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Judge hears closing arguments on whether Google's advertising tech constitutes a monopoly ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The Justice Department and Google have made their closing arguments in a trial alleging Google’s online advertising technology constitutes an illegal monopoly. The arguments in federal court Monday in northern Virginia came as Google already faces a possible breakup of the company over its ubiquitous search engine. The Justice Department says it will seek the breakup of Google to remedy its search engine monopoly. The case in Virginia focuses not on the search engine but on technology that matches online advertisers to consumers on the internet. A judge is expected to rule by the end of the year. ‘Busiest Thanksgiving ever’: How the TSA plans to handle record air travel DALLAS (AP) — The Thanksgiving travel rush is expected to be bigger than ever this year. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million people in the U.S. will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday — most of them by car. Thanksgiving Day falling so late this year has altered traditional travel patterns. At airports, the Transportation Security Administration says it could screen a record number of U.S. air travelers on Sunday. Meanwhile, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration says a shortage of air traffic controllers could cause flight delays. Transportation analytics company INRIX says roads could be congested on Monday with both commuters and returning holiday travelers. Macy’s says employee hid up to $154 million in expenses, delaying Q3 earnings Macy’s says it’s delaying the release of its fiscal third-quarter earnings results after it discovered an up to $154 million accounting-related issue. The company did provide some preliminary results for its third quarter, including that net sales fell 2.4% to $4.74 billion. It anticipates reporting its full third-quarter financial results by Dec. 11. Newsom says California could offer electric vehicle rebates if Trump eliminates federal tax credit SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California could offer state tax rebates for electric vehicle purchases if the incoming Trump administration eliminates the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. Gov. Gavin Newsom says Monday he'll propose creating a new version of the state’s successful Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, which was phased out in 2023 after funding nearly 600,000 new cars and trucks. Officials didn’t say how much the program would cost or how the rebates would work. Newsom’s proposal is part of his plan to protect California’s progressive policies ahead of Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. But a budget shortfall could complicate California’s resistance efforts. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by announcing plans Monday to hand more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Stock market today: Dow hits another record as stocks rise NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose, with those benefiting the most from lower interest rates and a stronger economy leading the way. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3% Monday to pull closer to its record set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 440 points to its own record set on Friday, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. They got a boost from easing Treasury yields after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants hedge-fund manager Scott Bessent to be his Treasury Secretary. Smaller companies can feel a big boost from easier borrowing costs, and the Russell 2000 index of small stocks finished just shy of its record. Workers at Charlotte airport, an American Airlines hub, go on strike during Thanksgiving travel week CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — American Airlines says it doesn’t expect significant disruptions to flights this week as a result of a labor strike at its hub in Charlotte, North Carolina. Service workers there walked out Monday during a busy week of Thanksgiving travel to protest what they say are unlivable wages. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services authorized the work stoppage. Union spokesperson Sean Keady says the strike is expected to last 24 hours. The companies contract with American Airlines to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. The companies have acknowledged the seriousness of a strike during the holiday travel season. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Eggs are available -- but pricier -- as the holiday baking season begins Egg prices are on the rise again as a lingering outbreak of bird flu coincides with high demand during the holiday baking season. The average price for a dozen eggs in U.S. cities was $3.37 in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was up 63% from October 2023, when a dozen eggs cost an average of $2.07. Avian influenza is the main culprit. The current bird flu outbreak that began in February 2022 has led to the slaughter of more than 111 million birds, mostly egg-laying chickens. But the American Egg Board says egg shortages at grocery stores have been isolated and temporary so far. ‘Buy now, pay later’ is more popular than ever. It can cost more than you think NEW YORK (AP) — More shoppers are using ‘buy now, pay later’ plans heading into Black Friday and the holiday season, as the ability to spread out payments looks attractive at a time when Americans still feel the lingering effect of inflation and already have record-high credit card debt. Experts say the short-term loans can lead consumers to overextend themselves and warn that those who use credit cards for the service face higher interest expenses. The data firm Adobe Analytics predicts shoppers will spend 11.4% more this holiday season using buy now, pay later than they did a year ago.Drones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.

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California lawmakers begin special session to protect state laws from second Trump presidencyJoint Seminar on Customs Regulation between Myanmar and Eurasian Economic Commission heldRams claim CB Emmanuel Forbes off waivers from Washington

The Hope Fair will kick off the holiday season with a pop-up Christmas market featuring bespoke selections by over 100 local and regional partner vendors, in the Ballroom of Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel, tomorrow from 11am to 8pm. This is a good time for artisans, entrepreneurs, charities and culinary experts to show up and assist those looking for perfect stocking stuffers, holiday decor, festive specialties or even show-stopping gifts. The Hope Fair prides itself on curating a market with meaningful, creative products that are produced in small batches and even made by hand. Whether it is homeware goods, creative jewellery, elegant accessories, artisanal goods, tempting pastries, tasty snacks or succulent delights, visitors can find something festive to enjoy for themselves or as a special gift to others. This year's market also marks the Hope Fair's 10th Christmas with its community of vendors and guests and it will see Santa Claus coming to town to sing Christmas classics, meet families and fill the air with holiday cheer at 3.30pm. Also, children from the Mercy Centre will come a carolling to show their appreciation for Hope Fair's support. Since its inception, the Hope Fair has donated over 1 million baht to the Mercy Centre. Those funds have gone to repairs in the school and caring for the blind, senior citizens and school-aged children. Visitors are also invited to contribute to the Centre by bringing donations such as gently-used clothes and household items, which will be collected and distributed to those in need. There is no admission fee. Visit thehopefair.com.

Peacock’s ‘Hysteria!’ set in Michigan during 1980s satanic panic

2 rescued after California wharf partially collapses due to heavy surf from major Pacific storm

Election victories for Donald Trump and other candidates whose campaigns demeaned transgender people reinforced a widespread backlash against trans rights. For America’s LGBTQ-rights movement, it adds up to one of the most sustained setbacks in its history. For transgender Americans, it’s personal: There is palpable fear of potential Trump administration steps to further marginalize them. But there is also a spirit of resilience — a determination to persevere in seeking acceptance and understanding. “I just went through an election where I couldn’t watch a sports event on TV without seeing a commercial where trans people were portrayed as monsters,” said Jennifer Finney Boylan, a transgender author who teaches at Barnard College in New York. “This hurts more than any other moment I can remember. We’ve been knocked down before. We’ll be knocked down again. All we can do is fight.” Anti-trans momentum has been growing for several years, with Republican-governed states enacting dozens of laws restricting trans people’s options for medical care, sports participation and public restroom access. Activists fear the movement will grow, with the Trump administration taking power as many Americans question the trans-rights agenda. Overall, 55% of voters — and 85% of Trump backers — said support for transgender rights in government and society has gone too far, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 people who cast ballots nationwide. “There is an urgent need to show the American people the reality of transgender lives — the ordinary people for whom being trans is not the center of their lives,” said Shannon Minter, a transgender civil rights lawyer with the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “This is a frightening moment for transgender people and their families. There is a very real possibility that the new administration may adopt policies that cause them devastating harm.” Trump won the presidential contest over Vice President Kamala Harris after a campaign that included pervasive TV advertising mocking her support for trans rights. “Kamala is for they/them,” an ad that ran over 15,000 times asserted. “President Trump is for you.” Other Democratic candidates also were targeted with anti-trans ads. On an array of issues, Trump — and other Republicans who now hold majorities in both the House and Senate — have threatened to roll back protections and civil liberties for trans people. Education: Trump has pledged to impose wide-ranging restrictions on transgender students. His administration could swiftly move to exclude them from Title IX protections, which affect school policies on students’ use of preferred pronouns, bathrooms and locker rooms. Health care: At least 26 states have adopted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for trans minors. In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton is filing civil lawsuits against doctors he alleges were prescribing such treatments. Trump says any doctor or hospital providing gender-affirming care should be barred from Medicaid and Medicare. Sports: Trump and other Republicans embraced the anti-trans mantra opposing “boys in girls’ sports.” At least 24 states already have laws on the books barring trans women and girls from participating in certain women’s or girls’ sports competitions. In March, 16 college athletes filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, accusing it of violating their Title IX rights by allowing transgender woman Lia Thomas to compete at the 2022 national championships, where she won the 500-yard freestyle. Military: Trans-rights activists worry that Trump may reimpose a ban on trans people serving openly in the military or — as an alternative — bar any future recruiting of trans people and curtail the availability of gender-affirming medical care for service members and veterans. Trans-rights organizations are calling for coalition-building and renewed efforts to increase public understanding. They celebrated some notable victories. Sarah McBride won Delaware’s lone seat in the House of Representatives to become the first openly trans person elected to Congress. In Montana, transgender state Rep. Zooey Zephyr won reelection and will be able to return to the House floor nearly two years after she was silenced and sanctioned by her Republican colleagues. But nationwide, anger and anxiety were dominant emotions among trans activists. “This election season has been brutal,” the leaders of Advocates for Transgender Equality wrote to their supporters. “Trump targeted trans people since his campaign launch. He targeted our existence. He targeted our rights. He promised he would continue to target trans people if he won — and we know he will keep his promise.” Shelby Chestnut, executive director of the Transgender Law Center, said trans people “have become the pawn for political groups that don’t understand our communities.” “It’s a very precarious time,” Chestnut said. “We will get through this, but we have to step up and support each other. ... How do we see the long game, not just the immediate narrow view? Because it is very daunting right now. Where do we want to be in 15 years?” Public opinion on trans rights issues isn’t uniform. According to AP VoteCast, slightly more than half of voters in the 2024 election strongly or somewhat opposed laws that ban gender-affirming medical treatment, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, for minors. Slightly less than half of voters somewhat or strongly favored them. And according to a Gallup poll conducted last year, 69% of Americans say transgender athletes should be allowed to compete only on sports teams that conform with their birth gender. Over the past 25 years, arguably the most daunting previous phase of the LGBTQ-rights movement started in 2004, after Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. Between 2004 and 2008, voters in 26 states approved ballot measures defining marriage as between one man and one woman — in effect outlawing same-sex marriage. By 2012, however, public opinion was swinging in favor of same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court legalized it nationwide in 2015, and it has had the support of most Americans ever since. Boylan recalled how that long-bitter debate tilted in favor of legalization when supporters of same-sex marriage popularized the phrase “Love is love.” “That opened doors and opened hearts,” Boylan said. “The challenge for trans people is we don’t have a phrase like that. ... The issues are more complex.” Boylan noted that the anti-trans campaign seemed to make headway with issues that are not among the core concerns of most trans people: “The primary thing we’re fighting for is not the right to play with other women on a soccer team. We’re fighting for dignity, for respect, for the right to be left alone.” Maxwell Kuzma, a transgender man working as a film editor and writer in rural Ohio, said he was “worn out” by the relentless targeting of trans people and blamed Trump for perpetuating it. Looking ahead, he said life as a trans person “has forced me to learn a resiliency that I will lean on as I continue to speak out against prejudice and discrimination.” Christine Zuba, a transgender woman from New Jersey, described a recent surge of Zoom meetings enabling trans people to express their concerns and determine next steps. “One of the best recommendations I have heard throughout this discussion is to not isolate yourself; rather surround yourself with your support group — the people you love and who love you,” she said. “Do not despair. There are a lot of people who will work with you and for you.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Ashlon Jackson scored a career-high 30 points and No. 14 Duke defeated No. 10 Kansas State, 73-62 on Monday, in the semifinals of the Ball Dawgs Classic. The Blue Devils (6-1) overcame an early 11-point deficit behind Jackon’s shooting hand to advance to Wednesday’s championship game against the winner of the game between No. 9 Oklahoma and DePaul. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 3:22 p.m. ESTStock Market Thwarts Bears Again As Nasdaq Leads; Why Magnificent Seven Names Are Not The Sole Leaders

NoneSupermarket giant Carrefour’s support for French farmers’ protests against a trade agreement between the European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur has sparked a strong reaction in Brazil, including a refusal to supply beef to Carrefour stores in Brazil. Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard announced in social media posts last week that the French company would stop buying beef from all Mercosur countries, which also include Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Bompard wrote that he agrees with French producers' arguments that Mercosur beef is an unfair competitor due to lower production costs resulting from fewer environmental and sanitary requirements. The executive encouraged other retailers to follow suit. Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture called Bompard's move protectionist, saying it was made “without any technical criteria.” The decision also angered Brazil's meatpackers. Though France makes up just a tiny sliver of Brazil’s beef exports, meatpackers worried that Carrefour’s decision would hurt its reputation in other markets. Beef giants JBS and Marfrig halted supplies last Friday to Carrefour's extensive supermarket chain in Brazil, including the food warehouse giant Atacadao. Both companies refused to comment on the boycott to The Associated Press, but Minister of Agriculture Carlos Fávaro confirmed it. “We support the reaction of the meatpackers. If Brazil ́s beef isn’t good enough for Carrefour’s shelves in France, it isn’t good enough for Carrefour’s shelves in Brazil either,” Faváro told Folha de S.Paulo newspaper on Monday. Carrefour Group in Brazil acknowledged the boycott in a statement, though it said there's not yet a shortage of beef in stores. It said it has “esteem and confidence in the Brazilian agricultural sector, with which it maintains a solid relationship and partnership.” “Unfortunately, the decision to suspend the meat supply has an impact on customers, especially those who rely on the company to supply their homes with quality and responsible products,” the statement said. “It is in constant dialogue in search of solutions that will make it possible to resume the supply of meat to its stores as quickly as possible, respecting the commitments it has to its more than 130,000 Brazilian employees and millions of Brazilian customers countrywide.” The backdrop for the conflict is the EU-Mercosur trade deal, which would increase agricultural imports to EU countries from South America. French farmers fear it will affect their livelihoods. An initial agreement was reached in 2019, but negotiations have faltered since then due to opposition that also includes some European governments. Brazil’s agribusiness sector also fears that the pending European Union Deforestation Regulation will outlaw the sale of forest-derived products within the EU’s 27-nation bloc if companies can’t prove their goods are not linked to deforestation. Its scope includes soy and cattle, Brazil’s top agricultural exports. Almost half of the country’s cattle is raised in the Amazon region, where 90% of deforested land since 1985 has turned into pasture, according to MapBiomas, a nonprofit network. The date of its implementation remains uncertain. ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systemsBy JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. Related Articles National Politics | Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump extends unprecedented invites to China’s Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November’s election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team instead sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mount Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.f gaming meaning 。

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Sira Thienou scored 16 points with six rebounds, five assists and four steals and No. 18 Mississippi coasted to an 89-24 win over Alabama State on Saturday. Starr Jacobs and Christeen Iwuala both added 12 points and Kennedy Todd-Williams had 11 for the Rebels (5-2), who had a breather after losing to No. 2 UConn by 13 in the Bahamas. Kaitlyn Bryant had seven points to lead the Hornets (2-5), who shot 19% with 33 turnovers and were outrebounded 43-25. Alabama State was 1 of 8 with 11 turnovers in the first quarter, falling behind 24-4. The Hornets were 2 of 11 with seven giveaways in the second quarter when they were outscored 33-6 to trail 57-10 at the half. The Rebels shot 58% with 28 points off turnovers. They scored the first 16 points of the game and the first 24 points of the second quarter. Ole Miss had the last five points of the third quarter and the first seven of the fourth to get the lead to 82-22. The Hornets went 1 of 10 in the final 10 minutes with 10 turnovers. It was Mississippi's third win against teams from the Southwestern Athletic Conference with one more to play. The Rebels play at NC State on Thursday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling , as early as January 14, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. "Treasury expects to hit the statutory debt ceiling between January 14 and January 23," she wrote in a letter addressed to House and Senate leadership, at which point extraordinary measures would be used to prevent the government from breaching the nation's debt ceiling — which was suspended until Jan. 1, 2025. The department in the past deployed what are known as “extraordinary measures” or accounting maneuvers to keep the government operating. Once those measures run out, the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government’s ability to borrow. "I respectfully urge Congress to act to protect the full faith and credit of the United States," Yellen said. FILE - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a visit to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in Vienna, Va., on Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) The news came after Democratic President Joe Biden signed a bill into law last week that averted a government shutdown but did not include Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s core debt demand to raise or suspend the nation’s debt limit. Congress approved the bill only after a fierce internal debate among Republicans over how to handle Trump's demand. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” Trump said in a statement. After a protracted debate in the summer of 2023 over how to fund the government, policymakers crafted the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which included suspending the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing authority until Jan. 1, 2025. Notably however, Yellen said, on Jan. 2 the debt is projected to temporarily decrease due to a scheduled redemption of nonmarketable securities held by a federal trust fund associated with Medicare payments. As a result, “Treasury does not expect that it will be necessary to start taking extraordinary measures on January 2 to prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations," she said. The federal debt stands at about $36 trillion — after ballooning across both Republican and Democratic administrations. The spike in inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic pushed up government borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security. Republicans, who will have full control of the White House, House and Senate in the new year, have big plans to extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts and other priorities but are debating over how to pay for them. Many consumers may remember receiving their first credit card, either years ago in a plain envelope, or months ago from a smartphone app. Still other consumers may remember their newest card, maybe because it's the credit card they're now using exclusively to maximize cash back rewards or airline miles. But for most consumers, there's also a murky in-between where they add, drop and generally accumulate credit cards over time. Over the years, consumers may close some credit card accounts or leave some of their credit cards dormant as a backup form of payment, or perhaps left forgotten in a desk drawer. In the data below, Experian reveals the changes in consumers wallets in recent years. U.S. consumers, on average, carry fewer cards today than they did in 2017, when the typical wallet held 4.2 active credit cards. As of the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, consumers carried 3.9 cards on average. This average is up slightly since the early days of the pandemic, when consumers reduced their average credit card debt and number of accounts as the economy slowed. As Experian revealed earlier this year, credit card balances are still climbing, despite (and partially because of) higher interest rates. And while average balances are increasing, they are spread across fewer accounts than in recent years. Alternative financing—including buy now, pay later plans for purchases—may account for at least some of this discrepancy, as consumers gravitate toward these newer financing methods. In general, residents of higher-population states tend to carry more credit cards than those who live in states with fewer and smaller population centers. Nonetheless, the difference between the states is relatively small. Considering that the national average is around four credit cards per consumer, the four states with the fewest cards per consumer (Alaska, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming) aren't appreciably different, with "only" about 3.3 credit cards per consumer. Similarly, the four states on the higher end of the scale where consumers have 4.2 or more credit cards are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey and Rhode Island. The disparity in average credit card counts is more apparent when the population is segmented by age, thanks in part to Generation Z, many of whom have yet to receive their first credit card. The average number of credit cards for these consumers was two, less than half of what older generations keep on hand. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Cerity Partners LLC Purchases 36,543 Shares of HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC)Google's northwest Omaha data center just recently started operations, though it is not finished, a company spokesman said Monday. It is among Nebraska's three data center project sites that over five years has seen nearly $4.4 billion in capital investment. This year's investment was reported to be $930 million, the company said at a media event. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Now five years since Google built a physical presence in Nebraska, the tech giant on Monday announced its latest annual spend on infrastructure across the state: $930 million. The 2024 capital investment makes for a total so far of about $4.4 billion in Nebraska data centers to help meet growing demand for Google Cloud, artificial intelligence innovations and services such as the company’s search, maps and workspace programs, said spokesman Dan Harbeke. Just within the past few months, he said, Google’s sprawling data center site in northwest Omaha became operational but is not finished growing. Its newest data center project in Lincoln remains under construction on roughly 580 acres. And the original Google campus in Nebraska, a Papillion project that broke ground on 275 acres in late 2019, has continued to expand in various ways. “We’re effectively continuing to build out those footprints,” said Harbeke, regional head of public policy and external affairs. “We are not announcing any new sites this year but we are announcing continued growth and expansion across all three sites here in Nebraska.” Also during a news event Monday, Google announced a different kind of investment — philanthropic donations to support workforce development. Such contributions are separate and in addition to construction improvements, Harbeke said. Google.org , for instance, granted $250,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation to support AI research and education across its campuses. Earlier this month, Google’s philanthropic arm also provided Creighton University with a $250,000 grant to support the private university’s efforts to prepare students for expanded uses of artificial intelligence. Company officials on Monday also described a $100,000 donation to the Lincoln Public Schools Foundation’s Spark Summer Camp program, which targets elementary school students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. NU President Jeffrey Gold said the university gift underscores the shared commitment to harnessing the power of AI to ensure Nebraska is on the cutting edge of research, teaching and use. “Our hope is that this investment in Nebraska will lead to opportunities for economic growth and innovation,” Gold said. Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said investment in programs such as Spark underscores the Capital City’s “growing reputation” as a place for innovation and opportunity. “Google is helping to prepare Lincoln’s students and workforce for a rapidly evolving future,” she said. Google officials declined to provide detail on how the $930 million breaks down between data center sites. They also declined to disclose the number of employees per site but in a media statement said more than 120 jobs for Nebraskans have been created since 2019, in a variety of full time and external supplier roles, including computer technicians, engineers, maintenance and food service jobs. Harbeke said Google has started to see worker mobility and advancement within the state and the Omaha metro area, which includes the more established Council Bluffs plant. “We’re five years into our Nebraska footprint ... you’re seeing that movement among Googlers across these sites, which has been really neat to see,” Harbeke said. “One of the folks who is going to be leading our Lincoln campus worked out of our Papillion site.” U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., who joined Google officials Monday, said the Google technology investment gives the state a “competitive global advantage.” “These are the jobs of the future and they’re coming here to Nebraska,” he said. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., called Google a driver for secure U.S. infrastructure. “The importance of innovation in national security and AI between the public and private sectors cannot be understated and we’re working on that right here in Nebraska,” he said. Karen Dahut, CEO of Google public sector, said the Google data centers are essential to delivering cutting-edge products to a wide range of organizations that include government and educational institutions as well as the individual consumer. The computer-filled hubs are the engines that power technology and make local and global connections happen 24-7, Google said in a report about data centers . They are where Gmail and YouTube videos live. They are what keep the internet up and running. “We are grateful for the partnership from leaders across Nebraska as we have grown within the state,” Dahut said. “I look forward to exploring more opportunities to bring the power of Google Cloud’s technology to support the important missions of the public sector.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Originally published on nebraskaexaminer.com , part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange . We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. 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IonQ ( IONQ 13.58% ) stock posted another day of huge gains in Thursday's trading. The quantum-computing company's share price closed out the daily session up 13.5% and had been up as much as 17% earlier in the day. IonQ's big gains today are connected to Nvidia 's ( NVDA 0.54% ) recent third-quarter earnings report, which saw the artificial intelligence ( AI ) leader post sales, earnings, and forward guidance that beat Wall Street's expectations. Despite slipping early in the day's trading, Nvidia stock ended the day's trading up 0.5% -- and its strong quarterly performance and share price gains helped power momentum for other growth stocks. Nvidia once again powers gains for IonQ stock Nvidia has been this year's hottest and most influential megacap growth stock. The company has become increasingly central to momentum for the stock market at large, and its performance often has an outsized impact on valuations for growth-dependent stocks. The AI frontrunner's Q3 beats and encouraging forward guidance helped support bullish momentum for growth stocks and speculative technology plays today. In Q3, Nvidia posted non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share of $0.81 on revenue of $35.08 billion. For reference, the average analyst estimate had called for the business to report adjusted earnings of $0.75 on sales of $33.16 billion. Nvidia's guidance for revenue of $37.5 billion in the fourth quarter of its current fiscal year also surpassed the average Wall Street estimate's call for sales of $37.08 billion in the period. Nvidia stock initially slipped after the Q3 release because some investors were looking for even bigger performance beats, but its quarterly report and forward guidance had immediately beneficial valuation impacts for many other tech stocks. IonQ stock rallied earlier in the week after the company announced that it had successfully completed a demonstration of its technologies in conjunction with Nvidia's CUDA-Q software platform for hybrid quantum computing, and the quantum stock enjoyed another surge in conjunction with Nvidia's strong quarterly results. What's next for IonQ stock? Following today's gains, IonQ stock is up 164% across 2024's trading. The company now has a market capitalization of roughly $7.1 billion and is valued at approximately 170.5 times this year's expected sales. As a company with a core business that hinges on delivering revolutionary technologies, it doesn't make sense to put too much weight behind traditional valuation metrics. On the other hand, IonQ's valuation highlights the likelihood that long-term performance for the quantum-specialist's stock will likely have somewhat of a binary outcome. If IonQ delivers major commercial breakthroughs with quantum computing, the stock will likely post explosive gains and deliver huge returns for investors who take a buy-and-hold approach to shares at today's prices. On the other hand, the company's share price is poised to crater if bets on revolutionary technologies don't pay off.Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-January

