777 jili casino Insurtech startups that wanted to change the way India buys insurance seem to have fallen back on the tried and tested model. The likes of Policybazaar had built a business around selling insurance virtually, instead of relying on agents to sell insurance policies through doorstep visits. But this same crop of players is now setting up an army of field agents, or point-of-sales personnel, to sell insurance products. Policybazaar has around 250,000 physical agents, and according to the results of its parent PB Fintech , the Gurugram-based insurance aggregator posted nearly Rs 400 crore of revenue from this business in the quarter ended September 30. InsuranceDekho , another major player in this segment has more than 200,000 agents on the ground. The business has grown too, with the company which is set to acquire smaller rival Renewbuy reporting total revenue of Rs 743 crore for the financial year 2024 with a net profit of Rs 85 crore. Mumbai-based Turtlemint claims to have around 400,000 physical agents. Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. 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Data from the Insurance and Regulatory Development Authority of India ( IRDAI ) show that between financial years 2023 and 2022, intermediaries increased their agent count by 300,000 to more than a million. Insurance companies had 700,000 agents in the same time frame. The regulator has yet to release the figures for FY24. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Intermediaries say working with them allows agents to provide more options to their customers. “The agent wants the choice or options from multiple insurance companies to offer to their clients and we as a broking platform have aggregated insurers and their products. We have also built technology which has made it easier for our agents to manage these policies and to service their clients,” said Turtlemint cofounder Anand Prabhudesai. ETtech The challenging part While the insurtech industry has been growing at a fast speed, there are challenges of sustainability around this growth rate. Industry insiders pointed out that the physical distribution business is primarily a volume-led business with margins being squeezed due to aggressive competition. PB Fintech group chief executive officer Yashish Dahiya, while addressing the company’s September quarter analyst call, spoke about business sustainability. “A confident market leader who's a marathon runner has to be countercyclical. He does not start sprinting just because some kids are sprinting for 5 kms; he waits (for) them to tire out. When they tire out, he tells them that you're tired, and I'm going fast now,” he said. For a business which is generating almost 40% of the revenue for a group like PB Fintech, why is the insurance veteran taking a contrarian stance — that he doesn’t want to grow very fast by burning cash. “Growth of agents in this sector is being achieved through offers of lucrative commissions mostly; add to that a technology stack which can help them manage sales and on-time pay-outs of commissions,” said an insurtech founder on the condition of anonymity. While competition among well-funded players means higher pay-outs to business partners and perhaps better deals for the consumers, there are questions about whether it is helping insurance penetration in the country or are brokers eating into the agent network of insurers with promises of lofty pay-outs? Industry insiders pointed out that the average commission paid to the field agent has gone up significantly and it could eventually hurt insurance companies. Motor commissions which should have been around 15% have shot up to around 30% and life and health commissions can go as high as 45%, they said. Also, insurance brokers are paying higher commissions to the agent by dipping into their own share of the revenue in some cases, which raises questions of sustainability in the long run, the insurtech founder cited earlier said. "The strategy for us is to go deep into the country where you can make more money per insurance sale, beyond tier one two cities, we are getting around 80% of our business from tier two cities and beyond and around 60% from tier three and beyond," said Ankit Agrawal, chief executive officer, InsuranceDekho. Regulatory scrutiny The question around brokers’ commissions and the aggression in this agent-driven market did attract regulatory attention. This question was raised last year in the Regulations Review Committee of the IRDAI, which suggested that agents be allowed to work only with insurers and intermediaries be allowed to sell insurance only through their on-roll employees. The Insurance Brokers Association had defended the role played by brokers in taking insurance to the masses. According to it, by offering choices from multiple insurance companies, they were actually helping customers get better products with a higher degree of clarity on the products. The committee’s proposal, though debated last year, seems to have been put on the backburner as of now. So the question that remains is the financial viability of these businesses. “We have stayed away from higher pay-outs to agents, we want them to work with us for our technology stack and timely pay-outs, we want to be seen as a reliable partner,” Prabhudesai of Turtlemint commented. Even PB Fintech’s Dahiya at the September analyst call pointed out that this business would never make a lot of money for his company in terms of margin percentage, but at scale it would have a significant contribution to the overall business. The wild card in all of this is Bima Sugam , the IRDAI’s attempt to create a digital public infrastructure which can connect all insurance companies through a common technology platform. If turned into a reality and at scale, it could play a significant role in stabilising prices and competition in the insurance distribution market. “As of now we are yet to see any significant achievement on that front. While insurance companies will love to have a regulator-managed online platform, the amount of capital required and the efforts needed will be huge and it will be a test for the sector to come together to build it,” said one of the founders. The Business Standard newspaper wrote on November 24 that the capital requirement for this platform has shot up to Rs 500 crore, significantly higher than previously anticipated. So whether it is an IRDAI order to restrict brokers from appointing agents, or an industry initiative to democratise technology or high burn which results in ultimate slowdown in growth, the fast growing insurance distribution industry needs to grapple with many challenges. In the meantime, every player is looking to build its own business moats, either through a war chest of venture dollars or through a network of possibly loyal agents.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors . The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people , including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use . The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people, showcasing the uneasy intersection between law, politics and individual rights. The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors. In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism of arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban. Chief Justice John Roberts, who voted in the majority in a 2020 case in favor of transgender rights , questioned whether judges, rather than lawmakers, should be weighing in on a question of regulating medical procedures, an area usually left to the states. ”The Constitution leaves that question to the people’s representatives, rather than to nine people, none of whom is a doctor,” Roberts said in an exchange with Strangio. The court’s three liberal justices seemed firmly on the side of the challengers. But it’s not clear that any of the conservatives will go along. Justice Sonia Sotomayor pushed back against the assertion that the democratic process would be the best way to address objections to the law. She cited a history of laws discriminating against others, noting that transgender people make up less than 1% of the U.S. population, according to studies. There are an estimated 1.3 million adults and 300,000 adolescents aged 13 to 17 who identify as transgender, according the UCLA law school's Williams Institute. “Blacks were a much larger part of the population and it didn’t protect them. It didn’t protect women for whole centuries,” Sotomayor said in an exchange with Tennessee Solicitor General Matt Rice. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said she saw some troubling parallels between arguments made by Tennessee and those advanced by Virginia and rejected by a unanimous court, in the 1967 Loving decision that legalized interracial marriage nationwide. Quoting from the 57-year-old decision, Jackson noted that Virginia argued then that “the scientific evidence is substantially in doubt and, consequently, the court should defer to the wisdom of the state legislature.” Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the majority opinion in 2020, said nothing during the arguments. The arguments produced some riveting moments. Justice Samuel Alito repeatedly pressed Strangio, the first openly transgender lawyer to argue at the nation's highest court, about whether transgender people should be legally designated as a group that’s susceptible to discrimination. Strangio answered that being transgender does fit that legal definition, though he acknowledged under Alito’s questioning there are a small number of people who de-transition. “So it's not an immutable characteristic, is it?” Alito said. Strangio did not retreat from his view, though he said the court did not have to decide the issue to resolve the case in his clients' favor. There were dueling rallies outside the court in the hours before the arguments. Speeches and music filled the air on the sidewalk below the court’s marble steps. Advocates of the ban bore signs like “Champion God’s Design” and “Kids Health Matters,” while the other side proclaimed “Fight like a Mother for Trans Rights” and “Freedom to be Ourselves." Four years ago, the court ruled in favor of Aimee Stephens, who was fired by a Michigan funeral home after she informed its owner that she was a transgender woman. The court held that transgender people, as well as gay and lesbian people, are protected by a landmark federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace. The Biden administration and the families and health care providers who challenged the Tennessee law urged the justices to apply the same sort of analysis that the majority, made up of liberal and conservative justices, embraced in the case four years ago when it found that “sex plays an unmistakable role” in employers' decisions to punish transgender people for traits and behavior they otherwise tolerate. The issue in the Tennessee case is whether the law violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same. Tennessee's law bans puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender minors, but allows the same drugs to be used for other purposes. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, called the law sex-based line drawing to ban the use of drugs that have been safely prescribed for decades and said the state “decided to completely override the views of the patients, the parents, the doctors.” She contrasted the Tennessee law with one enacted by West Virginia, which set conditions for the health care for transgender minors, but stopped short of an outright ban. Rice countered that lawmakers acted to regulate “risky, unproven medical interventions” and, at one point, likened the use of puberty blockers and hormone treatments to lobotomies and eugenics, now thoroughly discredited but once endorsed by large segments of the medical community. Rice argued that the Tennessee law doesn’t discriminate based on sex, but rather based on the purpose of the treatment. Children can get puberty blockers to treat early onset puberty, but not a treatment for gender dysphoria. “Our fundamental point is there is no sex-based line here,” Rice said. While the challengers invoked the 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County for support, Tennessee relied on the court's precedent-shattering Dobbs decision in 2022 that ended nationwide protections for abortion and returned the issue to the states. The two sides battled in their legal filings over the appropriate level of scrutiny the court should apply. It's more than an academic exercise. The lowest level is known as rational basis review and almost every law looked at that way is ultimately upheld. Indeed, the federal appeals court in Cincinnati that allowed the Tennessee law to be enforced held that lawmakers acted rationally to regulate medical procedures, well within their authority. The appeals court reversed a trial court that employed a higher level of review, heightened scrutiny, that applies in cases of sex discrimination. Under this more searching examination, the state must identify an important objective and show that the law helps accomplish it. If the justices opt for heightened scrutiny, they could return the case to the appeals court to apply it. That's the course Prelogar and Strangio pushed for on Wednesday, though there did not seem to be much support for it. Gender-affirming care for youth is supported by every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association. But Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh all highlighted a point made by Tennessee in its legal briefs claiming that health authorities in Sweden, Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom found that the medical treatments "pose significant risks with unproven benefits.” If those countries “are pumping the brakes on this kind of treatment," Kavanaugh said, why should the Supreme Court question Tennessee's actions. None of those countries has adopted a ban similar to the one in Tennessee and individuals can still obtain treatment, Prelogar said. Kavanaugh, who has coached his daughters’ youth basketball teams, also wondered whether a ruling against Tennessee would give transgender athletes "a constitutional right to participate in girls' sports.” Prelogar said a narrow decision would not affect the sports issue. Associated Press writers Lindsay Whitehurst, Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas, Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee contributed to this report.South Korea's parliament formally introduced a motion on Thursday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over a botched attempt to impose martial law, but his party vowed to oppose the move, throwing the process into doubt. Lawmakers could vote for the bill as early as Friday. Yoon's ruling People Power Party said it would oppose it but the party has been divided over the crisis. The opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, needs at least eight ruling party lawmakers to back the bill in order for it to pass. "The Yoon Suk Yeol regime's declaration of emergency martial law caused great confusion and fear among our people," Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won told a session of South Korea's National Assembly held in the early hours of Thursday. None of the 108 ruling party lawmakers were present for the introduction of the motion, which followed an attempt by armed troops to force their way into the National Assembly building in Seoul, only to stand back when parliamentary aides sprayed them with fire extinguishers. "The people and the aides who protected parliament protected us with their bodies. The people won, and it's now time for us to protect the people," said Kim. "We need to immediately suspend the authority of President Yoon. He has committed an indelible, historic, crime against the people, whose anxiety needs to be soothed so that they can return to their daily lives". If the impeachment motion is passed and upheld by the constitutional court, Yoon would be the second South Korean president to have been impeached since massive candlelit protests against an influence-peddling scandal led to the removal of former president Park Geun-hye in 2017. Yoon's declaration of martial law late on Tuesday attempted to ban political activity and censor the media in South Korea, which has Asia's fourth largest economy and is a key U.S. ally. The shock move divided Yoon's ministers and unleashed six hours of political chaos. Demonstrators held candlelit vigils in Seoul late on Wednesday and called for Yoon's resignation. The impeachment motion against Yoon paved the way for a vote to be held in the following 24 to 72 hours. Opposition parties need a two-thirds majority to pass the impeachment bill. If it passes, South Korea's Constitutional Court will then decide whether to uphold the motion– a process that could take up to 180 days. If Yoon were to be suspended from exercising power due to parliament passing the bill, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would fill in as leader. If the embattled president resigned or was removed from office, a new election would be held within 60 days. NO SPECIFIC THREATS Yoon told the nation in a television speech late on Tuesday that martial law was needed to defend the country from pro-North Korean anti-state forces, and protect the free constitutional order, although he cited no specific threats. Within hours, South Korea's parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, unanimously passed a motion for martial law be lifted, with 18 members of Yoon's party present. The president then rescinded the declaration of martial law, around six hours after its proclamation. "There are opinions that it was too much to go to emergency martial law, and that we did not follow the procedures for emergency martial law, but it was done strictly within the constitutional framework," a South Korean presidential official told Reuters by telephone. There has been no reaction yet from North Korea to the drama in the South. Yoon was embraced by leaders in the West as a partner in the U.S.-led effort to unify democracies against growing authoritarianism in China, Russia and elsewhere. But he caused unease among South Koreans by branding his critics as "communist totalitarian and anti-state forces". In November, he denied wrongdoing in response to influence-peddling allegations against him and his wife and he has taken a hard line against labour unions. The martial law crisis rattled global financial markets and left South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index down 1.4%. Currency dealers reporting suspected state intervention to keep the won stable after overnight talks between Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong. Choi sent an emergency note to global financial chiefs and credit rating agencies late on Wednesday to say the finance ministry was working to alleviate any adverse impact from political turmoil, the ministry said. Yoon, a career prosecutor, squeezed out a victory in the tightest presidential election in South Korean history in 2022, riding a wave of discontent over economic policy, scandals and gender wars. But his support ratings have been at around 20% for months and the opposition captured nearly two-thirds of seats in parliament in an April election. Martial law been declared more than a dozen times since South Korea was established as a republic in 1948. In 1980, a group of military officers forced then-President Choi Kyu-hah to proclaim martial law to crush calls for the restoration of democratic government.3. Russia: Despite initially backing the Assad regime, Russia managed to maintain its influence in Syria by facilitating a peaceful transition of power. The regime change has provided Russia with the opportunity to establish itself as a key player in the region.NEW ORLEANS -- The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it “game-changing” for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the center's reliance on fossil fuels — and whether the plans for new natural gas power to support it could lead to higher energy bills in the future for Louisiana residents. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be “establishing operations in Memphis,” without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states offering tax credits and other incentives to lure big tech firms seeking sites for energy-intensive data centers. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren’t enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. “We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level,” Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utility providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15-year period — nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. “There’s no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they’re not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there’s safeguards in place.” Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, representing northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisiana residents and views it as vital for his region. “It’s going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America,” Foster said. “I’m for it 100%.” Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated by Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI’s south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with “a stunning lack of transparency” in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. “Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them,” he said, “and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made.” _____ Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. _____ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96

