Tories urge PM to reject Netanyahu arrest warrant and alter ‘nonsensical’ stanceby Rajan Philips If President AKD’s inaugural Policy Statement at the opening of parliament 10 days ago was mellifluous in its delivery, it was also meticulous in detail, and sweeping in its themes and vistas. He literally spoke with words and numbers effortlessly flowing, but without notes or the help of the teleprompter even though he had the text in front of him. It was not soaring oratory but captivating eloquence. More like NM in English; and Bernard Soysa, given the pirivena roots of his education, in both Sinhala and English. Yet as an old Peradeniya friend of mine told me last week, what NM couldn’t do AKD has done. And in more ways than one. The subtitles in the English text of the Policy Statement are quite revelatory. The middle of the speech, taking nearly half its length, is all about the economy. Naturally so and the economic themes and content are indicative of both the government’s approach to stabilizing and growing the economy, and the President’s studiousness in mastering the file. There is no other practical alternative to abiding by the agreements with the IMF entered into by the previous government, while looking for better agreements in what is left of debt restructuring and, more importantly, for restructuring the economy on a sustainable growth path. Those who are chiding the government for going along with the IMF would also have been the first people to lambaste it for radical irresponsibility if it had chosen to repudiate the agreement. There are still uncertainties and challenges ahead, but as I wrote last week, there could not have been a better political start for the post Ranil-Rajapaksa era than what is being initiated by President AKD and his NPP government. The start is even more impressive when one looks at the President’s thematic assertions on giving no room for racism and on building national unity; accepting a multi-party system, restoring the dignity of parliament and building a democratic state; and reforming the public service, affirming the rule of law, and delivering justice to victims of crime no matter who the perpetrators of crimes are. Somewhat of a mundane theme amidst all the lofty ones is about cleaning Sri Lanka. Mundane, but a very crucial and long overdue cleaning initiative. There are those who are ready to smirk at what they see as the JVP’s fatefulness in having to uphold and abide by a political system that it once strove to overthrow. But such self-amusements are rather superficial, for the real irony is that the JVP is now having to save and stabilize not only the economy but also the political system both of which were undone by the same forces that once unleashed state violence to protect them from the JVP. Equally, there is no need for the JVP to show its democratic credentials to anyone in the west when western democracies are electing the real antichrists of democracy such as Donald J. Trump. What is strikingly unique about these themes and their contents are their sincerity and seriousness that should be apparent to anyone who would view President AKD’s Policy Statement in a historical perspective and in comparison to presidential declarations and statements that we have had to suffer through in the last 20 years. No Room for Racism Of all the themes that President AKD touched on in his Policy Statement, the most path breaking thrust is in the commitment to end racism in Sri Lanka. It needs to be said that Sri Lankans – Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians, do not belong to different races in the biological sense. That race is a social construct and not a biological reality is now universally accepted except for flat-earth counterparts in social studies. In Sri Lanka, the tradition of identifying Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims, not to mention the castes among the former two, as different races was conclusively put to rest, at least among social scientists and progressive activists, by the path breaking 1979 seminar on “Ethnicity and Social Change in Sri Lanka” organized by the Social Scientists Association. Kudos for that belongs exclusively to Kumari Jayawardena and Charles Abeysekera. Yet the term race is commonly used to describe the two (Sinhala and Tamil) linguistic groups and the two religious (Moors and Malays) groups. Especially in the Sinhala and Tamil languages in which the same term(s) is used overlappingly to identify caste, ethnicity and race. Race and racism are also political terms that are universally used to describe and denounce discrimination based on differences of colour, place of origin, language and religion. The President makes it clear that his assertion that there is no room for racism is really an accusation that there has been too much room for ‘racism’ for too long in Sri Lanka – in the shaping of the country’s political framework and its power structures “along regional, ethnic, or religious lines.” And he goes on “such political divisions inevitably resulted in growing alienation among communities.” This is quite a perceptive understanding because in many political societies pre-existing social and cultural differences aggravated political conflicts between communities. In Sri Lanka, it has been the other way around. Ethnic differences over every aspect of politics led to a breakdown of relationships between communities. Political differences spanned the entire spectrum of the state and its responsibilities – on citizenship, language rights, representation, and access to land, employment and education. And the President’s dialectic that racism provokes counter-racism, and “racism in one part feeds and strengthens nationalism in another,” brings to mind a rather combative version of the same sentiment by TULF leader A. Amirthalingam in his maiden speech in parliament, as a 29 year old Federal Party (ITAK) MP in 1956, that it is “communalism of the majority that begets communalism of the minority.” President AKD is striking a remarkably conciliatory note, and without pointing fingers at this or that community he is drawing on the electoral sweep in which “all communities across all provinces have trusted us and granted us this power.” He is also firm in assuring that his government will not allow “a resurgence of divisive racist politics” or any “form of religious extremism to take root again in Sri Lanka.” And again that no one “will be allowed to use nationalist or religious rhetoric as a means to gain political power in this country.” Flights of Oratory Sri Lankan politics has seen flights of oratory extolling national unity and equality for the first 20 years after independence. SWRD Bandaranaike waxed eloquent at the State Council that contributed to JR Jayewardene’s original bill on the national languages being changed to include both Sinhala and Tamil as official languages. Even though he would repudiate the original arrangement as Prime Minister in 1956, SWRD was never unclear about what was needed for Sri Lanka’s unity. He went poetic envisaging an island that would someday be a “painted ship on a painted ocean.” Colvin R de Silva was polemical and blunter in presaging that with two languages there would be one country, but with one only there could be two of them. NM was inflexible in his stance on the parity of languages, even though it may have cost the Left an election or two, but it held the country together as both Amirthalingam and AJ Wilson would later acknowledge in their obituaries of NM. There was more of them in the late 1960s. GG Ponnambalam, the father of fifty-fifty, was sincere and genuine when he perorated in parliament that “through fair weather and foul, in sunshine and in rain, I have held aloft the ideal of a united Lanka.” In fact, “from Point Pedro to Point Dondra,” was Ponnambalam’s rhetorical rejoinder to what he called the peninsularity in the idea of Tamil federalism. To sum it up, at the 50th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence, President Chandrika Kumaratunga acknowledge on behalf of everyone that “we have failed in the essential task of nation building.” Now there is a chance for the remaking of a broken nation. President Dissanayake seems convinced of the great opportunity he, his government and the new parliament have, and he seems determined to make good use of it. The rhetorical flourishes of the past were all sincere expressions of individual political leaders. But none of them drew on electoral support from every part of the country and could be backed by the power of the state to the extent that President AKD and the NPP now seem to have. Put another way, what AKD and his gallant team are manifesting is an organic possibility and not a synthetic experiment. In the past, resolving the inter-ethnic or the national question was attempted primarily through top-down initiatives and consociational (relating to or denoting a political system formed by the cooperation of different social groups on the basis of shared power) agreements. Now the initiative is equally grass-root at the electoral level and committedly government-led at the state level. This new fusion has never been experienced before. There is authenticity as well, but it is the authenticity of the progressive kind and not the chauvinistic variety of old. So, there is plenty of room for optimism. The prospects are not only pleasing, but those in power are also not vile. At the same time, there is no denying the pitfalls ahead even though there is none that is obvious now. For caution, just look at the fall of the United States of America. From the cloudy heights of post-racial America that Barak Obama briefly heralded to the racial pits of Donald Trump. Fortunately for Sri Lanka, it may be that the country has had its share of Trumps already and is now ready for a new beginning.fortune gems must hit by 。

ATLANTA (AP) — Even when grappling with a four-game losing streak and the uncertainty generated by quarterback Kirk Cousins’ eight interceptions and no touchdown passes in that span, there is some solace for the Atlanta Falcons. They play in the NFC South. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Wonder women: 2024 trifecta symbolizes Independence Bowl's long history of female influence

Deutsche Bank Appointed as Depositary Bank for the Sponsored American Depositary Receipt Program of Jinxin Technology Holding CompanyAP Trending SummaryBrief at 3:51 p.m. EST

The Peoples Democratic Party has expressed confidence that opposition forces will oust the All Progressives Congress in Nigeria’s 2027 elections, drawing inspiration from the recent victory of Ghana’s National Democratic Congress in the country’s presidential polls. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Monday, called Ghana’s opposition NDC victory a clear example of the people’s power prevailing over misrule. On Sunday, Ghana’s former President, John Mahama, was declared the winner of the country’s presidential election after his main opponent, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, admitted defeat. Ologunagba said, “The Peoples Democratic Party congratulates the people of Ghana for their resilience in defending democracy and ensuring that their Will prevailed in the Saturday, December 7, 2024 Presidential election which returned the National Democratic Congress and President John Mahama to power. “The verdict of the people of Ghana in this Presidential election is a signal to the APC that its days in office are numbered as the power of the people in Nigeria, just like in Ghana, will surely prevail, end APC’s oppressive rule and return Nigeria to the path of good governance, security, political stability and economic prosperity on the platform of the PDP in 2027.” Related News INEC chair commends Ghana poll, highlights lessons for Nigeria Ghana: CJID, DUBAWA harp on credible polls Oyo, Osun people will decide next govs, APC tells Makinde He accused the APC of presiding over years of economic decline, insecurity, and hardship, citing a spike in inflation, the devaluation of the naira, and soaring unemployment rates. The statement read, “Major multinationals are now leaving our country in droves and life has become so unbearable that our citizens, particularly the youths are now resorting to suicide or slavery mission abroad as alternative because of the monumental misrule and insensitivity of the APC. “Nigerians now recall with nostalgia and earnestly seek a return of the golden years of the PDP in government as their only hope for survival and triumph of their dreams, aspiration and collective Will as a people. “The PDP therefore calls on all institutions of government especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to note the yearning of Nigerians and ensure that all processes are put in place to guarantee that only the Will of the people prevail in elections. “INEC must note that Nigerians are not ready to accept a repeat of the massive manipulation and perversion of the electoral process as witnessed in the 2019 and 2023 Presidential elections in our country.”

Fuse Energy Technologies Corporation Los Alamos Chief Engineer Joins Nuclear Fusion Startup Fuse to Lead Federal Business Fuse Energy Technologies Corporation Los Alamos Chief Engineer Joins Nuclear Fusion Startup Fuse to Lead Federal Business Building on unparalleled nuclear experience, James Owen to lead Fuse's strategy to build technology solutions for sustainable, clean, reliable energy SAN LEANDRO, Calif. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fuse , a leading nuclear fusion company dedicated to accelerating the world's transition to fusion energy while safeguarding humankind, today announced the appointment of Los Alamos National Laboratory's (LANL) Chief Engineer for Nuclear Weapons, James Owen , as President of Fuse Federal, the company's wholly-owned subsidiary focused on U.S. government business. " James Owen's unparalleled background in nuclear engineering and his leadership at Los Alamos National Lab make him the ideal person to spearhead our federal business," said JC Btaiche, Founder and CEO of Fuse. "His experience and unique background at LANL will be invaluable as we strive to solve one of humanity's grandest challenges: fusion energy." At Los Alamos , Owen was responsible for the oversight of all weapons engineering activities in support of the Lab's national security mission to ensure America's nuclear deterrent remains effective and secure. Notably, Owen led and delivered four stockpile modernization programs while sustaining the United States' legacy deterrent through surveillance, weapons response, and more. Owen oversaw six divisions at Los Alamos with over 1,300 staff members and an annual budget of $1 billion dollars . LANL's heritage stretches back to the Manhattan Project, and now Owen will be working on what many consider humanity's next Manhattan Project: unlocking clean and abundant fusion energy. As President of Fuse Federal, Owen will leverage his extensive experience in nuclear technologies to lead the company's efforts in providing critical products and testing services for components of the nuclear stockpile and other defense infrastructure. He will focus on expanding the company's radiation services, a critical component of nuclear fusion energy, for government customers while also contributing to Fuse's overall strategy for commercializing fusion energy technology as a source of clean energy. Owen will join Fuse's executive team to drive the expansion of fusion and pulsed power products and services for the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and other customers. Owen expressed enthusiasm about joining Fuse: "Since beginning as a summer student in 1988, I have been privileged to work with the most amazing people on the most important mission for the nation," Owen said. "And I am looking forward to working on one of the most difficult yet important technological challenges facing humanity and our planet – fusion energy." The Honorable Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, Fuse board member and former Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security, added: "Fuse will provide critically needed and groundbreaking technologies to the national security ecosystem and will support a clean energy future. I am thrilled that James Owen , a pioneer in the nuclear security community has joined the Fuse team, bringing invaluable experience and expertise which will enable the nuclear enterprise to accelerate and execute important missions." About Fuse Fuse is a California -based nuclear fusion company dedicated to accelerating the world's transition to fusion energy while safeguarding humankind. Through its subsidiary, Fuse Federal, the company provides essential radiation services to U.S. government agencies, supporting critical defense and energy initiatives. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/los-alamos-chief-engineer-joins-nuclear-fusion-startup-fuse-to-lead-federal-business-302313709.html SOURCE Fuse Energy Technologies Corporation

GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA Daily ETF (NASDAQ:NVDL) Stock Price Down 2.4% – Here’s What HappenedAlex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record. The Capitals updated Ovechkin’s status Thursday after he was evaluated by team doctors upon returning from a three-game trip. The 39-year-old broke the leg in a shin-on-shin collision Monday night with Utah's Jack McBain, and some of his closest teammates knew it was not good news even before Ovechkin was listed as week to week and placed on injured reserve. “Everyone’s bummed out,” said winger Tom Wilson, who has played with Ovechkin since 2013. “We were sitting there saying: ‘This is weird. Like, it’s unbelievable that he’s actually hurt.’ It’s one of those things where like, he’s going to miss games? I’ve been around a long time, and it’s new to me.” Ovechkin in his first 19 seasons missed 59 games — and just 35 because of injury. Durability even while throwing his body around with his physical style is a big reason he is on track to pass Gretzky’s mark of 894 goals that once looked unapproachable. “He doesn’t go out there and just coast around,” Wilson said. “He’s played 20 years every shift running over guys and skating. He’s a power forward, the best goal-scorer ever maybe, and he’s a power forward that plays the game really hard.” Ovechkin surged to the top of the league with 15 goals in his first 18 games this season. He was on pace to break the record and score No. 895 sometime in February. “You know when goal-scorers start scoring, it’s dangerous,” said defenseman John Carlson, who has been teammates with Ovechkin since 2009-10. “There was a bit of that in the downs that everyone was feeling about it too, of course. We see him coming to the rink every day, we know what’s at stake. You never want anyone to get injured, but there’s a lot to it and certainly he was playing his best hockey in years.” ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl Stephen Whyno, The Associated PressCampaigners called for voters to be given a say over who replaces Senedd politicians booted out of office for bad behaviour under a proposed system of recall. Jessica Blair, director of the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) Cymru, supported calls for a recall system to allow voters to remove misbehaving politicians between elections. But Ms Blair said voters should have a say over the replacement, warning an element of personal accountability will be lost with the Senedd’s new “closed-list” electoral system. From 2026, people will vote for parties rather than individuals as Wales ditches first past the post in favour of a full form of proportional representation, with no by-elections being held. Ms Blair said: “This idea of replacing someone with the next person on the list, it could be ... from the voters’ perspective ... seen as a party being rewarded for bad behaviour.” Giving evidence to the Senedd’s standards committee, she added: “This shouldn’t be necessarily about parties keeping control, it should be about voters having their say.” Labour’s Mick Antoniw pointed out it is the person, not the party, that has transgressed. But Ms Blair said: “That could also reflect badly on the party or the way a party’s handled it, so I don't think it's necessarily as clear cut, as this is one person’s actions.” She told the committee that three of the four UK Parliament by-elections triggered by recall petitions since 2019 were won by a different party. She said: “Parties can be punished for an individual’s bad behaviour or it could be a reflection of changing political support post election. There doesn’t seem to be a real case for retaining that party’s seat, especially three years after an election, for example.” The standards committee will make recommendations on how a recall mechanism should work in Wales as part of its inquiry on Senedd members’ accountability. Hannah Blythyn, who chairs the committee, asked witnesses whether the circumstances for recalling a Senedd member should be the same as Westminster. Ms Blair suggested the triggers – a custodial sentence of less than 12 months, a suspension of at least ten sitting days, or an expenses offence conviction – make a good starting point.

Malique Ewin finished with team highs of 17 points and seven rebounds to lead the Florida State Seminoles to a 92-59 victory over the Massachusetts Minutemen in each team's final game of the Naismith Hall of Fame Tip-Off on Sunday afternoon in Uncasville, Conn. The Seminoles (6-1) won their third consecutive game and went 2-0 in the event as they pulled away in the second half, leading by as many as 36 points. It's Florida State's best start since the 2019-20 season when it went 7-1. UMass (1-5) dropped its fifth in a row following a season-opening win over New Hampshire despite a strong game on Sunday from Jaylen Curry, who scored 17 points. Curry, with six free throws, helped propel the Minutemen on a 10-0 run over a four-plus minute span in the first half to take a 24-23 lead with 4:22 left. FSU closed the half on a 13-3 run to lead 37-27 at halftime. A 15-4 surge to open the second half helped the Seminoles break the game open. Florida State's defense frustrated UMass shooters throughout the contest, especially on the perimeter, limiting the Minutemen to 3-for-24 shooting (12.5 percent) from 3-point range and 18-for-58 (31 percent) overall. The Seminoles finished with 22 points off 17 UMass turnovers. On the flipside, Florida State had one of its best shooting games of the season. The Seminoles moved the ball well throughout the game and finished with 25 assists while only turning the ball over 10 times. The Seminoles shot 33 for 58 (57 percent) from the field and made 9 of 18 three-pointers to put together a season-high scoring output. Once again, Florida State shined thanks to its depth as 10 players scored and four scored in double figures. The Seminoles were able to have 16 players participate in the game as well. Jamir Watkins finished with 14 points while Jerry Deng and Justin Thomas each had 10 points. For UMass, Daniel Rivera finished with 12 points and six rebounds while Nate Guerengomba had 10 points. Daniel Hankins-Sanford collected a game-high 13 rebounds. --Field Level MediaVasko's 4 TDs power Coastal Carolina past Georgia State 48-27 to become bowl eligible

With little to do during the pandemic, Rutuja Warkad was scrolling through Instagram reels. Her attention lodged on to one reel that showed the process of transformation of a woman. Excited by an expectation of what was going to happen to her face, but at the same time anxious, the woman was beaming after three hours. The makeup had gone well and she was obviously very happy about it. And the person who brought that glowing happiness to her was the makeup artist. Professionally called MUA, the artist had a step-by-step approach. She was observing her client’s features, choosing those she wanted to highlight and those she wanted to downplay, and asking questions such as about her client’s skin type. Then the MUA used her training, knowledge and insight to choose products and the associated makeup processes that would work best. The result: a glowing, happy and beautiful face. Rutuja was hooked. She decided she was going to switch careers. A student of interior designing, Rutuja decided she was going to become a makeup artist -- and bring that glow of happiness on her clients’ face. Rutuja enrolled in a bridal makeup course at her native Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad). “I had not cleared a few subjects in interior designing and was anyway looking to find something that would pique my interest”, she said. It has been four years and as of today she has bridal makeup orders lined for the next three months. Her vanity worth ₹10 lakh boasts of high-end products from Armani, Gucci, YSL and more. Just like for most makeup artists, the beginning was not a piece of pancake for Rutuja. She did some courses in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar but her pace of learning was slow. The turning point was finding a mentor in Mudit Arora, based in Delhi, who has been in the industry for the last fourteen years. She calls him the encyclopedia of makeup. Changing face of the industry Mr. Arora calls the beauty industry the second most glamorous industry after Bollywood, which influences people’s choices. He says that earlier when salons were the one-stop destination for all the beauty needs like skin, hair, makeup, draping and so on, it wasn’t that respected a profession. “Now there are specialisations. There are nail specialists, draping specialists, hair stylists, and so on. There is a draper who charges around a lakh for draping a saree. These kinds of specialisations have resulted in a change of perception towards the profession to a more positive note”, he said. With 1.4 billion people, India is the 4th largest beauty market in the world, and it is expected to grow 40% by 2026, industry executives said at Cosmoprof India, a B2B expo for beauty products held at Jio Convention Centre in Mumbai. The Indian cosmetics products market size is estimated at $1.35 billion in 2023. It is projected to reach $2.27 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 10.91% during the forecast period (2023-2028). This growing market is a bane as well as a boon to upcoming makeup artists. Mr. Arora says to make it to the top in this industry, one has to constantly upgrade one’s skills. His everyday routine is a balance of teaching and learning. He says it is very important to find the right tutor. Mr. Arora says that the industry is moving towards an imbalance of demand and supply. “It is not that difficult to become a makeup artist. A lot of people are turning to it now. The industry is on a verge of saturation and that makes pricing tricky. Doing really good work and selling that art is the only way to survive”, he said. How she began Rutuja says initially she did a lot of makeovers for free. She travelled to villages around her city during the wedding season and did bridal makeup for free. She also found models to practice and hone her skills, built a portfolio, and publicised it on social media. Rutuja built a client base through her mother’s friends circle, whom she initially charged ₹300 per makeup. “Nobody was ready to pay me at the time, but I didn’t lose my spirit”, she said. Today her signature makeup look costs ₹25,000. She also does other looks between the range of ₹15,000 to ₹21,000. She still travels to places like Kolhapur, Gangapur, and Pune, and is building a client base across cities. She is now internationally certified by Shari Kramer, a Germany-based Hair and Make-up Artist, who works internationally for Beauty Campaigns, Commercial and Events. She says buying products was a challenge initially when she wasn’t getting any returns. Chitra Shetty, a vendor, helped her out by making payments more flexible. “I would be nothing without my weapons”, says Rutuja, pointing at her vanity. To anyone beginning their journey, Rutuja says it is extremely important to be patient. “People manage to find the money to invest in courses and products. That is not the greatest challenge. The real challenge is building a client base. We need to constantly do good work, find clients who love that work, and put it out there for others to see”, she said. Published - December 28, 2024 11:16 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit educationSanctuary Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Marriott Vacations Worldwide Co. ( NYSE:VAC – Free Report ) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund bought 4,731 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $348,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new stake in Marriott Vacations Worldwide during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Quarry LP increased its position in shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 368.4% during the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 445 shares of the company’s stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 350 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide during the third quarter worth $39,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 128.0% in the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 652 shares of the company’s stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 366 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 6,881.3% in the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,117 shares of the company’s stock valued at $82,000 after purchasing an additional 1,101 shares during the period. 89.52% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Marriott Vacations Worldwide Price Performance VAC stock opened at $90.63 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 3.53, a quick ratio of 2.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.19. The company has a market capitalization of $3.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.26, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.84. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $89.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of $82.32. Marriott Vacations Worldwide Co. has a twelve month low of $67.28 and a twelve month high of $108.57. Marriott Vacations Worldwide Increases Dividend Wall Street Analyst Weigh In VAC has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Barclays upgraded shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $97.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $102.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Mizuho increased their target price on Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $110.00 to $117.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. StockNews.com upgraded Marriott Vacations Worldwide from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $70.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $106.22. View Our Latest Analysis on VAC About Marriott Vacations Worldwide ( Free Report ) Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, a vacation company, develops, markets, sells, and manages vacation ownership and related businesses, products, and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Vacation Ownership and Exchange & Third-Party Management. Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Marriott Vacations Worldwide Financial Services Stocks Investing S&P 500 ETFs: Expense Ratios That Can Boost Your Long-Term Gains What is the S&P 500 and How It is Distinct from Other Indexes How AI Implementation Could Help MongoDB Roar Back in 2025 Bank Stocks – Best Bank Stocks to Invest In Hedge Funds Boost Oil Positions: Is a Major Rally on the Horizon? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Marriott Vacations Worldwide Co. ( NYSE:VAC – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Marriott Vacations Worldwide Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Marriott Vacations Worldwide and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

West Ham survive nervy affair to beat Wolves but Julen Lopetegui decision remains unclear

Willie Clemons scored in English non-league side Felixstowe & Walton’s 3-0 win at home to Mildenhall Town in the Isthmian League North Division today [November 30]. The Bermuda midfielder, who joined Felixstowe & Walton’s at the start of the season, scored a thunderbolt from distance at the end of the first half. Felixstowe & Walton are second in the table with 38 points from ten games. : ,Knight stops 20 shots, Florida rolls past Carolina 6-0 for 2nd win over 'Canes in as many days

The Dodgers will add the two-time Cy Young Award winner to a starting rotation filled with health issuesPepe (PEPE), the frog-based meme coin that currently sits as the third-largest crypto in the meme coin sector, recently saw a major price surge that pumped its value 28% in the last seven days. PEPE Price Surges After Major New Exchange Listings The project saw its price skyrocket to a new all-time high at $0.00002748 before correcting to $0.00002455 following Bitcoin’s price decline, which took the coin under $100k once again. However, thanks to the support at $0.0000250, PEPE managed to recover quickly and is now seeing its price surging again, likely aiming to re-test the resistance at $0.000027, which previously rejected it. Given the token’s potential, many believe that this is the best crypto to buy for 2025, which is when PEPE could see a much higher surge and explore new, uncharted territory. Many are convinced this will be the case thanks to the project’s recent listings on Binance.US and Coinbase — two of the largest, most dominant exchanges in the US, which will now make PEPE a lot more available and boost the popular meme coin’s exposure. Some have even speculated that the token could continue to rise and overcome Shiba Inu, currently the second-largest meme coin by market cap. If this does end up happening during the expected price surge, which is likely to start early next year, then Pepe could truly be one of the best cryptos to buy for 2025. However, it is worth noting that Pepe will also get some challengers in the near future, which have much more sophisticated technology. One is Pepe Unchained, which recently managed to sell off its ICO, raising over $73 million along the way, and becoming the 15th-biggest ICO ever, at least so far. Another is a brand new Pepe alternative known as Wall Street Pepe (WEPE) , which launched its ICO only days ago. BUY WEPE AND GAIN ACCESS TO UNIQUE BENEFITS AND HIGH REWARDS Wall Street Pepe Aims To Look After The “Little Guy” In Crypto Wall Street Pepe is a brand new meme coin presale that has only been around for a few days. However, it immediately blew up thanks to the popularity of the Pepe meme and its promise to take care of the “little guys” — regular people trying to make some gains in the crypto industry. The project claims that it has a strong dislike for whales, who are hiding in insider groups where they get access to the best strategies, hot tips, and other advantages that they jealously keep from others who are not a part of their club. So, to balance things out, WEPE created its own insider group, and all anyone needs to do to become a member is buy its token. In exchange, they will get access to a number of benefits, such as exclusive trading insights, regular updates on top meme coin picks, strategies, signals, “big brain calls,” access to an exclusive community, trading rewards, staking rewards, and possibly more down the line. BUY WEPE NOW AND JOIN THE GROWING WEPE ARMY With the market being full of those who are tired of losing to the whales, to market manipulation, rug pulling, and poor trading decisions, many have rushed to join the project’s ICO, allowing it to raise over $3.3 million in a matter of days, all while selling WEPE for only $0.000207 apiece. You can join the project’s presale, too, and buy WEPE with crypto or card, and join its insider group where you will get access to all the same benefits as everyone else.

