golden empire jili png
Jeopardy! champ Laura Faddah blows fans away with ‘improbable’ winning streak after ‘getting lucky’ with game advantagesCorrection: Election 2024-North Carolina-Governor story
AP News Summary at 6:44 p.m. EST
What we talk about when we talk about ‘humanness’VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Brayden Point scored twice and added two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Sunday. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two helpers for the Lightning, while Jake Guentzel scored on a power play late in the third period. Captain Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood found the back of the net for the Canucks. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced and Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for Vancouver. Lightning: Kucherov, who returned to the lineup Sunday after missing two games with a lower-body injury, added another potent piece to Tampa’s red-hot power play. The Lightning were 2 for 4 with the man advantage and scored a power-play goal for the sixth straight game. Canucks: Hughes took a stick to the face 55 seconds into the game, missed more than 11 minutes, then returned to open the scoring 16:08 into the first period. It was the 50th goal of the defenseman’s career and extended his points streak to seven games with three goals and 10 assists across the stretch. Tampa took the lead 6:29 into the second when Kucherov sliced a pass to Point at the bottom of the faceoff circle and the Lightning winger blasted it in past Lankinen for his 17th of the season. Kucherov put the visitors on the board just a minute and 49 seconds earlier. Point scored his league-leading 10th power-play goal of the season. He’s one away from becoming the third player to score 100 power-play goals for the Lightning. The Canucks continue a six-game homestand Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The Lightning visit the Oilers on Tuesday. AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Paul Vautin announces retirement after 33 years as Aussies rally around the NRL and TV legend
Neil Critchley will time Hearts contract talks for ultimate protection as Lawrence Shankland and others see deals tick downIsrael strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to help New York fight the effects of climate change under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor signed the new law Thursday. It requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state infrastructure fund for repairs or projects that help avoid future damage from climate change. Lawmakers approved the bill earlier this year. It's meant to make big oil and gas companies contribute to the cost of repairs after extreme weather events or for resiliency projects. Such projects may include restoring coastal wetlands or upgrading roads, bridges and water drainage systems. Legal challenges to the new law are expected. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Brayden Point scored twice and added two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Sunday. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two helpers for the Lightning, while Jake Guentzel scored on a power play late in the third period. Captain Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood found the back of the net for the Canucks. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced and Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for Vancouver. Takeaways Lightning: Kucherov, who returned to the lineup Sunday after missing two games with a lower-body injury, added another potent piece to Tampa’s red-hot power play. The Lightning were 2 for 4 with the man advantage and scored a power-play goal for the sixth straight game. Canucks: Hughes took a stick to the face 55 seconds into the game, missed more than 11 minutes, then returned to open the scoring 16:08 into the first period. It was the 50th goal of the defenseman’s career and extended his points streak to seven games with three goals and 10 assists across the stretch. Key moment Tampa took the lead 6:29 into the second when Kucherov sliced a pass to Point at the bottom of the faceoff circle and the Lightning winger blasted it in past Lankinen for his 17th of the season. Kucherov put the visitors on the board just a minute and 49 seconds earlier. Key stat Point scored his league-leading 10th power-play goal of the season. He’s one away from becoming the third player to score 100 power-play goals for the Lightning. Up next The Canucks continue a six-game homestand Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The Lightning visit the Oilers on Tuesday. AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHLMobileye Releases New Visual Press KitArteta backs Martinelli to thrive in ‘bigger role’ at Arsenal after Saka injury
Key Features of MCCB Circuit BreakersBoxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.
( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $100,000 In Zeta To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $100,000 in Zeta between February 27, 2024 and November 13, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP , a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (“Zeta” or the“Company”) (NYSE: ZETA) and reminds investors of the January 21, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See . As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) that Zeta used two-way contracts to artificially inflate financial results; (2) that Zeta engaged in round trip transactions to artificially inflate financial results; (3) that Zeta utilized predatory consent farms to collect user data; (4) that these consent farms have driven almost the entirety of Zeta's growth; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On November 13, 2024, Culper Research published a report alleging that the“integrity of the Company's data collection and reported financials” is severely undermined by two factors. First, the report alleged that“Zeta has formed 'two-way' contracts with third party consent farms wherein the Company simultaneously acts as both a supplier and a buyer of consumer data,” allowing the Company to“flatter reported revenue growth” and indicating possible“round-tripping” of revenue. Second, the report alleged that Zeta collects the majority of its customer data from a network of“sham websites that hoodwink millions of consumers each month into handing their data over to Zeta under false pretenses.” For example, the report alleged the Company and its subsidiaries operate a number of fake job boards which are designed to trick individuals into submitting personal data under the pretense of job applications. The report further alleged that the Company's“most valuable data” comes from these predatory websites, dubbed consent farms, which are“responsible for almost the entirety of the Company's growth.” On this news, the Company's stock price fell $10.46, or 37.07%, to close at $17.76 per share on November 13, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Zeta's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Zeta Global Holdings class action, go to /ZETA or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . Follow us for updates on LinkedIn , on X , or on Facebook . Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at MENAFN26122024004107003653ID1109033635 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.BNP Paribas Financial Markets cut its stake in Novavax, Inc. ( NASDAQ:NVAX – Free Report ) by 59.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 143,156 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after selling 208,295 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets’ holdings in Novavax were worth $1,808,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of NVAX. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise raised its stake in Novavax by 500.0% in the second quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 3,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 2,500 shares in the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank boosted its position in shares of Novavax by 26.9% during the second quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 4,887 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 1,036 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in Novavax by 214.5% in the second quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 5,680 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $72,000 after purchasing an additional 3,874 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Novavax by 38.1% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 5,790 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $77,000 after buying an additional 1,598 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Midland Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Novavax in the 2nd quarter worth about $152,000. 53.04% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Novavax Trading Up 7.7 % Shares of NVAX stock opened at $8.94 on Friday. Novavax, Inc. has a 12-month low of $3.53 and a 12-month high of $23.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.43 billion, a P/E ratio of -3.96 and a beta of 2.02. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $9.99 and its 200 day moving average is $12.38. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on NVAX shares. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of Novavax from $31.00 to $25.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. B. Riley reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $26.00 target price (up from $23.00) on shares of Novavax in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Novavax from $8.00 to $9.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and set a $19.00 price objective on shares of Novavax in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $17.83. View Our Latest Report on Novavax Novavax Profile ( Free Report ) Novavax, Inc, a biotechnology company, that promotes improved health by discovering, developing, and commercializing vaccines to protect against serious infectious diseases. It offers vaccine platform that combines a recombinant protein approach, nanoparticle technology, and its patented Matrix-M adjuvant to enhance the immune response. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVAX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novavax, Inc. ( NASDAQ:NVAX – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Novavax Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novavax and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .ST. PAUL — Kris Bolle is living the “van life” these days with Annie, his mini Australian shepherd. Bolle, 46, bought a 2020 Dodge Ram ProMaster cargo van this past fall. The Hayfield resident planned, essentially, a studio apartment inside. The van with a high roof has room for a full bed, a small kitchen area and a writing desk. ADVERTISEMENT He saves money by forgoing rent, but there is a cost — isolation. It’s a lifestyle he’s grown accustomed to since he had to hide his sexuality over the years, including in the Navy under the now-defunct “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which allowed gay and lesbian service members to stay in the military as long as they weren’t out, he said. “I had to be very, very tight-lipped about me ... so I’m used to it,” Bolle said. “But yes, it wears on you. It wears you down, and you feel isolated and you feel left out.” About 48% of Minnesotans feel left out some of the time or often, according to the “Minds of Minnesotans” survey conducted by APM Research Lab. The poll also finds that about half of Minnesotans feel lonely, at least some of the time. More specifically, 13% say they “often” lack companionship and another 35% lack companionship “some of the time.” Results were similar when Minnesotans were asked how often they feel left out and isolated from others. Bolle was one of 3,399 participants surveyed by the firm Lumaris. He said he often