Fifty years ago, in the depths of the 1970s, a game was born that would change the face of gaming forever. Dungeons & Dragons, a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) where players create characters and embark on fantastical adventures, quickly captured the imaginations of those seeking an escape from reality. Now, five decades later, D&D is not only thriving but experiencing a resurgence, bringing in millions of dollars for companies and independent businesses alike. This includes a small Brooklyn game store that reported nearly $110,000 in revenue in 2024 alone, proving that the love for dice-rolling and dungeon-crawling is as strong as ever. But how did a game once relegated to the dimly lit corners of basements and hobby shops become a cultural phenomenon capable of generating such impressive figures? The answer lies in a combination of factors, from the game’s inherent appeal to its adaptability and the rise of new media. The Magic of D&D: Why We Keep Coming Back to the Table At its core, D&D offers something unique: the ability to step into a world of pure imagination . Unlike video games with pre-scripted narratives, D&D empowers players to become active participants in their own stories. With a set of dice and a character sheet, you can be anyone and do anything, limited only by your creativity and the Dungeon Master’s (DM) guidance. This freedom of choice and the collaborative storytelling aspect are key to D&D’s enduring appeal. It’s a social activity that fosters teamwork, problem-solving, and creative thinking. Whether you’re slaying dragons, negotiating with goblins, or unraveling ancient mysteries, D&D provides a shared experience that strengthens bonds and creates lasting memories. From Niche Hobby to Mainstream Phenomenon: D&D’s Rise to Fame D&D’s journey from niche hobby to mainstream entertainment has been a gradual but steady one. In its early days, the game was primarily enjoyed by a dedicated community of enthusiasts. However, its popularity began to grow in the 1980s, thanks in part to its portrayal in popular culture, including movies and TV shows like “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Stranger Things.” The internet and the rise of streaming platforms further propelled D&D into the spotlight. Shows like “Critical Role” and “Dimension 20” showcased the excitement and creativity of D&D gameplay to a wider audience, attracting millions of viewers and inspiring countless new players to join the community. D&D in the Digital Age: Online Tools and Virtual Tabletops The digital age has also brought about new ways to play D&D. Online platforms like Roll20 and D&D Beyond provide virtual tabletops and digital tools that make it easier than ever to connect with players from all over the world. This has not only expanded the accessibility of the game but also fostered a global community of D&D enthusiasts. The Business of D&D: A Multi-Million Dollar Industry Today, D&D is a multi-million dollar industry. Hasbro, the parent company of Wizards of the Coast (the publisher of D&D), reported that D&D had its best year ever in 2020, with sales increasing by 33%. This success can be attributed to several factors, including the release of new editions of the game, the popularity of D&D-related media, and the growing demand for tabletop gaming experiences. But it’s not just the big companies that are benefiting from D&D’s popularity. Small businesses, like the Brooklyn game store mentioned earlier, are also seeing a surge in demand for D&D products and services. This particular store, which specializes in D&D and other tabletop games, generated nearly $110,000 in revenue in 2024, demonstrating the potential for local businesses to thrive in the D&D ecosystem. The Future of D&D: Endless Possibilities As D&D enters its sixth decade, the future looks bright. With a dedicated fanbase, a growing community of players, and a constantly evolving game system, D&D is poised to continue its reign as the king of tabletop RPGs. The upcoming release of a new film, “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” is expected to further boost the game’s popularity and introduce it to a new generation of adventurers. My Personal Journey with D&D I first encountered D&D in high school, drawn in by the promise of adventure and the allure of creating my own hero. My initial experiences were filled with laughter, excitement, and the occasional frustrating dice roll. Over the years, D&D has been a constant source of entertainment, friendship, and creative expression. I’ve played in countless campaigns, explored diverse worlds, and forged lasting bonds with fellow players. Witnessing the game’s recent surge in popularity has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a testament to the enduring power of imagination and the universal desire for shared experiences. The D&D Community: A Welcoming Space for All One of the most remarkable aspects of D&D is its inclusive and welcoming community. Players from all walks of life come together to share their love for the game, creating a space where everyone feels accepted and valued. This sense of belonging is particularly important in today’s world, where division and isolation are all too common. D&D Beyond the Game: Educational and Therapeutic Benefits Beyond its entertainment value, D&D offers a range of benefits that extend beyond the gaming table. Studies have shown that playing D&D can improve social skills, enhance problem-solving abilities, and boost creativity. It can also be used as a therapeutic tool to help individuals cope with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. Tips for Getting Started with D&D If you’re intrigued by D&D and want to give it a try, here are a few tips to get you started: Fifty years after its creation, Dungeons & Dragons continues to captivate and inspire millions of players worldwide. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the power of imagination, the joy of shared experiences, and the timeless appeal of adventure. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a curious newcomer, there’s a place for you at the D&D table. So gather your friends, roll the dice, and embark on an epic journey into the realms of fantasy.Florida lawmaker's party switch increases Republican supermajority in the Housesuper ph slot login register 。

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Kimani Hamilton led High Point with 18 points and Bobby Pettiford made a contested shot in the lane with 10.9 seconds remaining as the Panthers knocked off Hampton 76-73 on Tuesday. Hamilton also added eight rebounds for the Panthers (7-1). Trae Benham scored 17 points while shooting 4 for 5 (4 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line. Kezza Giffa shot 4 of 10 from the field and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with 11 points. George Beale led the way for the Pirates (3-5) with 17 points. Noah Farrakhan added 16 points for Hampton. Story continues below video High Point went into halftime ahead of Hampton 38-33. Giffa scored 11 points in the half. Hamilton scored a team-high 13 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Strictly winner Joe McFadden's life on and off screen