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This company will participate in the 9th World Oil and Gas Equipment Exhibition WOGE2024The World Health Organization’s director-general said airstrikes on Yemen’s main airport occurred as he was about to board a flight in the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport as well as power stations and ports. One of the U.N. plane’s crew was wounded, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a post on X, but he and his WHO colleagues were safe. He said the strikes hit the airport's air traffic control tower, departure lounge and runway. Israel's strikes on Thursday follow several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel, and last week, Israeli jets bombed Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people. The Houthis have also been targeting shipping in the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel's bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. The Hamas-led militant attack on Israel in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people. Around 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza , although only two-thirds are believed to still be alive. Here’s the latest: UNITED NATIONS — The head of the U.N. health agency says he and his team were about to board a flight in Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa when the airport came under aerial bombardment. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the airport as well as power stations and ports in Houthi-controlled areas. “The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters (yards) from where we were — and the runway were damaged,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X. He said one of the U.N. plane’s crew was injured but he and his WHO colleagues were safe. “We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave.” Tedros said the U.N. team was in Yemen to negotiate the release of U.N. staff detained by the Houthis and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in the country, which faces one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. JERUSALEM — Houthi rebels in Yemen said Israeli airstrikes on Thursday targeted the rebel-held capital of Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida, following several days of Houthi launches that set off air-raid sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports at Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib along with power stations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech on Wednesday that “the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad’s regime and others learned.” The Iran-backed Houthis’ media outlet reported the strikes in a Telegram post, but gave no immediate details. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. The United Nations has noted that the ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in Tel Aviv . Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. QAMISHLI, Syria — Thousands of people in northeastern Syria attended a funeral Thursday for six fighters from a Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed force who were killed in ongoing clashes with Turkish-backed militias. The Turkish-backed groups are launching attacks to take the Arab cities west of the Euphrates River that are under the control of the Kurdish group . The Turkish-supported groups helped overthrow Bashar al-Assad’s rule of Syria, and have since kept pushing eastward against the Kurdish groups. “We thought that Syria today has entered a new stage after the fall and escape of Assad. We thought that we got rid of all of this, but this attack on us changed everything and those who came in are taking orders from Turkey,” said Nihayet Hassan, the uncle of a killed fighter. The fighters were killed during attacks on Tishreen Dam near the strategic city of Manbij in recent days. The bodies were returned to the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria where the U.S.-backed group, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, has a strong presence. Ankara sees the SDF as an affiliate of its sworn enemy, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which Turkey classifies as a terrorist organization. Turkish-backed armed groups backed by Turkish jets have for years attacked positions where the SDF are present across northern Syria, in a bid to create a buffer zone free from the group along the Turkish border. “It is obvious that Turkey’s issue is with the Kurds. It is not about an organization, or the PKK, no, their target are the Kurds,” said Ahmad Ammo, a Qamishli resident who attended the funeral. The U.S. has about 2,000 soldiers in eastern Syria to help fight the Islamic State group and protect critical oil fields there. BEIRUT — The Lebanese military said Thursday that Israeli troops encroached on areas of southern Lebanon, violating a ceasefire agreement that ended the war between Israel and the Hezbollah group. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire that went into effect a month ago called for Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops to leave southern Lebanon over a 60-day period as Lebanese army soldiers gradually deploy in the country south of the Litani River. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the reported incident. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Israeli bulldozers are setting up dirt barricades that would close off the road between Wadi Slouqi and Wadi Hujeir. Lebanon’s military said it brought reinforcements into the areas entered by Israeli troops. NNA said the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, sent a patrol unit to an area near the southern town of Qantara where Israeli forces are present. UNIFIL in a statement expressed its “concern at continuing destruction by the IDF (Israeli military) in residential areas, agricultural land, and road networks in south Lebanon.” Lebanese army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun traveled to Saudi Arabia earlier Thursday as part of ongoing efforts by the cash-strapped military to find financial support to deploy in larger numbers. The Lebanese military and government have complained about Israeli strikes and overflights in the country to a new monitoring committee headed by the U.S. that also includes France. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight, the Health Ministry said Thursday. The Israeli army said it had targeted a group of militants. The strike hit a car outside the Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in the central part of the territory. The journalists were working for the local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. The military said it targeted a group of fighters from Islamic Jihad, a militant group allied with Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack into southern Israel ignited the war. Associated Press video showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings still visible on the back doors. The Committee to Protect Journalists says over 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. This post has been corrected to show that the name of the local news outlet is Al-Quds Today, not the Quds News Network. BEIJING — China has pledged two more shipments of humanitarian aid to Gaza, in an indication of support for the Palestinian Authority, state media reported Thursday. The agreement was overseen in Cairo by Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang and Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Diab al-Louh. “To ease the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, the Chinese government has continued to provide assistance to Palestine,” Liao was quoted as saying. The types and quantities of aid to be delivered via Egypt were not given, but China has previously shipped food and medicine to Gaza. China has longstanding ties with the Palestinian Authority but has also sought to strengthen economic and political relations with Israel. Al-Louh “voiced appreciation for China’s consistent and firm support for the just cause of the Palestinian people and for raising this issue on international occasions," state media said. UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday at Israel’s request to discuss recent attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Israel’s U.N. Mission said Wednesday the meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Monday. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said he expects the council will condemn the Houthi attacks. He urged the council “to enforce international law and hold Iran, the Houthis’ patron, accountable.” Alluding to Israeli retaliation for the attacks, Danon said ”It seems that the Houthis have not yet understood what happens to those who try to harm the state of Israel.”

It is with heavy hearts that the nation mourns the passing of one of its most respected leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh , who left us on a poignant Thursday morning. A luminary in Indian politics and an economic visionary, Dr. Singh’s journey came to an end at AIIMS, Delhi, where he had been receiving treatment for persistent health issues following multiple bypass surgeries. Born on September 26, 1932, Dr. Singh’s life was a testament to dedication and service, having served as the Prime Minister of India twice. Yet, beyond his tenure as Prime Minister, it is his unparalleled contribution to India’s economic transformation that people hold in the highest regard. Dr. Manmohan Singh is hailed as the father of economic liberalization and reforms in India. In a historical stride back in 1991, the very year he entered the Rajya Sabha on a Congress ticket, he introduced transformative economic policies that opened the country’s closed economy to the global market. As the Finance Minister, Dr. Singh took bold steps to dismantle decades-old barriers, ushering India into a new era of economic progress. This pivotal year not only redefined the Indian economy but also set a foundation for future growth. After serving as the Finance Minister until 1996, Dr. Singh faced electoral challenges, including a defeat in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections. Undeterred, his resilience led him to ascend as the 13th Prime Minister of India in 2004 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. He not only completed his term but went on to serve a second term from 2009 to 2014. His leadership, marked by steadfastness and a calm demeanor, saw India through critical times on the global stage. Also Read: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Passes Away At 92, Breathes His last In Delhi AIIMS Among his many accomplishments during his tenure, Dr. Singh’s efforts to eliminate the bureaucratic ‘Licence Raj’ stand out. He worked tirelessly to lower taxes and encourage foreign investments, spearheading an era often referred to as the golden phase of Indian economic growth. His collaboration with then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in 2004 brought about significant economic reforms that bolstered India’s global standing. India mourns the loss of a stalwart. Manmohan Singh’s legacy as a scholar-statesman and his unwavering commitment to economic revival will always inspire us. #RIPManmohanSingh #Legacy — India Live News (@indialivenews) December 26, 2024 Dr. Singh’s demeanor was often described as humble and soft-spoken, yet he carried an aura of wisdom and intellect that was acknowledged not just domestically but globally. He was more than just a politician; he was an academic, an economist, and above all, a servant of the people. His policies enabled millions of Indians to dream bigger and aspire to a better quality of life. As India reflects on the profound impact of Dr. Singh’s work, his legacy continues to inspire future generations to pursue economic progress blended with social justice. His vision and tenacity laid the groundwork for subsequent economic frameworks that have propelled India into the league of global economic players. Today, we don’t just mourn a leader; we celebrate the life of a man whose courage and austerity shaped an entire era of Indian policy-making. In his passing, the heart of India beats with gratitude and a promise to carry forward his invaluable contributions to the nation. Also Read: Manmohan Singh Death Live Updates: Tributes Pour In, PM Modi Mourns His Demise Written By Aditya MallickAs Tarrant County lawmakers prepare to kick off the Texas legislative session Jan. 14, Fort Worth Report journalists are exploring the policies set to be reshaped in Austin. Click here for more legislative coverage. Steve Montgomery, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, admits it was tempting to step in and take a more active role during the next legislative session. The veteran government affairs consultant knows the terrain well, having spent many years knocking on the doors of state senators and representatives under the watchful eye of the Goddess of Liberty statue. “It was tempting, but we’ve hired a great person , Delayne Hyatt, who has joined us as vice president for government affairs,” said Montgomery. Hyatt will spearhead the chamber’s advocacy efforts. Originally from Tarrant County, Hyatt comes to the chamber after several years in legislative director roles in Washington, D.C., where she worked with Texas congressmen Nathaniel Moran, R-Tyler, and Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands. Brady, as the former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. tax policy, which provided Hyatt with valuable experience in business community strategy and engagement, according to the chamber. “It’s an honor to be back in Fort Worth, advocating for the business community that makes this city thrive,” Hyatt said in a statement. “Businesses have pressing priorities, and tracking government action isn’t always at the top of the list. But it’s crucial for our members to have a voice early in the process to address policies that could negatively affect them — and to champion those that create positive change. I’m here to ensure FWC members are part of the conversation from the start.” Get essential daily news for the Fort Worth area. Sign up for insightful, in-depth stories — completely free. Montgomery said the chamber’s primary focus is to deal with any issues that have a direct connection to businesses. “Those are issues where it might typically be appropriate for the Fort Worth Chamber to take a position, though we may not always choose to do so,” Montgomery said. Typically, those issues will be core to businesses’ bottom line, such as taxes and regulations of major significance, he said. Another area of likely engagement for the chamber would be issues that create an environment for businesses to thrive and contribute to regional growth and opportunity. These issues include public and higher education, workforce development and transportation and infrastructure, Montgomery said. The chamber will also keep a watch on social issues with indirect impact on business. “These issues attract considerable public attention, but they seldom have a clearly identifiable connection to business or economic development,” he said. The chamber will also support efforts by the Legislature to increase healthcare coverage, access and quality, Montgomery said. “We support the ability of Texas businesses to determine appropriate healthcare coverage and access for their employees,” he said. At the moment, Montgomery said, he hasn’t seen any legislation or issues that the organization is raising a flag about, but he knows there will be concerns at some point. “We’ll oppose any proposals that we believe would directly harm our members, undermine our economic competitiveness or damage the state’s reputation as business friendly,” Montgomery said. The Fort Worth Report’s Texas legislative coverage is supported by Kelly Hart . At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here . Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org. Related Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism . Republish This Story Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License . Look for the "Republish This Story" button underneath each story. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS). Do not copy stories straight from the front-end of our web-site. You are required to follow the guidelines and use the republication tool when you share our content. The republication tool generates the appropriate html code. You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you use our stories in any other medium — for example, newsletters or other email campaigns — you must make it clear that the stories are from the Fort Worth Report. In all emails, link directly to the story at fortworthreport.org and not to your website. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. You have to credit Fort Worth Report. Please use “Author Name, Fort Worth Report” in the byline. If you’re not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: “This story was originally published by Fort Worth Report” and include our website, fortworthreport.org . You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. by Bob Francis, Fort Worth Report December 26, 2024

Gretchen McKay | (TNS) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Beans are kind of like the your best friend from high school — nearly forgotten but always ready to step back into the limelight and help out an old pal when needed. As gorgeously (and tantalizingly) demonstrated in Rancho Gordo’s new cookbook, “The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans” (Ten Speed, $35), beans are indeed a magical fruit, though not in the way you heard as a kid. Classified as both a vegetable and a plant-based protein in the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, beans and other legumes can be the ingredient you build an entire vegetarian or veggie-forward meal around. Or, they can help an economical cook stretch a dish twice as far with nutritious calories. A healthful and shelf-staple plant food — they last for years when dried — beans have been among a home cook’s most reliable pantry items for a very long time. (Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are thought to have been grown in Mexico more than 7,000 years ago.) That’s why, for some, they’re often something of an afterthought, especially if the only time you ate them as a kid was when your mom tossed kidney beans into a pot of beef chili or made baked beans (with brown sugar and bacon, please!) for a family cookout. Related Articles Restaurants Food and Drink | 5 budget-friendly Thanksgiving dinner ideas Restaurants Food and Drink | Dine in Gingerbread Chalet at Ritz-Carlton Cleveland for holidays Restaurants Food and Drink | The future of Thanksgiving is takeout and hosts couldn’t be happier Restaurants Food and Drink | A starry Thanksgiving: Recipes beloved by Donna Kelce, Eric Stonestreet, Taylor Swift Restaurants Food and Drink | Pie crust 101: How tos from longtime instructor Vegetarians have always appreciated their versatility and nutritional punch, and because they’re cheap, they also were quite popular during the Great Depression and World War II as C rations. Sales also peaked during the coronavirus pandemic, when shoppers stockpiled long-lasting pantry essentials. It wasn’t until Rancho Gordo, a California-based bean company, trotted out its branded packages of colorful heirloom beans that the plant began to take on cult status among some shoppers. Unlike the bean varieties commonly found in even the smallest grocery stores, heirloom beans are mostly forgotten varieties that were developed on a small scale for certain characteristics, with seeds from the best crops passed down through the generations. The result is beans that are fresher and more colorful than mass-produced beans, and come in different shapes and sizes. They also have a more complex and intense flavor, fans say. “The Bean Book” dishes up dozens of different ways to cook Rancho Gordo’s 50 heirloom bean varieties, which include red-streaked cranberry beans, mint-green flageolets, black and classic garbanzos and (my favorite) vaquero — which wear the same black-and-white spots as a Holstein cow. Other gotta-try varieties (if just for the name) include eye of the goat, European Soldier, Jacob’s Cattle and Good Mother Stallard, a purple bean with cream-colored flecks. “The very good news is that you have to work extra hard to mess up a pot of beans, and it’s not difficult to make an excellent pot,” Steve Sando writes in the book’s foreword. “The even better news is that you become a better cook with each pot you make.” Not convinced? Here are five reasons to jump on the bean bandwagon: Even the smallest grocery store will have a selection of dried and canned beans. Common varieties include black, cannellini (white kidney), Great Northern, pinto, navy, kidney, Lima and garbanzo (chickpea) beans. Even when they’re not on sale, beans are a bargain at the supermarket. Many varieties cost less than $1 a can, and dried beans are an economical way to build a menu. I paid $1.25 for a one-pound bag of cranberry beans, a smooth and velvety bean with a slightly nutty flavor, at my local grocery store. Rancho Gordo’s heirloom beans cost substantially more. (They run $6.25-$7.50 for a one-pound bag, with free shipping on orders over $50.) But they are sold within a year of harvest, which makes them more flavorful and tender. A bag also comes with cooking instructions and recipe suggestions, and the quality is outstanding. Plus, after cooking their beans with aromatics, “you are left with essentially free soup,” Sando writes in the cookbook. “If you drain properly cooked and seasoned beans, the liquid you are left with is delicious.” Beans are a great source of plant-based protein and both soluble and insoluble fiber, and they include essential minerals like iron, magnesium and potassium. If you’re watching your weight or following a particular diet, beans are naturally free of fat, sodium and cholesterol and are rich in complex carbohydrates. They also contain antioxidants and folate. And if you’re vegan or vegetarian, most types of dry beans are rich sources of iron. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating 1-3 cups of legumes, including beans, per week Dry beans have to be soaked overnight, but cooking them is easy. They can be cooked on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, in the pressure cooker and in the oven. Canned beans are even easier — just rinse and drain, and they’re ready to go. Beans can be used in so many different dishes. They can be made into soup, salad or dips, top nachos, add some heft to a casserole or be mashed into the makings of a veggie burger. You also can add them to brownies and other baked goods, toss them with pasta, add them to chili or a rice bowl or stuff them into a taco or burrito. Check out these four recipes: PG tested This light and creamy vegetarian soup benefits from a surprising garnish, roasted shiitake mushrooms, which taste exactly like bacon. For soup 1/4 cup olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 1 medium carrot, scrubbed and chopped 6 garlic cloves, finely grated or pressed 2 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more for garnish 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 4 cups vegetable broth 2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed For bacon 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, caps cut into 1/8 -inch slices 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt To finish Plant-based milk Chili oil, for drizzling Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make soup: In large pot, heat oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Add onion, celery, carrot, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are fragrant and tender, 8-10 minutes. Add vegetable stock and beans, increase heat to high and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until thickened, 12-14 minutes. Meanwhile, make the bacon: Spread shiitake mushrooms into a single layer on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Bake until browned and crispy, 18-20 minutes, rotating pan front to back and tossing mushrooms with a spatula halfway through. Let cool in pan; mushrooms will continue to crisp as they cool. To finish, add some milk to the soup and use an immersion blender to puree it in the pot, or puree in a blender. (Cover lid with a clean kitchen towel.) Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Divide soup among bowls and top with shiitake bacon. Garnish with thyme sprigs and a drizzle of chili oil. Serves 4-6. — “Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking” by Joe Yonan PG tested Velvety cranberry beans simmered with tomato and the punch of red wine vinegar are a perfect match for a soft bed of cheesy polenta. This is a filling, stick-to-your-ribs dish perfect for fall. 1/4 cup olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups canned chopped tomatoes, juice reserved 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth 4 fresh sage leaves Salt and pepper 4 cups cooked Lamon or cranberry beans 2 cups uncooked polenta 6 ounces pancetta, diced Chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving In large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and red wine vinegar. In a small bowl, dissolve tomato paste in the broth and add to pan. Stir in sage and season with salt and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened, 15-20 minutes. Add beans to tomato sauce. Cook, stirring frequently, until heated through, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare polenta according to package instructions. Place pancetta in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the pancetta is brown and crisp, about 15 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pancetta to a paper towel to drain. To serve, spoon polenta into serving dishes. Ladle the beans over the polenta and top with the pancetta. Garnish with fresh basil and serve with grated Parmesan. Serves 6. — “The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans” by Steve Sando PG tested Beans and seafood might seen like an unusual pairing, but in this recipe, mild white beans take on a lot of flavor from clams. Spanish chorizo adds a nice contrast. 4 cups cooked white beans, bean broth reserved 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 white onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1/2 cup finely chopped Spanish-style cured chorizo 2 plum tomatoes, chopped 1/2 cup dry white wine 2 pounds small clams, scrubbed well Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish Country-style bread and butter, for serving In large pot, heat beans in their broth over medium-low heat. In large lidded saucepan, warm olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onion, garlic and salt and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add chorizo and cook gently until some of the fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and wine and cook to allow the flavors to mingle, 5-6 minutes. Increase heat to medium and add clams. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally. Uncover the pan and cook until all of the clams open, another few minutes. Remove pan from heat, then remove and discard any clams that failed to open. Add clam mixture to the bean pot and stir very gently until well mixed. Simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to mingle but not get mushy. Ladle into large, shallow bowls and sprinkle with parsley. Set out a large bowl for discarded shells and encourage guests to eat with their fingers. Pass plenty of good bread and creamy butter at the table Serves 4-6. — “The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans, from the Rancho Gordo Kitchen” by Steve Sando with Julia Newberry PG tested So easy to pull together for your next party! 1 1/2 cups cooked cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Juice and zest of 1 lemon 1 small garlic clove, minced Generous pinch of salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 or 3 tablespoons water, if needed 2 fresh basil leaves, chopped, optional 1 sprig fresh rosemary, leaves chopped, optional In a food processor, pulse cannellini beans, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, salt and several grinds of pepper until combined. If it’s too thick, slowly add the water with the food processor running until it is smooth and creamy. Blend in the basil and/or rosemary, if using Serve with veggies, pita or bruschetta. Makes 1 1/2 cups — Gretchen McKay, Post-Gazette ©2024 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Sony continues to dominate console gaming and if nothing else 2024 showed that even in a relatively quiet year, PlayStation can just keep on trucking. We didn’t get a whole heap of exclusives, but the ones we got were meaningful additions to the publisher’s portfolio (except that one), and while the new hardware still feels a little superfluous, it sets up an exciting 2025 for the likes of Ghost of Yotei . The brand also celebrated its 30th Anniversary, with hardware variants and fan-favorite themes thanking players for their part in its journey - and with such a comfortable lead over Xbox, it feels it’ll continue ever onwards. Did we need the new hardware? The PS5 remains a very capable console that, while not as strong as the Xbox Series X on paper, certainly doesn’t feel like it needed a hardware revision - but that’s what we got. The PS5 Pro is a tougher sell than the PS4 Pro , though. That console promised 4K , which made sense at the time given the surge in 4K TV adoption. The PS5 Pro offers new graphical modes in some games, and while it’s largely been successful in finding a balance when having to choose between 4K resolution and 60fps fluidity, it’s really in developers’ hands now. On the one hand, that means the likes of Insomniac can get even more out of 2023’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 , but equally Bungie hasn’t released any PS5 Pro enhancements for Destiny 2 - despite being a Sony first-party studio now. More developers are adding PS5 Pro patches, but at such a high asking price, it makes it a tough sell right now. As games start to see upgrades and new releases like Monster Hunter Wilds arrive, expect adoption to pick up, but for now the PS5 Pro is a “nice to have” rather than a “must have”. Sticking with hardware, PSVR 2 added some fresh features and PC compatibility, but it remains a niche product that feels like Sony has begun to move away from already. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. We also saw the release of the new PlayStation Pulse Elite headset, which we dubbed “the next evolution of official PS5 headsets” in our review. It’s pricey and hefty, but it offers fantastic sound quality and comes with a really interesting development in gaming headsets in the form of planar magnetic drivers. Finally, Sony celebrated its 30th Anniversary in style. Besides the nostalgic themes that cover PlayStation’s history from 1994 onward, the company released PS5 consoles, controllers, and a hardware bundle in the iconic grey of the PlayStation 1 - albeit in limited numbers which have proved incredibly popular and hard to get hold of, selling out each time stock appeared. An unlikely hero On the first-party side of things, Sony’s games-as-a-service push saw polarized fortunes (more on that shortly), while the company tied up deals for the likes of Stellar Blade , Rise of the Ronin , and Black Myth: Wukong - all of which were great games, if not system sellers by themselves. That put pressure on first-party exclusives to deliver, and while it’d be fair to say Lego Horizon Adventures is fun enough and the Until Dawn Remake still feels somewhat unwarranted, Astro Bot handily offered some of the most fun you can have on PS5. The little robot has grown from starring in tech demos to becoming a bona fide PlayStation mascot in a world where those things don’t seem to exist as much, offering a fantastic, imaginative platformer that’s right up there with Nintendo’s best. Sure, it’s not a genre that sees much love on the system (or on Xbox, for that matter), but if Sony has finally realized the power the diminutive droid has, we could be seeing a lot more of him. Especially after Astro Bot took home Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024 . Games as a service stumbles Has a publisher ever had two titles with such conflicting responses in the same year before, released within similar genres? Helldivers 2 caught many off guard in the best way. A sleeper hit that spread like wildfire through word of mouth, the fascism-lampooning PvE shooter became that rare title that captured the imagination of players worldwide as they dropped, dropped, and dropped again on console and PC. And, while Sony almost killed its golden goose by shifting the goalposts as far as PSN account requirements for PC play were concerned, it proved Sony’s shift to live-service titles wasn’t as foolhardy as some have suspected... at least for a few months. Concord demonstrated the other side of the coin. A game seemingly developed in a vacuum, it launched in August following a tepid reception to its beta, with promises of weekly story content and excruciatingly detailed cutscenes for players willing to log in. Then, after just two weeks, Sony pulled the plug on the entire game and proceeded to shutter developer Firewalk Studios in October. It casts doubts on titles like FairGame$ and Marathon , the latter of which comes from Bungie which laid off over 200 employees in August - despite Destiny 2 ’s latest expansion, The Final Shape , being a critical success. Elsewhere, with The Last Of Us ’ multiplayer title being canceled, we didn't know what flagship studio Naughty Dog was up to until The Game Awards on December 12th . Days Gone ’s Bend Studio has been quiet for some time, while Bluepoint’s next project, remake or otherwise, is still unknown. Perhaps most exciting is the future of Insomniac and Housemarque. While the former’s Marvel’s Wolverine game is surely getting closer to a full reveal, the latter has been quiet since 2021’s excellent Returnal - here’s hoping we hear more from each in due course. Sony’s year has been relatively quiet, but its new hardware sets up an exciting 2025. Still, its commitment to live-service titles feels like it’ll be under further scrutiny - for every Helldivers 2 , there is likely to be more than one Concord , and it remains to be seen whether the publisher will stay the course set by outgoing CEO Jim Ryan. The best PS5 games to play right now The best PS4 games to go for if you're still rocking the last-gen PlayStation PS5 Pro vs PS5 : comparing specs, design, dimensions, features, and more

