Arab Conference On Peaceful Atomic Energy Begins In AmmanWASHINGTON (AP) — As a former and potentially future president, Donald Trump hailed what would become Project 2025 as a road map for “exactly what our movement will do” with another crack at the White House. As the blueprint for a hard-right turn in America became a liability during the 2024 campaign, Trump pulled an about-face . He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans written in part by his first-term aides and allies. Now, after being elected the 47th president on Nov. 5, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the detailed effort he temporarily shunned. Most notably, Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy . Those moves have accelerated criticisms from Democrats who warn that Trump's election hands government reins to movement conservatives who spent years envisioning how to concentrate power in the West Wing and impose a starkly rightward shift across the U.S. government and society. Trump and his aides maintain that he won a mandate to overhaul Washington. But they maintain the specifics are his alone. “President Trump never had anything to do with Project 2025,” said Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt in a statement. “All of President Trumps' Cabinet nominees and appointments are whole-heartedly committed to President Trump's agenda, not the agenda of outside groups.” Here is a look at what some of Trump's choices portend for his second presidency. The Office of Management and Budget director, a role Vought held under Trump previously and requires Senate confirmation, prepares a president's proposed budget and is generally responsible for implementing the administration's agenda across agencies. The job is influential but Vought made clear as author of a Project 2025 chapter on presidential authority that he wants the post to wield more direct power. “The Director must view his job as the best, most comprehensive approximation of the President’s mind,” Vought wrote. The OMB, he wrote, “is a President’s air-traffic control system” and should be “involved in all aspects of the White House policy process,” becoming “powerful enough to override implementing agencies’ bureaucracies.” Trump did not go into such details when naming Vought but implicitly endorsed aggressive action. Vought, the president-elect said, “knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State” — Trump’s catch-all for federal bureaucracy — and would help “restore fiscal sanity.” In June, speaking on former Trump aide Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, Vought relished the potential tension: “We’re not going to save our country without a little confrontation.” The strategy of further concentrating federal authority in the presidency permeates Project 2025's and Trump's campaign proposals. Vought's vision is especially striking when paired with Trump's proposals to dramatically expand the president's control over federal workers and government purse strings — ideas intertwined with the president-elect tapping mega-billionaire Elon Musk and venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a “Department of Government Efficiency.” Trump in his first term sought to remake the federal civil service by reclassifying tens of thousands of federal civil service workers — who have job protection through changes in administration — as political appointees, making them easier to fire and replace with loyalists. Currently, only about 4,000 of the federal government's roughly 2 million workers are political appointees. President Joe Biden rescinded Trump's changes. Trump can now reinstate them. Meanwhile, Musk's and Ramaswamy's sweeping “efficiency” mandates from Trump could turn on an old, defunct constitutional theory that the president — not Congress — is the real gatekeeper of federal spending. In his “Agenda 47,” Trump endorsed so-called “impoundment,” which holds that when lawmakers pass appropriations bills, they simply set a spending ceiling, but not a floor. The president, the theory holds, can simply decide not to spend money on anything he deems unnecessary. Vought did not venture into impoundment in his Project 2025 chapter. But, he wrote, “The President should use every possible tool to propose and impose fiscal discipline on the federal government. Anything short of that would constitute abject failure.” Trump's choice immediately sparked backlash. “Russ Vought is a far-right ideologue who has tried to break the law to give President Trump unilateral authority he does not possess to override the spending decisions of Congress (and) who has and will again fight to give Trump the ability to summarily fire tens of thousands of civil servants,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, a Democrat and outgoing Senate Appropriations chairwoman. Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, leading Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said Vought wants to “dismantle the expert federal workforce” to the detriment of Americans who depend on everything from veterans' health care to Social Security benefits. “Pain itself is the agenda,” they said. Trump’s protests about Project 2025 always glossed over overlaps in the two agendas . Both want to reimpose Trump-era immigration limits. Project 2025 includes a litany of detailed proposals for various U.S. immigration statutes, executive branch rules and agreements with other countries — reducing the number of refugees, work visa recipients and asylum seekers, for example. Miller is one of Trump's longest-serving advisers and architect of his immigration ideas, including his promise of the largest deportation force in U.S. history. As deputy policy chief, which is not subject to Senate confirmation, Miller would remain in Trump's West Wing inner circle. “America is for Americans and Americans only,” Miller said at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Oct. 27. “America First Legal,” Miller’s organization founded as an ideological counter to the American Civil Liberties Union, was listed as an advisory group to Project 2025 until Miller asked that the name be removed because of negative attention. Homan, a Project 2025 named contributor, was an acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director during Trump’s first presidency, playing a key role in what became known as Trump's “family separation policy.” Previewing Trump 2.0 earlier this year, Homan said: “No one’s off the table. If you’re here illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder.” John Ratcliffe, Trump's pick to lead the CIA , was previously one of Trump's directors of national intelligence. He is a Project 2025 contributor. The document's chapter on U.S. intelligence was written by Dustin Carmack, Ratcliffe's chief of staff in the first Trump administration. Reflecting Ratcliffe's and Trump's approach, Carmack declared the intelligence establishment too cautious. Ratcliffe, like the chapter attributed to Carmack, is hawkish toward China. Throughout the Project 2025 document, Beijing is framed as a U.S. adversary that cannot be trusted. Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, wrote Project 2025's FCC chapter and is now Trump's pick to chair the panel. Carr wrote that the FCC chairman “is empowered with significant authority that is not shared” with other FCC members. He called for the FCC to address “threats to individual liberty posed by corporations that are abusing dominant positions in the market,” specifically “Big Tech and its attempts to drive diverse political viewpoints from the digital town square.” He called for more stringent transparency rules for social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube and “empower consumers to choose their own content filters and fact checkers, if any.” Carr and Ratcliffe would require Senate confirmation for their posts.https fb777 com 。

SportsbookWire.com's Alex White already cashed her best college football bet for Saturday with Boston College (+2.5) winning outright 41-21 at home against North Carolina . She's looking to make it a 2-0 weekend with her best bet for NFL Week 12, which involves the total when the New England Patriots (3-8) visit the Miami Dolphins (4-6) Sunday in an AFC East matchup. Kickoff from Hard Rock Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET and will be televised on CBS. The Patriots have alternated wins and losses over their last 4 games, recently falling at home to the LA Rams in Week 11. The Dolphins enter on a 2-game win streak, beating the Las Vegas Raiders 34-19 last Sunday and winning at the Rams 23-15 in Week 10. The division foes met in Week 5 at New England with Miami winning 15-10. The Dolphins covered as 1-point road favorites and the Under (37) cashed. For Sunday's matchup in South Florida, BetMGM Sportsbook has the O/U line at 46.5 (Over: -110 | Under: -110), up from 46, which it was Friday -- last updated Saturday at 5:51 p.m. ET. Listen below to why Alex likes this total as her best NFL bet for Sunday . Make sure to catch Alex on Sports By the Book Saturday 11 a.m.-noon ET, and Sunday through Wednesday noon-1 p.m. ET, and on Punch Lines every Monday and Wednesday 3 p.m.-4 p.m. ET -- live from the South Point Sportsbook in Las Vegas. Follow @alexwhitee on Twitter/X . For more sports betting picks and tips , check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW . Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook . Access more NFL coverage: BetFTW | TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire More NFL Picks and Predictions! Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts odds, picks and predictions Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants odds, picks and predictions New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins odds, picks and predictionsWhat we know about the mysterious drones reported over the US

A Louisiana law that reclassified abortion-inducing drugs as controlled substances has made it more difficult for doctors to treat a wide range of gynecological conditions, doctors say. Now, a similar proposal has been filed in Texas. Texas Rep. Pat Curry, a freshman Republican from Waco, said the intent of House Bill 1339 is to make it harder for people, especially teenagers, to order mifepristone and misoprostol online to terminate their pregnancies. Doctors in Louisiana say the measure has done little to strengthen the state’s near-total abortion ban, but has increased fear and confusion among doctors, pharmacists and patients. “There’s no sense in it,” said Dr. Nicole Freehill, an OB/GYN in New Orleans. “Even though we kept trying to tell them how often [these medications] are used for other things and how safe they are, it didn’t matter. It’s just a backdoor way of restricting abortion more.” These medications are often used to empty the uterus after a patient has a miscarriage, and are commonly prescribed ahead of inserting an intrauterine device. Misoprostol is also often the best treatment for obstetric hemorrhages, a potentially life-threatening condition in which women can bleed to death in minutes. Since the Louisiana law went into effect, hospitals have taken the medication off their obstetrics carts and put them in locked, password-protected central storage. One hospital has been running drills to practice getting the medications to patients in time, and reported, on average, a two minute delay from before the law went into effect, the Louisiana Illuminator reported. “In obstetrics and gynecology, minutes or even seconds can be the difference between life and death,” Dr. Stella Dantas, president of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, said in a statement after the Louisiana law passed. “Forcing a clinician to jump through administrative hurdles in order to access a safe, effective medicine is not medically justified and is, quite simply, dangerous.” Curry said these restrictions won’t stop doctors from prescribing these medications when necessary, but will stop the “wide misuse” of the drugs to circumvent the state’s near-total abortion ban. Curry said he consulted with the author of the Louisiana law, as well as OB/GYNs in Texas to draft the bill. He said the doctors who have criticized the legislation are raising these concerns as a “smokescreen” because they don’t want more restrictions. “I understand that. We don’t need or want all kinds of regulations,” he said. “Especially as Republicans, regulations should not be high on our list, but in this case it’s a necessary evil given the situation.” Texas roots for a Louisiana law In March 2022, Mason Herring, a Houston attorney, spiked his wife’s water with misoprostol to force her to have an abortion. Catherine Herring was pregnant with the couple’s third child, a daughter who was born 10 weeks premature. She survived, but has significant developmental delays, according to the Associated Press. Mason Herring was charged with felony assault to induce abortion, and pled guilty to injury to a child and assault to a pregnant person. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years of probation. Catherine Herring’s experience led her brother, Louisiana state Rep. Thomas Pressly, to file a bill that would have made it a crime to coerce someone into having an abortion. But at the last minute, the bill was amended to also reclassify abortion-inducing drugs as controlled substances, according to the Louisiana Illuminator, leaving hospitals and doctors scrambling to comply with the new restrictions. The state health department advised storing the medication in a locked area on the crash cart, which at least some hospitals have said is not feasible. “We had to rework how we utilize misoprostol across our hospital systems,” Freehill said. “Labor and delivery, pharmacy, nursing staff, you name it, they were all involved with figuring out how to stay within the law but still use these medications that we need access to.” It’s rare for a state to decide on its own to classify a drug as a controlled substance. Most commonly, the federal government decides which medications should be “scheduled,” based on their medical usefulness and the potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs, like heroin, have no medical use and are often used recreationally; Schedule IV and V are medications that are useful but have a potential for abuse, like Xanax or Valium. There are enhanced penalties for having a controlled substance without a prescription, and increased restrictions on how doctors can dispense them. Pharmacists must report any prescriptions for controlled substances to the state Prescription Monitoring Program, and doctors are required to check the database before prescribing certain controlled substances. Law enforcement also has access to that database. Prescription monitoring has been key to combating the opioid epidemic by identifying doctors who were overprescribing and patients who were getting prescriptions from multiple providers. But with so much political attention on mifepristone and misoprostol as abortion-inducing drugs, doctors are worried about scrutiny for frequently prescribing these common medications. “We had to fix a problem that wasn’t broken,” said Freehill. “There’s no reason for it to be Schedule IV. It’s not something people abuse. It’s not something people can become addicted to. It’s extremely safe.” A group of Louisiana health care providers recently filed a lawsuit arguing the law discriminates against people who need mifepristone and misoprostol for other conditions, and challenging whether the last minute amendments to the bill were proper. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has said the new restrictions are clear and should not delay care. Those who “have attempted to sow confusion and doubt,” she said in a statement, “profit from misinformation.” When the law first went into effect, Anna Legreid Dopp, senior director of government relations for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, told CNN that the group expected other states to consider similar measures. “Almost immediately, our members raised concern that if this is being done in one state, it can easily be a template for other states to use it,” Dopp said. Restrictions on medication Curry, who recently won a special election to fill the seat long held by Republican Rep. Doc Anderson, said Pressly and Herring have offered to come testify in support of his bill this session. He anticipates it getting wide support from his fellow lawmakers. Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, conservative groups have turned their attention to restricting access to abortion-inducing medications. A group of anti-abortion doctors filed a lawsuit to revoke the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, which the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately rejected. Curry said there are reasons to keep these medications on the market beyond abortion, but they need tighter restrictions. “You can lie about your age, you can lie about your name, you can lie about your address, there's no verification whatsoever,” he said, referring to online prescribers. “And it gets shipped to a 15-year-old girl, a 13-year-old girl.” It is already a crime to mail abortion-inducing medications in Texas, and many of the online pharmacies operate in a legal gray area outside U.S jurisdiction. Others are working in states that have “shield laws” that protect doctors’ ability to prescribe and mail pills into states that have banned abortion. None of these interstate and international legal questions have been tested in court with regards to abortion. Freehill said she would encourage Texas doctors to learn from what has happened in Louisiana as they prepare to advocate against this bill this session. “There's a lot of education that needs to be done surrounding what this means and what these drugs are really used for,” she said. “I don’t know that we would have been able to sway people, even with more time, but we can at least educate on why this is completely inappropriate and really governmental overreach.” This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/25/abortion-texas-pills-controlled-substance/ . The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org .Nova Scotia charity serving 600 free turkey dinners for Christmas

NonePatriots safety Jabrill Peppers, accused of domestic violence, cleared to practice and play

