lucky zodiac signs in 2024 No. 24 Illinois stuns Rutgers on Bryant's 40-yard TD reception with 4 seconds left

Judge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgender

PERSONAL FINANCE | TRAVEL In April, the Department of Transportation announced new airline rules requiring prompt automatic cash refunds to passengers when owed. The final rule took eff ect Oct. 28 and should simplify and speed up the process of receiving your money back due to a canceled or significantly changed flight or delayed luggage. "Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers." According to the Department of Transportation, under the old rules, airlines were permitted to set their own standards for what kind of flight changes warranted a refund, which made receiving a refund for a canceled or delayed flight a complicated aff air. This was seen during the global technology outage in July that disrupted several major airlines and caused thousands of flight cancellations and delays. Many customers were left to wait hours in customer-service lines to start the reimbursement process for their chosen airline. The new rule clearly defines the circumstances in which airlines must provide refunds and how they should be administered, making the reimbursement process much easier if your trip goes awry. According to the Department of Transportation, this is when customers are entitled to a refund: Canceled or significantly changed flights If your flight is canceled or significantly changed and you do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits off ered, you will be refunded. According to the Department of Transportation, significant changes to a flight include departure or arrival times that are more than three hours domestically and six hours internationally; departures or arrivals from a different airport; increases in the number of connections; instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service; or connections at diff erent airports or flights on diff erent planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability. Significantly delayed baggage return If you file a mishandled-baggage report, you will be entitled to a refund of your checked-bag fee if your luggage is not delivered within 12 hours of your domestic flight arriving at the gate or 15 to 30 hours of your international flight arriving at the gate. Extra services not provided If you pay for an additional service, like in-flight Wi-Fi or a specific seat selection, and you don't receive this accommodation, you are entitled to a refund. The Department of Transportation has also outlined several rules for how refunds will be processed: ■ Automatic: Airlines must automatically issue refunds. Customers will no longer have to explicitly request a refund — which can be a complicated aff air. ■ Prompt: Refunds must be issued within seven business days of refunds becoming due for credit-card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods. ■ Cash or original form of payment: Airlines must provide refunds in cash or whatever original payment method the individual used to make the purchase. ■ Total amount: Airlines and ticket agents must provide full refunds of the ticket purchase price minus the value of any portion of transportation already used. This includes all taxes and fees. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Helping to drown out the noise

'Development won, Parivarwad, negative politics lost': PM Modi on landslide victory in Maharashtra (WATCH)

phillucky.con Marshall withdraws from Independence Bowl matchup against ArmyUS coach Emma Hayes admits to anthem uncertainty ahead of England stalemate

US coach Emma Hayes admits to anthem uncertainty ahead of England stalemate

It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. "The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more," Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction." In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation, did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist "saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities." But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's "decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable." A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug "then entered the market through illegal channels," he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles," Li said. "The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice." This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. "Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated," he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. "It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. "Which clearly it has not." Get local news delivered to your inbox!

AfDB, farmers hail FG’s agricultural interventions in Anambra, Enugu

Philosophers discuss societal well-being in RiyadhTHE NEW HOTEL FROM BLUE SUEDE HOSPITALITY GROUP BRINGS ELEVATED BOUTIQUE HOSPITALITY TO COLLINS PARK MIAMI BEACH, Fla. , Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Daydrift , the latest addition to Blue Suede Hospitality Group's (BSHG) portfolio, has opened its doors in the vibrant Collins Park neighborhood of Miami Beach . Combining sleek design, state-of-the-art technology, and an exceptional dining experience, The Daydrift, located at 2216 Park Avenue, offers a sophisticated retreat for modern travelers just steps from the beach and Miami's lively attractions. "We are excited to introduce The Daydrift as a true neighborhood hotel that embodies the dynamic energy of the Collins Park community," said Kenny Lipschutz , Founder & CEO of Blue Suede Hospitality Group. "We have designed the hotel and our exciting upcoming food & beverage partnership to provide a rejuvenating oasis for guests and neighbors to have a space of their own, all while still being in the heart of the action." The Daydrift features 50 guest rooms and suites, designed by Interior Image Group , ranging in size from 220 to 600 square feet, catering to both leisure and business travelers. Room types range from king bed to double rooms and include one and two-bedroom suites. Each room features plush bedding, bespoke furnishings, smart TVs, high-speed Wi-Fi, keyless entry, and eco-conscious bath products. Interiors reflect warm, tropical tones inspired by the 1970s. The Daydrift's amenities are designed to deliver a seamless blend of style and comfort. Guests are welcomed into a vibrant lobby lounge, an inviting space perfect for unwinding or connecting over expertly crafted cocktails or freshly brewed coffee. The third-floor rooftop pool and deck offer a peaceful oasis, featuring a serene plunge pool and expansive seating areas, ideal for relaxation, yoga, or enjoying drinks while soaking up the elevated ambiance. The property's exclusive partnership with a celebrated culinary team will bring a multi-faceted food and beverage program to the hotel. More details to be announced soon. The Daydrift is surrounded by Miami Beach's cultural and entertainment highlights, including the Bass Museum of Art, Miami City Ballet, Miami Beach Convention Center, and Lincoln Road's renowned shops and restaurants. The hotel's central location at Park Avenue and 22nd Street provides effortless access to Miami's pristine beaches and iconic Ocean Drive. ABOUT BLUE SUEDE HOSPITALITY GROUP (BSHG) Blue Suede Hospitality Group (BSHG) is a next-generation hospitality company dedicated to modernizing the boutique hotel experience. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, BSHG delivers exceptional properties in prime, walkable downtown locations. The company's flexible layouts, dynamic pricing, and tech-driven solutions appeal to a wide range of guests while maintaining an industry-leading cost profile. With approximately $200 million in assets under management, BSHG is positioned for significant future growth. The company currently operates or has developments underway in several key cities, including Ann Arbor, MI ; Cincinnati, OH ; Charlottesville, VA ; Hamptons, NY; Memphis, TN ; and Miami, FL. BSHG continues to build a robust pipeline of future projects as it expands its presence in the boutique hospitality market. For more information about The Daydrift, visit www.thedaydrift.com or follow @thedaydrift and @bluesuedehospitality on social media. Media Contact: bluesuedehospitality@shadegrouppr.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-daydrift-now-open-in-miami-beach-302323117.html SOURCE Blue Suede Hospitality GroupStock market today: Tech stocks and AI pull Wall Street to more records

Barclays PLC Buys 38,763 Shares of The Pennant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:PNTG)

Healthcare boss shot dead in ‘brazen and targeted attack’, police sayElectronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) Shares Bought by Larson Financial Group LLCThe 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 Mrunal Thakur’s style journey is where fashion meets acting excellence ​Top 10 countries with the highest lactose intolerance​ 10 high-protein foods to include in soups When Kriti Sanon steps out in a saree, it's a sight to behold Ananya Panday's mom Bhavana Pandey's quirky earrings collection ​Baby girl names inspired by the Indian months​ How to make spicy one-pot Chicken meal 10 best books to magically fuel your child’s love for reading ​10 most expensive animals in the world​

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Don McHenry scored seven of his 29 points in overtime to lead Western Kentucky over Murray State 81-76 on Saturday. McHenry hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 39 seconds left and two free throws with 15 remaining to rally the Hilltoppers (7-3). He added five rebounds. Babacar Faye scored 17 and grabbed nine rebounds. Khristian Lander had 12 points. Jacobi Wood led the way for the Racers (6-3) with 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Nick Ellington totaled 15 points and seven rebounds. AJ Ferguson pitched in with 13 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Faye put up eight points in the first half for Western Kentucky, which trailed 39-33. McHenry led the Hilltoppers with 15 second-half points and he hit the game-tying layup with 35 seconds left to send the game to overtime tied at 67. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Telia Company AB (publ) ( OTCMKTS:TLSNY – Get Free Report )’s share price passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $5.68 and traded as low as $5.50. Telia Company AB (publ) shares last traded at $5.55, with a volume of 17,837 shares traded. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages recently issued reports on TLSNY. New Street Research raised shares of Telia Company AB (publ) to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, September 26th. Barclays lowered shares of Telia Company AB (publ) from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded Telia Company AB (publ) to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Get Our Latest Analysis on TLSNY Telia Company AB (publ) Trading Up 1.3 % Telia Company AB (publ) ( OTCMKTS:TLSNY – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The technology company reported $0.11 earnings per share for the quarter. Telia Company AB (publ) had a net margin of 5.37% and a return on equity of 1.90%. The company had revenue of $2.09 billion during the quarter. On average, research analysts forecast that Telia Company AB will post 0.31 EPS for the current year. Telia Company AB (publ) Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 20th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 31st were issued a $0.099 dividend. This is a boost from Telia Company AB (publ)’s previous dividend of $0.10. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 31st. Telia Company AB (publ)’s payout ratio is presently 81.82%. Telia Company AB (publ) Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Telia Company AB (publ) provides communication services to businesses, individuals, families, and communities in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. It offers mobile, broadband, television, and fixed-line services; and networking, cloud and security, mobility, enterprise mobile network, contact center, managed mobility services, collaboration solutions, enterprise telephony, Internet of Things (IoT), carrier ethernet, dedicated internet access, wavelengths, IP Transit, dark fiber, and colocation solutions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Telia Company AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Telia Company AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

The partially constructed skywalk project in Kottayam has once again become a flashpoint of a raging political tussle between the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The latest round of controversy follows the release of a report by an expert committee from IIT Palakkad, tasked with evaluating the strength and stability of the structure. The report highlighted significant flaws, deeming the existing structure unstable due to welding issues on the column supporting the roof truss. It recommended dismantling the entire roof and columns above platform level. The report also flagged inadequacies in certain structural components while suggesting ways to strengthen those areas. Corrosion, both internal and external, was also noted, with recommendations for proper anti-corrosion treatment. UDF’s accusations The UDF has accused the LDF government of using the report as an excuse to halt the project for political reasons. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, legislator of Kottayam, alleged that the government’s failure to award the remaining work to the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS) is at the heart of the issue. “The LDF government is finding reasons to stall every development project proposed for Kottayam town. This is sheer political vendetta,’‘ he said. The project’s suspension, according to Mr. Radhakrishnan, also reflected a broader lack of commitment by the LDF to local development of Kottayam. The LDF, in turn, has blamed Mr. Radhakrishnan for the alleged corruption and construction flaws that have plagued the project. “The project was hastily launched without adequate planning, including the failure to acquire sufficient land. This resulted in design changes, such as constructing a pillar on Shastri Road, which ultimately weakened the structure,” pointed out K. Anilkumar, a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State committee. The ₹5.18-crore pedestrian skywalk, aimed at easing congestion at the busy Seematti junction, was initiated in February 2016. However, the construction stalled soon after the metal structure was installed. Earlier this year, Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar declared in the Assembly that the project was unviable, citing a revised cost estimate of ₹17.85 crore. Published - November 30, 2024 08:39 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit

None

philucky. com FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets running back Breece Hall could play Sunday at Jacksonville after missing a game with a knee injury. Hall has been dealing with a hyperextension and injured MCL in his left knee that sidelined him last Sunday at Miami. But he was a full participant at practice Friday after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday. Hall was officially listed as questionable on the team's final injury report. “He looks good right now,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said. “So it’s promising.” Hall leads the Jets with 692 yards rushing and four touchdown runs, and he also has 401 yards receiving and two scores on 46 catches. A pair of rookies helped New York offset Hall's absence last weekend, with Braelon Allen rushing for 43 yards on 11 carries, and Isaiah Davis getting 40 yards on 10 attempts and scoring his first rushing touchdown. “We’re hopeful and we’ll see how it goes,” Ulbrich said of Hall. The Jets will get star cornerback Sauce Gardner back after he missed a game with a hamstring injury, but New York's secondary appears likely to be without cornerback D.J. Reed because of a groin injury. Reed was listed as doubtful after he didn't practice Thursday or Friday. “It’s been something that’s kind of lingered here and there,” Ulbrich said. “It’s gotten aggravated and then it went away, and then it got aggravated again. So, it’s just dealing with that.” Backup Brandin Echols is out with a shoulder injury, so veteran Isaiah Oliver or rookie Qwan'tez Stiggers could get the start opposite Gardner if Reed can't play. Kendall Sheffield also could be elevated from the practice squad for the second game in a row. Ulbrich said kick returner Kene Nwangwu will be placed on injured reserve after breaking a hand last weekend at Miami. The injury came a week after he was selected the AFC special teams player of the week in his Jets debut, during which he returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and forced a fumble in a loss to Seattle. “To put him out there with a broken hand, just thought it’d be counterproductive for him and for us as a team, so it unfortunately cuts the season short and what a bright light he was,” Ulbrich said. “What an amazing future I think he has in this league. With saying that, he’s already been a really good player for quite a while, so (it's) unfortunate, but he’ll be back.” Offensive lineman Xavier Newman (groin) is doubtful, while right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) and RT Morgan Moses (wrist) are questionable. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

ITV I'm A Celebrity viewers issue 'predictable' complaint as winner of 2024 series announced

When dockworkers walked the picket line in October, the strike lasted for 3 days. And if a new contract between their 45,000 member union and the U.S. Maritime Alliance isn't signed by mid-January — a longer strike could send inflation going in the wrong direction. Just months after a strike at Gulf and East Coast ports ended, operators and union members are now at an impasse — once again — over automation. Port operators say they need more technology to increase port efficiency, improve safety and to control costs. But union members say no, because some workers will lose their jobs. A new strike could come if an agreement isn't reached by January 15. And if that happens inflation could increase, when goods aren't flowing in an out of ports as quickly. Thursday union leaders met with President-elect Donald trump at Mar-a-Lago and walked away with his support. Writing about automation on Truth social, Trump said "the amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American workers," and that foreign countries "...shouldn't be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt." RELATED STORY | Billions of dollars of U.S. economic activity halted as port workers enter day two of their strike Professor Todd Belt of George Washington University called it Trump striking a different path than he did during his first term. "During the first Trump term you had Donald Trump, surrounded by a lot of people who were suggested to him by incumbent Republicans who had really a Republican orthodoxy on free trade. Donald trump now is going to be surrounded by a lot of people who support his ideas of interventionism and tariffs, as well as other trade policies that will protect working people at the expense of, of course, inflation," Belt said. The International Longshoremen's Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to "supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace — from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products." "To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains," said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November's election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. "For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries," Trump posted. "It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!" The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Constitution is our armour: SP boss Akhilesh YadavTech review: Earbuds and phones for those on your holiday listBy Laurie Baratti, TravelPulse A recent survey conducted by the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey highlights the influence of the recent U.S. elections on Americans’ international travel plans for 2025. The findings show a mix of enthusiasm and caution among travelers regarding their future global itineraries. Approximately 30% of respondents indicated they expect to increase their international trips next year, while 7% foresee scaling back on foreign travel. However, the majority — 55% — anticipate no significant changes to their plans despite the election outcome. The reasons behind increased international travel are varied. Some respondents cited dissatisfaction with the election results as a driving factor, expressing a strong desire to spend more time abroad. One traveler remarked, “I want to spend as much time as possible outside the U.S. over the next four years.” For others, optimism about a potential post-election economic boost played a pivotal role. “The economy should show signs of improvement, and if the new administration can make peace deals around the world, then travel will be as good or better next year,” shared another participant. Conversely, those who reported no change in their travel plans pointed to stable financial conditions. With inflation at its lowest point in three years, many travelers have already secured their 2025 travel arrangements. “I have a general feeling of being better off and secure. I anticipate increased disposable income available, and I’m already booked for 2025,” stated one respondent. Economic factors appear to be bolstering travel confidence overall. Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board member, explained: “With inflation at a three-year low, fewer travelers are canceling or postponing trips. In 2024, travelers embarked on their long-postponed dreams of global travel, fueled by a stabilizing economy and a renewed focus on meaningful experiences over material possessions.” Still, a small proportion of respondents (7%) plan to travel less internationally in the coming year, citing personal safety concerns tied to the U.S. elections. “The change of U.S. administration makes me more apprehensive about being in a foreign country with the risk of anger and animosity toward Americans being higher,” one participant admitted. Others attributed their hesitance to ongoing geopolitical tensions, including conflicts and terrorist threats worldwide. ©2024 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.The winner of the 2024 series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! has been crowned. McFly singer Danny Jones won the public vote in the final episode on Sunday, with Coleen Rooney coming second and the Reverend Richard Coles in third place. It was once again presented by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly and filmed in New South Wales, Australia. This year's line-up proved to be less controversial than previous years, after makers ITV confirmed it would feature no politicians. Jones, 38, cried as he was crowned the 2024 winner, saying it felt "amazing" and "surreal". He is part of the pop-rock boyband McFly, which formed in the early 2000s and scored hits with songs including Five Colours in Her Hair and All About You. Rooney hit headlines when the so-called Wagatha Christie case went to court in 2022. Ahead of the winner being named, Rooney said: "Knowing that I have made it to the final makes me proud. I'm a proud mum, I'm a proud wife, I'm a proud daughter." Jones added: "It feels amazing, I didn't expect this at all." During the final, the trio took on their final Bushtucker trial to win a three-course meal for their last night in camp. In his exit interview, Coles said: "It was much harder than I thought it would be, but that was great. "The best thing was everybody else, we had such a good time." Also part of the line-up were professional dancer Oti Mabuse, Coronation street actor Alan Halsall, former professional boxer Barry McGuigan and TikToker GK Barry. Love Island star Maura Higgins and Coles arrived in camp as this year's late arrivals. Loose Women panellist Jane Moore was the first person to leave, calling it a "weird and magical experience". She declined to call it a positive time, saying "I've never been so soaked in my life, constantly", referencing the rain that swept the camp on several days. Radio 1 DJ Dean McCullough was second to leave, after taking on seven trials during his time on the show. He proved to be a divisive figure in the camp after being accused of not pulling his weight in tasks by his fellow celebrities. In a shock twist , N-Dubz singer and former X Factor judge Tulisa Constostavlos became the third celebrity to leave. She did not appear on ITV's spin-off show I'm A Celebrity... Unpacked and then deleted all posts about the show on her Instagram page. Then Constostavlos posted a video, saying she had been feeling "overwhelmed" since leaving the jungle and was taking a break to focus on her mental health. Next out was radio and TV presenter Melvin Odoom, who told hosts Ant and Dec that he "was ready to go" and reflected on his new friendships with Oti Mabuse, Danny Jones and Barry McGuigan. After a night of no celebrities leaving on Wednesday evening, it meant two were given the boot on Thursday evening. Barry McGuigan and Maura Higgins left the camp, in what was a shock twist for viewers. Higgins said she was "really happy" to leave. "'It's my time'. I had a gut feeling and my gut feeling is never wrong!" she told Ant and Dec in her exit chat. McGuigan, however, was sad to leave as it meant he couldn't take part in the final challenge, the infamous Celebrity Cyclone. As I'm A Celebrity series go, it's been a fairly peaceful one, with campmates getting on well and working together during challenges. Elsewhere, the I'm A Celeb lore of unlikely friendships continued, with social media star and podcaster GK Barry sharing many deep chats with Reverend Richard Coles. "I don't know what a bromance is between a 62-year-old gay man and a 25-year-old lesbian, whatever it is, we're having one," Coles joked while speaking in the Bush Telegraph. GK Barry and Coles joined the likes of Star Trek's George Takei and Eastenders' Joe Swash, plus X Factor star Jake Quickenden and former politician Edwina Currie, in the show's unlikely duo category.

