Romanian PM ahead in first round of presidential voteDALLAS — Currently, in the state of Texas, survivors of child sexual abuse have 30 years from their 18th birthday to sue their perpetrators in civil court. State Representative Ann Johnson, D-Houston, wants to eliminate that restrictive timeline and bring it in line with the criminal side, where there is no statute of limitations. Rep. Johnson said it seemed like an easy fix, but it’s been anything but. And she hopes H.B. 179 will at least get a hearing during the 89th legislative session that starts in January. “This is now the third session in a row where we have offered this legislation. And I hope, for the first time, that we will get a hearing so that other Texans can hear from the victims who have suffered abuse at the hands of individuals, oftentimes that were being shielded by organizations or institutions that have avoided civil responsibility,” the Democrat told us on Inside Texas Politics. Rep. Johnson was the chief prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Section. Now in private practice, she works as an attorney for victims of sexual exploitation, often helping people who cannot afford a lawyer. Since her legislation has never received a hearing, the Democrat said the public, and lawmakers, deserve to learn who is actively campaigning against it behind the scenes. When discussing her legislation, Johnson specifically mentioned Cindy Clemishire, a north Texas woman who accused Gateway Church senior pastor Robert Morris of first molesting her when she was only 12 years old. Morris, the megachurch's founder, resigned within days of the accusation going public. Johnson also highlighted the sex abuse scandals at Irving-based Boy Scouts of America and the Southern Baptist Convention as examples of organizations protecting sexual predators. She argues that opening up the civil courthouse doors will allow the public to learn more about such organizations. “If you opened up the hearing room, if you opened up the courthouse doors and you heard from these victims, then every Texan would learn about what’s a good organization and what’s not. Who’s protecting kids and who’s not,” said the lawmaker. “I do not understand why the state of Texas continues to shield sexual predators and the organizations that have protected them.”Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs win at the buzzer again, topping Panthers 30-27 on Shrader's field goalGet ready Bangkok as Grammy-nominated British singer-songwriter James Blunt is set to perform live for the first time in 13 years in Thailand. This highly anticipated concert will take place on Dec 1 at Idea Live, 5th floor, Bravo. The event marks a stop on Blunt's "The Who We Used To Be Tour" to celebrate his latest album and his illustrious two-decade career. Blunt shot to global stardom with his debut album Back To Bedlam (2004), which sold over 18 million copies worldwide. The album's breakout hit, You're Beautiful, topped charts in 18 countries and made him the first British artist in nearly a decade to lead the US Billboard Hot 100. With its heartfelt lyrics and captivating melody, the song continues to resonate with fans worldwide. Blunt's other notable hits include Goodbye My Lover, 1973 and Stay The Night. His soulful music and emotional performances have earned him five Grammy nominations, two BRIT Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards. The tour coincides with Blunt's latest album Who We Used To Be (2023), which reflects on themes of love, loss and nostalgia. The Bangkok concert promises a blend of chart-topping classics and fresh tracks, making it a can't-miss event for fans and new listeners alike. Known for his engaging live performances and charismatic banter, Blunt is expected to create an intimate and unforgettable experience. His last performance in Thailand in 2011 left a deep impression, and his long-awaited return is set to rekindle that connection. "James Blunt: The Who We Used To Be Tour Live In Bangkok 2024" will be held at Idea Live, 5th floor, Bravo. Tickets range from 2,050 baht to 4,550 baht and are available at ticketmelon.com. ODLive
The started even before rivalry weekend began. Then, after its grip on a , so many coaches, players and pundits crammed into the spin room that surely some fire code is being broken. We wouldn’t be having this debate if enough teams built their case on the field, but we knew playoff expansion risked watering down the bracket, so we’re left with a handful of teams with flawed résumés arguing for the final spot in a 12-team playoff. No coach works the spin room more vociferously than . He turned his social media feed into a running pitch for his 9-3 Rebels, and he fired a direct shot at South Carolina, another 9-3 team under consideration. “It wasn’t even close,” Kiffin said Sunday, in reference to his team’s 27-3 win on Oct. 5 at South Carolina. "We could still be playing the game, (and) they still might not have scored a touchdown.” Direct