A snowball fight at Kidd Brewer Stadium ? There were elements of that Saturday in Boone, North Carolina, when JMU football stood in the tunnel waiting to enter the field in its game against Appalachian State . In a snowy stadium, fans standing by the visitors tunnel hurled snowballs and other objects at the Dukes while they stood in the tunnel. The players had pads and helmets on, but not everyone in the tunnel did. JMU football coach Bob Chesney said even after coming out of the tunnel before the game, snowballs kept falling. He thought there were a few instances during the game. @SunBelt when do your officials plan on stopping the snowballs being thrown on the field at JMU players lined up for the snap? The warning should have been made at the beginning of the game with a penalty for this. pic.twitter.com/4vPADFgAf9 "I thought at one point on the PAT, a snowball hit our long snapper," Chesney said. "It's just what they're doing and who they are and it's exciting." JMU and Appalachian State have developed a rivalry since the Dukes moved to the Sun Belt. In 2022 — during the Dukes' transition year before they were officially part of FBS — JMU came back to win after being down 28-3. In 2023, the Mountaineers beat the Dukes at home in overtime with College GameDay in town. It was JMU's first game at Kidd Brewer Stadium since that comeback win two years ago. The Dukes were greeted with snowballs, among other projectiles. Chesney said he appreciated the fanfare, but was concerned for his staff members who had to go back and forth through the tunnel without protection. "You didn't love going up and down the ramp with ice (thrown) at you," Chesney said. "Especially with coaches and everybody else in there without helmets on. "I think they need to do a little bit of a better job of making sure they protected those people." Those staff members included JMU coaches, support staff and athletic trainers among others. At one point, Chesney's son was out there as well. I mean ... is this not a penalty? Kind of insane the Sun Belt threatened JMU fans for throwing streamers with penalties yet this goes unnoticed https://t.co/w3A1D744Uq As of Monday, Chesney hadn't received official word from the Sun Belt about what happened. He has not heard anything from JMU athletic director Mark Roan, either. "It was interesting coming up through that tunnel," Chesney said, "the unprotected areas with the ice being thrown over, that was an interesting moment, especially with the coaches and our trainers and everybody else. "It was not the greatest situation, but I think we all survived. I thought they could have done a better job, especially with the security people watching them. I think there could have been a little more done to protect those people, especially without the helmets on." Savannah Reger (804) 649-6772 sreger@timesdispatch.com @SavannahReger17 on X Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Lothar Matthäus feels Bayern Munich should spare no expenses with new Jamal Musiala dealKROGER have been slammed after a customer bought a "poor quality" product and were forced to make last minute dinner arrangements. The furious shopper took to social media site X on Tuesday to make the complaint, labelling the product as "ridiculous". A customer took a picture of the beef they had purchased before writing their post. They said: "This is the second time in the last month. "Another last minute dinner change of plans because of poor quality Kroger products. "This is Kroger's 80/20 3lb rolls of beef, ridiculous. read more in money "Yes it's like that all the way through." The image shows the beef to be made up predominantly of vile gristle and fat. One commenter pointed out: "That doesn't look like beef to me!!" Kroger responded to the complaint, saying: "Hi, there! Thanks for reaching out. Most read in Money "Please feel free to send us a private message so we can further assist you. Have a great day!" It is not known if the shopper has had their complaint properly addressed by Kroger. KROGER COMPLAINTS This is not the only time recently in which Kroger has come under fire from its customers online. A shopper has also taken to X to rant about a poor experience with the chain. On 5 December X user John posted: "@kroger literally I ordered groceries last night, paid for them, had them delivered today, and before delivery the price went up? "I got charged again today because the price went up before delivery happened? "That's called fraud. I agreed to pay the price on my receipt." Kroger responded: "Hello John. We're sorry to know about this. "This is not the experience we want for our customers. "Kindly call us at 1-800-576-4377 or send us a DM with your shopper's card number, name, and email address so we can make things right. Kroger shoppers can return items with or without a receipt. All Kroger Co. Family of Stores can accept returns of items purchased at any location within 30 days of purchase. Returns with receipts: Customers can use digital or paper receipts to get a refund The refund will be returned in the same payment method the purchase was made. Either going back on a card or handed back in cash Returns without receipts: Customers wanting to return more than $10 will receive a store merchandise gift card for the value Customers who spent less than $10 will receive cash "Looking forward to hearing from you." On November 29 , an angry shopper took to the social media p-platform X to complain about the supermarket always being out of the items they need. This forces them to go to other places when they are in need of a few bits. The post read: "Every single time I go there they are always out of something I need, so I end up driving 3x as far to Walmart . "I just ran to Kroger for two items, and they are out of both. From now on I'm just going to Walmart." Kroger replied: "Hi! Thank you for bringing this to our attention. "We Suggest you sending us private message to provide you with the best assistance, Thank you. Looking forward to hearing from you." Read More on The US Sun The customer was quick to hit back at the response, saying that it was pointless, and not completely their fault. He wrote: "Why bother? I have been assured the issues are on the distribution side. Stores order product that doesn't show up." Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bob Casey asked the CEO of Kroger to answer eleven questions about AI, labels, and Microsoft's EDGE technology: How many Kroger grocery stores currently use EDGE or other ESL platforms? How many customers are served by these stores? Did any external entities advise Kroger to adopt EDGE and/or continue using EDGE? If yes, who are those external entities? Has Kroger prepared internal estimates regarding the potential to increase prices or profit margins by adopting dynamic pricing with EDGE? How does Kroger establish dynamic prices using the EDGE system? What factors does Kroger consider when changing prices? Please include a description of any time- or volume-based considerations. How does Kroger inform customers of recent or upcoming price changes? How far in advance does Kroger inform customers of price increases that will be implemented using the EDGE system? For all items that have been subject to dynamic pricing using EDGE, what is the average percentage change in price of those items over the first six months of using the system? For what percentage of items has the price increased over the first six months of using the system? Has Kroger ever used EDGE to change the price of an item more than one time within the same day? If not, does Kroger intend to do so in the future? If yes, please list: The locations at which Kroger has changed the price of an item more than once in a day. The complete list of products for which Kroger has changed the price more than once in a day. Will Kroger use customers’ data to institute personalized pricing on its ESL platforms? Will customers have the option to opt out of the collection of personal data through ESL platforms? What safeguards has Kroger put in place to protect against violations of consumer privacy related to ESL platforms? How will Kroger ensure that it will not use customer data related to ESL platforms to discriminate based on protected classes, such as race, gender, or age, when offering personalized prices? The senators requested that Kroger answer these questions by August 20. Source: Letter from Sens. Warren and Casey

With seconds left in the clock, often the most critical moments of any game, who can police the officials' actions if they make a mistake? That will likely be one question for NFL owners to consider during their next Competition Committee meeting, the league's body which "reviews all competitive aspects of the game, including (but not limited to) playing rules, roster regulations, technology, game-day operations and player protection." Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.How a newspaper revolution sparked protesters and influencers, disinformation and the Civil WarAlberta seeks to "de-risk" oil, gas pipeline investments in wake of Trump victory

Qatar will kick off 2025 with a packed calendar of events, from desert escapes and shopping festivals to kite displays and a major marathon, promising a diverse range of attractions for both local and international visitors. The ongoing Ras Abrouq events, which began on December 18 and running until January 18, 2025, marked the start of these festivities. Situated at the northern tip of the Zekreet Peninsula, Ras Abrouq borders the Al-Reem Biosphere Reserve, a Unesco World Heritage site. This exclusive desert experience invites guests to explore the Film City and Desert Escape near the Our Habitas Ras Abrouq Resort. Attendees can immerse themselves in wellness activities, gourmet dining, live music, and cultural performances. According to Visit Qatar, the month-long event also features children's workshops hosted by Al-Hosh Gallery, ensuring a blend of engaging experiences for all ages. The highly-anticipated Shop Qatar 2025 will take place from January 1 to February 1. Dubbed as the nation’s largest shopping festival, this month-long extravaganza will offer a variety of attractions, including live shows, family-friendly entertainment, interactive activations, and promotional offers. Shoppers will also have the chance to win prizes through raffle draws, with rewards ranging from cash to brand-new vehicles. The preservation of Qatari heritage will take centre stage at the 16th Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival (Marmi 2025), also scheduled for January 1 to February 1 at Sabkhat Marmi in the Sealine Area. This annual event, organised by the Al Gannas Qatari Society, attracts a large audience of locals, expatriates, and international tourists eager to witness the various championships and competitions that showcase falconry, a deeply rooted tradition in Qatar and the wider GCC region. Adding a splash of colour to Doha’s skyline, the Qatar Kite Festival is set to return to Old Doha Port from January 16 to 18, 2025. Following its successful debut in February 2024, this three-day festival will feature dozens of kites from around the world, exhibiting a wide array of designs, colours, and sizes. The highlight is set to be a spectacular day-night kite flying display that will captivate spectators. Meanwhile, runners will lace up their shoes on January 17 for the 13th edition of the Doha Marathon by Ooredoo. Anticipating more than 15,000 participants, the event promises to be the largest ever, creating a vibrant atmosphere for both runners and their families. The marathon will start and finish at Hotel Park and will follow a scenic route along Doha’s Corniche. The allure of luxury will be in the spotlight from January 30 to February 5 with the 21st Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition. Taking place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, the exhibition will host more than 500 renowned brands, immersing attendees in the world of high-end design and craftsmanship. With an average of 30,000 visitors from 175 countries, this is a crucial event on the global jewellery and watch calendar. February will continue with the annual Qatar International Food Festival taking place at Hotel Park from February 12 to 22. This popular food fair will showcase an array of local, regional, and international cuisines. The festival will also include nightly fireworks, live entertainment, and culinary workshops. Visit Qatar noted that Web Summit Qatar will return to DECC from February 23 to 26. This Middle Eastern edition of the world’s largest technology conference will bring thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators to Doha, creating opportunities for collaboration and the development of cutting-edge technologies.Temple secures 60-42 win against Hofstra

LOS ANGELES — In an effort to fight the sexual exploitation of children, federal authorities will teach Los Angeles Unified School District students, staff and parents how to stay safe online. A memorandum of understanding between the nation's second-largest school district, the U.S. Attorney's Office and Homeland Security Investigations was announced Friday. HSI Los Angeles special agents, primarily from the Child Exploitation Investigations Group, will offer the so-called iGuardian trainings, which aim to educate participants about the dangers of online sexual predators and instruct them how to avoid and report abuse. The in-person training program will focus mainly on preteens and teenagers but can be tailored to younger children, as well as staff and parents, officials said in a news release . The program is part of a national campaign by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to raise awareness about online child sexual exploitation, which the agency calls a "rapidly escalating threat." That effort also stems from a long-running U.S. Department of Justice initiative that seeks to combat technology-facilitated sex crimes against children. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

m.fb.777 TOKYO (TR) – At the opening of his trial on Thursday, Tamotsu Shiiki, a former member of the House of Representatives, admitted to sexually assaulting a female junior high school student earlier this year. “There is no mistake,” Shiiki, 56, told the Tokyo District Court in admitting to allegations of non-consensual intercourse, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 5). According to the incictment, Shikii sexually assaulted the 12-year-old girl, who was in her first year of junior high school, at a karaoke bar in the Kabukicho red-light district of Shinjuku Ward on the night of August 20. In its opening statement, the prosecution pointed out that Shiiki entered the area of Kabukicho frequented by “ Toyoko Kids ,” a name given to delinquents and runaways who gather around the Toho Cinemas complex in the middle of the quarter. “After confirming the victim’s age, he offered her money in exchange for sex,” the prosecution said, adding that he entered the karaoke bar under a false name. Shiiki ran for office as a candidate in Chiba’s 13th district for the then Japan Restoration Party in 2012. After his election, he served two terms as a member of the House of Representatives. Shiiki ran for office two other times in 2017 (Osaka Prefecture) and 2021 (Chiba Prefecture). However, he failed in both attempts.Tariffs could raise prices

Maravai LifeSciences Appoints R. Andrew Eckert as Chairman of the Board of Directors

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E-commerce giant Amazon is set to revolutionize the delivery experience in India with the introduction of a fast delivery service that aims to deliver products to customers in just 15 minutes. This bold move marks a significant shift in the online shopping landscape in one of the world's largest consumer markets.Superintendent of Police V. Vidyasagar Naidu on Sunday called on the public to maintain peace in Rayachoti town. He was referring to the tensions that arose during a religious procession on December 5. In a press conference, the SP clarified that although police were present, the lack of supervision from the organisers led to the situation escalating, particularly when some youths began chanting objectionable slogans against another community. While elders from both communities initially interacted without conflict, a few individuals attempted to heighten tensions in the town. The SP criticised the spread of misinformation that misrepresented his involvement and sought media attention, emphasising his commitment to hold those responsible for the December 5 disturbances accountable. “To ease tensions, we have conducted peace committee meetings in the town with community leaders to foster mutual understanding among the groups. Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy has also shown great interest in promoting peace in the town,” the SP stated. He lamented that certain sections of social media were rife with false narratives, including claims of mobs attacking devotees and damaging a minivan that was transporting them. “In reality, devotees of Ayyappa Swamy typically travel in minivans, and traffic congestion occurs when one stops near a place of worship. Eyewitness reports confirmed that while some agitators did damage the bus’s mirror, there was a clear understanding between the devotees and police to facilitate the minivan’s passage immediately,” the SP explained. To combat the spread of misinformation, a ‘Police Social Media’ initiative has been launched. The SP asserted that advanced drone technology was now being used to identify those responsible for the disturbances. He warned that instigators of conflict would face stringent punishment, regardless of their community or religion. During the meeting, community leaders reiterated their commitment to peace, highlighting that Rayachoti’s history reflects harmonious coexistence among various castes. The SP urged the community leaders to remain vigilant and united against divisive narratives, further affirming Rayachoti’s legacy of camaraderie and mutual respect. Published - December 08, 2024 07:59 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Andhra Pradesh / Anantapur / social issues (general) / religious conflict

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tariq Francis had 23 points in NJIT's 78-69 win against Morehead State on Wednesday night. Francis also had five rebounds for the Highlanders (1-7). Sebastian Robinson went 8 of 18 from the field (4 for 7 from 3-point range) to add 21 points. Tim Moore Jr. had 16 points and shot 4 for 8 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line. Kenny White Jr. led the Eagles (2-4) in scoring, finishing with 34 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Kade Ruegsegger added 11 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .In light of these developments, it is crucial for a thorough and impartial investigation to be conducted to uncover the truth behind Bo's involvements. The authorities must uphold the principles of justice and ensure that all parties involved are held accountable for their actions. As Bo remains hospitalized for treatment, the public eagerly awaits the outcome of the investigation and the resolution of this complex and controversial case.