Larson Financial Group LLC Takes Position in Black Stone Minerals, L.P. (NYSE:BSM)lucky jackpot 。

Critical Metals (NASDAQ:CRML) Shares Gap Up – What’s Next?This event, full of Dickensian Christmas cheer, helps the school community to come together, raising both money and Christmas spirits. Upon entering, you are greeted with the buzzy, warm sentiment of Christmas. The scent of gingerbread and nutmeg enhances your Christmas spirit, evoking your excitement. Parents describe it as "the perfect opportunity to connect over a glass of mulled wine, whilst children run around and enjoy the various foods and stalls." The look on the children’s faces when they gaze in awe and wonder as they stroll through the festive halls. The little one’s scamper into Santa’s Grotto to find out who’s been naughty or nice, and hunt around the stalls for presents and gifts for their loved ones. This Christmas fair was the perfect way to start off the holiday season. Not only is it about the atmosphere raised in this spectacular festivity, but adding on to this is the long-lasting benefits. With the money raised by the school PTA, St. Marys Primary School is able to fund a range of projects, both big and small, enhancing the children’s educational and physical abilities, providing new Chrome books, sports equipment and extracurricular activities. St Mary’s Catholic Primary not only provides a memorable beginning to the Christmas season, but also allows Christmas’ true element of giving to come through. No sign of any Scrooges around here! The warm nostalgic glow as cosy as a Christmas fireplace, draws everyone, from in the school and beyond.

Key Takeaways Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming regulated industries like healthcare, finance and legal services, but navigating these changes requires a careful balance between innovation and compliance . In healthcare, for example, AI-powered diagnostic tools are enhancing outcomes by improving breast cancer detection rates by 9.4% compared to human radiologists, as highlighted in a study published in JAMA . Meanwhile, financial institutions such as the Commonwealth Bank of Australia are using AI to reduce scam-related losses by 50%, demonstrating the financial impact of AI . Even in the traditionally conservative legal field, AI is revolutionizing document review and case prediction, enabling legal teams to work faster and more efficiently, according to a Thomson Reuters report . However, introducing AI into regulated sectors comes with significant challenges. For product managers leading AI development, the stakes are high: Success requires a strategic focus on compliance, risk management and ethical innovation. Related: Balancing AI Innovation with Ethical Oversight Why compliance is non-negotiable Regulated industries operate within stringent legal frameworks designed to protect consumer data, ensure fairness and promote transparency. Whether dealing with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in healthcare, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe or the oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in finance, companies must integrate compliance into their product development processes. This is especially true for AI systems. Regulations like HIPAA and GDPR not only restrict how data can be collected and used but also require explainability — meaning AI systems must be transparent and their decision-making processes understandable. These requirements are particularly challenging in industries where AI models rely on complex algorithms. Updates to HIPAA, including provisions addressing AI in healthcare, now set specific compliance deadlines, such as the one scheduled for December 23, 2024. International regulations add another layer of complexity. The European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act, effective August 2024, classifies AI applications by risk levels, imposing stricter requirements on high-risk systems like those used in critical infrastructure, finance and healthcare. Product managers must adopt a global perspective, ensuring compliance with local laws while anticipating changes in international regulatory landscapes. The ethical dilemma: Transparency and bias For AI to thrive in regulated sectors, ethical concerns must also be addressed. AI models, particularly those trained on large datasets, are vulnerable to bias. As the American Bar Association notes, unchecked bias can lead to discriminatory outcomes, such as denying loans to specific demographics or misdiagnosing patients based on flawed data patterns. Another critical issue is explainability. AI systems often function as "black boxes," producing results that are difficult to interpret. While this may suffice in less regulated industries, it's unacceptable in sectors like healthcare and finance, where understanding how decisions are made is critical. Transparency isn't just an ethical consideration — it's also a regulatory mandate. Failure to address these issues can result in severe consequences. Under GDPR, for example, non-compliance can lead to fines of up to €20 million or 4% of global annual revenue. Companies like Apple have already faced scrutiny for algorithmic bias. A Bloomberg investigation revealed that the Apple Card's credit decision-making process unfairly disadvantaged women, leading to public backlash and regulatory investigations. Related: AI Isn't Evil — But Entrepreneurs Need to Keep Ethics in Mind As They Implement It How product managers can lead the charge In this complex environment, product managers are uniquely positioned to ensure AI systems are not only innovative but also compliant and ethical . Here's how they can achieve this: 1. Make compliance a priority from day one Engage legal, compliance and risk management teams early in the product lifecycle. Collaborating with regulatory experts ensures that AI development aligns with local and international laws from the outset. Product managers can also work with organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to adopt frameworks that prioritize compliance without stifling innovation. 2. Design for transparency Building explainability into AI systems should be non-negotiable. Techniques such as simplified algorithmic design, model-agnostic explanations and user-friendly reporting tools can make AI outputs more interpretable. In sectors like healthcare, these features can directly improve trust and adoption rates. 3. Anticipate and mitigate risks Use risk management tools to proactively identify vulnerabilities, whether they stem from biased training data, inadequate testing or compliance gaps. Regular audits and ongoing performance reviews can help detect issues early, minimizing the risk of regulatory penalties. 4. Foster cross-functional collaboration AI development in regulated industries demands input from diverse stakeholders. Cross-functional teams, including engineers, legal advisors and ethical oversight committees, can provide the expertise needed to address challenges comprehensively. 5. Stay ahead of regulatory trends As global regulations evolve, product managers must stay informed. Subscribing to updates from regulatory bodies, attending industry conferences and fostering relationships with policymakers can help teams anticipate changes and prepare accordingly. Lessons from the field Success stories and cautionary tales alike underscore the importance of integrating compliance into AI development. At JPMorgan Chase, the deployment of its AI-powered Contract Intelligence (COIN) platform highlights how compliance-first strategies can deliver significant results. By involving legal teams at every stage and building explainable AI systems, the company improved operational efficiency without sacrificing compliance, as detailed in a Business Insider report . In contrast, the Apple Card controversy demonstrates the risks of neglecting ethical considerations. The backlash against its gender-biased algorithms not only damaged Apple's reputation but also attracted regulatory scrutiny, as reported by Bloomberg. These cases illustrate the dual role of product managers — driving innovation while safeguarding compliance and trust. Related: Avoid AI Disasters and Earn Trust — 8 Strategies for Ethical and Responsible AI The road ahead As the regulatory landscape for AI continues to evolve, product managers must be prepared to adapt. Recent legislative developments, like the EU AI Act and updates to HIPAA, highlight the growing complexity of compliance requirements. But with the right strategies — early stakeholder engagement, transparency-focused design and proactive risk management — AI solutions can thrive even in the most tightly regulated environments. AI's potential in industries like healthcare, finance and legal services is vast. By balancing innovation with compliance, product managers can ensure that AI not only meets technical and business objectives but also sets a standard for ethical and responsible development. In doing so, they're not just creating better products — they're shaping the future of regulated industries.

Festive soaps are as much as Christmas staple as a tree and a new pair of socks. While you might be waiting on some fancy lotions and potions in your stocking on the big day, you might want to avail yourself of a set that doubles as decorations to help brighten your home through advent. Right now you can pick up the Forever Cosmetics Molton Brown Festive Bauble Bath & Shower Gift Set for £15.99 , reduced from £39.99 at Wowcher. Ideal as a gift or as a pre-Christmas treat to yourself, these three shower gels are a bargain at this price. The trio of 75ml, bauble-shaped bottles are each filled with popular scents: fiery pink pepper, black pepper, and rhubarb and rose. Ideal either in the bath or the shower, these refreshing scents are just the first phase of this set’s life in your home. Once they’re empty, they make for great Christmas tree decorations that can be wheeled out for years to come. READ MORE: Kitchen essential 'perfect for cooking family meals' reduced to £15 from £67 in Debenhams deal READ MORE: Costco is selling a mega tin of Quality Street this Christmas almost half the price of Amazon This set is vegetarian-friendly, cruelty and paraben-free, and produced in Essex with a manufacturing process first established in 1971. If you want to support British businesses whilst stocking up on fancy bath soaps and decorations, this is the place to be. At Amazon the set has a solid average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from almost 30 reviews. “Gift for a friend who absolutely loves it,” said one five-star review. “This is for Xmas presents for family and friends,” said another happy customer. Another said: “I like the fact that the shower gel is good quality. This means a better lather with a small amount of gel. Very pleasant smell. Worth the money because it lasts a long time.” Some customers have found the formula doesn’t sit well with their skin type, however. “Unfortunately, I did notice that my skin felt a bit dry after using this shower gel. Despite its luxurious feel, it seemed to strip away some natural oils from my skin, which was a disappointment,” said one four-star review. Another customer said the fragrances could be stronger: “I find by the time I'm dried off I can't smell it at all.” £17.99 instead of £39.99 for a Molton Brown 3-Piece Festive Bath & Shower Gift Set with a limited number available from £15.99 from Wowcher (Image: Wowcher) For alternative shower set gifts for friends and family this Christmas, check out the Bondi Sands Clearer Skin Bundle for £33. Beauty Bay’s Birthday Box is a steal at £55, packed to bursting with skincare goodness. It’s tough to find a better bargain that this three-piece bauble soaps set for £15.99 at Wowcher — grab one while you can!

The Indiana Pacers face the Boston Celtics in a regular season game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 (12/27/24) at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of DirecTV Stream or fuboTV . You can also watch via a subscription to Sling TV , which is offering half off your first month. — DirecTV Stream is offering $30 off on Entertainment with Sports Pack featuring NFL RedZone, BIG Ten Network and more. — Sling TV is offering plans for as low as $23 for your first month Here’s what you need to know: What : NBA regular season Who : Spurs vs. 76ers When : Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 Time : 7:30 p.m. ET Where : TD Garden TV : NBA TV Live stream : DirecTV Stream (free trial), fuboTV (free trial) Sling TV *** Here’s a basketball story via the Associated Press: ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — John Wall was at the G League Winter Showcase last year, trying out, hoping to get back in the game. He did the same thing this year, without stepping foot on the court. The No. 1 pick in the 2010 NBA draft and five-time All-Star made his broadcasting debut last weekend, handling the analyst duties for a pair of games at the G League event in Orlando. He has not officially retired as a player but knows the time is coming when he’ll have to figure out what to do next, and broadcasting clearly appeals to him. “I’m always going to critique myself,” Wall said. “I can get a lot better. I’m learning more and more, but for me, it’s talking about basketball — what I love to do. It’s what I do when I’m home, watching with my friends and kids.” The idea was born in a fairly simple way. When he is home in Miami, watching games with friends or his kids, they evidently all end up telling him the same thing. “They’re like, ‘Shut up and let us watch,’” Wall said. With that, the notion of going to TV — where talking is encouraged — evidently made sense. He did a pair of games back-to-back on Saturday, basically broadcasting for five consecutive hours with only a 20-minute break between matchups. Wall talked about the games the way an elite player would, breaking down defenses in real time, explaining mindsets and dropping in a few anecdotes. When an Iowa player got hit in the mouth during a game against Sioux Falls, Wall spent a minute or so telling a story about what it was like to go straight to the dentist from a game after a similar hit. He said he enjoyed the opportunity. “I was here last year working out for a couple teams,” Wall said. “I was on the other court, working out before games. That was fun. This was fun.” Wall is 34, still looks fit, still works out regularly at the University of Miami and says he would give anything for one more chance in the NBA. He was selected for the All-Star Game in five consecutive seasons for Washington from 2014 through 2018, even while dealing with some injuries in that span — including ones necessitating surgeries on both knees in 2016. But six years ago this week, the decision was made for him to have season-ending surgery to address issues with his left heel. He wound up tearing his Achilles tendon in 2019, needing another yearlong recovery process. He never played for the Wizards again and has been limited to 74 games since with Houston and the Los Angeles Clippers. He could still play, too. Wall averaged 16.3 points and 6.1 assists in those stints with the Rockets and Clippers. An abdominal strain was the beginning of the end of his stint with the Clippers, and Wall hasn’t played a game since Jan. 13, 2023. “You do all you can to take care of yourself, and injuries are still part of the game of basketball,” Wall said. “Yeah, I think about that. The time I had, I enjoyed. I get frustrated at times. But God don’t make no mistakes.” It’s unclear what’s next for Wall. The broadcast gig at the G League event was a one-day plan, and he’s open to more. In the interim, he’ll keep working out in Coral Gables and hoping that a team gives him one more shot. “It’d mean the world,” Wall said. “You want to go out on your own terms. I want to finish it the way I want. If I play my last game, I want to walk off the court my way.” (The Associated Press contributed to this report) Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

EDMONTON - The Alberta government has announced plans to ban new mountaintop removal and open-pit coal developments on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, but the new rules wouldn’t apply to advanced projects like a contentious mine proposed for the Crowsnest Pass. Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean announced Friday the new policies expected in late 2025, along with a round of consultations with industry players on how to implement them. Jean said under the “long overdue” rule revamp, all coal mining projects would be held to the highest environmental standards. “Our job will be to develop a policy that will attract investment and create jobs while respecting and protecting the air, land, water and wildlife,” he said. Jean said royalty revenues are also to be “substantially increased,” with rates to be revised after the consultations. “They’re too low. We’re going to bring them up,” he said of the province’s current rates. The new bans wouldn’t apply to advanced proposals, including the proposed Grassy Mountain open-pit mine in the Crowsnest Pass, which has been fought by environmental groups and communities downstream. Alberta Energy Regulator hearings into that project are to continue in January. Jean said the Grassy Mountain project, which aims to reclaim a site that was mined over 60 years ago but was never properly restored, would be monitored closely if approved. He said the province needs to find innovative ways to clean up those contaminated sites. “I hope (Albertans) look at us and say, ‘Wow, that’s smart. What a smart government,’” he said. Concerns over coal mining blew up in spring 2020, when the province announced it would remove rules that had protected the eastern slopes of the Rockies from open-pit coal mining since 1976. Public reaction was swift and angry, and the United Conservative Party government reinstated the protections and stopped selling exploration leases. Friday’s announcement also comes three years after the government received a report and recommendations on the issue, including public feedback ranging from environmental concerns to dissatisfaction with the regulatory process. Jean said the COVID-19 pandemic, last year’s provincial election and fights with the federal government over resource jurisdiction led to the delay of the new initiative. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the plan to collect more royalties represents a plan to increase production in Alberta, with no economic benefit and a lot of environmental risk. “They may want to mess around with the rates, but what they really are trying to do is increase the amount of coal mining in the province,” he said. He said the policy previously in place since 1976 was lifted for a brief period so the UCP could “sneak” a few projects through the regulatory process. “It’s economically illiterate. It’s not going to create the jobs and the economic benefits that we need in Alberta,” Nenshi said. Under the new rules, companies would be required to show they can prevent toxic selenium from leaching into watersheds. Jean said technology, including “high wall mining” to catch overburden, the layer of soil and rock that sits above coal, would be used to keep it in check. But NDP environment and protected areas critic Sarah Elmeligi said she’s skeptical technology to remove selenium from waterways works at scale, outside a lab. “That technology doesn’t currently exist and, if it does, I would love to see it.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 20, 2024.LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.’’ Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