hit from the spin room! OK, but what of Alabama, another 9-3 SEC team? The committee ranked Alabama ahead of last week. Both teams won rivalry games against bad opponents by two touchdowns last weekend. That suggests Alabama, at least, blocks Ole Miss’ path, but should it? Let’s unpack this. Four teams populate the debate for the final playoff spot: Alabama, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Miami. A fifth team, SMU, would join the mix if Clemson beats the Mustangs in the ACC championship. For the sake of this exercise, assume the Mustangs wins the ACC and eliminates the Tigers. How you rank this quartet of bubble teams depends on how you value playoff credentials: If you favor the loss-counting contest, then Miami qualifies over three-loss SEC teams, but here’s where I struggle with the : Miami’s résumé ranks worse than that of Brigham Young, another two-loss that placed third in the Big 12. The committee consistently undervalued BYU, to the point that the Cougars aren’t in the playoff conversation. This despite BYU beating the ACC’s best team, SMU, on the road and owning a better strength of schedule than Miami. In the fewest-loss metric, , but the committee shows no interest in that. Alabama owns the best collection of victories, counting pelts against three ranked teams – Georgia, South Carolina and Missouri – plus a trouncing of LSU in Tiger Stadium. Ole Miss also beat Georgia and blew out South Carolina. It lacks a third signature triumph. South Carolina headlines its résumé with wins against Clemson, Missouri and Texas A&M. Miami lags behind in this category, with best wins against Duke, Louisville and Florida. In the best collection of wins metric, . This becomes South Carolina’s best argument. The Gamecocks won their last six games behind a stiff defense and an improving freshman quarterback, LaNorris Sellers. Miami lost two of its last three. (Can we just eliminate Miami already? Consider it done.) Ole Miss lost on Nov. 23 at Florida, the same day Alabama got blown out at Oklahoma. Nobody in this mix outplayed South Carolina in the second half of the season. In this metric, . Here’s where Kiffin shouts, “Scoreboard!” and where I struggle with the Gamecocks. Alabama beat South Carolina 27-25 on Oct. 12 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama used a fourth-quarter rally to win a game that wasn’t decided until the final play. That close result shouldn’t cripple the Gamecocks, but consider what occurred a week earlier, when Ole Miss stormed into South Carolina’s stadium and flat whipped the Gamecocks. Selecting South Carolina over a team from the same conference with an equal record that disemboweled the Gamecocks would diminish the idea that head-to-head results matter. And the committee says they do matter. Head-to-head results are one of the few measures stated explicitly among the . In a strict evaluation of head-to-head results, . South Carolina’s three losses came against opponents who are either 8-4 or 9-3. Not bad, right? Well, two of those losses occurred at home. Alabama’s three losses all occurred on the road, but that includes a brutal 24-3 faceplant just two weeks ago to Oklahoma, a team that beat only one other SEC opponent. Alabama also lost to Vanderbilt. Ole Miss lost three games by a total of 13 points. However, its home loss in September to Kentucky (now 4-8) aged like milk left on a pool deck. I . Ole Miss lost to the worst team. Alabama lost to two 6-6 teams. South Carolina lost twice at home. The committee says its duty is to select the best teams, with the caveat that five bids must go to conference champions. If there some straightforward could determine the best teams, we wouldn’t need a committee. Different sets of eyeballs value different teams. My eyes tell me that when each of these bubble teams fires its best fastball, Ole Miss slings the most heat, with a reliable defense and a (usually) competent offense. The Rebels dominated Georgia and smashed South Carolina. No other bubble team looked that good against such a caliber of opponent. By this metric, . Unless the committee gets drunk on hurricanes, Miami has no case. If the committee values a two-loss team for the final spot, then pick BYU. That’s not happening, though. In the debate between Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina, each touts an argument, but holes mangle every résumé. Each team failed to earn its way on the field and that leaves them trying to talk their way in through the spin room's back door. k. s.Whatever 2025 holds for world markets, talk of an end to business cycle investing eerily reflects past periods of hubris and makes all the persistent bullishness seem slightly reckless. The years since 2020 have been extraordinary, with pandemic-distorted supply and demand patterns that are still playing out. Serial geopolitical shocks and mega trends in technology and green energy have followed. Amidst all that, inflation in Western economies recorded its