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New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders across the political spectrum mourned the demise of former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday night. Singh, 92, passed away at AIIMS, New Delhi. The former PM died of age-related medical conditions, the AIIMS said in a statement. Apart from Murmu and Modi, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy, Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin, and NC leader Omar Abdullah were among those who paid tributes to Singh Union ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Dharmendra Pradhan, RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha, Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Congress leader Sachin Pilot also expressed their condolences to the bereaved. “Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Ji was one of those rare politicians who also straddled the worlds of academia and administration with equal ease. In his various roles in public offices, he made critical contributions to reforming Indian economy. He will always be remembered for his service to the nation, his unblemished political life and his utmost humility,” Murmu posted on ‘X’. PM Modi recollected his interactions with Singh. “Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji and I interacted regularly when he was PM and I was the CM of Gujarat. We would have extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance. His wisdom and humility were always visible,” he posted on ‘X’. “In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the family of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, his friends and countless admirers. Om Shanti.” The PM also shared pictures of him with Singh from over the years. Kharge was poignant in his message as he paid tribute to his senior party colleague. “Undoubtedly, history shall judge you kindly, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji! With the passing of the Former Prime Minister, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. His policy of Economic Liberalisation and Rights-based welfare paradigm profoundly transformed the lives of crores of Indians, virtually creating a Middle Class in India and lifting crores out of poverty,” he posted on ‘X’. “I mourn the loss of a lifelong senior colleague, a gentle intellectual and a humble soul who embodied the aspirations of India, having risen through the ranks with unwavering dedication,” Kharge posted. In his message, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that he had “lost a mentor and guide”. “Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” he wrote on ‘X’. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );AP News Summary at 1:00 p.m. EST

ALTOONA, Pa. — After UnitedHealthcare’s CEO was gunned down on a New York sidewalk, police searched for the masked gunman with dogs, drones and scuba divers. Officers used the city's muscular surveillance system. Investigators analyzed DNA samples, fingerprints and internet addresses. Police went door-to-door looking for witnesses. When an arrest came five days later, those sprawling investigative efforts shared credit with an alert civilian's instincts. A Pennsylvania McDonald's customer noticed another patron who resembled the man in the oblique security-camera photos that New York police had publicized. Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family, was arrested Monday in the killing of Brian Thompson, who headed one of the United States’ largest medical insurance companies. He remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. By late evening, prosecutors in Manhattan had added a charge of murder, according to an online court docket. He's expected to be extradited to New York eventually. It’s unclear whether Mangione has an attorney who can comment on the allegations. Asked at Monday's arraignment whether he needed a public defender, Mangione asked whether he could “answer that at a future date.” Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after the McDonald's customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said. Police in Altoona, about 233 miles (375 kilometers) west of New York City, were soon summoned. They arrived to find Mangione sitting at a table in the back of the restaurant, wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop, according to a Pennsylvania police criminal complaint. He initially gave them a fake ID, but when an officer asked Mangione whether he’d been to New York recently, he “became quiet and started to shake,” the complaint says. When he pulled his mask down at officers' request, “we knew that was our guy,” rookie Officer Tyler Frye said at a news conference in Hollidaysburg. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a Manhattan news conference that Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione also had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America." A law enforcement official who wasn’t authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone. “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone,” the document said, according to the official. It also had a line that said, “I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” Pennsylvania prosecutor Peter Weeks said in court that Mangione was found with a passport and $10,000 in cash — $2,000 of it in foreign currency. Mangione disputed the amount. Thompson, 50, was killed last Wednesday as he walked alone to a midtown Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. Police quickly came to see the shooting as a targeted attack by a gunman who appeared to wait for Thompson, came up behind him and fired a 9 mm pistol. Investigators have said “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on ammunition found near Thompson’s body. The words mimic a phrase used to criticize the insurance industry. From surveillance video, New York investigators gathered that the shooter fled by bike into Central Park, emerged, then took a taxi to a northern Manhattan bus terminal. Once in Pennsylvania, he went from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, “trying to stay low-profile” by avoiding cameras, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said. A grandson of a wealthy, self-made real estate developer and philanthropist, Mangione is a cousin of a current Maryland state legislator. Mangione was valedictorian at his elite Baltimore prep school, where his 2016 graduation speech lauded his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” He went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Luigi Nicholas Mangione worked for a time for the car-buying website TrueCar and left in 2023, CEO Jantoon Reigersman said by email. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of Honolulu tourist mecca Waikiki. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. "There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back," Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. Although the gunman obscured his face during the shooting, he left a trail of evidence in New York, including a backpack he ditched in Central Park, a cellphone found in a pedestrian plaza, a water bottle and a protein bar wrapper. In the days after the shooting, the NYPD collected hundreds of hours of surveillance video and released multiple clips and still images in hopes of enlisting the public’s eyes to help find a suspect. “This combination of old-school detective work and new-age technology is what led to this result today,” Tisch said at the New York news conference. ___IPSWICH: Ruben Amorim did not pull any punches after a disappointing start to his career in the Manchester United dugout on Sunday, admitting the troubled club will “suffer for a long time”. If that is not what frustrated fans want to hear, the evidence from the underwhelming 1-1 draw at lowly Ipswich was stark. The visitors got off to a dream start when Marcus Rashford scored from close-range in the second minute after a fine run from makeshift wing-back Amad Diallo. But United quickly went off the boil, looking ponderous in attack and uncertain at the back, with Omari Hutchinson giving third-bottom Ipswich a deserved equalizer at the end of the first half. Neither team could find a winner after the break. “We are going to suffer for a long period, and we will try to win games,” Amorim told his post-match press conference, seeking to temper expectations. “This will take time, but I know we have to win games. We could have won, we could have lost if it were not for (goalkeeper Andre) Onana. “We have to understand that and think and be pragmatic that these guys had two days to train and to change so much.” United, languishing in 12th place in the Premier League, are already 15 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after 12 games and six points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal. Fanfare Amorim arrived in Manchester earlier this month to much fanfare after replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag. He is touted as one of the most exciting young coaches in Europe after winning two Portuguese titles with Sporting Lisbon. Amorim is the club’s sixth permanent managerial appointment since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after leading to United to a 20th English title. And at 39, he is the youngest United boss since Wilf McGuinness followed Matt Busby in 1969. But, for all the hype around Amorim, United’s flat performance in blustery conditions at Portman Road showed the scale of the task he has to take them back into the Premier League’s elite. In mitigation, Amorim had just days to work with his full squad after the international break. And he pleaded for patience as he gets down to business. “It’s hard to expect anything now,” he said. “It’s not a surprise, but you have to see it in-game. “So that’s why I was a little bit anxious, because you cannot understand what will happen in the game. “I felt that. I felt that they were trying, they were thinking too much during the game, and that is normal.” United next face Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt at home in the Europa League on Thursday - which will be his first taste of a match at Old Trafford. Amorim said he would have to find a way to train his players alongside a cascade of matches both domestically and in Europe over the coming months. “With this schedule, we need to rotate the team,” he said. “So we’ll try to use that to train, to improve the team, and to win matches. “So that’s the point. Without time, we have to find the time.” I think this is the only way.” He admitted it would take time for the players to get used to the specific demands of his 3-4-3 formation, but said they had to take risks now to ensure long-term prosperity. “Next year in the same stage we’ll be here with the same problems,” Amorim said. “Or we start now, we risk a little bit, we suffer a little bit and in the next year we will be better at this point. So we have to risk it a little bit.”- AFP

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MILWAUKEE — The annual turkey giveaway at Gee's Clippers continued Saturday afternoon, ensuring families had access to the centerpiece of a Thanksgiving dinner. Music filled the space while guests played games, got haircuts and, most importantly, left with a free turkey. Check out: Gee's Clippers turkey giveaway helped feed hundreds for Thanksgiving Gee Smith partnered with Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham and non-profits Helping All Mankind and Urban Youth Development to pass out nearly 300 turkeys. The tradition has gone on for about 25 years. It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device. Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tipPM Shehbaz tasks newly-formed panel with PPP-PML-N 'fence-mending'

iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEUR) Shares Sold by JPMorgan Chase & Co.NEW YORK , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to: AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV)'s merger with BlueHalo LLC. Per the terms of the proposed transaction, AeroVironment will issue approximately 18.5 million shares of AeroVironment common stock to BlueHalo. Upon closing of the proposed transaction, AeroVironment shareholders will own approximately 60.5% of the combined company. If you are an AeroVironment shareholder, click here to learn more about your legal rights and options . Innovid Corp. (NYSE: CTV)'s sale to Mediaocean for $3.15 per share. If you are an Innovid shareholder, click here to learn more about your legal rights and options . Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. (NYSE: AE)'s sale to an affiliate of Tres Energy LLC for $38.00 per share in cash. If you are an Adams shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ: PLL)'s merger with Sayona Mining Limited. If you are a Piedmont shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . Halper Sadeh LLC may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits on behalf of shareholders. We would handle the action on a contingent fee basis, whereby you would not be responsible for out-of-pocket payment of our legal fees or expenses. Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options. Please call Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or email sadeh@halpersadeh.com or zhalper@halpersadeh.com . Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Halper Sadeh LLC Daniel Sadeh, Esq. Zachary Halper, Esq. One World Trade Center 85th Floor New York, NY 10007 (212) 763-0060 sadeh@halpersadeh.com zhalper@halpersadeh.com https://www.halpersadeh.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-investigation-halper-sadeh-llc-investigates-avav-ctv-ae-pll-on-behalf-of-shareholders-302314337.html SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP

By the end of 2024, even many opposition groups did not anticipate that they would be able to capture Syria's capital, Damascus. This unexpected political shift in Syria is seen by many observers as a "black swan" event. Over the past year, Syria's economy has worsened, political and diplomatic breakthroughs have proven elusive and the country has endured multiple rounds of conflicts. Despite the apparent calm in Damascus at the year's end, underlying tensions persist. Economic turmoil amid ongoing conflicts In December 2023, the Syrian People's Assembly approved the national budget for 2024, slashing the government's budget from $5.52 billion the previous year, to $3.1 billion. This sharp reduction reflects the severe economic difficulties faced by the country. Agriculture and livestock, crucial sectors of Syria's economy, are among the hardest hit in 2024. Years of war have left much of Syria's agricultural infrastructure unusable, and combined with drought, water shortages, rising fuel costs and reduced government subsidies, the output of food crops and livestock has dramatically declined this year. According to the UN and World Food Program, 3 million people in Syria now face severe food insecurity, with 12.4 million at risk of falling into food insecurity. Many in Damascus cannot afford basic living expenses. Prices for everyday essentials have risen by 80 percent compared to 2023, while the Syrian pound has continued to devalue. With the government's minimum wage barely covering a fifth of a family's basic food needs, some are forced to eat just one meal a day. Western sanctions persist Syria saw a glimmer of hope for diplomatic breakthroughs in 2023, when Bashar al-Assad attended the Arab League summit. In January 2024, several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, sent diplomats back to Syria, and in July 2024, Italy became the first G7 nation to appoint an ambassador to Syria since the crisis began. However, Western nations, particularly the U.S., have maintained their long-standing stance toward Syria, with no relaxation of sanctions. In fact, the U.S. has continued to exploit Syria's resources. In May 2024, Assad attended the Arab League summit but did not deliver a speech. By November, at a special summit for Arab and Islamic leaders, Assad's remarks focused primarily on the Palestinian issue. Although he met with leaders from several countries, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, he failed to "break the ice" with Turkey or Qatar. Assad's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in July was one of the few diplomatic highlights of the year. Russia and Iran have been Assad's main supporters since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis, providing military aid and helping him regain control over much of the country. However, after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia shifted most of its military resources to Ukraine, and Iran was also consumed by the new wave of the Israel-Palestine conflict. During their meeting, Putin told Assad that the situation in the Middle East was likely to continue escalating and changing, saying, "This applies not only to Israel and Palestine but also to Syria." Sudden change in 12 Days On October 1, 2024, Israel launched a "limited ground military operation" against Lebanon, causing many Syrians who had sought refuge in Lebanon to return home. On November 27, following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, opposition groups, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched an offensive from Syria's northwest Idlib Province. Within days, they captured Syria's largest city, Aleppo, and quickly moved south, eventually taking Damascus on December 8. Assad fled to Moscow on a Russian military plane. This was not the first time Syria had faced war in 2024. Following the Israel-Palestine conflict, Israel, fearing Iranian arms transfers to Hezbollah via Syria, conducted over 170 raids in Syria from January to October 2024, including more than 150 air strikes. After the political shift in Syria, Israel escalated air strikes against Syrian military targets, destroying much infrastructure and sinking Syrian warships docked in Latakia. Syria is facing threats from more than one country. While the Israeli Defense Forces occupied the buffer zone between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights and announced the expansion of settlements on the Golan Heights, Turkey also launched air strikes on Kurdish forces within Syria. Syrian armed groups supported by Turkey seized the border city of Manbij from the Kurdish forces. Syria is not only a battleground for regional powers like Israel and Turkey but also attracts attention from global powers like the U.S., which currently has around 900 troops stationed in Syria. Following the opposition's capture of Damascus and the announcement of a "transitional government," the U.S. sent a delegation to meet with the leader Ahmad al-Shara and lifted a $10 million bounty on him. Prior to this, the U.S., UK and EU had considered the HTS as a terrorist group, but this gesture indicates a desire to safeguard U.S. interests in Syria despite the political upheaval. Syria's 2024 reflects the turmoil the country has faced for the past decade. On December 24, Syria's "transitional government" announced an agreement to integrate all armed factions under its Ministry of Defense. However, just two days later, an attack on its Interior Ministry personnel in Tartus province resulted in 14 deaths and 10 injuries. Syria's 2024 mirrors its ancient history – a land once ruled by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Persians, Assyrians, Romans, Arabs, Ottoman Turks and the French. Each left behind a rich cultural heritage, but also repeated conflicts that turned the region into a battleground. As European and American representatives arrive in Syria, there is little mention of concrete plans for post-war reconstruction. Syria's 2024 also serves as a serious reminder. For any country, political security and regime stability are fundamental. For any government, only by continuously developing the economy, improving people's livelihoods, combating corruption and maintaining stability can it thrive. Externally, it must always adhere to independence and avoid subservience to any hegemonic power, striving to be a positive force for peace. It must remain vigilant in times of peace, mindful of potential dangers and focus on managing and resolving significant risks to achieve long-term stability and support. Supervisor: Mu Li Producers: Li Chao, Wang Xuejing Reporter: Wang Weiwei