lucky number in chinese

Small businesses say cautious shoppers are seeking 'cozy' and 'festive' this holiday season With a late Thanksgiving, the holiday shopping season is five days shorter than last year, and owners of small retail shops say that people have been quick to snap up holiday décor early, along with gifts for others and themselves. Cozy items like sweaters are popular so far. Businesses are also holding special events to get shoppers in the door. But there’s little sense of the freewheeling spending that occurred during the pandemic. Overall, The National Retail Federation predicts retail sales in November and December will rise between 2.5% and 3.5% compared with same period a year ago. Supreme Court will take up a challenge related to California's tough vehicle emissions standards WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it will take up a business-backed appeal that could make it easier to challenge federal regulations, acting in a dispute related to California’s nation-leading standards for vehicle emissions. The justices agreed Friday to hear an appeal filed by fuel producers who object to a waiver granted to California in 2022 by the Environmental Protection Agency during Joe Biden’s presidency. The waiver allows California to set more stringent emissions limits than the national standard. The case won’t be argued until the spring, when the Trump administration is certain to take a more industry-friendly approach to the issue. Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Trump hosts Apple CEO at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders continue outreach to president-elect WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump is hosting Apple CEO Tim Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort. That's according to a person familiar with the matter who is not authorized to comment publicly. Trump has said he’s recently spoken with Cook about the company’s long-running tax battles with the European Union. The Republican said in October that he had spoken to Cook weeks after Apple lost its last appeal to avoid paying 13 billion euros ($14.34 billion) in back taxes to Ireland. The Trump transition team and Apple did not respond to a requests for comment about Trump's meeting with Cook. Flight takes kids to visit Santa at North Pole scene in transformed Denver airport hangar DENVER (AP) — More than 100 kids have been treated to an airplane flight and visit to a hangar at Denver International Airport that was transformed into the North Pole. Streamers, paper snowflakes and tufts of cotton resembling feathery snow dotted the plane and seats. The children, including some with serious health issues, were asked before the final approach to draw the shades on their windows. When they opened, the kids were greeted by a waiting Santa and Mrs. Claus and a host of elves. Saturday's event was part of United Airlines’ annual holiday-season “fantasy flights” at airports around the world to bring cheer to children and their families. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Court denies TikTok's request to halt enforcement of potential US ban until Supreme Court review A federal appeals court has left in place a mid-January deadline in a federal law requiring TikTok to be sold or face a ban in the United States. Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejecting a request made by the company to halt enforcement until the Supreme Court reviews its challenge of the statute. Attorneys for TikTok and its China-based parent company, ByteDance, are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. It’s unclear if the nation’s highest court will take up the case. But some experts say they expect the justices to weigh in. TikTok is also looking for a potential lifeline from President-elect Donald Trump, who promised to “save” the short-form video platform during the presidential campaign. Saudi Arabia banned film for 35 years. The Red Sea festival is just one sign of the industry's rise JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — “My Driver and I” was supposed to be made in 2016, but was scuttled amid Saudi Arabia’s decades-long cinema ban. Eight years later, the landscape for film in the kingdom looks much different. And the star of “My Driver and I” now has an award. Roula Dakheelallah was named the winner of the Chopard Emerging Saudi Talent award at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday. Both the award and the glitzy festival itself are signs of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to shaping a new film industry. The reopening of cinemas in 2018 after 35 years marked a cultural turning point for Saudi Arabia. 'Tis the season for roasting chestnuts. But in the US, native ones are almost gone Right now chestnut enthusiasts are cozying up next to their open fires (or toaster ovens) to roast a holiday snack that has long roots in North America. But the chestnuts they're roasting aren't native, because the American variety has been mostly wiped out by an invasive fungal blight since the 1930s. Researchers are laboring to bring them back, even as they have hit roadblocks and setbacks in attempts to breed or genetically modify a version that can withstand the blight. If and when they succeed, they'll still need to figure out how to plant it and help it thrive in forests that are already under pressure from climate change, globalization and development. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things.Donald Trump invites President Xi to inauguration despite trade warFollowing Ms. Zhang's safe return, the police swiftly moved forward with the investigation and managed to apprehend several suspects who were believed to be involved in her disappearance. Details about the suspects and their motives remain undisclosed as the authorities continue to gather evidence and conduct interrogations.

As the culling operation is carried out and efforts to contain the outbreak continue, our thoughts are with the farmers who are facing this devastating loss. It is a stark reminder of the fragile balance between human activities and the natural world, and the importance of vigilance in safeguarding the health and well-being of both animals and humans.

In recent news, Shanxi province in China has reported a case involving a missing female master's student who has been successfully located. However, the incident took a serious turn as the individuals involved have been taken into custody and will face criminal coercion measures.

On the other hand, Apple, one of the world's leading technology giants, made a surprising announcement regarding their stance on Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). In a statement released by the company, Apple expressed their lack of interest in AGI development, citing a focus on other areas of technology and innovation. This unexpected revelation has sparked debates within the tech community about the implications of Apple's decision and its potential impact on the future of AI research.

Risk adjusted net present value: What is the current valuation of Pfizer’s Ibuzatrelvir?

2. Spanish Language Program: With performances in Spanish, this program will highlight the vibrant and colorful culture of Spanish-speaking countries and communities. From flamenco dancing to traditional music, it will bring a taste of Spanish culture to the Gala.KyKy Tandy, FAU close out Oklahoma State in CharlestonThese board, video and card games will bring cozy vibes to your holiday gaming

In conclusion, the 'Monkey Zuo' hairstyle designed by Xiao Hua for Xiang Zuo has not only made a bold fashion statement but has also ignited a social media frenzy with its creative design and playful narrative. By embracing uniqueness and pushing the boundaries of traditional hairstyling, Xiang Zuo and Xiao Hua have inspired a new wave of creativity and self-expression that will continue to resonate with audiences far and wide. It serves as a reminder that when it comes to style, the only limit is one's imagination.Title: Property Dispute Sparks Family Conflict as Parents Regret Transferring Shanghai House to Daughter's Name

ASML Deadline: ASML Investors with Losses in Excess of $100K Have Opportunity to Lead ASML Holding N.V. Securities Fraud Lawsuit

Furthermore, lifestyle factors such as stress levels, physical activity, and overall health can also impact the amount of sleep needed. Those leading high-stress lifestyles or engaging in vigorous physical activity may find that they need additional sleep to recover and recharge. On the other hand, individuals with sedentary lifestyles or low stress levels may find that they function well on slightly less sleep.As Trump continues to dominate the snooker world rankings, his fans and admirers can look forward to witnessing more spectacular performances and thrilling victories from the reigning world number one. His passion for the game, his unmatched skill and talent, and his unyielding determination to succeed make him a formidable force on the snooker table and a true legend of the sport.Zhu Fangyu, who had coached 11 from 9! team before, was responsible for drafting Liu Chuanxing to the team. However, he made the decision to release him due to certain reasons. Now, with Liu's outstanding performance against Zhou Qi, one of the top players in the league, fans are starting to question whether it was a hasty decision. The comparison between Liu's performance and Zhou Qi's in this game has undoubtedly raised doubts about Zhu Fangyu's coaching decisions.

Doctor Bose’s goal in building the original Bose 901 speakers in the late 1960s was to develop a system that could faithfully replicate the sound of a live concert in your own home. As Bose celebrates its 60th birthday, the company has “reimagined” the classic with the Bose 901 60th Anniversary Edition Speakers in collaboration with Kith’s Ronnie Fieg and luxury furniture figure Mark Jupiter. Dr Amar Bose and the original 901 Bose Speaker. “If you’re as meticulous about music and how it sounds as I am, you know the significance of the Bose 901 Speakers,” says Fieg. “Since its debut in 1968, this speaker has stood as a pinnacle of audio engineering. They leveraged breakthrough technology that used a combination of both direct and reflecting sound to deliver the same immersive listening experience as live.” Bose 901 Ronnie Fieg and Mark Jupiter. Fieg says that when approached by Bose he insisted on working with his friend Jupiter to create the new housing. “Mark has handcrafted the furnishings in my home and in Kith stores around the world, and I couldn’t imagine a better person to bring a fresh perspective to this project.” Bose 901 Ronnie Fieg and Mark Jupiter. The Bose 901 60th Anniversary Edition Speakers by Ronnie Fieg and Mark Jupiter are limited to 12 custom, commemorative sets of original 901 speakers, says Jupiter, “exclusively for our friends and family, refurbished in two finishes: white-washed ash wood and a natural air-dried walnut”. It’s unlikely they’ll end up on eBay any time soon.

In a shocking development, the number of charges leveled against Manchester City by the Premier League has escalated to a staggering 130, up from the initial 115, after a clarifying amendment was made to the confusion rules governing the investigation. The bombshell revelation comes as a major blow to the defending English champions, who are already facing immense scrutiny for alleged violations of financial fair play regulations and illicit behavior.lucky block 。

In addition, the government has focused on improving the supply of housing. By increasing land supply, promoting the development of affordable housing, and encouraging urban renewal projects, the government aims to address the housing shortage and meet the growing demand for housing. These initiatives have not only boosted construction activity but also provided more options for potential homebuyers.UCF coach Gus Malzahn reportedly resigning to take Florida State OC jobAnd then, in a moment of pure drama, the decisive moment arrived. With the score tied at 2-2, Alex "The Hammer" Johnson unleashed a thunderous strike that soared into the top corner, sealing the victory for the Iron Hammer Wolves in a moment of pure brilliance. The stadium erupted in jubilation as the Wolves celebrated their hard-fought triumph, while the Conte-Tuchel duo looked on with a mixture of disappointment and determination.

The Linken L7, the flagship model from the Chinese luxury brand Linken, boasts a high-performance plug-in hybrid system that pairs a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with an electric motor and a 17.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This advanced setup delivers a total system output of 314 horsepower, making the Linken L7 one of the most powerful plug-in hybrid vehicles in its class.

AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:49 p.m. ESTOver the years, Guan Zhiou rose through the ranks, earning a reputation for his innovative approaches to addressing environmental challenges and his commitment to creating a greener, more sustainable future. As a member of the Shandong Provincial Committee, he spearheaded several initiatives aimed at conserving natural resources, promoting renewable energy sources, and mitigating the impact of climate change.

Planning to grab a PS5 for the holidays? Now is the perfect time. Black Friday has brought incredible deals, and retailers are offering enticing bundle options. These deals will continue through the weekend, with even better offers expected on Cyber Monday. Right now, the PSVR 2 bundle is at its lowest price , and controllers are also $20 off . Bargains on video games and accessories at retailers like Best Buy , Walmart and Amazon will help keep your bank account healthy as we head into the new year. If you're looking to upgrade your entire entertainment setup to complement your video games, then it's also worth checking out our roundups for the best Black Friday deals on TVs and soundbars . So to help you make the most of these still available Black Friday deals , we've rounded up the best offers you can shop right now, below. This page will continue to be updated throughout the holiday shopping season, so make sure to check back often. With that in mind, let's dive into the deals surrounding Sony's PlayStation 5. Best Black Friday PS5 Deals This Black Friday, you've got an extremely rare opportunity to grab a PlayStation 5 console at a discount. This price is for the Slim edition of the full-size console with a Blu-ray drive and 1TB of storage. Click the Digital Edition for an even cheaper version, albeit with no disc drive. Color: White | Storage: 1TB | Batteries required: No | USB Ports: 4 (2 USB-C front, 2 USB-A back) Go on adventures with Kay Vess and Nix, pilot the Trailblazer ship and vanquish enemies while running from the law. Star Wars Outlaws is best for players 12 and up. This is the first open-world Star Wars game in many years, letting players explore the galaxy without restrictions. The Gold Edition with Season Pass (and its two narrative expansions) is also on sale for $75. RAM: 16GB | Available storage: 65GB SSD The PlayStation VR 2 is one of our favorite virtual reality headsets on the market, and right you can pick it up at a record-low price. It features an excellent OLED display, a comfortable design advanced controllers with immersive feedback. Plus, this bundle comes with Horizon Call of the Mountain -- one of the best PSVR 2 games available and a $60 value on its own. Just note that a PlayStation 5 console is required to use the PSVR 2. Console included: No | Batteries required: No | Color: White | Connection type: Wired Best Black Friday PS5 Console Deals If you're after the digital-only version of the PS5, you might as well pick it up as a part of this bundle, which also includes a voucher for a free digital copy of the latest entry in the iconic NBA 2K franchise. The game lists for $70 on its own, making this bundle a pretty great value. If you don't want the game, you can pick up just the console for the same price. Color: White | Storage: 1TB | Batteries required: No | USB Ports: 4 (2 USB-C front, 2 USB-A back) Not only can you get a PS5 console for $75 off but you can get a bunch of Fortnite goodies thrown in for free. The bundle includes an Outfit, Back Bling, Pickaxe, Wrap, Drum Instrument, Boost, Wheels, Trail and 1,000 V-Bucks. The digital PS5 is also up for grabs for $375 . Color: White | Storage: 1TB | Batteries required: No | USB Ports: 4 (2 USB-C front, 2 USB-A back) Best Black Friday PS5 Game Deals Elden Ring is a huge RPG and has a big list of features you'll need to familiarize yourself with. But if you've had eyes on this game for a while, this is the perfect time to buy it for $20 and save 60%. The PS4 version is the only platform left with Xbox reverting to full price and PS5 now sold out. Best Black Friday PS5 Digital Games Deals RAM: 16GB | Available storage: 70GB SSD God of War: Ragnarök is one of the most downloaded PS5 games and for good reason. At a 58% discount, this is a must-have for your PS5 library. Best Black Friday PS5 Controller Deals If you want a new controller for multiplayer and co-op, or just want one with a little more personality, you can snag it for less right now. Basic colors are on sale for $55, while the new metallic variants are available for $60. Dimensions: 4.2 x 6.3 x 2.6 in | Weight | 9.87 oz | Batteries required: No | Color: White, Midnight Black, Galactic Purple, Sterling Silver, Volcanic Red, Cobalt Blue, Gray Camouflage, Chroma Teal, Chroma Indigo, Chroma Pearl, Cosmic Red, Starlight Blue Best Black Friday PS5 Accessory Deals With so many great games to choose from, the PS5's 1TB solid-state drive can fill up pretty quickly. Fortunately, it's equipped with an extra internal drive slot, so you can easily expand it with an M.2 SSD. The Samsung 990 Pro is one of our favorite models overall on the market, and right now you can even pick it up at a great discount. This model also features a built-in heatsink, which was missing in previous generations. Capacity: 2TB | Hard Disk Interface: PCIe Gen 4 x4 | Form Factor: M.2 2280 Give your Sony gaming setup a touch of personality with these colorful console face plates. There are quite a few different colors to choose from, with the basic variants selling for $45, and the metallic variants on sale for $50. It's also important to note that there are different covers for the original full-size console , the original digital-only version and the new Slim edition , so be sure you're grabbing the one that's designed for your system. Standard or slim: Standard | Disc or digital: Disc | Colors: Cosmic Red, Volcanic Red, Starlight Blue, Cobalt Blue, Galactic Purple, Nova Pink, Sterling Silver, Midnight Black When will the Black Friday PS5 deals start? Sony's Black Friday sale started exactly one week before Black Friday, but it is far from over. There are some big direct discounts still available for Black Friday weekend but it's not the only place to score some serious savings on PS5 games, accessories and console bundles. Most major retailers like Amazon , Walmart and Best Buy also have tons of worthwhile Black Friday weekend deals on Sony gaming gear. Many of these deals are exected to carry over into Cyber Week, which starts on Dec. 2, but there's no way to guarantee which offers will stick around. So if you see something you like, we'd definitely recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later. Will Sony offer Black Friday and Cyber Monday PS5 deals? Yes, Sony is offering plenty of its own deals for Black Friday and Black Friday weekend. Its sale kicked off on Nov. 22 and includes some serious savings on controllers, accessories and games -- as well as some rare discounts on PlayStation 5 consoles and VR headsets. The sale is set to run through Cyber Monday (Dec. 2). While there are plenty of record-breaking offers on popular games, recent releases like the PlayStation 5 Pro and PlayStation Portal haven't seen any big discounts. How to get the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal on PlayStation Plus If you've been on the fence about joining PlayStation Plus, this might be the right time to jump aboard. You can save up to 30% on a 12-month subscription to Sony's answer to Xbox Game Pass during its Black Friday weekend promotion. There's an offer for current PlayStation Plus Essential members as well. If you're already a member, you can save 25% on the remainder of your membership when upgrading a current plan to PlayStation Plus Extra, or save 30% when upgrading from PlayStation Plus Extra to PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium/Deluxe give you access to monthly games, exclusive discounts, online multiplayer and hundreds of PS4 and PS5 games. These include titles such as The Last of Us: Part 1, Grand Theft Auto 5, The Witcher 3 and more. PlayStation Black Friday sale FAQ The PS5 Slim is preferable to the original PS5 for a few reasons. As the name suggests, the Slim model is smaller, shaving off more than an inch in width and an inch and a half in depth. Additionally, the PS5 Slim features an extra front-facing USB-C port, eliminating the frustration of only being able to charge one remote at a time. There's also slightly more storage with the Slim version, 1TB compared to 850GB with the original model. Yes. The vast majority (99%) of PlayStation 4 games are backward compatible with PS5 consoles. Keep in mind that disc games won't work with digital-only PS5 consoles. If you don't need a disc drive, for playing Blu-ray movies or games using a physical disc, the PS5 digital is slightly smaller and cheaper than the standard PS5. All other attributes, including storage, processing and functionality, are the same.First 12-team CFP set: Oregon seeded No. 1, SMU edges Alabama for final spot

At the heart of the investigation are allegations that Google has been giving Meta preferential access to ad inventory, thereby squeezing out smaller competitors and limiting consumer choice. By allegedly colluding with Meta, Google is accused of maintaining its dominant position in the digital advertising market and stifling competition from other players.

