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Nate Johnson scores 25 as Akron defeats Alabama State 97-788 Thanksgiving mistakes: Frozen or overcooked turkey, too many sides and other common holiday miscues
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole has entered into a partnership with the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) in a bid to tackle economic challenges currently facing the country. Speaking at the Weekend while in an interactive session with the organized private sector in Lagos, the Minister expressed commitment to ensure that businesses are supported by consistent policies and actionable measures. “We’ve talked about inflation, interest rates, and the need for single-digit interest rates to boost productivity for their members across the country by getting enablement, facilitation and access to credit. “We’ve talked about several issues concerning smaller businesses, and financial inclusion and they’ve spoken for underserved members of their constituencies.” Oduwole assured NACCIMA of the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing market constraints and enhancing access to credit for small and medium businesses. “We’ve also talked about the types of policies that NACCIMA members would like to see in 2025 and I have assured them that Mr President is committed to policy consistency.” “Nigeria is open for business, and we are not going back on reforms or policies. We have talked a bit about priorities that NACCIMA members would want to see in the area of trade, how we implement the trade agreement and make sure to be consistent and support NACCIMA businesses when they are trading across the region and internationally.” The Minister further stated that there is a need for prioritising trade facilitation and implementing trade agreements to benefit Nigerian businesses locally and internationally. “NACCIMA is a key gateway for Nigerian businesses in terms of market access,” she said, adding that the association’s role in ensuring compliance with rules of origin is pivotal.” She also noted the importance of diversifying beyond goods to services, technology, and the creative sector. “President Bola Tinubu is committed to your prosperity. NACCIMA is explicitly mentioned in my mandate as Minister, and that underscores how seriously this administration takes your concerns” Oduwole stated. On his part, NACCIMA President, Dele Oye, expressed confidence in the new partnership, asserting “The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is our government access. “This is the only ministry that has a full mandate over the private sector. Some of the work we do are based on mandates, including trade fairs and certificates of origin; directly from the ministry and that’s why we must continue to work together to make Nigeria a destination for business for direct investment also to retain investments. “The Minister has assured us that she’s going to work very closely with us to make sure some of the issues we have within government policies or several other issues are resolved in an amicable and time-conscious fashion”. Oye urged members to remain optimistic about the opportunities ahead, noting that “I will take the message back to our members so that they can continue to invest and also to encourage our colleagues who are thinking of ‘Japaing’ (emigrating) that there’s a new minister and we don’t want them to be caught in the air while we are reaping the successes and the advantages and the incentives the Minister is going to create to further retain businesses in Nigeria” he said. ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Intra-African trade low, despite more than 40 distinct currencies in continent —AfreximbankMost of us are not professional chefs or caterers or decorators, so the thought of cooking for and entertaining a Thanksgiving crowd can be daunting. That's why we turned to the experts — professional chefs and caterers and interior designers — to discuss some typical Thanksgiving mistakes and how to avoid them. "The overriding first mistake people make is they think they have more time than they do," said Bistro to Go Cafe and Catering executive chef Kate Kobylinski. She regularly hosts her extended family of 30 and knows "every single problem." "Food takes longer to cook, the table takes longer to set and houses take longer to clean than you think." Clean your house on Monday. On Wednesday, dice vegetables so they're "food-show ready," as Kobylinski put it. Prepare (but don't cook) your green bean casserole (leaving off garnishes like fried onions) so it can just be popped in the oven and set the dining room table. Don't feel that you have to do everything yourself. But be as specific as possible when doling out the assignments. "Don't let them make their own decisions!" Kobylinski said emphatically. Thanksgiving is "micromanager's heaven." For example, have someone bring ice on Thanksgiving Day because going out to buy it takes time and ice hogs freezer space. If you don't like making desserts, have someone bring one. If a guest wants to prepare a side dish, great, but decide beforehand what they will bring. Ahead of dinner, interior designer Kacie Cope likes to set out all of her serving platters with Post-it notes attached denoting what will go on them. "You'll be amazed if you have them labeled," she said. "People can help in a jiff." During the evening, Kobylinski gives people assigned jobs, such as serving drinks or taking charge of an after-dinner game. And the chef is forgiving about using premade ingredients, like gravy or cranberry jelly. "There's no right or wrong way to make any of your foods," she said. But you might want to give a homemade touch to prepared ingredients, like adding sauteed onions or celery to prepared gravy. "Everyone goes into Thanksgiving Day with a half-frozen turkey," said Kobylinski. "And you can't get the bag of giblets out because they're frozen in place." It takes one day for every 4 pounds of turkey meat to defrost in the refrigerator. (No, it is not safe to leave your frozen turkey out on the counter to thaw and breed bacteria.) So if you've got a 20-pound bird, you've got to start thawing on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. However, there are other methods. Kobylinski suggests submerging the bird and running a thin stream of cold water over it. "It doesn't have to be a lot of water." The U.S. Department of Agriculture says there are only three ways to safely thaw food: In the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave. To safely thaw turkey in cold water, the USDA says it takes about 30 minutes per pound. Put the turkey in a leak-proof plastic bag to prevent cross-contamination and submerge it. Change the water every 30 minutes, and cook immediately when it's thawed. If opting for your microwave, follow its instructions for thawing and cook immediately. Then, if you're running late and need to speed things up to satisfy the hungry hordes, you can cut the bird in half before cooking (skin side up). This significantly reduces cooking time, requiring about 10 minutes per pound. Kobylinski also recommends resting the turkey on vegetables in the oven to keep the bottom from getting burned. Private chef and culinary educator Emily Larsen warns that those plastic thermometers in supermarket turkeys are setting you up for failure. The USDA says that you should cook a turkey until the internal temperature is 165 degrees. Plastic thermometers don't pop out until the breast meat is at about 180 degrees, "when your turkey is completely dry," Larsen said. Plus, people forget that meat continues to cook once it's out of the oven. She recommends taking a bird out of the oven when it is at 155 degrees — she likes to use an inexpensive instant-read folding probe thermometer — and continue to monitor it. (Insert it into the thickest part of the breast, avoiding the bone.) "Ten dollars [for the thermometer] can save your Thanksgiving," she said. Some feel