NoneNot all data is created equally. And for 21st century finance and treasury teams attempting to navigate today’s atypical and dynamic economic environment, it’s not just about having data — it’s about having the right data. Still, the rise of digital finance tools means finance teams now have more data than they know what to do with. Transaction records, cash flow metrics, sales projections; it’s all there in a slew of spreadsheets and dashboards. But quantity doesn’t equal quality. The challenge lies in aggregating and analyzing this data in a manner that generates actionable insights. Rich treasury data, after all, shouldn’t just show a business where the cash is — it should help CFOs and treasury teams understand where it should be. Global corporations can frequently have billions of dollars in “trapped liquidity,” a term that refers to funds that are inaccessible or inefficiently utilized due to geographical, regulatory or operational constraints. This increasingly limits the ability of these enterprises to do things like invest in innovation, pay down debt or optimize working capital. Not all data comes from trustworthy sources, either. Manual processes are notorious for introducing errors, and this problem can be exacerbated by a patchwork of siloed systems. Many organizations can rely on legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms, disparate treasury management systems (TMS) and regional banking infrastructures, creating data visibility gaps. As global challenges mount, the importance of understanding and managing treasury data is likely to only grow. However, next-generation technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, digital payments and even blockchain are helping finance and treasury teams not just create value but enable their firms to compete in an increasingly 24/7, real-time world. Read more : Legacy Treasury Management Systems Ill-Equipped as Markets Enter Real-Time Era The Untapped Potential of Data-Rich Systems in Corporate Finance Treasury data provides a critical lens into liquidity management. This includes data on cash positions, payment flows, working capital metrics and foreign exchange exposures. Organizations can work to align their data strategies with business goals, ideally so that treasury and finance can work in tandem as a strategic partner to the broader enterprise. A PYMNTS Intelligence report, “ The Platform Business Data Readiness Survey: How Real-Time Data Can Drive Growth ,” created in collaboration with Fiserv , examines the growing importance of data readiness for businesses aiming to optimize operations and unlock market potential. Advanced analytics tools powered by AI are increasingly being seen as a solution. These tools can aggregate data from multiple systems, apply predictive modeling to forecast cash needs, and even automate recommendations for optimizing liquidity across regions. “AI and real-time enriched data represent a leap forward,” Sherri Haymond , co-president, global partnerships at Mastercard, told PYMNTS. As treasury functions evolve, the focus is shifting from transactional to strategic, moving beyond just static reporting to leverage real-time data to drive decisions. “Many treasurers are thinking, ‘Well, how can I extract that last ounce of juice from my financial ecosystem ?’” Ambrish Bansal , global head of liquidity and cash concentration products for the Citi Treasury and Trade Solutions business, told PYMNTS. In a world where financial flexibility often determines market leadership, the ability to access and deploy trapped liquidity efficiently can mean the difference between stagnation and growth. Read more: Treasurers Step Into Spotlight as Strategic Backbone of 21st Century Businesses The Future of Treasury Data A company can have billions in its cash reserves and still face liquidity shortages if those funds aren’t available in the right place, at the right time. PYMNTS Intelligence’s study, “ The Impact of Misunderstood Treasurers in Technology ,” a collaboration with Citi , found that within the technology sector alone, 92% of treasurers believe increasing their involvement with other departments would improve cash flow predictability. One of the core challenges in treasury management is the lack of standardization in financial messaging. Historically, varying formats across banks, geographies and systems have created inefficiencies and fragmented data sets. As the March 2025 adoption deadline for the ISO 20022 message format nears for Federal Reserve banks, the global messaging standard for financial transactions is poised to significantly enhance the quality, accessibility and utility of treasury data. PYMNTS has written previously about how the maximum efficiencies of data and messaging standardization can only be realized when everyone’s on board. As banks and financial institutions worldwide transition to this unified framework, corporate treasurers are likely to gain access to richer, more structured data that can drive smarter liquidity management and operational efficiency. For companies willing to invest in this strategic capability, the rewards could be transformative.KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes tore through a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sparking fires and killing at least 21 people, according to the head of a nearby hospital, in the latest assault on a sprawling tent city that Israel designated a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly targeted. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area, without providing additional details, and said it took precautions to minimize harm to civilians. The strike on the Muwasi tent camp was one of several deadly assaults across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. An Israeli attack in central Gaza killed at least 10 more people, including four children, according to Palestinian medics. Israel’s devastating war in Gaza , launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, shows no signs of ending after nearly 14 months. Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced and is reliant on international food aid to survive. Israel is also pressing a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say Palestinians might be experiencing famine . The Biden administration has pledged to make a new push for a Gaza ceasefire now that there's a truce in Lebanon between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, ending more than a year of cross-border fighting. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump demanded this week the release of hostages held by Hamas before he is sworn into office in January. Wednesday's strike in Muwasi — a desolate area with few public services that holds hundreds of thousands of displaced people — wounded at least 28 people, according to Atif al-Hout, the director of Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. An Associated Press journalist at the hospital counted at least 15 bodies, but said reaching a precise number was difficult because many of the dead were dismembered, some without heads or badly burned. In the morgue, an infant's blackened hand and face peeked out from beneath a heavy blanket used to transport bodies to the hospital. “It was like doomsday,” said a wounded woman, Iman Jumaa, who held back tears as she described how the strike killed her father, her brothers and her brothers' children. Videos and photos of the strike shared widely on social media showed flames and a column of black smoke rising into the night sky, as well as twisted metal tent frames and shredded fabric. Palestinian men searched through the still-burning wreckage, shouting, “Over here guys!” Further away, civilians stood at a distance, observing the destruction. The military said the strikes had set off secondary blasts, indicating explosives present in the area had detonated. It was not possible to independently confirm the Israeli claims, and the strikes could also have ignited fuel, cooking gas canisters or other materials in the camp. Shortly after the strike, Al-Awda Hospital said two people had been killed and 38 wounded in an attack on a residential block in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The military had no immediate comment on the strike, but said earlier strikes in central Gaza had hit “terrorist targets." Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths, saying the militants often operate in residential areas and are known to position tunnels, rocket launchers and other infrastructure near homes, schools and mosques. Previous Israeli strikes on tent camps in Gaza have drawn widespread international outrage, such as when a wounded student’s last moments were caught on video as he burned to death in a tent outside a hospital. In northern Gaza, dozens of Palestinian families said Israel's expanding offensive had forcibly displaced them from schools-turned-shelters. Associated Press footage showed people on the road Wednesday leaving Beit Lahia, many crowded onto donkey carts with their belongings in their arms. Others walked on foot. “This morning a quadcopter (drone) detonated four bombs at the school. There were people injured, human remains — we left with nothing,” said Sadeia al-Rahel. The 57-year-old said her family has been eating grass, leaves, and animal feed for two months due to the lack of food aid in the north. The amount of aid entering Gaza plunged in October, and hunger is widespread across the territory, even in central Gaza where aid groups have more access. Humanitarian organizations say Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting and the breakdown of law and order make it difficult to deliver assistance. Israel has said it is working to increase the flow of aid. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,500 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 people were abducted. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. On Wednesday, Israel said its forces recovered the body of a hostage who was captured alive during the Oct. 7 attack. Israel believes Itay Svirsky was killed by his captors. The families of hostages held in Gaza have grown increasingly concerned that their loved ones are at risk so long as the war continues. Israel’s military released on Wednesday the findings of a probe into the circumstances behind the deaths of six hostages whose bodies were recovered in August, determining they were probably shot by their captors after a nearby Israeli strike in February. Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writer Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/mideast-wars

After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey , U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the airborne pests. The New York Democrat is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy special technology that identifies and tracks drones back to their landing spots, according to briefings from his office. Schumer’s calls come amid growing public concern that the federal government hasn’t offered clear explanations as to who is operating the drones, and has not stopped them. National security officials have said the drones don’t appear to be a sign of foreign interference. “There’s a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” said Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, on Fox News Sunday. “The answer ‘We don’t know’ is not a good enough answer.” President-elect Donald Trump posted on social media last week: “Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so. Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down.” Certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the power to “incapacitate” drones, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. “But we need those authorities expanded,” he said, without saying exactly how. The drones don’t appear to be linked to foreign governments, Mayorkas said. “We know of no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the Northeast. And we are vigilant in investigating this matter,” Mayorkas said. Last year, federal aviation rules began requiring certain drones to broadcast their identities. It’s not clear whether that information has been used to determine who is operating the drones swarming locations in New York and New Jersey. Mayorkas’ office didn’t immediately respond to questions about whether they’ve been able to identify drones using this capability. Schumer is calling for recently declassified radar technology to be used to help determine whether an object is a drone or a bird, identify its electronic registration, and follow it back to its landing place. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday said federal officials were sending a drone detection system to the state. “This system will support state and federal law enforcement in their investigations,” Hochul said in a statement. The governor did not immediately provide additional details, including where the system will be deployed. Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month over New Jersey, raising concerns among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility and over Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified.

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Rupert Murdoch's audacious bid to cement his eldest's son's control over one of the world's most influential media empires has failed, a US report said Monday. The first family of news -- commanding a stable that includes Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and a host of British and Australian media -- had been the inspiration for the hit TV series "Succession." Like the fictional version, this real-life fight pitted the children of a powerful patriarch against each other for who should be the face and the voice of the empire after the old man dies. Murdoch, now 93, had long intended that his children inherit the empire, and jointly decide its direction. The eldest daughter, Prudence, has had little involvement in the family business, but at various times the other three -- Lachlan, James and Elisabeth -- have all been considered as successors. But in recent years Murdoch senior had reportedly grown concerned that Fox News -- the crown jewels of the collection -- might drift away from its lucrative right-wing moorings after his death, to reflect the more centrist views of James and Elisabeth. He had therefore sought to designate Lachlan -- who currently heads Fox News and News Corp -- as the controlling player in the wider business. That had required rewriting the terms of an irrevocable trust that passed power to the four siblings jointly, stripping three of them of voting power, while allowing them to continue to benefit financially. Rupert Murdoch had argued that giving control to Lachlan -- who is understood to share his father's worldview -- was in the financial interests of the whole brood. The family intrigue played out behind closed doors in a Nevada courtroom, where Murdoch senior and his four children were understood to have given several days' evidence in September. In a decision filed at the weekend, probate commissioner Edmund J. Gorman Jr. said the father and son had acted in "bad faith" in trying to rewrite the rules, The New York Times reported, citing a copy of the sealed court document. The plan to alter the trust's structure was a "carefully crafted charade" to "permanently cement Lachlan Murdoch's executive roles." "The effort was an attempt to stack the deck in Lachlan Murdoch's favor after Rupert Murdoch's passing so that his succession would be immutable," the Times cited the ruling as saying. "The play might have worked; but an evidentiary hearing, like a showdown in a game of poker, is where gamesmanship collides with the facts and at its conclusion, all the bluffs are called and the cards lie face up. "The court, after considering the facts of this case in the light of the law, sees the cards for what they are and concludes this raw deal will not, over the signature of this probate commissioner, prevail." Murdoch's lawyer, Adam Streisand, did not immediately reply to an AFP request for comment. The ruling is not final, and must now be ratified or rejected by a district judge. That ruling could be challenged, perhaps provoking another round of legal arguments. The complicated structure of the irrevocable trust reflects the colourful familial relationships that shaped Rupert Murdoch's life as he built the multibillion-dollar empire. The trust was reported to have been the result of a deal agreed with his second wife -- mother of Lachlan, Elisabeth and James -- who wanted to ensure her offspring would not be disenfranchised by children Murdoch had with his third wife, Wendi Deng. The Murdoch empire has transformed tabloid newspapers, cable TV and satellite broadcasting over the last few decades while facing accusations of stoking populism across the English-speaking world. Brexit in Britain and the rise of Donald Trump in the United States are credited at least partly to Murdoch and his outlets.See the 4,800+ rejected designs for Illinois' new state flag

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Sex in space 'dolphin-style' is the new frontier as scientists call for snuggies, straddling and VelcroMADRID (AP) — Spanish King Felipe VI used his traditional Christmas Eve speech to remember the victims of the catastrophic Valencia flash floods , and urged the country to remain calm despite public debates around hot-button issues such as immigration and housing affordability. In a pre-recorded speech that usually reviews the year's most relevant issues, Felipe said Spain “must never forget the pain and sadness" the flood have caused. The Oct. 29 floods killed more than 225 people in eastern Spain, damaging countless homes and leaving graveyards of cars piled on top of each other. In some towns, the heavy downpours that caused the floods dropped as much as a year's worth of rain in just eight hours. In early November, as Spaniards' shock at the wreckage turned into frustration, a political blame game began, directed especially at regional authorities who failed to send timely emergency alerts to cell phones on the day of the floods. The frustration of residents in hard-hit Paiporta near Valencia was on display when people tossed mud and shouted insults at the king and government officials in early November when they made their first visit to the town. “We have seen — and understood — the frustration, the pain, the impatience, the demands for greater and more effective coordination," Felipe said about how the disaster was managed, adding that he had asked that aid be sent to everyone who needed it. He also addressed the country's housing crunch and high rents, which have become a leading concern in this European Union country that is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy. Fast-rising rents are especially acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where incomes have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Felipe urged that “all the actors involved reflect” and "listen to each other” so that they facilitate bringing access to housing under “affordable conditions.” Spain's immigration debate should keep in mind the country's European partners and immigrants' countries of origin, Felipe said, warning that “the way in which we are able to address immigration ... will say a lot in the future about our principles and the quality of our democracy.” Felipe said Spain need to remain calm in the public sphere, even in the face of a “sometimes thunderous” contest in its politics.

The USF Bulls (6-6) and San Jose State Spartans (7-5) meet Tuesday in the Hawaii Bowl at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's college football odds around the USF vs. San Jose State odds , and make our expert college football picks and predictions . The Bulls were tripped up 35-28 in the regular-season finale at Rice Nov. 30, failing as 5.5-point favorites with the Over (54) cashing. USF is 3-2 against the spread (ATS) in the past 5 games, while cashing the Over in 3 in a row, and in 5 of the past 6 games. USF QB Byrum Brown has been sidelined since Sept. 28 in a blowout loss at Tulane. He suffered a lower leg injury, but Brown is getting healthier and might be able to play in this bowl game. That would be a huge lift for USF. As far as the transfer portal or opt outs, the Bulls haven't been terribly affected going into this game. For San Jose State, it lost CBs Michael Dansby to Arizona and DJ Harvey to USC. WR Nick Nash has opted out to get ready for the 2025 NFL Draft, too, so that's a big loss for the Spartans offense. Nash had 104 receptions, 1,382 yards and 16 TDs -- all team-highs -- while the rest of the receivers had 13 TDs combined. San Jose State scored a 34-31 win over Stanford in its regular-season finale, covering as a 2.5-point favorite with the Over (55) hitting. Still, the Spartans are 2-6 ATS in the past 8 games, with the Under going 5-2 in the past 7 outings. Rankings - US LBM Coaches Poll : Conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports Stream select live college football games and full replays: Get ESPN+ USF vs. San Jose State odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated Monday at 6:08 p.m. ET. USF vs. San Jose State picks and predictions Prediction USF 32, San Jose State 29 Moneyline USF (+ 125 ) is a strong play as moderate underdogs as long as Brown is able to start for the Bulls. All indications are that it is going to be the case. San Jose State (-150) would be an attractive play if Nash was going to play, even with Brown starting. However, the best player will not be on the field for this bowl game and the Spartans offense should be a shell of itself. Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now ! Against the spread If you're on the conservative side, USF +3 (- 115 ) is a decent play catching the points. The Bulls were impressive in the Boca Raton Bowl last season, roughing up Syracuse 45-0 -- USF was a 3-point underdog. The Bulls have won 3 of their past 4 bowl games dating back to 2016. San Jose State is just 1-2 ATS in the past 3 games as a favorite, while going 2-6 ATS in the past 8 outings. Over/Under UNDER 63.5 ( -110 ) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most. For San Jose State, the Under has cashed in 3 straight games off campus, and again, the offense should take a hit with Nash not being a part of the team. The Over has hit in 3 straight games for the Bulls, so that's where the risk comes in. However, San Jose State has a serviceable defense, and it should be able to slow USF somewhat. Want to play some games of your own? Play for free at the best social casinos and enjoy lots of slots, blackjack, video poker, roulette and more. You can even earn real prizes! For more sports betting picks and tips , check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW . Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X . Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook . College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / Recruiting / Transfer portal / College Football Playoffs / College Sports Wire / High School More NCAA College Football Picks and Predictions! Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State, picks and predictions Myrtle Beach Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA odds, picks and predictions College Football Playoff: Tennessee at Ohio State odds, picks and predictionsAustralia ditches plans to fine tech giants for misinformation SYDNEY: Australia has ditched plans to fine social media companies if they fail to stem the spread of misinformation, the country ́s communications minister said on Sunday. The proposed legislation outlined sweeping powers to fine tech companies up to five percent of their yearly turnover if they breached new online safety obligations. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said she had dumped the bill after running into significant opposition in the country ́s senate. “Based on public statements and engagements with senators, it is clear that there is no pathway to legislate this proposal through the senate,” she said in a statement. The proposed bill notably drew the ire of tech baron Elon Musk, who in September likened the Australian government to “fascists”. Australia has been at the forefront of global efforts to regulate the tech giants. Social media companies could be fined more than US$30 million if they fail to keep children off their platforms, under separate laws tabled before Australia ́s parliament on Thursday.