Rachel Christian | (TNS) Bankrate.com Just because retirement planning involves some guesswork doesn’t mean it has to be a total mystery. Related Articles Business | Tech review: Earbuds and phones for those on your holiday list Business | The year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upward Business | Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds Business | How to protect your communications through encryption Business | Army and Navy team up for hypersonic missile launch from Cape Canaveral Whether you’ve been saving since your first job or you’re getting a late start, you can leverage expert-recommended strategies to gauge your progress on the road to retirement. And if you’re not quite on track, don’t sweat it — the experts we spoke to offered actionable tips to help you close the gap. You might have a general idea of how much money you need to save for retirement . A few quick calculations can give you an estimate, but to truly appreciate where you stand, you’ll need to dive into the numbers. Here’s how to get started. A good rule of thumb to estimate your retirement savings goal is the Rule of 25 . Simply multiply your desired annual retirement income by 25. The result is roughly how much you’ll need to save before hitting retirement. For example, if you plan to spend $50,000 a year, you’ll need about $1.25 million to make it a reality. The Rule of 25 is based on the idea that withdrawing 4% annually from your retirement savings should last you about 30 years. While it’s not an exact science by any means — health care costs and lifestyle changes can skew the numbers, for example — the Rule of 25 can be a good starting point to figure out how much you need to save. Fidelity Investments, a behemoth in the retirement planning space, offers savings guidelines to help you determine if you’re on track . —By age 30: Save 1x your annual salary —By age 40: Save 3x your annual salary —By age 50: Save 6x your annual salary —By age 60: Save 8x your annual salary —By age 67: Save 10x your annual salary For example, if you earn $60,000 annually, you should aim for $600,000 in savings by age 67. But like the Rule of 25, Fidelity’s guidelines offer a 10,000-foot look at retirement goals, and they’re not customized to your situation. Maybe you earned a low salary in your 20s, but you’re working hard in your 30s to make up for it. Use these estimates as a benchmark — but don’t get discouraged if you’re lagging behind. Now it’s time to zoom in a little. To get a clearer snapshot of your progress, use an online retirement calculator. These tools factor in your age, current savings, income and lifestyle goals to estimate whether you’re on track. You’ll get a more refined estimate without crunching the numbers yourself. Bankrate’s retirement calculator even lets you input different rates of return on your investments and accounts for estimated annual salary increases. Having a general savings goal is nice, but to avoid falling short in retirement, you’ll need more than a ballpark figure. Experts recommend creating a retirement budget to get an up-close-and-personal look at how much you’ll really need once you leave the workforce. First, estimate how much you’ll spend per month in retirement. While some costs will increase, like health care, others will likely decrease, like dining out and commuting. “Estimating expenses can be challenging for some people, so as a starting point, I often use your net take-home pay,” says Jeff DeLarme, a certified financial planner and president of DeLarme Wealth Management. For example, if you receive a direct deposit of $2,500 every two weeks from work, use $5,000 as your estimated monthly spending in retirement. “Assuming this was enough to pay the bills while working, we can use $5,000 a month as a starting budget to plan for,” says DeLarme. Next, map out your sources of income in retirement. Social Security is the largest income stream for most retirees, but don’t neglect other inflows, such as: —Workplace retirement accounts, like 401(k)s —Personal retirement accounts, like a traditional or Roth IRA —Pensions —Annuities —Selling your home or business —Rental income —Inheritance “If there’s a gap between your expected expenses and income, you’ll have a good idea of how much you need to save,” says Mike Hunsberger, a certified financial planner and owner of Next Mission Financial Planning. From there, you can adjust your savings and investment strategy accordingly. For something as important (and complex) as retirement planning, it pays to speak with a professional. Financial advisers can analyze your savings, investments and retirement goals to create a personalized plan. Advisers use special planning software that account for more variables than an online calculator, giving you a much more precise, granular look at your financial life in retirement. Many financial advisers can also help you optimize your tax strategy, which can potentially save you thousands of dollars over time. Make sure the adviser you hire is a fiduciary , meaning they’re legally obligated to prioritize your interests over their own. A fiduciary won’t push investments to earn a commission or recommend products that aren’t aligned with your needs. A certified financial planner is one of the most well-recognized designations for fiduciaries. You can use Bankrate’s adviser matching tool to find a certified financial planner in your area in minutes. Maybe you did the math and realized you’re not quite where you need to be. Don’t panic if you’re behind schedule. Here are five strategies experts recommend to help you catch up on your retirement savings . Cutting expenses now frees up more cash to invest in your retirement accounts. Evaluate your budget and identify areas where you can cut costs, like dining out, streaming subscriptions or shopping. Don’t rule out bigger lifestyle changes either, especially if retirement is rapidly approaching. Housing is the biggest monthly expense for most people. Getting creative here can help amplify the amount you can sock away, says Joseph Boughan, a certified financial planner and managing member at Parkmount Financial Partners. It can also reduce your expenses in retirement, so you may not need to save as much as before. “Downsizing can be a great way to cut expenses,” says Boughan. “This can even free up cash if you don’t end up needing all that money for a new home.” Moving somewhere with lower property taxes or income taxes can also help bring your retirement plan back in line. And if you’re a renter, making tough short-term decisions, like taking on a roommate or moving to a lower cost-of-living area, can free up hundreds of dollars a month for your retirement. “Everyone’s plan is unique, so exploring all the options is important,” Boughan says. Joe Conroy, a certified financial planner and owner of Harford Retirement Planners, recommends taking a “retirement test drive” as you near your target date. “Start to live on what income you think you can afford in retirement and stash all the extra income into savings and investments,” says Conroy. “If you can make it through each month, you’re ready for retirement. If you run short, then adjust your plan accordingly.” Working a little longer can be a game-changer for your retirement nest egg. Not only does it give you more time to save, it also gives your investments room to grow. “Working longer or even just part time for a few years early in retirement is one of the best ways to reduce the amount of money you need to save,” says Hunsberger. Postponing retirement can also boost your Social Security benefits . “You can claim as early as 62, but your benefits will be reduced significantly,” says Hunsberger. Meanwhile, each year you delay claiming Social Security benefits beyond your full retirement age , your monthly check will increase by 8%, though this benefit maxes out at age 70. So waiting can really pay off. It may seem obvious, but if you’re behind on retirement savings, you’ll need to boost your contributions as much as possible. Here are a few ways to make saving for retirement easier: —Increase your contribution rate: Allocate a larger portion of your paycheck to a workplace retirement plan. Even bumping up your contributions by 1% or 2% can make a huge difference down the road. —Take advantage of your employer match: Don’t leave free money on the table. Many employers will chip in between 3 and 5% depending on your plan, so make sure you’re contributing enough to take advantage of the benefit. —Use “unexpected” money to catch up: If you get a raise or bonus at work, funnel part of it directly into your 401(k). And if you get a refund at tax time, siphon some of it off to beef up your IRA. If you’ve been investing in low-risk, low-return investments, you may not be keeping up with inflation, let alone growing your nest egg. Reallocating part of your portfolio to stocks or low-cost growth exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is one way to get your money working harder. Higher-risk investments like stocks carry more volatility but also offer higher potential returns. Work with a financial adviser or use a robo-adviser to strike the right balance between growth and your personal risk tolerance. Contribution limits for 401(k) plans and IRAs are higher for people over 50. For 2025, employees aged 50 and up who participate in most 401(k) plans or the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan can save up to $31,000 annually, including a $7,500 catch-up contribution . But thanks to SECURE 2.0 , a sweeping retirement law, a new higher catch-up contribution limit of $11,250 applies for employees ages 60 to 63. So, if you’re in this age group, you can squirrel away a whopping $34,750 a year during the final stretch of your career. Of course, you’ll need a big salary (think six figures) in order to take full advantage of such massive contribution limits. But if you can afford it, these catch-up allowances can put your plan back on track, especially if you struggled to save much early in your career. There’s no GPS to gauge your progress on the road to retirement. If you’ve veered off course or aren’t sure where to start, begin by getting a quick estimate of how much you’ll need before mapping out a retirement budget. And if you’re behind, don’t panic — adjusting your spending, boosting your contributions and speaking with a financial adviser can help you catch up. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

As the year draws to a close, the latest statistics for foreign trade have been released, indicating that the industry is on track to achieve a steady ending for the year with a growth rate of 4.9%. This achievement is significant as it not only meets the set targets but also represents a positive trend towards quality growth and stability in the foreign trade sector.

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:26 p.m. ESTSaaSQL Unveils Key Recruitment Marketing Trends for 2025NoneWATCH: President Jimmy Carter surprised a family at their home in 1979happy go lucky 。

The head into their Week 12 matchup against the Washington Commanders, hoping to reverse a challenging season marked by injuries and mounting criticism. As they prepare to face a familiar foe in this NFC East showdown, the conversation off the field has shifted to linebacker Micah Parsons’ thoughts on a hot topic in sports media. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.

None

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia on Tuesday voted not to confirm President Joe Biden ‘s re-nomination of Lauren McFerran as member of the National Labor Relations Board. The nays from the pair of independents, who both declined to run for reelection in 2024, will block continued control of the labor regulator by Democrats — their former party, which they’ve still caucused with — and paves the way for President-elect Donald Trump ‘s next administration to strip worker rights while pursuing an anti-union agenda. McFerran is the current chair and one of three Democrats serving on the NLRB, which enforces labor law as a federal agency. Ordinarily, the board has five members, each nominated to a five-year term by the sitting president, but there are only four at the moment, including one Republican. Cutting McFerran’s tenure short allows the GOP to gain a three-member majority instead of preserving a Democratic advantage through 2026. Sinema, who hadn’t cast a vote in the Senate since before Thanksgiving, apparently showed up specifically to side with Republicans against McFerran’s appointment, with Manchin then arriving late to deliver the tie-breaking blow for a final tally of 49 in favor and 50 against. Had he not turned up, Vice President Kamala Harris would have presumably voted to keep McFerran on track for another term on the NLRB. Democrats in the chamber and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders had urged outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to do everything he could to ensure Democrats retained the balance of power on the board. It’s hardly the first time Manchin and Sinema have aligned to thwart Democratic plans in the Senate. Most infamously, in 2022, they joined Republicans in voting down a proposed one-time change to the filibuster that would have cleared the way for two major voting rights bills . The legislation was aimed at ensuring free and fair elections after Trump’s lies about the 2020 election being stolen led to GOP politicians and officials cracking down on voter access across the country. Editor’s picks The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time Both senators also have a record of failing to support workers’ rights and deferring to corporate interests. Manchin, who has made millions from his family’s coal waste brokerage company Enersystems over the years, previously allied with Republicans to kill a progressive labor reform that would have held huge companies like McDonald’s liable for the labor conditions imposed by their franchisees or subcontractors. He also effectively killed the Build Back Better Act, which had a provision to penalized companies that prevent employees from unionizing. Sinema opposed it as well , and once made a spectacle of voting against an increase to the minimum wage . It’s unclear what Manchin plans to do after his term ends in January, but he served as president of Enersystems before entering politics and could return to the energy business. He will be succeeded on the hill by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican. Sinema, set to be replaced by Democrat Ruben Gallego, once allegedly told Sen. Mitt Romney that she could “do anything” once she left office, explaining, “I can go on any board I want to. I can be a college president.” An aide to Sinema suggested that this personal conversation, reported in a 2023 political biography of Romney , had been “misconstrued.” Nevertheless, the political stances they took in the Senate have positioned Sinema and Manchin to cash in on corporate opportunities, like many former conservative Democratic lawmakers who acted as a thorn in the side of their party before becoming lobbyists or consultants. After all, both senators have done plenty to protect rich executives’ profits — while ensuring they can continue to exploit low-wage workers.

Christopher Wray to resign as FBI director | Reporter ReplayFBI Director Christopher Wray announced on Dec. 11 he was stepping down as head of the bureau, just days after Republicans expressed a loss of confidence in him. Wray, 57, told FBI employees in an afternoon town hall that “after weeks of careful thought,” he had decided to resign in January at the end of the current administration, caving to pressure from GOP senators and President-elect Donald Trump. NY Post Politics Reporter Josh Christenson shares this story.Planet Reports Financial Results for Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025

Article content SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy, state media reported Sunday, less than a month before Donald Trump takes office as U.S. president. Trump’s return to the White House raises prospects for high-profile diplomacy with North Korea. During his first term, Trump met Kim three times for talks on the North’s nuclear program. Many experts however say a quick resumption of Kim-Trump summitry is unlikely as Trump would first focus on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. North Korea’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine also poses a challenge to efforts to revive diplomacy, experts say. During a five-day plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party that ended Friday, Kim called the U.S. “the most reactionary state that regards anti-communism as its invariable state policy.” Kim said that the U.S.-South Korea-Japan security partnership is expanding into “a nuclear military bloc for aggression.” “This reality clearly shows to which direction we should advance and what we should do and how,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It said Kim’s speech “clarified the strategy for the toughest anti-U.S. counteraction to be launched aggressively” by North Korea for its long-term national interests and security. KCNA didn’t elaborate on the anti-U.S. strategy. But it said Kim set forth tasks to bolster military capability through defence technology advancements and stressed the need to improve the mental toughness of North Korean soldiers. The previous meetings between Trump and Kim had not only put an end to their exchanges of fiery rhetoric and threats of destruction, but they developed personal connections. Trump once famously said he and Kim “fell in love.” But their talks eventually collapsed in 2019, as they wrangled over U.S.-led sanctions on the North. North Korea has since sharply increased the pace of its weapons testing activities to build more reliable nuclear missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies. The U.S. and South Korea have responded by expanding their military bilateral drills and also trilateral ones involving Japan, drawing strong rebukes from the North, which views such U.S.-led exercises as invasion rehearsals. Further complicating efforts to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for economic and political benefits is its deepening military cooperation with Russia. According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons systems to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine. There are concerns that Russia could give North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in Russia’s Kursk region. It was the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties since the North Korean troop deployment to Russia began in October. Russia and China, locked in separate disputes with the U.S., have repeatedly blocked U.S.-led pushes to levy more UN sanctions on North Korea despite its repeated missile tests in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. Last month, Kim said that his past negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washington’s “unchangeable” hostility toward his country and described his nuclear buildup as the only way to counter external threats.Seatrium Limited ( OTCMKTS:SMBMF – Get Free Report ) saw a significant decrease in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,633,900 shares, a decrease of 43.5% from the November 30th total of 4,658,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 4,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 560.4 days. Seatrium Stock Performance Shares of SMBMF stock opened at $1.34 on Friday. Seatrium has a fifty-two week low of $0.90 and a fifty-two week high of $2.00. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.48 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1.31. About Seatrium ( Get Free Report ) Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Seatrium Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Seatrium and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

No, It’s Not Magic — These 30 Products Just Work Really WellSuncorp Group Limited (OTCMKTS:SNMCY) Short Interest Update

Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83

Silver One Resources Inc. ( OTCMKTS:SLVRF – Get Free Report ) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 11,500 shares, a decrease of 55.8% from the November 30th total of 26,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 218,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days. Silver One Resources Price Performance Shares of SLVRF stock opened at $0.12 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $0.17 and a two-hundred day moving average of $0.19. Silver One Resources has a 1-year low of $0.10 and a 1-year high of $0.30. About Silver One Resources ( Get Free Report ) Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Silver One Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Silver One Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

lucky game apk FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

The Baltimore restaurant industry is preparing for a potential fight against an out-of-town nonprofit’s effort to implement a fair minimum wage mandate for service workers in Maryland. Sara Jayaraman, co-founder and spokesperson for the New York City-based advocacy group One Fair Wage said her nonprofit will bring its mandatory minimum wage fight to the local level. Jayaraman said the current U.S. tipping structure relies on service workers earning a lower minimum wage, which is supplemented by tips to help them reach a recognized minimum wage. She said this system is rooted in systematic racism. One Fair Wage’s website echoes this claim. “The sector’s low wages are due to the money, power and influence of a trade lobby called the National Restaurant Association (‘The Other NRA’) which has lobbied since Emancipation to maintain a subminimum wage for tipped workers — a literal legacy of slavery,” One Fair Wage’s website says. The National Restaurant Association’s website says it was established on March 13, 1919, by Kansas City restaurateurs. Former President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, according to the National Archives. Ron and Gail Furman, who have owned Max’s Taphouse in Fells Point for 39 years, said they believe Jayaraman’s advocacy work is misguided. “People aren’t going to pay it,” she added. In 2022, Washington, D.C. voters approved a ballot measure supported by One Fair Wage known as Initiative 82. The measure mandated restaurants gradually eliminate the lower tipped wage over several years, ultimately reaching the city’s current minimum wage of $17.50. Consumer advocacy groups in Washington, D.C., have targeted restaurant owners because many establishments have been forced to add a 20% service fee to diners’ bills. Restauranteurs have insisted the increase is necessary to offset the nearly 300% rise in operating expenses to pay higher wages. In March, the D.C. Council codified restaurants’ ability to charge up to 20% service fees to offset the expense increase. These service fees were not considered tips for service for restaurant workers. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics shows the restaurant industry in Washington, D.C., lost nearly 1,800 jobs amid the phased implementation of the mandatory wage increase law. Those jobs have not yet been recovered, the data shows. Jayaraman said her organization’s data offers a different perspective, arguing the quality of life for restaurant workers has improved. “Things are exactly what they were before in terms of consumers, in terms of employers; and, workers are getting more than they got before,” Jayaraman said. “But let’s be clear: I-82, for all of the screaming, has only been two years into a five-year phase-in.” Tim Christofield, a longtime bartender at Furman’s restaurant, said that if the Baltimore City Council moves forward with a bill like one passed in Washington, D.C., he will have to leave a career he loves. “They think there is a gray area where they think we are not declaring [taxes] or there is something that isn’t being reported properly,” Christofield said. “They want to seize control over that and that’s just pretty ridiculous.” Ron Furman said his family and their employees believe One Fair Wage’s efforts represent a fabricated issue seeking a solution aimed at increasing tax revenue for the city. They argue the initiative attempts to close a loophole that his employees do not exploit. “None of our employees make $3.63 an hour. None of our employees make $15 an hour,” Ron Furman said. “They make a lot more than that because they earn it and they do a great job doing what they do.” “[I]f the customers are coming in and seeing a 15-20% surcharge on their bill, and [our employees are] not going to be earning tips, they are not going to stay,” he added. Baltimore City Council members John Bullock, Ryan Dorsey, Kristerfer Burnett, Odette Ramos and Phylicia Porter proposed a bill in June that would have required city restaurants to eliminate their tip credit system and implement a phased mandatory minimum wage of $15 per hour. The bill did not receive a vote before the previous council’s term ended. FOX45 reached out to each of the re-elected council members who previously proposed the wage mandate. Councilman Bullock acknowledged the message but did not say if he plans to reintroduce the measure. In a statement, the Restaurant Association of Maryland said it “strongly opposes” so-called fair wage efforts, claiming such policies have a negative impact on employees, restaurants and customers. “Legislation to eliminate the tip credit is being pushed by an out-of-state activist group as part of their nationwide agenda,” the Restaurant Association of Maryland wrote. “Maryland elected officials should reject that group’s efforts to pursue their agenda at the expense of local restaurants and tipped employees who support maintaining the tip credit.”Deal on Elgin Marbles ‘still some distance’ away, says George Osborne

Young men swung to the right for Trump after a campaign dominated by masculine appealsBillionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban believes micromanagement is a sign that something is broken . What To Know: Ofek Lavian , CEO of fintech company Forage , recently posted a thread on X focused on counterintuitive leadership principles. Cuban responded to the thread, noting that he agreed with everything except for the post on micromanaging. "Pretty darn good list. Agree with all but micromanage," Cuban said. "Micromanage early. Trust the process or fix what's broken if you always have to micromanage." CNBC reported Cuban's opinion on micromanaging was formed from personal experience with his former company Broadcast.com. Cuban reportedly micromanaged his employees in his early days as he expected them to match his own work ethic. This created a situation in which Cuban was always focused on pushing employees to be better and work faster without thinking about how he was coming off. "I wish somebody would have told me to be nicer,” Cuban reportedly said on the "Bio Eats World" podcast last year. Check This Out: Mark Cuban Swings $1M To Golf Company Despite Hating The Sport Cuban's "go, go, go" mentality and micromanaging tendencies actually hurt the company in its early stages. Cuban recalled one of his business partners pulling him aside and telling him he was scaring some of the employees with his management style. Still, Cuban sold the company to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in stock in 1999. Lavian's post included a link to a video featuring Shopify Inc SHOP co-founder and CEO Tobi Lütke , who argued that the idea of micromanaging is bad is "the dumbest idea on planet Earth." Although Cuban disagreed with the take, Lavian responded to Cuban, thanking him for his input. "I try to hire the right team so I don’t have to micromanage, but I don’t always get it right," Lavian said. "Once I know I can trust someone to get the little things right, I know they can devote the same level of detail and attention for the big ones that truly matter." Read Next: Mark Cuban Planned To Retire By Age 35: He Says There’s Only One Reason He Didn’t This story is part of a series of features on the subject of success, Benzinga Inspire . Some elements of this story were previously reported by Benzinga and it has been updated. Photo: Shutterstock. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.EDMONTON - Alberta’s Opposition NDP says the province would become the most corrupt and secretive government in Canada if potential ethics rule changes become law. United Conservative Party legislature committee members are urging the government to exempt most political staffers from being bound by conflict of interest rules. Those rules currently limit how much staffers can accept in the form of gifts and spell out if they need to be reported. NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir says if adopted, the proposals would mean no one would know who might be buying the government. He says loosened restrictions made last year already shield the government from being transparent and it would be worse if the new rules went ahead. The push comes after multiple ministers said they accepted hockey playoff tickets from a medical supplier involved in a $70-million deal to purchase medication from Turkey that has yet to be delivered. UCP backbencher Grant Hunter says Alberta is an outlier among the provinces in including senior public servants under ethics rules.

WRITE OF CENTER A new “Golden Age.” Can you feel it? It’s hard not to be excited and optimistic about the incoming Trump administration. The southern border is about to be closed. Is there anyone better suited than Tom Homan to lead this effort? He was born for this job. He will not only close it but also initiate the deportation of criminals, stop child trafficking and halt the free flow of fentanyl. Those who enter our country legally will do so because they embrace the American Dream and our culture, not because they seek free room and board. Our economy is set to receive a significant boost. Treasury Secretary-elect Scott Bessent is a highly successful hedge fund manager. He has announced his 3x3x3 plan: increase GDP growth to 3%, reduce the budget deficit to 3% of GDP from 7%, and raise domestic oil production by 3 million barrels per day. Lower gas prices are on the way. The Trump tax cuts will be made permanent and President-elect Trump has promised to eliminate three regulations for every new one added. Combined with the new Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, we could be on the brink of unprecedented economic prosperity. It’s time to rely on our brightest citizens to solve our problems, not unelected government bureaucrats. As President Trump has said, it’s time to protect our geniuses and loosen up restrictions so entrepreneurs can innovate. The FBI and the Department of Justice will return to investigating real crimes and prosecuting those who genuinely need to go to jail. Read Kash Patel’s book “Government Gangsters” and tell me justice isn’t on the way. No more targeting innocent parents who want a say in their children’s education, and no more targeting individuals praying outside abortion clinics. The Department of Education will be overhauled or shut down. More power can be given to the states and parents, allowing parents to choose where to send their kids to school without government influence. We spend the second most money per pupil in the world but rank 35th out of 37 major economies in early childhood education, 31st in math, and 18th in science. A competitive system will tackle these issues, leading to the decline of weaker schools. We are a sick nation, and RFK Jr. is the right medicine. We spend three times more per capita on healthcare than Europe. 74% of adults are overweight or obese, and 50% of our children are obese, compared to just 3% in Japan; 77% of young adults are unfit for military service. I trust RFK will address these challenges and “Make America Healthy Again.” I’m excited that Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who Dr. Fauci canceled for his anti-lockdown stance during Covid, will head the National Institutes of Health. A true warrior will lead the Department of Defense. In sports terms, I consider Pete Hegseth a players’ coach. DEI policies will vanish and the focus will return to creating the strongest fighting force on the planet. We’ll update our procurement systems and concentrate on advanced technologies instead of enriching defense lobbyists and outdated defense industries. Leaders around the globe have taken notice that things are about to change: America is back. The invitation from Macron for the Notre Dame opening, Justin Trudeau flying in to meet with President- elect Trump about closing the Northern border, and Mexico’s President showing a conciliatory tone after meeting with the president- elect — all signal a shift. Discussions with Benjamin Netanyahu about a hostage swap in Gaza and preventing Iran’s nuclear capability add to the momentum. The world understands that President- elect Trump is already in charge and not to be trifled with. Imagine a world where we’re not spending billions as we inch toward a Third World War in Ukraine, where the Middle East isn’t a tinderbox, and where the Abraham Accords again take center stage. Picture a crippled Iran with no nuclear capabilities and no funds to support terrorism. I believe we’re on the verge of a golden age. If President-elect Trump and his team execute their plans effectively, the Republican Party could remain in power for years. But this isn’t about power; it’s about Making America Great Again. Michael Wheeler is the current Kendall County Republican Party chairman.Funding pulled for downtown library space for homelessPaccar Inc. stock rises Thursday, outperforms market

Tech review: Gift options for the cord cutter

India's current DAP shortage underscores the urgent need to overhaul its fertiliser policy. Over-reliance on imports from countries such as China jeopardises the nation's food security. Experts and industry stakeholders unanimously agree that the government must prioritise boosting domestic fertiliser production to reduce dependence on imports. This is especially critical due to the increasingly unpredictable global supply chains, which significantly impact India's food security and agricultural sector. DAP, a highly soluble and fast-dissolving fertiliser, is most commonly used. It releases phosphate and ammonium, crucial nutrients for early plant root growth. DAP is widely used for winter (rabi) crops such as wheat, pulses, and mustard. China's supply restrictions and geopolitical tensions are intensifying the DAP crisis. Global supply chain disruptions are hindering the delivery of raw materials for fertiliser production, according to the FAI. Additionally, China has suspended exports of critical inputs, citing heightened domestic demand. “India’s import of DAP from China fell drastically by nearly 75% in the first half of FY25 from corresponding period last year,” says Richa Bagaria, Associate Director, CareEdge Ratings. The DAP import from China was 17.1 LT in the first half of FY24 and it is down to 4 lakh tonnes in the same period of FY25, adds Bagaria. As a result, farmers in Punjab , Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, among other states, are struggling to obtain sufficient DAP for their wheat crops. Entrepreneurship Boosting Startup Revenue with 6 AI-Powered Sales Automation Techniques By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship From Idea to Product: A Startup Development Guide By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Entrepreneurship Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Collaborative AI Foundations: Working Smarter with Machines By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Web Development Advanced C++ Mastery: OOPs and Template Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Soft Skills Cross-Cultural Communication Mastery: Connect with Confidence By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Entrepreneurship Validating Your Startup Idea: Steps to Ensure Market Fit By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Learn InVideo AI: Create Videos from Text Easily By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Marketing Future of Marketing & Branding Masterclass By - Dr. David Aaker, Professor Emeritus at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, Author | Speaker | Thought Leader | Branding Consultant View Program Legal Complete Guide to AI Governance and Compliance By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Data Analysis Animated Visualizations with Flourish Studio: Beginner to Pro By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Experts say that India's imports of DAP and MOP have been severely disrupted by China's trade restrictions and the Israel-Hamas conflict, necessitating changes in import routes and causing major supply chain problems. Due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Red Sea, a crucial shipping lane carrying 30% of India's imports, is now obstructed. Fertiliser shipments to India are being rerouted, adding 6,500 kilometers to their journey. ET Online If shortage was not enough, prices of the crucial fertiliser has been steadily climbing north. According to Richa Bagaria, Associate Director at CareEdge Ratings, DAP prices have risen steadily this year, from a low of $515 per tonne in May 2024 to $642 per tonne in October 2024 (compared to $595 per tonne in October 2023). Wild price swings have battered the fertiliser industry for four years, creating widespread problems. The volatility's impact extends beyond fertilisers, affecting essential raw materials and intermediates. India's quest for DAP self-sufficiency Despite India's progress in urea production, experts stress the need for further advancements to achieve complete self-sufficiency. New production units, commissioned over time, are expected to drastically reduce the country’s import dependency, from 25-28% to below 15% by FY26, according to experts. India, however, still depends significantly on imported fertilisers. For example, about half the nation's DAP needs are filled by imports, mainly from Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, and Morocco. In the case of Muriate of Potash (MOP), India is entirely dependent on imports, as there is currently no domestic production capacity. The Indian government revealed to Parliament in August that India imported 18.5 LT of urea and 22 LT of P&K fertilisers from China in 2023-24. India's imports of P&K fertilisers totalled 106.5 LT during 2023-24. Some of P&K fertilizers India imports are DAP, MAP, TSP, MOP, Ammonium Sulphate, SSP, PDM and 18 grades of NPKS complex. India needs nearly 100 LT of DAP annually and imports nearly 60% of this phosphorus fertiliser. On October 1, 2024, there were only 15-16 LT of DAP in stock, against the recommended 27-30 LT. The production of DAP fell to 25.03 LT during April-October this fiscal, from 27.01 LT in the year-ago period, according to FAI data. India's DAP imports witnessed a significant decline, dropping to 27.84 LT from 39.68 LT during the same period. DAP sales to farmers also fell to 56.92 LT from 76.31 LT. “The import of DAP remains unviable in view of a steady rise in DAP prices. This has led to some concerns around adequate availability of DAP for the current rabi crop sowing season, with an assessed requirement of 55 LT,” notes Bagaria. iStock According to industry stakeholders, while high fertiliser prices may help reduce overuse, fertilisers remain a crucial component for achieving optimal crop yields. Farmers’ contrasting narrative While addressing an annual seminar of the FAI, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel said on 4 December that the government took several proactive measures such as long-term agreements with the supplier countries and promotion of alternate fertilisers as well as indigenous nano-fertilisers. Patel added that the government offered a special package of Rs 3,500 per tonne on DAP and linked an overall increase in the prices of P&K fertilisers in the international market to the current market prices. However, farmers paint a starkly different picture. Farmers say they are being forced to pay a premium of Rs 250-350 above the government-fixed price of Rs 1,350 per 50-kg bag, adding to the financial burden of farmers. Baldev Singh, a 52-year-old farmer from a village in Punjab's Sangrur district, shares his frustrating experience. "Every visit to the government's fertiliser centre ends in disappointment," he says, frustration evident in his voice. "Farmers are being forced to pay higher prices for DAP, adding to the financial woes." Similarly, Ranjeet Singh, a 38-year-old farmer from Bunna village in Haryana's Kaithal district, pointed out that the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendra (PMKSK) has run out of DAP stock, forcing farmers like him to wait in long queues. Punjab is bearing the brunt of the DAP shortage, given its high cropping intensity, particularly for wheat and rice. The state has the highest DAP consumption in the country, utilising 91.49 kg per hectare annually. The state requires about 55 LT DAP for the rabi season and annual DAP requirement is 85 LT. The central and state governments have suggested that Punjab consider alternative fertilisers to DAP. However, experts and farmers argue that these alternatives are more expensive and don’t provide the same level of soil nourishment as DAP, making them less effective substitutes. Raminder Singh Patiala, Press Secretary, Kirti Kisan Union (KKU), says, “DAP is currently available in the market at inflated rates due to insufficient supply. Additionally, cooperative societies are struggling to keep up with demand. In our opinion, the central government's failure to procure adequate fertiliser stocks in a timely manner has exacerbated the issue. Furthermore, the reduction in fertiliser subsidies in the annual budget has compounded the problem." Subsidy cut: Adding fuel to fertiliser FAI has been cautioning the government since June to ensure sufficient DAP arrangements, but unfortunately, the government has been slow to respond, adds Patiala. iStock The fertiliser subsidy for 2024-25 is budgeted at Rs 1.64 lakh crore, 13.18% lower than the revised estimate of Rs 1.88 lakh crore for 2023-24. According to Patiala, the delayed subsidy announcement for fertilisers had a ripple effect, influencing the decision-making of private suppliers. While there is some availability of DAP, the supply falls significantly short of the actual demand. On 18 September, the Centre had announced a subsidy of Rs 24,475 crore for phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers for the rabi season of 2024-25 for the period October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. The fertiliser subsidy for 2024-25 is budgeted at Rs 1.64 lakh crore, 13.18% lower than the revised estimate of Rs 1.88 lakh crore for 2023-24. In 2022-23, the subsidy was Rs 251,339 crore, a record high owing to escalated global prices amid the Russia-Ukraine war. The government offers fertiliser subsidies to achieve two key objectives: support the fertiliser industry and regulate prices to benefit farmers. India's fertiliser subsidy allocation is bifurcated into two categories: urea subsidy and nutrient-based subsidy (NBS). Due to declining input prices, including gas prices, the government has decreased NBS subsidy rates for the fiscal year 2024. Farmer organisations have voiced concerns that the subsidy reduction will have a detrimental effect on agricultural productivity. Furthermore, experts warn that the decreased subsidy has triggered an impact across the value chain, prompting domestic manufacturers to scale back both production and imports of chemical fertilisers. According to industry stakeholders, while high fertiliser prices may help reduce overuse, fertilisers remain a crucial component for achieving optimal crop yields. As such, they can’t be completely eliminated from agricultural practices, emphasising the need for a balanced approach to fertiliser use. “The increased sales of NPKS complex fertilisers and MOP offer a partial buffer against the DAP shortage, as these alternatives provide a balanced mix of essential nutrients. However, DAP’s high phosphorus content remains irreplaceable during the critical root establishment phase of rabi crops like wheat and mustard. Substituting DAP with NPKS or MOP may not fully mitigate the impact,” says Maninder Singh Nayyar, CEO & Founder, CEF Group. A fertiliser importer revealed to ET that the government-fixed price of Rs 27,000, combined with a subsidy of nearly Rs 22,000, still falls short of covering the actual cost of importing DAP. “Release of close to 64% of subsidy budget till October 2024 and upward trajectory in DAP and phosphorus prices, may necessitate the need to relook at the subsidy budget going ahead,” says Bagaria. Given India’s reliance on fertilisers, experts suggest farmers may need to explore alternative fertilisers during the upcoming rabi sowing season. This shift is necessary to mitigate potential production losses due to the evolving DAP landscape, say experts. The government faces a pressing challenge in addressing the severe fertiliser shortage and ensuring timely access to these essential inputs for farmers. All stakeholders emphasise the need for India to reassess its fertiliser policy, ensuring it remains aligned with the evolving global supply chain landscape. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 15, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award.As President-elect Donald Trump continues to plot his White House comeback, his international dealings are also taking shape. On Wednesday, Eric Trump took to social media to announce a new Trump Organization project in Saudi Arabia: Trump Tower Jeddah. “Incredibly proud to officially launch a project that has been underway for many months, Trump Tower - Jeddah! Eric Trump, the company’s executive vice president wrote on X . “This will be our 5th project together and among the most luxurious buildings anywhere in the world!” But the foreign project is already raising questions about the incoming president’s ability – or desire – to steer clear of business dealings that could cloud his administration and introduce accusations of corruption, according to the New Republic’s Hafiz Rashid . ALSO READ: The Medicare Advantage trap: What they don’t tell you He wrote Wednesday that the business interests involving Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who maintains a chummy relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, "don’t look good" for Trump. “Coupled with the Trump Organization’s Saudi deals, it seems that Trump isn’t worried about being accused of corruption, or being beholden to a foreign state,” Rashid said. The Middle East project – and its $532 million price tag – had been planned for years but was put on hold after Trump won the presidency in 2016 , the report noted. “After that, the Trump family pledged not to sign new international deals while he was president,” it said. “But now, after being elected a second time, the elder Trump doesn’t seem to care about the appearance of a conflict of interest, raising questions of corruption.” In his social media post, Eric Trump thanked the project’s partners, Dubai-based real estate developer Dar Global, who together are building the towering residential apartment complex that is projected to be completed in four years.