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Skating smiles as Jonas Brodin and Mats Zuccarello return to practiceHow Horizontal Splicing Box Solves Common Connectivity Challenges 12-23-2024 07:42 PM CET | Industry, Real Estate & Construction Press release from: ABNewswire A horizontal splicing box plays a crucial role in addressing network connectivity issues. This innovative solution ensures seamless connections by protecting and organizing fiber optic cables. You often encounter network connectivity issues at home or work, leading to frustration and productivity loss. In fact, 70% of consumers face connection problems with their home WiFi networks. Businesses also suffer from network disruptions, resulting in financial losses and reputation damage. By integrating a horizontal splicing box, you can effectively manage these challenges, ensuring reliable connectivity. The Fiber Optic Splice Closure, for instance, exemplifies how such solutions enhance network performance and stability. Key Takeaways * Horizontal splicing boxes protect and organize fiber optic cables, ensuring reliable network connectivity and minimizing disruptions. * Regular maintenance and inspection of cables can prevent packet loss and connectivity issues, enhancing overall network performance. * Proper installation of horizontal splicing boxes can improve network speed by reducing signal loss and maintaining stable connections. * These boxes are versatile and can be installed in various environments, making them suitable for both residential and commercial applications. * Using a high-capacity splicing box like Dowell's FOSC-H10-M can efficiently manage large-scale connectivity needs, accommodating up to 288 splicing points. * Dowell's commitment to quality and innovation ensures that their products meet high standards, providing reliable solutions for network connectivity challenges. * Incorporating horizontal splicing boxes into your network infrastructure can significantly enhance connectivity reliability and efficiency. Understanding Network Connectivity IssuesImage: https://www.fiberopticcn.com/uploads/145.jpg Network connectivity issues can disrupt your daily activities, whether at home or in a business setting. Understanding these issues helps you address them effectively and maintain a stable connection. Let's explore some common network connectivity issues and their causes. Common Causes of Network Interference Interference is a frequent culprit behind network connectivity issues. Various sources can disrupt your network, leading to internet connectivity problems. Wireless devices, such as routers and personal Wi-Fi access points, often interfere with each other. Overlapping channels can cause signal overlap, resulting in intermittent connection problems. Physical barriers, like walls and furniture, can also weaken signals, causing connection drops. Additionally, electronic appliances, such as microwaves and cordless phones, can interfere with your network, leading to high latency and packet loss. Impact of Physical Damage to Cables Physical damage to cables is another significant cause of network connectivity issues. When cables suffer from wear and tear, they can lead to no internet connection or common network issues. Damaged cables often result in packet loss, which affects the quality of your connection. Regularly inspecting and maintaining your cables can help mitigate packet loss and ensure reliable connectivity. If you experience frequent connection drops, consider checking your cables for any signs of damage. Consequences of Poor Network Design Poor network design can lead to common network connectivity issues. A poorly designed network may struggle to handle high traffic, causing network congestion and high latency. This can result in common internet connectivity issues, such as packet loss and dns errors. To avoid these problems, ensure your network is designed to accommodate your needs. Proper planning and layout can help you resolve ip address conflicts and deal with network congestion effectively. If you're unsure about your network design, contact isp for professional assistance. By understanding these common network connectivity issues, you can take proactive steps to maintain a stable and reliable connection. Regular maintenance and proper network design are essential in preventing internet connectivity problems and ensuring seamless connectivity. How Horizontal Splicing Box WorksImage: https://www.fiberopticcn.com/uploads/312.jpg Understanding how a horizontal splicing box functions can help you appreciate its role in solving network connectivity issues. This device is essential for maintaining the integrity and performance of your network. Functionality of the Horizontal Splicing Box A horizontal splicing box, also known as a horizontal splice enclosure, is designed to protect and organize fiber optic cables. It serves as a junction point where multiple optical cables connect, ensuring seamless connectivity. The box features a robust outer shell that shields the delicate fiber splices from environmental hazards. Its rubberized seal effectively prevents dust and moisture from entering, which is crucial for maintaining stable network connections. You can install these enclosures in various environments, whether underground or aerial, due to their excellent mechanical strength and wide operating temperature range from -40 degrees C to 85 degrees C. This versatility makes them indispensable in both residential and commercial network setups. Benefits of Using a Horizontal Splicing Box Using a horizontal splicing box offers several advantages that directly address common network connectivity issues. Here are some key benefits: * Enhanced Protection: The sturdy construction of the box ensures that fiber optic cables remain undamaged, even in harsh conditions. This protection minimizes the risk of network disruptions caused by physical damage. * Improved Organization: By neatly organizing fiber splices, the box reduces clutter and potential interference, leading to more reliable connectivity. * Easy Installation and Maintenance: The design of the box allows for straightforward setup and maintenance, making it easier for you to manage your network infrastructure. This ease of use helps in quickly resolving any connectivity issues that may arise. * Versatility: Suitable for various installation scenarios, the box adapts to different network environments, ensuring consistent performance across diverse settings. Incorporating a horizontal splicing box into your network infrastructure can significantly enhance connectivity reliability. By understanding its functionality and benefits, you can better manage and prevent network connectivity issues, ensuring a stable and efficient network. Dowell's Horizontal Splicing Box SolutionsImage: https://www.fiberopticcn.com/uploads/45.jpg When you face network connectivity issues, Dowell's FOSC-H10-M offers a robust solution. This horizontal splicing box is designed to enhance connectivity by integrating fiber splicing, storage, and cable management into one solid protection box. It serves as a critical junction for connecting feeder cables to distribution cables within FTTx backbone network systems. Let's explore the features and advantages of this product in solving internet connectivity issues. Features of Dowell's FOSC-H10-M Dowell's FOSC-H10-M stands out with its impressive features that directly address network connectivity issues: * High Capacity: This splice closure can accommodate up to 288 splicing points, making it ideal for extensive network setups. You can rely on its capacity to manage large-scale connectivity needs efficiently. * Durable Construction: The box boasts a rugged design with an IP68 protection level, ensuring it remains waterproof and dustproof. Its IK10 impact rating means it can withstand significant physical stress, providing reliable protection for your network infrastructure. * Versatile Installation: Whether you need to install it underground, wall-mounted, or pole-mounted, the FOSC-H10-M adapts to various environments. Its mechanical sealing structure allows for mid-span access without cutting cables, simplifying maintenance and upgrades. * Comprehensive Accessories: The closure comes with standard accessories like splice cassettes and cable management tools, ensuring you have everything needed for a seamless installation process. Advantages of Dowell's Products in Solving Internet Connectivity Issues Using Dowell's FOSC-H10-M offers several advantages that help you tackle internet connectivity issues effectively: * Enhanced Protection: The sturdy construction ensures that fiber optic cables remain undamaged, even in harsh conditions. This protection minimizes the risk of network disruptions caused by physical damage. * Improved Organization: By neatly organizing fiber splices, the box reduces clutter and potential interference, leading to more reliable connectivity. You can maintain a stable network connection with ease. * Ease of Maintenance: The design of the box allows for straightforward setup and maintenance, making it easier for you to manage your network infrastructure. This ease of use helps in quickly resolving any connectivity issues that may arise. * Adaptability: Suitable for various installation scenarios, the box adapts to different network environments, ensuring consistent performance across diverse settings. You can trust its versatility to meet your specific connectivity needs. Incorporating Dowell's FOSC-H10-M into your network infrastructure can significantly enhance connectivity reliability. By understanding its features and advantages, you can better manage and prevent network connectivity issues, ensuring a stable and efficient network. Practical Applications of Horizontal Splicing BoxImage: https://www.fiberopticcn.com/uploads/55.jpg Horizontal splicing boxes play a vital role in enhancing connectivity across various settings. Their ability to protect and organize fiber optic cables makes them indispensable in both residential and commercial environments. By understanding their practical applications, you can effectively address network connectivity issues and ensure seamless connectivity. Residential Network Solutions In residential settings, horizontal splicing boxes help you tackle common network connectivity issues. These boxes serve as junction points for connecting multiple optical cables, ensuring stable and reliable connectivity throughout your home. You can install them in various locations, such as basements or attics, to optimize your network's performance. 1. Improved Connectivity: By organizing and protecting fiber optic cables, horizontal splicing boxes reduce interference and potential damage. This leads to more reliable connectivity and minimizes disruptions caused by physical damage or environmental factors. 2. Enhanced Network Speed: Proper installation of these boxes can improve network speed by reducing signal loss and maintaining a stable connection. This is especially beneficial if you experience slow internet speed due to poor cable management. 3. Easy Maintenance: The design of horizontal splicing boxes allows for straightforward maintenance, making it easier for you to manage your home network infrastructure. Regular inspections and maintenance can help prevent network connectivity issues and ensure consistent performance. Commercial Network Solutions In commercial environments, horizontal splicing boxes address network connectivity issues by providing robust solutions for large-scale network setups. Businesses rely on these boxes to maintain stable and efficient connectivity, which is crucial for operations and productivity. 1. Scalability: Horizontal splicing boxes accommodate extensive network setups, making them ideal for businesses with high connectivity demands. You can easily expand your network by adding more splicing points, ensuring your infrastructure grows with your needs. 2. Reliable Performance: By protecting and organizing fiber optic cables, these boxes minimize the risk of network disruptions caused by physical damage or interference. This reliability is essential for businesses that depend on consistent connectivity for daily operations. 3. Efficient Installation: The versatility of horizontal splicing boxes allows for various installation scenarios, such as underground or wall-mounted setups. This flexibility ensures that you can adapt your network infrastructure to different environments, maintaining optimal performance. Incorporating horizontal splicing boxes into your residential or commercial network infrastructure can significantly enhance connectivity reliability. By understanding their practical applications, you can better manage and prevent network connectivity issues, ensuring a stable and efficient network. Installation and Maintenance Tips for Horizontal Splicing Box Proper installation and maintenance of a horizontal splicing box are crucial for ensuring optimal performance and longevity. By following a structured approach, you can effectively address network connectivity issues and maintain a stable connection. Step-by-Step Installation Guide Installing a horizontal splicing box requires careful planning and execution. Follow these steps to ensure a successful installation: 1. Select the Location: Choose a suitable location for the splicing box. Ensure it is accessible for maintenance and protected from environmental hazards. Consider factors like temperature, humidity, and potential physical damage. 2. Prepare the Site: Clear the area of any debris or obstacles. Ensure the surface is stable and level to support the splicing box securely. 3. Mount the Box: Use appropriate mounting hardware to secure the box in place. Whether installing underground, wall-mounted, or pole-mounted, ensure the box is firmly attached to prevent movement or damage. 4. Organize the Cables: Carefully route the fiber optic cables into the box. Use cable management tools to organize and secure the cables, minimizing clutter and potential interference. 5. Splice the Fibers: Follow the manufacturer's instructions to splice the fibers accurately. Ensure all connections are secure and protected from environmental factors. 6. Seal the Box: Close the box and ensure all seals are intact. This step prevents dust and moisture from entering, which is vital for maintaining stable network connectivity. 7. Test the Connection: After installation, test the network connection to ensure everything functions correctly. Address any issues immediately to prevent future disruptions. Maintenance and Troubleshooting Network Connectivity Regular maintenance and effective troubleshooting are essential for preventing network connectivity issues. Here are some techniques for troubleshooting network connectivity and maintaining your splicing box: * Conduct Regular Inspections: Periodically inspect the splicing box for signs of wear or damage. Check seals, connections, and cables to ensure everything remains in good condition. * Clean the Box: Remove any dust or debris from the box's exterior. Ensure the seals remain clean and intact to prevent moisture ingress. * Monitor Performance: Keep an eye on network performance indicators. If you notice any degradation, investigate potential causes such as damaged cables or loose connections. * Diagnose Internet Connectivity Issues: Use diagnostic tools to identify and resolve connectivity problems. Check for signal loss, interference, or physical damage to cables. * Seek Professional Help: If you encounter persistent network connectivity issues, consider consulting a professional. They can provide expert advice and solutions to complex problems. By following these best practices for troubleshooting network connectivity, you can maintain a reliable and efficient network infrastructure. Regular maintenance and proactive troubleshooting ensure your horizontal splicing box continues to perform optimally, minimizing disruptions and enhancing connectivity. Enhancing Connectivity with DowellImage: https://www.fiberopticcn.com/uploads/63.jpg Dowell stands at the forefront of innovation, providing solutions that address network connectivity issues effectively. You can rely on Dowell's commitment to quality and innovation to enhance your network infrastructure. The brand's dedication to excellence ensures that you receive products designed to meet the highest standards of performance and reliability. Dowell's Commitment to Quality and Innovation Dowell's focus on quality and innovation sets it apart in the industry. The brand continuously develops products that solve network connectivity issues, ensuring seamless connectivity for both residential and commercial environments. Dowell's innovative approach integrates advanced technology with practical design, resulting in products that enhance network performance and stability. * Quality Assurance: Dowell prioritizes quality in every product. Rigorous testing and quality control measures ensure that each item meets stringent standards. This commitment guarantees that you receive reliable solutions for your network connectivity issues. * Innovative Solutions: Dowell invests in research and development to create cutting-edge products. The brand's innovative mindset leads to the development of solutions that address evolving network challenges, providing you with the tools needed to maintain a stable and efficient network. * Sustainable Practices: Dowell incorporates sustainable practices into its operations. By focusing on eco-friendly materials and processes, the brand contributes to building resilient and sustainable networks globally. Customer Support and Services Offered by Dowell Dowell's dedication to customer satisfaction extends beyond product quality. The brand offers comprehensive support and services to help you manage network connectivity issues effectively. You can rely on Dowell's expertise and resources to maintain a robust network infrastructure. * Expert Guidance: Dowell provides expert advice and guidance to help you navigate network connectivity challenges. Whether you need assistance with installation or troubleshooting, the brand's knowledgeable team is ready to support you. * Comprehensive Services: Dowell offers a range of services designed to enhance your network's performance. From installation support to maintenance tips, the brand ensures you have the resources needed to keep your network running smoothly. * Responsive Support: Dowell's customer support team is responsive and attentive to your needs. You can expect timely assistance and solutions tailored to your specific network connectivity issues. By choosing Dowell, you gain access to a partner committed to enhancing connectivity through quality products and exceptional service. The brand's focus on innovation and customer satisfaction ensures that you can effectively address network connectivity issues, maintaining a stable and efficient network. Horizontal splicing boxes effectively address network connectivity issues by providing robust protection and organization for fiber optic cables. These enclosures ensure reliable performance in various environmental conditions, safeguarding your network from dust, weather, and physical damage. By integrating these solutions, you enhance connectivity, minimizing disruptions and maintaining a stable network. Dowell plays a pivotal role in offering reliable solutions for network connectivity. Their commitment to quality and innovation ensures that you receive products designed to meet the highest standards, enhancing your network's efficiency and reliability. FAQWhat is a horizontal splice enclosure used for? A horizontal splice enclosure serves as a protective device for fiber optic cables. You use it to assemble and safeguard these cables, whether in an external plant or inside a building. This enclosure connects and stores optical fibers securely. Its robust outer shell and excellent mechanical strength ensure that the joints remain unharmed, even in harsh environments. By using this enclosure, you protect fiber lines and cables from potential damage, maintaining stable network connectivity. What features do horizontal splice enclosures have? Horizontal splice enclosures are designed to protect fiber optic cable splicing and joints. They feature a rubberized seal, making them resistant to dust and weather. This seal prevents air or water leaks, making these enclosures ideal for outdoor use. You can mount them aerially or use them in underground applications. The operating temperatures range from -40 degrees C to 85 degrees C, ensuring versatility in various conditions. Additionally, the setup and installation process is straightforward, allowing you to maintain your network infrastructure with ease. How do horizontal splice enclosures help with network connectivity issues? Horizontal splice enclosures play a crucial role in addressing network connectivity issues by providing a secure environment for fiber optic cables. By protecting these cables from environmental factors and physical damage, the enclosures ensure reliable connectivity. This protection minimizes disruptions and maintains a stable network, allowing you to enjoy seamless connectivity in both residential and commercial settings. Can horizontal splice enclosures be used in different environments? Yes, you can use horizontal splice enclosures in various environments. Their design allows for both aerial and underground installations, making them suitable for diverse network setups. Whether you need to install them in a residential area or a commercial setting, these enclosures adapt to different conditions, ensuring consistent performance and reliable connectivity. Why is it important to maintain horizontal splice enclosures? Maintaining horizontal splice enclosures is essential for ensuring optimal network performance. Regular inspections and maintenance help you identify and address potential issues before they lead to network connectivity problems. By keeping the enclosures clean and checking for signs of wear or damage, you can prevent disruptions and maintain a stable and efficient network. How do I install a horizontal splice enclosure? To install a horizontal splice enclosure, follow these steps: * Select a suitable location that is accessible for maintenance and protected from environmental hazards. * Prepare the site by clearing debris and ensuring a stable surface. * Mount the enclosure using appropriate hardware, securing it firmly in place. * Organize the fiber optic cables inside the enclosure, using cable management tools to minimize clutter. * Splice the fibers according to the manufacturer's instructions, ensuring secure connections. * Seal the enclosure to prevent dust and moisture ingress. * Test the network connection to confirm proper functionality. By following these steps, you ensure a successful installation and maintain reliable network connectivity. What should I do if I encounter network connectivity issues with my splice enclosure? If you experience network connectivity issues with your splice enclosure, start by conducting a thorough inspection. Check for signs of wear or damage, and ensure all seals and connections are intact. Clean the enclosure and remove any dust or debris. Monitor network performance indicators and use diagnostic tools to identify potential causes. If the issue persists, consider seeking professional assistance to resolve complex problems and maintain stable connectivity. Media Contact Company Name: Dowell Industry Group Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=how-horizontal-splicing-box-solves-common-connectivity-challenges ] Country: China Website: https://www.fiberopticcn.com/ This release was published on openPR.

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NoneBy Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com The IRS Direct File program, which lets taxpayers file their federal income tax return directly with the IRS for free, is doubling its reach to 24 states for the 2025 tax season, up from 12 states in 2024, the program’s pilot year. The Direct File program will also accept more types of tax situations for the 2025 tax season. While taxpayers who used the system in 2024 could claim a handful of tax credits, including the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit , that list is expanding in 2025 to include the child and dependent care credit , among others. Related Articles An estimated 30 million taxpayers will qualify for the Direct File program in 2025, the IRS says. More than 140,000 taxpayers filed their federal tax returns through the Direct File program in 2024. About 90% of users said their experience was excellent or above average, according to a survey of about 11,000 Direct File users in 2024, conducted by the General Services Administration. “We’re excited about the improvements to Direct File and the millions more taxpayers who will be eligible to use the service this year,” said Danny Werfel, the IRS commissioner, in a statement. “Our goal is to improve the experience of tax filing itself and help taxpayers meet their obligations quickly and easily.” The IRS says that taxpayers can use Direct File when the 2025 tax season kicks off in January, and it will be available until Oct. 15, 2025. But the program’s future is somewhat unclear: In December, 29 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, calling for him to end the Direct File program on his first day in office. Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives also introduced legislation in July to end the Direct File program. For now, here’s what you need to know about how the IRS Direct File program works, and how to qualify for it. The Direct File program is a new initiative, about to enter its second year, that allows taxpayers to file their federal tax returns electronically with the IRS. The no-cost tool guides taxpayers through every part of their federal income tax return. Taxpayers can file using a smartphone, computer or tablet. One of the program’s advantages is that, if you have questions as you’re working on your return, you can get live support directly from the IRS via chat or phone. IRS representatives can answer basic tax questions and help with technical issues in English and Spanish. The Direct File program has income limits, as well as limits on the types of income, deductions and credits you can enter on your tax return. For the 2025 tax season: To be eligible for Direct File, your income can come from the following sources: But if you’re self-employed, or have business or rental income, you can’t use Direct File . Same goes for IRA contributions or distributions: If you have either, you can’t use Direct File. You can use the IRS Direct File program only if you claim the standard deduction — the program isn’t available to people who itemize. But you can claim certain above-the-line deductions: student loan interest , educator expenses and health savings account contributions . You can’t use Direct File if you want to deduct your IRA contributions. The Direct File program allows for the following tax credits in 2025: However, if you want to claim education credits , credits for energy efficient home upgrades or the adoption expense credit , you can’t use the Direct File program. More taxpayers will have access to the IRS Direct File program in 2025. In 2024, the IRS kicked off the program with only 12 states; that number has expanded to 24 states for the 2025 tax season. For some of the states that participate in the IRS Direct File program, your federal return information will be transferred automatically to the state tax website, but in some cases you’ll have to re-enter your information. Visit this IRS Direct File page to get the details for your state. Here is a list of the participating states: If you don’t qualify for the IRS Direct File program, you may have other options to file your tax return for free. In addition to Direct File, the IRS offers the Free File program, in which it partners with online tax software providers to provide free federal income tax return filing. Some providers also allow you to file a state income tax return. For the 2024 tax season, your adjusted gross income had to be less than $79,000 to qualify for the Free File program. That dollar threshold is likely to rise slightly for the 2025 tax season. The IRS also offers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides certified volunteers to prepare basic tax returns if you earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled, or speak limited English. You can find a site near you by visiting this IRS page . ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

NoneBJP victory in Maha: Relief for Adani’s USD 3 bn Dharavi project

TORONTO, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Western Metallica Resources Corp. (TSXV: WMS ) (“ Western Metallica ” or the “ Company ”) is pleased to announce that drill crews working at the Luz Maria copper-molybdenum drill program have completed the first hole ever drilled at its 100% owned Caña Brava project. Drill hole LM24DD001 was completed by contractor Energold to a depth of 396.1 metres, and drilling of the second hole is currently underway. Logging of drill holes LM24DD001 and LM24DD002 confirms the presence of a complex Cu-Mo porphyry system, with multiple intrusion phases, and multiple alteration and mineralization events. Alteration and mineralization are observed in both the intrusive rocks and the wall rock siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. The current drill program is aimed at testing the copper-molybdenum mineralization found over an area of 500 by 300 metres, centered on strongly altered diorite and monzonite outcrops located at the bottom of a dry creek. This geochemical anomaly is coincident with strong anomalies identified during magnetic and Induced Polarization surveys carried out by the Company during 2024. A recent cluster classification analysis of the geophysical surveys has highlighted two targets to be prioritized: class 5 with medium resistivity, high chargeability and high mag-susceptibility, and class 6 with medium/low resistivity, high chargeability, high metal factor and high magnetic susceptibility ( refer to figures 4 and 5 ). Copper and molybdenum mineralization is closely related to the intensity of quartz veining within strong potassic alteration, represented by secondary biotite, overprinted by a phyllic assemblage of quartz-sericite ± chlorite. The alteration footprint of the system extends over an area of at least 2.7 km by 1.5 km, while the drilling area covers only 5% of the total. Samples of core from hole LM24DD001 have been now entirely submitted to the SGS laboratory in Lima and the expected turn around time to receive the complete set of assays is 15 days. Figure 1 – Hole LM24DD001 at 239.2 meters. Biotite-altered monzonite with (1) sinuous quartz, (2) quartz-sericite-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite, (3) quartz-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite, (4) irregular quartz-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-pyrite-molybdenite (sericite selvage), and (5) sinuous quartz-sericite veinlets and disseminated chalcopyrite. Figure 2 – Hole LM24DD001 at 265 meters. Biotite-altered slate with quartz-pyrrhotite-molybdenite-chalcopyrite veining and disseminated chalcopyrite. Figure 3 – Hole LM24DD002 at 65.90 meters. Biotite-altered Hornblende monzonite with overprinted quartz-sericite ± chlorite alteration. Stockworking is constituted by quartz-pyrrhotite-molybdenite, pyrite-chalcopyrite-molybdenite and quartz-pyrrhotite-molybdenite veining. Figure 4 - Luz Maria: 3D views of the Cluster Analysis Model – Looking WNW. Figure 5 - Luz Maria prospect: Drill hole location and 1,150 meters ASL slice of the Cluster Analysis Model. Background Western Metallica holds the option to acquire 100% of the mineral claims, rights, and interests in Caña Brava, a Cu-Mo project located in Northern Peru ( refer to press release dated August 10, 2023 ). The project lies within the under-explored Northern sector of the Cu-Mo metallogenic belt of Eocene age that hosts, to the South, world class deposits such as Las Bambas (MMG), Cotabambas (Panoro Minerals Ltd.), Constancia (Hudbay Minerals Inc.), Antapacay (Glencore) and discoveries such as Elida (Element 29 Resources), the first porphyry deposit of this age discovered in North Peru. The Company ́s Caña Brava Project is well located in close proximity to industrial ports, major paved roads and is comprised of large, contiguous mineral concessions conducive to future project scalability. The Caña Brava Project is a highly prospective 5,700-hectare package of concessions located 30 kilometres from the Peruvian coast, at an elevation of 1,500 metres in the Western Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes. The Caña Brava Project is neighboring Hudbay’s Llaguen Cu-Mo Project which lies on the Western margin of the Miocene epithermal-porphyry copper-gold belt of Northern Peru, with the potential for Caña Brava to similarly host shallow high-grade mineralization across a considerable alteration footprint. Western Metallica recently announced the launch of a first drill program at its Luz Maria copper-molybdenum porphyry prospect after having received its permit to drill from 19 platforms ( refer to press release dated July 15, 2024 ). Luz Maria is a well-preserved porphyry system and priority drill target at the Caña Brava Project, where exploration work to date has successfully defined a cluster of multi-stage mineralized intrusions within a large 2.7-kilometre by 1.5-kilometre phyllic to incipient biotite-replacement alteration footprint, comparable in size to other major Peruvian porphyry deposits, and featuring multiple mineralized intrusion events ( refer to press release dated September 24, 2024 ). The Company is also advancing with the drilling permitting on its Caña Brava 1 prospect, located on the Northwest sector of the Caña Brava Project, characterized by a distinctive 1.5-kilometre by 1.5-kilometre sized leached zone with goethite and hematite box works. Both environmental and social base lines, required to support the FTA process, have been completed for this sector. At Caña Brava 1, the diamond-sawn channel sampling campaign confirmed grades up to 0.3% Cu from 7 different intrusive recognized to date. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Sample preparation and analyses are conducted according to standard industry procedures. Rock samples are crushed, split, and pulverized prior to analysis of Gold by fire assay and Atomic Absorption and multi-elements by ICP-AES after four acid digestion. Analytical performance is monitored by means of certified reference materials (CRMs), coarse and fine blanks, coarse and pulp duplicate samples. Samples are prepared and analysed in SGS lab in Lima, Peru. Qualified Persons The technical and scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Giovanni Funaioli, EurGeol, Vice President Exploration of Western Metallica, who is a “Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Giovanni Funaioli is an employee of the Company and is not considered independent under NI 43-101. About Western Metallica Resources Corp. Western Metallica is an Ontario registered company with its head office in Toronto, Ontario, trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under symbol WMS. Western Metallica is in the business of mineral resource exploration and development and holds the option to acquire a 100% interest in the Caña Brava copper-molybdenum project located in La Libertad Department, Peru. Western Metallica is also advancing its 100% owned Nueva Celti Copper Property in the Ossa Morena belt in Andalusia, Spain, and three other Spanish gold projects in the “Navelgas Gold Belt” in Asturias, Spain (Penedela, Valledor and Sierra Alta). Further information of the Company can be found at: www.westernmetallica.com For more information please contact: Western Metallica Resources Corp. Gregory Duras Chief Executive Officer Email: gduras@westernmetallica.com Investor Relations Email: info@westernmetallica.com Cautionary Notes The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-statements.” Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words “estimate”, “project”, “belief”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “plan”, “predict”, “may” or “should” and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the planned drill program and the development of the Company’s projects and other mining projects and prospects thereof, the impact of the management additions on the Company; and the potential and economic viability of the Caña Brava Project. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a8c6231-e5b3-473d-af5a-78da360f2bd6 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5d51f2cb-205d-49bf-a806-c0117bffd165 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d9ab216f-cd2a-4d78-806a-6988e54c3034 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c96aa9e6-0a1b-449a-8050-79cbe32f98f4 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da670209-ba40-4edc-a03e-7f3e3ae88844

ICT and FCT Test Equipment Market Market Insights: In-Depth Analysis of Key Players and Market DynamicsPrincipal Financial Group Inc. Sells 194,775 Shares of Option Care Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPCH)TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A U.S. senator has called for mysterious drones spotted flying at night over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary,” even as it remains unclear who owns the unmanned aircraft. “We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday, as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill. People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said, demanding more transparency from the Biden administration. The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels. “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus,” Kirby said, echoing statements from the Pentagon and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh has said they are not U.S. military drones. In a joint statement issued Thursday afternoon, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said they and their federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, “continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings.” The agencies said they have not corroborated any of the reported sightings with electronic detection, and that reviews of available images appear to show many of the reported drones are actually manned aircraft. “There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space,” according to the statement. The drones appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security. The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once. The worry stems partly from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey appeared to be larger than those typically used by hobbyists. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was frustrated by the lack of transparency, saying it could help spread fear and misinformation. “We should know what’s going on over our skies,” he said Thursday. John Duesler, president of the Pennsylvania Drone Association, said witnesses may be confused about what they are seeing, especially in the dark, and noted it’s hard to know the size of the drones or how close they might be. “There are certainly big drones, such as agricultural drones, but typically they are not the type you see flying around in urban or suburban spaces,” Duesler said Thursday. Duesler said the drones — and those flying them — likely cannot evade detection. “They will leave a radio frequency footprint, they all leave a signature,” he said. “We will find out what kind of drones they were, who was flying them and where they were flying them.” Fantasia, a Morris County Republican, was among several lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the sightings from the New York City area across New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. It is unknown at this time whether the sightings are related. Duesler said the public wants to know what’s going on. “I hope (the government agencies) will come out with more information about this to ease our fears. But this could just be the acts of rogue drone operators, it’s not an ‘invasion’ as some reports have called it,” Duesler said. “I am concerned about this it but not alarmed by it.”