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In another groundbreaking revelation, actress Emma Dumont bravely came out as non-binary/transgender in a heartfelt social media post. Known for her roles in popular TV shows like "The Gifted" and "Bunheads", Dumont shared her personal journey of self-discovery and acceptance, urging fans to embrace their true identities and be proud of who they are. The entertainment industry has shown overwhelming support for Dumont, with many fellow actors and industry professionals applauding her courage and authenticity.Snowflake Continues To Catch Up With New AI Workloads

TROY, Ala. (AP) — Damien Taylor rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns, Matthew Caldwell threw for a touchdown and ran for another, and Troy scored 21 points in less than two minutes in the fourth quarter to beat Southern Miss 52-20 on Saturday. Taylor went straight up the middle from 56-yards out to give Troy a 24-8 lead midway through the third quarter. He added a 35-yard scoring run for a 38-20 lead with 5:50 left in the fourth. On the ensuing possession, Ian Conerly-Goodly intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 31 yards for a 25-point lead. Southern Miss quarterback Tate Rodemaker was intercepted again and LJ Green returned it 49 yards to the Golden Eagles' 16-yard line. Jordan Lovett capitalized on the short field by running it in from the 5. Taylor reached the 1,000-yard mark on the season for Troy (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt Conference). Caldwell was 14 of 26 for 187 yards and he carried it seven times for 30 yards. Rodemaker threw for 234 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Southern Miss (1-11, 0-8). 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-footballAs the village grapples with the mysteries and secrets that have surfaced, one thing is certain - the truth behind the young woman's arrival will ultimately be revealed, bringing closure and resolution to a community torn between conflicting opinions and beliefs.The agreement between Google and Meta involves leveraging user data to create personalized advertisements that are tailored to the interests and preferences of teenagers. By utilizing sophisticated algorithms and tracking technology, the two companies aim to deliver ads that are more likely to resonate with young audiences, thereby increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversion.

In the highly popular mobile game "王者荣耀" (King of Glory), the arrival of a new hero never fails to excite players around the world. With the release of the highly-anticipated Season 38, players were thrilled to welcome the new hero, 空空儿 (Kong Kong), to the battlefield. Renowned for his unique abilities and captivating design, 空空儿 has quickly become a favorite pick among players in the new season.Mutasa lays down the Zifa elections roadmap

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Tyrese Hunter tossed in a game-high 26 points to lead Memphis to a 99-97 upset victory over No. 2 UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Hunter, who played at Iowa State and Texas before transferring to Memphis, made eight field goals with 7-of-10 3-point shooting. The Tigers (5-0) connected on 12 of their 22 3-point attempts in the win. UConn's Hassan Diarra made a free throw to cut the Memphis lead to 99-97 with 2.2 seconds left. He intentionally missed the second free throw and collected the loose ball, but his desperation shot was off the mark. It was 92-92 when UConn's Liam McNeeley was called for an offensive foul with 40.3 seconds left. UConn coach Dan Hurley received a technical for arguing the foul call, and PJ Carter made all four free throws to give the Tigers a four-point lead. Memphis, which squandered a 13-point lead with four minutes to play in regulation, received 22 points from PJ Haggerty, 19 from Colby Rogers and 14 from Dain Dainja. Memphis will play the winner of Monday night's game between Colorado and Michigan State in Tuesday's semifinals. UConn will face the loser of that contest. Tarris Reed Jr. had a team-high 22 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for UConn (4-1) before he fouled out with 3:18 to play. He made 10 of his 13 field goal attempts. Alex Karaban added 19 points for the Huskies. Jaylin Stewart scored a career-high 16 points, Diarra had 12 and McNeeley added 10. UConn trailed 82-79 after Diarra made two free throws with 24.2 seconds to play in regulation. The Huskies then forced a turnover and tied the game on a 3-pointer by Solo Ball with 1.2 on the clock. Although Memphis shot 56.5 percent from the field (13 for 23) and 50 percent from 3-point territory (5 for 10) in the first half, the game was tied 40-40 after 20 minutes. Neither team led by more than six points in the half. UConn received 29 points from its bench in the first half. Reed scored 15 of those points and Stewart supplied the other 14. --Field Level MediaLooking ahead, China's success in the field of intangible cultural heritage serves as a model for other countries seeking to preserve their own cultural traditions. By continuing to prioritize the protection and promotion of ICH, China will not only enrich its cultural landscape but also contribute to the diversity and richness of global cultural heritage.BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Botafogo overcame playing with 10 men to win its first Copa Libertadores title after beating fellow Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro 3-1 in the final at Monumental de Nunez Stadium on Saturday. After just 30 seconds, midfielder Gregore, one of Botafogo's best players, hit the head of Fausto Vera with his foot and was given a straight red card. “It was so hard to have one less so early in a final. It was an unfortunate move,” Botafogo defender Alexander Barboza said. “But Gregore deserves this title as much as we do. We made history and that won’t ever be erased.” Winger Luiz Henrique scored first in the 35th minute from close range, and was fouled for the penalty shot converted by Alex Telles in the 44th. Eduardo Vargas headed Mineiro's only goal in the 46th while Junior Santos, the top scorer in the Copa Libertadores with 10 goals, capped Botafogo's historic night with the third in injury time. Brazil was assured of a sixth consecutive Copa Libertadores title and its 24th in history, just one less than Argentina. It was also the third straight title for Rio de Janeiro clubs, after Fluminense in 2023 and Flamengo in 2022. Botafogo, the last of the four big Rio clubs to win the Copa Libertadores, earned prize money of $23 million and a spot in the Club World Cup in the United States next year. Despite sensationally losing Gregore, Botafogo reset and Luiz Henrique scored the opener. Henrique surged on the right flank and crossed to Marlon Freitas, who took a shot that was deflected. Henrique was in the right place to strike through the legs of goalkeeper Ederson. Henrique and Ederson met again near the end of the first half when the striker surprised the keeper on the edge of the box. A penalty was given after a video review and left back Telles calmly slotted the ball home. Mineiro came back with a more aggressive formation in the second half and was rewarded when veteran Hulk took a corner kick and Vargas, who replaced midfielder Gustavo Scarpa during the break, didn’t even need to jump to score with his head. Mineiro had more chances to equalize through Deyverson in the 53rd, Hulk in the 56th, and Vargas in the 86th and 88th, all from close range. But it was Botafogo’s Júnior Santos, who was sidelined by injury during the Copa, who scored the last goal. “We just failed at getting some advantage at having one more player than them,” tearful Mineiro defender Rodrigo Battaglia said. “It was a very hard day for all of us.” Botafogo coach Arthur Jorge joined Portuguese compatriots Jorge Jesus (Flamengo, 2019) and Abel Ferreira (Palmeiras, 2020 and 2021) as European coaches with a Copa Libertadores title. Mineiro's Gabriel Milito missed the chance to be the first Argentine to win the tournament with a Brazilian club. Botafogo also gave American owner John Textor his biggest trophy yet. Textor has been subject to criticism after unproven allegations about match-fixing when Botafogo squandered a 13-point lead last year and missed out on the league title. Next week, his team could win its first Brazilian title since 1995. “I saw this was a hungry group of players since I joined,” said Telles, who joined Botafogo in mid-year. “No one was speaking about what happened last year, it hurt us all. We knew we had a burden to carry, to give something back to our fans. Now we did it.” Botafogo was relegated from the league in 2020 but has risen to prominence again with Textor’s investment. He was part of a wave of foreign owners who came into Brazilian soccer after a 2021 law change paved the way for private investors. Mineiro also has wealthy owner in Brazilian billionaire Rubens Menin, a construction mogul. Savarese reported from Sao Paulo. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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With "Old Sins Revisited" now relegated to the annals of theatre history, Furious Donkey and Clara Masters face a long and arduous road to redemption. Will they learn from their mistakes and emerge stronger and wiser, or will the shadow of this controversy forever haunt their future endeavors? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the legacy of this disastrous play will be a sobering reminder of the consequences of artistic arrogance and the perils of succumbing to the temptation of old sins revisited.

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A ruched bodycon dress to save all your future headaches: running late to date night, drinks with friends, work happy hours you didn't want to go to in the first place? Here's your dedicated 'fit. Promising review: "This dress is amazing! It is easy to get on and it is so comfortable. I actually forgot I was dressed up because I was so comfortable in this dress." — Anne Bib Price: $28.49+ (available in sizes L–4X and in three colors) 8. A classic V-neck with slight ruching which gives it the illusion of a wrap silhouette making this basic top (basic in this context = an excellent compliment) a more fashion-forward feel. Promising review: "I love this top! It is very comfortable, stretchy without being baggy, and the top doesn't gape open.This is actually my third of these tops and I have it in white, grey and now the teal color. FYI, the white one is fabulous because it's not see through!" — l.a.w. Price: $24.99 (available in sizes 16–24 and in nine colors) 9. A ruched top and pants set so there's no reason to panic about what to wear to that Sunday brunch when you have this beauty. P.S. The seller doesn't recommend sizing up for an oversized look because of the loose and stretchy material. Promising review: "Loveeeeeeed these sets, OMG. It’s so flowy and comfortable. The perfect outfit to throw on when you don’t know what to wear. You can dress it up or dress it down. The material is soft and not itchy." — Amazon Customer Price: $40.99 (available in sizes S–XXL and in 35 colors) 10. An off-shoulder maxi dress designed with the phrase wardrobe staple, the kind of number you can wear to weddings and birthday dinners *or* for a stroll along a beach boardwalk. Promising review: "I bought this dress with the intent of wearing it once to a rehearsal dinner. Little did I know I would end up wearing it ALL summer long! It is opaque, breezy, comfortable, and fit like a glove with some movement. I got endless compliments and no one could believe I found it on Amazon! I would recommend this to anyone looking for a classy, simple, long-term closet sample." — SCram Price: $39.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL and in 25 colors) 11. A mock neck bodysuit bound to be on constant rotation this fall. While this piece of clothing may not wear Uggs or guzzle down pumpkin spice, it still remains the perfect basic — one that's accumulated over 50,000 reviews. Promising review: "This is so soft and so comfortable. It’s the first bodysuit I’ve bought, and I don’t know why I haven’t purchased these sooner; it’s amazing. I was worried about the snaps being uncomfortable, but you don’t even know they’re there. I also worried about the price if it might be see-through, but it’s not at all. I’ll probably be buying this in every color." — MW Price: $24.98 (available in sizes XS–XXL and in 32 colors) 12. A classic structured blazer you can consider a solid investment for your wardrobe's future. Note: this advice is coming from someone with no solid financial expertise, but vibes have to count for something, right? Promising review : "It'd hard to find a well made, stretchy, women's jacket that's got a nice cut. This jacket checked all the boxes, AND it's comfortable, with REAL POCKETS. I'm so impressed with this jacket I plan to buy more in some other colors. Very good value for the money too." — pennyroyaltea Price: $50.57+ (available in sizes XXS–5X and 21 colors) 13. An oversize sweater you'll dub "foliage attire," aka an outfit you'll want to wear for any and all fall activities. Crunchy leaves, hear us roar. Promising review: "This is so warm, stylish, and comfortable. It's quick and easy to put on for a simple fall or winter look!" — Tina Price: $47.99 (available in sizes XS–XL and in 19 colors) 14. A chunky ankle boot you should really start negotiating for PTO now, considering you'll likely wear them every darn day. These babies are destined to become the ~little black dress~ of your shoe collection. Promising review: "I love everything about these boots. They are well-made, very fashionable, and comfortable. I was a little concerned about the height of the heel being uncomfortable but I wore them to work all day and didn't have any problems with my feet hurting . Very happy with my purchase!" — momtojsh Price: $26.97+ (available in sizes 5.5–11, including wide fits, and 11 styles) 15. A sweatshirt dress with the comfort of your beloved college crewneck (faded and tearing at the seams from thousands of wears, though we're not judging) and a cinched waistband for a touch of polish. Promising review: "I didn't expect this simple, inexpensive sweatshirt dress from Amazon to become one of my favorite go-to outfits (with skinny jeans or leggings, it is ADORABLE). But it did. I love it. It's warm and comfortable and holds up in the wash." — Tracy Anderson Price: $22.88+ (available in sizes XS–6X and in seven colors) 16. A tiered maxi skirt that simplifies your morning routine because the outfit equation of the fall-to-winter transition is now officially: this skirt, a sweater, and a knee-high boot. Promising review: "So, when I ordered this skirt, I was skeptical, but I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! It is the exact fit and style I have been looking for. The fabric is soft and flowing, but not thin at all. It fits as expected and is super comfy. And bonus - it has pockets!" — Kim M. Turcotte Price: $35.99 (available in sizes S–XXL and in 20 colors) 17. An off-shoulder bodycon lauded by reviewers for a comfortable and stretchy fabric that doesn't wrinkle, ergo you won't have to break out that clunky steamer that.. maybe doesn't even work properly? I swear the wrinkles are still there after I use mine. Promising review: " When I first took it out of the bag, I was skeptical. It feels pretty thin. Once on and properly situated (you have to pull the waist up higher to give it the overlap on the top), it is so cute and comfortable! I am seriously impressed, and I love the off-the-shoulder look, although you could have it sit wide on both shoulders. The color is beautiful. I bought the navy one, and it’s true to color. Size wise I bought my normal dress size, and it fit nicely." — Emily Norris Price: $39.99 (available in sizes 4–22 and in 19 colors) 18. A bodycon pencil dress because while the importance of owning the perfect LBD is no secret, it's likely you've had the same one for...decades (#guilty). I believe it's time we both level up. Promising reviews: "I love this dress. Simple and professional. It molds to my body in all the right ways, and it wasn't too long. It can be worn with a nice necklace to spruce it up, and flats and/or pumps. The material is also versatile enough so that it can be worn year round; all you need is a pair of stockings or tights, but the dress will work either way. I plan to order more colors." — LadyLestat "Perfect dress for any occasion. It has a layer for cold weather (seems to me) and super comfy! A must have in your wardrobe!" — Samionela Price: $38.99 (available in sizes L–5XL and in six colors) 19. Motorcycle boots that have Main CharacterTM energy, and I cannot explain how I know this... but I do. It's the footwear version of a Hadid sister. Promising review: "I am so happy with these boots. They are so comfortable! I wore these for the first time to a festival. Six hours later, still so comfortable! The size does run a bit large." — isabel Price: $128.95+ (available in sizes 6–10 and two colors) 20. A tank and skirt set because you only have five minutes to get dressed for this event and no time to think, "What am I going to wear today?" Slip into this duo for your next outing — whether for a picnic or rooftop birthday party. Promising review: "This set is, in a word, fabulous! Super comfortable. The material is soft and of great quality. Easily dresses up or down." — amy Price: $25.49+ (available in sizes XS–XL and in 14 colors) 21. A maxi dress you'll wear with alarming frequency (think: every. single. day.) due to its lightweight material, versatile design, *and* the fact that it has pockets. Promising review: "This is very comfortable and flowy. Wore it all day and didn’t want to take it off because of how comfy it was. I got lots of compliments on it at my baby shower — I’m eight months pregnant in Texas and it’s HOT here." — Lorin Rae Price: $33.99 (available in sizes 14–26 and in 41 colors) 22. A pleated mini dress if you love the idea of a skirt + sweater combo but don't want to throw the entire contents of your closet on the floor in pursuit of finding a set that matches. Here's your cheat sheet. Promising reviews: "I absolutely love this dress! Every time I wear it, I get a ton of compliments, and everyone assumes it's much pricier than it was! It’s a great weight for fall/spring, and the fit is perfection." — theluckielibrary " Comfortable, well made and warm. Surprisingly thick fabric." — houston18 Price: $39.99 (available in sizes XS–XL and in 12 colors) 23. A strapless knit top I'm upset with myself for not having purchased sooner. *adds to cart* *spends the rest of the afternoon shopping* Important: reviewers say to size down! Promising review: "This is a cute, comfortable top. Thick material. The avocado color is beautiful. I will probably order more!" — Amazon Customer Price: $14.99+ (available in sizes XS–XL, including petite fits, and in 26 colors) 24. A sleeveless top and pleated pant set for a polished office look that's not as formal as a pencil skirt but also not as *informal* as your cherished Lululemon leggings. Promising review: "Best outfit I purchased for work. Can dress it up or keep it casual. Fabric is soft and comfy." — Momma Price: $46.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and in 17 colors) 25. A pair of plaid knit leggings for a look that one-ups your favorite black yoga bottoms (but is still significantly more comfortable than any of the denim residing inside your Ikea drawers). Promising review: "I love, love, love these pants. I have them in the black and the dark blue wash. They go with everything and are so comfortable that I want to wear them daily! I usually wear premium denim, but I am reaching for these now. They look good with boots, flip-flops, or tennis shoes. If you’re on the fence, get these." — DM Lover Price: $12.40+ (available in sizes XS–XXL, including short and long fits, and 10 colors) 26. A sweater vest dress which can be layered over a turtleneck or button-down for a quick outfit that looks put together and — drumroll for the best part — requires barely any effort. Promising review: "Bought this to wear for work and love it — super comfortable. I work in a business casual work environment and wear this dress with a button up or turtle neck under it and black tights, and it worked out great." — Hannon E. Price: $42.99 (available in sizes XS–4XL and 18 colors) 27. A surplice dress available in solid colors and a snazzy leopard print, the latter of which I personally intend on purchasing in preparation for my eventual Disney vacay (inspired by the below reviewer). Promising review: "This dress is very easy to care for. You can dress it up or wear it casual. So comfortable. I live in South Florida and it’s become a staple for business, business travel and daily wear." — Amazon Customer Price: $12.40+ (available in sizes XS–6X, two materials, and 16 colors) 28. A pair of cowboy boots to put the "yee" in your "haw." Plus, reviewers note that these run wider than your average cowboy boots, i.e., your toes won't feel squished toward the front if you weren't born with a narrow footbed (neither was I, it's okay). Matisse Footwear is a Los Angeles-based small business creating affordable and fashionable footwear. Promising review: "I ordered these boots and wore them for the first time for 12 hours straight in Nashville, Tennessee. I walked all day in them and danced all night in them. They were extremely comfortable!! My feet did not hurt in them at all. I even wore them the next day for another nine hours, and my feet felt great! These boots are true to size. Great purchase!!" — Alyson Price: $39.99+ (available in sizes 6–11 and in 17 colors) 29. A smocked off-shoulder maxi serving main character energy from your favorite fall rom-com. Who's starring in the new reboot of You've Got Mail ? You. Promising review: "This dress is just so beautiful. I wore it to my birthday photo shoot and I immediately fell in love. It’s very comfortable and I love the length." — Larianne Tan Price: $59.99 (available in sizes XS–XXL and 20 colors) 30. Square-toe boots practiclaly guaranteed to become your new "it." And by "it," I mean this is your new official go-to shoe — the kind of gorgeous thing that pulls through when you have five minutes to get ready, a white crewneck, high-waisted jeans, dirty hair, and no patience. Promising review: " Very comfy and great-looking boots! Just like the picture. The heel height makes me taller but isn’t too steep to walk naturally. The zipper is smooth to pull up, and it stays up and doesn’t creep down over time. Overall, very happy with this purchase." — Rebecca Henry Price: $62.98+ (available in sizes 5–13 and three colors) The reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.