FOX45: Baltimore restaurants fear out-of-state effort to create ‘fair wage’ law

YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — On a damp Wednesday night with temperatures dipping into the 30s, fans in sparsely filled stands bundled up to watch Buffalo beat Eastern Michigan 37-30 on gray turf. The lopsided game was not particularly notable, but it was played on one of the nights the Mid-American Conference has made its own: A weeknight. “A lot of the general public thinks we play all of our games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, not just some of them in November,” MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said in a telephone interview this week. “What it has done is help take what was a pretty darned good regional conference and has given it a national brand and made it a national conference.” When the conference has played football games on ESPN or ESPN2 over the last two seasons, the linear television audience has been 10 times larger than when conference schools meet on Saturdays and get lost in the shuffle when viewers have many more choices. The most-watched MAC game over the last two years was earlier this month on a Wednesday night when Northern Illinois won at Western Michigan and there were 441,600 viewers, a total that doesn’t include streaming that isn’t captured by Nielsen company. During the same span, the linear TV audience has been no larger than 46,100 to watch two MAC teams play on Saturdays. “Having the whole nation watching on Tuesday and Wednesday night is a huge deal for the MAC,” Eastern Michigan tight end Jere Getzinger said. “Everybody wants to watch football so if you put it on TV on a Tuesday or Wednesday, people are going to watch.” ESPN has carried midweek MAC football games since the start of the century. ESPN and the conference signed a 13-year extension a decade ago that extends their relationship through at least the 2026-27 season. The conference has made the most of the opportunities, using MACtion as a tag on social media for more than a decade and it has become a catchy marketing term for the Group of Five football programs that usually operate under the radar in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and New York. Attendance does tend to go down with weeknight games, keeping some students out of stadiums because they have class or homework and leading to adults staying away home because they have to work the next morning. “The tradeoff is the national exposure,” Buffalo coach Pete Lembo said. “You know November nights midweek the average fan is going to park on the couch, have a bowl of chips and salsa out in front, and watch the game from there." When the Bulls beat Ball State 51-48 in an overtime thriller on a Tuesday night earlier this month, the announced attendance was 12,708 and that appeared to be generous. There were many empty seats after halftime. “You watch the games on TV, the stadiums all look like this,” Buffalo fan Jeff Wojcicki said. “They are not packed, but it’s the only game on, and you know where to find it.” Sleep and practice schedules take a hit as well, creating another wave of challenges for students to attend class and coaches to prepare without the usual rhythm of preparing all week to play on Saturday. “Last week when we played at Ohio in Athens, we had a 4-four bus ride home and got home at about 3:30 a.m.,” Eastern Michigan center Broderick Roman said. “We still had to go to class and that was tough, but it's part of what you commit to as an athlete.” That happens a lot in November when the MAC shifts its unique schedule. During the first two weeks of the month, the conference had 10 games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays exclusively. This week, there were five games on Tuesday and Wednesday while only one was left in the traditional Saturday slot with Ball State hosting Bowling Green. Next week, Toledo plays at Akron and Kent State visits Buffalo on Tuesday night before the MAC schedule wraps up with games next Friday and Saturday to determine which teams will meet in the conference title game on Dec. 7 in Detroit. In all, MAC teams will end up playing about 75% of their games on a Saturday and the rest on November weeknights. When the Eagles wrapped up practice earlier this week, two days before they played the Bulls, tight end Jere Getzinger provided some insight into the effects of the scheduling quirk. “It's Monday, but for us it's like a Thursday,” he said. Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler said he frankly has a hard time remembering what day it is when the schedule shift hits in November. “The entire week gets turned upside down,” Loeffler said. “It’s wild, but it’s great for the league because there’s two days a week this time of year that people around the country will watch MAC games.” AP freelance writer Jonah Bronstein contributed to this report. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballFormer Premier League official Mark Clattenburg agreed with both offside decisions in the second half of RB Leipzig vs Aston Villa, which saw Unai Emery's side denied a 3-1 advantage before they were pegged back and ultimately snatched victory late on. Villa 's latest European journey took them to Germany to face Leipzig . A John McGinn strike - with barely four minutes gone - was later cancelled out when Lois Openda capitalised on an Emi Martinez blunder. It set up a tasty second half and Emery turned to his weapon of choice in these scenarios - Jhon Duran. The Colombian had not scored since October 30, but first beat Peter Gulacsi with a long-range strike for 2-1, and thought he had made it 3-1 in the 58th minute. READ | I was chatting about Aston Villa at 35,000 feet with the most unlikeliest of people However, VAR Aleandro Di Paolo made use of semi-automated offside technology to review his goal. He found that the goal-scorer was in an offside position earlier in the goal-scoring move, so denied him his brace. "It's very, very tight on the first phase. It's okay on the second phase - because Duran's behind the ball when the pass is made, so they're going to look at first phase - is he ahead of the player?" ex-referee Clattenburg analysed while on duty for Amazon's Prime Video . On the offside verdict, he added: "My feeling is his foot is in an offside position." The lead was still with Villa at least - though that was only momentary. Openda assisted Christoph Baumgartner, who neatly hooked an equalising volley into the top left-hand corner of the goal. This time Openda was under scrutiny of the semi-automated offside, with Clattenburg stating: "This one certainly looked tighter than Duran's one. It looks like his feet are behind, but he's leaning forwards. "That could be what's either playing him on or offside." Clattenburg agreed as a decision was awarded to the home side moments later, with replays of the technology's interpretation showing only the Leipzig striker's lower arm trailing beyond Villa's last defender. Ross Barkley then struck in the 85th minute - albeit with the aid of a big deflection - to ensure a 3-2 win and much better footing to secure automatic knock-out qualification with two games to go.