biggest spike in 40 years, and central banks scrambled to snuff it out with the most brutal credit tightening in decades. But setting aside the deep but brief pandemic-induced economic contraction in early 2020, the United States has managed to avoid a recession. And few if any forecasters see one unfolding next year. For BlackRock, the world's biggest asset manager, it is simply different this time. "We've argued since 2020 that we are not in a business cycle," it said in its 2025 outlook. "Historical trends are being permanently broken in real time as mega forces, like the rise of artificial intelligence, transform economies." Ignoring the business cycle is a big call and certainly a brave one at this stage. Yet, looking at the United States over the past few years, it's hard to argue against it. Previously near foolproof bellwethers of cyclical downturns, such as the inverted yield curve or the 'Sahm Rule' on when rising joblessness presages a downturn -- have flashed bright red, but to no avail. US real GDP has expanded continuously since a one-quarter contraction in the first three months of 2022 and as 2024 comes to a close, growth rates are still well above trend at more than 3%. If anything, that looks set to be underscored by both lower interest rates and tax cuts next year. Even the most dogged bears on Wall Street have thrown in the towel, seemingly assured that the services-dominated US economy can sail on unfettered. Most of the big brokers expect further punchy gains for Wall Street stocks in 2025. The already expensive S&P 500, still led mostly by a narrow group of mega-cap tech giants, is set to record its second consecutive year of 25%-plus gains for the first time since 1998. RESONATING MILESTONES All the same, comparisons to the late 1990s should ring some alarm bells. The final years on the last century were certainly different to today but there are also uncanny parallels with the present, including mounting euphoria about a US-dominated technology, a turbulent world economy and seemingly Teflon US growth. The end of the Cold War had given rise to many hubristic books, most famously Francis Fukuyama's bestseller The End of History and the Last Man on the durable triumph of liberal democracy. By the end of the decade, the internet bubble gave vent to endless talk about business cycle being transcended in the face of transformative technology and US exceptionalism. What's more, there were also a few hesitant Federal Reserve interest rate cuts that kept the expansion going before eventually being reversed as the economy dodged turbulence abroad and the domestic bubble grew bigger. The upshot? A tech-led bubble burst in 2000, ushering in three years of consecutive S&P 500 losses -- the longest series of annual downturns since World War II. It took seven years to recover the peaks of 2000, just before the banking crash hit. To be sure, anyone who stuck with durable tech names that survived the dot.com bust made a fortune over the past 20 years. But the business and investment cycle was far from ending. TEFLON ECONOMY So what could go wrong now? Even if there is a cogent argument for continued US economic and market outperformance next year, it's hard to see how America remains entirely insulated if there is significant economic weakness overseas. Asset managers' 2025 outlooks all dwell heavily on the uncertainties surrounding the incoming administration of US president-elect Donald Trump. And they all acknowledge that some type of trade war is in the offing, with China, Europe and even US neighbours Canada and Mexico all in the crosshairs. A global economic hit from tit-for-tat tariff salvos and investment curbs could come back to haunt the United States if it stymies world demand or lifts US prices, causing the Fed to halt or reverse its policy easing. BlackRock's view, for the record, is that the US and global economies may well experience bouts of turbulence in the coming year. But their conclusion is that such moves would only impact tactical trades and that major investment decisions should stay focused on multi-year big themes, such as artificial intelligence and green energy. But even if the United States can remain an "oasis of prosperity", in the words of another famed phrase from the late 1990s, financial distortions could eventually sow the seeds of an eventual fall. Monetary easing around the world has already accelerated, potentially in response to trade fears. This is buoying the dollar and holding down US Treasury yields, too, as investors rotate into what's now become a high-yielding "safe asset". Some argue that inappropriately low US long-term borrowing rates could, by themselves, catalyse a downfall by overheating the economy and further inflating asset bubbles. That scenario suggests that any downturn likely wouldn't come next year. But the rumoured death of the business cycle may yet prove to be greatly exaggerated. Reuters Mike Dolan is Reuters editor-at-large for finance & markets.
