Canadian facing ‘exponential’ rise in fraud as holidays, mail strike collideSealed defence properties in Pune trespassed by installing fences, CCTVsWhen a city’s NFL mascot gets its own Super Bowl ring, you know you’ve got a champion on your hands. That was the case with Thunder, the Denver Broncos’ real-life mascot, after the team won the 2016 Super Bowl. Yes, it was a real ring, but also a symbolic gesture — just like Thunder. A quartet of majestic, white Arabian horses, all owned by Denver entrepreneur and philanthropist Sharon Magness Blake, have appeared under the name at games and events over the last three decades, even flying to select cities and appearing on TV shows. Just as important, Magness Blake said, have been the celebrity equine’s appearances at the National Western Stock Show during its 16-day run at the National Western Center, which takes place each January in Denver. “All the Thunders have been out there,” said Magness Blake, who has been providing Arabians to the Broncos since 1993. “They’ve been at roping classes, or done Dancing with the Horses on Kid’s Day. We have a free kids day at the (Stock Show), but last time I was there with Thunder they had neglected to tell us it was going to be 3,000 kids!” The turnout surprised Magness Blake, who’s a trustee of the event, but it makes sense given that attendance has been up year-over-year since 2021, with a total of about 700,000 earlier this year (with revenues “rising accordingly,” according to the Stock Show). In September, Stock Show leaders named Magness Blake 2025’s Citizen of the West , a prestigious award that recognizes not only her work with animals, but her wide-ranging, massively successful fundraising for nonprofits and worthy causes — to the tune of more than $100 million by this point. “I grew up in Philadelphia with modest means, so I gravitate toward women who are abused, children and the elderly,” she said of her fundraising work. “I also grew up loving horses, but didn’t have access to them because I lived in a city of concrete.” “What has always struck me about Sharon is how comfortable she is with all people,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper, then governor of Colorado, in 2011 when Magness Blake won the Mizel Community Enrichment Award . “She is literally right at home with some of the biggest stars in show business, but not at the expense of others. Few have her level of grace; there’s always such a sense of joy around her.” Magness Blake’s ability to land stars such as Garth Brooks for fundraisers has helped her success. But the 46th Citizen of the West award is particular to Denver, honoring those “who embody the spirit and determination of the Western pioneer – a true representative of Western lifestyle, ideals, agricultural heritage, and traditions,” according to the Stock Show. A panel of community leaders selects recipients, they said. That includes past winners and honchos at the 118-year-old event. “Sharon is an extraordinary citizen and philanthropist, supportive and freely giving of her talent, time and treasure,” wrote Pete Coors, chairman of the Stock Show’s $150 million capital campaign, Honoring the Legacy, in an email to The Denver Post. Magness Blake is a committee member of Honoring the Legacy, which is raising funds to support transformative construction on the National Western Complex’s grounds. She’s also an old friend, and a known quantity when it comes to supporting key Denver causes, Coors said. Like him, Magness Blake is one of Colorado’s business and philanthropic elite, but also a boots-on-the-ground type when it comes to Western culture. “Sharon’s love of horses is legendary; from owning and raising Arabian horses to thrilling Denver Broncos fans with Thunder she has made innumerable contributions to the world of horses,” he wrote. Magness Blake, the widow of billionaire cable TV pioneer Bob Magness , who died in 1996, has long raised and trained horses. As the Stock Show rightly boasts, Magness Racing Ventures sold 900 racing horses worldwide at its peak. Since 2004, Magness Blake has been married to former Breckenridge mayor and retired attorney Ernie Blake, who also shares her love of horses and travels with Thunder. Magness, who lives with Blake in Cherry Hills, has sat on boards and raised money for Volunteers of America, the Denver Council of Boy Scouts of America, the University of Colorado Hospital Foundation, the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Denver Center for the Performing Arts and many others. She’s also president of the Thunder Foundation, a partner with Denver’s Epicurean Catering, and organizer of the Denver Broncos’ annual holiday party for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. Still, she’s most closely associated in society circles with Western Fantasy, the main fundraiser for Volunteers of America, through which she’s raised about $40 million over the last three decades. She’s stepping back from that now, she said, following a couple of staph infections over the last year that nearly killed her, both from back surgeries. Fortunately, last year’s Western Fantasy raised $2.8 million — thanks in part to her husband stepping in to sell tables while she was recovering. “It’s funny because I am very competitive,” she said of the 31-year-old event, which she co-founded with Jean Galloway. “We beat every other event in Denver last year in (fundraising totals), which was our first year ever to do that. So this was going out on a high note for me.” She’s confident that when the $1 billion Stock Show project is finished, the muddy charm of the event will remain. With CEO Paul Andrews stepping down next year , it’s vitally important to continue the organization’s legacy and character. “It’s going to be a new awakening, if you can get people in there — which I’m sure we will,” she said. “We’ll be able to experience Western heritage in a modern way, and educate people about it, because let’s face it: you’ve got to reach young people in different ways than we used to.” Magness Blake is happy to use her position to donate, organize, and otherwise support nonprofit causes. But the 2025 Citizen of the West award is going not just to her, but to countless people who have helped in her efforts over the years, she said. “It’s great recognition not just for what I do, but what I’m part of, because teamwork is what the West is really about,” she said. “Most people don’t do things for credit, they do it because they love it. ... They don’t want any recognition, but are always there when you need them.” The 46th Citizen of the West award dinner takes place Jan. 13, 2025. Proceeds support the National Western Scholarship Trust. For tickets, call Erika Schroeder at 303-299-5560 or email eschroeder@nationalwestern.com. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.7 ph 。

Japan's famous sake joins UNESCO's cultural heritage list, a boost to brewers and enthusiasts

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers activated linebacker Dre Greenlaw to play Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams for his first action since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season's Super Bowl . Greenlaw had been practicing the past few weeks and was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Thursday. San Francisco placed offensive lineman Ben Bartch on injured reserve with an ankle injury to make room on the roster. Greenlaw was one of the emotional leaders of San Francisco's defense before the freak injury in the first half of the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City. Greenlaw bounced up and down on the sideline and then started to run onto the field with a few teammates when he collapsed holding his left leg. He was then helped off in a cart. Greenlaw was drafted in the fifth round in 2019 and emerged as one of the key defenders for San Francisco in 2022. He started 30 games the past two seasons with 247 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 10 passes defensed and three takeaways. The Niners have missed his intensity and physical play this season, especially against the run. The Rams and 49ers both promoted players from the practice squad for the game with Los Angeles adding defensive back Charles Woods and San Francisco promoting running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

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j phil marine inc WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack , President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. Then-President Donald Trump looks to Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, as she speaks during a Jan. 11, 2018, prison reform roundtable in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. 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. Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. Trade Representative and head of the small business administration. Brooke Rollins, assistant to the president and director of the Domestic Policy Council at the time, speaks during a May 18, 2020, meeting with restaurant industry executives about the coronavirus response in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Rollins, speaking on the Christian talk show “Family Talk" earlier this year, said Trump was an “amazing boss” and confessed that she thought in 2015, during his first presidential campaign, that he would not last as a candidate in a crowded Republican primary field. “I was the person that said, ‘Oh, Donald Trump is not going to go more than two or three weeks in the Republican primary. This is to up his TV show ratings. And then we’ll get back to normal,’” she said. “Fast forward a couple of years, and I am running his domestic policy agenda.” Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. Brooke Rollins speaks at an Oct. 27 campaign rally for then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York. President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to strip ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes. In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs. Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Josh Funk and JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report. 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. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” 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. 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. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.As the group stage matches unfold and the supercomputer's predictions come to light, football fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see if the outcomes align with the actual results on the pitch. The unpredictability and drama of the Champions League are part of what makes it one of the most prestigious and exciting football tournaments in the world.

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TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Tulsa fired football coach Kevin Wilson on Sunday and will elevate wide receivers coach Ryan Switzer on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. The Golden Hurricane lost to South Florida 63-30 on Saturday, dropping their record to 3-8. The school's decision concludes Wilson's two-year tenure with a 7-16 record, including 3-12 in American Athletic Conference play. “With the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics, we know the importance of positioning our football program and athletic department to thrive and excel in the upcoming years,” athletic director Justin Moore said in a statement. “Our standard will be to play in bowl games every season, compete for conference titles, and build a program that everyone connected to the Golden Hurricane will be proud of." Wilson spent six years as Indiana’s head coach, going 26-47 from 2011 to 2016. He then joined Urban Meyer’s staff at Ohio State and stayed on under Meyer’s successor, Ryan Day, before taking over at Tulsa. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Title: "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ring" Peaks at 12,000 Concurrent Players on Steam! Is Battling Ghosts a Thrilling Experience?

John Ashworth, who previously held the position of sporting director at Manchester United, was let go by the club in a move that has divided opinion among fans and pundits alike. Ashworth, known for his astute footballing knowledge and transfer acumen, had been seen as a key figure in shaping the club's strategy and recruitment policy.The Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) are set to play the Los Angeles Rams (5-5) on Sunday night. The Week 12 matchup will feature an Eagles team inching closer to securing the NFC East title. The Rams are in a three-way tie with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks for second place in the NFC West. The Eagles had several key players battling injury this week. Bryce Huff has been dealing with a wrist injury since Philadelphia’s 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 3. The Philadelphia Eagles lose Bryce Huff for four games Per the Eagles website, Huff was placed on injured reserve Friday “Huff was scheduled to undergo a wrist procedure on Thursday that will hopefully allow him to return before the end of the season. He will miss at least the next four games, starting with Sunday night’s prime-time showdown in Los Angeles.” Sirianni praised Huff for battling through the injury. “He’s really done a good job of batting through, but this will hopefully help him get some more function in that hand,” Sirianni said. Huff has recorded 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2024. He’s made five starts and appeared in 10 games. DeVonta Smith will not play Sunday night The Eagles had more awful news before Sunday’s contest. Per the Week 12 injury report released on Friday, the Eagles have ruled out wide receiver DeVonta Smith due to a hamstring issue. The star receiver has battled the injury for a few weeks, but will not make it Sunday night. Friday's Injury Report #PHIvsLAR pic.twitter.com/hEyV5JAj0Q — Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 22, 2024 Smith is the Eagles second-leading receiver with 41 receptions for 516 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

(Word Count: 404 words)Pay first, deliver later: Some women are being asked to prepay for their babyk love 。

As the dust settles and the headlines fade, the memory of the worker who took his own life in a desperate plea for justice must not be forgotten. His sacrifice serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for systemic change and collective action to ensure that no worker is pushed to such extreme measures in pursuit of their basic rights.In recent months, experts have been closely monitoring the volatile situation in the conflict zones where various anti-government armed groups are active. The prevailing consensus among analysts is that there is a significant likelihood of infighting breaking out among these groups, leading to dramatic changes in the battlefield dynamics. This assessment is based on a combination of historical precedent, current political dynamics, and strategic considerations.

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. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Vistra VST has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 30.47% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 44.22%. Currently, Vistra has a market capitalization of $50.35 billion. Buying $100 In VST: If an investor had bought $100 of VST stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $618.39 today based on a price of $147.98 for VST at the time of writing. Vistra's Performance Over Last 5 Years Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

In conclusion, the potential for infighting among anti-government armed groups poses a serious threat to the security and stability of conflict zones. Experts stress the urgent need for proactive measures to address these risks and prevent the escalation of violence and conflict. By fostering dialogue, cooperation, and conflict resolution among the armed groups, it may be possible to avert the worst-case scenario and pave the way for a more sustainable and peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Title: Emphasizing the "Medical" in Aesthetic Medicine