that buying a frozen rather than fresh bird is another no-no, since freezing leaches water out of the turkey. However, if, despite your best efforts, your turkey is lacking moisture, Kobylinski has a fix: Put warm chicken or turkey stock and clarified butter into a mister and spritz sliced turkey with it before serving. "The same with stuffing if it's too dry," she said. Thanksgiving Day is not the time to try out a completely new recipe. And you don't have to lay out 10 side dishes. In addition to opting for a simple menu, Kobylinski also recommends figuring out how long your items will take to cook and what method of cooking it requires ahead of time. Your turkey will be monopolizing your oven for four hours, so other oven foods should be limited or be easily reheated during the time that the turkey is resting. (As for resting a turkey, the chef puts her turkey on a hot plate with towels over it so "the meat rebinds itself and stabilizes for a smoother cut.") "Stovetop items should be staggered," she said, so you don't have a frying pan and three pots all going at once. As a sample menu, she suggests you might have one baked potato dish and one mashed. And for vegetables, one baked dish and one that is blanched or grilled. Interior designers advise against going too crazy with holiday-specific décor. "There's a lot that's being sold to us that we feel like we need," said Pittsburgh interior designer Amanda Bock. Do you really need a turkey-shaped vase or pilgrim figurines? "They're out for two weeks, and then you have to figure out where to store them," agreed Cope. "It takes an already busy season and makes it stressful in an unnecessary way." Cope says you can take things that are already part of your menu and use them as décor — a bowl of nuts or cranberries, or even removing the label from a cranberry sauce tin and repurposing it as a vase for flowers and fall leaves. Bock adds that dining room table décor should be kept to a minimum, since you'll need space for your food. You don't have to have "big chargers and five plates and three different glasses, plus all of your Thanksgiving food on the table," Bock said. If you do have flowers or a centerpiece in the middle of the table, keep it low, Cope advised. "That way, you can actually see the person who's across the table from you." Tableware and tablecloths might be in fall colors, so they can be repurposed throughout the season. Water glasses or wine goblets could be amber-toned, Bock suggests. Well in advance of your guests' arrival, think critically about the setup of your home. Don't be afraid to rearrange your furniture so your guests move to different areas and don't all congregate in your kitchen. "You want to make sure that there are areas where people can sit and chat, watch the parade or just hang out together," Bock said. Set up a drinks station and an hors d'oeuvres station in different parts of the house, Bock suggests. Though, she admits, "I can't do that in my house because my dogs would just gobble up the hors d'oeuvres." She suggests repurposing a kitchen nook for kid seating, or as a serving area. Kobylinski might set up a half-built puzzle in a side room. She even puts out winter jackets and boots for "the gentlemen" for the moment when she urges them to go out on the porch to smoke cigars and drink brandy so they won't be underfoot. As a finishing touch, don't neglect to set the mood by using lamps around the room instead of harsh overhead lights. Putting out tapers or tea candles establishes an intimate feeling. "That just leans into the cozy fall vibe," Cope said of low lighting. But don't use scented candles, Bock warns. Or a smelly flower arrangement. "That can overwhelm you when you're eating," Bock said. Putting on a favorite music playlist can set the mood and take away self-consciousness, especially early in the evening. The most important thing on Thanksgiving is simply for everyone to enjoy each other's company. A little advance preparation can help you, the host, stay relaxed throughout the evening so you can interact with your guests. As Bock advised, "Keep it simple for Thanksgiving." Let friendship and fellowship be the stars of the show. The 98th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade coverage is slated from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST Thursday, Nov. 28. This year's event will feature 28 clown crews, 26 floats, 16 giant balloons, 11 marching bands, five performance groups, three "baloonicles"—cold-air inflatables driven down the parade route, and numerous performers. Stacker curated a selection of photographs from the past century of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to help illustrate the history of the iconic event. The parade in New York City, presented by department store chain Macy's, was first held in 1924 under the heading "Macy's Christmas Parade" to promote holiday sales and spotlight the newly expanded and, at the time, largest in the world Herald Square store in Manhattan. The success of the event led organizers to turn the spectacle into an annual tradition. Each year, the parade ends outside the same Herald Square Macy's location. The event has been televised nationally since 1953 on NBC. The parade at first featured Central Park Zoo animals escorted by Macy's employees and professional entertainers for 6 miles from 145th Street in north Manhattan's Harlem to Macy's. A quarter of a million onlookers lined the streets. Real animals were replaced with balloons in 1927; that same year, the name of the event was changed to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The longest-running parade float is the event's unofficial mascot, Tom Turkey. Tom features moving wings, head, and eyes and usually functions as the lead float in the parade. Bringing up the caboose in virtually all the parades is Santa Claus who ushers in the holiday shopping season with his arrival at Macy's Herald Square. The parade offers a glimpse into pop culture of the time, from beloved children's entertainment to hit Broadway shows and musical acts. The Radio City Rockettes, formed in 1925, have performed in the parade annually since 1957. In 1933, the outside temperature was 69 degrees F, the warmest it's been; 2018 was the coldest day in parade history at 19 degrees F. In 2022, for the first time, the event featured a trio of women hosts. Today, more than 44 million people tune in to watch the parade. Keep reading to learn more about the parade's history and see some iconic shots of the event. You may also like: Game on: The booming growth of online gaming In Macy's first Thanksgiving parade, Santa Claus sat atop a float pulled by a team of horses down Broadway. That year floats, bands, and Central Park Zoo animals were featured in the procession. At the parade's end, Santa Claus was crowned "King of the Kiddies" on Macy's balcony at the 34th Street entrance. Macy's quickly announced the parade would be an annual event. The large balloons that replaced live zoo animals in 1927 were filled with regular air and had no release valves—they were simply let go to pop in the air following the parade. 