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be defense secretary, is joined by his wife Jennifer Rauchet as he speaks with reporters after meeting with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speaks with reporters after meeting with Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be defense secretary, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be defense secretary, arrives for a meeting with Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be defense secretary, is joined by his wife Jennifer Rauchet as he speaks with reporters after meeting with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.Bengal Governor Ananda Bose draws flak for ‘unveiling’ own statuePhoto: The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question from the opposition during Question Period, Dec. 11, 2024 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Billionaire Elon Musk called Canada's prime minister an "insufferable tool" on his social media platform today. Musk's comments were in response to Justin Trudeau likening Kamala Harris's defeat in the U.S. presidential election to an attack on women's rights and progress. This afternoon, Trudeau met with provincial and territorial premiers to discuss Canada's approach to negotiations with the U.S. Canada is facing a threat of a 25 per cent tariff hike from incoming president Donald Trump, who defeated Harris in the November election. Earlier this week, Trump taunted Trudeau on social media, referring to the prime minister as the governor of what he called the "Great State of Canada." The post was an apparent reference to a joke Trump cracked at his dinner with Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago estate nearly two weeks ago, where the president-elect teased that Canada could join the U.S. as its 51st state. Speaking on Tuesday night at an event hosted by the Equal Voice Foundation — an organization dedicated to improving gender representation in Canadian politics — Trudeau said there are regressive forces fighting against women's progress. "It shouldn't be that way. It wasn't supposed to be that way. We were supposed to be on a steady, if difficult sometimes, march towards progress," Trudeau said, adding he is a proud feminist and will always be an ally. "And yet, just a few weeks ago, the United States voted for a second time to not elect its first woman president. Everywhere, women's rights and women's progress is under attack. Overtly, and subtly." In a post on X on Wednesday, Musk responded to a clip of Trudeau's remarks, saying, "He’s such an insufferable tool. Won't be in power for much longer." He’s such an insufferable tool. Won’t be in power for much longer. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 11, 2024
Asia Pacific’s low-carbon hydrogen tenders to test readiness for clean fuel trades
ASML FINAL DEADLINE: ROSEN, RECOGNIZED INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages ASML Holding N.V. Investors with Losses in Excess of $100K to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action – ASMLThe United States called Monday for de-escalation in Syria, where an Islamist-led rebel alliance has wrested swathes of territory from the control of President Bashar al-Assad's government in a lightning offensive. The European Union also called on "all sides to de-escalate", while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "alarmed" by the violence and called for an immediate halt to the fighting. Syria has been at war since Assad cracked down on democracy protests in 2011. The conflict has since drawn in foreign powers and jihadists, and left 500,000 people dead. The conflict had been mostly dormant with Assad back in control of much of the country, until last week when the Islamist-led rebel alliance began its offensive. The attack has seen swathes of Syria fall to rebel control, including second city Aleppo for the first time since the start of the civil war. "We want to see all countries use their influence -- use their leverage -- to push for de-escalation, protection of civilians and ultimately, a political process forward," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. In a statement issued by EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni, the European Union also called for de-escalation and the protection of civilians, while also condemning Assad backer Russia for conducting air strikes in his support. Russia first intervened directly in Syria's war in 2015 with strikes on rebel-held areas. Its help, along with that of Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, were instrumental in propping up Assad's rule. On Monday President Vladimir Putin and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian both pledged "unconditional support" for their ally, according to the Kremlin. Aleppo is home to two million people and saw fierce fighting earlier in the war. The Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies took the city at the weekend, except for neighbourhoods controlled by Kurdish forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. They also seized Aleppo International Airport. HTS, led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria branch, has faced accusations of human rights abuses including torturing detainees. Abu Sufyan, a rebel commander, told AFP: "God willing, we will continue, go into Damascus and liberate the rest of Syria." One Aleppo resident spoke of panic. "There were terrible traffic jams -- it took people 13 to 15 hours to reach Homs" in central Syria, which is under government control. Normally, he said, it would take a couple of hours. AFPTV footage showed rebels patrolling the streets, some burning a Syrian flag and others holding the flag of the revolution. On Monday, Assad branded the rebel offensive led by HTS an attempt to redraw the regional map in line with US interests. His comments came in a call with Iran's Pezeshkian, who in turn pledged continued support and said Iran hoped "Syria will pass through this stage with success and victory". On Monday, Syrian and Russian air raids on several areas of Idlib province in the northwest killed 11 civilians including five children, the Observatory said. More from this section "The strikes targeted... families living on the edge