Viral video shows delivery driver receiving massive holiday tipDistrict 5 - Eveleth area CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports warmer weekend weather created a comfortable muzzleloader-hunting opportunity for a few folks. However, it was not conducive for making ice for the spearing and ice fishing community. Ice conditions were looking favorable, but the 8 inches of heavy, wet snow on Sunday night was not helpful. CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls) worked early ice fishing, small game hunting and muzzleloader deer hunting. Activity was low and ice conditions remain uncertain in most areas. Injured-animal complaints were addressed as well. ADVERTISEMENT CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) suggests that people be mindful that logging activity has increased and a truck full of logs is not able to react quickly on snow-covered roads. Ice has begun to form on most area waterways and is inconsistent at best. The recent melting weather caused water to accumulate and create slush. He responded to several vehicles that had gone off the road. He also responded to several injured animal calls. CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports heavy snow fell and ice conditions went from bad to treacherous. Swamps and lowland areas have yet to freeze. A heavy, insulating snow will not help. Lake travel and angling activity was nonexistent over the week. CO Sean Cannon (Cook) worked on ongoing investigations, did equipment maintenance and checked on a few ice anglers. It appears that all the lakes are pretty much all locked up with ice, but ice conditions still vary greatly and the wet heavy snow added a lot of weight onto the ice. CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily big game, trapping and angling enforcement. He found a few muzzleloader hunters out and about with warmer weather. Some ice anglers have ventured out onto the ice, but ice remains very unreliable with much of it being too thin to walk on. Enforcement violations related to licenses and he also continued to investigate a big-game violation. CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked fishing, trapping and big game activity and followed up on various complaints. Violations encountered included possession of illegal-length northern pike, no license in possession and ATV registration violations. CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) did equipment maintenance, prepared gear, worked on a background investigation and investigated a trapping compliant. CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) monitored hunting, trapping and fishing activity. Few muzzleloader deer hunters were encountered. Ice on local lakes is thin. Recent snow will likely cause slush on the lakes that have iced over. He also fielded calls regarding snowmobile safety, injured animals, and stolen traps. ADVERTISEMENT District 6 - Two Harbors area CO Sean Williams (Ely ) reports warmer weather and rain put an end to the small amount of ice fishing activity seen in the Ely area. The first snowmobilers were checked operating where they could find snow. Violations included operating a snowmobile on a roadway and late deer registration. CO Brent Ihnen (Ely) focused on hunting and fishing activity. He also contacted ATV operators. CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) checked anglers and muzzleloader hunters and worked follow-up cases from deer season. Enforcement action included permitting a youth to take a doe in a buck-only area, deer-registration violations, depositing garbage on the ice, and driving a pickup on a snowmobile trail. CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked early ice anglers, who had some luck with a few fish on the ice. Some lakes have decent ice and some of the bigger lakes are still completely open. A few snowmobilers were checked hitting backcountry roads. CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) did equipment maintenance and checked a few anglers venturing out on early ice. Most of the lakes in the area remain and ice thickness varies significantly. CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on trapping and ice angling enforcement. A few ice anglers were checked but noted very thin and variable ice. Most snowmobilers and cross-country skiers remained on the sidelines waiting for better conditions. He also answered wildlife-related calls and issued deer-possession permits. CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) finished field training and began working the Silver Bay station. He spent time learning the area and checking early ice anglers. A handful of snowmobile riders have been seen using the trails after the recent fresh snow. ADVERTISEMENT CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked trapping and angling activity. Ice conditions remain unsafe for most area lakes until colder weather improves ice depths. He also worked on division training items and continued to wrap up big-game investigations from the firearms season. District 7 - Grand Rapids area CO Vinny Brown (Northome) checked anglers and trappers, monitored decorative materials harvesting activities and attended training. Spearing has been good with some nice fish being harvested. Enforcement action was taken for too many passengers on an ATV and failure to display ATV registration. CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) worked ATV riders, hunters and anglers; patrolled campgrounds and trails; responded to numerous game and fish questions; and responded to wildlife-related complaints. CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked early ice anglers and is seeing some individuals venturing out on the ice. Ice conditions on small lakes are spotty at best. CO Brian Holt (Grand Rapids) checked muzzleloader deer hunters, investigated a TIP complaint and worked on open cases. He also checked ice fishing activity and advises caution because ice conditions vary greatly on area lakes and caution is advised. CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) worked big-game, small-game, trapping and sport fishing enforcement, attended training and addressed calls for service relating to big game violations and nuisance wildlife. CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, worked trapping activity, performed equipment maintenance and attended training. Enforcement action was taken for license issues and off-highway vehicle registration violations. ADVERTISEMENT CO Taylor Hochstein (Hill City) monitored ice fishing as the first few people ventured onto the ice. That ice thickness varies greatly and anglers are urged to check ice thickness often and use all the appropriate safety gear. District 8 - Duluth area CO Derek Peterlin (Brookston) continued to monitor ice conditions and angling activity. He checked a few anglers who were brave enough to venture out and a lot had fish to look at. He also checked in with some trappers and completed required annual training and instructed the laws and ethics portion of a snowmobile safety class. CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) followed up on cases left over from deer season, completed annual training and prepped winter equipment. CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) got his equipment ready for the upcoming season and observed area lakes, with some portions having around 4 inches of ice, while in many others open water was observed. CO Tony Elwell (Cloquet) worked on cases from the firearms deer season, monitored muzzleloader hunting activity and conducted equipment maintenance. He observed that recent warm weather and rain deteriorated ice conditions, rendering some ice that previously looked safe no longer safe. CO Mikeena Wehr (Carlton) continued working on big game cases and checked traps. She worked the Jay Cooke State Park muzzleloader deer hunt and success was seen from some participants. As anglers begin to venture on the ice, she reminds them to keep ice safety at top of mind as ice conditions change quickly during early and late ice. CO Aimee Hand (Willow River) checked muzzleloader and archery deer hunters, and investigated complaints regarding illegal trapping activity and shooting from a motor vehicle. Ice anglers began to venture out with some lakes having quality clear ice started. She encourages anglers to check ice for themselves and not rely on reports from others. ADVERTISEMENT CO Ben Karon (Pine City) answered calls and worked on background investigations for the next Conservation Officer Academy. Statewide Marine Unit CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit – Duluth) checked a few shore anglers, assisted local agencies with calls, and planned ice rescue training. A complaint of late-evening shots heard in a residential area was found to be an individual lighting off fireworks. Enforcement action taken for ATV and commercial violations.As the investigation into the Dalian dental clinic unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and honesty in the healthcare industry. Patients deserve to receive accurate information about their treatment options and to make informed decisions about their care. Law enforcement officials are working diligently to uncover the truth behind the clinic's deceptive practices and to ensure that justice is served for those who have been misled.The 'Outnumbered' panel discussed the fallout from Daniel Penny's acquittal in New York City after a jury decided he was not guilty of negligent homicide. Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley also discusses his take on the major development. Now and again, justice is vindicated and right triumphs over wrong. With its "not guilty" verdict on Monday, a Manhattan jury unanimously sent a resounding message to District Attorney Alvin Bragg that he wrongfully prosecuted a good Samaritan. A man who courageously came to the aid of subway passengers who were threatened with imminent death. Not that Bragg will pay any heed. The case against Marine veteran Daniel Penny should never have been brought. It was a gross injustice. By law, he was justified in using reasonable force —even lethal force— to subdue a maniac who vowed to murder riders the moment he entered a subway car. That man, Jordan Neely, initiated the confrontation and died as a result of his own menacing and illegal actions. DANIEL PENNY FOUND NOT GUILTY IN SUBWAY CHOKEHOLD TRIAL Instead of being commended, Penny was pilloried as a bigoted vigilante by the usual crowd of racial justice warriors who yearned to turn Neely’s death into another George Floyd outrage . Bragg, who sees everything through the prism of race and politics, was more than happy to do their bidding. At trial, his lead prosecutor referred to Penny as "the white man." It was reprehensible. But in the end, 12 diverse jurors refused to abide the blatant race-baiting. They were well acquainted with the perils of New York’s treacherous subway system, which has experienced a 60% increase in murders this year, according to police statistics. Stabbings, shootings, beatings, and robberies now seem commonplace as criminals roam freely in the underground transit system searching out their next victims. Jurors accepted as true the testimony of passengers —some of whom are Black— that they were grateful when Penny came to their rescue. Neely terrorized them. They were panicked and stricken with fear that their lives were about to end. Far from a rogue criminal, the former marine was perceived by those in danger as their beneficent and heroic figure. Bragg didn’t care about the innocent sufferers who were threatened with death. His idea of "restorative justice" has always been centered on protecting criminals. During trial, his prosecutors contemptuously dismissed passenger accounts of what happened that terrible day while manipulating evidence to transform Neely from villain to victim. ANDREW MCCARTHY: PROSECUTOR, JUDGE MAKE MOCKERY OF JUSTICE IN TRIAL OF SUBWAY HERO DANIEL PENNY Errant rulings from the bench made Penny’s defense all the more difficult. When jurors were deadlocked on the most serious count of manslaughter after almost 30 hours of deliberations, Judge Maxwell Wiley went along with the D.A.’s request to withdraw the charge even though prosecutors spent weeks telling the jury that the accused was guilty of it. The judge’s ruling was improper. He contradicted his own earlier ruling that the jury could only consider the lesser count of criminally negligent homicide if they first found Penny "not guilty" of the top count. That didn’t happen. The judge appeared to acknowledge that a dismissal was impermissible, but then did it anyway. Indeed, the rules that govern criminal procedure require a mistrial in the event of a hung jury unless the defense agrees to a dismissal. Penny’s lawyers did not. It may seem anomalous or inconsistent that a jury could be deadlocked on the more serious crime but acquit the defendant on the lesser charge. But jurors are allowed to change their minds during deliberations as they reconsider the evidence and absorb counterarguments behind closed doors. Although he may be foolish enough to try, Bragg can not re-charge Penny on the manslaughter charge that he voluntarily dismissed amid deliberations. Jeopardy attaches when a trial jury is empaneled and sworn in. Hence, a second prosecution would be prohibited under the constitutional doctrine of double-jeopardy in the Fifth Amendment. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Inevitably, social justice activists promptly decried Penny’s acquittal and ramped up their protests. Demonstrators outside the New York courthouse took up chants of "no justice, no peace," the implicit threat of violent unrest that became a raucous symbol of the Black Lives Matter movement. The mob is, if nothing else, unrelenting. Within minutes of the verdict, BLM-connected provocateurs unleashed incendiary threats by calling for "black vigilantes" and "retaliation." Their goal is to gin up racial hatred under the guise of egalitarian justice. They condemned the trial outcome as a victory for white supremacy and the Ku Klux Klan. It is a sad measure of our times that such despicable demagoguery has a dedicated audience of witless disciples. For Daniel Penny, the jury’s correct decision offers immediate relief to the criminal ordeal that he has endured with dignity for the last 18 months. He is absolved, but unfairly stained. He still faces a civil lawsuit filed late last week by Neely’s absentee father. I would not handicap the plaintiff’s case as having a prosperous future. It is true that the standard of proof is lower in a civil action, but any recoverable damages would be speculative and minimal. Typically, a parent will sue for loss of companionship or future financial support. Here, there is none. An indigent and estranged son with little or no contact with his father would not net a meaningful windfall. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Unfortunately, the larger societal damage that Bragg’s unwarranted case has wrought may be borne by future crime victims in New York and perhaps elsewhere. Knowing that an elected district attorney is eager to prosecute well-meaning Samaritans will likely deter them from defending others who are preyed upon. The weak and the vulnerable among us may become easier targets. That is the tragic epitaph of the Daniel Penny trial. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM GREGG JARRETT Gregg Jarrett is a Fox News legal analyst and commentator, and formerly worked as a defense attorney and adjunct law professor. His recent book, "The Trial of the Century," about the famous "Scopes Monkey Trial" is available in bookstores nationwide or can be ordered online at the Simon & Schuster website. Jarrett’s latest book, "The Constitution of the United States and Other Patriotic Documents," was published by Broadside Books, a division of HarperCollins on November 14, 2023. Gregg is the author of the No. 1 New York Times best-selling book "The Russia Hoax: The Illicit Scheme to Clear Hillary Clinton and Frame Donald Trump." His follow-up book was also a New York Times bestseller, "Witch Hunt: The Story of the Greatest Mass Delusion in American Political History."

AP News Summary at 2:00 p.m. ESTNoneChabbewal: AAP debutant Ishank trounces BJP, Cong turncoats

Furthermore, Gan Wei's decision to speak out about her marriage has sparked discussions about the complexities of relationships and the importance of standing by your partner through the good times and the bad. In a society where success and image are often prioritized over genuine connection, Gan Wei's candidness about her relationship with Jia Yueting serves as a reminder that true love transcends societal expectations and challenges.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, village leaders and community representatives have submitted multiple petitions and appeals to local authorities, calling for immediate action to repair and improve the village roads. They have emphasized the importance of maintaining safe and accessible transportation infrastructure to ensure the well-being and prosperity of the community.Volunteer Calah Derocher, left, and kitchen manager Cassandra Culleton assemble to-go meals Dec. 3 during the daily Meals Program at the Trinity Jubilee Center in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal LEWISTON — After living off-grid and being a stay-at-home mom for the past few years, Calah Derocher was looking for some inspiration as she re-enters the professional world. Through Fedcap’s ASPIRE program, she planned to use volunteer work to get started and perhaps explore several different roles and settings in the nonprofit realm. But after starting at the Trinity Jubilee Center, she found it difficult to go anywhere else. And, according to staff there, Derocher has been rearranging her schedule to help out on holidays. She’s become a regular volunteer in the soup kitchen and food pantry. “After a week of being there I just knew I really wanted to give my time to these people and their cause,” she said. “It’s really kind of scary to go back into society and the job force and it was a really comfortable way to get myself back in there, and feel like I’m a productive member of society.” The ASPIRE program helps Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients move toward financial independence through case management, job training, education, support and employment services. Derocher said life events led her to the program, to find a way to support her family. This winter, she’s starting classes at Central Maine Community College. At first she considered going into social work, but she ultimately decided to learn a trade — electromechanical technology. She said the program asked her to consider tough questions about her passions and what a new professional career could look like, and volunteering was one of the ways for her to face that. Volunteer Calah Derocher, right, organizes to-go meals Dec. 3 during the daily Meals Program at the Trinity Jubilee Center in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Derocher began volunteering at Trinity in November, and plans to stay on until school starts. She said she’s been doing “anything and everything” that’s asked of her, including food prep, organizing donations, and more. “I give them my all when I go in there, and try to get as much done as I can,” she said. She often ends up leaving late. On Dec. 23, she was helping to prepare for the Christmas Eve lunch, where everyone who comes through for the meal also gets a stocking with various items. On Christmas Eve she was there from 7:30 a.m. to noon, getting the food out. She did the same on Thanksgiving. Derocher was also helping organize a toy drive, which allows Trinity guests to choose an item to give to someone special in their lives. While her time there will be slowing down soon, she said she could see herself back there again, either during summers when she’s not in school, or at another time. “I feel like the impact of coming here and being around the staff and clients and the whole experience — I know in the future I’ll be able to contribute in my own way back to the community,” she said. Derocher was born in Lewiston and grew up in Auburn, but until just recently lived in Hartford “in the middle of the woods.” She said part of what she’s rediscovered since returning to Lewiston is the feeling of community. She said moving back was a big change, as it was to realize it was “OK to ask for help.” “I think it’s something that’s lost sometimes this day and age,” she said, referring to community. “And I’m hoping to bring that with me for the rest of my life — to remember that communities are stronger together.” Know someone with a deep well of unlimited public spirit? Someone who gives of their time to make their community a better place? Then nominate them for Kudos. Send their name and the place where they do their good deeds to reporter Andrew Rice at arice@sunjournal.com and we’ll do the rest. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous

Furthermore, certain health conditions can affect how much sleep an adult needs. Chronic conditions such as depression, anxiety, and sleep apnea can disrupt sleep patterns and may require individuals to get more sleep to compensate for the poor quality of rest they experience.None

In conclusion, the dark web of car loan scams is a cautionary tale of the dangers of greed and deception. What may seem like a shortcut to financial success can quickly turn into a nightmare of deceit and financial ruin. It is essential for individuals to exercise caution and due diligence when entering into any financial transaction, especially those that promise quick and easy returns. By shining a light on these nefarious practices and educating the public about the risks involved, we can help prevent others from falling prey to this insidious black market scheme.

