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2025-01-15
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Pisi, a value-added service provider, has unveiled a new brand identity, marking a significant shift in its mission to offer innovative technological solutions aimed at empowering Nigerian businesses. Speaking recently at the unveiling ceremony in Lagos, Chief Operating Officer of Pisi, Gabriel Ferrer, explained that the rebranding from Pisi Mobile to Pisi reflects the company’s expanded vision. “We are not just unveiling a new brand; we are celebrating our commitment to empowering Nigerian businesses,” Ferrer said. He emphasised that the rebranding introduces several new services and features, including Pisi Ads, a new advertising technology solution, and Pisi Send, a messaging service, both set to launch in 2024. Pisi also plans to launch a marketplace in 2025, allowing users to buy airtime, pay bills, and more. “We are continuously developing new features and improving our infrastructure to deliver added value to our customers,” he added, noting that the rebranding also encompasses enhanced payment solutions and further innovations in the company’s VAS business. Ferrer further elaborated on the company’s evolution, saying, “We started as a VAS aggregator, and we’ve since expanded to offer services that solve existing problems for our customers and businesses across Africa.” Related News PUNCH Panorama: Are you living up to the meaning of your name? I changed my name, religion to get job – Robbery suspect N2b scam: Maina operated secret account in sister’s name, says witness The Head of Business Advertising at Pisi, Bukayo Ewuoso, discussed the motivation behind the rebranding. He remarked, “Our partners are evolving, and it’s necessary for us to evolve with them. At the heart of what we do is innovation, and as a technology company, we are always looking to serve our partners better.” Ewuoso emphasised that Pisi’s new solutions are designed to cater to the diverse needs of various industries, including lifestyle, healthcare, and education. “We aim to serve businesses in these sectors better by providing locally tailored, technology-driven solutions,” he said. He reiterated that the company’s customer feedback channels remain active to ensure Pisi’s solutions are always aligned with market needs. “We are committed to delivering trustworthy and efficient services to Nigerian businesses,” he concluded.The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Miami’s Cam Ward were announced as the Heisman Trophy finalists on Monday night. The Heisman has been given to the nation’s most outstanding college football player since 1935. This year’s winner will be announced Saturday in New York. The top four vote-getters determined by more than 900 voters are selected as finalists. The voting panel includes members of the media and former Heisman winners. A look, in alphabetical order, at each of the finalist’s road to Manhattan. Gabriel Gabriel, who transferred from Oklahoma in the offseason, led unbeaten and top-ranked Oregon to the Big Ten championship in its first year in the league and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Gabriel averages 274 yards passing per game and has thrown for 28 touchdowns with six interceptions. His 73.2% completion rate is second in the nation. His 35 total touchdowns are tied for seventh nationally, and his career total of 187 is the highest in NCAA history. He set the all-time Football Bowl Subdivision record for career quarterback starts with his 62nd in the Big Ten title game. RELATED COVERAGE Georgia QB Carson Beck’s status for Sugar Bowl uncertain as he considers treatment options on elbow AP Top 25: Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas top poll going into playoff; Tide ranked ahead of SMU No. 8 SMU falls short in comeback bid in the ACC title game. Now the Mustangs await CFP fate Hunter Hunter, will go down as one of the great two-way players in history. His accomplishments harken those of Charles Woodson, the Michigan cornerback who in 1997 became the first Heisman winner who primarily played defense. Woodson also spent time at receiver, but Hunter’s offensive production dwarfs his. Hunter was named All-Big 12 first-team receiver and earned honorable mention for offensive player of the year. He leads the Big 12 with 92 receptions and 14 receiving touchdowns and is second with 1,152 yards. His 21 receiving plays of 20-plus yards lead the nation. He also is Big 12 defensive player of the year and a unanimous first-team defensive back after recording 31 tackles, tying for the Big 12 lead with 11 pass breakups and tying for second with four interceptions. Jeanty The junior running back has had one of the most productive seasons in college football history. His 2,497 yards rushing are the fourth-highest single-season total in the FBS, and his 192.1 yards per game lead the nation and are 58 more than the next highest average. Jeanty has rushed for at least 125 yards in 13 straight games. Jeanty has gone over 200 yards in his last two games and a total of six times this season. He averages 7.26 yards per cary, and his 344 attempts are the most in the FBS in two seasons. He and Army’s Bryson Daily share the national lead with 29 rushing touchdowns. Ward The Miami quarterback was named Associated Press offensive player of the year and newcomer of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference on Monday. He leads the nation with a school-record 36 passing touchdowns and his 4,123 passing yards , 4,319 total yards, 343.6 passing yards per game and 41 total touchdowns rank second. Ward leads the nation’s highest-scoring offense (44.2 ypg). He became the first Miami quarterback to post seven straight 300-yard games, and he has 10 games with 300-plus yards and three or more TD passes. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday. David Rittich made 19 saves for the Kings, who improved to 6-2-1 at home. Kempe and Byfield scored 1:44 apart in the second period. Byfield buried a sharp-angle slap shot on a power play while dropping to a knee. It was his 98th career point in 200 games. Brandon Montour got the Kraken on the board with 1:26 left in the game. He converted a long shot with Joey Daccord off for another skater, but Los Angeles held on. Daccord finished with 19 stops for Seattle. Takeaways Kraken: Jordan Eberle will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery on his pelvis. He had six goals and five assists in 17 games before he got hurt against Chicago on Nov. 14. Kings: The power play had been in a 1-for-16 rut (6.25%) over the previous six games before Byfield found the net. It was the Kings' lone opportunity with the man-advantage. Key moment After following its 1-0 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday with a fourth straight period of extreme low-event hockey, Los Angeles created a lot more activity and offense to start the second and generate its two goals. Key stat The Kings know how to close out games, improving to 9-0-1 when leading after two periods. Up next The Kraken visit Anaheim on Monday, and the Kings play at San Jose on Monday. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl Dan Greenspan, The Associated Press

UMass falls 59-21 to eighth-ranked Georgia on the road

After a childhood marked by family violence, exposure to drug abuse and a school expulsion, a little boy received his first invitation to a birthday party. or signup to continue reading The 10-year-old, one of four siblings living with their mother in far west NSW, had found his first best friend. Despite their challenges, the family made the seven-hour trip to Manly, a beachside suburb in Sydney, to seek help at health service Royal Far West. The charity's clinicians treated the child's behavioural issues, care he would have waited years to access in his rural home town. Chief executive Jacqui Emery met the family in her first week in the job in 2021 and they became her beacon as she led the mission to care for one child at a time. "The mother said, 'You've saved our lives, you've saved his life," Ms Emery told AAP. "That's what we mean by one child at a time." The national charity, which connects rural and remote children with a variety of healthcare, will mark its centenary in December. Cobar-based reverend and carpenter Stanley Drummond founded the service in 1924, inspired by time he spent recovering from surgery at Manly Beach. It has always aimed to "go where the system stops", using developing technology to ensure no child or community is out of reach. Aviation pioneer Nancy Bird Walton flew nurses to remote outstations in her Gipsy Moth from 1935, while Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was a major donor. In its early days, the charity hosted seaside camps for children from outback NSW. When a group arrived in Manly on a rainy December day in 1948, a girl from Menindee was asked whether she brought the weather with her. "Her slightly sardonic reply was, 'There's no rain up there to bring'," The Sydney Morning Herald reported. An eight-year-old shearer's son successfully treated for a stutter in the 1950s was chosen to deliver Australia's message to the Queen in a BBC round-the-world Christmas broadcast. "I came down because I could hardly talk properly," the boy's message said. "Mummy, listen! I'm coming home. I can talk beaut now." Two decades later Queen Elizabeth II visited the organisation, granting its Royal title. The international recognition and ongoing backing from high-profile Australians is down to the charity's links to the heart of the country, Ms Emery said. "It's such an Australian story," she said. "It is about the outback and children that are more needy than others - that's always captured people." From the adoption of advances like splints to treat childhood hip disorders, swivel walkers and aeromedical services, Royal Far West was also an early user of telehealth in 2013. Video and telephone calls allowed city clinicians to stay in touch with rural patients, deliver programs to far-flung schools and expand into states outside NSW. The uptake of telehealth was due to greater understanding of developmental disorders, with country-born children twice as likely to be affected. "That leaves a bit of a legacy: it's been able to help much more broadly than just a one-to-one with a child." The charity is now working in a rapidly-changing world, as global warming dramatically fractures childhoods. Disaster recovery programs, like one rolled out to bolster the wellbeing of 3000 children after the Black Summer bushfires, will become even more significant in years to come. "We need to put the focus, the funding and the policies around these things right now," Ms Emery said. "It's really important to remember that children are often the silent victims." DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementMueller water products VP Smith sells $653,306 in stockTILT Holdings TLLTF is at a critical juncture as it explores divesting its plant-touching business (PTB), which generates 75% of its revenue but continues to struggle with declining margins. Massachusetts operations, contributing two-thirds of revenue, are under pressure from market saturation, while Pennsylvania's wholesale arm faces reduced purchases as vertically integrated operators prioritize in-house products. Gross margins across TILT fell from 18% in Q1 to 14% in Q3, reflecting challenges across all divisions. Analyst Pablo Zuanic values the PTB between $20–$30 million, a modest sum given the company's $3 million market cap and heavy debt burden. Get Benzinga’s exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter here . You can't afford to miss out if you’re serious about the business. Debt Remains A Major Hurdle Despite Positive Cash Flow TILT's financial health is constrained by $62 million in net debt, with $12 million due in 2025 and $38 million in 2026, alongside $44 million in lease obligations. However, Zuanic highlights a positive development: TILT generated $2 million in operating cash flow in Q3 2024. Jupiter’s Challenges: A Dual Front Jupiter, TILT's vape subsidiary , is contending with both operational setbacks and broader market shifts. U.S. sales dropped to $9.4 million in Q3 2024, down from $15 million in the same period last year, even after adjusting for the transition of half its sales to a 15% distribution fee model. Canadian sales grew 11% to $6.4 million but saw gross margins collapse from 29% to zero. Zuanic calculates that Jupiter's distribution fees could generate $9 million annually at 100% gross margins, with the remaining $53 million in sales yielding 20% margins. This would produce $20 million in gross profit, making Jupiter potentially profitable with $10 million in EBITDA. However, Zuanic remains cautious about the sustainability of these projections given continued market share erosion. Read Also: LEEF Brands Completes 10:1 Share Consolidation Competitive Landscape And CCELL Partnership Jupiter's long-standing partnership with CCELL is adapting to shifting market dynamics. CCELL has diversified its production outside China to mitigate geopolitical risks, while also strengthening direct U.S. customer support. Zuanic raises concerns about potential overlap between CCELL's direct operations and Jupiter's business , warning that structural changes may be necessary to preserve market leadership. Consumer preferences are shifting toward all-in-one devices (AIOs), prompting Jupiter to invest in proprietary technologies and bolster its supply chain. Despite these efforts, the company has yet to reverse a five-year trend of declining market share. Zuanic underscores the importance of aligning innovation with operational efficiency to stay competitive. For a deeper dive into his methodology and projections, visit Zuanic & Associates' research portal . Read Next: Texas AG Ken Paxton Sues Dallas Over Cannabis Decriminalization Reform © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday. David Rittich made 19 saves for the Kings, who improved to 6-2-1 at home. Kempe and Byfield scored 1:44 apart in the second period. Byfield buried a sharp-angle slap shot on a power play while dropping to a knee. It was his 98th career point in 200 games. Brandon Montour got the Kraken on the board with 1:26 left in the game. He converted a long shot with Joey Daccord off for another skater, but Los Angeles held on. Daccord finished with 19 stops for Seattle. Takeaways Kraken: Jordan Eberle will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery on his pelvis. He had six goals and five assists in 17 games before he got hurt against Chicago on Nov. 14. Kings: The power play had been in a 1-for-16 rut (6.25%) over the previous six games before Byfield found the net. It was the Kings' lone opportunity with the man-advantage. Key moment After following its 1-0 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday with a fourth straight period of extreme low-event hockey, Los Angeles created a lot more activity and offense to start the second and generate its two goals. Key stat The Kings know how to close out games, improving to 9-0-1 when leading after two periods. Up next The Kraken visit Anaheim on Monday, and the Kings play at San Jose on Monday. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl Dan Greenspan, The Associated Press

House Ethics Committee members on Thursday once again delayed deciding on whether to release their report on former congressman Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), opting to keep their investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use under wraps for now despite growing pressure from Democrats. After meeting for two hours behind closed doors, the notoriously leakproof House Ethics Committee released a statement that confirmed the lawmakers discussed releasing the report, but that no decision was met.

The No. 2 Nebraska Huskers volleyball team face the No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 (11/23/24) in Big Ten play at Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb. How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of DirecTV Stream or fuboTV . You can also watch via a subscription to Sling TV , which is offering half off your first month. Here’s what you need to know: What: Big Ten Volleyball Who: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska When: Saturday, Nov. 23 (11/23/24) Where: Bob Devaney Sports Center Time: 8 p.m. ET TV: Big Ten Network Live stream: fuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) *** Fans can also watch an extended version of ESPN’s “No Place Like Nebraska” documentary on the Huskers volleyball program with a subscription to ESPN+ for as low as $11.99 a month. You can also get a bundled subscription to Hulu, ESPN+ and Disney+ for as low as $16.99 a month. The E:60 production follows Nebraska throughout the 2023 season and provides a behind-the-scenes look into the team’s national-runner-up campaign. *** Top 25 NCAA Volleyball Rankings Games through Nov. 18, 2024 1, Pitt; 2, Nebraska; 3, Louisville; 4, Penn State; 5, Creighton; 6, Wisconsin; 7, Stanford; 8, Purdue; 9, Arizona State; 10, SMU; 11, Kansas; 12, Kentucky; 13, Oregon; 14, Texas; 15, Georgia Tech; 16, Minnesota; 17, Baylor; 18, Dayton; 19, Utah; 20, Florida; 21, Southern California; 22, TCU; 23, Florida State; 24, BYU; 25, Missouri. *** Here are the best streaming options for college sports this season: Fubo TV (free trial): fuboTV carries ESPN, FOX, ABC, NBC and CBS. DirecTV Stream (free trial) : DirecTV Stream carries ESPN, FOX, NBC and CBS. Sling TV - Sling TV carries ESPN, FOX, ABC and NBC. ESPN+ ($9.99 a month): ESPN+ carries college football games each weekend for only $9.99 a month. These games are exclusive to the platform. RECOMMENDED • nj .com How to watch Louisville volleyball vs. Virginia (11/22/24) online without cable | FREE LIVE STREAM for ACC ga Nov. 22, 2024, 4:00 p.m. How to watch Pitt volleyball vs. Wake Forest (11/22/24) online without cable | FREE LIVE STREAM for ACC game Nov. 22, 2024, 4:00 p.m. Peacock TV ($5.99 a month): Peacock will simulstream all of NBC Sports’ college football games airing on the NBC broadcast network this season, including Big Ten Saturday Night. Peacock will also stream Notre Dame home games. Certain games will be streamed exclusively on Peacock this year as well. Paramount+ (free trial): Paramount Plus will live stream college football games airing on CBS this year. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription

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Polite Dhiyo filed the application at the MasvingoMagistrates Court this morning. She claims that Mutodi has not provided any financialsupport for the child despite earning at least US$15,000 a month from hisbusinesses, legal practice, and his role as a Member of Parliament in Zimbabwe. “I was married in 2023 to the respondent under customarylaw. The respondent paid part of the lobola to my parents. However, we laterseparated. During the customary law union, we had one minor child, who is nowsix months old. “At the time of our separation, the respondent undertook toprovide financial support for the upkeep of the child. However, since theseparation, the respondent has not paid a single cent towards the child’supkeep. I have been solely responsible for providing shelter, food, clothing,and medication for the child,” reads part of the application. Masvingo Mirror

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2025-01-15
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( MENAFN - PR Newswire) Combination Expands Differentiated Portfolio of Offerings to Pipeline Operators TULSA, Okla. and EDMONTON, AB, Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- T.D. Williamson (TDW), a global leader in pipeline technology and services, announced today it has joined forces with Petro-Line, a premier provider of unique, patented pipeline repair and maintenance products and services, which has been serving customers throughout Western Canada as a trusted provider for several decades. Petro-Line has an excellent reputation for great people, a high-quality solution and excellent customer service. It is best known for its innovative and patented PETROSLEEVE® . The PETROSLEEVE® is a differentiated, industry-leading solution that quickly and permanently repairs pipeline defects without interrupting operations or requiring complex in-service welding procedures. This efficient and reliable technology significantly minimizes downtime while prioritizing safety, making it a preferred choice for operators seeking to extend the life of their pipelines. TDW offers a wide range of fundamental pipeline technologies and services including in-line inspection, pigging, hot tapping and isolation. The PETROSLEEVE® technology adds a new capability to the growing TDW portfolio of differentiated solutions for pipeline operators. Bob McGrew, TDW president and CEO, shares his enthusiasm for having Petro-Line on board: "We are thrilled to welcome the Petro-Line team to TDW. Their proven track record of innovation and excellence in pipeline maintenance, along with their dedication to safety and customer satisfaction, aligns perfectly with TDW's values and vision for the future. This combination reinforces our shared commitment to providing best-in-class, technically differentiated solutions to critical energy infrastructure, and allow us to support our customers in new ways. "We are pleased with the future opportunities this transaction will unlock for Petro-Line and its stakeholders," said Petro-Line Vice President Darcy Miller. "We chose to partner with TDW because of their innovative capabilities, global presence and premier brand. With their relentless commitment to innovation and service to their customers, we are confident that partnering with TDW will provide significant growth and substantial development opportunities for our people. " About TDW Founded over 100 years ago, TDW serves the gathering, transmission, and distribution sectors of the pipeline infrastructure industry with a global patented portfolio of technology, products and services, including advanced isolation, integrated pigging, and integrity assessment solutions. With both onshore and offshore applications, TDW offers expansive pipeline maintenance and asset optimization activities. TDW cultivates long-term relationships with pipeline operators that endure throughout the life of a pipeline. To learn more, visit . About Petro-Line Petro-Line, incorporated in 1977, is a leading provider of pipeline repair and maintenance services, serving customers throughout Western Canada. The company is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. To learn more, visit . Advisors RBC Mid-Market Mergers & Acquisitions served as exclusive financial advisor to Petro-Line. Dentons Canada LLP served as the legal advisor to Petro-Line. Osler, Hoskin, & Harcourt LLP served as the legal advisor to TDW. For further information, please contact: T.D. Williamson Jeff Wilson +1.9182308971 [email protected] SOURCE T.D. Williamson MENAFN17122024003732001241ID1109004783 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

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Flagg's growth, Broome's consistency show in matchup of AP All-AmericansComing off what was likely a week's worth of intense practices, No. 10 Kansas returns home for a matchup with North Carolina State on Saturday afternoon in Lawrence, Kan. The Jayhawks (7-2) lost back-to-back games versus unranked opponents, the first time in school history that they have done that while ranked No. 1. Now they have to regroup to face the Wolfpack (7-3). Kansas lost its first two games of the season emphatically: 76-63 at Creighton on Dec. 4 and 76-67 at Missouri last Sunday. Coach Bill Self, who has only lost three straight games four times in his 21-year career at Kansas, was pretty succinct about his team's play following the loss to Missouri. "I think it was probably a combination of them being good and us not being good," he said. "I don't know that I could give them 100 percent credit, but that's what happens in sports. When the other team is doing things to hurt you, and you don't attack it well, they guard you the same way. "A lot of times you just roll it straight because of just not being as prepared or ready. I think it was a combination of both. I would err on the side of giving them more credit, because if I just say we sucked, that would take credit from them. We did suck, but it was in large part them." The Jayhawks still have a balanced and experienced attack, led by seniors Hunter Dickinson (15.0 points per game), Zeke Mayo (10.9), Dajuan Harris Jr. (10.7) and KJ Adams Jr. (9.8). Their biggest problem against Missouri was the 22 turnovers. "It's been a crap week for all of us," Self said on his weekly radio show Tuesday. "But hopefully we get an opportunity to bounce back. "I'm not going to make any excuses. If you don't perform the way we didn't perform, there certainly can be some valuable things to learn from that hopefully will give us a chance to win the war and not just the battle." NC State has won back-to-back games, including the ACC opener against Florida State on Dec. 7. In their last game, the Wolfpack handled Coppin State 66-56 on Tuesday. That's not to say NC State coach Kevin Keatts was impressed. "I thought we did a terrible job at the end of shot clocks when they were going to take a bunch of bad shots but we fouled them," Keatts said. "That being said, you can learn a lot from a win instead of a loss. "We compete hard every day, and our energy is always high. With this group, I'm trying to get everyone to be consistent." The Wolfpack has a trio of double-digit scorers, led by Marcus Hill (13.0 ppg). Jayden Taylor adds 12.5 and Dontrez Styles chips in 10.6. Ben Middlebrooks (9.2) and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (8.7) round out the top five. Huntley-Hatfield (5.6 rebounds per game) and Styles (4.6) also lead a balanced rebounding attack. The Jayhawks have won 12 straight games in the series with North Carolina State. --Field Level MediaA nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden's clemency list

Conference title games a chance at a banner, bragging rights and, for some, a season-wrecking lossAgarwal Holdings Private Limited has acquired a land parcel in the highly sought-after Juhu locality of Mumbai, valued at Rs 455 crore, according to Square Yards. The plot was acquired from Shapoorji Pallonji Gwalior Private Limited, a part of Shapoorji Pallonji Group. According to the registration document reviewed by Square Yards, the land parcel spans an area of approximately 1,819.90 sq. m (19,589.22 sq. ft.). The transaction was finalized and registered in November 2024, with a stamp duty of Rs. 27.30 crore and registration charges amounting to Rs. 30,000. Anand Moorthy, Co-founder and CBO, Capital Market & Services, Square Yards said, “Mumbai’s position as India’s financial capital and a strategic business hub continues to draw BFSI firms and their allied industries to the city. Recent transactions, such as Agarwal Holdings Private Limited’s recent land acquisition in Juhu, highlight the city’s enduring appeal for both commercial and residential investments. Key hubs such as the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and prime locations across Southern and Western Mumbai have firmly established themselves as sought-after destinations for commercial and luxury real estate. In a market defined by limited land availability and high demand, securing a foothold in Mumbai provides businesses with a competitive edge while offering robust ROI potential on their investment fuelled by escalating land and property values and a thriving commercial ecosystem." Juhu remains a marquee residential destination in Mumbai, driven by its coastal appeal, proximity to international airport, luxury housing stock, and strong social infrastructure. The locality attracts highnet-worth individuals including several celebrities, leveraging its proximity to Juhu Beach and premium amenities. Agarwal Holdings Private Limited, established on December 11, 2020, is a private, non-government entity registered with the Registrar of Companies in Mumbai. The company specializes in activities auxiliary to financial intermediation, providing essential support to financial institutions such as banks, investment firms, and insurance companies.