of a displacement camp," said Hussein Ahmed Khudur, a 45-year-old teacher who sought refuge at the camp from fighting in Aleppo province. Other strikes in Aleppo killed four civilians, two of them children, the Observatory said, adding that air raids also targeted a Christian-majority neighbourhood. AFPTV footage showed rebels pushing into Hama province in central Syria. Syria's defence ministry said troops were clashing with "terrorist organisations" in the northern Hama countryside. Islamist-led rebels killed six civilians on Monday in a rocket attack on the government-held city of Hama, the Observatory said. Aron Lund of the Century International think tank said a major question hangs over possible Turkish involvement. "I have a hard time imagining that Turkey-backed groups could launch a major rebel offensive out of Turkey-held areas without Turkey being very significantly involved," he said. "But I also don't think Turkey necessarily wanted the rebels to get this far." Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an end to the "instability" in Syria and an agreement to stop the civil war. On a visit to Ankara, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it was crucial "to protect the achievements" of the so-called Astana process to end Syria's civil war, which involves Turkey, Russia and Iran. Several hours later, he said the respective foreign ministers would meet on the matter next weekend in Qatar. "We will try to activate this process again," he said. While the current fighting is rooted in a war that began more than a decade ago, much has changed since then. Millions of Syrians have been displaced, with about 5.5 million now in neighbouring countries. Most of those involved in the initial anti-Assad protests are either dead, in jail or in exile. Russia is at war in Ukraine, and Iran's militant allies Hezbollah and Hamas have been massively weakened by more than a year of conflict with Israel. Lebanon's Hezbollah played a key role in backing government forces particularly around Aleppo, but it withdrew from several positions to focus on fighting Israel. HTS and its allies launched their offensive on Wednesday, the day a Lebanon ceasefire began. The violence in Syria has killed 514 people, mostly combatants but also including 92 civilians, according to the Observatory. burs-srm-ser/smw
A pre-Mayan system of canals used to direct and catch fish was found in Belize, establishing “continuity” between the Mayans and a predecessor as they continued to use them. First believed to have been a Mayan construction, after running numerous radiocarbon dates, archaeologists from the University of New Hampshire made an astonishing discovery that these fish-trapping canals predate the mythic and powerful ancient civilization. From what researchers gather, they may have even assisted the Mayans’ flourishing growth as the impressive design allowed their predecessors to feed 15,000 people a year, according to Eleanor Harrison-Buck, professor of anthropology and director of the Belize River East Archaeology (BREA) project. The Mayans capitalized on the ingenious zigzagging network, and with an abundant food source, they built one of the largest and most significant ancient cultures in the world. An ingenious pre-Mayan zigzagging system of canals to trap fish In the largest inland wetland in Belize, Central America, with drones and Good Earth, New Hampshire researchers conducted tests on a large-scale pre-Columbian fish-trapping facility. At first, they never expected that anyone but the Mayans could have constructed such a sophisticated means of catching fish. The research used 26 radiocarbon dates from test excavation sites in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary (CTWS). The presence of the canals extended over a thousand years in the past, before the Mayans began to emerge, which “surprised” researchers due to its massive size. Late Archaic hunter-gatherer-fishers developed this system, which worked so brilliantly that the Mayans later adopted it. “For Mesoamerica in general, we tend to regard agricultural production as the engine of civilization, but this study tells us that it wasn’t just agriculture—it was also potential mass harvesting of aquatic species,” Harrison-Buck stated in a press release. Collecting sediment samples along the walls, they were investigating nitrogen and carbon levels to determine “environmental changes over time,” according to the press release. With no evidence of crop production in sight, they deduced that these channels served as large-scale fish trapping facilities. The network directed the annual flood waters into a source pool where they could trap thousands of fish, able to feed a growing population, as the Mayans , it has been estimated, exceeded eight million people. This gave archaeologists a rare first link that connected a predecessor to the grand empire. “It seems likely that the canals allowed for annual fish harvests and social gatherings, which would have encouraged people to return to this area year after year and congregate for longer periods of time,” said Marieka Brouwer Burg, professor of anthropology at the University of Vermont and BREA co-director. “Such intensive investments in the landscape may have led ultimately to the development of the complex society characteristic of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, which subsequently occurred in this area by around 1200 BCE.” Wetlands, one of the most significant ecosystems on Earth Always a critical ecosystem across the globe, wetlands play a critical role in the environment, Samantha Krause, professor of geography and environmental studies at Texas State University explained in a recent press release. “Knowing how to manage wetland resources responsibly is essential for the continued resilience of these ecosystems both in the past and today. The Archaic hunter-gatherer-fishers knew how to protect their resources and use them in a way that could sustain these habitats, not exhaust them, which explains their long-lasting occupation in this area,” a press release concludes . The team, bolstered by the support of the local community, plans to investigate further, “hoping to more fully understand the complexity of human-wetland interactions in the past.”