Legal affairs: Mountain West seeks to dismiss Pac-12 lawsuit over $55 million poaching penaltyWASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks.

GOOD Party secretary-general Brett Herron has expressed concern over home affairs minister Leon Schreiber's silence regarding the party's request to cancel American artist Chris Brown's visa application to South Africa. Brown is scheduled to perform in Johannesburg on December 14 and 15. The party earlier wrote to Schreiber, urging him to ban Brown from entering the country, citing his history of domestic violence. “He hasn't even bothered to respond to multiple requests from the GOOD Party that he reject the visa application of convicted Brown. Rather than reject this abuser, Schreiber prefers to look away,” Herron said. “We know that banning Brown won't be popular with South Africans, but if Schreiber gives a damn about women, he will declare Brown an 'undesirable person' in terms of section 30 of the Immigration Act.” Brown pleaded guilty to a felony charge in 2009 for assaulting his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. “South Africa's Immigration Act provides that a person 'with previous criminal convictions without the option of a fine for conduct which would be an offence in the republic...' is undesirable. Schreiber therefore has the tool to act but lacks the spine to use it.” Herron argued that the government should play its part in commemorating the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence by not allowing Brown to “get a free pass”. The party believes that granting Brown entry into the country would be inconsistent with the government's commitment to eradicating gender-based violence. “Over the past month, our emails to the minister and his minders have failed to elicit a response. He instead appears intent on rolling out the red carpet for Brown to perform two concerts in Johannesburg — the week after 16 Days of Activism ends. Government expends much energy talking up its commitment to eradicate gender-based violence. Regardless of his personal views on these matters, Schreiber, as a government minister, must walk the talk.” TimesLIVE

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds investors that a class action was filed on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ZETA) securities between February 27, 2024 and November 13, 2024. Zeta is a marketing technology company. For more information, submit a form , email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (ZETA) Failed to Disclose it was Artificially Inflating Financial Results According to the complaint, on November 13, 2024, market research group Culper Research published a report entitled "Zeta Global Holdings Corp (ZETA): Shams, Scams, and Spam.” The report alleged 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’s 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. Plaintiff alleges that during the class period, defendants failed to disclose that: (1) Zeta used two-way contracts to artificially inflate financial results; (2) Zeta engaged in round trip transactions to artificially inflate financial results; (3) Zeta utilized predatory consent farms to collect user data; and (4) that these consent farms have driven almost the entirety of Zeta’s growth. What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Zeta Global Holdings Corp. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their application to the court by January 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP: Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. To be notified if a class action against Zeta Global Holdings Corp. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a9e62a12-06db-424e-a9a1-12ca4ed447d5

Google's northwest Omaha data center just recently started operations, though it is not finished, a company spokesman said Monday. It is among Nebraska's three data center project sites that over five years has seen nearly $4.4 billion in capital investment. This year's investment was reported to be $930 million, the company said at a media event. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Now five years since Google built a physical presence in Nebraska, the tech giant on Monday announced its latest annual spend on infrastructure across the state: $930 million. The 2024 capital investment makes for a total so far of about $4.4 billion in Nebraska data centers to help meet growing demand for Google Cloud, artificial intelligence innovations and services such as the company’s search, maps and workspace programs, said spokesman Dan Harbeke. Just within the past few months, he said, Google’s sprawling data center site in northwest Omaha became operational but is not finished growing. Its newest data center project in Lincoln remains under construction on roughly 580 acres. And the original Google campus in Nebraska, a Papillion project that broke ground on 275 acres in late 2019, has continued to expand in various ways. “We’re effectively continuing to build out those footprints,” said Harbeke, regional head of public policy and external affairs. “We are not announcing any new sites this year but we are announcing continued growth and expansion across all three sites here in Nebraska.” Also during a news event Monday, Google announced a different kind of investment — philanthropic donations to support workforce development. Such contributions are separate and in addition to construction improvements, Harbeke said. Google.org , for instance, granted $250,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation to support AI research and education across its campuses. Earlier this month, Google’s philanthropic arm also provided Creighton University with a $250,000 grant to support the private university’s efforts to prepare students for expanded uses of artificial intelligence. Company officials on Monday also described a $100,000 donation to the Lincoln Public Schools Foundation’s Spark Summer Camp program, which targets elementary school students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. NU President Jeffrey Gold said the university gift underscores the shared commitment to harnessing the power of AI to ensure Nebraska is on the cutting edge of research, teaching and use. “Our hope is that this investment in Nebraska will lead to opportunities for economic growth and innovation,” Gold said. Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said investment in programs such as Spark underscores the Capital City’s “growing reputation” as a place for innovation and opportunity. “Google is helping to prepare Lincoln’s students and workforce for a rapidly evolving future,” she said. Google officials declined to provide detail on how the $930 million breaks down between data center sites. They also declined to disclose the number of employees per site but in a media statement said more than 120 jobs for Nebraskans have been created since 2019, in a variety of full time and external supplier roles, including computer technicians, engineers, maintenance and food service jobs. Harbeke said Google has started to see worker mobility and advancement within the state and the Omaha metro area, which includes the more established Council Bluffs plant. “We’re five years into our Nebraska footprint ... you’re seeing that movement among Googlers across these sites, which has been really neat to see,” Harbeke said. “One of the folks who is going to be leading our Lincoln campus worked out of our Papillion site.” U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., who joined Google officials Monday, said the Google technology investment gives the state a “competitive global advantage.” “These are the jobs of the future and they’re coming here to Nebraska,” he said. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., called Google a driver for secure U.S. infrastructure. “The importance of innovation in national security and AI between the public and private sectors cannot be understated and we’re working on that right here in Nebraska,” he said. Karen Dahut, CEO of Google public sector, said the Google data centers are essential to delivering cutting-edge products to a wide range of organizations that include government and educational institutions as well as the individual consumer. The computer-filled hubs are the engines that power technology and make local and global connections happen 24-7, Google said in a report about data centers . They are where Gmail and YouTube videos live. They are what keep the internet up and running. “We are grateful for the partnership from leaders across Nebraska as we have grown within the state,” Dahut said. “I look forward to exploring more opportunities to bring the power of Google Cloud’s technology to support the important missions of the public sector.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Originally published on nebraskaexaminer.com , part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange . Get local news delivered to your inbox!Cerity Partners LLC Buys 80,553 Shares of Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHC)Wake Forest still experimenting ahead of Detroit Mercy game

By Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of Microsoft 365 customers worldwide reported having issues with services like Outlook and Teams on Monday. In social media posts and comments on platforms like outage tracker Downdetector, some impacted said that they were having trouble seeing their emails, loading calendars or opening other Microsoft 365 applications such as Powerpoint. Microsoft acknowledged “an issue impacting users attempting to access Exchange Online or functionality within Microsoft Teams calendar” earlier in the day. In updates posted on X , the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the company’s status page said it identified a “recent change” that it believed to be behind the problem — and was working to revert it. Microsoft shared that it was deploying a fix — which, as of shortly before noon E.T., it said had reached about 98% of “affected environments.” Still, the company’s status page later added , targeted restarts were “progressing slower than anticipated for the majority of affected users.” As of midday Monday, Downdetector showed thousands of outage reports from users of Microsoft 365 , particularly Outlook . Extra News Alerts Get breaking updates as they happen. Be civil. Be kind.

Business Don't miss out on the headlines from Business. Followed categories will be added to My News. The market operator has not ruled out further delays on the 2026 start date for its CHESS program , as costs blow out further. ASX Ltd said on Tuesday that it expects its CHESS Release 2 implementation to start in 2029 and estimates that it will cost between $270m and $320m. ASX “continues to work towards” a 2026 delivery of Release 1, with estimated project costs now expected to be at the “upper end of the previously communicated range of between $105m to $125m.” It means the cost for Release 1 has blown out by up to $10m versus the midpoint of the expected range. ASX shares fell 4 per cent to a three-day low of $66.42 on the news. In a conference call for investors and analysts, ASX chief executive Helen Lofthouse said the revision in the cost guidance to the upper end of the previously communicated range was linked to Cloud and Data platforms. ASX CEO Helen Lofthouse. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers “And probably the most material change is that’s driven the cost for the higher end of the month has really been getting more clarity around the Cloud and Data platform and the building costs for that,” Ms Lofthouse said. “And in particular, you know, we’ve very consciously designed the configuration there for a very high resilience decision availability.” Existing capital expenditure guidance was unchanged and includes allowances for both releases of the CHESS system, noting that expenditure for Release 2 will extend beyond the guidance period. Capex guidance for fiscal 2025 to 2027 is for a range of $160m to $180m per year, with “an aim that CAPEX starts to reduce after FY27”. “As our CAPEX is primarily to support the technology modernisation program, which includes the replacement of CHESS, inherent delivery risks in the program – including timing, scope and stakeholder dependencies – may impact this guidance,” ASX warned. It plans to use the full $70m of the CHESS Replacement Partnership Program, subject to other considerations, with the remaining $37m to be recognised in FY26 and FY28 as significant items. ASX said it also continues to consult and work with the industry to consider whether to adopt a shorter T+1 settlement cycle. “If there is to be a move to a shorter settlement cycle, ASX has received initial industry feedback that it should follow the implementation of the CHESS project,” the exchange operator said. It comes amid rising angst about the repeated delays and cost increases that ASX has faced while attempting to replace its ageing CHESS technology system. ASX has said it will vehemently defend a landmark legal action brought against it by the corporate regulator, denying it contravened the law or made misleading or deceptive statements relating to the bungled CHESS upgrade. In a statement earlier this month, the exchange operator noted it had filed a concise statement in response to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s Federal Court case against it. The ASX said it denied that statements made by the company on February 10, 2022, about the status of the CHESS technology upgrade, broke the law. ASIC kicked off the legal case against the ASX in August, alleging a “collective failure” by the company’s board and executives to keep investors, the public and stakeholders properly informed on the CHESS replacement project. ASIC claims statements made by the exchange operator in February 2022 were “misleading and deceptive” around how its CHESS technology upgrade project was tracking. The maximum penalty for the ­alleged contraventions of the ASIC Act is $555m. More Coverage Bonuses back as ASX acts like nothing has happened Eric Johnston ASX cops first strike over pay report at testy AGM David Ross Originally published as ASX’s CHESS program costs blow out further Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Business Trump’s rise could spoil BHP’s run at Anglo As restrictions on BHP making another mega-approach to Anglo’s board lift in coming days, this time the Australian miner could be racing against another clock. Read more Business Architecture’s leaders failing the industry, ex-Rob Mills staff say Former staff who worked at an award-winning architectural firm have sounded the alarm about the sector’s governance as bullying complaints pile up. Read more

Dow ends at fresh record as oil prices pull back on ceasefire hopes

The Buffalo Bills are back from their bye week and gearing up for a six-week sprint to the end of the regular season. At 9-2, the team has surpassed any reasonable expectations set for it coming into the season. A fifth straight AFC East title is all but guaranteed, and could be wrapped up as soon as Sunday if things go right. The No. 1 seed in the conference playoffs is still in play. As the team prepares to welcome the San Francisco 49ers to Highmark Stadium on Sunday night in a nationally televised game, here is a look at three things that have gone right and three that have gone at least partially wrong thus far: Let’s start with the good: Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, celebrates after running for the game-winning touchdown against the Chiefs at Highmark Stadium on Nov. 17. The Bills’ star quarterback has elevated his game to another level this season, even if he’s not statistically on pace to have his best season. Allen is projected to throw for 3,930 yards and 28 touchdowns, while completing 64.0% of his passes this year. His best season came in 2020, when he threw for 4,544 yards and 37 touchdowns while completing 69.2% of his passes. Still, Allen’s generally considered to be having his best NFL season to date. He’s on pace to throw a career-low eight interceptions (he threw 10 in 2020), but his MVP case goes beyond just that. Right or wrong, the MVP discussion will inevitably look at a team’s record, and the Bills are 9-2 in a year many had them pegged as a 10- or 11-win team at max. Allen’s leadership and command of the offense have never been greater, thus strengthening his MVP case. Buffalo Bills roundtable: How far can they go? Our writers weigh in as this magical season resumes The Bills’ defense always stresses the importance of taking the football away, and few teams in the league have been better at it thus far. Buffalo’s 21 takeaways currently ranks fifth, just two behind league-leading Houston with 23 and one behind a three-way tie for second with 22 between Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Minnesota. Buffalo’s 13 interceptions rank fourth in the league, and its eight recovered fumbles is tied for fifth. Conversely, the Bills’ offense is taking good care of the football, with just seven giveaways. Buffalo’s five interceptions is tied for sixth fewest in the league and its two lost fumbles is second to only Detroit (one lost). That’s led to a plus-14 turnover differential that is tops in the NFL. The Bills are allowing sacks on just 3.7% of their pass plays – the best number in the NFL. That’s not totally an offensive line stat, as Allen’s elusiveness plays into it, but it definitely says a lot about how the group up front is performing. The Bills have started the same five – left tackle Dion Dawkins, left guard David Edwards, center Connor McGovern, right guard O’Cyrus Torrence and right tackle Spencer Brown – in every game, save the Week 11 win over the Chiefs, which Brown missed with a sprained ankle. On the ground, the Bills are third in expected points added per rush, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. That number quantifies the net value a ball carrier adds on run plays by translating yards gained into points scored. Again, that’s not totally an offensive line stat, but as Bills head coach Sean McDermott points out after every game, success most frequently starts up front at the line of scrimmages. Here are three things that haven’t always been great: Want a chance at a new stadium seat? Get in line. Buffalo Bills still adding to waitlist While the Bills are in the middle of the pack in terms of yards allowed per game, ranking 14th at 119.1, they are 30th in terms of yards allowed per carry, at 4.85. Take a look at the upcoming schedule of running backs the team faces: Christian McCaffrey (49ers), Kyren Williams (Rams) and David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions). This concern goes beyond just the short term, though. The Week 4 loss to Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens is tough to forget. It feels like any path to the Super Bowl is going to have to go through Baltimore and/or Kansas City, and the Chiefs should get Isiah Pacheco back soon. The Bills are going to have to get tougher against the run, or else teams will be able to control the clock, and thus the pace of the game. Buffalo is allowing 1.79 yards per carry before contact, which is eighth most in the NFL, according to the league’s Next Gen Stats. That speaks to the defensive line’s inability at times to get to the opposing running back. It’s not been all bad for the run defense, as the team has stuffed opposing rushing attempts, meaning holding them to no gain or for a loss of yardage, on 23.3% of carries, which is the second-best rate in the league. The consistency, however, has lacked, and that’s a potential problem moving forward. The 61-yard field goal that won the game against Miami was one of the best kicks in team history. Bass followed that up with another good showing against Indianapolis in Week 10, but a missed extra point against Kansas City once again led to some doubt creeping in. It felt for most of that game against the Chiefs like the missed extra point was going to loom large, but the rest of the team eventually made sure that didn’t happen. Nevertheless, it feels certain that there is going to come a time that the Bills need to rely on Bass down the stretch, and their confidence in doing so might have understandably been shaken by his miss against the Chiefs. Bass has made 86.4% of his field goals this season (19 of 22), which ranks 15th among qualified kickers (those with at least 16 attempts). Of the 40 kickers in the league who have an attempted an extra point, however, Bass ranks 36th, with a conversion rate of 89.2%. The Bills don’t currently have a kicker on their practice squad, so they’re all in on Bass coming through. He needs to reward them for their confidence. Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard, middle, celebrates his interception against the Chiefs in Week 11. The Bills have 13 interceptions this season, which is fourth most in the NFL. The Bills’ weekly injury report has needed subtitles at times this season because it’s been so long. By unofficial count, the Bills have had 15 players classified as starters or key contributors who have missed at least one game because of injury. That’s a lot of bumps and bruises. The good news, however, is that the bye week came at the right time. The team opened linebacker Matt Milano’s practice window before the bye, meaning his return should come soon. If he can get back up to speed before the playoffs, he gives the team a great 1-2 punch at linebacker with Terrel Bernard (and if not, Dorian Williams has looked just fine in Milano’s place). Ideally, the team’s run of wrist injuries is behind it. Amari Cooper and rookie Keon Coleman should be closer to 100% coming out of the bye. Rookie defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, who had put together a few nice performances before suffering a wrist injury, is eligible to return from injured reserve starting this week. Veteran defensive end Dawuane Smoot has to miss at least two more games while on injured reserve with a wrist injury of his own, while linebacker Baylon Spector is out for at least two more games because of a calf injury. All of them should be able to return in time for the playoffs, giving the Bills the chance to be as healthy as they’ve been all season at exactly the right time. Sent weekly directly to your inbox!Salem vs. Goliath: Tigers draw No. 1 UCLA in 1st-ever NCAA Tournament trip in water poloUndefeated Oregon and No. 23 Texas A&M will collide Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas in the second game of the new Players Era Festival. Both teams are in the "Power" group of the eight-team event. All eight teams are receiving $1 million for their name, image and likeness (NIL) collectives, but placing fourth or higher in the tourney in order will net them anywhere from $1.1 million to $1.5 million. The Aggies (4-1) opened the season with a three-point loss at UCF, but since then have won four straight, all in convincing fashion. Texas A&M upset then-No. 21 Ohio State 78-64 on Nov. 15 at home in College Station, Texas. Then the Aggies crushed Southern 71-54 last Wednesday, when Wade Taylor IV led the way with 17 points and six assists. All of Texas A&M's wins have been by double digits. The Aggies and Ducks (5-0) have split the two previous meetings against each other. Until March 2022 in an NIT second-round game, they had not met since the 1970-71 season. Texas A&M tied the overall series with a 75-60 win at home in 2022. The only player on the Ducks' current roster who played in that game was 7-foot senior Nate Bittle, who has been one of Oregon's best players so far this season. Bittle's 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game lead the Ducks so far this season, and the big man also averages two blocked shots per game. Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps, a transfer from SMU, leads the Aggies in scoring at 16 points per game. Taylor adds 14 points per game. The Aggies could be the best defensive team the Ducks will have seen this season. A&M is allowing teams to shoot only 36.6 percent in games. Head coach Buzz Williams and his staff are hoping the team gets better at taking charges on defense, as the Aggies have just one so far this season. "I guess the thing that you work on most is verticality around the rim," Texas A&M assistant coach Steve Roccaforte told KBTX television. "‘Hey, once you get there, if you try and take a charge, it's going to be a block. Just jump as high as you can, stay vertical, try to go chest-to-chest. Make it a hard shot.'" Oregon is coming off a 78-75 win at Oregon State, the Ducks' first road game of the season. The Ducks trailed by 10 points at halftime but, as they have in several games this season, they found a rhythm on offense in the second half and came up with a comeback win. Bittle's 23 points and 14 rebounds led the way. Jackson Shelstad had 15 points and Jadrian Tracey and Keeshawn Barthelemy both added 10. "We started rebounding the ball a little better. Nate really got it going inside and our guys got him the ball," Oregon head coach Dana Altman told the school's athletics website. "He had a heck of a game." --Field Level Media

g4 gaming shows None

Rams WR Demarcus Robinson not suspended, will play Sunday after arrest on DUI suspicion