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Believe it or not, Cowboys have hope after chaotic win at WashingtonCORNELIUS, N.C. and NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alpha Modus Corp. ("Alpha Modus" or the “Company”), a technology company with a core focus on artificial intelligence in retail, and Insight Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (“Insight” NASDAQ: INAQ) plan to close their business combination today. Alpha Modus expects to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbols “AMOD” (its common stock) and “AMODW” (its warrants) on Monday, December 16, 2024. About Alpha Modus Alpha Modus engages in creating, developing and licensing data-driven technologies to enhance consumers' in-store digital experience at the point of decision. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Cornelius, North Carolina. For additional information, please visit alphamodus.com . About Insight Acquisition Corp. Prior to the closing, Insight Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: INAQ) is a special purpose acquisition company formed solely to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Insight Acquisition Corp. is sponsored by Insight Acquisition Sponsor LLC. For additional information, please visit insightacqcorp.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Insight's and Alpha Modus' actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Insight's and Alpha Modus' expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the Business Combination. Insight and Alpha Modus caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Insight and Alpha Modus do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Contacts: Alpha Modus Shannon Devine MZ Group +1(203) 741-8841 shannon.devine@mzgroup.us

DURHAM, N.C. — Duke's Cooper Flagg knows what's coming from older and stronger defenders. So too does Auburn coach Bruce Pearl when it comes to the pressure facing his frontcourt star, Johni Broome. On Wednesday night, the two preseason Associated Press All-Americans headlined a heavyweight matchup worthy of March, though from very different positions: Flagg as the 17-year-old touted freshman mentioned as a possible No. 1 overall NBA draft pick long before showing up on campus, Broome as the 22-year-old fifth-year senior who started his career at a mid-major. Yet they're each shouldering the burden of top billing on a team with national title aspirations, all on display as the ninth-ranked Blue Devils beat the second-ranked Tigers 84-78 in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound Flagg finished with a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds with four assists, three steals and two blocks. The 6-10 240-pound Broome had 20 points, 12 rebounds and three assists before fouling out late. They didn't match up directly, but remained the gravitational force at the center of everything — from offensive plans to collapsing defenses — all the same. For Flagg, it was sign of big-game growth after late stumbles in losses to Kentucky and Kansas, along with handling the physical play of the Tigers. "That's something I'm going to start to see more and more," Flagg said. "It's definitely going to be a game plan for the other team, just to try and be physical with me. I think that's something that I've been dealing with since I was in sixth, seventh grade. People look at me and think they can just out-tough me, be more physical with me, and it would take me out the game. "But I've just got to keep playing through it, keep learning how to use that against them and just keep getting better." He did that against the veteran-laden Tigers, scoring 16 points and drawing seven fouls while getting to the line nine times after halftime. He felt several of those, too, such as Chaney Johnson's off-ball bump that knocked him to the hardwood midway through the second half and left him wincing. "I told him all week: 'They're going at you the whole time,'" junior teammate Tyrese Proctor said. "They had a couple of dirty plays. I just told him to keep his head composed and poised and just trust himself." Flagg pushed through regardless and showed some of his smooth moves, particularly in the second half. A dribble drive into the lane for a fallaway jumper over 6-11 big man Dylan Cardwell; pouncing on a defensive switch to drive and easily score over 6-4 guard Denver Jones; a spinning drop-step score in the paint while being fouled, leaving Pearl staring at officials and pointing to the Tigers' end of the court about an earlier no-call. Flagg also had no turnovers in his 37 minutes, a reversal after losing late turnovers in the losses to the Wildcats and Jayhawks. "To be able to coach him, he never fights you," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. "He just never fights you. In a game, you can get on him. In practice he's always wanting to get better and in every aspect of his game. "I've always felt like Cooper's a one-time guy. He needs to experience something one time to get adjusted." As for Broome, he was coming off a dominating run through the Maui Invitational that made him the AP men's college basketball national player of the week Tuesday. Auburn also jumped two spots in Monday's latest AP Top 25, erasing nearly all of top-ranked Kansas' previous margin on the No. 2-ranked team. And that made the Tigers just the second top-2 nonconference team to play in Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1965 and first since top-ranked Michigan's "Fab Five" lost here December 1992 — exactly 32 years ago Thursday. Broome, who played his first two college seasons at Morehead State, offered matchup concerns with his ability to handle the ball on the perimeter, alter shots and attack the glass. And he was unbothered by the hostility of Duke's famously rambunctious "Cameron Crazies" fans, staring at them through much of pregame warmups with a grin and even laughing multiple times. He didn't shoot well early (2 for 9 in the first half) but started thriving in the pick-and-roll after halftime with Duke's defense stretched by Auburn's 3-point shooters. He nearly had a double-double in the second half (15 points, nine rebounds), including when he finished at the rim through Mason Gillis' foul and knocked Gillis to the ground — then gave him a lengthy stare as he stood over him. Broome led the Tigers until fouling out with 15 seconds left with Blue Devils fans starting to chant "Our house! Our house!" to mark another home win in their famed arena. He never flinched, even in the face of Auburn's first loss. "I think he's handled (the pressure) really well," Pearl said. "One of the reasons our team has played well so far this year is Johni's been a tremendously consistent player. Clearly a (national) player of the year candidate. If our team continues to win, he's our best player. ... He's able to do it on both ends, and he's able to do it inside and out."

What does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump?

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TV host accidentally claims he’s ‘bisexual’ live on air when he meant ambidextrousNEW YORK (AP) — In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs — including Apple's Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said in remarks at Mar-a-Lago . “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech companies and leaders have now poured millions into his inauguration fund, a sharp increase — in most cases — from past pledges to incoming presidents. But what does the tech industry expect to gain out of their renewed relationships with Trump? A clue to what the industry is looking for came just days before the election when Microsoft executives — who’ve largely tried to show a neutral or bipartisan stance — joined with a close Trump ally, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, to publish a blog post outlining their approach to artificial intelligence policy. “Regulation should be implemented only if its benefits outweigh its costs,” said the document signed by Andreessen, his business partner Ben Horowitz, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the company's president, Brad Smith. They also urged the government to back off on any attempt to strengthen copyright laws that would make it harder for companies to use publicly available data to train their AI systems. And they said, “the government should examine its procurement practices to enable more startups to sell technology to the government.” Trump has pledged to rescind President Joe Biden’s sweeping AI executive order, which sought to protect people’s rights and safety without stifling innovation. He hasn’t specified what he would do in its place, but his campaign said AI development should be “rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Trump's choice to head the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has spoken openly about the need to boost electricity production to meet increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. “The AI battle affects everything from defense to healthcare to education to productivity as a country,′′ Burgum said on Nov. 15, referring to artificial intelligence. “And the AI that’s coming in the next 18 months is going to be revolutionary. So there’s just a sense of urgency and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration′′ to address it. Demand for data centers ballooned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and local governments are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies. But as data centers begin to consume more resources, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities. “Maybe Big Tech should buy a copy of ‘The Art of The Deal’ to figure out how to best negotiate with this administration,” suggested Paul Swanson, an antitrust attorney for the law firm Holland & Hart. “I won’t be surprised if they find ways to reach some accommodations and we end up seeing more negotiated resolutions and consent decrees.” Although federal regulators began cracking down on Google and Facebook during Trump’s first term as president — and flourished under Biden — most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to business mergers. Google may benefit from Trump’s return after he made comments on the campaign trail suggesting a breakup of the company isn’t in the U.S. national interest, after a judge declared its search engine an illegal monopoly . But recent nominations put forward by his transition team have favored those who have been critical of Big Tech companies, suggesting Google won’t be entirely off the hook. Cook’s notoriously rocky relationship with the EU can be traced back to a 2016 ruling from Brussels in a tax case targeting Apple. Cook slammed the bloc’s order for Apple to pay back up to 13 billion euros ($13.7 billion) in Irish back taxes as “total political crap.” Trump, then in his first term as president, piled on, referring to the European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was spearheading a campaign on special tax deals and a crackdown on Big Tech companies, as the “tax lady” who “really hates the U.S.” Brussels was eventually vindicated after the bloc’s top court rejected Apple’s appeal this year, though it didn’t stop Cook from calling Trump to complain, Trump recounted in a podcast in October. Trump hosted Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly. Neither Apple nor the Trump transition team has commented on the nature of their discussions. Altman , Amazon and Meta all pledged to donate $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which billionaire Bezos owns. Meanwhile, Bezos had criticized some of Trump’s past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. More recently, Bezos has struck a more conciliatory tone. He recently said at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term, while also endorsing president-elect’s plans to cut regulations. The donation from Meta came just weeks after Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president, but voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump in recent months had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. And Altman, who is in a legal dispute with AI rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence in the incoming administration. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits.Lockheed, Northrop stocks dip on Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire news

 

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jili games apk Dr Manmohan Singh Dies: National Mourning of 7 Days To Be Declared, All Govt Programmes for December 27 To Be Cancelled, Say SourcesJoin this golf club and you’ll get 7 ‘home’ courses across the USLongest-lived US president was always happy to speak his mind

Now that we are in the thick of Black Friday savings, it's time to dial in on deals that work as holiday gifts . If you've got a Nintendo Switch user in your household, having an extra controller is basically a necessity. But at $80 a pop, it's not always a practical purchase. Luckily, the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con is discounted to just $60 at Best Buy right now. You can also pick it up for the $60 price at Target . Note that Amazon previously matched this deal but the Joy-Con is currently out of stock there, a sign you shouldn't wait to add this to your cart from Best Buy or Target while you still can. If you're a classic Nintendo Switch user, your device came with two removable Joy-Con controllers which can either be used with the device base, as individual left and right controllers, or slid into a Power-A Joy-Con base (which is also on sale at Best Buy for $10 ). This gives a more traditional gaming controller feel and is frequently the preferred choice for many players. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money . Because so many Nintendo Switch games are multi-player, having an extra set of Joy-Con controllers enables one of two things: have up to four controllers for epic shared game play or use both on a Joy-Con base to make an additional single controller with even more control over in-game moves. Read more: Best Gifts Available on Amazon: 26 Gifts From $15 to $250 Since it's usually priced at $80, picking up a set for $60 is a great deal. At Best Buy, you can choose from three color combos but only one is at the discounted price, the neon blue and neon red combo. Pastel pink and pastel yellow or pastel purple and pastel green are available but currently at full price. Best Buy also has the Nintendo Switch Pro wireless controller on sale for $50 , a $20 discount. Read more: Best Gaming Gifts of 2024 If you prefer to pick up your Joy-Con set from Target, you can opt from red and blue at the discounted price but if you want orange and purple or pink and green you'll be back to full price. Don't miss our list of the best Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals for even more savings. And be sure to scope out our curated list of the best holiday gifts for techies that cost $100 or less. Why this deal matters Having an extra set of Joy-Con controllers makes shared game play even more possible, whether that's with friends or family in town for the holiday. If you're even thinking about playing Mario Kart with your cousins, you're gonna need more controllers. Take $20 off the regular price and it's a much more do-able price for something you might see as an extra but your kid sees as a must-have. CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page , and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse our gift guide , which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.Heritage Global's president of subsidiary sells $16,299 in stockThe New York Jets are turning to one of their former general managers to help them find their next GM and head coach. The franchise announced Monday that The 33rd Team, a football media, analytics and consulting group founded by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, will assist team owner Woody Johnson in the searches. Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman, former GM of the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings, will be The 33rd Team's primary representatives in helping find replacements for former coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas. The 33rd Team was founded in 2019 by Tannenbaum as a media and technology company. In their announcement, the Jets said The 33rd Team will help identify and vet GM and coach candidates and coordinate interviews. Douglas was fired last Tuesday , the latest shakeup for a franchise that had Super Bowl aspirations with a healthy Aaron Rodgers at quarterback but has limped to a 3-8 start and appears likely to miss the playoffs for a 14th consecutive year. Phil Savage, a senior football adviser with the Jets since 2019, will serve as the interim general manager for the rest of the season. The firing of Douglas came exactly six weeks after Johnson fired Saleh as coach on Oct. 8 after the Jets were 2-3 to open the season. New York has since gone 1-5 under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who was tabbed as the interim coach. The Jets are coming off their bye-week break and will host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The franchise has plenty of questions to answer over the next several months, including decisions on their next general manager and coach — and the future of Rodgers. The four-time NFL MVP turns 41 next week, has dealt with leg issues all season and is off to the worst statistical start of his career. Tannenbaum and Spielman will help the Jets find the people to help Johnson and brother Christopher make those key decisions. Johnson took a similar approach in 2015, the last time the Jets hired a general manager and coach in the offseason. Former NFL GMs Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf worked as consultants for the team, which hired Mike Maccagnan as GM and Todd Bowles as coach. Tannenbaum, currently an analyst for ESPN, has first-hand familiarity with Johnson and the franchise. He worked in the Jets' front office for nine years before being promoted to general manager and serving in that role from 2006 to 2012. Tannenbaum helped build the 2009 and 2010 Jets teams that went to the AFC championship game in consecutive seasons under coach Rex Ryan. Ryan, who last coached the Jets in 2014 and also is currently an analyst for ESPN, recently has been lobbying on air for a return to New York's sideline. Tannenbaum also was Miami’s executive vice president of football operations from 2015 to 2018. Spielman served as the Vikings’ general manager from 2012 to 2021 after working as the team’s vice president of player personnel for six years. He was also the Dolphins’ GM in 2004 and served as an adviser last year for the Washington Commanders in their GM and coaching searches. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Spielman was formerly GM of the Minnesota Vikings instead of the Detroit Lions. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Dennis Waszak Jr., The Associated Press

Jimmy Carter, former US President, dies at 100

SOUTH KOREA, — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames Sunday in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people aboard were killed in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters, officials said. The 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television channels showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed, and slamming into the wall, triggering an explosion and generating plumes of thick, black smoke. The crash killed 179 people, the South Korean fire agency said. Emergency workers pulled two crew members, to safety. They were conscious and did not appear to have any life-threatening injuries, health officials said. Lee Jeong-hyeon, chief of the Muan fire station, told a televised briefing that the plane was completely destroyed, with only the tail assembly still recognizable in the wreckage. Officials were investigating the cause of the crash, including whether the aircraft was struck by birds, Lee said. The control tower issued a warning about birds to the plane shortly before it intended to land and gave the crew permission to land in a different area, ministry officials said. The crew sent out a distress signal shortly before the crash, officials said. Senior Transport Ministry official Joo Jong-wan said workers retrieved the jet's flight data and cockpit voice recorders. He said it may take months for investigators to complete their probe. The runway at the Muan airport will be closed until Jan. 1, the ministry said. Video of the crash indicated that the pilots did not deploy flaps or slats to slow the aircraft, suggesting a possible hydraulic failure, and they did not manually lower the landing gear, suggesting they did not have time, said John Cox, a retired airline pilot and CEO of Safety Operating Systems in St. Petersburg, Florida. Despite that, the jetliner was under control and traveling in a straight line, and damage and injuries likely would have been minimized if not for a barrier being placed so close to the runway, Cox said. Another aviation expert said videos showed the aircraft had used up much of the runway before touching down. With little braking ability, the aircraft skidded atop its engine cowlings, said Ross “Rusty” Aimer, CEO of Aero Consulting Experts. “It's basically like skidding on ice,” he said. The Boeing 737-800 is a "proven airplane" that belongs to a different class of aircraft than the Boeing 737 Max jetliner that was linked to fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, added Alan Price, a former chief pilot at Delta Air Lines and now a consultant. More than 4,500 of the planes are in service around the world, according to the aviation analytics company Cirium. One of the survivors was being treated for fractures to his ribs, shoulder blade and upper spine, said Ju Woong, director of the Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital. Ju said the man, whose name was not released, told doctors he “woke up to find (himself) rescued.” Details on the other survivor were not immediately available. The passengers were predominantly South Korean and included two people from Thailand. Officials identified 88 of them in the hours after the crash, the fire agency said. Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expressed condolences to the families of those aboard the plane in a post on X. Paetongtarn said she ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide assistance. Boonchuay Duangmanee, the father of a Thai passenger, told The Associated Press that his daughter, Jongluk, had been working in a factory in South Korea for several years and returned to Thailand to visit her family. "I never thought that this would be the last time we would see each other forever,” he said. Kerati Kijmanawat, the director of Thailand's airports, confirmed in a statement that Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 departed from Suvarnabhumi Airport with no reports of anything abnormal aboard the aircraft or on the runway. Jeju Air in a statement expressed its “deep apology” over the crash and said it will do its “utmost to manage the aftermath of the accident.” In a televised news conference, the company's president, Kim E-bae, bowed deeply with other senior company officials as he apologized to bereaved families and said he feels “full responsibility” for the crash. He said the company had not identified any mechanical problems with the aircraft following regular checkups and that he would wait for the results of government investigations. Family members wailed as officials announced the names of some victims at a lounge in the Muan airport. Boeing said in a statement on X that it was in contact with Jeju Air and was ready to support the company in dealing with the crash. The crash happened as South Korea is embroiled in a political crisis triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment . South Korean lawmakers on Friday impeached acting President Han Duck-soo and suspended his duties, leading Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok to take over. Choi, who traveled to the site in Muan, called for officials to use all available resources to identify the dead as soon as possible. The government declared Muan a special disaster zone and designated a weeklong national mourning period. Yoon’s office said his chief secretary, Chung Jin-suk, presided over an emergency meeting between senior presidential staff to discuss the crash and reported the details to Choi. Yoon expressed condolences to the victims in a Facebook post. In Rome’s St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said he joined in “prayer for the survivors and the dead.” The Muan crash is one of the deadliest disasters in South Korea’s aviation history. The last time South Korea suffered a large-scale air disaster was in 1997, when a Korean Airline plane crashed in Guam, killing 228 people on board. In 2013, an Asiana Airlines plane crash-landed in San Francisco, killing three and injuring about 200. Sunday’s accident was also one of the worst landing disasters since a July 2007 crash that killed all 187 people on board and 12 others on the ground when an Airbus A320 slid off a slick airstrip in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and hit a nearby building, according to data compiled by the Flight Safety Foundation, a nonprofit group aimed at improving air safety. In 2010, 158 people died when an Air India Express aircraft overshot a runway in Mangalore, India, and plummeted into a gorge before erupting into flames, according to the safety foundation. ___ Associated Press journalists David Sharp in Portland, Maine; Paul Wiseman in Washington; Bobby Caina Calvan in New York; Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul and Jintamas Saksornchai in Bangkok; Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo; and Giada Zampano in Rome contributed to this report.More and more, according to the data, tax revenue from state-sanctioned gambling — from Keno and scratch tickets to casinos and sports betting — is becoming more valuable to the state’s budget than the other so-called “sin taxes.” For the state fiscal year 2024, all the games and gambling under the auspices of the N.H. Lottery Commission outperformed tobacco and liquor tax revenue ... by a lot. Lottery Commission-generated revenue was $43 million over budget in the fiscal year that ended on June 30. Meanwhile, tax revenue from liquor sales was $9 million under budget and tax revenue from tobacco sales was $24 million under budget. Sin taxes derive revenues from items that society might deem as potentially harmful. In New Hampshire, sin tax revenue comes from tobacco, alcohol and gambling. There’ll be a fourth if policymakers ever come to terms with legalizing marijuana. According to Phil Sletten, research director at the N.H. Fiscal Policy Institute, the Lottery Commission as a percentage is the state’s fastest growing source of tax revenue. “Long term, we’ve seen some really substantial trends in Lottery Commission revenues. Between state fiscal years 2017 and 2023, profits transferred from the Lottery Commission constituted the fastest growing major source of revenue for the general fund and the Education Trust Fund,” said Sletten. “When I say fastest growing, I mean in percentage terms,” he added. “While business tax revenues nearly doubled in this time period and resulted in more growth in total dollars, Lottery Commission profits to the Education Trust Fund were about 161 percent higher in state fiscal year 2023 than they were in state fiscal year 2017, and I’m using 2023 because those are the most recent audited numbers.” According to unaudited fiscal year 2024 numbers, about $3.32 billion in revenue came into the general and education funds. That’s about 4 percent over plan and 3.5 percent more than FY 2023. As a percentage of the whole, business taxes generated about $1.2 billion, or 36.7 percent of all revenue. Sin taxes on tobacco, liquor, beer and gaming generated a total of $516.4 million, or 15.5 percent of the whole. Sin taxes in FY 2024 outperformed state property taxes ($363.8 million, 10.9 percent of the whole) and Meals and Rentals Tax ($328.1 million, 9.9 percent of the whole). Of the sin taxes, only the Lottery Commission reported positive results against the previous fiscal year — up 7.3 percent, while revenue from the tobacco tax was down 12.8 percent, liquor was down 10.9 percent, and beer tax was down 6.2 percent. The Lottery Commission reported a banner revenue year in FY 2024. And, if current trends hold true, another might be in the offing for FY 2025, which comes to a close on June 30, 2025. Gambling a big player State budget writers are keeping a close eye on all revenue sources as they begin to assemble the FY 2026 budget. The new budget year starts on July 1, 2025. Gambling revenue could be a big player in the budget. The revenue report for October, for example, showed Lottery Commission revenue of $19 million, 13.1 percent above what was projected. “Revenue generated through the Lottery Commission was a large contributor to October’s overall surplus relative to the State Revenue Plan,” the Fiscal Policy Institute said in its analysis of the October numbers. While the Lottery Commission was above plan, tobacco was $10.2 million behind and liquor was $4.9 million behind plan, according to the October report. At the close of FY 2024, the New Hampshire Lottery reported in excess of $631 million in total sales, marking a nearly 5 percent or $29 million increase over FY 2023. With a portion of that revenue going toward the state’s public schools, the Lottery Commission generated an all-time high of $200.7 million in revenue supporting education, reflecting a nearly 7 percent or $13 million year-over-year increase. The N.H. Lottery Commission manages all lottery operations in the state, including scratch games, N.H. Powerball, N.H. Mega Millions, Tri-State Megabucks, Tri-State Pick3/Pick4 Daily Numbers games, Gimme 5, Fast Play games, Lucky For Life, KENO 603 and iLottery. The Commission also regulates charitable gaming, including Bingo, Lucky 7 and games of chance (poker, craps, roulette), along with simulcast racing, fantasy sports and sports wagering. “Our goal is always to maximize revenue for New Hampshire schools, while providing our players with fun and entertaining games. We certainly hit the mark this year,” Charlie McIntyre, Lottery Commission executive director, said in August with the release of the FY 2024 revenue data. “With the introduction of exciting new games, record high numbers from Tri-State Megabucks, new sports betting opportunities and more, we are confident 2025 will be even more successful.” With the professional and college football season well underway, Commission officials are putting their money down on an even better year, especially when it comes to sports betting, which became legal in the state in 2019. In the first two weeks of the season, New Hampshire players had wagered more than $13 million on NFL games alone. It marks a $1.7 million increase in total wagering compared to the first two weeks of last year’s NFL season. The state contracted with DraftKings to handle its sportsbook wagering through its app and live at four locations in the Granite State: the Brook in Seabrook, Revo Casino in Dover, Revo Casino in Manchester and Gate City Casino in Nashua. “Each year, football continues to be one of our biggest sports betting drivers. With an ever-expanding lineup of betting options for our players, the N.H. Lottery and DraftKings are confident that momentum will continue throughout this season,” said McIntyre. Betting it all Digging into the Lottery’s FY 2024 numbers (as yet unaudited), the gross revenue was $633,716,687 from the games such as KENO, Powerball, Mega Millions, Megabucks and the rest. There was a total of $413,815,869 in prizes awarded. So, for every dollar spent on Lottery games, the average win was about 65 cents. Separately, sports betting earned the state a total of $33.65 million in FY 2024. The total “handle” bet by players was $753 million, with players wagering more than $661.4 million through the DraftKings online sportsbook and nearly $91.6 million at New Hampshire’s retail sportsbooks. The Granite State’s 12 charitable gaming establishments generated an additional $36.7 million in revenue in support of local charities in FY 2024 and $29.2 million for New Hampshire’s public schools. These casinos are licensed to donate a portion of daily proceeds to local nonprofit organizations. For Sletten, the long-term prognosis for Lottery Commission revenue is better than Liquor Commission revenue in the sale of liquor, wine, beer and tobacco products (including e-cigarettes and vape products). “We at least know that Liquor Commission revenues are not growing to nearly the same degree that Lottery Commission revenues are and with tobacco tax revenues, those are expected to be in long-term decline,” said Sletten. In the last few years, the best year for Liquor Commission revenue was FY 2021 when revenue peaked at $252.8 million; liquor/wine tax revenue was $230.8 and beer tax revenue was $13.7 million. FY 2022 saw Liquor Commission revenue drop to $241.3 million, then drop further to $235.5 in FY 2023. So is it a good bet for New Hampshire to be dependent on the gambling sin tax? Sletten sees both sides. “There could be a different direction or a different trend in lottery revenues that could serve to provide diversity to revenue streams that the state has that may be less tied directly to economic fortunes,” said Sletten. He cited a scenario where economic conditions might not favor the meals and rooms tax or business profits tax but might favor gaming. He also acknowledges the cost of gambling addiction. “Gambling addiction may generate cost to society, including both economic and social costs. Some key research suggests that the negative effects of gambling and gambling addiction may fall disproportionate on people with lower incomes,” said Sletten. “These relationships are likely complex, and causality may be difficult to determine in all cases, but it suggests that negative impacts may be disproportionate on those who can least absorb them, and that can affect the broader economy, as well as individual household budgets.” A Pew Charitable Trust report from 2018 entitled “Are Sin Taxes Healthy for State Budgets?” had two pieces of advice: 1) “Sin taxes are a useful tool for supporting public health objectives and can be effective in raising revenue in the short term,” and “2) States should carefully assess the sustainability of these revenue sources in the long term, especially for funding ongoing budget commitments, to avoid structural budget challenges.” A research paper published in June posits the notion that the growth of sports betting has had a particularly negative effect on economically vulnerable households. “Gambling Away Stability: Sports Betting’s Impact on Vulnerable Households” argues that, “despite being marketed as a form of entertainment, the industry’s profitability suggests that the typical bettor faces negative expected returns.” As a result, it said, the betting behavior displaces more favorable economic habits such as saving money and paying down credit card debt. “These effects concentrate among financially constrained households, as credit card debt increases, available credit decreases and overdraft frequency rises,” it said. What does the Lottery Commission’s executive director think of gambling as a state policy to generate revenue? “I always joke: I don’t make policy; I’m the instrument of policy,” said McIntyre. His job is to make it all work. “One of the reasons to do this is because, like, for example, sports betting, was to bring an illegal activity to be legal, to be well regulated, add the consumer protections,” said McIntyre. “If you have a problem with our platform of DraftKings, you can call me directly, and I’ll follow up and we’ll investigate, whereas you don’t have the luxury of that in the illegal market or your friend’s card game in his basement,” he added. “Yes, I believe it’s being done safely. As for if it’s a good idea, that’s a policy decision that the government, i.e. the Legislature, the governor make that.” The N.H. Council for Responsible Gambling was established through the 2019 legislation legalizing sports betting in the Granite State and is tasked with education, prevention and treatment related to gambling disorders in New Hampshire. It used $290,000 from the state to contract with the Council on Problem Gambling to build training and clinical capacity, and to facilitate outreach and awareness activities. That funding ran out at the end of FY23 and has not been renewed. The growth of gambling addiction issues are growing as opportunities to gamble are growing, according to Ed Talbot. “There’s more calls each year,” said Talbot. The organization mans a 24/7 hotline: 603-724-1605. As advertising for gambling has increased, particularly by DraftKings for sports betting, Talbot is seeing more issues with a younger generation. “One alarming statistic I just saw is the highest percentage of people indicating a potential problem is the 17 to 24 (age group), and I think a lot of that is based on the advertising that’s going on, especially around sports gambling,” said Talbot. “To me, that just says there’s going with the next generation, the problem is going to be more so.” In addition to counseling services and treatment recommendations for gambling addiction, Talbot said he wants the council to advocate for stronger self-exclusion, where gamblers who believe that they have a problem can voluntarily bar themselves from entering one or more gambling venues to prevent them from gambling. In New Hampshire, according to Talbot, that has to be done in person, at each establishment the individual wants to be excluded from. He said other states — Pennsylvania, for example — make it much easier through an online process. Talbot is unsure about future direct state funding for the Council on Problem Gambling. “Fiscal Year 2024 we’ve been on our own, and fiscal year 2025 unless we get some supplemental funding, we’ll be on our own again,” he said. Ironically, Talbot said the council feels it has to participate in casino nights in order to raise operating funds. “We have participated in charity gaming, which is not something we would like to do,” said Talbot, “but we’re a nonprofit, and we have taken advantage of that and gotten anywhere between $25,000 and $30,000 a year out of that.”Luka Doncic returns to red-hot Mavericks & Giannis gets the Bucks back on track | Good Word with Goodwill

