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John Fetterman says Hunter Biden, Trump both deserve pardons after 'politically motivated' trialsReal Madrid will continue their La Liga title defence when they travel to San Mames for Wednesday's tricky test against Athletic Bilbao . Los Blancos bounced back from their Champions League loss against Liverpool to clinch a 2-0 victory in Sunday's home league meeting with Getafe thanks to goals from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe . Real Madrid finished the weekend just one point adrift of leaders Barcelona with a game in hand, while Athletic Bilbao ended matchday 15 in fourth spot after they came from a goal down to beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 at Vallecas. Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between the two sides. © Imago Previous meetings: 242 Athletic Bilbao wins: 76 Draws: 45 Real Madrid wins: 121 Real Madrid boast a favourable record in this fixture, but Athletic have enjoyed their fair share of success in meetings with Los Blancos, having claimed 76 victories in 242 matches between two of the biggest sides in Spain. However, Athletic have found wins hard to come by in recent encounters, with their previous nine competitive meetings producing one win, one draw and seven defeats. Their only victory in that run of games took place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals in February 2022 when Alex Berenguer came off the bench to knock Real Madrid out of the cup. Los Blancos may have experienced disappointment on that occasion, but they have managed to avoid defeat in each of their previous 18 La Liga matches against Los Leones, including a couple of 2-0 victories in the 2023-24 campaign. Bellingham scored his first Real Madrid goal in an opening day win in August 2023, before Rodrygo netted a brace to fire Real Madrid to all three points when the two sides last faced off at the Santiago Bernabeu in March. While San Mames has a reputation for being a tough place to visit, Real Madrid have enjoyed success on their recent trips to Athletic's cathedral, having won each of their five head-to-head away meetings in La Liga. In fact, Los Blancos have avoided defeat in each of their previous nine away league games against Athletic since they fell to a 1-0 defeat in March 2015 when Valverde was in his first spell as Los Leones boss and Carlo Ancelotti was in his first stint as Real Madrid manager. Real Madrid have done an impressive job of negating Athletic's attacking threat in recent away encounters, keeping clean sheets in five of their last seven visits to San Mames in the league.Top Democrat's staffer arrested and fired after alarming discovery in his bag Armed man with AR-15 ARRESTED on Capitol Hill By CHARLIE SPIERING, SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, WASHINGTON, DC Published: 21:33 GMT, 2 December 2024 | Updated: 21:57 GMT, 2 December 2024 e-mail 28 shares 2 View comments A staffer for a powerful Democratic member of the House of Representatives on Monday was fired after he was arrested by Capitol police officers after they found gun magazines and rounds of ammunition in his bag. The Capitol Police revealed in a statement that 38-year-old Michael Hopkins was arrested on Monday morning after he put his bag through x-ray screening at the Cannon House Office Building. ‘USCP officers noticed what appeared to be ammunition on the x-ray screen. After a hand search of the bag, officers found four ammunition magazines and eleven rounds of ammunition,’ the statement read. Hopkins is a communications director for New York Rep. Joseph D. Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee. Hopkins told the officers that he forgot the ammunition was in the bag, but he was still arrested by capitol police for charges of ‘unlawful possession of ammunition’ including one charge for ‘possession of a high-capacity magazine.’ Washington, D.C., has strict gun laws , including a 10-round limit on gun magazines and firearms are banned anywhere on the Capitol premises. 'In response to this morning’s incident, Mr. Hopkins is no longer employed by Representative Morelle’s office effective immediately,' Morelle's chief of staff Jo Stiles told reporters in a statement. Earlier Monday, Morelle’s office said in a statement they would cooperate with the investigation and gathering more information on the details surrounding the arrest. Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y. fired a staffer after he was arrested by Capitol Police for entering the building with gun ammunition in his bag ‘Our office is fully committed to cooperating with the investigation. As Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, Congressman Morelle is devoted to ensuring a safe and secure workplace for all,’ the statement read. Hopkins did not return a DailyMail.com request for comment. The Committee on House Administration is responsible for House operations and Capitol security. Staffers entering the capitol have been flagged and arrested before for possessing illegal weapons on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC . Capitol Police arrested 38-year-old Michael Hopkins for having ammunition in his bag Michael Hopkins was fired from his communications position in Rep. Joseph D. Morelle's office on Capitol Hill Jeffrey Allsbrooks, a logistics manager at the House Chief Administrative Office, was arrested by Capitol Police in 2021 after he entered the capitol complex with a gun in his bag. Allsbrooks told police he forgot he had the gun in his bag and pleaded not guilty. He was charged with Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Unregistered Ammunition and Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device. In 2022, Allsbrooks pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of attempted possession of an unregistered firearm as part of a plea agreement. Capitol Hill police also routinely arrest individuals found on Capitol Hill grounds for the possession of firearms. In November 2023, Capitol Hill police arrested Ahmir Lavon Merrell, 21, for possessing an AR-15 rifle outside the Capitol complex. All weapons are prohibited on Capitol Hill, even if they are legally registered in another state. 