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In conclusion, the launch of the China Barter Trade Service Platform signing ceremony marks a significant milestone in the development of the barter trade system in China. By providing a centralized platform for businesses to exchange goods and services, this platform has the potential to revolutionize the country's trade landscape and drive economic growth in the years to come.Lang Ping's contribution to Chinese women's volleyball is unparalleled. As a player, she led the Chinese national team to its first-ever Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles in 1984, a historic moment that captured the hearts of millions of Chinese people and inspired a new generation of athletes. After retiring from playing, Lang Ping transitioned into coaching, where she continued to make her mark on the sport. She guided the Chinese women's volleyball team to another Olympic gold medal in 2016, solidifying her legacy as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport.

FC Barcelona Considering Free Transfer of Son Heung-min Next Summer to Strengthen Forward line and Expand Asian MarketHEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) — Jamal Mashburn Jr.'s 12 points helped Temple defeat Hofstra 60-42 on Sunday. Mashburn shot 4 for 14 (0 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Owls (6-4). Quante Berry added 10 points while going 4 of 6 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) while he also had five rebounds. Lynn Greer III had nine points and went 4 of 8 from the field. The Pride (8-4) were led by Jean Aranguren, who finished with 16 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Hofstra also got nine points and two steals from Kijan Robinson. Silas Sunday finished with five points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Temple took the lead with 15:04 remaining in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 33-20 at halftime, with Mashburn racking up 12 points. Temple outscored Hofstra by five points over the final half, while Greer led the way with a team-high seven second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

phlove apk Moreover, the "West Street Observations" platform pays special attention to marginalized communities and voices that are often silenced or ignored. By amplifying the voices of those who are most affected by social injustices, the platform works to create a more inclusive and equitable society for all. Through in-depth research and analysis, the platform sheds light on the experiences of these communities and challenges readers to confront their own biases and privilege.One of the biggest challenges in remaking a game like Yakuza is striking the right balance between preserving the essence of the original game and enhancing it for a modern audience. The technical director highlighted the importance of maintaining the core gameplay mechanics that fans have come to love while also incorporating new elements to make the game feel fresh and innovative.Daines calls for scrutiny of new facial recognition technology at U.S. airports

Minutes after the University of North Carolina announced it had hired Bill Belichick as its next head football coach, the Tar Heels’ Instagram account posted a photo of the legendary NFL coach — at no more than 3 years old — sitting in the UNC bleachers. “Welcome home, Coach,” the post reads , dredging up the memory of when the young Belichick shadowed his father, Steve, who was a UNC assistant from 1953 to 1955. As news of his hiring spread around the NFL world, the reaction ranged from excitement at seeing him back on the sideline to disbelief. The most decorated coach in NFL history after earning six Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots, and two more as the defensive coordinator with the New York Giants, Belichick is officially making his next challenge college football after agreeing to a five-year deal with UNC. “I will have to see him on the sideline to believe that’s happening,” Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury joked Thursday. “We’ll see how the NFL job search goes and all that. I will have to see him on the sideline coaching in Chapel Hill to believe that’s happening." While Belichick’s knowledge of the sport, and his success, are unquestioned, there has been debate among those who have played for the 72-year-old coach during his 40-plus years in football about how well his style will translate to the college game. Some of his former players believe his skill set will work at any level. That list apparently includes Tom Brady, the quarterback during all six of Belichick’s Super Bowl wins with New England. “Congrats, coach. The Tar Hell way is about to become a thing,” Brady posted on Instagram on Thursday, referencing “The Patriot Way” that he popularized in New England. Some cautioned that the players he brings into the UNC program should prepare to have their limits tested like never before. “I think he’s going to do good,” said Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne, who played under Belichick during his final three years in New England. “Bill does a good job of developing players, developing young men. I think it will be a challenge for the young man. He’s a tough coach, which we all know. But I think it will be good for certain players that have the right mindset.” Bourne's advice? Always stay locked in mentally. “Just stay tough,” Bourne said. “Have a gritty mindset because it’s not going to be easy, but in the end, it’s going to be worth it." Though some have questioned why the Tar Heels would even consider hiring Belichick after parting ways with 73-year-old Mack Brown this season, current Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said good coaching is ageless. “To me, it doesn’t matter if you’re a young man or a 10-year vet in the league, he’s a great teacher,” said Mayo, who played eight seasons under Belichick, winning a Super Bowl during the 2014 season, and then succeeded him as head coach after last season. "I wish him nothing but the best. It doesn’t really matter what level, I think he’ll be successful.” NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is a relative newcomer to the college game himself. He spent three seasons at Jackson State before going to Colorado in 2023. In a message posted to the X social media platform, he welcomed Belichick as a competitor. “Coach Bill Belichick is a coaches coach to all us Coaches along with my man coach (NIck) Saban,” Sanders posted. “They’re game changers and they know how to move people forward. I know this is a great thing for College Football & for North Carolina. God bless u Coach, if you’re happy I am 2.” But former Patriots defensive back Je’Rod Cherry wonders how well Belichick’s old-school coaching style will be received in an era in which in-your-face methods don't always fly as well as they did when Belichick began his career. “You can’t coach hard anymore,” Cherry said during an appearance on ESPN GameNight. “You can’t yell at guys, curse at guys and that’s what he does. You are going to have to find guys who are going to accept that brand of coaching and will accept someone constantly getting on them." New York Jets safety Jalen Mills, who played for Belichick with the Patriots from 2021 to 2023, said he was surprised by the news. “I thought he definitely was going to try to wait it out until after the season and come back to the NFL,” Mills said. "But I think it’s gonna be a good thing for him because now you get a guy who has won and, of course, he’s going to try to turn that program around. But he also gets to connect with the younger generation and kind of modify and adjust to this younger generation of football on top of what he already knows. So I think that’ll just help him as far as coaching. And then, of course, he’ll give those guys, those young guys, structure as far as what the NFL looks like, too.” Just how much the Belichick on the college sidelines will resemble the one in the cutoff hooded sweatshirt who patrolled NFL sidelines is unclear. Belichick hinted they will be one and the same. During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN prior to agreeing to the UNC job, Belichick laid out what his approach at the college level would be. “The program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players than have the ability to play in the NFL,” Belichick said. “It would be a professional program — training, nutrition, scheme, coaching, techniques — that would transfer to the NFL. It would be an NFL program at a college level.” AP National Writer Howard Fendrich and Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

COLUMBUS, Ga. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac Incorporated AFL announced today that it will webcast its annual Financial Analysts Briefing on December 3, 2024 at starting 8:00 a.m. (ET) . Aflac's executive management will discuss the Company's operations and strategy for the U.S. and Japan , as well as its medium-term outlook. The presentations will be available via webcast, and you must register here prior to the event. Presentation slides will be posted on investors.aflac.com after the market closes on December 2, 2024 , and an archive of the presentations will also be available on investors.aflac.com for two weeks following the conclusion of the webcast. ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL ), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for nearly seven decades to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan . In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products. 1 In Japan , Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years (2024), Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for 23 years (2024) and Bloomberg's Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year (2023). In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment ( PRI ) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2023) for 10 years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn't cover, get to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol . Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under " Sustainability ." 1 LIMRA 2023 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as those informational statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. The company desires to take advantage of these provisions. This document contains cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected herein, and in any other statements made by company officials in communications with the financial community and contained in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking information is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements containing words such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "goal," "objective," "may," "should," "estimate," "intends," "projects," "will," "assumes," "potential," "target," "outlook" or similar words as well as specific projections of future results, generally qualify as forward-looking. Aflac undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. The company cautions readers that the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements: difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy, including inflation defaults and credit downgrades of investments global fluctuations in interest rates and exposure to significant interest rate risk concentration of business in Japan limited availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate differing interpretations applied to investment valuations significant valuation judgments in determination of expected credit losses recorded on the Company's investments decreases in the Company's financial strength or debt ratings decline in creditworthiness of other financial institutions the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers, employees, and distribution partners deviations in actual experience from pricing and reserving assumptions ability to continue to develop and implement improvements in information technology systems and on successful execution of revenue growth and expense management initiatives interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality, integrity or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company inherent limitations to risk management policies and procedures operational risks of third-party vendors tax rates applicable to the Company may change failure to comply with restrictions on policyholder privacy and information security extensive regulation and changes in law or regulation by governmental authorities competitive environment and ability to anticipate and respond to market trends catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, as a result of climate change, epidemics, pandemics, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, war or other military action, major public health issues, terrorism or other acts of violence, and damage incidental to such events ability to protect the Aflac brand and the Company's reputation ability to effectively manage key executive succession changes in accounting standards level and outcome of litigation or regulatory inquiries allegations or determinations of worker misclassification in the United States Analyst and investor contact - David A. Young , 706.596.3264 or 800.235.2667 or dyoung@aflac.com Media contact - Ines Gutzmer , 762.207.7601 or igutzmer@aflac.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aflac-incorporated-to-webcast-2024-financial-analysts-briefing-302313462.html SOURCE Aflac Incorporated © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’

SAN DIEGO , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Avidity Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNA), a biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics called Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCsTM), today announced that on November 20, 2024, the Human Capital Management Committee of Avidity's Board of Directors granted non-qualified stock option awards to purchase an aggregate of 117,000 shares of its common stock and 58,500 restricted stock units ("RSUs") to twelve (12) new non-executive employees under the Avidity Biosciences, Inc. 2022 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan (the "2022 Inducement Plan"). The awards were granted as inducements material to the employees entering into employment with Avidity in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The 2022 Inducement Plan is used exclusively for the grant of equity awards to individuals who were not previously employees of Avidity, or following a bona fide period of non-employment, as an inducement material to such individuals' entering into employment with Avidity, pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The options have an exercise price of $43.65 per share, which is equal to the closing price of Avidity's common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market on November 20, 2024, or the vesting commencement date. The shares subject to the stock options will vest over four years, with 25% of the shares vesting on the one-year anniversary of the vesting commencement date and the balance of the shares vesting in a series of 36 successive equal monthly installments thereafter, subject to each employee's continued employment with Avidity on such vesting dates. The RSUs will vest in four equal installments on the first four anniversaries of the vesting commencement date, subject to each employee's continued employment with Avidity on such vesting dates. The awards are subject to the terms and conditions of the 2022 Inducement Plan and the terms and conditions of a stock option agreement or RSU agreement, as applicable, covering the grant. About Avidity Avidity Biosciences, Inc.'s mission is to profoundly improve people's lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics - Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCsTM). Avidity is revolutionizing the field of RNA with its proprietary AOCs, which are designed to combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide therapies to address targets and diseases previously unreachable with existing RNA therapies. Utilizing its proprietary AOC platform, Avidity demonstrated the first-ever successful targeted delivery of RNA into muscle and is leading the field with clinical development programs for three rare neuromuscular diseases: myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Avidity is also advancing two wholly-owned precision cardiology development candidates addressing rare genetic cardiomyopathies. In addition, Avidity is broadening the reach of AOCs with its advancing and expanding pipeline including programs in cardiology and immunology through key partnerships. Avidity is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information about our AOC platform, clinical development pipeline and people, please visit www.aviditybiosciences.com and engage with us on LinkedIn and X . Investor Contact: Mike MacLean (619) 837-5014 investors@aviditybio.com Media Contact: Navjot Rai (619) 837-5016 media@aviditybio.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avidity-biosciences-announces-inducement-grants-under-nasdaq-listing-rule-5635c4-302313526.html SOURCE Avidity Biosciences, Inc.How to keep track of Santa as he travels Canada and the world6 ph in urine 。