In conclusion, the bullish start to the trading day in A-shares reflects the resilience and optimism of investors in the face of market uncertainties. With economic indicators pointing towards growth, government policies supporting key sectors, and investor confidence on the rise, the stock market presents numerous opportunities for those who are willing to seize them. In the fast-paced world of trading, it is crucial to remember that opportunity waits for no one – so make sure you're ready to act when it knocks on your door.

jili777win

FAYETTEVILLE – Circuit Court Judge Paul M. Blake Jr. has definitely put in the hours during a public service career spanning nearly 50 years. He sees no need to change as the end of that career draws near. Except for possibly serving in senior judge status for select cases beginning in 2025, Blake will hang up the robe and conclude his career on Dec. 31. A Kanawha County native who has called Fayette County home for years, Blake isn’t taking an easy path out the door of the Fayette County Courthouse as he ends almost 20 years of service as a circuit court judge, which was preceded by five terms as the elected Fayette County prosecuting attorney, service in the House of Delegates from 1989-91 and nine years as an assistant county prosecutor. Even as his last month in office has arrived, Blake’s case docket has remained active. “I have (stayed busy),” Blake, 78, said on Dec. 6. “The criminal docket that I’ve had, I had several jury trials. I’ve had several matters that I’ve had to deal with. “And, next week is a pretty full week.” He says activity will slow down during the Christmas holiday. While still hearing cases and dealing with court-related issues, Blake has taken some time to reflect recently, as well as clean up his office to make room for the next occupant. “It’s really something, going through 50 years of memorabilia here,” he said. “I have enjoyed it, and I think I’ve made a good contribution to the justice system — civil and criminal,” Blake said. “But it’s going to be a period of adjustment. I’ve never been retired. I’ve been employed since I was 18 years of age.” Blake recalled his investiture as a circuit judge in 2005, which came after Gov. Joe Manchin appointed him to replace Judge Charles M. Vickers, who retired. At the investiture, Blake said he told the crowd that he “sort of felt like Tom Hanks in that movie ‘Cast Away.’ When he escapes from the island and he looks back, he’s made it over the breakers and he’s on his way and he looks back at that island and, you know, you can just see he’s leaving a place of security, where he felt comfortable, going to the unknown.” “That’s the way I feel,” Blake said. “I was very comfortable in the prosecutor’s office, but when the opportunity became available, I felt like I had to give it (circuit judge) a try, although I didn’t know where it would end. I sort of feel the same way now (with retirement looming). “I’ve always been active, and I don’t intend to sit on the front porch in a rocker. I intend to keep busy doing something. ... I’ve got 100 acres of land that I have to keep up with. I bail hay. Keeping a farm going, I think, will take a lot of my time.” Also, he plans to travel with his wife, Ruth Ann, and make plenty of time to spend with family. “I hope to stay busy,” he said. • • • Looking back on his career “brings back a lot of memories,” said Blake. “So much has changed since 1974.” “I really came here in 1973 as a second-year law student,” he said. “Judge (Zane) Summerfield, who was prosecutor at the time, told me he’d put up with me for the summer if I’d want to come and shadow him and Mr. (Walter) Wilson. I did, and when I graduated he offered me a position as an assistant prosecutor. and I came back. “The annex wasn’t built, the only courthouse officers were down where the county administrator is, that’s where Judge Zane Summerfield and Mr. Wilson shared that space. They put me down in the basement. It was an experience. We didn’t have the magistrate court; it was the JP (justice of the peace) system. Dillard Inge was a JP, and he also had Inge Dry Cleaners down there where the public defenders’ office is. I chuckle sometimes. ... The system has really changed a lot.” “I never aspired to run for office,” Blake said. “My dad was a coal miner, and my mom was a cook. I was an average student in school and in college, but I thought I’d like to become a lawyer. I thought it was a decent living. I never dreamed that I’d run for office.” “I feel so blessed,” the judge said. “It’s a real honor and privilege to be elected by the citizens of your county to a job. But to be elected to all three branches of government, which I have, it’s just unbelievable. I don’t know what it is that I inspire such confidence, but I really appreciate that voters have been so good to me, and this county has been so good to me.” Blake said he approached his job with the seriousness it required. “The tremendous responsibility that a circuit judge has over a person’s life and property is a real sobering experience, when you stop to think about it. I’ve really taken that seriously and responsibly. I have enjoyed being a judge. There’s less than 100 of us in the state, so that’s a pretty elite group.” A disappointment during his time on the bench is seeing the rise of drugs in society. “I wish I could have made a bigger difference in the drug culture,” he said. “When I first was appointed as an assistant prosecutor, one of the reasons I was hired was that that was when marijuana and cocaine were really coming on, and Fayette County had a lot of indictments for drugs. I was hired, I think to take on that. Now, I think it’s changed from marijuana and cocaine to fentanyl and methamphetamine, and it affects so much in society.” In the past, he has lamented a large volume of abuse and neglect cases, many which have “arisen out of drug usage.” “I know people that have tried to kick it. Some of them have been successful, but so many of them, they will kick it for a while, then something will drive them back to it. I wish I had the answer to that.” His advice to the incoming judge, Thomas Fast? “Be patient. He’s not going to learn everything at once. There’s things even now that will come up. Just the other day, I had a writ of coram nobis (in a court case), and good Lord, I hadn’t heard that since law school. There’s so much of this to learn. I think you have to be patient, you have to listen attentively, and be prepared. That’s a big thing that judges need to know. “When you get into court, sometimes lawyers will try to snowball you or whatever, and if you’ve looked at the case and you’re familiar with the law, it makes it go a lot smoother.” • • • Where is the justice system headed? “There are a lot of areas that need addressed,” Blake said. “We need to get a handle on this drug situation. It used to be alcohol was a big factor and it touched everything in the court system. Now, it’s the drugs. We need to figure out a way to use that money intelligently that the government has to be successful and get these people out of the drug culture.” Also, treating children who have suffered trauma early in their lives is a must, he stressed. “Right now, there are 30 children in this state that are in a (psychiatric) facility in Arkansas that need to be moved (including some under his jurisdiction),” Blake said. “And you’re dealing with 10-, 11-year-old children that are so out of control. ... This state needs to develop a place for these young children that have really been damaged so much by their home environment.” Getting the children in a helpful situation early is a positive, he said. “But, if you get a child that’s 10, 11, 12, they have seen so much, heard so much, their psychological and emotional state is sometimes horrible. And, I hate sending some child down to Arkansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, but we don’t have any facility in the state to treat those types of children, and we need that.” “It’s like the prison system; the legislature, they give you all kinds of word salad and sympathize with your situation, but they don’t do anything about it.” “Right now, there is still a big turnover in social workers,” Blake added. “From one month to the next, I don’t know who I’m going to get to show up in court on these cases. That’s an issue that’s going to have to be resolved.” Looking forward, Blake said the county is in good hands. “I think we have a good bar association here, and I’ve got confidence in both of the individuals that will be in the circuit judgeships (Fast and current Judge Thomas Ewing). They’re both younger judges. That’s one of the things that sticks out to me is the number of judges (about 20) we’re losing this year (either to retirement or deciding not to run again).”The Government has announced it is doubling funds to support workers and businesses affected by job losses at a giant Tata steel plant. Ministers said an extra £15 million will be made available for supply chain businesses and workers affected by changes at Tata’s Port Talbot site in south Wales. Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said the move means a fund to support businesses across Wales heavily reliant on Tata steel will be increased to £30 million. She also announced that more businesses will be able to apply for the funds, and the value of individual grants is increasing to up to £250,000 for businesses to invest in equipment, property, technology. The Government said there has been “significant demand” on the existing funding, with almost 40 businesses employing 2,000 people having begun the application process. Grants worth millions of pounds are expected to be released in the new year. The increase in funding is in anticipation of more people leaving Tata in early 2025 through the company’s voluntary redundancy scheme. Ms Stevens said: “This Government is acting decisively to support workers and businesses in Port Talbot. “We are doubling the funding available to businesses and workers and widening access to grants to ensure we support as many people as possible. “In just four months we have announced more than £40 million in investment. We said we would back workers and businesses affected by the transition at Port Talbot and we are doing exactly that. “While this remains a very difficult time for Tata workers, their families and the community, we are determined to support workers and businesses in our Welsh steel industry, whatever happens.”

ANDOVER, Mass. , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TransMedics Group, Inc. ("TransMedics") (Nasdaq: TMDX), a medical technology company that is transforming organ transplant therapy for patients with end-stage lung, heart, and liver failure, today announced that members of the management team will present at the upcoming 43 rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. The presentation will take place on Monday, January 13, 2025 , at 2:15 p.m. Pacific Standard Time / 5:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time . Event: 43 rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference Date: Monday, January 13, 2025 Time: 2:15 p.m. PST A live and archived webcast of the presentation will be available on the "Investors" section of the TransMedics website at https://investors.transmedics.com/ . The Company's standard investor presentation is also available through this link. About TransMedics Group, Inc. TransMedics is the world's leader in portable extracorporeal warm perfusion and assessment of donor organs for transplantation. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts , the company was founded to address the unmet need for more and better organs for transplantation and has developed technologies to preserve organ quality, assess organ viability prior to transplant, and potentially increase the utilization of donor organs for the treatment of end-stage heart, lung, and liver failure. Investor Contact: Brian Johnston Laine Morgan 332-895-3222 Investors@transmedics.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/transmedics-to-participate-in-the-43rd-annual-jp-morgan-healthcare-conference-302338418.html SOURCE TransMedics Group, Inc.

Marta's magic helped get the Pride to Saturday's NWSL title game against the Washington SpiritNEW YORK — U.S. stock indexes drifted lower Tuesday in the run-up to the highlight of the week for the market, the latest update on inflation that’s coming Wednesday. The S&P 500 dipped 0.3%, a day after pulling back from its latest all-time high. They’re the first back-to-back losses for the index in nearly a month, as momentum slows following a big rally that has it on track for one of its best years of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 154 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.3%. Tech titan Oracle dragged on the market and sank 6.7% after reporting growth for the latest quarter that fell just short of analysts’ expectations. It was one of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500, even though CEO Safra Catz said the company saw record demand related to artificial-intelligence technology for its cloud infrastructure business, which trains generative AI models. In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher ahead of Wednesday’s report on the inflation that U.S. consumers are feeling. Economists expect it to show similar increases as the month before. Wednesday’s update and a report on Thursday about inflation at the wholesale level are the final big pieces of data the Federal Reserve will get before its meeting next week, where many investors expect the year’s third interest rates cut. The Fed has eased its main interest rate from a two-decade high since September to take pressure off the slowing jobs market, after bringing inflation nearly down to its 2% target. Lower rates would help give support to the economy, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. Expectations for a series of cuts through next year have been a big reason the S&P 500 has set so many records this year. Trading in the options market suggests traders aren’t expecting a very big move for U.S. stocks following Wednesday’s report, according to strategists at Barclays. But a reading far off expectations in either direction could quickly change that. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.22% from 4.20% late Monday. Elsewhere on Wall Street, Alaska Air Group soared 13.2% after raising its forecast for profit in the current quarter. The airline said demand for flying around the holidays is stronger than expected. It also approved a plan to buy back up to $1 billion of its stock, along with new service from Seattle to Tokyo and Seoul. Boeing climbed 4.5% after saying it’s resuming production of its bestselling plane, the 737 Max, for the first time since 33,000 workers began a seven-week strike that ended in early November. All told, the S&P 500 fell 17.94 points to 6,034.91. The Dow dipped 154.10 to 44,247.83, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 49.45 to 19,687.24. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Identity and Access Management Market Securing Digital Frontiers with Advanced IAM Technologies 11-23-2024 11:51 AM CET | IT, New Media & Software Press release from: SkyQuest Technology Group Identity and Access Management Market In recent years, the global Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market has witnessed a dynamic shift, influenced by changing consumer preferences, technological advancements, and a growing emphasis on sustainability. The Research report on Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market presents a complete judgment of the market through strategic insights on future trends, growth factors, supplier landscape, demand landscape, Y-o-Y growth rate, CAGR, pricing analysis. It also provides and a lot of business matrices including Porters Five Forces Analysis, PESTLE Analysis, Value Chain Analysis, 4 Ps' Analysis, Market Attractiveness Analysis, BPS Analysis, Ecosystem Analysis. Discover Your Competitive Edge with a Free Sample Report @ https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/identity-and-access-management-market This Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market report is being written to illustrate the market opportunity by region and by segments, indicating opportunity areas for the vendors to tap upon. To estimate the opportunity, it was very important to understand the current market scenario and the way it will grow in future. Production and consumption patterns are being carefully compared to forecast the Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market. Other factors considered to forecast the market are the growth of the adjacent market, revenue growth of the key market vendors, scenario-based analysis, and market segment growth. The Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market size was determined by estimating the market through a top-down and bottom-up approach, which was further validated with industry interviews. To determine the growth of the Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market factors such as drivers, trends, restraints, and opportunities were identified, and the impact of these factors was analyzed to determine the market growth. To understand the market growth in detail, we have analyzed the year-on-year growth of the market. Also, historic growth rates were compared to determine growth patterns. Market Segmentation: Component Audit, Compliance & Governance, Directory Service, Multifactor Authentication, Provisioning, Password Management, and Single Sign-On Deployment Cloud, Hybrid, and On-premise Industry Vertical BFSI, Energy, Oil & Gas, Telecom & IT, Education, Healthcare, Public Sector & Utilities, Manufacturing, and Others Key Players Covered in the Report: Salesforce Inc. OneLogin Broadcom SecureAuth Microsoft CyberArk Evdian ForgeRock Okta Inc. One Identity LLC IBM ORACLE CORPORATION HID Global McAfee Ping Identity To establish the important thing traits, Ask Our Experts @ https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/identity-and-access-management-market Essential regions of the Identity and Access Management (IAM) market are: • Identity and Access Management (IAM) North America Market includes (Canada, Mexico, USA) • Identity and Access Management (IAM) Europe Market includes (Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Russia) • Identity and Access Management (IAM) Asia-Pacific Market includes (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia) • Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa) • Identity and Access Management (IAM) South America Market includes (Brazil, Argentina) FAQs: - 1. What are the sales, production, consumption, imports, and exports of the global market (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East, and Africa)? 2. Who are the major manufacturers who dominate the world market? 3. What are their current capacity, production, sales, pricing, cost, gross, and revenue operating levels? 4. What are the market's risks and opportunities? What's more, it likewise covers the request and give of the promoting research concentrate in the assessed figure time frame. Explained investigation of the market players with their profile, deals examination and serious scene is given in the report. Besides, organization, joint effort and consolidations in the business are referenced for the accommodation of the investigation of the global Identity and Access Management (IAM) industry. Take Action Now: Secure Your Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market Today - https://www.skyquestt.com/buy-now/identity-and-access-management-market Objectives of the Study: • To forecast the market size, in terms of value, for various segments with respect to five main regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LATAM), Middle East & Africa (MEA) • To provide detailed information regarding the major factors influencing the growth of the Market (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) • To strategically analyze the micro markets with respect to the individual growth trends, future prospects, and contribution to the total market • To provide a detailed overview of the value chain and analyze market trends with the Porter's five forces analysis • To analyze the opportunities in the market for various stakeholders by identifying the high-growth Segments • To identify the key players and comprehensively analyze their market position in terms of ranking and core competencies, along with detailing the competitive landscape for the market leaders • To analyze competitive development such as joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, new product launches and development, and research and development in the market Looking ahead, the Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market is poised for continued growth, driven by evolving consumer preferences and ongoing innovations. The trend towards sustainability is expected to strengthen, with more consumers seeking products that align with their values. Additionally, the integration of advanced technologies and digital platforms will likely further enhance market accessibility and consumer engagement. The global Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market is a dynamic and evolving landscape, shaped by a confluence of trends and factors. Browse Complete Report Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market 2024 for Better Understanding - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/identity-and-access-management-market Table of Contents Global Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market Research Report 2024-2031 Chapter 1 Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market Overview Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers Chapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by Region Chapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions Chapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type Chapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost Analysis Chapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers Chapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders Chapter 11 Market Effect Factors Analysis Chapter 12 Global Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market Forecast ... About Us: SkyQuest is an IP focused Research and Investment Bank and Accelerator of Technology and assets. We provide access to technologies, markets and finance across sectors viz. Life Sciences, CleanTech, AgriTech, NanoTech and Information & Communication Technology. We work closely with innovators, inventors, innovation seekers, entrepreneurs, companies and investors alike in leveraging external sources of R&D. Moreover, we help them in optimizing the economic potential of their intellectual assets. Our experiences with innovation management and commercialization have expanded our reach across North America, Europe, ASEAN and Asia Pacific. Contact Us: SkyQuest Technology 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Visit Our Website: https://www.skyquestt.com/ This release was published on openPR.The Latest: UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect contests his extradition back to New York