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The cheque is in the mail — it’s a refrain that won’t cut it this year for Niagara’s charitable operations that have come to depend on the gift of giving via Canada Post. Particularly from older donors. Postal workers are now in their third week of a strike that began on Nov. 15. Jane LaVacca, Westview Centre 4 Women’s executive director, said it is frustrating, especially during December when initiatives like Giving Tuesday results in mail-in donations to many not-for-profits. “Christmastime is the time people donate, they think about their donation dollars, where they’re going to put them,” she said. “We don’t have the envelopes coming in, and for obvious reasons, because of the postal strike, so it’s really affecting us and we’re finding it super hard.” LaVacca said many of the St. Catharines agency’s donors are older adults who do not use modern technology when giving. “They don’t do e-transfer, they don’t do many of those types of things,” she said. “They want to put a cheque in the mail — that’s the plan — and they can’t do that because we’re not going to get it.” Donors often make charitable contributions during the holidays and before the end of the year to count toward the ensuing tax season. LaVacca said November and December is when Westview receives at least half of its annual donations, allowing it to operate throughout the year. “We’re going to try hard to not allow it to affect our services, but let’s face it, financially, when money’s down, it affects everybody,” she said. Laura Dumas, executive director of Start Me Up Niagara (SMUN), also based in St. Catharines, said donations have been limited because of the postal strike. Going out and collecting donations from donors is a possibility. “At this time of year, it’s (usually) steady. In the past it wasn’t uncommon to see quite healthy donations come through (the mail) at least once a day up until Christmas,” she said. “We must get out there more, we don’t have a choice. We must find other ways to pick up the donations.” But Dumas said the mail strike is not the only reason overall donations are down this year. In a year that has produced record numbers for food bank use, escalating grocery bills and high interest rates, SMUN is down $18,000 in its donations account. “I’ve had a couple delivered on my desk,” she said, “but not usually what we would have around Christmas, as people tend to be a little more giving around Christmas.” SMUN’s Christmastime donations are down about 50 per cent of what is typical. “It’s always worrisome. We rely heavily on our donations and the kindness of our donors, and when the donations are low it puts us in a position to prioritize (service delivery),” she said. “You start this triage of supports to see where we can support more, because with non-profits it’s a juggling act, and when the donations are low you just juggle more.”NoneViking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) Now Covered by B. Riley
University of Michigan will no longer use diversity statements in faculty hiring, promotion, tenureThanks to its strange, short history, the Qualcomm Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows (2024) is a curiosity and a one-off, never to be repeated. I wrote previously about , and I think what I experienced hints at why Qualcomm pulled the plug. This thing is ... quirky and, in some critical ways, non-standard. As I write this, I still haven’t successfully booted the Dev Kit with a USB flash drive, and the lack of documentation is disconcerting. Reviewing the Dev Kit doesn’t make a lot of sense for all the reasons, including the most obvious, that you can’t even buy the damn thing now. But I am of course fascinated by it, and if it makes sense to do so—ideally, I could reliably recover the thing from outside of Windows, for starters—I’d like to use it daily. But first thing first. Here’s a high-level overview of this interesting PC. I think it hints at what a coming generation of Snapdragon X-based desktop PCs will offer. Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift! If you ignore that it’s a small form factor (SFF) desktop PC, the Dev Kit is quite similar to the Snapdragon X-based Copilot+ PC laptops I’ve fallen in love with this past year. Which raises a question. Is it a Copilot+ PC? Yes. Yes, it is. At first, I wasn’t sure. But the basic specs—a processor with a compatible NPU, RAM, and storage—are all there. Windows 11 reports that Windows Hello ESS is enabled, even though there’s no compatible fingerprint reader or webcam. (Leaving PIN, of course.) And it includes all the unique Copilot+ PC features, like Cocreator in Paint, Restyle image and Background blur, remove, and replace in Photos, and so on. So yes, it is a Copilot+ PC. What’s missing, however, is a Copilot key or button. has one (in button form), but as I wrote at the time, it’s not clear if that’s a real requirement for desktop Copilot+ PCs or if ASUS was just trying their hardest. It doesn’t matter, I guess. The Dev Box is unique, and I’m sure including those AI experiences was on the list of things Microsoft and Qualcomm wanted the developers this thing targeted to experience. Ignoring the product design yet again, the Dev Kit specifications—internally, and including its expansion capabilities—are likewise quite familiar. With one obvious exception: The processor. Which is perhaps the most curious thing about this curiosity. At the time of the announcement, Qualcomm described the Dev Kit’s processor as “a special, accelerated Developer Edition of the Snapdragon X Elite processor.” Since then, we’ve come to understand this to be a Snapdragon X Elite X1E-00-1DE, the rare highest-end version of this processor family. It’s nearly identical to the X Elite X1E-84-100, with the same 12 cores, 42 MB of cache, 3.8 GHz multi-core frequency, 4.6 TFLOPS Adreno GPU, and 45 TOPS NPU. The only thing that differentiates the two, and then just barely, is the X1E-00-1DE’s 4.3 GHz dual-core boost frequency, vs. 4.2 GHz for the X1E-84-100. My guess is that this is just a coincidence of the manufacturing process, and that the X Elite X1E-00-1DE is really just a X1E-84-100 that randomly exceeded a certain quality level. Indeed, the entire Snapdragon X processor family, including the lower-end X Plus models, feels like an experiment testing the limits of processor binning. Many of the chips are only subtly different from the others. But this may be the most subtle. Getting past that, the Dev Box was offered in just a single configuration with 32 GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and 512 GB of NVMe SSD storage. This is just a slice in time, but this is what I consider to be the current sweet spot for a laptop, though I understand others might need more storage. (And others would be OK with 16 GB of RAM, which I consider the minimum heading into 2025.) But whatever. This is a reasonable configuration for app development and testing. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, currently as modern as there is. I’ve had no issues with either. Expansion is modern and it mirrors what we’ve seen on most Snapdragon X-based Copilot+ PCs, with a few differences tied to the form factor. On the front of the unit, there is a single Thunderbolt 4/USB Type-C port and, hidden behind a ridiculous hard plastic door, a microSD card slot. On the rear, there’s a full-sized Ethernet port, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports (which I assume are 5 Gbps and designed mostly for legacy peripherals like keyboards), two Thunderbolt 4/USB Type-C ports, and a combo mic/headphone jack. Plus the power port (on the far left). The right side of the PC isn’t used, but the left side has a large vent for heat dissipation. And it’s frequently needed: Where I have rarely noticed the fans found in Copilot+ PC laptops—never, really, aside from running video encoding tests and other tasks specifically designed to hammer the system—the fan in this PC is a near-constant companion. It comes on seemingly randomly, reminding me of the disk indexing drama of two decades ago that freaked out people who didn’t understand what was happening—and it comes on and stays on in certain circumstances. (See below.) It’s loud and then it’s not loud, and then it’s loud