India has skill, technology, manpower that 'New' Kuwait needs, says PM Modi; praises diaspora's role
Takeaways from Biden's Africa trip: Pardon of son Hunter overshadows official businessThe new program will give creatives the financial capital, mentorship and the space to develop a passion project that will shape the culture of tomorrow NEW YORK , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a world where hustle culture is a necessary part of a creator's journey, time, resources and funding can be increasingly elusive luxuries for those looking to invest in their creative footprint. The makers of CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka proudly announce a chance to turn passion into production with the launch of the 'Blue Dot Creative Residency.' Centered around the verticals of entertainment, music, art and fashion, 'The Blue Dot Creative Residency' is designed to support creatives looking to expand into a new creative field and broaden their platforms by exploring uncharted ventures. The innovative program will deliver an environment of creative ease by providing them with direct funding, resources and access needed to invest back into passion projects that shape the culture of tomorrow. CÎROC has long championed greater Black representation in culture. Now, through the program, the brand will help remove the biggest barriers many diverse talents face—lack of funds and bandwidth—to expand their potential and become true multi-hyphenates. For years, CÎROC has been the vodka creatives turn to in moments of elevated celebration. Staying true to this tradition and to kick off this moment, CÎROC celebrated creatives during the biggest art week in Miami with an exclusive dinner experience held on Friday, December 6th at the iconic Rubell Museum where artists, creators and tastemakers came together to embrace the spirit of creative ease . CÎROC has enlisted entertainment industry partners to help identify and vet promising applicants for the inaugural residency class. Together, they will provide capital and unprecedented access to collaborators who will help the creative residents develop their artistic expression. This includes initiatives such as: (Ease)capes: Members of the program will have the opportunity to take a beat, a breath and some much-needed creative time off (CTO) during key cultural events in art, entertainment, music and fashion that include brainstorms and working sessions to help fuel their inspiration and help them show up as their most inspired selves when it matters most. Creative Trust: Members will receive mentorship and project specific guidance from a diverse network of industry leaders, who will work closely with them throughout the program to help bring their projects to life and amplify their work through behind-the-scenes content. "As a brand built for the culture, CÎROC has proudly championed luxury and creativity for over 20 years," said Victoria David , Brand Director, CÎROC. "Through the Blue Dot Creative Residency, we are excited to provide the support and resources necessary for this new generation to help shape the culture of tomorrow . " The program will culminate in the release of creative concepts across entertainment, art, music and fashion, each fueled through grants and resources provided by CÎROC and the entertainment industry partners. Through 2025, the program will support and help talent distribute and showcase their projects across different verticals, from movie theatre partnerships to commission-free art galleries. The Blue Dot Creative Residency , open to US residents 25 years old and above, will be accepting applications soon. Be the first to apply when entries open by visiting www.CÎROC.com . CÎROC encourages people of legal drinking age to celebrate responsibly. Stay up to date with the latest news, cocktails and exciting social content by following the conversation at @CÎROC . About CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka is gluten-free and distilled from fine French grapes; a process inspired by over a century of wine-making expertise and craftsmanship, providing a crisp, clean taste and citrus nose. Launched nationwide in January 2003, DIAGEO's ever-expanding flavor portfolio includes CÎROC RED BERRY, CÎROC COCONUT, CÎROC PEACH, CÎROC PINEAPPLE, CÎROC APPLE, CÎROC MANGO, CÎROC SUMMER WATERMELON, CÎROC SUMMER CITRUS, CÎROC PASSION and CÎROC LIMONATA. In June 2018, the makers of CÎROC entered the brown spirits category with the introduction of CÎROC VS, Fine French Brandy. In April 2022, the brand entered the ready-to-drink market, bringing the spirit of luxury and culture to the category with CÎROC Vodka Spritz. About DIAGEO North America DIAGEO is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, CÎROC and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos, DELEÓN and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness. Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO ) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com . Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com , for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow on Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ciroc-champions-creative-ease-with-the-blue-dot-creative-residency-an-innovative-program-empowering-emerging-storytellers-302326664.html SOURCE CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka
NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames Sunday in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people aboard were killed in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters , officials said. The Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed, and slamming into the wall, triggering an explosion and generating plumes of thick, black smoke. The crash killed 179 people, the South Korean fire agency said. Emergency workers pulled two crew members to safety. They were conscious and did not appear to have any life-threatening injuries, health officials said. The chief of the Muan fire station, Lee Jeong-hyeon, told a televised briefing that the plane was completely destroyed, with only the tail assembly still recognizable in the wreckage. Officials were investigating the cause of the crash, including whether the aircraft was struck by birds, Lee said. The control tower issued a warning about birds to the plane shortly before it intended to land and gave the crew permission to land in a different area, Transport Ministry officials said. The crew sent out a distress signal shortly before the crash, officials said. Investigators retrieved the jet's flight data and cockpit voice recorders, said senior Transport Ministry official Joo Jong-wan. He said it may take months to complete the probe into the crash. The runway will be closed until Jan. 1, the ministry said. Video of the crash indicated that the pilots did not deploy flaps or slats to slow the aircraft, suggesting a possible hydraulic failure, and they did not manually lower the landing gear, suggesting they did not have time, said John Cox, a retired airline pilot and CEO of Safety Operating Systems in St. Petersburg, Florida. Despite that, the jetliner was under control and traveling in a straight line, and damage and injuries likely would have been minimized if not for a barrier being so close to the runway, Cox said. “It’s all in one piece. Everything is coming along fine until it hits that wall, at which point it disintegrates into a catastrophe,” he said. Another aviation expert said videos showed the aircraft had used up much of the runway before touching down. With little braking ability, the aircraft skidded atop its engine cowlings, said Ross “Rusty” Aimer, CEO of Aero Consulting Experts. “It's basically like skidding on ice,” he said. The Boeing 737-800 is a "proven airplane" that belongs to a different class of aircraft than the Boeing 737 Max jetliner that was linked to fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, added Alan Price, a former chief pilot at Delta Air Lines and now a consultant. More than 4,500 of the planes are in service around the world, according to the aviation analytics company Cirium. One of the survivors was being treated for fractures to his ribs, shoulder blade and upper spine, said Ju Woong, director of the Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital. Ju said the man, whose name was not released, told doctors he “woke up to find (himself) rescued.” Details on the other survivor were not immediately available. The passengers were predominantly South Korean and included two people from Thailand. Officials identified 88 of them in the hours after the crash, the fire agency said. Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expressed condolences to the families of those aboard the plane in a post on X. Paetongtarn said she ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide assistance. Boonchuay Duangmanee, the father of a Thai passenger, told The Associated Press that his daughter, Jongluk, had been working in a factory in South Korea for several years and returned to Thailand to visit her family. "I never thought that this would be the last time we would see each other forever,” he said. Kerati Kijmanawat, the director of Thailand's airports, confirmed in a statement that Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 departed from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport with no reports of anything abnormal aboard the aircraft or on the runway. Jeju Air in a statement expressed its “deep apology” over the crash and said it will do its “utmost to manage the aftermath of the accident.” In a televised news conference, the company's president, Kim E-bae, bowed deeply with other senior company officials as he apologized to bereaved families and said he feels “full responsibility” for the crash. He said the company had not identified any mechanical problems with the aircraft following regular checkups and that he would wait for the results of government investigations. Family members wailed as officials announced the names of some victims at a lounge in the Muan airport. Boeing said in a statement on X that it was in contact with Jeju Air and was ready to support the company in dealing with the crash. The crash happened as South Korea is embroiled in a political crisis triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment . South Korean lawmakers on Friday impeached acting President Han Duck-soo and suspended his duties, leading Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok to take over. Choi, who traveled to the site in Muan, called for officials to use all available resources to identify the dead as soon as possible. The government declared Muan a special disaster zone and designated a weeklong national