists this season. Toronto is at New York on Wednesday night. Minnesota host Ottawa on Thursday night. ___ AP sports: https://apnews.com/sportsSeveral New York and Pennsylvania House Republicans, led by Rep. Nick Langworthy, called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to end opposition to a proposed natural gas pipeline that would’ve run through parts of the Southern Tier and Western New York, according to a letter they sent Thursday. Known as the Northern Access Pipeline, National Fuel Gas Co. proposed a decade ago to build a two-foot wide, 96-mile pipeline that would run through parts of Allegany, Cattaraugus and Erie counties, as well as one county in Pennsylvania, and carry natural gas to a variety of places in North America. In 2017, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) denied certification of the pipeline using the federal Clean Water Act. After years of a legal back and forth, delays and costs, National Fuel in recent weeks decided to cancel the project. “The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) decision to stand in the way of this key natural gas pipeline infrastructure project — despite Federal approval — caused extensive delays and increased project costs, with the ongoing challenge of trying to develop in the current regulatory environment in New York,” Langworthy and the other lawmakers wrote in their letter. “This action has once again robbed our state of a key opportunity for greater energy security and prevented increased access across the Northeast, the Midwest, and Canada to affordable, reliable natural gas.” Republicans have maintained the project would’ve created economic opportunities for the state and region. “Some of our state’s most rural counties in the Southern Tier could have benefited from increased local tax revenue and new jobs to complete this integral pipeline. Initial project estimates expected a peak construction workforce at 1,680 jobs, with much of the work expected to have been completed by companies in New York,” the letter read. Co-signing the letter were New York Reps. Claudia Tenney, Michael Lawler, Nicole Malliotakis, Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota. Environmental groups and advocates have been opposed to the project. document.write(__reporter_name); - document.write(__reporter_title); document.write(__reporter_bio);

The Who legend Sir Roger Daltrey is adding to his £50m fortune by recording £400-a-time ‘happy birthday’ messages to fans. Rock legend Roger, 80, has joined a video-sharing platform in time for Xmas and devotees are scrambling to get shout-outs from the Mod god. He sings happy birthday to one fan while strumming a guitar in his home office and tells another: "I hear you are a big Who fan. I really, really appreciate it. Keep your chin up and get off your iPhone. Look up, not down - that’s where life is." So far he’s had 10 five-star reviews on the Cameo website after joining just over a week ago. Fans are told: "Whether it’s a milestone birthday, an anniversary, or a long-awaited reunion, make it unforgettable with a one-of-a-kind Cameo video from Roger Daltrey. You’ll have the chance to customize your request for Roger Daltrey, like asking them to mention inside jokes, share words of wisdom, or work in their signature catchphrases. "Don’t be afraid to get creative with your request, especially for celebrations like weddings, retirements, or bachelor and bachelorette parties that call for a good laugh. No matter the occasion, the video will be yours to keep - share the fun and relive the moment for years to come." It’s the latest side hustle for the star. He recently proved he’s a whizz with fizz after his fledgling beer brand was valued at one million quid. The My Generation and Pinball Wizard legend is making a tasty profit from his beer. Sir Roger runs the Lakedown Brewing Company and the firm’s annual accounts make happy reading for the icon. The outfit has cash in its coffers of more than £330,000 and it is worth close to £1m with other assets after two years of trading. The brewery is based at the star’s Lakedown trout fishery in East Sussex. The family-run, independent brewery was founded by the singer, his son Jamie and two sons-in-law, Christopher Rule and Des Murphy. The beer varieties that the brewery makes are all vegan with the Pilsner, English Pale, Pale Ale, and Best Bitter also gluten-free. "They have turned me into a beer drinking convert because their beers are so easy-drinking," said Roger Daltrey. "Lakedown has been a passion of mine since I designed it in the 1980s, as a rural sanctuary away from the mania of touring." The ales come in can, bottle, keg and cask. Come and join The Daily Star on , the social media site set up by ex-Twitter boss Jack Dorsey. It's now the new go-to place for content after a mass exodus of the Elon Musk-owned Twitter/X. Fear not, we're not leaving , but we are jumping on the bandwagon. So come find our new account on , and see us social better than the rest. You can also learn more about The Daily Star team in what Bluesky calls a . So what are you waiting for?! Let's

A 7-month-old baby boy now has cerebral palsy as a result of severe abuse from a Care.com nanny, Washington prosecutors said. Amber Rath, 37, was arrested and charged with f irst-degree assault of a child and second-degree assault of a child, according to court documents filed Nov. 14 at the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. “We are deeply shocked and saddened by this disturbing incident, and our thoughts are with the impacted family,” a Care.com company spokesperson told McClatchy News in a Dec. 5 email. Rath was hired as a nanny for a family’s then 5-month-old boy in September, prosecutors said. She watched him three days a week. The family had a camera in their living room and in the child’s bedroom, according to the court documents. These cameras caught Rath as she became frustrated with the child, shook him and threw him between Oct. 16 and Oct. 17, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said the crying child became unresponsive and limp after being thrown forcefully onto a couch in the living room on Oct. 17. That’s when she called 911 and said the child was having a hard time breathing and wasn’t staying awake, court documents said. As a result, prosecutors said the child became “critically ill” and had “extensive and severe” injuries. He was examined by a pediatrician at the Seattle Children’s Hospital , where he was found to have seizures, brain hemorrhaging and brain swelling, prosecutors said. The child did not have previous medical issues. The doctors determined his injuries were from “abusive head trauma,” prosecutors said. He was also diagnosed with cerebral palsy “as a result of the injury to his brain causing issues with the function of his right-side extremities.” Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that can happen if there are abnormalities or damage to a developing brain, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Children with cerebral palsy may have issues with muscle coordination, tight muscles, weakness in an arm or a leg or shaky and involuntary movements. Prosecutors called Rath’s treatment of the child “shocking and wholly inappropriate.” All caregivers on Care.com are background-checked through the company’s “CareCheck process before they are able to interact with families,” the company’s website site says. Snohomish is about a 35-mile drive north from Seattle. If you suspect a child has experienced, is currently experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect, your first step should be to contact the appropriate agency. The Child Welfare Information Gateway has a list of state agencies you can contact. Find help specific to your area here. For additional help, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline has professional crisis counselors available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 170 languages. All calls are confidential. The hotline offers crisis intervention, information, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. You can call or text 1-800-422-4453 . If you believe a child is in immediate danger, please call 911 for help.

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HARRY MAGUIRE fears club are "targeting" Manchester United at set-pieces after a dreadful 2-0 defeat to Wolves. United left the Molineux with ten men and three points dropped after goals from Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan. Advertisement 2 Harry Maguire fears club are 'targeting' Manchester United at set-pieces Cunha's 58 minute opener came direct from a corner and United defender Maguire reckons it is becoming a weakness for his side. He said: "To concede again, especially the first goal of the game set-plays are so important in football matches. "They decide games, a lot of the games when they're tight and they're 50/50. "The first goal has been a set-play far too many times against us and it's disappointing." Advertisement READ MORE ON MAN UTD BEN THERE, DONE THAT Ex-Man Utd first team coach Benni McCarthy set for national team job United conceded two goals from set-pieces against Arsenal and Tottenham's Son Heung-min even scored direct from a corner. United have conceded ten goals from set-pieces this season - excluding penalties. Asked how they fix their set-piece problems, Maguire said: "Work, work, work more on the training pitch. "I think teams now are maybe targeting our areas of set-plays. The strange thing is, I don't feel like we're conceding many chances from them. Advertisement Most read in Football Highlights ST MIRREN 2 RANGERS 1 Boyd-Munce stuns Gers with winner deep into added time in Paisley Breaking XMAS TRAGEDY Real Madrid star's 'brother-in-law' is shot dead in Christmas Day horror REFFIN' HELL Motherwell boss Kettlewell fumes at referee's DEMEANOUR in Celtic defeat STAR SWEAT Rodgers delivers major injury update on Johnston ahead of Rangers clash CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "They've had a few set-plays tonight and we've dealt with them really well and they've gone and scored from one. "I think it's hard work, keep the belief, things will change. I know that. We have players who can defend the box well. Manchester United Player Ratings vs Wolves "They will change, we've just got to stick together." Advertisement United now host Newcastle next but do so without Bruno Fernandes following his sending off at Wolves. And manager Ruben Amorim said: "Of course, when you lose, when we don't win, it's a step back. "It was really hard with the sending off. The goal was similar against Tottenham. Then, we tried. "Even with one less guy we tried to and I think we were near something but then Wolves scored the second one. Advertisement "Then, in the end, we tried everything and the transition was 2-0. For us, let's continue. " 2 Bruno Fernandes got sent off at Wolves Credit: Reuters

TORONTO — Shoppers flocked to malls on Thursday to take advantage of Boxing Day deals made more enticing by the federal government’s GST holiday, but some say the lower prices aren’t enough to keep up with the country’s cost of living. For two months, a slew of items including children’s toys, video games and consoles, snacks, wine and restaurant food are GST- or HST-free, depending on the province. The tax break has incentivized some consumers to take advantage of Boxing Day sales at their local retailers. Nakul Singal said he came to Fairview Mall in Toronto on Thursday morning with his partner to hunt for deals. "Every year, we generally get good deals,” said Singal, who added he’d been waiting for Boxing Day to get new earphones. “It’s good to shop around during this time.” He added that while the tax break has helped his family with food prices, he would like the government to do more to help Canadians with the high costs of living, especially housing. “I hope that they could stop inflation,” he said. “We are struggling right now." The vice-president of federal government relations for the Retail Council of Canada, Matt Poirier, told The Canadian Press last week that Boxing Day in particular is expected to get a boost amid the temporary break. However, he said businesses, including ones with older payment systems, have faced hurdles trying to implement the tax break on short notice and even figuring out which items qualify. An RBC Economics report from earlier this month showed retail spending slowed in November, with holiday spending slightly below 2023 levels over the Black Friday weekend. Spending on hobbies, toys and games scaled back notably after Nov. 21, wrote RBC economist Carrie Freestone — the day the tax break was announced. "Typically, spending on popular children’s gifts builds as the holiday season approaches," wrote Freestone. But even with November's decline, Canada is likely on track for a slight uptick in per-person retail spending in the fourth quarter for the first time since mid-2022, she wrote. Joey Comia-Orellano, an assistant store manager at a GameStop in north Toronto, said the store has seen an influx of customers since the tax break was announced. Shoppers have been eager to benefit from the tax holiday, he said. “We’ve been getting shoppers before Boxing Day,” he said. Comia-Orellano added that he expects the store to get busier on Thursday as consumers look to save with Boxing Day deals combined with the tax break. “I did notice a lot of people buying more games, a lot of controllers, and definitely a lot of consoles, too," he said. Meanwhile, Raj Jeetu, another shopper at Fairview Mall on Thursday, said while he has already taken advantage of the tax break at restaurants multiple times, he’s skeptical of what it will do for Canadians in the long-term. “I don’t know if it’ll help much. I guess the prices really need to come down,” he said. For Comia-Orellano, one thing he has heard from customers is that while the tax break and Boxing Day deals might not help with the overall affordability crisis, it’s still worthwhile for savings. “It's necessary, it gets hard around the holidays,” he said. “This is almost like a small break for people when it comes to taxes, so not necessarily making things a little bit more affordable." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2024. Rianna Lim, The Canadian Press

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“Wanted” posters with the names and faces of health care executives have been popping up on the streets of New York. Hit lists with images of bullets are circulating online with warnings that industry leaders should be afraid. The apparent targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the menacing threats that followed have sent a shudder through corporate America and the health care industry in particular, leading to increased security for executives and some workers. In the week since the brazen shooting , health insurers have removed information about their top executives from company websites, canceled in-person meetings with shareholders and advised all employees to work from home temporarily. An internal New York Police Department bulletin warned this week that the online vitriol that followed the shooting could signal an immediate “elevated threat.” Police fear that the Dec. 4 shooting could "inspire a variety of extremists and grievance-driven malicious actors to violence," according to the bulletin, which was obtained by The Associated Press. “Wanted” posters pasted to parking meters and construction site fences in Manhattan included photos of health care executives and the words “Deny, defend, depose” — similar to a phrase scrawled on bullets found near Thompson’s body and echoing those used by insurance industry critics . Thompson's wife, Paulette, told NBC News last week that he told her some people had been threatening him and suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Investigators believe the shooting suspect, Luigi Mangione , may have been motivated by hostility toward health insurers. They are studying his writings about a previous back injury, and his disdain for corporate America and the U.S. health care system. Mangione’s lawyer has cautioned against prejudging the case. Mangione, 26, has remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday . Manhattan prosecutors are working to bring him to New York to face a murder charge. UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, said this week it was working with law enforcement to ensure a safe work environment and to reinforce security guidelines and building access policies, a spokesperson said. The company has taken down photos, names and biographies for its top executives from its websites, a spokesperson said. Other organizations, including CVS, the parent company for insurance giant Aetna, have taken similar actions. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. has announced that its investor day will be held online, rather than in-person as originally planned. Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm, said last week it was temporarily closing its six offices for security reasons and would have its employees work from home. Heightened security measures likely will make health care companies and their leaders more inaccessible to their policyholders, said former Cigna executive Wendell Potter. “And understandably so, with this act of violence. There’s no assurance that this won’t happen again,” said Potter, who’s now an advocate for health care reform. Private security firms and consultants have been in high demand, fielding calls almost immediately after the shooting from companies across a range of industries, including manufacturing and finance. Companies have long faced security risks and grappled with how far to take precautions for high-profile executives. But these recent threats sparked by Thompson's killing should not be ignored, said Dave Komendat, a former security chief for Boeing who now heads his own risk-management company. “The tone and tenor is different. The social reaction to this tragedy is different. And so I think that people need to take this seriously,” Komendat said. Just over a quarter of the companies in the Fortune 500 reported spending money to protect their CEOs and top executives. Of those, the median payment for personal security doubled over the last three years to just under $100,000. Hours after the shooting, Komendat was on a call with dozens of chief security officers from big corporations, and there have been many similar meetings since, hosted by security groups or law enforcement agencies assessing the threats, he said. “It just takes one person who is motivated by a poster — who may have experienced something in their life through one of these companies that was harmful," Komendat said. Associated Press reporters Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York and Barbara Ortutay in San Francisco, contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.nice ph bet 。

Greenland is a “linchpin for U.S. national security and the future of the free world,” according to leading expert Dr. Walter Berbrick, the founding director of the Arctic Studies Group at the U.S. Naval War College, who noted the pivotal country’s geostrategic and economic significance as well as its critical role in defense and the global order, which is “essential to counter authoritarian influence” and safeguard U.S. and allied interests, as he urged strengthened partnerships. In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, Dr. Berbrick, the former senior adviser to the 77th Secretary of the Navy and the Special Representative for the Arctic Region at the State Department, highlighted the island’s unparalleled value to U.S. national security, economic resilience, and global stability, noting that Greenland’s significance as a hub for defense and economic activity will only grow. “Greenland is a linchpin for U.S. national security and the future of the free world,” he stated. “Its geographic position provides unparalleled strategic access to the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans — enabling the United States to monitor and deter threats against North America and NATO allies.” Arctic Defense and Resources Beyond its strategic location, Dr. Berbrick noted, Greenland offers vast reserves of rare earth elements, critical to advanced technology and military systems. “Economically, Greenland holds vast reserves of rare earth minerals essential for U.S. technological leadership and military readiness,” he explained. He also warned about the risks of allowing authoritarian powers like China and Russia to dominate Greenland’s resources and influence. “If China gains undue influence in Greenland, it risks compromising the stability of the Arctic, endangering U.S. interests, and weakening the rules-based international order,” he warned. Highlighting Greenland’s “irreplaceable” role in missile warning systems, Arctic operations, and securing freedom of navigation as new sea routes emerge, Dr. Berbrick called strengthening partnerships with Greenland and Denmark “essential to counter authoritarian influence and protect the economic and security interests of the United States and its allies for generations to come.” Strengthening Partnerships He recommended that the incoming Trump administration deepen ties with Greenland and Denmark through a defense and security compact modeled on agreements with Pacific Island nations. Such a compact, he explained, would deliver tangible benefits. For Greenland, he explained, it would offer investments in modern infrastructure, access to education, and sustainable development while safeguarding cultural and environmental integrity. For the United States, he clarified, it would provide critical Arctic access, bolstered defense infrastructure, and strengthened collaboration with allies “in a region that is rapidly becoming a focal point of global competition.” “A defense and security compact between the United States, Greenland, and Denmark... would protect Greenland from economic and political exploitation while ensuring the people of Greenland have control over their own future,” he emphasized. Policy Recommendations To enhance its Arctic presence, Dr. Berbrick suggested several actionable steps for U.S. policymakers: Trilateral Arctic Framework : Establish a formal cooperative agreement with Greenland and Denmark to address shared defense and economic priorities. Infrastructure Investments : Develop modernized ports, airports, and renewable energy projects in Greenland to foster sustainable growth and integration with global markets. Responsible Resource Partnerships : Support “environmentally sound” extraction of Greenland’s rare earth elements to benefit local communities and secure U.S. supply chains. Educational and Cultural Exchanges : Strengthen long-term ties between U.S. and Greenlandic communities through exchange programs and scientific collaboration. The matter comes as Greenland’s strategic importance has shifted into sharp focus amid evolving Arctic dynamics and growing international interest. On Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump wrote that, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” An autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland occupies a unique and strategic position in the Arctic. The U.S. has long recognized Greenland’s strategic importance, a focus heightened in recent years by increasing global competition in the Arctic from China and Russia. Dr. Berbrick’s insights underscore the need for forward-thinking partnerships that align Greenland’s aspirations with U.S. and allied interests, ensuring Arctic stability and security for generations to come. Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jklein@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKlein .

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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. 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. 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.” Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Carter's single White House term still stirs controversy after more than 40 yearsThe 39th president of the United States has died at 100. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed the news with a post on X, stating the son of the former president said his father had died around 3:40 p.m. ET in his Plains home. People across the country and the world are reflecting on former President Jimmy Carter and his life, which was full of achievements. He died at the age of 100 at his longtime home in Plains, Georgia . While the 39th president will be remembered for setting a national energy policy and working on peace accords, it was his establishment of an agency aimed at responding to disasters that continues to impact many communities today. Since the country’s formation in the 1700s, local governments have faced disasters in which the needed response has been considered too great to handle. The federal government started providing aid and assistance in the early 1800s, but it wasn’t until Carter’s signing of Executive Order 12127 that an agency was solely tasked with responding to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and other disasters. Before Carter was sworn in on Jan. 20, 1977, the country was reeling from natural disasters, with poor governmental responses that only made the catastrophes worse. In 1962, an extratropical cyclone slammed into the mid-Atlantic and became one of the most destructive storms ever to impact the states. The year 1964 brought the most powerful earthquake to ever strike North America, with a 9.2-magnitude quake shaking the ground underneath Alaska. Over the next five years, communities along the Gulf Coast would face double disasters from major hurricanes Betsy and Camille. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks as he tours homes being built by Habitat for Humanity in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in May 2008 during rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina. (Photo by James Edward Bates/Biloxi Sun Herald/Tribune News Ser All these disasters caused extensive devastation and were responsible for killing hundreds of people, but a common theme emerged – poorly coordinated responses . According to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum , the president had universal support from governors and interest groups to form an agency to combat the problem. With the political will in hand, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was born on April 1, 1979. The agency was tasked with emergency management response and merged the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency, Federal Preparedness Agency, Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, Federal Insurance Administration, U.S. Fire Administration and half-a-dozen other programs. Gordon Vickery , a highly respected firefighter, who rose through the ranks to become the fire chief in Seattle, was selected as interim head of the then-2,400-person-strong agency. In the hours before the agency’s ramp-up, an accident at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania overshadowed the initial days of the agency and drew attention to inadequate preparedness surrounding highly volatile energy plants. Dangerous and now deadly severe weather is sweeping through the South Saturday evening, just hours after multiple tornadoes left damage in the southeastern part of Texas. Bill Bunting, Deputy Director of the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center join LiveNOW's Austin Westfall to give the latest weather update. The event would trigger one of many expansions of powers for the newly-formed agency. Carter signed Executive Order 12148 , which directed FEMA to develop a plan to respond to nuclear emergencies. Now, the agency, once solely tasked with emergency management responses, also gained civil defense responsibilities. These changes were far from the last for the agency with a then-$600 million budget. The position of leading FEMA appeared to become a preverbal carousel with three leaders in just two months. Stability among government ranks took a further hit when Carter lost his reelection campaign to former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. The changing of the guard at the White House did little to stop the trend of temporary appointments, as 1981 brought three additional heads to the agency. In addition to the change at the top, a political landslide gave the Regan administration the political power to change course on many aspects of government operations and that included FEMA. According to an agency history , developments in Cold War diplomacy contributed to more wartime hazard planning. The leader at the time, retired Army officer Louis Giuffrida, made it to be the longest-serving head of FEMA, but questionable actions and congressional investigation ultimately led to his resignation in 1985. The agency once again fell into the pattern where it was anyone’s gig, but a disaster known as Hurricane Hugo in 1989 served as a reminder of the importance of a functioning FEMA. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper called the ongoing disaster "catastrophic," as the state manages its worst flooding in a century. Search and rescue teams from 19 states, as well as the federal government, are on the ground trying to help residents. Cell phone service is down, and the governor's office reports more than 200 people have been rescued from flood waters so far. FEMA's Acting Director of Response and Recovery, Keith Turi, joins LiveNOW from FOX with the latest operation details. Hugo was the strongest storm to strike the U.S. coastline in two decades and came ashore in the Carolinas as a Category 4 hurricane with estimated winds of at least 135 mph. The storm produced $11 billion in damage, and FEMA was in charge of the response. A government history of the time period stated: "FEMA, the agency in charge of the response process, received most of the blame; FEMA, not Hurricane Hugo, was referred to as the real disaster." Again, the agency was the subject of congressional ridicule, with U.S. Sen. Ernest Hollings calling FEMA "the sorriest bunch of bureaucratic jackasses I’ve ever known." The administration of President George H.W. Bush pledged to set the course right on FEMA and searched high and low for its next head. The administration put their faith in Wallace Stickney from New England. No one could foresee that the agency would be tasked with its largest disaster in more than two years – Hurricane Andrew . The major hurricane made landfall on Aug. 24, 1992, as a Category 4 hurricane in South Florida. A NOAA reanalysis in 2004 upgraded the costliest hurricane ever to a Category 5. Similar to Hurricane Hugo, the response to the catastrophe was considered inadequate and had local, state and even some federal officials asking if the agency’s response made the disaster even worse. A federal investigation into the agency’s response found that plans for disasters were not adequate, local governments were overwhelmed and the movement of materials and personnel into the impact zone was too slow. The administration of President Bill Clinton brought a slew of new faces into the federal government, including James Lee Witt. The Arkansan knew a thing or two about emergency services and was appointed as the sixth permanent administrator of FEMA. Similar to other leaders of the agency, Mother Nature did not provide a grace period for Witt, as hurricanes, massive floods and West Coast earthquakes left few areas of the country unaffected. One of the largest disasters was the Great Flood of 1993, which impacted nearly a dozen states and caused damages of more than $15 billion across the Midwest. During the recovery, officials lauded FEMA’s response and confidence grew in Witt being the right person to lead the agency. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter remains in home hospice after a series of hospital stays. Thomas Whalen, an associate professor of Social Sciences at Boston University joined LiveNOW from FOX's Josh Breslow to discuss Carter's legacy. A series of disasters, including the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, proved the agency was at the beckoning of any municipality. Not long after the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, Clinton raised the FEMA position to cabinet-level status, underscoring the growing importance and reliability of the agency. During a 1998 interview , Witt was asked what adjustments were made that enabled outsiders to view FEMA in a more positive light versus the ridicule and scorn that had plagued it. "We worked hard at creating a more customer-focused agency," Witt said. "A major initiative was to provide customer service training to all FEMA employees, including senior management. This was a huge undertaking." After Witt’s reign, the agency would go on to have many ups and downs, including what news organizations reported was a botched response to Hurricane Katrina , which struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005. The major storm resulted in more than 1,300 fatalities and a damage figure that topped a 2023-cost-adjusted price tag of $191 billion. REPORT: 90% OF COUNTIES IN US EXPERIENCED AT LEAST 1 DISASTER IN PAST DECADE On significant anniversaries, FEMA leaders usually take to social media to reflect on the agency’s beginning, but on a daily basis, trainees are exposed to a message that reflects upon Carter’s role in its establishment. Located within FEMA training documents is a pledge that the commitment bestowed on the agency by Carter will never change. The passage reads: "On April 1, 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed the Executive Order that created the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). From day one, FEMA has remained committed to protecting and serving the American people. That commitment to the people we serve and the belief in our survivor-centric mission will never change." In many ways, the agency continues to follow one of the first lines ever uttered by the 39th president. During his inaugural address on that cold, 28-degree day in January, Carter boldly told the crowd of thousands: "To be true to ourselves, we must be true to others." The line was part of a 1,228-word speech that the White House Historical Association said was focused on rejecting mediocrity and restoring trust in the federal government. Read more of this story from FOX Weather.

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Since Gaza Siege, Israel Has Cracked Down On Its Dissenting Palestinian CitizensTetairoa McMillan, one of the best wide receivers in Arizona history, will skip his final year of eligibility and enter the 2025 NFL Draft, he announced on social media on Thursday. Projected as a top-10 draft pick, the 6-foot-5, 212-pound McMillan finished his illustrious career at Arizona with 3,423 receiving yards, breaking the mark set by Bobby Wade (3,351). In three seasons, the Hawaii native also posted the fourth-most catches (213) and third-most touchdowns (26) in school history. "Wildcat Nation, this journey has been everything I dreamed of and more," McMillan wrote on Instagram. "From the moment I committed to the University of Arizona, to every second spent wearing that Arizona jersey ... it's been an absolute honor. "The University of Arizona has provided me with the platform to grow and chase my dreams. ... Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To the best fans in the country, I appreciate you for all of the love and support you have given me these last 3 years. I will always be a Wildcat." In 2024, McMillan totaled 84 grabs (ninth in Division I) for 1,319 yards (third in Division I) and eight touchdowns for the 4-8 Wildcats. He also ranked third in Division I with 109.9 receiving yards per game. McMillan is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the most outstanding receiver in college football. --Field Level Media

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Colby Rogers scored 28 points and Moussa Cisse had 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks as Memphis defeated No. 16 MIssissippi 87-70 on Saturday. PJ Haggerty finished with 17 points as Memphis (10-3) won for the third time in four games. Sean Pedulla led Ole Miss (11-2) with 13 points and four assists. Jaylen Murray scored 12 and Malik Dia 11 as the Rebels had their five-game winning streak halted. Memphis' defense caused early problems for the Rebels, and the Tigers extended their lead to double digits. But, Ole Miss made five straight field goals, including a string of 3-pointers, to get back into the game before halftime, trailing by just two points at the break. The Tigers opened the second half on a 14-4 run and extended their lead to as many as 13 points near the midway point of the second half. Ole Miss: The Rebels are 24-2 in non-conference games since Chris Beard took over last season, the only other loss to Purdue on Nov. 29. Memphis: The Tigers entered with two straight home losses, to Arkansas State and Mississippi State. From the start, Cisse played inspired. The first play was set up for a Cisse dunk, part of Memphis getting off to a good start. His inside game complemented Rogers' scoring from the outside. Ole Miss commits less than nine turnovers a game while forcing 16.7 per game for opponents. The Memphis defense caused eight Rebel miscues before halftime. While the Rebels cut down on the turnovers in the second half, Memphis defenders continued to cause problems. Ole Miss opens SEC play on Jan. 4 against Georgia. Memphis travels to Florida Atlantic on Thursday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballniceph 21 。

By limiting concurrent playback to one device at a time for Tencent Video VIP members, the platform aims to address issues related to account sharing and ensure a fair and sustainable ecosystem for all users. This change will help prevent unauthorized access to accounts and protect the rights of content creators and providers. Moreover, it will also enable Tencent Video to improve the quality of service and provide better support for its users.The fourth and final phase of the so-called "treatment anywhere" 30-baht universal healthcare scheme will kick off in the last 31 provinces of the country on Jan 1, as the nation adopts more digitalised medical services to cut back on waiting times at hospitals. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra led Wednesday's launch event. She was joined by Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong and Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. Since Jan 7 this year, 46 provinces, including Bangkok, have entered the programme to provide greater convenience for patients seeking medical help under the healthcare scheme. The last phase of the scheme is due to launch on Jan 1 in 31 provinces including Chon Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Surat Thani, Phuket, Sukhothai, and Khon Kaen. Ms Paetongtarn said the scheme, which the government succeeded in implementing within a year, helps people save on personal medical expenses and prevents them getting into debt to pay for expensive treatments or surgeries. As technology is advancing in the field of medical services, the universal healthcare scheme is adopting a digital platform to make obtaining treatment even easier, she said. All medical files and related data on a patient will be linked among hospitals under the scheme so the information can be called up at any facility. All subscribers need to do is present their ID cards to obtain the medical service. This enhanced digitalisation allows the public to book medical appointments through a mobile application and, where necessary, receive treatment remotely via telemedicine channels. Patients with mild symptoms or non-serious conditions do not need to make a trip to a hospital. They will instead receive consultation with doctors remotely. If any medicine is prescribed, it will be delivered to the patient's home. The scheme will also create more jobs for delivery drivers at the community level, the prime minister added. Ms Paetongtarn said improvements in the universal healthcare scheme, also known as the 30-baht scheme, have attracted more people to take advantage of the services on offer. It saw 80,000 subscribers who never used the scheme before turn to it this year. Ms Paetongtarn said the government will focus on proactive measures next year to promote people's well-being. That list includes opening Palliative Care Centres nationwide to support the elderly in light of the nation's ageing society. The premier said the centres are a boon for employment, with plans afoot to hire at least 15,000 carers. They will be trained to run the centres' operations. Targets for recruitment are new job seekers and retirees. The universal healthcare scheme through its vast coverage will work to strengthen public health through a rapid patient screening and timely diagnosis. People will be given test kits free of charge at pharmacies. The kits are effective in detecting illnesses such as HIV, cervical cancer, liver fluke, and bile duct cancer. Also earmarked for free distribution are test kits for microalbumin which is a sign of kidney disease, Ms Paetongtarn added. The prime minister said comprehensive care will be offered to anyone who is suffering from mental health disorders as services nationwide are ramped up. They will be able to access a consultation via an application. More rehabilitation specialists will also be trained, she said. A City Hall-run hospital in each of the 50 districts of Bangkok will also be upgraded so they can serve people in communities better.Cao Cao Raises Gatling Gun: Where Are the Boundaries of AI Modification? Is It Facing Infringement?

PASAY CITY, Philippines , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The SM Group is approaching the coming year with cautious optimism, encouraged by the continued growth of the Philippine economy. SM Investments President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio said that despite ongoing challenges of peso volatility and higher inflation, the business sector has adapted well. Consistent demand sustained household spending in the third quarter, with Household Final Consumption Expenditure posting a year-on-year growth of 5.1%, maintaining the same level in the same quarter last year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed. "Any moderation in inflation should trigger a strong confidence rebound. This could create opportunities in consumer-focused sectors in the country and we are poised to cater to these evolving demands," Mr. DyBuncio said. To cater to growing demand, SM continues to expand into more underserved areas, contributing to sustainable economic development and collaborating with government stakeholders to enhance access to modern retail, financial services, and integrated property developments. "By investing and expanding to more areas nationwide, SM creates new markets and improves access to these essential sectors, serving more communities and helping stimulate sustained economic activities," he said. Mr. DyBuncio also said SM continues to invest in promising ventures such as renewable energy and logistics, that foster economic activity. SM has invested in the clean energy industry through Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC) which produces 300 Megawatts of geothermal steam supply. SM aims to continue to develop geothermal concessions through PGPC in support of the Department of Energy's goal of reaching 50% renewable energy supply by 2040. To encourage circularity towards green energy production, SM's property arm, SM Prime Holdings partnered with GUUN Co. Ltd. ( GUUN ) to implement the Japanese technique of reducing landfill impact. The technology converts non-recyclable and hard-to-recycle packaging into alternative fuel. SM's banking arm, BDO Unibank is one of the largest funders of renewable energy projects. BDO has funded PHP898 billion in sustainable finance, including loans to 59 renewable energy projects as of December 2023. In logistics and tourism, the improvement of transport networks across the country's archipelago connects tourist and industrial areas that will help create inclusive growth. SM though its subsidiary 2GO launched MV Masigla and MV Masikap in 2024 to help better connect goods to 19 ports across the country including Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Manila , further supporting the government's push for medium term growth through an upgraded tourism infrastructure and ecosystem. "Our focus for 2025 will be to drive purposeful growth, empowering communities and partners through our investments towards a sustainable future," Mr. DyBuncio said. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sm-approaches-2025-with-cautious-optimism-302339448.html SOURCE SM Investments Corporation © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Students at the Campus School at Boston College got a surprise visit from “Spider-Man” star Tom Holland last week. Holland, whose girlfriend Zendaya is filming a movie in Boston , visited The Campus School on Thursday, Boston College said in an X post . The school educates students ages 3 and 22 who have extensive support needs. Holland spent several hours at the school where he spoke with students and played music with them during a music therapy session, the school wrote in an online article . “He couldn’t have been more down to earth,” Jennifer Miller, the Campus School’s marketing manager, said in the article. “Every single student was engaged, they were vibing off the room for sure,” Miller said. “The way he engaged with them was really quite beautiful. He was just so natural and so caring.” Last year, Miller received a call from a former volunteer’s mother who knew the Holland family, the school said. Through her recommendation, the Campus School applied for a grant from Holland’s family foundation, The Brothers Trust . Through this, the Campus School received a $25,000 grant. The grant will be used to buy assistive technology as well as a ceiling lift for physical therapy exercises. “We are so grateful to Tom Holland for taking the time to visit our small special needs school,” Campus School Interim Director Thomas Miller said in the article. “He participated in a music session, posed for photos, and fully immersed himself into our students' activities and their hearts.” The surprise visit was just one stop on Holland’s recent trip to Boston . The “Uncharted” actor posted on his Instagram story Sunday that he and Zendaya went to Foxhole on Newbury Street for a beer. “I’m heading out to a bar to go and have my first Bero in the wild,” Holland said in another Instagram story that showed Zendaya in the background. He later posted a photo with the “Euphoria” actress smiling and leaning over the table at Foxhole. This was not the first time Zendaya and Holland have been to Boston. The two were spotted together at the Tatte on Boylston Street, right across from Boston Common, in 2022 . Zendaya was in town then to shoot the film, “Challengers,” which Boston.com reported at the time . The celebrity couple was also seen walking their dog in the city earlier this month . Zendaya is in Boston for a new film. The 28-year-old is set to star in a new romance movie called " The Drama " alongside “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson , who was spotted shooting scenes in the Financial District on Oct. 31. Plans for “The Drama” were revealed in August, as first reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline . The upcoming film is directed by Kristoffer Borgli (“Dream Scenario”) and produced by Ari Aster (“Midsommar,” “Hereditary”). Production on the film started on Oct. 22, according to IMDb Pro. A24 , the film’s production company, was unable to provide exact filming locations for “The Drama” because they are confidential, the company told MassLive. However, Zendaya has been spotted at several locations around Boston, according to several videos on social media. One TikTok with the caption, “Zendaya blending in with the locals in beacon hill,” captured the “Dune” actress having a pastry at the Tatte. Another clip from inside the same Tatte showed Zendaya standing outside. The “Euphoria” actress was also seen at Philips Academy in Andover, according to two other TikToks as well as a post on X . Phillips spokesperson Tracy Sweet told Andover News that a film crew was on campus, but could not provide more information. Another video also captured Pattinson at the same school. The 38-year-old actor arrived in Boston on Oct. 30, Just Jared reported . “The Drama” is shooting from now until the end of November in Boston, according to a casting page that is seeking extras for the film. More Boston stories

After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is garble that can't be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won't be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here's a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you're an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there's a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption to all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal's encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp, so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger, which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels" but contrary to popular perception, it doesn't turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov's arrest in France. Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding an IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Sen. Ossoff’s Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Fentanyl Trafficking at Southern Border Signed into LawThe success of Sony's gaming business is not just limited to hardware sales, but also extends to its software and services offerings. The PlayStation Network, Sony's online gaming platform, has experienced rapid growth in both user base and revenue, as more and more gamers flock to the platform to connect, play, and interact with others.

The Nobel laureates' stance reflects a broader sentiment within the scientific community, where concerns have been mounting over the increasing politicization of science and the erosion of trust in scientific expertise. The Trump administration's dismissal of established scientific consensus on crucial issues such as climate change, environmental protection, and public health has raised alarm bells among scientists and researchers worldwide.Another option for Barcelona to consider is loaning Fati out to another club to gain valuable playing time and experience. This would enable Fati to continue his development in a competitive environment without the pressure of being a regular starter at Barcelona. A successful loan spell could boost Fati's confidence and form, making him a stronger asset for the club upon his return.