feels a lack of companionship as well. He hasn’t been in a relationship since 2009. He often feels left out and sometimes feels isolated. “I’m isolated in the sense where I really can’t find a suitable partner,” he said. His social connections are at his nursing assistant job, which he looks forward to, Bolle said. He’s never thoroughly enjoyed a job as much as his role at a skilled nursing facility, he said. ADVERTISEMENT “Work is great. I get to see people, I get to interact with people. I get to chat and talk and all the things that you know, that people do,” Bolle said. “That’s really hard to find.” The APM Research Lab included these questions in the survey, conducted this year between July 20 and Nov. 22, to better understand what the U.S. Surgeon General has called “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” The three questions used in the APM Research Lab survey were replicated from the widely used UCLA Loneliness Scale to help assess Minnesotans’ state of mind in the post-pandemic era, and possibly to help identify groups of Minnesotans that are faring better or worse with feelings of loneliness and isolation. In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a report calling loneliness an epidemic, posing significant health risks akin to tobacco usage, obesity and addiction. Loneliness intersects with various aspects of people’s lives, said Carrie Henning-Smith, an associate professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. “Social isolation and loneliness have profound impacts on health, on mortality risks, on all of the ways that our lives play out within health, within that sphere, but in so many other ways, too,” said Henning-Smith, who conducts research on rural populations as the co-director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center and the Rural Health Program. According to the U.S. Surgeon General report, “the physical health consequences of poor or insufficient connection include a 29 percent increased risk of heart disease, a 32 percent increased risk of stroke, and a 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia for older adults.” ADVERTISEMENT A lack of social connections increases the risk of premature death by more than 60%, the report added. Mary Jo Kreitzer, the founder and director of the Earl Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota, said the report is significant. “Just by him [Murthy] touching that subject, everybody remembers that he did,” she said. “People remembered that. Because I’m sure that everybody has somebody like that in their life, or they themselves are feeling lonely.” There’s also a stigma surrounding the idea of loneliness. “People are reluctant to admit that they feel lonely. It somehow means like that you’re unlikable or unlovable or there’s something wrong with you,” Henning-Smith said. “It’s important to have these conversations, because the truth is, just about everyone will feel lonely at some point in their life.” she added. “It's a universal part of being human.” Kreitzer said the data reported by APM Lab is comparable to other global and U.S. data on the subject. ADVERTISEMENT “Other studies, like this one found that loneliness peaks in younger age groups,” she said, calling it “a very interesting finding.” The survey found that the Gen Z cohort of 18 to 27, were the most lonely. “That surprises a lot of people, but I think it’s consistent with other data,” Kreitzer said. She said people assume that older people suffer from loneliness because they lack the social connections they once had earlier in their lives. The survey data, instead, showed that baby boomers, currently aged 60-78, are the least lonely of adult-age generations in Minnesota: 63% score as “rarely lonely” and only 7% indicated frequent loneliness. “Sometimes, like in the boomer generation, when people have retired, they actually have more time to build and strengthen connections,” Kreitzer said. “Boomers can be great at joining groups, pursuing interests, be that hobbies or fitness activities or book clubs or volunteering, and all of those are ways that can really help us build social connections.” She said her local YMCA in Grand Rapids is a hub of activity with engaged older folks. She sees them playing cards, working out, swimming and more. Gen Zers, however, are experiencing numerous life transitions. “During that age, they’re expected to separate from their family, to find a partner, to launch a career,” Kreitzer said. “So there’s been a lot of disruption in social connections that they probably have had in their life for a long, long time.” ADVERTISEMENT Henning-Smith called the loneliness rates among young adults “concerning.” Social media and technology may explain part of the higher rates. “People who live their lives online, people who are digital natives and were born into a world where they’re living their lives online, have fundamentally different ways of connecting with other people,” Henning-Smith said. “I worry that some of those skills and some of the infrastructure for connecting with people in meaningful ways and in-person connections might be lacking for some folks in younger generations.” Kreitzer suggests to those who may have frequent bouts of loneliness to acknowledge the feelings. Don’t ignore them. She advises them to reach out to family and friends to try to build or rebuild social connections. She also encourages people to join groups based on their interests. Kreitzer highly recommends volunteering because of the health benefits associated with it. “There’s actually research on that that, like, volunteering helps improve our own well-being,” she said. “It can actually improve our overall positive outlook, our mental health and well-being.” ADVERTISEMENT Back in Hayfield, Bolle said he tries to find community to fend off his loneliness. His location is a challenge because he finds groups in the Twin Cities some 90 miles away. He belongs to a spiritual group that meets once a week in Rochester, but that’s a 52-mile round trip, so he only goes from time to time. Bolle also prepares himself to encounter situations that bring on feelings of loneliness when he goes to Rochester on his weekends to run errands. “When I see families out having fun together, or groups of people, groups of young people, you know, out together and having fun, that can trigger pangs of loneliness,” he said. “I just feel like I’m missing out on human connection.” He said when he was younger, he bought into society’s emphasis on rugged individualism. “But it just doesn’t work, because you will almost ultimately, always end up feeling lonely,” he said. When he traveled the world with the Navy, Bolle said he saw community and family as top priorities in other countries as well as in the Mexican and Latino communities of Southern California where he grew up. “You really do need that connection with other people,” he said. “It’s almost as important as food and shelter, you know?” The data and the heart appear to agree. This story was originally published on MPRNews.org ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .
Brian de Peña: from employee at Dominican hotel to Mayor of Lawrence, USAThe Ukrainian president said the use of a ballistic missile to hit Dnipro was a “clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war” and he warned that Russian president Mr Putin would attack or destabilise other countries unless stopped. Mr Putin said the use of the new weapon was in response to the UK and US allowing missiles they have supplied to Ukraine to be used to strike targets in Russia. “In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the Ukrainian defence industry,” Mr Putin said in a televised address. “One of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested in combat conditions, in this case, with a ballistic missile in a non-nuclear hypersonic warhead.” He added: “We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities.” But Mr Zelensky urged world leaders – his “dear partners” – not to be cowed by Mr Putin’s actions otherwise there will be “endless Russian strikes” and “not just against Ukraine”. Today, Putin admitted to taking a second step this year toward escalating and expanding this war. A new ballistic missile was used. Putin struck our city of Dnipro, one of Ukraine’s largest cities. This is a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war—a... — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024 “A lack of tough reactions to Russia’s actions sends a message that such behavior is acceptable,” the Ukrainian president said on X, formerly Twitter. “This is what Putin is doing. Putin must feel the cost of his deranged ambitions. “Response is needed. Pressure is needed. Russia must be forced into real peace, which can only be achieved through strength. “Otherwise, there will be endless Russian strikes, threats, and destabilisation-not just against Ukraine.” The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Mr Putin’s country. Mr Putin confirmed Russia has tested the new intermediate-range weapon in an attack on Dnipro in response. The US said the weapon was a new, experimental intermediate-range missile based on Russia’s existing RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. In Westminster, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “My understanding is that it is the first time that Russia has used a ballistic missile in Ukraine with a range of several thousand kilometres.” Defence Secretary John Healey said it was “yet another example of Putin’s recklessness”. He said: “Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine began, Russia has consistently and irresponsibly escalated the conflict while Ukraine continues to fight in self-defence for a democratic future.” The missile’s range far outstrips that of newly authorised US and British-supplied weapons, which can hit targets around 250-300km away. The distance from Moscow to London is around 2,500km, suggesting the range of the new missile could threaten the UK. Mr Healey said the UK knew Russia had been “preparing for months” to fire a new ballistic missile. Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence have repeatedly declined to comment publicly on Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow. “It risks both operational security and in the end the only one that benefits from such a public debate is President Putin,” Mr Healey told MPs. I had a meeting with the UK delegation led by Chief of the Defence Staff @AdmTonyRadakin_ . We discussed defense cooperation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, focusing on developing and enhancing the technological capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Particular... pic.twitter.com/EcjqfTuR49 — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024 The head of the UK’s armed forces, Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, met Mr Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss the war on Thursday. Mr Zelensky said: “We discussed defence co-operation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, focusing on developing and enhancing the technological capabilities of the armed forces of Ukraine. “Particular attention was given to Ukraine’s current military needs and the continued support from our partners.”
Cart.com Partners With Greenwing Technology to Revolutionize E-Procurement for Institutional BuyersEx-PM Manmohan Singh behind economic reform in India dies
LIVE Boxing Day Test: Smith’s chance to push for century after Konstas heroics
Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Juan Soto ’s free agency has driven national headlines this MLB offseason, and considering both New York teams are in the thick of negotiations, the "Saturday Night Live" crew had some fun with it. A dig thrown the way of the New York Mets came as a result. Dana Carvey was once again in his role as "Church Lady," who had a "Church Chat" with Soto, played by Marcello Hernandez. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 2 of the 2024 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images) Playing Soto, Hernandez wore a question mark on his white T-shirt while also sporting a Celsius hat, an ode to the teased announcement the 26-year-old superstar had last month as baseball fans were clamoring for his free agent decision. During their conversation, the New York Yankees were the team that "Soto" hoped would "make me the best offer." However, Church Lady’s next comment ultimately led to a jab at the Mets. 2025 MLB FREE-AGENT SIGNING TRACKER, TRADES: ORIOLES SIGN TYLER O'NEILL, GARY SÁNCHEZ "Well, as a Christian, I have to ask you: Why not spend your time and money helping the needy and less fortunate?" Church Lady asked. "You’re right," the fake Soto replied. "Maybe, I’ll sign with the Mets." With Soto reportedly getting offers with $700 million on the table, Church Lady said to the fake Soto that "money is the