By KELVIN CHAN LONDON (AP) — After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. Related Articles Trump’s team is delaying transition agreements. What does it mean for security checks and governing? Massachusetts military secrets leaker Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years in prison The US election was largely trouble-free, but a flood of misinformation raises future concerns A scammer is imitating your business online. What can you do? The US election system is secure. But human nature is a vulnerability To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is a garble that can’t be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won’t be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here’s a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you’re an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there’s a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption on all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent, or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal’s encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp , so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger , which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels” but contrary to popular perception, it doesn’t turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France . Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.Watch: Adorable cat rescued from drainpipe

Lineage Cell Therapeutics CFO Jill Howe buys $8,850 in stockNoneUConn announced a two-year contract extension for head football coach Jim Mora on Saturday, just before the team took the field for the Fenway Bowl against North Carolina. Mora’s contract extension will run through 2028 and will pay him $10 million through the remaining four years, with the opportunity to earn more in incentives. The 63-year-old coach is set to make $1.7 million next season, $1.9 million in 2026 and $2.3 and $2.4 million in 2027 and 2028, respectively. UConn then went out and thrashed North Carolina, 27-14, in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. “I am forever grateful. I’m grateful to (athletic director) David (Benedict) and (school president) Radenka (Maric) and the Board of Trustees, but this is about what the (UConn players) did today,” Mora said when asked about the extension in the postgame press conference. In a statement released by UConn ahead of the game, Mora said: “I’d like to thank David Benedict, Radenka Maric and the University of Connecticut leadership for their trust in me and their commitment to our football program. When I first got here, I talked about where we wanted this program to go and we have shown great progress but we still have plenty of work to do. The commitment and dedication from the university and the athletic department has me excited about the future for our football team.” “Three years ago, I tasked Jim Mora with the challenge of leading our football team back to success and through his experience, energy and leadership he has done just that,” UConn athletic director David Benedict said in a statement. “He has taken our program to post season bowl games twice and just guided our team to one of the best seasons in UConn football history, building a momentum to keep this program moving forward. I look forward to his leadership of our football team in the years ahead.” Mora is coming off one of the most successful seasons in UConn football history, having led the team to an 8-4 record and an appearance in the Fenway Bowl. It’s the Huskies’ second bowl appearance in three years. UConn’s eight wins is the most for the program since 2010, and the Huskies had their first winning season since that year, too. A win Saturday would give UConn nine wins for just the third time in program history, with the last two such seasons coming in 2003 and 2007. UConn quarterbacks coach Brad Robbins is heading to Tulsa as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, according to a report from CBS Sports. Robbins was part of a coaching staff that helped the offense produce its most prolific attack since the 2009 season and fifth-most in program history (32.3 points per game). Robbins worked at FCS Tennessee Tech and Division II North Greenville before joining Jim Mora’s staff in spring 2023. Get local news delivered to your inbox!None

Add Joe Burrow to the growing list of NFL players having their homes burglarized. During the Cincinnati Bengals' Monday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Burrow's "ransacked" per Olivia Ponton, a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model with eight million TikTok followers, per TMZ Sports. The reason for Ponton's presence at Burrow's home is unknown. Burrow has been long linked to girlfriend Olivia Holzmacher, who met the signal-caller while he was at Ohio State in 2015. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.Digital Colonialism: How US-Backed Online Forums Manipulate Political Opinion

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been hospitalized after she “sustained an injury” during an official engagement in Luxembourg, according to a spokesman. Pelosi, 84, was in Europe with a bipartisan congressional delegation to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II . Her spokesman, Ian Krager, said in a statement that she is “currently receiving excellent treatment from doctors and medical professionals” and is unable to attend the remainder of events on her trip. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

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Elated Arteta revels in Arsenal’s thumping win at SportingRaptors rookies Walter, Mogo, Shead, Battle thriving despite early adversityFrom their time together at the 2024 Paris Olympics to their partnership on NBC’s “The Voice,” hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles have become quite the team. Fans were initially puzzled when Biles as announced as Snoop’s guest advisor on “The Voice” given she has no experience with music or signing; however, he said Biles’ presence on the show wasn’t about teaching his artists about something they already know how to do but rather teach them how to handle things that may be foreign to them. “We were able to riff off each other and give the artists the best insight going into the next round,” Biles told The Associated Press . “It was pretty easy, simple. We’re both very mellow. But if we need to bring that energy up, then we can. For us, it was about instilling confidence going into the next week.” At the Olympics, Biles and Snoop captivated viewers with their chemistry. The award-winning recording artist was even seen dancing from the stands during Biles and Jordan Chiles’ gymnastics routines during the qualifying rounds. Snoop also went viral on social media after gifting Biles’ dad Ronald a Death Row Records necklace as a 75th birthday gift. During a recent interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” Snoop Dogg revealed a deal he made with Biles in which he’ll let her use his song “Drop It Like It’s Hot” to choreograph one of her gymnastics routines under one condition. “I’ll let her use the song, if she teaches me how do to one flip,” Snoop said . “It doesn’t have to be back, it can be a front flip.” James Lang-Imagn Images Biles seemed to be on-board for the collaboration and more than willing to teach Snoop a little gymnastics in the process. While Snoop has quite an extensive athletic resume for a hip-hip artist — he participated in an exhibition 200-meter race during the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in Oregon, he’s participated in an Olympic judo event and swam with Michael Phelps at the Olympics — he’s never dipped into the gymnastics arena.