Passenger Info Systems: USD 26.07B in 2022 to USD 74.64B by 2031 11-27-2024 09:55 PM CET | IT, New Media & Software Press release from: SkyQuest Technology Group Passenger Information System Market Scope: Key Insights : Passenger Information System Market size was valued at USD 26.07 billion in 2022 and is poised to grow from USD 29.30 billion in 2023 to USD 74.64 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 12.4% in the forecast period (2024-2031). Discover Your Competitive Edge with a Free Sample Report : https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/passenger-information-system-market Access the full 2024 Market report for a comprehensive understanding @ https://www.skyquestt.com/report/passenger-information-system-market In-Depth Exploration of the global Passenger Information System Market: This report offers a thorough exploration of the global Passenger Information System market, presenting a wealth of data that has been meticulously researched and analyzed. It identifies and examines the crucial market drivers, including pricing strategies, competitive landscapes, market dynamics, and regional growth trends. By outlining how these factors impact overall market performance, the report provides invaluable insights for stakeholders looking to navigate this complex terrain. Additionally, it features comprehensive profiles of leading market players, detailing essential metrics such as production capabilities, revenue streams, market value, volume, market share, and anticipated growth rates. This report serves as a vital resource for businesses seeking to make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving market. Trends and Insights Leading to Growth Opportunities The best insights for investment decisions stem from understanding major market trends, which simplify the decision-making process for potential investors. The research strives to discover multiple growth opportunities that readers can evaluate and potentially capitalize on, armed with all relevant data. Through a comprehensive assessment of important growth factors, including pricing, production, profit margins, and the value chain, market growth can be more accurately forecast for the upcoming years. Top Firms Evaluated in the Global Passenger Information System Market Research Report: Advantech Co., Ltd. (Taiwan) Alstom SA (France) Wabtec Corporation (United States) Cisco Systems, Inc. (United States) Siemens AG (Germany) Cubic Corporation (United States) Televic (Belgium) Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (China) Hitachi, Ltd. (Japan) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan) Key Aspects of the Report: Market Summary: The report includes an overview of products/services, emphasizing the global Passenger Information System market's overall size. It provides a summary of the segmentation analysis, focusing on product/service types, applications, and regional categories, along with revenue and sales forecasts. Competitive Analysis: This segment presents information on market trends and conditions, analyzing various manufacturers. It includes data regarding average prices, as well as revenue and sales distributions for individual players in the market. Business Profiles: This chapter provides a thorough examination of the financial and strategic data for leading players in the global Passenger Information System market, covering product/service descriptions, portfolios, geographic reach, and revenue divisions. Sales Analysis by Region: This section provides data on market performance, detailing revenue, sales, and market share across regions. It also includes projections for sales growth rates and pricing strategies for each regional market, such as: North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico Europe: Germany, France, UK, Russia, and Italy Asia-Pacific: China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia South America: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, etc. Middle East and Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa This in-depth research study has the capability to tackle a range of significant questions that are pivotal for understanding the market dynamics, and it specifically aims to answer the following key inquiries: How big could the global Passenger Information System market become by the end of the forecast period? Let's explore the exciting possibilities! Will the current market leader in the global Passenger Information System segment continue to hold its ground, or is change on the horizon? Which regions are poised to experience the most explosive growth in the Passenger Information System market? Discover where the future opportunities lie! Is there a particular player that stands out as the dominant force in the global Passenger Information System market? Let's find out who's leading the charge! What are the key factors driving growth and the challenges holding back the global Passenger Information System market? Join us as we uncover the forces at play! To establish the important thing traits, Ask Our Experts @ https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/passenger-information-system-market Table of Contents Chapter 1 Industry Overview 1.1 Definition 1.2 Assumptions 1.3 Research Scope 1.4 Market Analysis by Regions 1.5 Market Size Analysis from 2023 to 2030 11.6 COVID-19 Outbreak: Medical Computer Cart Industry Impact Chapter 2 Competition by Types, Applications, and Top Regions and Countries 2.1 Market (Volume and Value) by Type 2.3 Market (Volume and Value) by Regions Chapter 3 Production Market Analysis 3.1 Worldwide Production Market Analysis 3.2 Regional Production Market Analysis Chapter 4 Medical Computer Cart Sales, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2023-2023) Chapter 5 North America Market Analysis Chapter 6 East Asia Market Analysis Chapter 7 Europe Market Analysis Chapter 8 South Asia Market Analysis Chapter 9 Southeast Asia Market Analysis Chapter 10 Middle East Market Analysis Chapter 11 Africa Market Analysis Chapter 12 Oceania Market Analysis Chapter 13 Latin America Market Analysis Chapter 14 Company Profiles and Key Figures in Medical Computer Cart Business Chapter 15 Market Forecast (2023-2030) Chapter 16 Conclusions Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Email: sales@skyquestt.com About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. This release was published on openPR."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.Passenger Info Systems: USD 26.07B in 2022 to USD 74.64B by 2031 11-27-2024 09:55 PM CET | IT, New Media & Software Press release from: SkyQuest Technology Group Passenger Information System Market Scope: Key Insights : Passenger Information System Market size was valued at USD 26.07 billion in 2022 and is poised to grow from USD 29.30 billion in 2023 to USD 74.64 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 12.4% in the forecast period (2024-2031). Discover Your Competitive Edge with a Free Sample Report : https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/passenger-information-system-market Access the full 2024 Market report for a comprehensive understanding @ https://www.skyquestt.com/report/passenger-information-system-market In-Depth Exploration of the global Passenger Information System Market: This report offers a thorough exploration of the global Passenger Information System market, presenting a wealth of data that has been meticulously researched and analyzed. It identifies and examines the crucial market drivers, including pricing strategies, competitive landscapes, market dynamics, and regional growth trends. By outlining how these factors impact overall market performance, the report provides invaluable insights for stakeholders looking to navigate this complex terrain. Additionally, it features comprehensive profiles of leading market players, detailing essential metrics such as production capabilities, revenue streams, market value, volume, market share, and anticipated growth rates. This report serves as a vital resource for businesses seeking to make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving market. Trends and Insights Leading to Growth Opportunities The best insights for investment decisions stem from understanding major market trends, which simplify the decision-making process for potential investors. The research strives to discover multiple growth opportunities that readers can evaluate and potentially capitalize on, armed with all relevant data. Through a comprehensive assessment of important growth factors, including pricing, production, profit margins, and the value chain, market growth can be more accurately forecast for the upcoming years. Top Firms Evaluated in the Global Passenger Information System Market Research Report: Advantech Co., Ltd. (Taiwan) Alstom SA (France) Wabtec Corporation (United States) Cisco Systems, Inc. (United States) Siemens AG (Germany) Cubic Corporation (United States) Televic (Belgium) Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (China) Hitachi, Ltd. (Japan) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan) Key Aspects of the Report: Market Summary: The report includes an overview of products/services, emphasizing the global Passenger Information System market's overall size. It provides a summary of the segmentation analysis, focusing on product/service types, applications, and regional categories, along with revenue and sales forecasts. Competitive Analysis: This segment presents information on market trends and conditions, analyzing various manufacturers. It includes data regarding average prices, as well as revenue and sales distributions for individual players in the market. Business Profiles: This chapter provides a thorough examination of the financial and strategic data for leading players in the global Passenger Information System market, covering product/service descriptions, portfolios, geographic reach, and revenue divisions. Sales Analysis by Region: This section provides data on market performance, detailing revenue, sales, and market share across regions. It also includes projections for sales growth rates and pricing strategies for each regional market, such as: North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico Europe: Germany, France, UK, Russia, and Italy Asia-Pacific: China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia South America: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, etc. Middle East and Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa This in-depth research study has the capability to tackle a range of significant questions that are pivotal for understanding the market dynamics, and it specifically aims to answer the following key inquiries: How big could the global Passenger Information System market become by the end of the forecast period? Let's explore the exciting possibilities! Will the current market leader in the global Passenger Information System segment continue to hold its ground, or is change on the horizon? Which regions are poised to experience the most explosive growth in the Passenger Information System market? Discover where the future opportunities lie! Is there a particular player that stands out as the dominant force in the global Passenger Information System market? Let's find out who's leading the charge! What are the key factors driving growth and the challenges holding back the global Passenger Information System market? Join us as we uncover the forces at play! To establish the important thing traits, Ask Our Experts @ https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/passenger-information-system-market Table of Contents Chapter 1 Industry Overview 1.1 Definition 1.2 Assumptions 1.3 Research Scope 1.4 Market Analysis by Regions 1.5 Market Size Analysis from 2023 to 2030 11.6 COVID-19 Outbreak: Medical Computer Cart Industry Impact Chapter 2 Competition by Types, Applications, and Top Regions and Countries 2.1 Market (Volume and Value) by Type 2.3 Market (Volume and Value) by Regions Chapter 3 Production Market Analysis 3.1 Worldwide Production Market Analysis 3.2 Regional Production Market Analysis Chapter 4 Medical Computer Cart Sales, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2023-2023) Chapter 5 North America Market Analysis Chapter 6 East Asia Market Analysis Chapter 7 Europe Market Analysis Chapter 8 South Asia Market Analysis Chapter 9 Southeast Asia Market Analysis Chapter 10 Middle East Market Analysis Chapter 11 Africa Market Analysis Chapter 12 Oceania Market Analysis Chapter 13 Latin America Market Analysis Chapter 14 Company Profiles and Key Figures in Medical Computer Cart Business Chapter 15 Market Forecast (2023-2030) Chapter 16 Conclusions Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Email: sales@skyquestt.com About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. This release was published on openPR.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Receiver Demarcus Robinson will not be suspended by the Los Angeles Rams this week after his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Robinson will be available to play when the Rams (5-6) visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Rams coach Sean McVay said Wednesday. “I think he does understand the severity of this, and how lucky we were that nobody was injured,” McVay said. “I do believe that he's remorseful. We are going to let the legal process take place. The league has a process as well.” Robinson was arrested early Monday morning after California Highway Patrol officers observed a white Dodge sedan driving over 100 mph on the 101 freeway in the western San Fernando Valley, a few miles from the Rams’ training complex in Woodland Hills. The driver, who identified himself as Robinson, had “objective signs and symptoms of alcohol impairment,” the CHP said in a statement released to The Associated Press. Robinson spoke to the team and expressed remorse about his arrest, McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “I think it was a bad decision he made,” McVay said. “I don't think that makes him a bad person, and I do believe this is something that, with the words that he said, our guys will learn from it, and hopefully nobody is ever going to repeat something like this. Let it be a learning opportunity, and a fortunate outcome that nobody was injured.” Robinson has 26 receptions for 384 yards and a team-leading six touchdown catches while starting all 11 games in his second season with the Rams . He caught a TD pass in the Rams' 37-20 loss to Philadelphia several hours before his arrest. The nine-year NFL veteran has served as a capable No. 3 option for Stafford behind star receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. Robinson spent his first six NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Super Bowl ring in February 2020, and spent one year with Baltimore before joining the Rams last year. “Let this be a lesson to all of us,” Stafford said. “We're lucky with the result that came of it, to be honest with you, that nobody was hurt or injured. I know that D-Rob is a great person. I love being around him. Love him as a teammate. ... I'm just trying to support him, help him out any way I can.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFLStock market today: Wall Street slips as the 'Magnificent 7' weighs down the market

Richard Drury Thesis As we wrap-up 2024 we hear many market participants bemoaning their portfolio returns when compared to the stellar performance of the S&P 500 ( SPX ). We are bemused by this view and comparison, since very few people Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

FBI investigating ‘numerous bomb threats’ against Trump administration nomineesNew hyperbaric oxygen chamber to benefit patients in Aruba

Japan’s factory output fell for the first time in three months in November due to softening overseas demand, although contracted at a slower-than-expected pace from the previous month, government data showed on Friday. fell 2.3% in November from the previous month, data released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on Monday showed, missing a median market forecast for a 3.4% fall, and compared with a 2.8% rise in October. Manufacturers surveyed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry expect seasonally adjusted output to rise 2.1% and 1.3% in December, and January 2025 respectively. Separate data showed Japanese rose 2.8% in November from a year earlier, beating expectations for growth of 1.5%. Today’s figures will be closely analyzed for their implications on the Bank of Japan’s decisions, especially as policymakers monitor domestic resilience against global economic headwinds and political uncertainties. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is expected to hike its policy rate by 25 basis points at an upcoming meeting in January, after it kept rates unchanged this month. Earlier this week, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said that the economy is expected to make progress toward sustainably reaching the central bank’s 2% inflation target next year, hinting that an interest rate hike could be approaching. Source: Investing.comKendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.”

Knight stops 20 shots, Florida rolls past Carolina 6-0 for 2nd win over 'Canes in as many days

DENVER — Amid renewed interest in the killing of JonBenet Ramsey triggered in part by a new Netflix documentary, police in Boulder, Colorado, refuted assertions this week that there is viable evidence and leads about the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old girl that they are not pursuing. JonBenet Ramsey, who competed in beauty pageants, was found dead in the basement of her family's home in the college town of Boulder the day after Christmas in 1996. Her body was found several hours after her mother called 911 to say her daughter was missing and a ransom note was left behind. The gravesite of JonBenet Ramsey is covered with flowers Jan. 8, 1997, at St. James Episcopal Cemetery in Marietta, Ga. JonBenet was bludgeoned and strangled. Her death was ruled a homicide, but nobody was ever prosecuted. The details of the crime and video footage of JonBenet competing in pageants propelled the case into one of the highest-profile mysteries in the United States. The police comments came as part of their annual update on the investigation, a month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenet's killing. Police said they released it a little earlier due to the increased attention on the case, apparently referring to the three-part Netflix series "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey." In a video statement, Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said the department welcomes news coverage and documentaries about the killing of JonBenet, who would have been 34 this year, as a way to generate possible new leads. He said the department is committed to solving the case but needs to be careful about what it shares about the investigation to protect a possible future prosecution. "What I can tell you though, is we have thoroughly investigated multiple people as suspects throughout the years and we continue to be open-minded about what occurred as we investigate the tips that come in to detectives," he said. The Netflix documentary focuses on the mistakes made by police and the "media circus" surrounding the case. A police officer sits in her cruiser Jan. 3, 1997, outside the home in which 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered Dec. 26, 1996, in Boulder, Colo. Police were widely criticized for mishandling the early investigation into her death amid speculation that her family was responsible. However, a prosecutor cleared her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and brother Burke in 2008 based on new DNA evidence from JonBenet's clothing that pointed to the involvement of an "unexplained third party" in her slaying. The announcement by former district attorney Mary Lacy came two years after Patsy Ramsey died of cancer. Lacy called the Ramseys "victims of this crime." John Ramsey continued to speak out for the case to be solved. In 2022, he supported an online petition asking Colorado's governor to intervene in the investigation by putting an outside agency in charge of DNA testing in the case. In the Netflix documentary, he said he advocated for several items that were not prepared for DNA testing to be tested and for other items to be retested. He said the results should be put through a genealogy database. In recent years, investigators identified suspects in unsolved cases by comparing DNA profiles from crime scenes and to DNA testing results shared online by people researching their family trees. In 2021, police said in their annual update that DNA hadn't been ruled out to help solve the case, and in 2022 noted that some evidence could be "consumed" if DNA testing is done on it. Last year, police said they convened a panel of outside experts to review the investigation to give recommendations and determine if updated technologies or forensic testing might produce new leads. In the latest update, Redfearn said that review ended but police continue to work through and evaluate a "lengthy list of recommendations" from the panel. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!In a bid to address voter dissatisfaction amid a cost of living crisis, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to temporarily lift the federal sales tax on several essential items and distribute checks to millions of Canadians. These measures are being introduced with an eye towards a looming federal election. Trudeau, speaking at a press conference in Toronto, emphasized that while his government cannot directly control prices, it aims to alleviate economic pressures by providing financial relief. Canadians who worked in 2023 and earned up to 150,000 Canadian dollars are set to receive a check of 250 Canadian dollars. The relief efforts are aimed at cushioning the impact of the cost of living for many, including those at higher income brackets. An estimated 18.7 million Canadians stand to benefit from this initiative. The federal sales tax exemption, which runs from December 14 to February 15, encompasses items such as children's clothing, toys, and certain food and beverage categories, along with video game consoles. As Trudeau gears up for the next election, he faces a significant challenge, with current polls showing his Liberal Party trailing behind the Conservatives. (With inputs from agencies.)Greg Gumbel, a legendary fixture in sports broadcasting for more than a half of a century, has died. He was 78. His family confirmed his passing on Friday: “It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel. He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer. Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity. He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten.” The older brother of Bryant Gumbel, Greg Gumbel spent many years with CBS. He spent four years at NBC, from 1994 through 1998. Greg Gumbel also hosted Inside the NFL in 2014. His work extended well beyond the NFL. He called baseball and basketball games as well, and he worked as an Olympics host at NBC. In the attached photo, Gumbel is presenting the Lombardi Trophy to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, after a win in Super Bowl XXX. We extend our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Morgan Rogers’ fourth goal of the season, an Ollie Watkins penalty and Matty Cash’s finish put Villa 3-0 up after 34 minutes. Mikkel Damsgaard pulled one back for Brentford in the second half but the damage had been done as Villa ended their eight-match winless run in all competitions. Emery was relieved to end the unwanted streak but quickly turned his attention to the next fixture against Southampton on Saturday. “We broke a spell of bad results we were having,” the Villa boss said. “We started the first five or 10 minutes not in control of the game but then progressively we controlled. “Today we achieved those three points and it has given us confidence again but even like that it’s not enough. We have to keep going and think about the next match against Southampton on Saturday. “The message was try to focus on each match, try to forget the table. How we can recover confidence and feel comfortable at home. Today was a fantastic match.” Tyrone Mings returned to the starting line-up in the Premier League for the first time since August 2023. Emery admitted it has been a long road back for the 31-year-old and is pleased to have him back. He added: “Mings played in the Champions league but it’s the first time in the league for a year and three months. “I think he played fantastic – he might be tired tomorrow but will be ready for Saturday again. “It was very, very long, the injury he had. His comeback is fantastic for him and everybody, for the doctor and physio and now he’s training everyday.” Brentford fell to a sixth away defeat from seven games and have picked up only a solitary point on the road this season. They have the best home record in the league, with 19 points from seven matches, but they have the joint worst away record. Bees boss Thomas Frank is confident form will improve on the road. He said: “On numbers we can’t argue we are better at home than away, but on numbers it’s a coincidence. I think two of the seven away games have been bad. “The other games we performed well in big spells. I’m confident at the end of the season we will have some wins away from home.” Frank felt Villa should not have been given a penalty when Ethan Pinnock brought Watkins down. He added: “I want to argue the penalty. I don’t think it is (one). I think Ollie kicked back and hit Ethan, yes there is an arm on the shoulder but threshold and all that – but that’s not the reason we lost.”Leinster posted a bloodless bonus-point win over Munster, Luke McGrath, Sam Prendergast, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris all crossing. It was a debilitating outing for Munster who huffed and puffed but were unable to finish off when close to the opposition, their one try coming from Tom Ahern. The Leinster gamble on selecting an almost full-strength side had paid off “I just thought in our last game against Clermont, we looked a little bit jaded perhaps," said Leo Cullen afterwards. READ MORE: What time and TV channel is Connacht v Ulster on today in the URC? READ MORE: Football In The Time Of War - Ukraine's national team carrying huge weight of expectations "That’s obviously easy to say post-event, but it’s difficult in terms of coming off four Test matches and you’re into two big Champions Cup games. “It’s like six Tests in many ways, isn’t it? But anyway, we have come through that. Clermont are an unbelievably nuggety team. You probably saw that if you watched their La Rochelle game at the weekend as well, how they are able to stick in there. “So, I think it was important that they guys got a bit of time to freshen up. The pleasing part is they hit the ground running when they come in on Monday, and you’re seeing guys with really good energy out there. It’s good, I might have to consider that again for them.” Munster coach Ian Costello felt his side's performance was better than the previous game - when they beat Ulster. "Last week, our ball retention was poor and some areas of our attack that are usually strong were off. I know we got four really good tries but we had 30 percent possession. "It was closer to 50 percent tonight and still made errors but I thought our intent was good. You would have seen that we looked to kick early and we looked to turn them, get the crowd into the game. "We put a lot of emphasis on our kick chase and got some great return out of that. "Unlucky that one kick went dead but we had a particular change-up to the way we were playing and I suppose as positive as that was, if we don't convert when we get within five metres of the line against a side like Leinster, then they convert when they're five metres out, that can be immaterial." Cullen admitted team selection had been with the upcoming European game against Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle in mind. That he considered the 'away' game and the 'Munster' unit as good preparation. "We have an unbelievable challenge in the Champions Cup then going up against La Rochelle away, which will be a great test for us. We will see how they are tracking over the next couple of weeks. “Again, going back to what we can control is how we prepare, we’ll go over there and try and give a good account of ourselves.” Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts .OpenAI to partner with military defense tech company

Is it hotter than the sun outside? Wacky weather app bug says it isFILE - Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, speaks during a press briefing at the White House,March 21, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) Patrick Semansky/The Associated Press A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China’s hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of what officials have said is a a limited number of individuals. Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said Friday that officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but that a “large number” were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are “primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. In addition, she said, the government was planning additional actions in coming weeks in response to the hacking campaign, though she did not say what they were. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.