Marta's magic helped get the Pride to Saturday's NWSL title game against the Washington SpiritBURLINGTON, Mass., Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Neuphoria Therapeutics Inc. NEUP (" Neuphoria " or the " Company ") is pleased to announce that its previously announced scheme of arrangement in relation to Bionomics Limited's proposed re-domiciliation from Australia to the United States, under which Neuphoria will become the ultimate parent company of Bionomics Limited, has been implemented today, December 23, 2024 New York time (December 24, 2024 Sydney time). The shares of common stock of Neuphoria (" Neuphoria Shares ") issued today in connection with the re-domiciliation are expected to commence trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol "NEUP" on December 24, 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. In addition, Neuphoria will issue options to acquire shares of common stock in Neuphoria (" Neuphoria Options ") to holders of options to acquire shares in Bionomics (" Bionomics Options ") that were issued by Bionomics, in exchange for their Bionomics Options. Neuphoria will also issue a warrant to purchase 1,054,381 shares of common stock in Neuphoria (" Neuphoria Warrant ") to an institutional investor that holds a warrant to purchase 12,652,572 American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") of Bionomics (" Bionomics Warrant "), in exchange for the Bionomics Warrant. Further details regarding the implementation of the redomiciliation can be found in a Current Report on Form 8-K that will be filed by Neuphoria with the SEC. For further information, please contact: General Investor Relations Investor Relations Spyridon (Spyros) Papapetrolpoulos Kevin Gardner Chris Calabrese info@neuphoriatx.com kgardner@lifesciadvisors.com ccalabrese@lifesciadvisors.com About Neuphoria Therapeutics Inc. Neuphoria NEUP is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing therapies that address the complex needs of individuals affected by neuropsychiatric disorders. Neuphoria is advancing its lead drug candidate, BNC210, an oral, proprietary, selective negative allosteric modulator of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, for the acute, "as needed" treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and for chronic treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). BNC210 is a first-of-its-kind, well-tolerated, broad spectrum anti-anxiety experimental therapeutic, designed to restore neurotransmitter balance in relevant brain areas, providing rapid relief from stress and anxiety symptoms without the common pitfalls of sedation, cognitive impairment, or addiction. In addition, Neuphoria has a strategic partnership with Merck & Co., Inc. (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) with two drugs in early-stage clinical trials for the treatment of cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease and other central nervous system conditions. Neuphoria's pipeline also includes the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor next generation and the Kv3.1/3.2 preclinical programs, both in the lead optimization development stage. Forward-Looking Statements Neuphoria cautions that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "could," "will," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "predict," "seek," "contemplate," "potential," "continue" or "project" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Neuphoria that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business and other risks described in the Company's filings with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and its other reports. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and Neuphoria undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties and other factors is included in Neuphoria's filings with the SEC, copies of which are available from the SEC's website ( www.sec.gov ) and on Neuphoria's website ( www.neuphoriatx.com ) under the heading "Investor Center." All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Neuphoria expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this press release. Not an offer of securities This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in any jurisdiction. The Neuphoria Shares, Neuphoria Options and Neuphoria Warrant have not been registered under the US Securities Act and may not be offered or sold except in a transaction registered under the US Securities Act or in a transaction exempt from such registration requirements and applicable US state securities laws. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans reduced its stake in shares of Mohawk Industries, Inc. ( NYSE:MHK – Free Report ) by 0.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 48,503 shares of the company’s stock after selling 88 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned 0.08% of Mohawk Industries worth $7,793,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Mohawk Industries during the first quarter worth approximately $1,450,000. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co raised its position in shares of Mohawk Industries by 3.4% in the 1st quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 12,148 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,590,000 after buying an additional 405 shares during the period. Natixis boosted its holdings in Mohawk Industries by 61.3% in the first quarter. Natixis now owns 4,510 shares of the company’s stock valued at $590,000 after acquiring an additional 1,714 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its position in Mohawk Industries by 2.9% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 73,755 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,654,000 after acquiring an additional 2,112 shares during the period. Finally, Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund acquired a new stake in Mohawk Industries during the first quarter worth about $228,000. 78.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Mohawk Industries Stock Up 0.9 % MHK stock opened at $138.77 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.03, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $149.80 and a 200-day simple moving average of $136.98. The company has a market capitalization of $8.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.72, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.38. Mohawk Industries, Inc. has a twelve month low of $82.71 and a twelve month high of $164.29. Insiders Place Their Bets Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Truist Financial decreased their target price on Mohawk Industries from $184.00 to $155.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 28th. Baird R W raised shares of Mohawk Industries from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Mohawk Industries from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Mohawk Industries from $124.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Mohawk Industries from $141.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, July 29th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $162.08. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MHK Mohawk Industries Profile ( Free Report ) Mohawk Industries, Inc designs, manufactures, sources, distributes, and markets flooring products for residential and commercial remodeling, and new construction channels in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Global Ceramic, Flooring North America, and Flooring Rest of the World. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MHK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mohawk Industries, Inc. ( NYSE:MHK – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Mohawk Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mohawk Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Swiss National Bank Has $13.88 Million Stock Holdings in WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:WSC)

Analysts at StockNews.com began coverage on shares of First Bancshares ( NASDAQ:FBMS – Get Free Report ) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday. The brokerage set a “sell” rating on the bank’s stock. FBMS has been the topic of several other reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised First Bancshares from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $31.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Hovde Group boosted their target price on shares of First Bancshares from $29.00 to $32.50 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott lowered shares of First Bancshares from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $35.50. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on First Bancshares First Bancshares Stock Performance Institutional Trading of First Bancshares Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in First Bancshares during the second quarter worth $36,000. CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of First Bancshares by 3,387.8% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,709 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 1,660 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its position in shares of First Bancshares by 50.8% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,194 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $103,000 after acquiring an additional 1,076 shares during the last quarter. Quest Partners LLC bought a new stake in First Bancshares during the second quarter worth $89,000. Finally, EntryPoint Capital LLC bought a new stake in First Bancshares during the first quarter worth $103,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.95% of the company’s stock. First Bancshares Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) The First Bancshares, Inc operates as the bank holding company for The First Bank that provides general commercial and retail banking services. The company operates through three segments: Commercial/Retail Bank, Mortgage Banking Division, and Holding Company. It offers deposit services, including checking, NOW, and savings accounts; other time deposits, such as daily money market accounts and longer-term certificates of deposit; and individual retirement and health savings accounts. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for First Bancshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Bancshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .None

Voters in parts of Scott, Clinton and Jackson counties will vote in a special election for their state senator on Jan. 28, 2025, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Monday. Former senator for District 35, Chris Cournoyer, was sworn in a week ago as the state's new lieutenant governor. Cournoyer resigned her senate seat at that time. Candidates wanting to run for the seat have until Jan. 14, 2025, to file their paperwork, Iowa Secretary of State spokesperson Ashley Hunt Esquivel wrote in an email. Candidates may be nominated by special convention of one of the political parties or collect signatures and file as a no-party candidate. For special elections, absentee voting begins "as soon as ballots are available, but not earlier than 20 days prior to the election," Hunt Esquivel wrote. Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins anticipates having early voting available in-person at the county administration building starting Jan. 16, she wrote in an email. Polls will be open on Jan. 28 for Election Day from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Voters can send in ballot requests now, but Tompkins warned mail-in ballots for the special election will have a tight turnaround. Mailed ballots may not be sent out until Jan. 17 or later, Tompkins wrote, and must arrive in the auditor's office by the time polls close on Jan. 28. "I encourage voters to take this into consideration as they make their voting plans," Tompkins wrote. Cournoyer, a Republican from LeClaire, was first elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022. There's still two years left in the term representing the district, which includes Clinton, DeWitt, Camanche, Wheatland, Maquoketa, and Princeton. In Clinton County, where the bulk of the district is located, a new auditor will take office in the new year. Republican David Troester defeated Democrat Eric Van Lancker in the November election. Iowa Senate Democrats, in a statement, called the upcoming special election "a pivotal moment for Eastern Iowa to send a clear message: enough is enough." "This election allows voters to demand bold leadership and real solutions to move Iowa forward. It's about electing a Senator who will fully fund our schools, grow Iowa's middle class, and fight for a fair deal for every family — not just the wealthy few," the statement reads. "While we wait to see who the Democratic nominee will be, the Senate Majority Fund is wasting no time organizing in preparation for this election to move Iowa forward and tackle the challenges Iowa families face head-on." Americans may have elected Donald Trump in November, but that doesn't mean they have high confidence in his ability to choose well-qualified people for his cabinet according to a new AP-NORC poll. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. 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. FILE - Former Rep. Doug Collins speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. 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 has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. 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. Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign and became engaged to Don Jr. in 2020. Trump called her “a close friend and ally” and praised her “sharp intellect make her supremely qualified.” Guilfoyle was on stage with the family on election night. “I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First,” Don Jr. posted. The ambassador positions must be approved by the U.S. Senate. Guilfoyle said in a social media post that she was “honored to accept President Trump’s nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.” 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. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Rodney Scott led during Trump's first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country's borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump's policies. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. He appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He's also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. 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. Trump says he’s picking Kari Lake as director of Voice of America, installing a staunch loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor and a Senate seat to head the congressionally funded broadcaster that provides independent news reporting around the world. Lake endeared herself to Trump through her dogmatic commitment to the falsehood that both she and Trump were the victims of election fraud. She has never acknowledged losing the gubernatorial race and called herself the “lawful governor” in her 2023 book, “Unafraid: Just Getting Started.” 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. Ron Johnson, Ambassador to Mexico Johnson — not the Republican senator — served as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first administration. His nomination comes as the president-elect has been threatening tariffs on Mexican imports and the mass deportation of migrants who have arrived to the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson is also a former U.S. Army veteran and was in the Central Intelligence Agency. Tom Barrack, Ambassador to Turkey Barrack, a wealthy financier, met Trump in the 1980s while helping negotiate Trump’s purchase of the renowned Plaza Hotel. He was charged with using his personal access to the former president to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates, but was acquitted of all counts at a federal trial in 2022. Trump called him a “well-respected and experienced voice of reason.” Andrew Ferguson, Federal Trade Commission Ferguson, who is already one of the FTC's five commissioners, will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Jacob Helberg, undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment Dan Bishop, deputy director for budget at the Office of Budget and Management Leandro Rizzuto, Ambassador to the Washington-based Organization of American States Dan Newlin, Ambassador to Colombia Peter Lamelas, Ambassador to Argentina Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Davenport, Scott County, local politics {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.76ers center Joel Embiid sidelined due to swelling in his left knee and will miss two games PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers say center Joel Embiid is managing swelling in his left knee and will miss a second consecutive game Sunday. The Sixers issued a statement on the condition of the 2023 NBA MVP at halftime of Friday’s NBA Cup game against the Brooklyn Nets, saying the decision to sideline Embiid was made along with the team’s medical staff. Embiid was ruled out prior to Friday’s game against the Nets due to what the team described as left knee injury maintenance. The Sixers host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. Giants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Austin Hays, Kyle Finnegan, Brendan Rodgers and Jordan Romano among 62 new free agents NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Austin Hays, right-hander Kyle Finnegan and second baseman Brendan Rodgers were among 62 players who became free agents when their teams failed to offer 2025 contracts. Right-hander Jordan Romano, left-hander Patrick Sandoval and outfielders Michael Tauchman and Ramón Laureano also were among the players cut loose, many of whom would have been eligible for salary arbitration. Washington cut right-hander Tanner Rainey, its last remaining player from the 2019 World Series champions. Finnegan and Hays are former All-Stars. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Russell puts Mercedes on pole at Las Vegas and Verstappen nips Norris in championship battle LAS VEGAS (AP) — George Russell put Mercedes on the pole for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in an upset over teammate Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton was fastest in the first two practice sessions with Russell fastest in Friday night’s third and final session. But come qualifying, Hamilton made two mistakes in the final group and wound up a distant 10th. Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc seemed to sweep the front row until Russell’s late lap pushed Sainz to second. Pierre Gasly slid into third, and Leclerc wound up fourth. Championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull qualified fifth for Saturday night's race. Verstappen needs only to score three points more than challenger Lando Norris to win his fourth straight world championship. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. Chase Elliott named NASCAR's most popular driver for 7th straight season CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Chase Elliott has been named NASCAR's most popular driver for the seventh straight year. He was announced Friday at NASCAR's annual season-ending awards ceremony. It's the only major NASCAR award determined solely by the vote of race fans. Elliott beat out Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, per results released by the National Motorsports Press Association. Bill Elliott, Chase's father who is nicknamed “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,” was named NASCAR’s most popular driver a record 16 times before removing his name from the ballot. Either an Elliott or Earnhardt has won NASCAR’s most popular driver award for 34 consecutive years. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” US ski star Shiffrin leads World Cup slalom after 1st run and closes in on career win No. 99 GURGL, Austria (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin closed in on what would be the American ski star’s career win No. 99 by setting the pace in the opening run of a women’s World Cup slalom. Shiffrin wasn’t clean going into the steep of the Kirchenkar course but gained time on all competitors with a near-flawless finish section. Wendy Holdener was fastest at the first two splits and the Swiss racer trailed Shiffrin by 0.13 seconds at the finish. Shiffrin says she was feeling "a little bit funky on some spots.” A victory would give Shiffrin five chances to compete for win No. 100 during a North American sweep of the World Cup starting next week. Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn’t improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision.North Korean media report South Korea’s martial law crisis for first time

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North Macedonian political party demands ban on TikTok after at least 17 students injuredAnton Du Beke emotional over 'stupendous' experience of fathering twins, 7