1928 marked the first year of Macy's inflating balloons with helium to allow them to float. They were also outfitted with valves so the helium could gradually escape rather than waiting for the balloon to inevitably pop, and featured a return address so anyone who found them could return them and receive a reward. In this photo from 1928, a 35-foot fish and 60-foot-long tiger were featured prominently in the parade. A $100 prize was offered for each balloon recovered after its release. The Thanksgiving parade enjoyed rapid growth throughout the 1930s, with more than 1 million revelors lining the parade route in 1933. In this 1931 photo, a giant hippopotamus balloon makes its way down Broadway. A blue hippo balloon—possibly this one—released after the parade was still at large several days later, thought to be somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. In this image, the Felix the Cat balloon is led down Broadway by its four handlers tailed by Terrible Turk and Willie Red Bird. The original Felix the Cat character balloon made its parade debut in 1927, but was destroyed after its post-parade release by a high tension wire in 1931. The Terrible Turk also was destroyed the same year by an electric sign. In 1932, Macy's Tom Cat balloon got stuck in the propeller of a plane when the aviator flying the plane tried recovering the balloon for a reward. While the plane eventually landed safely, that event marked the final year of releasing balloons after the parades and offering prizes for their return to Macy's. Pinnochio, Tin Man, and Uncle Sam make their way along the parade route in 1939. Mickey Mouse made his debut five years earlier with a balloon designed in part by Walt Disney; Mickey's handlers were also dressed as mice. New iterations of Mickey appeared over the next 70 years as the character evolved. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was canceled from 1942-1944 because of supply shortages during World War II, namely helium and rubber. Festivities returned in 1945. The Christmas classic "Miracle on 34th Street" was released in 1947 and prominently features actual footage from the 1946 parade. 1948 marked the parade's first network television broadcast. You may also like: Legendary interior designers from every decade of the 20th century Macy's original character The Giant Spaceman made his debut in 1952's parade, measuring 70 feet long and 40 feet wide and weighing 600 pounds. More than 25 gallons of paint went into painting the astronaut. An estimated 2.25 million people lined the streets for the festivities that year. Throngs of onlookers pack the sidewalks in Manhattan's Times Square during this 1955 parade. Mighty Mouse, an animated superhero created by Terrytoons, is seen in the back left of the photo. Mighty Mouse made his debut in the Thanksgiving Day parade in 1951; he appeared in 80 short films between 1942-1961. Popeye makes his way through Times Square in the 1959 parade. A year earlier, another helium shortage meant balloons were inflated with air and hung from construction cranes to make their way through the parade route. Also in 1958, the first celebrity performances were added with the Benny Goodman sextet. Live music proved a challenge technically and logistically. The parade was transitioning to the now-familiar lip syncing by 1964. Teen performers appear in classic roller skates in this image from the 1961 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The sign above the skaters reads "Macy's presents A Fantasy of Christmas in New York." This 1961 photo shows shoulder-to-shoulder parade onlookers at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The year marks the first balloon featuring Bullwinkle Moose and the first year for floats with Pinocchio, The Racetrack Grandstand, Cinderella, Peacock, Ferris Wheel, Brigadoon, Meet the Mets, and Santa's Sleigh. Several years later, in 1968, Macy's creative team figured out how to design floats up to 40 feet tall and 28 feet wide that could fold into 12.5-by-8-foot boxes for strategic transportation from New Jersey to Manhattan via the Lincoln Tunnel. A Bullwinkle Moose balloon floats down Broadway in this 1972 photograph of the parade. The 46th annual parade featured five firsts for floats: Alphabet Blocks, Snow Mountain, Windmill, Curious George, and Santa's Holiday Home. A solo tortoise float makes its way down the street near Columbus Circle in this 1974 parade photo. Not pictured is the accompanying hare. This marked the seventh appearance of the duo. A giant inflatable balloon of Kermit the Frog makes its way down the 1982 parade route in this photo. The parade marked Kermit's sixth appearance. First-time balloons included Olive Oyl and Woody Woodpecker. You may also like: Far from making their last calls, LGBTQ+ bars evolve to imagine a new world Woody Woodpecker greets the crowd as he floats past One Times Square during the 63rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1989. In the coming years, safety concerns troubled '90s-era parades—namely the wind. Strong gusts in 1993 pushed a Sonic the Hedgehog balloon into a Columbus Circle lamppost that broke and hurt a child and off-duty police officer. Four years later, intense winds caused a Cat in the Hat balloon to hit a lamppost, hurling debris into the air that fractured the skull of a spectator who spent 24 days in a coma. The incident, among others, led then-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to form a task force. New York City first responders carry two American flags during the Nov. 22, 2001, 75th Anniversary of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which was also held on the heels of 9/11. They honored those killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that year. New Yorkers crowded the streets to watch the parade, which featured 15 giant balloons and marching bands that all added an air of patriotism to the event. Dora the Explorer makes her balloon debut in this 2005 photo. That same year, the M&M 's chocolate candies balloon collided with a streetlight in Times Square, and debris from it injured two siblings. A woman dressed in an elf costume sprinkles spectators with confetti in Times Square during Macy's 85th Thanksgiving Day parade on Nov. 24, 2011. Sonic the Hedgehog and Julius the sock monkey, which was created by Paul Frank, made their balloon entrances that year. You may also like: 5 tips for making your next event more affordable In this 2016 photo, spectators like this one recorded videos of the parade on their phones. More than 24 million people were estimated to have streamed the parade that year on TV. The Pikachu balloon floats down Central Park West for its fourth time during the 91st annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2017. That year's lineup featured 1,100 cheerleaders and dancers, more than 1,000 clowns, 28 legacy balloons, 26 floats, 17 giant helium balloons, 12 marching bands, and six performance groups. Performers in this photo prepare at the 94th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 26, 2020. The event was one of few public occasions to be kept on schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic, albeit in a tempered manner. Much of the performances were pre-taped and the parade route was massively reduced. Participants wore masks and balloon handlers were cut by nearly 90%. The 23rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held Nov. 24, 1949. In this photo, a teddy bear makes its way through Times Square. This parade marked the second appearance for the bear. Other balloons made their debut: Freida the Dachshund, Howdy Doody on the Flying Trapeze, and Macy's Hobo Clown. The iconic peacock float makes its debut in this photo of the 1961 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. That same year, Miss Teenage America Diane Lynn Cox appeared in princess attire sharing a float with "Prince Charming" actor Troy Donahue. You may also like: Baltimore buried its urban streams—now an artist is bringing one back The Soaring Spirit Canoe float, pictured here in 1995, made its debut in the parade in 1986. Popular '90s balloons included Bart Simpson, Cat in the Hat, and The Rugrats. Snoopy and Woodstock made their way along the 89th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route Nov. 26, 2015. To date, Snoopy boasts the most years flown as a character balloon in the event. Santa Claus celebrates at the 97th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in this photo from Nov. 23, 2023. First-time giant balloons included Beagle Scout Snoopy, Leo (Netflix), Monkey D. Luffy, Po from "Kung Fu Panda," and The Pillsbury Doughboy. Copy editing by Lois Hince. You may also like: From the Roman Empire to your therapist's office: The history of the chaise lounge For the holidays: Get inspiring home and gift ideas – sign up now!