‘A crime has been committed against my son’: Mother seeking charges against shooter in Walnut Street incident

A plan for a 100 percent social housing apartment block at the site of the old Havelock House building in South Belfast has been approved despite over 500 objections being lodged and concerns being raised by the Housing Executive. Controversy has courted the site at Ormeau Road since plans were first put forward to demolish the old UTV building, which was resisted by many locals. In November 2020, Belfast City Council refused an application by Locka Ltd, a subsidiary of Olympian Homes, to demolish the former UTV building on Belfast’s Ormeau Road to develop a 270 apartment residential building with courtyard gardens and 40 car parking spaces. The Havelock House building was demolished this year. READ MORE: Sandy Row traders tell City Hall Boyne Bridge closure has left area “log-jam or ghost town" READ MORE: Belfast City Council sends mixed message to President Elect Trump And at the council’s monthly meeting of its Planning Committee on Tuesday (December 10), elected representatives agreed an application from developer Genova North West Limited, of Banbridge, in conjunction with Clanmil Housing Association for the erection of 104 residential units across two detached blocks, ranging between three and five storeys, at Havelock Place, BT7. The plan will cost around £25 million and the developers say they are hoping to start work early next year. The development would comprise two detached blocks, ranging in height from five storeys along the Ormeau Road elevation, stepping down to three storeys to the rear. The scheme also includes internal courtyard gardens, communal amenity provision and landscaping, 29 car parking spaces within the site to the rear accessed via Ormeau Street, cycle parking and associated works. On a vote at the Planning Committee, 14 voted in favour of the application, from Sinn Féin, the DUP , the SDLP and the UUP, while four voted against from the Alliance Party. The application as listed involved 80 percent “general social housing” and over 55s accommodation, but Sinn Féin successfully proposed the plan would involve 100 percent social housing, after the applicant stated that anything less than 100 percent might result in the plan not being viable. The council received a petition from the Donegall Pass Residents Association objecting to the proposal with 462 signatories, as well as 49 other letters of objection. There were no objections from any of the statutory bodies. The key issues identified in the objections were that the application was the “wrong form” of development and social housing, and that the plan would not result in social regeneration. Objectors also referred to the plans high density, its height and alleged dominance, stating it was an “inappropriate design,” with lack of amenity space and highlighted the privacy impact, loss of light, and overshadowing They also referred to issues of security, anti-social issues, crime, nuisance, noise impact, pollution, and the impact from construction and demolition. The council received a letter from the Housing Executive on the application this week. The council officer at the Planning meeting said: “They confirmed they fully support a mixed tenure scheme of 84 social homes. “They wished to note there is a higher than average social stock in the area (35 percent compared to 26.3 percent) which will increase further with other schemes. There is higher than average private rent (45.1 percent compared to 22.7 percent), while owner occupation is 19.9 percent compared to the Belfast average of 51 percent.” The officer added: “They believe that consideration should be given to intermediate tenures, private for sale, or private for rent. They point out their waiting lists have applicants with different circumstances, different needs, and different levels of points. “They say it is essential that new homes meet a wider variety of housing needs. They don’t anticipate difficulties achieving fully mixed tenures for schemes of the scale proposed. They add a mixed tenure approach is crucial to fulfilling the Belfast Agenda and an ambition to increase city centre living.” Council planning policy states: “100 percent social housing may be deemed to meet the requirements of the policy where this addresses an identified need and is able to contribute towards sustainable and balanced communities.” It adds: “Large areas of mono-tenure social housing are not deemed to deliver sustainable communities.” Sinn Féin Councillor Ryan Murphy proposed the committee follow the recommendation of council officers to approve the application, but with 100 percent social housing. He said: “I think we are in a very bizarre situation, given the general public discourse over the past number of months, whereby NI Water have put in objections to social housing because they lack capacity. “We are in a situation where they can provide (a water connection) in this instance but it is the Housing Executive who are not supportive of the application from what I am reading in the report. “I think it is also absolutely bizarre to just disregard need, when it comes to the provision of housing.”Nonegame 1 results 。

Banks to use AI & machine learning to safeguard customers from financial fraudsPolice arrested a 26-year-old man on Monday in the Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after they say a Pennsylvania McDonald's worker alerted authorities to a customer who resembled the suspected gunman. The suspect, identified by police as Luigi Nicholas Mangione, had a gun believed to be the one used in Wednesday’s attack on Brian Thompson , as well as writings expressing anger at corporate America, police said. Here are some of the latest developments in the ongoing investigation: Mangione was taken into custody at around 9:15 a.m. after police received a tip that he was eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh, police said. People are also reading... Mangione was being held in Pennsylvania on gun charges and will eventually be extradited to New York to face charges in connection with Thompson’s death, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. In addition to a three-page, handwritten document that suggests he harbored “ill will toward corporate America,” Kenny said Mangione also had a ghost gun , a type of weapon that can be assembled at home and is difficult to trace. Officers questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. Officers also found a suppressor, “consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” the commissioner said. He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, Tisch said. Kenny said Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco and that his last known address is in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mangione, who was valedictorian of his Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts also suggest that he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. Some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent people, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have had children attend the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things,” according to a post on the school website. He praised their collective inventiveness and pioneering mindset. Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. A swarm of reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. Luigi Mangione is one of 37 grandchildren of Nick Mangione, according to his obituary. Luigi Mangione's grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes ranging from Catholic organizations to colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione. A spokesman for the lawmaker's office confirmed the relationship Monday. Police said the person who killed Thompson left a hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side at 5:41 a.m. on Wednesday. Just 11 minutes later, he was seen on surveillance video walking back and forth in front of the New York Hilton Midtown, wearing a distinctive backpack. At 6:44 a.m., he shot Thompson at a side entrance to the hotel, fled on foot, then climbed aboard a bicycle and within four minutes had entered Central Park. Another security camera recorded the gunman leaving the park near the American Museum of Natural History at 6:56 a.m. still on the bicycle but without the backpack. After getting in a taxi, he headed north to a bus terminal near the George Washington Bridge, arriving at around 7:30 a.m. From there, the trail of video evidence runs cold. Police have not located video of the suspected shooter exiting the building, leading them to believe he likely took a bus out of town. Police said they are still investigating the path the suspect took to Pennsylvania. “This just happened this morning," Kenny said. "We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore and Cedar Attanasio in New York contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.

Georgia QB Carson Beck to try elbow treatment; P Brett Thorson out for season

South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law

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ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia quarterback Carson Beck was hit on his throwing hand on the final play of an ugly first half, leaving his status uncertain Saturday in the Southeastern Conference championship game against Texas. Beck was hit by outside linebacker Trey Moore, forcing a fumble recovered by Anthony Hill Jr., who then lost the ball on an errant attempt to extend the play with a lateral as time expired. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Stock Market Today: Stocks Shrink From Highs as CPI LoomsGaetz withdraws as Trump's pick for attorney general, averting confirmation battle in the SenateReverend Jesse Jackson sends plea to Biden to pardon his son the same day as Hunter reprieve

The House Ethics Committee finally released its report about allegations against Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida on Monday after Donald Trump’s failed effort to nominate the former congressman as U.S. Attorney General. And while Gaetz has denied allegations that he had sex with a minor, it’s a pretty shocking read all around. From at least 2017 to 2020, Gaetz allegedly paid thousands of dollars for sex with women, as well as a 17-year-old girl. The report also alleges that Gaetz took illegal drugs like cocaine and ecstasy, and accepted a gift trip to the Bahamas that broke congressional rules. Gaetz also helped one of the women he was having sex with to get an expedited passport, falsely telling the State Department that she was one of his constituents, according to the report. Gaetz also allegedly obstructed Congress as the investigation into his behavior was conducted and refused to cooperate as the committee sought to establish whether the congressman had broken ethics rules. It’s unclear whether Gaetz will face state charges over any of the allegations, though the committee no longer has jurisdiction over Gaetz since he resigned his seat, despite winning reelection in November. The congressional report found that based on its investigation, “there was substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible gifts, the provision of special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress.” The report also includes screenshots of text messages from Joel Greenberg, a friend of Gaetz who’s currently serving 11 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor. Greenberg pleaded guilty to several charges in 2022 but denied having sex with any underage girls. The report has a breakdown of how much Gaetz allegedly paid various women from 2017 to 2020, totaling over $60,000, including a former girlfriend who was allegedly involved in some of the activities with sex workers, though the report notes “some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature.” Gaetz did not hand over text messages to the committee, but the report includes some messages from him, presumably obtained through the sex workers he was paying. The texts sometimes refer to “party favors” which the report claims are references to illegal drugs. The committee also details in the report how Gaetz was allegedly introduced to women by Greenberg who found them on the website SeekingArrangement.com, an online dating site now known as just Seeking.com, which specializes in “sugar dating” relationships where a younger woman typically engages with an older man under some kind of steady financial arrangement. Gaetz took to social media after the release of the report to defend himself against the charges in the report. Many Republicans objected to the release of the report, including the chairman of the ethics committee Rep. Michael Guest of Mississippi. Guest wrote for the dissenting members of the committee, insisting they no longer had jurisdiction to release the findings since Gaetz had resigned, an argument that doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. “We believe that operating outside the jurisdictional bounds set forth by House Rules and Committee standards, especially when making public disclosures, is a dangerous departure with potentially catastrophic consequences,” wrote Guest. It’s not clear what could be “dangerous” about releasing a congressional report unless it contained something inaccurate, which Guest doesn’t allege. Congress releases reports about people who’ve never worked as congressmen all the time. The committee simply doesn’t have jurisdiction to punish him anymore. The state and federal authorities, however, do have jurisdiction if they wish to charge him with any of the offenses outlined in the report. There are hundreds of pages included in the appendices, with everything from airline boarding passes and travel itineraries to questionnaires submitted to the committee and text messages between Gaetz and the women he allegedly paid for sex. And some on social media took the opportunity to joke about some of the details in there, including the fact that at least one of the women was flying Spirit Airlines . Whatever the topic, the internet is going to roast you.Officials in Augusta are alerting residents that the Front Street parking lot will be closed as a precaution. The city is under flood watch due to heavy rain forecast for Wednesday. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal Communities across central Maine are bracing for the possibility of flooding Wednesday, nearly a year after a storm brought widespread flood and wind to the region . The National Weather Service in Gray issued a flood watch Tuesday in effect from 1 p.m. Wednesday through 7 a.m. Thursday for much of Maine, including Kennebec and Somerset counties. In Kennebec County and parts of southern and coastal Maine, a wind advisory is also in effect from 4 p.m. Wednesday through 4 p.m. Thursday, threatening the possibility of widespread power outages, according to the weather service. Heavy rain is expected to start Wednesday afternoon, said Michael Cempa, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray. Augusta, Waterville, Farmington and Lewison are all expected to get 2-2.5 inches of rain through Wednesday evening, Cempa said. The rain is expected to taper off Thursday morning but will bring flash flooding conditions across the state. Warm temperatures are expected to melt snowpack and increase river flows, before a cold air mass is expected to slow runoff Thursday, according to the weather service. That could lead to “widespread and potentially significant flooding” in some areas, forecasters said. Meanwhile, winds could gust at 40-50 mph from the midcoast through central Maine, according to the weather service forecast. But forecasters predict this storm is unlikely to bring to the same widespread damage from the powerful wind and rain storm that led to historic flooding last December. “There is more storage for runoff with low stream levels across most of the region than there was last year, this storm will be more progressive, and the snowmelt from the mountains will be less,” weather service meteorologists wrote in a forecast issued Tuesday morning . “However, it is possible that some localized flooding could result in similar impacts, so don’t let your guard down.” Drought-like conditions most of Maine experienced up until recently are also expected to limit flooding impacts, compared to last year’s storm, Cempa said. “We are not expecting as much rain, nor as much snowmelt,” Cempa said Tuesday afternoon. “We think the impact on the rivers might not be as bad, but we still have to look out for flash flooding and road culverts because we are going to get a fair amount of rain in a short period of time.” The Maine Emergency Management Agency said in a news release Tuesday it is monitoring the storm and flooding concerns, also warning that falling tree branches could cause power outages. Due to forecasts for potentially high winds, Central Maine Power Co. has been pre-staging line and tree crews across its service area, spokesperson Jon Breed said. “Our crews are pros and they’ll be ready to get to work for our customers, if there is tree damage or other forms of damage,” Breed said Tuesday. In Somerset County, local emergency management officials were monitoring the latest forecasts Tuesday, but for time being, were playing it by ear, said Mike Smith, the director of the county’s emergency management agency. “I think everybody’s on pins and needles, just wondering if we are looking at what we had last year,” Smith said in a phone call Tuesday afternoon, adding that a storm in December 2022 also led to flooding issues in Somerset County . Smith said he received communication from officials at Brookfield Renewable, which operates several dams on the Kennebec River, that they are preparing for the storm by operating at its lower licensed limit at Wyman Lake, near Moscow. “They’re doing everything they can to keep flows down and to bring it down as low as they possibly can by license,” Smith said. “So hopefully, it will take care of the issue.” But the greatest impacts in the December 2023 storm, Smith said, were from the tributaries that flow into the Kennebec River in Somerset County, including the Carrabassett and Sandy rivers. “The real problem happened at that convergence of the Kennebec and the Carrabassett,” Smith said. Farther south, in Augusta, City Manager Jared Mills said in his weekly update to city councilors that the city’s emergency management team will be prepared and monitoring updates from the National Weather Service for predictions on Kennebec River water levels. He said reports indicate most reservoirs that, when they’re full, feed into the river, are low, and thus will be able to handle some of the additional runoff from the storm. Mills said the city’s public works crews would, in preparation for the rainstorm following on the heels of Tuesday’s snowstorm, make sure catch basins and sluiceways in Augusta are clear and open. Haley Gauvin, the city of Augusta’s director of communications and marketing, said as a precautionary measure the north end of the riverside Front Street parking lot will close at midnight Tuesday. Any vehicles left in the closed area could be towed, at the owner’s expense, she warned. The parking lot often floods when Kennebec River levels rise. Gauvin said immediate flood impacts are not anticipated but the forecast Tuesday predicted significant overnight rainfall continuing through Wednesday. And the combination of rainfall, warmer temperatures, and snowmelt may cause the river to rise later this week. Gauvin said the city would use e-notifications through a citizen alert system and post information on the city’s website and social media platforms. Augusta residents can report issues such as downed trees or power lines to the public safety dispatch center at 626-2370 or public works at 626-2435. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . 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BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts judge dismissed criminal charges Monday against a backer of Karen Read who admitted placing dozens of yellow rubber ducks and fake $100 bills around town in support of Read. Richard Schiffer Jr. had argued in Stoughton District Court that he had a First Amendment right to support the defense theory that Read — into her boyfriend John O’Keefe with her SUV and leaving the Boston police officer to die in a snowstorm — has been framed in the polarizing murder case. Schiffer’s attorney Timothy Bradl said Monday that the judge made the right call by quickly tossing the felony witness intimidation and criminal harassment charges against Schiffer. The ruling comes as another judge decided Monday to push back Read’s retrial to April after was declared in July when jurors couldn’t reach an agreement. Read was facing and two other charges. Her attorneys have argued that other law enforcement officers were responsible for O’Keefe’s death. Regarding Schiffer’s charges, Bradl said, “There wasn’t a leg to stand on.” “Hats off to the judge. He didn’t make everyone wait and ruled from the bench. Everything was completely protected by the First Amendment. This was political speech,” Bradl said. The Norfolk District Attorney’s office declined to comment. Schiffer has said he got the ducks idea after thinking about a defense lawyer’s closing argument that . Alan Jackson told jurors that “if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s a duck.” Schiffer’s actions did not rise to the level of witness intimidation and criminal harassment “nor does his speech, or in this case his written word on fake currency and use of rubber toys, which are afforded the protections of the First Amendment,” Judge Brian Walsh wrote. “It is the view of this Court that the defendant’s conduct and speech, though a rather sophomoric expression of his opinion, is nonetheless protected speech,” he wrote. Walsh concluded the two-page ruling with quotes from Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley, believed to have coined the “walks like a duck” phrase, and Robert McCloskey, author of the children’s book “Make Way For Ducklings.” The defense alleged that O’Keefe was actually killed inside the home of his fellow Boston officer Brian Albert and then dragged outside. They argued that investigators focused on Read because she was who saved them from having to consider law enforcement officers as suspects. Schiffer has been among the dozens of who accuse state and local law enforcement of a widespread cover-up. Their demonstrations have led to confrontations, especially in the town of Canton where the murder happened, between those who support Read and others who believe she is guilty. Schiffer, who owns Canton Fence and has said that he knows practically everyone in town through his contracting work, was accused of placing some of the ducks outside a pizza shop run by Brian Albert’s brother, Canton Selectman Chris Albert. Other ducks appeared in O’Keefe’s neighborhood.

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Quinn Ewers vs Carson Beck in Saturday's SEC Championship gam e between No. 2 Texas and No. 6 Georgia will mark the matchup of quarterbacks who have seen their stock plummet the most this season. Ewers , hailed by many as perhaps the preeminent signal caller in the nation entering the campaign, may not even make it through Saturday's game in favor of talented freshman Arch Manning . The nephew of Payton and Eli Manning is hailed by many as the next great collegiate quarterback. ESPN's August mock draft had Ewers going first overall and Beck following suit with the eighth selection. In CBSSPorts's most recent mock draft , neither was chosen in the first round. Bill Belichick has son to thank for vital experience as North Carolina job emerges Alabama's College Football Playoff ranking blasted by fans, media - 'The rig is in' In Mel Kiper Jr's most recent big board for ESPN , Beck rated as the fourth-best quarterback while Ewers slid all the way to sixth. Colorado's Shadeur Sanders, Miami's Cam Ward, and Alabama's Jalen Milroe topped the list. Ewers missed a few games with injury, but Texas is 11-1 and he hasn't been abjectly terrible. He's thrown for 2,307 yards while completing 67.3% of his passes for a 24-7 touchdown-interception ratio. His quarterback rating has dropped only slightly down to 152 this year after posting a 158.6 mark last year. Manning's at 184 on the year, but that figure is boosted by his performances against non-conference opponents earlier in the campaign. ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum was particularly bullish of the Texas freshman when previewing the SEC Championship this week. He was asked how quickly coach Steve Sarkisian should turn to Manning in Saturday's clash. “I would do it very quickly," he admitted. "Ewers is banged up and remember a couple of months ago he came back from a [similar] situation and struggled against Georgia? They lost that game." "Arch Manning is one of the best players in the country that we just haven’t seen very much of, so I wouldn’t wait. It’s a critical game because if Texas loses this, they have to sit around and wait on the CFP. And you never want to depend on a thirteen-person committee to decide your fate.” Beck has thrown for 3,429 yards this season and completed 65.1% of his passes. His quarterback rating has dropped from 167.9 to 147.0 for the 10-2 Bulldogs. He played well last week in a narrow overtime victory over Georgia Tech, completing 28 of 43 passing for 297 yards and five touchdowns.