TommL We remain bullish on PDD ( NASDAQ: PDD ) after the 15% pullback in share price following the 3Q24 print in which revenue slightly missed consensus. Although the company does not historically offer guidance, management commentary during the quarter implicitly guided that competition Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Gus Malzahn is leaving his post as UCF's head coach to reunite with Florida State coach Mike Norvell as the Seminoles' offensive coordinator, ESPN reported on Saturday. Norvell, who served as a graduate assistant under Malzahn at Tulsa in 2007-08, relinquished his role as FSU's primary playcaller amid a staff shakeup this season. Florida State, 1-7 in the Athletic Coast Conference this season, entered Saturday's season finale against Florida at 2-9 and ranked No. 131 in the nation in total offense. UCF also endured a tough 2024 season, going 4-8 after losing eight of its last nine games. During Malzahn's four-year tenure, the Knights went 28-24, including 5-13 in the Big 12 Conference the last two seasons. Malzahn, 59, is 105-62 in 13 seasons as a college head coach, highlighted by a 68-35 mark in eight seasons at Auburn -- which included a BCS title game appearance in 2013. He served as offensive coordinator and playcaller when the Tigers won the national title in 2010. Malzahn will be tasked with revitalizing a Florida State offense that helped produce a 13-1 campaign in 2023, when the Seminoles were denied a spot in the College Football Playoff. Over the last three seasons at UCF, his rushing attack has been in the Top 10 in the nation. In his 19 seasons as a college head coach or offensive coordinator, Malzahn's teams have averaged 447.7 yards per game, and three of his teams eclipsed 7,000 yards in a season. --Field Level Media(imageTagRight)It’s been another year of Manitobans doing interesting, incredible and cool things. The hardest part of compiling this list is cutting it off at 100. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * (imageTagRight)It’s been another year of Manitobans doing interesting, incredible and cool things. The hardest part of compiling this list is cutting it off at 100. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Submitted Ace Burpee It’s been another year of Manitobans doing interesting, incredible and cool things. The hardest part of compiling this list is cutting it off at 100. This year was especially brutal in terms of losing some amazing people in our province. Their impact was enormous and will be felt forever. I don’t repeat names on the list from year to year — which is all fine and good until you have a situation like Skylar Park winning a bronze medal at the Paris Summer Olympics. I first had her on this list five years ago. It happens, but it stresses me out. Anyway, enjoy and all the best in the new year. : In southwest Manitoba sits the town of Clearwater. An underrated gem of place and home to the Harvest Moon Festival, it now also boasts a real-life, as-epic-as-Hollywood Field of Dreams. Shout out to reporter Mike McIntyre for first reporting on this absolutely epic baseball diamond carved into a field of Manitoba corn. Spectacular job. They put the diamond to great use, hosting a tourney that raised $50,000 for the Clearwater Community Foundation. : Rana volunteered countless hours helping the World University Service of Canada’s student refugee program. The program pairs refugees with young Canadian students who support their adjustment to university. Along with her commitment to refugee students and working on a master of science degree in microbiology, Ahmed also volunteered with peer mentorship programs and a language-exchange program. She was named the RBC Bright Future award recipient by Volunteer Manitoba for 2024. : A lifetime advocate and champion for people with disabilities, Shapiro, who was born missing one hand, grew up a member of the War Amps Child Amputee Program. Now a “Champ Adult,” she absolutely crushed her role in an international Apple commercial highlighting adaptive technology. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES Leanne Taylor : Paralyzed from the waist down in a biking accident in 2018, Leanne completed her first para-triathlon eight months after being injured. She became a decorated medallist on the world stage, and is now a Paralympic medallist after bringing home a bronze from the Paris 2024 Games. : The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has only six teams, therefore only six starting goaltenders. Two of the three finalists for goaltender of the year in the inaugural PWHL season were from Manitoba. Schroeder, from Elm Creek, backstopped the New York Sirens, and Campbell, from Brandon, was between the pipes for the Toronto Sceptres. Campbell was declared goaltender of the year. : A corporate lawyer by trade, Mushalak became the first Manitoban to be selected for the iconic TV show in its 47-season history. She made it super close to the finale and really could have (and according to the internet she should have) won the entire thing. : Manitoba has obviously had its share of gifted curlers, but nobody in history has ever pulled off what Hayward did this year. She’s the first to achieve a hat trick of provincial crowns in one season — winning the U18, U21 and mixed titles in 2024. She also found some time to win a national title with her U18 rink. Incredible run. : Since tragically losing their son Madox to a rare form of brain cancer — Childhood diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) — they’ve relentlessly and courageously fought for better outcomes for future generations. They established Madox’s Warriors in their son’s honour, and for a decade now have been raising funds and hope for childhood brain cancer research. : After a nearly 50-year delicious run, Vagianos hung up the apron this year. One of the original founders of Johnny’s Maples Pizza Restaurant & Lounge back in 1977, he made Johnny’s into one of those iconic Winnipeg spots where memories are made, friendships are formed, and where you can always count on amazing food. A wonderful man. Johnny’s is still holding it down on Sheppard Street and it’s still awesome. : Brunner set a provincial record in weightlifting this year for his age category. He bench-pressed 32.4 kilograms. The age category? Over-80! True story. Eighty-one years of age and still pushing weights. Unreal. TIME SMITH / THE BRANDON SUN FILES Aberehan Moges The Grade 7 student placed first in the Western Manitoba Science Fair. It was Brandon to Ottawa for Moges, whose Mood Foods research was the region’s representative at the national Canada Wide Science Fair. Inspired by the challenges faced by those with neurodegenerative diseases, Moges looked deep into the impacts of our snacking habits on our cognitive performance. : Lisa won both the provincial and Canadian National Brain Bee, a competition that highlights knowledge of the brain and all its complex function. The 16-year-old, who attends Vincent Massey Collegiate, then went on to place a very very close second in the International Brain Bee. Thousands of the most accomplished neuroscience students from all over the world attended. The Canadian title held by Wei also marks an incredible run by Manitoba students, as three of the last four national neuroscience champions are from her school. Just incredible. : Basically anything and everything can be made into a world record attempt, which personally I love very much. I think it’s a fun way to live. Tymofichuk broke the world record this year for “watching a home game at all CFL stadiums in the shortest amount of time.” Awesome. It took him 364 hours (a little over 15 days) to attend a game in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. He broke the previous record by 94 minutes. He also used the quest to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancers, raising tens of thousands of dollars for the Michael Cuccione Foundation along the way. : A true leader and advocate in both her professional and personal life; a teacher in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division, Waters was the recipient of the Manitoba School Boards Association President’s Award for exemplary leadership in Indigenous education. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Cathy Merrick : Grand Chief Merrick was a trail-blazing leader, elected as the first female Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. Her passing leaves an enormous void in our province. A remarkable leader, both powerful and extremely kind, Merrick’s legacy (and legendary hugs) will live forever. : Dawna is a trucker. She drives our highways year-round making sure we have stuff when we need stuff. This year, she was named a “highway angel” by the Truckload Carriers Association at the organization’s annual convention in Nashville. She earned the title after leaving Manitoba with a load in winter and heading across Ontario. Witnessing a young boy snowmobile across the highway and get hit by a car, she immediately stepped up to help save his life. Congratulations Dawna. : All-time absolute legend, bringer of good times, innovator, and just a great dude. After decades of being one of the greatest children’s entertainers, Simmons is still crushing it, and was named children’s artist of the year at the 2024 Western Canadian Music Awards. Brian Dobie : Twenty-nine years as head coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons football team. Three Canada West Conference Championships. Over 130 wins. A Vanier Cup Championship. After 50 years of high-level football, Coach Dobie called it a career in 2024. Amazing run, Coach. : Ching and her team are the first-ever recipients of the Human Rights Book Award by the Manitoba Library Association. The award is handed out in partnership with the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers, to recognize people who uphold the values of intellectual freedom while fostering inclusive and diverse spaces in Manitoba libraries. As the Winkler-based director of the South Central Regional Library, Ching stood up against people seeking to ban and censor access to literature. : He began studying hypothermia in the 1980s and over time (and after putting himself in countless precarious extreme cold situations) he became better known as Professor Popsicle. An absolute legend, his research has saved lives. This year, Giesbrecht officially retired from the University of Manitoba. He’s one of one. : They are the founders of Activate, the world’s first active-gaming facility. Their interactive tech has taken play and gaming to an entirely new level, and the world it. Founded in Winnipeg in 2017, Activate already has 30 locations in North America with 40 more opening by the end of 2025. Expansion plans will next include the Middle East and United Kingdom. Megan and Adam are a massive home-grown success story. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Pat Ningewance-Nadeau : The pair were instrumental in bringing to life a massive collaboration between Lucasfilm, the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council, APTN and the University of Manitoba. The project saw officially released to the world in Ojibwe. Miller and Ningewance-Nadeau, both assistant professors in the department of Indigenous studies, served as a project lead and head translator respectively. : Authored a super-cool book, . It’s an amazing first-hand unravelling of Winnipeg’s hip-hop music scene honouring DJ Bunny, Hard Edge Posse, Farm Fresh, Odario, Bonafide and of course, the legend, Gerry Atwell. It’s so, so good. : One of the latest series in the Marvel universe is a miniseries called , which is about a deaf, Indigenous superhero. Ziervogel, a deaf actor from Sagkeeng First Nation, landed the role of Taloa, the mother of the superhero. She’s actually more comfortable behind the scenes in the film business as a writer, but stepped out from behind the camera to make history in 2024. Just awesome. : Heinbigner, a Winnipeg firefighter, tragically took his own life this year. In a beautiful display of support for his family, Heinbigner’s co-workers, friends, and the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg fought to have his passing deemed a result of workplace injury. An inspiring result in an otherwise awful situation. Everyone involved in fighting and lobbying for his family should be so incredibly proud. Our mental health is everything, and what you’ve done in terms of moving the conversation forward and advocating for real change is monumental. : After 22 years, and more than 1,400 NHL games, linesman Ryan Galloway pulled on the stripes for the last time in 2024. From refereeing in Winnipeg as a kid in return for a free hot dog and hot chocolate, to skating alongside the best in the world for two decades. Tremendous career. Congrats on retirement. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Dr. Norman Silver (left) and David Berkowits : They are the founders of QDoc, a free online service that connects Canadians for virtual appointments. Since seeing some 100 patients during their launch year in 2021, they’ve grown to servicing well over 50,000 patients last year. The recognition and awards have followed. Dr. Silver was the lone Manitoban to receive one of the esteemed EY Entrepreneur of the Year Canada nods this year, and the pair have received multiple CIO Awards, which recognize Canadian organizations using IT in innovative ways. : White Bird and Johnston were commissioned to create a mural on the side of a Manitoba Housing building downtown. Morgan, a special adviser on Indigenous women’s issues identified the perfect canvas at the corner of Kennedy Street and Sargent Avenue for what is now the tallest mural in the province. The result is one of the most stunning pieces of public art the city has ever seen. ( in Anishinaabemowin), is a beacon of hope and empowerment in our city. Amazing, amazing job. : Dzikowicz is chief executive officer and Chymy is director of operations for Toba Centre for Children & Youth. Toba Centre is, to put it mildly, an ambitious and absolutely game-changing effort to restore health and well-being to those affected by child abuse. Before Toba, every aspect in the process was in a different place, creating unnecessary hurdles during what is already a traumatic time. Christy, Karen and their incredible team have built something with absolute purpose, and we are better for it. Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files Murray Sinclair : An advocate, guide, teacher, and leader, Sinclair dedicated his life to giving a voice to First Nations, Inuit and Métis in this province and across Canada. He was Manitoba’s first Indigenous judge, chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada into residential schools, and led Manitoba’s Aboriginal Justice Inquiry. His loss was felt by all, but his legacy will live forever. : They own and operate Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, which is a massive undertaking in itself, but the Turennes give so much more than that to this province. From serving as Official Voyageurs for Festival du Voyageur and sitting on the Premier’s Economic Opportunities Advisory Board to guiding the Tourism Industry Association of Manitoba and Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities, The Turennes have and continue to have massive positive impact on Manitoba. On top of everything, they have made available the incredible Aikens to countless charity campaigns — raising thousands to make life better for others. : Dedicated her life to bettering life for others. Wright has been a pillar of dedication, leadership and impact in the field of fundraising. From her enormous impact on social services to her work growing philanthropy and volunteerism in our province, Wright has impacted generations of Manitobans. With countless honours in her name, perhaps none was more fitting than receiving the Association of Fundraising Professionals Manitoba lifetime achievement award in 2024. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES Jan Kocman : The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra has been around for 77 years. Since 1974, it’s had the same principal flutist. This year marks 50 years that Kocman has filled the role, making him the longest-serving principal musician in the WSO’s storied history. : She’s a beloved advocate for and believer in a diverse and inclusive community. Hyndman is a co-ordinator at SCE LifeWorks, an incredible organization that supports people with intellectual disabilities to work and participate fully in the community. She’s also active in rural Manitoba with her work through Innovative Life Options. Hyndman has been described as a “game changer” in her profession, ensuring dignity, respect and opportunity for all. : He’s already competed twice at the national level in golf, and he’s only eight years old. Hanska, from Birdtail Sioux First Nation in Westman, has also qualified for the Flogas Champion of Champions Junior Invitational golf tournament in Northern Ireland next year, where he’ll tee off against 250 of the best young golfers from 45 countries. : An absolutely massive year for the bakery and its pastry chefs. Assistant pastry chef Hollie Rivera landed exclusive casting on the Food Network’s and absolutely crushed it. Cake-ology co-owner and pastry chef Austin Granados showcased his skills on the Food Network’s , and also won Canada’s Great Kitchen Party Winnipeg. Granados will represent Manitoba early next year at the Canadian Culinary Championships. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Kenny Daodu : A tireless coach, teacher, speaker, trainer, published author and avid volunteer, Daodu has and continues to have a positive impact on our province. A previous YWCA Women of Distinction Award winner for volunteerism, advocacy and community enhancement, she currently (along with countless other roles) serves as president of the Congress of Black Women of Manitoba, bolstering the consciousness, education and rights of Black women in Manitoba. : A filmmaker and producer, Frykas is consistently and quietly putting together an impressive IMDB page. From producing features for APTN’s to various documentaries and videos, his work is exceptional. Most recently, he dropped the documentary, which was screened more than 200 times in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. as part of the Warren Miller Film Tour. Its success was underscored by earning a 2024 Outside Award in the “purpose” category as well as the People’s Choice Award from Outside, an U.S. media company focused on sports and recreation (especially of the outdoor variety). MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Sarah Gravelle-MacKenzie : After rediscovering a love of cycling, Gravelle-MacKenzie found there was a void in the community for senior women looking for a cycling club to fit their needs. She started Cycling with Sarah, and has cultivated a welcoming community fostering the mental and physical well-being of senior women. : Woods competed in the 2024 Cooper’s Hill cheese-rolling race and is still around to talk about it. If you’re unaware, the race is that thing you’ve seen videos of periodically from England where a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese is rolled down a ridiculously steep 200-metre hill and participants try and chase it down. It’s absolute mayhem, an absolute yard sale and most people come out of it worse for wear. Many people think it’s stupid, but I’m not one of those people. Woods will have that story forever. : It’s not just their incredible philanthropic efforts in this province, it’s their total all-in approach. They’ve been there for everyone, including the Toba Centre for Children & Youth, the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg, the Humane Society and the Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg Children’s Hospital and countless other amazing organizations, initiatives and charities. The Talbots go above and beyond in all their endeavours, taking time to learn everything possible about the issues and needs, and how best to move things forward. : Celebrated 100 years of serving the community this year, and they remain more vital than ever. The legacy of the Winnipeg Kinsmen can be found everywhere, and has affected pretty much everyone in the province. From spearheading and being the first to fund a Children’s Hospital in 1949, to the first and all-time largest funder of Special Olympics Manitoba. They founded the Red River Exhibition in 1952. They brought the Reh-Fit Centre to life in 1977. Again, the impact of the Winnipeg Kinsmen is legendary. Today, they continue to adapt, listen and collaborate on making life better for countless Manitobans. The current executive of Hiren Shah, Christian Tardi, Kevin Turney, Blake Henson, Chris Preston, Bill Chambers and Trevor Smith are incredible individuals, setting the Kinsmen up for a second century of service. JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Jordyn Dyck : Her day job as an arborist with Trilogy Tree Services has morphed into competing on the world stage in tree climbing. She’s a four-time winner of the Prairie Chapter Tree Climbing Championships. Along with several impressive performances at major competitions across North America, Dyck will be representing Canada at the International Tree Climbing Championships in New Zealand. : Already a member of the Order of Canada and the Manitoba Business Hall of Fame, Albo continues to innovate and move things forward. As co-owner of the iconic Fort Garry Hotel, she’s made it into a version of itself that would rival any in its 111-year history. This year she also revived Yoga Public, adding another business to a downtown that needs it. She represents the Premier’s Business and Jobs Council, was instrumental in the revival of Winnipeg’s Central Park and was an early force in the creation of Plaza Skatepark. She’s a lot of things and they’re all awesome. KELLY MORTON PHOTO Janessa Dumas Colomb : She’s done an excellent job advocating for care on behalf of the over 10,000 children who visit the HSC Children’s Hospital every year. As the 2024 Champion Child, Jenssa — battling Stage 4 kidney disease — and her awesome family shared their story of resilience and hope to ensure better outcomes for all Manitoba families. From Mathias Colomb Cree Nation in Pukatawagan, she’s the first Champion Child from a remote northern First Nations community, and she absolutely crushed it in her new role. : A proud member of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, Bunn excelled at hockey at a young age. She went on to play at both the University of Calgary and University of Manitoba, but hockey is just one small part of her overall story. Bunn is the founder of the Reconciliation Run half-marathon, which starts at the Birtle Residential School and ends at Birdtail Sioux Dakota First Nation. She was elected as a youth chief of the Southern Chiefs Organization and is a Manitoba Indigenous Youth Achievement Award recipient. She’s done so much, and at 24, has an incredible future ahead as she pursues a law degree. : Has done an incredible job over the years as manager of film and special events for the City of Winnipeg. He makes great things happen. He connects people. He’s a champion for our city and province and amplifies our voices outside our borders. There are a lot of moving parts in his role, and Boyce handles it all seamlessly. He was recognized this year by ACTRA Manitoba with the Wayne Nicklas Award for his outstanding contribution to Manitoba’s film industry. SUPPLIED Rhayne Vermette : She’s a primarily self-taught artist from Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes and has achieved incredible things in both film and visual art. Her first-ever feature film, , was named Best Canadian Film at the Toronto International Film Festival a few years ago. Since then, she’s continued on her creative path and was shortlisted this year for the Sobey Art Award, one of the most prestigious awards in North America for visual artists. Her work received its own exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada, and she has a new film coming out next year. : They are the owners of Kickerfish, a company that is “all things fishing in central Canada and beyond.” They hustle hard. There’s podcast, they run some incredible tournaments, both open-water and through the ice, they stage the Winnipeg Ice Fishing Show, which draws thousands and tons more. Great people who do great work. : A couple of years ago, Ashley shared with the family her dream of building a travel destination with a deep connection to the land and beauty of Riding Mountain National Park. They established Turtle Village, a stunning off-grid glamping and ice fishing village. Every single member of the family has a role in Turtle Village, and they all know their stuff as they’ve been living off grid in a turtle shell of their own for years. They’re absolutely crushing it and their dream destination has already received the Indigenous Tourism Award from both Westman Tourism and Travel Manitoba, and won the 2024 International Tourism Award for Best World Project for Sustainability, Conservation and Cultural Preservation. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Fontine Beavis : Manitoba has always been home to a massive amount of musical talent, and the music scene right now is as good as any era in our history. Fontine is yet another incredible talent. She has around 7,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone, a service for which she has also been tasked with curating official playlists. Fontine was named Indigenous Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Her voice is stunning. Well worth a listen. : A STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) adviser and educator, Bajaj is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and innovative learning environment. She’s a STEM Educator and Global Citizenship Award recipient, recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal recipient. Bajaj also serves the community in countless other roles, from sitting on the board of both Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba and Volunteer Manitoba, to leading the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology. A tireless leader, we are so lucky to have her. : For starters, Rhonda Head has been on the fascinating list before (2019), and while I never repeat names, the mezzo-soprano from Opaskwayak Cree Nation has for the first time in her incredible career been nominated for a Grammy. So stoked for her. She also took the stage for the third time at Carnegie Hall in New York City, performing Handel’s and was joined by Georgianna, Avery, Ava and Ja’Kiera, members of the Arts for Manitoba Indigenous Youth Chorus. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES Elder Mae Louise Campbell : A trailblazer in the field of healing Indigenous women and girls, and in helping organizations incorporate Indigenous teachings and spiritual values. Just an incredible person, speaker and advocate. She’s changed countless lives for the better. For almost two decades, she was keeper of Grandmother Moon Lodge, a healing lodge serving thousands. Her work continues as one of the co-founders of Clan Mothers Healing Village. An Indspire Award Laureate, Elder-in-Residence at Red River College Polytechnic and for the University of Manitoba’s faculty of social work, Campbell’s impact on our province is immeasurable. : It’s perhaps the single-greatest grad photo ever. Fresh from graduating from Duke Marlborough School in Churchill, Dingwall posed for an absolutely epic shot on an iceberg in Hudson Bay. The photo drew worldwide attention. : A tireless community champion, advocate, and philanthropist, Pearson is very hard to keep up with. She’s the founder and president of Linking Hope, a not-for-profit that connects support to those in need. She’s on the board of Clan Mothers Healing Village, has chaired the United Way of Winnipeg campaign and is currently co-chairing a capital campaign for the downtown YMCA-YWCA. She’s a recent recipient of a Winnipeg 150 medal, the 2024 Friends of Riverview Award recipient from the Riverview Hospital Foundation, and a game-changing advocate and fundraiser for the Rainbow Resource Centre. She makes things happen. : Guided by empathy and unity, Hidalgo has turned lived experience into action. He is the founder of CommUNITY204, a non-profit responding to the needs of some of the most vulnerable among us. Having grown up in the child-welfare system, Hidalgo understands the value in connection and collective strength. CommUNITY204 has fed tens of thousands, provided hundreds of mattresses to those without, found housing for dozens of people, and much, much more. He is also the co-founder of the SABE Peace Walkers, a de-escalation team patrolling Osborne Village. JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Chad Posthumus : The first player and captain in Winnipeg Sea Bears history. An absolutely beautiful person. His basketball journey took him all over the world, but his return to Manitoba to continue his pro career in his hometown was special. Posthumus sadly and suddenly passed away in November, but his impact will live forever. He treated people with genuine kindness, made everyone feel seen and special, and approached everyday with sheer joy. RIP big man. : A singer-songwriter first, Gwendonline also acts, and she’s really, really good. She landed the role of Harley in a new Amber Sekowan-Daniels produced sitcom called . Streaming on Crave, the show follows the post-graduation life and times of two best friends in Winnipeg in the 1990s, and it’s super good. Gwendoline was just tremendous in her role. : Our community lost a passionate and caring cheerleader and advocate in Shane. After founding Starling Social a decade ago, she selflessly used her marketing company and prowess for good. Shane was a recipient of Volunteer Manitoba’s Spark Outstanding Pro Bono Consultant Award, and donated her time and talents to countless organizations, including Manitoba Music, Vote Open Winnipeg, Winnipeg Women’s Community and many more. She will be missed and remembered fondly by many, forever. JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Dr. Rehman Abdulrehman : Dr. Abdulrehman is a clinical and consulting psychologist, published author, TEDx speaker, podcaster and the founder of #CelebrateEverything. #CelebrateEverything is a blueprint for workplaces, organizations and society at large to consult when it comes to improving inclusion and building community through celebration of holidays and observances. Through his own initiative, and partnerships such as Folklorama, Dr. Abdulrehman is truly creating community and fostering education. : After an incredible near-18-year run, Dolphin has hung up the Mick E. Moose mascot suit he sported at both Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose games. Voted the No. 3 mascot in the NHL by , he’s made both game days and thousands of public appearances special for so many. : If you need someone to call to make your event special, call the Winnipeg Ghostbusters. They’re an entirely volunteer-run group who, clad in full Ghostbusters gear, use their platform to bring joy to thousands and also raise a ton of cash for charity. This year alone they were able to raise almost $40,000 for groups like the Children’s Hospital, Madox’s Warriors and the Winnipeg Goldeyes’ Field of Dreams Foundation. They’ve also rallied the community for blood-donation drives. They’re awesome. Founded by Kris Rutherford and Adam Giardino, they were quickly joined by Brian Teichroew. The lineup also includes (apologies if I’ve missed somebody) Andrew Royal, Jeremy Jeffery, Chris Reid, Brandon Dewar, Adam Wilton, Steve Rogowsky, Michael Cumbers, Robert Sabo, Vanessa Mancini, Matthew Gerrard-Macmillan, Nicole Rutherford, Evie Lapp and Junior Busters Faye Sabo, Scarlett Rutherford, Sadie and Lucas Wilton, and Stella Teichroew. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES Kathy Tran-Riese : Tran-Riese is the founder of KayTran Eyewear, a company that makes eyeglasses for people with low nose bridges. She impressed all the Dragons on a recent appearance on CBC TV’s . Tran-Riese received significant offers from three of the show’s venture capitalists, before shaking hands and securing a deal with longtime Dragon Manjit Minhas. : A gifted columnist and professor, his latest book, , won the Governor General’s Award for English-language non-fiction. Sinclair, while clearly a gifted writer (he’s been named Canadian columnist of the year at the National Newspaper Awards), is also, without question, one of the best orators this province has ever seen. : They are the co-founders of The Sobr Market, a shop dedicated solely to non-alcoholic beers, wines and mocktails. From occupying a tiny corner of a Good Local shop a few years ago, Sobr Market has now had to move into its third location due to its swelling appeal. The popularity and societal acceptance of not drinking has risen dramatically over the past few years, as has the quality and variety of non-alcoholic drinks. Jessie and Shane are all over it, and have continued to expand their presence in Toronto along with upsizing here. Love to see it. : This dude is hardcore. Perry participated — and completed — the Iditarod Trail Invitational. It follows the same infamous trail used in the dog-sled version of the race, but Perry competed on a bicycle. He finished the gruelling race in three days, 21 hours. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Kevin Selch : Selch is the founder of Little Brown Jug Brewing Company. A former economist, he’s grown LBJ into so much more than just a craft brewery, and he’s much more than just a brewery owner. Amongst many things, Selch has assumed the role as the newest board chairperson of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and is the recipient of the 2024 Dr. Dick Smith Appreciation Award from Our Own Health Centre for his unwavering support of the LGBTTQ+ community. : Sadly, Funk succumbed to a battle with cancer this year. He was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, front people in Winnipeg music history. Fronting both Personality Crisis and Honest John, Funk was incredible to watch and his vocals were his alone. A towering, riveting figure and a beautifully kind person. : For her work studying ice cores and countless contributions to the world’s understanding of human-induced global warming, Dahl-Jensen received a Frontiers of Knowledge award. Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, the Frontiers of Knowledge Foundation recognizes international excellence in research and academics. The award has made its way to Canada only a handful of times in the past 20 years, and Dahl-Jensen’s discovery, that over the past 800,000 years, carbon-dioxide concentrations due to natural variability have never reached the levels recorded in the 21st century, made international headlines. : She’s amazing. Hoque is part of the CCUNESCO National Youth Advisory Council, and founded the Youth Wellness Circle. The Youth Wellness Circle provides creative, simple and effective mental wellness resources to children and teens. She is also the 2024 winner of the B’nai Brith Manitoba Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition for her now published book, . MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Chimwemwe Undi : Undi is Winnipeg’s Poet Laureate, a Winnipeg 150 medal recipient, a John Hirsch Emerging Writer Award winner and this year dropped her debut full-length poetry collection. Her work was deemed the best in the country, receiving the Governor General’s Literary Award in poetry. : In Thompson, a competition is held annually to determine a King Miner. The competition includes pipe-fitting, hand mucking, nail driving, log sawing, steel packing and other tests of skill required in the mining profession. Hall is the current champ and therefore holds the title of King Miner. : The founder of the Singing Red Bear Foundation and its No Thanks, I’m Good campaign. After tragically losing his incredible son Harlan to drug poisoning in 2023, Fourre has been a tireless advocate for what is an increasingly toxic and poisonous drug supply, one that is killing countless people. This year marked the first-ever Fentanyl Awareness Day, an initiative led by Fourre and his team. He’s made a massive impact already, with much more to come. : The pair are behind the super-hot dual-concept café and bakery Crumb Queen/Andy’s Lunch. They’re just crushing it. Wiebe was selling baked goods as quickly as she could make them in her bachelor-apartment kitchen during the pandemic. Koropatnick has worked in fine dining for over a decade with a passion for Italian comfort food. Since the pair teamed up and opened a brick-and-mortar location in Osborne Village that often has lineups, the eatery has been named a finalist by Magazine for best new restaurant in Canada and was designated one of Air Canada’s Top 10 Best New Restaurants in Canada last month. : Their skateboard company, Scam Skate, just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Starting out by printing some T-shirts in Portage la Prairie, Scam morphed into creating their own skateboards from scratch. Their products are entirely designed and manufactured in Manitoba, something previously unheard of in the industry. It’s an incredible run and they continue to evolve, offering custom one-off skateboard decks, a huge lineup of long-boards, custom printing and more. NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS FILES Patty Wiens : Her day job is at the University of Winnipeg, but Wiens is also the first-ever and current Bicycle Mayor of Winnipeg. Her role involves advocating for and working collaboratively on cycling infrastructure, safety and long-term planning. Wiens also sits on the board of directors of Bike Winnipeg. : She’s had an incredible impact on Manitoba’s Filipino community, and her work continues today in multiple capacities. Tan is the former president of the Manitoba Association of Filipino Teachers, and was a major force in securing a Filipino Bilingual Program at Meadows West School. She is also the current director of the Rondalla program, a group of passionate and talented musicians and vocalists preserving and showcasing the best of the culture. She’s made Manitoba better for so many. : Both are incredible volunteers in their community, and both are recipients of the 2024 Lieutenant Governor’s Community Leadership Award from Volunteer Manitoba. Clark is a multi-disciplinary artist in Flin Flon and a tireless advocate and champion for northern artists. She was nominated by Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art. Zapotochny has taken on a Herculean humanitarian effort in Portage la Prairie, settling 42 different Ukrainian families looking for a safe place to live.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert does not practice because of left ankle injuryGus Malzahn is leaving his post as UCF's head coach to reunite with Florida State coach Mike Norvell as the Seminoles' offensive coordinator, ESPN reported on Saturday. Norvell, who served as a graduate assistant under Malzahn at Tulsa in 2007-08, relinquished his role as FSU's primary playcaller amid a staff shakeup this season. Florida State, 1-7 in the Athletic Coast Conference this season, entered Saturday's season finale against Florida at 2-9 and ranked No. 131 in the nation in total offense. UCF also endured a tough 2024 season, going 4-8 after losing eight of its last nine games. During Malzahn's four-year tenure, the Knights went 28-24, including 5-13 in the Big 12 Conference the last two seasons. Malzahn, 59, is 105-62 in 13 seasons as a college head coach, highlighted by a 68-35 mark in eight seasons at Auburn -- which included a BCS title game appearance in 2013. He served as offensive coordinator and playcaller when the Tigers won the national title in 2010. Malzahn will be tasked with revitalizing a Florida State offense that helped produce a 13-1 campaign in 2023, when the Seminoles were denied a spot in the College Football Playoff. Over the last three seasons at UCF, his rushing attack has been in the Top 10 in the nation. In his 19 seasons as a college head coach or offensive coordinator, Malzahn's teams have averaged 447.7 yards per game, and three of his teams eclipsed 7,000 yards in a season. --Field Level Media