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When the gamer shared his creation with the gaming community, it quickly went viral, with many fans praising the design for its unique and unexpected origins. Sony, impressed by the ingenuity of the design, reached out to the gamer and invited him to collaborate on future projects.One of the standout features of this update is the addition of new maps to the game. These new battlegrounds provide fresh challenges and opportunities for players to showcase their skills. Whether you prefer close-quarters combat or long-range sniping, the new maps offer a variety of environments to test your tactics and adaptability.Tafara Gapare throws down 19 points and a highlight dunk, and Maryland beats Bucknell 91-67

Emery, known for his tactical acumen and attention to detail, arrived at Arsenal with high hopes of restoring the club to its former glory. However, his tenure was marked by inconsistent performances and a lack of cohesion within the squad. Suarez, in a recent interview, revealed that Emery's coaching style was rigid and his communication with the players was often unclear.

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Known for his distinctive voice and heartfelt ballads, Dao Lang has captivated audiences across China and beyond. His flowing locks have become an iconic part of his image, adding to his aura of mystery and allure. For many fans, his long hair symbolizes freedom, authenticity, and rebellious spirit. So when Xiao Hua, a self-proclaimed superfan, expressed her willingness to embrace a shaved-headed Dao Lang, it stirred up a wave of curiosity and speculation.Jet crash disaster in South Korea marks another setback for Boeing

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Subsequently, the police took decisive action and detained the vehicle owner for obstructing emergency services and endangering the life of the patient in need of immediate medical attention. The individual was charged with violating traffic laws and disrupting public order, leading to their administrative detention pending further investigation.OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Alabama faces a tougher roadblock than it might appear in its quest to maintain positioning for the College Football Playoff. Sure, Oklahoma has struggled in its first Southeastern Conference season. The Sooners (5-5, 1-5 SEC) have lost four straight conference games. The Sooners have fired their offensive coordinator and they have the worst offense in the league. But they have a tough defense, too. Linebacker Danny Stutsman, a midseason AP All-American, anchors a nasty unit that has kept the Sooners competitive in losses at Ole Miss and Missouri. He ranks second in the SEC with 96 tackles. Defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. has scored four defensive touchdowns since the start of the 2023 season, tied for the most nationally. Defensive end R Mason Thomas has seven sacks, with six coming in the fourth quarter of close games. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is paying attention. “It’s going to take a great week of preparation,” DeBoer said. “A physical football team all around. Their defense is, I think, an extremely tough defense in all ways — just what they do with their scheme and then with their personnel, the way they fly around.” Plus, Oklahoma is motivated. It’s Senior Day for a program that would become bowl eligible with a win. Beating the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide could cure a lot of ills for the Sooners. “I think they know they could be a great example for what fight and what belief and what finishing and what improving and what proving people wrong looks like,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. “And I think this is a group of guys that are committed to doing that.” Alabama (8-2, 4-2) has more answers than most. Jalen Milroe has passed for 15 touchdowns and rushed for 17. Freshman receiver Ryan Williams has 40 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns. “Yeah, incredibly explosive, and they have great playmakers everywhere," Venables said. “Certainly, it starts — everything goes through the quarterback.” There has been much talk about what a third loss would do to Alabama's playoff hopes. DeBoer said his team isn't focused on that. “I think we're really honed in and the guys really believe on and have understood the significance of really focusing on where we’re at right now,” he said. “We talk about the next play is the most important play, the next game is the most important game. We haven’t thought about anything beyond Oklahoma.” Milroe is only the fourth SEC quarterback since 2007 to have at least 15 passing touchdowns and 17 rushing touchdowns in a single season. The others won the Heisman Trophy during their seasons — Florida's Tim Tebow in 2007, Auburn's Cam Newton in 2010 and Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel in 2012. “I think it just starts with doing what’s best for the team, and that’s what Jalen is all about," DeBoer said. Since returning to the lineup early against South Carolina four games ago, Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold has completed 70 of 112 passes for 705 yards with five touchdowns with no interceptions. Still, his fumble that was returned for a touchdown in the final minute against Missouri was the difference in a 30-23 loss. Arnold has dealt with significant criticism all season. “That goes along with that position at a place like the University of Oklahoma,” Venables said. “That’s a position that’s a little bit ... it’s a bit like the head coach position. There’s a different type of microscope and there’s a different type of focus and that’s okay he’s got broad shoulders to handle that.” Oklahoma running back Jovantae Barnes ran for career highs of 203 yards and three touchdowns against Maine two weeks ago, then he sat out last week's loss to Missouri. He's listed as questionable on this week's injury report. He leads the Sooners with 577 yards rushing this season. Venables is impressed with what DeBoer has done in his first year at Alabama since taking over for Nick Saban. “One of Kalen’s strengths as a football coach — a very successful coach — is he takes a group of players that he has, and their staff figures out what they can do,” Venables said. “They major in that, put them in position to be successful based on the players’ strengths. They’ve done a nice job of doing that throughout the course of the season.” Oklahoma beat heavily favored Alabama 45-31 in the Sugar Bowl to cap the 2013 season, a game that helped pump energy into the Sooner program under Bob Stoops. Alabama got revenge in 2018, beating the Sooners 45-34 in the College Football Playoff. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: andThe acquisition of a Virginia Beach software development company is fueling its growth as a health care technology leader that can leverage artificial intelligence to help transform patient care. DOMA Technologies in Virginia Beach joined forces with Livanta, a Baltimore-area health care tech company, as part of their acquisition earlier this year by Pleasant Land, a Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm. Pleasant Land merged the businesses to create a leading high tech provider of health care quality oversight and clinical assessment services. Financial terms of the acquisition and merger were not disclosed. DOMA founder and CEO Pat Feliciano is staying on as chief executive of the combined company headquartered in Virginia Beach. The organizations collectively have 750 full-time employees, including 250 from DOMA. “We anticipate additional growth here and across our locations going forward,” Feliciano said. “We have additional opportunities here on our current site to continue to expand as needed to support future growth.” DOMA, founded by Feliciano in 2000, is finishing a facility buildout for its previously announced expansion of its London Bridge Road headquarters and anticipates its completion by mid-2025. The company name remains under consideration for a rebranding. As a contractor, DOMA has developed federal health care platforms to ultimately improve patient care and has provided medical record solutions to hospital systems. The merger enables the companies to leverage their artificial intelligence and machine learning-enabled digital technologies to unlock new efficiencies in health care delivery, particularly in quality oversight and developing insights into vast amounts of unstructured health data, Feliciano said. Throughout the past 24 years, and especially within the past several years, the company has been on a strong growth path, seeking opportunities to apply its technology expertise. DOMA recently expanded in Baltimore, Maryland, and Las Vegas, Nevada. “In the year ahead, we anticipate growing our team by a couple hundred members, potentially reaching a total of about 1,000 employees across the organization by the end of 2025,” Feliciano said. “This partnership not only amplifies our ability to deliver value to customers and patients but also opens up meaningful career growth opportunities for our team members.” Committed to advancing quality improvement in public health, DOMA is now positioned to serve more than 32 million Medicare beneficiaries and over 3 million veterans. “As a unified entity, we are now one of the largest quality improvement organizations in federal health care,” Feliciano said. Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.comTooele Jr. High evacuated over 'unsubstantiated' bomb threat, police investigating

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The Colorado Avalanche have pulled off a trade with the Nashville Predators, getting a 23-year-old winger in exchange for another forward. Two teams who have been active on the NHL trade market recently have pulled of an exchange of forwards and draft picks. The Colorado Avalanche have acquired 23-year-old forward Juuso Parssinen from the Nashville Predators in exchange for 24-year-old forward Ondrej Pavel. The Avalanche gave up a third round pick in next year's draft in the deal, while the Predators added a seventh rounder. Juuso Parssinen has suited up in 15 games for the Predators in 2024-25, registering five points (2G, 3A). Four of those five points came over a four-game point streak from Nov. 6-11 while also scoring in back-to-back games. Ondrej Pavel, 24, has two assists and 16 penalty minutes in 14 games with the AHL's Colorado Eagles in 2024-25, his second full professional season. Pavel made his NHL debut with the Avalanche on Nov. 7, 2023 against the New Jersey Devils and went on to play in one more game for Colorado that season. Predators GM Barry Trotz recently flipped Alexandre Carrier to the Montreal Canadiens in a one-for-one trade for defenceman Justin Barron . Meanwhile, Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche recently signed goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood to a five year, $25 million dollar contract extension after picking him up in the a trade with a San Jose Sharks a few weeks earlier. This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.Shipsi 3PL Solution Brings Cutting-Edge Tech to Middle and Last Mile Delivery

Rivers crisis: I get stronger every day, says FubaraStock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow recordFor Zimbabwean investors, the thrill of participating in the US and Canadian markets lies in their potential for stability and growth, offering a way to spread risk and possibly enhance returns. Here’s how you can explore these opportunities with just a basic understanding of finance. Diversification is like not putting all your eggs in one basket. Instead of relying solely on local investments, you spread your money across different types of investments, in this case, across different countries. This can protect your wealth from local economic swings. ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) are a great way to start: This index includes the 500 largest companies in the US. Investing in an ETF that tracks this index gives you a piece of all these companies, from tech giants to traditional businesses, reducing the risk compared to picking one stock. This is where I invest most of my money and historically, while the past can not guarantee the future, US S&P 500 has been shown to beat more than 90 percent professional investors in the US. Similarly, this index represents the largest companies in Canada, giving you exposure to Canadian economic health. By investing in these indices, you’re not betting on one company’s success but on the overall market’s performance, which tends to be more stable over time. Note, I invest in an Index through an ETF not in the index itself. Sector-specific investments Known for innovation, the US tech sector includes companies like Apple or Microsoft. These can offer growth but come with their own risks due to rapid changes in technology. Canada has vast natural resources. Investing in this sector can be lucrative, especially with global demand for energy and minerals. These sectors have historically shown strong performance, offering potential for growth that might not be available locally. Currency diversification When your local currency weakens, investments in USD or CAD can act like a financial shield: If the Zimbabwean dollar (ZiG) falls, your investments in stronger currencies could increase in value relative to your local currency. Stability: North American markets are known for their stability compared to some emerging markets, providing a safe haven for your capital. How to Get Started for Zimbabwean Investors Education: Learn the basics. Websites, books, or even local newspaper articles can help. My book can be a starting point, “The Intelligent Millennial Investor” It’s available on my website :www.streetwiseeconomics.com. Look for online brokers that allow international investing. Some platforms cater specifically to non-residents. You don’t need a large sum to begin. Even small investments in ETFs can grow over time. Don’t just invest in one area. Spread across different sectors and countries. The markets, especially technology and commodities, evolve. Stay informed. Conclusion Diversifying into the US and Canadian markets can be a step towards financial security, offering exposure to stable and growing economies. It’s about balancing risk and reward, providing a cushion against local economic volatility.

Today, the Netherlands reinstituted border checks with Germany and Belgium. The new policy, which will initially run for six months, aims “ to combat migration and human-trafficking ”. According to the EU, fourteen of the twenty-nine members of the Schengen passport-free travel area currently have some form of “temporary” border control ; of these all but Malta’s relating to a major international conference feel at least semi-permanent, with Russian sabotage efforts and “risk of violent actions against Israeli citizens” cited by some countries along with irregular migration and organised crime. This hits me particularly hard because of the ten summers in a row between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s I travelled by buses and ferries from Northern Ireland to Germany – in the early years to West Germany – via Belgium and the Netherlands to spend the summer with a German family. I remember the infrastructure on the Dutch-German border being dismantled in the early 1990s; most traffic was waved through before that, although a differently coloured passport could occasionally attract attention from a bored border guard. But on the Antwerp to Eindhoven motorway, even in the 1980s, I can only ever remember a few trucks being parked up in service areas waiting for a customs inspection. Otherwise there was nobody around to check passports and not even a little booth to house them. I had to Google when was the last time private citizens last faced checks on the Dutch-Belgian border; it turns out to be 1947 ! Those of us who have believed in the vision of a united Europe and saw it start to blossom in our lifetimes are watching our dream dying. There are plenty of shrilly self-deluding voices screaming that it has been betrayed by populists and jingoists and paid shills for Putin. The harsh reality, however, is that it is dying because it hasn’t survived contact with reality; and more specifically, it hasn’t survived contact with Europe’s reality of the 2020s being very different from what anyone imagined in 1992, let alone 1947. We could summarise the history of the European Union over the last 35 years in a rock lyric: “ You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the Moon. ” As a once divided Europe emerged into the post-Cold War glow of the 1990s, the European Union embarked on three megaprojects, any one of which individually would have been challenging to implement and bed in over the course of a generation. These were the creation of a single currency across countries with vastly different economic bases, the free movement all EU citizens across the entire bloc, and the expansion of the Union to formerly Communist Eastern Europe, much of which was desperately poor and some of which had endured ethnic wars well into the 1990s. Each was a massive challenge on its own – only free movement has been entirely completed, even by 2024 – and to do all three together in just 30 years or so would have been extraordinary in a continent that was otherwise stable. But the actual 21 st Century EU was also embarked on absorbing the biggest wave of immigration from outside Europe since the last days of the Roman Empire, even before a series of crises from the mid-2010s showed it to be incapable of controlling its external borders. These migrants were coming to a continent that while still rich was rapidly becoming the sick man of the world’s great powers, drowning in the 170,000 pages of European law members had to incorporate into their domestic rulebook , unable to match either American dynamism and invention or the Chinese capacity to produce at low cost and vast scale; without Russia’s vast natural resources; and behind even India and in the number of high value start-up companies it housed, and also behind the post-Brexit UK on its own by this measure . 2024’s Europe is a product of trying to do too much, too soon, while refusing to take the rest of the world seriously. The EU has been stagnant since the 2008 financial crisis; is bullied by China, Russia and soon also Trump’s USA; the far-right is running rampant electorally in more countries than it remains in abeyance; eastern Europe has emptied of its people , especially of its young people; and the EU has midwifed a new élite in its eastern members so wedded to the diktats of managerialist technocracy that Romania has just cancelled an actual presidential election halfway through the process because of TikTok videos . [I know that because I’m liberal and pro-Ukraine, I’m supposed to think it was OK that Romania cancelled its elections because of TikTok videos, but I’m actually pretty sure it wasn’t OK even in its own terms and will also end up having some grim second and third order consequences a few years down the line.] Most of all, the EU sought to create a new primary loyalty for over half a billion Europeans with their national and regional identities relegated to second place. Projects like this are possible—peoples from the Han Chinese to the Romans to the Arabs have made them happen historically—but they are the work of lifetimes and demand significant resources thrown at them to encourage compliance, resources on a scale not likely to be forthcoming in a continent where, ultimately, voters were in control. This collection of political megaprojects also needed clear boundaries; both actual and well-enforced physical control of the EU’s external boundaries and hard limits on the powers that could ultimately be ceded to Brussels. Neither of these were forthcoming; “ Ever Closer Union ” was enshrined in the EU treaties even as the Union and the political class in most of its members told themselves European values were so universal they could be exported to Afghanistan and readily absorbed by any new arrival from elsewhere. Little by little, that political superstructure, far too heavy for its cultural foundations, is breaking down at the edges. The danger is that it is allowed to collapse because nobody can bring themselves to admit that it needs to be trimmed back to what both voters and external powers will allow it to be. And if it just collapses, it might also take down the vision that drove its creation, of a flourishing continent at ease with itself in all its diversity, where another Treblinka or Srebrenica or Passchendaele or Dresden was unimaginable; where nobody could imagine it was worth killing and dying for the future of Northern Ireland or the Basque Country or Transylvania. What comes next if the dream dies? Who knows? Yugoslavia was a wholesome dream, of a new supra-nationalism uniting all South Slavs, superseding the petty chauvinisms of Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim. The USSR’s dream was grander still, of universal brotherhood based on reason, science, and sharing—and who could object to that? Each survived for more than 70 years, for many of them seeming to represent an inevitable and flourishing future. Yet when they collapsed Armenians and Azeris, Serbs and Croats began butchering one another almost immediately. The wars of Soviet succession still continue, not just in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but also in the ethnic cleansing of Karabakh and in the Tajik-Kyrgyz wars you probably never heard about. So I hope and pray that the dream does not die because the alternative is horrid. But it is dying in the manner that people mostly die, slowly and little by little, a cancelled election here, an exiting member there, and then the tedious business of reimposing border controls where they have been absent since the year when Dutch and Belgians trudged through their war-damaged towns to see Miracle on 34th Street in the cinema.

NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a , not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by . The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any and found his backpack there Friday. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn’t as quick as it . Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven’t been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask. Michael R. Sisak And Cedar Attanasio, The Associated Press

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday said disinformation , misinformation , mal-information, and fake news have such power that they are always ready to tear the social fabric with the use of the latest technology. He also underlined that divisive forces are still active in the country, Delivering the '37th Intelligence Bureau Centenary Endowment Lecture', Shah said a country where social unity does not exist cannot progress in any meaningful way. Responsibility for addressing these challenges and preparing the entire police force to tackle them now lies with the country's information warriors, he said. He said that by identifying and eliminating threats promptly, the intelligence ecosystem helps maintain trust and stability within society. He said if challenges such as Naxalism, terrorism, organised crime, divisive forces, communalism, narcotics, and antisocial elements are to be fully controlled, ensuring the security of society is of paramount importance. Shah said there was a need for a robust ecosystem to counter misinformation, and in order to reduce the spread of propaganda to zero, there is a need for a strategy, technology, and readiness in place. The home minister said for the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to realise the vision of a developed India, it must prepare itself to become a cutting-edge agency. He also claimed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India will become the world's third-largest economy by 2027. Shah said that as we progress, competition intensifies, threats increase, and obstructive forces emerge. He said that building a robust infrastructure to counter these threats, from headquarters to police stations and constables is the responsibility of young officers. In order to achieve a fully developed India by 2047, we must visualise all potential threats and prepare a comprehensive roadmap to safeguard the nation from them, he said. Shah said that inclusive development, along with peace and stability in the country, is only possible if we reshape our work under this expanded definition, prepare anew, and remain vigilant. Over the past 10 years under the Modi government, significant successes have been achieved in combating terrorism, Naxalism, insurgency, narcotics, and anarchic elements, he said. He said that under the current government, a major focus has also been placed on improving coordination between states and agencies and they have been strengthened with the backing of the law and amendment to several legislations. Shah said the Modi government introduced three new criminal laws starting from July 1 after discussing with all the stakeholders in many meetings over the last five years. He said he was involved throughout in the drafting of the laws. Once they are fully implemented, India's criminal justice system will become the most modern in the world, justice will be delivered within three years of the filing of any FIR, right up to the Supreme Court, the minister claimed. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes.

Stock market today: Wall Street ends little changed after giving up a big morning gainA group of talented fans have made a native PC port of Star Fox 64 , which they are calling Starship . Even better? It’s technically legal. Harbour Masters, the team behind the project, used a tool that converts the original game ROM into PC executable code, so it doesn’t actually use any proprietary Nintendo code. This is the same method used to create the native PC port of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time , and that one’s still available for download . Members of this crew also ported Majora’s Mask and Super Mario 64 using the same conversion tool. There is one major caveat here. You’ll need your own legally-sourced Star Fox 64 game ROM to play. Star Fox 64: now on PC, thanks to an unofficial port. https://t.co/YZULlJdrqw pic.twitter.com/q684NpU49p — Andy Robinson (@Andy_VGC) December 23, 2024 Just like previous ports, Starship features all kinds of modern bells and whistles to set itself apart from the 1997 original. The frame rate is higher and the port includes frame smoothing technology for better visuals. There are custom-made textures and the ability to run on widescreen monitors, as seen above. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement There’s also another major benefit. This port is moddable, so who knows what we’ll see in the future once people get their hands on it. The team’s Ocarina of Time port has received plenty of love from the modding community. Some mods allow for abilities sourced from newer Zelda games and one even throws functioning Pikmin into the mix because, well, why not? According to Redditors, the Star Fox 64 port is easy to get going on a Steam Deck , if that’s your bag. It requires Proton and some light hurdle-jumping, as the code isn’t Linux-based. It’s been a while since we’ve gotten a legitimate Star Fox game from Nintendo, and it was a weird one , so this could sate that neverending urge to do barrel rolls.

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fb777 app download for android The NFC’s No. 1 seed will come down to the final week when the Detroit Lions host the Minnesota Vikings. The winner takes the NFC North and gets a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The loser becomes the No. 5 seed and must play on the road in the wild-card round. The Vikings (14-2) held on for a 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers to set up the high-stakes showdown in Week 18. The Lions (13-2) visit the San Francisco 49ers (6-9) on Monday night in a rematch of the NFC title game. Win, lose or tie, they have to beat the Vikings again. Detroit beat Minnesota 31-29 in Week 7. The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East and locked up the No. 2 seed with a 41-7 rout of the Dallas Cowboys. However, coach Nick Sirianni has a tough decision to make this week. Saquon Barkley is 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season record for yards rushing in a season. Sirianni has to decide whether to rest Barkley and most of his starters to prepare for the playoffs or let his star try for the 40-year-old record. The Los Angeles Rams (10-6) were on the verge of clinching the NFC West. They would lock it up Sunday night if the Commanders beat the Falcons. The outcome of the Atlanta-Washington game has a major impact on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7). If the Falcons win, they’d remain first in the NFC South and would win the division with a victory against Carolina next week. If the Falcons lose, the Buccaneers would take over first place and would secure the division with a victory over New Orleans next week. The Commanders would secure a wild-card spot with a win against Atlanta. If they lose, Seattle stays mathematically alive for a wild card and the Buccaneers could also find a path to the playoffs as a wild-card team. Three teams in the AFC have already secured their seeds. The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) won the AFC West weeks ago and clinched the No. 1 seed. The AFC East champion Buffalo Bills (13-3) are the No. 2 seed. The AFC South champion Houston Texans (9-7) are the No. 4 seed. The Baltimore Ravens (11-5) would win the AFC North and get the No. 3 seed with a win or tie against Cleveland next weekend or a loss or tie by Pittsburgh, which hosts Cincinnati. If they don’t win the division, the Steelers have already clinched a wild-card berth. The Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) also secured a wild-card spot. They’ll be no lower than the sixth seed. The final AFC playoff spot comes down to the Broncos (9-7), Dolphins (8-8) or Bengals (8-8). Denver clinches with a win or tie against the Chiefs. The Dolphins need the Broncos to lose and they must beat the Jets on the road to get in. The Bengals must win and the Broncos and Dolphins have to lose for them to get in. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press

Former Miss Basketball Rebecca Feickert building connections along the wayOlder siblings everywhere could appreciate John Harbaugh's refusal to concede an inch against his younger brother Jim. Even when his Baltimore Ravens faced fourth down in the second quarter, John wasn't giving up the ball without a fight. The Ravens converted that fourth down and two others on their way to over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night, giving their coach a third victory in three matchups against his brother. It was the first time they'd faced off since Baltimore beat San Francisco — then coached by Jim Harbaugh — in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2012 season. “We grew up in the same room and have always lived our life side by side, but that’s not what the game is about,” John Harbaugh said. “The game really is about the players, and the players are always going to win the game or lose the game or whatever.” On this night, it was Baltimore's players who shined. Specifically Derrick Henry, who rushed for 140 yards. Lamar Jackson threw a couple of touchdown passes, and the defense was solid, allowing touchdowns on the first and last Los Angeles drives but not much in between. “I’m proud of our guys,” John Harbaugh said. “I’m proud of the way they came out and responded after the first 10 points — we were down 10-0, and our guys stepped up.” After converting fourth-and-1 at their 16 late in the second quarter, the Ravens scored on a 40-yard pass from Jackson to Rashod Bateman, taking the lead for good at 14-10. Baltimore's other two fourth-and-1 conversions came on a 14-play touchdown drive that spanned the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth. “We’re just confident that we’ll end up converting on those fourth downs, and we did a great job blocking,” said Henry, who converted the last two of the fourth downs. "All we had to do was make a play, and we did.” The Ravens got back to their identity a bit, rushing for 212 yards. And it wasn't just Henry and Jackson contributing. Justice Hill broke free for a 51-yard touchdown that made it 30-16 in the fourth. “Nobody wants to stand in front of (Derrick Henry) every single play, every single run,” Hill said. "You can do it one time, two times, three times, but when you have to do it 20 to 25 times, it starts to wear down. I’m glad we stuck with the run game this game, and it played out for us.” There were still too many penalties, with the Ravens flagged nine times for 102 yards. Baltimore played a pretty clean game until the fourth quarter, so several of those flags came after the Ravens had the game reasonably under control, but this is still an area of concern. With star linebacker Roquan Smith out because of a hamstring injury, Malik Harrison led the Ravens with a dozen tackles. “It’s a lot of people that doubted me coming into this game, so I’m happy I was able to ball out and show them that I can be in this league, and I can play at a high level,” Harrison said. There was a time when Isaiah Likely seemed as if he might be supplanting Mark Andrews as Baltimore's top tight end threat, but Likely went without a catch Monday. He did, however, recover the onside kick that effectively ended the game. Although Smith was out, DT Travis Jones (ankle) and C Tyler Linderbaum (back) were able to start. Jackson has now thrown 22 touchdown passes with no interceptions on Monday nights, with a passer rating of 124.3. The Ravens have one more game before their open date, and it's a showdown this weekend against a Philadelphia team that has won seven in a row. Saquon Barkley (1,392) of the Eagles and Henry (1,325) have both surpassed 1,300 yards rushing already. Nobody else in the NFL has more than 1,000. AP NFL:

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans made mistakes in every facet of the game Sunday against the Tennessee Titans to lose for the third time in four games. C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions, the defense gave up multiple big passing plays and Ka′imi Fairbairn missed a 28-yard field goal that would have tied it late in a 32-27 loss . “Just a disappointing loss for us,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We didn’t do anything well enough to win this game. Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives, too many negative plays.” Jimmie Ward had a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter and the Texans tied a franchise record with eight sacks. Danielle Hunter led the group with a season-high three sacks and Will Anderson Jr. added two in his return after missing two games with an ankle injury. But the offense sputtered for most of the game as Joe Mixon was held to 22 yards on 14 carries. But Ryans refused to blame the offense for the loss. “Our offense did plenty," Ryans said. "They gave us enough points. On defense, we have to be able to stop them.” Chig Okonkwo grabbed a short pass and rumbled 70 yards for a touchdown to put the Titans (3-8) up 30-27 with 91⁄2 minutes remaining. Safety Eric Murray missed a tackle that would have stopped him near midfield. It was the last of three big passing plays the Titans had Sunday. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine got in front of the defense and was wide open for a 38-yard TD catch that made it 10-7 late in the first quarter. Calvin Ridley had a 63-yard reception that set up their next touchdown in the second. “It was just way too many negative plays,” Ryans said. “Defensively, unexplainable explosives for touchdowns. We didn’t play good across the board and that starts with me.” Despite this, the Texans (7-5) had a chance to tie it with less than two minutes remaining, but Fairbairn’s short field-goal attempt sailed wide left. He fell to the ground after the miss before getting up and slamming his helmet on the field. “The most frustrating part about it is out of all the bad things that happened, we still had a chance to finish the game,” Ryans said. “Everything that could go wrong, it went wrong. We still had a chance there to tie it up and finish the game, and we didn’t.” The Texans forced a three-and-out, but couldn’t move the ball after that and Harold Landry sacked Stroud in the end zone for a safety to make it 32-27 and allow Tennessee to snap a two-game skid. Stroud threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, but his two interceptions Sunday give him five combined in the past three games. He now has more interceptions in 12 games this season (nine) than he had in 15 games as a rookie last season (five). “It’s no secret that I haven’t been playing well ... I’ve got to be harder on myself,” he said. “I’m not going to hold my head down. I know I can be a great player, but I’ve got to make better plays.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The goals are flying in again for Arsenal — and it just happens to coincide with the return from injury of Martin Odegaard. Make that eight goals in two games since the international break for Arsenal after its 5-1 hammering of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, tying the English team’s heaviest ever away win in the competition. Odegaard is back in Arsenal’s team after missing two months with an ankle injury . In that time, Mikel Arteta’s attack stuttered, with a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth and a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle dropping the Gunners well off the pace in the Premier League. There was also a 0-0 draw at Atalanta in the Champions League as well as a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan last month, when Odegaard made his comeback from injury as an 89th-minute substitute. Since then, Arsenal hasn’t lost and the goals have returned. After a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday came the cruise in Lisbon — and Odegaard was at the heart of everything as Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end. “He’s an unbelievable player,” Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka said of Odegaard. “The day he returned, there was a big smile on my face. You can see the chemistry we have. I hope he stays fit for the rest of the season.” Odegaard was involved in the build-up to Arsenal’s first two goals against Sporting — scored by Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz — and was fouled to win the penalty converted by Saka in the 65th to restore Arsenal’s three-goal lead at 4-1. Odegaard was seen flexing his leg after that but continued untroubled and was substituted in the 78th minute. The last thing Arteta would want now is another injury to Odegaard as Arsenal attempts to reel in first-place Liverpool in the Premier League. Liverpool is already nine points ahead of fourth-place Arsenal after 12 games. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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Autohome Inc. (ATHM) To Go Ex-Dividend on December 31stMontreal’s police chief said he expects more arrests stemming from a Friday anti-NATO protest that turned violent, while one of the protest organizers on Sunday denounced political reaction as hijacking the underlying message of the demonstration. Uniformed police officers could be seen Sunday both inside and outside Montreal’s Palais des congres convention centre as the annual meeting continued with no signs of demonstrations, although some protesters had planned a “counter-summit” at a community centre just north of downtown. Chief Fady Dagher told reporters on Saturday that more arrests would be coming thanks to additional evidence gathered during the protests, adding that police were aware of who was behind the vandalism including smashed windows and burned cars as well as alleged assaults on police officers. Police said that during the march, smoke bombs were deployed, metal barriers were thrown into the street and windows smashed of nearby businesses and the convention centre where delegates from NATO parliamentary assembly, including members and partner states, gathered for a session set to wrap Monday. Among the issues being broached were support for Ukraine, climate change and the future of the alliance. Dagher estimated that about 800 people took part in protests from several groups, but about 20 to 40 people were allegedly responsible for the trouble. “I do not want to advertise these groups and glorify these groups, it is a big trap to do so,” Dagher said. “But I can assure to you ... it is a few groups.” Montreal police arrested three people following Friday’s demonstration — a 22-year-old woman who was arrested for allegedly obstructing police work and assaulting a police officer and two men, 22 and 28, also each facing a charge for allegedly obstructing police work. All are scheduled to appear in court at a later date. “Despite what you saw in the images, last-minute impromptu events are extremely difficult to anticipate,” Dagher added. “We have other pieces of evidence. So probably we will have other arrests.” Friday night’s protest was condemned by politicians of all stripes Saturday as acts of antisemitism, which one organizer rejected, saying the protests were against the actions of the state of Israel and not Jewish people. On Sunday, the Divest for Palestine Collective denounced what it called “dishonest attempts” of politicians to hijack the “anti-militarist, anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist messages” delivered by protesters. In an emailed statement, it refuted allegations of antisemitism. “These are false accusations aimed at delegitimizing the solidarity movement for the liberation of Palestine and undermining the fight against antisemitism,” the group wrote. The group defended setting ablaze a doll representing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the protest. Earlier this week, the International Court of Justice issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu as well as his former defence minister and Hamas members. “It is a legitimate expression of collective anger against the political indifference at the heart of an ongoing colonial genocide,” the collective said. The collective also denounced what it called police violence against demonstrators, saying at least four protesters had to be taken to hospital with various injuries. Dagher said he could not make a firm link between Friday’s acts and antisemitism, but added that since the Oct. 7 attacks more than one year ago, incidents and acts of antisemitism and Islamophobia have both increased enormously in the city. The police chief however, defended his officers handling of Friday’s event, which he felt could have been much worse. He added he would spend the rest of the weekend with his officers on the ground to lend support.