Evans 6-10 0-0 15, Mitchell 7-10 1-2 16, Withers 6-14 1-4 17, Pinzon 6-15 6-6 22, Timberlake 3-8 3-4 9, Cramer 5-5 2-2 12, Farris 2-5 0-0 6. Totals 35-67 13-18 97. Langlais 3-6 1-4 7, C.Williams 7-12 1-1 16, Jackson 2-9 2-2 6, Nkrumah 1-7 1-1 3, Weston 7-18 9-12 24, Lorick 7-9 1-1 16, Wood 4-9 4-5 13, Ogundele 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 31-73 19-26 85. Halftime_Bryant 46-40. 3-Point Goals_Bryant 14-26 (Pinzon 4-5, Withers 4-9, Evans 3-5, Farris 2-5, Mitchell 1-2), Tennessee St. 4-19 (Lorick 1-1, C.Williams 1-2, Weston 1-5, Wood 1-5, Jackson 0-3, Nkrumah 0-3). Fouled Out_Timberlake. Rebounds_Bryant 44 (Mitchell 13), Tennessee St. 25 (Lorick 7). Assists_Bryant 18 (Timberlake 5), Tennessee St. 13 (Jackson 4). Total Fouls_Bryant 17, Tennessee St. 17. A_268 (10,928).LONDON , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship, Olympic legend teams up with Paddy Power and Prostate Cancer UK to save lives, as new research reveals one in four men speak to nobody about their health Chris Hoy announced as ambassador of The BIGGER 180 campaign which is set to use sport as a platform to save lives at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship Paddy Power will donate £1,000 to Prostate Cancer UK for every 180 scored at Ally Pally from 15th December to 3rd January, with a £180,000 nine-dart bonus for every perfect leg The BIGGER 180 campaign aims to get 180,000 men to take Prostate Cancer UK's 30-second risk checker and raise over £1 million for the TRANSFORM Trial , revolutionising prostate cancer detection New research from Paddy Power reveals almost a quarter (23%) of men talk to nobody about their health, and a fifth (18%) avoid screenings due to embarrassment Find out more and check your risk today Darts fans, get ready – the action at Ally Pally this year isn't just about sporting drama. It's about saving lives. Sir Chris Hoy , Britain's most decorated Olympian and one of the greatest athletes of all time, has joined forces with Paddy Power and Prostate Cancer UK to launch The BIGGER 180 , turning every throw at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship into a life-saving moment. Diagnosed with stage-four prostate cancer, Hoy is stepping into the spotlight to inspire men to take control of their health before it's too late. "This isn't about medals or records," says Hoy. "It's about saving lives. If sharing my story gets just one man to check his risk, it's all been worth it." AIMING FOR THE BIGGEST 180 OF ALL Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK, but silence is the deadliest symptom: One in four (23%) men talk to nobody about their health, making men significantly more likely than women to remain silent. 18% of men avoid prostate cancer screenings due to embarrassment. 22% of men avoid medical advice altogether , fearing bad results. "Men are great at cheering for their team, fixing the shed, or helping their mates move house – but when it comes to their health, they go quiet," says Hoy. "That has to change. Checking your risk takes just 30 seconds, and it could save your life." DARTS AND DONATIONS: HOW THE BIGGER 180 WORKS This year, every 180 scored at Ally Pally is more than just a crowd-pleaser – it's a step towards saving lives: £1,000 donated for every 180 scored during the tournament. A £180,000 nine-dart bonus , split between Prostate Cancer UK, the player, and a lucky fan, for every perfect leg. Funds raised will support the TRANSFORM Trial , a groundbreaking study aiming to revolutionise prostate cancer detection. Targeting 180,000 men to take Prostate Cancer UK's 30-second risk checker , encouraging them to take control of their health. CHRIS HOY : FROM GOLD MEDALS TO LIFE-SAVING ACTION Hoy's journey with prostate cancer began in silence, like so many others. "I didn't have any symptoms until it was too late," Hoy explains. "By the time I felt pain, it wasn't in my prostate anymore – it was secondary cancer in my bones. If I'd thought to check earlier, maybe I'd have caught it in time. That's why this campaign is so important – so others don't end up in the same situation." Hoy's openness has already made a difference: Since his announcement, over 300,000 men have completed the 30-second risk checker . Among them, 38,000 men with a family history of prostate cancer have taken proactive steps to assess their risk. "When I told a friend about my diagnosis, he went for a PSA test and found out he had cancer," says Hoy. "He's now had treatment and got the all-clear. If my story helps even one person, it's worth it." THE TRANSFORM TRIAL: REVOLUTIONISING SCREENING Funds raised by The BIGGER 180 will support the TRANSFORM Trial , a pioneering study tackling the limitations of current screening methods: "The PSA test isn't perfect, and that's one of the reasons doctors often wait until you're 50 to recommend it," Hoy says. "The TRANSFORM Trial could completely change that. It's exciting to be part of something so impactful." The trial aims to create earlier, more accurate detection methods, saving thousands of lives by ensuring men catch the disease before it's too late. TURNING SPORT INTO A LIFE-SAVING PLATFORM Darts isn't just a game – it's a platform to inspire life-saving action. Research backs this up: 66% of men believe sports events are a great way to raise awareness about health issues. Men are 14% more likely than women to take health action if prompted during a sporting event. 