Former member of the state backward classes commission during the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government Juluri Gowrishankar filed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition in the state high court on Saturday challenging the redesigning of the“Telangana Thalli” (Mother Telangana) as proposed by the ruling Congress party in the state. The Telangana activist filed the petition ahead of the opening of the new statue in the state secretariat on Monday. The upcoming inauguration will be done by chief minister A Revanth Reddy and has kicked up a political slugfest with the opposition BRS criticising the statue’s design saying that it does not represent Telangana’s identity. “The existing design of the statue was widely approved and appreciated by all sections of the people. Any changes in the design will deeply hurt the sentiment of the Telangana people,” Gowrishankar in the petition, which is expected to come up for hearing on Monday. The existing statue of Telangana Thalli, designed during the BRS regime in 2014, has the image of a goddess sporting a pink silk saree and wearing glittering gold ornaments like long necklace, bangles and waistband, besides a crown on the head. She has Bathukamma (a floral arrangement symbolising Telangana folk festival) in the left hand and cobs of maize and jowar in the right hand. “It is a symbol of our identity, created through consensus among Telanganites from all sections during the Telangana movement. It includes all elements that are truly Telangana,” the BRS said in a post on X. However, the redesigned statue of Telangana Thalli, the image of which was released to the media by the government on Friday, depicts her as a simple woman without any divine appearance. Draped in a green coloured cotton saree, the Telangana Thalli has simple-looking ornaments and ordinary bangles. She has cobs of maize and pearl millet in the left hand, while her right hand has a gesture of ensuring protection to the people. BRS working president K T Rama Rao told reporters that the redesigned statue deviates from traditional representations. He pointed out that the new statue lacks a crown, which undermines the divine and symbolic essence of Telangana Thalli. “It excludes Bathukamma, a symbol deeply intertwined with Telangana’s cultural identity. The statue’s hand gesture resembles the Congress party’s emblem, suggesting an attempt to politicize a cultural symbol,” he said. He accused the Congress leader Revanth Reddy of attacking Telangana’s history and identity out of political vendetta against BRS chief KCR. The Congress leaders defended the redesign of the statue. The state Congress committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud said the new Telangana Thalli statue reflects the rural ethos of Telangana, while the one projected by the BRS represented the feudal culture. “The statue reflects a humble Telangana woman, symbolising the state’s agrarian roots, dressed in a green saree with millet and paddy in hand,” he said. Another senior Congress leader, who did not wish to be quoted, said it was ridiculous on the part of KTR to say that the hand gesture symbolises the Congress party. “It is a gesture of reassuring the people. If the gesture reflects the Congress, does it mean Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumala or Lord Lakshmi Narasimha of Yadagirigutta, who also have similar hand gestures, are the Congress leaders?” he asked. He said Telangana’s identity transcends specific iconography like a crown or Bathukamma and instead focuses on representing the resilience and simplicity of its people. Meanwhile, the Telangana government formally invited KCR and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president G Kishan Reddy for the function to unveil the redesigned statue of Telangana Thalli at Secretariat on Monday. On behalf of the chief minister, his cabinet colleague Ponnam Prabhakar, along with advisor (protocol) Harkara Venugopal and senior officials of the protocol department, drove down to the farmhouse of KCR at Erravelli in Siddipet district and extended the invitation to formal chief minister. Later, he also met Kishan Reddy at his residence in Hyderabad and requested him to attend the event. Similar invitation was extended to AIMIM president Asadduddin Owaisi, people familiar with the matter said.

With a focus on human rights, US policy toward Latin America under Jimmy Carter briefly tempered a long tradition of interventionism in a key sphere of American influence, analysts say. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, defied the furor of US conservatives to negotiate the handover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, suspended aid to multiple authoritarian governments in the region, and even attempted to normalize relations with Cuba. Carter's resolve to chart a course toward democracy and diplomacy, however, was severely tested in Central America and Cuba, where he was forced to balance his human rights priorities with pressure from adversaries to combat the spread of communism amid the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union. "Latin America was fundamental and his global policy was oriented toward human rights, democratic values and multilateral cooperation," political analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank in Washington, told AFP. During his 1977-1981 administration, which was sandwiched between the Republican presidencies of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the Democrat sought to take a step back from US alignment with right-wing dictatorships in Latin America. An important symbol of Carter's approach was the signing of two treaties in 1977 to officially turn over the Panama Canal in 1999. "Jimmy Carter understood that if he did not return the canal to Panama, the relationship between the United States and Panama could lead to a new crisis in a country where Washington could not afford the luxury of instability," said Luis Guillermo Solis, a political scientist and former president of Costa Rica. Carter called the decision, which was wildly unpopular back home, "the most difficult political challenge I ever had," as he accepted Panama's highest honor in 2016. He also hailed the move as "a notable achievement of moving toward democracy and freedom." During his term, Carter opted not to support Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza, who was subsequently overthrown by the leftist Sandinista Front in 1979. But in El Salvador, the American president had to "make a very uncomfortable pact with the government," said Shifter. To prevent communists from taking power, Carter resumed US military assistance for a junta which then became more radical, engaging in civilian massacres and plunging El Salvador into a long civil war. Carter took a critical approach to South American dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, suspending arms deliveries and imposing sanctions in some cases. But his efforts "did not achieve any progress in terms of democratization," said Argentine political scientist Rosendo Fraga. The American president also tried to normalize relations with Cuba 15 years after the missile crisis. He relaxed sanctions that had been in force since 1962, supported secret talks and enabled limited diplomatic representation in both countries. "With him, for the first time, the possibility of dialogue rather than confrontation as a framework for political relations opened up," Jesus Arboleya, a former Cuban diplomat, told AFP. But in 1980, a mass exodus of 125,000 Cubans to the United States, with Fidel Castro's blessing, created an unexpected crisis. It "hurt Carter politically with the swarm of unexpected immigrants," said Jennifer McCoy, a professor of political science at Georgia State University. Castro continued to support Soviet-backed African governments and even deployed troops against Washington's wishes, finally putting an end to the normalization process. However, more than 20 years later, Carter made a historic visit to Havana as ex-president, at the time becoming the highest-profile American politician to set foot on Cuban soil since 1959. During the 2002 visit, "he made a bold call for the US to lift its embargo, but he also called on Castro to embrace democratic opening," said McCoy, who was part of the US delegation for the trip, during which Castro encouraged Carter to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cuban All-Star baseball game. "Castro was sitting in the front row and we were afraid he would rise to give a long rebuttal to Carter's speech. But he didn't. He just said, 'Let's go to the ball game.'" In the years following Carter's presidency, Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) would go on to resume a full-frontal confrontation with Cuba. Decades later, Barack Obama (2009-2017) opened a new phase of measured normalization, which Donald Trump (2017-2021) brought to an end. US President Joe Biden promised to review US policy toward Cuba, but hardened his stance after Havana cracked down on anti-government protests in 2021. "Carter showed that engagement and diplomacy are more fruitful than isolation," McCoy said.

Thomas uses big drives and putts to hold lead in Bahamas

By Mumini AbdulKareem, Ilorin Kwara table tennis sensation, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai has narrated how he used his father’s sporting business to learn and improve his table tennis skills that got him where he is today. The 18-year-old from Adeta in Ilọrin West Local Government area told Daily Trust during a chat that he has won three tournaments this year within and outside the country. According to him, “I picked interest in table tennis because my dad has a tennis board outside our house where people come to play as a business though he is not a good player. “After sometime around 2918, I decided to go professional and started going to the stadium where the coach told me that I can make it in tennis if I am determined. The rest as they say is not history”. Abdulbasit, a Mass Communication student of Kwara State Polytechnic said combining sports with studies is not easy but needs sacrifices adding that “I still go to the stadium for training even during exams before I return home after my paper”. He said “The easiest way to combine both as a teenager or youth is to explore online opportunities. “Here, nothing is structured because of the country we find ourselves in, unlike in other advanced countries. You should have time for it and not just do it anyhow like me because of. “It is painful because inside you, you know you can do it but there is not enough good equipment which negatively impacts your game,” he said. Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.None

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Corey McKeithan's 27 points helped La Salle defeat Stetson 92-77 on Saturday. McKeithan also added five rebounds for the Explorers (5-2). Andres Marrero added 13 points while shooting 5 for 11, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc while they also had six rebounds. Jahlil White had 13 points and shot 4 of 9 from the field and 5 of 8 from the free-throw line. Mehki finished with 20 points and seven rebounds for the Hatters (1-6). Abramo Canka added 14 points for Stetson. Jamie Phillips Jr. had 12 points and seven rebounds. The Hatters extended their losing streak to six in a row. La Salle went on an 18-3 run to make it 69-48 with 11:22 left in the half. White scored 10 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .As 2024 winds down, Oppo is preparing for an action-packed start to 2025, with several high-profile device launches in the pipeline. The global debut of the Reno 13 series is just around the corner, while the Chinese market eagerly awaits the arrival of the Oppo Find N5, Find X8 Ultra, and Find X8 Mini. Adding to the excitement, Zhou Yibao, Oppo’s Find Product Manager, recently hinted at the anticipated timeline for the Find N5’s release in a post on Weibo. Building on this, a fresh leak from a tipster on Weibo has reportedly revealed key details about the Oppo Find N5 foldable phone’s specifications. If accurate, these leaks offer an early glimpse into what could be one of Oppo’s most innovative devices to date. ALSO READ | OpenAI's ChatGPT Search Can Be Manipulated With Prompt Injection & Hidden Text To Produce Favourable Results? Oppo Find N5: Specifications (Expected) The leaked details suggest that the Oppo Find N5 will feature a robust 6.4-inch external display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, offering a seamless user experience. Once unfolded, users can enjoy a spacious 8-inch main screen with stunning 2K resolution and the same 120Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for gaming, video streaming, and multitasking. At its core, the Find N5 is rumored to house Qualcomm's cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, ensuring top-notch performance. Powering the device will be a substantial 5700mAh battery, coupled with 80W wired charging for rapid power-ups. These enhancements mark a significant leap from the Find N3, which came with a 4805mAh battery and 67W wired charging. Moreover, the Find N5 may introduce 50W wireless charging—a feature absent in its predecessor—providing added convenience for users. On the storage front, the device is expected to offer configurations up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage, catering to a wide range of multitasking and storage needs. For photography enthusiasts, the Find N5 is rumored to include a triple-camera setup borrowed from the acclaimed Find X8 series. This setup reportedly features three 50MP sensors—a main, ultra-wide, and telephoto lens—ensuring versatility in capturing stunning images. Additionally, a front-facing camera is expected to be positioned on the internal folding screen, though specific details about it remain under wraps. These leaked specifications should be taken cautiously, as Oppo has yet to officially confirm any details about the Find N5. While the information aligns with previous reports and seems credible, it’s wise to wait for an official announcement. Speculation suggests that Oppo will reveal the Find N5 shortly after the Chinese New Year in 2025, likely placing its debut in February. On the global stage, the Find N5 is anticipated to launch as the rebranded OnePlus Open 2, expected in the first half of 2025. Additionally, leaked renders of the OnePlus Open 2 have surfaced online, hinting at a design that closely resembles its predecessor. The most noticeable change appears to be in the camera placement, suggesting that Oppo and OnePlus are choosing to refine the successful design language of the OnePlus Open and Oppo Find N3, rather than making drastic design changes.

Coal baby, not cool?