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Negotiators returned to the table late on Saturday in a last-ditch effort to salvage the COP29 climate talks, hours after dramatic walkouts by developing nations and heated protests threatened to derail the conference entirely. The renewed push for consensus came at the end of a turbulent day that saw delegates from the world’s most vulnerable nations storming out of negotiations, climate activists heckling the US climate envoy, and workers beginning to dismantle conference furnishings even as diplomatic efforts continued. “We’ve just walked out. We came here to this COP for a fair deal. We feel that we haven’t been heard,” Cedric Schuster, the Samoan chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States, had declared earlier in the day, leading an exodus of delegates from nations most threatened by rising seas. The crisis deepened when a leaked 3 pm draft text, proposing $300 billion annual climate finance by 2035, sparked further anger after Friday’s offer of $250bn — both significantly short of the $1 trillion developing countries sought. “The current deal is unacceptable for us,” said Evans Njewa, chair of the Least Developed Countries group, as his delegation left the room. Colombia’s environment minister Susana Mohamed characterized the departures not as protests but as expressions of being “highly dissatisfied.” Tensions escalated further as climate activists confronted US climate envoy John Podesta, accusing the United States of “a legacy of burning up the planet” and failing to pay its fair share of climate finance. The leaked draft, which was up for discussion afresh and was being considered till the time of going to print, attempts to bridge divides by calling for “all actors to work together” in scaling up finance to reach $1.3 trillion annually by 2035, while reaffirming Article 9 of the Paris Agreement. However, developing nations argue the language dilutes rich countries’ obligations by replacing their duty to “provide” finance with merely “taking the lead.” “Where is Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement in this?” questioned a developing country negotiator. “The Paris Agreement states that developed country Parties shall provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties and not that developed countries will lead. The quantum is also an eyewash.” The draft also controversially “encourages” developing country contributions through South-South cooperation while affirming that voluntary contributions won’t affect any party’s development status - language that many see as an attempt to shift responsibilities. As the conference stretched more than a day past its scheduled conclusion, COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev urged bleary-eyed delegates to seek consensus. “I know that none of us want to leave Baku without a good outcome,” he said, calling on nations to “bridge the remaining divide.” To be sure, the contentious aspects are the discussions around the next round of climate finance, called the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). UN reports estimate around $1.3 trillion is needed for developing nations to adapt to climate impacts and transition to clean energy. The current offer of $300 billion, up from an initial $250 billion rejected on Friday, falls far short of the $600 billion some developing nations demanded in grants as against an offer mentioning “variety of sources”. The draft proposes monitoring progress through biannual reports starting 2028, but developing nations argue this provides insufficient guarantees of actual delivery. The text acknowledges the need for adaptation funding and addressing loss and damage but offers no concrete commitments. Brazil, which will host next year’s crucial COP30, made a passionate plea for progress. “After the difficult experience that we’re having here in Baku, we need to reach some outcome that is minimally acceptable in line with the emergency we’re facing,” environment minister Marina Silva told delegates. Wealthy nations argue that higher direct government funding is politically unrealistic, particularly with Donald Trump’s election in the US and right-wing backlashes against climate action in several Western countries. The EU has attempted to link increased funding to stronger commitments on fossil fuel phase-out, facing opposition from Saudi Arabia. The breakdown threatens next year’s critical climate commitments, with updated Nationally Determined Contributions due by February 2025. Brazil’s President Lula had warned that “COP30 will be our last chance to avoid an irreversible rupture in the climate system.” “The extended climate talks lay bare the deep inequities in the multilateral process,” said Harjeet Singh from the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, according to news reports. “Developed countries must commit trillions, not empty promises—anything less makes them squarely responsible for the failure of these talks and the betrayal of billions across the globe.” As Saturday drew to a close, negotiations had splintered into several separate huddles of nations, with talks oscillating between hopes for shuttle diplomacy and the possibility of postponing decisions to next year. However, the return of delegates to formal negotiations offered a glimmer of hope for a last-minute breakthrough. With 2023 set to be the hottest year ever recorded, the outcome at Baku could determine whether the world can maintain momentum toward meaningful climate action or risk a breakdown in international cooperation just as climate impacts intensify.Underdog Fantasy Promo Code BETFPB for Arizona vs. Duke: $1,000 bonus for Nov. 22 college basketball

Iowa followed its lowest-scoring game of the season with a 110-point eruption the next time out. The Hawkeyes will be one week removed from that scorching effort when they host Northwestern in Tuesday's Big Ten opener in Iowa City, but rust won't be the only roadblock for a potential repeat showing. Iowa (6-1) also is bracing for stiffer competition in conference play while navigating an injury to Seydou Traore. The reserve forward suffered a sprained ankle midway through the first half of a 110-77 home rout of South Carolina Upstate on Nov. 26. Also missing frontcourt contributors Even Brauns and Cooper Koch, the Hawkeyes still flexed their resilience and depth. Brock Harding notched a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds and Owen Freeman netted 17 points as five Iowa players scored in double figures. "Coming off a loss, going into Thanksgiving break here, we've got a couple days off coming, it'd be easy to kinda (think), ‘All right, let's relax for this one, guys sit out,'" Harding said. "But I think we really locked in." Northwestern (6-2) overcame 40.8 percent shooting to defeat UNLV 66-61 in the third-place game of the Arizona Tip-Off on Friday in Tempe, Ariz. Brooks Barnhizer, a preseason All-Big Ten pick who was sidelined by a foot injury during the Wildcats' first four games, had team highs of 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists. He has scored at least 20 points in three of four games. Northwestern limited UNLV to a 42.1 percent effort from the floor. Matthew Nicholson propelled the defense with two of the Wildcats' seven steals to go with two blocks. "We're a defensive-minded team and, you know, our identity is just getting stops," Barnhizer said. "Everything else will take care of itself. So, the older guys were trying to come out here and do that tonight and I think we did a pretty good job of it." Strong ‘D' helped Northwestern's ball movement, too, as the Wildcats assisted on 15 of 20 made field goals. Northwestern went 8-for-18 (44.4 percent) from long range to improve to 3-0 this season when connecting on 40 percent of its 3-point shots or better. --Field Level MediaFEMA under investigation over Trump supporter discriminationIsrael’s attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and witnesses in the Prime Minister’s corruption trial. The Israeli Justice Ministry made the announcement in a message late on Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the Uvda investigative programme into Sara Netanyahu. Advertisement The programme uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organise protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. The announcement did not mention Mrs Netanyahu by name and the Justice Ministry declined further comment. Earlier on Thursday, Mr Netanyahu blasted the Uvda report as “lies”.

(The Center Square) – House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., has opened an investigation into the Federal Emergency Management Agency over reports that it discriminated against supporters of Donald Trump. Comer said whistleblower reports suggest anti-Trump discrimination is rampant and has been going on for years. “[O]n the condition of anonymity, a FEMA official stated that the practice avoiding ‘white or conservative-dominated’ areas is an ‘open secret at the agency that has been going on for years,’” Comer said in a letter to FEMA. The investigation comes after FEMA fired one of its hurricane response supervisors after news went viral that she told her workers to avoid “Trump houses.” However, that employee has publicly said she was only following orders and acting according to the culture at FEMA. Comer and more than two dozen Republican lawmakers sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell demanding documentation, from internal policies to spending figures to incident reports. Lawmakers have pointed toward more anonymous sources backing up the fired employee’s claims. “Additionally, another whistleblower contacted the Committee during the hearing," the letter said. "This individual informed the Committee that a FEMA contractor warned a disabled veteran’s family in Georgia to remove Trump campaign materials from their home because FEMA supervisors viewed Trump supporters as domestic terrorists. At a hearing this week, U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., pointed to 35 of his constituents who shared similar stories with him. More from this section Lawmakers grilled Criswell over the discrimination reports at the hearing as well as FEMA’s recent focus on Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts, something FEMA named as its number one goal in its latest strategic report. Lawmakers also raised concerns about the agency spending hundreds of millions of dollars on helping migrants. Defenders of FEMA have said the migrant funds do not take directly from disaster relief, while critics insist it shows missplaced priorities for the emergency relief agency. “In the fiscal year of 2023, FEMA spent nearly a billion dollars, $789 million, to shelter illegals in the United States,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Ga., said at the hearing, as The Center Square previously reported . “This past year it was $641 million, and this money is largely distributed through NGOs...and this was to house illegal aliens," she added. "Not Americans, who by the way all that money, that comes from Americans bank accounts when they write their checks to pay their taxes." At the hearing this week, Criswell also said she will request the Inspector General investigate the question of political discrimination at FEMA. She also said she does not think this fired employee is indicative of a broader problem in the agency but is looking into it. Criswell said FEMA workers went back to the homes that were skipped over by the fired employee and promised to ensure it doesn't happen again. “The Committee is in the process of investigating these claims,” the Oversight letter said. “If they are true, they would corroborate concerns that political discrimination extends beyond [the fired FEMA employee]. Furthermore, they suggest an apparent culture, whether sanctioned or not, within FEMA to politically discriminate against disaster survivors, specifically those who support President-elect Donald Trump.”

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EAM Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Blinken review advancement of US-India partnership PTI Updated: December 27th, 2024, 23:34 IST in Home News , International , National 0 Pic - IANS Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Share on Linkedin Washington: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and reviewed the advancement of the US-India partnership in the four years of the outgoing Biden administration. “Delighted to meet @SecBlinken yesterday (Thursday) evening in Washington D.C. Reviewed the advancement of US-India partnership over the last four years. Agreed that our cooperation has strengthened in many domains, just as our comfort levels have grown correspondingly,” Jaishankar said on Friday in a post on X. Also Read Govt to build memorial to Manmohan Singh in capital: official sources 2 hours ago Rupee falls steepest in almost two years 2 hours ago President Joe Biden is all set to hand over the keys of the Oval Office to Donald Trump on January 20 when the latter would be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. Jaishankar, who is a highly respectable figure in the top American leadership, possibly had his last series of meetings with the officials of the outgoing Biden administration. Jaishankar exuded confidence that “India-US relationship will serve our mutual interests as well as global good”. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met the outgoing National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. “A wide-ranging discussion on the progress of India-US strategic partnership. Also exchanged views on current regional and global developments,” Jaishankar said in a post on X on Thursday. Jaishankar also chaired a conference of the Consul Generals of India in the US, thus becoming the first External Affairs Minister to do so. “A productive day with team Indian Embassy US and our Consul Generals based in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston and Atlanta,” he said. “Discussed opportunities for deepening India US partnership, focusing on technology, trade and investments. Also shared views on better serving the Indian community in the USA,” the minister said in another post on X. Jaishankar is currently on an official visit to the US from December 24 to December 29 during which he is scheduled to meet senior members of the outgoing Biden administration. The External Affairs Minister is also likely to have introductory meetings with the senior leadership of the incoming Trump administration. PTI Tags: Antony Blinken S. Jaishankar Share Tweet Send Share Suggest A Correction Enter your email to get our daily news in your inbox. Leave this field empty if you're human:

NFL on Netflix: Christmas Day games are a 1st for streaming giantPresident Biden’s decision to renege on his pledge not to pardon his prodigal son’s crimes has consequences for the American justice system. Ironically, it also may diminish resistance to President-elect Trump pardoning members of the mob that stormed the Capitol nearly four years ago in an effort to overturn Biden’s 2020 election victory. The two situations are not equivalent, of course. Still, they both tear at the heart of America’s scruples. More than 1,100 Trump supporters got convicted of participating in the siege that sent a joint session of Congress into hiding, injured scores of police officers and left the Capitol in a shambles. Several defendants received probation for misdemeanor charges of entering the Capitol with the mob. But more than 600 were imprisoned from one month to up to 22 years on felony charges of destroying property, assault and battery or encouraging the attack. Trump described them as “political prisoners” and “patriots,” promising to pardon them if elected president again. He said recently he will decide their pardons on a case-by-case basis. A song titled “Justice for All” described their fate. Created and posted often on social media by a group of Jan. 6 defendants (“J6 Choir”) locked in a Washington, D.C. jail block, the song’s popularity drew sympathizers across the country. It briefly made music’s top hits list. Democrats and legal experts denounce Tump’s plan to pardon Jan. 6 defendants as victims of misguided justice. The objection is somewhat hypocritical in the aftermath of Biden pardoning son Hunter. He was convicted of lying on a gun license application and income tax evasion. What devastates the rule of law is Biden’s broken pledge to let his son face the consequences of his felony crimes, including possible prison time. His stunning turnaround occurred, he said, because his son was a victim of a Justice Department political prosecution. That’s the exact reason Trump advances for his intent to pardon some, if not all, the Jan. 6 defendants. He also claims that’s why he was prosecuted and convicted of 34 felonies in his hush money trial as well as charges pending in his other legal cases. Oddly, it seems Biden and Trump agree the Justice Department has been weaponized for political means. Trump says when he returns to office he will rid the department, including its FBI office, of what he calls partisan hacks bent on destroying the country. They will, of course, be replaced by diehard loyalists committed to his America First agenda. Democrats can hardly object. Their president of the last four years has damned the Justice Department and demoralized its employees for his own sake. And just two months before departing the White House. Listen to his attempt to rationalize the decision to pardon his son when he said repeatedly he would not. “For my entire career I have followed a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth. They will be fair-minded,” Biden said in a statement. “Here’s the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected the process and it led to a miscarriage of justice (of his son).” Biden asked Americans to understand “why a father and a president would come to this decision.” Many will not. Sure, other presidents, including Trump in his first term, granted pardons to family and friends for alleged criminal behavior. In most of these cases, the persons pardoned felt the outcome of their sentences, including prison time. Biden’s rollback of his no pardon pledge – just two weeks before his son’s sentencing -- disregarded the legal standard that no person is above the law; that everyone is treated equally no matter their station in life. Sadly, Biden’s decision of defiance comes at a time when the justice system’s moral fiber is fraying. Bill Ketter is CNHI’s senior vice president for news. Reach him at wketter@cnhi.com .

Kip Fonsh: Now is not the time for the soft of heartAt the height of the covid lockdowns and mandates a massive portion of the global economy was shut down, leading to supply chain instability, huge job losses and a stagflationary crisis. However, climate change propagandists argued that the event was actually a positive for the planet when it was revealed that emissions fell by 5.4%. They asserted that the covid lockdowns were a practice run for what they called "climate lockdowns" - Presenting a plan for scheduled disruptions to global economic activity as a means to slow the effects of climate change. Globalists also presented climate lockdowns as a kind of collective social punishment in the event that populations refused to cut carbon output on their own. As World Economic Forum "Agenda Contributor" Mariana Mazzucato argued in 2020: "Under a “climate lockdown,” governments would limit private-vehicle use, ban consumption of red meat, and impose extreme energy-saving measures, while fossil-fuel companies would have to stop drilling. To avoid such a scenario, we must overhaul our economic structures and do capitalism differently. Many think of the climate crisis as distinct from the health and economic crises caused by the pandemic. But the three crises – and their solutions – are interconnected..." After a public uproar over the notion of extending pandemic lockdowns into climate lockdowns, the establishment media would go on to "Fact Check" the issue and assert that it was a "conspiracy theory." They lied. The pandemic lockdowns would eventually be exposed as pointless; a disastrous drain on the global economy that did nothing to prevent the spread of the covid virus. But as we witnessed with most of the restrictions instituted during covid, the goal was never to protect the health of the populace. Rather, the goal was to acclimate the populace to an exponentially increasing list of violations of their basic freedoms. One organization that has a distinct interest in diminishing economic activity for the sake of preventing global warming is the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a recent 'call for global climate action' the IMF states that restrictions on economic activity and general emissions activity would have to far surpass those enforced during the pandemic in order to get to their stated temperature target of less than 1.5 °C. Open lockdowns of developed nations might not ultimately be the tool that globalists use to reach net zero, but carbon taxation on an oppressive scale could end up having the same effect. Carbon taxes could act like steep interest rate increases commonly used by central banks to slow economic activity during inflation. An indirect economic shut down of this magnitude would be absolutely devastating for western nations in particular, resulting in crippling energy shortages, food shortages, job losses, and eventually total collapse and a population plunge. Net zero is not possible otherwise. The IMF and other globalist organizations suggest that all nations must achieve a net zero carbon goal by 2030 in order to avoid the "climate cliff" - The theory that once the Earth hits warming of more than 1.5 °C, there will be a domino effect which will lead to environmental catastrophe and even more carbon emissions and warming . To be clear, there is no evidence whatsoever to support the idea of the climate cliff, primarily because there is no evidence of a causation relationship between carbon emissions and global warming. In fact, there is no evidence that that human industry has a warming effect on the climate whatsoever. Temperature records for hundreds of millions of years prove that warming periods are a mainstay of the Earth's climate history. In comparison, our current era is one of the coldest, not the warmest. Climate scientists ignore this data and use temperature records going back to the 1880s. Meaning, their data is based on a mere 140 years of the Earth's history. The current warming rate is not significant to other periods, nor is there any evidence that human activity is causing it. Data on carbon levels of the past show that temperatures do not necessarily rise in tandem with carbon activity. Carbon emissions are also far lower today than they have been in the past. The claim that carbon concentration due to human activity has a drastic influence on global temperatures (or weather) is absolutely unfounded. The real reason for climate controls and carbon taxes seems to have far more to do with wealth redistribution from developed nations over to developing nations. The agenda is about centralizing the control of national wealth as well as individual liberties and private property. And the IMF, of course, would like to be one of the institutions at the helm of that wealth management empire.Podcast: This Vikings-Packers game may be the most significant in recent memory

WASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

David Rocker Unveils Insights on Enhancing Productivity Through Work-Life Integration in Exclusive Blog 12-03-2024 12:00 AM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Erase Technologies, LLC Image: https://www.getnews.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1733161329.jpg David Rocker, Atlanta, GA, USA David Rocker, the visionary Managing Partner at The Rocker Group, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia, has shared groundbreaking insights in his latest blog, "The Balancing Act: Enhancing Productivity Through Work-Life Integration." David Rocker, the visionary Managing Partner at The Rocker Group, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia, has shared groundbreaking insights in his latest blog, "The Balancing Act: Enhancing Productivity Through Work-Life Integration." This blog provides a deep dive into how The Rocker Group has successfully embraced work-life integration to boost both team productivity and morale, showcasing a progressive approach to modern workplace dynamics. In his detailed discussion, Rocker explores the evolution of work environments and the shift from traditional work-life balance to a more fluid integration of work and personal life. He articulates why embracing this integration is essential in today's digital and fast-paced world, where the lines between professional and personal spaces are increasingly blurred. Rocker highlights several key benefits of work-life integration, such as increased flexibility, reduced stress, and higher job satisfaction. He points out that when employees have the freedom to manage their work and personal responsibilities harmoniously, it leads to a more focused and productive work environment. "At The Rocker Group, we've found that allowing employees to integrate their work and personal lives leads to a more productive and engaged workforce," Rocker states. The blog further details strategies implemented by The Rocker Group to support work-life integration. These include flexible work arrangements like telecommuting and flexible hours, setting clear expectations to ensure accountability, and investing in technology that supports remote work. Rocker emphasizes the importance of regular breaks and vacation time, noting how essential they are for maintaining mental health and productivity. David Rocker's insights also cover the profound impact of work-life integration on employee retention and morale. He notes, "Implementing work-life integration has not only enhanced our team's productivity but also their overall job satisfaction and well-being." About David Rocker David Rocker is the Managing Partner of The Rocker Group, LLC, with expertise in strategic management consulting. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, his leadership is characterized by a forward-thinking approach that incorporates digital transformation and sustainable business practices. His strategic foresight has been pivotal in navigating The Rocker Group through significant shifts in the global market landscape. To read the full blog, click here [ https://medium.com/ ]. Media Contact Contact Person: David Rocker Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=david-rocker-unveils-insights-on-enhancing-productivity-through-worklife-integration-in-exclusive-blog ] City: Atlanta State: GA Country: United States Website: https://davidrocker.net/ This release was published on openPR.By . . Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 35 points to inspire the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 115-111 victory against the Boston Celtics. The Cavaliers, whose 15-game winning run at the start of the season was ended by the Celtics, were 14 points behind at one stage in the third quarter before a strong rally. Mitchell scored 20 points – including 11 consecutive points – in the fourth quarter and, with one minute seven seconds left, put the Cavaliers 103-101 in front and they held on for a significant victory. The win ended a run of two defeats for the Eastern Conference leaders while the Celtics had their run of seven straight wins ended. Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You. NEWS UPDATE: Nigerians have been finally approved to earn Dollars from home, acquire premium domains for as low as $1500, profit as much as $22,000 (₦37million+). Click here to start.jili fortune tree 。

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Berlin confirmed plans to reform its legal framework make it a clear criminal offence to “facilitate the smuggling of migrants to the UK” as part of the agreement, the Home Office said. The Home Office said the move would give German prosecutors more tools to tackle the supply and storage of dangerous small boats. Both countries will also commit to exchange information that may help to remove migrant-smuggling content from social media platforms and tackle end-to-end routes of criminal smuggling networks as part of the deal. It comes ahead of the UK and Germany hosting the so-called Calais Group in London, which sees ministers and police from the two countries, alongside France, Belgium and the Netherlands, gather to discuss migration in Europe. Delegates are expected to agree a detailed plan to tackle people-smuggling gangs in 2025 at the meeting on Tuesday. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “For too long organised criminal gangs have been exploiting vulnerable people, undermining border security in the UK and across Europe while putting thousands of lives at risk. “We are clear that this cannot go on. “Germany is already a key partner in our efforts to crack down on migrant smuggling, but there is always more we can do together. “Our new joint action plan with deliver a strengthened partnership with Germany, boosting our respective border security as we work to fix the foundations, and ultimately saving lives.” Nancy Faeser, German federal minister of the interior said: “We are now stepping up our joint action to fight the brutal activities of international smugglers. “This is at the core of our joint action plan that we have agreed in London. “I am very grateful to my British counterpart Yvette Cooper that we were able to reach this important agreement. “It will help us end the inhumane activities of criminal migrant smuggling organisations. “By cramming people into inflatable boats under threats of violence and sending them across the Channel, these organisations put human lives at risk. “Many of these crimes are planned in Germany. “Together, we are now countering this unscrupulous business with even more resolve. “This includes maintaining a high investigative pressure, exchanging information between our security authorities as best as possible, and persistently investigating financial flows to identify the criminals operating behind the scenes.”Trump’s FBI pick should cause alarm | Letters

It is controversies galore for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams in 2024Bo Nix says he’ll be ready to play. The Denver Broncos listed Nix was listed as a limited participant in a practice with a back injury last week. Nix was seen getting treatment to his back from the athletic training staff near the end of the team’s 29-19 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders last week. Nix may have tweaked his back, but he did not miss a snap in the game. While the team listed him as “limited” in Thursday’s walk-through session, he looked like he had full range of movement during practice on Friday . Nix the declared himself ready to face the Cleveland Browns on Monday night. “I’m good to go, ready to roll,” Nix told reporters on Friday. Nix has been on a roll in recent games and the Broncos (7-5) need for him to continue playing well as they pursue their first playoff berth since the 2015 season. Nix has thrown 16 touchdown passes this season, breaking the franchise rookie record of 14 touchdown passes set by Marlin Briscoe in 1968. He has thrown eight touchdown passes in his last three games and 11 in the past five games. All of his touchdown passes have come in his last nine games and he has accounted for 20 touchdowns (16 passing, four running) and no turnovers in the past 10 games. The Broncos will play in primetime and Nix is looking forward to the opportunity for the team to be in the national spotlight. “These are awesome [games], and [they are] why you play this sport,” Nix told reporters on Friday. “This is why you play the game and what you dream about for the NFL. Every week, you feel like you’re playing one of the top guys. It’s just how good the league is and how supreme the talent is. All we can do is worry about ourselves. We just need to focus and execute.”