mourning period. Yoon’s office said his chief secretary, Chung Jin-suk, presided over an emergency meeting between senior presidential staff to discuss the crash and reported the details to Choi. Yoon expressed condolences to the victims in a Facebook post. In Rome’s St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said he joined in “prayer for the survivors and the dead.” U.S. President Joe Biden said the United States was ready to offer “any necessary assistance.” The Muan crash is one of the deadliest disasters in South Korea’s aviation history. The last time South Korea suffered a large-scale air disaster was in 1997, when a Korean Airlines plane crashed in Guam, killing 228 people on board. In 2013, an Asiana Airlines plane crash-landed in San Francisco, killing three and injuring about 200. Sunday’s accident was also one of the worst landing disasters since a July 2007 crash that killed all 187 people on board and 12 others on the ground when an Airbus A320 slid off a slick airstrip in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and hit a nearby building, according to data compiled by the Flight Safety Foundation, a nonprofit group aimed at improving air safety. In 2010, 158 people died when an Air India Express aircraft overshot a runway in Mangalore, India, and plummeted into a gorge before erupting into flames, according to the safety foundation. ___ Associated Press journalists David Sharp in Portland, Maine; Paul Wiseman in Washington; Bobby Caina Calvan in New York; Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul and Jintamas Saksornchai in Bangkok; Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo; and Giada Zampano in Rome contributed to this report. Hyung-jin Kim And Kim Tong-hyung, The Associated PressSenator-elect from New Jersey keeping close eye on South Korea turmoil
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Nonconference games are typically used as a warmup for the league season. While these games count, programs use them to hone their system and performances. For the Arizona women’s basketball team, that means learning the system and teammates’ tendencies — everything from where they like to catch the ball to where their favorite spots are on the floor to shoot. There is a lot to learn, and even though these Wildcats spent the summer together, getting live reps in games is where everything starts clicking. Some years, the athletes pick up Arizona’s tenacious defense and the offensive scheme faster than other seasons. This year's squad is experiencing — in the words of Arizona coach Adia Barnes — "growing pains." Arizona head coach Adia Barnes talks with forward Katarina Knezevic in the second half of a game at McKale Center on Dec. 2, 2024. Arizona won 78-43. The Wildcats have been getting back to basics and working on fundamentals every day, from ball handling to cutting down on turnovers to staying disciplined and making the right pass at the right time. If Monday’s game against Seattle is any indication, this extra focus is working. The Wildcats played better team ball on offense — sharing the ball and not making one-handed football passes. On defense, the Wildcats were more disciplined in trying to disrupt the Redhawks — both individually and as a team with trapping. Arizona (7-3) hopes this progression continues when it hosts Grand Canyon (5-2) Thursday night at 6 p.m. at McKale Center. A young team Barnes has repeatedly said her team is young. But what does that really mean? It comes down to experienced upperclassmen. Arizona doesn’t really have this right now with 10 of 13 active players underclassmen. Looking at the roster, sixth-year Isis Beh was a reserve for most of her career and is starting for the first time this season. Paulina Paris is a junior but she was a reserve guard for most of her time at North Carolina and was injured the back half of last season. She is starting to assert herself over the last five games, culminating with Monday’s 22-point, 8-assist performance. Arizona Wildcats guard Paulina Paris (23) looks to make a pass as she’s surrounded by Seattle Redhawks defenders in the first half at McKale Center on Dec. 2, 2024. The other junior is Erin Tack, the former walk-on who is coming off an ACL injury and is a reserve. Still, three of those sophomores — Breya Cunningham, Jada Williams and Skylar Jones — played a lot (averaging at least 22 minutes per game) and even started last year. And while all three came back, transformed their bodies and strengthened their games, it’s not as easy as flipping the switch. They are learning about their new teammates and are now expected to take on slightly different roles. Montaya Dew is coming back from a torn ACL and not playing for nearly two years and she had her best performance yet Monday night against Seattle. She’s pursuing offensive rebounds — something the Wildcats typically haven’t done — and those rebounds she hasn’t secured, she’s used her long arms to tip the ball. She’s keeping her opponent in front of her and not letting them find a lane to the basket. Sahnya Jah, who didn’t play much last year at South Carolina, has shown more discipline in her play. “They are getting used to things, getting their legs back, getting stronger again,” Barnes said. “... They all have to learn. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Progression, not perfection.” What’s missing to help them through this awkward stage are those experienced seniors/fifth years — like Helena Pueyo and Esmery Martinez, who graduated last spring. There weren’t too many who were more experienced than these two. “I’m really patient with teaching (this year’s team), because I am not going to make them get all this experience like Helena had in a couple of months,” Barnes said. “They're learning stuff new from years of bad habits or years of different system, or years of lack of understanding, so you don't just start reading the defense and understanding passing angles and stuff. It just takes repetition, time.” While each year stands on its own, it’s important to acknowledge what Pueyo and Martinez brought to the Wildcats. It’s hard to replace their output on the court. Pueyo is the UA’s steals leader with 312 and a Pac-12 first-teamer and all-defensive player. Last year, she averaged nearly 10 points, four assists and four rebounds per game and was one of the original stat stuffers, doing all the little things that helped the team win. Arizona forward Esmery Martinez was named Pac-12 Player of the Week after the Wildcats swept Stanford and Cal on the road. Martinez reached the 1,500-point mark for her career in the win over the Cardinal. Martinez scored more than 1,000 points and pulled down more than 1,000 rebounds during her career, including two seasons at Arizona. As a Wildcat, she collected 482 rebounds, scored 702 points, picked 116 steals and dished 131 assists. Last year, she averaged 11 points per game. But the hardest thing to replace is that experience — playing through almost everything a five-year career can throw at you — including a pandemic. It’s the NCAA games both played and that Pueyo played in the Wildcats run to the national championship game. Arizona guard Helena Pueyo (13) shoots as Auburn guard Honesty Scott-Grayson (23) defends in the second half of a First Four game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament, March 21, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. Both players took over games last season in their own ways to help Arizona win. Whether it was Martinez playing through a migraine or scoring 17 points to help UA beat then-No. 3 Stanford or Pueyo playing every minute (55) of a 3OT win over Washington and completely taking over the NCAA game in the last minutes to beat Auburn. This year’s squad is working to figure everything out. “When you have a young team, you have to teach and you have to work on it daily,” Barnes said. “We’ll be better in a month.” Who: Arizona (7-3) vs. GCU (5-2) When: 6 p.m. Where: McKale Center Watch: ESPN+ Listen: 1400-AM Contact sports reporter PJ Brown at pjbrown@tucson.com . On X(Twitter): @PJBrown09 Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Reporter
Intel will have a CEO with manufacturing expertise as well as experience in the product side of the business, interim co-CEO David Zinsner said at the UBS technology conference on Wednesday. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Intel has started evaluating a handful of outsiders including former board member Lip-Bu Tan to take the reins of the struggling chipmaker. Intel's "core strategy remains intact", Zinsner said at the conference, two days after the struggling U.S. chipmaker announced the resignation of CEO Pat Gelsinger following impatience with the pace of a costly turnaround. The company also requires a "significant cultural change" to become a successful foundry player as well as in the semiconductor business, Intel's head of foundry manufacturing and supply chain Naga Chandrasekaran said.Refugees, jail breaks, celebration greet fall of Assad
NoneUnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York
Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections
In partnership with Celebrity Cruises®, we are giving subscribers the opportunity to win a 12-night round trip around New Zealand for two, including return economy flights*, on Celebrity Edge. Departing from Sydney, enjoy destinations such as Milford Sound, Dunedin, Christchurch, Tauranga, Auckland, Bay of Islands and more. Enter for your chance to travel onboard Celebrity Edge® Credit: Celebrity Cruises The prize includes: Entrants must be able to travel in April 2025. Enter by Thursday, December 19 at 11:59pm AEST to be in the running. Enter for your chance to win Competition Terms and Conditions Game of skill. Competition open to all residents of Australia, aged 18 and over who are a subscriber of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Time or WAtoday. Competition closes Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 23:59 [AEST]. Winner drawn Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10:00 [AEST] at Promoter’s office. Winner notified in writing within two days. Full terms and conditions found here . Promoter is Nine, 1 Denison Street, North Sydney NSW 2060. ABN: 15 008 663 161.LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Thomas Brown insists he's focused on the job at hand and not the one he might have down the line. His immediate task as the interim coach of the Chicago Bears is helping the team finish strong over the final five games, starting this weekend at San Francisco. The rest of his life can wait. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest sports news delivered right to your inbox six days a week.