Raiders TE Bowers sets pair of rookie records

New York, NY, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alta Global Group (NYSE American: MMA) (“Alta” or the “Company”), a pioneering technology company seeking to aggregate and drive participation in combat sports, today announced it has filed a Request for Withdrawal of its Registration Statement on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), initially filed on September 5, 2024. The Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the SEC, and no securities have been sold in connection with the offering. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. ABOUT ALTA GLOBAL GROUP LIMITED Alta Global Group Limited is a technology company that is seeking to increase consumer participation in martial arts and combat sports whilst building upon existing community offerings within the sector. Alta currently has three business units designed to provide services to and monetize all key stakeholders in the sector, namely fans, participants, coaches, gym owners and athletes. TrainAlta ( www.trainalta.com ) partners with gyms and coaches to deliver a range of consumer products that drive participation in martial arts for fans and beginners. Hype ( www.hype.co ) is a mobile marketing platform designed to help gym owners, coaches and athlete partners grow revenue from their followers and audiences in today’s age of social media. MixedMartialArts.com ( www.mixedmartialarts.com ) is a leading platform for the MMA community, providing access to MMA news and media, fighter data, fight schedules and access to the legendary Underground forum. For further information about Alta Global Group Limited (NYSE American: MMA), please visit www.altaglobalgroup.com or https://ir.altaglobalgroup.com/news-events/presentations for a copy of our latest corporate presentation. Follow us on social media via https://www.facebook.com/trainalta https://x.com/altaglobalgroup https://www.instagram.com/trainalta/ https://au.linkedin.com/company/trainalta Forward-Looking Statements This press release may include forward-looking statements. Any statements contained herein regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included herein include or may include, but are not limited to, statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or use or contain words, terms, phrases, or expressions such as “achieve,” “forecast,” “plan,” “propose,” “strategy,” “envision,” “hope,” “will,” “continue,” “potential,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “predict,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “might,” or similar words, terms, phrases, or expressions or the negative of any of these terms. Any statements in this press release that are not based upon historical fact are forward-looking statements and represent our best judgment as to what may occur in the future. Any references to active gyms or partner gyms refer to a gym profile that has been claimed or created and has accepted the terms and conditions and/or a previous license agreement to run the Warrior Training Program. Any references to estimated or targeted revenue per active gym do not guarantee that the gym will generate the specified revenue or any revenue at all. Forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those discussed in the “Risk Factors” section contained in our Registration Statement on Form F-1 as filed with the SEC. Given the risks and uncertainties, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should recognize that the statements are predictions of future results which may not occur as anticipated. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all such factors on the Company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. You should carefully read the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Registration Statement to better understand the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and industry, and underlying any forward-looking statements. Except where required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update, withdraw or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements. Media Contacts Dave Gentry RedChip Companies, Inc. C: 1-407-491-4498 T: 1-407-644-4256 E: MMA@redchip.comVANCOUVER - Online predators are becoming increasingly resourceful in trolling media platforms where children gravitate, prompting an explosion in police case loads, said an officer who works for the RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit in British Columbia. Data show the problem spiked during COVID-19 when children began spending more time online — but rates did not wane as police anticipated after lockdowns ended. In B.C., they soared, almost quadrupling from 2021 to 2023. Const. Solana Pare is now warning exploitation of children is likely here to stay, as a technological race between police and predators gains momentum. “Technology is becoming more and more available, and online platforms and social media sites are being used by children younger and younger, which provides an opportunity for predators to connect with them,” Pare said in an interview. Police say child exploitation cases in B.C. went from about 4,600 in 2021 to 9,600 in 2022 to 15,920 reports last year. The upwards trend is seen nationally, too. Statistics Canada says the rate of online child sexual exploitation reported to police rose by 58 per cent from 2019 to 2022, and police data show cases have continued to rise. The RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre reported that from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, it received 118,162 reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation offences — a 15 per cent increase compared with the previous year. Online child sexual exploitation, Pare explained, includes offences such as sextortion, child luring and the creation or distribution of sexually explicit images of a minor. “We don’t see these types of reports going away,” Pare said. “We only see them increasing because the use of electronic devices and social media, and kids being online earlier and earlier is becoming more common. There’s going to be more opportunity for predators to target children online.” Monique St. Germain, general counsel for the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, said the most common type of child luring is communicating with a youth online in order get them to produce sexual abuse material. She said “the pandemic accelerated those types of cases, and it hasn’t slowed down.” “The tools (Canadian authorities) have to deal with this type of behaviour are inadequate for the scope and the scale of what’s going on,” she said. THE RISE OF ‘SEXTORTION’ Online exploitation gained international attention in 2015 in the case of Port Coquitlam, B.C., teenager, Amanda Todd, who died by suicide after being blackmailed and harassed online by a man for years, starting when she was 12. The month before the 15-year-old died, she uploaded a nine-minute video using a series of flash cards detailing the abuse she experienced by the stranger and how it had affected her life. It’s been viewed millions of times. Dutch national Aydin Coban was extradited to Canada for trial and, in October 2022, he was convicted of charges including the extortion and harassment of Todd. Since then, the term “sextortion” has made its way into the vernacular as more cases come to light. Among them was Carson Cleland, a 12-year-old Prince George, B.C., boy who died by suicide in October 2023 after falling victim to the crime. In New Brunswick that same month, 16-year-old William Doiron took his own life after falling victim to a global sextortion scheme. Mounties across Canada have issued news releases warning of increased cases in their communities, noting that the consequences for the victims can include self-harm and suicide. St. Germain said technology, such as artificial intelligence, is also becoming more user-friendly. “The existence of that technology and its ease of use and ready accessibility is a problem, and it is going to be an increasingly large problem as we move forward,” she said. Pare said police are also adapting to technological advancements in order to keep up with the ever-changing online landscape. “Police are constantly obtaining training on digital technologies to increase our knowledge and understanding of all the intricacies involving their use and how to capture any digital evidence,” she said. Pare said the true rates of the crime are impossible to determine, but pointed to increased social awareness and legislation across North America around mandatory reporting of child abuse material from social media companies as a potential reason for the increase. It’s not going undetected any longer, she said. “Additionally, there’s been a lot of use in artificial intelligence to detect child exploitation materials within those platforms.” Pare said “it’s up to each individual platform” to ensure there is no child sexual abuse material on their sites or apps. “With mandatory reporting, it’s putting the onus back on the electronic service providers to ensure they have measures in place to prevent this from happening, and if it is happening that it is being reported,” she said. “That being said, there are times when things don’t get located.” That is why the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has been advocating for the adoption of the Online Harms Bill that the federal government introduced in February, St. Germain said. “It’s shocking that up until now, we’ve relied on companies to self regulate, meaning we’ve just relied on them to do the right thing,” she said. “What we are seeing in terms of the number of offences and in terms of all the harm that is happening in society as a result of online platforms is completely tied to the decision not to regulate. We need to have rules in any sector, and this sector is no different.” ‘CANADA IS REALLY BEHIND’ The Online Harms Bill covers seven types of harms, from non-consensual sharing of intimate images to content that can be used to bully a child. Earlier this month, Justice Minister Arif Virani announced the Liberal government will split the bill into two parts: dealing with keeping children safe online, and combating predators and issues related to revenge pornography. “We are putting our emphasis and prioritization and our time and efforts on the first portion of the bill,” Virani told reporters on Dec. 5. Such measures would include a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada, which would compel social media companies to outline how they plan to reduce the risks their platforms pose to users, particularly minors. It would have the power to levy fines and evaluate companies’ digital safety plans. St. Germain said such a split “makes sense,” noting that most objections to the bill are related to changes to the Criminal Code and not measures around curbing harms to children. “There obviously are differences of opinion in terms of what is the best way forward, and what kind of regulatory approach makes sense, and who should the regulator be, but there does seem to be consensus on the idea that we need to do more in terms of protecting children online,” she said, adding that the organization is still in support of the second half of the bill. She said the United Kingdom previously passed its own Online Safety Act that will come into effect in 2025, which includes requiring social media firms to protect children from content such as self-harm material, pornography and violent content. Failure to do so will result in fines. “Canada is really behind,” she said. “The amount of information that has come out of the U.K., the amount of time and care and attention that their legislatures have paid to this issue is really quite remarkable, and we really hope that Canada steps up and does something for Canadian children soon.” In the absence of national legislation, province’s have filled the void. In January, B.C. enacted the Intimate Images Protection Act, providing a path for victims to have online photos, videos or deep fakes expeditiously removed. Individuals are fined up to $500 per day and websites up to $5,000 a day if they don’t comply with orders to stop distributing images that are posted without consent. B.C.‘s Ministry of the Attorney General said that as of Dec. 11, the Civil Resolution Tribunal had received a total of 199 disputes under the Intimate Images Protection Act. It said the Intimate Images Protection Service had served more than 240 clients impacted by the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, adding that four awards of $5,000 each and one for $3,000 had been supplied as of mid-December. Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta and Saskatchewan have also enacted legislation targeting unauthorized distribution of intimate images. St. Germain said the use of provincial powers is also necessary, but it’s not enough. “A piece of provincial legislation is going to be very difficult to be effective against multiple actors in multiple countries,” she said, noting that the online crime is borderless. “We need something bigger — more comprehensive. We need to use all tools in the tool box.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024.

Jetliner skids off runway and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. Officials said all but two of the 181 people on board were killed Sunday in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television channels showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Israeli hospital says Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli hospital says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center said his prostate was removed late Sunday and that he was recovering. Netanyahu’s office had said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, would serve as acting prime minister during the procedure. Doctors ordered the operation after detecting an infection last week. Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world. Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold elections BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s de facto leader has said it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans on dissolving his Islamist group that led the country’s insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview Sunday. That's according to the Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad’s decades-long rule, ending the country’s uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011. A fourth infant dies of the winter cold in Gaza as families share blankets in seaside tents DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fourth infant has died of hypothermia in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly 15 months of war are huddled in tents along the rainy, windswept coast as winter arrives. The baby's father says the 20-day-old child was found with his head as “cold as ice” Sunday morning in their tent. The baby’s twin brother was moved to the intensive care unit of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Their father says the twins were born one month premature and spent just a day in hospital, which like other Gaza health centers has been overwhelmed and only partially functions. Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag, published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. 2024 was a year of triumphs and setbacks for Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Here's how it unfolded The year 2024 saw President Vladimir Putin further cement his power as he sought to counter Russia's isolation over the war in Ukraine. He won a fifth term that will keep him in office until 2030 following an election with only token opposition. He tightened a political crackdown on Russian society, and his top opponent, Alexei Navalny, died in prison under still unknown circumstances. But gunmen massacred scores of people in a Moscow concert hall, and a bomb killed a top general in attacks that underscored security flaws. Ukrainian forces swept into the Russian region of Kursk, Putin boasted about a lethal new hypersonic missile, and a new Trump administration raised concerns about continued U.S. support for Ukraine. Azerbaijan's president says crashed jetliner was shot down by Russia unintentionally Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev says the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally. Aliyev told Azerbaijani state television on Sunday that the aircraft was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare. He accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days. The crash on Wednesday killed 38 of 67 people on board. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev on Saturday for what he called a “tragic incident” but stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility. Russian man arrested for allegedly running LGBTQ+ travel agency found dead in custody A Russian man arrested for allegedly running a travel agency for gay customers has been found dead in custody in Moscow. That's according to independent news outlet Mediazona on Sunday. According to OVD-Info, Andrei Kotov of the Men Travel agency was in pretrial detention facing extremism charges. An investigator told Kotov’s lawyer that her client had died by suicide and was found dead in his cell. Just over a year ago, Russia’s Supreme Court effectively outlawed any LGBTQ+ activism in a ruling that designated “the international LGBT movement” as extremist. The move exposed anyone in the community or connected to it to criminal prosecution and prison. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career.PNC Financial Services Group Inc. Trims Holdings in Liberty Broadband Co. (NASDAQ:LBRDK)

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law , as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify public protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party, but it is also determined to oppose Yoon’s impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals. After the motion fell through, members of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party rallied inside the National Assembly, chanting slogans calling for Yoon's impeachment or resignation. The party's floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said it will soon prepare for a new impeachment motion. “We'll surely impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, who is the greatest risk to Republic of Korea,” party leader Lee Jae-myung said. “We'll surely bring back this country to normal before Christmas Day or year's end.” Despite escaping the impeachment attempt, many experts worry Yoon won’t be able to serve out his remaining 2 1⁄2 years in office. They say some ruling party lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties’ efforts to impeach Yoon if public demands for it grow further. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people densely packed several blocks of roads leading up to the National Assembly, waving banners, shouting slogans and dancing. Protesters also gathered in front of PPP’s headquarters near the Assembly, angrily shouting for its lawmakers to vote to impeach Yoon. A smaller crowd of Yoon’s supporters, which still seemed to be in the thousands, rallied in separate streets in Seoul, decrying the impeachment attempt they saw as unconstitutional. Impeaching Yoon required support from two-thirds of the National Assembly, or 200 of its 300 members. The Democratic Party and five other small opposition parties, which filed the motion, have 192 seats combined. But only three lawmakers from PPP participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn’t reach 200. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik called the result “very regrettable” and an embarrassing moment for the country’s democracy that has been closely watched by the world. “The failure to hold a qualified vote on this matter means we were not even able to exercise the democratic procedure of deciding on a critical national issue,” he said. Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next Wednesday. If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election to replace him must take place within 60 days. Earlier Saturday, Yoon issued a public apology over the martial law decree, saying he won’t shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose martial law. He said would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country’s political turmoil, “including matters related to my term in office.” “The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot,” Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament and grappled with low approval ratings amid scandals involving himself and his wife. In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a “den of criminals” bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces.” The turmoil resulting from Yoon’s bizarre and poorly-thought-out stunt has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan. Tuesday night saw special forces troops encircling the parliament building and army helicopters hovering over it, but the military withdrew after the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in more than 40 years in South Korea. Eighteen lawmakers from the ruling party voted to reject Yoon’s martial law decree along with opposition lawmakers. PPP later decided to oppose Yoon's impeachment motion. Yoon’s speech fueled speculation that he and his party may push for a constitutional amendment to shorten his term, instead of accepting impeachment, as a way to ease public anger over the marital law and facilitate Yoon’s early exit from office. Lee told reporters that Yoon’s speech was “greatly disappointing” and that the only way forward is his immediate resignation or impeachment. His party called Yoon’s martial law “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.” Lawmakers on Saturday first voted on a bill appointing a special prosecutor to investigate stock price manipulation allegations surrounding Yoon’s wife. Some lawmakers from Yoon’s party were seen leaving the hall after that vote, triggering angry shouts from opposition lawmakers. On Friday, PPP chair Han Dong-hun, who criticized Yoon’s martial law declaration, said he had received intelligence that during the brief period of martial law Yoon ordered the country’s defense counterintelligence commander to arrest and detain unspecified key politicians based on accusations of “anti-state activities.” Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing Friday that Yoon had ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians. The targeted politicians included Han, Lee and Woo, according to Kim Byung-kee, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting. The Defense Ministry said Friday it suspended three military commanders including the head of the defense counterintelligence unit over their involvement in enforcing martial law. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho has told parliament that Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly after Yoon imposed martial law. Opposition parties accused Kim of recommending to Yoon to enforce martial law. Kim resigned Thursday, and prosecutors imposed an overseas travel ban on him.Audi Crooks' winning shot leads No. 8 Iowa State to 80-78 win over Drake