No. 5 Alabama has a reputation as 3-point gunners, but it's defense and rebounding that have become a focus as the Tide welcome South Dakota State to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to end the 2024 calendar year. Alabama (10-2) is frequently thought of as an offensive 3-point shooting free-for-all program, but Nate Oats' 2024-25 squad has thrived largely on the basis of inside play. The Tide are shooting 62.2 percent on their two-point attempts and grab 45 rebounds per game, each figure placing the team among the national leaders in those categories. Alabama does still shoot an average of 31 3-point shots per game, again one of the nation's highest totals. But so far, Alabama's 31.2 percent connection rate is very ordinary. But connecting inside and owning the glass has held benefits for Alabama. Meanwhile, defense has concerned Oats, particularly coming off a 97-90 win over North Dakota on Dec. 18. Oats issued warnings about players losing spots in the rotation if defensive execution didn't improve. Alabama passed the first post-North Dakota test in an 81-54 win over Kent State on Sunday. "We did make a big point of emphasis on defense, especially after that debacle up in North Dakota," said Oats after the Kent State victory. "It was a much better defensive effort, so it will be a lot better Christmas break for us." Alabama won the rebounding battle over Kent State 60-40, although Oats contended that the Tide "gave up too many second-chance points." Alabama made 72 percent of its two-point attempts even as just 9 of 35 3-point attempts connected. Alabama has battled personnel uncertainty early in the season. An Achilles injury ended the season of guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. just as transfer Chris Youngblood was preparing to return from an ankle injury. The Tide have 11 players averaging double-digit minutes and eight averaging 7.4 points per game or better, led by super senior guard Mark Sears with 17.8 ppg. Super senior forward Grant Nelson remains a key player, leading the Tide with 8.7 rebounds per game while adding 12.8 ppg. Meanwhile, South Dakota State (9-5) will pin its upset hopes largely on Aussie transfer Oscar Cluff. A 6-foot-11 senior who transferred in from Washington State, Cluff has averaged 16.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Cluff is connecting on 71.4 percent of his shot attempts. He's also shooting 79.2 percent at the foul line and has stabilized a young Jackrabbits team with four freshmen among the top seven scorers. "Oscar's just built the right way," said coach Eric Henderson. "We have probably played through the post more than any other team in the country the last five years and we just felt like we needed a big man that had some experience and boy does he ever." Cluff had a streak of five straight double-doubles, but that ended in recent losses to Nevada and Colorado. The Jackrabbits won 87-72 over Chadron State in their last game on Dec. 19. --Field Level Media

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NoneResults at the Dabokpa Technical Institute A polling stations, A, for Presidential at Tamale South ConstituencyBy ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Related Articles National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.Insurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad rule BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say government forces have withdrawn from much of the central city of Homs. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. Losing Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Syria’s embattled leader, Bashar Assad. An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has formally reopened its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and brings a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers gathered on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral's soaring arches. The celebration was attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp. And they held a hastically-arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. 2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors returned to the Hawaii military base on Saturday for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. Both are over 100 years old. They joined active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for an observance hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. How 'Mufasa' rose with Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy's voices along with new Lin-Manuel Miranda music SAN DIEGO (AP) — When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor. But instead of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion character. Pierre found parallels between himself and his character while filming his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters Dec. 20. He took the reigns as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin story.fortune gems jili download 。

Times News Network Ludhiana: With work on the new bridge over Buddha Dariya starting, residents of New Madhopuri can expect some relief from flooding caused by the drain overflowing. Work on the bridge was formally inaugurated on Friday. The existing bridge is small and obstructs the flow of the drain during heavy rainfall, leading to flooding. To address this, the municipal corporation floated tenders to build a new bridge at an estimated cost of Rs 1.96 crore under the Ludhiana Smart City Mission . The new bridge will be designed to facilitate smoother water flow, reducing the risk of waterlogging in surrounding areas. By constructing a higher and bigger bridge, the danger of waterlogging will be significantly reduced. The proposal to replace old bridges on Buddha Dariya with wider ones was first made a decade ago. However, financial constraints and other issues hindered progress till it was taken up under the Smart City mission. The project has to be completed by the end of March, 2025, which is the official deadline for remaining Smart City works. MLA, Ludhiana Central Ashok Prashar Pappi inaugurated development projects worth around Rs 5.67 crore in different areas of Ludhiana central constituency on Friday, including this bridge. He also launched projects to reconstruct streets in different areas of the constituency, including Amarpura, Janakpuri, Hari Kartar colony, Cheema colony, near Kusht Ashram, New Shivaji Nagar, Hargobind Nagar and Mohalla Bhardwaj. We also published the following articles recently No one wants to clean Buddha Dariya? Ludhiana's Buddha Dariya, a major Satluj River pollutant, remains a political pawn. Parties consistently pledge cleanup during elections, but little changes. A 650 crore rejuvenation project faces legal hurdles, and despite new treatment plants, pollution persists. Residents and political figures blame a lack of will and suggest stricter enforcement against polluting industries is crucial for real progress. Box bridge to be 1st direct Hatiara-New Town link A new 20-meter box bridge is being constructed over a feeder canal near Eco Park in Kolkata, connecting Hatiara and Nawpara to New Town. This Rs 1.3 crore project will provide a direct route, eliminating the current need for detours through inner lanes or a dilapidated bamboo bridge. Box bridge to be 1st direct Hatiara-New Town link A new 20-meter box bridge is being constructed over a feeder canal near Eco Park in Kolkata, connecting Hatiara and Nawpara to New Town. This Rs 1.3 crore project will provide a direct route, eliminating the current need for detours through inner lanes or a dilapidated bamboo bridge. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow recordMicrochip producer backs off from federal CHIPS funding award for Gresham plantNoneHundreds of people, including rank-and-file Construction Forestry Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) members, attended a public meeting to discuss defending the union from Labor’s anti-union laws on December 5. The meeting aimed to build community support for reinstating sacked CFMEU officials and the Anthony Albanese government’s anti-CFMEU law. It was organised by , a group of rank-and-file CFMEU and community members fighting for a democratic member-run union. Sue Bull from Defend the Unions, Defend the CFMEU told that “The turn-out was inspiring” and that “it demonstrates that it is possible to build a mass campaign opposing the CFMEU being placed under administration”. Former national CFMEU president Jade Ingham, WA Independent Senator Fatima Payman and criminal lawyer David Water addressed the meeting, which was chaired by Socialist Alliance Merri-bek councillor Sue Bolton. Ingham spoke about the and unions’ legal strategy to challenge the new laws which appoint an administrator to run every CFMEU branch. He said it was “fundamentally unconstitutional”. Albanese’s attack on the CFMEU was “never about corruption” Ingham said. “It was about political control ... taking out a political opponent ... an organisation that had both the means and the will to challenge the political establishment.” Water argued that the law targeting the CFMEU is one of the “most repressive” he has ever seen. He said that it contained “powers that violate basic legal principles” such as the right of silence, conflict of interests and confidentiality. There is “no right of appeal”, he said, adding that it is “fundamentally draconian”. Payman said Labor’s law targeting the CFMEU is a “fundamental betrayal of workers”. “Stripping workers of their representation is just a policy failure, but a human tragedy,” she said. “Labor party cannot claim to stand for workers while it systematically strips away their rights”. Discussion focused on how to build the CFMEU defence campaign. A statement in support of was read out. It said her unfair sacking “is yet another example of how this unprecedented anti-union legislation by the Albanese Labor government is preventing due process, natural justice and ignoring all democratic processes”. The meeting passed a motion to protest Van Arend’s sacking. It will be held on December 12 outside the Fair Work Commission at 11 Exhibition Street, Melbourne. [Click to join the Defend the CFMEU solidarity campaign. on December 10 to support the CFMEU High Court challenge.]

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By BASSEM MROUE and ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — The Syrian government fell early Sunday in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family after a sudden rebel offensive sprinted across government-held territory and entered the capital in 10 days. Syrian state television aired a video statement by a group of men saying that President Bashar Assad has been overthrown and all detainees in jails have been set free. The man who read the statement said the Operations Room to Conquer Damascus, an opposition group, called on all opposition fighters and citizens to preserve state institutions of “the free Syrian state.” The statement emerged hours after the head of a Syrian opposition war monitor said Assad had left the country for an undisclosed location, fleeing ahead of insurgents who said they had entered Damascus following the remarkably swift advance across the country. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and turn its functions over to a transitional government. “I am in my house and I have not left, and this is because of my belonging to this country,” Jalili said in a video statement. He said he would go to his office to continue work in the morning and called on Syrian citizens not to deface public property. He did not address reports that Assad had fled. Rami Abdurrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told The Associated Press that Assad took a flight Sunday from Damascus. State television in Iran, Assad’s main backer in the years of war in Syria, reported that Assad had left the capital. It cited Qatar’s Al Jazeera news network for the information and did not elaborate. There was no immediate statement from the Syrian government. As daylight broke over Damascus, crowds gathered to pray in the city’s mosques and to celebrate in the squares, chanting “God is great.” People also chanted anti-Assad slogans and honked car horns. In some areas, celebratory gunshots rang out. Soldiers and police officers left their posts and fled, and looters broke into the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense. “My feelings are indescribable,” said Omar Daher, a 29-year-old lawyer. “After the fear that he (Assad) and his father made us live in for many years, and the panic and state of terror that I was living in, I can’t believe it.” Daher said his father was killed by security forces and his brother was in detention, his fate unknown. Assad “is a criminal, a tyrant and a dog,” he said. “Damn his soul and the soul of the entire Assad family,” said Ghazal al-Sharif, another reveler in central Damascus. “It is the prayer of every oppressed person and God answered it today. We thought we would never see it, but thank God, we saw it.” The police headquarters in the capital appeared to be abandoned, its door left ajar with no officers outside. An Associated Press journalist shot footage of an abandoned army checkpoint where uniforms were discarded on the ground under a poster of Assad’s face. Footage broadcast on opposition-linked media showed a tank in one of the capital’s central squares. It was the first time opposition forces had reached Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured areas on the outskirts of the capital following a yearslong siege. The pro-government Sham FM radio reported that the Damascus airport had been evacuated and all flights halted. The insurgents also announced they had entered the notorious Saydnaya military prison north of the capital and “liberated” their prisoners there. The night before, opposition forces took the central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as government forces abandoned it. The city stands at an important intersection between Damascus, the capital, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The rebels had already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama, as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said rebel control of Homs would be a game-changer. The rebels’ moves into Damascus came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of the southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were by far the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad’s government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called Saturday for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad’s chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria’s border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Lebanese border officials closed the main Masnaa border crossing late Saturday, leaving many stuck waiting. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he was performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia is busy with its war in Ukraine. Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad’s forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Separately, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser said the Biden administration had no intention of intervening there. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation of a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015 and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama, the country’s fourth-largest city. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since the conflict broke out in March 2011. Qatar’s top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Abdulrahman Shaheen and Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Abby Sewell in Beirut; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar; and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report. Be civil. Be kind.

Our nation celebrates Thanksgiving in late November, as a nation, because of an October 1863 proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Prior to that, states celebrated on the dates of their choice. Using words you would more likely hear from a pulpit than a government leader these days, our 16th president invited his fellow citizens to set aside “a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.” History has shown Lincoln to be one of our more quotable presidents, particularly on matters involving leadership and freedom. Within weeks of his Thanksgiving proclamation, he would deliver the Gettysburg Address, with its memorable reference to “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” As the people of Washington pause to give thanks for the many blessings we have received, it’s also a good time to give credit to those who helped to make our state what it is. Some of Lincoln’s other words of wisdom lend themselves to that. Achievement has no color, Lincoln said. That would apply to familiar figures like Chief Seattle, who befriended settlers arriving in the Puget Sound area, and Centralia’s George Washington, born into slavery, who not only founded Lewis County’s largest city but kept it alive during difficult times through his courageous and compassionate leadership. It also brings in people like George Washington Bush, who became one of the first black landowners in Washington when he settled his family in Thurston County, and was also legendary for his generosity to neighbors and new settlers. Owen Bush, one of his sons, was among the most celebrated farmers in Washington. He was chosen in 1889 to serve in the first House of Representatives and would have an important role in the creation of a state agricultural college – today’s Washington State University. Lincoln also spoke multiple times about the importance of perseverance: “The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion,” is an example. Those words and his interest in discoveries and inventions call to mind both the historical and modern trailblazers of our state, from Mother Joseph, who led the founding of hospitals and schools across Washington, to industry leaders like George Weyerhaeuser, William Boeing, John Nordstrom, and Paul Allen. In his 1863 annual address to Congress, Lincoln did not just lay out a plan for the reconstruction of the nation. He also called for welcoming those seeking to become naturalized citizens as a “source of national wealth and strength.” While they are largely nameless today, the countless people who migrated here to become Americans – in Lincoln’s time and over the next century – also had a huge part in the growth of our state. The influence of Hispanics, Ukrainians, Russians, Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Filipinos, Scandinavians, Germans, Sephardic Jews, East Indians, Eastern Europeans and others can be seen in communities throughout Washington. It should be celebrated. Also, the day after Thanksgiving is designated as a legal holiday in Washington to recognize the immeasurable contributions of Native Americans and their remarkable cultures. In fact, this is the 10th anniversary of Native American Heritage Day, which was created by a state Senate bill. Lincoln hoped he would be remembered as someone who “always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” That describes some of the elected officials who should be remembered for their efforts to put our state on a better path — like the late Sen. Jeannette Hayner, the first woman to lead a house of our state Legislature, and former three-term Gov. Dan Evans, who recently passed at age 98. When Lincoln issued that first national Thanksgiving proclamation, the Civil War was just past its halfway point. Washington was only a territory, far removed from the fighting over the expansion of slavery. The issues before the territorial legislators who met in Olympia in 1863 included selecting a public printer, deciding whether legislators could grant divorces, and the proposed construction of an “adequate” wagon road between Puget Sound and Walla Walla. While those were important debates for a territory that was less than a decade old, they couldn’t compare to the strife in many of the 35 states that existed at the time of that first national Thanksgiving, Lincoln referred to the consequences of the war in his proclamation, which went on to recommend that the people “fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand” to do two things. The first was to heal the nation’s wounds. The second was to restore the nation to the “full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.” Washington has come a very long way in the 161 years since, especially when compared to other states. For instance, U.S. News and World Report recently ranked our state eighth in the nation overall, based on scores in eight categories that include health care, education, and crime. However, it’s important to know the same publication had ranked Washington second overall in 2023. The drop in this year’s overall ranking is due largely to crime rates. Our state sank to 39th in that category for 2024, compared to 19th the previous year. In the “opportunity” category, which covers affordability along with economic opportunity, our state fell to 37th in 2024. That’s down from an already troubling 31st in 2023. In turn, “affordability” is defined by the overall cost of living and the cost of housing. In that specific category, only California, Hawaii and New Jersey ranked worse than our state. In the education category, the publication ranked Washington 13th. I believe many K-12 parents would be skeptical about that, especially those who have seen their children suffer from post-pandemic learning loss. Sure enough, a closer look shows Washington ranking 32nd for “pre-K-12” and a dismal 40th place for college readiness. To use Lincoln’s words, these examples help show where our state needs healing. Our communities have been wounded by violence and lawlessness. Our families and employers have been wounded by the high cost of living. Our children have been wounded by misguided priorities. Republicans are working on policy and budget proposals to address all of this during the 2025 legislative session, which convenes in less than two months. In the meantime, the list of blessings received by our state since that first national Thanksgiving is a long one. Let’s offer thanks and praise for it. After the results of the general election came in, I observed the voters had spoken, and it was now time to get to work. Simply healing our state will take a great deal of work. Restoring it to Lincoln’s definition — the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and union — means reaching an even higher bar. Getting to that standard will take more leadership and vision from both sides of the political aisle than we have seen in some time. But it’s how we make our state better. ••• Sen. John Braun of Centralia serves the 20th Legislative District, which spans parts of four counties from Yelm to Vancouver. He became Senate Republican leader in 2020.Grant of Options to Purchase Common Shares

The federal cabinet convened in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss ongoing relief efforts in Parachinar and evaluate proposals for restructuring government ministries to enhance efficiency and reduce expenditures. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over the meeting where the cabinet was informed that all essential medicines have been ensured at hospitals in Parachinar. Additionally, the PM's helicopter has been designated to facilitate the transportation of patients from Parachinar to other cities for medical care as relief activities in the area are ongoing, with collaborative efforts from both federal and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governments. The session also focused on recommendations for right-sizing government ministries. The committee overseeing this policy presented its proposals for ministries such as Science and Technology, Commerce, Housing and Works, and National Food Security and Research. Key recommendations included complete closure of certain departments, mergers of some departments to streamline operations and reduction of staff by 30% in the secretariats of relevant ministries. If implemented, these measures are projected to save approximately Rs42.1 billion annually for the national exchequer. Cabinet members reviewed the recommendations and provided feedback. PM Shehbaz directed the committee to incorporate the Cabinet’s suggestions and submit a revised report for further deliberation. During the meeting, he expressed profound sorrow over the sectarian violence in Kurram District, which resulted in losses on both sides, while also criticising the K-P government's handling of the situation. "Both groups are armed in Kurram, but I do not wish to go into the details. The unfortunate part is that, at the time of this bloodshed, Islamabad was being attacked. Had the K-P government focused on it, the damage would have been less," he lamented. He concluded by saying, "I am not questioning anyone's intentions, but if the intent is otherwise, it will not benefit the country. I hope that PTI and the government will work together to find a solution in the best interest of Pakistan. We will move forward with sincerity, but both hands need to clap for success. I am hopeful that PTI will also work in the national interest." COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourAMMAN, Jordan — President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced Israel and Lebanon have reached a ceasefire agreement meant to pause fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah. The 14-month conflict has left more than 3,000 people dead. “Effective 4 a.m. tomorrow local time the fighting across the Lebanese-Israeli border will end. Will end,” Biden said from the White House. “This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. I applaud the courageous leaders of Lebanon and Israel end the violence.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Tuesday he had recommended that this government approve the agreement. Though the deal does not involve the separate conflict in Gaza Strip, Biden administration officials said they hoped it would lead to an agreement to end fighting there, too. Even as the deal was finalized, Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon, striking areas in the country’s southern and eastern regions, along with the suburbs of the capital — areas where Hezbollah holds sway. Several airstrikes also hit the heart of Beirut, killing at least 10 people, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. In a televised address on Tuesday evening local time, Netanyahu said he would present the outline of the proposal to the government, pushing his ministers to accept the move despite reservations from far-right leaders who are integral members of his coalition. “The length of the ceasefire will depend on what happens in Lebanon,” Netanyahu said. He added that Israel would maintain freedom to act against violations. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and seeks to arm itself, we will attack,” he said. The agreement would not immediately affect the fighting in Gaza Strip with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Netanyahu pushed his ministers to accept the agreement, arguing it would allow Israel to focus its attention on the threat from Iran, give Israeli troops an opportunity to replenish their stocks and isolate Hamas. The agreement will initiate a 60-day truce that would see both sides withdraw: Israeli troops out of south Lebanon to Israeli territory, and Hezbollah to areas north of the Litani River, some 18 miles north of the Lebanese-Israeli border. During the truce, a monitoring mechanism would be established that would ensure Hezbollah is not able to reconstitute itself or wage attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon. A U.S.-led committee would oversee implementation of the withdrawal. Lebanese officials say some 5,000 soldiers from Lebanon’s army — which has remained neutral during the conflict — would then enter south Lebanon, along with U.N. peacekeeping forces. Lebanon’s caretaker government is set to meet Wednesday morning to discuss the proposal; it is widely expected to be approved. Despite the optimism, many elements of the ceasefire proposal — which came about after vigorous negotiations brokered by the U.S. and France — remain unclear. One of the larger sticking points is whether Israel would be able to continue striking Hezbollah throughout Lebanon if the group attempts to reestablish a presence south of the Litani River, or if it continues to wage attacks on Israel or smuggle weapons. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told the U.N.’s Lebanon envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert on Tuesday that Israel would act “forcefully” against any breach of the ceasefire agreement. “If you do not act, we will do it, forcefully,” Katz said in a statement. “Any house rebuilt in south Lebanon and used as a terrorist base will be destroyed, any rearming or terrorist organization will be attacked, any attempt at transferring arms will be foiled, and any threat against our forces or our citizens will be immediately eliminated.” Lebanese leaders have dismissed such an agreement as an unacceptable breach of Lebanon’s sovereignty. The ceasefire would officially be an agreement between Israel and Lebanon. It includes a Lebanese lawmaker who has been negotiating on Hezbollah’s behalf. But Hezbollah, a paramilitary faction and political party which is backed by Iran, is not officially a party to the agreement. Another question is the fate of Hezbollah’s weapons. Before the war, the group was considered one of the world’s premier paramilitary factions, with an arsenal more powerful than that of the Lebanese army. The ceasefire agreement, which is based on a U.N. resolution that established a ceasefire in the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, has provisions that would force the group to surrender its arms. A ceasefire would end a 13-month conflict that began a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel, when Hezbollah initiated a rocket campaign in northern Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In the months of tit-for-tat strikes that followed, some 60,000 people from northern Israel and approximately 100,000 Lebanese from southern Lebanon were displaced. In September, Israel escalated its attacks, conducting thousands of airstrikes on Hezbollah-dominated parts of the country and starting an invasion that saw Israeli troops enter southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006. It also assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah . Since Oct. 8, 2023, more than 3,823 people have been killed in Lebanon and 15,859 injured, according to Lebanese government data, the majority of them in the last two months. More than 25% of those killed were women and children, according to the government data, which do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Meanwhile, some 1.2 million people — almost a quarter of Lebanon’s population — have been displaced, with wide swaths of the country destroyed. The Israeli government said on Tuesday that 78 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Hezbollah and its allies, including 47 civilians. Even as senior Israeli ministers were meeting at Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israeli warplanes launched some 180 airstrikes across the country, according to a statement from Israel’s military. It issued evacuation warnings for some cities. The military said it was targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure, including the group’s financial arm. Among the targets were four neighborhoods of central Beirut with which had previously been spared from the fighting. One raid hit Hamra, a popular shopping district in the capital which in recent months has become a sanctuary for hundreds of thousands displaced from the Dahieh, the constellation of suburbs south of Beirut where many of Hezbollah’s offices are headquartered. The Dahieh too was pounded by an intense barrage of more than 20 airstrikes, leaving the area obscured by a curtain of smoke and rocking buildings in adjacent neighborhoods. “The hysterical Israeli aggression this evening on Beirut and various Lebanese regions, which specifically targets civilians, confirms once again that the Israeli enemy does not respect any law or consideration,” said Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in a statement on Tuesday. He called on the international community “to act quickly to stop this aggression and implement an immediate ceasefire.” Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued its barrage against northern Israel, lobbing dozens of projectiles across the border. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