82% of men take action when encouraged by friends or family. 52% of men say seeing someone close to them take proactive health steps motivates them to do the same. "Sport brings people together," Hoy says. "It's the perfect stage to deliver a message that can save lives." "We've always loved making noise, but this time, it's about breaking the silence," says Paddy Power himself. "Men are notoriously bad at talking about their health, so we created The BIGGER 180 to change that. At the Paddy Power World Darts Championship – a place where men feel comfortable and connected - every 180 scored isn't just about cheers and beers; it's another step towards saving lives. "By teaming up with Chris Hoy and Prostate Cancer UK, we're turning the biggest stage in darts into a platform for real change." CALL TO ACTION: DON'T MISS YOUR SHOT Hoy's message is simple but powerful: Take the 30 seconds. Use Prostate Cancer UK's risk checker today – it could save your life. Start the conversation. Whether it's with a mate, a partner, or your GP, talking is the first step to breaking the silence. Take action. Don't let embarrassment or fear hold you back. Early detection makes all the difference. "This campaign is about hitting the biggest 180 of all – saving lives," Hoy says. "Together, we're creating something that's going to change lives for the better. But we need every man, every fan, to step up and take that first step." QUOTES FROM CHRIS HOY On His Diagnosis and Why Early Detection Matters: "I didn't have any symptoms until it was too late. By the time I felt pain, it wasn't in my prostate anymore – it was secondary cancer in my bones." "If I'd thought to check earlier, maybe I'd have caught it in time. That's why raising awareness is so important – so others don't end up in the same situation." "Catching it early is the key for any cancer. The 30-second risk checker is a simple way to take control of your health." On Men's Silence Around Health Issues: "Men are notoriously bad at prioritising their own health – physically and mentally. We'll make sure our kids and wives get check-ups, but we put ourselves last. It's a mistake we can't afford to make." "Talking about health isn't about being vulnerable – it's about being smart. It's about taking control." "If my story gets one man to talk, check his risk, or see his GP, it's worth it." On Paddy Power's Role in the Campaign: " Paddy Power is turning cheers into action and moments into movements. That's what makes this campaign so special." "Darts fans are some of the most passionate people in sport, and Paddy Power has tapped into that passion to create something that's not just fun but life-changing." The Paddy Power World Darts Championship kicks off on Sunday, 15th December, bringing world-class darts and life-changing impact to the stage at Alexandra Palace. Supported by Britain's most decorated Olympian, Chris Hoy, the The BIGGER 180 campaign is turning every dart into a chance to save lives. With £1,000 donated by Paddy Power to Prostate Cancer UK for every 180 scored and a massive £180,000 for every nine-dart finish, the campaign aims to raise over £1 million to fund the TRANSFORM Trial and help revolutionise prostate cancer detection. Add to that the goal of getting 180,000 men to take Prostate Cancer UK's 30-second risk checker, and this partnership is setting its sights on hitting the ultimate bullseye: saving lives. Don't miss the action and make your move – find out more at www.paddypower.com and www.prostatecanceruk.org . Notes to Editors About The BIGGER 180 Follow The BIGGER 180 campaign on Paddy Power's ' X ' account and keep up with the running tally of the amount raised via Paddy Power News' Totaliser throughout the tournament The nine-dart bonus, paid by Paddy Power , will apply to every nine-darter in the Paddy Power World Darts Championship – not just the first one – and will be eligible only to parties aged over 18 on the day of play The bonus will be paid to any player aged under 18 by another PDC partner, with details to be confirmed in due course The winning fan in the crowd will be picked at random with a mechanic to be revealed by the PDC and Paddy Power before the start of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship About Paddy Power Paddy Power was born in 1988 thanks to the merger of three Irish bookmakers who decided to do things a little bit differently. What started out as a betting firm has grown into one of the biggest and best-known entertainment brands in the industry. We merged with Betfair in 2016, and FanDuel in 2018. Our oddball approach has seen the company grow exponentially from 30 shops to 500 in the UK & Ireland today, not to mention the launch of www.paddypower.com , poker, live casino, bingo, and games channels. Paddy Power is part of Flutter Entertainment plc, an international sports betting and gaming operator listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Although we've grown to a bit of a behemoth, we've not forgotten our roots – offering value for our customers, served with a side of mischief. About Prostate Cancer UK Prostate Cancer UK is the largest men's health charity in the UK, striving for a world where no man dies of