again and then it’s off for a while. It’s ... OK. Not great. But not a killer. There’s not much going on here. The Dev Kit arrived in a basic box with two tiny pamphlet-like papers that are mostly irrelevant now since the QR codes they contain no longer resolve to anything, let alone anything useful. The box includes the PC, of course, plus its large power supply (with proprietary barrel connector) and the USB-C to HDMI dongle that many believe is tied to the reasons behind this PC’s delays and then cancelation. (Qualcomm originally advertised the Dev Kit as having an HDMI-out port, and there is an empty space on the daughter card that also includes the Ethernet port for that part.) I would prefer a built-in HDMI-out port: It’s possible I’d have an easier time figuring out which keys do what when you boot the PC—documentation here is so key—with a “normal” display over HDMI. USB-C displays sleep/wake on a hair trigger, I assume for power reasons, and it’s not clear that I’m seeing everything this PC outputs when it boots with a USB-C display. Anyway, despite the suspected weirdness, almost everything works as expected for the most part. The one obvious exception is tied to the boot process that I would really like to fully understand. When you turn on or reboot the PC, it often goes through some silent machinations that take many, many seconds, and it seems to do one or two soft reboots during this, though not every time. There’s no rhyme or reason to this. The power button on the front of the PC can flash white, green, red, or blue, and occasionally, it does all three. Fun! I did figure out how to get into the firmware’s BDS menu—it doesn’t appear to have a traditional PC-style firmware interface, and I assume this thing is phone-based— . But this is so unfamiliar, and so different from what we see on normal PCs, and I know I’m missing things. I’ll keep working on it, but at some point, it’s just a waste of time. Snapdragon X-based laptops like my Surface Laptop 7 work normally in this regard. So this may just be a one-off. Here, too, there are no surprises. The Dev Box displays the familiar —it comes with Windows 11 Home, not Pro—and it included the lengthier feature update installation phase I first started seeing this past summer that’s new to 24H2. And then it boots into the desktop normally. Nothing odd there. There were a few curious configurations, however. The Power Mode was set to Best Performance for some reason, and not Balanced as is typical. As noted below, it’s not clear what these modes even mean now on Arm—there’s no discernible performance difference in day-to-day use or under load—but I switched it to Balanced. Even more oddly, the screen and sleep timeouts were both set to Never. I usually extend the defaults, but in this case, I was sort of going in the opposite direction. I also changed what happens when you press the power button: It was set to Do Nothing, and I changed that to Sleep. . If I can ever boot from USB, I will clean install the OS and fix that. Not sure what’s going on there. Most configurations are as expected. It auto-enabled OneDrive Folder Backup, for example, in keeping with the default behavior for Windows 11 Home. I’m no fan of benchmarks, but I felt like the unique processor in the Dev Box required something semi-formal. Yes, the X Elite X1E-00-1DE in the Dev Box is only subtly different from the X1E-84-100. But most Copilot+ PCs don’t include either of those processors. Instead, most come with an X Elite X1E-80-100 processor (or, now, an X Plus processor of whatever variant). The solution was obvious enough. This past summer, to see how the first few Snapdragon X-based Copilot+ PCs compared to the MacBook Air M3 and a high-end laptop with discrete graphics. I also wanted to test a Qualcomm claim that the Snapdragon X chips didn’t throttle performance as badly as do x86 chips when on battery power. My tests were unscientific enough to not prove much of anything, but I guess my key takeaway was that the Snapdragon X held its own. And the Dev Box doesn’t have a battery, of course. But I was curious. So I performed the same video encoding test—in which I take and use (the native Arm version of) to encode it to Full HD using its Fast 1080p 30 preset. The results surprised me enough that I re-ran this test multiple times. Put simply, it encoded the video in just under 2 minutes and 40 seconds, no matter which power management setting I chose. Balanced, Best performance, and Best efficiency all worked identically, and the fans roared to life and stayed on for the duration of this encoding. I suspect this is as loud as this kind/size fan can be. As surprising, that time frame was so dramatically lower than the results I saw over the summer that they’re not comparable. Clearly, something was off. So there was only one thing to do: Re-run the tests. Not on multiple PCs, I have a life to live. But I downloaded the video and Handbrake to my Surface Laptop 7, left it on battery (and with the default Recommended power management mode), and encoded the video. It took an average of 5:49 over two runs. On power, it encoded the video in just over 4 minutes. There could be other factors that impact the score here. But I’m surprised the Dev Box is that much faster. Over the holiday break, I’ll see whether it makes sense to use the Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows as my main podcasting PC. I’m going to crack open the box and poke around inside. And I will continue working on recovery and boot from USB, I got some good leads from readers and feel like both are surmountable issues. But let me know if you have any questions. Paul Thurrott is an award-winning technology journalist and blogger with 30 years of industry experience and the author of 30 books. He is the owner of and the host of three tech podcasts: with Leo Laporte and Richard Campbell, , and with Brad Sams. He was formerly the senior technology analyst at Windows IT Pro and the creator of the SuperSite for Windows from 1999 to 2014 and the Major Domo of Thurrott.com while at BWW Media Group from 2015 to 2023. You can reach Paul via , or . Join the crowd where the love of tech is real - become a Thurrott Premium Member today! Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday
Wabtec stock falls Monday, underperforms marketOmantel, the leading telecommunications service provider in the sultanate, has been recognised at the Business Today CXO Awards by Apex Media for its remarkable achievements in driving innovation, digital transformation, and technological advancement. The awards celebrated Omantel’s pivotal role in positioning the sultanate as a regional leader in the telecom industry. At the awards ceremony, Omantel’s Chief Executive Officer, Talal al Mamari and Chief Financial Officer, Ghassan al Hashar were individually honoured as CEO of The Year in Telecom Sector and CFO of The Year in Telecom Sector respectively, for their exceptional leadership, which has been instrumental in shaping Omantel’s transformational journey and its continued success. Under the visionary leadership of Mamari and the strategic financial stewardship of Hashar, Omantel has reached significant milestones that reflect its commitment to excellence and sustainable growth. Mamari’s leadership has guided Omantel through transformative projects, including the integration of fixed and mobile operations, the acquisition of a controlling stake in Kuwait’s Zain Group, and the creation of Zain Omantel International (ZOI), a joint venture serving over 55mn customers across eight markets. Hashar has been instrumental in optimising Omantel’s operations to support innovation and growth. His financial strategies have enabled key investments in cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure, ensuring that Omantel remains competitive and forward-looking in a dynamic market. Omantel’s achievements are further underscored by its partnerships with global technology leaders, including Huawei, AWS, and Google, which have accelerated advancements in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital transformation. These collaborations have enabled the company to deliver innovative solutions that empower businesses and enhance connectivity across Oman and beyond. A cornerstone of Omantel’s innovation strategy is its Innovation Labs, established in 2021 to support local startups and foster entrepreneurship. The Labs provide entrepreneurs with access to infrastructure, investment opportunities, and programmes to accelerate their growth. These efforts have driven the development of quality startups offering solutions that align with Omantel’s strategic goals, while contributing to Oman Vision 2040. Through the integration of its operations, processes, and extensive expertise in the field of communications and digital technology, Omantel has succeeded in establishing its position as a leading telecommunications company within Oman and beyond. The company’s innovative approaches have contributed to providing state-of-the-art solutions to various consumer and business sectors. Omantel aims to deliver an unparalleled, exceptional experience to its customers and strives always to exceed their expectations. To achieve the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, Omantel invests in emerging technologies and provides cutting-edge ICT solutions such as cloud solutions, AI, smart solutions, cybersecurity, and more, harnessing its technological capabilities to enhance innovation and leadership in new and advanced technologies.
he career of , the U.S. President who died on Dec. 29 at age 100, will be remembered for many things: his peanut-farming background, his speedy rise to political fame and fall after one term, his handling — or mishandling — of the energy crisis and the Iran hostage crisis. Another achievement, from early in his career, may be less well known, but is just as worthy of remembrance. The mid-1970s, when Carter became a national public figure, was a time of transition, full of the aftershocks of the progress and devastation that had characterized the previous decade, not least in the arena of the . Carter was a Georgian of many generations, whose farming family’s presence in the South the United States itself. He had no trouble establishing his Southern credentials, but he also differed from many of his neighbors when it came to integration and other racial issues. As TIME recounted in a of the then-candidate, his mother, known as “Miss Lillian,” was a formidable presence in her four children’s lives and encouraged them to have compassion for all people, regardless of race—despite any judgment from neighbors steeped in prejudice. In 1966, Carter, the oldest of those four children, lost the Georgia gubernatorial primary to a segregationist. Four years later, he managed to win the support of some prominent segregationists in the state by ceding ground to them: He said that he would allow George Wallace, perhaps the most famous of them all, to speak at the state house if he won. But, after winning the office, Carter made it clear that he hadn’t totally abandoned his principles, as TIME recounted in the 1976 story: " " Sure enough, in the presidential primaries that year, again and again Carter carried the African American vote. As TIME , “The phenomenon of blacks backing a Southern white reared in the Georgia backwoods is one of the most intriguing aspects of the campaign to date.” Though support for Carter was driven by his record of conciliation, which he often couched in spiritual language, it was also helped by the fact that George Wallace was one of his main opponents. That choice helped many voters overlook the moments when Carter's civil rights record could be called into doubt, such as his wavering support for busing to integrate schools. During the presidential campaign, Carter also had to for what he called a "careless" choice of words in defense of his stance in opposition to legislating the integration of neighborhoods. (His discussion of the "purity" of communities called to mind, for many, some of history's worst examples of prejudice.) But as TIME noted when naming him 1976’s , his success “destroyed forever the hopes of Alabama’s George Wallace of rising to national power —a possibility already dimmed by the bullet of a would-be assassin. By showing that a nonracist Southerner could win a major party nomination, Carter gave new pride to his region and went far to heal ancient wounds.” After his Presidency, following a period of relative seclusion in his Georgia hometown, he returned to public life and brought his ideals with him, devoting his life to bettering the world. In 1989, TIME that he “may be the best former President America has ever had”; in 2002, he was awarded a Nobel Peace Price. Not that those who followed his career would be surprised. by TIME, shortly before he came into the White House, whether all the work he had to do was an overwhelming prospect, Jimmy Carter showed the same humble dedication that would carry him through the decades that followed: “Yes,” he said, “but not so much that I would want someone else to do it.” :Yolk Farm in Harrogate was described as “the place to come for fresh eggs” by the publisher, while visitors have said they always receive “yummy food and great service every time” at the restaurant on site. Commenting on its guide, The Times wrote: “What do you think of when it comes to British farm shops? Besides homemade pies, freshly-picked veg and family-run butcher counters and creameries, many have delis, smokehouses and cosy cafés attached. “Some fancier farms have their own microbreweries or private swimming lakes to make the journey even more worth it. “So, here’s where to head with your basket (or reusable tote bag) — empty stomachs recommended.” You can see all of the UK’s top farm shops here . The publisher revealed: “This is the place to come for fresh eggs, where hens roam freely over a six-acre paddock shaded by fruit trees, alongside alpacas, pigs and pygmy goats. “The eggs are delicious. Buy a dozen alongside market-garden vegetables and meat. “There’s also a restaurant where they serve a menu of egg-based dishes, from chicken pancakes with smoked bacon and maple syrup (£16.95) to garden herb frittata (£9.95). “Children can head to the play barn, where there’s a sand pit and egg-collecting stations.” On Tripadvisor , Yolk Farm has a current rating of 3.5/5 from 78 reviews. This recent customer posted: “Always yummy food and great service every time! Fab place to come for a day of eating, visiting the farm shop and feeding the pigs!” Someone else who enjoyed the restaurant shared: “Excellent breakfasts - I had the full English with scrambled eggs, and every part of it was very good quality ingredients perfectly cooked. My wife had Avocado & Eggs, which looked great and she thoroughly enjoyed it. Neither of us could face lunch before 4pm." Recommended reading: They added: "The farm shop is pretty good too - we were delighted to see they stocked the excellent Yorkshire Herb-fed Chickens. "The young staff in both the shop and the restaurant were extremely friendly and helpful. "You don’t always get what you pay for, but here you certainly do." Yolk Farm is located at Minskip Road, Boroughbridge, York, YO51 9HY.