Analyst Ratings For Nasdaq

No. 18 Iowa State clips No. 13 Miami for first 11-win season

The branded hotels sector will end fiscal 2025 with a double-digit revenue growth of 13–14%, according to a Crisil Ratings report. And, in the next financial year, the sector will witness 11–12% growth, it added. The study also stated that in the previous fiscal, the segment had registered 17% growth. The ratings agency pointed to domestic leisure and business travel as the primary drivers. According to the report, increased activity in the MICE—meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions—segment, coupled with a pickup in foreign tourist arrivals, will add some boost. “The domestic leisure segment will continue to drive growth on the back of rising travel aspirations and better regional connectivity. Further, a positive economic outlook and the government's ‘Meet in India’ initiative to promote corporate events will support the business and MICE segments. Foreign tourist arrivals are also expected to surpass the pre-pandemic levels this fiscal,” Crisil Ratings’ Senior Director Mohit Makhija said. These factors, he said, will drive up the average room rates of branded hotels by 6-7% this fiscal. However Makhija added, that “growth in ARRs is expected to moderate to 3–4% next fiscal as significant room capacities come up. These factors will boost the revenue growth by 13–14% this fiscal and 11–12% in the next”. According to the report, the adoption of asset-light management contract route will help pick up the pace of room additions further from last fiscal. As a result, supply will increase by 20% over this fiscal and the next. "As 60-65% of room additions, over this fiscal and the next, are being done through an asset light route, it eliminates the need for large upfront investment and helps navigate business cyclicality better," the ratings agency’s Associate Director Pallavi Singh said. While Crisil expects the hotel industry’s operating margin to improve by 100–150 basis points this fiscal, it added that they should sustain at similar levels in the next year too. Crisil further said strong cash flows, asset-light expansion and sizeable equity raising will keep debt levels under check, hence, strengthening credit profiles. The report expects the number of branded hotel rooms to rise 8–9% this fiscal and 11–12% in the next. And, leisure and non-metro destinations will account for 65% additions. Of these additions, 25% will be in the top seven metros that offer scope for leisure and business activities. The upcoming spiritual tourism destinations will contribute towards the balance. “The hotel industry is expanding more into non-metros and emerging leisure destinations as travellers seek more choices, and infrastructure in these regions improve,” Singh added. Despite these significant room additions, occupancy levels are expected to remain strong at 74–75% next fiscal, declining by a modest 50 basis points after increasing 100–150 bps this fiscal. The report noted that hotels will benefit from operating leverage, which in addition to effective cost management, could result in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation margin expansiong of 100–150 bps to 33–34% this fiscal and the next. Cost management initiatives could include higher adoption of technology and manpower rationalisation to move to a leaner fixed cost structure. However, it warned that a surge in airfares could affect leisure travel, while an economic downturn could result in a decline in business travel. With PTI inputsNone

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The Friends of Canyon Hills Library will kick off the new year with a Flash Book Sale on Jan. 7 and 8 at the branch. There will be a large variety of fiction, non-fiction, children’s and specialty books from which to choose — all at bargain prices. Also, don’t forget to check out the boutique items in the glass cases in the library lobby. All sales benefit the various programs and services the nonprofit Friends provides for the library and the community. Sale hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. For additional information, call the library at 714-765-6444. The Anaheim Hills, Orange and Villa Park Women’s Connection will host a new year’s celebration luncheon on Jan. 13 at the Black Gold Golf Club, and all women are invited. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for shopping with onsite vendors, followed by the luncheon at 11:30 a.m. A special program is planned that will include a fun makeover with some of Paul’s Wig Products presented by Oakley Semrau. Diane Jackson will provide the afternoon entertainment and guest speaker Anesa Cronin will talk about finding hope. The day concludes at 1:30 p.m. Cost to attend is $32 per person and the reservation deadline is Dec. 30t, contact Barbi Zipperian at 714-280-9062. Members of the Anaheim Hills Women’s Club are planning a “Welcome the New Year” celebration luncheon on Jan. 22 at The Clubhouse at the Anaheim Hills Golf Course. All women in the community are invited to attend. The afternoon will include special entertainment with an unforgettable performance from the talented Douglas Rogiers. This versatile entertainer takes guests on a journey through the Great American Songbook that includes timeless classics capturing the charisma of Frank Sinatra and the energy of David Bowie. The Anaheim Hills Women’s Club is a social organization open to all women in the community interested in fun and friendship. In addition to monthly luncheon meetings, members have the opportunity to participate in various activities. Some of these include a breakfast group, bunco, a wine group and golf group. Gayle Huff is current club president. The cost to attend the January luncheon, which will run from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., is $38 per person and the reservation deadline is Jan. 13. For additional information or to make a reservation, contact Karon Kelleher at gmakelleher@gmail.com or call her landline 714-912-4907. The recent Holiday Basket of Miracles program, sponsored by the Miracle for Kids organization, was a huge success that helped brighten the holidays for more than 400 families with critically ill children, providing gifts, food and household essentials. Combined efforts of businesses, organizations and individuals resulted in a record-breaking number participating in the nonprofit’s “Adopt-a-Family” initiative this year. Volunteers wrapped more than 8,000 gifts, which were then hand-delivered to local families or shipped in time for Christmas. “This program is only possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our sponsors, volunteers and community partners coming together that make miracles happen for 438 families this holiday season,” stated Autumn Strier, co-founder and CEO of Miracles for Kids. This year also marks the 20th year of serving families in crisis helping to provide financial aid, housing, essential resources and basic needs to families struggling to care for their critically ill children. The Miracle Manor, located in Orange near the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, provides long-term housing that enables families to reside close during their child’s treatment. A “Recycle Saturday,” sponsored by the Knights of Columbus at San Antonio Catholic Church, is scheduled from 8 to 10 a.m. on Jan. 4 for collecting CRV containers, including glass, bottles and cans. Those wishing to participate in the recycling event can drop off CRV-marked beverage containers in the church’s south parking lot off Solomon Avenue. The Recycle Saturday fundraiser is held on the first Saturday of the month and helps the Knights of Columbus provide needed assistance to various charitable organizations. Some of these include: Thomas House, Mary’s Path, Patriots and Paws, Isaiah’s House and Camp Pendleton. For additional information, contact the church office at 714-974-1416. Sharon Hlapcich writes about events and happenings in the Anaheim Hills area. Reach her by phone (714-998-4604 or e-mail (smhlapcich@sbcglobal.net).No. 18 Iowa State clips No. 13 Miami for first 11-win season

 

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30 jili slot game Skinner was issued a warning after a diving/embellishment incident in an Oct. 22 game against the Carolina Hurricanes, the league said. His second citation, which triggered the fine, came in the second period of a 6-2 victory over the Rangers on Nov. 23. Skinner was being followed by Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller as he had the puck along the boards in the New York zone. Skinner lost his footing and the puck despite minimal contact from Miller. The Oilers forward looked toward the referee as he got up but no penalty call was made on the play. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHLTo top it all off, "Feather of the Abyss" features an epic soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience and sets the mood for each stage of the journey. From pulse-pounding battle themes to haunting melodies, the music of the game will transport players to another time and place, further enhancing the emotional impact of the story.Should you bet on Gustav Nyquist to find the back of the net when the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars go head to head on Thursday at 8:00 PM ET? In the piece below, we dissect all the stats you need to know before making any bets. Sign up for ESPN+ today to watch 1,000+ out-of-market NHL games, ESPN+ Hockey Night & more. Odds to score a goal this game: +390 (Bet $10 to win $39.00 if he scores a goal) Place your bets on any NHL matchup at BetMGM. Sign up today using our link. Catch NHL action all season long on Fubo. Catch NHL action all season long on Max. Bet on this or any NHL matchup at BetMGM. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .

Eddie Hearn on Signing Anthony Joshua's Possible SuccessorNoneIn conclusion, Fengtai District Public Rental Housing offers a unique combination of affordability, quality, and community that sets it apart from other housing options in Beijing. Residents enjoy the best of urban living without the financial strain, all while benefiting from modern amenities and a strong sense of community. If you're in the market for a new home in Beijing, look no further than Fengtai District Public Rental Housing – it's truly a cut above the rest.

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The meal was a resounding success, with Xiang Zuo and his guests raving about the delicious flavors and exquisite presentation. Dishes such as braised pork belly with soy sauce, steamed fish with ginger and spring onions, and stir-fried vegetables with garlic and chili peppers delighted the palate and left everyone wanting more.

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Tencent Video, one of the leading streaming platforms in China, recently announced a new rule regarding its membership services. According to the new regulation, Tencent Video members can only stream content on one device at a time, stirring up discussions and debates among its users.Maybe 15 minutes before the Wild hosted and defeated the Nashville Predators on Saturday, general manager Bill Guerin took a few minutes to talk to the media about his first noteworthy acquisition of the season—the trade with Columbus, which will bring David Jiricek to the State of Hockey in the first few days of December. ADVERTISEMENT Maybe it’s just the pessimistic nature of a fanbase that hasn’t seen a men’s professional team play for a championship in more than three decades, but the grumbling had begun even before the collected media had reached the press box for Saturday’s game. “Seems like a lot to pay for a minor-leaguer,” was one of the comments overheard at the rink on Saturday. Indeed, to get Jiricek – the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft – and a lower-round pick, Guerin surrendered defenseman Daemon Hunt and four draft picks, including Minnesota’s 2025 first-rounder and a second round pick in 2027. He wasted no time in getting an up-close look at the new guy, calling Jiricek up to the NHL level on Sunday, and sending former Gophers forward Travis Boyd back down to Iowa. Guerin and Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell are old friends from their time working together with the Pittsburgh Penguins. But there was no discount offered from Waddell to his old pal in Minnesota. “It took awhile. Donny,” Guerin said with an exasperated grin. “He played with me. He’s one of my old mentors. He made me work for it. He’s the best.” ADVERTISEMENT Still, Guerin would not have pulled the trigger had he not believed in two things: 1) The Wild can turn all of Jiricek’s size (6-foot-4) and potential into another piece of their bright future on the blue line. 2) The price they paid was not as steep as it might look on the surface. To that second point, consider that Hunt was not really part of the Wild’s NHL-level defensive picture, even at a time like this when Jonas Brodin’s long-term viability is a serious question mark. And after getting two points with an overtime win over the Predators on Saturday, the Wild were tied for the most points in the NHL, meaning that at this pace, that 2025 first-round draft pick is going to come in the 25th spot or later. If the Wild go into a tailspin this season, the pick sent to Columbus is lottery protected, meaning the Blue Jackets will not get to pick in the top 10 at the Wild’s expense. ADVERTISEMENT To the first point, Jiricek is a player Guerin and his assistants have had their eye on for some time, even before he was named the top defenseman in the tournament while playing for Czechia in the 2023 World Juniors. “He’s not 30, he’s not a rental. He’s a 21-year-old defenseman that we can invest in. And we did. That’s how I look at it. It’s an investment,” Guerin said. In 2022, the Wild grabbed Liam Ohgren with the 19th overall pick, more than a dozen selections after Jiricek was picked by Columbus and was posing for pictures in a new red-white-and-blue sweater. ADVERTISEMENT “He was somebody that we really liked (during) his draft year. We knew we weren’t going to get him, but we liked him,” Guerin said. “And, you know, when this became available, I did my due diligence and asked our staff what they thought. They were all on board with it. So it’s good.” Perhaps in hopes of getting the fans on board, Guerin also stressed patience. Jiricek has not yet been a star in the NHL, despite his high draft stock. But the Wild are confident that their system of developing players — especially defensemen — is the change the new guy needs. “He’s a young player. He’s got a lot to learn. He’s going to continue to improve, just like all young players,” Guerin said, name-dropping two youthful every-night members of the Wild roster who still have ample room to grow. “Brock Faber’s got to get better. Matt Boldy’s still going to get better. All these guys are going to continue to improve because they’re so young. So just because they’re in the NHL doesn’t mean they’re not going to develop their game and get better. That’s our job as the coaches, management. That’s our job to help him get better.” If he has to spend some future draft capital to put those pieces in place, that is clearly a chance Guerin is willing to take. ADVERTISEMENT ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .

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Looking ahead, it will be important for policymakers, businesses, and consumers in Beijing to closely monitor consumer price trends and respond proactively to any significant changes. By working together and adopting a holistic approach, they can help to maintain stable prices, support economic growth, and enhance the overall well-being of residents in the city.

Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). It’s a day to promote the rights and wellbeing of those with disabilities and reflect on what we’re doing to make the world a more inclusive place. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: for many Australians with disabilities, inclusion still feels like a lot of lip service. Despite the progress in the last two to three decades, Australians with disabilities are still fighting uphill battles for access and opportunity. So, today, rather than patting ourselves on the back for what’s been achieved, we need to be honest. Are we doing enough? And if not, what’s stopping us? Leaders in the disability sector like , and are crystal clear on one thing: change doesn’t come from just talking about it. It comes from consistent, practical, unapologetic action. Inclusion or illusion? Australia is a global leader in recognising the importance of support systems for people with disabilities. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in particular, has transformed lives by providing funding for essential services and giving individuals the tools to participate fully in society. Australia has also made strides in embracing disability rights and increasing the presence of inclusive public infrastructure. But is it truly delivering? According to Chloe Kempe, CEO of , Australia hasn’t quite turned inclusion into a universal experience. “Many communities, especially in regional areas, still face challenges in accessing resources,” says Kempe. “We need a collective push to normalise inclusivity, not just as an ideal but as a lived reality”. Kerry Kingham, CEO of , agrees that while progress has certainly been made, many systemic challenges still remain. Simplifying NDIS processes, enhancing physical and digital accessibility and driving equity in employment are critical steps Australia must take, along with considering intersectional equity. “People need to understand thatdisability intersects with other factors such as age, gender and cultural background and create policies that address these intersections to ensure no one is left behind”, said Kingham. “Inclusivity is about more than just having a seat at the table. It’s about making sure the table works for everyone—and if it doesn’t, we’re ready to flip it over and build a better one.” Cheryl Drury, Director of , likewise believes that while Australia making progress, there’s plenty of room for improvement. “It’s hard to believe we’re still talking about inclusion as something to strive for, rather than something that just ” Drury said. “We’re seeing more conversations about disability rights and representation in media and leadership. But there’s still a way to go. Workplaces need to be more adaptable; communities need to be more accessible, and schools need to create environments where kids with disabilities can thrive socially and academically”. According to Kingham, while the NDIS has been life-changing for many, it’s still an overwhelming maze for participants and carers. “From complex claiming processes, to a lack of integration between providers, navigating the system is daunting,” Kingham said. Kerry and her team at are committed to removing barriers and empowering individuals with disabilities to live more independently. “We are taking the everyday frustrations of Australians with disabilities—confusing systems, inaccessible products, endless red tape—and replacing them with simple, empowering solutions,” says Kingham. “We are simplifying claiming processes by offering consolidated invoices and integrated workflows for Agency, Plan and Self-Managed participants”. Kerry also believes that many online platforms still fall short when it comes to providing user-friendly and accessible experiences for individuals with disabilities. To address this, The Chooze Shop is leveraging AI to build tools that ensure accessibility while innovating for the future of assistive technology. Employment opportunities and social skills programs Drury believes that while inclusive hiring practices are improving, individuals with disabilities continue to face barriers to meaningful employment. Australia must do more to incentivise businesses to adopt these practices. “For people with disabilities, the reality is often a world that feels closed off—one where opportunities to build connections, find meaningful work, and simply feel a part of the community are out of reach”, says Drury. “We want to break down barriers and make sure people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else. Whether it’s education, employment, or just the chance to meet new people and form relationships, the goal is to create a society that truly includes everyone”, she continues. “Loneliness is something we all feel at times, but for people with disabilities, it’s far too common. That’s why what we do at and our sister organisations, and , are just so important”. Inclusion by design Kempe believes that accessibility isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a cornerstone of inclusivity and dignity. Through ongoing , Chloe revealed they are setting new standards for care, creating environments that empower individuals living with disabilities to lead more independent, meaningful lives. “Our collaboration integrates The Chooze Shop’s innovative assistive technology and consumables into SACARE’s supported accommodations, enabling our clients to have greater control over their daily lives,” said Kempe. “From adaptive tools that support mobility to consumables that simplify day-to-day tasks, this partnership ensures our living environments go beyond basic accessibility, . And their vision doesn’t stop with homes. Together, SACARE and The Chooze Shop are making public spaces more inclusive too. “By providing our SACARE Carers Lounge, which includes a sensory room and purpose-built changing space at major events across SA, VIC, and QLD, we’re ensuring that people with sensory sensitivities and changing needs can enjoy these experiences with dignity and comfort”. SACARE and The Chooze Shop’s partnership exemplifies what’s possible when innovation meets advocacy. Together, they’re not only meeting immediate needs, but also reshaping how accessibility is defined—opening doors for individuals to fully engage in all aspects of life. Walking the talk: why women’s leadership matters Inclusion starts at the top, and the disability support sector is uniquely positioned to lead. As Kingham points out, women hold a significant number of senior leadership roles in this space. That’s a rarity in many industries, but it’s also a responsibility. “We have to set high standards and model them for everyone around us,” says Kingham. “It’s not enough to talk about inclusion—we have to live it, breathe it, and make it impossible to ignore.” Drury, echoes this sentiment, calling for action over rhetoric. “We need to move beyond words and focus on action. It’s about creating a society where everyone belongs, feels valued, and has the chance to contribute. Change happens when we all step up.” Kempe echoes this sentiment, highlighting that meaningful change requires a collective effort. “This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we encourage businesses, policymakers, and communities to join us in pushing boundaries for inclusivity and innovation,” she says. “The fight for equity is everyone’s responsibility. Only together can we create a world where no one is left behind.”In a world where technology and modern conveniences often dominate our lives, this story serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring wisdom and resilience of our elders. It reminds us of the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and skills, as well as the healing power of nature in times of crisis.