(NAPSI)—The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but when the average American is spending nearly $1,000 on gifts, food, and decorations, they can also be the most stressful. For many, the pressure to create a picture-perfect holiday can stretch budgets a bit too far. Many of today’s shoppers seek advice from their favorite online influencers, sourcing creative hacks, recipes, DIY projects, and tips to keep the holidays magical without overspending. In fact, 69% of consumers say they value and actively seek out influencer recommendations. Now, questions don’t need to get buried in the comments. This December, TextNow is flipping the script on holiday stress by introducing the Holiday Hotline , a free resource to help you navigate the season, with advice a mere text away. Whether it’s finding affordable gifts, creating a festive dinner on a budget, or even learning how to save on your monthly bills, the Holiday Hotline can make things simpler, cheaper, and—perhaps most importantly—more joyful. TextNow Holiday Hotline: Expert Advice at Your Fingertips From December 5–10, TextNow’s Holiday Hotline connects you with relatable experts (aka some of your favorite influencers including social media creator and podcast host Remi Cruz, Kayla Savings, and Melissa Weiss) who will share their go-to tips for a budget-friendly holiday. Here’s what you can expect: • Holiday Budgeting 101: Learn simple ways to stretch every dollar and avoid those dreaded post-holiday bills. • Affordable Gift-Giving Ideas: Thoughtful, creative gifts that won’t break the bank. • Festive Decorating on a Dime: Transform your home into a holiday wonderland with budget-friendly hacks. • Stress-Free Holiday Cooking: Recipes and meal-planning tips to impress your guests. Need more advice? Just text the hotline at 310-299-3584, and you’ll get personalized, practical tips sent straight to your phone. Win $1,000 for Your Holiday Dinner As if free expert advice wasn’t enough, TextNow is also giving you the chance to win big this holiday season. Enter the $1,000 Dinner Giveaway for a shot at a $1,000 gift card to cover your holiday expenses—whether it’s for food, gifts, travel, or whatever else makes your season special. Entering is simple: 1.Head to TextNow’s Instagram . 2.Like the giveaway post. 3.Share your best holiday tip in the comments (bonus: share the post to your story for an extra entry). 4.The giveaway runs from December 5-12, with winners announced from December 13-16. Save More This Holiday Season TextNow is more than just a phone service—it’s a way to take control of your budget, not just during the holidays but year-round. • Free Phone Service: Unlimited calling and texting on the nation’s largest 5G network free. No gimmicks, no contracts. • Free Essential Data: Get free data for such essential apps as maps, rideshare, and email when you activate your SIM card. • Additional Flexible Data Plans: Add extra data only when you need it, with hourly, daily, or monthly passes. Getting started with TextNow is easy. Download the app to call and text for free over Wi-Fi or unlock free cellular service with a $4.99 SIM card. Learn More For more details, visit www.TextNow.com . Word Count: 491Christopher Nolan is following his Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer” with a true epic: Homer’s “The Odyssey.” It will open in theaters on July 17, 2026, Universal Pictures said Monday. Details remain scarce, but the studio teased that it will be a “mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX technology.” It will also be the first time that an adaptation of Homer’s saga will play on IMAX film screens. Nolan has been an IMAX enthusiast for years, going back to “The Dark Knight,” and has made his last three films exclusively using large format film and the highest resolution film cameras. For “Oppenheimer,” the first black-and-white IMAX film stock was developed. Nolan hasn’t said specifically what the new technology for “The Odyssey” will be, but earlier this month he told The Associated Press that they’re in an intensive testing phase with IMAX to prepare for the new production. “They have an incredible engineering staff, really brilliant minds doing extraordinary work,” Nolan said. “It’s wonderful to see innovation in the celluloid film arena still happening and happening at the highest level possible.” “The Odyssey” will be Nolan’s second collaboration with Universal Pictures following “Oppenheimer,” which earned nearly $1 billion at the box office and won the filmmaker his first Oscars, including for best director and best picture . Rumors about his next project have been swirling ever since, with near-daily speculations about plot — none of which turned out to be true — and casting. While there are many reports about actors joining the ensemble, none has been officially confirmed by the studio. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against Facebook parent Meta , stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. The justices heard arguments in November in Meta's bid to shut down the lawsuit. On Friday, they decided that they were wrong to take up the case in the first place. The high court dismissed the company’s appeal, leaving in place an appellate ruling allowing the case to go forward. Investors allege that Meta did not fully disclose the risks that Facebook users’ personal information would be misused by Cambridge Analytica, a firm that supported Donald Trump ’s first successful Republican presidential campaign in 2016. Inadequacy of the disclosures led to two significant price drops in the price of the company’s shares in 2018, after the public learned about the extent of the privacy scandal, the investors say. Meta spokesman Andy Stone said the company was disappointed by the court's action. “The plaintiff’s claims are baseless and we will continue to defend ourselves as this case is considered by the District Court,” Stone said in an emailed statement. Meta already has paid a $5.1 billion fine and reached a $725 million privacy settlement with users. Cambridge Analytica had ties to Trump political strategist Steve Bannon . It had paid a Facebook app developer for access to the personal information of about 87 million Facebook users. That data was then used to target U.S. voters during the 2016 campaign. The lawsuit is one of two high court cases involving class-action lawsuits against tech companies. The justices also are wrestling with whether to shut down a class action against Nvidia . Investors say the company misled them about its dependence on selling computer chips for the mining of volatile cryptocurrency.

GAITHERSBURG, Md. (AP) — An FBI agent charged in Maryland with sexually assaulting two women contacted his alleged victims through social media with a promise to give them free tattoos and modeling work, police said Tuesday as they encouraged other potential victims to come forward. Neither woman knew that their alleged assailant, Eduardo Valdivia , was an FBI agent, Montgomery County Assistant Police Chief Nicholas Augustine said during a news conference. Valdivia used aliases, including Lalo Brown and “El Boogie,” as he contacted the women through an Instagram account for a tattoo parlor in Gaithersburg, Maryland, according to police. Valdivia sexually assaulted the women — both of whom are in their 20s — during photo shoots at a tattoo studio and at a hotel, police said. Both women told police that they feared Valdivia would have caused them more harm if they tried to resist or leave, according to a police affidavit. Valdivia presented the women with modeling contracts and threatened to take legal action if they didn’t return to model for him, Augustine said. Police detectives suspect that Valdivia may have sexually assaulted other women under similar circumstances, according to the assistant chief. “I would like to thank the victims that did come forward. They have now stopped this contact going on in our community and being brave to come forward to notify the police about what was going on, which most likely saved other people from being victimized,” Augustine said. Defense attorney Robert Bonsib said Valdivia’s interactions with the women were consensual. “This conduct is not going to get you the first pew in the church,” Bonsib told reporters outside the courthouse. “You’ve got to be realistic about the nature of what was going on. This was not criminal conduct.” A state district court judge on Tuesday ordered Valdivia jailed without bond, deciding he poses a danger to the community and a flight risk. A prosecutor, Rachel Morris, said during the hearing that a third potential victim had come forward and was being interviewed by police “as we speak.” Valdivia has been suspended by the FBI pending the conclusion of the police investigation. “The FBI takes allegations of criminal violations and misconduct very seriously,” an FBI spokesperson said in a statement Monday. “Because this is an ongoing investigation, the FBI cannot comment further.” Valdivia, 40, of Gaithersburg, previously was charged and acquitted in 2022 of attempted second-degree murder and other charges stemming from an off-duty shooting aboard a moving Metro train near Washington, D.C. Online court records show Valdivia now faces felony and misdemeanor charges, including two counts of second-degree rape. The alleged offenses date to May 2024 and September 2024. Police began investigating in October. The women were initially reluctant to come forward because they felt “held back” by language in contracts they signed to do modeling work, Augustine said. “We don’t know how long the business had been open, but he has been doing tattoos at least since February,” Augustine said. During the bond hearing, Bonsib read aloud emails that he said the women sent to Valdivia. He pointed to the emails as evidence that the encounters were consensual. Bonsib acknowledged that Valdivia posed as a modeling agency operator named Dr. Tiffany Kim in sending emails to the women about modeling contracts. One of the women told police that she found a photo taken of her by Valdivia posted on an Instagram page. A mutual friend recognized a photo of the other alleged victim on the same page and arranged for the women to contact each other, the police affidavit says. Bonsib has said Valdivia joined the FBI in 2011 and was promoted to supervisory special agent at the FBI headquarters in 2019. On Dec. 15, 2020, a confrontation between Valdivia and an unarmed passenger swiftly escalated from a testy exchange of words to a shooting on a train approaching the Medical Center station in Bethesda, Maryland. Valdivia shot and wounded the man from a distance of roughly 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters) after repeatedly telling the man to back up, county prosecutor Robert Hill said in court. The wounded man had part or all of his spleen, colon and pancreas removed during surgery after the shooting, Hill said. Bonsib has said Valdivia acted in self-defense as the man approached him at the rear of a train car. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!None

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What links the Princess of Wales, Donald Trump and the teenage darts sensation Luke Littler? The three are the most-searched people in the UK, according to Google’s end of year review. Littler beat pop stars, actors and sports stars to take third place in the search engine’s ranking of most-Googled individuals. The Euros , in which England’s men reached the final before losing to Spain, were the top-trending general search term. They were followed by the late One Direction star Liam Payne and Jay Slater , a British teenager who died while on holiday in Tenerife this year. In a bumper year for sport “when is the Euros final?” also appeared in the most-searched questions list. “How to watch the Olympics” was a popular search( MENAFN - The Conversation) This article commemorates World AIDS Day on December 1. The UNAIDS report shows that Indonesia recorded 540,000 HIV cases as of 2023. That year saw a record high of 57,299 new HIV cases, with 5.5% (3,151) of these cases affecting adolescents aged 15-19. Adolescents with HIV are at an increased risk of developing mental health disorders , such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These issues often stem from the emotional turmoil they experience, including feelings of disappointment, sadness, and anger as they struggle with accepting their HIV-positive status. HIV can profoundly influence the way adolescents think, behave, and interact with others-whether with family, friends at school, or the wider community. They might draw back from others , become reluctant to talk to anyone, become more selective about who they hang out with, and in some cases, think about ending their life . The World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that HIV isn't the only contributor to the deterioration of mental health of adolescents living with the virus. Other factors , such as family issues and social environment which can lead to stigma and personal anxiety, can actually worsen the problems. 1. Stigma and discrimination In Indonesia, approximately 50% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) face discrimination in community settings, schools, and healthcare. Around 68% also experience discrimination from their families and close friends. While stigma and discrimination around PLHIV are common, our research in Indonesia suggests that these experiences can worsen the mental health challenges faced by adolescents living with the infection. 2. Family conditions Family situations play a significant role in the mental health of adolescents living with HIV in Indonesia. Growing up in a broken home or a family with underlying conflict, for instance, makes it harder for them to effectively manage their lives. Also, a lack of support from parents or family members-who may be physically or emotionally absent-can leave them feeling isolated and lonely. 3. Personal anxiety Adolescents living with HIV also frequently grapple with concerns about how their status might impact their lives. They often anticipate negative reactions towards their HIV status such as rejections in relationships, limited educational opportunities and reduced job prospects. These worries can have an even more negative impact on their mental health. Reducing the risk of mental health problems in adolescents with HIV requires coordinated efforts from families, communities, NGOs, and the government. 1. HIV education for families Family members, especially parents , play a key role in meeting the emotional needs of adolescents with HIV. This highlights the importance of HIV education for parents from the government and NGOs. An effective strategy to provide HIV education for parents is by encouraging them to participate in HIV programs at schools and local community activities. HIV education should also be part of school curriculum and community activities so it reaches wider communities, including other family members. This can contribute to preventing the risk of family rejection and creating a supportive environment for adolescents living with HIV. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a kid, parents need support from other parents, the government, and NGOs to raise their children who live with HIV. 2. Neighbourhood initiatives Neighbourhood efforts are crucial in reducing stigma against adolescents with HIV. The neighbourhood can work together to change negative attitudes toward people living with HIV. This can be achieved through the encouragement of open discussions about HIV and promoting health awareness to prevent its transmission. Neighbourhood efforts include initiating HIV campaigns and sharing information about discriminatory and stigmatising attitudes and behaviours, as well as their impact on people living with HIV. 3. Expand counselling services NGOs need to expand counselling services and peer support groups for adolescents with HIV. One effective approach to do this is by partnering with schools to ensure that students living with HIV can participate in the learning process without encountering stigma or discrimination . 4. Strengthen policies The Indonesian government must strengthen policies to protect adolescents living with HIV from stigma and discrimination, particularly in schools and healthcare facilities. Funding for HIV programs should also be increased to raise public awareness about HIV. The challenges of stigma, discrimination and psychological burden of living with HIV can hinder adolescents emotional wellbeing. The government, NGOs, families, and communities need to work together to eliminate stigma and discrimination against PLHIV so they can thrive and have the same opportunities as those without HIV. This article was originally published in Indonesian MENAFN30112024000199003603ID1108942091 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Friday to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo despite vehement protests by governing party lawmakers, further deepening the country’s political crisis set off by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment. Han’s impeachment means he will be stripped of the powers and duties of the president until the Constitutional Court decides whether to dismiss or reinstate him. The court is already reviewing whether to uphold Yoon’s earlier impeachment. The impeachments of the country’s top two officials worsened its political turmoil, deepened economic uncertainties and hurt its international image. The single-chamber National Assembly passed Han’s impeachment motion with a 192-0 vote. Lawmakers with the governing People Power Party boycotted the vote and surrounded the podium where assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik was seated, shouting that the vote was invalid and demanding Woo’s resignation. No violence or injuries were reported. The PPP lawmakers protested after Woo called for a vote on Han’s impeachment motion after announcing its passage required a simple majority in the 300-member assembly, not a two-thirds majority as claimed by the PPP. In a statement, Han said his impeachment was regrettable but added that he respects the assembly’s decision and will suspend his duties to “not add to additional confusion and uncertainty.” He said he will wait for “a swift, wise decision” by the Constitutional Court. The deputy prime minister and finance minister, Choi Sang-mok, took over. Later Friday, Choi’s office said he instructed the military to boost its readiness to help prevent North Korea from miscalculating the situation and launching provocations. He also told the foreign ministry to inform the United States, Japan and other major partners that South Korea’s foreign policies remain unchanged. Han, who was appointed prime minister by Yoon, became acting president after the National Assembly impeached Yoon, a conservative, about two weeks ago over his short-lived Dec. 3 imposition of martial law. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Article content The Auston Matthews watch continues as the calendar year 2024 runs out on the Maple Leafs’ injured captain. There was hope that Matthews’, and the team’s, three days off during the NHL’s Christmas break would see him recover to be in the lineup Friday at Detroit, but coach Craig Berube ruled him out and added the strong likelihood that he misses Saturday’s home game against Washington, too. The match against the Red Wings was the third straight that Matthews has missed since an upper body injury flared up, approaching 13 total games he’s been sidelined if he doesn’t face the Capitals. Berube told the media in Detroit that Matthews is improving, but likely doesn’t play Saturday, pending a pre-game update. Mathhews’ next chance would be the New Year’s Eve matinee versus the Islanders, giving him two more days off. But from there, Toronto is playing almost every second day until late January. Matthews took a couple of hits a week ago in Buffalo, the most painful a cross-check to the lower back, likely the source of pain that had led him to see a specialist in Munich last month. Through 24 games this year, the defending Rocket Richard Trophy winner has 11 goals and 23 points. OVIE TO FACE LEAFS ON SATURDAY? A week ago, Matthews was set to play against the Caps, while Alexander Ovechkin was iffy to face the Leafs. Now, Ovie might solo Saturday night in the Toronto spotlight to resume his chase of Wayne Gretzky’s career goal record. Before fracturing his left fibula Nov. 18 against Utah, the Great Eight was 27 goals shy of The Great One’s 894. At age 39, Ovechkin managed to fast track his recovery and “is trending in the right direction” to be ready for the Leafs, Caps coach, Spencer Carbery, said on Friday. Ovechkin spent Friday’s practice in his usual first-line left-wing slot with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas. A few days before his injury, the trio looked very good against Toronto in a 4-3 overtime defeat. Ovechkin, with 44 goals against the Leafs in 60 career games, was held to an assist in that last outing. Caps defenceman John Carlson can’t wait for Ovechkin to be back in the dressing room where he has always been a force of energy, and on the ice to continue the Gretzky pursuit, while the club is fighting for first place in the Metropolitan Division. “We talked for days after he got hurt: You can’t replace him, you can’t replace his personality,” Carlson said. “All that stuff, his presence, scoring and on-ice ability ... I’ve played with a lot of guys and there’s not one person like him. “He wanted to stay close around the guys (while out) and it was meaningful, but I think now, the last week or so of practice, he’s getting unlocked and it’s fun to see.” “It’s incredible the magnitude of what’s going on around us (with the Gretzky race), him rolling in, having fun like a kid going out for recess. It’s fun for me and the young guys who haven’t been in the NHL. Their heads are spinning when he’s in the room. It’s a great achievement that he’s chasing and he has his biggest fans next to him.” WINGS NEEDED SHAKE-UP The timing of Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman firing head coach Derek Lalonde on Thursday likely had a bit to do with division rival Toronto being in town, the first of three home games with the Wings trying to stay out of the Atlantic Division cellar. They’d hoped to be in the wild-card playoff race this year, a predicament Yzerman must take some blame for in with his second coaching change after canning Jeff Blashill a few years ago. “Clearly we aren’t there, hence the change,” Yzerman said on Friday morning. This is new coach Todd McLellan’s first stint in the Eastern Conference after seven seasons in San Jose, four in Edmonton and five in Los Angeles. He was on the short list of the Leafs before they hired Berube to replace Sheldon Keefe last spring. The Melville, Sask., native developed his own successful bench style as an assistant under Mike Babcock with the Wings and Jacques Lemaire with the Minnesota Wild after cutting his teeth as a player as captain of the maverick WHL Saskatoon Blades in the mid-1980s. They had a roster of many future NHL rogues, notably Kelly Chase, Tony Twist, Kevin Kaminski, Shaun Van Allen, Kerry Clark — Wendel’s brother — and Brian Glynn. “We used to say it wasn’t a junior team, but a young offenders work release program,” laughed Chase in an earlier Sun interview. “Todd (who was in Chase’s wedding party) needed to have the maturity of a 30-year-old to deal with that group of troublemakers, the bar fights and so much more. “His dad was an RCMP officer (as was Leafs GM Brad Treliving’s father, Jim) and I’ll bet he went home and asked him how he should be dealing with us. But it was a good team and we all made sacrifices.” LOOSE LEAFS Defenceman Morgan Rielly knows a lot of what the Wings were going through the past couple of games. In his time as a Leaf, coaches Randy Carlyle and Babcock were fired during the season. “Whenever that happens, as players you think a lot about why your team is in that situation. There’s always some kind of a reaction when something like that happens” ... The NHL holiday roster freeze ends at 12:01 a.m., Saturday morning, with trade rumours swirling without the league. The Seattle Kraken, eight points out of a wild-card spot on Friday morning, might dangle 5-foot-9 centre Yanni Gourde, a player the Leafs are familiar with from their playoff battles against Tampa Bay and whose $5.1-million US contract nearing free agency could be more affordable closer to the March 7 trade deadline ... The Leafs went into Friday’s game tied with New Jersey for the most second-period goals (47). Lhornby@postmedia.com X: @sunhornby

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Russia is losing influence in Georgia and the South Caucasus to its allies China and Iran, a new report claims. It comes as thousands of protesters clashed with police on the streets of Tbilisi to oppose ​ruling party Georgian Dream's decision to freeze talks on the country's long standing bid to join the EU until 2028. For more than 30 years Moscow has been able to leverage various conflicts in the region to make itself a security guarantor. That image was already seriously dented in the eyes of neighbouring states by Russia ’s appalling military performance in Ukraine , which has seen what was intended to be a lightning four-day conquest turn into a protracted two-and-half-year conflict with tens of thousands of casualties. However, more damaging still - according to a new report by the RUSI think tank - is the increasing influence of China and Iran, which had been contained by Russia ’s influence, but which now, despite their alliance with Moscow, are taking advantage of the vacuum. Along with Turkey, their engagement in the South Caucasus has strengthened the region’s ties with Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia to the detriment of both Russia and the West. Russia is now scrambling to reset its position by focussing on other areas such as transport and communications, but it has a steep hill to climb. "There is a real prospect that the Kremlin’s efforts to forge a renewed regional role may prove unsuccessful, and Moscow may emerge from the process of realignment a significantly reduced regional force,” said the reports author Dr Neil Melvin , RUSI's Director of International Security. The Russia -friendly Georgian Dream party swept into power recently following controversial elections which were mired by corruption. But this does not signify the win that Russia claims. “While Georgian Dream is considered pro- Russia , actually it is playing both sides against each other to maintain its independence and power base - it has no desire to become a Russian vassal, so it makes assurances about not aligning itself with the West.” Equally, Russia ’s loss of influence doesn’t spell good news for the West. “For two decades now, the Euro-Atlantic community has essentially promised to Georgia that if it got its act together, it could join the EU and Nato. The people on the streets last week were reflecting that promise,“ he said. “But the West is unwilling to cross the red lines that Russia laid down in 2008, so I believe these are hollow promises now. “If the Euro-Atlantic community is to undercut Russia ’s effort to build a new position and retain a significant regional role, it will need to develop approaches capable of responding to and shaping the new South Caucasus geopolitics and geo-economics.” Regional expert Nathalie Vogel, of the institute of World Politics, said: “Those who are protesting represent Georgia’s modern educated elite with experience of the West, but this is not the overwhelming majority who live far from the capital in rural areas. “Georgian Dream claims they are the only party to protect Georgian from a Ukraine -like war and this is a reassuring message for the undedicated who have no access to the internet and don’t follow the news. “mIsrael 's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 12 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials said they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Airstrikes kill at least 12 Massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. No casualties were reported after many residents fled the targeted sites. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel had issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatieh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Monday that at least 12 people were killed in the strikes in the Tyre province, adding to the more than 3,700 people in Lebanon who have been killed since Israel launched its invasion two months ago. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians, and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. The latest round of airstrikes came weeks after Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military had previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding U.S.-led ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment in order to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because “we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire.” Hopes grow for a ceasefire Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were “close to a deal." “It can happen within days,” he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. Two Israeli officials told The Associated Press that Netanyahu’s security Cabinet had scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, but they said it remained unclear whether the Cabinet would vote to approve the deal. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing internal deliberations. Danny Danon, Israel’s U.N. ambassador, told reporters Monday that he expected a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah to have stages and to be discussed by leaders Monday or Tuesday. Still, he warned, “it’s not going to happen overnight.” After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force. Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel is demanding the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government has said that such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. A ceasefire could mark a step toward ending the regionwide war that ballooned after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. The lack of a ceasefire has emerged as a political liability for Israeli leaders including Netanyahu, particularly while 60,000 Israelis remain away from their homes in the country's north after more than a year of cross-border violence. Hezbollah rockets have reached as far south into Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers died fighting in the ground offensive in Lebanon. The Israeli military said about 250 projectiles were fired Sunday, with some intercepted. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the strongest of Iran’s armed proxies, is expected to significantly calm regional tensions that have led to fears of a direct, all-out war between Israel and Iran. It’s not clear how the ceasefire will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Hezbollah had long insisted that it would not agree to a ceasefire until the war in Gaza ends, but it dropped that condition. While the proposal is expected to be approved if Netanyahu brings it to a vote in his security Cabinet, one hard-line member, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, said he would oppose it. He said on X that a deal with Lebanon would be a “big mistake” and a “missed historic opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah.” If the ceasefire talks fail, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said, “it will mean more destruction and more and more animosity and more dehumanization and more hatred and more bitterness.” Speaking at a G7 meeting in Fiuggi, Italy, the last summit of its kind before U.S. President Joe Biden leaves office, Safadi said such a failure "will doom the future of the region to more conflict and more killing and more destruction.” ___ Federman reported from Jerusalem and Metz from Rabat, Morocco. Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Nicole Winfield in Fiuggi, Italy, and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Find more of AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Former history teacher Yamandú Orsi wins Uruguay election