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ETSU, Lamb agree to contract extension through 2028The Tech Whisperer: Unveiling the Future of Innovation In the fast-paced world of technology investments, having an edge is crucial. Joe Albano, an expert with a solid foundation in electrical and software engineering, has positioned himself at the heart of tech innovation and investment strategies. Known for his remarkable insights into emerging trends, Joe has accurately predicted the trajectory of industries like AI for several years. Inside the Tech Cache Joe leads the well-regarded group, Tech Cache, where he provides invaluable insights into the dynamics of tech and growth stocks. Members gain access to Joe’s carefully curated personal portfolio, which is updated with 2-3 investment ideas weekly. They benefit from a comprehensive newsletter, a watchlist of trending stocks, and an automated stock rating system. The platform also allows for real-time discussions through a live chat feature. Strategic Insights and Trends Despite the ever-changing market landscape, Joe maintains a beneficial position in major companies such as AVGO and NVDA. His analysis is independent, driven solely by his keen understanding of market movements. Joe’s approach offers a window into future growth opportunities for investors seeking long-term success. It’s essential to note that all investment decisions are personal and should be based on individual diligence. While Joe openly shares his perspectives, these are formed from his background and experience, not as official advice. His insights are designed to provide knowledge and understanding of the tech market’s potential. Tech Whisperer Insights: The Future of AI and Semiconductors In today’s rapid evolution of technology and investment strategies, gaining a competitive edge is imperative. Joe Albano stands out as a visionary in the tech industry, especially with his accurate predictions on the trajectory of AI and semiconductor sectors. Leveraging his expertise in electrical and software engineering, Joe has become an authority on emerging tech trends. Joe’s platform, Tech Cache, is a haven for those who aim to stay updated on tech and growth stocks. Members gain the advantage of exploring his personal investment strategies, which are thoroughly documented and updated with 2-3 new ideas weekly. The platform enriches members with a detailed newsletter, a well-maintained watchlist of trending stocks, and an automated stock rating system. Additionally, the real-time live chat feature facilitates immediate discussions, promoting engagement and community learning. Engaging with Joe Albano’s insights through Tech Cache has its set of advantages and drawbacks: Pros: – Access to expert analysis based on real-world engineering and market experience. – Consistent updates on cutting-edge investments in industries like AI and semiconductors. – Interactive community with live discussion features to enhance knowledge sharing. Cons: – Exclusive reliance on Joe’s insights without individual research could pose risks. – Not knowing the exact timing of market moves can result in market volatility influencing investments unexpectedly. Joe’s expertise is especially significant in witnessing the burgeoning trends within AI and semiconductor markets. His predictions and insights provide a roadmap to future growth, spotlighting opportunities in companies like AVGO (Broadcom Inc.) and NVDA (NVIDIA Corporation). Joe’s techniques captivate investors eager for long-term success through meticulous analysis of market shifts. – Conduct thorough personal research alongside leveraging expert insight from platforms like Tech Cache. – Regularly update your knowledge base with newsletters and stock lists from credible tech analysts. – Stay engaged with real-time market discussions to recalibrate strategies in response to dynamic market movements. Joe Albano’s perspectives hint at transformational shifts within technology investments, particularly in AI’s expansion into everyday sectors and the increasing demand for semiconductors. By providing valuable insights, Joe allows investors to see beyond present market conditions into potential future opportunities. For more insights into the world of tech investments, strategies, and market dynamics, you can explore more at Seeking Alpha.

Rutgers looks to pick up steam in clash vs. Seton HallReeling Cowboys visit Quinn's overachieving Commanders in a franchise role reversalLiberty Media Appoints Chase Carey to Board of Directors

York outscored Mount Marty 10-3 to end the game, claiming a 71-67 victory over the Lancers in men’s basketball action on Saturday at Laddie E. Cimpl Arena. Chris Dixon scored 18 points to lead York (3-5). Carl Thorpe Jr. finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. The Panthers’ other three starters — Rhino Hernandez, Ikechukwu Nwaobi and Andrew Bennett — each had nine points, with Bennett grabbing a team-high 12 rebounds in the victory. Tash Lunday finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds for Mount Marty. Angok Akot posted 20 points and 11 rebounds, a career high in scoring for the redshirt sophomore. “I thought he did a good job of being ready to go tonight,” MMU head coach Collin Authier said of Akot. “He was very efficient and was locked in from the start. He had a tough test on the other end against Andrew Bennett inside, but I thought he did a good job of trying to fight the best he possibly could.” Also for MMU, Brandon Garcia finished with eight points and six assists. Jake Jensen had seven points and four assists. York used a strong start from outside to take the early advantage. The Panthers’ had a run of five three-pointers in six scores to push from a 12-11 deficit to a 28-20 lead. “We just didn't have the right process to start the game,” Authier said. “From the very first possession, we just didn't do what we were supposed to do with the level of intentionality and aggressiveness that we needed to on the defensive end.” On the offensive end, Akot went to work, scoring six straight buckets for the Lancers to keep York from pulling away further. In the second half, it was Lunday’s turn to power the offense, as the junior scored 19 of his game-high 23 points in the second half. “We played through Angok and Tash quite a bit tonight. They were the guys that were efficient and really had it going,” Authier said. “They just found themselves in the right spot at the right time to be able to reap the benefits of guys attacking.” After trailing for a large chunk of the game, MMU pulled ahead 47-46 with 13:39 to play. The teams traded the lead back and forth, with the Lancers leading 64-61 with 6:37 to play. But the Panther defense stepped up down the stretch, holding the Lancers to a Mac Ryken three-pointer with 12 seconds left — MMU’s only made three-pointer of the game — to claim the victory. The setback snapped MMU’s three-game win streak. The Lancers, 6-3, return to action Wednesday with a Great Plains Athletic Conference showdown at Doane. “Doane’s going to be pretty hungry for a conference win, and we haven’t played well in Crete in a while,” Authier said. “We’ve got to have a refresher, remember what got us to the success we’ve had: how consistent you have to be, your intentionality with it, your readiness for it. “We need to play better than we did tonight.” Follow @JCimburek on Threads and BlueSky.

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Saquon Barkley achieved two career firsts on Sunday—he eclipsed 2,000 yards rushing, and he won an NFC East title. "I'm happy. It's my first hat and t-shirt game," the Philadelphia Eagles' superstar told reporters after Sunday's 41-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys, which clinched a division crown for the Birds. "I didn't even know that was a thing." This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to halt a four-game skid this Sunday when they visit the rival Houston Texans . They're set to have their starting quarterback under center to assist, with Trevor Lawrence committed to playing through a shoulder injury in Week 13, according to NFL Media . Lawrence is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game, and won't be 100% even if he suits up, per NFL Media, but is "adamant" in his plan to suit up. Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson previously indicated Lawrence would return to the lineup so long as he completed a promising week of practice. Lawrence has missed the Jaguars' last two games due to an AC joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder, originally suffered in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles . He got extra time to rest and recover in Week 12, as Jacksonville was on its bye, but ceded two straight starts to backup Mac Jones , who went 0-2. The Jaguars scored just a single touchdown in Lawrence's absence, falling 52-6 to the Detroit Lions during their last outing. They didn't fare much better even before Lawrence exited, starting the season 2-8 with the former No. 1 overall draft pick throwing 11 touchdowns to six interceptions.

jili777 com LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams have claimed cornerback Emmanuel Forbes off waivers from Washington. The Rams (6-6) announced the move Monday. They waived undrafted rookie defensive back Charles Woods to make room on the roster. Forbes was the 16th overall draft pick in 2023, but the Commanders released him Saturday in yet another latest flop for their first-round selections under former coach Ron Rivera. Forbes started 10 games as a rookie, but the Mississippi State product got benched during the season — and his playing time dwindled to almost nothing under new coach Dan Quinn this season. Forbes was considered undersized to be an elite NFL defensive back before Washington used a first-round pick on him, and his play did little to discourage that perception. But the Rams are taking a flier on Forbes to help their mediocre pass defense. Darious Williams, a member of the Rams' Super Bowl championship team who returned to Los Angeles this season as a free agent, has been their best cover corner, but he struggled in Sunday's victory over New Orleans. Third-year pro Cobie Durant has started all 12 games this season with one interception. Los Angeles already traded Tre'Davious White, its other major offseason signing at cornerback, after the former Pro Bowler failed to perform. The Rams shipped White to Baltimore for a seventh-round pick swap last month. Woods has played in nine games for the Rams, appearing mostly on special teams. Los Angeles hosts Buffalo on Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFLNoneRams claim CB Emmanuel Forbes off waivers from Washington

Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request after it experienced trouble with its flight operating system, or FOS. The airline blamed technology from one of its vendors. As a result, flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 36% of the airline's 3,901 domestic and international flights leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Fifty-one flights were canceled. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the FOS system. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Hours after the ground stop was lifted, Tajer said the union had not heard about any “chaos out there beyond just the normal heavy travel day.” He said officials were watching for any cascading effects, such as staffing problems. On social media, however, customers expressed frustration with delays that caused them or their family members to miss connecting flights. One person asked if American planned to hold flights for passengers to make connections, while others complained about the lack of assistance they said they received from the airline or gate agents. Bobby Tighe, a real estate agent from Florida, said he will miss a family Christmas Eve party in New York because his American flight was repeatedly delayed. The delays made him miss a connecting flight, leaving him the choice of going to his destination — Westchester, New York — on Christmas Day or taking another flight to Newark, New Jersey, that was scheduled to land Tuesday evening. He chose the latter. “I’m just going to take an Uber or Lyft to the airport I was originally supposed to go to, pick up my rental car and kind of restart everything tomorrow,” Tighe said. He said his girlfriend was “going through the same exact situation” on her way from Dallas to New York. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights were departing within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 39% — were arriving at their destinations as scheduled. Dallas-Fort Worth, New York’s Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays, Cirium said. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 4,058 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed, with 76 flights canceled. The site did not post any American Airlines flights on Tuesday morning, but it showed in the afternoon that 961 American flights were delayed. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms were developing in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. And any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have “interline agreements” that let them put stranded customers on another carrier’s flights. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers automatic cash refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. That’s because finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. “Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation’s highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington are the metropolitan areas primed for the greatest delays, according to the company. Associated Press writers David Koenig, Mae Anderson and Mike Pesoli contributed to this report.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police arrested thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of a rally in the capital to demand the ex-premier’s release from prison, a security officer said Sunday. Khan has been behind bars for more than a year and has over 150 criminal cases against him. But he remains popular and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI, says the cases are politically motivated. Shahid Nawaz, a security officer in eastern Punjab province, said police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters. They include five parliamentarians. Pakistan has sealed off Islamabad with shipping containers and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with PTI strongholds in Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Tit-for-tat teargas shelling between the police and the PTI was reported on the highway bordering Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns.” The government and Interior Ministry posted the announcement on the social media platform X, which is banned in Pakistan. They did not specify the areas, nor did they say how long the suspension would be in place. “Internet and mobile services will continue to operate as usual in the rest of the country,” the posts said. Meanwhile, telecom company Nayatel sent out emails offering customers “a reliable landline service” as a workaround in the areas suffering suspended cellphone service. Khan's supporters rely heavily on social media to demand his release and use messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said Khan's wife Bushra Bibi was traveling to Islamabad in a convoy led by the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur. “She cannot leave the party workers on their own,” said Akram. There was a festive mood in Peshawar, with PTI members dancing, drumming and holding up pictures of Khan as cars set off for Islamabad. The government is imposing social media platform bans and targeting VPN services , according to internet advocacy group Netblocks. On Sunday, the group said live metrics showed problems with WhatsApp that were affecting media sharing on the app. The U.S. Embassy issued a security alert for Americans in the capital, encouraging them to avoid large gatherings and warning that even “peaceful gatherings can turn violent.” Last month, authorities suspended the cellphone service in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to thwart a pro-Khan rally. The shutdown disrupted communications and affected everyday services such as banking, ride-hailing and food delivery. The latest crackdown comes on the eve of a visit by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko . Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said authorities have sealed off Islamabad's Red Zone, which houses key government buildings and is the destination for Khan's supporters. “Anyone reaching it will be arrested,” Naqvi told a press conference. He said the security measures were in place to protect residents and property, blaming the PTI for inconveniencing people and businesses. He added that protesters were planning to take the same route as the Belarusian delegation, but that the government had headed off this scenario. Naqvi denied cellphone services were suspended and said only mobile data was affected. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan in Peshawar and Asim Tanveer in Multan contributed to this report.

Uwill Founder & CEO Michael London Named Innovator in Healthcare

Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders moved past Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka on Sunday to set the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end in his rookie season and also set the record for most receptions by a rookie, regardless of position. Bowers has 108 receptions to top the mark set last season by Puka Nacua (105) of the Los Angeles Rams. Bowers' yardage stands at 1,144 after having seven receptions for 77 yards in a 25-10 road victory over the New Orleans Saints. Bowers also set a franchise receptions for catches in a season, surpassing Darren Waller (107 in 2020). "It's awesome," Bowers said of the records in a postgame interview on Fox. "You never know what to expect coming up to the next level. It's been everything and more." Bowers' third catch on Sunday -- a 13-yard grab late in the second quarter against the Saints -- pushed his season total to 1,087 yards. Ditka totaled 1,076 receiving yards in 14 games with the Chicago Bears in 1961. Bowers, 22, set the record for receptions by a rookie tight end earlier this season by eclipsing the total of 86 reeled in by Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions in 2023. Bowers was selected by the Raiders with the 13th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Despite all his catches, he has just four scoring receptions. While with Georgia, Bowers was the first back-to-back winner of the Mackey Award (2022, 2023), which is given to the top tight end in college football. --Field Level Media

Chandigarh: Decks have been cleared for the installation of solar panels on all houses above 250 square yards (10 marla) in the city as the UT urban planning department has given an approval to Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technologies Promotion Society (CREST) to go ahead with the move. Earlier, mandatory solar installations were limited to houses having a plot size of 500 square yards (1 kanal) and above. Empowered to make decisions and proceed with the implementation, CREST has begun preparing and finalising procedures in coordination with relevant departments of the Chandigarh administration . CREST has identified a total of 4,552 houses throughout Chandigarh that do not have solar panels on their rooftops. The estate office will collaborate with CREST to develop an action plan and related procedures. A meeting between CREST and estate office officials is scheduled soon. The implementation will follow the Model Building Bylaws 2016, approved by the Union ministry of urban development. In its communication to CREST, the urban planning department said, "In this regard, it is to inform that earlier notification for mandatory installation of solar photovoltaic power plant for a minimum plot size of 500 square yards was done by your department. Further action for reducing the area up to 250 square yards is also related to your office. Accordingly, further decision in this regard has to be taken by your office in consultation with the estate department of the Chandigarh administration." Unlike regulations for 500 square yard properties, CREST is considering flexible criteria for solar panel sizes on 250 square yard houses. Property owners will have discretion regarding installation size. Due to smaller rooftop areas, residents can choose panel sizes based on available space. Box: Currently, solar panels are mandatory for houses having a plot size of 500 square yards and above in Chandigarh. As per UT records, approximately 1,800 houses out 6,408 houses in 500 square yard and above category have installed solar panels on their rooftops. The estate office had issued resumption notices to non-compliant properties. Though some residents have moved Punjab and Haryana high court on this issue, the Chandigarh administration has told the court about the need to install solar panels on rooftops of houses. Box: Over 2,850 out of 5,545 eligible govt houses in the city are now fully equipped with solar panels to date, and they have started solar energy generation. Work is ongoing for 1,091 houses, whilst tenders for the remaining 1,600 will be allocated shortly. Additionally, 110 government schools have 6-megawatt solar installations, generating 6.9 MU against 6.1 MU usage, contributing to surplus energy. Chandigarh currently generates over 68-megawatt solar energy. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss the yearly horoscope 2025 and Chinese horoscope 2025 for Rat , Ox , Tiger , Rabbit , Dragon , Snake , Horse , Goat , Monkey , Rooster , Dog , and Pig zodiac signs. Spread love this holiday season with these New Year wishes and messages .Hywin (NASDAQ:HYW) Stock Price Up 3.6% – Here’s Why