Recently, a series of reports regarding multiple individuals falling ill after visiting various bath centers have prompted authorities to take swift action. Several bath centers in the city have been temporarily closed down for investigation and treatment of those affected.When Nathan Hecht ran for the Texas Supreme Court in 1988, no Republican had ever been elected to the state’s highest civil court. His election foreshadowed a coming transformation of the court, civil legal procedure and Texas itself. Hecht is the longest tenured Supreme Court justice in Texas history. He won six reelections and led the court as chief justice for more than a decade. He heard more than 2,700 oral arguments, authored 7,000 pages of opinions, and retires now not because he’s had enough, but because state law requires him to. Late on a Friday afternoon, just two weeks before he hung up his robe, he was still in his office, his mind mired in the work that was left to be done. “This is always a really busy time for us, because the opinions are mounting up to be talked about,” he said. “It’ll be busy next week.” Hecht began as a dissenter on a divided court, his conservative positions on abortion, school finance and property rights putting him at odds with the Democratic majority and some moderate Republicans. But as Texas Republicans began dominating up and down the ballot, his minority voice became mainstream on one of the country’s most conservative high courts. In his administration of the court, Hecht has been a fierce advocate for the poor, pushing for more Legal Aid funding, bail reform and lowering the barriers to accessing the justice system. “If justice were food, too many would be starving,” Hecht told lawmakers in 2017. “If it were housing, too many would be homeless. If it were medicine, too many would be sick.” Hecht’s departure leaves a vacancy that Gov. Greg Abbott , a former justice himself, will get to fill. He may elevate a current justice or appoint someone new directly to the chief justice role. Whoever ends up in the top spot will have to run for reelection in 2026. In his typical understated manner, so at odds with the bombast of the other branches of government, Hecht told The Texas Tribune that serving on the court has been the honor of his life. “I have gotten to participate not only in a lot of decisions shaping the jurisprudence of the state, but also in trying to improve the administration of the court system so that it works better and fosters public trust and confidence,” he said. “So I feel good about the past,” he said. “And I feel good about the future.” Born in Clovis, New Mexico, Hecht studied philosophy at Yale before getting his law degree from Southern Methodist University. He clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and returned to Texas, where his reputation preceded him. As a young lawyer, Tom Phillips, a former chief justice and now a partner at Baker Botts, reached out to a Dallas law firm that had promised to hire him the next chance they got. “I called them a few months later and said, ‘So I assume you never got a vacancy,’” Phillips recalls. “And they said, ‘Well, we did, but we had a chance to hire Nathan Hecht, so you’ll understand why we went ahead and did that.’” Hecht was appointed to the district court in 1981 and quickly made a name for himself, pushing the court to modernize their stenography practices and taking the unusual step of writing opinions as a trial judge. He was elected to the court of appeals in 1986, and ran for Texas Supreme Court two years later. This race came at a low point for Texas’ judiciary, after a string of scandals, ethics investigations, eyebrow-raising rulings and national news coverage made several sitting Supreme Court justices household names — and not in a good way. Seeing an opportunity, Hecht challenged one of the incumbents, a Democrat who’d been called out in a damning 60 Minutes segment for friendly relationships with lawyers who both funded his campaigns and argued before the court. Hecht teamed up with Phillips and Eugene Cook, two Republicans who had recently been appointed to the court, and asked voters to “Clean the Slate in ’88,” separating themselves from the Democrats by promising to only accept small donations. “Party politics were changing in the state at the same time, but the broader issue on our court at the time was to ensure that judges were following the law,” Hecht said. “That was a driving issue.” Since Phillips and Cook were incumbents, Hecht was the only one who had to take on a sitting Supreme Court justice. And he won. “It really was a sea change in Texas political history,” Phillips said. “He was the first person ever to do that in a down ballot race, to defeat a Democrat as a Republican.” Republican dominance swept through the Supreme Court as swiftly as it did Texas writ large. The last Democrat would be elected to the court in 1994, just six years after the first Republican. But even among Bush-era Republicans filling the bench, Hecht’s conservatism stood out. In 2000, he wrote a dissent disagreeing with the majority ruling that allowed teens in Texas to get abortions with a judge’s approval if their parents wouldn’t consent, and a few years earlier, ruled in favor of wealthy school districts that wanted to use local taxes to supplement state funds. His pro-business bent stood out next to the court’s history of approving high dollar payouts for plaintiffs. Alex Winslow, the executive director of Texas Watch, a consumer advocacy group, told the New York Times in 2005 that Hecht was “the godfather of the conservative judicial movement in Texas.” “Extremist would be an appropriate description,” Winslow said. “He’s the philosophical leader of the right-wing fringe.” The only other justice who regularly staked out such a conservative position, according to the New York Times, was Priscilla Owen, who President George W. Bush appointed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2005. Hecht and Owen, who now goes by her maiden name, Richmond, wed in 2022 . Wallace Jefferson, Hecht’s predecessor as chief justice, said Hecht’s sharp intellect and philosophical approach to the law improved the court’s opinions, even when he ultimately didn’t side with the majority. “He was a formidable adversary,” said Jefferson, now a partner at Alexander Dubose & Jefferson. “You knew that you would have to bring your best approach and analysis to overcome Nathan’s approach and analysis ... You had to come prepared and Nathan set the standard for that.” Hecht briefly became a national figure in 2005 when he helped Bush’s efforts to confirm Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court. As her longtime friend, Hecht gave more than 120 interviews to bolster Miers’ conservative credentials, jokingly calling himself the “PR office for the White House,” Texas Monthly reported at the time . This advocacy work raised ethical questions that Hecht fought for years, starting with a reprimand from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Hecht got that overturned. The Texas Ethics Commission then fined him $29,000 for not reporting the discount he got on the legal fees he paid challenging the reprimand. He appealed that fine and the case stretched until 2016 , when he ultimately paid $1,000. Hecht has largely stayed out of the limelight in the decades since, letting his opinions speak for themselves and wading into the political fray mostly to advocate for court reforms. While Democrats have tried to pin unpopular COVID and abortion rulings on the justices in recent elections, Republicans continue to easily win these down-ballot races. Hecht is aware of the perception this one-party dominance creates, and has advocated for Texas to turn away from partisan judicial elections. In his 2023 state of the judiciary address , Hecht warned that growing political divisions were threatening the “judicial independence essential to the rule of law,” pointing to comments by both Democratic politicians and former President Donald Trump. But in an interview, Hecht stressed that most of the cases the Texas Supreme Court considers never make headlines, and are far from the politics that dominate Austin and Washington. “There’s no Republican side to an oil and gas case. There’s no Democrat side to a custody hearing,” he said. “That’s the bread and butter of what we do, and that’s not partisan.” Unlike its federal counterpart, the Texas Supreme Court is often a temporary port of call on a judge’s journey. Many, like Abbott, Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett , leave for higher office. Others, like Owen and 5th Circuit Judge Don Willett, leave for higher courts. Most, like Phillips, leave for higher pay in private practice. But Hecht stayed. “I didn’t plan it like this,” Hecht said. “I just kept getting re-elected.” Hecht had been considering retirement in 2013, when Jefferson, the chief justice who replaced Phillips, announced he would be stepping down. “He wanted me to consider being his successor,” Hecht said. “So I did, and here I am. I didn’t say, ‘Let’s spend 43 years on the bench,’ but one thing led to another.” In 2013, Hecht was sworn in as chief justice by then-U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, another great dissenter whose views later became the majority. While the Texas Supreme Court’s political makeup has changed largely without Hecht’s input, the inner workings of the court have been under his purview. And that, many court watchers say, is where his greatest legacy lies. Hecht ushered in an era of modernization, both to the technology and the rules that govern justice in Texas. He led a push to simplify the appellate rules, removing many of the trapdoors and procedural quirks that led to important cases being decided on technicalities. The court scaled back how long cases could drag on by limiting discovery, including how long a deposition can go. And he ensured every case was decided before the term ended, like the U.S. Supreme Court. “I think people generally don’t understand the impact the rules can have on the equitable resolution of disputes, but they’re enormous,” Jefferson said. “Nathan recognized that at an early juncture in his career.” Hecht pushed Texas to adopt e-filing before many other states, which proved prescient when COVID hit. Hecht, who was then president of the national Conference of Chief Justices, was able to help advise other states as they took their systems online. Hecht also dedicated himself to improving poor Texan’s access to the justice system, pushing the Legislature to appropriate more funding for Legal Aid and reducing the barriers to getting meaningful legal resolutions. He helped usher through a rule change that would allow paraprofessionals to handle some legal matters like estate planning, uncontested divorces and consumer debt cases, without a lawyer’s supervision. “Some people call it the justice gap. I call it the justice chasm,” Hecht said. “Because it’s just a huge gulf between the people that need legal help and the ability to provide it.” Hecht said he’s glad this has been taken up as a bipartisan issue, and he’s hopeful that the same attention will be paid even after he leaves the court. “No judge wants to give his life’s energy to a work that mocks the justice that he’s trying to provide,” he said. “For the judiciary, this is an important issue, because when the promise of equal justice under law is denied because you’re too poor, there’s no such thing as equal justice under the law.” Despite the sudden departure of their longtime leader, the Texas Supreme Court will return in January to finish out its term, which ends in April. Among the typical parsing of medical malpractice provisions, oil and gas leases, divorce settlements and sovereign immunity protections, the high court has a number of more attention-grabbing cases on its docket this year. Earlier this year, the court heard oral arguments about the Department of Family and Protective Services’ oversight of immigration detention facilities, and in mid-January, they’ll consider Attorney General Ken Paxton’s efforts to subpoena Annunciation House, an El Paso nonprofit that serves migrants. They’ll also hear arguments over Southern Methodist University’s efforts to cut ties with the regional governing body of the United Methodist Church. Other cases will be added to the schedule before April. Phillips, who has argued numerous cases before the Texas Supreme Court since leaving the bench, said Hecht’s loss will be felt, but he expects the court to continue apace. “It’s not a situation like it might have been at some point in the past where if one justice left, nobody would know what to do next,” he said. “It’s an extremely qualified court.” As for Hecht, he’s tried to put off thinking too much about what comes next for him. He still has opinions to write and work to finish. He knows he wants to stay active in efforts to improve court administration nationally and in Texas, and he’s threatened his colleagues with writing a tell-all book, just to keep them on their toes. But beyond that, he’s waiting for the reality of retirement to sink in before he decides on his next steps. “We’ve got 3,200 judges in Texas, plus adjuncts and associate judges and others,” he said. “I really think it’s such a strong bench, and I am proud to have been a part of it. I look forward to helping where I can.” This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's passing at the age of 92 triggered an outpouring of condolence messages. Narendra Modi, India's current prime minister, called Singh one of India's "most distinguished leaders." Singh played a crucial role in opening up India's economy to the world as finance minister in the 1990s and helped strengthen diplomatic ties with the U.S. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's passing on Tuesday at the age of 92 triggered an outpouring of condolence messages and tributes from political leaders from both sides of the aisle and industry titans. > 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Singh one of India's "most distinguished leaders" in a post on X. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party defeated Singh's Congress alliance in the 2014 elections and has been in power since. Singh was a "respected economist," Modi added, who left "a strong imprint" on India's economic policy. Before he became prime minister in 2004, Singh served as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India in 1982 and as minister of finance in 1991. As finance minister, he led a series of reforms that deregulated India's economy and opened the country to foreign investment. Facing an acute balance of payments crisis, then-Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Singh liberalized the economy that paved the way for its rapid expansion in the following decades. Money Report China's industrial profits extend decline to a fourth straight month, dropping 7.3% in November Asia markets trade mixed as investors assess Tokyo CPI, China's industrial profit data "History will forever honour his pivotal role in the transformative 1991 reforms that reshaped India and opened its doors to the world," wrote Gautam Adani, India's second-richest person and chairperson of Indian conglomerate Adani Group. Singh returned to politics in 2004 when a Congress-led coalition swept the elections, and party leader Sonia Gandhi appointed him prime minister. Under his tenure between 2004 and 2014, India's gross domestic product initially expanded rapidly, allowing Singh to deploy the new wealth to programs such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act , which guaranteed jobs for the poor. The later years of Singh's stint as prime minister were, however, marred by sclerotic growth, a stalling of reforms and allegations of corruption against certain members of the government. Singh played a pivotal role in strengthening India's ties with Washington, visiting the U.S. multiple times as prime minister. In 2006, when U.S. President George W. Bush visited India, Singh managed to broker a deal that gave India access to U.S. nuclear technology. "Dr. Singh was one of the greatest champions of the U.S.-India strategic partnership, and his work laid the foundation for much of what our countries have accomplished together in the past two decades," wrote the U.S. Department of State on Singh's passing. Apart from the U.S., Singh also strengthened India's ties with Russia. He was a regular attendee of the India-Russia Annual Summit, which began in 2000, and aims to deepen cooperation between the two countries and among BRIC nations. Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov said on X that "Dr Manmohan Singh's contribution to our bilateral ties was immeasurable." Also on CNBC Asia’s year in review: Who had it good — and who had it bad — in 2024 Nissan could face cost-cutting 'carnage' in Honda merger, Carlos Ghosn says Here’s what a blockbuster Nissan-Honda merger could mean for the auto industry

DENVER (AP) — On a night when rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw one touchdown pass, his defense caught two. In a game where Nix completed 18 passes for 294 yards, his defense picked off three Jameis Winston passes for 171 yards. That defense is Nix’s best friend. Even in a game where it was getting shredded by Winston, Denver's D delivered a pair of pick-6s in a wild 41-32 win over the Cleveland Browns on Monday night. That side of the ball got gouged — allowing a Browns-record 497 yards passing from Winston and a career-best 235-yard receiving performance by former Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy — but made game-changing plays when it mattered most. “It’s pretty nice for the offense when they bail us out like that,” Nix said. “It was a complete team win." Next up, rest. The Broncos (8-5) enter their bye week two games clear of Indianapolis (6-7) for the final AFC playoff spot. They play the Colts coming out of the break. With a 76% postseason probability, according to the NFL, Nix and the Broncos are setting up for some meaningful football down the stretch. The team hasn't been to the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl after the 2015 season. “We’re a confident bunch right now,” said Nix, whose team has won three in a row. “We’re playing aggressively. We’re playing together. We’re playing with a little bit of confidence and a chip on our shoulder.” The Broncos have graduated to a place where they can overcome sticky situations, like big games from Winston and Jeudy. “When need be," Nik Bonitto said, “we’re going to find a way to win and that’s what we did.” Bonitto helped lead the way with a 71-yard pick-6 in the second quarter. Ja’Quan McMillian wrapped up the game when he intercepted a pass, fell on his back, got up and sprinted 44 yards for a score with 1:48 left. If that wasn't enough, Cody Barton picked off Winston in the end zone and was on his way for another score, returning it 56 yards before being tackled. “Holy cow. Some games go in a direction you think they are going to go. Obviously that one went in a much different direction,” coach Sean Payton said. "We did enough and made enough plays in the end to win.” This is a Denver defense that leads the league in sacks and now has three interception returns for TDs. “I couldn’t be more proud of our team and just where we’re going,” linebacker Jonathon Cooper said. “It's really important that we get our rest this bye week and come back and look at the film and keep it rolling.” The tandem of Nix and Marvin Mims Jr. They connected on a 93-yard touchdown pass, which is tied for the fourth longest in team history. It's the longest since Jay Cutler found receiver Eddie Royal for a 93-yard score at Cleveland on Nov. 6, 2008. To celebrate, Mims jumped into the stands. “Nobody else was close to me, so I was like: ‘You know what? I’ll jump in the stands,’" he said. “I got grabbed a lot up there. It was cool.” The Broncos had a pair of 100-yard receivers in Mims (105 yards) and Courtland Sutton (102). The defense could use some shoring up after allowing 552 yards of total offense. The Browns were 2 of 2 on fourth-down conversions and had 28 first downs. “Through all the bad things, we just stuck together,” McMillian said. “We didn’t split up. We stayed together and kept fighting to the end.” Wil Lutz. The kicker hit both field goals and all five extra points to eclipse 1,000 career points in his 127th game. He's the fifth-fastest player to reach the milestone mark. Levi Wallace. The Browns picked on the cornerback as he tried to cover Jeudy. Denver did stick star cornerback Pat Surtain II on Jeudy at times in an effort to contain him. “He definitely had himself a game,” Surtain said of Jeudy, his teammate with the Broncos and in college at Alabama. Cornerback Riley Moss (knee) was sorely missed as the Broncos struggled to contain Jeudy, Elijah Moore (eight catches, 111 yards) and tight end David Njoku (nine catches, 52 yards and two scores). 5 — For the fifth time in team history, the Broncos returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a game. The last time Denver had a pair of pick-6s in the same game was Oct. 18, 2018, at Arizona by Todd Davis and Chris Harris Jr. A week off and then a critical home game against Indianapolis on Dec. 15. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

 

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2025-01-16
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777 jili casino online games Top Free Platforms for Learning Coding in 2025The slump in the number of people heading to the shops during Boxing Day sales signals a return to declining pre-pandemic levels, an analyst has said. Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.



Cowboys star G Zack Martin doubtful to play vs. CommandersThe South African Defence Forces (SADF) have ramped up security measures along the Malaladrift area, which borders Zimbabwe, as part of a heightened effort to curb cross-border smuggling and prevent illegal border crossings across the Limpopo River. With the holiday season approaching, illegal activities, including smuggling and undocumented border jumping, tend to spike as many Zimbabwean nationals return home or seek opportunities in South Africa due to the struggling economy in Zimbabwe. SADF spokesperson Major Shilangoma Mahlahlane confirmed that the military has intensified patrols in the area, covering a 55-kilometre radius. He explained that security forces were on high alert for smugglers and border jumpers. "Our mandate is border safeguarding. We are covering a 55-kilometre radius of this area. There are hotspots where vehicles are crossing, hotspots where cigarettes and explosives are crossing," Mahlahlane said during an interview with the State broadcaster, SABC News. He emphasized that the SADF's primary objective was to disrupt illicit activities and prevent illegal goods from entering or leaving South Africa. "So our mandate, at all costs, is to disrupt these from taking place and stop whatever should not leave or come into South Africa illegally," he added. Illegal syndicates, often referred to as "magumaguma," are known to facilitate these cross-border crimes. These gangs have become increasingly sophisticated, using vantage points to monitor SADF patrols, enabling them to sneak in and out of the neighbouring country undetected. In some cases, these smugglers even use donkey-drawn scotch carts to transport contraband across the now dry Limpopo River. Despite increased vigilance, security at the Beitbridge Border Post remains a challenge, with many undocumented Zimbabweans still managing to find ways to enter and leave South Africa illegally. While some of these individuals are seeking better economic opportunities in South Africa, others have turned to full-time smuggling, trafficking goods such as vehicles, drugs, cigarettes, fuel, and electrical appliances across the border. The surge in illegal cross-border activities is causing concern for both South African authorities and Zimbabwean officials, as the border remains porous, and the demand for smuggled goods increases, particularly during peak holiday periods. Authorities are now focusing on enhancing both physical and technological surveillance to better monitor and control the situation. As the festive season nears, security at the border remains a top priority for the South African Defence Forces as they continue their efforts to combat illegal border crossings and smuggling activities.Global stocks mostly cheer Nvidia results as bitcoin gains

Toronto Sceptres open PWHL season with 3-1 comeback win over Boston Fleet

Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 10.12.2024Yes, there is a ground beef recall, but not for beef sold at grocery storesThe Ravens looked better defensively last week, but now Roquan Smith's injury is a concern

My social media habit is making me an anxious mum, and it’s time to stop

 

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2025-01-16
Aston Villa’s disallowed goal would have counted in England – Unai EmeryIn the cryptocurrency arena, two presales, Pepe Unchained and BlockDAG, are currently the center of attention. Pepe Unchained has successfully gathered over $52 million, spotlighting its Ethereum-based Layer 2 solution that offers quicker, more affordable transactions. On the other hand, BlockDAG (BDAG) , operating on a Layer 1 blockchain, has amassed more than $158 million, showcasing its practical applications and emphasis on functionality. Both initiatives present distinct advantages, but which one truly capitalizes on its promises? Let's delve into an analysis of their advantages and challenges. Pepe Unchained Presale Reached $52M Pepe Unchained has captured significant interest by securing over $52 million in its presale, reflecting robust community engagement. Yet, as a Layer 2 platform built atop Ethereum, it does not enjoy the autonomy of Layer 1 networks and depends on Ethereum’s framework. It vows to deliver transactions up to 100 times faster than Ethereum’s mainnet. However, these enhancements are directly affected by Ethereum's performance, potentially limiting their effectiveness during high traffic periods. The initiative intends to introduce Pepe Chain, incorporating a decentralized exchange (DEX), a bridge, a block explorer, and staking rewards. Despite its impressive fundraising, Pepe Unchained has not yet reached any major milestones or results. Moreover, the project boasts a fast-growing community with over 52,800 followers and 12,000 Telegram participants. Nonetheless, the anonymity of its team members creates transparency issues, leaving the community uncertain about the leadership driving the project. BlockDAG's Impressive $158M Presale: Vision, Utility, and Real Achievements BlockDAG is currently experiencing significant success with its presale, having raised over $158 million and sold more than 16.9 billion BDAG coins. Now in its 26th batch at $0.0234 per coin—up from just $0.001 in the first batch—the price has surged by 2240%. With a target of $600 million in sight for the best crypto presale , the window for early participation is closing fast, highlighting the urgent opportunity for involvement. Unlike other presales, BlockDAG is built as a Layer 1 blockchain, ensuring complete independence and broad potential for developing new crypto applications. BDAG is designed as a utility coin, focusing on long-term practical use and sustainability, distinguishing itself from transient meme coins. This strategic approach supports ongoing relevance and aligns with the platform’s goal to implement impactful solutions. BlockDAG’s progress is concrete and significant. The mainnet is fully developed and currently under audit. Strategic partnerships, like one with major European soccer club Inter Milan, bolster its standing. The leadership team remains active in the community, frequently conducting AMAs to discuss updates, future plans, and current achievements. With solid milestones and a defined direction, BlockDAG’s presale is a promising gateway to a project poised to influence the future of blockchain technology. Which Leads the Presale Race in 2024? Both Pepe Unchained and BlockDAG are capturing the crypto community’s attention, yet they follow distinctly different trajectories.Pepe Unchained capitalizes on the excitement with its Ethereum-based Layer 2 solutions but depends on Ethereum’s fluctuating performance and has not yet realized significant achievements. Conversely, BlockDAG’s Layer 1 foundation promotes true autonomy and unlimited potential for innovation. Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network Website: https://blockdag.network Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.jili 337



WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump offered a public show of support Friday for Pete Hegseth, his choice to lead the Defense Department, whose confirmation by the Senate is in doubt as he faces questions over allegations of excessive drinking, sexual assault and his views on women in combat roles. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, Army National Guard major and combat veteran, spent much of the week on Capitol Hill trying to salvage his Cabinet nomination and privately reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead Trump's Pentagon. "Pete Hegseth is doing very well," Trump posted on his social media site. "He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense." The president added that "Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!" The nomination battle is emerging not only as a debate about the best person to lead the Pentagon, but an inflection point for a MAGA movement that appears to be relishing a public fight over its hard-line push for a more masculine military and an end to the "woke-ism" of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, responds to reporters during a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Military leaders are rattled by a list of “woke” senior officers that a conservative group urged Hegseth to dismiss for promoting diversity in the ranks if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. The list compiled by the American Accountability Foundation includes 20 general officers or senior admirals and a disproportionate number of female officers. It has had a chilling effect on the Pentagon’s often frank discussions as leaders try to figure out how to address the potential firings and diversity issues under Trump. Those on the list in many cases seem to be targeted for public comments they made either in interviews or at events on diversity, and in some cases for retweeting posts that promote diversity. Tom Jones, a former aide to Republican senators who leads the foundation, said Friday those on the list are “pretty egregious” advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies, which he called problematic. “The nominee has been pretty clear that that has no place in the military,” Jones said of Hegseth. Hegseth embraced Trump’s effort to end programs that promote diversity in the ranks and fire those who reflect those values. Other Trump picks, like Kash Patel for FBI director, have suggested targeting those in government who are not aligned with Trump. Trump's allies forcefully rallied around Hegseth — the Heritage Foundation's political arm promised to spend $1 million to shore up his nomination — as he vows to stay in the fight, as long as the president-elect wants him to. Vice President-elect JD Vance offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, the embattled choice to lead the Defense Department. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vance told reporters during a tour of western North Carolina. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vice-President-elect JD Vance said as he toured post-hurricane North Carolina. He said he spoke with GOP senators and believes Hegseth will be confirmed. The effort became a test of Trump's clout and of how far loyalty for the president-elect goes with Republican senators who have concerns about his nominees. Two of Trump's other choices stepped aside as they faced intense scrutiny: former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., his first choice for attorney general, and Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff who was Trump's first choice to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration. Thanking the president-elect for the support, Hegseth posted on social media, "Like you, we will never back down." Hegseth faces resistance from senators as reports emerged about his past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. He promised not to drink on the job and told lawmakers he never engaged in sexual misconduct, even as his professional views on female troops came under intensifying scrutiny. He said as recently as last month that women "straight up" should not serve in combat. He picked up one important endorsement from Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, whose support was seen as a potentially powerful counterweight to the cooler reception Hegseth received from Sen. Joni Ernst, a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel. Ernst, who is also a sexual assault survivor, stopped short of an endorsement after meeting with Hegseth this week. On Friday, Ernst posted on X that she would meet with him again next week. “At a minimum, we agree that he deserves the opportunity to lay out his vision for our warfighters at a fair hearing,” she wrote. On Friday, Trump put out the statement in response to coverage saying he lost faith in Hegseth, according to a person familiar with his thinking who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. The president-elect and his team were pleased to see Hegseth putting up a fight and his performance this week reiterates why he was chosen, the person said. They believe he can still be confirmed. Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, left, joined by his wife Jennifer Rauchet, attends a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) If Hegseth goes down, Trump's team believes the defeat would empower others to spread what they cast as "vicious lies" against every candidate Trump chooses. Still, Trump's transition team is looking at potential replacements, including former presidential rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis plans to attend the Dec. 14 Army-Navy football game with Trump, according to a person familiar with the Florida governor's plans who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. DeSantis and Trump spoke about the defense secretary post Tuesday at a memorial service for sheriff deputies in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to people familiar with the matter who said Trump was interested in DeSantis for the post, and the governor was receptive. DeSantis is poised to select a replacement for the expected Senate vacancy to be created by Marco Rubio becoming secretary of state, and Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump is seen as the preferred choice by those in Trump's orbit. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!A Canadian national flag flies in front of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 22, 2017.Photo: Reuters PEACEFUL RESOLUTION:A statement issued following a meeting between Australia and Britain reiterated support for Taiwan and opposition to change in the Taiwan Strait By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer 請繼續往下閱讀... Canada should support the peaceful resolution of Taiwan’s destiny according to the will of Taiwanese, Canadian lawmakers said in a resolution marking the second anniversary of that nation’s Indo-Pacific strategy on Monday. The Canadian House of Commons committee on Canada-Chinese relations made the comment as part of 34 recommendations for the new edition of the strategy, adding that Ottawa should back Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations. Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, first published in October 2022, emphasized that the region’s security, trade, human rights, democracy and environmental protection would play a crucial role in shaping Canada’s future. 請繼續往下閱讀... The strategy called for Canada to deepen its ties with Taiwan and other regional partners sharing democratic values, and oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Ottawa should improve Taiwan’s resilience, trade ties and cooperation between the two nations’ peoples by strengthening bilateral collaboration in economics, technology, supply chains, public health, democratic governance and countering disinformation, it said. The Canadian House of Commons Special Committee on the Canada-People’s Republic of China Relationship — whose members include lawmakers from across the political divide — was created in December 2019 to review all aspects governing the two nations’ relations. Ottawa’s China policy represents substantial differences from Beijing’s “one China principle,” the special committee said in a report entitled “Canada and Taiwan: A Strong Relationship in Turbulent Times.” The Canadian Indo-Pacific Strategy should govern the nation’s relationship with Taiwan, it added. Representative to Canada Harry Tseng (曾厚仁) hailed the report as the most important development in bilateral relations since Ottawa switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China. The special committee’s report last year already included a series of recommendations to improve collaboration on issues concerning diplomacy, security, trade, technology and affairs affecting indigenous people. The previous report underscored the instability in the cross-strait security situation and the importance of enhancing Taiwan-Canada relations to counter China’s growing threat toward Taiwan. Meanwhile, a statement issued after a meeting between the British foreign secretary and defence secretary and the Australian foreign minister and defence minister on Monday reiterated support for Taiwan’s international participation and opposition to unilateral change in the Taiwan Strait. “Ministers underscored the critical importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. They emphasised that differences should be resolved peacefully and not through the threat or use of force or coercion; and reaffirmed their shared opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo,” it said. “They recognised that the international community benefits from the expertise of the people of Taiwan and committed to working together to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations, as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite or as an observer or guest where it is.” In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “applauds and welcomes” the UK’s and Australia’s support for Taiwan, adding that they share Taiwan’s belief in the universal values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law, and that they are a force for peace in the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan is an indispensable member of the international community and would continue to cooperate closely with like-minded nations to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, participate in international organizations, defend the rules-based international order and contribute to peace and stability in the region, it said. Additional reporting by Huang Ching-hsuan 新聞來源: TAIPEI TIMES David Lammy, UK’s foreign secretary, from left, Penny Wong, Australia’s foreign affairs minister, John Healey, UK’s defence secretary, and Richard Marles, Australia defense minister, during a news conference following a meeting in London, UK, on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.Photo: Bloomberg 不用抽 不用搶 現在用APP看新聞 保證天天中獎 點我下載APP 按我看活動辦法Aston Villa boss Unai Emery described the decision to rule out his side’s last-gasp goal in their Champions League draw with Juventus as “very soft” and has called for consistency from European referees. Morgan Rogers looked to have given Emery’s side another famous win when he slammed a loose ball home in stoppage time, but referee Jesus Gil Manzano ruled Diego Carlos to have fouled Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the goal was chalked off. Contact seemed minimal but VAR did not intervene and Villa had to settle for a point in a 0-0 draw. “With the last action, it is the interpretation of the referee,” the Spaniard said. “In England, 80 per cent of those is given a goal and it’s not a foul. It’s very soft. “But in Europe, it could be a foul. We have to accept. “Everybody will know, in England the interpretation is different. The England referees, when actions like that the interpretation is a clear no foul but in Europe that interpretation is different. “They have to be working to get the same decision when some action like that is coming. I don’t know exactly why but we knew before in the Premier League that it is different. A very controversial finish at Villa Park 😲 Morgan Rogers' late goal is ruled out for a foul on Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the match ends 0-0 ❌ 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/MyYL5Vdy3r — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 27, 2024 “In Europe for example we are not doing a block like in England and we are not doing in front of the goalkeeper in offensive corners the same situations like in England. “When the action happened, I was thinking here in Europe it’s a foul. In England not, but in Europe I have to accept it. “At first, I thought the referee gave us a goal. In cases like that, it’s confusing because he has to wait for VAR. I don’t know what happened but I think so (the referee changed his mind with VAR).” It was a disappointment for Villa, who remain unbeaten at home in their debut Champions League campaign and are still in contention to qualify automatically for the last 16. “We were playing a favourite to be in the top eight and usually a contender to win this competition,” Emery added. “We are a team who for a long time didn’t play in Europe and the Champions League and this year is very important. “We wanted to play competitive and we are in the right way. Today to get one point is very good, we wanted to win but wanted to avoid some mistakes we made in previous games. “We have 10 points and we’re happy.” Before the game Emery called Juventus one of the “best teams in the world, historically and now”, but this was an Italian side down to the bare bones. Only 14 outfield players made the trip from Turin, with striker Dusan Vlahovic among those who stayed behind. Juve boss Thiago Motta, whose side are 19th but still in contention to reach the top eight, said: “There’s just three games left to qualify. The next home against Man City, then Brugge, then Benfica. “One at a time, as we always did with the goal to qualify for the next round. “In the end we will try and reach our goal which is to go to the next round.”

Interior ministry advises KP against using state resources in PTI rallyA new way of treating serious asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) attacks could be a “game-changer” and is the first leap in treatment for 50 years, researchers say. Offering patients an injection is more effective than the current care of steroid tablets and cuts the need for further treatment by 30%, according to a study. Benralizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets specific white blood cells, called eosinophils, to reduce lung inflammation. It is currently used as a repeat treatment for severe asthma at a low dose, but a new clinical trial has found that a higher single dose can be very effective if injected at the time of a flare-up. The findings, published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, included 158 people who needed medical attention in A&E for their asthma or COPD attack (COPD is a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties). Patients were given a quick blood test to see what type of attack they were having, with those suffering an “eosinophilic exacerbation” involving eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) being suitable for treatment. Around 50% of asthma attacks are eosinophilic exacerbations, as are 30% of COPD ones, according to the scientists. The clinical trial, led by King’s College London and carried out at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, saw patients randomly split into three groups. One group received the benralizumab injection and dummy tablets, another received standard care (prednisolone steroids 30mg daily for five days) and a dummy injection, and the third group received both the benralizumab injection and steroids. After 28 days, respiratory symptoms of cough, wheeze, breathlessness and sputum were found to be better in people on benralizumab. And after 90 days, there were four times fewer people in the benralizumab group who failed treatment compared with those receiving steroids. Treatment with the benralizumab injection also took longer to fail, meaning fewer visits to a GP or hospital for patients, researchers said. Furthermore, people also reported a better quality of life on the new regime. Scientists at King’s said steroids can have severe side-effects such as increasing the risk of diabetes and osteoporosis, meaning switching to benralizumab could provide huge benefits. Lead investigator Professor Mona Bafadhel, from King’s, said: “This could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD. “Treatment for asthma and COPD exacerbations have not changed in 50 years, despite causing 3.8 million deaths worldwide a year combined. “Benralizumab is a safe and effective drug already used to manage severe asthma. “We’ve used the drug in a different way – at the point of an exacerbation – to show that it’s more effective than steroid tablets, which is the only treatment currently available.” Researchers said benralizumab could also potentially be administered safely at home or in a GP practice, as well as in A&E. First author Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan, clinical senior lecturer at the University of Western Australia, said: “Our study shows massive promise for asthma and COPD treatment. “COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide but treatment for the condition is stuck in the 20th century. “We need to provide these patients with life-saving options before their time runs out.” Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, welcomed the findings but said: “It’s appalling that this is the first new treatment for those suffering from asthma and COPD attacks in 50 years, indicating how desperately underfunded lung health research is.” AstraZeneca provided the drug for the study and funded the research, but had no input into trial design, delivery, analysis or interpretation.

CU Buffs AD Rick George: ‘I believe (Coach Prime) wants to be here for the long haul’Trump offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled nominee to lead the Pentagon

PUNE: Students of the Army Institute of Technology (AIT) displayed exceptional talent and innovative skills by winning the first prize in two problem statements in the prestigious ‘Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024’. The grand finale of this hackathon was recently held across 51 nodal centres nationwide. The SIH, a flagship initiative of the Government of India, continues to inspire innovation and problem-solving among the youth. Known as the nation’s largest open innovation platform, SIH allows students to address real challenges faced by ministries, industries, and organisations. Two teams from AIT, Team Black Syndicate and Team Carbon Daters, showcased their projects in the hackathon. Team Black Syndicate comprised Chetan Singh as the team lead along with members Yash Pathak, Dharjinder Singh, Roshnee Gouda, Aditya Pratap, and Rajat Singh and jointly won the first position and a cash prize of ₹ 100,000 at the Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology, Greater Noida. Team Black Syndicate developed a solution of ‘creating a cyber triage tool to streamline digital forensic investigation’, a challenge sponsored by the National Investigative Agency (NIA). The project created a user-friendly digital forensics tool that streamlined evidence importation and analysis. Team Carbon Daters comprising Kaushal Vyas as the team lead and members Nikhil Dhariwal, Riya Kumari, Shubham Kumar, Ayush H, and K B V Kishore, jointly won the first position and cash prize of ₹ 100,000 at IIT Tirupati for making a ‘portal for innovation excellence indicators’. The team created a user-friendly portal that measures and showcases innovation in educational institutions. This problem statement was sponsored by the All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), department of the ministry of AYUSH. Professor Vaishali Ingale and professor Kuldeep Hule provided valuable guidance to both teams. Major general K K Chakrabarti, chairman of AIT; brigadier Abhay A Bhat, director of AIT; and Dr B P Patil, principal of AIT congratulated both the teams for their outstanding achievement.Exco Technologies Limited Announces Results for Fourth Quarter and Year Ended September 30, 2024In today’s AI-obsessed market, oil stocks are easy to overlook. Not only are they not developing technologies that are pushing the boundaries of the human imagination, they are even seen by many as soon to be replaced by renewables! Fortunately for investors, reports of oil’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Transitioning the world’s power grids to renewables will take decades, while nuclear power plants take many years to build and face political opposition. Put simply, oil isn’t going anywhere. With that in mind, here are three that may be worth a look today. Canadian Natural Resources ( ) is a Canadian integrated energy company that ranks among the largest Canadian companies by market capitalization. The company owns assets in Western Canada, the UK, and elsewhere. It is involved in exploration and production, marketing, and midstream. It also supplies natural gas. Canadian Natural Resources has been performing well in fundamental terms over the last few years. The company compounded its revenue at 11% per year and its earnings at 15.9% per year over five years. Decent results. Despite that fact, the company’s stock is pretty cheap, trading at 13 times earnings and 6.5 times cash flow – lower multiples than the as a whole. Provided that oil prices hold up over the next few years, CNQ stock should do well. Suncor Energy ( ) is a Canadian integrated energy company that extracts/sells crude oil, supplies natural gas, and operates gas stations. It’s fairly similar to Canadian Natural Resources except that it has a gas station business, which CNQ doesn’t. This is an important advantage. Because it extracts, sells and refines crude, while also supplying gasoline, it captures profit along the entire oil and gas supply chain. Suncor Energy is quite profitable, with a 58% gross profit margin, a 14.8% net income margin, and a 15.5% free cash flow margin. Like CNQ, it has grown its revenue, earnings and cash flows at a respectable pace over the last five years. Finally, the company’s stock is even cheaper than Canadian Natural Resources’, trading at just 10.3 times earnings, 1.4 times book, and 4.5 times cash flow. Overall, this stock has much to recommend it. Enbridge ( ) is a that supplies an outsized percentage of the crude oil consumed in North America. Unlike the other two companies mentioned in this article, ENB doesn’t sell oil directly; for this reason, its revenues and earnings are not nearly as volatile as those of Suncor and CNQ. Although midstream is technically part of the energy industry, it’s really a completely different business model. Enbridge leases use of its pipelines to customers on a long-term basis, typically 10 or 15 years. These long-term contracts help ensure that ENB’s revenue keeps coming in even when the market for oil is weak. That’s not to say that the company’s earnings are independent of oil prices: sometimes Enbridge’s contracts have clauses that stipulate that fees are higher if oil prices are higher. However, most of the time, the company’s revenue is pretty stable, growing steadily over the years. Enbridge stock is well known for its high dividend yield, which is 6.1% at today’s prices. The company has had some legal and regulatory issues in the past, but has the support of the Canadian government and the incoming Trump administration as well. It looks like it’s smooth sailing for Enbridge for now.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s governing party chief expressed support Friday for suspending the constitutional powers of President Yoon Suk Yeol for imposing martial law this week, in a bombshell reversal that makes Yoon’s impeachment more likely. Opposition parties are pushing for a parliamentary vote on Yoon’s impeachment on Saturday, calling his short-lived martial law declaration an “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.” But they need support from some members of the president’s People Power Party to get the two-thirds majority required to pass the impeachment motion. The turmoil resulting from Yoon’s nighttime martial law decree has frozen South Korean politics and caused worry among neighbors, including fellow democracy Japan, and Seoul’s top ally, the United States, as one of the strongest democracies in Asia faces a political crisis that could unseat its leader. During a party meeting, PPP leader Han Dong-hun stressed the need to suspend Yoon’s presidential duties and power swiftly, saying he poses a “significant risk of extreme actions, like reattempting to impose martial law, which could potentially put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger.” Han said he had received intelligence that Yoon had ordered the country’s defense counterintelligence commander to arrest and detain unspecified key politicians based on accusations of “anti-state activities” when martial law was in force. “It’s my judgment that an immediate suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official duties is necessary to protect the Republic of Korea and its people,” Han said. Impeaching Yoon would require support from 200 of the National Assembly’s 300 members. The opposition parties that jointly brought the impeachment motion have 192 seats combined. PPP has 108 lawmakers. If Yoon is impeached, he would be suspended until the Constitutional Court rules on whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential power. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country’s No. 2 official, would take over presidential responsibilities. The Defense Ministry said it suspended the defense counterintelligence commander, Yeo In-hyung, who Han alleged had received orders from Yoon to detain the politicians. The ministry also suspended Lee Jin-woo, commander of the capital defense command, and Kwak Jong-geun, commander of the special warfare command, over their involvement in enforcing martial law. In a closed-door briefing to lawmakers, Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, said Yoon called after imposing martial law and ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians. The targeted politicians included Han, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and National Assembly speaker Woo Won Shik, said Kim Byung-kee, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting. Kim said Hong told lawmakers he ignored Yoon’s orders. The spy agency’s director, Cho Taeyong, questioned Hong’s account. Cho told reporters that such an order would have come to him, rather than Hong, and that he never received any orders from Yoon to detain politicians. Han earlier said he would work to defeat the impeachment motion even though he criticized Yoon’s martial law declaration as “unconstitutional.” Han said there was a need to “prevent damage to citizens and supporters caused by unprepared chaos.” Thousands of protesters have marched in the streets of Seoul since Wednesday, calling for Yoon to resign and be investigated. Thousands of autoworkers and other members of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union, one of the country’s biggest umbrella labor groups, have started hourly strikes since Thursday to protest Yoon. The union said its members will start on indefinite strikes beginning on Dec. 11 if Yoon was still in office then. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho promised the ministry’s “active cooperation” with an investigation by prosecutors into the military’s role in Yoon’s martial law enforcement. He said military prosecutors will also be involved in the investigation. He denied media speculation that Yoon and his military confidantes might consider imposing martial law a second time. “Even if there’s a demand to enforce martial law, the Defense Ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff will absolutely not accept it,” Kim said. Kim became the acting defense minister after Yoon’s office on Thursday accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who has also been banned from traveling while he is investigated over the imposition of martial law. Opposition parties and Han allege that it was Kim Yong Hyun who recommended that Yoon declare martial law. During a parliamentary hearing on Thursday, Kim Seon Ho said Kim Yong Hyun also ordered troops to be deployed to the National Assembly after Yoon imposed martial law. Han leads a minority faction within the ruling party, and 18 lawmakers in his faction voted with opposition lawmakers to overturn Yoon’s martial law decree. Martial law ultimately lasted about six hours, after its quick overrule by the National Assembly forced Yoon’s Cabinet to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The main liberal opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said in a televised speech Friday that it was crucial to suspend Yoon as “quickly as possible.” Lee said Yoon’s martial law enforcement amounted to “rebellion and also a self-coup.” He said Yoon’s move caused serious damage to the country’s image and paralyzed foreign policy, pointing to criticism from the Biden administration and foreign leaders canceling their visits to South Korea. Yoon has made no immediate response to Han’s comments. He hasn’t made public appearances since he made a televised announcement that his martial law decree was lifted. Prosecutor General Shim Woo Jung told reporters the prosecution plans to investigate rebellion charges against Yoon following complaints filed by the opposition. While the president mostly has immunity from prosecution while in office, the protection does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason. It wasn’t immediately clear how the prosecution plans to proceed with an investigation on Yoon. The Democratic Party is also considering filing a complaint against PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, whom the opposition party accuse of attempting to facilitate Yoon’s martial law enforcement. Choo, a Yoon loyalist, had asked party lawmakers to convene at the party’s headquarters rather than the National Assembly after martial law began. That meant fewer lawmakers were present for parliament’s vote on lifting martial law.Leaked prison blueprints prompt fears of drug smuggling and escape attempts