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The NRL will not allow Ezra Mam to serve part of his proposed nine-game ban in the pre-season All-Stars clash, meaning the entire suspension must be taken with Brisbane. Mam was sent an NRL breach notice on Monday for bringing both the game and Broncos into disrepute, after his high-profile driving charges in October. AAP has been told that part of the breach notice rules Mam out for the first third of the NRL season. He has five business days to respond, meaning he can wait until the new year to decide if he wants to challenge the suspension. Players can ordinarily apply to have representative matches counted towards bans, including the pre-season All-Stars fixture. Both Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr currently have applications in with the NRL to do precisely that, as a result of their current bans relating to off-field matters. Mam would ordinarily be eligible to play in the All-Stars match, as one of the game's highest-profile Indigenous players. But it is understood he will not have the ability to count the game to his ban, with the five-eighth having never previously featured in the representative fixture. It means that if he does accept the ban, Mam will be unable to return for Brisbane's Magic Round clash with Penrith. Instead, he will have to wait another week to come back against South Sydney in round 10 on May 9 at Accor Stadium. Mam's ban looms as his most significant punishment for crossing onto the wrong side of the road and causing a head-on crash in October, while driving unlicensed on a cocktail of drugs. The 22-year-old was subsequently fined $850 in Brisbane Magistrates Court last Monday, and had his license suspended for nine months. Mam's legal punishment has been heavily criticised as too lenient, with Queensland's deputy premier labelling it as "a slap on the wrist". On the field, the playmaker's looming ban increased the importance of Ben Hunt's signing at the Broncos. Hunt will now likely partner Adam Reynolds in the halves for the opening two months of the season. It is then possible he could revert to hooker after that, if both Reynolds and Mam are fit, sharing the dummy-half duties with Billy Walters. Mam's absence does loom as a blow to Brisbane as they attempt to return to their best under Michael Maguire. The No.6 was the Dally M five-eighth of the year in 2023, with his hat-trick in that year's grand final marking one of the greatest ever performances in a losing team. But like the rest of the Broncos team he was unable to recapture his best on a consistent basis in 2024, as Brisbane slumped to 12th on the ladder and coach Kevin Walters was axed. Mam has since issued a public apology over the driving charges, which have headlined an unsavoury off-season at the club.None

Mayor inaugurates newly constructed KPC lawn named after his parents Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab inaugurated the newly constructed lawn at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday. During the inauguration ceremony, he said that the Karachi Press Club is a historical heritage and that we must all work together to preserve it. He said the press club has always played a vital role in promoting democracy and upholding democratic traditions. Even today, this institution serves as the voice of the oppressed, where political and non-political parties raise their voices for their rights. Reflecting on his personal connection, Mayor Wahab noted, “I come from a journalistic family, and today, one of your colleagues, Wahab Siddiqui’s son, serves as the mayor of Karachi.” He shared these sentiments during the inauguration of the newly constructed lawn at the Karachi Press Club alongside his brothers, Ali Wahab Siddiqui and Saad Wahab Siddiqui. The lawn has been named after the mayor’s parents, Wahab Siddiqui and Fauzia Wahab. Fauzia Wahab was a renowned politician and former member of the National Assembly. On this occasion, prominent attendees included the president of the Karachi Press Club, Saeed Sarbazi, Secretary Shoaib Ahmed, Joint Secretary Muhammad Moonis, Senior Director of Media Management KMC Ali Hassan Sajid, along with other officials, governing body members, and a large number of press club members. During the event, Mayor Wahab was awarded honorary membership of the Karachi Press Club. He reflected on his father’s legacy: “In 1975, my father became a member here, and this platform significantly contributed to his career progression. Our connection with the club remained intact even after his passing, as my mother and I would often come here to distribute press releases.” The mayor pledged continued support to the journalist community, expressing his commitment to serving the city and its people and gratitude for the opportunity bestowed upon him. He added, “It is a great honour for me that the Press Club has named the lawn after my parents.” Mayor Wahab further shared that upon learning about plans to construct the lawn, he decided, along with his brothers, to fund the project entirely at their own expense. “Today, that dream has been realised,” he said. He emphasised that journalists spend more time at the club than at home, and providing them with the best facilities is essential. He acknowledged the responsible nature of their profession and noted that the Press Club serves as a vital space for them to unwind after fulfilling their duties. During the ceremony, KPC President Saeed Sarbazi warmly welcomed the mayor, stating that the connection between the mayor’s family and the Press Club is a source of pride for the institution. He remarked that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has always supported the Press Club, and the mayor continues this tradition. Secretary Shoaib Ahmed expressed gratitude on behalf of the club’s members, noting that the lawn renovation was a long-held dream the mayor had taken responsibility for and brought to fruition. “On behalf of the members of the Karachi Press Club, I thank Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab for creating such a beautiful and attractive lawn for us,” he said. Towards the end of the event, Wahab presented commemorative shields to Director Parks Nadeem Hanif, Manager KPC Aqeel Ahmed, and others, including Adnan, Shah Murad, Mali Imran, and Nadeem Ashraf.Elon Musk calls Trudeau ‘insufferable’ after remark on Kamala Harris defeat

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Britain, France and Germany have told the United Nations Security Council that they are ready - if necessary - to trigger a so-called "snap back" of all international sanctions on Iran to prevent the country from acquiring a nuclear weapon. They will lose the ability to take such action on Oct. 18 next year when a 2015 U.N. resolution expires. The resolution enshrines Iran's deal with Britain, Germany, France, the United States, Russia and China that lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program. Iran is "dramatically" accelerating enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% level that is weapons grade, the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief told Reuters last week. The move comes as Iran has suffered a series of strategic setbacks, including Israel's assault on Tehran's proxy militias Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon and the ouster of Iranian ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Western states say there is no need to enrich uranium to such a high level under any civilian program and that no other country has done so without producing nuclear bombs. Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons. "Iran must deescalate its nuclear program to create the political environment conducive to meaningful progress and a negotiated solution," the U.N. ambassadors of Britain, Germany and France wrote in a Dec. 6 letter to the Security Council. "We reiterate our determination to use all diplomatic tools to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, including using snap back if necessary," they said. The communication was in response to letters earlier last week from Russia and Iran, which followed an initial note to the council by Britain, Germany and France on Nov. 27. Russia and Iran also then followed up with further letters this week. The tit-for-tat letters came as European and Iranian diplomats met late last month to discuss whether they can work to defuse regional tensions, including over Tehran's nuclear program, before Donald Trump's return to the White House. During his first term, Trump quit the nuclear deal in 2018. In a letter to the council on Monday, Iran's U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani urged the Europeans to "abandon their ineffective and failed policy of pressure and confrontation," saying they "should embrace diplomacy and focus on rebuilding the trust essential to resolving the current impasse." The European parties to the Iran nuclear deal have adopted a tougher stance on Iran in recent months, notably since Tehran ramped up its military support to Russia for its war in Ukraine. Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia - in a Tuesday letter - said Britain, Germany and France had no right to invoke the "snap back" of sanctions and that it was irresponsible of them to suggest the possibility of using the "snap back" mechanism. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres submitted his biannual report to the Security Council on the implementation of the 2015 resolution on Tuesday, warning there was a "critical need for a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue" given the deteriorating situation across the Middle East. The "snap back" of international sanctions on Iran would require Iran to suspend all nuclear enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, and ban imports of anything that could contribute to those activities or developing nuclear arms delivery systems. It would also reimpose a conventional arms embargo, ban Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and revive targeted sanctions on dozens of individuals and entities. Countries also would be urged to inspect shipments to and from Iran and authorized to seize any banned cargo. Sign up here. Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabAnother person has been caught being stupid around national park wildlife

Bag Charms Are Dominating Celebrity Street Style — These 17 Make the Perfect Holiday GiftTORONTO — Canada's main stock index pushed higher to end Monday up almost 150 points on light trading action, while U.S. stock markets also gained ahead of the Christmas break. "Today is a quiet pre-Christmas Day of trading," said Kevin Burkett, a portfolio manager at Victoria, B.C.-based Burkett Asset Management. While markets in both Canada and the U.S. were mild, Burkett suggests watching the markets closely during the holiday season, a contrast to what's typically a sleepy period for markets. "We're continuing to watch markets very closely here because you've got some tectonic plate shifting in terms of the macroeconomic backdrop," he said. "It's all the political conversations both in Canada and in the U.S." Burkett added fiscal policy seems to be disconnected from monetary policy in the post-pandemic period. "The fiscal policy may shift and that shift absolutely has market implications both in the short and long term," he said. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 149.50 points at 24,748.98. Statistics Canada released its latest numbers on Canada's economic growth, up 0.3 per cent in October — driven by the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector. The loonie continued its slide, trading for 69.47 cents US compared with 69.61 cents US on Friday. The telecom sector was the biggest loser at the closing on TSX, which Burkett attributed to "tax loss selling happening at the end of the year." Competition Bureau Canada announced on Monday it was suing Rogers Communications Inc. for allegedly making misleading claims about its infinite wireless plans. The stock price for Rogers, which is hovering near 52-week lows, fell 0.7 per cent on Monday. Meanwhile, BCE was down almost 1.4 per cent and Telus dropped 0.9 per cent. Burkett suggested the day's poor performance among telecom companies was likely tax loss selling since it's almost the end of the year. "It's been a tough year for the communication services sector," he said. South of the border, communications services was the top-performing sector, led by large-cap tech companies. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 66.69 points at 42,906.95. The S&P 500 index was up 43.22 points at 5,974.07, while the Nasdaq composite was up 192.29 points at 19,764.89. The February crude oil contract was down 22 cents at US$69.24 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was down six cents at US$3.35 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$16.90 at US$2,628.20 an ounce and the March copper contract was down one cent at US$4.09 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX: GSPTSE, TSX: CADUSD, TSE: BCE, TSE: RCI. B) Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press

Some holders of occupancy rights (HOR) of Old Grant Bungalows (OGB), allegedly bought by private persons, have reportedly fenced the properties and gained access to their sealed vast plots. The OGB illegal sale was under the scanner of the then Defence Estates Director, Southern Command, who was shifted out of his position to Eastern Kolkata after he brought to light irregularities related to transfer and illegal sale of old grand bungalows in Pune Cantonment Area. A visit to the OGB populated areas revealed barbed wire fencing, extension of old fences and erection of boundary poles with the aim of securing vacant bungalows and prime plots, allegedly overlooked by the offices of cantonment administration and Director General of Defence Estates (DGDE). The official notice with seals along with signatures of DGDE officials fixed on many OBGs during the tenure of the then Defence Estates Director, Southern Command Saurav Ray, have been found torn in some properties. The HORs have been found to have placed surveillance cameras covering the defence properties. Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) chief executive officer Subrat Pal could not be reached for comments, while the Defence Estates Office did not respond to several phone calls requesting comment. The drive against illegal and unauthorised sale of defence bungalows was initiated by the directorate under the direction of the Defence Estates Director Southern Command on a mission mode where Ray ordered crackdown against unauthorised sale of defence bungalow properties to builders, high networth individuals and influential personalities over the past decades and directed probe to reclaim defence properties lost to landsharks. The Defence Estates Office (DEO) of Pune Circle in January 2024 had sealed an Old Grant Bungalow spread on 0.69 acres of prime defence land worth about ₹ 50 crore on Napier Road as the Holder of Occupancy Rights (HORs) did not take mandatory permission from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to mutate the property and sold it to real estate developers. The Pune Cantonment Board has 300 OGBs and its Khadki counterpart has 60 bungalow properties. The DEO Office on January 12, 2024 sealed two bungalows — OGB number 15 spread over 2 acres on Staveley Road and Bungalow number 22 on Napier Road — in Pune Cantonment Area. The Southern Command’s Defence Estates Department, in the last week of December 2023, ordered the Defence Estates Officer (DEO) Pune to take over the New Club (Poona) Ltd in the cantonment area due to non-payment of ₹ 17 crore and lease expiry. The DEO office had charged that the club was running a restaurant, liquor bar and a marriage and party lawn illegally. Though the army had objected to the renewal of the club lease, no action was being taken by the principal director, Southern Command and the club management was still collecting ₹ 2,50,000 from new members despite the lease expiry, the internal inquiry reported. Cantonment-based social worker Rajabhau Chavan said, “The OGB’s are being illegally fenced, and additional construction is being carried out without any fear of law. There is no action taken against the illegalities taking place inside such prime defence properties. We demand an inquiry and strict action against violators related to the case.”

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Toll Brothers Announces Cash DividendDuring her long-lasting career, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once stated, “Everyone, with the exception of the Black woman herself, has been interpreting the Black woman.” Now, Dr. Zinga Fraser , assistant professor at Brooklyn College , City University of New York and the director of the Shirley Chisholm Project of Brooklyn Women’s Activism, has amplified the story of trailblazer Chisholm in her new book, Shirley Chisholm In Her Own Words , which was released on Oct. 8 from University of California Press. Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, representing New York’s 12th congressional district that includes Bedford Stuyvesant. She is also known for being the first Black woman to seek a major party's nomination for President of the United States, and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s nomination. The book is a collection of Chisholm’s most popular speeches and writings over the span of her 20-year career in the House of Representatives and beyond. It lays out Chisholm’s work as a Black feminist on topics like police brutality, abortion and civil rights for marginalized groups. As we approach her centennial birthday on Nov. 30, 2024, studying Chisholm's work can be a roadmap for understanding our current state of democracy, Dr. Fraser said. It also begs the question of whether society has truly progressed since her time. On the issue of reproductive rights, for example, Dr. Fraser said that Chisholm understood that the discussion went beyond the right to have access to an abortion. Instead, it was more so about reproductive justice and women’s right to choose, she said. Now, the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 by the U.S. Supreme Court has left young girls and women with fewer rights than during the era of Chisholm. “All of the chapters throughout the book really showed Chisholm being a visionary in the ways in which she viewed the world,” said Dr. Fraser. “Students think, ‘Oh, that was, you know, 30 years ago or 50 years ago, and it's not as relevant.’ No, it's actually more relevant than when she was talking about.” Chisholm announced her run for the Democratic Party’s nomination in 1972 in Brooklyn against the presumed Republican nominee Richard Nixon. Though the book was written before President Joe Biden conceded and Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee, readers can see many parallels in how Chisholm and Harris' campaigns were run. In addition to both nominees identifying as Black women, Harris and Chisholm ran during high civil, economic and political stress, Dr. Fraser noted. Beyond highlighting Chisholm’s historic firsts, Dr. Fraser said she wants people to understand that she was an extremely savvy strategist and her stance during the political climate at that time is something to be revered. “The most important thing I want people to take away is the important role Chisholm played intellectually and politically in our country,” said Fraser. “Chisholm wasn't just a first or a symbol, she was a strategist. She was an intellectual. She was very thoughtful in the ways that she approached legislation, and that in many ways, she was a visionary."

The mystery of exactly how people left Africa deepens I n 2010 researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology ( EVA ), in Leipzig, published the genome of Homo neanderthalensis , a species known in less progressive days as Neanderthal man. This contained stretches of DNA also found in Homo sapiens genomes—specifically, non-African ones. That suggested past interbreeding between the two, but only outside Africa. This is not surprising. Homo sapiens began in Africa but Neanderthals were Eurasian. Any miscegenation would have happened after sapiens left its homeland to embark on its conquest of the world. But the details were unclear. This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Mystery story” Science & technology December 14th 2024 Machine translation is almost a solved problem AI can bring back a person’s own voice Carbon emissions from tourism are rising disproportionately fast Humans and Neanderthals met often, but only one event matters Why China is building a Starlink system of its own From the December 14th 2024 edition Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents Discover more Machine translation is almost a solved problem But interpreting meanings, rather than just words and sentences, will be a daunting task AI can bring back a person’s own voice And it can generate sentences trained on their own writing Carbon emissions from tourism are rising disproportionately fast The industry is failing to make itself greener Why China is building a Starlink system of its own When it is finished, Qianfan could number 14,000 satellites, rivalling Elon Musk’s system Lots of hunting. Not much gathering. The diet of early Americans What they ate is given away by the isotopes in their bodies Stimulating parts of the brain can help the paralysed to walk again Implanted electrodes allowed one man to climb stairs unaided

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Matt Gaetz says he won't return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney generalWASHINGTON (AP) — Former Rep. Matt Gaetz said Friday that he will not be returning to Congress after withdrawing his name from consideration to be attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump amid growing allegations of sexual misconduct. “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress,” Gaetz told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, adding that he has “some other goals in life that I’m eager to pursue with my wife and my family.” The announcement comes a day after Gaetz, a Florida Republican, stepped aside from the Cabinet nomination process amid growing fallout from federal and House Ethics investigations that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. The 42-year-old has vehemently denied the allegations against him. Gaetz's nomination as attorney general had stunned many career lawyers inside the Justice Department, but reflected Trump's desire to place a loyalist in a department he has marked for retribution following the criminal cases against him. Hours after Gaetz withdrew, Trump nominated Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, who would come to the job with years of legal work under her belt and that other trait Trump prizes above all: loyalty. It's unclear what's next for Gaetz, who is no longer a member of the House. He surprised colleagues by resigning from Congress the same day that Trump nominated him for attorney general. Some speculated he could still be sworn into office for another two-year term on Jan. 3, given that he had just won reelection earlier this month. But Gaetz, who has been in state and national politics for 14 years, said he's done with Congress. “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress," he said.It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. "The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more," Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction." In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation, did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist "saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities." But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's "decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable." A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug "then entered the market through illegal channels," he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles," Li said. "The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice." This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. "Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated," he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. "It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. "Which clearly it has not." Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad oversaw a merciless crackdown on a pro-democracy revolt that morphed into one of the bloodiest wars of the century. After facing down nationwide protests demanding his ouster and an armed rebellion that he all but crushed, he had until this month taken back control of much of Syria in the civil war that began in 2011. Quiet in his demeanour, Assad is a political survivor who for years excelled in his alliance-building with Russia and Iran, and who knew just how to present himself as Syria's only viable leader in the face of the Islamist threat. But since November 27, an Islamist-led rebel offensive has wrested from Assad's control city after city, including Aleppo and Hama for the first time since 2011, leaving his grip on power severely under threat. Assad has cast himself as the protector of Syria's minorities, a bulwark against extremism and the sole possible purveyor of stability for the war-ravaged country. In multiple votes held over the years, conducted solely on government-held territory, he has taken the vast majority of the ballots, amid accusations from Western countries that the wartime elections were neither free nor fair. In appearance, whether in person or in the many portraits of him in the capital Damascus, Assad has typically eschewed military garb, opting instead for a sharp-cut business suit and sober tie. In official meetings, during interviews and even on the frontlines, the 59-year-old ophthalmologist by training conducts himself calmly and can almost appear timid. Behind the facade, however, is an astonishing ability to hold onto power amid multiple waves of violence and transformative change in Syria and the wider region. One journalist, who met with Assad on several occasions before and after war broke out in 2011, told AFP the president is a "unique and complex figure". "Each time I met him he was calm... even during the most difficult moments of the war," said the journalist, who declined to be named. Assad has "the same qualities" as his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly three decades until his death in 2000, the journalist said. "In politics, it's important to know how to shuffle cards, not just how to arrange them," he added. "Assad has mastered the shuffling game." Hafez al-Assad, head of the Syrian Baath Party, imposed in the country a secretive, paranoid regime where even the slightest suspicion of dissent could land one in jail or worse. Bashar al-Assad was never meant to become president, but his life changed radically when his older brother Bassel, who was being groomed to inherit power, was killed in a road accident in 1994. Bashar quit his studies in ophthalmology and left London, where he had met his wife, Asma, a British-Syrian and Sunni Muslim who worked for financial services firm JP Morgan. Back home, he took a course in military studies and was tutored in politics by his father. When the latter died, Bashar became president by referendum, running unopposed, then winning a second term in 2007. Sworn in at the age of 34, Assad was widely seen by Syrians pining for freedoms as a reformer, who could do away with years of repression and introduce economic liberalisation. In the early days, Assad would be seen driving his own car or having dinner at restaurants with his wife. He relaxed some of the heavy restrictions that existed under his father. But his initial image as a reformer quickly evaporated as authorities arrested and jailed academics, intellectuals and other members of what was then known as the Damascus Spring movement. When the Arab Spring reached Syria in March 2011, peaceful demonstrations broke out calling for change. Assad, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces, responded by ordering a brutal crackdown on the protesters and civil war swiftly ensued. Throughout the war, which has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced half the population, Assad's position has not changed. He has been the subject of countless cartoons by dissident artists depicting him as a killer, not least in the aftermath of the 2013 chemical attacks on rebel bastions around Damascus. A Syrian researcher in Damascus, who asked to speak anonymously over security concerns, said: "Assad's personality played an undeniable role in his survival." His "persistence and rigour" were especially important in helping him "consolidate decision-making powers, and secure the army's full support", he added. Throughout the war, Assad has enjoyed military backing from staunch allies Iran and Russia, who helped him score a string of military victories. Since the start of the Islamist-led rebel offensive on November 27, Assad has echoed his long-held stance that the conflict in Syria is machinated from abroad. "The terrorist escalation reflects the far-reaching goals of dividing the region and fragmenting the countries in it and redraw the map in line with the objectives of the United States and the West," Assad said on Monday. He is the father of three children. His wife, Asma, was dubbed a "rose in the desert" by Vogue magazine before the revolt. bur/ser/jhbFurthermore, Incremental Policy 2.0 has the potential to unlock new sources of growth and prosperity by targeting key sectors and industries with high growth potential. By aligning policies with strategic priorities such as sustainability, digitalization, and inclusive growth, governments can create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and for economies to flourish.

In conclusion, the energy storage industry is poised for significant growth and development in the coming years. By promoting a culture of collaboration, sustainability, and innovation, industry players can pave the way for a healthy competitive environment that benefits both companies and the planet. Together, we can harness the power of energy storage to create a cleaner, greener future for generations to come.In the fast-paced world of football, there is never a dull moment. As the year comes to a close, the football community is abuzz with the latest updates and developments from the pitch. In a surprising turn of events, the annual best team has been announced, with several notable changes and controversies making headlines.

In conclusion, JD Airlines' decision to join the IATA and expand its flight routes to South Korea and multiple Southeast Asian countries is a significant milestone that highlights the airline's commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction. With these new developments in place, travelers can expect greater convenience, accessibility, and connectivity when traveling with JD Airlines, solidifying its position as a leading player in the global aviation industry. So, pack your bags, book your tickets, and get ready to embark on your next unforgettable journey with JD Airlines.