The Reform UK leader pushed back against reports suggesting that legal action would be the next step, saying he would make a decision in the next couple of days about his response if there is no apology for the “crazy conspiracy theory”. Mr Farage also said the party has “opened up our systems” to media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times, in the interests of “full transparency to verify that our numbers are correct”. His remarks came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Farage of “fakery” in response to Reform claiming they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members. Mrs Badenoch said Reform’s counter was “coded to tick up automatically”. A digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally before lunchtime on Boxing Day ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party during its leadership election earlier this year. Mr Farage, on whether he was threatening legal action or not, told the PA news agency: “I haven’t threatened anything. I’ve just said that unless I get an apology, I will take some action. “I haven’t said whether it’s legal or anything.” He added: “All I’ve said is I want an apology. If I don’t get an apology, I will take action. “I will decide in the next couple of days what that is. So I’ve not specified what it is.” Mr Farage, on the move to make membership data available to media organisations, said: “We feel our arguments are fully validated. “She (Mrs Badenoch) has put out this crazy conspiracy theory and she needs to apologise.” The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News & FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. I am now demanding @KemiBadenoch apologises. — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) December 27, 2024 On why Mrs Badenoch had reacted as she did, Mr Farage said: “I would imagine she was at home without anybody advising her and was just angry.” Mr Farage, in a statement issued on social media site X, also said: “The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. “Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News and FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. “I am now demanding Kemi Badenoch apologises.” A Conservative Party source claimed Mr Farage was “rattled” that his Boxing Day “publicity stunt is facing serious questions”. They added: “Like most normal people around the UK, Kemi is enjoying Christmas with her family and looking forward to taking on the challenges of renewing the Conservative Party in the New Year.” Mrs Badenoch, in a series of messages posted on X on Thursday, said: “Farage doesn’t understand the digital age. This kind of fakery gets found out pretty quickly, although not before many are fooled.” There were 131,680 Conservative members eligible to vote during the party’s leadership election to replace Rishi Sunak in the autumn. Mrs Badenoch claimed in her thread that “the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election”. Elsewhere, Mr Farage described Elon Musk as a “bloody hero” and said he believes the US billionaire can help attract younger voters to Reform. Tech entrepreneur Mr Musk met Mr Farage earlier this month at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, amid rumours of a possible donation to either Mr Farage or Reform. Mr Farage told The Daily Telegraph newspaper: “The shades, the bomber jacket, the whole vibe. Elon makes us cool – Elon is a huge help to us with the young generation, and that will be the case going on and, frankly, that’s only just starting. “Reform only wins the next election if it gets the youth vote. The youth vote is the key. Of course, you need voters of all ages, but if you get a wave of youth enthusiasm you can change everything. “And I think we’re beginning to get into that zone – we were anyway, but Elon makes the whole task much, much easier. And the idea that politics can be cool, politics can be fun, politics can be real – Elon helps us with that mission enormously.”
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Marcus Adams Jr.'s 25 points helped CSU Northridge defeat Utah Tech 89-79 on Sunday night at the Stew Morrill Classic. Adams added five rebounds for the Matadors (4-1). Keonte Jones added 23 points while shooting 8 of 15 from the field and 5 for 10 from the line while they also had nine rebounds and three blocks. Scotty Washington had 19 points and went 7 of 14 from the field (3 for 6 from 3-point range). Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
— The company saw record trades on Cyber Monday — — Asics, Fear of God, Pop Mart, and Timberland set new trade records throughout the week — — Best-selling products across categories included Travis Scott's latest Jordan collab, sneakers from Asics and adidas, Fear of God apparel, Ugg Lowmel boots, and Labubu collectibles from Pop Mart — DETROIT, Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- StockX today reports a strong Cyber Week performance, with Monday breaking previous trade records. Between Wednesday and Monday, the platform saw record trades from brands including Asics , Fear of God , Pop Mart , and Timberland . Additionally, adidas , Yeezy , Lego , Stanley , Vans , and Denim Tears saw year-over-year trade growth. During the same time period, the company also set a new trade record for apparel sales, with the category achieving double-digit growth compared to 2023. Shoppers flocked to the platform earlier than ever, with year-over-year trades on Wednesday and Thursday up nearly 40% and 50% respectively, and StockX closing the six-day shopping week with more trades than it saw in the same time period last year. The platform also saw record use of Xpress Ship – StockX's quicker shipping feature – setting single-day sales records from Wednesday through Cyber Monday. Xpress Ship items are pre-verified by StockX verification experts and ready to ship as soon as a purchase is made. "This Cyber Weekend was a testament to the continued demand for sought-after products around the globe. Though many consumers remain price-conscious this year, we saw record trades on Cyber Monday and multiple brands achieved triple-digit growth over 2023. These results reflect the trust our community has in StockX and the power of our vast product catalog of sought-after items," said StockX co-founder, President, and COO Greg Schwartz. "We expect this momentum to continue through the holiday season, and our team will be ready to deliver a best-in-class experience for both buyers and sellers." Just between Friday and Monday, StockX facilitated tens of millions of dollars in sales worldwide. In preparation for the weekend, StockX rolled out new features to provide even more value to holiday shoppers. The platform made hundreds of thousands of products available for quicker shipping via Xpress Ship, giving customers the opportunity to shop through Thursday, December 19, and still get their items before Christmas. The company also introduced returns, allowing shoppers in the United States to return eligible items within 14 days of delivery for a full refund in the form of StockX credit, minus the original cost of shipping. For orders placed between November 27 and December 31, StockX extended the return window through January 15, 2025. Additionally, StockX gift cards are available to U.S. customers for the first time this holiday season. Top Movers on StockX During Cyber Weekend: Sneakers Shoes Apparel Collectibles Electronics StockX welcomed millions of visitors to its website and app and awarded more than $2 million in prizes to customers throughout Cyber Weekend. Prizes included coveted grails like the Jordan 1 Retro High Dior , Louis Vuitton Nike Air Force 1 Low By Virgil Abloh White Red , and Nike Air Yeezy 2 Solar Red , as well as the Sony PlayStation 5 PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle . The global marketplace served buyers and sellers in more than 100 different countries and territories, with multiple markets seeing year-over-year sales growth during the shopping period. For more information about StockX, please visit www.stockx.com . About StockX StockX is proud to be a Detroit-based technology leader focused on the large and growing online market for sneakers, apparel, accessories, electronics, collectibles, trading cards, and more. StockX's powerful platform connects buyers and sellers of high-demand consumer goods from around the world using dynamic pricing mechanics. This approach affords access and market visibility powered by real-time data that empowers buyers and sellers to determine and transact based on market value. The StockX platform features hundreds of brands across verticals including Jordan Brand, adidas, Nike, Supreme, BAPE, Off-White, Louis Vuitton, Gucci; collectibles from brands including LEGO, KAWS, Bearbrick, and Pop Mart; and electronics from industry-leading manufacturers Sony, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple. Launched in 2016, StockX employs 1,000 people across offices and verification centers around the world. Learn more at www.stockx.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stockx-sets-cyber-weekend-records-302321322.html SOURCE StockX
EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is making major changes to auto insurance, including rate hikes and switching to a predominantly no-fault claims model. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is making major changes to auto insurance, including rate hikes and switching to a predominantly no-fault claims model. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is making major changes to auto insurance, including rate hikes and switching to a predominantly no-fault claims model. Under the new system, car accident victims in most cases won’t be able to sue the party responsible for their injury and, instead, insurers would pay compensation at rates set by the government. By cutting down litigation costs, the government estimates that when the new system is in place in 2027, it could lead to savings of up to $400 per year for the average insurance premium. It’s also promising better support and benefits for those hurt in collisions. “This is a care-focused system,” Smith told a news conference at the legislature Thursday. “Instead of forcing people through complex legal processes in order to get the treatment that they need, the system default will be that those injured in collisions get the care they need to recover.” Until the new model kicks in, insurers will be allowed to raise rates for good drivers up to 7.5 per cent each year, starting in January. The government said the hikes will help insurers pay rising legal costs and payouts along with covering off the impacts of natural disasters like hailstorms. The 7.5 per cent cap is more than double the United Conservative government’s rate increase cap of 3.7 per cent, which is set to expire at the end of the year. The province also rolled out some of the details of the new system. Among the changes, crash victims will be able to sue at-fault drivers for pain and suffering if the at-fault driver is convicted of a criminal offence, such as dangerous driving or impaired driving. If expenses go beyond what’s covered by the standard benefits, injured parties could also sue for out-of-pocket expenses. The government plans to create an independent body to allow those injured in traffic accidents the ability to appeal decisions made by insurers. Good driver rates won’t apply for drivers who switch insurance companies. The changes mirror the kind of litigation currently allowed in Saskatchewan’s no-fault, public system. Based on government-commissioned reports, the changes could lead to the loss of between 650 and 800 legal support jobs. The province has declined to move toward a publicly delivered insurance system, despite estimates it would save drivers even more money in premium payments. Smith has pointed to prohibitively expensive startup costs approaching $3 billion for a public system, not to mention the loss of thousands of private sector jobs. Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the price tag for setting up a public option is dwarfed by how much extra Albertans pay in premiums. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “(Smith) is basically saying, ‘I don’t want to spend the money, but you get to spend the money when you pay your premium every month,’” Nenshi said. He said the UCP’s solution will only lead to higher premiums. The moves come after the Insurance Bureau of Canada warned the insurance “crisis” was only hurting drivers. Two private insurance companies have recently left the province while citing the squeeze of higher costs. The Alberta Superintendent of Insurance estimates one-third of the 67 auto insurers in 2023 lost money on the insurance. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024. Advertisement AdvertisementPrint, is it the end of the fairy tale?
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TEHRAN – At the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, The Iranian foreign ministry’s director general of international legal affairs, Ali Mousavi, has denounced unilateral Westen sanctions for obstructing countries' ability to meet their climate change commitments. Addressing the ICJ's deliberations on an advisory opinion regarding governments' climate obligations, Mousavi highlighted Iran's vulnerability to climate change despite its relatively low emissions. He emphasized the importance of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDRRC), and international cooperation in addressing the crisis. Mousavi criticized developed nations for imposing unilateral coercive measures that impede technology transfer and financial support essential for climate mitigation efforts in developing countries. He urged the ICJ to recognize these restrictions as violations of international cooperation principles. "Developed countries must take the lead in reducing emissions and supporting developing nations through financial resources, technology transfer, and capacity building," Mousavi said, citing the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement as key frameworks. He stressed the significance of the CBDRRC principle, which assigns differentiated obligations based on historical emissions and current capacities. Mousavi argued that developed nations' leadership should include financial contributions, technology transfer, and capacity-building initiatives for developing countries. "Without access to technology and resources, developing countries cannot effectively participate in global climate mitigation efforts," Mousavi told the court. He criticized trade policies like the carbon border adjustment mechanism, calling them disproportionate measures that unfairly burden developing economies.Gap Inc. Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results, Raises Full Year Outlook
Reaching a staff-level agreement on the third review under Sri Lanka’s extended fund facility arrangement, the IMF said on Saturday that Sri Lanka has met most structural benchmarks stipulated by it to continue receiving its financing support. “Programme performance was strong, with all quantitative performance criteria and indicative targets (IT) for end-June 2024 met, as well as the ITs for end-September 2024, except for the IT on social spending. Most structural benchmarks due before October-2024 were either met or implemented with delay,” IMF said. “The new government’s commitment to the program objectives has enhanced confidence and ensures policy continuity. Sustaining the reform momentum is critical to safeguarding the hard-won gains under the program thus far and putting the economy on a path towards durable recovery and stable and inclusive growth,” the international lender noted. The visiting delegation said that the IMF’s Executive Board will consider completion of the review based on (i) the implementation by the authorities of prior actions; and (ii) the completion of financing assurances review, confirming multilateral partners’ financing contributions and assessing adequate progress with debt restructuring. “Upon completion of the Executive Board review, Sri Lanka would have access to SDR 254 million (about US$333 million), bringing the total IMF financial support disbursed under the arrangement to SDR 1,016 million (about US$1,333 million). “Sri Lanka’s ambitious reform agenda supported by the EFF is delivering commendable outcomes. The economy expanded on average by 4 percent y-o-y in the four quarters ending in June 2024. High-frequency indicators point to continued expansion across all sectors. Average headline and core inflation remained contained at 0.8 and 3.8 percent during the third quarter. Gross official reserves increased to US$6.4 billion at end-October 2024 with sizeable foreign exchange purchases by the Central Bank. Public finances have strengthened following substantial fiscal reforms,” IMF said.