646jili01
WASHINGTON (AP) — A machinists strike. Another safety problem involving its troubled top-selling airliner. A plunging stock price. 2024 was already a dispiriting year for Boeing, the American aviation giant. But when one of the company's jets crash-landed in South Korea on Sunday, killing all but two of the 181 people on board, it brought to a close an especially unfortunate year for Boeing. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and aviation experts were quick to distinguish Sunday's incident from the company’s earlier safety problems. Alan Price, a former chief pilot at Delta Air Lines who is now a consultant, said it would be inappropriate to link the incident Sunday to two fatal crashes involving Boeing’s troubled 737 Max jetliner in 2018 and 2019. In January this year, a door plug blew off a 737 Max while it was in flight, raising more questions about the plane. The Boeing 737-800 that crash-landed in Korea, Price noted, is “a very proven airplane. "It’s different from the Max ...It’s a very safe airplane.’’ For decades, Boeing has maintained a role as one of the giants of American manufacturing. But the the past year's repeated troubles have been damaging. The company's stock price is down more than 30% in 2024. The company's reputation for safety was especially tarnished by the 737 Max crashes, which occurred off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019 and left a combined 346 people dead. In the five years since then, Boeing has lost more than $23 billion. And it has fallen behind its European rival, Airbus, in selling and delivering new planes. Last fall, 33,000 Boeing machinists went on strike, crippling the production of the 737 Max, the company's bestseller, the 777 airliner and 767 cargo plane. The walkout lasted seven weeks, until members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers agreed to an offer that included 38% pay raises over four years. In January, a door plug blew off a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight. Federal regulators responded by imposing limits on Boeing aircraft production that they said would remain in place until they felt confident about manufacturing safety at the company. In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud for deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration regulators who approved the 737 Max. Acting on Boeing’s incomplete disclosures, the FAA approved minimal, computer-based training instead of more intensive training in flight simulators. Simulator training would have increased the cost for airlines to operate the Max and might have pushed some to buy planes from Airbus instead. (Prosecutors said they lacked evidence to argue that Boeing’s deception had played a role in the crashes.) But the plea deal was rejected this month by a federal judge in Texas, Reed O’Connor , who decided that diversity, inclusion and equity or DEI policies in the government and at Boeing could result in race being a factor in choosing an official to oversee Boeing’s compliance with the agreement. Boeing has sought to change its culture. Under intense pressure over safety issues, David Calhoun departed as CEO in August. Since January, 70,000 Boeing employees have participated in meetings to discuss ways to improve safety.'Never give up on your dreams': North Carolina dancer becomes a Rockette
Editor’s Note: CNN’s 5 Things newsletter is your one-stop shop for the latest headlines and fascinating stories to start and end your busy day. Sign up here. 👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! After a long day of work, you might unwind with a cozy-smelling gingerbread, warm vanilla or cinnamon candle. But are those scented candles bad for you? And if they are, how much better are the ones marketed as “healthier” or “nontoxic”? This is what the science says. Here’s what else you might have missed during your busy day: 5 things 1️⃣ Controversial plan: A startup wants to artificially thicken sea ice across hundreds of thousands of square miles in the Arctic. The goal is to slow down or even reverse summer ice loss and, in doing so, help tackle the human-caused climate crisis. But critics say it’s a huge risk. 2️⃣ Denials of care: A new college graduate was stunned to learn her cancer drug would cost $13,000 a month. Now in remission, she says “no one should have to be fighting cancer and insurance at the same time.” Following the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting, it’s one of many health care horror stories highlighting Americans’ frustration with the industry. 3️⃣ Pharmacy problems: Walgreens is struggling. Its stock has plunged over the years, the company is closing 1,200 stores, and it is also reportedly looking to escape the public market. It’s not the only drug store with issues, but Walgreens is in particularly awful shape . 4️⃣ Move over ‘Real Housewives’: Gen Z has a new obsession. “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” was the most-viewed Hulu unscripted original series this year, and a second season is currently in production. Its popularity is part of a larger trend that has put some unlikely voices in the spotlight . 5️⃣ Holiday exhaustion: This time of year can cause stress and anxiety. Besides the flurry of gift shopping and holiday events, you could be concerned about the spread of winter illnesses, financial stressors or family drama. A wellness expert shares some advice on how to make the holidays fun again. Watch this 🧀 Is it gouda to eat? As the government begins testing raw milk for signs of bird flu spread amongst cattle, some have wondered if it’s safe to consume unpasteurized cheese. Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains . Top headlines • He cut off some loved ones for months. Now, suspect Luigi Mangione faces mounting evidence in health care CEO’s killing • No undercover FBI agents were at the January 6 US Capitol riot , watchdog reports • Missing American found in Syria says he was kept in prison after entering country as a pilgrim Check this out 🌃 Dazzling display: Skygazers may get a chance to spot up to 15 meteors an hour on Friday when the annual Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak. Here’s how to watch it. Quotable Letting go: This month marks 15 years since the actor and filmmaker lost his beloved mother at 64 years old. On CNN’s “All There Is” podcast , Perry tells Anderson Cooper how he’s now facing the trauma of his past and the pain of his mother’s absence . Quiz time 🎬 Jim Carrey is reprising his role in which franchise hitting US theaters later this month? A. “Anchorman” B. “Ace Ventura” C. “Sonic the Hedgehog” D. “Dumb and Dumber” ⬇️ Scroll down for the answer. Good vibes ♟️ Checkmate! An 18-year-old just became the youngest-ever chess world champion . India’s Gukesh Dommaraju broke into tears as the emotion of his victory appeared to wash over him, later saying at a press conference, “I’ve been dreaming about this moment for more than 10 years.” Thanks for reading 🧠 Quiz answer: C. Carrey will return for “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” saying “I need the money, frankly.” Hard to tell if he was joking or not. 📧 Check out all of CNN’s newsletters . 5 Things PM is produced by CNN’s Chris Good, Kimberly Richardson and Daniel Wine."Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — When Dan Quinn left the Dallas Cowboys after three years as their defensive coordinator to coach the Washington Commanders, it looked as if he was leaving a perennial playoff contender for a rebuilding project. Instead, Quinn's Commanders are in the thick of the playoff race even after consecutive losses provided something of a speed bump, while the Cowboys' season has fallen apart . Dallas (3-7) visits Washington (7-4) on Sunday in a franchise role reversal for the NFC East rivals. "For me and for the guys, man, it’s Washington-Dallas Week, let’s get down," Quinn said. “I don’t make one (game) too often bigger than another. I just think they’re all really important, and we absolutely go after it as hard as we can.” Quinn, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and a handful of former Dallas players have been part of Washington's turnaround, including pass rusher Dante Fowler, defensive end Dorance Armstrong, center Tyler Biadasz and receiver Noah Brown, who famously caught rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary toss for the game-winning touchdown last month to beat Chicago . Armstrong has followed the Cowboys' downfall since leaving in free agency, saying simply, “It’s not good.” And that was before a piece of their stadium's roof fell Monday night before their fifth consecutive loss , a 34-10 blowout by Houston . Injuries, including starting QB Dak Prescott's torn hamstring that led to season-ending surgery, have been the backdrop for Dallas' forgettable year. Coach Mike McCarthy, who's approaching the end of his contract and possibly his tenure, said he and his staff are “going to stay the course” and play who's available. That means Cooper Rush again getting the nod in place of Prescott, though McCarthy said a package of plays could open up to get 2021 No. 3 pick Trey Lance into the game. “Cooper’s been there for a little minute, so he knows the system really good," said Fowler, who leads the Commanders with 8 1/2 sacks. "Trey Lance is really good with his legs, and he’s a dynamic quarterback, as well. You don’t want to go out there half-stepping against those guys because they do play good football, as well.” The Commanders have played far better football than the Cowboys so far this season, so much that the home team is a 10 1/2-point favorite on BetMGM Sportsbook. Washington has never been more than a nine-point favorite against Dallas in any game going back to at least 2003, according to BetMGM. The Cowboys could get a bit of a spark with the anticipated return of receiver Brandin Cooks, who has seen way too much sorrow around him since he last played in Week 4. “Get guys playing at a high level, playing fun, playing free, and having a great time out there,” Cooks said. “That’s what I’m not seeing right now. I think we can go out there and be more joyful in our process.” There's plenty of joy in Washington, with the playoffs still on the line, unlike Dallas. “It’s definitely cool to be in that type of position rather than being on the other side," Fowler said. “Just cool to see what Coach Quinn has just done since he came here with this team and getting a group of guys to come together and play as one.” A rib injury knocked Daniels out of a rout of Carolina on Oct. 20, and while he did not miss a game, the 23-year-old has not been as dangerous or effective since. The No. 2 pick out of LSU and reigning Heisman Trophy winner has completed 59.5% of his passes the past four games after 75.6% before getting injured, and he has had his average rushing yards cut nearly in half from 53.1 to 27.5. Quinn insists Daniels is not injured and pinned the regression on a lack of practice time in recent weeks. Daniels also said he's good to go after some extra rest following a 26-18 loss at Philadelphia on Thursday, Nov. 14. “The mini bye, I think it just helps everything, just to reset your mind and get ready for the second half of the season,” Daniels said. “I was able to reset and refocus, restart.” The offensive line has been a problem all season for the Cowboys. Now it’s a major injury concern. Perennial All-Pro right guard Zack Martin and promising young left guard Tyler Smith sustained ankle injuries on the same drive in the fourth quarter for the Cowboys against the Texans. Martin, who is also dealing with a shoulder issue, is doubtful. Smith is questionable while also working through a knee injury. T.J. Bass and Brock Hoffman were the replacements at guard against the Texans. The Cowboys could start four linemen 25 or younger, although veteran tackle Chuma Edoga could make his season debut. Edoga was the projected starter at left tackle before injuring a toe in training camp. He is listed as questionable. “With Zack, he’s a keystone for our offensive line," McCarthy said. "That will be a big one. But it’s more opportunity for these young players who haven’t played a lot and are getting a lot of work." McCarthy said the Cowboys “took a step backward, clearly” running the ball against Houston after making progress the previous couple of games. Rico Dowdle, now the clear lead back after ineffectiveness and off-field drama from Ezekiel Elliott, had just 28 yards on 10 carries, and the Cowboys finished with 64 yards. They allowed 141 yards, including 109 and three touchdowns by Joe Mixon, and have the NFL's second-worst rushing defense. Washington's Brian Robinson Jr. has already set a career high with seven TD runs and could be in for a lot of carries. “I look forward to running the ball any time,” Robinson said. “I’m prepared, I’m ready and if it happens like that, I’m ready for it." AP Pro Football Writer Schuyler Dixon in Frisco, Texas, contributed. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflGovernment contractors are once again reminded of the consequences of circumventing procurement rules under the False Claims Act. Dell Technologies Inc. and Dell Federal Systems L.P. (collectively Dell), alongside Iron Bow Technologies LLC (Iron Bow), recently reached settlements totaling $4.35 million to resolve allegations of government contracting fraud. A competitor filed a qui tam lawsuit and will receive approximately 15% of the settlement with Dell. The Allegations Against Dell and Iron Bow According to the allegations, between May 2020 and April 2024, Dell operated a “deal registration program” that allegedly facilitated non-competitive bidding under the Army Desktop and Mobile Computing 3 (ADMC-3) contract. According to the United States Department of Justice, Dell provided Iron Bow with advantageous pricing to secure contracts for specific Dell computer hardware products purchased by the Army. While Iron Bow submitted bids with lower prices, Dell also entered higher direct bids to create an illusion of competition. This practice, the government claimed, misled Army decision-makers during the source selection process. The result? The Army was allegedly overcharged for certain Dell products under the ADMC-3 contract, in violation of the False Claims Act. Dell has agreed to pay $2,300,000 to resolve these allegations and Iron Bow has agreed to pay $2,051,000 for its involvement in the scheme. Both companies were accused of violating the False Claims Act, which prohibits submitting or causing the submission of false claims for payment or approval to the government. Non-Competitive Bidding Harms Taxpayers Non-competitive government contracting poses a significant problem for taxpayers because it often leads to higher costs, reduced transparency, and limited accountability. Without competitive bidding, government agencies can award contracts to companies without comparing prices or evaluating alternative solutions, resulting in inflated prices for services and goods. This lack of competition reduces the incentive for contractors to provide high-quality services or innovate, as they may face no pressure to improve efficiency. Non-competitive bidding may ultimately divert taxpayer money away from its intended purposes. As the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General said about the case, “The United States relies on competition to get the best value and price for the American taxpayers.” The Whistleblower’s Role and Reward The case against Dell also resolves a qui tam lawsuit filed by whistleblower Brent Lillard, an executive at another IT reseller. The whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act empower private individuals to file lawsuits on behalf of the government when they suspect fraud. Mr. Lillard will receive $345,000. To secure a level playing field for all companies in an industry, competitors are empowered to blow the whistle on government contracts fraud under the False Claims Act.
AP News Summary at 2:05 p.m. EST
EAGLE PASS, Texas — President-Elect Donald Trump’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, visited Texas Army National Guard soldiers/airmen and Texas Highway Patrol troopers at a recently constructed state military base on the banks of the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass. Accompanied by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Homan spoke to the attendees ahead of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. During the Tuesday visit, Homan and Texas Abbott served food to the troops after brief remarks. Speaking to the troops, Texas Governor Abbott thanked the guardsmen and troopers before introducing incoming Border Czar Homan to the soldiers preparing for their pre-Thanksgiving meal. Homan spoke to the troops saying, “Today is the first day I have been to Shelby Park, Governor Abbott has done a great job here,” as he thanked the troops for their service along the border in Eagle Pass. Speaking to the troops about the plans to conduct a mass deportation operation, Homan announced, “Let me be clear, there is going to be a mass deportation because we just had mass immigration at the border.” Homan went on to criticize the policies of outgoing President Joe Biden as “deliberately causing the border crisis.” Abbott and Homan were joined by retiring Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw, Adjutant General of the Texas Military Department, Major General Thomas Suelzer, Texas Border Czar Mike Banks, and National Border Patrol Council Union President Paul Perez. The visit was held at Forward Operating Base Eagle, a recently constructed permanent base camp designed to provide housing for 1,800 Texas Army National Guard Soldiers deployed under Abbott’s “Operation Lone Star” to the region. As reported by Breitbart Texas, the 80-acre military post was opened in mid-2024 and offers soldiers individual rooms, a 700-seat dining facility, a recreational center, laundry facilities, and WiFi access. According to the Texas Military Department, the camp also provides chaplaincy programs and medical and psychological health facilities. Homan will accompany Abbott to a similar event in Edinburg, Texas, later in the afternoon to thank soldiers and Highway Patrol troopers serving in that region during the holidays. Homan closed his remarks, saying, “Game on. Time to get this done.” Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Division Chief for Law Enforcement Operations, directing operations for nine Border Patrol Stations within the Del Rio, Texas, Sector. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @RandyClarkBBTX.IRS recovers $4.7B in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in powerNew technology aids Brazil's crackdown on illicit Amazon gold trade
Climate finance’s ‘new era’ shows new political realities