While homelessness across the United States increased by a dramatic 18% in 2024 compared to a year earlier, the Los Angeles region was among a handful of areas bucking the national trend — with a 5% drop in unsheltered homelessness over the same period, the first such drop in seven years, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development reported Friday. HUD’s 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report: Part 1: Point-in-Time Estimates — an annual snapshot of the number of people in shelters, temporary housing or unsheltered settings — found more than 770,000 people nationwide were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2024, an 18% increase from 2023. According to HUD, the nationwide increase in homelessness in 2024 was tied to migration, displacement by natural disasters such as the Maui fire, and rising costs of housing. However, Los Angeles was among jurisdictions, including as Dallas and Chester County, Pennsylvania, marked by a decrease in people experiencing homelessness, HUD data found. Struggling with a high-cost rental market, Los Angeles increased the availability of housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, combining federal, state, county and city funds, according to the federal agency. “This crisis has been decades in the making, but after years of increases, we’ve turned the corner with the first decrease in street homelessness in years, by acting with innovative solutions that have resulted in thousands more people inside and more housing being built throughout the city,” Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. “There’s still more work to do and this urgent work will continue in 2025.” The Los Angeles region, meanwhile, remained at the top continuums of care in California with people experiencing homelessness — an overall 71,201 homeless individuals, consisting of both sheltered and unsheltered, according to HUD data. Moreover, California, the state with the country’s highest population, also led the U.S. in the number of homeless people, followed by New York, Washington, Florida and Massachusetts. The city and county of San Diego stood at 10,605, followed by San Jose/Santa Clara at 10,394; Oakland, Berkeley/Alameda County at 9,450; San Francisco at 8,323; and Santa Ana, Anaheim/Orange County at 7,322. Nationwide, family homelessness increased by 39% compared to 2023. The homelessness count was done during a period of significant increases in rental costs, as a result of the pandemic and nearly decades of under-building of housing, HUD said. The Maui fire, among other natural disasters, led to an increase in homelessness. In Hawaii, more than 5,200 people were sleeping in disaster emergency shelters on the night of the count. Meanwhile, veterans experiencing homelessness decreased nearly 8% nationwide from 35,574 in 2023 to 32,882 in 2024, according to HUD’s data. The figure for unsheltered veterans dropped nearly 11% — from 15,507 in 2023 to 13,851 in 2024. In the LA region, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s 2024 homelessness count showed a 22.9% decrease in veteran homelessness. Bass’ office cited several initiatives — in partnership with federal leaders — that led to this decline, such as boosting participation in a veteran housing voucher program, HUD-VASH and making changes policy changes regarding veterans’ benefits. “Los Angeles is one of the few communities in the country that saw a decrease in homelessness,” LAHSA CEO Va Lecia Adams Kellum said in a statement. “What’s happening in L.A. is working.” “Now is not the time to go backward,” she continued. “Our community must redouble its efforts in pursuing what we know works to bring all our unsheltered neighbors home.” According to the agency, its 2024 homelessness count found that majority, about 54%, of people who became homeless cited economic hardship as one of the main reasons they lost their home.