WASHINGTON − President-elect Donald Trump reached an agreement Tuesday with outgoing President Joe Biden's White House that will allow for the official transition of power to finally begin three weeks after Trump's election victory. But Trump is not signing a separate agreement with the General Services Administration, which would have unlocked federal funding, government buildings and cybersecurity technology for the transition. Instead, his transition will be backed by private dollars and operate as a "self-sufficient organization." The memorandum of understanding between Trump and the Biden White House − announced by Trump's incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles − allows Trump and his transition team to access non-public government information, receive government briefings and deploy personnel inside the federal agencies and departments they will soon take over. "This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power," Wiles said in a statement. More: Trump still hasn't signed agreements to begin transition of power, White House says Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team. Under the Presidential Transition Act, a transition agreement was supposed to be signed Oct. 1 ahead of Election Day. But for weeks, Trump delayed signing an agreement with the General Services Administration. CNN and other media outlets reported Trump had concerns about a mandatory ethics pledge in the memorandum of understanding that included avoiding conflicts of interest in the White House. Rather than the GSA's ethics pledge, the Trump transition team said it plans to use its "existing ethics plan for those involved," which will meet federal requirements and be posted on the General Services Administration's website. More: Trump is breaking from past presidents on the Presidential Transition Act. What is it? Trump is also vowing not to use taxpayer funding for transition costs, although the financial arrangement was not immediately clear. The New York Times reported over the weekend that Trump has so far kept secret the donors who are funding his transition. "Donors to the transition will be disclosed to the public," the Trump transition team said in a statement on the new agreement. "Consistent with Transition policy already in place, the Transition will not accept foreign donations." Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrisonEvil Kentucky mom Tiffanie Lucas gives chilling four-word response after murdering her two sons

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Furthermore, Ricoh's strong governance practices have been instrumental in achieving its five-star rating in the Nikkei survey. The company has a transparent reporting system in place, ensuring that stakeholders are kept informed about its sustainability performance. By aligning its business strategies with ethical principles and regulatory requirements, Ricoh has built a reputation for trustworthiness and integrity.In recent weeks, a notable shift in the dynamics of the Syrian conflict has captured international attention, as the Syrian opposition appears to be sensing an opportunity while Turkey's stance towards the situation seems to be evolving. This sudden development has sparked speculation and raised questions about the potential implications for the region.NoneIn times of transition and change, it is essential for organizations to stay grounded and focused on their core mission and values. Ant Financial must rally its troops and instill a sense of confidence and unity among its employees to weather the storm and emerge stronger on the other side. This starts with transparent communication from the top down, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned and informed about the company's strategy and priorities.

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The billing of London-born former Chelsea boss Hayes against England’s Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman – arguably the best two bosses in the women’s game – had generated more buzz in the build-up than the players on the pitch, despite it being a rare encounter between the two top-ranked sides in the world. Hayes enjoyed her return to familiar shores but felt the US lacked the “killer piece” after they looked the likelier side to make the breakthrough. Elite meeting of the minds 🌟 pic.twitter.com/R4d8EArqTp — U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) November 30, 2024 Asked what was going through her mind during the national anthem, Hayes said: “I was definitely mouthing (it), and Naomi (Girma) and Lynn (Williams) could see that I was struggling with where to be and all that. “I got to the end of the anthems and I thought, ‘that’s so ridiculous. I’m proud to be English and I’m proud of our national anthem, and I’m also really proud to coach America’. “Two things are possible all at once. I don’t want to fuel a nationalist debate around it. The realities are both countries are really dear to me for lots of reasons, and I’m really proud to represent both of them.” The Lionesses did not register a shot on target in the first half but grew into the game in the second. US captain Lindsey Horan had the ball in the net after the break but the flag was up, while Hayes’ side had a penalty award for a handball reversed after a VAR check determined substitute Yazmeen Ryan’s shot hit Alex Greenwood’s chest. Hayes, who left Chelsea after 12 trophy-packed years this summer, said: “I’ve been privileged to coach a lot of top-level games, including here, so there’s a familiarity to being here for me. “It’s not new to me, and because of that there was a whole sense of I’m coming back to a place I know. I have a really healthy perspective, and I want to have a really healthy perspective on my profession. “I give everything I possibly can for a team that I really, really enjoy coaching, and I thrive, not just under pressure, but I like these opportunities, I like being in these situations. They bring out the best in me. “You’ve got two top teams now, Sarina is an amazing coach, I thought it was a good tactical match-up, and I just enjoy coaching a high-level football match, to be honest with you. I don’t think too much about it.” Hayes had travelled to London without her entire Olympic gold medal-winning ‘Triple Espresso’ forward line of Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith, all nursing niggling injuries. Before the match, the 48-year-old was spotted chatting with Wiegman and her US men’s counterpart, fellow ex-Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, who was also in attendance. England were also missing a number of key attackers for the friendly including Lauren Hemp, Lauren James and Ella Toone, all ruled out with injury. "This shows where we are at and we need to keep improving. It is November now. This is good but we want to be better again. We have to be better again." 👊 Reaction from the boss ⬇️ — Lionesses (@Lionesses) November 30, 2024 Wiegman brushed aside suggestions from some pundits that her side were content to settle for a draw. She said: “I think we were really defending as a team, very strong. We got momentum in the second half, we did better, and of course both teams went for the win. “So many things happened in this game, also in front of the goal, so I don’t think it was boring. “We wanted to go for the win, but it was such a high-intensity game, you have to deal with a very good opponent, so you can’t just say, ‘Now we’re going to go and score that goal’. “We tried, of course, to do that. We didn’t slow down to keep it 0-0. I think that was just how the game went.”

The auction of the ruby slippers, held at a prestigious auction house in Los Angeles, attracted a flurry of bidders from around the world eager to own a piece of Hollywood history. The intense competition and fervent bidding that ensued reflected the deep emotional connection that fans and collectors have with the film and its beloved characters.One factor that has contributed to the player's downfall is his age. At 32, he is no longer the youthful talent that he once was. In a sport where speed and agility are crucial, age can quickly become a limiting factor. Despite his experience and skill, he has struggled to keep up with the younger, faster players on the pitch.

In a game where every point mattered, the Beijing center's performance left much to be desired. Throughout the game, the center struggled to make an impact on the court, failing to effectively defend against his opponents and secure crucial rebounds. His lack of physicality and aggression were evident as he was outmuscled and outplayed by his counterparts.Minnesota 30, Chicago 27, OT

fb777 tv By Brad Lendon , CNN Analysis - Russia's use of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile this week is the latest escalation in the Ukraine war. It also marks a decisive, and potentially dangerous moment in Moscow's conflict with the West. The use of what Vladimir Putin said was a ballistic missile with multiple warheads in offensive combat is a clear departure from decades of the Cold War doctrine of deterrence. Ballistic missiles with multiple warheads, known as "multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles", or MIRVs, have never been used to strike an enemy, experts say. "To my knowledge, yes, it's the first time MIRV has been used in combat," Hans Kristensen, the director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, said. Ballistic missiles have been the underpinning of deterrence, offering what is known as "mutual assured destruction", or MAD, in the nuclear age. The thinking is, if even a few missiles survive a nuclear first strike, there will be enough firepower left in the opponent's arsenal to wipe out several major cities of the aggressor, therefore ensuring neither side is unable to escape the consequences of nuclear actions. In that vein, ballistic missiles were designed to stand sentinel over a future where nuclear arms would never again be fired in anger. But analysts, including Kristensen, argue that MIRVed missiles may invite, rather than deter, a first strike. The highly destructive capacity of MIRVs means that they are both potential first-strike weapons and first-strike targets, Kristensen and colleague Matt Korda at the Federation of American Scientists wrote in a study published in March. That is because it is easier to destroy multiple warheads before they are launched, than try to shoot them down as they are dropping at hypersonic speed on their targets. And according to a recent posting from the Union of Concerned Scientists, a US-based nonprofit science advocacy organisation, this creates a "use them or lose them" type scenario - an incentive to strike first in a time of crisis. "Otherwise, a first strike attack that destroyed a country's MIRVed missiles would disproportionately damage that country's ability to retaliate," said the posting. Videos of Thursday's Russian strike showed the multiple warheads falling at different angles on the target, and each warhead would need to be defeated with an anti-missile rocket, a daunting prospect even for the best air defense systems. And while the warheads dropped on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday were not nuclear, their use in conventional combat operations is certain to raise new uncertainty in a world already on edge. Importantly, Russia alerted the United States to the use of the missile fired Thursday beforehand. But even with that advanced warning, any further launches by Putin's regime will now inevitably ratchet up fears across Europe, with many asking the question: Has deterrence just died? The world MIRVs It is not only Russia and the United States that have MIRV technology. China has it on its intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-proliferation, and the United Kingdom and France, along with Russia and the US, have long had MIRV technology on their submarine-launched ballistic missiles. And there are new players in the MIRV game, too. Pakistan reportedly tested a missile with multiple warheads in 2017, and earlier this year India said it had successfully tested a MIRVed ICBM. Analysts worry about land-based MIRVs more than those on subs. That is because subs are stealthy and hard to detect. Land-based missiles, especially those in stationary silos, are more easily found and therefore are more tempting targets. In their March report, Kristensen and Korda wrote about the perils of the expanding MIRV club, calling it "a sign of a larger worrisome trend in worldwide nuclear arsenals" and an "emerging nuclear arms race". India proclaimed MIRV success during a test the same month was just one warning sign, they wrote. "It follows China's deployment of MIRVs on some of its DF-5 ICBMs, Pakistan's apparent pursuit of MIRVs for its Ababeel medium-range missile, North Korea may also be pursuing MIRV technology, and the United Kingdom has decided to increase its nuclear stockpile to enable it to deploy more warheads on its submarine-launched missiles," Kristensen and Korda wrote. They argue that more MIRV warheads in a range of county's arsenals "would dramatically reduce crisis stability by incentivizing leaders to launch their nuclear weapons quickly in a crisis". "A world in which nearly all nuclear-armed countries deploy significant MIRV capability looks far more dangerous than our current geostrategic environment," they said. - CNN

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Packers with a sore throwing shoulder.