President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump’s choice for solicitor general. The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. Trump has also reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the app during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He said earlier this year that he still believed there were national security risks with TikTok, but that he opposed banning it. This month, Trump also met with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. The filings Friday come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The law was was signed by President Joe Biden in April after it passed Congress with broad bipartisan support. TikTok and ByteDance filed a legal challenge afterwards. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute, leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” In their brief to the Supreme Court on Friday, attorneys for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance argued the federal appeals court erred in its ruling and based its decision on “alleged ‘risks’ that China could exercise control” over TikTok’s U.S. platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. The Biden administration has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok’s U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. But the government “concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so,” TikTok’s legal filing said, adding that the U.S. fears are predicated on future risks. In its filing Friday, the Biden administration said because TikTok “is integrated with ByteDance and relies on its propriety engine developed and maintained in China,” its corporate structure carries with it risk.Canadian foreign, finance ministers meet Trump's team on tariffsWASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee's long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations , including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican's bid to lead the Justice Department . Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report's release on Monday, slammed the committee's findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a Justice Department investigation into the allegations ended without any criminal charges filed against him. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” Gaetz wrote in one post on Monday. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Here's a look at some of the committee's key findings: ‘Sex-for-money arrangements,' drug-fueled parties and trips The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women "likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.” He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the “transactional nature” of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman’s request that he send her money, “claiming she only gave him a ‘drive by.’” Women interviewed by the committee said there was a “general expectation of sex,” the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that “99 percent of the time” that when she hung out with Gaetz “there was sex involved.” However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so “some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature," the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their “rendezvous,” the report said. While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled “on several occasions” with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she has a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does “$400 per meet.” Greenberg replied: “He understands the deal,” along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asks if they are old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him “really cute.” “Well, he's down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard," Greenberg replied. ‘Substantial evidence’ indicates that Gaetz had sex with underage girl, the committee said The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with “multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid.” The committee pointed to “credible testimony” from the now-woman herself as well as “multiple individuals" who corroborated the allegation. The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, “which she understood to be payment for sex,” according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was “certain” of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There's no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn't tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he didn't how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. Gaetz said evidence would ‘exonerate’ him but provided none of it In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. "Gaetz pointed to evidence that would ‘exonerate’ him yet failed to produce any such materials," the committee said. Gaetz “continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed.” The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as “nosey” and a “weaponization” of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 get-away with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt “to” the destination, but declined to share his return “from” the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would “welcome” the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would “no longer” voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation “frivolous,” adding: “Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.” The report said that while Gaetz’s obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress “act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House.” Justice Department didn't cooperate with the committee The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn’t disclose information about investigations that don’t result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, but after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over “publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual,” according to the report. “To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses,” the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn't want to “relive their experience,” the committee said. “They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ’s lack of action on their prior testimony,” the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women's statements. The agency's lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee's probe, lawmakers said. Lisa Mascaro And Alanna Durkin Richer, The Associated Press

Rewind 2024: Korea’s top 10 business stories Published: 24 Dec. 2024, 06:00 PARK EUN-JEE [email protected] Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI A television at a train station in Seoul broadcasts footage of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as he speaks during an election night event on Nov. 6. [AFP/YONHAP] 1. Trump 2.0 ignites fears in Korea over tariffs, currency woes Donald Trump’s landslide election victory in November raised alarms for the Korean economy, as the president-elect’s bold tariff proposals and policy shifts fueled uncertainties for the export-drive nation. The prospect of the incoming second Trump term, which is expected to implement an expansionary fiscal policy, also further strengthened the dollar, pushing the won’s value down. Related Article Rewind 2024: Korea’s top 10 news stories Trump's campaign has proposed a universal base tariff of at least 10 percent on all imports, a policy expected to hit Korea's export-reliant economy hard. The Korea Institute for International Economic Policy estimated that a 10 percent tariff would knock the country's shipments to the United States down by $15.2 billion per year and those to other countries by $7 to $8.9 billion. EV battery stocks were among the hardest hit, as shown in a post-election drop in their share prices, as Trump has repeatedly maintained critical views of EVs and indicated plans to repeal the outgoing Joe Biden administration's expanded manufacturing subsidies. Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun hosts a joint meeting on the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act with the private sector at JW Marriott Seoul. [YONHAP] As concerns have been growing for Korean chipmakers as well, especially with the president-elect’s cabinet nominees hinting at overhauling Biden’s CHIPS Act policy that promised a substantial amount of incentives for investments made on U.S. soil, the Commerce Department has been speeding up the process to finalize their funding deals with companies ahead of Trump's inauguration. SK hynix has been awarded up to $458 million in subsidies for its $3.9 billion chip packaging facility in Indiana on Dec. 19, while Samsung Electronics, which was initially promised up to $6.4 billion, secured direct funding of up to $4.75 billion , as the chipmaker scaled back its investment plans from $45 billion to $37 billion. 2. Exchange rate blows past 1,400 won to the dollar with turbulent end of year An exchange rate of 1,400 won per dollar, once a significant threshold, has become less of an outlier in 2024 as the continued strengthening of the greenback coupled with Korea's political and economic uncertainties sent the local currency plunging to a 15-year low. On Dec. 19, the won tumbled to its weakest point since March 2009 to breach the 1,450 per dollar mark, as the U.S. central bank hinted at a hawkish shift with fewer rate cuts next year. A screen in Hana Bank's trading room in central Seoul shows the Kospi opening and the won trading above 1,450 to the dollar on Dec. 19. [YONHAP] The won's already-sharp weakening trend has accelerated, trading at a two-year low since November, weighed down by U.S. policy shifts, President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration and the country’s waning growth momentum. A won-dollar exchange rate of 1,400 has been widely considered a theoretical threshold to warrant government intervention. Before 2024, the rate had surpassed the mark only during three major financial crises: the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2008 global financial crisis and 2022 post-pandemic monetary tightening. While authorities have offered assurances that the country's foreign exchange situation does not constitute a crisis, the consistently high won-dollar rate may stimulate inflation and slow down the pace of rate cuts in the upcoming year for the Bank of Korea (BOK). The central bank kicked off its monetary easing cycle on Oct. 11 with a 25-basis-point reduction to 3.25 percent, its first key rate cut since May 2020, as the country’s headline inflation moderated to below the 2 percent threshold. Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong bangs the gavel at the central bank in central Seoul on Nov. 28. [JOINT PRESS CORPS] The decision followed the U.S. Federal Reserve’s 0.5 percentage point reduction to a range of 4.75 to 5 percent in September, its first easing since 2020. The Fed implemented two additional 25-basis-point rate cuts on Nov. 7 and Dec. 18, to a final range of 4.25 to 4.5 percent for the year. During the same period, the BOK reduced its benchmark rate by an additional 25 basis points to 3 percent in its final rate-setting meeting on Nov. 28, which defied market expectations as the high won-dollar rate has been considered a major risk factor. The BOK, however, prioritized boosting Korea’s weakening growth momentum, as the country faces a harsher trade environment with the incoming U.S. administration’s protectionist policy proposals and an export growth slowdown. 3. Samsung suffers tumultuous year with HBM, labor missteps Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun makes a celebratory speech at the Giheung campus in Gyeonggi on Nov. 18. [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS] Samsung Electronics faced a grueling year in 2024 as it grappled with a prolonged slump in its semiconductor business , prompting its leadership to issue an unprecedented public apology. Adding to its woes, the company confronted a historic labor dispute with its unionized workforce, fueling concerns over a potential existential crisis for a corporation that claimed market capitalization of 16.1 percent in the country’s main bourse as of Dec.18. The year initially showed promise, with its chip division rebounding to profitability in the first quarter after record losses the previous year due to a global chip glut. However, momentum faltered quickly as the year progressed. By the third quarter, earnings had missed estimates, prompting Samsung’s semiconductor chief Jun Young-hyun to issue the first public apology regarding the earnings in the company’s history. Jun acknowledged failures in maintaining a competitive technological edge. While the apology merely contained vague terms, it was clear that the core issue stemmed from Samsung’s shortcomings in high bandwidth memory (HBM) technology — critical for AI chips. Crosstown rival SK hynix continued to secure Nvidia’s approval for successive HBM generations, leaving Samsung struggling to keep pace. Meanwhile, labor unrest escalated as unionized workers staged the first strike in the company’s history over stalled wage negotiations. That talks remain unresolved. Investor frustration was evident as Samsung’s share price sank to the 40,000 won ($28) level in November. In response, the company announced a 10 trillion won share buyback program to restore market confidence. 4. Mercedes-Benz EQE fire damages 880 cars, disrupts 1,600 households Korea’s fear of EV fire reached its peak in 2024 after a Mercedes-Benz EV burst into flames in an underground parking lot in an apartment complex in Incheon in August. The Mercedes EQE sedan exploded on Aug. 1 and damaged as many as 880 nearby cars, including 87 that burned entirely in the parking lot. The incident cut electricity and water supply to some 1,600 households in the apartment complex at the time, with 400 of them having suffered for more than four months now. A Mercedes-Benz executive examines a burned Mercedes EQE sedan in Incheon on Aug. 8. The Mercedes EQE EV explosion damaged as many as 880 vehicles parked in the garage. [NEWS1] A total of 139,067 EVs were sold in Korea through the end of November, according to market tracker CarIsYou, down 7.2 percent compared to same period a year earlier. The exact cause has not been declared, according to the police, as the battery management system in the vehicle that monitors the conditions of the car was destroyed. The Mercedes EV explosion spread anger and fear regarding EV fires after it turned out that the EQE was equipped with batteries made by Chinese company Farasis Energy. Some Mercedes owners launched lawsuits against the German carmaker claiming they'd been deceived by the company after a Mercedes executive said the vehicle would include batteries from Contemporary Amperex Technology, the world’s largest EV battery maker, in an interview. 5. Korean Air completes acquisition of Asiana Airlines Asiana Airlines and Korean Air planes at Incheon International Airport on Nov. 29 [YONHAP] Korean Air finalized the acquisition of Asiana Airlines, bringing the country’s two largest full-service carriers a step closer to initiating a merger to give birth to a top 10 global mega carrier. The country’s flagship airline acquired 63.9 percent of Asiana Airlines on Dec. 12 after obtaining approvals from regulators in all 14 mandatory reporting bodies, including the European Union and the United States. To fulfill merger conditions regarding monopoly concerns, Korean Air divested four European routes — to Paris; Rome; Barcelona, Spain; and Frankfurt — to budget carrier T’way Air and sold off Asiana’s cargo business to Air Incheon. Korean Air will maintain Asiana as a subsidiary airline for two years and finalize the merger process by 2026. The merger could place Korean Air among the 10 biggest airlines in the world, ahead of Japan Airlines. The new integrated airline will own a total of 238 aircraft, of which 203 are passenger planes, with some 27,500 employees including 9,000 flight attendants. The amalgamated carrier will have 186 operational routes with Korean Air’s 114 and Asiana’s 72. The merger will also lead to a merger of three budget carriers: Korean Air-owned Jin Air, and Asiana’s Air Seoul and Air Busan. 6. Korean consortium wins bid for $17 billion Czech nuclear reactor project A view of the new Dukovany nuclear power plant site in the Czech Republic [KHNP] A Korean consortium was selected in July as the preferred bidder for a $17 billion nuclear reactor project in Czech Republic, paving the way for winning the country’s largest nuclear power export deal in history. The selection was critical for Korea as a litmus test to gauge the European nation’s perception of the country as a supplier of nuclear reactors, since the sensitive nature of the facility could convince buyers to favor EU providers. A consortium led by the state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) competed with EDF, France’s state-run electricity corporation, and previously with Westinghouse Electric of the United States. The Korean and Czech governments aim to finalize the deal by March 2025, but some media outlets have speculated that ongoing domestic political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived martial law declaration could hamper the procedure. Both the Seoul and Prague have stated that the process is going as planned. 7. Korean food exports projected to hit $10 billion in 2024 with ramyeon, gimbap surging The global hype for Korean food has yet to fizzle out. Food exports are set to record a yearly high in 2024 on the back of continued strong demand for ramyeon, rice products and snacks. Clockwise from left: ramyeon, chocolate biscuit snacks and frozen gimbap (seaweed rice rolls) [NEWS1, YONHAP] Korea’s food exports hit a fresh high of $9.05 billion through November, up 8.1 percent from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The amount is nearing the government’s annual year target of $10 billion. Processed goods led the way. Sales of the top export, instant noodles, rose 30 percent on year to $1.13 billion in the January to November period. Major ramyeon manufacturers laid the groundwork for new production lines and overseas offices over the year in anticipation of even more demand in 2025. Samyang Foods had a smashing year with its Buldak Ramen products and is gunning to even further expand its global reach through its first overseas factory in China as well as new plants in Korea. Shin Ramyun maker Nongshim invested in an export-only plant in Busan and is set to establish a sales unit in Europe next year. Rice products like frozen gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), instant steamed rice and tteokkbokki (spicy rice cakes) also continued to rise thanks to demand in major markets like the United States and China. Snacks and beverage exports also rose by more than 10 percent on year through November. The United States imported $1.4 billion worth of Korean food, up 20 percent on year, during the 11-month period. Sales growth is expected to increase through the end of the year as Korean products hit the shelves of major retailers. China-bound exports increased 7 percent to $1.38 billion. The increase in exports, however, had some downsides for domestic customers. Gim (dried seaweed) prices jumped as demand grew overseas, due to its popularity as both a snack and a gimbap ingredient. 8. AliExpress grows in Korea as TMON, WeMakePrice melt down Chinese e-commerce platforms AliExpress and Temu cemented their strong presence in the Korean market through cheap prices backed by aggressive investments — despite never-ending concerns about their products’ quality and safety. AliExpress became the second most-used shopping app in Korea in the January-October period with 8.48 million average monthly active users according to data from market tracker WiseApp, Retail, Goods. While the number is overshadowed by that of Coupang, which has 31.17 million average monthly users, AliExpress experienced on-year growth of 68 percent while Temu, currently sitting in fourth, grew 179 percent on year and reported 7.21 million average monthly active users. AliExpress announced March that it planned to invest $1.1 billion in Korea in the next three years, including the construction of a $200 million distribution center in the country. Actors Tang Wei, left, and Don Lee serve as ambassadors of AliExpress Korea. [SCREEN CAPTURE] But not all has been smooth sailing. The Korean government banned the import of 1,900 or so products from China in May after claiming to have found toxic materials in certain items such as toys and camping equipment. E-commerce platforms TMON, WeMakePrice and their parent company Qoo10, along with merchants that were operating on the platforms, suffered greatly. The platforms had fallen behind on payments owed to merchants operating on their sites, which were allegedly used in embezzlement, including funding for Qoo10's acquisition of the U.S. shopping platform Wish earlier this year. The three platforms currently owe an estimated 1.85 trillion won ($1.27 billion) and their executives were indicted without detention on Dec. 11. 9. SK Group chairman faces historic divorce settlement SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, left, and his estranged wife Roh Soh-yeong attend an appeals trial at the Seoul High Court on April 16. [YONHAP] SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won’s high-profile divorce case with estranged wife Roh Soh-yeong took an unexpected turn this year when the Seoul High Court significantly increased the property division settlement in Roh’s favor. In May, the court ordered Chey to pay 1.38 trillion won ($960 million) to Roh, marking the most expensive divorce settlement in Korean history and a staggering 20-fold increase from the initial 66.5 billion won determined in the first trial. The higher court sided with Roh’s argument that her late father, President Roh Tae-woo, had played a substantial role in SK Group’s growth, rendering Chey’s SK shares subject to property division. The court assessed the couple’s combined assets at 4 trillion won, awarding Roh 35 percent. Chey promptly appealed , citing "critical errors" in the court’s assessment of Roh’s contributions to the conglomerate’s success. He argued that the court overstated her influence, claiming that much of the company's success is owed to his father and late SK Chairman Chey Jong-hyun. Although the Seoul High Court acknowledged minor calculation errors , it upheld the settlement amount. In November, the Supreme Court accepted Chey’s appeal in another surprise move, deciding to re-examine the case. Should the Supreme Court fully support Chey’s claims, the amount of wealth subject to division could drop to 2 trillion won. 10. Naver-Line leak sparks clash between Korea and Japan Cybersecurity concerns surrounding Line Yahoo (LY), the Tokyo-based operator of the popular messenger Line, spawned a national dispute between Japan and Korea, as the Japanese government pressured Korea’s leading portal, Naver, to cut ties with LY. The issue stemmed from an incident in October 2023 where 510,000 items of private information belonging to Line users were leaked through Naver Cloud, the operator’s subcontractor. In turn, Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in April ordered LY to develop measures to prevent such occurrences. What aroused concern in Korea was that the ministry also requested LY to review its capital relationship with Naver. LY is 64.5 percent owned by A Holdings, a 50:50 joint venture between Naver and SoftBank. Although Naver retains management rights, relinquishing even a single share would transfer those rights to Japan’s SoftBank, deterring the Korean company’s plans for overseas expansion. As SoftBank and Naver floated the possibility of the latter’s equity divestment in LY, seemingly giving in to Tokyo’s duress, the Korean government belatedly chimed in to oppose the matter. Naver’s entire stake valuation was estimated to be 10 trillion won ($6.8 billion). Following three months of intense negotiations among the involved parties, the tension eased when Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon stated during the parliamentary audit on July 2 that the company would not be divesting its equity “in the short term.” BY JIN EUN-SOO, LEE JAE-LIM, SARAH CHEA, SHIN HA-NEE, CHO YONG-JUN, KIM JU-YEON, PARK EUN-JEE [ [email protected] ] var admarutag = admarutag || {} admarutag.cmd = admarutag.cmd || [] admarutag.cmd.push(function () { admarutag.pageview('3bf9fc17-6e70-4776-9d65-ca3bb0c17cb7'); });

Trump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations if they act to undermine U.S. dollar

No. 14 Arizona State and No. 17 Iowa State would play for the Big 12 title and likely College Football Playoff spot on Dec. 7 if they both win Saturday and there's a four-way tie for first place. There are seven other teams that begin this week with hopes, slim in most cases, of getting into the game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Last week it was No. 19 BYU and No. 23 Colorado that had the inside track to the championship game. Arizona State beat the Cougars and Kansas knocked off the Buffaloes, and here we are. "Everybody counted us out, I think, two weeks ago," Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said after his team beat Utah 31-28. "We didn't flinch. We didn't waver. And we just keep fighting." The Cyclones were national darlings the first half of the season as they won seven straight games to match the best start in program history. Back-to-back losses to Texas Tech and Kansas followed. Now they've won two straight heading into "Farmageddon," their rivalry game against Kansas State at home. "Right now they've got the pen and they continue to write the story," Campbell said of his players, "and I hope they will continue to write it the way they've got the ability to write it. Unwavering. Tough, mentally tough, physically tough. This group has stood for it every step of the way." Arizona State has been an even better story than the Cyclones. The Sun Devils have six more wins than they did last season, when they went 3-9. They were picked to finish last in their first year in the Big 12. They'll go for their fifth straight victory when they play at Arizona on Saturday. "These guys came off no momentum and everybody doubting them, and everybody is still doubting them. That's what makes this special," second-year coach Kenny Dillingham said. "Hopefully the expectations become higher. I don't know if there's a way we can exceed expectations more than we're exceeding them right now." Checking in on five of the Top 25: No. 1 Oregon The Ducks were idle Saturday after clinching a spot in the Big Ten championship game with their win at Wisconsin on Nov. 16. Oregon can go 12-0 in the regular season for the first time since 2010 if it beats Washington at home this week. Oregon's only two losses last season came against the Huskies, both decided by three points. The first was a top-10 matchup in the regular season and the second was a top-five matchup in the Pac-12 championship game. The Ducks are 19 1/2-point favorites this time, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. No. 2 Ohio State The Buckeyes' showdown with upstart Indiana combined with Michigan's dropoff after winning the national championship have lowered the volume on this week's meeting with the Wolverines at the Horseshoe. If Michigan beats Ohio State a fourth straight time and it keeps the Buckeyes out of the Big Ten championship game and playoff ... well, there'll be lots of noise in Columbus then. No. 3 Texas The Lone Star Showdown returns to the gridiron for the first time since 2011, when Texas and Texas A&M were in the Big 12. The Longhorns head to No. 20 Texas A&M on a four-game win streak. The Aggies have lost two of three after Saturday's four-overtime loss at Auburn. The winner advances to the Southeastern Conference championship game against Georgia. No. 11 Boise State The Broncos are tied with Notre Dame for the second-longest active win streak, at nine games, and they seem to have adopted a survive-and-advance mantra. They trailed 23-point underdog Wyoming in the fourth quarter before winning 17-13 and clinching a spot in the Mountain West championship game. They won their previous game, 42-21 against San Jose State, but didn't pull away until the fourth quarter. Two weeks ago they beat a three-win Nevada team 28-21. No. 22 Illinois Just when you think Illinois is about to cash in for the season, they do what they did against Rutgers. The Illini were down 31-30 when they lined up for a 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds left. Ethan Moczulski missed. But wait. Rutgers called timeout before the snap, and Bret Bielema thought better of trying another kick and sent his offense back on the field. Luke Altmyer passed to Pat Bryant for the winning 40-yard touchdown. The Illini won't play for the Big Ten title, but they have a chance for nine wins and a nice bowl. Extra Points Ohio State played in three of the five regular-season top-five matchups and won three of them. The Buckeyes lost to Oregon and beat Penn State and Indiana. ... Kansas' 37-21 win over Colorado made the Jayhawks the first FBS team with a losing record to beat three straight Top 25 opponents. The Jayhawks, who were 2-6 a month ago, will be bowl eligible if they win at Baylor. ... Nebraska ended the longest power conference bowl drought with its 44-25 win over Wisconsin. The Cornhuskers haven't played in a bowl since 2016.

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