2. Best PC Game: "Cyberpunk 2077"F1 expands grid, adds Cadillac brand and new American team for '26

Kaligis can certainly use all the support he can get, especially an embrace and some encouraging words from the opposing coach. No. 22 Syracuse (9-3, No. 21 CFP), led by national passing leader Kyle McCord, is a 17-point favorite according to BetMGM in Friday night's Holiday Bowl against the depleted Cougars (8-4), whose season has nosedived since mid-November. After beating future Pac-12 opponent San Diego State 29-26 on Oct. 26 at Snapdragon Stadium, coach Jake Dickert, quarterback John Mateer and the rest of the Cougars were 7-1 and about to jump into The Associated Press Top 25. Now the Cougars are barely recognizable as they return to Snapdragon. Dickert was hired away by Wake Forest, Mateer transferred to Oklahoma and running back Wayshawn Parker left for Utah. Numerous coaches, including the offensive and defensive coordinators, are gone, and more than 20 players have entered the transfer portal. The Cougars, who lost their last three games, are a prime example of how college football's rapidly changing landscape can dramatically affect a program. “Going into the ins-and-outs of the game tomorrow doesn’t matter,” Kaligis said. “We are who we are, we have what we have. I know that’s for both of us.” Kaligis said players who entered the portal after Dickert left can suit up Friday night. “I know we came here with 98 guys. That's who we’re going to show up on the field with.” The state of the game Kaligis said relationships between players and coaches are more important than ever, even if there's less time to develop trust “and coach them the right way.” “When a staff (member) leaves and guys get in the portal, it’s because of the relationships they have garnered with their position coaches. When that position coach isn’t guaranteed he’s going to be there, that’s who that young man trusts,” Kaligis said. “I’ve been doing this for a long time," he added. "What’s been hard for me, I spent 13 years at Wyoming, I saw three graduating classes. I remember I was the longest-tenured coach there. To see them all the way through. When I came to Wazzu, I was their fourth D-line coach." Wazzu's slump The Cougs improved to 8-1 by beating Utah State 49-28 on Nov. 9 but then lost three straight, including to Oregon State in the de facto championship game between the two teams left in the Pac-12. They also lost to New Mexico and Wyoming, two of the Mountain West teams that weren't invited to join the reconstituted Pac-12 starting in 2026. Airing it out McCord, who transferred from Ohio State, rewrote the Orange's record book this season with 4,326 yards passing, 29 touchdowns and 367 completions. He's well within range of breaking Deshaun Watson's ACC single-season record of 4,593, which he set in 15 games in 2016. Orange goals A win will give Syracuse 10 wins for the first time since 2018 and just the third time since 2000. Brown can become the second Syracuse coach since World War II to record 10 wins in his first season, joining Paul Pasqualoni, who did it in 1991. In their final regular-season game, the Orange rallied from a 21-0 deficit for a 42-38 win against then-No. 6 Miami that knocked the Hurricanes out of ACC title contention and ended their College Football Playoff hopes. McCord threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns. “We want to go out and have a good game,” Brown said. “We have an opportunity of winning 10 games, which means you’re starting to become a successful program, right? Our players haven’t had a chance of winning a bowl game. So there’s a lot of things that are on the line for us to really be able to build our program and being able to move forward.” Series history This will be the teams' second meeting. Syracuse beat Washington State 52-25 in 1979.Putin Warns Of More Combat Tests For New Missile After Ukraine StrikeThis incident is just one example of the dangers of falling for low-cost traps that promise a lot but deliver very little. In the pursuit of cheap thrills and savings, many people, particularly seniors who may be more susceptible to such schemes, end up putting themselves at risk of harm and exploitation. The lack of oversight and regulation in the travel industry has allowed these unscrupulous operators to continue preying on unsuspecting individuals, leading to incidents like the one experienced by the seniors on the 9.9 RMB day trip.

Trump's insistence on the expulsion of illegal immigrants comes at a time when the issue of immigration continues to be a contentious and divisive topic in American politics. With millions of undocumented individuals currently residing in the country, Trump's rhetoric on the need to crack down on illegal immigration has resonated with many of his supporters who view unauthorized immigrants as a threat to national security and economic stability.

On the other hand, Dr. Zhang Lei, an astrophysicist and cosmologist, has been acknowledged for his pioneering research on dark matter and dark energy, two of the most mysterious phenomena in the universe. His innovative work has shed new light on the fundamental nature of the cosmos and has advanced our understanding of the universe's evolution. Dr. Zhang's exceptional research contributions have not only expanded the frontiers of science but also inspired the next generation of scientists to explore the unknown realms of the universe.

In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, businesses are constantly seeking ways to stay ahead of the competition and drive growth. While many rely on traditional methods of data analysis and market research, there is a growing recognition that the key to sustainable growth lies in harnessing the power of advanced analytics.South Alabama 35, Southern Miss. 14Title: Making Great Sacrifices! Real Madrid Returns to the European Stage 10 Days Early to Save the Team

Saints vs. Raiders Predictions & Picks: Odds, Moneyline, Spread – Week 17

In conclusion, the return of Sosuke Aizen in "Bleach: Soul Awakening" is a game-changer that promises to redefine the very essence of the series and leave a lasting impact on fans for years to come. Get ready to witness the brilliance and malevolence of one of anime's most iconic villains as he embarks on a new chapter of chaos and intrigue in the world of "Bleach."

In its edition of 100 years ago this week, the Darlington & Stockton Times suggested they plump for "the beauty of the umbrella". The umbrella had, of course, been around since time immemorial – the Oxford English Dictionary says that the first use of the Latin word meaning "shade" in the English language was in 1611 – but advances in materials and folding technology meant that 100 years ago, it was affordable to all, and there was quite an industry of "umbrella doctors" keeping them well serviced and watertight. From a postcard advertising the "smart, stylish and sophisticated... Chris LloydWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s decision to go back on his word and issue a categorical pardon for his son, Hunter , just weeks before his scheduled sentencing on gun and tax convictions was a surprise that wasn't all that surprising. Not to those who had witnessed the president’s shared anguish over his two sons after the boys survived a car crash that killed Biden's first wife and a daughter more than a half-century ago. Or to those who heard the president regularly lament the death of his older son, Beau , from cancer or voice concerns — largely in private — about Hunter’s sobriety and health after years of deep addiction. But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president — who had pledged to restore a fractured public’s trust in the nation’s institutions and respect for the rule of law — has raised new questions about his already teetering legacy. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado's Democratic Gov. Jared Polis wrote in a post on X. He added that while he could sympathize with Hunter Biden’s struggles, “no one is above the law, not a President and not a President’s son.” Biden aides and allies had been resigned to the prospect of the president using his extraordinary power in the waning days of his presidency to ensure his son wouldn't see time behind bars, especially after Donald Trump ’s win. The president's supporters have long viewed Biden's commitment to his family as an asset overall, even if Hunter's personal conduct and tangled business dealings were seen as a persistent liability. But the pardon comes as Biden has become increasingly isolated since the loss to Trump by Vice President Kamala Harris , who jumped in to the race after the president’s catastrophic debate against Trump in June forced his exit from the election. He is still struggling to resolve thorny foreign policy issues in the Middle East and Europe. And he must reckon with his decision to seek reelection despite his advanced age, which helped return the Oval Office to Trump, a man he had warned time and again was a threat to democratic norms. Trump has gleefully planned to undo Biden’s signature achievements on climate change and reverse the Democrat's efforts to reinvigorate the country’s alliances, all while standing poised to take credit for a strengthening economy and billions in infrastructure investments that are in the pipeline for the coming years. And now, Biden has handed the Republican a pretext to carry through with sweeping plans to upend the Department of Justice as the Republican vows to seek retribution against supposed adversaries. “This pardon is just deflating for those of us who’ve been out there for a few years yelling about what a threat Trump is,” Republican Joe Walsh, a vocal Trump critic, said on MSNBC. “‘Nobody’s above the law,’ we’ve been screaming. Well, Joe Biden just made clear his son Hunter is above the law.” Jean-Pierre said Monday from Air Force One that the president wrestled with the decision but ultimately felt his son’s case had been tainted by politics, though she tried to thread the needle — insisting he had faith in the Justice Department. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” she said. But Trump has already made very clear his intent to disrupt federal law enforcement with his initial nomination of outspoken critics like former Rep. Matt Gaetz to be attorney general and Kash Patel to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , who nominally still has more than two years left in his term. (Gaetz ended up quickly withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations.) Reacting to the pardon, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement: “That system of justice must be fixed and due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people." In a social media post, the president-elect himself called the pardon “such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.” “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” Trump asked. He was referring to those convicted in the violent Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by his supporters aiming to overturn the 2020 presidential election result. Biden and his spokespeople had repeatedly and flatly ruled out the president granting his son a pardon. In June, Biden told reporters as his son faced trial in the Delaware gun case, “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.” In July, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters: “It's still a no. It will be a no. It is a no. And I don’t have anything else to add. Will he pardon his son? No." In November, days after Trump's victory, Jean-Pierre reiterated that message: “Our answer stands, which is no." Neither Biden nor the White House explained the shift in the president's thinking, and it was his broken promise as much as his act of clemency that was a lightning rod. He is hardly the first president to pardon a family member or friend entangled in political dealings. Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Roger for drug charges after he had served his sentence roughly a decade earlier. In his final weeks in office, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner , the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner, as well as multiple allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. Yet Biden held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns — trying to draw a deliberate contrast with Trump, who tested the bounds of his authority like few predecessors. Inside the White House, the timing of the pardon was surprising to some who believed Biden would put it off as long as possible, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. It came just after Biden spent extended time over the past week with Hunter and other family members on Nantucket in Massachusetts, a family tradition for Thanksgiving. “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice – and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further,” Biden said in a statement announcing the pardon. Some in the administration have privately expressed anguish that the substance of Biden’s statement, including his claim of an unfair politically-tinged prosecution of his son resembled complaints Trump — who faced now-abandoned indictments over his role in trying to subvert the 2020 election — has been making for years about the Justice Department. Biden said the charges in his son's cases "came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.” Many legal experts agreed that the charges against the younger Biden were somewhat unusual, but the facts of the offenses were hardly in dispute, as Hunter wrote about his gun purchase while addicted to illegal drugs in his memoir and ultimately pleaded guilty to the tax charges. The pardon too was unusual, coming before Hunter Biden was even sentences and covering not just the gun and tax offenses against his son, but also anything else he might have done going back to the start of 2014. It's a move that could limit the ability of the Trump Justice Department to investigate the younger Biden's unsavory foreign business dealings, or to find new ground on which to bring criminal charges related to that time period. Biden, in his statement, asked for consideration: “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision." Associated Press Writer Aamer Madhani in Washington and Will Weissert aboard Air Force One contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!niceph club 777 。

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking at the Greek Investment Conference in London, emphasized Greece’s progress but noted it lags behind countries like Ireland and Portugal due to historical political challenges. He outlined a vision for Greece to become a modern European leader in areas where it has a natural advantage, citing successful projects like the Thessaloniki metro as symbols of future progress. Mitsotakis stressed the need for fiscal stability, productive investments and technological advancements, particularly in AI, while ensuring public engagement and shared benefits from growth. He acknowledged inflation’s impact on wages and tax relief but expressed optimism for the coming years. Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s ambition to be one of Europe’s seven “AI factories.” The country aims to attract AI scientists, foster startups and benefit from centralized data management for AI applications in healthcare and climate. Greece is developing its first supercomputer and positioning itself as a hub for data centers powered by renewable energy, said the prime minister. On environmental policy, Greece has reduced emissions by 45% since 2005 and produces over half its electricity from renewable sources. Mitsotakis emphasized balancing green initiatives with industrial competitiveness, urging the EU to lower energy costs for businesses and consumers. Mitsotakis advocated for stricter action against human trafficking networks and a controlled approach to legal migration. He also stressed Greece’s role as a stabilizing force in a turbulent region, pointing to its geopolitical partnerships, including strong ties with the US. The prime minister celebrated 2024 as a record-breaking year for tourism, reinforcing optimism about Greece’s economic trajectory.

Management to Host Earnings Call on December 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. ET BOSTON, MA, Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Netcapital Inc. (Nasdaq: NCPL, NCPLW) (the “Company”), a digital private capital markets ecosystem, today announced financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 ended October 31, 2024. "During the quarter ended October 31, 2024, we saw a decrease in revenue, when compared to the quarter ended October 31, 2023, but an increase in revenue when compared to the quarter ended July 31, 2024. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to a slowdown in consulting revenue, while the sequential increase was driven by our funding portal business. Despite the challenges we faced during a tough quarter, we remain optimistic about the future,” said Martin Kay, CEO of Netcapital Inc. “Recently our wholly-owned subsidiary, Netcapital Securities Inc. received approval from FINRA to become a FINRA-member broker-dealer, which marks a significant achievement for the Company as it begins to open up opportunities for more revenue channels. Looking beyond the second quarter we are focused on leveraging our new broker-dealer license and expanding our capabilities. With NSI as a registered broker-dealer, we can now support companies raising capital under Reg A and Reg D offerings, facilitate and charge fees on larger fundraises, potentially provide a broader range of investment choices for our investor base, and establish fee-sharing agreements with other broker-dealers.” Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights Revenues decreased 92% year-over-year to $170,528, compared to revenue of $2,041,658 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024. Revenues increased 20% quarter-over-quarter to $170,528, compared to revenue of $142,227 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025. Operating loss of ($2,202,431) in the second quarter fiscal 2025 as compared to operating income of $52,220 for the second quarter fiscal 2024 Net loss of approximately ($2,220,501) in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, as compared to a net profit of approximately $339,616, for the same period in the prior year Loss per share of ($2.34) for the quarter ended October 31, 2024, compared to earnings per share of $2.52 for the same period in the prior year As of October 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $1,346,739. Conference Call Information The Company will host an investor conference call on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at 10 a.m. ET. Participant access: 844-985-2012 or 973-528-0138 Conference entry code: 894026 For additional disclosure regarding Netcapital’s operating results, please refer to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 31, 2024, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. About Netcapital Inc. Netcapital Inc. is a fintech company with a scalable technology platform that allows private companies to raise capital online and provides private equity investment opportunities to investors. The Company's consulting group, Netcapital Advisors , provides marketing and strategic advice and takes equity positions in select companies. The Company’s funding portal, Netcapital Funding Portal, Inc . is registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), a registered national securities association. Forward Looking Statements The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Investor Contact 800-460-0815 ir@netcapital.com NETCAPITAL INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS NETCAPITAL INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)EFL Championship: Leeds Edge 'Basketball Game' At Swansea As Gnonto Nets Injury-time Winner

Surface-to-Air Missiles Industry Projected to Expand at 6.3% CAGR to $10.6 Billion | Boeing, BAE Systems, MBDA, Thales GFarage: Badenoch must apologise for ‘crazy conspiracy theory’ on Reform numbers