root of all evil." Yankees' Juan Soto reacts after flying out against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning in Game 3 of the World Series, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) "Well, if that’s true, then I’m going to become the most evil baseball player in the world," the fake Soto said, which led to raucous laughter from the crowd. As of Saturday night, the New York Post reports both the Yankees and Mets upping their offers to Soto into the "$710-730 million range," which would top what the Los Angeles Dodgers gave Shohei Ohtani this past offseason. Ohtani’s record contract was worth $700 million with $680 million in deferrals, changing the entire landscape of how MLB stars could be signed moving forward. But it isn’t just the Yankees and Mets interested in Soto for next season and beyond. New York Yankees' Juan Soto takes off his batting gloves after grounding out against the Los Angeles Dodgers to end the third inning in Game 3 of the World Series, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Dodgers, who already made a splash after their World Series victory over the Yankees by adding Blake Snell to the starting rotation, are reportedly interested. The Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, divisional foes of the Yankees, remain in the mix as well. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter . Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
Buying a home doesn’t deliver the instant gratification you’re accustomed to in today’s e-commerce world. There’s no “Buy Now” button for real estate — the process requires a number of steps and a lot of patience. And even after you find the perfect place, you’ll still need to do more waiting: The average time to buy a house, from contract to closing, was 44 days as of October 2024, according to data from ICE Mortgage Technology. Timeline to buy a house, step-by-step If you’re financing your home purchase, the first step is to get preapproved for a mortgage. A mortgage lender will typically ask for information about your assets, income and credit history to assess how much they’re likely to loan you. Your preapproval letter will serve as evidence to sellers that you’re a qualified buyer. Preapprovals aren’t good forever, though — they typically last between 60 and 90 days. Before you begin the preapproval process, consider what you’ll look like in the eyes of a lender. Do you have any errors on your credit report? Are you carrying a hefty balance on a credit card? Lenders need to feel confident that you will be a responsible borrower. Hopefully, long before you got to this point, you started saving up for a down payment. It’s also smart to get a broad picture of your financial situation by checking your credit report and score. Your credit score helps show lenders how creditworthy you are — checking on it early now will give you time to raise it if needed, which will give you a better chance of landing a better rate. Before you apply, be sure the paperwork you’ll need to submit is in order. Required documents typically include recent paystubs, tax returns and bank statements. Once you’re preapproved for a mortgage, you’ll know how much house you can afford. That means it’s time to start looking for one. At this stage in the process, you can start working with a real estate agent, checking out open houses and looking at listings in earnest. It’s important to note that this step can take more time than you might expect, because housing inventory is still tight in many areas. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the country had a 4.3-month supply of homes in September 2024 — a balanced market is typically said to require 5 or 6 months. That may mean looking for longer than you’d like before finding something that meets your needs. Once you’ve found a house you want to buy, your real estate agent will help you submit an offer. Your agent can help you decide on an offer that’s competitive, aligned with home prices in your area and reflects your best interest. If you’re able to make an all-cash offer, it can greatly speed up the process. Without a need to secure financing, you won’t have to wait on a financial institution. However, even all-cash transactions require some waiting as the seller works out all the details and paperwork, so keep that in mind. It’s also important to recognize that making an offer is a step you could wind up repeating several times, depending on how hot your local market is. In some areas, homes still receive multiple offers and may even inspire bidding wars. Step 4: Go to contract and schedule a home inspection You’ll also have to make an earnest money deposit, which is put down in good faith to assure the seller you’re serious about the purchase — the money will be held in escrow and applied toward the purchase at closing. Think of this as a signal that you’re committed to doing all the work ahead toward actually closing on the house. It’s not mandatory, but it’s smart to schedule a home inspection at this point as well. Depending on your state’s laws, a home inspection typically needs to be completed within a set number of days after you sign a purchase agreement. If the inspector uncovers any major concerns, you might want to negotiate repairs or seller concessions, which could take even more time. Now you need an official mortgage loan, not just a preapproval. This is a whole new application. You don’t have to go with the same company that preapproved you, though you can — shop around for a mortgage lender who can offer you the best rate and terms. Once you officially apply, you can expect to do some waiting during the underwriting phase. During this time, you may need to submit additional documentation, and the lender will order an appraisal to assess the home’s value. The type of