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Moreover, the meeting highlighted the importance of fostering a more open and inclusive economic environment. This involves further opening up the market, attracting foreign investment, and promoting international cooperation to drive economic growth and facilitate global trade.Day after day, month after month, year after year, the couple toiled tirelessly in their makeshift kitchen, experimenting with different recipes, refining their techniques, and honing their culinary skills. They faced countless challenges and setbacks along the way - from mastering the art of radish preparation to perfecting the ideal meatball-to-radish ratio - but through it all, they never wavered in their resolve. Failure was not an option, for they were fueled by a belief that their hard work and dedication would eventually pay off.

Silicon metal tapped to replace graphite in electric vehicle battery anodesUNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The team looking for a missing Pennsylvania woman believed to have fallen into a sinkhole has determined that an abandoned coal mine is too unstable for people to safely search underground, authorities said Wednesday while still expressing hope Elizabeth Pollard will be found alive. Rescue workers continue to search for Elizabeth Pollard, who is believed to have disappeared in a sinkhole while looking for her cat, Wednesday in Marguerite, Pa. Emergency crews and others have been trying to find Pollard, 64, for two days. Her relatives reported her missing early Tuesday and her vehicle with her unharmed 5-year-old granddaughter inside was found about two hours later, near what is thought to be a freshly opened sinkhole above the long closed, crumbling mine. Authorities said in a noon update that the roof of the mine collapsed in several places and is not stable. The sinkhole is in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. “We did get, you know, where we wanted, where we thought that she was at. We’ve been to that spot," said Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha, the incident's operations officer. “What happened at that point, I don’t know, maybe the slurry of mud pushed her one direction. There were several different seams of that mine, shafts that all came together where this happened at.” Trooper Cliff Greenfield said crews were still actively searching for Pollard. “We are hopeful that she’s found alive,” Greenfield said. Searchers were using electronic devices and cameras as surface digging continued with the use of heavy equipment, Bacha said. Search dogs may also be used. Rescue workers search through the night in a sinkhole for Elizabeth Pollard, who disappeared while looking for her cat, Tuesday in Marguerite, Pa. On Wednesday afternoon, machinery was removing material from the area around the hole while police and other government vehicles blocked a clear view of the scene. Sinkholes occur in the area because of subsidence from coal mining activity. Rescuers had been using water to break down and remove clay and dirt from the mine, which has been closed since the 1950s, but that increased the risk “for potential other mine subsidence to take place," Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said. Crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole, but it detected nothing. Another camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe about 30 feet below the surface, Limani said. Searchers have also deployed drones and thermal imaging equipment, to no avail. Marguerite Fire Chief Scot Graham, the incident commander, said access to the immediate area surrounding the hole was being tightly controlled and monitored, with rescuers attached by harness. The top of a sinkhole is seen Tuesday in the village of Marguerite, Pa., where rescuers searched for a woman who disappeared. “We cannot judge as to what’s going on underneath us. Again, you had a small hole on top but as soon as you stuck a camera down through to look, you had this big void,” Graham said. “And it was all different depths. The process is long, is tedious. We have to make sure that we are keeping safety in the forefront as well as the rescue effort.” Bacha said they were “hoping that there’s a void that she could still be in.” Pollard's family called police at about 1 a.m. Tuesday to say she had not been seen since going out at about 5 p.m. Monday to search for Pepper, her cat. The temperature dropped well below freezing that night. Her son, Axel Hayes, said Pollard is a happy woman who likes going out to have fun. She and her husband adopted Hayes and his twin brother when they were infants. Hayes called Pollard “a great person overall, a great mother” who “never really did anybody wrong.” He said at one point Pollard had about 10 cats. “Every cat that she’s ever come in contact with, she has a close bond with them,” Hayes said. His mother worked for many years at Walmart but recently was not employed, he said. “I’m just hoping right now that she’s still with us and she’s able to come back to us,” he said. Police said they found Pollard's car parked behind Monday's Union Restaurant in Marguerite, about 20 feet from the sinkhole. Hunters and restaurant workers in the area said they had not noticed the manhole-size opening in the hours before Pollard disappeared, leading rescuers to speculate that the sinkhole was new. “It almost feels like it opened up with her standing on top of it,” Limani said. Searchers accessed the mine late Tuesday afternoon and dug a separate entrance out of concern that the ground around the sinkhole opening was not stable. “Let’s be honest, we need to get a little bit lucky, right?” Limani said Wednesday. “We need a little bit of luck on our side. We need a little bit of God’s good blessing on our side.” Pollard lives in a small neighborhood across the street from where her car and granddaughter were located, Limani said. The young girl “nodded off in the car and woke up. Grandma never came back," Limani said. The child stayed in the car until two troopers rescued her. It's not clear what happened to Pepper. In an era of rapid technological advancement and environmental change, American agriculture is undergoing a revolution that reaches far beyond the farm gate. From the food on consumer plates to the economic health of rural communities, the transformation of U.S. farming practices is reshaping the nation's landscape in ways both visible and hidden. LandTrust explores how these changes impact everyone, whether they live in the heartland or the heart of the city. The image of the small family farm, while still a reality for many, is increasingly giving way to larger, more technologically advanced operations. According to the USDA, the number of farms in the U.S. has fallen from 6.8 million in 1935 to about 2 million today, with the average farm size growing from 155 acres to 444 acres. This shift has profound implications for rural communities and the food system as a whole. Despite these changes, diversity in farming practices is on the rise. A landmark study published in Science , involving data from over 2,000 farms across 11 countries, found that diversifying farmland simultaneously delivers environmental and social benefits. This challenges the longstanding idea that practices boosting biodiversity must come at a cost to yields and food security. The adoption of precision agriculture technologies is transforming how farmers manage their land and resources. GPS-guided tractors, drone surveillance, and AI-powered crop management systems are becoming commonplace on many farms. These technologies allow farmers to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides with pinpoint accuracy, reducing waste and environmental impact while improving yields. However, the digital divide remains a challenge. More than 22% of rural communities lack reliable broadband internet access, hindering the widespread implementation of AI and other advanced technologies in agriculture. While technology offers new opportunities, farmers are also facing significant economic challenges. The USDA's 2024 farm income forecast projects a 4.4% decline in net farm income from 2023, following a sharp 19.5% drop from 2022 to 2023. This financial pressure is compounded by rising production costs and market volatility. Climate variability adds another layer of complexity. Extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, and shifting growing seasons are forcing farmers to adapt quickly. These factors could reduce agricultural productivity by up to 25% over the coming decades without significant adaptation measures. But adapting requires additional financial resources, further straining farm profitability. In the face of these challenges, many farmers are turning to diversification as a strategy for resilience and profitability. The Science study mentioned earlier found that farms integrating several diversification methods supported more biodiversity while seeing simultaneous increases in human well-being and food security. Agritourism is one popular diversification strategy. In 2022, 28,600 U.S. farms reported agritourism income, averaging gross revenue of $44,000 from these activities. Activities like farm tours, pick-your-own operations, and seasonal festivals not only provide additional income but also foster a deeper connection between consumers and agriculture. The changing face of agriculture is directly impacting consumers. The rise of farm-to-table and local food movements reflects a growing interest in where our food comes from and how it's produced. If every U.S. household spent just $10 per week on locally grown food, it would generate billions of dollars for local economies. However, the larger challenges in agriculture can also lead to price fluctuations at the grocery store. The USDA's Economic Research Service projects that food-at-home prices will increase between 1.2% and 2.2% in 2024. Looking ahead, several innovations are poised to reshape agriculture: The transformation of American agriculture affects everyone, from the food we eat to the health of our environment and rural communities. Consumers have the power to support sustainable and diverse farming practices through our purchasing decisions. As citizens, they can advocate for policies that support farmers in adopting innovative and sustainable practices. The challenges facing agriculture are complex, but they also present opportunities for innovation and positive change. By understanding and engaging with these issues, everyone can play a part in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system for the future. This story was produced by LandTrust and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Pony, a popular beauty influencer and makeup artist, has built a massive following online with her exceptional skills and engaging personality. However, it was not just her makeup tutorials that garnered attention, but also her reputation for fairness and integrity in the beauty community.

The ripple effects of these price increases are being felt across various sectors, from transportation and logistics to manufacturing and consumer goods. Rising oil prices typically result in higher costs for businesses, which can lead to inflationary pressures and ultimately impact consumer spending patterns. This interplay between oil prices and economic indicators underscores the interconnected nature of global markets and the importance of closely monitoring developments in the energy sector.Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems

Paris Hilton's 5 Daily Must Haves, From a Pink Air Fryer to a $13 Face MaskNotable quotes by Jimmy CarterIs your Thanksgiving turkey safe to eat? As poultry farms and dairies across California continue to battle bird flu outbreaks, residents may be worried about food safety this holiday season. Highly pathogenic avian influenza surfaced in the United States in January 2022, the virus has been detected in wild birds and domestic poultry, according to the Fresno Bee’s previous reporting. As of Nov. 18, a total of 294 dairies in California were due to the avian flu, state agriculture officials confirmed. More than 4 million turkeys and chickens have been killed at poultry ranches across the state in an attempt to stop the virus from spreading. Meanwhile, the bird flu virus was from Raw Farm in Fresno County, the California Department of Public Health reported. The Fresno Bee talked to María Soledad, a food safety inspection service spokeswoman at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to learn more about the virus and how it affects food safety. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, — also known as bird flu or H5N1 — is a highly contagious and often deadly disease primarily found in poultry. It is “caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5) and A (H7) viruses,” the agency said on its website. HPAI can spread from wild birds to domestic poultry and other animals. The virus can also infect humans in rare cases. “It is important to note that ‘highly pathogenic’ refers to severe impact in birds, not necessarily in humans,” the agency said. Unlike seasonal influenza viruses, which are typically contracted through human-to-human transmission, avian through saliva, mucus and feces, according to the CDC. The virus can also be present in the respiratory secretions, organs, blood, or body fluids of other infected animals — including milk. Human infections occur when the virus enters the eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled through airborne droplets, aerosol particles or dust. It can also be transmitted by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face. “Illness in humans from avian influenza virus infections have ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death,” the CDC said. “Consumers can safely enjoy turkey this holiday season,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration wrote in an email to The Bee, noting that food safety inspectors examine turkeys for disease “before and after slaughter.” That includes your Thanksgiving bird. “The turkeys from farms with confirmed avian influenza don’t even get sent to slaughter,” Soledad said. “They are destroyed on premises.” During an avian flu outbreak, “The chance of infected poultry or eggs is low,” the FDA said on its website in April, “because of the rapid onset of symptoms in poultry as well as the safeguards in place, which include testing of flocks and federal inspection programs.” “When food is properly prepared and stored, the risk of consumers becoming infected with HPAI is reduced even further,” the FDA said. UC Davis professor Linda J. Harris, who focuses on microbial food safety, says you should prepare your Thanksgiving turkey using four essential steps: cook, chill and separate. You can watch the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s for tips on how to prepare a turkey the safe way, or check out the developed by the Partnership for Food Safety Education, a nonprofit organization that works to reduce food-borne illness risks. According to the USDA, any traces of highly pathogenic avian influenza in your turkey are inactivated when food reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. The USDA recommends following this rule anytime you’re preparing raw poultry, including chicken. On its , the USDA has videos and information including calculators that help you determine the appropriate amount of time to thaw and cook your turkey. “Simply select your turkey’s weight, along with your preferred thawing and cooking methods, and you’ll immediately receive guidance on how to safely prepare your turkey this Thanksgiving!’ USDA congressional public affairs specialist Maria Machuca wrote in an email to The Bee. “There is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared food,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on its website. and other dairy products are safe to consume and cook with, according to Hebah Ghanem, infectious disease specialist at University of California San Francisco, Fresno. “The most important thing that it has to be pasteurized, because the virus is killed with heat,” Ghanem told The Bee. “Pasteurization of milk was adopted decades ago as a basic public health measure to kill dangerous bacteria and largely eliminate the risk of getting sick,” the FDA said on its website. All egg products are pasteurized as required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “This means that they have been rapidly heated and held at a minimum required temperature for a specified time to destroy bacteria,” the agency said. However, eggs that are still in their shells aren’t required to be pasteurized, leading to potential health risks if eaten raw or uncooked. According to the CDC, in humans may include: California dairy workers have experienced mild flu-like symptoms, The Bee previously reported. “All the cases that we have here in California are very mild,” Ghanem told the Fresno Bee in October. “They haven’t needed hospitalization.” To prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, people should avoid exposure to dead animals, Ghanem said in October. That includes wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds and cows. People should also avoid exposure to animal feces as well as fluids. Here are other tips from Ghanem: ©2024 The Sacramento Bee. Visit at sacbee.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.gaming board jobs 。

3 Americans held for years in China have been released, the White House saysIs Enron back? If it's a joke, some former employees aren't laughingSome quotations from Jimmy Carter . We have a tendency to exalt ourselves and to dwell on the weaknesses and mistakes of others. I have come to realize that in every person there is something fine and pure and noble, along with a desire for self-fulfillment. Political and religious leaders must attempt to provide a society within which these human attributes can be nurtured and enhanced. — from 1975 book “Why Not the Best?” Our government can express the highest common ideals of human beings — if we demand of government true standards of excellence. At this Bicentennial time of introspection and concern, we must demand such standards. — “Why Not the Best?” I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry. — “Why Not the Best?” Christ said, “I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery.” I’ve looked on a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times. This is something that God recognizes I will do — and I have done it — and God forgives me for it. But that doesn’t mean that I condemn someone who not only looks on a woman with lust but who leaves his wife and shacks up with somebody out of wedlock. — Interview, November 1976 Playboy. This inauguration ceremony marks a new beginning, a new dedication within our Government, and a new spirit among us all. A President may sense and proclaim that new spirit, but only a people can provide it. — Inaugural address, January 1977. It’s clear that the true problems of our nation are much deeper — deeper than gasoline lines or energy shortages, deeper even than inflation and recession. ... All the legislation in the world can’t fix what’s wrong with America. ... It is a crisis of confidence. — So-called “malaise” speech, July 1979. But we know that democracy is always an unfinished creation. Each generation must renew its foundations. Each generation must rediscover the meaning of this hallowed vision in the light of its own modern challenges. For this generation, ours, life is nuclear survival; liberty is human rights; the pursuit of happiness is a planet whose resources are devoted to the physical and spiritual nourishment of its inhabitants. — Farewell Address, January 1981. We appreciate the past. We are grateful for the present and we’re looking forward to the future with great anticipation and commitment. — October 1986, at the dedication of the Carter Presidential Library and Museum. War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn to live together in peace by killing each other’s children. — December 2002, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. Fundamentalists have become increasingly influential in both religion and government, and have managed to change the nuances and subtleties of historic debate into black-and-white rigidities and the personal derogation of those who dare to disagree. ... The influence of these various trends poses a threat to many of our nation’s historic customs and moral commitments, both in government and in houses of worship. — From 2005 book “Our Endangered Values.” I think that this breakthrough by Barack Obama has been remarkable. When he made his speech (on race) a few months ago in Philadelphia, I wept. I sat in front of the television and cried, because I saw that as the most enlightening and transforming analysis of racism and a potential end of it that I ever saw in my life. — August 2008, commenting on then-Sen. Barack Obama’s candidacy. I think it’s based on racism. There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president. ... No matter who he is or how much we disagree with his policies, the president should be treated with respect. — September 2009, reacting to Rep. Joe Wilson’s shout of “You lie!” during a speech to Congress by President Barack Obama. I’m still determined to outlive the last guinea worm. — 2010, on The Carter Center’s work to eradicate guinea worm disease. You know how much I raised to run against Gerald Ford? Zero. You know how much I raised to run against Ronald Reagan? Zero. You know how much will be raised this year by all presidential, Senate and House campaigns? $6 billion. That’s 6,000 millions. — September 2012, reacting to the 2010 “Citizens United” U.S. Supreme Court decision permitting unlimited third-party political spending. I have become convinced that the most serious and unaddressed worldwide challenge is the deprivation and abuse of women and girls, largely caused by a false interpretation of carefully selected religious texts and a growing tolerance of violence and warfare, unfortunately following the example set during my lifetime by the United States. — From 2014 book “A Call to Action.” I don’t think there’s any doubt now that the NSA or other agencies monitor or record almost every telephone call made in the United States, including cellphones, and I presume email as well. We’ve gone a long way down the road of violating Americans’ basic civil rights, as far as privacy is concerned. — March 2014, commenting on U.S. intelligence monitoring after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks We accept self-congratulations about the wonderful 50th anniversary - which is wonderful - but we feel like Lyndon Johnson did it and we don’t have to do anything anymore. — April 2014, commenting on racial inequality during a celebration of the Civil Rights Act’s 40th anniversary. I had a very challenging question at Emory (University) the other night: “How would you describe the United States of America today in one word?” And I didn’t know what to say for a few moments, but I finally said, “Searching.” I think the country in which we live is still searching for what it ought to be, and what it can be, and I’m not sure we’re making much progress right at this moment. — October 2014 during a celebration of his 90th birthday. The life we have now is the best of all. We have an expanding and harmonious family, a rich life in our church and the Plains community, and a diversity of projects at The Carter Center that is adventurous and exciting. Rosalynn and I have visited more than 145 countries, and both of us are as active as we have ever been. We are blessed with good health and look to the future with eagerness and confidence, but are prepared for inevitable adversity when it comes. — From 2015 book, “A Full Life.”