prostate cancer. The charity works to give every man the power to navigate the disease: by helping men understand their risk through our award-winning online risk checker; by providing them with trusted support and the information they need to make the right treatment choices for them; or by empowering them to make improvements for their path ahead, and for the paths of generations to come. Prostate Cancer UK is the driving force in prostate cancer research in the UK. Investing millions into the best researchers in the world to unravel the complexity of the disease, the charity has improved how men are diagnosed through funding cutting-edge technology like more accurate MRI scans. The charity works to give men precise and personalised care with the right treatments at the right time, for the best chance of living the full life they want and spending more time with those they love. Prostate Cancer UK also supports men living with and after prostate cancer, providing services like a Specialist Nurses helpline to give expert advice, and working with the NHS and its Clinical Champions to change the healthcare system so men are more involved in decisions and empowered to navigate prostate cancer. About PDC The Professional Darts Corporation operates a £15m global circuit of events, headlined by the flagship Paddy Power World Darts Championship, which is held across 16 days from December 15-January 3 at London's Alexandra Palace. Part of the Matchroom group of companies, the PDC is now in its fourth decade, and promotes events including Premier League Darts, televised ranked events such as the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts, the global World Series tour and secondary, women's and affiliated tours around the world. About Sky Sky is one of Europe's leading media and entertainment companies and is part of Comcast Corporation, a global media and technology company that connects people to moments and experiences that matter. At Sky we Believe in Better. It's in our DNA. We're famous for innovation. We offer streaming services NOW and WOW; the world's smartest TV, Sky Glass ; and the best aggregation platform, Sky Q. We provide connectivity you can count on in mobile, and fast, secure, reliable residential and business broadband. We're Europe's premium content producer. We create award-winning original content, produce the biggest live sporting events, and we provide free access to news and the arts. We believe that we can have a positive impact on society, by supporting and creating tens of thousands of jobs, addressing digital inequality, being a diverse and inclusive employer, and becoming net zero carbon by 2030. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2581173/Paddy_Power.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2581174/The_BIGGER_180_Campaign_Logo.jpgHow to protect your communications through encryption

Ukraine must be in strong position for negotiations, Starmer to sayShohei Ohtani is a three-time MVP and a World Series champion . Now he’s about to add another title. Daddy. Ohtani posted to his Instagram account Saturday, announcing the upcoming birth of his and wife Mamiko’s first child. “Can’t wait for the little rookie to join our family soon!” he posted under a photo of a pink onesie and baby shoes – with the family dog, Decoy, lying next to the baby gear. A post shared by Shohei Ohtani | 大谷翔平 (@shoheiohtani) Ohtani offered no more details about the baby’s expected arrival – in keeping with the way he guards his private life. In February, Ohtani announced his marriage on Instagram without including any details about the wedding, not even the date, nor his wife’s name, referring to her only as “a normal Japanese woman.” “She is a Japanese woman,” Ohtani said through an interpreter when he announced the marriage during spring training. “I don’t really feel comfortable talking about when I got married exactly, but she’s a normal Japanese woman.” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts joked at the time that Ohtani had kept the marriage such a secret even from his teammates that no one had a chance to shop for wedding gifts. Mamiko Tanaka’s identity was eventually uncovered by the media and she was photographed with Ohtani during the Dodgers’ March trip to South Korea. The couple made occasional appearances together at events throughout the season and were recently spotted together at a Lakers game. Tanaka turned 28 earlier this month and has an athletic background of her own. She played college basketball in Japan and played four seasons professionally for the Fujitsu Red Wave. Ohtani underwent surgery on his left shoulder shortly after the end of the World Series. He partially dislocated the shoulder on a slide during Game 2 against the Yankees. The injury is not expected to prevent him from opening the 2025 season in the Dodgers’ lineup as their designated hitter. But the interruption of his throwing program necessitated by the shoulder rehab will prevent him from being ready to return to pitching until after the season starts. The Dodgers are again scheduled to start the season overseas. They will play two games against the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome on March 18 and 19. The domestic opener is scheduled for March 27 at Dodger Stadium against the Detroit Tigers.