loan you’re taking out could alter your timeline slightly, because of the types of assessments and paperwork needed. While you wait for formal approval, avoid opening any new lines of credit, making major purchases (like a car) or switching jobs. Keeping the status quo in your finances, income and job situation can help you avoid delays in your loan approval. Once your mortgage is approved, your lender will give you a copy of your closing disclosure at least three business days before the closing date. The disclosure lists all the loan details, fees and terms, as well as what you’ll need to pay in closing costs to finalize the purchase. Finally, after all that work, closing day has arrived. At closing, you will need to sign a small mountain of paperwork and pay everything you owe. (You will likely need to pay with a cashier’s check, as personal checks are typically not allowed.) How long does the closing take? It varies, but you should plan on spending at least two hours, minimum, dealing with all the documents. Once this final step is complete, you’ll get the keys and officially be a homeowner. How to avoid delays when you buy a house According to NAR, 15 percent of home-sale contracts encountered delays that held up the closing in July, August and September of 2024. There are a wide range of potential issues that can create stumbling blocks, including: One last simple rule to help make the homebuying process pain-free: The best way to avoid delays is to treat communications from your agent and lender as a top priority. If your lender requests additional documentation of your income or employment, for example, respond as quickly as possible. Key takeaways
Pune, Nov 30 (IANS) : Veteran social crusader, Dr Babasaheb Pandurang Adhav (96), alias Baba Adhav broke his 3-day long hunger strike to oppose EVMs after a galaxy of political leaders including Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray plus others met him here on Saturday evening. The weary-looking Dr Baba Adhav, a medico-cum-labour leader, received Nationalist Congress (SP) President Sharad Pawar, his state President Jayant R. Patil, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, party MP Sanjay Raut, and later Nationalist Congress Party President Ajit A. Pawar also dropped in at the agitation venue. Around 5 p.m., Dr Baba Adhav bowed to appeals from his supporters and accepted a glass of water offered by Thackeray, symbolising the end of his hunger agitation amidst claps and cheers. “There have been huge discrepancies in the voter turnout figures declared by the ECI, kept changing, the vote-counting processes were allegedly manipulated to give undue advantage to the outgoing MahaYuti, and related aspects. The verdict is an assault on democracy,” said Dr Baba Adhav earlier, speaking to the media. Asserting that the people have a right to know where their votes have actually gone, the frail, but firm, nonagenarian pointed out how the MahaYuti regime doled out cash to women (‘Ladki Bahin’) scheme just before the elections and undermined the state’s delicate financial condition, as Sharad Pawar, 83, nodded in agreement. “The government wants a democracy that gives it a monopoly without any Opposition (party). Therefore it is the duty and responsibility of all citizens to thwart this, and take a firm stance,” urged Dr Baba Adhav. Speaking on the occasion, Thackeray said that “not only the losers like us (Maha Vikas Aghadi), but even the winners (MahaYuti) leaders are coming here”. “Nobody, neither the winners nor the losers believe in the outcome of the state Assembly elections. We are stunned over how we lost, they are shocked at how they won. The reason is clear. ‘Satyameve Jayate’ was killed, but now you (Dr Baba Adha) have revived it and we are fully with you,” said Thackeray. The Shiv Sena (UBT) President said this agitation was like a spark but it would ignite into a huge blaze, and lauded Dr Baba Adhav for carrying out the agitation at his advanced age and “inspiring all of us” to continue the fight. “We have also seen and heard how money power was brutally used in the polls... All have watched the videos of (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Vinod Tawde (in Palghar, on November 19). We have seen the shower of schemes. But what the MahaYuti did was to give anaesthesia to all its projects to complete its ‘power operation’ quickly,” said Thackeray without mincing words. He also called upon the top leaders of the MVA parties NCP (SP)-Shiv Sena (UBT)-Congress to follow in Dr Baba Adhav’s footsteps, and carry forward the fight against EVMs, even as the Election Commission of India (ECI) invited a Congress delegation to discuss its grievances (December 3) on the state poll outcome. The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief rued how the information on elections is not available under RTI, how people’s rights are being flouted, while the EVM-VVPAT receipt is visible, counting of the same is not allowed, thus preventing the people and candidates from knowing whether their vote got registered properly or not, leading to many doubts. Taking potshots at the MahaYuti for the huge delay in government formation, Thackeray said that after getting a brute majority, “instead of going to Raj Bhavan (for the oath), the caretaker CM has gone to his farmland,” and wondered what had gone wrong. “When the MVA government was due to be formed (in November 2019), the President’s rule was imposed... Now, (2024), the term of the legislature has expired, so why is the same not being done now? No one will answer these questions...There is complete uncertainty on the new regime, who could be the CM, ministers, portfolios, etc,” said Thackeray.Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen undergoes surgery to stabilize ribs broken in riding accident