Oscar winner Jared Leto confirmed to play He-Man’s arch-enemy Skeletor in ‘Masters of the Universe’Dubai, United Arab Emirates–(Newsfile Corp. – November 30, 2024) – Atua AI (TUA), a prominent on-chain enterprise AI platform, has integrated Ripple’s XRP ecosystem into its infrastructure, taking a significant step forward in advancing decentralized operations. This integration combines Ripple’s fast, secure blockchain technology with Atua AI’s innovative AI solutions, creating a robust framework for businesses operating in decentralized ecosystems. Empowering decentralized enterprises with innovative AI solutions under the endless possibilities. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8833/232030_45.jpg The incorporation of XRP enables Atua AI to provide enterprises with seamless transaction capabilities, enhanced scalability, and cost-effective solutions. Coupled with Atua AI’s suite of AI-driven tools, including real-time analytics, predictive modeling, and workflow automation, this integration offers enterprises the ability to optimize operations and make data-driven decisions with greater efficiency. Ripple’s XRP strengthens Atua AI’s cross-chain interoperability, allowing enterprises to connect seamlessly with various blockchain networks while maintaining the security and transparency that define decentralized technologies. This partnership exemplifies Atua AI’s commitment to fostering innovation and scalability in the Web3 space, providing businesses with tools to thrive in an increasingly decentralized economy. Atua AI’s integration of Ripple XRP represents a pivotal development in the evolution of blockchain-based enterprise solutions. By bridging AI and blockchain, the platform delivers transformative capabilities that empower enterprises to adapt to the dynamic needs of modern business operations, paving the way for future growth and sustainability. About Atua AI Atua AI is an all-in-one on-chain enterprise AI platform that integrates artificial intelligence with blockchain technology. It provides scalable, secure solutions for businesses, developers, and creators, enabling automation and operational efficiency within the Web3 landscape. Social Media: Twitter Instagram To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/232030 #distroWASHINGTON — The man tapped to be Donald Trump’s top legislative liaison will face challenges on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue as he manages a mercurial boss and tough math in both chambers of Congress. If the president-elect’s late-night and pre-sunrise social media blasts about legislation and lawmakers don’t prove challenging enough for former congressional aide James Braid and his incoming White House legislative affairs staff, the tight margins in what will be the Republican-run House and Senate will likely only further complicate matters. But Republican sources say Braid’s history in conservative circles should help the Trump team clear any potential hurdles, predicting several legislative wins next year. Braid is a former policy director for the hard-line conservative House Freedom Caucus and was a staffer for former South Carolina GOP Rep. Mark Sanford and for North Carolina Republican Ted Budd, when he served in the House. He most recently was a senior aide to Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the incoming vice president. “James is a very serious staffer. He works so hard and puts a lot of blood, sweat and tears into whatever he’s working on,” a former Senate GOP aide who has worked directly with Braid said this week. “I could see James and Trump getting along very well. Both are very ‘America First.’ They’re both very boisterous and full of energy — and they’re both hardcore and get-down-to-business guys.” A veteran of the first Trump administration as a legislative affairs aide in the White House Office of Management and Budget, Braid will be able to “tap into his vast well of knowledge about the appropriations process,” according to the former Senate GOP aide. “He’s a strategic thinker and has a lot of political savvy, and is someone who has a history of working with coalitions to get things done,” the former aide added. ‘One of the toughest jobs’ Several Republican sources this week said Trump and his incoming team were eager to, as one said, “put points on the board early.” That means Braid will be busy even before Day 1, as sources noted that House and Senate Republicans and their aides already have begun to look toward the new Congress and advancing Trump’s agenda. G. William Hoagland, a former senior Senate Republican staffer, said in an email that Braid will have “one of the toughest jobs in the White House.” “I would expect there could be some real shouting matches, or at least difficult discussions, with Trump as to why [Braid] cannot get certain House members to fall in line, unlike 2017, when Republicans had nearly a 40-seat majority,” added Hoagland, now with the Bipartisan Policy Center. “I don’t envy his job at all and he will be inundated with outside advisers — Elon Musk, etc. — not to mention new Cabinet officers and [OMB Director pick] Russ Vought.” Vought, who also served as acting OMB director toward the end of Trump’s initial term, could push Braid particularly hard from the White House side of Pennsylvania Avenue. Vought was also a key driver of the conservative Heritage Foundation-led “Project 2025” initiative which calls for deep cuts to federal programs and spending as well as a major overhaul of the federal apparatus — all of which would need Congress’ blessing. “Based on the conversations that I’ve had with the Trump team and some folks who are probably going in [the administration], a big part of what that will be, at least at the start, will be going after the ‘woke’ and weaponized pieces of appropriations,” the former Senate GOP aide said. “And also dealing with Ukraine aid, if that conflict isn’t already over by March,” when a potential pre-recess stopgap spending measure could be due to expire. (Lawmakers are expected this month to extend government funding through the early spring.) Braid did not respond to a message seeking an interview. Nor did Vance’s Senate office. Working the margins Republicans expect to move out on fast-track budget legislation under Congress’ special reconciliation rules, but crafting legislation that both moderate and conservative members can support has been tricky in the past. Finding a way to get that done will be crucial, GOP sources said, because any reconciliation legislation likely would not garner a single Democratic vote in either chamber. “It may be that James’ biggest issue for his future in that position is to quickly establish a good working relationship with the House leadership team including both the speaker’s and minority leader’s offices,” Hoagland said. “This is critical, given the margins.” With the last House race being called by The Associated Press early Wednesday, House Republicans will hold just a paper-thin majority next year — 220-215, assuming full attendance. That margin is, at least temporarily, on track to shrink in the early months of next year. Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who resigned from Congress last month shortly before withdrawing from consideration to be Trump’s attorney general, has said he will not return next year despite winning a fifth term in November. Two other members are expected to depart to join the new administration — New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the House GOP conference chair who is Trump’s pick to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Florida Rep. Michael Waltz, the incoming national security adviser. While special elections are organized and held for those seats, Braid will have his work cut out for him maneuvering members of a House GOP conference that the former senior aide quipped “can go at each other often.” But in doing so, the former aide noted, Braid will have a political reality on his side during the sometimes-testy talks about the contents of legislation. “Remember, all those House members are up for reelection in two years,” he said. “So going against Trump won’t be very wise if they don’t want a primary opponent. I’d expect them to, eventually, fall in line.” Aaron Cutler, a former House GOP leadership aide, said in an email this week that “with tight margins in both chambers, Braid’s task will be to maximize every opportunity for legislative success,” adding: “By focusing on shared priorities and leveraging the president’s strong connection with the Republican base, they’ll have an opportunity to secure wins even in a closely divided Congress.” Beyond the fast-track reconciliation bills, however, Trump and Braid would need to secure at least some Democratic votes for other priorities. Some members of the opposition party already this week were giving Republicans some subtle advice. “Our divisions still run very deep, but our task in this chamber cannot and will not change,” Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer, fresh off being elected by his conference to continue in his role, said Tuesday. “We are sent here to make life better for the American people.” ©2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

NBA Don't miss out on the headlines from NBA. Followed categories will be added to My News. VP pick and roll. Former Kamala Harris campaign surrogate and “Shark Tank” mogul Mark Cuban believes he can win the presidency by choosing an NBA legend as his running mate, the NY Post reports. Average of 9 LIVE Regular Season games per week plus the best of the NBA Playoffs, including every game of the NBA Conference Finals & NBA Finals LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. During an appearance on “The Steam Room” podcast, hosted by NBA TNT television personalities Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley, Cuban answered whether his recent turn as a political pundit would result in seeking elected office. Cuban first said “hell no,” about running for higher office, but said one thing could possibly change his mind. “Would your feeling on a run for office change if it were, say, a ticket of you and the Chuckster,” legendary basketball announcer Ernie Johnson asked, referring to his co-host as the potential running mate. “Yes, absolutely,” Cuban replied with relish. “We’d win running away. No question about it.” “We’d win,” Barkley said in matter-of-fact agreement. “We’d definitely win. Yes absolutely, running away.” The billionaire would only run with an NBA legend on the ballot. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for WIRED) VP Barkley has a good ring to it. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Cuban heaped praise on Barkley, all but calling him a role model for civility and personability. “Charles can talk to anybody and put himself in any circumstance and get along with everybody, and I think that’s what we need,” Cuban said. Moments before, the Round Mound of Rebound himself asked Cuban whether he “seriously considered” seeking an elected office. “I did a little bit,” Cuban said with a wince. “I even talked to a pollster. But then I talked to my family and we took a family vote and they said, “hell no.” Cuban further elaborated that he believes today’s politics is “meaner” and that the “hate on social media” serves as a legitimate deterrent to his civic impulses. “If your kids live on social media, why would I put them through that?” Cuban asked rhetorically. Cuban, who was an active surrogate for the Harris campaign, said he was disappointed with Trump’s election victory in November —- but he is more focused on the future than the past. Cuban is focusing on the future. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) Trump’s election victory didn’t sit well with Cuban. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) “What’s your first, initial reaction to the election going forward,” Barkley asked the minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks. “It’s like losing the last game of the season. You know? It’s a horrible feeling; walking off the court is awful. But, you know, you’ve got to look forward to next season,” said Cuban. “You can’t dwell on it, you’ve got to think what you can do going forward, and I care about this country, I love this country, and that’s important to me. It’s not about “I hate this person” or “I hate that person.” No. It’s about what can we do going forward,” he stated. The billionaire turned political pundit made news throughout the election cycle, oftentimes due to high-profile flubs. Cuban faced backlash after claiming Donald Trump doesn’t surround himself with “strong, intelligent women.” Trump doesn’t surround himself with “strong intelligent women”. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP) Cuban copped backlash over the remark. (Photo by Rich Fury / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP) “They’re intimidating to him. He doesn’t like to be challenged by them, and, you know, Nikki Haley will call him on his nonsense with reproductive rights and how he sees and treats and talks about women. I mean, he just can’t have her around. It wouldn’t work,” Cuban said on “The View” at the time. He later apologised for the comments that were seen as dismissive and disrespectful to conservative women. The billionaire was also roundly mocked in online conservative circles during the campaign — with many suggesting that his new black-rimmed glasses bring out a resemblance to liberal MSNBC talk show host Rachel Maddow. This article originally appeared on the NY Post and was reproduced with permission. More Coverage Commentator hospitalised, ‘impaled in head’ Fox Cricket Shock F1 announcement fuels Max rumours AFP Originally published as Billionaire NBA owner Mark Cuban’s shock presidential claim Read related topics: Donald Trump More related stories NBA Aussie blows NBA away with absurd first Australian basketball star Josh Giddey has left jaws on the floor after producing a scintillating performance for his new team. Read more NBA ‘Insane’ Aussie receives enormous praise Dyson Daniels’ star continues to soar, with the young Aussie drawing huge praise from one of the best players in NBA history. Read morePublished 5:12 pm Saturday, November 23, 2024 By Data Skrive The Pittsburgh Panthers and the Wisconsin Badgers square off for one of three games on the college basketball schedule on Sunday that include a ranked team. For picks against the spread, see the rest of this article below. Place your bets on any men’s college basketball matchup at BetMGM. Sign up today using our link. Bet on the Georgia-St. John’s spread—or any other NCAA men’s basketball matchup—with BetMGM ! Bet on the Kennesaw State-Rutgers spread—or any other NCAA men’s basketball matchup—with BetMGM ! Bet on the Wisconsin-Pittsburgh spread—or any other NCAA men’s basketball matchup—with BetMGM ! 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 .COMMERCE, Texas (AP) — Zach Calzada passed for 333 yards and three touchdowns, and he rushed for a score as Incarnate Word beat East Texas A&M 38-24 on Saturday to claim the Southland Conference title. Incarnate Word (10-2, 7-0) became the first team in program history to finish undefeated in conference play. The No. 6 Cardinals await the FCS selection show on Sunday to learn the playoff matchups. Calzada came in leading the FCS in passing touchdowns with 30 on the season and No. 6 for passing yards (3,018). He finished 26 of 40 with an interception against East Texas A&M. Incarnate Word linebacker Darius Sanders made his third interception in two games then Calzada launched a 43-yard pass to Jalen Walthall to tie it at 14 midway through the second quarter. The Cardinals' Marcus Brown blocked a 45-yard field-goal attempt that would have broken a tie at 24 early in the fourth. Calzada found wide-open Logan Compton in the end zone for a 31-24 lead. Mason Pierce was also left wide open for an 18-yard score with 2:43 left. Ron Peace was 21 of 38 for 165 yards with one touchdown and one interception for East Texas (3-9, 2-4). He also rushed for a score. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football