WASHINGTON (AP) — on his word and issue a categorical pardon for his son, , just weeks before his scheduled sentencing on gun and tax convictions was a surprise that wasn't all that surprising. Not to those who had witnessed the president’s shared anguish over his two sons after the boys survived a car crash that killed Biden's first wife and a daughter more than a half-century ago. Or to those who heard the president regularly lament the death , from cancer or voice concerns — largely in private — about But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president — who had pledged to restore a fractured public’s trust in the nation’s institutions and respect for the rule of law — has raised new questions about “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado's Democratic Gov. wrote in a post on X. He added that while he could sympathize with Hunter Biden’s struggles, “no one is above the law, not a President and not a President’s son.” Biden aides and allies had been resigned to the prospect of the president using his extraordinary power in the waning days of his presidency to ensure his son wouldn't see time behind bars, especially after ’s win. The president's supporters have long viewed Biden's commitment to his family as an asset overall, even if Hunter's personal conduct were seen as a persistent liability. But the pardon comes as Biden has become increasingly isolated since , who jumped in to the race after the president’s forced his exit from the election. He is still struggling to resolve thorny foreign policy issues in the Middle East and Europe. And he must reckon with his decision to seek reelection despite his advanced age, which helped return the Oval Office to Trump, a man he had warned time and again was a threat to democratic norms. Trump has gleefully planned to undo Biden’s signature achievements on climate change and reverse the Democrat's efforts to reinvigorate the country’s alliances, all while standing poised to take credit for a strengthening economy and billions in infrastructure investments that are in the pipeline for the coming years. And now, Biden has handed the Republican a pretext to carry through with sweeping plans to upend the Department of Justice as the Republican vows to “This pardon is just deflating for those of us who’ve been out there for a few years yelling about what a threat Trump is,” Republican Joe Walsh, a vocal Trump critic, said on MSNBC. “‘Nobody’s above the law,’ we’ve been screaming. Well, Joe Biden just made clear his son Hunter is above the law.” Jean-Pierre said Monday from Air Force One that the president wrestled with the decision but ultimately felt his son’s case had been tainted by politics, though she tried to thread the needle — insisting he had faith in the Justice Department. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” she said. But Trump has already made very clear his intent to disrupt federal law enforcement with his initial nomination of outspoken critics like to be attorney general , who nominally still has more than two years left in his term. (Gaetz ended up quickly withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations.) Reacting to the pardon, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement: “That system of justice must be fixed and due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people." In a social media post, the president-elect himself called the pardon “such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.” “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” Trump asked. He was referring to those convicted in the violent Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by his supporters aiming to overturn the 2020 presidential election result. Biden and his spokespeople had repeatedly and flatly ruled out the president granting his son a pardon. Biden told reporters as his son faced trial in the Delaware gun case, “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.” In July, press secretary told reporters: “It's still a no. It will be a no. It is a no. And I don’t have anything else to add. Will he pardon his son? No." In November, days after Trump's victory, Jean-Pierre reiterated that message: “Our answer stands, which is no." Neither Biden nor the White House explained the shift in the president's thinking, and it was his broken promise as much as his act of clemency that was a lightning rod. He is hardly the first president to pardon a family member or friend entangled in political dealings. pardoned his brother Roger for drug charges after he had served his sentence roughly a decade earlier. In his final weeks in office, , the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner, as well as multiple allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. Yet Biden held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns — trying to draw a deliberate contrast with Trump, who tested the bounds of his authority like few predecessors. Inside the White House, the timing of the pardon was surprising to some who believed Biden would put it off as long as possible, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. It came just after Biden spent extended time over the past week with Hunter and other family members on Nantucket in Massachusetts, a family tradition for Thanksgiving. “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice – and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further,” Biden said in a statement announcing the pardon. Some in the administration have privately expressed anguish that the substance of Biden’s statement, including his claim of an unfair politically-tinged prosecution of his son resembled complaints Trump — who faced now-abandoned indictments over his role in trying to subvert the 2020 election — has been making for years about the Justice Department. Biden said the charges in his son's cases "came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.” Many legal experts agreed that the charges against the younger Biden were somewhat unusual, but the facts of the offenses were hardly in dispute, as Hunter wrote about his gun purchase while addicted to illegal drugs in his memoir and ultimately pleaded guilty to the tax charges. The pardon too was unusual, coming before Hunter Biden was even sentenced and covering not just the but also anything else he might have done going back to the start of 2014. It's a move that could limit the ability of the Trump Justice Department to investigate the younger Biden's unsavory foreign business dealings, or to find new ground on which to bring criminal charges related to that time period. Biden, in his statement, asked for consideration: “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision." Associated Press Writer Aamer Madhani in Washington and Will Weissert aboard Air Force One contributed to this report.Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says the central bank is preparing for a future that looks more uncertain and more prone to shocks. In a speech to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, he said Monday structural changes are underway in the world including demographic shifts, technological changes, decarbonization and a move away from globalization. “We need to use the pandemic experience to prepare for future crises,” Macklem said in a prepared text of his speech. To that end, Macklem says the Bank of Canada is working to learn what it can from how the economy reacted to the pandemic and in its aftermath. The Bank of Canada is conducting a review of the policy actions it took to restore financial stability and support the economy during the pandemic that it plans to publish along with an assessment of an independent panel of experts. Macklem said the spike in inflation in 2022 was a reminder that even though inflation was relatively low and stable for 30 years leading up to the pandemic, central banks cannot take public trust for granted. “All of a sudden, people couldn’t afford the things they need. And while inflation is low once again, many prices are still a lot higher than they were before the pandemic. So people feel ripped off. And that erodes public trust in our economic system,” he said in his speech. The Bank of Canada has cut its key policy interest rate five times this year including last week when it reduced the benchmark by a half a percentage point to 3.25 per cent. Macklem says the bank will be evaluating the need for further reductions in the policy rate one decision at a time and anticipates a more gradual approach to monetary policy if the economy evolves as expected. Statistics Canada reported last month that the annual inflation rate was two per cent in Ontario, hitting the Bank of Canada’s target. The speech by Macklem came ahead of the release of the November inflation report on Tuesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2024. The Canadian PressSaints say Taysom Hill 'likely' has a season-ending knee injuryDecember 16, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked trusted source proofread by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, in collaboration with the Australian National University, Canberra has demonstrated a novel way of steering a beam of relativistic electron pulses produced by an ultrahigh intensity, femtosecond laser. Their study is published in the journal Laser and Photonics Reviews . Beams of high energy electrons are crucial for fundamental science and myriad applications and technologies, such as imaging, semiconductor lithography, material science and medical therapies. Typically, such beams are derived from accelerators—complex, expensive devices in large sizes and with sophisticated, high-power electrical and control systems. And each is geared towards operation in a certain regime of energies and currents, which is very difficult to modify at will. High intensity femtosecond laser pulses have been driving electrons to very high energies reaching million and billion electron volts over length scales that are 100–1,000 times shorter than conventional accelerator lengths, promising a revolution in compactification and control. Much of this progress has been achieved using gaseous plasma targets and the beaming of the electrons is typically along the direction of the laser itself. It is therefore imperative to find ways to get electrons at larger fluxes, say using a solid target, at the same time as controlling their directionality. For planar solids, the laser incident direction and polarization control the energies and the emission direction of the electrons. The beams are rather broad in their angular spread, getting even broader at higher laser intensities. Changing their direction or forming a narrow beam are extremely difficult challenges. This is precisely where the present advance steps in. Using a solid with a surface decorated by nanopillars, the authors drive MeV energy pulses of electrons and steer them in narrow beams by adjusting the laser incidence angle. The nanostructure enhances the local electric fields, providing higher acceleration than planar surfaces can, while a judicious choice of the incident angle and spacing can direct the electron pulses in a desired direction. A great bonus—simulations show that the electron pulses have attosecond duration. In summary, ordered nano steps can not only give a mighty kick to electrons but also bunch them tightly in time and order them to travel in specified directions. The authors call this "plasma nanophotonics," driving an analogy with an array of antennas- rightly spaced- emitting directional, coherent electromagnetic radiation. More information: Ankit Dulat et al, Coherent Control of Relativistic Electron Dynamics in Plasma Nanophotonics, Laser & Photonics Reviews (2024). DOI: 10.1002/lpor.202401570 Provided by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

Eagles rule out QB Jalen Hurts (concussion protocol) vs. Cowboys

Cowboys win wild one vs. Commanders to halt five-game slideThe Citizens Coalition for Change party led by Welshman Ncube will receive funds under the Political Parties (Finance) Act in a major snub to two other factions, it was reported on Sunday. Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi was petitioned by three rival CCC factions all claiming they were entitled to the money, and each submitting their own bank account. Ziyambi has now decided the "windfall" will go to the Ncube faction, The Standard reported, rejecting bids by the Jameson Timba-led group and a third led by Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-styled CCC secretary general who appeared to have successfully hijacked the party and enjoys favour in the Zanu PF government. Ziyambi professed ignorance about the development, however, telling ZimLive: "I'm not sure who has been given. I'm out of the country and I don't even know if the money has been disbursed." Ncube, meanwhile, said "not yet" when asked if they had received the money. He, however, insisted that they were entitled to the cash. "There should be no controversy there because the money is due to CCC by law, and we are CCC," he said. The funds, paid annually, are allocated to political parties based on their performance in the last election. The government announced in May that the CCC would receive ZiG 22,116,500 (about US$870,000 at the official rate) and Zanu PF ZiG 70 million (about US$2.7 million). The Timba group failed in a court bid to block the disbursement of the money, which – in court papers – they had assumed would be released to Tshabangu. A judge said the application lacked urgency. The Standard reports that Tshabangu – perhaps realising Zanu PF will not prop him up this time – made overtures to Ncube about jointly managing the money, which were rejected out of hand. One of the conditions was that the money would be deposited into the bank account registered by Tshabangu, and that Tshabangu would be a joint signatory with Ncube and the party's interim treasurer. Zanu PF won 137 parliamentary seats in the August 2023 general elections, with CCC picking up 73. With proportional representation, women's quarter and youth quota seats, Zanu PF controlled 177 seats in the National Assembly to CCC's 104. CCC's failure to wrest power from Zanu PF sparked internal bloodletting. Tshabangu, an ordinary member of the party, seized on its lack of clear structures and declared himself the party's interim secretary general. Tshabangu was immediately recognised by Zanu PF before embarking on a campaign to decimate the party, including recalling over 100 councillors, MPs and senators. Zanu PF won most of the by-elections occasioned by those recalls – but those results are not a factor in determining monies due to each party. Tshabangu later made himself a senator for Matabeleland North and is recognised by parliament authorities as the leader of the opposition.CVS Health Corporation Announces Pricing of Maximum Tender Offer

'A recipe for stagnation': Canadian companies widely underusing newcomer talent, report finds The ICC-Deloitte report suggests that employers can tap into newcomer talent more effectively if they adopt a 'culture of ambition.' Katrya Bolger, The Globe and Mail Nov 22, 2024 10:30 AM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Working with newcomers leads employers to innovate by incorporating new perspectives and processes in their work. Reza Estakhrian/The Image Bank/Getty Images Listen to this article 00:05:59 Interested in more careers-related content? Check out our new weekly Work Life newsletter . Sent every Monday afternoon. Newcomer talent is widely underused in Canada, but employers who tap into it see clear benefits to their business, a new report finds. The paper by The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) and Deloitte outlines how companies working with newcomers can draw on the diverse experiences of those workers to improve performance while helping to close the immigrant unemployment gap. The findings are based on conversations with more than 40 leaders across a range of sectors from mining to technology who shared their strategies for hiring and retaining immigrants. Daniel Bernhard, chief executive officer of ICC, says the insights shared show that working with newcomers leads employers to innovate by incorporating new perspectives and processes in their work. “The data shows that if you can bring people from around the world to play on your team, you’re going to have an edge over other teams where people have the same experiences and are more likely to see things the same way,” he says. Immigrants face higher unemployment rates in Canada – in large part because of the challenges of having the experience from their country of origin recognized. Statistics Canada data shows the unemployment rate for recent immigrants – those who have become permanent residents in the past five years – stood at 12.6 per cent in June. In contrast, the rate for Canadian-born workers in the same period was 5.5 per cent. Even though the federal government just announced it will lower the number of permanent residents admitted on an annual basis, Canada has welcomed about 1.8 million immigrants in the past five years, according to Statistics Canada, and there will be about 400,000 new permanent residents a year for at least the next few years. The ICC-Deloitte report suggests that employers can tap into newcomer talent more effectively if they adopt a “culture of ambition.” Leaders surveyed recognized the benefits of having a diverse work force, but they noted that their teams often struggle to invest in creating new recruitment and onboarding policies to support immigrants. The lack of clear-cut processes for integrating newcomers puts the onus on organizations to create their own, Mr. Bernhard says. “Identifying and integrating this talent is not straightforward,” he says. “While the benefits are clear, there’s an investment required. But many companies are simply not prepared to make those investments, and as a result, they’re losing out.” According to the report, the lack of will to innovate not only limits employers’ ability to hire immigrant employees but hinders these potential employees from meaningfully applying their global experience in the Canadian context. One respondent noted seeing newcomers as “global navigators” with distinct cultural insights and language skills that can help position these immigrant employees as key players in building new partnerships and clientele worldwide. Another respondent noted how attitudes of current employees toward immigrants can also hamper their integration in the workplace. They cited, for example, the tendency among some immigrants to work longer than Canadian-born workers, which can threaten the desire to encourage work-life balance. Some employers, according to the report, also struggle to recognize the value of foreign experience, with many preferring to hire alumni from universities or organizations that they know. When employers are unable to recognize the credentials of foreign employers or schools, they struggle to assess if the candidate’s experience fits their needs. Despite these barriers, respondents say organizations can take steps toward integrating immigrants, starting with de-emphasizing Canadian experience in their search for candidates. “One thing employers should do is rediscover their humility and remind themselves why when someone with an unfamiliar name from an unfamiliar country and different experience comes across your desk, there’s a possibility that person knows something you don’t know,” says Mr. Bernhard. The report also highlights the importance of creating a diversity, equity and inclusion strategy to recruit and retain newcomer talent. One HR leader from a financial services company suggests that considerations such as country of origin and year of arrival should figure in hiring frameworks to ensure they are inclusive. Respondents further noted the value of sharing success stories with colleagues across their organizations about working with immigrants. For example, a natural resource firm in Western Canada shared how changing their policy from only hiring workers who had experience driving in the snow led them to see that those who had no such experience were often more careful and had fewer accidents. This allowed them to boost their safety record while relying on newcomers to address labour shortages in their industry. Beyond cultivating an inclusive work culture, the report recommends adopting a more holistic approach to employee well-being that involves the employer recognizing the factors outside of work that can affect performance. This could include, for example, the spouse’s ability to find work. According to respondents, organizations can help in these areas by connecting with civil society organizations offering support services to newcomers. While the immigrant unemployment gap persists, the ICC-Deloitte report finds that Canada has an opportunity to use immigrant talent to gain a competitive edge. But without a dedicated approach, employers risk losing out on the potential that global talent brings, while falling behind on growth and innovation. “Immigrants who are selected for their specific skills and experiences and come from countries that do some things better than we do can teach firms to evolve and innovate,” Mr. Bernhard says. “Sidelining those people is a recipe for stagnation.” Tags: See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More z-Central Newsletter Sometimes, even a climate advocate just wants to blow dry her hair Nov 21, 2024 8:00 PM Build by numbers to address housing shortages Nov 21, 2024 2:00 PM The Eras Tour will soon end, and I for one will be happy Nov 21, 2024 10:30 AM Featured Flyer

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niceph com login app IF Philippe Clement hasn’t lost his job by the time you read this, someone in power at Ibrox isn’t doing theirs. That’s how far beyond saving he is now. That’s how far the final shreds of his credibility have been flushed down the stank. 4 Philippe Clement is under serious pressure at Rangers Credit: PA 4 Bill Leckie reckons the manager's time is up at Ibrox Credit: John Kirkby - The Sun Glasgow It’s not just that he demanded in September to be judged in January and his time’s now quite literally up. It’s not even the latest shambolic Rangers performance that leaves them 14 points adrift of Celtic in what we’ll laughingly call a title race . No, what’s finally done for the Belgian waffler is the admission he left his only two attacking threats on the bench at Motherwell because they were too tired to play from the start. Can you imagine if anyone dared pull that one with Walter Smith ? Or Jock Wallace? Or, for that matter, any manager at ANY club with half an ounce of pride in their job ? read more rangers stories GETTING RID Gers star 'attracts serious interest from THREE clubs as one side leads race' FIRM OFFER Football free bets for Rangers and Celtic games PLUS bonuses and sign-up offers They would have been pinned to the wall by the same spittle-flecked reaction: “Tired? TIRED?? I’ll decide when ye’re ******* tired! The fans who work like dogs all week to afford tickets’ll decide when ye’re tired! Now get out there and earn the fortunes we pay ye, ya lazy ****!!” So for Clement to cave and leave Vaclav Cerny and Hamza Igamane on the bench at Fir Park in case they picked up an injury from being fatigued? Well, he might as well have handed a resignation letter in with the teamsheet. Most read in Football OUT OF TUNE Bizarre moment Rangers fan SINGS to Philippe Clement live on radio ALL ROVER IT Barry Robson appointed manager of SPFL club - 11 months after Aberdeen axe 'I'M NOT CONCERNED' Rangers boss Clement breaks silence on future after latest bad result GER WRONG I'm not a stupid manager says Philippe Clement as he shoots down 'foolish' claims Seriously, if he’s in the dugout for the Old Firm game on Thursday after this insult to every Gers supporter, and to every player who ever ran through the pain barrier for the club’s badge, that stadium will be so toxic they will be handing out HazMat suits and goggles at the gates. That’s why they should do themselves a favour and bin him now. Stick wee Alex Rae in charge for the day. Or the kitman. Or the tea lady. Or some random punter picked out of a hat. Or better still, cut out the middleman and hand the reins to the sports science department. Rangers legend Stuart McCall on dressing room tears with Ally McCoist and an offer to join CELTIC After all, they are the ones who seem to have picked the team to play Motherwell. Again, can you picture the blood and hair on the walls if some geek took Walter aside and suggested he rested Brian Laudrup or Jorg Albertz for Saturday, as their VO2 max numbers were a bit down in training ? Then again, can you imagine what born winners like the Dane or the German or any of their Nine In A Row mates would have told the scientists if it had even been suggested that they needed their feet up on a must-win matchday? That’s what yesterday was for Rangers , an absolute must-win. After losing at St Mirren on Boxing Day, they simply had to beat Well to at least make it look as if they had some sort of outside chance of narrowing the chasm at the top. It was a day for everyone who could walk to stand up and be counted. If that meant lasting an hour then limping off, so be it. For a kid like Igamane not to have that hour in him is scandalous. For a senior pro like Cerny to actually tell the gaffer he didn’t have the energy to start? 4 Seriously, I’d have ended his loan there and sent him home . Yet for all that Rangers fans will be quite rightly raging at this dereliction of duty, does anyone think that many of them will be surprised? Because I’m not. Shocked, maybe, that it happened. But not surprised that it was suggested, not when you see how fragile Rangers have been under Clement. Every game where the chips have been down, they have lost. Two cup finals against Celtic , two league clashes at Parkhead, last season’s Europa League knockout game against Benfica , this season’s Champions League qualifier against a bang-average Dynamo Kiev. A home game with Motherwell last February when Celtic were wobbling, a test on Killie’s plastic early this season, a midweek trip to Aberdeen ten days later. Remember yer man Dessers walking off against St Johnstone because he was being kicked? Remember him looking at his shoes during the cup final shootout the other wek? Again, that wouldn’t be tolerated by a manager or a dressing room with balls. 4 29.12.2024 Motherwell v Rangers: Rangers chairman Fraser Thornton (R) with CEO Patrick Stewart Credit: Willie Vass But the truth is Rangers under this guy are weak in mind and weak in body , a fact never thrown into greater relief than in two post-Christmas fixtures which, ironically, have allowed Brendan Rodgers and Co to put their feet up and relax. So let’s look at what tired really is, Phil. Tired’s being St Mirren on Boxing Day as they battled down to the wire despite having just 25 per cent possession, but still found it in themselves to win it in the last seconds. Tired’s being Motherwell yesterday, chasing shadows the whole second half as their heroics in going 2-0 up took its toll. But still having it in them to block and to clear off the line at the death and cling to a point. Yet here we have Rangers, claiming that having the ball, having all the possession and camping themselves in the opposition’s final third is wearing them out even more than that? I’m afraid it suggests rather than their players being tired, they are just not fit enough to cope with the demands of Scottish football . Read more on the Scottish Sun GHOST TOWN Former Scots shopping hotspot 'decaying' as multimillion pound revamp ‘failing’ VAX HORROR Striken Scots 'gaslit' by health bosses after complications from Covid vaccine And as for Clement, bowing down to those players and their hearts the size of peas? Sorry, but he’s simply not fit for purpose. Keep up to date with ALL t h e latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Even in death, John McCain has his daughter’s vote for president. In a podcast interview released Thursday, Meghan McCain revealed she cast a vote for her dead dad as a write-in for president on her 2024 ballot. The Republican political commentator and daughter of the late Arizona senator — who died in 2018 after a battle with brain cancer — waxed poetic about politics on the latest episode of “Next Question with Katie Couric.” “I wrote in my dad,” she told Couric. “People are mad at me. People are so mad at me, Katie. I mean, mad that I didn’t vote either way.” McCain went on to explain the reasoning behind her decision, saying she could “never” vote for Donald Trump but couldn’t support Kamala Harris either. “I don’t want anything on my conscience with any of it,” she said. “I can never vote for Trump. I can’t do it. I could never explain it to my children.” When probed further on why she didn’t vote for Harris , McCain told Couric she “really wanted” the VP to “give me a reason to vote for her and I just felt like it never happened.” But perhaps even more than Harris, McCain said her inability to vote for the Democratic ticket was largely due to Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. “Look, I’m a pro-life, pretty hardcore conservative woman and Governor Walz was way too extreme for me,” McCain said. “He actually scared me a lot more than she did. He’s very radical on abortion and his record during the 2020 George Floyd protests in Minneapolis...I felt like he was cosplaying as a Republican to try to get my vote.” John McCain, who served as a U.S. representative and senator from Arizona for over 30 years, also ran an unsuccessful bid for president in 2008. He reduced his role in the Senate after being diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2017 , ultimately dying from the disease a year later. His death still deeply affects his oldest daughter . “My dad dying gutted me,” Meghan McCain said. “I always feel like there’s life before my dad died and after my dad died. I didn’t become a different person, but it just hardens you and ages you when you lose anyone to brain cancer. You just become a different version of yourself.” But the 40-year-old mother of two said she’s relieved her father is not here to bear witness to the polarizing political climate. “There’s a part of me that’s happy he’s not alive to see all this, because it would have broken his heart so badly to see the divisions in the country the way they are.”Marketing Technology Leader Celebrates Four Consecutive Years of Recognition for Outstanding Growth and Innovation SAN ANTONIO , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stirista, a leader in data-driven marketing innovation, today announced it has secured the #4 position in the San Antonio Business Journal's Fast Track Awards for 2024. This marks Stirista's fourth consecutive year on the list, moving up two spots from last year's ranking and further solidifying its place as a powerhouse in the marketing technology space. The Fast Track Awards recognize the region's fastest-growing companies, celebrating innovation, success, and contributions to the local economy. Stirista's continued rise on the list highlights its sustained growth, fueled by data solutions, strategic client partnerships, and its commitment to excellence in marketing. "We are honored to be recognized for the fourth consecutive year, and moving up to the #4 spot re-affirms our dedication to exceeding expectations and the trust our clients continue to place in us," said Ajay Gupta , CEO of Stirista. "This achievement reflects our never-ending drive to push boundaries, deliver value, and make a meaningful impact in marketing technology. San Antonio has been an incredible foundation for our success, and we're excited to continue contributing to this vibrant business community." Achieving record growth of 73% (2021-2023), Stirista's upward trajectory on the Fast Track Awards is attributed to its proprietary platforms and data-driven strategies that enable marketers to connect with their audiences effectively and responsibly. Recent milestones include the incorporation of AI, high customer retention, and continued strategic acquisitions. For more information about Stirista and its marketing solutions, visit www.stirista.com . About Stirista Stirista is a data-driven marketing technology provider that combines the power of authoritative identity data with the execution of omnichannel marketing. Through its data and customer-centric approach, Stirista is helping Fortune 500 and mid-market brands increase brand loyalty and acquire new customers. Stirista's privacy compliant data insights helps clients interact with customers and prospects via digital, email and social channels. For more information, please visit http://www.stirista.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stirista-climbs-to-4-on-san-antonio-business-journals-2024-fast-track-awards-302330550.html SOURCE Stirista

Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. People are also reading... Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Gobble up these 14 political cartoons about Thanksgiving Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court should overturn Mississippi’s Jim Crow-era practice of removing voting rights from people convicted of certain felonies, including nonviolent crimes such as forgery and timber theft, attorneys say in new court papers. Most of the people affected are disenfranchised for life because the state provides few options for restoring ballot access. “Mississippi’s harsh and unforgiving felony disenfranchisement scheme is a national outlier,” attorneys representing some who lost voting rights said in an appeal filed Wednesday. They wrote that states “have consistently moved away from lifetime felony disenfranchisement over the past few decades.” This case is the second in recent years — and the third since the late 19th century — that asks the Supreme Court to overturn Mississippi’s disenfranchisement for some felonies. The cases use different legal arguments, and the court rejected the most recent attempt in 2023. The new appeal asks justices to reverse a July ruling from the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said Mississippi legislators, not the courts, must decide whether to change the laws. Stripping away voting rights for some crimes is unconstitutional because it is cruel and unusual punishment, the appeal argues. A majority of justices rejected arguments over cruel and unusual punishment in June when they cleared the way for cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places. Attorneys who sued Mississippi over voting rights say the authors of the state’s 1890 constitution based disenfranchisement on a list of crimes they thought Black people were more likely to commit. A majority of the appeals judges wrote that the Supreme Court in 1974 reaffirmed constitutional law allowing states to disenfranchise felons. About 38% of Mississippi residents are Black. Nearly 50,000 people were disenfranchised under the state’s felony voting ban between 1994 and 2017. More than 29,000 of them have completed their sentences, and about 58% of that group are Black, according to an expert who analyzed data for plaintiffs challenging the voting ban. Related Articles National Politics | Trump convinced Republicans to overlook his misconduct. But can he do the same for his nominees? National Politics | Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad National Politics | Trump gave Interior nominee one directive for a half-billion acres of US land: ‘Drill.’ National Politics | Trump’s team is delaying transition agreements. What does it mean for security checks and governing? National Politics | Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing in order to decide where case should go now To regain voting rights in Mississippi, a person convicted of a disenfranchising crime must receive a governor’s pardon or win permission from two-thirds of the state House and Senate. In recent years, legislators have restored voting rights for only a few people. The other recent case that went to the Supreme Court argued that authors of Mississippi’s constitution showed racist intent when they chose which felonies would cause people to lose the right to vote. In that ruling, justices declined to reconsider a 2022 appeals court decision that said Mississippi remedied the discriminatory intent of the original provisions in the state constitution by later altering the list of disenfranchising crimes. In 1950, Mississippi dropped burglary from the list. Murder and rape were added in 1968. The Mississippi attorney general issued an opinion in 2009 that expanded the list to 22 crimes, including timber larceny, carjacking, felony-level shoplifting and felony-level writing bad checks. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a 2023 dissent that Mississippi’s list of disenfranchising crimes was “adopted for an illicit discriminatory purpose.”Financial Institutions, Inc. launches public stock offering

Mindglobal Recognized in the 2024 Gartner® Market Guide for Telecom Expense Management Services, GlobalThe family of late Australian Test cricketer Phillip Hughes has released a heartfelt statement on the 10th anniversary of their son and brother’s death. Hughes was batting for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield competition in November 2014 when he was struck on the neck and taken to hospital, where he died two days later. Scroll down to read the statement in full In a lengthy message issued by Cricket Australia on Wednesday, Hughes’s parents Greg and Virginia, siblings Jason and Megan and their respective families, said they hope his memory can continue to inspire young cricketers. “Phillip was a loving, humorous and an infectious person to be around,” the family said. “He always aimed to make those around him smile and enjoy the little things in life, where his beautiful smile would come to life. “He shined bright even in the tough times, which is a testament to who he was as a person, and we loved everything about him. “He was the light of our lives. Phillip had a profound love for his family and lived his life with respect to everyone around him.” The family hoped the story of Hughes’s journey in a documentary, The Boy From Macksville — premiering on Channel 7 and 7plus immediately after Day 1 of the Adelaide Test on December — would further honour his life. “We’d like to thank (everyone) for supporting this endeavour and each person who worked tirelessly behind the scenes for creating a celebration of Phillip’s life,” they added. “We hope we have been able to showcase that dreams really do come true and you will enjoy seeing his family, friends and teammates give more of an insight into his career from his baggy blue, baggy red, baggy green and many more moments in between, including unseen footage that can be watched for generations to come.” The documentary follows an official biography released in November 2015. “We hope between the biography and documentary, young cricketers around the world and everyone that was with Phillip along the way will see the hard working, dedicated, devoted and rare cricketer he was,” the family said. “His extraordinary talent is known by many, but his lasting impression of who he was as a person will always be remembered, which makes us extremely proud of him. “Phillip was always proud of the younger cricketing generation he met along the way and was always hoping he could be an inspiration, no matter where you were from, and that is also our hope.” They concluded by expressing the hole that still remains in their hearts. “It is essential for us to express our heartfelt thanks, sincere gratitude and appreciation to our extended family and friends, our hometown of Macksville and surrounding towns, to the wider cricketing community in Australia and overseas and the farming community,” the family said. “Phillip, we love you, we miss you and we are forever proud of you. We think about you every day and we are so thankful you were ours. Thank you for being the most extraordinary son and loving brother.” Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the passing of our treasured son and brother, Phillip Joel Hughes. Phillip was a loving, humorous and an infectious person to be around. He always aimed to make those around him smile and enjoy the little things in life, where his beautiful smile would come to life. He shined bright even in the tough times, which is a testament to who he was as a person, and we loved everything about him. He was the light of our lives. Phillip had a profound love for his family and lived his life with respect to everyone around him. Phillip, the small-town country boy, became an Australian Test, ODI and T20 cricketer, where he played on the toughest pitches around the globe, alongside the toughest of cricketers on the world stage, but never forgot where he came from and who helped along the way. He was a unique individual that took risky and adventurous strides to conquer the dreams he set for himself to become Test baggy green number 408. He played cricket for all the right reasons and had the ability to take it all in his stride. He loved being a part of a team and representing Australia for the game he loved so deeply. The number of stories, laughs shared, phone calls and conversations wouldn’t be able to be told over a quick drink at the local pub, which leads us to having the opportunity nine years ago to create the official biography of Phillip — ‘Phillip Hughes The Official Biography’ — that gave us the pleasure of sharing more about who Phillip was. Those pages consisted of his journey from his childhood to his final legacy of 63 NOT OUT*. Ten years on, a documentary, ‘The Boy from Macksville’, will be shared alongside Cricket Australia, who we’d like to thank for supporting this endeavour and each person who worked tirelessly behind the scenes for creating a celebration of Phillip’s life. We hope we have been able to showcase that dreams really do come true and you will enjoy seeing his family, friends and teammates give more of an insight into his career from his baggy blue, baggy red, baggy green and many more moments in between, including unseen footage that can be watched for generations to come. We hope between the biography and documentary, young cricketers around the world and everyone that was with Phillip along the way will see the hard-working, dedicated, devoted and rare cricketer he was. His extraordinary talent is known by many but his lasting impression of who he was as a person will always be remembered, which makes us extremely proud of him. Phillip was always proud of the younger cricketing generation he met along the way and was always hoping he could be an inspiration, no matter where you were from, and that is also our hope. Cricket gave Phillip the stepping stone to start a new adventure of Four O Eight Angus, named after his proud baggy green Test cap number. Black Stud Angus Cattle farming back in our hometown of Macksville, where he loved the land and his animals and would tell anyone who would listen. The business was built on dedication and it’s a testimony to how high he climbed. He loved to symbolise his cricketing journey in his farming career as a tribute, which still stands proud today. Phillip loved Macksville and the local surrounding towns, where he was able to come back throughout his cricketing years and felt right back at home. We want to share our appreciation to everyone who has respected our privacy and wishes throughout the last decade and continuing to do so at this time. Thank you for being on this journey with Phillip, he loved taking everyone along with him on this ride, living out his childhood dreams. It is essential for us to express our heartfelt thanks, sincere gratitude and appreciation to our extended family and friends, our hometown of Macksville and surrounding towns, to the wider cricketing community in Australia and overseas and the farming community. Phillip, we love you, we miss you and we are forever proud of you. We think about you every day and we are so thankful you were ours. Thank you for being the most extraordinary son and loving brother.CLEVLEAND — Shane Bieber's comeback with Cleveland has double meaning. The former Cy Young winner re-signed with the Guardians on Wednesday, a reunion that seemed unlikely when he became a free agent. However, the 29-year-old Bieber decided to stay with the AL Central champions after making just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Bieber agreed last week to a one-year, $14 million contract. The deal includes a $16 million player option for 2026. It seemed like a long shot that Bieber, who is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 132 starts, would return to Cleveland. He had turned down long-term offers in the past from the club, and it was expected he would sign with another contender, likely one on the West Coast. But the California native has a special connection with the Guardians, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. Bieber, who won the AL Cy Young in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, threw only 12 innings last season before lingering issues with his elbow forced him to have surgery. He is expected to join Cleveland's rotation at some point in 2025. A two-time All-Star, Bieber was named MVP of the midsummer event in 2019 when it was held in Cleveland. He has the highest strikeout ratio per nine innings (10.2) and third-highest winning percentage (.660) in the franchise's 124-year history. Bieber is one of just three Cleveland pitchers to start five season openers, joining Stan Coveleski (1917-21) and Corey Kluber (2015-19). While Bieber had some elbow issues in the past, he didn't show any issues before being shut down. He struck out 11 in six scoreless innings against Oakland on March 28, and followed that up with six more shutout innings at Seattle on April 2. DALLAS — Pitchers again dominated the big league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings, comprising 11 of the 15 unprotected players who were picked Wednesday. The 121-loss Chicago White Sox had the first pick and selected 24-year-old right-hander Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Smith was an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest when he was signed by Milwaukee in July 2021. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder has gone 13-7 with a 2.69 ERA and 203 strikeouts over 157 innings in 19 starts and 54 relief appearances over three minor league seasons. There were 14 teams who made picks in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft of players left off 40-man rosters after several minor league seasons. Only Atlanta made two selections, after making none since 2017. Atlanta chose right-hander Anderson Pilar from the Miami Marlins with the 11th pick, and then took infielder Christian Cairo from the Cleveland Guardians with the 15th and final pick in the MLB portion. The 26-year-old Pilar was original signed by Colorado as a minor league free agent in 2015 and has pitched in 213 minor league games that included 17 starts. He is 28-20 with a 2.86 ERA. Teams pay $100,000 to take a player in the major league portion. The players must stay on the big league roster all of next season or clear waivers and be offered back to their original organization for $50,000. Six of the 10 players selected during the Rule 5 draft last December — five of them right-handed pitchers — remained last season with organization that selected them. Two of the four position players taken Wednesday by other teams came from the Detroit Tigers organization: catcher Liam Hicks and third baseman Gage Workman. Miami drafted second after Colorado passed making a selection, and took Hicks. Workman was taken by the Chicago Cubs with the 10th pick. Baltimore lost two right-handed pitchers on back-to-back picks, Juan Nunez to San Diego with the 12th pick before Connor Thomas went to Milwaukee. DALLAS — Tom Hamilton, who has called Cleveland games on the radio for 35 seasons, won the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting on Wednesday. Hamilton, 70, joined the team's broadcast in 1990, when he was with Herb Score in the booth and part of the coverage of their World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997. Hamilton became the voice of the franchise when Score retired after that second World Series. Hamilton will be honored during the Hall of Fame’s induction weekend from July 25-28 in Cooperstown, New York. He was selected the hall's Frick Award 16-member committee as the 49th winner. There were 10 finalists on this year's ballot, whose main contributions came as local and national voices and whose careers began after, or extended into, the Wild Card era. The other nine were Skip Caray, Rene Cardenas, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Ernie Johnson Sr., Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Dave Sims and John Sterling. DALLAS — The Texas Rangers acquired slugging corner infielder Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday in a trade for three minor league players. Burger hit .250 with 29 home runs and 76 RBIs in 137 games for the Marlins last season, with 150 strikeouts in 535 at-bats with 31 walks. He started 59 games at third base and made 50 starts at first. Five days of service time short of being eligible for salary arbitration this offseason, he will be eligible next winter and can become a free agent after the 2028 World Series. Miami got infielders Max Acosta and Echedry Vargas and left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza. The acquisition of Burger comes about a month after the Rangers hired former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a senior adviser for baseball operations. Luis Urueta, Miami's bench coach the past two seasons, also was added recently to manager Bruce Bochy's on-field coaching staff for 2025. BRIEFLY WHITE SOX: Mike Tauchman is switching sides in Chicago. The White Sox announced a $1.95 million, one-year contract for the outfielder. Tauchman, 34, grew up in Palatine, Illinois, about 35 miles northwest of Chicago, and played college ball for Bradley in Peoria, Illinois. He spent the previous two seasons with the Cubs. TRADE: All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet was acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the Chicago White Sox for four prospects. Catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and outfielder Braden Montgomery are headed to Chicago.

"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin claimed that President-elect Donald Trump never mentioned egg prices during his 2024 campaign, even though he and his campaign did multiple times. Controversial "squad" member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. , has explained where she thinks the Democratic presidential ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., went wrong. According to Omar, the campaign's choice to embrace the endorsements of former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, was "a huge misstep." This was especially true in battleground state Michigan, she told the Minnesota Star-Tribune , because it was where the Uncommitted Movement maintained a stronghold. TOM COTTON SLAMS ‘PARTISANS AND OBSTRUCTIONISTS’ IN DOD REPORTEDLY PLOTTING TO BLOCK TRUMP PLANS Omar said it was a "misstep" for the Harris-Walz campaign to bring on Cheney. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) The Uncommitted Movement specifically withheld support from President Joe Biden — and then Harris — because of its disapproval of their handling of the war in Gaza. Particularly, a large population of Arabs and Muslims in Michigan believed the U.S. was not holding Israel accountable for death and destruction in Gaza. "You have the one name for my generation and generations younger than me that is synonymous with war," Omar said of Cheney. CONGRESS HAS JUST WEEKS TO AVOID A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AFTER THANKSGIVING Harris did an event with Cheney. (Jim Vondruska/Getty Images) "It does say something about where your priorities are, even if those are not your priorities." As part of the Harris-Walz campaign's strategy to attract disaffected Republicans, they advertised former Rep. Cheney's endorsement and even hosted an event with her and Harris in battleground state Wisconsin. SENATE GOP MOTIVATED TO RAPIDLY CONFIRM TRUMP NOMINATIONS AHEAD OF PARTY TRIFECTA IN WASHINGTON Cheney was Bush's vice president. (Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images) She also explained why she thought Harris lost the city of Dearborn, Michigan, which is home to a large Arab community. The congresswoman pointed to the fact that President-elect Donald Trump met with the Democratic mayor, but Harris and Walz were only willing to send staff. "I think that personal touch for that community made the difference," Omar said. "We could have had that personal touch." 'CONVEYOR BELT OF RADICALS': GOP SLAMMED OVER SENATE ABSENCES THAT HELPED BIDEN SCORE MORE JUDGES IN LAME DUCK Omar is a member of the so-called "squad." (DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images) Despite her past record of criticism of and opposition to Trump, Omar claimed she'd be open to collaborating with his administration. She maintained that she would still be opposing "hurtful" policies towards her constituents, though. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP With Trump returning to office, Omar said she is afraid that Israel will get the "green light" to "finish their genocidal war." The Harris-Walz team did not provide comment in time for publication. Julia Johnson is a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. She was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner. Follow Julia's reporting on X at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com .