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TORONTO , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Hydro One Limited (Hydro One) announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hydro One Networks Inc., has entered into an agreement to purchase an approximately 48 per cent interest in the East-West Tie Limited Partnership from affiliates of OMERS Infrastructure Management Inc. (OMERS) and Enbridge Transmission Holdings Inc. (Enbridge). The East-West Tie Limited Partnership owns the East-West Tie Line, a 450-kilometre, 230 kV double-circuit transmission line, regulated by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), spanning from Wawa to Thunder Bay , along the north shore of Lake Superior . Hydro One has agreed to purchase its interest in the partnership for $257 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments. The transaction results in a partnership with the remaining owners of the East-West Tie Line – the Bamkushwada Limited Partnership, a consortium of six First Nations, and affiliates of NextEra Energy Canada, LP who own approximately 3.5 per cent and 48 per cent respectively. "Hydro One has a long history of owning and operating transmission infrastructure in northern Ontario ," said David Lebeter , President and CEO, Hydro One. "By investing in this critical transmission infrastructure, we not only support the reliable delivery of electricity but also contribute to the long-term economic opportunities and shared prosperity in the region." "We are very proud of our 12-year partnership with co-shareholders and our collaboration with First Nations to develop and operationalize the East-West Tie," said Michael Hill , Executive Vice President and Global Head of OMERS Infrastructure. "Hydro One, a prominent Canadian company that already owns and operates more than 90 per cent of Ontario's transmission network, was considered the best strategic partner to support the company's continued reliable operations." "Enbridge is pleased to have participated alongside our partners in developing and bringing into service the East-West Tie project, with a focus on Indigenous inclusion and participation," said Matthew Akman , Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and President, Power, Enbridge. "Enbridge has enjoyed a strong relationship with NextEra, OMERS and the Bamkushwada Limited Partnership and believe Hydro One's experience and ownership of other Ontario transmission assets will provide value to the partnership." The East-West Tie Line was built in partnership with the Bamkushwada Limited Partnership, which is jointly owned by Fort William First Nation, Michipicoten First Nation, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation), Pays Plat First Nation, Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg (Pic Mobert First Nation) and Red Rock Indian Band. The line has an OEB-approved rate base of approximately $880 million (100 per cent basis) and connects northwest Ontario communities and industries to Ontario's electricity grid. The transaction is conditional upon satisfaction of customary closing conditions. CIBC Capital Markets acted as exclusive financial advisor and Gowling WLG acted as external legal counsel to Hydro One in connection with the transaction. TD Securities acted as exclusive financial advisor and Torys LLP acted as external legal counsel to OMERS and Enbridge in connection with the transaction. About Hydro One Limited H Hydro One Limited, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.5 million valued customers, approximately $32.8 billion in assets as of December 31, 2023 , and annual revenues in 2023 of approximately $7.8 billion . Our team of approximately 9,700 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2023, Hydro One invested approximately $2.5 billion in its transmission and distribution networks and supported the economy through buying approximately $2.5 billion of goods and services. We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com , www.sedarplus.com or www.sec.gov . About OMERS OMERS is a jointly sponsored, defined benefit pension plan, with 1,000 participating employers ranging from large cities to local agencies, and over 600,000 active, deferred and retired members. Our members include union and non-union employees of municipalities, school boards, local boards, transit systems, electrical utilities, emergency services and children's aid societies across Ontario . OMERS teams work in Toronto , London , New York , Amsterdam , Luxembourg , Singapore , Sydney and other major cities across North America and Europe – serving members and employers, and originating and managing a diversified portfolio of high-quality investments in bonds, public and private credit, public and private equities, infrastructure and real estate. About Enbridge At Enbridge, we safely connect millions of people to the energy they rely on every day, fueling quality of life through our North American natural gas, oil and renewable power networks and our growing European offshore wind portfolio. We're investing in modern energy delivery infrastructure to sustain access to secure, affordable energy and building on more than a century of operating conventional energy infrastructure and two decades of experience in renewable power. We're advancing new technologies including hydrogen, renewable natural gas, carbon capture and storage. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta , Enbridge's common shares trade under the symbol ENB on the Toronto (TSX) and New York (NYSE) stock exchanges. To learn more, visit us at enbridge.com. Forward-Looking Information This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Statements containing forward-looking information are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Words such as "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "attempt", "may", "plan", "will", "can", "believe", "seek", "estimate", and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actions and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking information. Some of the factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from the results expressed, implied or forecasted by such forward-looking information, including some of the assumptions used in making such statements, are discussed more fully in Hydro One's filings with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada , which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com . Hydro One does not intend, and it disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, except as required by law. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hydro-one-expands-transmission-ownership-in-northern-ontario-302336662.html SOURCE Hydro One Limited © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.( MENAFN - market Press Release) December 19, 2024 5:59 am - The Asbestos Testing market, as analyzed by Metastat Insight, stands as a critical component within the broader spectrum of environmental safety and health regulation. The Asbestos Testing market, as analyzed by Metastat Insight, stands as a critical component within the broader spectrum of environmental safety and health regulation. Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral fiber known for its durability and heat resistance, has historically found widespread use in various industries, including construction, automotive manufacturing, and shipbuilding. However, due to its association with serious health risks, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, the need for rigorous testing and monitoring of asbestos-containing materials has become paramount. Get a Free Sample Report: Key Asbestos Testing Industry Players ALS AIH Laboratory Analytica Laboratories Asbestex Asbestos Watch WY Analytical Services Bradley Environmental EMET Environmeteo Services EMSL Analytical Envirolab Services Eurofins Scientific Exova Hill Laboratories/R J Hill Laboratories JSE Labs LCS Laboratory The market for asbestos testing services and solutions encompasses a wide range of methodologies and technologies aimed at detecting the presence of asbestos fibers in diverse materials and environments. From traditional laboratory-based analysis to advanced onsite testing methods, such as polarized light microscopy (PLM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the industry offers a comprehensive suite of tools to accurately identify and quantify asbestos contamination. One of the driving forces behind the growth of the asbestos testing market is the increasing awareness of the health hazards associated with asbestos exposure. Regulatory bodies and government agencies worldwide have implemented stringent guidelines and regulations to control the use of asbestos and ensure the safety of workers and the public. As a result, industries and organizations are mandated to conduct regular testing and assessment of asbestos-containing materials to comply with regulatory requirements and mitigate potential health risks. The construction and building materials industry represents a significant segment of the asbestos testing market, given the widespread historical use of asbestos in construction materials such as insulation, roofing, flooring, and cement products. As renovation and demolition activities pose a risk of disturbing asbestos-containing materials, there is a growing demand for comprehensive asbestos surveys and testing services to safeguard workers and occupants from exposure. Browse Complete Report: Drop us an email at: ... 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The report builds on Governor Kathy Hochul's efforts to advance New York's global reputation as the place where businesses come to grow, innovate, and create the future of emerging technologies. NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- (NYSE: IBM ) – The Emerging Technology Advisory Board (ETAB) today released its first report to elevate New York as an AI leader. The report provided recommendations to bolster the State's commitment to responsible development and implementation of AI. First introduced by Governor Kathy Hochul in June 2024 , the ETAB was established as an independent advisory board to chart the course for a thriving emerging technology ecosystem in New York State . The Advisory Board is co-chaired by IBM Chief Executive Officer Arvind Krishna and Girls Who Code Chief Executive Officer Dr. Tarika Barrett and is comprised of leaders from the private sector and nonprofit and foundation organizations. With input from over 40 external stakeholders and experts, the report details how New York is well-positioned to be at the forefront of AI advancement. This includes leveraging its robust economy, extensive tech talent pool, academic excellence, legacy for innovation, and groundbreaking investments in AI and AI-adjacent industries. In reviewing the state's current landscape, the Advisory Board also identified potential challenges, such as ensuring the workforce is equipped with the skills and resources necessary to succeed in the age of AI. The ETAB took a deeper look at how these challenges could impact New York organizations and communities – and, based on these insights, proposed three ambitions for the State of New York : Guided by these ambitions, the report sets forth nine recommendations – each backed by a thorough framework and next steps – designed to foster public-private partnerships and balance priorities of timely impact and sufficient scale necessary to help drive responsible AI adoption in New York . " New York State is furthering its legacy of innovation and invention for the rest of the world to follow, setting a standard of greatness – and we've only just begun," Governor Hochul said. "Since the beginning of my administration I have been laser-focused on bringing good paying jobs to this state, which is why we need ethical and responsible AI that improves the lives of all New Yorkers and delivers accessible, equitable and future proof jobs with it. I want to thank the members of the Emerging Technology Advisory Board, who took the time to form these recommendations. I look forward to reviewing the report and to working with experts and stakeholders from every sector as we forge an equitable and dynamic future for AI in New York ." "The Emerging Technology Advisory Board has delivered on its first goal to provide a blueprint that positions New York as a frontrunner in trustworthy AI," said Arvind Krishna . "This comprehensive set of recommendations will help drive an innovative AI ecosystem, ensure responsible AI deployment at scale, foster a resilient workforce, and empower all New Yorkers with equitable access to the benefits of AI." "The recommendations of the Emerging Technology Advisory Board reflect a collective effort to ensure that the advancement of artificial intelligence benefits industries and workers across New York ," said Tarika Barrett . "These comprehensive proposals aim not only to foster economic growth and innovation but also to uphold our commitment to a technological future that mirrors the diversity and values of our communities." As the Emerging Technology Advisory Board shares its recommendations with the State of New York , it underscores the joint effort, commitment and close collaboration it will take between the State's leadership, Advisory Board institutions, private sector, nonprofit organizations, philanthropic organizations, thought leaders and advocates to fortify New York as an innovation hub for future technologies. Read the full report here . About IBM IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information. About Girls Who Code Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology, and is leading the movement to inspire, educate, and equip students who identify as girls or nonbinary with the computing skills needed to pursue 21st century opportunities. Since launching in 2012, Girls Who Code has reached 670,000 students through our in-person and virtual programming, and 218,000 of our alumni are college or career-aged. Girls Who Code has sparked culture change through marketing campaigns and advocacy efforts, generating 14 Billion engagements globally. In 2019, the organization was named the #1 Most Innovative Non-Profit on Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list, and in 2023 was named one of Fast Company's Brands That Matter. The organization was also named one of NonProfit Times' Best Nonprofits to Work For in 2022 and 2023. Media Contact Caitlin O'Neill , IBM Corporate Communications caitlin.oneill@ibm.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-york-emerging-technology-advisory-board-publishes-first-report-outlining-vision-to-elevate-leadership-in-ai-302330851.html SOURCE IBMSecurity First Insurance partners with Embark MGA to enter the New Home Builder insurance channel with the launch of an innovative HO5 Product in FloridaWaFd, Inc ( NASDAQ:WAFD – Get Free Report ) was the target of a large increase in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,610,000 shares, an increase of 26.8% from the November 30th total of 1,270,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 473,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.4 days. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades WAFD has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com raised WaFd from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on WaFd from $36.00 to $35.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued a “market perform” rating and issued a $40.00 price target on shares of WaFd in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Finally, DA Davidson boosted their price objective on shares of WaFd from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, WaFd has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $38.00. Read Our Latest Stock Report on WaFd WaFd Stock Performance WaFd ( NASDAQ:WAFD – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 17th. The bank reported $0.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.70 by $0.01. WaFd had a return on equity of 9.44% and a net margin of 13.97%. The business had revenue of $389.98 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $190.43 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.72 EPS. Analysts anticipate that WaFd will post 2.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. WaFd Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 22nd were paid a dividend of $0.26 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 22nd. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.19%. WaFd’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.94%. Insider Buying and Selling In other WaFd news, EVP Ryan Mauer sold 12,132 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.33, for a total transaction of $404,359.56. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 100,376 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,345,532.08. The trade was a 10.78 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . Company insiders own 2.25% of the company’s stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of WAFD. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in WaFd by 80.8% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,188 shares of the bank’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 531 shares in the last quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC boosted its stake in shares of WaFd by 112.7% during the 3rd quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 1,323 shares of the bank’s stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 701 shares in the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its stake in shares of WaFd by 100.0% during the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,644 shares of the bank’s stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 822 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of WaFd by 515.8% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,558 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 1,305 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its stake in shares of WaFd by 60.1% in the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,904 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $66,000 after acquiring an additional 715 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.71% of the company’s stock. About WaFd ( Get Free Report ) WaFd, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Washington Federal Bank that provides lending, depository, insurance, and other banking services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, including business and personal checking accounts, and term certificates of deposit, as well as money market accounts and passbook savings accounts. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for WaFd Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WaFd and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Referring to challenges on the northern and western borders, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday urged soldiers to stay vigilant against both internal and external enemies, who he said are always active. Besides the external threats, the defence minister said that the country also faces challenges on the internal fronts. "In such a situation, we cannot be reluctant at all. Our enemies, whether external or internal, are always active. In such a situation, we will have to keep a close eye on their activities and take timely and effective steps against them," Mr Singh said at the Army War College (AWC) in Mhow cantonment, 25 km from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Mr Singh, accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and other senior officers of the Indian Army, was on a visit to the three premier training institutes of the Indian Army — the AWC, the Infantry School and the Military College of Telecommunication & Engineering (MCTE) –- in Mhow. During the visit, he lauded the contribution of the training institutions of the Indian Army in making the personnel proficient in military strategies and skills of warfare. The defence minister was briefed by the officiating Commandant on the establishment of the Advanced Incubation and Research Centre and the various MoUs towards enabling absorption and transformation of technologies. Mr Singh visited the Army Marksmanship Unit to witness their contribution towards national sports. He also visited the Infantry Museum, where he was briefed on the history of the Infantry as well as the induction of modernised equipment into the Infantry. The defence minister also interacted with all ranks of the three institutes during the Barakhana organised at the AWC. Addressing the troops, he commended the courage and vigilance of the Indian Army personnel in safeguarding the borders and ensuring national security. "Your dedication and devotion to duty are an inspiration to all of us. It is due to your hard work and commitment that our country and its borders are becoming increasingly secure and strong," he said. Mr Singh asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s aim is to make India a developed & self-reliant nation by 2047 and the armed forces will play a crucial role in achieving this goal. "You are the protectors of our borders and the forerunners in nation building. I am sure that you will continue securing our borders with courage & dedication and contribute to realising the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047," he said. Earlier in the day, Mr Singh visited the Bhim Janm Bhoomi, a memorial dedicated to B.R. Ambedkar in Mhow and paid homage to the Bharat Ratna and the architect of the Indian Constitution at his birthplace. He described B.R. Ambedkar as an epitome of selfless service, who dedicated his life to social equality and empowerment.

The NFL suspended Tennessee Titans safety Julius Wood six games on Tuesday for violating the policy on performing-enhancing substances. There are five games remaining this season for the Titans (3-9), so Wood's suspension will bleed into Week 1 of 2025. Wood, 23, went undrafted this spring and signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. They waived him in August, and he caught on with the Titans, who claimed him off waivers. Wood appeared in nine games, almost exclusively on special teams, and has recorded two tackles. --Field Level Media

Aston Villa had a stoppage-time goal disallowed as they drew 0-0 with Juventus in the Champions League. Morgan Rogers looked to have given Unai Emery’s side another famous win when he slammed a loose ball home at the death, but referee Jesus Gil Manzano ruled Diego Carlos to have fouled Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the goal was chalked off. It was a disappointment for Villa, who remain unbeaten at home in their debut Champions League campaign and are still in contention to qualify automatically for the last 16. A very controversial finish at Villa Park 😲 Morgan Rogers' late goal is ruled out for a foul on Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the match ends 0-0 ❌ 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) Emiliano Martinez had earlier displayed why he was named the best goalkeeper in the world as his wonder save kept his side level in the second half. The Argentina international paraded his two Yashin Trophies on the pitch before kick-off at Villa Park and then showed why he won back-to-back FIFA awards when he denied Francisco Conceicao. Before Rogers’ moment of drama in the fourth minute of added time, the closest Villa came to scoring was in the first half when Lucas Digne’s free-kick hit the crossbar. But a draw was a fair result which leaves Villa out of the top eight on goal difference and Juventus down in 19th. Before the game Emery called Juventus one of the “best teams in the world, historically and now”, but this was an Italian side down to the bare bones. Only 14 outfield players made the trip from Turin, with striker Dusan Vlahovic among those who stayed behind. The opening 30 minutes were forgettable before the game opened up. Ollie Watkins, still chasing his first Champions League goal, had Villa’s first presentable chance as he lashed an effort straight at Di Gregorio. Matty Cash then had a vicious effort from the resulting corner which was blocked by Federico Gatti and started a counter-attack which ended in Juventus striker Timothy Weah. Villa came closest to breaking the deadlock at the end of the first half when Digne’s 20-yard free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar and went over. Martinez then produced his brilliant save just after the hour. A corner made its way through to the far post where Conceicao was primed to head in at the far post, but Martinez sprawled himself across goal to scoop the ball away. How has he kept that one out?! 🤯 Emi Martinez with an INCREDIBLE save to keep it goalless at Villa Park ⛔️ 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) Replays showed most of the ball went over the line, but the Argentinian got there with millimetres to spare. At the other end another fine goal-line block denied John McGinn as Manuel Locatelli got his foot in the way with Di Gregorio beaten. The game looked to be petering out until a last-gasp free-kick saw Rogers slam home, but whistle-happy official Gil Manzano halted the celebrations by ruling the goal out.Noem proposes $7.3B for South Dakota's new budget; calls for school savings accounts, budget cutsAfter-hours movers: Marvell Technology, Salesforce, Okta and moreThe report builds on Governor Kathy Hochul's efforts to advance New York's global reputation as the place where businesses come to grow, innovate, and create the future of emerging technologies. NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- (NYSE: IBM ) – The Emerging Technology Advisory Board (ETAB) today released its first report to elevate New York as an AI leader. The report provided recommendations to bolster the State's commitment to responsible development and implementation of AI. First introduced by Governor Kathy Hochul in June 2024 , the ETAB was established as an independent advisory board to chart the course for a thriving emerging technology ecosystem in New York State . The Advisory Board is co-chaired by IBM Chief Executive Officer Arvind Krishna and Girls Who Code Chief Executive Officer Dr. Tarika Barrett and is comprised of leaders from the private sector and nonprofit and foundation organizations. With input from over 40 external stakeholders and experts, the report details how New York is well-positioned to be at the forefront of AI advancement. This includes leveraging its robust economy, extensive tech talent pool, academic excellence, legacy for innovation, and groundbreaking investments in AI and AI-adjacent industries. In reviewing the state's current landscape, the Advisory Board also identified potential challenges, such as ensuring the workforce is equipped with the skills and resources necessary to succeed in the age of AI. The ETAB took a deeper look at how these challenges could impact New York organizations and communities – and, based on these insights, proposed three ambitions for the State of New York : Enable all New York businesses to responsibly deploy AI at scale Commit to support the New York AI ecosystem through upskilling efforts Ensure every worker in New York can thrive in the new AI landscape Guided by these ambitions, the report sets forth nine recommendations – each backed by a thorough framework and next steps – designed to foster public-private partnerships and balance priorities of timely impact and sufficient scale necessary to help drive responsible AI adoption in New York . " New York State is furthering its legacy of innovation and invention for the rest of the world to follow, setting a standard of greatness – and we've only just begun," Governor Hochul said. "Since the beginning of my administration I have been laser-focused on bringing good paying jobs to this state, which is why we need ethical and responsible AI that improves the lives of all New Yorkers and delivers accessible, equitable and future proof jobs with it. I want to thank the members of the Emerging Technology Advisory Board, who took the time to form these recommendations. I look forward to reviewing the report and to working with experts and stakeholders from every sector as we forge an equitable and dynamic future for AI in New York ." "The Emerging Technology Advisory Board has delivered on its first goal to provide a blueprint that positions New York as a frontrunner in trustworthy AI," said Arvind Krishna . "This comprehensive set of recommendations will help drive an innovative AI ecosystem, ensure responsible AI deployment at scale, foster a resilient workforce, and empower all New Yorkers with equitable access to the benefits of AI." "The recommendations of the Emerging Technology Advisory Board reflect a collective effort to ensure that the advancement of artificial intelligence benefits industries and workers across New York ," said Tarika Barrett . "These comprehensive proposals aim not only to foster economic growth and innovation but also to uphold our commitment to a technological future that mirrors the diversity and values of our communities." As the Emerging Technology Advisory Board shares its recommendations with the State of New York , it underscores the joint effort, commitment and close collaboration it will take between the State's leadership, Advisory Board institutions, private sector, nonprofit organizations, philanthropic organizations, thought leaders and advocates to fortify New York as an innovation hub for future technologies. Read the full report here . About IBM IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information. About Girls Who Code Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology, and is leading the movement to inspire, educate, and equip students who identify as girls or nonbinary with the computing skills needed to pursue 21st century opportunities. Since launching in 2012, Girls Who Code has reached 670,000 students through our in-person and virtual programming, and 218,000 of our alumni are college or career-aged. Girls Who Code has sparked culture change through marketing campaigns and advocacy efforts, generating 14 Billion engagements globally. In 2019, the organization was named the #1 Most Innovative Non-Profit on Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list, and in 2023 was named one of Fast Company's Brands That Matter. The organization was also named one of NonProfit Times' Best Nonprofits to Work For in 2022 and 2023. Media Contact Caitlin O'Neill , IBM Corporate Communications caitlin.oneill@ibm.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-york-emerging-technology-advisory-board-publishes-first-report-outlining-vision-to-elevate-leadership-in-ai-302330851.html SOURCE IBM