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Agrify Stock Doubles To Hit Over 1-Year High After $25.9M Placement, But Retail Wary Of Short-Covering RallyNEWS HIGHLIGHTS: The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded TI up to $1.6 billion in CHIPS Act funding to support three new 300mm semiconductor wafer fabs under construction in Texas and Utah . TI also expects to receive an estimated $6 billion to $8 billion from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Investment Tax Credit for qualified U.S. manufacturing investments. The company will also receive up to $10 million to support workforce development. LEHI, Utah and SHERMAN, Texas , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments (TI) (Nasdaq: TXN) and the U.S. Department of Commerce today announced an award agreement of up to $1.6 billion in direct funding through the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, following the preliminary memorandum of terms announced in August 2024 . The funding will help support three of TI's new 300mm wafer fabs currently under construction in Texas and Utah. Support from the CHIPS Act, including the 25% investment tax credit, will help TI provide a geopolitically dependable supply of essential analog and embedded processing semiconductors. "As the largest analog and embedded processing semiconductor manufacturer in the U.S., TI is uniquely positioned to provide dependable, low-cost 300mm semiconductor manufacturing capacity at scale," said Haviv Ilan, president and CEO of Texas Instruments. "The increasing number of electronic devices in our lives depend on our foundational chips, and we appreciate the support from the U.S. government to make the semiconductor ecosystem stronger and more resilient." The CHIPS Act direct funding will support TI's investments through 2029 for three large-scale 300mm wafer fabs in Sherman, Texas (SM1 and SM2), and Lehi, Utah (LFAB2). Together, these fabs will manufacture tens of millions of analog and embedded processing chips every day that are critical to a variety of end markets, including automotive, industrial, personal electronics, communications equipment and enterprise systems. Specifically, the CHIPS Act direct funding will be distributed upon completion of project milestones, supporting: Cleanroom construction and tool installations at SM1 in Sherman, Texas ; Shell construction of SM2, a second fab in Sherman, Texas ; and Cleanroom construction and tool installations at LFAB2, a second fab in Lehi, Utah . These connected, multi-fab sites in Texas and Utah will benefit from shared infrastructure, talent and technology sharing, and a strong network of existing suppliers and community partners. Combined, TI's three new fabs in Texas and Utah will create 2,000 company jobs, along with thousands of indirect jobs for construction, suppliers and supporting industries. TI is also investing in building its future workforce. As part of the CHIPS Act award agreement, TI will also receive up to $10 million for workplace development efforts in Texas and Utah . Consistent with TI's longstanding commitment to responsible, sustainable manufacturing and environmental stewardship, the company's 300mm wafer fabs will be entirely powered by renewable electricity. Additionally, TI is committed to reducing overall water consumption across its operations, endeavoring to achieve a 70% water reuse capability in Sherman, Texas , and Lehi , Utah. All of TI's new 300mm fabs are also designed to meet LEED Gold standards for structural efficiency and sustainability. Learn more: TI CHIPS Act press kit (includes images, video b-roll, fact sheet) TI Sherman, Texas , press kit TI Lehi, Utah , press kit Notice regarding forward-looking statements This release includes forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as TI or its management "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "forecasts," "estimates" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements herein that describe TI's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. See Item 1A of TI's most recent Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of risk factors that could cause results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update the forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. If we do update any forward-looking statement, you should not infer that we will make additional updates with respect to that statement or any other forward-looking statement. About Texas Instruments Texas Instruments Incorporated (Nasdaq: TXN) is a global semiconductor company that designs, manufactures, and sells analog and embedded processing chips for markets such as industrial, automotive, personal electronics, communications equipment and enterprise systems. At our core, we have a passion to create a better world by making electronics more affordable through semiconductors. This passion is alive today as each generation of innovation builds upon the last to make our technology more reliable, more affordable and lower power, making it possible for semiconductors to go into electronics everywhere. Learn more at TI.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texas-instruments-announces-award-agreement-for-chips-and-science-act-funding-302337541.html SOURCE Texas Instruments

Gus Malzahn is leaving UCF to become Florida State's offensive coordinator, AP source saysEach zodiac sign has It's unique traits that shape their personalities & differentiate them from each other. Wouldn’t it be useful to start your day knowing what’s universe planned for you? Keep reading to see if today will bring good fortune your way. Aries Quick financial decisions might make you overlook some fantastic opportunities. Focusing on health will prove beneficial. Fresh chances coming your way are sure to brighten your day. An outing with family promises a delightful time. Frequent travel could make things a bit hectic. It's best to avoid property dealings today. Your thoughtful approach will guide you to make wise choices in a tricky situation. TaurusFor those considering a new house or vehicle, now is an ideal time. A fun road trip could be on the horizon. If you've recently cleared a challenging exam or competition, expect good offers to come your way. Your persistence in achieving success will pay off. Giving your time to a social cause will be appreciated by many. Gemini Today, you'll find yourself in an advantageous position. Your creativity will shine brightly. Focus on peace and enjoy quality family time. A lively evening might reunite you with old friends and relatives. Stay focused on your academic goals. Business owners can expect a productive day ahead. Cancer Your long journey will go smoothly without delays. Steer clear of junk food. A family member who lives away may visit you. Financially, luck is on your side, and you could see an improvement in your monetary status. Your hard work at the office will be rewarded. Your generosity will earn you admiration and make you feel fulfilled. Leo Job seekers may find themselves applying to several promising opportunities. Those prepping for competitive exams will find success within reach. Sealing a deal with great negotiation skills will be a proud moment. You’ll manage household expenses well. Freelancers might have additional responsibilities or updates in their contracts. A close friend or family member may stay over today. Virgo Polish your skills to land a well-paying job. Financial concerns will ease soon. Once you overcome academic challenges, there’s no limit to your success. You might get the vacation you’ve been dreaming of. Connecting with an influential person could help you pursue your ambitions. Good news on the home front will lift your spirits. Libra Instead of waiting, take action to turn things in your favor. Your business efforts will help secure a profitable deal. Staying dedicated academically will boost your grades. Smart planning will ensure a smooth family event. A memorable trip with someone special awaits you. Your focus on your goals will bring results. Scorpio Helping someone financially may be unavoidable, so do it willingly. You could play a key role in a young family member’s success. A surprise visit from a distant relative may bring joy. Avoid taking unnecessary risks on the road. Offer professional advice only if you're confident. Sagittarius Starting a new course of study may be on the cards. If you’re dealing with legal issues, patience is needed as things may take time to settle. A chance to showcase your talents will soon present itself. Following others’ guidance might work best for now. Reconnecting with long-lost friends could bring you joy today. Capricorn Good planning will keep you on track with your academic goals. A thoughtful gift from someone close will warm your heart. Family support will boost your new venture. Staying organized will help avoid misunderstandings. Today may not be the best day to present personal requests to higher-ups. Mixing leisure with work may not go well today. Aquarius Your prosperity will grow and bring more success. Smart moves will help you advance in your career. Seek clarification when needed to avoid mistakes in academics. Homemakers might add something new to their household. Financially, you’ll stay comfortable. Travel plans, whether for work or leisure, are likely. Pisces A concern that’s been bothering you will soon be resolved. A work strategy you developed yourself will boost your career prospects. To stand out academically, stay ahead of your peers. You may need to be persuasive to achieve your family goals. A golden opportunity for international travel might come your way. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Horoscope, Astrology and around the world.

Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.Israeli police set to probe Netanyahu’s wife over ‘harassment of witnesses’

23XL Racing, owned by Michael Jordan with co-owner Denny Hamlin and Front Row Racing’s Bob Jenkins, confirmed Wednesday that each has acquired a third charter for the 2025 Cup Series season from Stewart-Haas Racing. The charter, which adds a third car to 23XL Racing’s 2025 roster, will feature young standout Riley Herbst in the No. 35 Toyota full-time. The move has shocked those in the NASCAR community due to an ongoing legal battle sighting 23XL Racing would not sign the franchise’s new charter agreement. The charter comes after the dissolution of Stewart Haas Racing and only sets a minimum performance standard. The standard states, “If a charter team finishes in the bottom three of the owner standings among all 36 charter teams for three consecutive years, NASCAR has the right to remove the charter. However, the team is ready to move forward with the addition of 3-time Xfinity Series winner Riley Herbst and scratch the lawsuit for now. Herbst joins forces with No. 23 driver Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, driver of the No.45 for 23XL Racing, leaving two 2025 seats open, but it won’t be long before they’re filled, according to NASCAR insiders. Proposed Teams In Addition to 23 XL Racing Since 23XL Racing announced that it would join the new NASCAR charter, RFK Racing has decided to follow suit. Wednesday, RFK Racing announced the addition of Ryan Preece , a former Stewart-Haas driver, to the 2025 Cup series roster. Preece will join Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher at RFK in the No. 60 Ford Mustang Darkhorse. President Steve Newmark stated that the team was thrilled to announce RFK’s expansion into the charter and the team’s subsequent growth. The charter secured by RFK to add Preece to their lineup was leased by Rick Ware Racing. Now Newmark is left to determine who will fill the remaining seat and if the No. 51 or 15 will run in 2025, yet it won’t be easy for Front Row Motorsports. Like 23XL Racing, Front Row Motorsports refused to sign the new charter agreement set to take effect in 2025 but did accept a third charter from Stewart-Haas Racing. The added entry means Front Motorsports has an empty seat to fill, and rumors suggest Zane Smith after losing Michael McDowell to Spire Motorsports in 2025. Smith ran with the team in the Craftsman Truck Series and secured a championship in 2022. However, it was announced in July that former Stewart-Haas driver Noah Gragson would take McDowell’s place, and veteran Front Row driver Todd Gilliland will now drive the No. 34, leaving Gragson to take the No. 36 or 38. No matter the number Gragson chooses, this still leaves Front Row Motorsports with an empty spot, so the possibility of Zane Smith filling the last seat may come to fruition. “We’re thrilled to formally and publicly announce our expansion plans and the next step in our evolution at RFK,” said President of RFK Racing, Steve Newmark. What Happens Now That 32 Teams Have Signed? With the 2025 Cup Series just a few short months away and despite 23XL and Front Racing’s October, an anti-trust lawsuit against 32 out of 36 charters will be filed. While not happy with the stipulations of adhering to minimum performance standards , 23 XL and Front Row Racing did, however, agree to file an injunction. The injunction allows 23XL Racing and Front Row Motorsports to acquire their third charters without agreeing to the lower performance pursuant to Section 10.3 of the charter. The deadline for the teams to officially sign the charter expired September 6, so this was their only option. Both teams are pleased with how forthcoming NASCAR has been in working to make adjustments to suit their beliefs. Still, NASCAR states that neither 23 XL Racing nor Front Row Motorsports would need a single charter to compete in the 2025 Cup Series. Regardless of whether they agreed to or raced charterless, both teams have decided that there’s no doubt they’ll be back on the track for the upcoming season. Running open cars is something that the franchise is used to as 23XL Racing ran No. 67 Travis Pastrana and Front Row No. 36 Zane Smith at Daytona International Speedway in 2023. Even so, 23XL Racing and Front Row Motorsports are confident they can make the charters work for the 2025 Cup Series season. The team stated earlier that they didn’t have enough time to re-negotiate a new charter , but it looks like that has changed. NASCAR has been more than flexible with not only 23 XL Racing but also Front Row Motorsports over the past several weeks, and both teams hope it continues. “Plaintiffs do not need these Charter Agreements to race, and indeed have stated publicly that they will be racing in NASCAR regardless.” Final Thoughts Although an ongoing legal battle continues to fester, 23XL Racing and Front Row Racing have added more charters to their 2025 cup lineup. Ryan Preece and Noah Gragson have been confirmed to fill the empty charter spots. The possibility of Zane Smith returning to Front Row still looms. Yet, the likelihood of what some predict will be a Smith Return to Front Row Racing is not too far-fetched, given their history together. What could be better than adding a 2022 champion back into the mix? Fans are eager for February to see if he will grace the track, but it may be announced sooner, so stay tuned. This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.KUWAIT: Kuwait’s foreign minister, Abdullah Al-Yahya, and the chairman of the board of trustees of the Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Prize for African Development received on Thursday a group of winners of the Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Prize for African Development for the years 2022-2023 in the fields of education and food security, namely Dr Catherine Nakalembe and representatives of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation and the International Camfed Organization. During the meeting, they reviewed the winners’ efforts in presenting model programs, studies, and effective projects in the fields of education and food security on the African continent and enabling research and educational institutions to use modern technologies and technology in developing and advancing these two vital sectors. The foreign minister and chairman of the board of trustees of the Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Prize for African Development expressed his happiness and appreciation for the efforts made to achieve the goals and objectives of the prize, wishing the winners continued progress and success. — KUNA