When Dr. Kemi Wijesundera moved into the new Telus Health family medicine clinic in downtown Toronto, he quickly found he had one less thing to worry about during consults. Each of the seven examination rooms in the modern new clinic, which Telus Health has opened under its “MyCare” brand, is equipped with “AI scribe” software that listens to appointments (with patients’ consent) and uses artificial intelligence to summarize the conversations in the standardized medical note form. Before the patient even gets out the door, the notes from their appointment, including their medical history, as well as any requisitions, prescriptions and special instructions from their doctor, are uploaded to their phone through the Telus MyCare app. “This is the future of health care,” says Wijesundera, a recent medical school grad and one of six family physicians at the new Telus Health MyCare Union clinic. Located in repurposed office space on York Street, just south of Union Station, the “digital first” clinic, which had a soft launch in late summer, is now fully operational. 516 Estimated number of Torontonians without a family doctor 2.5 Estimated number of Ontarians without a family doctor 6.5 Estimated number of Canadians without a family doctor Source: Ontario College of Family Physicians, Ontario Community Health Profiles Partnership, OurCare Initiative Toronto Star graphic Located in repurposed office space on York Street, just south of Union Station, the “digital first” clinic, which had a soft launch in late summer, is now fully operational and facing a unique challenge: at a time when an 516,000 Torontonians are looking for a family doctor, the physicians at the clinic are looking for patients — up to 6,000 of them. “It gives people who live in the Toronto area a new way to become attached to a family doctor within the public health-care system,” says Chris Engst, vice-president of consumer health for Telus Health, which opened its first two MyCare clinics in Victoria and Vancouver in 2020. The expansion is part of a broader, global trend that’s seeing private companies taking ownership stakes in the provision of medical services, an area many investors see as ripe with opportunity as wait-lists for family doctors and certain surgical procedures remain stubbornly high. Unlike its main telecom competitors, Rogers Communications and BCE, which have diversified into sports team and media ownership, Telus is staking a claim on health care. In 2022, it , formerly Morneau Shepell, for $2.3 billion, as well as buying up a substantial share of the market for electronic medical record (EMR) software in Canada over the last decade. After these and other acquisitions, Telus says it now provides health-care services to some 76 million people in more than 160 countries. “It’s a regular family practice. The physicians are doing everything from preventative care, immunizations, chronic disease management, acute care, whatever the care needs are of their patients,” says Dr. Alissia Valentinis, a family doctor and medical director of the Toronto MyCare clinic. 1 Estimated number of Torontonians who could be without a family doctor by 2026 4.4 Estimated number of Ontarians who could be without a family doctor by 2026 Source: Ontario College of Family Physicians, INSPIRE-Primary Health Care Toronto Star graphic Dr. Alissia Valentinis, medical director of the Telus Health MyCare Union clinic, explains that the MyCare model is similar to other private clinics where doctors pay a percentage of their provincial billings to the company running the clinic to cover rent, staff and insurance. In this case, Telus Health manages the clinic while the physicians are independent contractors who are “100 per cent publicly funded.” “It’s a regular family practice. The physicians are doing everything from preventative care, immunizations, chronic disease management, acute care, whatever the care needs are of their patients,” says Valentinis. One thing the new Toronto MyCare clinic isn’t: a cramped and stuffy space in a lowrise office complex that some may associate with more traditional medical offices. A wall covered with plants about six metres long that stretches to the ceiling greets patients in the clinic’s waiting room on the second floor of Telus Harbour, a 30-storey, LEED Platinum office building next to Scotiabank Arena. Floor-to-ceiling windows that look down on York Street illuminate the seven, gleaming-white examination rooms that are equipped with two computer screens, one for virtual consultations and one for medical charting. One slightly larger examination room can accommodate minor procedures, such as the removal of lumps or bumps. A counselling room featuring cushioned seats offers a quiet space for doctors to have difficult conversations with patients, if necessary, or for breastfeeding moms to find some privacy. A team of clinical operations support staff assist physicians with administration, pharmacy inquiries, referrals and appointment bookings. “We’ve been using technology to try and think about, how do you deliver primary care in a unique way which helps to support the needs of patients and also helps to support the needs of the clinicians who work with us?” says Engst. A key pillar in this quest is the Telus Health MyCare app, a sort of all-in-one platform that not only holds MyCare patients’ electronic medical records, but also allows patients to book same-day or next-day appointments and see physicians at the Union clinic virtually or in-person. Despite the obvious value for patients in a city starved of family doctors like Toronto, the company’s expansion into the health-care space has not been without controversy. A living wall of plants about six metres long that stretches to the ceiling greets patients in the clinic’s waiting room on the second floor of Telus Harbour, a 30-storey, LEED Platinum office building next to Scotiabank Arena. A few years ago, Telus Health opened but then closed the doors of a family medicine clinic in downtown Toronto, a move it said was a “strategic decision” to “re-evaluate and refine our approach to supporting health-care needs in Toronto.” “This period of reflection and analysis led to the development and launch of the Telus Health MyCare Union clinic,” the company said in an email. “This new model represents an evolution of our initial concept, incorporating lessons learned and aligning more closely with our goal of improving access to primary care for thousands of Toronto residents.” In late 2022, British Columbia’s Medical Services Commission, responsible for that province’s public health insurance system, went to court seeking an injunction against a separate Telus Health program, called LifePlus, that the government alleged charged patients thousands of dollars a year for care already covered publicly — an illegal practice under the B.C. Medicare Protection Act. In April 2023, the commission and Telus Health reached an agreement and clarified processes to better distinguish insured from uninsured services, the company said. It’s unclear how much, if any, profit Telus is making on the Toronto MyCare clinic, but Engst did say its physicians bill the provincial health system just like any other public health-care clinician, with a portion of those fees going to cover support staff and overhead. A less tangible benefit for the company could be a treasure trove of potentially valuable data. And that has not gone unnoticed by privacy and public health-care advocates, who question what the Vancouver-based company is doing with its now vast holdings of personal health information. “Telus owns most of the electronic medical record (EMR) software market in Canada, including the EMR that I use. All of my prescribing information is in my EMR. Where is the data going and are they monetizing it for secondary use?” says Danielle Martin, chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. Danielle Martin, chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto, says that while the MyCare Union clinic “is what every doctor and every patient wants and deserves” when it comes to physicians being able to focus on being clinicians instead of running an office, she questions why a private company is stepping in to meet demand instead of the public health-care system. Engst says Telus Health, as both a technology and health-care company, “brings unique capabilities to improve health-care delivery and access.” “To be clear, the Telus Health MyCare Union clinic supports the public health-care system by providing access to publicly insured services,” he added. Martin notes that the province already funds models similar to the MyCare clinics through family health teams and community health centres, but these interprofessional teams — which include not only doctors, but also nurses, social workers, dietitians and pharmacists — only cover about 30 per cent of the population. “This is what creates a market for Telus, because doctors prefer to work in an environment like that and patients prefer to get care in an environment like that,” says Martin, who is also a family doctor. But she questions what Telus Health does with the patient data it retains. “Telus owns most of the electronic medical record (EMR) software market in Canada, including the EMR that I use. All of my prescribing information is in my EMR. Where is the data going and are they monetizing it for secondary use?” Martin says. In an email, Telus Health said it does not sell any data collected by its virtual-care platforms, including MyCare, and is “deeply committed” to the internationally recognized Privacy By Design principles. Privacy by Design, created by Ontario’s former privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian, is a system based on seven principles intended to proactively embed privacy into information technology and business systems. “All data collected from our services are treated as personal health information and handled in accordance with the rigorous laws and best practices applicable to personal health information,” the company said. 19 Estimated number of hours per week family doctors spend on administrative work Source: Ontario Medical Association Toronto Star graphic Back at the MyCare Union clinic, Wijesundera says the technology deployed by Telus Health is what made working at the clinic attractive as a new medical grad who wants to spend more time seeing patients and less time doing paperwork. “This is potentially going to solve physician burnout,” he says. The Ontario Medical Association reports that family doctors spend about 19 hours per week on administrative tasks, such as writing notes or filling in patient forms. “I get more time to look at the patient, have a conversation and it’s not just me on the computer typing. It’s a nice interaction. The patients feel heard as well.”

Ifedi starts at left tackle for Browns in prime-time matchup against AFC North-leading SteelersSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s governing party chief expressed support Friday for suspending the constitutional powers of President Yoon Suk Yeol for imposing martial law this week, in a bombshell reversal that makes Yoon’s impeachment more likely. Opposition parties are pushing for a parliamentary vote on Yoon’s impeachment on Saturday, calling his short-lived martial law declaration an “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.” But they need support from some members of the president’s People Power Party to get the two-thirds majority required to pass the impeachment motion. The turmoil resulting from Yoon’s nighttime martial law decree has frozen South Korean politics and caused worry among neighbors, including fellow democracy Japan, and Seoul’s top ally, the United States, as one of the strongest democracies in Asia faces a political crisis that could unseat its leader. During a party meeting, PPP leader Han Dong-hun stressed the need to suspend Yoon’s presidential duties and power swiftly, saying he poses a “significant risk of extreme actions, like reattempting to impose martial law, which could potentially put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger.” Han said he had received intelligence that Yoon had ordered the country’s defense counterintelligence commander to arrest and detain unspecified key politicians based on accusations of “anti-state activities” when martial law was in force. “It’s my judgment that an immediate suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official duties is necessary to protect the Republic of Korea and its people,” Han said. Impeaching Yoon would require support from 200 of the National Assembly’s 300 members. The opposition parties that jointly brought the impeachment motion have 192 seats combined. PPP has 108 lawmakers. If Yoon is impeached, he would be suspended until the Constitutional Court rules on whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential power. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country’s No. 2 official, would take over presidential responsibilities. The Defense Ministry said it suspended the defense counterintelligence commander, Yeo In-hyung, who Han alleged had received orders from Yoon to detain the politicians. The ministry also suspended Lee Jin-woo, commander of the capital defense command, and Kwak Jong-geun, commander of the special warfare command, over their involvement in enforcing martial law. In a closed-door briefing to lawmakers, Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, said Yoon called after imposing martial law and ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians. The targeted politicians included Han, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and National Assembly speaker Woo Won Shik, said Kim Byung-kee, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting. Kim said Hong told lawmakers he ignored Yoon’s orders. The spy agency’s director, Cho Taeyong, questioned Hong’s account. Cho told reporters that such an order would have come to him, rather than Hong, and that he never received any orders from Yoon to detain politicians. Han earlier said he would work to defeat the impeachment motion even though he criticized Yoon’s martial law declaration as “unconstitutional.” Han said there was a need to “prevent damage to citizens and supporters caused by unprepared chaos.” Thousands of protesters have marched in the streets of Seoul since Wednesday, calling for Yoon to resign and be investigated. Thousands of autoworkers and other members of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union, one of the country’s biggest umbrella labor groups, have started hourly strikes since Thursday to protest Yoon. The union said its members will start on indefinite strikes beginning on Dec. 11 if Yoon was still in office then. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho promised the ministry’s “active cooperation” with an investigation by prosecutors into the military’s role in Yoon’s martial law enforcement. He said military prosecutors will also be involved in the investigation. He denied media speculation that Yoon and his military confidantes might consider imposing martial law a second time. “Even if there’s a demand to enforce martial law, the Defense Ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff will absolutely not accept it,” Kim said. Kim became the acting defense minister after Yoon’s office on Thursday accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who has also been banned from traveling while he is investigated over the imposition of martial law. Opposition parties and Han allege that it was Kim Yong Hyun who recommended that Yoon declare martial law. During a parliamentary hearing on Thursday, Kim Seon Ho said Kim Yong Hyun also ordered troops to be deployed to the National Assembly after Yoon imposed martial law. Han leads a minority faction within the ruling party, and 18 lawmakers in his faction voted with opposition lawmakers to overturn Yoon’s martial law decree. Martial law ultimately lasted about six hours, after its quick overrule by the National Assembly forced Yoon’s Cabinet to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The main liberal opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said in a televised speech Friday that it was crucial to suspend Yoon as “quickly as possible.” Lee said Yoon’s martial law enforcement amounted to “rebellion and also a self-coup.” He said Yoon’s move caused serious damage to the country’s image and paralyzed foreign policy, pointing to criticism from the Biden administration and foreign leaders canceling their visits to South Korea. Yoon has made no immediate response to Han’s comments. He hasn’t made public appearances since he made a televised announcement that his martial law decree was lifted. Prosecutor General Shim Woo Jung told reporters the prosecution plans to investigate rebellion charges against Yoon following complaints filed by the opposition. While the president mostly has immunity from prosecution while in office, the protection does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason. It wasn’t immediately clear how the prosecution plans to proceed with an investigation on Yoon. The Democratic Party is also considering filing a complaint against PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, whom the opposition party accuse of attempting to facilitate Yoon’s martial law enforcement. Choo, a Yoon loyalist, had asked party lawmakers to convene at the party’s headquarters rather than the National Assembly after martial law began. That meant fewer lawmakers were present for parliament’s vote on lifting martial law.Conners, Tate lead Appalachian State over Sam Houston 66-63

A WALMART employee got lucky when she won a million-dollar lottery ticket after her holiday shift - and she wasn't even supposed to be working that day. The retail worker was in the right place at the right time when she stopped by the store's California Lottery vending machine while leaving her shift. Rebecca Gonzalez wasn't initially scheduled to work on Labor Day at Walmart in the City of Industry, which is about 20 miles east of Los Angeles, but she got a last-minute call from the store. She reluctantly agreed to work a short shift on her day off, she told the California Lottery. “It was Labor Day and they only needed me for three hours,” Gonzalez said. “I wanted to obviously be home with my family because we planned to barbecue.” READ MORE ON LOTTERY WINNERS Despite working three hours on what was supposed to be her vacation, Gonzalez decided to make the best of it by buying a lottery ticket during her shift. She originally planned to buy a Single Double Triple Scratchers game from the vending machine on her break but forgot about it during the busy work day. "I didn’t remember I was going to buy a Scratchers until I left for the night and passed by the machines,” Gonzalez told the lottery with a laugh. Her $10 lottery ticket made her an instant millionaire, winning the top prize. Most read in Money “I couldn’t believe it!” Gonzalez said. The Walmart will get a $5,000 bonus for selling Gonzalez her ticket. Over 200 Walmart Supercenters in California have lottery machines, lottery officials said. Gonzalez said she paid off her debt with the million dollars and is closing on a home with her husband. Despite the extra cash, she plans to keep her job at Walmart. “I’ve only told one person at work, and it was the manager who wanted me to stay late on a holiday,” Gonzalez told the lottery. "He couldn't believe it." Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history. Edwin Castro - $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California. Theodorus Struyck - $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California. Unknown winner - $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida. Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida - $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016. Unknown winner - $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina. Unknown winner - he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden - $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine. Unknown winner - $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois. Cheng and Duanpen Saephan , and Laiza Liem Chao - $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon. Yanira Alvarez - $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California. Wolverine FLL Lottery Club - $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan. Unknown winner - $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan. Four other California lottery players have also hit big in the past few months by playing with scratch-off tickets, lottery officials revealed. Wayne Sims bought his $1M Ultimate Cash game at Pearl Market in San Francisco. Two winners bought their winning tickets at liquor stores: Alex Vela from Circus Liquors in North Hollywood and Robert Befriends from Plma Liquor in La Palma. R. Abrahamian won a Multiplier Craze Scratchers game after buying it at a 7-11 in Burbank. Read More on The US Sun Meanwhile, a Mega Millions jackpot has grown to $489 million after months of no one winning the huge prize. While no one has won the massive sum, other players have been lucky enough to take the $1 million prizes along the way. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling online .

Once cold and lonely, ‘snow management’ at Tahoe resorts goes high-tech with lasersA federal judge has ordered an Alabama city to allow an LGBTQ2S+ pride group to participate in the city's Christmas parade on Friday, after the mayor initially blocked the group from the annual event citing unspecified “safety concerns.” The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker Jr. ruled that the City of Prattville violated Prattville Pride's First Amendment right to free speech and 14th Amendment right to equal protection under the law when it banned the group from running a float in the annual Christmas parade one day before the event was set to take place. “The City removed Prattville Pride from the parade based on its belief that certain members of the public who oppose Prattville Pride, and what is stands for, would react in a disruptive way. But discrimination based on a message’s content 'cannot be tolerated under the First Amendment,' ” Huffaker wrote in his opinion. The ruling required the city to provide at least two police officers to escort the float throughout the parade. On Thursday, Prattville Pride requested additional security measures from law enforcement. In response, Mayor Bill Gillespie Jr released a statement banning the group from the parade altogether, citing “serious safety concerns.” Huffaker's ruling said that, leading up to the event, some community members “voiced vehement opposition” to the group's inclusion in the parade, but that “the City has presented no evidence of legitimate, true threats of physical violence.” Sign up for breaking news alerts from CTV News, right at your fingertips Gillespie's office referred to a statement posted on the city's social media in response to a request for comment. “The City respects the ruling of the Court and will comply with its order. The safety of everyone involved with the parade is a priority,” city officials said in a statement on social media. Prattville Pride celebrated the ruling on social media. “The Christmas parade is a cherished holiday tradition, and we are excited to celebrate alongside our neighbors and friends in the spirit of love, joy, and unity," the group wrote. Prattville is a small city of about 40,000 people, just north of the capital of Montgomery.

Celularity Inc. Announces Receipt of Nasdaq NotificationJacksonville State will host Western Kentucky in the Conference USA Championship Game on Friday. Five of the previous seven matchups between the programs have been decided by five points or fewer. This will mark the second meeting during the last seven days and the third matchup in the last 14 months between the C-USA programs. This C-USA title game will be a rematch of last week's thrilling matchup won by Western Kentucky 19-17. Western Kentucky kicker Lucas Carneiro drilled a 50-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to give his team the win. This is Western Kentucky's first title game appearance since 2021, and the program is seeking its first conference title since 2016. Western Kentucky could become the first C-USA program to win three conference championships. Jacksonville State is making its first appearance in a conference title game as a member of the FBS. Jacksonville State won seven conference championships in the previous 10 seasons while the program was a member of the FCS as the Gamecocks captured six OVC titles and won the ASUN title once during that span. Here is everything you need to know about the C-USA title game this week. How to watch Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State live Date : Friday, Dec. 6 | Time : 7 p.m. ET Location : AmFirst Stadium -- Jacksonville, Alabama TV: CBS Sports Network | Live stream: fubo (Try for free) Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State: Need to know Recapping last week's matchup: Jacksonville State came into last week's matchup riding an eight-game winning streak before Western Kentucky snapped it. The Gamecocks took a 17-16 lead with 9:44 remaining when Logan Smothers ran for a 17-yard touchdown. After Western Kentucky and Jacksonville State went three-and-out on back-to-back possessions, the Hilltoppers went on a 10-play, 44-yard drive in less than 2 minutes, which led to a game-winning field goal with 3 seconds remaining. Carneiro made all four of his field goal attempts in the victory. Jacksonville State has been on a tear: The Gamecocks opened the first month of the season with losses to Coastal Carolina , Louisville and Eastern Michigan before going on an eight-game winning streak to reach the C-USA title game for the first time in program history. Six of Jacksonville State's eight wins during the streak came by double-digits. Western Kentucky can make history with a win: Western Kentucky can become the first C-USA program to win three titles with a win over Jacksonville State. The Hilltoppers won back-to-back conference titles in 2015 and 2016 under former coach Jeff Brohm. Western Kentucky last played for the C-USA title game in 2021 when the program lost 49-41 to UTSA . The four appearances in the C-USA title game are tied for the most among league members. Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State prediction, picks All sports betting odds via DraftKings Sportsbook . Check out the latest DraftKings promo code to get in the game. Jacksonville State looked like the team to beat in C-USA before Western Kentucky ended its eight-game winning streak. Beating a team twice in less than seven days is no easy task, especially when the second matchup is on the road. Jacksonville State is the only team in the FBS with multiple rushers with at least 1,100 yards ( Tre Stewart and Tyler Huff ). Jacksonville State rides its run game to a win at home over Western Kentucky. Pick: Jax State -4 SportsLine's proven computer model is calling for three outright upsets during college football's championship week. Visit SportsLine now to see them all , plus get spread picks for every game from the model that simulates every matchup 10,000 times.

 

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Out of Meme Magic: GameStop Announces Widespread Store ClosuresOn Monday, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab announced the release of 223 more individuals arrested during protests about the July election, bringing the total number freed to 956. The announcement is part of a series of releases over recent weeks, aimed at easing growing political tensions in the country. Despite these efforts, rights groups have managed to verify only some of the releases, and there have been reports of at least three protesters dying in custody. The ongoing detentions have drawn criticism from international human rights organizations. The controversy stems from the dispute over the election results, with official sources claiming President Nicolas Maduro secured a third term. Meanwhile, opposition parties present conflicting evidence, suggesting a different candidate actually won, leaving the nation deeply divided. (With inputs from agencies.)