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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin AbdulAziz Al Saud, the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and Invest Saudi are organizing the 28th annual World Investment Conference (WIC) from November 25 to 27, in Riyadh. This prestigious event will gather global leaders in investment, government, and international organizations to address the theme, ‘Harnessing Digital Transformation and Sustainable Growth: Scaling Investment Opportunities’. His Excellency Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia, commented: “Under the wise leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; King Salaman bin AbdulAziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman bin AbdulAziz Al Saud, the Kingdom, driven by its ambitious “Vision 2030”, has become a premier world investment destination and is experiencing unprecedented growth in overall investment amounts and diversity.” “This year’s World Investment Conference in Riyadh will be a platform for sharing our nation’s strategic vision with our partners, and an invaluable opportunity to highlight our status as a trusted partner for sustainable economic growth. We look forward to welcoming investment leaders from around the world to forge partnerships that will benefit both the Kingdom and global economies.” Al-Falih added. Saudi Arabia has become a prime destination for international investors, thanks to reforms under Vision 2030. These reforms, including allowing 100% foreign ownership in specific sectors and streamlining business and visa procedures for rapid approvals, have significantly boosted investor confidence. This investor friendly climate, especially in sectors like renewable energy, logistics and AI, reflects the Kingdom’s dedication to creating an attractive and efficient business environment, and helps to build a resilient economy for Saudi Arabia that stands at the forefront of global innovation and development. Ismail Ersahin, Executive Director and CEO of WAIPA said: “WAIPA is excited to bring the 28th WIC to Riyadh, a city that perfectly embodies the future of investment. The conference will provide a crucial platform for Investment Promotion Agencies and investors to discuss emerging opportunities in a rapidly evolving global landscape. We deeply appreciate Saudi Arabia’s vision and leadership, which will ensure that this edition of WIC is an impactful gathering for all participants.” Key highlights of WIC 2024 will include a range of conference tracks, such as high-level government dialogues, insightful sessions on technology, sustainability, and economic cooperation, as well as practical masterclasses for investment professionals. A dedicated entrepreneurship track will emphasize the transformative role of startups and innovators, while exclusive matchmaking sessions will facilitate strategic partnerships between investors, SMEs, and potential collaborators. Participants will also have the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Investment Promotion Agencies through the Awards Track, honoring innovation and excellence in investment facilitation. This year’s WIC promises to be a pivotal forum aligned with global investment drivers: the disruptive influence of technology and artificial intelligence (AI), global supply chain resilience, energy transition towards sustainability, and the transformative role of entrepreneurs and startups in reshaping investment landscapes traditionally led by multinational corporations. Leaders and stakeholders will discuss and explore how these factors are redefining economies and driving forward-looking investment models worldwide. With its focus on scaling investment opportunities, WIC 2024 is designed to empower attendees with the tools, knowledge, and connections necessary to drive meaningful economic impact. *Source: AETOSWire :
Police release new photos as they search for the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO NEW YORK (AP) — Two law enforcement officials say a masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose." The official were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke Thursday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Police also released photos of a person they say is wanted for questioning in the ambush the day before of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying claims. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are bringing Trump's DOGE to Capitol Hill WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s DOGE time at the U.S. Capitol. Billionaire Elon Musk and fellow business titan Vivek Ramaswamy arrived on Capitol Hill for meetings with lawmakers. The two are heading up President-elect Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, with its plans to “dismantle” the federal government. Trump tapped the duo to come up with ways for firing federal workers, cutting government programs and slashing federal regulations — all part of Trump's agenda for a second-term at the White House. House Speaker Mike Johnson said there's going to be “a lot of change” in Washington. House rejects Democratic efforts to force release of Matt Gaetz ethics report WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has shut down Democrats’ efforts to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz. The party line vote pushes the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though the Florida Republican left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Earlier Thursday, the Ethics panel met to discuss the Gaetz report but made no decision, saying in a short statement that the matter is still being discussed. Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif. was the sole Republican to vote in support of releasing the report. Hamas official says Gaza ceasefire talks have resumed after weekslong hiatus ISTANBUL (AP) — A Hamas official says that after a weekslong hiatus international mediators have resumed negotiating with the militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war was within reach. Ceasefire negotiations were halted last month when Qatar suspended its talks with mediators from Egypt and the United States over frustration with a lack of progress between Israel and Hamas. But Bassem Naim, an official in Hamas’ political wing, said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press that there has been a “reactivation” of efforts to end the fighting, release hostages from Gaza and free Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Hegseth faces senators' concerns not only about his behavior but also his views on women in combat WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth has spent the week on Capitol Hill trying to reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead President-elect Donald Trump’s Department of Defense in the wake of high-profile allegations about excessive drinking and sexual assault. But senators in both parties have also expressed concern about another issue — Hegseth’s frequent comments that women should not serve in frontline military combat jobs. As he meets with senators for a fourth day Thursday, his professional views on women troops are coming under deeper scrutiny. Hegseth said this week that “we have amazing women who serve our military.” Pressed if they should serve in combat, Hegseth said they already do. Why the rebel capture of Syria's Hama, a city with a dark history, matters BEIRUT (AP) — One of the darkest moments in the modern history of the Arab world happened more than four decades ago, when then-Syrian President Hafez Assad launched what came to be known as the Hama Massacre. The slaughter was named for the Syrian city where 10,000 to 40,000 people were killed or disappeared in a government attack that began on Feb. 2, 1982, and lasted for nearly a month. Hama was turned into ruins. The memory of the assault and the monthlong siege on the city remains visceral in Syrian and Arab minds. Now Islamist insurgents have captured the city in a moment many Syrians have awaited for over 40 years. France's Macron vows to stay in office till end of term, says he'll name a new prime minister soon PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to stay in office until the end of his term in 2027 and announced that he will name a new prime minister within days. In his address to the nation on Thursday, Macron came out fighting, laying blame at the door of his opponents on the far right for bringing down the government of Michel Barnier. He said they chose “not to do but to undo” and that they “chose disorder.” The president also said the far right and the far left had united in what he called “an anti-Republican front.” He said he’ll name a new prime minister within days but gave no hints who that might be. 7.0 earthquake off Northern California prompts brief tsunami warning SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The National Weather Service has canceled its tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after there was a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. According to the U.S. Geological Survey on Thursday, at least 5.3 million people in California were under a tsunami warning after the earthquake struck. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. Yoon replaces the defense minister as South Korea's parliament moves to vote on their impeachments SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s president has replaced his defense minister as opposition parties moved to impeach both men over the stunning-but-brief imposition of martial law that brought armed troops into Seoul streets. Opposition parties are pushing for a vote on motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday evening. They hold 192 seats but need 200 votes for the motion to pass. Yoon’s office said he decided to replace Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun with Choi Byung Hyuk, a retired general who is South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Kim earlier apologized and said he ordered troops to carry out duties related to martial law. The Foreign Ministry also worked to mitigate the backlash and concern over South Korea's democracy. From outsider to the Oval Office, bitcoin surges as a new administration embraces crypto NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin burst on the scene after trust had withered in the financial system and Washington’s ability to protect people from it. Now, it’s Washington’s embrace of bitcoin that’s sending it to records. Bitcoin briefly surged above $103,000 after President-elect Donald Trump said he will nominate Paul Atkins, who's seen as friendly to crypto, to be the Securities and Exchange Commission's next chair. The crypto industry, meanwhile, did its part to bring politicians friendly to digital currencies into Washington. It's a twist from bitcoin's early days, when it was lauded as a kind of electronic cash that wouldn’t be beholden to any government or financial institution.3 Top Bargain Stocks Ready for a Bull Run
Senate Showdown: Funding Drama amid Government TransitionQuick Links HSM-71 recently returned from deployment on December 14th, 2024 after a successful five months abroad A deeper look at the MH-60R and its capabilities The MH-60R combines elements of earlier models One of the most elite squadrons in the United States Navy, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven One (HSM-71) is a helicopter squadron of the United States Navy which is based out of Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California. The elite unit, which has been nicknamed the "Raptors," is a subunit of Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9), a West Coast-based strike group flagged by the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN)-92 Nimitz -class aircraft carrier . Get all the latest aviation news from Simple Flying! The unit was formed on October 4th, 2007, when it was the first squadron to put the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter into service, and has since been decorated with numerous awards. Most notably, the unit was awarded the Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophy twice, in 2009 and 2010, which recognizes a unit for outstanding performance in antisubmarine warfare (ASW) missions . In addition to ASW, the unit has two other combat missions it focuses on, including Search & Rescue (SAR) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW). The current officer in command of the unit is Commander Kenneth Petkunas. The Navy is just beginning to consider a replacement for the Seahawk, with its ideas influenced by the Army's tiltrotor design. An extremely dynamic helicopter serves the squadron The extremely versatile MH-60R Seahawk, which is the only aircraft assigned to HSM-71, is versatile enough to operate from multiple different naval platforms, ranging from smaller and more mobile littoral combat ships (LCS) to destroyers, cruisers, and massive aircraft carriers. The multirole helicopter can serve effectively as an anti-submarine platform and can deploy several anti-ship weapons. The aircraft can also be used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, and the helicopter can also play a role in electronic warfare missions. The HSM extensively supports carrier strike groups across the globe, and HSM-71 is one of two elite units equipped with the helicopter in Carrier Air Wing Nine. Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 14 also serves the USS Abraham Lincoln but uses the MH-60S variant instead. The following other squadrons are part of the air wing, and details about the aircraft they operate can be seen in the table below: Squadron: Aircraft assigned: Strike Fighter Squadron 14 Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet Strike Fighter Squadron 41 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 Lockheed F-35C Lightning II Strike Fighter Squadron 151 Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet Electronic Attack Squadron 133 Boeing EA-18G Growler Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117 Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye Your changes have been saved Email is sent Email has already been sent HSM-71 recently returned from deployment on December 14th, 2024 after a successful five months abroad Throughout the past five months, HSM-7 has been on deployment with the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, where it has served with both the US 7th and 5th fleets. Leaving port on July 11th, the Raptors, working alongside other squadrons in the carrier air wing, operated across the carrier itself and several Arleigh Burke -class guided-missile destroyers including the following vessels: USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. USS Stockdale USS Spruance The Raptors performed several different missions during its deployment, and the unit also assisted during several logistical support exercises throughout the deployment. The unit's commanding officer, Commander Petkunas, noted the squadron's impressive capabilities and continued resistance despite constantly shifting conditions and objectives. In a statement regarding the deployment, the officer had the following words to share, according to Naval Air Station North Island : "The Raptors are coming home with our heads held high, knowing that we not only handled, but thrived in, every undertaking we were involved in on this deployment. We appreciate and could not have done it without the unwavering support of our loved ones back home." Throughout the deployment, HSM-71 helicopters played a key role in helping the carrier strike group achieve its objectives. For starters, the aircraft took part in the first-ever bilateral Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE) in the Indo-Pacific, a joint military exercise conducted in collaboration with the Italian Navy on August 9th, 2024. The aircraft also supported the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) when operating with the 5th Fleet during dual-carrier exercises with the USS Theodore Roosevelt . The helicopters again played a key role in preventing regional escalation in Yemen, helping eliminate Houthi rebel capabilities and ensure the safety of US-deployed forces in the region. Throughout the deployment, HSM-71 helicopters took part in over 1,200 sorties which totaled more than 3,300 hours of flight time, including 214 hours of antisubmarine warfare. The helicopters took off from and landed on naval vessels an amazing 1,860 times. The Seahawks were able to provide the carrier strike group with around-the-clock antisubmarine capabilities, ensuring the continued safety of the group and its operations. The MH-60R Seahawk costs around $40 million depending a number of factors - including spare parts, missiles, and services included. The squadron was supported throughout this deployment by 36,400 man-hours of maintenance which was conducted by several crews to ensure that the MH-60R helicopters continued to perform at maximum capability. Across the board, the HSM-71's helicopters were able to project naval power and demonstrate US capabilities in multiple key conflict areas. A deeper look at the MH-60R and its capabilities The Sikorsky SH-60/H-60 Seahawk family, which includes multiple different multi-mission helicopter variants, was developed for the United States Navy, following the earlier operational success of the Sikorsky S-70. Sikorsky Aircraft, the company behind this popular versatile helicopter, is a subsidiary of defense giant Lockheed Martin and has sold over 900 Seahawk helicopters to the United States Navy and other allied navies since it was first built in 1979. Essentially, Seahawks are modified versions of the Army's UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, with several modifications to support naval operations. The aircraft, for example, features folding rotor blades for easier storage and a hinged tail, to reduce the amount of space the rotorcraft would take up in aircraft carrier hangars. The helicopters' mission suites are also very different from those of land-based helicopters like Black Hawks. The US Coast Guard is recapitalizing its MH-60T Jayhawk fleet with help from the US Navy. The earliest Seahawk variants entered service in the 1980s but would be retired by the early 2010s, in favor of newer models that were developed. This includes the MH-60R "Romeo" model, which is used by several carrier-based squadrons like HSM-71. The MH-60R combines elements of earlier models The MH-60R was developed in the early 1990s, and it combines features of the SH-60B and the SH-60F, two earlier successful models. The aircraft, like its predecessors, featured a multi-mission design and cutting-edge avionics. The aircraft also offered a glass cockpit with large, fully integrated displays that were compatible with night vision goggles, allowing the helicopter to operate under almost all conditions. The aircraft's next-generation sensor suite offers multiple next-generation capabilities, including the Raytheon AAS-44 electro-optical system, which includes a laser rangefinder. The aircraft is also equipped with the AAR-47 Missile Approach Warning System and the ALQ-210 electronic support measures system, which offers MH-60R crews enhanced situational awareness capabilities. The MH-60R is equipped with advanced radar capabilities, including an upgraded Automatic Radar Periscope Detection and Discrimination (ARPDD) capability. The aircraft also uses the AN/AQS-22 advanced airborne low-frequency sonar system (ALFS), which was jointly developed by Raytheon and Thales, a Maryland-based defense contractor. The US Army’s hunt for the successor to the UH-60 Black Hawk pits its proven legacy against next-gen tiltrotor technology, like the Bell V-280 Valor. The aircraft offers multiple other next-generation systems, including the ARC-210 voice radio, which offers seamless enhanced communication capabilities. It also features the exclusive Hawklink data system and uses Northrop Grumman's LN-100G global positioning and internal aviation system. The aircraft, which was upgraded again in 2020, now includes a magnetic animal detector that can be used during submarine detection missions, according to Naval Technology . The helicopter is primarily used as an offensive platform, and is armed with Mk-54 air-launched torpedoes that can be used for anti-submarine missions, and can also deploy Hellfire missiles for engaging surface vessels. These capabilities make the aircraft an endlessly versatile asset for units like HSM-71. Helicopters, which can take off and land vertically, are extremely valuable as they can be deployed efficiently at a moment's notice, and can land on destroyers or other vessels, freeing up space on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Just like Carrier Strike Group Nine continues to rely on the MH-60Rs of the Raptors, other groups across the globe will certainly appreciate the SeaHawk's versatility and advanced capabilities for decades to come.