Iconic footballer Lionel Messi is finally making his way to Fortnite, and according to leakers, he's coming with a pretty impressive bundle. Fortnite 's cosmetic game has been consistently the best in the industry, steering into its absurd approach and delivering on perhaps the biggest and most sprawling pop culture crossovers we've ever seen in gaming. It sounds like high praise, but few games can squeeze an Edward Scissorhands skin and a Disney 's Baymax cosmetic into their game without looking silly. Fortnite has been delivering massively with its massive Chapter 6 Battle Pass full of original characters, and as players work through new Lego and OG Passes at the same time, it seems that there's no shortage of great cosmetics for players to show their flair, but as the Item Shop rolls into new territory, there are more characters (or rather, real people) to be added. And, football fans, you're not going to miss this, as eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is about to hit the Item Shop with a full cosmetic bundle in tow. Fortnite Ballistic launches in early access: Epic Games introduces first-person 5v5 mode Fortnite players could get $72 million refund stemming from predatory in game purchases Here's what you need to know about the Messi Fortnite skin, and when to expect it. The Messi Fortnite skin will be released into the Item Shop at 7pm EST / 4pm PST on Friday, December 13 , and for UK players, that means 12am GMT on Saturday, December 14 , this is according to reliable leaker @SpushFNBR. This time coincides with the Item Shop refresh for the day, so it seems bang on. According to the leaker, here’s everything we can expect to touch down in the item shop when he arrives: Two outfits (one costing 1,800 V-Bucks, the other costing 1,500 V-Bucks) Two Back Blings (included with each outfit) Two emotes (one built-in, presumably with the more expensive outfit, and one for 400 V-Bucks) Two Pickaxes (800 V-Bucks each) The full bundle containing every Messi Fortnite item will come to 2,800 V-Bucks in total , saving you a huge 2,500 V-Bucks. If you want to buy the pack from a V-Bucks wallet of zero, the best way to do so would be to buy a bundle of 2,800 V-Bucks, which will cost you £17.49 / $22.99 / AU$30.35 . We’re not sure what the Messi Fortnite outfits will look like yet, though we can probably presume that he’ll appear in his current team’s kit, which is Inter Miami, as well as a more abstract outfit if it’s set to come with its own built-in emote. Whatever it is, we’re sure fans will shell out for it anyway. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.Published 3:37 pm Saturday, November 23, 2024 By Data Skrive A win by the Minnesota Vikings over the Chicago Bears is our computer model prediction for these teams’ upcoming matchup, on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. ET (at Soldier Field). For more information, including the spread, over/under and final score, keep scrolling. Looking for NFL tickets? Head to StubHub today and see your team live. The Vikings rank 15th in total offense (341 yards per game) and 10th in total defense (309.2 yards allowed per game) this season. The Bears rank fourth-worst in total yards per game (289), but they’ve been better on the other side of the ball, ranking 14th in the NFL with 327.7 total yards ceded per contest. BetMGM is one of the most trusted Sportsbooks in the nation. Start with as little as $1 and place your bets today . Ready to make your pick? Head to BetMGM using our link and start betting today. Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply) Rep your favorite NFL players with officially licensed gear. Head to Fanatics to find jerseys, shirts, hats, and much more. Catch every NFL touchdown with NFL RedZone on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .

NoneFBI Director Christopher Wray announced he will resign in advance of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration — meaning he will depart from the bureau about three years before his term ends. Wray’s decision, which was revealed on Dec. 11, came shortly after Trump nominated Kash Patel — a strong supporter of his — to lead the FBI. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work,” Wray, who was nominated by Trump in 2017, told his colleagues, according to The Associated Press. Trump celebrated the move, writing in a post on Truth Social that Wray’s resignation “is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice.” Amid these developments, here is what to know about FBI directors and their tenureships. During the early years of the FBI, the attorney general was charged with choosing the bureau’s director, who was not constrained by term limits . However, in 1968, Congress passed a law establishing that the president would appoint the director, who would require Senate confirmation. “By that point the FBI was considered important enough to warrant an executive appointment,” Douglas Charles, a history professor at Pennsylvania State University Greater Allegheny, who researches the FBI, told McClatchy News. “Before then, attorneys general hired and fired them.” In 1976, Congress passed a law permitting the FBI director to serve one 10-year term. The law “stemmed directly from the fact that J. Edgar Hoover was entrenched as director for 48 years,” Charles said. Hoover led the intelligence agency from 1924 to 1972 , during which time he amassed significant powers, he said. As a result, the law sought to prohibit anyone else from following in his footsteps. Hoover wasn’t the only impetus for the term limit, though. “This law came, as well, in the wake of Watergate where President Nixon tried to have his own man, his own lackey, L. Patrick Gray, become FBI director,” Charles said. So, the law “sought to isolate the FBI from White House political influence.” There have been 12 directors — including acting directors — since the 10-year term limit was established, and nearly all of them left office before their term ended, according to FBI records. For example, Clarence Kelley , who was nominated by Nixon, led the agency for about five years between 1973 and 1978. Similarly, Louis Freeh , who was nominated by President Bill Clinton, helmed the agency for about eight years between 1993 and 2001. The only director to stay on for a full term was Robert Mueller , who was in office for 12 years. President George W. Bush nominated Mueller to head the FBI in 2001, and in 2011, before his term ended, President Barack Obama asked Congress to pass legislation extending his term for two more years — which it did. “The United States faces ongoing threats from terrorists intent on attacking us both at home and abroad, and it is crucial that the FBI have sustained, strong leadership to confront that threat,” Attorney General Eric Holder said at the time. “There is no better person for that job than Bob Mueller.” → How does Senate confirmation process work? What to know as Trump makes Cabinet picks → Trump to return to White House after 4 years. Only one past president has done that → How did LGBT Americans vote in election? Exit poll finds significant shift from 2020 “Only two FBI directors were outright fired,” Charles said. The first was William Sessions, whom Clinton dismissed in 1993 after learning the director had been accused of misusing FBI resources. Specifically, he had been accused of using a government airplane for personal reasons, installing a fence around his house using government funds and failing to pay taxes on an FBI limousine, according to ABC News. Twenty-four years later, in 2017, Trump fired FBI Director James Comey amid a bureau investigation into whether Trump’s campaign had colluded with the Russian government. At the time, Trump said Comey’s ouster was required to bring back “public trust and confidence” in the FBI, according to The Associated Press. “There have been other FBI directors who resigned in the past after improprieties or scandals surfaced,” Charles said. “I call these Washington, D.C., ‘firings’ where they were quietly asked to resign or just stepped aside.” One of these was L. Patrick Gray, who became acting director following the death of Hoover in 1972. He resigned in 1973 after it was disclosed that he had destroyed incriminating White House documents related to the Watergate scandal , according to The Guardian. Gray’s successor, Kelley, also left office early following a scandal. Following the election in 1976, it was revealed that FBI carpenters did construction on his home, costing a total of $355, Charles said. “In the wake of Hoover and Watergate this was seen as a scandal,” he said. “By our standards today it is small potatoes.” President Jimmy Carter, who was inaugurated in 1977, ended up making a deal with Kelley, in which he would step down after one year, Charles said.Giants face challenge in hosting Ravens, trying to end 8-game skid

Rwanda launches agriculture strategy to build resilient, sustainable agri-food systems

EXCLUSIVE James Kennedy's girlfriend spoke lovingly of Vanderpump Rules star just one day AFTER his arrest Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By CHRISTINE RENDON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 23:22, 12 December 2024 | Updated: 23:55, 12 December 2024 e-mail 8 View comments Ally Lewber gushed about how 'proud' she was of boyfriend James Kennedy in an interview conducted the day after his domestic violence arrest. Lewber spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com at the New Year's Eve with Windsor soiree in Los Angeles , one day after Kennedy was detained on misdemeanor domestic violence charges after getting into an argument with an unknown woman. The arrest came after Kennedy and Lewber attended Kathy Hilton 's Christmas bash earlier that day. Speaking exclusively with DailyMail.com on Wednesday prior to news of the arrest breaking, Lewber described how happy she was to see how far Kennedy had come in his career and their plans to host her family at their home for Christmas. Lewber also revealed their professional endeavors post-Vanderpump Rules, with the show now moving forward with a new cast for it's upcoming 12th season. 'My family's coming here. So James and I are going to host this year.... I feel like an adult. Like my family's coming to me,' Lewber, who was co-hosting the Windsor bash, said. Ally Lewber gushed about how 'proud' she was of boyfriend James Kennedy in an interview conducted the day after his domestic violence arrest The arrest came after Kennedy and Lewber attended Kathy Hilton's Christmas bash together 'I got them stockings with their initials on it, so when they go in the guest room, I'm going to make it all cute,' she said. The holidays come shortly after Bravo announced they would be moving forward with a brand new cast for Vanderpump Rules, replacing the long-time stars with fresh faces. Lewber said they sensed the shake-up would be happening prior to the shock announcement. Read More EXCLUSIVE Vanderpump Rules alum Rachel Leviss breaks her silence on ex-fiance James Kennedy's arrest 'We knew it was going to look different,' she said. 'I don't think we knew for sure like... oh we got the boot. But we kind of knew it was coming. I think it was just seeing the fan's reactions that made it seem so real. Lewber said James handled the departure in a 'mature' manner. 'Like James, the way that he handled it, was so mature, because we talked about it a lot, and I think we both decided this doesn't fit our lifestyle. We already kind of known that. 'And so even over the past months, before we kind of knew, and it just feels like reaching for drama,' she said. 'I feel like excited for the future actually, and I don't have anxiety. I'm like, okay cool - You want to DJ, I want to do astrology. We're grateful for obviously, we've all seen James from where he is in the beginning to where he is now.' Ally said she was 'proud' of her boyfriend, who is now DJ-ing after starting off his reality TV career as a busser at SUR. 'We all knew James in the beginning, you know where he was, which was a busser, and he's worked his way to get to where he is now and I know he's proud of himself. I'm proud of him.' And the astrologer believes the axing is generally a 'good thing' for the cast, adding the stars will all be 'fine' after the shake-up. Ally said she was 'proud' of her boyfriend, who is now DJ-ing after starting off his reality TV career as a busser at SUR Lewber spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com at the New Year's Eve with Windsor soiree Lewber co-hosted the LA soiree 'I think it's overall a really good thing... they're a family, you know? And I feel I'm apart of it a little bit. They're a family and they've been through so much together. I feel like it is, it's just a change. It's a big change. Everyone will be fine. They're all going to be fine. It's time. 'The universe made the decision, it is what it is. Drama free? It's a good thing,' she said. Lewber hinted that Scheana Shay was particularly emotionally impacted by the axing. 'I talk to Scheana the most. I haven't seen her in person, so it's hard to really gauge the true emotions. I think that everyone's a little... I think we all feel the same. I think Scheana is probably the most... she's sensitive,' she said. 'Her and James are the both I would say the most emotional, sensitive ones. And she'll be fine, she knows that. 'But it is still a little, wow, we have to say goodbye to this entire era,' she said, adding she was touched seeing the fans reaction to their departure. 'The fans, everyone making all those tweets and stuff, I was watching them, it made me cry,' she said. 'That's so sweet.' As far as a potential future on the Vanderpump Rules spin-off, The Valley, Ally said that wasn't in the cards for them Ally sensed this wouldn't be the last viewers would be seeing of Kennedy. 'I think that James will find his way back on the screen. I told him, "You were meant for TV. You're meant for the stage. DJ-ing, reality, wherever it is. It's where he's destined, I think. And definitely DJ, I think he's actually excited to really focus on that.' 'He has a full other year of LIV Nightclub at the Fountainbleu,' she said. 'And then he's touring with Pauly D... They're doing a little like collab. I think it's just for two months, the first half of next year.' she said. 'And then he's like making music.' 'He's been in the studio yesterday, was in the studio today, working with different DJs, so he's going to like release music,' she added. As far as a potential future on the Vanderpump Rules spin-off, The Valley, Ally said that wasn't in the cards for them. 'I don't think it's for us,' she said, however added, 'I'll never say never, we never know what's happening in the future.' Despite the uncertain TV future, professionally Ally will be keeping busy with her astrology business and a 'big' project she plans on announcing shortly after the new year. Los Angeles Vanderpump Rules James Kennedy Share or comment on this article: James Kennedy's girlfriend spoke lovingly of Vanderpump Rules star just one day AFTER his arrest e-mail Add commentMan used Jackie Robinson contracts to steal millions from investors, fled to Russia

SAE, the organization that sets standards for the auto industry in the US — its standards are often adopted by other nations as well — is making a determined effort to create a universal plug and charge system that will become the new standard in America. Plug and charge means electric car drivers need do nothing more than connect their cars to a properly configured charger. After that, every aspect of the charging experience, including payment, happens seamlessly in the background. No credit card to swipe, no charging network authentication process to work through, and no standing in the pouring rain trying to read the customer service phone number on the charger you want to use. Sweet! In a press release on December 4, 2024, SAE said the future of electric vehicle charging is about to get simpler soon. The new plug and charge protocols it is proposing will allow drivers to plug in any car at any public charging station and automatically start charging with no payment processing step required . Thanks to a public-private partnership between SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (ITC), its Electric Vehicle Public Key Infrastructure (EVPKI) Consortium, and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, soon a common EVPKI framework will make possible secure automatic authentication as soon as drivers plug in — a capability known as “Plug & Charge.” Tesla drivers already know how such a system works. They set up their account with Tesla, which is linked to a credit card. Once the charging cable is inserted into the car’s charging port, a “digital handshake” takes place, the mainframe at the Tesla mothership identifies the car by its VIN number, and bills the charging session to the credit card on file when the session ends. The only thing it doesn’t do is wash the windshield and check the tires. Until now, SAE says, the EV charging experience has been fragmented, with automakers and charging networks using proprietary authentication and authorization solutions and sometimes offering features like Plug & Charge within their network. Today’s development means vehicles, chargers, and charging networks all will be able to talk to each other for the first time, advancing the industry toward a universal solution so every driver can plug in and start charging at any public station in the future. The industry-led SAE EVPKI solution is a watershed moment in the advancement of EVs, SAE says. The new framework creates a common security solution that will enable vehicles, chargers, and charging networks to securely communicate with each other, achieving true interoperability across the entire charging ecosystem. Once the SAE EVPKI solution is implemented, EV drivers will benefit from faster and automated charging at any public station and with any car. Charging and payment processing will happen seamlessly, with no need to use multiple apps or payment methods. The benefit for drivers is reduced time-to-charge overall and a more reliable charging experience. What enables the plug and charge process is the Certificate Trust List (CTL) developed by the SAE EVPKI Consortium which enables secure, automated authentication at the onset of the charging transaction. Improved cybersecurity protocols for the entire EV charging ecosystem are built in from the start. Plug and charge lays the foundation for vehicle-to-grid integration (V2G) technologies which will enable bidirectional energy flows, advanced grid services, and more resilient energy ecosystems. “Today’s announcement focuses the industry on interoperability and security, with the SAE EVPKI platform providing the crucial connecting layer,” said Sarah Hipel, acting Chief Technology Officer, Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. “This common platform enables innovation while supporting future advances in vehicle-grid integration and vehicle to everything communications.” The SAE EVPKI Certificate Trust List Requirements is the basis for bringing industry PKI suppliers to the new framework. PKI suppliers can then review and develop the CTL and apply to be an EVPKI compliant PKI root. Throughout 2025, the industry will continue to move toward the universal Plug & Charge model, which will include: A secure process to exchange technology among vendors PKI user onboarding and testing A new competitive EV Sector PKI supply market “Our mission is centered on interoperability, scalability and flexibility in EV Charging,” said Tim Weisenberger, SAE EVPKI Director. “The public release of the SAE EVPKI with its Certified Trust List provides a critical message security solution for universal Plug & Charge functionality – marking a major advancement in the electric mobility ecosystem. We thank our diverse, global industry members for their agile development approach, and look forward to making electric mobility easier and more effective for consumers,” Weisenberger added. “We anticipate an operational EVPKI solution in 2025 and an open, competitive PKI supplier marketplace to enable economical and secure charging at scale.” “Universal Plug & Charge levels up the electric fueling experience — making it even easier than filling up with gas,” said Gabe Klein, Executive Director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. “We are rapidly approaching a future where every EV driver can just plug in, charge up, and go. The network will talk to your car and process the payment seamlessly. This is a fundamental step in architecture toward enabling bi-directional charging and true vehicle to grid integration, the Holy Grail for energy and transportation.” EVPKI Consortium members span the EV charging ecosystem, including leading global automakers, EV charger manufacturers, charge point operators, eMobility service providers, and PKI suppliers. Is this big news? Yeah, it kinda is. Fear of the unknown keeps a lot of people from trying new technology, especially when anti-social media feeds so much misinformation and disinformation to people. Anything that helps address those fears and makes people more comfortable with a new idea is welcome news. We have all heard horror stories from EV drivers about being stuck out in East Overshoe with a battery that is down to a 5% state of charge and a charger that refuses to connect until we close our eyes and recite the Ohio State fight song while standing on one foot. Why would anyone want to sign up for that sort of anxiety-inducing experience? There are so many myths about electric cars, many of them false (I still have neighbors who are shocked I can drive my Tesla in the rain). It is great news that SAE and its partners are taking important steps forward to remove one of the major areas of concern. Plug and charge — such a simple idea but so difficult to do. It can’t get here soon enough. CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit

Manchester United teammates Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo exchanged words after the final whistle of a 2-1 victory on Thursday. And manager Ruben Amorin has no problem with it. “For me, it’s a very, very good sign,” Amorin said after his team beat Viktoria Plzen to stay unbeaten in the Europa League. Hojlund scored two goals and hoped for a centering pass from Diallo to go for a hat trick in the final minutes. The Denmark striker didn't get the pass, though. Viktoria had been pushing forward looking for an equalizer, which created space for United counters. On another break shortly afterward, Hojlund opted to keep the ball. The pair then had a heated post-game exchange. “We need to feel something,” Amorin said. “If we need to fight each other, it's like a family. When you don't care, you don't do nothing. When you care — you fight with your brother, with your mother, your father.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerRipple (XRP) solidifies its position among top-tier digital assets with its price rallies and legal victories in the ever-changing cryptocurrency sector. Rexas Finance (RXS), a game-changing under-$0.50 coin, is quietly taking the spotlight as XRP gains momentum. Rexas Finance is reinventing blockchain by turning illiquid assets into tradable tokens with exceptional utility. Smart investors who see exponential riches in the next bull market are drawn to this unique technique. XRP is leading, but Rexas Finance is setting the pace, making it an investment you can take advantage of. Ripple (XRP) Becoming A Fast-Rising Token Recently, Ripple has raced up above $2, and there are signs that the token is not meeting its stops at any moment now. Ripple (XRP) is rising due to market dynamics and investor trust. XRP currently stands at $2.61, having increased 7.34% in the last 24 hours, thus raising its total market capitalization to $149.10 billion. XRP’s liquidity and the demand for it are still too high, with the 24-hour volume standing at $44.93 billion, or 30.38% of its market capital. These indicators, in addition to the fact that 57.05 billion XRP is in circulation and a total of over 100 billion, indicate strong market activity. Analysts note XRP's bullish pennant, which generally signals breakouts, its 200-day moving average, and its bullish ADX trend. Ripple's revolutionary USD-pegged stablecoin (RLUSD) ideas and better legal outlook boost investor sentiment. XRP may outperform in the crypto bull run, securing its market leadership. Rexas Finance (RXS): An Exceptional Investment Rexas Finance (RXS) is revolutionizing cryptocurrency investing by connecting real-world assets to blockchain technology. Rexas Finance makes it easy for investors to tokenize real estate, commodities, and collectibles for full or fractional ownership. Rexas Finance's novel claim is that Asian investors can purchase a stake in a European restaurant with a click. The groundbreaking Rexas Token Builder lets anyone tokenize their assets, democratizing wealth creation and streamlining asset sales via secure and transparent digital tokens. The Rexas Launchpad helps entrepreneurs finance tokenized ventures, unleashing new liquidity. The QuickMint Bot and AI-powered solutions simplify the tokenization process for both experienced investors and beginners, improving its usability. As decentralized finance (DeFi) transforms global markets, Rexas Finance's creative strategy makes it more than just a token—it's a portal to revolutionizing asset ownership, trading, and leverage in the blockchain era. RXS is an unmissable investment for individuals seeking real-world impact and boundless possibilities. The Best Match For XRP Rexas Finance (RXS) may be a better investment than Ripple (XRP), which has garnered notice with its strong rise. Unlike most venture capital projects, Rexas Finance launched a public presale, allowing common investors to join its transformative journey. With stages 1-9 selling out quickly and raising over $20 million, the presale has exhibited amazing progress. The continuing Stage 9, priced at $0.125 per token, has already more than $ 21.6 million, demonstrating the confidence and interest in this hidden gem. Early adopters in Stage 9 can earn 1.6x upon debut, so savvy investors are rushing to buy before the presale ends. This grassroots success story shows investors' faith in Rexas Finance's novel approach to real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, which will revolutionize asset ownership and liquidity. Rexas Finance's strategic roadmap and transparency set it unique. The project is preparing to list on three top ten exchanges to increase visibility and liquidity for its growing membership. CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko listings have increased visibility, luring investors who see its tremendous growth potential. Rexas Finance also completed a CertiK assessment, ensuring the security and reliability of its smart contracts and boosting investor confidence. The project has launched a $1 million giveaway to connect and reward its audience, with 20 winners receiving $50,000 in RXS tokens each. Rexas Finance's community-driven presale, targeted exchange listings, and inventive giveaways support sustainable growth, unlike XRP's reliance on external triggers like court victories and stablecoin launches. With Rexas Finance value at less than $0.5, it has a high-growth potential that could exceed XRP despite its remarkable momentum, giving it a compelling portfolio fit for discerning investors. Conclusion Ripple (XRP) dominates headlines with its bullish momentum, legal victories, and innovative developments, but Rexas Finance (RXS) disrupts the crypto market. Rexas Finance redefines investing options by combining blockchain technology with real-world asset tokenization. Strategic strategy, strong presale, and unique tools like the Rexas Token Builder pave the groundwork for unprecedented growth. Rexas Finance's under$0.50 value promises unparalleled exponential returns as XRP climbs toward $5. RXS, a token positioned to surpass even the most established companies in the next market cycle, should be considered for a balanced portfolio with high-growth assets. Website: https://rexas.com Win $1 Million Giveaway: https://bit.ly/Rexas1M Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.

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QUEBEC CITY, Canada, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (“LeddarTech”) ( ), an automotive software company that provides patented disruptive AI-based low-level sensor fusion and perception software technology, TM, today announced that it has received the first full installment of the advanced royalty payments provided under the strategic collaboration agreement and software license agreement entered into between LeddarTech and (“TI”), as , to enable a comprehensive, integrated platform solution for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) markets. Under the license agreement, TI has agreed to make advanced royalty payments to catalyze joint commercialization (the “TI Pre-paid Royalty Fee”). In connection with the collaboration and license agreements with TI and the TI Pre-paid Royalty Fee, LeddarTech also that it entered into a fourteenth amending agreement (the “Fourteenth Amending Agreement”) with Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec (“Desjardins”) with respect to the amended and restated financing offer dated as of April 5, 2023 (the “Desjardins Credit Facility”) and a second amending agreement (the “Second Amending Agreement”) with the initial bridge lenders and certain members of management and the board of directors (collectively, the “Bridge Lenders”) with respect to the bridge financing offer dated as of August 16, 2024 (the “Bridge Financing Offer”). Both the Fourteenth Amending Agreement and the Second Amending Agreement contain certain conditions that were to become applicable in the event that the full first installment of the TI Pre-paid Royalty Fee was not received by December 13, 2024. With the payment received, the conditions have been met to establish the short-term outside date as late as January 31, 2025. Please refer to the press release of December 9, 2024 for further details as well as the Fourteenth Amending Agreement to the Desjardins Credit Facility and the Second Amending Agreement to the Bridge Financing Offer which have been filed under LeddarTech’s SEDAR+ and EDGAR profiles at and , respectively. A global software company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Quebec City with additional R&D centers in Montreal and Tel Aviv, Israel, LeddarTech develops and provides comprehensive AI-based low-level sensor fusion and perception software solutions that enable the deployment of ADAS, autonomous driving (AD) and parking applications. LeddarTech’s automotive-grade software applies advanced AI and computer vision algorithms to generate accurate 3D models of the environment to achieve better decision making and safer navigation. This high-performance, scalable, cost-effective technology is available to OEMs and Tier 1-2 suppliers to efficiently implement automotive and off-road vehicle ADAS solutions. LeddarTech is responsible for several remote-sensing innovations, with over 170 patent applications (87 granted) that enhance ADAS, AD and parking capabilities. Better awareness around the vehicle is critical in making global mobility safer, more efficient, sustainable and affordable: this is what drives LeddarTech to seek to become the most widely adopted sensor fusion and perception software solution. Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at and on , , and . Certain statements contained in this Press Release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (which forward-looking statements also include forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws), including, but not limited to, statements relating to LeddarTech’s anticipated strategy, future operations, prospects, objectives and financial projections and other financial metrics. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend” and other similar expressions among others. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the possibility that anticipated benefits of LeddarTech’s recent business combination will not be realized; (ii) the risk that shareholder litigation in connection with the business combination or other settlements or investigations may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (iii) changes in general economic and/or industry-specific conditions; (iv) possible disruptions from the business combination that could harm LeddarTech’s business; (v) the ability of LeddarTech to retain, attract and hire key personnel; (vi) potential adverse reactions or changes to relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or other parties; (vii) potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships following the business combination that could affect LeddarTech’s financial performance; (viii) legislative, regulatory and economic developments; (ix) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism, outbreak or escalation of war or hostilities and any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including COVID-19), as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors; (x) access to capital and financing and LeddarTech’s ability to maintain compliance with debt covenants; (xi) LeddarTech’s ability to execute its business model, achieve design wins and generate meaningful revenue; and (xii) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in LeddarTech’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risk factors contained in LeddarTech’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Except as required by applicable law, LeddarTech does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Daniel Aitken, Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations, LeddarTech Holdings Inc. Tel.: + 1-418-653-9000 ext. 232By LISA MASCARO and FARNOUSH AMIRI WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country’s hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her 2017 visit to war-torn Syria as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm Trump’s unusual nominees . Related Articles National Politics | Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it? National Politics | Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump taps his attorney Alina Habba to serve as counselor to the president But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump’s America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and drawing concern , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an ambitious agenda of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick Hegseth appeared to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect’s choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel , who has written extensively about locking up Trump’s foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees’ qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump’s team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump’s allies have described the criticisms of Hegseth in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president’s Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump’s first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will “prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies” — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump’s 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump’s first inauguration during the country’s bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it’s important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family’s five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It’s one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

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Johnson scores 20, Tennessee Tech beats Presbyterian 90-75The largest intergenerational wealth transfer in US history is about to take place — though the vast majority of Americans are unlikely to inherit much money at all. About $US105 trillion ($164 trillion) is projected to be passed down from older generations over the next quarter century, according to research firm Cerulli Associates, an amount roughly equal to global gross domestic product in 2023. Rising stock markets and home prices, as well as inflation, have fattened the estates that members of the baby boom generation are expected to leave their heirs. Credit: Glenn Hunt Rising stock markets and home prices, as well as inflation, have fattened the estates that members of the baby boom generation, born between 1946 and 1964, are expected to leave their heirs. The latest inheritance projection by Cerulli is 45 per cent higher than the 25-year forecast the firm made only three years ago. US gifts and inheritances are expected to total $US2.5 trillion next year alone. “About 80 per cent of the wealth held today is going to be in motion,” Chayce Horton, the lead author of the Cerulli report, said in an interview. “The ratio of wealth expected to be changing hands in the next 25 years is significant, and much greater than what we even saw a decade ago.” Yet even as the assets of millions of ageing Americans are passed on, the share of the US population that will benefit from inherited money has remained static, a sign of how accumulating family wealth has become more concentrated among the most affluent households. At the same time, money passed down from one generation to another accounts for a growing share of the overall wealth of heirs, rising relative to income from work or investments. Inherited money represented about a quarter of the net worth of households that received it, a Bloomberg analysis of the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances found, up from roughly 10 per cent in the late 1990s. “We’re becoming less of an economy that promotes entrepreneurship and production and more of an economy focused on inheritance and dynasty,” said Chuck Collins, Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies. Collins, whose great-grandfather founded the hot dog and lunchmeat maker Oscar Mayer, gave up his inheritance when he was in his twenties. He is now a member of the Patriotic Millionaires, a nonprofit group of affluent Americans that pushes for the wealthy to pay higher tax rates. Receiving any funds from a deceased family member remains the exception in the US, not the rule. Just one in five American households have received a substantial gift, trust or inheritance in recent decades, according to Bloomberg’s analysis. Inherited wealth is expected to become increasingly concentrated among the most affluent, according to Cerulli. The firm estimates that more than half of the wealth transferred between generations through 2048 will come from households with at least $US5 million in investible assets. Only about 2 per cent of US households meet that threshold. The share of the US population that will benefit from inherited money has remained static, a sign of how accumulating family wealth has become more concentrated among the most affluent households. Credit: Bloomberg The figures lend support to an idea that has long had currency among economists but that has been difficult to confirm — that the share of overall wealth derived from inheritance is far higher than it appears. A 2017 paper argued that inherited money had accounted for more than half of total wealth in the US and Europe since the 1990s, and that “self-reported inheritance flows are implausibly low.” “Inheritance is still the most important factor in terms of wealth concentration,” said Kaushik Basu, professor of economics at Cornell University and former chief economist at the World Bank. The trillions of dollars set to be passed on in coming years could create more social mobility for younger generations, even though its greater concentration among the wealthiest Americans is likely to create more obstacles for lower-income households and exacerbate inequality. “Markets may still flourish, and overall economic growth may continue, but the polarisation between the born-poor and born-rich will become more acute,” Basu said. He added that many of the economic advantages of family wealth are conferred indirectly, through access to education and other opportunities. As more members of the massive baby boom generation die, the annual rate at which wealth is being passed on is expected to increase until the end of the decade. Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, are expected to inherit more than $US45 trillion by 2048, including some $US3.9 trillion that year alone. Generation X, sandwiched between the baby boomers and millennials, will see their annual inheritance levels peak in 2038 at just shy of $US2 trillion, according to Cerulli. ‘Markets may still flourish, and overall economic growth may continue, but the polarisation between the born-poor and born-rich will become more acute.’ Wealth isn’t only cascading down to younger generations, it also is moving sideways. Before reaching younger heirs, inheritances are often transferred to surviving spouses and partners. Since women tend to outlive men, they are expected to receive a large share of the fortunes being passed on. “A significant amount of the wealth that is held today is believed to be controlled by men,” said Cerulli’s Horton. As those men die, “we expect that wealth to be much more equitably distributed on a gender basis.” Cerulli estimates that women will inherit nearly half of the total projected value of inheritances over the next 25 years. US tax policy has made it easier for wealthy heirs to hang on to more of the money they inherit. President-elect Donald Trump wants to extend part of his 2017 tax-cut package that doubled the estate-tax exemption from $US5.49 million to $US11.18 million. For many older Americans, money handed down from previous generations has shaped their own planning. Alan Jewett, a 75-year-old retiree in Delaware, and his wife received an inheritance of nearly $US3 million from her childless aunts in 2014, after the couple had already put both their children through college and bought a home. “Having money changes the way you look at things in the sense that it gives you and your family a feeling of security,” Jewett said. He and his wife gave part of the inheritance to their kids and set up an irrevocable trust for their three young grandchildren. Some heirs say they have used inherited money to prepare for their own health and elder-care expenses. Lee Robin Gebhardt, a 63-year-old wine seller living in Putnam County, New York, said she invested a $US150,000 retirement account that she received from her father, who died in 2020, in her long-term care. Gebhardt, who plans to work for at least another two years, has enough money put away to last her until she’s 110. “That will take some pressure off my children,” she said. Other relatively wealthy baby boomers have decided to pass on some of their wealth while they’re still able to see its effects for themselves. “I’ve seen an increasing focus on ‘giving while living,’ where people provide for their family’s needs during their lifetime,” said Jared Jones, senior advisor at Omega Wealth Management. “There’s definitely a big focus on not waiting until one passes away to help and witness the benefits of the wealth from the family.” Bloomberg The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning .