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs left his team’s game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday because of a concussion. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs left his team’s game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday because of a concussion. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs left his team’s game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday because of a concussion. Doubs’ injury came on a third-quarter play in the end zone that resulted in a pass interference penalty against San Francisco’s Renardo Green. Doubs stayed down briefly after the play, then got up slowly before heading to the sideline. He went into the injury tent before walking to the locker room. The Packers then announced Doubs was out for the rest of the game because of a concussion. He had three catches for 54 yards before leaving. San Francisco defensive tackle Jordan Elliott left in the first half of the game to get evaluated for a concussion and was ruled out at halftime. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL AdvertisementBluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk's X, which they view as increasingly leaning too far to the right given its owner's support of President-elect Donald Trump, or wanting an alternative to Meta's Threads and its algorithms. The platform grew out of the company then known as Twitter, championed by its former CEO Jack Dorsey. Its decentralized approach to social networking was eventually intended to replace Twitter's core mechanic . That's unlikely now that the two companies have parted ways. But Bluesky's growth trajectory — with a user base that has more than doubled since October — could make it a serious competitor to other social platforms. But with growth comes growing pains. It's not just human users who've been flocking to Bluesky but also bots, including those designed to create partisan division or direct users to junk websites. The skyrocketing user base — now surpassing 25 million — is the biggest test yet for a relatively young platform that has branded itself as a social media alternative free of the problems plaguing its competitors. According to research firm Similarweb, Bluesky added 7.6 million monthly active app users on iOS and Android in November, an increase of 295.4% since October. It also saw 56.2 million desktop and mobile web visits, in the same period, up 189% from October. Besides the U.S. elections, Bluesky also got a boost when X was briefly banned in Brazil . “They got this spike in attention, they’ve crossed the threshold where it is now worth it for people to flood the platform with spam,” said Laura Edelson, an assistant professor of computer science at Northeastern University and a member of Issue One’s Council for Responsible Social Media. “But they don’t have the cash flow, they don’t have the established team that a larger platform would, so they have to do it all very, very quickly.” To manage growth for its tiny staff, Bluesky started as an invitation-only space until it opened to the public in February. That period gave the site time to build out moderation tools and other distinctive features to attract new users , such as “starter packs” that provide lists of topically curated feeds. Meta recently announced that it is testing a similar feature. Compared to the bigger players like Meta's platforms or X, Bluesky has a “quite different” value system, said Claire Wardle, a professor at Cornell University and an expert in misinformation. This includes giving users more control over their experience. “The first generation of social media platforms connected the world, but ended up consolidating power in the hands of a few corporations and their leaders,” Bluesky said on its blog in March. “Our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see. On an open social network like Bluesky, you can shape your experience for yourself.” Because of this mindset, Bluesky has achieved a scrappy underdog status that has attracted users who've grown tired of the big players. “People had this idea that it was going to be a different type of social network,” Wardle said. “But the truth is, when you get lots of people in a place and there are eyeballs, it means that it’s in other people’s interests to use bots to create, you know, information that aligns with their perspective.” Little data has emerged to help quantify the rise in impersonator accounts, artificial intelligence-fueled networks and other potentially harmful content on Bluesky. But in recent weeks, users have begun reporting large numbers of apparent AI bots following them, posting plagiarized articles or making seemingly automated divisive comments in replies. Lion Cassens, a Bluesky user and doctoral candidate in the Netherlands, found one such network by accident — a group of German-language accounts with similar bios and AI-generated profile pictures posting in replies to three German newspapers. “I noticed some weird replies under a news post by the German newspaper ‘Die Ziet,’” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “I have a lot of trust in the moderation mechanism on Bluesky, especially compared to Twitter since the layoffs and due to Musk’s more radical stance on freedom of speech. But AI bots are a big challenge, as they will only improve. I hope social media can keep up with that.” Cassens said the bots' messages have been relatively innocuous so far, but he was concerned about how they could be repurposed in the future to mislead. There are also signs that foreign disinformation narratives have made their way to Bluesky. The disinformation research group Alethea pointed to one low-traction post sharing a false claim about ABC News that had circulated on Russian Telegram channels. Copycat accounts are another challenge. In late November, Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security, Trust and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, found that of the top 100 most followed named individuals on Bluesky, 44% had at least one duplicate account posing as them. Two weeks later, Mantzarlis said Bluesky had removed around two-thirds of the duplicate accounts he’d initially detected — a sign the site was aware of the issue and attempting to address it. Bluesky posted earlier this month that it had quadrupled its moderation team to keep up with its growing user base. The company also announced it had introduced a new system to detect impersonation and was working to improve its Community Guidelines to provide more detail on what’s allowed. Because of the way the site is built, users also have the option to subscribe to third-party “Labelers” that outsource content moderation by tagging accounts with warnings and context. The company didn't respond to multiple requests for comment for this story. Even as its challenges aren’t yet at the scale other platforms face, Bluesky is at a “crossroads,” said Edward Perez, a board member at the nonpartisan nonprofit OSET Institute, who previously led Twitter’s civic integrity team. “Whether BlueSky likes it or not, it is being pulled into the real world,” Perez said, noting that it needs to quickly prioritize threats and work to mitigate them if it hopes to continue to grow. That said, disinformation and bots won't be Bluesky's only challenges in the months and years to come. As a text-based social network, its entire premise is falling out of favor with younger generations. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that only 17% of American teenagers used X, for instance, down from 23% in 2022. For teens and young adults, TikTok, Instagram and other visual-focused platforms are the places to be. Political polarization is also going against Bluesky ever reaching the size of TikTok, Instagram or even X. “Bluesky is not trying to be all things to all people,” Wardle said, adding that, likely, the days of a Facebook or Instagram emerging where they're “trying to keep everybody happy” are over. Social platforms are increasingly splintered along political lines and when they aren't — see Meta's platforms — the companies behind them are actively working to de-emphasize political content and news. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here . The AP is solely responsible for all content.8 Thanksgiving mistakes: Frozen or overcooked turkey, too many sides and other common holiday miscues