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. ( NYSE:ARI – Get Free Report ) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, December 10th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of 0.25 per share by the real estate investment trust on Wednesday, January 15th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.24%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has raised its dividend payment by an average of 21.3% annually over the last three years. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a dividend payout ratio of 117.6% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Research analysts expect Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance to earn $0.76 per share next year, which means the company may not be able to cover its $1.00 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 131.6%. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Stock Down 1.8 % ARI opened at $8.90 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 46.13, a quick ratio of 46.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $9.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $9.65. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a 1-year low of $8.52 and a 1-year high of $12.25. The stock has a market cap of $1.23 billion, a PE ratio of -9.67 and a beta of 1.75. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Check Out Our Latest Report on ARI About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance ( Get Free Report ) Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) that originates, acquires, invests in, and manages commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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WEST LAYFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Trey Kaufman-Renn had 18 points and Myles Colvin and Camden Heide each scored 13 to lead No. 6 Purdue to an 80-45 rout of Marshall on Saturday. Colvin and Heide were making their first starts of the season for Purdue (5-1). Braden Smith, who was averaging 14.6 points, was scoreless on an 0-for-4 shooting day. Smith had a team-high nine assists. Nate Martin led Marshall (3-2) with nine points, playing 24 minutes before fouling out with several minutes left in the game. The Boilermakers shot 55% in the first half to take a 39-24 halftime lead. However, Purdue made only one field goal in the final nine minutes of the first half. Purdue picked up the intensity in the second half, leading by as many as 41 points. The Boilermakers shot 50% for the game and held the Thundering Herd to 30%. No. 10 NORTH CAROLINA 87, HAWAII 69 HONOLULU (AP) — R.J. Davis scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half and No. 10 North Carolina pulled away from Hawaii. Elliot Cadeau had 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting, Seth Trimble scored 11 of his 13 points after halftime and Ian Jackson added 11 for the Tar Heels (3-1). Davis, an All-American guard, moved into fourth place on North Carolina’s all-time career scoring list. He overtook Sam Perkins with his free throw at the 11:59 mark of the first half. Gytis Nemeiksa led Hawaii with 16 points and had 10 rebounds. Akira Jacobs made three 3-pointers and scored 13 points off the bench. Tanner Christensen had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Marcus Green added 10 points for the Rainbow Warriors (4-1). No. 15 MARQUETTE 880, GEORGIA 69 NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — David Joplin scored a career-high 29 points and made six 3-pointers, Chase Ross had 14 points and five steals, and No. 15 Marquette beat Georgia. Joplin scored five straight Marquette points to begin a 12-3 run that Stevie Mitchell capped by banking in a shot with 1:33 remaining for a 78-66 lead. Mitchell made a steal at the other end to help seal it. Ben Gold scored a career-high 14 points and Kam Jones had 10 points and seven assists for Marquette (6-0). Jones was coming off the program’s third triple-double in more than 100 seasons when he had 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in 36 minutes against No. 6 Purdue on Tuesday. Gold’s previous high was 12 points at UConn on Feb. 7, 2023, while Joplin’s was 28 at DePaul on Jan. 28, 2023. Blue Cain scored 17 points and Tyrin Lawrence added 15 for Georgia (5-1). Dakota Leffew had 11 and Silas Demary Jr. 10. The Bulldogs turned it over 18 times, leading to 27 points by Marquette. No. 18 CINCINNATI 81, GEORGIA TECH 58 ATLANTA (AP) — Dillon Mitchell had 14 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, and No. 18 Cincinnati beat Georgia Tech. Jizzle James and Cole Hickman also scored 14 points apiece for the Bearcats (5-0), who passed the first true test of the young season against their first major conference opponent in the Yellow Jackets of the ACC. Naithan George made three 3-pointers while scoring 13 points for Georgia Tech (2-3). Duncan Powell added 10 points, while leading scorer Baye Ndogo finished with just five points. No. 25 ILLINOIS 87, Md-Eastern Shire 40 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Will Riley scored his 19 points in the second half and No. 25 Illinois beat Maryland Eastern Shore. Kylan Boswell added 13 points, Tomislav Ivisic had 11 and Morez Johnson Jr. finished with 10 for the Illini (4-1), who shot 25% (10 for 40) from 3-point range but committed just nine turnovers. Tre White grabbed 11 rebounds and Kasparas Jakucionis seven for Illinois, which outrebounded the Hawks 59-38. Jalen Ware scored 10 points and Christopher Flippin had 10 rebounds for Maryland Eastern Shore (2-6), which had its lowest point total of the season. The team’s previous low came in 102-63 loss to Vanderbilt on Nov. 4.In a surprise that stunned the audience of Hollywood’s first big awards-season bash, “A Different Man,” a dark comedy about doppelgängers, deformity and authenticity in acting, won best feature film at the 34th Gotham Awards on Monday night. Much can be unpredictable at the Gotham Awards, which uses small juries of insiders and film industry veterans to pick nominees and winners. But as the “A Different Man” ensemble, including Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson, took the stage, writer-director Aaron Schimberg was obviously in disbelief. “I don’t think I’m not the only person in this room who's totally stunned," said Schimberg. “Considering the other nominees, I thought it would be hubris to prepare a speech." At a starry Gothams that drew Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet and Angelina Jolie, most were expecting triumph for Sean Baker’s “Anora,” a comedy about a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. It came in the lead nominee, the Cannes Palme d’Or winner, and maybe top best-picture contender at the Oscars, but went home emptyhanded. Instead, the night belonged to the A24 release “A Different Man,” which stars Stan as a man with facial deformities who's healed of them. He's then upstaged by the character played by Pearson, who genuinely has neurofibromatosis, a condition that covers much of his face with benign skin tumors. The Gothams aren’t an Oscar bellwether, though several of its recent top winners – including last year's winner “Past Lives,” as well as “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Nomadland” – have gone on to be nominated for best picture, with “Everything Everywhere” and “Nomadland” winning. Whether any of the winners Monday night — “Sing Sing” and “Nickel Boys” were also victorious — will use the early wins as a springboard for more trophies remains to be seen. But the Gothams, a black-tie affair held at Cipriani Wall Street in downtown Manhattan, tend give some sense of the flavor of the upcoming gauntlet of award-season ceremonies. How prominent politics, and the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, might be in this year’s Oscar race is one of the biggest questions as the season ramps up. On Monday, Trump's name was never uttered on stage, nor were there any overtly political statements. But several winner seemed to allude to the shifting political climate. “Let's keep doing the work that really matters and makes a difference,” said Colman Domingo, who won best lead performance. “That's what we can do right now. That can be the light in the darkness.” Domingo won for his starring role in “Sing Sing,” the indie drama about a real prison program called Rehabilitation Through the Arts, which helps incarcerated people heal through theater productions. Clarence Maclin, one of the formerly incarcerated men who co-star in the film, won best supporting performance. (The Gothams give gender-neutral acting awards that number 10 nominees instead of the typical five.) “If someone was going to tell me ten years ago, I was going to be here, I wouldn’t have believed it,” said Maclin. “Sing Sing,” also from A24, was arguably the emotional winner of the night. The film's ensembled also accepted a tribute award. In one of the evening's most powerful speeches Sean Dino Johnson, a founding member of RTA, spoke passionately about the redemptive qualities of the arts. “Standing here tonight we are proof that movies like ‘Sing Sing’ don’t just entertain,” said Johnson. “They change lives.” RaMell Ross' “Nickel Boys," his arrestingly photographed Colson Whitehead adaptation, also won two major awards: best diretor for Ross and breakthrough performer for Brandon Wilson. Ross’ film, about two Black teenagers at an abusive juvenile reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida, is filmed largely from the first-person perspective of its two main characters. For many, the Gothams are a chance to make an impression with a speech that helps solidify their awards chances. To that cause, the Gothams gave out an array of tribute awards. This year’s crop was particularly starry, including Zendaya (for “Challengers”), Jolie (for “Maria”), Chalamet and James Mangold (for “A Complete Unknown”), Denis Villeneuve (for “Dune: Part Two”), and Franklin Leonard, founder of the fabled unproduced screenplay platform The Black List. Jolie, who plays the opera singer Maria Callas in “Maria,” also spoke about the importance of the arts. “It’s so important that art be taught in our schools, and so concerning that is being reduced,” Jolie said. Zendaya, honored for her performance in Luca Guadagnino's “Challengers,” took a moment to thank her date. “My mom's here tonight," she said. “Shout out mom.” Chalamet read a short speech about his transformation into Bob Dylan for the upcoming “A Complete Unknown.” “Getting to study and immerse myself in the world of Bob Dylan has been the greatest education a young artist can receive," Chalamet said. "If you're already a fan of Bob Dylan, this will make perfect sense to you. If you're not familiar with his work, perhaps our film can serve as a humble gateway to one of the great poets and chroniclers of our times.” Best documentary went to “No Other Land,” a film made by a Palestinian and Israeli filmmaker collective that documents Israeli occupation of a Palestinian village in West Bank over the course of years. Despite being one of the year’s most acclaimed documentaries, “No Other Land” remains without an American distributor. Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light,” a poetic drama about three women in modern Mumbai, took the award for best international film. Though the film was the first Indian movie in competition at the Cannes Film Festival this year, India opted not to select it for its Oscar submission. The award for breakthrough director went to Vera Drew for “The People's Joker,” a superhero parody about gender identity. Drew thanked Warner Bros. “for not suing me” and Nicole Kidman, an attendee, because, Drew said, “'Batman Forever' is when I realized I was trans.”

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NEW YORK , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HitPaw, a world-renowned brand specializing in providing high-quality digital creation tools, is pleased to announce a major upgrade to HitPaw Online Video Enhancer: the launch of the new low-light enhancement model. This innovative technology is designed to help users easily improve the image quality of nighttime videos, perfectly solving the problem of video blurring and noise in low-light environments, and making every frame of night scenes clearer and more vivid. LET'S CHECK OUT NEW LOW-LIGHT ENHANCEMENT MODEL Low-light Enhancement Model - Revolutionizing Low Light Video HitPaw Online Video Enhancer introduces a new low-light enhancement model designed to optimize video quality in low light environments. It uses advanced AI technology to intelligently enhance picture brightness and contrast, retain more details, present clearer images, and accurately restore the true colors of night scenes, making every frame more vivid and vibrant. 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If it's a joke, some former employees aren't laughing HOUSTON (AP) — Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in corporate fraud and greed in America after it went bankrupt in 2001, is coming back. But the infamous company's return seems to be an elaborate joke. If its return is comedic, some former Enron employees who lost everything in the company’s collapse aren’t laughing. They're angry at a publicity stunt they say minimizes what they went through. Enron was once the nation’s seventh-largest company, but it went bankrupt amid massive accounting fraud. On Monday, a company representing itself as Enron announced it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” But a paper trail of legal documents points to the comeback being parody and performance art. Sean Penn accuses Academy Awards of cowardice at Marrakech Film Festival MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — Sean Penn has blasted the organizers of the Oscars of being cowards who, in effect, limit the kind of films that can be funded and made. The 64-year-old actor said Tuesday he gets excited about the Academy Awards only on the rare occasion that films he values are nominated. Penn’s remarks dovetail with longstanding criticisms of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for lacking diversity. The institution has in recent years tried to adopt more proactive steps to reform and rebrand itself, but has faced criticism for not going far enough. Penn's comments came at the Marrakech Film Festival. Kendrick Lamar and SZA announce 2025 North American stadium tour NEW YORK (AP) — “Not Like Us,” it’s like them. Kendrick Lamar and SZA will hit the road together in 2025. Lamar and SZA announced Tuesday the Grand National Tour, which will hit 19 stadiums across North America next spring and summer. The tour kicks off on April 19 in Minneapolis before going to Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington state, California, Arizona, Nevada, Illinois, Michigan and Washington, D.C. Tickets go on sale Friday. A pre-sale for Cash App Visa Card holders will launch Wednesday. The news arrives less than two weeks after Lamar released his latest album, “GNX,” which features SZA on two tracks. Authorities fear a Pennsylvania woman was swallowed by a sinkhole while looking for her cat Authorities fear a grandmother who disappeared while looking for her cat may have been swallowed up by a sinkhole that recently opened up in a western Pennsylvania village. Crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole in Marguerite on Tuesday morning but detected nothing. A second camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe. Police say the family of 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard called police at about 1 a.m. to say she hadn't been seen since going out Monday evening to search for Pepper, her cat. They found her 5-year-old granddaughter in her parked car near the manhole-sized opening. It’s not clear what happened to Pepper. Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair suspended 3 games without pay after violent hit on Trevor Lawrence HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended by the NFL without pay for three games for repeated violations of player safety rules following his hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion. Al-Shaair’s punishment was announced by NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan. In his letter to Al-Shaair, he noted that he has had multiple offenses for personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations in recent seasons. Runyan says “video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide.” Last 2 defendants in Atlanta's Young Thug trial are acquitted of murder and gang charges ATLANTA (AP) — The long-running gang and racketeering trial in Atlanta that led rapper Young Thug to plead guilty in October has ended with a jury finding the last two defendants not guilty of racketeering, murder and gang-related charges. Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, was acquitted of all charges and Shannon Stillwell was found guilty only of a gun possession charge. Jury selection in the trial began nearly two years ago after prosecutors indicted 28 defendants. They said YSL was a criminal gang co-founded by Grammy-winning Young Thug. The Atlanta-born rapper’s given name is Jeffery Williams. He was released on probation after pleading guilty to gang, drug and gun charges. Great Lakes region braces for more snow while cleaning up after lake-effect storms Cleanup work is continuing around parts of the Great Lakes region socked by lake-effect snowstorms that dropped several feet of snow over the weekend. Forecasters are warning that another storm system could add a few more inches and maybe even more later this week. Many school districts in western Pennsylvania remained closed Tuesday as the storms were finally slowing after several days of lake-effect snow that also fell on parts of western New York, Ohio and Michigan. Snow totals since Thanksgiving in some places are nearing six feet. New women's baseball league names 97-year-old AAGPBL alum honorary chair on advisory board Former baseball pitcher Maybelle Blair will be an honorary chair on the advisory board of the Women’s Professional Baseball League, which last month announced plans to launch in 2026 as a six-team circuit for female players. The 97-year-old Blair helped inspire the baseball film “A League of Their Own” with her play in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She will chair a board of women who have worked in sports and business. The list includes a leader from the upstart Professional Women’s Hockey League, a longtime ESPN executive, and baseball pitcher and six-time World Cup winner Ayami Sato. Search suspended for man believed to have gone overboard from cruise ship off California's coast SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard says it has suspended the search for a man believed to have gone overboard from a cruise ship as it was returning to San Francisco after a voyage to Ensenada, Mexico. The Ruby Princess arrived in San Francisco at 6:50 a.m. Monday following the five-day trip. Officials searched the ship several times for the missing passenger. They also scoured CCTV videos, but there was no sign of the man. Princess Cruises says the 72-year-old American citizen was traveling alone. The Coast Guard began aerial searches that were suspended around 5:30 p.m. Chicago house party shooting kills 3 men and wounds five other people, police say CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago police say eight people were shot at a house party, three of them fatally. Others fled as gunfire erupted. Police Chief of Patrol Jon Hein says officers responded Monday afternoon to the “social gathering” at a home in the city's southwest Chicago Lawn neighborhood. He says four men and four women between the ages of 20 and 35 were shot. Police say a 26-year-old man and two other men were pronounced dead. A 27-year-old woman was in critical condition, a 24-year-old woman was in serious condition and three other shooting victims were in good condition.

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Will the College Football Playoff just around the corner, this marks the first year that the bracket is expanding from just four teams to twelve. But it also means there are some changes being made regarding payouts to college conferences with schools competing in the playoff. The Football Bowl Division, commonly referred to as the FBS, is the highest level of college football in the United States and consists of over 100 teams in 10 conferences. But of those 100 teams, just 12 will advance into the College Football Playoff. RELATED STORY | NCAA, leagues sign off on $2.8 billion plan, setting stage for dramatic change across college sports Each conference will receive different payouts based on the number of teams in the conference that make the College Football Playoff. But those teams will be eligible to earn even more money for their conference the further they advance. For the 2024-2025 College Football Playoff: RELATED STORY | States sue NCAA, saying organization unfairly restricts players' sponsorship opportunitiesniceph register 。

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Kobe Magee had 23 points in Drexel's 83-71 win against Chicago State on Tuesday. Magee had nine rebounds for the Dragons (5-3). Yame Butler shot 6 of 10 from the field and 8 for 11 from the line to add 20 points. Cole Hargrove went 5 of 7 from the field to finish with 10 points. Troy McCoy finished with 19 points and six rebounds for the Cougars (0-8). Jalen Forrest added 14 points for Chicago State. Matthew Robinson finished with 10 points and two steals. Jason Drake led Drexel in scoring with eight points in the first half to help put them up 35-28 at the break. Magee scored 16 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .School pupils from this Gwent area to show off their football skills on TVDaily Post Nigeria Kano Govt pays new minimum wage of N71,000 Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Kano Govt pays new minimum wage of N71,000 Published on November 26, 2024 By Muhammad Bukar Barely three weeks after receiving the committee report for the review of the new minimum wage and the subsequent approval of N71,000, the Kano State Government has commenced the implementation of the newly approved wages. Kano State workers started receiving their salaries on November 25 with the approved increment. Remarking on the development, Kano State Head of Civil Service Alhaji Abdullahi Musa urged civil servants in the state to rededicate themselves to efficient service delivery. While reiterating the government’s commitment towards continuous improvement of the welfare of its workers, he admonished them to judiciously utilise the increment to better their living conditions by avoiding extravagant spending. Alhaji Musa also disclosed that in addition to the implementation of the new minimum wage, the Kano State Government has also commenced the payments of all the allowances of the health workers in the state. Related Topics: kano Minimum wage Don't Miss NOA starts awareness campaign to avert Lassa fever outbreak in Kogi You may like Kano Anti Graft Agency arrests 26 trailers of diverted Tinubu repackaged Rice Kano pupils decry inadequate toilets, frequent thefts in schools Minimum wage: December 1 deadline stands – NLC Buni approves N70,000 minimum wage in Yobe Minimum wage: Zamfara NLC threatens indefinite strike EndBadGovernance: Kano gov hands 76 minors to parents in Kano Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd

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Several Nigerian banks have embarked on system upgrades to enhance digital banking services and meet the growing demand for seamless transactions. Tribune Online reports on Thursday that the National President of Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders, Importers, and Exporters Coalition, Chief Chukwu Osita, lamented the development and disclosed that some banks have started sending unsolicited messages to importers’ emails informing them that their system upgrades will take time. He noted that the development gives cargo owners sleepless nights over the accumulation of demurrages and storage charges at the ports. According to the frontline clearing agent, “We are still struggling to clear the backlog of cargoes trapped at the ports due to banking upgrades by some banks like GTBank, Unity Bank, and Zenith Bank, but some banks are still sending messages that their own system upgrade will soon commence.” While the upgrades are aimed at improving efficiency and security, customers have expressed frustration over the disruptions caused by these processes. In recent weeks, banks such as GTBank, Unity Bank, and Zenith Bank, and most recently Union Bank have undergone system upgrades. Many customers have also taken to social media to air their grievances, citing difficulties in accessing funds, failed transactions, and prolonged downtimes as major challenges. Reacting to the development on X, @Queenofdblues1 tweeted , “Ever since @gtbank @gtbank_help did system upgrade, everything is not well with the bank again. “The Mobile App took the worst hit. No history of your transactions again. It’s looking like you never performed any transaction with it before and even now, it’s not displaying any transaction record. You guys take charges from everything we do, get yourself good ICT personnels. Stop being faacking stingy!” Another user, @givensmusicc wrote , “Gtbank will do 50 “upgrades” to make banking with them worse than it was😂.” “Who sent Union Bank to do system upgrade? How Pensioner like me go cope?😭😭😭.” @fejiro_ tweeted. @Tallman04 tweeted, “GTB you guys have done enough....please bring back our bank. Yes you all have raised funds to do system upgrade but why fix what is not broken. Did a transfer to it and I am yet to see it after 24 hours.... How are we going to do salary week like this???” “@UNIONBANK_NG what is going on ooo please have being trying to make transfer since morning I can’t I need to make transfer to my other bank to get things for my children tomorrow for school.” @arnbehi lamented. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel nowA stroke changed a teacher’s life. How a new electrical device is helping her move

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Just about everyone dreams about cars they wish they could own, and there’s no better time than the holidays to make a list of vehicles you’d love to have in your driveway. The car pros at Edmunds rounded up five of their favorite dream-worthy vehicles. But rather than just list the most outlandish and expensive exotics, they focused on highlighting models that are expensive but not so pricey that it’d be completely unrealistic for you to own one one day. The vehicles are ordered in ascending order of price and include destination fees. Ford F-150 Raptor R Off-road trucks look fantastic and are extremely capable. What truck enthusiast wouldn’t have one topping their wish list? The king of the hill for 2025 is the F-150 Raptor R. The regular Raptor is already impressive, and the R takes it to the next level with a bonkers 720-horsepower supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine, upgraded Fox dual-value shock absorbers, and massive 37-inch all-terrain tires. An R-specific grille and hood are also part of the R’s upgrades. Thankfully, the Raptor R isn’t all bark and bite. It also has plenty of features to make it a livable truck for daily driving. Standard features include leather upholstery, cooling front seats, a premium sound system, and a surround-view camera to help make this big truck easier to park. Starting Price: $112,825 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Few sedans can match the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for opulence, luxury and prestige. This grand sedan showcases nearly every luxury, technology and performance innovation that Mercedes-Benz has concocted. Everything you touch inside is likely covered in leather, heated, or bathed in disco-worthy ambient light. A novel could be written about all of the S-Class’ luxury and comfort features, but one of the most notable is the E-Active Body Control system. It scans the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension to deliver the best ride possible. The S-Class also boasts an extensive list of advanced safety features and has an augmented reality head-up display that projects images that appear to float in front of the car. For the ultimate S-Class, get the 791-horsepower AMG S 63 E Performance model. Starting Price: $118,900 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Who needs a European exotic car when the Corvette ZR1 is just as capable? A sports car fanatic’s wish list wouldn’t be right without the ZR1. The new Corvette hit a record-setting top speed of 233 mph, making it the fastest car ever built by an American automaker and the fastest current production car priced under $1 million, according to Chevrolet. The top speed record was possible thanks to the ZR1’s turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine that cranks out a staggering 1,064 horsepower. Its carbon-fiber aero package kept it glued to the track by generating over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. Chevrolet also says the ZR1 can accelerate through the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. We expect the Corvette ZR1 to go on sale in early 2025. Estimated starting price: $150,000 Cadillac Escalade-V Does your wish list include a big and powerful SUV? If it does, the Escalade-V should top it. The big Caddy roars like a muscle car thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that churns out 682 horsepower and helps it hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The Escalade-V also boasts enormous 24-inch wheels and large Brembo brakes that help bring the three-ton SUV to a stop. But the Escalade-V isn’t only about brute power. It also has three rows of seating, plenty of cargo space and offers impressive tech like Super Cruise, a hands-free highway driving system, and an enormous 55-inch curved display that spans the dashboard. Starting Price: $161,990 Lucid Air Sapphire What if we told you there was a car that could outpace almost anything on a drag strip, keep up with high-end sports cars on a racetrack, and be comfortable enough for daily errands? Well, if that sounds amazing, add the Air Sapphire to your dream list. The Air Sapphire is a high-performance electric luxury sedan made by Lucid, an electric vehicle startup. It’s one of the most powerful production cars in the world, producing an astonishing 1,234 horsepower from its three electric motors. Lucid says it has a top speed of 205 mph and can rocket to 60 mph in a mind-numbing 1.9 seconds. You can adjust the vehicle’s setting for exceptional track performance or simply provide a comfortable ride around town. Starting price: $250,500 Edmunds says Even if you can’t afford any of these vehicles, you can still picture one sitting in your driveway or imagine yourself cruising around town in it. And who knows, maybe holiday magic will give you the opportunity to own one in the future. ____ This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds . Michael Cantu is a contributor at Edmunds. Michael Cantu, The Associated PressKakko's late goal lifts Rangers past Canadiens 4-3

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G ood morning, Barbados. It’s once again, that time of year where we celebrate the joy and love of this special season. This is a time that means so many things to so many people, not just here in our country, but across our diaspora and indeed, the world. So, whether you’re at home or whether you’re abroad, whether you’re with friends or family, loved ones or not, regardless of your circumstances, on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados, I say a very merry and blessed Christmas. You will realise that my voice is not the best, but I felt that it was still important to be able to share with you today. We celebrate this beautiful Christmas Day as one Bajan family, and I’m so happy to know that the love we share and feel during this time is something truly special. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of Christmas fills our hearts, I want to take a moment to reflect, to celebrate and to share with each of you the hope and warmth that this season brings. You Might Be Interested In Shoring up good ideas I resolve to... Wellness for life: The importance of self-care Indeed, I know this year 2024 has been one filled with a unique blend of transformation, tension and resilience. We have faced challenges that have stretched us beyond what we thought possible. We have encountered challenges that have tested our unity, our faith and our strength. But through it all, we stood together as Bajans, embodying the spirit of perseverance that runs through our veins and that has indeed carried us through generations. As we pause during this Christmas season, let us remember that the true essence of this time of year is not found in the decorations or the gifts under the tree, but yes, in the love that binds us together, the love of family, the love of community and the love of country. This Christmas, I encourage each of you to cherish those closest to you. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is easy to lose sight of what truly matters, but the moments we spend with our families, sharing a food and a drink, laughing, reminiscing or simply enjoying each other’s presence, are the moments that give life truly its meaning. These are the moments that fill our hearts with warmth and remind us of the blessings we hold dear. And for those who may be spending this Christmas missing loved ones who are no longer with us, let us acknowledge your strength. In your memories, their love lives on, in your hearts, they remain forever present. May the comfort of cherished memories give you peace, and may you know that you are never alone, for this nation stands with you always. To our Barbadians abroad, I know that Christmas is a time when your hearts long to be home, to walk the familiar roads, to hear the sounds of Christmas morning in Barbados, to feel the changes in the wind and the breeze, to taste the sweet bread and the sorrel and to feel the warmth that you get in family gatherings, even if you cannot be home physically this year, know that you’re always home in our hearts. And the beauty of technology allows us to communicate with you and for you to be present, except we can’t hug and kiss you, but we can do everything else through that technology. So, my friends, Barbados carries you with us, just as you carry Barbados with you wherever you are in the world, your roots are deep, your connections strong, and your contributions to our nation’s story are invaluable. As we celebrate this season of love and reflection, I extend a heartfelt invitation to you all. In 2025 come home, come home for We Gathering , or as the jingle says, “Come long home”. This special, year-long festival calls on every Bajan from near and far to return to our island and reconnect with your families, reconnect with the land, the culture and the other people who helped raise you and made us who we are as a people. We Gathering is not just a festival, my friends, it is a celebration of us, us Bajans. It is a time to honour our achievements, to share our stories and to look boldly towards the future that we are building together. Imagine a year where every parish comes alive from January to November, and then in December, we bring everybody together, ensuring that the vibrancy of our culture is there. In every village, in every community, there is laughter and conversations of reunited families and old friends. Yes, We Gathering 2025 will be a time to deepen our bonds, to learn from each other and to revel in the joy of being Bajan. So, wherever you are in the world, start making your plans. Barbados is calling you home. And may I say, having started it in 2020, and COVID put us off our tracks. This is the Barbadian spirit that says we will not allow ourselves ever to be dominated by circumstances. We’re going to do this one more time and get to the end. But as we look back on 2024, we can see that it was a year of challenges, as I said, but also a year of incredible progress and unity. We faced economic pressures, we navigated global uncertainties, and we stood resilient in the face of the Climate Crisis. More people are working, more people are earning, and indeed, through every test, our determination shone bright, no more so than when we also confronted the ravages of Hurricane Beryl. We have invested, my friends, in our future. We are transforming our institutions with your help, and we have held fast to our belief in the promise of this, our great nation. My friends, the road ahead will not always be easy, but we know that together, we can always be capable of achieving greatness. That has been our story in the past, it will be our story in the future. Barbados has always been able to count on the strength of its community and its families and of its faith in each other. This Christmas, I want us to renew that faith. Let us look to our future with hope, knowing that as long as we stand together, there is no challenge we cannot overcome, and no dream we cannot achieve the faith that we have in the God that we believe is absolutely critical to rooting us, especially more so in these times when the pace of change is so rapid that it can sometimes be giddying. As we gather around our tables this holiday season, let us hold close therefore to the values that define us; love and kindness and respect and resilience. Let us also remember the beacons of renewal that we’re asking each of us to instil in each other. Reach out to your neighbours, check on those who may be alone, and spread the warmth and generosity that are the hallmarks of this special season. For it is in the giving of ourselves that we experience the true joy of Christmas. May this season, my friends, fill your homes with peace, your hearts with joy, and your lives with love. And may 2025 bring continued blessings, opportunities and the promise of brighter days for us all. And where there are challenges, may we build the resilience to overcome them. I simply say to you, on this morning, Merry Christmas to you, your families, your friends, and may God continue to bless Barbados and to bless us its people. Thank you. Have a wonderful day, and don’t overdo.Sustainable Growth: The Promising Future of the Bio Polyol and Green Polyol MarketShadow chancellor Mel Stride has suggested a future Conservative government could axe the triple lock on pensions. In a controversial move that prompted Labour to accuse the of betraying pensioners, he said the commitment was unsustainable in the very long term. Introduced by then-chancellor during coalition government, the triple lock guarantees the state pension rises in line with average earnings, inflation or 2.5%, whichever is highest. That means the current state pension of £221,20 a week will rise by £472 a year from April 2025, in line with the latest growth in wages, which have risen by 4.1%. Mr Stride's highly significant signal of possible pension reforms if the Conservatives win the next election came during a speech and Q&A with political journalists in Westminster. He was asked about remarks he made when he was Work and Pensions Secretary under , when he was reported as saying the triple lock was unsustainable. He replied: "I'm widely reported as having said, as you phrased it, it's unsustainable. What I actually said was that in the very, very long term, it is unsustainable. Now that is just a mathematical reality." He said the reason for this was that the cost of the state pension would spiral over many decades under the triple lock if it continued indefinitely. "So the answer to your question, though, is we will be looking at every single aspect, including policies around pensioners and so on, as we go forward," he continued. "But - and I think it's fair to say that as a party we have always stood up for and always worked to protect pensioners." Responding to Mr Stride's latest remarks, a Labour spokesperson said: "Mel Stride has let slip that the Tories are planning to betray pensioners and ditch the triple lock. "In government, the Tories broke the triple lock and left pensioners worse off. Now they're planning to do it all over again. The Conservatives haven't listened and they haven't learned. "This Labour government is committed to raising living standards and giving pensioners the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. "Millions are set to see their state pension rise by up to £1,900 this parliament through our commitment to the triple lock and our Plan for Change means investment and reform to grow the economy to put more money in people's pockets."

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Fact Check: Did RFK Jr. Call Trump Fans 'Belligerent Idiots?'MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he was caught off guard by reports early Tuesday that linebacker Shaq Barrett wants to unretire. The two-time Super Bowl winner signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in March, then abruptly announced his retirement on social media in July, just days before the start of Miami's training camp. “Just to be candid, obviously there's a reason why you target and sign somebody," McDaniel said Tuesday afternoon. “I was fully caught off guard, or caught by surprise this morning as I found out.” McDaniel indicated the Dolphins have not had any conversations with Barrett recently. Miami holds the 32-year-old’s contractual rights. ESPN first reported the news. “It was kind of news as you guys got it,” McDaniel said. He also said he hasn't had a chance to think about Barrett potentially rejoining the team, and that his immediate focus is on Miami's Thursday night game at Green Bay. “The team is counting on me to think about the Packers,” he said. "I'll get with (GM) Chris (Grier), and we'll work through that. There's a ton of implications that go along with it in terms of team and roster stuff, so we'll work through that as we just got the news today.” Barrett has 400 tackles, 59 sacks, 22 forced fumbles and three interceptions in nine seasons — four with Denver and five with Tampa Bay. He was a second-team All-Pro with the Buccaneers in 2019, with a league-high 19 1/2 sacks. The Dolphins waived veteran safety Marcus Maye on Tuesday and activated rookie safety Patrick McMorris from injured reserve. Maye, who signed with the Dolphins in June, played in 11 games with three starts for Miami this season. He had 30 tackles and a tackle for loss. He could re-sign to the team's practice squad if he clears waivers. Maye previously played for New Orleans, but was cut in a money-saving move in March after two seasons with the Saints. Maye's release made room on the roster for McMorris, who was drafted in the sixth round by Miami in April. He began the season on injured reserve because of a calf injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflMaura Higgins breaks down in tears over facing fears on I’m A Celeb with Jane Moore

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unicef online courses MEXICO CITY — It would take years, if ever, for Mexico to accomplish what incoming U.S. President Donald Trump is demanding to avoid tariffs: stemming the flow of migrants and drugs over the border. That’s why Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s efforts to avoid a full-blown trade war might be more about doing enough for both sides to claim success. Even a quick phone call — two days after Trump threatened 25% tariffs against his southern neighbor — seemed to change the tone: Trump said on social media that the Mexican president agreed to “stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately.” Sheinbaum, meanwhile, assured her constituents that she touted to Trump Mexico’s existing approach to migration, which she stressed respects human rights, and that a new deal to collaborate would avoid new tariffs, without providing specifics. The whole exchange was reminiscent of Trump’s first term, when he threatened to send troops to shut down the border and then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador responded by sending the national guard to help apprehend migrants. The move had a limited immediate effect, but sent a strong image that proved enough to at least avert tariffs of up to 25% on all imports from Mexico. Trump’s threats have a “dual objective,” said Palmira Tapia, a political scientist currently working for the government of the State of Mexico. The U.S. president-elect, she said, is simultaneously seeking to appeal to his constituents and strengthen his hand in talks on migration, drugs and trade. Sheinbaum also faces two challenges: She now must find a way to appease Trump to avoid tariffs that could hit 11% of Mexico’s gross domestic product, while also avoiding the perception — at home, and in the White House — that she will easily bend to demands from up north. “She’s talking to Trump, but she’s also talking to the Mexican public. It has to do with giving a dignified response before her voters, but at the same time trying to stop Trump,” said Catalina Perez Correa, a researcher at the Supreme Court’s Center for Constitutional Studies. “She’s saying, ‘I’m not going to let myself be stepped on by Trump.’ She’s saving face in front of the Mexican public.” Migration reality Mexico has long been a stomping ground for the U.S. when it comes to migration policy. It’s been tasked under successive U.S. presidents with beefing up its border security, increasing highway checkpoints and removing migrants from freight trains they often board. Even though migration rose far beyond the 2019 levels in the years after Lopez Obrador’s show of militarizing the border, Mexico has remained an at-times willing partner, accepting most of the millions of migrants who were quickly turned away from the U.S. border during the pandemic. But it hasn’t always been eager to help: The Biden administration often viewed AMLO, as the former president was known, as needing frequent reminders of its expectations for him on enforcement. In 2023, Biden Cabinet officials even visited AMLO in Mexico City just days after Christmas to urge him to do more as a record number of migrants reached the border. Under pressure from the White House during the U.S. election, Mexico helped it decrease border crossings by 65% over an 11-month period starting in December 2023. To do so, Mexican authorities have been detaining migrants in the north of the country and busing them south. There, they are forced to wait until they get an official appointment to apply for asylum in the U.S. — which can take months, if it ever happens at all. It’s all resulted in more than double the number of apprehensions of undocumented migrants between January and August compared with a year earlier, although Mexico has deported few. Experts have said that’s creating a humanitarian crisis in some of the southern cities where migrants are shipped off to. It’s also ratcheting up tensions with some locals, who argue that there aren’t enough jobs or resources to accommodate the newcomers. “What they’re doing now in Mexico is militarization of the border,” said Perez Correa. To further reduce border crossings into the U.S., Mexico could either carry out mass deportations or offer more opportunities to migrants in its territory. Both scenarios seem unrealistic. Simply increasing deportations would go against Lopez Obrador’s policy — which Sheinbaum inherited — of trying to address the problems in their origin countries that pushed them to leave, and it would be an expense for Mexico. After Sheinbaum’s call with Trump, she reiterated her government offers migrants options for international protection in its territory or “voluntary or assisted return” to their countries. The second option doesn’t seem feasible either: Most people want to go to the U.S., where they expect to have higher-paying jobs, more family or community support, and greater safety than in Mexico. Chemical diversions Deaths related to fentanyl — the cheap, synthetic opioid — have reached epidemic levels in the U.S. That’s why reining in the flow of the drug was on Trump’s list of demands. Should recent history be any indication, intervention is never simple. The U.S. arrest of a Mexican alleged drug leader has led to prolonged shootouts in recent months. And in any case, some academics argue simply confiscating more drugs means traffickers learn to produce more, to meet U.S. demand. So far, Mexico has worked to improve its technical capabilities to detect illicit substances at its ports, especially precursor chemicals and fentanyl. “The Navy has provided material and personnel to all ports for the fulfillment of these tasks, the personnel have the necessary training to be able to detect these substances,” said Captain Jose Barradas in an interview at the Manzanillo port, in the state of Colima. “All merchandise that arrives is prone to review under strict security protocols.” Sheinbaum also picked former Mexico City police chief Omar Garcia Harfuch to lead a new national security strategy, a move that was read inside Mexico as a signal of her willingness to increase enforcement in areas where the previous administration had been more hands-off. There’s more that could be done — but it would be hard. Trying to seize these substances at ports is insufficient because synthetic drugs tend to be very small, making them more difficult to detect than traditional drugs, said Victoria Dittmar, researcher at Insight Crime. Those who produce them often innovate with their recipes and use new chemicals that are not illegal. “Mexico can open collaboration paths with the private sector, with the chemical industry, because they know perfectly well its supply chains and the vulnerable areas where there could be diversions,” she said. “This collaboration is essential.” Mexico can also work to identify intermediaries that connect fentanyl producers with chemical suppliers abroad and in the country, people who work in certain companies and are authorized to divert these substances, according to Dittmar. Still, “the main weakness is not putting demand reduction as a priority, to prevent overdose deaths,” Dittmar said. “It’s a shared responsibility. It’s not just the fault of Mexico, the U.S. or Canada, but it’s an issue that affects the entire North American region.” A senior Mexican official said that the country’s actions to address drug trafficking have moved the nation in the direction of the fentanyl crackdown that Trump is demanding. The official cited a new law that will allow for coordinated intelligence efforts that is due to be implemented next year. History repeats It’s plausible that in the medium-term Trump will lower the intensity of his threats because a trade war would be the worst case scenario for both countries, said Tapia, the political scientist. But until then, she said, “Sheinbaum is on trial as to how well she will do” relative to her predecessor, who had a respectful relationship with Trump and often praised him. One strategy that Sheinbaum could pursue: Finding ways to give Trump the appearance of political victory. That was part of the rationale behind AMLO’s deployment of the National Guard — a move Trump still talks about now. “We got thousands of Mexicans patrolling our border free of charge,” he boasted at a recent event about his relationship with AMLO. “He’s a socialist,” Trump said. “But these are minor details.” ——— (With assistance from Eric Martin, Carolina Millan and Ramsey Al-Rikabi.) ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Looking for a way to give back this holiday season ? Perhaps look no further than an organization in Buffalo. Catholic Charities of Buffalo and the Ladies of Charity are looking for donations and people who may benefit from the Santa's Workshop program. “Family budgets are stretched, and Christmas can be an overwhelming and stressful time for many,” said Julie Lulek, senior director of Catholic Charities. “Through the community’s generous donations to Santa’s Workshop, we are helping to brighten the holidays and provide a gift, books, and stocking stuffers to hundreds of local families. While anything you may be able to contribute is greatly appreciated, this year we have an urgent need for items aimed at tweens and teens.” You can be part of that mission, too, to make sure that everyone gets a gift underneath the tree. "I wish that we could share the joy that we get by being able to fulfill Christmas dreams. It's really special to be able to be part of that. Everybody should feel the magic of Christmas and receive at least one gift," Lulek said. They're asking for new or unwrapped donations of toys, books, puzzle, board games and more. They're collecting donations for children and teens age 10 and older. Lulek said, " Catholic Charities , Ladies of Charity program is unique that we serve kids up to 18." Santa’s Workshop will accept referrals Monday, Dec. 2, through Wednesday, Dec. 11. These referrals are first come, first serve. If you live in Erie County those will go through the Catholic Charities’ Downtown District Office . If you live outside of Erie County, you can call 211 and ask for a referral to the WNY Holiday Toy Partnership.None