Cyber Monday Samsung deals: Save up to $2,500 on TVs, phones, and moreTravis Scott and his Cactus Jack Foundation hosted their fifth annual Winter Wonderland theme park and holiday drive in partnership with Webster family HBCU alma mater, Texas Southern University (TSU) , and the Houston Food Bank providing 1,000 of their beloved Houston community with toys, bikes, sneakers, merch and food for the holiday season. This event marks a milestone for the foundation, bringing its multi-year HBCU commitment, the Waymon Webster Scholarship Program , to the annual holiday drive effort for the first time. Honoring the Webster family HBCU legacy, to date the program has awarded over $1 million in scholarships to over 100 graduating seniors , empowering the next generation. At the lively event hosted at TSU, the Cactus Jack Foundation alongside the Houston Food Bank , provided over 2,000 toys and bikes in addition to 1,000 bags of food to the community. On site at the event, 200 Nike Cactus Jack sneakers were given out while limited-edition Cactus Jack Nike, Fanatics, Houston Astros , and Space Village gear was distributed to local families at their branded stations. The event featured a Winter Wonderland-themed outdoor inflatable pop-up park for children, complete with a giant bounce house and a special visit from Santa Claus. Longtime partner Houston Astros had a station as well with sign-up stations for Scott’s TXRX Lab and Waymon Webster Program for “future scholars” to get more information about the program and how to apply for an HBCU scholarship. The event attendees included Scott’s Webster family (all of which attended HBCUs), Chairman of Texas Southern University Brandon L. Simmons , City of Houston Controller Chris Hollins in addition to surprise appearances from Don Toliver and Serena Page, all of whom came together to support the foundation’s mission ahead of the holiday season. ABOUT THE CACTUS JACK FOUNDATION: The Cactus Jack Foundation’s mission is to empower and enrich the lives of youth by providing access to education and creative resources to ensure long-term success. The foundation believes the youth should not be prevented from attaining their lifetime goal and is committed to extending educational opportunities to all, regardless of their circumstances to achieve their dreams. Learn more HERE . ABOUT HOUSTON FOOD BANK: Houston Food Bank’s mission is to provide food for better lives. Last year they provided access to 104 million nutritious meals in 18 counties in southeast Texas through our 1,500 community partners which includes food pantries, soup kitchens, social service providers, and schools. We have a strong focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. In addition to distributing food, we provide services and connections to programs that address the root causes of hunger and are aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability, including nutrition education, job training, health management, and help with securing state-funded assistance. We are a resource for individuals and families in times of hardship. We are a solution to food waste, working with grocery stores and growers to rescue food before it reaches landfills. In collaboration with our community, we advocate for policy change and promote dialogue on ways to increase access to food and to improve the lives of those we serve. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston Country, and Brazos Valley. Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY: Texas Southern University possesses an impressive array of more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations, a diverse faculty, 80-plus student organisations, and an extensive alumni network comprised of educators, entrepreneurs, public servants, lawyers, pilots, artists, and more, many of whom are change agents on the local, national and international stage. Nestled upon a sprawling 150-acre campus, Texas Southern University is one of the nation’s largest historically black universities. Our academic curriculum is organized into ten colleges and schools that continue to serve as cornerstones for developing the greatest potential in leaders from various socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. Some of TSU’s well-known graduates include the late U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and U.S. Congressman George “Mickey” Leland, as well as television host and former NFL star Michael Strahan and rapper Megan Thee Stallion. Texas Southern University is heralded as a pioneer and has distinguished itself by producing a significant number of African American students who have obtained post-secondary and advanced degrees. The university’s enrollment has grown from 2,303 students to more than 8,400 undergraduate and graduate students from across the world. Although initially established to educate African Americans, Texas Southern University has become one of the most diverse institutions in Texas. Photography: Matthew Casby

The Liberal government announced a suite of affordability measures Thursday that Ottawa says aims to put more money in Canadian bank accounts, a move experts say is likely to boost Canada’s economy and could register with voters who are still feeling the pinch of a higher cost of living. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Toronto to unveil a GST/HST “holiday” on select grocery items and other consumer goods ranging from video games to Christmas trees. He also announced the Working Canadians Rebate — a plan to send $250 cheques this spring to every individual who worked in 2023 and made up to $150,000. “We’ve been able to get through the past couple of years. Everyone had to tighten their belts a little bit, and now we’re going to be able to give a tax break for all Canadians,” Trudeau said Thursday. While inflation has cooled back to the Bank of Canada’s two-per cent target , the last few years of rising costs have left a mark on Canadians. Ipsos polling conducted exclusively for Global News in late August showed that more than six in 10 respondents (63 per cent) are concerned they wouldn’t be able to absorb any unexpected costs of $1,000 or more; that figure rises to 72 per cent among parents. Sahir Khan, executive vice-president of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy, tells Global News that recent easing inflation hasn’t necessarily made life easier as years of living with rising costs compound on Canadian families. But the latest measures also come as the governing Liberals fall far behind the challenging Conservative Party in the polls and affordability issues continue to top the list of voter priorities. Sending voters a cheque or showing them a tangible impact when they tap their card at the grocery store provides recognition that Canadians may associate with the Liberals, Khan says. That’s a political message that has been missing from the carbon pricing rebates, he notes. “The cheque in the hands of people, I think there’s an immediacy to it politically,” Khan says. “There’s an advantage of that very direct relationship between the entity that’s collecting your taxes and the one that’s paying you right back for it.” The reaction to the Liberal proposals on Parliament Hill was swift. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh took credit for pressuring the Liberals into the “winter tax holiday,” while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called the proposals a “tax trick.” Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet accused the Liberals of abusing the public purse to improve their position in the polls. “The Liberals have shown that when they need billions of dollars in order to literally buy votes, they find it,” he told reporters Thursday. Khan says that Canadians ought to be mindful of where the money is coming from heading into an election year. “We also have to remember, they’re kind of bribing us with our own money here, as governments like to do sometimes,” he says. “It’s a question of whether we value it and find it useful at the time, and, I imagine, remember it at the polls.” The Liberals claim that the GST holiday will amount to $1.6 billion in tax relief — in other words, forgone revenue for the federal government. Ottawa did not provide an estimate for how much the $250 cheques — dubbed the Working Canadian Rebate — will cost, though the Liberals said they expect the money will flow to an estimated 18.7 million Canadians. Royce Mendes, chief economist at Desjardins, estimates the total cost of the affordability package will be roughly $6.3 billion, or 0.2 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product. He added in a note to clients Thursday that the spending could result in a “noticeable boost” to GDP growth in the first half of next year. BMO also pegs the fiscal costs of the new measures around $6 billion. Benjamin Reitzes, BMO’s director of Canadian rates and macro strategist, notes that the Ontario government’s plans to send out stimulus cheques early in the new year will ratchet the total fiscal boost up to 0.3 per cent of GDP in early 2025. As such, BMO is now raising its call for real GDP growth in the first quarter of next year to 2.5 per cent, up from 1.7 per cent before the announcement. The Liberal moves come as the Bank of Canada is well-entrenched in a monetary policy easing cycle. The central bank has so far delivered four interest rate cuts in a row as confidence grows that inflation is back under control. Trudeau claimed Thursday that the Liberal measures would not reaccelerate inflation, which ticked back up to two per cent in October, in line with the Bank of Canada’s target. He also credited the Liberals’ fiscal restraint and efforts to reduce the costs of dental and childcare in Canada as helping to rein in costs and set the central bank up for lower interest rates. “It allows us to make sure that we are putting money in people’s pockets in a way that is not going to stimulate inflation, but it’s going to help them make ends meet and continue our economic growth,” he said. Reitzes said in his note that headline inflation will take a noticeable dip during the GST holiday in December and January before accelerating in February and March. Mendes said that the sales tax exemptions will “mechanically lower inflation,” but the Bank of Canada will “look through” those effects and instead be more concerned about the impacts on growth and underlying price pressures. With expectations that the Liberal affordability measures could stimulate spending and economic growth, Mendes said he sees the central bank moving cautiously with 25-basis-point cuts heading forward. Both Reitzes and Mendes agreed that a larger, 50-basis-point cut like the one seen in October is likely off the table for the Bank of Canada’s final rate decision of the year in December. Asked about the sustainability of the proposed spending, Trudeau defended the government’s fiscal position. “Canada is on a solid footing. Our macro economy is doing well, but that’s why we’re choosing to put that in service directly of Canadians.” While Trudeau has touted the government’s declining debt-to-GDP ratio and other fiscal anchors, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has called into question the accuracy of the government’s projections. Last month, the fiscal watchdog said the Liberals were likely on track to miss pledges to cap the federal deficit at $40 billion in the last fiscal year. The PBO said in its economic and fiscal outlook that the federal government posted a $46.8 billion deficit for the 2023-24 fiscal year. It also projected that the deficit would decline to $46.4 billion in the current fiscal year — but that was before the latest slate of measures was announced. Khan says that the Liberal government, knowing it was likely to blow past its fiscal anchors, likely decided it was better to miss in a way that benefits the party and Canadians. “I think they’ve made that calculation that if you’re going to go past the $40 billion, you might as well do something that you think appeals to Canadians when the anxiety is kind of at its highest,” he says. “If they were going to go past it by $6 billion, as the PBO suggests, what’s the harm in going a little further?” Khan says that the measures are temporary and therefore unlikely to have a lasting impact on inflation. He adds that $6 billion in a $3-trillion economy is a “broadly” sustainable measure. He adds that one measure does not define the government’s entire fiscal track. The Liberals have yet to signal plans for a fall economic statement this year, and otherwise would have to present a more complete fiscal picture at the 2025 federal budget in the spring. The government may have other spending commitments that it will cut, Khan notes, and may be wise to consider leaving some of its “firepower” in reserve as signs of a softening economy and fears of trade wars bubble beneath the surface. Khan says that, after nearly 10 years in office, the Liberals also need to show they are committed to a new fiscal direction that will invest in growth rather than spend its way to a rising GDP. “Transfers to individuals alone, while they can solve a whole bunch of important problems, you do need an economic engine that’s generating wealth for people, but also for this government, too,” he says. “If you want progressive policies, you need to be able to pay for them.” — with files from The Canadian PressISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police arrested thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of a rally in the capital to demand the ex-premier’s release from prison, a security officer said Sunday. Khan has been behind bars for more than a year and has over 150 criminal cases against him. But he remains popular and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI, says the cases are politically motivated. Shahid Nawaz, a security officer in eastern Punjab province, said police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters. They include five parliamentarians. Pakistan has sealed off Islamabad with shipping containers and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with PTI strongholds in Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Tit-for-tat teargas shelling between the police and the PTI was reported on the highway bordering Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns.” The government and Interior Ministry posted the announcement on the social media platform X, which is banned in Pakistan. They did not specify the areas, nor did they say how long the suspension would be in place. “Internet and mobile services will continue to operate as usual in the rest of the country,” the posts said. Meanwhile, telecom company Nayatel sent out emails offering customers “a reliable landline service” as a workaround in the areas suffering suspended cellphone service. Khan's supporters rely heavily on social media to demand his release and use messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said Khan's wife Bushra Bibi was traveling to Islamabad in a convoy led by the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur. “She cannot leave the party workers on their own,” said Akram. There was a festive mood in Peshawar, with PTI members dancing, drumming and holding up pictures of Khan as cars set off for Islamabad. The government is imposing social media platform bans and targeting VPN services , according to internet advocacy group Netblocks. On Sunday, the group said live metrics showed problems with WhatsApp that were affecting media sharing on the app. The U.S. Embassy issued a security alert for Americans in the capital, encouraging them to avoid large gatherings and warning that even “peaceful gatherings can turn violent.” Last month, authorities suspended the cellphone service in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to thwart a pro-Khan rally. The shutdown disrupted communications and affected everyday services such as banking, ride-hailing and food delivery. The latest crackdown comes on the eve of a visit by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko . Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said authorities have sealed off Islamabad's Red Zone, which houses key government buildings and is the destination for Khan's supporters. “Anyone reaching it will be arrested,” Naqvi told a press conference. He said the security measures were in place to protect residents and property, blaming the PTI for inconveniencing people and businesses. He added that protesters were planning to take the same route as the Belarusian delegation, but that the government had headed off this scenario. Naqvi denied cellphone services were suspended and said only mobile data was affected. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan in Peshawar and Asim Tanveer in Multan contributed to this report.Seascape Capital Management trimmed its position in shares of Alphabet Inc. ( NASDAQ:GOOGL – Free Report ) by 3.3% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 30,283 shares of the information services provider’s stock after selling 1,032 shares during the period. Alphabet comprises approximately 1.8% of Seascape Capital Management’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest position. Seascape Capital Management’s holdings in Alphabet were worth $5,022,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of Alphabet by 70.6% during the first quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 101,230 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $15,279,000 after buying an additional 41,880 shares in the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC grew its holdings in Alphabet by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 31,171 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $4,705,000 after acquiring an additional 1,072 shares in the last quarter. Cumberland Partners Ltd increased its position in shares of Alphabet by 14.3% in the 1st quarter. Cumberland Partners Ltd now owns 144,393 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $21,793,000 after purchasing an additional 18,104 shares during the last quarter. Wintrust Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of Alphabet by 5.8% in the 1st quarter. Wintrust Investments LLC now owns 32,780 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $4,947,000 after purchasing an additional 1,803 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TCTC Holdings LLC lifted its position in shares of Alphabet by 0.3% during the first quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 63,255 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $9,547,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 40.03% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have issued reports on GOOGL shares. BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating and set a $217.00 price objective (up previously from $215.00) on shares of Alphabet in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on Alphabet from $217.00 to $208.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Alphabet from $220.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of Alphabet from $200.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $210.00 price objective (up previously from $200.00) on shares of Alphabet in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirty-one have assigned a buy rating and five have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Alphabet presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $205.90. Alphabet Stock Down 1.7 % Shares of Alphabet stock opened at $164.76 on Friday. Alphabet Inc. has a 12-month low of $127.90 and a 12-month high of $191.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.02 trillion, a PE ratio of 21.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.95, a current ratio of 1.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $167.64 and its 200-day moving average is $170.36. Alphabet ( NASDAQ:GOOGL – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The information services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.29. Alphabet had a return on equity of 31.66% and a net margin of 27.74%. The firm had revenue of $88.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $72.85 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.55 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Alphabet Inc. will post 7.99 earnings per share for the current year. Alphabet Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.49%. Alphabet’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 10.61%. Insider Activity at Alphabet In related news, CAO Amie Thuener O’toole sold 682 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.44, for a total value of $109,420.08. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 32,017 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,136,807.48. This represents a 2.09 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, CEO Sundar Pichai sold 22,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.68, for a total value of $3,570,300.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 2,137,385 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $339,160,251.80. The trade was a 1.04 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders sold 206,795 shares of company stock worth $34,673,866. 11.55% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Alphabet Profile ( Free Report ) Alphabet Inc offers various products and platforms in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets segments. The Google Services segment provides products and services, including ads, Android, Chrome, devices, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Google Photos, Google Play, Search, and YouTube. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GOOGL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alphabet Inc. ( NASDAQ:GOOGL – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Alphabet Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alphabet and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .jili777 download apk 。

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police arrested thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of a rally in the capital to demand the ex-premier’s release from prison, a security officer said Sunday. Khan has been behind bars for more than a year and has over 150 criminal cases against him. But he remains popular and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI, says the cases are politically motivated. Shahid Nawaz, a security officer in eastern Punjab province, said police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters. They include five parliamentarians. Pakistan has sealed off Islamabad with shipping containers and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with PTI strongholds in Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Tit-for-tat teargas shelling between the police and the PTI was reported on the highway bordering Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns.” The government and Interior Ministry posted the announcement on the social media platform X, which is banned in Pakistan. They did not specify the areas, nor did they say how long the suspension would be in place. “Internet and mobile services will continue to operate as usual in the rest of the country,” the posts said. Meanwhile, telecom company Nayatel sent out emails offering customers “a reliable landline service” as a workaround in the areas suffering suspended cellphone service. Khan's supporters rely heavily on social media to demand his release and use messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said Khan's wife Bushra Bibi was traveling to Islamabad in a convoy led by the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur. “She cannot leave the party workers on their own,” said Akram. There was a festive mood in Peshawar, with PTI members dancing, drumming and holding up pictures of Khan as cars set off for Islamabad. The government is imposing social media platform bans and targeting VPN services , according to internet advocacy group Netblocks. On Sunday, the group said live metrics showed problems with WhatsApp that were affecting media sharing on the app. The U.S. Embassy issued a security alert for Americans in the capital, encouraging them to avoid large gatherings and warning that even “peaceful gatherings can turn violent.” Last month, authorities suspended the cellphone service in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to thwart a pro-Khan rally. The shutdown disrupted communications and affected everyday services such as banking, ride-hailing and food delivery. The latest crackdown comes on the eve of a visit by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko . Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said authorities have sealed off Islamabad's Red Zone, which houses key government buildings and is the destination for Khan's supporters. “Anyone reaching it will be arrested,” Naqvi told a press conference. He said the security measures were in place to protect residents and property, blaming the PTI for inconveniencing people and businesses. He added that protesters were planning to take the same route as the Belarusian delegation, but that the government had headed off this scenario. Naqvi denied cellphone services were suspended and said only mobile data was affected. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan in Peshawar and Asim Tanveer in Multan contributed to this report.ServiceNow CEO William McDermott sells $24.5 million in stock