Darius Jackson has to tread lightly on the Internet due to his divisive relationship with Keke Palmer and the scandals that they faced . With that in mind, we have no idea why he would choose to reveal via his Instagram Story that he almost forgot their son Leodis' birthday. "Took Leodis to his doctor's appointment back in September & barely knew his date of birth.." Jackson wrote. "His mom was on speed dial & the nanny also helped answer the other questions. But we got it done! Which is all that matters." It was back in September, Darius; why do you do this to yourself?! Jokes aside, people took this a lot more seriously than they probably should, thanks to the context of Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson's relationship. "It got so out of control ," the former told PEOPLE of their extinguished bond. "The only way I knew how to bring order was through the court. [...] Not just with my romantic relationships, but with family and friends, [my fame has] always become a burden. Too many voices get in. It can make everybody else not trust you. It’s hard to explain." Read More: Darius Jackson Net Worth 2024: What Is The Actor Worth? However, it's important to note that Darius Jackson and Keke Palmer are in a much better place now and are very happy for each other in the public eye. In fact, it seems like the two want to commit to a healthy and cooperative coparenting relationship when it comes to their baby boy Leodis, as they went out for a zoo trip earlier this year after their public falling-out. Of course, fans continue to debate whether these signs of goodwill owe themselves to a genuine desire to heal or to their wishes to clean up their act on social media. But frankly, that's an irrelevant conversation that's none of our business. The important thing is that Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson seemingly moved past the more serious parts of their allegations against each other and feel comfortable with supporting each other through this new phase of their intertwined lives. Let's just hope that they don't lose their memory any more than they seemingly already have... Read More: Keke Palmer Sends Shannon Sharpe Into Hysteria By Bringing Up Sex Tape MishapIn the world of gaming, Roblox has revolutionized how gamers not only play but also earn. As the platform grows, a new economy emerges, challenging traditional career paths and hinting at broader economic possibilities for the future. Traditionally, gaming was seen as a pastime with limited financial prospects. However, Roblox, with its user-generated content model, is turning this notion on its head. Unique to the platform, users can create and monetize their own games and experiences, leveraging Roblox’s Robux currency, which can be converted into real money. This innovation has transformed teenagers into entrepreneurs, some earning thousands of dollars monthly. The introduction of the metaverse concept has further amplified Roblox’s earnings potential. As a blend of social networking and gaming, the platform has become a digital playground for brands, artists, and developers, creating diverse revenue streams. From virtual concerts to branded in-game content, the options for monetization are expanding rapidly, offering endless possibilities for creators. This new landscape poses questions about the future of work and education. Skills typically honed in business or computer science programs are now being cultivated in a virtual context, suggesting that future professions may rely heavily on creativity and digital literacy. Moreover, Roblox’s success illustrates how new technologies can disrupt traditional business models, paving the way for alternative economic structures. The rise of Roblox earnings is more than a gaming trend; it’s a glimpse into how digital economies could redefine success in the modern age. Unveiling the Dynamic Future of Digital Economies with Roblox The technological landscape is rapidly evolving, and Roblox is at the forefront, shaping the digital economy in unprecedented ways. As more creators flock to the platform, intriguing new trends and insights emerge, revealing a potential business model transformation across industries. Trends and Insights With its user-generated content model, Roblox has not only transformed gaming but is actively impacting the economic environment. A noteworthy trend is the increasing number of younger users gaining entrepreneurial experience by developing games on the platform. This shift indicates a rising interest in entrepreneurial ventures among digital natives, driven by creative freedom and real financial incentives. The burgeoning metaverse concept creates vast opportunities within Roblox, encouraging large and small developers to explore different niches in virtual commerce. The innovative approach to virtual events, such as concerts and branded partnerships, is redefining marketing strategies, offering a unique space to engage with younger audiences more dynamically. Innovations Roblox’s robust ecosystem encourages continuous innovation by providing tools that enable users to create more immersive and engaging content. The introduction of features like layered clothing and advanced avatar enhancements signals a push towards more customizable and personalized user experiences. This adaptability promotes sustained user engagement, crucial for maintaining the platform’s relevance in a fast-paced digital world. Limitations and Challenges Despite its successes, Roblox faces challenges in terms of user safety and content quality. Ensuring a safe gaming environment remains a priority, as the platform caters to a diverse age demographic. Developers and the broader community must collaborate to uphold high standards and responsible content creation to maintain the platform’s integrity and inclusivity. Predictions Looking ahead, Roblox is expected to further integrate advanced technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to expand its capabilities and offerings. This integration could lead to more sophisticated game design, richer user interactions, and a seamless blend between the physical and digital realms, paving the way for a truly immersive metaverse experience. Conclusion As a leader in digital innovation, Roblox is setting the stage for an economy where digital interactions hold substantial value. This platform exemplifies the potential for new revenue streams and entrepreneurial pathways in a digital-first world. With ongoing advancements and a growing community, Roblox continues to illuminate the prospects of a redefined global economy empowered by creativity and technology.