LeBron James and Stephen Curry share the national spotlight on Christmas Day for perhaps the final time when the visiting Los Angeles Lakers square off with the Golden State Warriors in the holiday primetime showcase Wednesday night at San Francisco. Two teams currently sitting in play-in positions in the Western Conference playoff race will seek to bounce back from narrow home defeats when James and Curry meet on Christmas for the fourth time. The first three meetings were at the height of their powers, with Curry's Warriors and James' Cleveland Cavaliers dueling in 2015 and 2016 as reigning NBA finalists. James had joined the Lakers for the third matchup in 2018, when the Warriors again were defending champs. Curry and James are paired again this year despite neither team advancing past the first round of the playoffs last season. And neither is considered a serious title contender this season. With a 40th birthday approaching Monday, James has continued to play at a high level. He had 32 points in a win at Sacramento on Saturday, then put up a triple-double Monday in a 117-114 home loss to the Detroit Pistons. James joins reigning MVP Nikola Jokic as the only players in the league currently averaging at least 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists. James ended Monday's game with blood on his left wrist and promising he's not backing down from any challenges, even while nearing 40. "You just got to match physicality with physicality," said James, a former wide receiver in high school. "I can't speak for nobody but myself when it comes to that. I'm a football player so I don't mind physicality to be honest." Curry, who will turn 37 before season's end, had two of the worst performances of his career in his last three outings, shooting a combined 2-for-20 overall and 2-for-15 on 3-pointers while totaling 12 points in losses to Memphis and Indiana. The struggles have coincided with the addition of veteran point guard Dennis Schroder, acquired in a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. Schroder came to Golden State averaging 18.4 points and 6.6 assists, shooting 45 percent overall and 39 percent on 3-pointers. Inserted immediately into the starting lineup, he has contributed just 7.7 points and 3.7 assists a game for Golden State, shooting 8-for-29 overall (27.6 percent) and 1-for-11 on 3-pointers (9.1 percent). Curry believes it's just a matter of time before the new backcourt combination clicks. "It could be a lot better, and it will be," Curry said. "We're being defended a certain way, but it's nothing I haven't seen before. You just got to understand when to pick and choose your spots based on the attention you get. Get the ball moving, try to find a rhythm a little earlier. "That might be a little bit of an adjustment, but something I've been through and always try to find a way to bounce back." The Warriors will be playing on Christmas Day for the 12th straight season. They've faced the Lakers twice previously on the holiday - 1954 in a Philadelphia vs. Minneapolis matchup, and 2018 in a game in which James outscored Curry 17-15 in a 127-101 win in Oakland. -Field Level Media This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.Stock market today: Wall Street rallies ahead of ChristmasAs AI systems become increasingly integral to devices such as smartphones , autonomous vehicles, and data centres , the use of gold has surged due to its unparalleled properties, according to the World Gold Council report. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Election Results Jharkhand Election Results Bypoll Election Results Gold demand in the electronics sector peaked in 2010 at 328 tons but gradually declined to 249 tons by 2023. Recent quarters, however, have shown a modest recovery, driven in part by the expansion of AI-enabled devices. As manufacturers strive to meet the technological demands of AI, gold's unique properties ensure its continued relevance in high-performance electronic applications. Gold's exceptional electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion make it indispensable in advanced hardware components, ensuring high-speed data processing, minimal energy loss, and long-lasting performance. The healthcare and financial sectors, among others, are heavily investing in AI to boost innovation and efficiency, further amplifying gold's demand. 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View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Marketing Future of Marketing & Branding Masterclass By - Dr. David Aaker, Professor Emeritus at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, Author | Speaker | Thought Leader | Branding Consultant View Program As these industries expand their reliance on AI, gold's role in delivering reliable and efficient electronic components is becoming more prominent. From processors to sensors, gold remains a critical material for enabling AI-driven technology. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories As per the WGC report, the rising cost of gold, which recently surpassed Rs 72,056 per 10 grams (USD 2,700 per ounce), poses significant challenges for manufacturers. During previous price surges, like those between 2001 and 2011, industries responded by substituting gold with alternatives such as silver or copper and adopting thrifting techniques to reduce usage. Yet, most of the "easy" reductions have already been implemented, leaving little room for further cost-saving measures without compromising performance. Despite technological shifts in areas like LED production--where gold-free mini-LEDs are gaining ground--the growing complexity of AI systems is likely to sustain demand for gold. Beyond AI, gold's versatility underpins its significance in other industries. In healthcare, it is used in therapeutic devices and as a key component in diagnostics and experimental drug delivery systems. In aerospace, gold protects sensitive satellite and spacecraft components from extreme temperatures and radiation. Additionally, in clean energy technologies, gold serves as a chemical catalyst in processes like hydrogen production and carbon dioxide transformation. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Poll Results Highlights 2024 Jharkhand Poll Results Highlights 2024

“D*mn Reindeers Left a D*mn Mess”: LeBron James’ Daughter Zhuri Runs Christmas Mornings For the FamilyNews headlines are replete with stories about negotiations starting in the coming months to end Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, especially since Donald Trump’s US election victory. Both sides are reportedly scrambling to obtain leverage and a position of strength for the coming talks. But an implicit building block in these reports is that President Vladimir Putin has the upper hand across the board. It is said that Russia’s troops are moving forward on the battlefield. Putin is viewed as willing to sacrifice countless Russian soldiers to secure victory, and the Russian people have a long history of bearing inordinate suffering. Meanwhile, the thinking goes, President-elect Trump will be averse to continued funding for Ukraine. He reveres Putin and not Volodymyr Zelensky and wants a deal fast. He isn’t keen on Nato. European nations, especially amid a weakened Germany and France, are at odds with one another and unable to show leadership. Ukraine is tired of war. But caution may be warranted in buying into this narrative. The past decades were filled with geopolitical surprises in part triggered by weakened economies and corruption that caught intelligence officials off guard – including the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 1993, visiting Russia for the first time, I looked out the window of my swanky Moscow hotel and saw a few beaten-up old cars traversing the streets. Was this the powerhouse that had so intimidated the West for decades – admittedly more for its nukes than economic might? James Carville was largely right: ‘it’s the economy, stupid’. Russia’s ‘fortress’ economic policies and national wealth helped build strong buffers in past years, giving the country the ability to finance an extended war. But, as many others have written, its economy is weak and faces increasingly large unsustainable burdens. Surging defence spending and manpower shortages may be boosting real wages and providing jobs for now. But such largesse cannot be carried on indefinitely, and there is much evidence of economic difficulties. Major macro indicators are deteriorating. Inflation is ticking up towards 9%, the ruble is plummeting and the official interest rate is 21%, crimping investment. Capital controls abound. Supercharged defence spending means resources for social services, infrastructure and education are being squeezed. Western sanctions are biting. They have blocked Russia’s patrimony, threatening to take away the country’s past earnings of some $300bn and even give them to Ukraine for reconstruction. Even if Russian energy earnings remain large, the latest sanctions involving Gazprombank have further hit Russia’s ability to sell oil, reportedly even to some Chinese entities. More western sanctions are likely in the coming weeks. Softer global demand means softer oil prices, which are already well below the level Russia assumed for its budget. While a falling ruble helps the budget, it cannot make up for the losses, and it is a highly visible and transparent barometer of Russia’s woes. Western firms have left Russia (or are trying to) – with little prospect of a return. Russian access to western technology is being lost despite efforts to circumvent sanctions via transshipments through other countries. One often hears Russia is facing challenges in acquiring spare parts, not only for its war machine but also increasingly civil aviation. Russia is facing a massive brain drain (some estimates exceed 800,000) in addition to lost and injured soldiers on the battlefield (some estimates exceed 700,000). As diplomats in the US, Europe and Ukraine begin seeking pathways to a negotiated outcome, they should not presume that Putin’s position is as strong as news reports might suggest or that the Russian people may have unlimited tolerance for the war. Even if sanctions and blocked Russian assets are not going to bring Russia’s economy to its knees in one fell swoop, they remain powerful leverage and can be used more forcefully in any agreement to end the fighting and secure Ukraine’s future. Putin understands that one of his lasting legacies will be a Russian economy decimated by war and isolation for years to come. Whenever talk of a settlement arises, Putin’s first demand is an end to western sanctions. Western negotiators will have to decide if the terms Russia offers in military or territorial concessions are worth removing some or all sanctions, whether Russian assets should be unfrozen or if Putin can avoid paying any reparations for the damage to Ukraine. But they should remember that history has shown a remarkable tendency to discount the impact that economic failure can have in upending societies and fomenting upheaval. Given Russia’s teetering economy, its diplomatic hand may be nowhere near as strong as it might seem. Source: OMFIFThe Green Bay Packers are set to take on the San Francisco 49ers in a huge Week 12 NFL matchup. Of course, as most Packers fans know, the 49ers were the team that ended Green Bay’s 2023 season in the Divisional Playoffs. Jordan Love and company are hungry for revenge. It will take a complete game performance, but the talent is there for the Packers to move to 9-3 on the season with a big win at Lambeau Field. Green Bay received some help from the injury report. Both Brock Purdy and Nick Bosa will be out, along with a few other key pieces for San Francisco. They face off against backup quarterback Brandon Allen, which helps their cause quite a bit. All of that being said, the Green Bay Packers have received a major prediction for this week’s game. Green Bay Packers Receive Huge Prediction Against San Francisco 49ers CBS Sports has revealed their prediction for how this week’s game will go. When everything is said and done, they have the Packers beating the 49ers by a final score of 27-23. Truthfully, it would be a bad loss if Green Bay doesn’t get the job done. Losing to a team without Purdy and Bosa would be a painful loss, especially with the game being played at home. In order to pull off the win and further improve their playoff positioning, the Packers need to come out strong. Offensively, Love must take care of the football. He has had a turnover problem so far this year, throwing 11 interceptions so far. Love cannot afford to give the 49ers extra opportunities. Defensively, the Green Bay Packers need to get after Allen. They have a secondary capable of forcing turnovers. If they can force some quick decisions from the backup quarterback, they will have some opportunities to capitalize on mistakes. On the outside looking in, the Packers deserve to be favored in this game. But, the game still has to be played and Green Bay needs to take care of business. Hopefully, we’re talking about a big-time Packers’ win over the 49ers on Monday morning. This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Sunday, December 1

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New Zealand is getting a Biometrics Code. An announcement from the office of Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster states his intention to issue the Biometric Processing Privacy Code in 2025. The 124-page draft is now available for consultation. Members of the public and “any agencies it would apply to” are invited to submit input. Webster says the Code will help agencies implement , “while giving people confidence it’s being done safely and fairly.” It fills a gap in New Zealand’s regulatory landscape, which covers biometrics – but not, according to Webster, in enough specific detail. “New Zealand doesn’t currently have special rules for biometrics,” he says. “The regulates the use of personal information in New Zealand, including biometric information, but biometrics needs special protections especially in specific circumstances.” Amendments to address that need include requirements to do a proportionality test and implement privacy safeguards, stronger notification and transparency obligations, and “limits on some uses of biometric information (e.g. and types of biometric categorization).” They come after the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) consulted on an version earlier in the year, which garnered broad support but noted the need for certain changes, specifically around what processes are included and what organizations need to tell people. Webster says those changes are reflected in the latest version. A new requirement says that organizations must be clear in informing people where to find a public document listing “their assessment of the pros and cons of using biometrics.” And restrictions on , defined as fair use limits, are “now targeted to the most intrusive and highest risk uses.” In keeping with this, the Code has exceptions for individuals and “will generally not apply to consumer products.” The draft includes a comprehensive definition of biometrics and biometric processing. It covers rules around specific purposes and practices in collecting , to ensure that “generally, collection is for a lawful purpose, there are no alternatives with lower privacy risk, the collection is proportionate and appropriate privacy safeguards are in place.” (Per the draft, “you cannot collect information just in case you may want to use it later.”) The Code and its accompanying draft guidance material on compliance are open to feedback through March 2025. It is projected to come into force later in the year. The rules are likely to intertwine with New Zealand’s new (DISTF) rules, part of its larger push to roll out a suite of national digital identity services. | | | | | | |, /PRNewswire/ -- NASA continues to advance its campaign to explore more of the Moon than ever before, awarding Firefly Aerospace to deliver six experiments to the lunar surface. This fourth task order for Firefly will target landing in the Gruithuisen Domes on the near side of the Moon in 2028. As part of the agency's broader campaign, Firefly will deliver a group of science experiments and technology demonstrations under NASA's CLPS initiative, or Commercial Lunar Payload Services, to these lunar domes, an area of ancient lava flows, to better understand planetary processes and evolution. Through CLPS, NASA is furthering our understanding of the Moon's environment and helping prepare for future human missions to the lunar surface, as part of the agency's Moon to Mars exploration approach. "The CLPS initiative carries out U.S. scientific and technical studies on the surface of the Moon by robot explorers. As NASA prepares for future human exploration of the Moon, the CLPS initiative continues to support a growing lunar economy with American companies," said , deputy associate administrator for exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in . "Understanding the formation of the Gruithuisen Domes, as well as the ancient lava flows surrounding the landing site, will help the U.S. answer important questions about the lunar surface." Firefly's is scheduled to launch no earlier than and will land near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium, on the northeast quadrant of the Moon's near side. Firefly's includes two task orders: a lunar orbit drop-off of a satellite combined with a delivery to the lunar surface on the far side and a delivery of a lunar orbital calibration source, scheduled in 2026. This new delivery in 2028 will send payloads to the Gruithuisen Domes and the nearby Sinus Viscositatus. The Gruithuisen Domes have long been suspected to be formed by a magma rich in silica, similar in composition to granite. Granitic rocks form easily on Earth due to plate tectonics and oceans of water. The Moon lacks these key ingredients, so lunar scientists have been left to wonder how these domes formed and evolved over time. For the first time, as part of this task order, NASA also has contracted to provide "mobility," or roving, for some of the scientific instruments on the lunar surface after landing. This will enable new types of U.S. scientific investigations from CLPS. "Firefly will deliver six instruments to understand the landing site and surrounding vicinity," said , manager of the CLPS initiative at NASA's Johnson Space Center in . "These instruments will study geologic processes and lunar regolith, test solar cells, and characterize the neutron radiation environment, supplying invaluable information as NASA works to establish a long-term presence on the Moon." The instruments, collectively expected to be about 215 pounds (97 kilograms) in mass, include: Through the CLPS initiative, NASA purchases lunar landing and surface operations services from American companies. The agency uses CLPS to send scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to advance capabilities for science, exploration, or commercial development of the Moon. By supporting a robust cadence of lunar deliveries, NASA will continue to enable a growing lunar economy while leveraging the entrepreneurial innovation of the commercial space industry. Two upcoming CLPS flights scheduled to launch in early 2025 will deliver NASA payloads to the Moon's near side and south polar region, respectively. Learn more about CLPS and Artemis at: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NASA