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School Board hands out assignmentsRail union and government shake hands for Xmas truceINDIANAPOLIS – Death. Taxes. And Quenton Nelson. Star running back Jonathan Taylor suggested Thursday the Indianapolis Colts’ All-Pro left guard is one of life’s inevitabilities. A legion of NFL defenders likely would nod in resigned agreement. “Any time backs come in, I always tell them, ‘Listen, when in doubt, you know 5-6 (Nelson’s jersey number) will take you to the light,’” Taylor said. “But what he does is (a result of) preparation throughout the week, what he does in the offseason, his routine in season. He's a true professional, and it shows week in, week out and year after year. So I'm just thankful, and I'm glad that I'm on a team with him.” Nelson played a pivotal role in Sunday’s 38-30 victory against the Tennessee Titans, helping to usher the way for Taylor to gain 218 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. The Colts gained a single-season franchise record 335 total yards on the ground, and Nelson shook off a fourth-quarter ankle injury to return even while many on the sideline suggested he should rest with the game apparently in hand. Nelson again put together a highlight reel of dominant blocks, none more impressive than his effort on quarterback Anthony Richardson’s 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. After pulling from his position, Nelson quickly got to the second level in front of Richardson and drove his defender through the back of the end zone. The quarterback essentially jogged into the end zone behind Nelson, untouched and unbothered. "It makes it easier for me,” Richardson said. “I get to see 56 running around. I just get to follow up behind him and let him do his dirty work, and I just follow up and get the touchdown. I get all the credit, but, no, he does all the dirty work for us. So we appreciate that for sure." Nelson emphatically threw his arms up in celebration as Richardson crossed the goal line. That’s also in character for the hulking lineman. He’s almost always the first player to pick up a ball carrier after a run – no matter the distance from the line of scrimmage – and Richardson said Nelson often is happier than the player who scored each time Indianapolis finds the end zone. It’s a mentality Nelson said was installed by former Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, and his joy is the product of a total team effort. “There’s 11 guys doing their job for the common goal of scoring a touchdown and trying to win the game,” Nelson said. “Seeing it come to fruition after all the hard work we put in during the week is awesome.” Guard is far from a glamour position, and it’s not among the most highly valued roles in the NFL. Very few players at the position become stars. But Nelson is on another level. When he was drafted with the sixth overall pick in 2018 after a sterling career for the Fighting Irish, Colts owner Jim Irsay immediately made Hall of Fame comparisons. Nelson has lived up to the high expectations with three first-team All-Pro nods and six Pro Bowl appearances in his first six seasons. He’s one of the most recognizable names on Indianapolis’ roster and a fan favorite. But, despite outside appearances, Nelson’s success was not inevitable. His unmatched drive and work ethic have allowed him to reach the game’s elite levels. “I think his competitive nature that he brings every single day, his toughness, his attitude, his love for the game, and he plays that way,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said of what sets Nelson apart. “I mean, he shows up for his guys every single day and does it the right way and plays for the guy next to him every single time. “He's got that relentless determination that you want up front. Just a hell of a leader for us. And obviously, when we need a big play, too, a lot of the times he's our lead blocker in those situations.” Tight end Mo Alie-Cox (toe), Richardson (back, foot) and linebacker E.J. Speed (knee) did not practice Thursday. Indianapolis reportedly is optimistic Richardson will be able to play Sunday against the New York Giants. Linebacker Jaylon Carlies (shoulder) and Nelson (ankle) were limited. Cornerback JuJu Brents (knee), cornerback Jaylon Jones (throat), wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) were full participants. Safety Raheem Lane (knee), linebacker Micah McFadden (neck), wide receiver Malik Nabers (toe), center John Michael Schmitz (ankle), cornerback Greg Stroman (shoulder, shin), running back Tyrone Tracy (ankle) and wide receiver Dee Williams (toe) did not practice for the Giants. Defensive tackle Cory Durden (shoulder), offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (wrist), quarterback Drew Lock (right shoulder) and offensive guard Greg Van Roten (knee) were limited.The Houston Rockets winning back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995 have a huge asterisk behind them. Michael Jordan was in the middle of his first retirement, and most people consider the Rockets lucky because of it. Chicago Bulls were competitive without MJ after the first three-peat, but they weren't a championship contender. Therefore, the Rockets had to beat the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic for their titles, teams widely considered weaker than the first three-peat Chicago squad. Confident Maxwell However, if you ask Vernon Maxwell , Houston's key contributor during those title runs, he is very confident his team would've beaten Jordan's Bulls in those years, too, had Mike not gone to play baseball. "We were beating their a**. Just google the times we played them when they were winning those six championships. Basketball is about matchups. And we couldn't get past Seattle. They were matching so well with us. And they ended up playing against Mike, but we always beat Mike," Vernon said on the It Is What It Is. "During those years when they won six titles, they beat us twice. It's not the playoffs, but shit, you got Bill Cartwright guarding fu***ng Olajuwon? Get the f**k out of here. We were going to beat their a**, and I wish it could've happened because we were the best team for those two years. Nobody was going to beat us because "Dream" was the best player on the planet," Maxwell concluded. Related: "I do know LeBron likes special treatment. He needs things his way" - Phil Jackson on why James' relationship with Pat Riley broke down Can't bet against Mike While we'll never know what would've happened if the Rockets and the Bulls (with Jordan) matched up in the Finals against each other in 1994 and 1995, it's still fun to do fantasy basketball. While Maxwell's point about matchups stands, and the Bulls would've had a tough time guarding Hakeem, Houston would have an even bigger problem stopping Jordan. Vernon quickly mentioned how his team beat Mike and Chicago in the regular season, but that's a critical point. Jordan would turn into a different animal in the playoffs, as he constantly raised his regular season averages series by series. The fact that he won six titles with six MVPs and his team never played seven games in the Finals speaks loudly about how clutch MJ was when it mattered most. It's admirable that Maxwell has the confidence his Rockets would've won, and he should have after winning back-to-back titles. But it's tough to find a better team than the 90s Bulls. And you can't bet against Mike. Related: Vernon Maxwell almost got divorced after celebrating the Rockets' 1994 championship for two weeks: "When I got back there, the locks were changed on that MF"

CreateAI Announces Results of 2024 Annual Meeting of StockholdersSubscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, please join us as a member . From sexy frescoes emerging from the ashes to hidden cities surfacing due to Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scans, archaeologists continue to make discoveries that transform our understanding of the past and how best to preserve it for the future. This year especially, archaeologists stood by their work and spoke out about threats to Lebanon’s cultural heritage and a video of Israeli soldiers handling antiquities in Gaza, to name a few instances of researchers refusing to stay complacent in the face of repressive regimes. Just as we have covered everything from ancient dye to the earliest evidence of tea in the past, we present a few of the archaeological stories and ancient finds that came to light in a rather dark year. Oldest Known Church in Armenia Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities In October, Rhea Nayyar reported on a team of German and Armenian archaeological researchers that excavated the remains of “what’s said to be the oldest known Christian church in Armenia” found in the ancient city of Artaxata , dated to the 4th century CE by the project leads. The co-director, Achim Lichtenberger, called it “sensational evidence for early Christianity in Armenia.” Between this and the newly scanned early Christian silver amulet found in Germany, our understanding of early Christian religion within the late Roman Empire and beyond is still evolving. The Artaxata church was also uncovered in the wake of reports of the Azerbaijani military’s destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). 8,600-Year-Old Bread in Turkey In March, Stephanie Wong and I covered the curious claim that the earliest bread had been discovered at the ancient Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük in southern Turkey, which, naturally gave rise to a wealth of bread puns. The remains of unbaked, leavened bread dating to around 6600 BCE were published, but we upset Turkish archaeologists and bakers by questioning the Turkish state’s assertion that the remnants constituted “the world’s oldest bread.” As we wrote, “researchers working in Jordan found that the invention of bread likely predated agriculture by about 4,000 years” in 2018. This was due to the discovery of flatbread (unleavened bread made from wild grains) at the Natufian hunter-gatherer site of Shubayqa in the Black Desert. The Jordanian finds call into question Çatalhöyük’s unfounded first-place bread title. We also learned something about the nature of these discoveries themselves: When government-sponsored press releases note an archaeological finding as “the first” or “the oldest,” there is often a slice of nationalism on the side. Cats for the Win Museums and archaeologists finally learned that cats are where it’s at in 2024 — and we hope this trend extends into 2025. In July, Maya Pontone reported that China’s Shanghai Museum in the People’s Square announced that owners could bring their cats to a series of events organized around a new Egyptian antiquities exhibition. Then, the Cats: Predators to Pets show opened at the Field Museum in Chicago in November. Mental Floss also published an incredible essay on “a feral cat colony numbering in the dozens [that] wreaked havoc on the British Museum following World War II.” This cat-astrophe lives rent-free in the litter box of my mind. The “Lion of Venice” Has Roots in China In another feline story published in September, I discussed a study addressing whether the famed “lion of Venice” actually came from China. The new research, led by scholars from the University of Padua and the International Association of Mediterranean and Eastern Studies, found that the winged leonine artwork’s lead isotopes revealed that a major part of the statue was made of bronze from 8th-century China. The findings point to the global nature of trade during the Middle Ages and the impressive reach of arts from China’s Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE). But they also revealed the increasing importance of isotopic analysis within art history and archaeology. Giza Restoration Canceled First, there was the news of an ill-conceived “restoration” project at Giza revealed in a January Facebook video posted by then-Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziry. Elaine Velie covered this in early February . Before the month’s end, the outcry halted the project . Black Archaeologists Transform the Ocean I look forward to Lakshmi Rivera Amin ’s Required Reading column every week to keep on top of things, and loved her remark in August that “several Black artists, archaeologists, and divers are transforming the ocean by approaching it as a graveyard, a site of the Middle Passage, and a possible space for healing,” by linking to an amazing story on Black divers in Atmos by Omnia Saed. Repatriating and Protecting Cultural Heritage Archaeology as a field sprouted from violent regimes , which often deployed scholars as agents of colonialism and erasure. This year, small but important steps were taken in pressuring institutions to repatriate cultural heritage, including remains held in museums. In September, Rhea Nayyar reported that the “National Park Service awarded a little over $3 million in grants to 13 Native American tribes and 21 American institutions to facilitate the repatriation of ancestral remains and cultural objects currently held in collections and archives across the country.” Maya Pontone also reported on the American Natural History Museum’s repatriation of the remains of 124 Native people in July. These returns are long overdue, as is the fact that the only UNESCO site in Ohio, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks , will reopen on January 1 for the first time in close to a century. In August, UNESCO also added a monastery in central Gaza to its World Heritage List and List of World Heritage in Danger. Psychedelic Cocktail in Ancient Egypt Just this month, Rhea Nayyar covered “traces of psychotropic plant matter, human bodily fluids, honey, wheat, yeast, and licorice” that researchers found in a vessel bearing the likeness of Bes, the deity of childbirth and music. Ancient Egyptians appear to have enjoyed some mind-bending trips. And how could we forget that in February, Elaine Velie reported that archaeologists found evidence of a hallucinogenic poisonous plant in Ancient Rome? The more researchers begin to study the microscopic residue left on things like ceramics, the more we find out that people in the ancient world enjoyed a number of psychoactive drugs . Ancient Maya City in Mexico A number of previously unknown Maya cities were uncovered using airborne LiDAR technology originally undertaken as “part of a forest-monitoring survey measuring carbon emissions,” Maya Pontone reported in October. The research recovered 6,674 “completely unstudied structures in the state of Campeche” in southern Mexico. The advent of new archaeological technology has meant huge leaps in the field, both on the ground and from space . Pompeii Is Still Saucy We covered PBS’s new docuseries Pompeii: The New Dig , which addressed everything from a newfound fullery to the stunning Egyptian blue room. Archaeologists also found an Ancient Roman reed matmaker’s workshop covered over in the eruption of 79 CE. And while it’s no secret that Pompeians loved erotica and ran numerous brothels , the discovery of a satyr copulating with a nymph, as Isa Farfan wrote in October, did cause some pearl-clutching. Some things never change. We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn Facebook

( MENAFN - GetNews) In the vast landscape of electronic components, solid-state lamps hold a unique and significant place. Among these, the Kingbright L-7113LYD T-1 3/4 (5mm) Solid State Lamp stands out for its efficiency, reliability, and vibrant yellow hue. This compact, low-power consumption device is not just another light-emitting diode (LED); it's a technological gem crafted with precision and innovation. This article delves into the specifics of the L-7113LYD, examining its construction, performance, availability, and the unique advantages it offers to engineers and designers across various industries. Manufacturer and Brand Reliability Kingbright, the manufacturer behind the L-7113LYD, is a well-established name in the electronics industry, known for its commitment to quality and innovation. With decades of experience in developing and manufacturing optoelectronic components, Kingbright has built a reputation for delivering robust, reliable products that meet the most stringent specifications. The L-7113LYD is no exception, benefiting from Kingbright's extensive research and development resources, as well as its adherence to stringent manufacturing processes. Product Specifications and Design The L-7113LYD is a solid-state lamp with a T-1 3/4 (5mm) package size, making it ideal for applications where space is a constraint. Its small footprint does not compromise on performance; instead, it delivers bright, consistent yellow light that is ideal for a wide range of uses. The emitting color, Yellow, is achieved through the use of Gallium Arsenide Phosphide (GaAsP) on Gallium Phosphide (GaP) material. This combination ensures that the LED emits a pure, vibrant yellow light that is both pleasing to the eye and functionally effective. GaAsP/GaP LEDs are renowned for their stability and longevity, making them a preferred choice for applications requiring constant, reliable lighting. The material composition also contributes to the LED's low power consumption, which is a crucial factor in today's energy-conscious world. The L-7113LYD is designed to operate efficiently, even under continuous use, reducing energy costs and environmental impact. Performance Highlights One of the most notable aspects of the L-7113LYD is its low power consumption. This feature is particularly beneficial in applications where power savings are critical, such as in consumer electronics, automotive lighting, and industrial equipment. By utilizing the latest advancements in LED technology, Kingbright has managed to create a device that balances brightness with energy efficiency, making it an excellent choice for designers seeking to optimize their products' performance without compromising on aesthetics. In addition to its energy-saving benefits, the L-7113LYD also boasts a long lifespan. Solid-state lamps, in general, are known for their durability, with LEDs often lasting tens of thousands of hours. The L-7113LYD is no different, offering a long service life that minimizes maintenance requirements and reduces replacement costs. This makes it an ideal choice for applications where downtime and repair costs are unacceptable, such as in medical devices, security systems, and critical infrastructure. Applications and Industries The versatility of the L-7113LYD makes it suitable for a wide range of applications across various industries. In the automotive sector, for example, its small size and bright yellow light make it an excellent choice for indicator lights, warning signals, and interior lighting. The low power consumption and long lifespan ensure that these lights remain reliable and cost-effective over the vehicle's lifetime. Similarly, in the consumer electronics industry, the L-7113LYD is ideal for use in devices such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables. Its compact size and energy efficiency make it a perfect fit for these devices, where every millimeter of space and every milliwatt of power counts. The vibrant yellow light can be used for status indicators, notifications, and even ambient lighting, enhancing the user experience without compromising on battery life. The industrial sector also benefits from the L-7113LYD's unique attributes. Its robustness and reliability make it an excellent choice for machinery and equipment where lighting plays a critical role in safety and operation. The long lifespan and low maintenance requirements reduce downtime and increase productivity, making it a valuable asset in manufacturing and processing environments. Availability and Stock Information Kingbright offers the L-7113LYD in bulk packaging, with 1000 pieces per bag. This quantity is well-suited for manufacturers and OEMs who require large volumes of this component for their production needs. The manufacturer's standard lead time of 4-6 weeks provides a clear timeline for ordering and delivery, enabling customers to plan their production schedules accordingly. For designers and engineers looking to incorporate the L-7113LYD into their projects, it's important to note that availability may vary depending on market demand and production cycles. To ensure timely delivery and avoid potential delays, it's advisable to check with Kingbright or their authorized distributors for the latest stock information and lead times. Conclusion In conclusion, the Kingbright L-7113LYD T-1 3/4 (5mm) Solid State Lamp is a versatile, reliable, and energy-efficient LED that offers a wide range of benefits across various industries. Its compact size, vibrant yellow light, and long lifespan make it an excellent choice for applications requiring bright, consistent lighting without compromising on power consumption or durability. With Kingbright's commitment to quality and innovation, the L-7113LYD is poised to become a staple in the toolkits of engineers and designers who demand the best from their electronic components. As technology continues to evolve, the demand for energy-efficient, reliable lighting solutions will only grow. The L-7113LYD, with its combination of performance, versatility, and cost-effectiveness, is well-positioned to meet these demands and contribute to a brighter, more sustainable future. Whether you're designing a new product or looking to upgrade an existing one, the L-7113LYD is a component worth considering for its unique blend of features and benefits. MENAFN13122024003238003268ID1108991858 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Jeanine Robel-Anthony Edwards (via: timesofindia.indiatimes.com) During an exciting Christmas matchup, Anthony Edwards powered the Minnesota Timberwolves to a vital win in their second encounter with formidable opponents. With his girlfriend Jeanine Robel and their children cheering him on, heartwarming moments unfolded as Edwards celebrated the victory and shared memorable posts on social media. From courtside family snapshots to engaging updates, Robel's presence added a personal touch to the team's success, captivating fans and followers. Family support and post-game celebrations Anthony Edwards says "ain't nobody gon' fight man relax" after Gobert and Gafford get heated 😂 In a highly-anticipated Christmas matchup, Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a crucial victory in their second encounter of the season against formidable opponents. With the support of his girlfriend Jeanine Robel and their children, Edwards celebrated the win, capturing heartwarming moments in a series of social media posts, including a victorious selfie with their daughter post-game. "Wolves winnnnn 🏆," she captioned the post. In a different scene, she filmed a charming video of her son and daughter watching the game from her lap. "Shannon with the 2 kids 💕," she captioned the post. She delightedly captured a moment of her daughter, Aislynn, taking in the game in style from the exclusive suite. "the suit life of 🐞," she wrote in the caption. Despite Kyrie Irving's impressive 39-point performance, the Timberwolves managed to keep the Mavericks below 100 points, securing a 105-99 victory. Edwards showcased his talent by scoring 26 points on 11-of-24 shooting, while also contributing eight rebounds and five assists. In 2020, Anthony Edwards and his girlfriend publicly acknowledged their relationship. Since then, she, a social media influencer, has been frequently spotted courtside supporting her beau. Following the birth of their daughter, she continues to bring their little one to cheer on her father during games. Notably, she accompanied Edwards to the Olympics in Paris this year, along with her daughter and son, Krue . Also Read: Gilbert Arenas is all smiles as girlfriend, Melli Monaco, presents him with $2,999 Christmas gift Jeanine Robel's hilarious video In a recent social media post, Jeanine Robel, girlfriend of NBA star Anthony Edwards, revealed her son Krue's disinterest in being photographed. Despite her best efforts to capture family moments, a video on her Instagram story hilariously captures Krue's unwavering focus on the basketball game. Even with her seven-month-old daughter in tow, Krue's attention remained steadfast on the NBA action, making for a comical and relatable family moment. "If you know krue taking pics ain't his thing fr 😂 the pics we do get are always forced!" Robel wrote in the caption. (via: Sportskeeda) Robel shares Krue with her former partner, renowned American rapper Chief Keef. The 10-year-old is not only Robel's son but also a talented basketball player at his school.