Canadian Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters on Sunday that he felt “badly” watching leftist Prime Minister Justin Trudeau make the rounds at President-elect Donald Trump’s estate Mar-a-Lago, lamenting his “position of weakness” and describing Trudeau as having “lost control.” Trudeau was in Florida for a surprise dinner with Trump on Friday night following an explosive message Trump posted last week to his social media website Truth Social in which he vowed to implement a 25-percent tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods until both countries helped America curb mass migration and drug trafficking. The message caused alarm in Canada, which sends nearly 77 percent of its exports to the United States. In Mexico, leftist President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Trump with the threat of imposing her own tariffs on American goods, ultimately holding a call with Trump that lowered tensions between the two. Trudeau, however, did not immediately comment on the matter and later claimed to hold a “ good call ” himself with Trump, leaving politicians both to the left and right of the prime minister concerned that he was not taking the matter seriously enough. Both Trump and Trudeau described their encounter in Florida as productive, but divulged few details on any agreement, a result that Poilievre, speaking to reporters, lamented as not securing any deliverables for Canada. “While I’m a critic of Mr. Trudeau’s, I did feel badly that he went in with such a position of weakness,” Poilievre said on Sunday. “Normally when a prime minister goes to the United States to meet a president, they’re looking to make gains. What gains did we hear from Mr. Trudeau? None, he’s just trying to limit losses.” “All Justin Trudeau offers is minimizing losses,” he continued. “This is the consequence of having a weak prime minister who has lost control: lost control of our borders, lost control of immigration, lost control of crime and drugs, and lost control of our economy.” “Canadians are paying a dreadful price for everything that Justin Trudeau has broken,” he concluded. Trudeau arrived on Florida on Friday evening and attended a dinner with the president-elect alongside a small selection of his cabinet, including Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc, who described the gathering as “a very warm, cordial meeting.” “I saw very much the mutual respect and warmth between the two leaders,” LeBlanc said in an interview following the encounter. Trudeau posted a photo to his social media accounts alongside Trump thanking him for his reception, adding, “I look forward to the work we can do together, again.” Trump described his meeting with the Canadian leader as “very productive” in his own social media message on Saturday. “We discussed many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address,” Trump wrote, “like the Fentanyl and Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration, Fair Trade Deals that do not jeopardize American Workers, and the massive Trade Deficit the U.S. has with Canada.” “I made it very clear that the United States will no longer sit idly by as our Citizens become victims to the scourge of this Drug Epidemic, caused mainly by the Drug Cartels, and Fentanyl pouring in from China,” he added. “Too much death and hardship!” Trudeau was home by Saturday morning. The Globe and Mail noted that, while Trump and Trudeau both described their meeting positively, Trudeau returned “without any guarantees that Mr. Trump would drop the tariffs.” Trump promised in late November that he would impose a 25-percent tariff on both Canada and Mexico. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” he asserted on Truth Social. “This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power,” he concluded, “and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!” While Poilievre was naturally the most critical Canadian politician of Trudeau’s visit to Mar-a-Lago, several regional leaders in Canada indicated over the weekend that they would independently be pursuing the economic interests of their provinces in the absence of solid leadership out of Ottawa. “We’re saying to the Americans, we are your solution to energy security. We are your solution to energy affordability,” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said on Sunday, lamenting onerous taxes on fossil fuels imposed by Trudeau’s government. “You can’t take that message to the table when you’ve got these additional taxes and production caps layered on top.” “We have to have a cohesive message, and part of this is going to be a bit of a climbdown for Justin Trudeau and some of the bad policies that he’s enacted over the last number of years,” she added, according to Canada’s Global News. The premier of British Columbia, David Eby, told reporters in response to the original Truth Social post that his province would seek independent “opportunities” to trade with America, hopefully exempt from the proposed 25-percent tariff. “We’re going to continue to do our work to expand those trading opportunities,” he promised, calling British Columbia’s past efforts to also seek other markets outside of America “definitely the right direction” and that he would seek other markets “given the instability south of the [Canadian] border.” Ontario has already began an advertising campaign for its markets separate from the rest of Canada. Premier Doug Ford launched an ad campaign, Global News reported on Saturday, worth tens of millions of dollars to highlight Ontario as a “key trading partner,” apparently independent of the rest of Canada. Follow Frances Martel on Facebook and Twitter.WASHINGTON — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.IPL 2025 Mega Auction The TOI Entertainment Desk is a dynamic and dedicated team of journalists, working tirelessly to bring the pulse of the entertainment world straight to the readers of The Times of India. No red carpet goes unrolled, no stage goes dark - our team spans the globe, bringing you the latest scoops and insider insights from Bollywood to Hollywood, and every entertainment hotspot in between. We don't just report; we tell tales of stardom and stories untold. Whether it's the rise of a new sensation or the seasoned journey of an industry veteran, the TOI Entertainment Desk is your front-row seat to the fascinating narratives that shape the entertainment landscape. Beyond the breaking news, we present a celebration of culture. We explore the intersections of entertainment with society, politics, and everyday life. Read More 7 diet tips to learn from Rishabh Pant for weight loss 10 most famous paragliding destinations in the world 8 friendly pet dog breeds suitable for children 8 iconic books by Shakespeare explained in under 50 words 5 fruits one can grow in the balcony garden with ease (and how) Ananya Panday’s picture-perfect looks prove she’s a true fashionista 9 most colourful and adorable frogs in the world Shilpa Shetty redefines glamour in an ivory saree Lavanya Tripathi Redefines Bold Beauty with Effortless Grace
Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs win at the buzzer again, topping Panthers 30-27 on Shrader's field goal
Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs win at the buzzer again, topping Panthers 30-27 on Shrader's field goalST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — PGA Tour rookie Patrick Fishburn played bogey-free for an 8-under 64 for his first lead after any round. Joel Dahmen was 10 shots behind and had a bigger cause for celebration Friday in the RSM Classic. Dahmen made a 5-foot par putt on his final hole for a 2-under 68 in tough conditions brought on by the wind and cold, allowing him to make the cut on the number and get two more days to secure his PGA Tour card for next year. He is No. 124 in the FedEx Cup. "I still got more to write this weekend for sure," said Dahmen, who recently had said his story is not yet over. "But without having the opportunity to play this weekend, my story would be a lot shorter this year." Fishburn took advantage of being on the easier Plantation course, with trees blocking the brunt of the wind and two additional par 5s. He also was helped by Maverick McNealy, who opened with a 62 on the tougher Seaside course, making two bogeys late in his round and having to settle for a 70. Fishburn, who already has locked up his card for next year, was at 11-under 131 and led McNealy and Lee Hodges (63) going into the weekend. Michael Thorbjornsen had a 69 and was the only player who had to face Seaside on Friday who was among the top five. What mattered on this day, however, was far down the leaderboard. The RSM Classic is the final tournament of the PGA Tour season, and only the top 125 in the FedEx Cup have full status in 2025. That's more critical than ever with the tour only taking the top 100 for full cards after next season. Players like Dahmen will need full status to get as many playing opportunities as they can. That explains why he felt so much pressure on a Friday. He didn't make a bogey after his opening hole and was battling temperatures in the low 50s that felt even colder with the wind ripping off the Atlantic waters of St. Simons Sound. He made a key birdie on the 14th, hitting a 4-iron for his second shot on the 424-yard hole. Dahmen also hit wedge to 2 feet on the 16th that put him on the cut line, and from the 18th fairway, he was safely on the green some 40 feet away. But he lagged woefully short, leaving himself a testy 5-footer with his job on the line. "It was a great putt. I was very nervous," Dahmen said. "But there's still work to do. It wasn't the game-winner, it was like the half-court shot to get us to halftime. But without that, and the way I played today, I wouldn't have anything this weekend." His playing partners weren't so fortunate. The tour put three in danger of losing their cards in the same group — Zac Blair (No. 123), Dahmen and Wesley Bryan (No. 125). The cut was at 1-under 141. Blair and Bryan came to the 18th hole needing birdie to be assured of making the cut and both narrowly missed. Now they have to wait to see if anyone passes them, which is typically the case. Thorbjornsen in a tie for fourth and Daniel Berger (66 at Plantation) in a tie for 17th both were projected to move into the top 125. Dahmen, indeed, still has work to do. Fishburn gets a weekend to see if he can end his rookie year with a win. "I've had a lot of experience playing in cold growing up in Utah, playing this time of year, kind of get used to playing when the body's not moving very well and you've got to move your hands," said Fishburn, who played college golf at BYU. "Just pretty happy with how I played." Ludvig Aberg, the defending champion and No. 5 player in the world competing for the first time in more than two months because of knee surgery, bounced back with a 64 on Plantation and was back in the mix. Aberg played with Luke Clanton, the Florida State sophomore who looks like he belongs each week. Clanton, the No. 1 player in the world amateur ranking who received a sponsor exemption, had a 65 at Plantation and was two shots off the lead. Clanton already has a runner-up and two other top 10s since June. "Playing with him, it's pretty awesome to watch," Clanton said. "We were kind of fanboying a little it. I know he's a really good dude but to be playing with him and to see what he's done over the last couple years, it's pretty inspirational." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Netflix's broadcast for the NFL's Christmas Day games did not start off in the best way. There were audio issues at the start of the pre-game show as sportscaster Kay Adams delivered her opening spiel. This was followed by ESPN reporter Mina Kimes inexplicably getting cut off while she was discussing the upcoming game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers in favor of a "Squid Game" Season 2 ad. Thankfully for the fans, the broadcast did not experience any more significant issues after that rough start. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.NoneHouse approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minorsGiants Week 12 report card: Is Brian Daboll’s message even getting through?
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No. 4 Penn State tries to keep playoff picture out of focus in prep for tough trip to MinnesotaCharles Barkley is letting everyone know how he feels about Donald Trump voters. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.