In both real estate and politics, timing is everything. For Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, he of once-impeccable political judgment, that timing has gone a little awry of late. Albanese’s decision to buy a $4.3 million clifftop home in the Central Coast amid a housing and cost-of-living crisis left several of his Labor colleagues scratching their heads. It meant the government wasted another week defending the prime minister from the “out of touch” allegations rather than prosecuting its agenda. Tough market... Anthony Albanese is struggling to sell his Dulwich Hill investment property. Those allegations had been furnished by news in May that a Sydney man who had lived as a tenant in Albanese’s Dulwich Hill investment property was left blindsided after receiving an eviction notice. That too left the prime minister on the defensive, forced to waste time discussing his record as a landlord. That property was set to go under the hammer with a $1.9 million price guide last month. Not a bad return given Albanese bought it in 2015 for $1.175 million. But the property was abruptly pulled from auction, and the asking price lowered to $1.85 million. Now, the asking price has fallen to $1.75 million, with Albo’s real estate agent Shad Hassen telling us it was the victim of a changing market. Loading “I think the reason for it is quite simple. There’s been a slight change in the market, and the PM’s property is not immune to that change,” he said, adding that he anticipates the property will be sold soon. When it does, it’ll still leave a tidy profit for the former housing commission boy made good. And the fact that a three-bedroom red brick townhouse in Dulwich Hill is pushing the $2 million mark says it all about the housing challenges the Albanese government faces. You can get a French chateau for less. Pistols at dawn On Friday, Australia’s politicians finally got a chance to return fire against the country’s journalists. It didn’t end well for them. About a dozen MPs had gathered at the Canberra International Clay Target Club for the pollies versus press gallery shoot-out, organised by former Olympic shooter turned Labor’s man mountain member for Hunter Dan Repacholi and Coalition frontbencher Bridget McKenzie. Co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Shooting, the pair had worked hard to get the tournament together. Attending MPs included Regional Development Minister Kristy McBain, Labor’s Alison Byrnes, and Perin Davey, Colin Boyce and Ian Goodenough from the Coalition. But the might of that bipartisanship was no match for the journos, not usually the most athletic bunch. In just his second time shooting, Channel Nine cameraman Luke Nicolaou had a blinder, with both sides finishing on equal points. Things then proceeded to a tiebreaker between Repacholi and a ring-in from the National Press Club. The big man was the first to miss, giving the journos bragging rights. Lovely Rita “On social media, bad behaviour is good for business.” Rita Panahi’s controversial Instagram story. Credit: Instagram So spoke News Corp executive chair Michael Miller at a National Press Club address earlier this year, where he laid into the big tech giants. But we wonder who exactly the online behaviour of some of News Corp’s highest profile opinionators is good for. Take Rita Panahi, the Herald Sun columnist who also co-hosts the Outsiders show on Sky News for one of the world’s biggest multinational media companies. Last week, Panahi’s Instagram story featured the Appeal to Heaven Flag, or Pine Tree Flag, an American Revolutionary War symbol popularised by the rioters who tried to storm the United States Capitol in 2021, inspired by the conspiracy theory that the previous year’s presidential election was “stolen” from Donald Trump . US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito caused a bit of a storm when the flag was seen flying at his Virginia beach house earlier this year. Panahi’s flag went even better, and was captioned with: “AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN TO SEND THE JOURNOS TO GITMO,” accompanied by the caption “fair”. So, does Panahi really reckon her hardworking colleagues at the Hun and Sky ought to be shipped off to an offshore military prison synonymous with torture and other nastiness? Perhaps it was an off-colour attempt at trolling. Either way, neither Herald Sun editor Sam Weir nor Sky News’ representatives responded to our questions. And Rita didn’t take up our offer to clarify things either. No doubt, we’ll get a scolding in her other Sky News after-dark show, Lefties Losing It. Bush Boutique In Gina Rinehart’s evolution from Australia’s richest person to art aficionado and wannabe fashion mogul, the billionaire has bought up bushwear brands, including coat maker Driza-Bone and RM Williams’ challenger Rossi Boots, managing to get the likes of Peter Dutton and Barnaby Joyce to play influencer . Now, the mining magnate’s S Kidman & Co has opened a bricks-and-mortar store in Tamworth, “bringing country style to the heart of fashion”. No, we’ve never heard anybody talk about Tamworth like that either. Rinehart, who we last encountered at Mar-a-Lago toasting Donald Trump’s election victory and hanging out with Elon Musk, was in town for the ribbon-cutting, along with former Northern Territory chief minister Adam Giles (who is chief executive of her Hancock Agriculture) and Joyce, decked out in his custom Gina-sponsored bush hat. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article CBD For subscribers Anthony Albanese Kishor Napier-Raman is a CBD columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Previously he worked as a reporter for Crikey, covering federal politics from the Canberra Press Gallery. Connect via Twitter or email . Most Viewed in National Loading

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live casino login The Bookshelf: Exciting programs are coming to the libraryOutlander: Blood of My Blood - When will Season 2 release? Premiere window revealedNEW HOPE, Pa. (AP) — Dayle Haddon, an actor, activist and trailblazing former “Sports Illustrated” model who pushed back against age discrimination by reentering the industry as a widow, has died in a Pennsylvania home from what authorities believe was carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities in Bucks County found Haddon, 76, dead in a second-floor bedroom Friday morning after emergency dispatchers were notified about a person unconscious at the Solebury Township home. A 76-year-old man police later identified as Walter J. Blucas of Erie was hospitalized in critical condition. Responders detected a high level of carbon monoxide in the property and township police said Saturday that investigators determined that “a faulty flue and exhaust pipe on a gas heating system caused the carbon monoxide leak.” Two medics were taken to a hospital for carbon monoxide exposure and a police officer was treated at the scene. As a model, Haddon appeared on the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Esquire in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She also appeared in about two dozen films from the 1970s to 1990s, according to IMDb.com , including 1994’s “Bullets Over Broadway,” starring John Cusack. Haddon left modeling after giving birth to her daughter, Ryan, in the mid-1970s, but then had to reenter the workforce after her husband's 1991 death. This time she found the modeling industry far less friendly: “They said to me, ‘At 38, you’re not viable,’” Haddon told The New York Times in 2003. Working a menial job at an advertising agency, Haddon began reaching out to cosmetic companies, telling them there was a growing market to sell beauty products to aging baby boomers. She eventually landed a contract with Clairol, followed by Estée Lauder and then L’Oreal, for which she promoted the company's anti-aging products for more than a decade. She also hosted beauty segments for CBS’s “The Early Show.” "I kept modeling, but in a different way," she told The Times, “I became a spokesperson for my age.” In 2008, Haddon founded WomenOne, an organization aimed at advancing educational opportunities for girls and women in marginalized communities, including Rwanda, Haiti and Jordan.' Haddon was born in Toronto and began modeling as a teenager to pay for ballet classes — she began her career with the Canadian ballet company Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, according to her website . Haddon's daughter, Ryan, said in a social media post that her mother was “everyone’s greatest champion. An inspiration to many.” “A pure heart. A rich inner life. Touching so many lives. A life well lived. Rest in Light, Mom,” she said.

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phlove 777 President-elect Donald Trump 's repeated support for TikTok has sparked speculation about potential solutions to prevent the app's impending ban in the United States, though the path forward remains unclear. ET Year-end Special Reads Gold outshines D-St with 20% returns, but 2025 may be different The year of the pause: How RBI maneuvered its policy in 2024 2024, the year India defeated China's salami-slicing strategy "We got to keep this sucker around for a little while," Trump told supporters on Sunday, just days after meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in Florida. Instagram and Facebook Trump, who credits the wildly popular platform with delivering him a large young user base, opposes banning TikTok partly because he believes it would primarily benefit Meta, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company behind Instagram and Facebook. The situation is complex, according to University of Richmond School of Law professor Carl Tobias, given the various potential solutions and Trump's unpredictable nature. Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Data Science MySQL for Beginners: Learn Data Science and Analytics Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Crypto & NFT Mastery: From Basics to Advanced By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Web Development Maximizing Developer Productivity: The Pomodoro Technique in Practice By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By - Neil Patel, Co-Founder and Author at Neil Patel Digital Digital Marketing Guru View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass By - CA Himanshu Jain, Ex McKinsey, Moody's, and PwC, Co - founder, The WallStreet School View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Startup Fundraising: Essential Tactics for Securing Capital By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Collaborative AI Foundations: Working Smarter with Machines By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Data Analysis Learn Power BI with Microsoft Fabric: Complete Course By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Entrepreneurship Validating Your Startup Idea: Steps to Ensure Market Fit By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development Advanced C++ Mastery: OOPs and Template Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Tabnine AI Masterclass: Optimize Your Coding Efficiency By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation, signed by President Joe Biden in April, that would block TikTok from US app stores and web hosting services unless Beijing-based ByteDance sells its stake by January 19. US officials and lawmakers grew wary of the potential for the Chinese government to influence ByteDance or access the data of TikTok's American users. Even with Trump's decisive election victory and incoming Republican-led Congress, acquiescing to the president-elect's desire and preventing the ban faces significant hurdles. The law enjoyed rare bipartisan support in a divided Washington, making its outright repeal through a vote in Congress politically unlikely even with Trump's influence over Republicans. US Supreme Court and TikTok The Supreme Court may offer the clearest path forward. TikTok has appealed to the nation's highest court, arguing the law violates First Amendment rights to free speech. The court, which is dominated by Trump-aligned conservatives, will hear the case on January 10, just nine days before the ban takes effect. This follows a lower appeals court's unanimous decision to uphold the law in December. Another possibility, according to Tobias, is that a Trump-led Department of Justice could determine ByteDance has addressed the law's national security concerns. However, such a move would likely be seen as caving to China by Congress and others. The final option is ByteDance selling to a non-Chinese buyer, though the company has consistently refused this possibility. With 170 million monthly active users, acquiring TikTok's US operations would require substantial resources. As president, Trump could extend the ban deadline by 90 days to facilitate a transaction. Potential TikTok Buyers Few potential buyers have emerged, with major tech companies likely deterred by antitrust concerns. Former Trump Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin, who runs a private equity fund backed by Japan's SoftBank Group and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala sovereign wealth fund, has expressed interest. During a recent event with Trump, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son pledged to invest $100 billion in the US economy, though specific investments weren't detailed. Other contenders include US real estate billionaire Frank McCourt, who aims to make social media safer through his Project Liberty organization. Elon Musk, given his proximity to Trump and ownership of X, could also have a role to play, as he has expressed plans to transform the text-focused platform into something more like TikTok. A senior Republican lawmaker recently suggested Trump might orchestrate a "deal of the century" satisfying both US concerns and ByteDance's interests. The chairman of the US House committee on China, John Moolenaar, told Fox News Digital that once ByteDance accepts it must comply with US law, the situation could progress rapidly. Any agreement would need Beijing's approval, with US-China relations expected to remain tense during Trump's upcoming term. This isn't the first attempt to resolve TikTok's US status. In 2020, Trump also threatened a ban unless ByteDance sold its US operations. While Oracle and Walmart reached a preliminary agreement with ByteDance for ownership stakes, legal challenges and the transition to the Biden administration prevented the deal's completion. FAQs Q1. Is TikTok banned in US? A1. No. TikTok is yet to be banned in the US. Q2. When will Donald Trump become US President? A2. Donald Trump will become President on January 20, 2025. ET Year-end Special Reads An Indian's guide to moving abroad as the world looks for 'better' immigrants The year of the HNIs: How India's rich splurged in 2024 (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