US crude stock rises, defying forecasts and indicating weaker demandNEW YORK — Israel Vazquez, a three-time super bantamweight boxing world champion, has died from cancer at age 46. His death was announced early Tuesday morning by World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman. “Israel is finally resting in peace. May God give strength and support to his wife Laura, their children, family and friends during these difficult times,” Sulaiman wrote on social media. “Thank you champion for leaving such a special mark. You will always be ‘El Magnifico.' ” Trainer Freddie Roach mourned Vazquez on Instagram. “Forever a world champion and legend in boxing. One of the best boxers I ever had the privilege of working with,” Roached captioned a photo of them after Vazquez won the WBC title. “Israel, my friend, may you rest in peace now.” Vazquez revealed last month he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 sarcoma and was receiving treatment in Los Angeles. “He can hardly speak and, when he does, he is short of breath. He is very weak,” his wife, Laura Vazquez, told the Los Angeles Times in early November. A celebrated Mexican fighter who combined devastating punches with speed, Vazquez was most known for his rivalry with Rafael Marquez. The two faced off in four title fights, which they split. In their third fight, in 2008, Vazquez won despite suffering a detached retina which kept him out of the ring more than a year and a half. He was able to make a comeback, but lost to Marquez in what turned out to be Vazquez’s final fight. Vazquez was 44-5 in his career, with 32 knockouts. He’s survived by wife Laura, sons Israel Jr. and Anthony, daughter Zoe, his parents and sister. ©2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Within hours of Syrian rebels seizing Damascus last weekend, Israeli soldiers crossed into a demilitarized buffer zone between the two countries. Israel described the move as defensive and temporary, necessary to keep at bay the potential chaos and attendant threats inside Syria. From a strategic perspective, the crumbling of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” – including a weakened Hezbollah and the fall of the Tehran-backed Assad regime in Damascus – is a victory for Israel. But it also creates a host of security problems. In a powerful indication it is taking no chances, Israel launched hundreds of air and missile strikes on Syrian military equipment and installations this week. In the meantime, not everyone is convinced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu isn’t already overreaching in Syria to win domestic political points. Others say there are opportunities for even greater achievements. Jeremy Issacharoff, a former Foreign Ministry official, suggests Israel could strengthen its anti-Iranian alliance if it addresses Palestinian aspirations. “It could start talking about a pathway towards a two-state solution with the Saudis that could also include the Syrians as well,” he says. “I don’t want to be overly optimistic – these are not simple things – but it would be irresponsible to exclude it.” For 50 years, the Israel-Syria border on the Golan Heights was the quietest in the Middle East. But within hours of Syrian rebel forces seizing Damascus without a fight last weekend, Israeli soldiers crossed into a demilitarized zone in Syria designed as a buffer between the two countries. Israel described the seizure of some key positions on the Golan’s rocky plateau and near the peak of snowcapped Mount Hermon as a defensive and temporary move, necessary to keep at bay the potential chaos and attendant threats inside Syria. The action also has the proactive markings of a government and army still reeling from the colossal failure to protect its people from the Hamas massacre and mass hostage taking 14 months ago. Yet in an even more powerful indication it is taking no chances, Israel launched hundreds of air and missile strikes on Syrian military equipment and installations this week. The goal: to minimize any threat from the replacement in Damascus of the “devil it knew,” Bashar al-Assad, with an untested coalition of rebels led by a faction with jihadist roots. Among the targets not just hit, but entirely destroyed, according to Israel: the Syrian navy and sea-to-sea missiles with a range as far as 120 miles. Of most immediate concern, however, have been stockpiles of and production facilities for chemical weapons, which Mr. Assad had used against his own people and which Israel fears could fall into “the wrong hands.” Following the dramatic weakening of the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah in a punishing Israeli offensive this fall, what does the sudden collapse of the Iran-allied Assad regime mean for Israel? From a strategic and historical perspective, the crumbling of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” – its collection of proxy armies – is a victory. But it also creates a host of Israeli security problems, not least of which is Syria’s likely instability for the foreseeable future. “The worst-case scenario in Syria is that it could become the Somalia of the Middle East,” Nitzan Nuriel, a retired brigadier general and counterterrorism expert, told journalists in a briefing. “From the Israeli perspective, based on what happened in countries from Libya to Afghanistan, we know when regimes collapse, terror groups can take over and take advantage of weapons systems and platforms and use them against neighboring states and others,” he said. “So as a preemptive step, we decided to destroy everything those unexpected rivals might use in the future.” With Iran considerably weakened, the biggest question for Israel now surrounds the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, argues Danny Citrinowicz, a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv think tank. “Tehran could theoretically enrich uranium to a military-grade level of 90 percent ‘as early as tomorrow’ and attempt to build a nuclear facility within a few months,” he wrote in the Maariv daily newspaper. Yet, he cautioned, “Such a move without Hezbollah’s protective umbrella, combined with Israel’s demonstrated capability to strike in Iran, and the presence of President Trump in the White House, could pose a direct threat to the regime in Tehran.” This new reality “changes the rules of the game,” he added, and “significantly weakens Iran’s influence in the Middle East for at least the coming years.” Still, analysts say, it will be important for Israel to thwart any Iranian attempts to regain a foothold in Syria, which for years served as Tehran’s main corridor for transporting weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Also recommended: to build bridges with the country’s moderate Sunni rebels and Druze communities. In the meantime, not everyone in Israel is convinced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government isn’t already making mistakes by engaging in tactical overreach in a bid to win domestic political points. “When it comes to sending troops to the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, what military purpose does it serve apart from showing everyone we are there and we are strong?” says Eyal Zisser, a professor of Middle East history at Tel Aviv University and an expert on Syria. “Are we protected better if we are about a mile or two deeper into Syria? I doubt that very much.” Aluf Benn, editor-in-chief of Haaretz, a left-wing Israeli newspaper, noted Wednesday that on a tour of the Golan Heights the previous day, Mr. Netanyahu had declared the collapse of the 1974 postwar agreement that set up the Syrian buffer zone and had been honored ever since. “If the agreement has collapsed, Israel is no longer bound by the map that accompanies it; it can change the border according to its security needs,” Mr. Benn wrote. “For most of his years in power, Netanyahu was considered risk-averse, someone who avoided wars and embraced the status quo. The current war [with Hamas and Iran’s proxies] has changed him.” Jeremy Issacharoff, former vice director-general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, argues that while Israel has a duty to protect its border, it also has one to respect such a valuable agreement, one that has served as a critically stabilizing force and kept the border peaceful. “To take over the Syrian side of the Golan Heights is an important cautionary step,” he says, “but it’s important to say it is a temporary measure, not meant to disrupt but rather preserve the agreement.” This, he argues, would be a central achievement for Israel, as it waits to see how things play out inside Syria – specifically, whether the leadership that emerges is moderate or extreme. Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, whose Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham faction is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and others, has presented himself as pragmatist who wants to focus on rehabilitating Syria, not on seeking out new wars to fight. In 2013, during the Syrian civil war, the Israeli army launched “Operation Good Neighbor” – its answer to concerns that Islamist militants among the Syrian rebels might use the border area to launch attacks. To encourage villages and towns to keep such forces away, and to help civilians fleeing toward the border, Israel provided humanitarian assistance in the form of food, gasoline, and medical supplies, and then began treating wounded Syrians in Israeli hospitals. The hope was also long-term, that this kind of personal outreach would one day pay dividends. “This is how Syrians found out that Israel is not Satan. Ties were made between people,” says Yehuda Blanga, a Syria expert who lectures in Bar Ilan University’s Middle East studies department. “I’d suggest the government try to connect now to the same people who once needed our help.” In 13 years of civil war, which Mr. Assad sought to brutally crush – bombing civilians in opposition-held cities and torturing detainees – more than half a million people were killed and millions displaced. Syria “could go the way of becoming an ISIS meshuggeneh state,” says Ambassador Issacharoff, using the Yiddish word for crazy, “but I have a feeling it’s too much of an opportunity for the Syrian people” to miss out on rebuilding and rehabilitating themselves. Israel could in turn strengthen and expand its regional anti-Iranian alliance, he suggests, if it addresses Palestinian aspirations. “It could start talking about a pathway towards a two-state solution with the Saudis that could also include the Syrians as well, and maybe Lebanon, too,” he says. “I don’t want to be overly optimistic – these are not simple things – but it would be irresponsible to exclude it. “American involvement can help fashion a much broader opportunity if you have a Saudi or Syrian opportunity on the table,” he says. “If you want to make the deal of the century, this could be it.”

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Struggling Syracuse looks to climb back above .500 when it hosts Albany on Tuesday night. The Orange (4-4) are coming off a conference loss to Notre Dame where they failed to make a 3-pointer in a game for the first time in more than 10 years, going 0-for-9 from behind the arc. They will be without leading scorer J.J. Starling, who broke his hand in practice last Monday. Orange coach Adrian Autry said there was "no timetable" for Starling's return after the loss to the Fighting Irish and lamented his team's struggles with turnovers and free-throw shooting in the defeat. "Too many blown opportunities," Autry said. "We're not shooting the ball well. We have to adjust and go game by game now. Our front court has been pretty secure, but we have to keep working and getting better." Starling was averaging a team-high 19.8 points before his injury. The Orange may need to lean more on freshman Donnie Freeman, who has been a standout for Syracuse this season. He's averaging 12.8 points and 8.8 rebounds and already has four double-doubles. He was co-ACC Rookie of the Week last week. Defensively, the Orange have struggled. They rank No. 329 in scoring defense, giving up 79.4 points per game. Albany is scoring 77.2 ppg so far this season. The Great Danes (6-4) were downed by Boston University 80-74 in overtime on Saturday. They started the season 5-1 but have lost three of their last four. Senior guard Byron Joshua, a transfer from Alcorn State, is the Great Danes' leading scorer at 13.6 ppg. Amar'e Marshall was an All-America East Conference pick last season after averaging 16.7 points, but his field goal shooting has dropped from 43.4 percent last season to 34.5 percent this season. He is scoring 11.7 ppg. "I think we're learning how to compete at the right level," Albany coach Dwyane Killings said after a loss to Georgetown on Nov. 30. "I think the one thing that troubles us a lot is that our identity and our energy comes when the ball goes in the basket. When it doesn't, I don't think we have the grit that we need right now." Albany has been one of the best teams in the country in terms of steals. The Great Danes average 10.2 steals per game, which is tied for No. 12 in the nation. Syracuse is 8-0 against Albany all-time with the teams last meeting in 2011. Syracuse is 4-0 at home and 4-0 against non-power-conference opponents. --Field Level MediaGreater Non-HDL/HDL Cholesterol Ratio Linked to Lower Anemia Rates

Saturday, December 14, 2024 Facebook Instagram Twitter WhatsApp Youtube Personal Finance Education Entertainment Jobs Alert Sports Hindi Technology Complaint Redressal. Fact-Checking Policy Correction policy Authors and Team DNPA Code of Ethics Onwership and Funding Cookie Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Contact US About Us More Search Home Personal Finance Savings Account Rules: Know these rules related to savings account, otherwise you... Personal Finance Savings Account Rules: Know these rules related to savings account, otherwise you will get income tax notice By Shyamu Maurya December 14, 2024 0 9 Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram Savings Account Rules: Know these rules related to savings account, otherwise you will get income tax notice Do you know how much money you can deposit in your savings account or how much money you can withdraw at one time? Today we will tell you about some such important things related to savings account. Savings Account Rules: Most people have savings accounts in the bank. People deposit their savings in this account and can easily withdraw these savings whenever they want, but do you know how much money you can deposit in your savings account or how much money you can withdraw at one time? Today we will tell you about some such important things related to savings account. These are some important things about savings account According to the income tax rules, you can deposit only Rs 10 lakh in your savings account in 1 financial year. Also, only 10 lakh rupees can be withdrawn during 1 financial year. Apart from this, according to section 269ST, a person can make a single transaction of only 2 lakh rupees from his savings account in a day. In such a situation, income tax notice will come If a person deposits an amount of more than Rs 10 lakh in his savings account in 1 financial year i.e. between 1 April to 3 March, then it will be considered as a high value transaction. In such a situation, the bank or financial institutions will have to inform the Income Tax Department under section 114B of the Income Tax Act, 1962. If you make a transaction of more than Rs 50,000 in a day, then you will have to give PAN number. In case of not having PAN number, it is necessary to submit Form 60/61. If you deposit more than 10 lakhs in a financial year, you will receive an income tax notice, which you will have to respond to. To respond to the notice, you must have sufficient evidence to support your claim regarding the source of funds. These can be bank statements, investment records and inheritance related documents. In such a situation, you can consult a tax advisor. Join Informal Newz Tags Savings Account Rules Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram Previous article Watch Video: Video of plane crash surfaced, it broke into pieces as it fell on the highway Shyamu Maurya Shyamu has done Degree in Fine Arts and has knowledge about bollywood industry. He started writing in 2018. Since then he has been associated with Informalnewz. 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2 convicted in human smuggling case after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada borderBack when he lived in Newtown, Alan Jones had a wall covered in photographs of himself with the Pick and Stick crew. There were football players, political allies, celebrities and billionaires; the “Moses of the airwaves” had cultivated a powerful fellowship over his first 20-odd years on air, and still had half his radio career to run. Yet even then, some in his orbit had misgivings about getting too close to Jones. “The last place you wanted to end up was on his wall,” said one. Being close to Jones was, as one former staffer put it, “an exhausting thing”. It was like being smiled upon by a capricious emperor. The anointed ones, who ranged from sports stars to musicians to prime ministers and premiers, were graced with favours and largesse. But they had to pay homage or risk it all. Jones’ warning that a failure to respond to a request would “be the end of our friendship”, was ominous indeed. This patronage was one of myriad ways Jones transformed himself from an everyday shock jock into The Man Who Ran Sydney. In the era when talkback was king and he had a 20 per cent audience share, he used his intellect, charisma and money to exploit the platform like no one else. “His power isn’t explained by the size of his audience,” says Chris Masters, author of . “It’s explained more by how he used it as leverage to advocate for his own interests and the interests of his powerful mates.” For decades, power protected Jones. He bullied his staff, bulldozed elected officials, and was perceived to favour handsome young men. Few were game to challenge him. Those who did paid the price. Jones was a man “drunk on power”, said one former staffer, and he “did not know when to stop”. But his grip loosened as society changed and Jones refused to change with it, as advertisers became reluctant to align themselves with his increasingly fringe views, and as movements such as #MeToo put the anatomy of power under the microscope. Last year, Jones faced his own reckoning. The chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont that he had used his power for sexual gratification, by groping and indecently assaulting young men, including one of his producers, without their consent. One of the men, who has since died, alleged that he “forces himself on young men and uses his power in a predatory way”. Another man, an employee, says he was groped by Jones. “He knew I wasn’t gay so it was about power dynamics,” he said. Police investigated. This week, with 26 offences involving nine alleged victims. He says he is innocent. The charges are before the courts. When one family contacted police a few years ago to raise allegations that Jones had indecently touched a relative, the officers were blunt. It would be the word of a social colossus against that of an ordinary person. Jones was not, the family recalled one of them saying, “Joe Blow from Bunnings”. Talkback radio used to be the only way ordinary people could speak directly to politicians, even if the microphone was controlled by the host. It was a win-win; listeners on so-called Struggle Street could get their problems addressed, politicians could talk directly to the people, and broadcasters were the powerbroker in the middle. “Forget the press gallery,” prime minister Paul Keating once said. “If you educate [broadcaster] John Laws, you educate Australia.” Articulate, relentless, merciless Jones outclassed all his rivals when he first fired up on air in 1985. He was an unlikely success story; a cross between a priest and a schoolmaster, who would sermonise and patronise in a voice so grating he was nicknamed The Parrot. Yet listeners loved it. “He played all the tabloid tricks,” says Masters. “Flatter your public, tell them ‘my listeners are my best researchers’. He ended up generating a kind of cultist following.” He slept three hours a day and seemed to devote the remaining 21 to work. He’d insist that his office reply to every letter. He’d often dictate them himself to his typist. In 1999, he wrote 3000 letters to government in eight months, the learnt under freedom of information laws. Almost 140 of those were to the prime minister, premier, and a handful of ministers. He expected recipients to reply promptly. Failure to do so risked an on-air dressing down. Premiers and prime ministers would put a staff member in charge of responding within 24 hours. They were dubbed the Minister for Alan Jones. The line between policy and personal blurred. Once, he was pulled over by NSW Police highway patrol on a trip to Canberra and didn’t realise he was crossing two lanes of the Hume to get to the kerb. He was almost hit by a truck. The next day, he wrote to then-police minister Paul Whelan, attempting to get the “cowboy” officer sacked. “I’m sick and tired of defending the police force when it’s peopled by yahoos like this,” he wrote. He would text politicians at all hours, furiously criticising their decisions and offering unsolicited advice about how those decisions would end in disaster. Once, he flamed a senior NSW minister for what he described as unforgivable ignorance. “Who the f--- do you think you are?” the radio broadcaster told the elected member of parliament. A response that pleased him could lead to benevolence. Another letter, obtained by under a similar FOI request 20 years later, involved a back-and-forth with then-Coalition sports minister Stuart Ayres about a sailing issue. Jones approved of Ayres’ actions. “That’s why you are a very good minister,” he wrote. “Is everything OK in the electorate? Yell out if I can help. With best wishes, Alan.” Many argue Jones, himself a failed political candidate for the Liberal Party, was only able to hold so much power because politicians surrendered it to him. Yet those who resisted grovelling found themselves in a bind. “It wasn’t that the ministers lacked courage,” said one former senior NSW Coalition minister. “It’s that you couldn’t convince a cabinet or party room to stand up to him too.” Taking on Jones about one thing meant the broadcaster would attack everything else that minister tried to do. “It subverted your ability to do other things,” he said. “It wasn’t worth the fight.” When Coalition premier Mike Baird backflipped on his plan to shut down greyhound racing after a sustained campaign by Jones, he was photographed arriving at Jones’ apartment at Circular Quay for a dinner of humble pie to win back support. Jones told his listeners the next day that the government would receive “full marks” from him if it reversed the ban. Jones would frequently shower praise on his long-time friend Tony Abbott: the broadcaster was one of two speakers at an event last year marking 10 years since Abbott became prime minister. When Abbott was in the top job, Jones would send him a weekly missive with about 30 dot points, offering advice, warnings, and tips on who was white-anting him, said one person close to him. Staff heard him dictate a sign-off: “Go for the jugular, Tony.” Abbott denies the story. “Mr Abbott ran his own political strategy and famously wrote his own speeches and personally signed off his own media releases,” said a spokesman. Politicians found their own ways of managing him. “There were certain techniques that worked with Alan, like going into the studio in person,” the former minister said. “It was harder for him to be mean to you if you were right in front of him. Colleagues used to say they would take a young male staffer with them [to put Jones in a good mood], like a burnt offering. Writing him a handwritten note; he’d write to you, and what I learnt was that you had to write back yourself, and give him answers to keep him [from speaking about the issue on radio].” The aim was to keep their issue off-air, said the politician. Being lauded could be as dangerous as being rubbished. “If you got praised by him, it was probably because you leaked to him, so your colleagues would be suspicious – and generally rightly so. Alan never did anything without a reason.” Jones might have left politicians so intimidated that they couldn’t sleep before an interview, but no one was more attuned to the vagaries of his mood than those who worked for him. The former teacher and rugby union coach was an exacting boss. One producer remembers sitting in the car park before work in the wee hours of the morning, wondering if he could face it all again that day. “I don’t think he ever said hello to me in all the years I worked for him,” he said. “Every day started with incredible tension.” For their first six months, Jones would put a new producer to a kind of loyalty test involving verbal abuse and the rubbishing of their work. “It was routine humiliation,” said one. Once, when Jones was dissatisfied with the performance of his staff, he made them write to the finance department to say they didn’t deserve to be paid for their day’s work. Another time, Jones found some faxes that had not been replied to, and made staff cancel leave to write back. “The way he blew up at people was a craft,” said another former producer, who – like many people interviewed for this story – spoke on the condition of anonymity because he still feared Jones’ impact on his career. “He never swore, but it was an articulate spray that was like being lashed by lightning. It was personal, it was cruel, it was demeaning. But it wasn’t someone losing control. The sprays were directed at staff, at salespeople, at CEOs. There was no one at 2GB that Jones felt he couldn’t stand over.” Jones was the station’s money-spinner. “What he wanted, he got,” says Mike Carlton, who worked with Jones at 2UE before the breakfast presenter jumped ship to 2GB. “He would just send in his manager, ‘Alan wants this, Alan wants this done’, and management would cave because they were desperate to keep him on side.” Working for Jones was intense. Yet Jones kept staff loyal, partly with occasional explosions of generosity. A Christmas card with $500 inside. Tickets to Wimbledon. A lavish dinner. There was also the sense that, beyond the bullying, the program was doing some good. “A lot of the stuff he pointed out related to stupid government policy, and a lot of it ended up benefiting people who deserved a result,” said a former producer. “That’s where it gets a little bit tricky; without an aggressive champion, they would never have got the result they deserved.” Many wondered what drove him so relentlessly. It wasn’t money for its own sake; those close to him estimate he has given away millions over the years. He would pay friends’ children’s school fees, give them money to buy their first property, cover their health bills. He still pays for the reunions of school football teams he coached in the 1960s. “He’d give it to people who were broke, who needed money for legal fees,” said one person who worked with Jones. He would also allow people to stay in his opulent homes, in Sydney, the Southern Highlands, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The guest list raised eyebrows; one former producer recalls dropping some briefs over and meeting the “procession of [male] athletes who would stay there”, he says. “Many of them were emotionally needy; quite a few had come from broken homes, and didn’t have supportive family relationships. There was a bit of a theme going through that. Part of it was he didn’t want to be alone.” Jones’ sexuality was scuttlebutt for decades, raised publicly only in double entendre. Jones never commented, not even after being arrested in a London public toilet – that was also a gay beat – for “outraging public decency” (he was cleared). He once told this masthead’s David Leser that he didn’t “believe people should be asked to [comment] in relation to their private lives”. But many, like Masters, believe Jones’ sexuality may be key to understanding his accumulation of power. He grew up in Queensland when homosexuality was illegal, and moved in worlds in which it was spurned, such as schoolboys’ boarding houses when he was a teacher, and rugby union when he was a coach. “There were good reasons for him to don the mask,” says Masters. “We’ve seen this in other powerful men from that era, the power base was built around them as a protective screen. It’s the manipulations – where to go, who you know, who can pull strings – that keeps you safe.” As his power grew, Jones became complacent. His staff and his acolytes were afraid to challenge him. He didn’t verify information he’d been given before presenting it on air, and got things wrong. The end began with his 2012 attacks on Julia Gillard – who stood opposite his good friend Abbott in the parliamentary chamber – when he said she should be tied in a chaff bag and dumped at sea. Within a week of reporting Jones’ comments to a Young Liberal dinner that Gillard’s father, who had passed away not long before, had “died of shame”, around 70 advertisers backed away from his show and Mercedes-Benz confiscated Jones’ $250,000 sponsored car. The editor who published ’s story, Neil Breen – who is now a television reporter for Nine, owner of this masthead – paid the price for challenging Jones. “From that day on, it always had an effect on my career,” he said. It angered some of Jones’ supporters at News Limited. It prompted Jones to run interference when Breen worked in radio. It disrupted relationships that still haven’t recovered. “You were just up against forces,” he said. “He was a significant foe.” Jones’ final, self-inflicted blow came in 2019, when he told then-prime minister Scott Morrison to “shove a sock” down the throat of New Zealand’s then-prime minister, Jacinda Ardern. The condemnation was swift and significant, and advertisers – whose business covered his $4 million salary – fled. Jones was already on thin ice due to his alliances with fringe politicians such as then-MP Craig Kelly, and a mammoth defamation payout for blaming a family for the deadly Grantham floods. He resigned from 2GB in 2021. Without his platform, Jones’ power rapidly dwindled. Even if he had stayed on air, his influence may not have protected him from the indecent assault allegations. Over the past decade, abuse of power accusations have all but ended the careers of other once-untouchable men even if they are eventually cleared, like the late cardinal George Pell. The world has changed. Power is a less effective cocoon. While speaking up still requires enormous courage, victims are no longer stigmatised. Where allegations of predatory behaviour were once stifled, police now take so-called silent crimes seriously. Where stars were once allowed to behave as they wanted as long as they brought in money, companies must now actively protect their workers. “There’s been a very important shift in how we operate as a society,” says academic and former journalist Catharine Lumby, who once had a piece critiquing Jones pulled when she wrote for , which was owned by Jones’ good friend Kerry Packer. “The avenues of survivors of assault and harassment are more educated; there’s been a sea change in attitudes.” Those who knew Jones say he would have stayed in front of a microphone until he died if he could have, holding on to the power that kept him safe and the busyness that kept him from introspection. The haunted, brilliant, flawed man “was scared of what came next”, says a former staffer. “He didn’t want any time to look in the mirror. He wanted to fill every day so there was no time for self-reflection.”Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail a third time as he awaits sex trafficking trial