L ate in the summer of 1962, a long plume of fire arced over the beach at Sonmiani, watched by gaggles of tourists from nearby Karachi. The country became, one newspaper account was to claim, the “first in the Islamic world, third in South Asia and 10th in the entire world to launch a vessel into outer space.” The reality was somewhat less impressive. The sounding rocket was entirely American-made and launched as part of NASA’s Apollo lunar programme. Two hundred rocket launches would take place over the next decade, probing the winds and temperature of the upper atmosphere. Three decades after that launch, Central Intelligence Agency analysis observed that Pakistani scientists who had studied at NASA’s Wallops Island and the Goddard space flight centres had begun to turn those sounding rockets into short-range missiles. Flight-tested eight times since the beginning of 1989, the Hatf-1 and Hatf-2 missiles lacked a guidance system, were highly inaccurate, and could not carry Pakistan’s nuclear bombs, the CIA recorded . Islamabad, though, was attempting to obtain Soviet Union-made missiles from North Korea, and had sought European technology as well. Last week, the United States announced sanctions on Pakistan’s missile production and development agency, the National Development Complex—a decision that comes on the back of multiple rounds of similar action against Chinese and Pakistani companies involved in supplying the organisation. The sanctions are driven by fears that an economically-crippled Pakistan could become a proliferator of ballistic missiles, just as it once sold nuclear-bomb technology to North Korea, Iran, Iraq and Libya. The sanctions story isn’t new, though. Sanctions had first been imposed on the NDC in 1998 by President Bill Clinton because of the same missile proliferation risks. Those sanctions were waived after 9/11, though, to enable American counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan—cooperation that never fully materialised. America’s decision comes decades too late to end the dangers posed by Pakistan’s missiles. The story illustrates the lethal consequences the Cold War could yet have for the world. “First Muslim Nobel Prize winner,” read the gravestone of the man the world honoured for his role in predicting the existence of the Higgs boson. Late in 2013, a magistrate in the town of Rabwah ordered the scrubbing out of the reference to Abdus Salam’s religion. The Ahmadiyya sect he belonged to had been declared non-Muslim by Pakistan in 1974, by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government. Abdus Salam was excised from textbooks and Pakistan’s memory. The year before Pakistan’s first rocket launch, Salam had travelled to the United States together with then-military ruler Field Marshall Ayub Khan. As Ayub Khan’s scientific advisor, Salam worked to build the foundations of modern science in Pakistan. In the course of that 1961 visit, he seized on NASA’s open offer to establish rocket ranges in all countries on the littoral Indian Ocean. Following the 1962 launch of Rehbar-1, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission’s Space Sciences Wing deepened its rocket cooperation with the West. France transferred technology to manufacture sounding rockets, while German firms supplied the ammonium perchlorate needed to make solid rocket fuel. Great Britain helped with rocket launches. The year after the first rocket launch, Pakistan began operating a small reactor with applications in medicine, industry, and agriculture. The research reactor was the first in a long series of developments that would blossom into a nuclear weapons programme in 1973, following the war that led to the independence of Bangladesh. The United States was aware of this programme early, according to declassified CIA documents. The CIA predicted that Islamabad could have a bomb “as early as the first part of the 1980s.” The United Kingdom, for its part, believed Pakistan could have a nuclear weapon by 1981. In 1978, the British diplomat Michael Pakenham handed over a dossier to the State Department, recording Pakistan’s purchase of inverters used in plants to enrich uranium. Early in 1979, the American ambassador in Islamabad, Arthur Hummel, confronted military ruler General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq with the evidence scholar William Burr has recorded in an authoritative study . The State Department had long resisted this course of action, fearing it would jeopardise the relationship with a long-standing ally against the Soviet Union. That was increasingly offset, though, by the realisation that a Pakistani bomb could pose “a direct threat to US national interests in the Middle East and Persian Gulf.” Finally, in March 1979, the United States imposed a law cutting military and economic aid to countries that acquired nuclear enrichment technology. Less than six months later, though, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Advisor, now argued that “our security policy towards Pakistan cannot be dictated by our non-proliferation policy.” F16 combat jets—which for years would be Pakistan’s primary means to deliver its nuclear bombs—soon made their way to General Zia, along with other state-of-the-art military equipment, enabled by a special exclusion carved out from the non-proliferation law. Financial aid was injected into Pakistan to stabilise its currency. America had decided to ignore the bomb. Also read: Reciprocity will define Trump 2.0 – trade ties with India will be purely transactional Late in 1984, a man with a thick accent walked into the Texas offices of the defence contractor EG&G and offered to pay in gold for 50 Krytrons, tiny light-bulb-like devices that can be used as the high-speed switches needed to trigger nuclear explosions. Electronics had been seized at Montreal’s Dorval airport in 1980. Firms in Switzerland, Germany, and France vied with each other to sell technology to Pakistan. And when the United States pressurised them to stop, Pakistan simply turned to China. Even though President Ronald Reagan would hand over $3.2 billion in aid to Pakistan, the country’s nuclear programme continued to dramatically accelerate. A bomb wasn’t much use, though, without a means to deliver it—and while the F16 was a superb platform, Pakistan’s Generals wanted something more effective and reliable. Two separate missile development programmes are believed to have been launched. The first, centred around a solid-fuel rocket, was operated with assistance from China at the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission under scientist Samar Mubarakmand. The second, helped by liquid-fuel technology from North Korea, was run at Abdul Qadeer Khan’s Khan Research Laboratories, or KRL. In 1988, China agreed to sell M-11 missiles , launchers, and support equipment to Pakistan. The next year, Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) tested the first Hatf design, based on the French-sounding rockets it had tested. SUPARCO, established in 1981 by General Zia to take over the rocket programme, was later detected to be receiving multiple transfers of missile-related equipment and technology. And in 1993, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is alleged to have travelled to Pyongyang to swap nuclear bomb designs and know-how for Nodong missiles. KRL test-fired the liquid-fuelled Ghauri in 1998, based on the Nodong, which brought New Delhi within range of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. A year later, KRL launched the Ghauri-2, which was capable of hitting most of India. Exactly one day later, PAEC successfully tested the Shaheen-1, introducing solid-fuelled intermediate-range capabilities to the Pakistani arsenal. Even though President George Bush had reimposed nuclear weapons sanctions in 1990, it did little to retard Pakistan’s missile and bomb programmes. Little impact was made, either, by Clinton’s sanctions. Following 9/11 and the lifting of those sanctions, the NDC produced improved versions of missiles developed by SUPARCO, notably the Hatf-2, also known as the Abdali, and its successors, the Ghaznavi, Shaheen-1 and Shaheen-2. The NDC also developed Pakistan’s first cruise missile, the Babur, which surprised many experts with its technological capabilities. Also read: Yoon’s failed coup shows the rise of democracy in South Korea is reversible Equipped with a growing nuclear arsenal powered by a stockpile of plutonium from four reactors, as well as an expanding infrastructure for uranium enrichment, Islamabad is developing increasingly sophisticated