Online shopping has now become our second nature, with packages arriving at doorsteps with just a few clicks . However, the anticipation and uncertainty of waiting for a delivery can be frustrating. To alleviate this stress, Gmail has introduced a game-changing feature that enables users to seamlessly track their packages directly from their inbox. This innovative tool streamlines the shopping experience, providing customers with effortless access to delivery updates and information Tracking a package previously meant visiting a delivery service's website, manually entering a tracking number, and hoping the information was accurate. However, Gmail's built-in tracking system no longer requires this. Gmail automatically detects tracking numbers from emails received from retailers , shipping companies, or delivery services within the Gmail platform. It then takes over the tracking number and shows tracking information within the email. This makes it seamless and thereby streamlines package tracking. The Gmail package tracking facility works out with just three easy steps: Automatic tracking number recognition. Gmail's system looks inside every incoming shipping confirmation email for tracking numbers. These numbers are typically found in emails from companies such as Amazon, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and many others. Once found, a tracking number automatically fetches information in an email, which is sent by Gmail to show all updates on deliveries, including their location, when the parcel should be expected, and finally, how it's getting, in the actual sense, directly in the email itself. Easy access to more information: For people who want to know the origin of their package, Gmail has an easy-to-use "Track Package" button. It will direct them to the carrier's website, which includes "more detail, such as the route on the map or a specific time of delivery ." This feature will automatically activate for most users and does not require any setup. Whether the shipment is from an online store, courier service, or third-party seller, Gmail's algorithms effortlessly show tracking information. Gmail has already combined package tracking to a level that makes it much easier to wait for deliveries. It is convenient because no one has to log into an app or website just to know the status of a package. Gmail automatically brings all the information into one location and reduces the extra steps. It only takes checking the inbox. 1. Real-time updates: Once the package has shipped, Gmail provides real-time updates about its status. The user will be notified at each stage whether it is in transit or out for delivery. It is an easy way to stay in the loop and avoid surprises. 2. Eliminating the Need for Additional Apps: The Gmail platform already holds all important communication in one place. With tracking features integrated, no additional tracking applications or tools are needed to track a package. Everything to track a package is readily available in an inbox. 3. Enhanced Planning: Using actual delivery tracking and notifications, better day scheduling would come from the delivery. One instant update about any change in delivery time or even being late would allow a schedule amendment in due time. Privacy and Security: This trusted Gmail platform ensures the maintenance of privacy and security for users when this feature is given. Third-party apps need further sign-up or users' data; however, Gmail enables users to track packages while maintaining their security and privacy. For frequent online shoppers , checking on packages may be part of their everyday routine. Gmail's package tracking has simplified this process by saving time and effort while tracking manually at delivery websites. The streamlined way this platform looks after the smallest details ensures that neither location nor a slight delay in transit goes unnoticed. This is because online shopping has increased the number of deliveries. However, to have these deliveries tracked correctly, Google has invented a much-needed convenience through its innovation in Gmail for this technological age. These are some of the small innovations in today's busy world. The new package tracking feature in Gmail shows how technology is changing to fit the needs of modern consumers: it automatically identifies and displays the tracking information within an email so users cannot guess whether their delivery arrived or not. In return, with this feature, the real-time information of a particular delivery can be known without logging into multiple websites or downloading more apps. Undoubtedly, Gmail's own integrated package tracking system has all it takes to make this an invaluable service for anyone shopping online a lot.Roar’s Mysterious Twins Rewrite A-League History with Unforgettable PerformanceAn Ohio politician has seen enough flag planting by visiting sports teams. Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he’s introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. A fight ensued and police had to use pepper spray to disperse the players. Similar flag-planting scuffles broke out across college football on that rivalry weekend. Williams is calling it the O.H.I.O Sportsmanship Act. “Behavior that incites violent brawls and puts our law enforcement officers in danger has no place on the football field,” Williams said. Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield famously planted a flag in the middle of the field at Ohio State after the Sooners beat the Buckeyes in 2017. Mayfield, who now plays for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, said he doesn’t think flag planting is a big deal. “I’ll say this: OU-Texas does it every time they play,” Mayfield said on Dec. 1. “It’s not anything special. You take your ‘L’ and you move on. I’ll leave it at that.” ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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Democrat Gov ‘Stirs Up S***’ With Pro-Trump Posts— Making MAGA Fans ‘Sorry’ About Election VoteA massive $895 billion defense spending bill cleared the House of Representatives on Wednesday with provisions that would ban transgender medical treatments for minors and raise military pay. The must-pass legislation to fund the military for the next fiscal year passed in bipartisan 281-140 vote, with 200 Republicans and 81 Democrats supporting the measure. The bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), faces an end-of-month deadline to clear Congress and be signed into law by President Biden. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) indicated that the defense spending package may be taken up for a vote in the upper chamber early next week . The House-passed measure authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending and 14.5% pay raises for junior enlisted service members, or about half of US troops. Other enlisted service members would be eligible for a 4.5% bump in pay. The NDAA bill also includes funding for US joint military exercises with Israel and would prohibit the Pentagon from citing casualty numbers tabulated by the Hamas terror group. It also appropriates new funds for child care and housing for US troops. “No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that’s exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted,” House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, (R-Ala.) said. “This bill goes a long way to fixing that.” Several Democratic lawmakers bristled at the inclusion of a measure that would bar TRICARE, the military’s health care program, from covering transgender medical procedures for the children of active-duty members. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, voted against the bill over the transgender treatment provision. “These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives,” Smith said of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for children. “And in this bill, we decided we’re going to bar servicemembers’ children from having access to that.” Smith argued that the ban “taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation.” Meanwhile, conservative lawmakers, such as Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), celebrated the ban. “I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates,” Roy said. The NDAA also includes a provision that would ban the teaching of critical race theory in the military. “In this year’s NDAA, we will end CRT by stripping funding for its teaching and promotion within our military!” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) wrote on X. “I have fought hard to get rid of it,” the congresswoman added. “CRT is a harmful ideology that spreads racial divides in our country. Our service members do not need this NONSENSE.”

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Appian (Nasdaq: APPN) announced today that management will be presenting and hosting meetings with institutional investors at the following upcoming conferences. Scotiabank Annual Global Technology Conference in San Francisco. The fireside chat is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10th at 2:35pm Pacific Time. Barclays Annual Global Technology Conference in San Francisco. The fireside chat is scheduled for Wednesday, December 11th at 8:05am Pacific Time. It will be webcast live at the following link: https://cc.webcasts.com/barc002/121124a_js/?entity=64_2J0GXVM Replays of the fireside chat will be available for a limited time under the “News and Events” section of the Company’s investor relations website at http://investors.appian.com About Appian Appian is a software company that orchestrates business processes. The Appian Platform empowers leaders to design, automate, and optimize important processes from start to finish. With our industry-leading platform and commitment to customer success, Appian is trusted by top organizations to drive transformational process change. For more information, visit appian.com . [Nasdaq: APPN] Investor Contact Jack Andrews Vice President, Investor Relations investors@appian.com Media Contact Cindy Cheng Senior Director, Global Communications pr@appian.com Source: Appian CorporationChevron to trim Permian spending by up to 10% in 2025

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TORONTO, Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firan Technology Group Corporation (TSX: FTG) (OTCQX: FTGFF) (“FTG” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce the completion of the previously announced plan of arrangement (the “Transaction”) under the Canada Business Corporations Act pursuant to which FTG has acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares (“FLYHT Shares”) of FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (“FLYHT”). FLYHT is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of FTG. The Transaction was approved at a special meeting held by holders of FLYHT Shares (“FLYHT Shareholders”) on December 16, 2024 by approximately 97.9% of the votes cast by FLYHT Shareholders. Final approval for the Transaction was obtained from the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta on December 18, 2024. Under the terms of the Transaction, FLYHT Shareholders were able to elect to receive, in exchange for each FLYHT Share held, (i) CAD$0.1103 in cash and 0.0333 of a common share of FTG (each whole such share, an “FTG Share”), (ii) CAD$0.3379 in cash (the “All-Cash Consideration”) or (iii) 0.0495 FTG Shares (the “All-Share Consideration”), subject to pro-ration (collectively, the “Consideration”). The Consideration is subject to a total maximum cash consideration of CAD$4.3 million and a total maximum share consideration of 1.3 million FTG Shares. As a result of the elections made by FLYHT Shareholders, all FLYHT Shareholders who made an election will receive the following pro-ration: FLYHT Shareholders who elected to receive the All-Cash Consideration will receive approximately CAD$0.3379 in cash and nil FTG Shares per FLYHT Share; FLYHT Shareholders who elected to receive the All-Share Consideration will receive approximately CAD$0.0588 in cash and 0.0409 FTG Shares per FLYHT Share. As a result of Transaction, the FLYHT Shares will be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange and FTG will apply to the relevant securities commissions for FLYHT to cease to be a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws. Brad Bourne, President and CEO, FTG stated, “We are thrilled to have successfully completed the acquisition of FLYHT and we are confident that FLYHT will be an important part of FTG’s future. As we had previously announced, FLYHT increases our presence in the commercial aerospace aftermarket, and FLYHT’s SATCOM product increases our presence on Airbus aircraft, via a licensing arrangement and both of these are strategic priorities for FTG. Going forward we see a path to ramping up sales of FLYHT’s product lines and insourcing manufacturing of their product to other FTG sites. We have lots to do, but with the teams at FLYHT and FTG I know we can achieve our goals and create value for our shareholders.” Immediately prior to the effective date of the Transaction, FTG and its subsidiaries did not own any FLYHT Shares. Under the terms of the arrangement, FTG acquired 38,997,650 FLYHT Shares, being all of the issued and outstanding FLYHT Shares. The aggregate consideration to be paid for the FLYHT Shares is approximately CAD$4.3 million and 1.3 million FTG Shares. The closing trading price of an FTG Share on the Toronto Stock Exchange on December 19, 2024, the date immediately prior to the effective date of the Transaction, was CAD$7.28. An early warning report will be filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under FLYHT’s profile. In order to obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact Jamie Crichton, FTG’s Vice President and CFO at: (416) 299-4000, ext. 264. ABOUT FIRAN TECHNOLOGY GROUP CORPORATION FTG is an aerospace and defense electronics product and subsystem supplier to customers around the globe. FTG has two operating units: FTG Circuits is a manufacturer of high technology, high reliability printed circuit boards. Our customers are leaders in the aviation, defense, and high technology industries. FTG Circuits has operations in Toronto, Ontario, Chatsworth, California, Fredericksburg, Virginia, Minnetonka, Minnesota, Haverhill, Massachusetts and a joint venture in Tianjin, China. FTG Aerospace designs, certifies, manufactures and provides in-service support for illuminated cockpit products and electronic assemblies for original equipment manufacturers and operators of aerospace and defense equipment. FTG Aerospace has operations in Toronto, Ontario, Calgary, Alberta, Chatsworth, California and Tianjin, China. The Corporation’s shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol FTG, and on the OTCQX Exchange under the symbol FTGFF. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are related to, but not limited to, expectations regarding the potential benefits and synergies of the Transaction for FTG, delisting of the FLYHT Shares from the TSX Venture Exchange and FTG’s intention to cause FLYHT to cease to be a reporting issuer. Forward-looking information typically contains words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan” or similar words suggesting future outcomes. Such statements are based on the current expectations of management of the Corporation and inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors and the Corporation’s industry, generally. The preceding list is not exhaustive of all possible factors. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by the Corporation. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to the Corporation and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Other than as may be required by law, FTG disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information can be found at the Corporation’s website www . ft g c o r p.c o mThe Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) and the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) have officially approved the acquisition of Transfeera , a fintech specialised in payment solutions for businesses, by PayRetailers , a leading payments processor in Latin America and Africa. The transaction is part of PayRetailers’ strategy to expand its presence in Brazil, following the acquisition of a payment institution license from the BCB in April. The acquisiton will enable PayRetailers to gain direct access to Pix, a popular payment system in Brazil which lets users instantly transfer money in Brazilian real, strengthening its regulatory and risk management structure in Brazil, and expanding its opportunities in Open Banking. Founded in 2017, Transfeera offers platform and technology solutions for payment processing and bank data validation. A regulated Payment Institution since 2023, the fintech has already received over R$10 million in investments from Goodz Capital, Bossa Nova Investimentos, Honey Island, 4UM Investimentos, and Curitiba Angels. The Santa Catarina-based fintech brings more than 500 new clients, expanding PayRetailers’ structure in Brazil and worldwide. With operations in more than 20 countries across Latin America and Africa, PayRetailers plans to increase its services to Brazilian companies in 2025. “This acquisition provides us with access to a wide range of payment methods across Latin America and Africa through a single API, in over 20 countries and 250 payment methods. This positions us even more strongly to enhance our competitive advantages in the market. Together, we aim to accelerate our journey of technological innovation, offering innovative, secure, and efficient solutions to meet market demands,” says Fernando Nunes, co-founder and CEO of Transfeera. “Transfeera stands out as a technological and innovative powerhouse in Brazil, aligned with the best practices in risk management and security, being an entity supervised by the Central Bank of Brazil,” says Juan Pablo Jutgla, founder and CEO of PayRetailers . “We are excited about the opportunities this acquisition brings and confident that Transfeera will become even more robust and competitive. Security, which has always been a fundamental pillar for Transfeera, now extends to new markets, such as sports betting. Our goal is to offer the same security and quality we’ve always provided to our partners and clients to these new sectors as well,” concludes Nunes.