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is taking a first step back into the huge Chinese market with two preseason games set to take place in Macao next October, five years after the league was effectively blocked from China. The Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will play the preseason games on October 10 and 12 at the Venetian Arena next year, while an NBA Flagship Store will also open in Macao. "Bringing preseason games to Macao will showcase the excitement of the NBA to fans in one of the world's emerging hubs for sports," NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Mark Tatum said in a press release. "The Nets and the Suns feature an exciting mix of established and rising stars, and we look forward to engaging fans, aspiring players and the local community in Macao through these games and a variety of interactive events, youth development programs and social impact initiatives." NBA teams command a huge following in China, where basketball is wildly popular. The league has not staged a game in the country since 2019, when a tweet in support of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong from the Houston Rockets' then general manager Daryl Morey sparked a political firestorm. At the time, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver refused to punish or censor Morey – who is currently the Philadelphia 76ers' president of basketball operations – prompting ire from Beijing and leading the sports station of China's central broadcaster to stop showing the league's games for a year. Hong Kong was roiled by pro-democracy protests in 2019, which at times brought several hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets to push for democracy in the city. Like Macao, Hong Kong is considered a special administrative region of China, partly distinct from the mainland. Beijing repeatedly accused Western democratic forces of working to fuel the popular Hong Kong protests and lashed out at any support for the movement, which died out in 2020 when the capital imposed a sweeping national security law on the city. Silver said two years ago that the NBA had lost "hundreds of millions of dollars" in revenue following the fallout with China, with whom the league had shared a long-standing relationship. According to Reuters, 17 NBA teams played 28 games in China between 2004 and 2019. However, tensions between the league and the country now appear to have thawed, with a legends game featuring six former NBA stars set be held in Macao on Saturday. "We always love the opportunity to compete on the global stage and we are grateful to participate in the NBA China Games 2025," said Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks. "The Brooklyn Nets have an incredible fanbase around the globe and we can't wait to bring our love of the game directly to our fans while giving our players and coaches the opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture." Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein, meanwhile, added that playing in Macao is part of the team's vision to "bring the Suns to a global audience and impact fans across the world."

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By Revin Mikhael D. Ochave, Reporter PHILIPPINE STOCKS ended 2024 on a cautious note following a tumultuous year for the market as many global central banks began their monetary easing cycles. The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slipped by 0.15% or 10.23 points to close at 6,528.79 on Friday, the last trading day of 2024, while the broader all shares index gained by 0.44% or 16.73 points to 3,748.51. Week on week, the PSEi rose by 1.9% or 122.41 points versus its 6,406.38 finish on Dec. 20. Year on year, the PSEi was higher by 1.2% or 78.75 points from its end-2023 finish of 6,450.04. The index posted its highest close for 2024 on Oct. 7, ending at 7,554.68. On the other hand, its worst showing this year was its 6,158.48 finish on June 21. “We managed to end the year higher versus the previous year, our first yearly gain since 2019. It’s a small win, but a win nonetheless,” AP Securities, Inc. Research Head Alfred Benjamin R. Garcia said in a Viber message. “Monetary policy was the key driver this year, with an almost laser focus on interest rates.” The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in August cut rates for the first time since 2020, reducing benchmark borrowing costs by 25 basis points (bps). It made two more 25-bp reductions at its October and December meetings that brought the policy rate to 5.75%. Meanwhile, the US central bank began its easing cycle in September with a big 50-bp cut and followed it up with 25-bp reductions at each of its November and December meetings, bringing the fed funds rate to 4.25%-4.5%. Seven of the world’s 10 major, developed-market central banks cut rates this year, with only Australia and Norway still on hold, Reuters reported. Japan, the outlier, is in hiking mode. The Bank of Japan delivered its first rate hike in 17 years in March, ending years of ultra-loose policy. “It was a bittersweet culmination to a volatile year marked by steep rallies and corrections as hope turned into caution,” Chinabank Capital Corp. Managing Director Juan Paolo E. Colet added in a Viber message. “Just like 2023, this year again turned out to be fairly good for investors who were able to trade in and out of the major market waves.” Philippine stocks began 2024 on a positive note “because of falling inflation and optimism regarding the beginning of the rate cutting cycle,” COL Financial Group, Inc. Chief Equity Strategist April Lynn Lee-Tan said. “However, sentiment turned negative following the release of weaker than expected third quarter gross domestic product, disappointing third quarter earnings results, and concerns regarding the impact of a Trump presidency on Asian economies,” she said. Donald J. Trump is set to be inaugurated as the 47 th US President on Jan. 20. He has vowed to impose steep tariffs on goods coming from China, Mexico, and Canada and to raise levies on European Union nations. — with ReutersCoherent Holds An Nvidia-Like Gain. AI Is Just One Reason Why.

Jimmy Carter, 39th US president, Nobel winner, dies at 100PEACE BUILDING Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. confers with Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim during a ceremony commemorating the 10th year of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on March 27 at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte. —Photo courtesy of OPAPRU COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. has assured the people of Sulu that they will continue to be an integral part of the Bangsamoro peace process regardless of their province’s exclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Galvez issued the assurance before a hearing of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms on Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court ruled with finality that the province of Sulu is excluded from the BARMM owing to its rejection of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in the 2019 plebiscite. “The role of the Tausug people in sparking the Bangsamoro people’s quest for self-determination is an undeniable part of the Bangsamoro’s history. In light of the high court’s decision, we reassure the people of Sulu that they are and will always be an integral part of the Bangsamoro peace process,” Galvez said. READ: SC denies motions to reverse ruling separating Sulu from BARMM “The dividends of peace being enjoyed by Bangsamoro provinces will likewise be felt by neighboring areas, including the province of Sulu. In other words, your honors, whether Sulu is part of the BARMM or not, they will always be part of the Bangsamoro peace process,” he added. With the ruling becoming final, House Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman urged the national government to ensure funding for essential services to the people that will no longer be financially supported by the BARMM. Citing BARMM data, Hataman said that would be around P9 billion for 2025. He also urged the national government to involve local officials in determining the immediate priorities for Sulu. On Wednesday, the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms also finalized its decision to reset the BARMM’s parliamentary elections from May 12 next year to May 11, 2026. A substitute bill for House Bill Nos. 4213, 4220 and 11034, will amend a section of the BOL that sets the regional polls to 2025, to coincide with the national and local elections. But the new version of the amendment as approved by the House panel chaired by Mt. Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr. sets it to 2026 and every three years thereafter, which makes the regional polls a separate political exercise from that for the rest of the country. The substitute bill further provides: “Upon effectivity of this Act, the President shall appoint the 80 new interim members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) who shall serve until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. The term of the present duly constituted BTA in the BARMM shall be deemed expired.” Just before the committee decided on the question, BARMM interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim lobbied to reset the polls to 2027, a compromise between the House proposal and that of the BTA parliament that wants it done in 2028. Ebrahim, who was on a video call, said that during a discussion with President Marcos and Senate President Francis Escudero, both leaders agreed on the need for more time to effect the legal adjustments owing to Sulu’s exit from the BARMM. But he said the President “wants it extended but not reaching 2028.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Ebrahim also asked that with the polls finally reset, the current BTA members should remain in order to prevent any disruption to the flow of governance and delivery of services in the autonomous region.

(Azacitidine + cedazuridine) is under clinical development by Taiho Oncology and currently in Phase III for Refractory Anemia With Ringed Sideroblasts. According to GlobalData, Phase III drugs for Refractory Anemia With Ringed Sideroblasts have a 100% phase transition success rate (PTSR) indication benchmark for progressing into Pre-Registration. GlobalData tracks drug-specific phase transition and likelihood of approval scores, in addition to indication benchmarks based off 18 years of historical drug development data. Attributes of the drug, company and its clinical trials play a fundamental role in drug-specific PTSR and likelihood of approval. (Azacitidine + cedazuridine) overview ASTX-030, a fixed dose combination of azacitidine and cedazuridine is under development for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML), refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts, refractory anemia with excess blasts, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It is administered by oral route. It acts by targeting DNA (cytosine 5) methyltransferase 1 and cytosine deaminase (CDA). The drug candidate is being developed based on Pyramid technology. Taiho Oncology overview Taiho Oncology, a subsidiary of Taiho Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, is a provider of cancer treatments and solutions. The company manufactures and markets cancer anti-metabolites as well as targeted small molecule inhibitors. Its products portfolio includes oral drugs for the treatment of gastric cancer, colorectal cancer and a variety of solid tumours. Taiho Oncology’s pipeline products includes anti metabolic agents and selectively targeted agents. The company’s LONSURF is an anti-cancer drug for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Taiho Oncology is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, the US. For a complete picture of (Azacitidine + cedazuridine)’s drug-specific PTSR and LoA scores, This content was updated on 12 April 2024 From Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors. , the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article. GlobalData’s Likelihood of Approval analytics tool dynamically assesses and predicts how likely a drug will move to the next stage in clinical development (PTSR), as well as how likely the drug will be approved (LoA). This is based on a combination of machine learning and a proprietary algorithm to process data points from various databases found on GlobalData’s .

PLCQ launches Indian author’s book about Pakistan’s largest city Karachi

North Korea's Kim vows the toughest anti-US policy before Trump takes officeSan Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will not play Sunday and head coach Kyle Shanahan said the lingering discomfort is a concern. Purdy sat out Friday after he participated in the start of Thursday's practice with the 49ers, then retreated indoors for what Shanahan said was a treatment session. Brandon Allen, 32, will start in Purdy's place, and the 49ers are also without defensive end Nick Bosa (oblique). Shanahan said players believe in Allen, even if he's an unknown. "Outside of here people haven't seen a lot of Brandon. But it's his second year (with the 49ers)," Shanahan said. "Obviously guys want Brock up, but guys are excited to see Brandon play." Shanahan said they are "a little surprised" Purdy experienced tightness and discomfort in his shoulder after an MRI exam on Monday that showed no long-term cause for concern. "The way it responded this week, it's really up in the air for next week," Shanahan said of Purdy. Allen is familiar to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who was an assistant coach with the Rams during Allen's two-year run in Los Angeles. Allen broke into the NFL in 2016 with the Jaguars and is 2-7 in nine career starts. He went 1-2 with the Broncos in 2019 and 1-5 in six starts over two years with the Bengals in 2020 and ‘21. Shanahan said Allen's confidence grew throughout the week and he doesn't anticipate a major change in how he calls the offense. Left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) also missed practice for the third consecutive day. Without disclosing the nature of the ailment to Purdy's throwing shoulder, general manager John Lynch confirmed Friday an MRI exam took place to determine the severity of any injury. Allen worked with the first team most of Thursday and Friday with Joshua Dobbs also taking snaps. Lynch described Purdy's status for the 49ers (5-5) this week as "tenuous." "Hopefully, he makes progress, and we can have a shot at this weekend, but we'll see," Lynch said in an interview with KNBR in San Francisco. "I think it's tenuous." When Purdy was on the field this week, he primarily worked on the side in position-specific drills with QB coach Brian Griese. Williams played through an ankle injury last week after being listed as questionable but exited the stadium with an exaggerated limp on Sunday. Run game coordinator Chris Foerster said the 49ers aren't where they want to be at 5-5 because they haven't won close games, not because of injuries. "Seven games left is like an eternity," Foerster said. "So much can happen. Do the math. What was our record last year? It was 12-5. I was on a 13-win team that was nowhere near as good as the team last year." With or without Purdy, Foerster said the challenge for the 49ers is not to give up the ball to a defense that has 19 takeaways. The 49ers have 13 giveaways this season. --Field Level Media

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