Former US president Bill Clinton hospitalized with fever

Barrington, NH (InDepthNH.org) Joel White of Lancaster has some questions about Fidium costs. By KATHARINE WEBSTER, New Hampshire is getting the gift that keeps on giving: $191 million in federal money to put every last residence and business in the state within reach of broadband internet service over the next five years. "This is once-in-a-lifetime money," Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell said Thursday. "It's huge. A lot of New Hampshire has access to (high-speed internet service) now, but a lot of rural New Hampshire does not, and in the Internet age, that is a huge problem ... whether you're talking business or health outcomes or kids being able to do homework." In addition, the state is getting $4.9 million for computer literacy education and devices for seniors, rural residents, low-income urban residents, new Americans and others that need it, Caswell said. "We're running (fiber) by some of these places that have never had internet access, or high-speed internet access," Caswell said. "We want to enable them ... to use the internet in an educated way, and if they need equipment to do that (such as basic laptops or tablets), I think there will be a process for them to get that, either discounted or free." Both sets of funds come from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), which included $42.45 billion to extend broadband internet service nationwide to areas of the country that are either unserved or underserved. Whether the most remote homes and businesses will be able to afford direct connections to broadband lines along their roads or the monthly fees for service is an open question that the state will attempt to address through its contracts with internet service providers, state officials said. However, within five years, broadband fiber should have been installed on every existing road, so that existing and future homes and businesses can connect easily when and if they are ready, state officials said. Where the Money Comes From The broadband infrastructure money is being channeled through the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. In New Hampshire, the highest need is in rural Coos, Carroll, Cheshire, Grafton and Sullivan counties, Caswell said, but there are pockets of unconnected addresses elsewhere. New broadband service will have download and upload speeds of at least 100 megabytes per second, according to the state's plan; an area is considered underserved if speeds are lower than 100 mbps for downloads and 20 mbps for uploads. The state has already received a $5 million planning grant and will get $191 million for contracts with municipalities and commercial internet service providers (ISPs) to run fiber on remote roads in cities and towns they already serve, and then to connect those lines to many individual homes and businesses. The state will begin accepting and evaluating proposals from ISPs in early January. The $4.9 million in digital literacy education and devices funding, as well as $520,000 awarded earlier to develop a digital equity plan, comes through the Digital Equity Planning and Capacity grant programs for three years, with the opportunity to apply for more money in years four and five. Requests for proposals from nonprofits, educational institutions and community groups will likely be issued in late February or early March. Getting Everyone Connected Caswell said New Hampshire is fortunate. Thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act of 2020 and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, the state has already awarded more than $100 million to internet service providers to run fiber down more roads and connect more addresses. Providers also contributed a substantial share. The commissioner estimates that by the time all of New Hampshire's $90 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds have been spent - the deadline is Dec. 31, 2026 - only about 10,000 addresses in the state will be on roads with no broadband. That means the BEAD funding should be sufficient to bring fiber within reach of every last home and business address, even on long roads with only one or two houses at the end. Caswell noted that, before the pandemic-related funding bills and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed, local and regional groups had to scrape together a few thousand dollars at a time to extend service along roads with fewer customers, because laying fiber was not profitable for the internet service providers. "I often associate this, in the old days, with rural electrification," Caswell said. "We need to be able to at least provide this access to families, individuals and businesses in areas that haven't had it just to level the playing field, because we can't have a state where some have it and some don't." U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., who helped to craft the broadband portion of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, said New Hampshire is on track to ensure connectivity everywhere. "The COVID-19 pandemic showed us just how essential internet connectivity is for small businesses to grow and compete, for students to learn and thrive and for those in remote areas to access care," Shaheen said in a statement Friday. "That's why I was proud to work with my colleague Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) to write the broadband provisions of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law." Shaheen and U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., have been very helpful in navigating the BEAD and digital equity funding process and ensuring that the state is getting the information it needs from the National Telecommunications Information Administration, said Matt Conserva, manager of the BEA's Office of Broadband Initiatives. A key part of that information is a detailed map that shows every single home and business address in the U.S., as well as which ones already have high-speed internet service or are "serviceable," meaning they could be connected within a week or two because a high-speed line is already on their road, Conserva said. The internet service providers, which used to treat that information as proprietary, must now update the data in their service areas every six months. While the maps aren't perfect, there is a "challenge" process for municipalities to correct and update them with locations lacking service or ready access to a connection, he said. New Hampshire has completed the challenge process, has had its preliminary rollout plan approved, and expects to start sending contracts to incoming Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) and the Executive Council for approval by April or May, Conserva said. While the state hopes all of those connections will involve broadband, the funding could also be used to pay for satellite connections that provide high-speed internet service, if necessary, he said. Can Customers Afford Connections and Service? Under the ARPA contracts, some internet service providers have agreed to provide connections to addresses within a reasonable distance from the road, and Conserva expects the ARPA contracts to include the same stipulations. For example, Fidium Fiber, a subsidiary of Consolidated Communications Holdings, agreed to extend fiber as far as 500 feet up a driveway, he said. Unfortunately, that's left Joel White and his wife, both 80 years old and retired schoolteachers, with a dilemma. The Whites live on Achorn Hill Road in Lancaster, and a subcontractor for Fidium finished digging a trench and laying fiber up their road about three weeks ago. The subcontractor will return in the spring after the ground thaws to connect every house on the road at no cost - except for the Whites' home and a neighbor's vacation cabin, because their driveways are longer than 500 feet, White said. Fidium representatives told the Whites they will pay to install the first 500 feet, but the couple are responsible for the cost to finish getting the line to the house. If the Whites don't pay that in the spring, they will have to pay for the full 600-700 feet to install a connection at a later date. "We would be tempted to sign up with Fidium if we could get the pre-installation that everybody else is getting," White said. "It's going to cost us $2,000 to $3,000 to get it installed ... (because) our utilities have to be underground." Right now, the couple get reliable internet service via radio from Netify, which has a tower on a nearby mountain. Upload and download speeds are both around 21 megabytes per second, White said. But he's concerned about the trees on a neighboring ridge that are growing fast and could soon interfere with the radio signal. The state is encouraging broadband providers to go the distance, Conserva said, because of the high cost of installation in areas that require underground utilities. He offered to look into the Whites' situation. Whether low-income households will be able to afford the monthly fees for high-speed internet service is also a concern, Conserva said, in part because Congress failed to renew the Affordable Connectivity Program earlier this year. Funding ran out at the end of May. The program offered a subsidy of $30 a month for internet service to low-income households, including millions of households nationwide with veterans, people older than 50, and children who qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches. Before June, for example, Comcast offered an "internet essentials" plan to qualifying households that cost $30 a month, and the Affordable Connectivity Program paid for that, Conserva said. While the state has not set a price cap on how much the internet service providers can charge low-income customers who are connected with BEAD funding, the state's preliminary rollout plan says that more than $45 a month would be considered too high, Conserva said. But the state plan also assumed that the Affordable Connectivity Program would be renewed, bringing the out-of-pocket price for those households down to $15 a month, with everything included. Now, the state will do its best to encourage providers to have a very low-cost option, similar to Comcast's essentials package, which offers enough bandwidth to work and go to school. "Our goal is for prices not to go up, at least in the short term," Conserva said. "But these remote networks in tough to reach areas are also expensive to maintain." This story is provided as a service of the Institute for Nonprofit News’ On the Ground news wire. The Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) is a network of more than 475 independent, nonprofit newsrooms serving communities throughout the US, Canada, and globally. On the Ground is a service of INN, which aggregates the best of its members’ elections and political content, and provides it free for republication. Read more about INN here: . Please coordinate with should you want to publish photos for this piece. This content cannot be modified, apart from rewriting the headline. To view the original version, visit:JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports, while the World Health Organization's director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, with a crew member injured. “The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the social media platform X. He added that he and U.N. colleagues were safe. “We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave,” he said, without mentioning the source of the bombardment. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in the cities of Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, asserting they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel's military didn't immediately respond to questions about Tedros' post but issued a statement saying it had "capabilities to strike very far from Israel’s territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively.” The strikes came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad’s regime and others learned" as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Houthis' media outlet confirmed the strikes in a Telegram post, and the Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. The United Nations has noted that the targeted ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014 . Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv , while other missiles and drones have been shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting Monday in response to an Israeli request that the council condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying weapons to the rebels. 5 journalists killed in Gaza Meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight , the territory's Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said that all were militants posing as reporters. The strike hit a car outside Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The journalists were working for the local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller and more extreme ally of Hamas and took part in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel, which ignited the war. The Israeli military identified four of the men as combat propagandists and said that intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives found by soldiers in Gaza, had confirmed that all five were affiliated with the group. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian militant groups operate political, media and charitable operations in addition to their armed wings. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings visible on the back doors. Sobbing young men attended the funeral outside the hospital. The bodies were wrapped in shrouds, with blue press vests draped over them. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel hasn't allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel has banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accused six of its Gaza reporters of being militants . The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Another Israeli soldier killed Separately, Israel's military said that a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza early Thursday. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation more than a year ago. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border in an attack on nearby army bases and farming communities. They killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead. Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities have been women and children, but doesn't say how many of the dead were fighters. Israel says it has killed more than 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The offensive has caused widespread destruction and driven around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Also Thursday, people mourned eight Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations in and around the city of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said that it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. ___ Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed. A previous version of this story was corrected to show that the name of the local news outlet is Al-Quds Today, not the Quds News Network. ___ Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Josef Federman And Wafaa Shurafa, The Associated PressBy HALELUYA HADERO The emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that allow people to efficiently produce novel and detailed online reviews with almost no work has put merchants , service providers and consumers in uncharted territory, watchdog groups and researchers say. Related Articles National News | Mega Millions jackpot nears $1 billion ahead of Christmas Eve drawing National News | The Container Store, buffeted by rough housing market and competition, seeks bankruptcy protection National News | An ex-police officer is convicted of lying about leaks to the Proud Boys leader National News | 2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident, US military says National News | Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to state murder and other charges in United Healthcare CEO’s death Phony reviews have long plagued many popular consumer websites, such as Amazon and Yelp. They are typically traded on private social media groups between fake review brokers and businesses willing to pay. Sometimes, such reviews are initiated by businesses that offer customers incentives such as gift cards for positive feedback. But AI-infused text generation tools, popularized by OpenAI’s ChatGPT , enable fraudsters to produce reviews faster and in greater volume, according to tech industry experts. The deceptive practice, which is illegal in the U.S. , is carried out year-round but becomes a bigger problem for consumers during the holiday shopping season , when many people rely on reviews to help them purchase gifts. Fake reviews are found across a wide range of industries, from e-commerce, lodging and restaurants, to services such as home repairs, medical care and piano lessons. The Transparency Company, a tech company and watchdog group that uses software to detect fake reviews, said it started to see AI-generated reviews show up in large numbers in mid-2023 and they have multiplied ever since. For a report released this month, The Transparency Company analyzed 73 million reviews in three sectors: home, legal and medical services. Nearly 14% of the reviews were likely fake, and the company expressed a “high degree of confidence” that 2.3 million reviews were partly or entirely AI-generated. “It’s just a really, really good tool for these review scammers,” said Maury Blackman, an investor and advisor to tech startups, who reviewed The Transparency Company’s work and is set to lead the organization starting Jan. 1. In August, software company DoubleVerify said it was observing a “significant increase” in mobile phone and smart TV apps with reviews crafted by generative AI. The reviews often were used to deceive customers into installing apps that could hijack devices or run ads constantly, the company said. The following month, the Federal Trade Commission sued the company behind an AI writing tool and content generator called Rytr, accusing it of offering a service that could pollute the marketplace with fraudulent reviews. The FTC, which this year banned the sale or purchase of fake reviews, said some of Rytr’s subscribers used the tool to produce hundreds and perhaps thousands of reviews for garage door repair companies, sellers of “replica” designer handbags and other businesses. Max Spero, CEO of AI detection company Pangram Labs, said the software his company uses has detected with almost certainty that some AI-generated appraisals posted on Amazon bubbled up to the top of review search results because they were so detailed and appeared to be well thought-out. But determining what is fake or not can be challenging. External parties can fall short because they don’t have “access to data signals that indicate patterns of abuse,” Amazon has said. Pangram Labs has done detection for some prominent online sites, which Spero declined to name due to non-disclosure agreements. He said he evaluated Amazon and Yelp independently. Many of the AI-generated comments on Yelp appeared to be posted by individuals who were trying to publish enough reviews to earn an “Elite” badge, which is intended to let users know they should trust the content, Spero said. The badge provides access to exclusive events with local business owners. Fraudsters also want it so their Yelp profiles can look more realistic, said Kay Dean, a former federal criminal investigator who runs a watchdog group called Fake Review Watch. To be sure, just because a review is AI-generated doesn’t necessarily mean its fake. Some consumers might experiment with AI tools to generate content that reflects their genuine sentiments. Some non-native English speakers say they turn to AI to make sure they use accurate language in the reviews they write. “It can help with reviews (and) make it more informative if it comes out of good intentions,” said Michigan State University marketing professor Sherry He, who has researched fake reviews. She says tech platforms should focus on the behavioral patters of bad actors, which prominent platforms already do, instead of discouraging legitimate users from turning to AI tools. Prominent companies are developing policies for how AI-generated content fits into their systems for removing phony or abusive reviews. Some already employ algorithms and investigative teams to detect and take down fake reviews but are giving users some flexibility to use AI. Spokespeople for Amazon and Trustpilot, for example, said they would allow customers to post AI-assisted reviews as long as they reflect their genuine experience. Yelp has taken a more cautious approach, saying its guidelines require reviewers to write their own copy. “With the recent rise in consumer adoption of AI tools, Yelp has significantly invested in methods to better detect and mitigate such content on our platform,” the company said in a statement. The Coalition for Trusted Reviews, which Amazon, Trustpilot, employment review site Glassdoor, and travel sites Tripadvisor, Expedia and Booking.com launched last year, said that even though deceivers may put AI to illicit use, the technology also presents “an opportunity to push back against those who seek to use reviews to mislead others.” “By sharing best practice and raising standards, including developing advanced AI detection systems, we can protect consumers and maintain the integrity of online reviews,” the group said. The FTC’s rule banning fake reviews, which took effect in October, allows the agency to fine businesses and individuals who engage in the practice. Tech companies hosting such reviews are shielded from the penalty because they are not legally liable under U.S. law for the content that outsiders post on their platforms. Tech companies, including Amazon, Yelp and Google, have sued fake review brokers they accuse of peddling counterfeit reviews on their sites. The companies say their technology has blocked or removed a huge swath of suspect reviews and suspicious accounts. However, some experts say they could be doing more. “Their efforts thus far are not nearly enough,” said Dean of Fake Review Watch. “If these tech companies are so committed to eliminating review fraud on their platforms, why is it that I, one individual who works with no automation, can find hundreds or even thousands of fake reviews on any given day?” Consumers can try to spot fake reviews by watching out for a few possible warning signs , according to researchers. Overly enthusiastic or negative reviews are red flags. Jargon that repeats a product’s full name or model number is another potential giveaway. When it comes to AI, research conducted by Balázs Kovács, a Yale professor of organization behavior, has shown that people can’t tell the difference between AI-generated and human-written reviews. Some AI detectors may also be fooled by shorter texts, which are common in online reviews, the study said. However, there are some “AI tells” that online shoppers and service seekers should keep it mind. Panagram Labs says reviews written with AI are typically longer, highly structured and include “empty descriptors,” such as generic phrases and attributes. The writing also tends to include cliches like “the first thing that struck me” and “game-changer.”

Ex-DePaul guard leads N. Illinois against Chris Holtmann's Blue Demons

NYT Crossword: answers for Thursday, December 26You can’t literally gift-wrap health, much less stuff it in a stocking. But a gift that helps someone eat, sleep or exercise better can send a powerful message, said Dr. Laurence Sperling, the Katz Professor in Preventive Cardiology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. Beyond the usual affection a gift demonstrates, something that encourages your recipient to stay well is “an extra comment to somebody about how much you care about them,” said Sperling, founder of the Emory Center for Heart Disease Prevention. So American Heart Association News asked him and other experts for healthy gift ideas. Here’s what they said. Keeping active When purchasing a fitness-related holiday gift for someone, first consider what they most enjoy doing, said Dr. Cindy Lin, clinical professor in sports and spine medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. “Gear that fits into an everyday routine, such as reusable water bottles and comfortable workout clothes, can be a great gift,” said Lin, who also is director of clinical innovation at UW’s Sports Institute. “One-trick gadgets,” or items for activities they don’t do often, are likely to end up in the back of the closet, she said. “If your sister only skis once a year ... that ski gear might end up collecting dust in the garage.” Lin is a fan of gear that’s portable, versatile and doesn’t take up much space, such as a yoga mat, exercise ball, resistance bands or free weights. Other simple gifts include fanny packs or belt packs for carrying a phone or keys while walking or jogging, or a reflective vest or headlamp for evening activities. Joining up Class passes, sports lessons or a few months of gym membership could be a great way to help a family member get started on becoming more active without the financial commitment of a whole year up front, Lin said. Consider online options, too. A few winters ago, Lin’s husband gifted her a subscription to a fitness program that offered workouts that could be streamed on a tablet or TV. “It was perfect because there are a huge variety of 10- to 20-minute classes that I could do any time of day in our own living room, a huge convenience factor as a busy working mom.” Sperling said a consultation with a trainer could help someone focus on specific goals. But be careful, he said: Gym memberships can be tricky to manage for anyone, and signing someone up who doesn’t already have the time or interest to go to a gym might not motivate them. Similarly, paying registration fees for a race might work for someone who is already a runner, said Sperling, a veteran marathoner. But for others, it might be more effective to sign them up for a fundraising walk or other healthy activity – and then promise to join them. “Support and partnership is really important” for people trying to make a healthy change, Sperling said, and a commitment to spend time together could be “priceless.” Getting technical “Fitness trackers are a great way to get started with being active,” said Lin, who has published an analysis on wearable technology in activity promotion. “Monitoring heart rate helps track cardiovascular health and exercise intensity,” she said. “It’s also useful for people who are working on improving fitness levels or training for walkathons or marathons.” Important features to look for, Lin said, include step tracking, calories burned, a long battery life and sweat and water resistance. “Since the idea of most wearables for fitness is to use them daily, look for a lightweight, comfortable band and a style that matches your recipient’s tastes,” she said. Sperling agreed that a tracker can establish how active someone is and help them reach a healthy level. Federal physical activity guidelines recommend adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity each week, or a combination of both. Adults also should do muscle-strengthening exercises at least two days a week. Another handy fitness tool, Sperling said, is a digital scale. Although many come with bells and whistles, he said, you can just look for one that’s easy to read. And with nearly half of adults in the U.S. living with hypertension, a blood pressure monitor can be a great gift, he said. “An arm cuff is the way to go versus a wrist cuff,” Sperling said, and “you want to be sure it’s an appropriate cuff size.” The American Medical Association has a list of validated monitors at validatebp.org. He said to follow instructions from the American Heart Association on how to get an accurate reading. Eating well Holiday party gifts can be heavy on sweets and alcohol, but it’s not hard to find alternatives, said Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, an associate professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York. “There’s nice food gift baskets you can bring that include dried fruit and nuts that are probably a better option than cookies and cakes,” she said. And nonalcoholic mocktails could make for a fun party, she said. Look for varieties that are low in sugar. For kitchen gifts, St-Onge is a fan of air fryers. Her husband bought her one last year. “I wasn’t thinking I needed one – but now I do,” she said. St-Onge praised the way it cooks up crispy shrimp and tofu and said it helps her make “great” fish tacos, while her husband uses it to make eggplant parmesan with much less oil than the traditional version. A cookbook full of healthy ideas could be helpful, she said. Even basic kitchen tools can lead to healthier eating if they encourage people to make their own food at home, where they have more control over ingredients than at a restaurant, where meals can be packed with excess calories and sodium. Sweet dreams Even if your long winter’s naps don’t include visions of sugarplums, sleep is essential for health. St-Onge, who also is director of her institution’s Center of Excellence for Sleep and Circadian Research, said that avoiding gifts with alcohol would be one way to support it, given that alcohol can interfere with sleep patterns. But sleepwear would work. “Soft and comfortable sleepwear is so, so good for sleep in my opinion,” she said. Look for something that’s not too hot and not too restrictive. Or you can help someone make their sleep space darker and quieter. “If you’re living someplace where there’s a lot of outdoor noise and light pollution, blackout curtains are a good way to go,” she said. For technology fans, sleep trackers can help people see if they’re getting the seven to nine hours recommended for adults. St-Onge recommended checking to make sure the one you choose doesn’t require the recipient to buy a subscription. Some fitness trackers can measure not only sleep time but quality of sleep, which can provide insights into sleep cycles and potential disruptions, Lin said. Being “mindful and thankful” can help support sleep, St-Onge said, so the gift of a paper journal for writing down thoughts would make sense. Stepping out A gift doesn’t have to be about “stuff,” Sperling said. It could be an experience that encourages people to get outside. That could take the form of an annual state park pass, which would let someone enjoy the concept of “forest bathing,” or walks in nature, which can help reduce stress. For families, it could take the form of a membership to the local zoo. Ultimately, when it comes to finding a healthy gift, “you want to focus on things that are simple and sustainable,” Sperling said, because a healthy lifestyle is about making meaningful changes for the long term, not any one item or experience. By thinking along these lines, he said, you could be offering “life-changing gifts that can improve the health of the people you love and care about.”

Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas has also resigned as vice-president of the animal welfare organisation, with both of them expressing their “sadness” over leaving the roles. It comes after an Animal Rising investigation made claims of cruelty at “RSPCA Assured” slaughterhouses in England and Scotland, with the campaign group sharing footage of alleged mistreatment. RSPCA Assured is a scheme whereby approved farms must comply with the organisation’s “stringent higher welfare standards”, according to its website. Mr Packham shared the news of his resignation on social media, saying: “It is with enormous sadness that I have resigned from my role as president of the RSPCA. “I would like to register my respect and admiration for all the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to protect animals from cruelty.” Ms Lucas said she and Mr Packham failed to get the charity’s leadership to act. She posted on X, formerly Twitter: “With huge sadness I’m resigning as VP of the RSPCA, a role I’ve held with pride for over 15 years. “But their Assured Schemes risk misleading the public & legitimising cruelty. “I tried with @ChrisGPackham to persuade the leadership to act but sadly failed.” In June, the RSPCA commissioned an independent review of 200 farms on its assurance scheme which concluded the scheme was “operating effectively” to assure animal welfare on member farms. Following Animal Rising’s release of footage last week, the charity said it was “appalled” by what was shown, adding that it launched an immediate investigation and suspended three slaughterhouses from the scheme. In the wake of Mr Packham and Ms Lucas’ resignations, an RSPCA spokesperson said it is “simply not true” that the organisation has failed to take urgent action. They said: “We agree with Chris and Caroline on so many issues and have achieved so much together for animals, but we differ on how best to address the incredibly complex and difficult issue of farmed animal welfare. “We have discussed our work to drive up farmed animal welfare standards openly at length with them on many occasions and it is simply not true that we have not taken urgent action. “We took allegations of poor welfare incredibly seriously, launching an independent review of 200 farms which concluded that it was ‘operating effectively’ to improve animal welfare. “We are taking strong steps to improve oversight of welfare, implementing the recommendations in full including significantly increasing unannounced visits, and exploring technology such as body-worn cameras and CCTV, supported by £2 million of investment.” The charity insisted that while 94% of people continue to choose to eat meat, fish, eggs and dairy, it is the “right thing to do” to work with farmers to improve the lives of animals. “RSPCA Assured visit all farms on the scheme every year, but last year just 3% of farms were assessed for animal welfare by state bodies,” the spokesperson continued. “No-one else is doing this work. We are the only organisation setting and regularly monitoring animal welfare standards on farms. “We have pioneered change through RSPCA Assured, which has led to improvements throughout the industry including CCTV in slaughterhouses, banning barren battery cages for hens and sow stalls for pigs, giving salmon more space to swim and developing slower growing chicken breeds who have better quality of life.”

'It's not going to be pretty'

 

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all jili games Bengals Injury Report: Rest days in Cincinnati, rookie starter for Titans pops up with new injuryOscar Health EVP Quane sells $271,293 in stockDrones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Recommended Videos Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” Who regulates drones? The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. Who enforces the rules? With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. What does it take to become a drone pilot? To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Are drones allowed to fly at night? Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Are drones a hazard? Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Will drone rules get tougher? Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” ___ Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.

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President-elect Donald Trump honored former President Jimmy Carter upon hearing of his death at age 100, graciously remembering him as a man who did his best “to improve the lives of all Americans.” The president-elect honored the now-deceased former president in a post on his Truth Social account Sunday. “I just heard of the news about the passing of President Jimmy Carter. Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History,” Trump wrote. The president-elect then graciously characterized Carter’s tenure, which followed President Nixon’s Watergate scandal and the fall of South Vietnam under President Gerald Ford, as one that came “at a pivotal time for our country.” “The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude,” Trump wrote. “Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers,” he concluded. As Breitbart News reported , Jimmy Carter lived longer than any other president in U.S. history and led a political legacy that lasted several decades past his single term from 1977 to 1981 before he was defeated by Ronald Reagan in a landslide election. Carter was the first president to embrace an outlook that focused on America’s flaws. He installed solar panels on the White House, and tried to set an example of frugality, donning a sweater instead of turning up the heat. His approach was typified by what became known as the “malaise” speech in 1979, in which he encouraged the nation to consume less. His dour demeanor and his zeal for continued sacrifices caused voters to turn away. Reagan defeated Carter in 1980 by hammering the incumbent Democrat on the state of the economy, by promoting a foreign policy of “peace through strength,” and by offering a more optimistic outlook on America. Carter’s death came just a little over a year after his wife, Rosalynn Carter, passed away at 96. Paul Roland Bois directed the award-winning Christian tech thriller , EXEMPLUM , which has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic rating and can be viewed for FREE on YouTube , Tubi , or Fawesome TV . “Better than Killers of the Flower Moon,” wrote Mark Judge . “You haven’t seen a story like this before,” wrote Christian Toto . A high-quality, ad-free rental can also be streamed on Google Play , Vimeo on Demand , or YouTube Movies . Follow him on X @prolandfilms or Instagram @prolandfilms .Luigi Mangione gave advice on how to game the system he believes failed himIn one particularly egregious example, a photo of an autistic women relieving herself in the forest was shared by local men on social media, prompting villagers to destroy nearby camera traps. Trishant Simlai, a researcher at the UK's Cambridge University, spent 14 months interviewing some 270 people who live near the Corbett Tiger Reserve in northern India. For women living in villages around the reserve, the forest has long been a space for "freedom and expression" away from the men in a "heavily conservative and patriarchal society," Simlai told AFP. The women sing, talk about taboo subjects such as sex, and sometimes drink and smoke while collecting firewood and grass from the forest. But the introduction of camera traps, drones and sound recorders as part of efforts to track and protect tigers and other wildlife has extended "the male gaze of the society into the forest," Simlai said. On multiple occasions, drones were deliberately flown over the heads of women, forcing them to drop their firewood and flee for cover, according to a study led by Simlai in the journal Environment and Planning. "We cannot walk in front of the cameras or sit in the area with our Kurtis (tunics) above our... Daniel Lawler

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