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Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Noel Radford, father-of-22 and star of the reality TV show 22 Kids and Counting, has criticised a high-end restaurant in Dubai for serving what he described as "the worst ever" Sunday Roast. The Radfords, who are currently holidaying in the United Arab Emirates, were disappointed when the meal didn't live up to their expectations. Noel compared it unfavourably to the much-loved British chain Toby Carvery. In a vlog shared on their YouTube channel , Noel showed off their plates and expressed his disappointment, calling the meal "awful" and "just the worst ever." Despite not wanting to name the restaurant, Noel was surprised that it had celebrity endorsements. He also took issue with the fatty meat and gravy that wasn't to his liking. Sue Radford, matriarch of Britain's largest family, expressed mild disappointment over a meal during their lavish holiday, contrasting Noel's more animated "rant" about the potential £41 per person cost had it not been part of their package. The couple, who star in the hit series 22 Kids and Counting, have been sharing their culinary experiences with fans, praising most dishes except for the Moroccan tea. The Radfords, parents to 22 children and grandparents to 9, reside in a spacious 10-bedroom Victorian townhouse they bought in 2004 for £240,000. Their home life and adventures are funded through their successful family business, Radford's Pie Company, based in Heysham, as well as their television appearances and social media presence. Recently, Sue and Noel revealed the unique way that they keep track of their huge family while they are on holiday. While appearing on Loose Women earlier this year, panellists Christine Lampard , Janet Street-Porter, Gloria Hunniford and Brenda Edwards chatted to the parents about the challenges of having a huge family. Sue and her husband Noel were asked how they manage to keep track of them all, before Sue revealed that they use Apple AirTags to keep track of their clan while they are on holiday. Sue said: "Well, when we are on holiday, we have Apple AirTags on them, which people find really funny, but because there's obviously a lot of them, we find that they work really well." Noel then jumped in and said that the older kids are part of a WhatsApp group but the little ones, who they are "frightened of losing", have AirTags. The couple were also asked by Ruth if they managed to get much "alone" time, to which Noel said: "We try to, we went out last week. It was only for an hour or two but it's just nice to be together on our own." Sue added: "I think you have to make the time don't you. When you've got a lot of children and you've got a lot going on in your life. You've got to make time as a couple. You have to."ESA and NASA satellites deliver first joint picture of Greenland Ice Sheet melting December 20, 2024 Northumbria University Scientists have delivered the first measurements of Greenland Ice Sheet thickness change using data from ESA and NASA ice satellite missions. With global warming causing the Greenland Ice Sheet to melt and flow more rapidly, raising sea levels and disturbing weather patterns across our planet, precise measurements of its changing shape are of critical importance for tracking and adapting to the effects of climate warming. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Academics from Northumbria University are part of an international research team which has used data from satellites to track changes in the thickness of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Global warming is causing the Ice Sheet to melt and flow more rapidly, raising sea levels and disturbing weather patterns across our planet. Because of this, precise measurements of its changing shape are of critical importance for tracking and adapting to the effects of climate warming. Scientists have now delivered the first measurements of Greenland Ice Sheet thickness change using CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 -- the ESA and NASA ice satellite missions. Both satellites carry altimeters as their primary sensor, but they make use of different technologies to collect their measurements. CryoSat-2 carries a radar system to determine the Earth's surface height, while ICESat-2 has a laser system for the same task. Although radar signals can pass through clouds, they also penetrate into the ice sheet surface and have to be adjusted for this effect. Laser signals, on the other hand, reflect from the actual surface, but they cannot operate when clouds are present. The missions are therefore highly complementary, and combining their measurements has been a holy grail for polar science. A new study from scientists at the UK Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM), based at Northumbria University, and published in Geophysical Research Letters shows that CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 measurements of Greenland Ice Sheet elevation change agree to within 3%. This confirms that the satellites can be combined to produce a more reliable estimate of ice loss than either could achieve alone. It also means that if one mission were to fail, the other could be relied upon to maintain our record of polar ice change. Between 2010 and 2023, the Greenland Ice Sheet thinned by 1.2 metres on average. However, thinning across the ice sheet's margin (the ablation zone) was over five times larger, amounting to 6.4 metres on average. The most extreme thinning occurred at the ice sheets outlet glaciers, many of which are speeding up. At Sermeq Kujalleq in west central Greenland (also known as Jakobshavn Isbræ), peak thinning was 67 metres, and at Zachariae Isstrøm in the northeast peak thinning was 75 metres. Altogether, the ice sheet shrank by 2,347 cubic kilometres across the 13-year survey period -- enough to fill Africa's Lake Victoria. The biggest changes occurred in 2012 and 2019 when summer temperatures were extremely hot and the ice sheet lost more than 400 cubic kilometres of its volume each year. Greenland's ice melting also affects global ocean circulation and disturbs weather patterns. These changes have far-reaching impacts on ecosystems and communities worldwide. The availability of accurate, up-to-date data on ice sheet changes will be critical in helping us to prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Lead author and CPOM researcher Nitin Ravinder said: "We are very excited to have discovered that CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 are in such close agreement. "Their complementary nature provides a strong motivation to combine the data sets to produce improved estimates of ice sheet volume and mass changes. "As ice sheet mass loss is a key contributor to global sea level rise, this is incredibly useful for the scientific community and policymakers." The study made use of four years of measurements from both missions, including those collected during the Cryo2ice campaign, a pioneering ESA-NASA partnership initiated in 2020. By adjusting CryoSat-2's orbit to synchronise with ICESat-2, ESA enabled the near-simultaneous collection of radar and laser data over the same regions. This alignment allows scientists to measure snow depth from space, offering unprecedented accuracy in tracking sea and land ice thickness. Tommaso Parrinello, CryoSat Mission Manager at ESA, expressed optimism about the campaign's impact: "CryoSat has provided an invaluable platform for understanding our planet's ice coverage over the past 14 years, but by aligning our data with ICESat-2, we've opened new avenues for precision and insight. "This collaboration represents an exciting step forward, not just in terms of technology but in how we can better serve scientists and policymakers who rely on our data to understand and mitigate climate impacts." Thorsten Markus, project scientist for the ICESat-2 mission at NASA, said: "It is great to see that the data from 'sister missions' are providing a consistent picture of the changes going on in Greenland. "Understanding the similarities and differences between radar and lidar ice sheet height measurements allows us to fully exploit the complementary nature of those satellite missions. "Studies like this are critical to put a comprehensive time series of the ICESat, CryoSat-2, ICESat-2, and, in the future, CRISTAL missions together." ESA's CryoSat-2 continues to be instrumental in our understanding of climate related changes in polar ice, working alongside NASA's ICESat-2 to provide robust, accurate data on ice sheet changes. Together, these missions represent a significant step forward in monitoring polar ice loss and preparing for its global consequences. CPOM is a partnership of six universities and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), based at Northumbria University, primarily funded by the National Environment Research Council (NERC) to provide national capability in observation and modelling of the processes that occur in the Polar regions of the Earth. CPOM uses satellite observations to monitor change in the Polar regions and numerical models to better predict how their ice and oceans might evolve in the future. By providing long-term capabilities to the scientific community and leading international assessments, CPOM helps global policymakers plan for the effects of climate change and sea level rise. Story Source: Materials provided by Northumbria University . Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Related Multimedia : Journal Reference : Cite This Page :

MILAN — Shoppers laden with bags from Fendi, Loewe, Prada and other designer labels clog the narrow sidewalks of Milan's swankiest shopping street, bringing joy to the purveyors of high-end luxury goods this, and every, holiday season. There's even more to celebrate this year: a commercial real estate company crowned Via MonteNapoleone as the world's most expensive retail destination, displacing New York's Fifth Avenue. The latest version of American firm Cushman & Wakefield's annual global index, which ranks shopping areas based on the rent prices they command, is a sign of Via MonteNapoleone's desirability as an address for luxury ready-to-wear, jewelry and even pastry brands. A man walks past a shop Dec. 12 in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. The average rent on the Milan street surged to $2,047 per square foot, compared with $2,000 per square foot on an 11-block stretch of upper Fifth Avenue. Via MonteNapoleone's small size — less than a quarter-mile long — and walking distance to services and top cultural sites are among the street's key advantages, according to Guglielmo Miani, president of the MonteNapoleone District association. "Not everything can fit, which is a benefit," since the limited space makes the street even more exclusive and dynamic, said Miani, whose group also represents businesses on the intersecting side streets that together with Via MonteNapoleone form an area known as Milan's Fashion Quadrilateral. Women look a shop Dec. 12 in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. The biggest brands on the street make 50 million euros to 100 million euros in annual sales, Miani said, which goes a long way to paying the rent. Tiffany & Co. is preparing to take up residence on Via Montenapoleone, and longtime tenant Fendi is expanding. The MonteNapoleone District says 11 million people visited the area this year through November, but there's no way to say how many were big spenders vs. window shoppers. The average shopper on Via MonteNapoleone spent 2,500 euros per purchase between August and November — the highest average receipt in the world, according to the tax-free shopping firm Global Blue. The street is a magnet for holiday shoppers who arrive in Maseratis, Porsches and even Ferraris, the sports car's limited trunk space notwithstanding. A mannequin is seen Dec. 12 in a shop in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. Lights twinkle overhead, boutique windows feature mannequins engaged in warm scenes of holiday fun, and passersby snap photos of expertly decorated cakes in pastry shop displays. A visitor from China, Chen Xinghan, waited for a taxi with a half-dozen shopping bags lined up next to him on the sidewalk. He said he paid half the price for a luxury Fendi coat that he purchased in Milan than he would have at home. "I got a lot," Chen acknowledged. "It's a fantastic place, a good place for shopping." A man waits for a taxi Dec. 12 in Monte Napoleon street in Milan, Italy. A few store windows down, Franca Da Rold, who was visiting Milan from Belluno, an Italian city in the Dolomites mountain range, marveled at a chunky, yardslong knit scarf priced at 980 euros. "I could knit that in one hour, using 12-gauge knitting needles as thick as my fingers, and thick wool. Maximum two hours," Da Rold said, but acknowledged the brand appeal. Buildings are decorated Dec. 12 in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. Despite upper Fifth Avenue getting bumped to the No. 2 spot on the Cushman & Wakefield list, the organization that serves as the Manhattan street's guardian and chief promoter had praise for MonteNapoleone's achievement. "Milan's investment in its public realm is paying off, which is a win for their shoppers, businesses and city as a whole," said Madelyn Wils, interim president of the Fifth Avenue Association. She also expressed confidence that with new investments and a record year for sales on Fifth Avenue, "we'll be back on top in no time." The holiday season feels a little less jolly considering the amount of waste generated by gift-giving. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the amount of household garbage in the U.S. increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year's. After the decorations come down, all that waste heads to landfills, producing a significant contributor to climate change: methane gas. "Greening" the holidays is essential, and one simple tip is to think more about how sustainable the materials are in your decorations, decor, and, of course, gifts. Instead of plastics, you could opt for items that can be reused, are made of renewable materials or natural fibers that boast a smaller environmental impact in both production and durability. Due to consumers' desires for more eco-friendly goods, sustainable materials are among the biggest trends in home decor. Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable—and earth-conscious—home goods that make perfect holiday gifts. Made Trade rounded up a list of sustainable home decor trends in 2025 that offer dozens of creative options for holiday gift-giving. Each trend includes examples of great gifts for the home and advice for ensuring items are sustainably produced or can help create a more eco-friendly space. In the depths of winter's gray days, it's a real gift to see a little green, which is why indoor gardening gifts are a wonderful idea. Not only are they eco-friendly and promote sustainability—the more food you can grow yourself, the less you have to buy—they also foster an appreciation of nature and bring the natural world indoors to enjoy. Sprouting kits and microgreens require minimal amounts of space and sunlight, but a sunny, south-facing window will permit a small herb garden or leafy greens for salads. If you're not sure what kind of light your recipient has access to, go with gifting indoor grow lamps along with the plants, or pick a hardy, low-water houseplant—some can act as natural air purifiers too. When buying gifts for the home, consider what materials the items are made from and how far away they come from—not only are natural materials like rattan, jute, palm leaves, clay, organic cotton and linen, and ceramics more sustainable, but if they are being used by a local craftsperson, gifters are also saving on fossil fuels for the transportation. Plus, you're helping the local economy by supporting local craftspeople, so it's a win-win. Natural fiber pillows, sheets, blankets, and even doormats offer comfort and consideration of the environment. The most sustainable and eco-friendly gift is one you already have, so get creative about reusing materials already in or around your home (raid the recycling bin, find nice pieces of wood outside, wash out and reuse glass jars) to fashion them into new, thoughtful goods. Similarly, think vintage and secondhand—what items can you give a second life to by passing them along to someone who will find new meaning in them? Some of the most thoughtful gifts are small heirlooms—pieces of jewelry or a beloved ceramic dish—passed along to the next generation that will appreciate them. Green technology offers ways to reduce our carbon footprint in everyday life, and smart thermostats, solar lights, smart sprinklers, and smart plugs all make great gifts, saving people money and conserving our valuable resources. For those looking into home renovations or updating decor, try a new light fixture paired with smart blubs, or a new window treatment with smart shades. Even something as simple as a rain barrel can reduce energy use—and while the technology for that isn't very sophisticated, it certainly is, like composting, "smart." Integrated outdoor living is the ultimate gift, allowing us to bring the natural world into our homes. However, doing so sustainably takes a little more effort than simply leaving the doors to the deck open all the time. First, find eco-friendly and sustainable outdoor furniture, perhaps thrifting it or buying it used and fixing it up for a one-of-a-kind gift. If you can't go secondhand, choose furniture made of sustainable materials such as reclaimed wood, recycled plastic (great for outdoor rugs), or bamboo. For smaller gifts, consider solar lights, a water feature that recycles water, a rain barrel, or even a set of handmade wind chimes made from seashells. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on Made Trade and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.