means to deliver its bombs. The Babur-2 will be capable of delivering nuclear bombs at ranges of over 700 kilometres, hugging the terrain to evade air defences. The air-launched Ra’ad is armed with conventional warheads but heralds the acquisition of even more sophisticated capabilities. Longer-range missiles are under development, too. There’s little direct threat to the United States from these missile systems: The country, after all, has built missile defences to protect against far more sophisticated adversaries, including China and Russia. Like in the 1970s, though, the real danger is that Pakistan could end up supplying nuclear weapons technologies to states in the Middle East and elsewhere, destabilising the global order. From the outset of its nuclear programme, Pakistan leveraged its strategic position to extract concessions. As late as 2009, leaked diplomatic cables show, Pakistan was able to use its 9/11 role to flatly reject American requests to return highly-enriched uranium from an ageing research reactor. The cables also show that now-President Joe Biden became increasingly frustrated with Pakistan’s support of the jihadists his country was battling in Afghanistan—but failed to mount enough pressure to force Islamabad to change course. America’s Cold War fixations let the nuclear genie out of the bottle in Pakistan. It’s probably too late to shove it back in. Praveen Swami is contributing editor at ThePrint. He tweets @praveenswami. Views are personal. 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Volunteer Calah Derocher, left, and kitchen manager Cassandra Culleton assemble to-go meals Dec. 3 during the daily Meals Program at the Trinity Jubilee Center in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal LEWISTON — After living off-grid and being a stay-at-home mom for the past few years, Calah Derocher was looking for some inspiration as she re-enters the professional world. Through Fedcap’s ASPIRE program, she planned to use volunteer work to get started and perhaps explore several different roles and settings in the nonprofit realm. But after starting at the Trinity Jubilee Center, she found it difficult to go anywhere else. And, according to staff there, Derocher has been rearranging her schedule to help out on holidays. She’s become a regular volunteer in the soup kitchen and food pantry. “After a week of being there I just knew I really wanted to give my time to these people and their cause,” she said. “It’s really kind of scary to go back into society and the job force and it was a really comfortable way to get myself back in there, and feel like I’m a productive member of society.” The ASPIRE program helps Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients move toward financial independence through case management, job training, education, support and employment services. Derocher said life events led her to the program, to find a way to support her family. This winter, she’s starting classes at Central Maine Community College. At first she considered going into social work, but she ultimately decided to learn a trade — electromechanical technology. She said the program asked her to consider tough questions about her passions and what a new professional career could look like, and volunteering was one of the ways for her to face that. Volunteer Calah Derocher, right, organizes to-go meals Dec. 3 during the daily Meals Program at the Trinity Jubilee Center in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Derocher began volunteering at Trinity in November, and plans to stay on until school starts. She said she’s been doing “anything and everything” that’s asked of her, including food prep, organizing donations, and more. “I give them my all when I go in there, and try to get as much done as I can,” she said. She often ends up leaving late. On Dec. 23, she was helping to prepare for the Christmas Eve lunch, where everyone who comes through for the meal also gets a stocking with various items. On Christmas Eve she was there from 7:30 a.m. to noon, getting the food out. She did the same on Thanksgiving. Derocher was also helping organize a toy drive, which allows Trinity guests to choose an item to give to someone special in their lives. While her time there will be slowing down soon, she said she could see herself back there again, either during summers when she’s not in school, or at another time. “I feel like the impact of coming here and being around the staff and clients and the whole experience — I know in the future I’ll be able to contribute in my own way back to the community,” she said. Derocher was born in Lewiston and grew up in Auburn, but until just recently lived in Hartford “in the middle of the woods.” She said part of what she’s rediscovered since returning to Lewiston is the feeling of community. She said moving back was a big change, as it was to realize it was “OK to ask for help.” “I think it’s something that’s lost sometimes this day and age,” she said, referring to community. “And I’m hoping to bring that with me for the rest of my life — to remember that communities are stronger together.” Know someone with a deep well of unlimited public spirit? Someone who gives of their time to make their community a better place? Then nominate them for Kudos. Send their name and the place where they do their good deeds to reporter Andrew Rice at arice@sunjournal.com and we’ll do the rest. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « PreviousFarage: Badenoch must apologise for ‘crazy conspiracy theory’ on Reform numbers
Stocks closed higher on Wall Street, giving the market its fifth gain in a row and notching another record high for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% Friday. The Dow added 1%, and the Nasdaq composite tacked on 0.2%. Retailers had some of the biggest gains. Gap soared after reporting quarterly results that easily beat analysts’ estimates. EchoStar fell after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company’s Dish Network unit. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. On Friday: The S&P 500 rose 20.63 points, or 0.3%, to 5,969.34. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 426.16 points, or 1%, to 44,296.51. The Nasdaq composite rose 31.23 points, or 0.2%, to 19,003.65. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 42.65 points, or 1.8%, to 2,406.67. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 98.72 points, or 1.7%. The Dow is up 851.52 points, or 2%. The Nasdaq is up 323.53 points, or 1.7%. The Russell 2000 is up 102.84 points, or 4.5%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,199.51 points, or 25.1%. The Dow is up 6,606.97 points, or 17.5%. The Nasdaq is up 3,992.30 points, or 26.6%. The Russell 2000 is up 379.60 points, or 18.7%.TRAVERSE CITY Questions linger over IT pactIndependent candidate Lloyd 'Mozy' Gillings is predicting history will be created in today's by-election in Trelawny Southern, with him securing 3,500 votes to win the seat and send the Jamaica Labour Party's Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert into political retirement. Gillings, who won two local elections in the Albert Town division on the JLP ticket before defecting to the People's National Party, cast his ballot at the Albert Town Primary School on Friday morning. “History will be created in South Trelawny today, and I am confident that I will win the seat safely,” Gillings said. According to him, his opponent, Dalrymple-Philibert, has done a disservice to the people of Trelawny Southern, having walked away from the constituency only to seek re-election. “I think it is unfair for South Trelawny for her to just walk out of the seat and walk back in,” said Gillings, who lost to Dalrymple-Philibert in the 2020 general elections. Dalrymple-Philibert resigned as the constituency's member of parliament at the same time she stepped down as Speaker of the House of Representatives in September 2023 amid a damning Integrity Commission report. Just over 25,000 electors are eligible to cast their ballots in 96 polling stations across the Trelawny Southern constituency. In the September 3, 2020 general elections Dalrymple-Philibert polled 7, 109 votes; Gillings received 3, 025; and Richard Sharpe, an Independent candidate polled 25 votes. - Albert Ferguson Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com .Ibex Ltd sees $2.97 million in stock sales by PineBridge entities
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