LOS ANGELES — He’d been battered for weeks, lingering on the turf in pain at various points in previous wins over Nebraska and UCLA, always game enough to return a few players later after gingerly limping off. But running back Woody Marks, long USC’s Iron Man at running back, couldn’t return after another blow Saturday against Notre Dame. After a first-quarter handoff for nine yards, Marks laid on the turf for a few beats before stumbling to his feet, appearing slightly disoriented as he entered a medical tent on USC’s sideline. He eventually returned to the sideline as redshirt freshman Quinten Joyner took his place, but walked off into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tunnel at the two-minute mark of the first half as the CBS broadcast reported he’d be out for the rest of the afternoon . It was a massive loss for USC’s offense, and could’ve served as the end of Marks’ time in a Trojans jersey depending on his bowl-game decision. If so, what a run it has been for the Mississippi State transfer: finishing with 1,133 yards on the ground in 12 games, putting together one of the more complete seasons by any USC running back in recent memory. They came marching one by one down the barrel of the Coliseum, adorned with wreaths of honor, USC’s Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Jaylin Smith and Woody Marks all exchanging hugs with Lincoln Riley as an early crowd erupted in claps for its program pillars. It was a moment of levity, USC honoring beloved seniors Saturday afternoon on the final day of its regular season. It was also, however, a sobering reality. With Mascarenas-Arnold, Smith and Marks went 138 combined tackles and four interceptions and 1,421 yards from scrimmage; with left guard Emmanuel Pregnon and center Jonah Monheim went two crucial pieces of a much-improved Trojans offensive line. Walking out from the tunnel on Senior Day, certainly, doesn’t provide an end-all, be-all on players’ futures. But it gave a hint, certainly, that several names who still carried eligibility – Mascarenas-Arnold, Smith, wide receiver Kyron Hudson – could be moving on come the winter. “We’ll have a few guys, obviously, who will have some decisions to make on if they go pro or if they stay and play another year,” Riley said Tuesday, when asked how he might adjust USC’s offensive personnel in the offseason. “Not a ton, but we’ve got a couple guys that have those decisions. We’ll just see. We’re going to try to get the right talent in here.” USC will be hard-pressed to add that talent, certainly, as eyes turn ahead to a bowl-game slot and the 2025 season. If every player honored on USC’s announced Senior Day graphic moves on , either via the NFL draft or the transfer portal, USC stands to lose 17 players from its offense, defense and special teams who started Saturday against Notre Dame. Here’s the breakdown: Offense: WR Kyle Ford, TE Lake McRee, RB Woody Marks, C Jonah Monheim, LG Emmanuel Pregnon, RT Mason Murphy, WR Kyron Hudson Defense: S Akili Arnold, LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, LB Mason Cobb, CB Jacobe Covington, DT Nate Clifton, DT Gavin Meyer, CB Jaylin Smith, CB Greedy Vance Jr. Special teams: P Eddie Czaplicki, K Michael Lantz It’s still probable, as Riley mentioned, that a few of those names elect to stay at USC for another season. McRee, Murphy and Hudson, in particular, are redshirt juniors and would likely see their draft stock elevated by a return for a prominent senior year at USC. Still, the Trojans will have major work to do in the transfer portal and with depth development this offseason, particularly at center, replacing Monheim, and cornerback. Not a day after the NFL’s Chicago Bears canned head coach Matt Eberflus following a 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions , former star quarterback and No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams was back at the Coliseum on for his USC jersey-retirement ceremony in a palate cleanser of a Saturday afternoon. Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner who conquered opposing defenses and NIL riches in his time at USC, took a moment to thank the Coliseum crowd upon leading the Trojans out of the tunnel Saturday. “Number 13 is back,” Williams announced over the PA, speaking in a microphone to wide cheers. “And not only – is in the rafters now, because of all of you.”We didn’t pledge support for Aiyedatiwa, NNPP’s Edema disowns alleged meeting

Simon Harris said he has apologised to a woman for not giving her enough time to speak about carers and disability services while he was out canvassing in Cork on Friday. The Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader said he spoke to Charlotte Fallon, a worker with St Joseph’s Foundation, on the phone on Saturday after a clip of an exchange between them on Friday went viral. RTE footage posted to the social media site X shows Mr Harris on a canvass in Kanturk when Ms Fallon tells the Taoiseach carers ‘were ignored’ and the Government has ‘done nothing for us’. ‘The disability sector is a joke,’ she says. ‘You’ve done nothing for us, our people are suffering. I’m very passionate about my job.’ Mr Harris responds by saying: ‘No, not at all,’ and: ‘I’m very passionate about disability too.’ Ms Fallon says: ‘But there’s no mention of (them in the) Budget. You ignored them, you ignore the carers,’ to which Mr Harris says: ‘That’s not true,’ several times before shaking her hand and walking away. While out canvassing at a Christmas market in Rathfarnham in Dublin on Saturday afternoon, Mr Harris said he was annoyed with himself and had called Ms Fallon to apologise. ‘I called Charlotte this morning because she was absolutely owed an apology from me,’ he said. ‘We had a very good conversation, a very good conversation. I was very grateful to her for her time and her kindness. Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was approached during a canvass this evening by a woman who says she is a carer, and who said she believes the Government has "done nothing for us" | follow live: https://t.co/eUoCK3Qb5Y pic.twitter.com/MXiN9b60Ke ‘We spoke about a number of issues, we spoke about disability services, we spoke about the issue of pay parity for people in Section 39 organisations, and we also spoke about the issue of the means test for carers. ‘I was grateful to have a chance to listen to Charlotte and also talk through with her some of my own plans and views and vision in relation to disability services. Really grateful for the conversation, learned a lot from it, and I’ve also said that I’d love to call in to where she works in Cork in the coming weeks, and she said I’d be very welcome. ‘I’m annoyed with how I didn’t give that person, Charlotte, the time last night, she deserved that time. A post shared by Simon Harris (@simonharristd) ‘I’ve been around the country and I’ve had hundreds of conversations some days, and I’ve learned a lot and always learned a lot from listening to people and I’m very sorry that didn’t happen last night.’ Asked what happened last night, he said: ‘There’s no excuse for it, I’m annoyed with myself in relation to it, disability is what makes me tick. ‘It will always be my passion, and it’s Charlotte’s passion too, and I’m really grateful to her for giving me the opportunity to speak with her today.’ Asked whether he thought people would doubt his sincerity on wanting to reform the State’s disability services after seeing the video, Mr Harris said: ‘I hope not. ‘All I can do is really double my efforts to convince people of the facts that we have a plan for the future of this country, and very much at the heart of that plan is better services, better delivery and better empowerment of people with disabilities. ‘I’ve tried to bring a focus to it since I’ve become Taoiseach, and it’s something that I will continue to work on intensively and even more intensively as a result of this.’ On Saturday morning, Mr Harris posted a video on Instagram where he said he was spurred on to become a politician after seeing his parents fight for access to services for his brother Adam, who has autism. He said the interaction happened at the end of a ‘very long day’ and he felt ‘really bad’ about it. Mr Harris then outlined his party’s plans for carers and the disability sector, including removing the means testing for the Carers’ Allowance and to ensure that there are therapies in special schools and special classes. Sinn Fein’s housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin said that Mr Harris’ reaction ‘showed the true face of Fine Gael ‘ and showed ‘a contempt for working people’. Speaking at a press event in Dublin on Saturday, Fine Gael ministers Helen McEntee and Paschal Donohoe defended their party leader. ‘I think the Taoiseach himself has been very clear that he wished the encounter had gone differently. It had been the end of a very, very long day,’ Ms McEntee said. ‘What he said very clearly is that he should have given her more time, and should have engaged for longer with her, but this is the reason he got into politics.’ Mr Donohoe said: ‘In the course of an election campaign, in all the interactions that we have with people, of course, we sometimes feel within ourselves ‘that could have gone differently’ and ‘could have gone better’. I think it’s particularly the case for somebody who is so committed to looking at how we can support those who need more.’Maksym Tkachenko, a Ukrainian MP from Servant of the People party, states that over 150,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) have returned to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, with approximately one-third of those who fled during the full-scale war returning to Mariupol. Source: Maksym Tkachenko, member of the parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, De-occupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations, in an interview with Ukrinform news agency Quote: "Already, around 150,000 internally displaced people have returned to the temporarily-occupied territory. According to available data, 200,000 Mariupol citizens fled their city to escape the conflict that Russia had brought to our land. At the same time, one-third of them returned home, to Mariupol, to live under occupation. It appears that there are around 67-70,000 people there. I think those are horrible figures." Details: The main reason for the return of internally displaced individuals to the occupied territories, according to Tkachenko, is that they were unable to start a new life in Ukrainian-controlled territory because they "did not receive proper assistance from the state – no housing, no social support, compensation, work, etc." According to him, a big percentage of IDPs "could not find work because of the sceptical attitude of employers towards them, and all those offers that are provided to IDPs are actually very low-paid." He asserted that these people face prejudice in the labour market. According to Tkachenko, their incomes seldom reach UAH 8,000-12,000 (US$194 to US$290), while the cost of renting housing in Ukraine's relatively safe districts begins at UAH 10,000. At the same time, when IDPs start working, they lose their entitlement to receive state assistance to cover the expense of renting accommodation. At the same time, there are very few sites that provide "acceptable living conditions" for free. Tkachenko stated that there are currently over 5 million internally displaced people in Ukraine. "We're talking about about five million people. Why approximately? Because, on the one hand, the number of IDPs has increased due to the enemy's advancement... On the other hand, the number of IDPs is decreasing as individuals return home, in particular to temporarily occupied territories, or travel overseas. We are losing people because the state is delaying support and its volume is insufficient," Tkachenko said. Support UP or become our patron !KARACHI: Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr. Musadik Malik criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leaders, claiming they do not want the release of their founder, Imran Khan, ARY News reported. Speaking at a news conference here on Sunday, Musadik Malik emphasised that solving public issues is the government’s priority, highlighting that government measures have led to a reduction in inflation, and the stock market is at its highest level in history. He added that the nation must unite against extremism, mentioning that people from Parachinar are sitting on the roads with the bodies of their loved ones, yet there has been no sign of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur going to help them. Musadik Malik also criticised Ali Amin Gandapur for trying to attack Punjab and Islamabad, adding, “What happened to his Do or Die rally today? There are voices everywhere saying ‘Arrest me, take me in.’ Where are all the senior PTI leaders? No rallies are visible in Punjab, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala.” Musadik Malik stated that elements opposed to the country’s progress could not digest Pakistan’s growth, questioning the whereabouts of the millions of people PTI claimed would attend its call. “I am in Karachi today, why didn’t people from Sindh show up? Where are the people from Larkana, Karachi, and Hyderabad, who were called upon? A wave is coming from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; let’s see where it goes,” said Musadik Malik The Petroleum Minister further remarked, “PTI’s voters usually show up, but are the leaders hiding somewhere to rest at the KP House? They talk of bloodshed and fire, yet sleep in hotels at night.” Further adding, “They need to explain: what’s coming out of their speeches? Where are the PTI members who haven’t been arrested? They don’t want any discussion on the release of PTI’s founder.” Musadik Malik also questioned the political role of Bushra Bibi, stating, “If she was supposed to be apolitical, then how is she leading rallies? Now it’s clear that she’s no longer apolitical. What happened to your narrative of hereditary politics?” PML-N’s stalwart stated that there were always doubts about whether Bushra Bibi was behind the decisions made by PTI’s founder. “Now it makes sense where the cipher issue came from after waking up at night.” Lastly, he referred to a recent statement made by Bushra Bibi regarding a foreign country, which has led to embarrassment in the global community, particularly impacting Pakistan’s foreign policy. He remarked that many people now believe Bushra Bibi isn’t just entering politics—she’s the one controlling it. Read More: Bushra Bibi, CM Gandapur ‘lead’ PTI convoy to Islamabad It is pertinent to note that, Former first lady, Bushra Bibi and Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa CM Ali Amin Gandapur on Sunday 24 Nov departed for Islamabad with PTI convoy for their planned protest. Earlier it emerged that PTI convoy from Peshawar was delayed amid leadership dispute between Bushra Bibi and Gandapur. According to the schedule, Ali Amin Gandapur was designated to lead the convoy. However, sources report that Bushra Bibi is insisting on taking charge, creating tension within the party ranks. Reportedly, Gandapur argued, “The party founder has stated that you are not involved in politics,” urging Bushra Bibi to remain at home while he leads the convoy. This internal power struggle had stalled the convoy’s departure from Peshawar, further complicating PTI’s plans amid nationwide protests. In response to the PTI protest in Islamabad, authorities have completely sealed the entry and exit points of the twin cities, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Sione Tuipulotu helped halt Australia’s autumn resurgence as the Scotland captain scored the opening try in an impressive 27-13 triumph over the nation of his birth. The 27-year-old Glasgow centre, who left his homeland frustrated at a lack of opportunities in 2018, was the only player on either side to cross the whitewash in the first half. It was an extra special moment for Tuipulotu as his 77-year-old Greenock-born grandmother Jaqueline Thomson – the woman by whom he is eligible for Scotland – was in the stand watching him play for his adopted nation for the first time. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. There were further tries after the break from Duhan van der Merwe, who moved back to the top of Scotland’s all-time scoring charts on 30, replacement Josh Bayliss and Finn Russell. A late score from Wallabies debutant Harry Potter reduced the deficit to 14 points, but Scotland were already cruising towards a third win in four Tests this autumn. Australia, buoyed by victories over England and Wales this month, started with intent and after being camped in the Scottish half in the early exchanges, they got the scoreboard ticking in the 11th minute when Noah Lolesio sent a close-range penalty between the posts. Having escaped with the concession of just three points from the Wallabies’ pressure, Scotland started to build their way into the game and eventually took full control. Tuipulotu breaks clear to score a try against Australia (Andrew Milligan/PA) They worked themselves a good opportunity in the 15th minute, only for Russell’s delicate kick over the top to bounce out dead before Darcy Graham was able to get on the end of it. Russell looked set to get his side off the mark in the 20th minute with a penalty from a central position 30 metres out but, normally so reliable from the tee, the stand-off’s kick came back off the right-hand post. The Scottish breakthrough came two minutes later, however, when the Wallabies were caught cold at a lineout, allowing Ewan Ashman’s long throw to find Tuipulotu, who darted in all too easily to score. Russell converted. Much of the pre-match narrative had surrounded Australia centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who only made his rugby union bow earlier this month after being fast-tracked in from rugby league without having previously played a professional club game. Scotland players with the Hopetoun Cup trophy (Andres Milligan/PA) However, the much-hyped 21-year-old’s afternoon was ended prematurely when he injured himself making a tackle on Tuipulotu and had to go off after just 31 minutes. The first half generally lacked the verve many had hoped for from both sides but, on the balance of play, Scotland would have been entitled to a slight hint of disappointment at only being 7-3 ahead at the interval. The stodgy nature of proceedings continued early in the second half, with stand-offs Russell and Lolesio kicking a penalty apiece a minute apart. The home support felt aggrieved in the 49th minute when Australia full-back Tom Wright was not deemed to have committed a dangerous tackle as he blocked Scotland scrum-half Ben White, who was attempting to run on to his own kick over the top. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. But the Scots soon started to pull clear. Van der Merwe forced his way over on the left after being fed by Blair Kinghorn in the 51st minute. Russell converted. Bayliss then bounded his way over on the right in the 67th minute for his second try in successive matches, with Russell hooking his conversion wide. The Bath stand-off made amends for his errant kicking four minutes later, however, when he finished off an incisive attack for his first Scotland try since the defeat away to France in February 2023. Russell was again off target with his conversion. It mattered little as the Wallabies were already well beaten by the time wing Potter slammed down on the left, with Ben Donaldson adding the extras.

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