ANN ARBOR, Michigan (AP) — Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant is skipping his final college season to enter the NFL draft. Grant, a key part of the Wolverines' 2023 national championship team, announced his decision Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter. Fellow Michigan interior lineman Mason Graham had already declared for the draft. Both are projected as likely first-round picks. The 6-foot-3, 339-pound Grant was a third-team Associated Press All-American. He had 32 tackles, 6 1/2 tackles for loss and a pair of fumble recoveries. Grant helped Michigan upset Ohio State in the Big Ten regular-season finale, making four tackles. Cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland have also declared for the draft leading up to Michigan's game against No. 11 Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — It took until the fourth quarter, when Kansas City was desperately trying to fend off the lowly Las Vegas Raiders, for Chiefs coach Andy Reid to finally make a drastic change to his offensive line. The Chiefs had tried Kingsley Suamataia at left tackle to start the season. When the rookie was getting beaten routinely for pressure and sacks, they switched to second-year pro Wanya Morris, who fared no better at protecting Patrick Mahomes . In the waning minutes of a 19-17 victory Friday — one that wasn't secure until Las Vegas fumbled away a chance at a winning field goal with 15 seconds left — the Chiefs slid All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney out to tackle. Mike Caliendo entered at guard. And while they didn't have much chance to work together, the move underscored what's been a season-long problem. People are also reading... “That was the right thing to do at the time,” Reid said afterward. “It just solidified things.” What is the solution moving forward? Well, the Chiefs signed former Pro Bowl left tackle D.J. Humphries last week, but he's been with the team for only a few days, and he's also coming off an ACL tear that sidelined him for the entire offseason. In a perfect world, Humphries would slide into the lineup in time for the Chiefs' game against the Chargers next Sunday. In a more realistic world, the Chiefs may need to make it through another week or two before he's ready to contribute, and that would mean putting Morris back into the lineup or keeping Thuney protecting Mahomes' blind side. “I would tell you it's disruptive to any offense when the quarterback is hit," Reid acknowledged, “and not able to get the ball off." Mahomes had gone 113 straight starts without being sacked five-plus times in a game; Carolina and Las Vegas have done it in consecutive weeks. And along with the sacks have been penalties on Morris and right tackle Jawaan Taylor, which have made it hard for a Kansas City offense that has had to adapt to injuries all season to consistently put together drives. “We have to make sure we clean those things up,” Reid said. “It's hard to go backwards in this league and win games.” Yet the Chiefs keep doing it. They have won an NFL-record 14 straight one-possession games, including five decided on the final play, this season. That has allowed them to piece together an 11-1 record and already clinch a postseason bye. “You're not satisfied with where we're at, even though we're winning football games,” Mahomes said. “Our goal over these last few games is to prove the team we really are going into the playoffs and play that way in the playoffs.” What’s working The passing game has started to produce — when Mahomes has time to throw — now that DeAndre Hopkins has become more ingrained in the offense. He had four catches for 90 yards against the Raiders, and his mere presence has opened things up for others, including Travis Kelce, who had seven catches for 68 yards. What needs help The Chiefs basically abandoned an unproductive running game against Las Vegas. Isiah Pacheco ran seven times for 44 yards in his return from an ankle injury, but 34 yards came on one carry. Kareem Hunt had 15 yards on his seven attempts. Stock up Two-time All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones had been held without a sack for seven consecutive games, but he managed to bring down Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell twice. That was important given how much trouble the Chiefs have had getting to the quarterback when they aren't blitzing this season. Stock down The entire Kansas City secondary has struggled for weeks, ever since cornerback Jaylen Watson was lost to a season-ending ankle injury. Nazeeh Johnson, Chamarri Conner and Bryan Cook in particular have been inconsistent in their coverage. Injuries The Chiefs made it through the Raiders game without any injuries. Key number 10 — The Chiefs have qualified for the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons. That is the second-longest streak in NFL history behind the Patriots, who made it 11 straight years from 2009-19. Next steps The game against the Raiders on Black Friday means the Chiefs have a couple of extra days to prepare for the Chargers. The Chiefs have beaten them six straight times, including a 17-10 win on Sept. 29 in Los Angeles. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Has a waltz written by composer Frederic Chopin been discovered in an NYC museum?

Marketing Technology Leader Celebrates Four Consecutive Years of Recognition for Outstanding Growth and Innovation SAN ANTONIO , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stirista, a leader in data-driven marketing innovation, today announced it has secured the #4 position in the San Antonio Business Journal's Fast Track Awards for 2024. This marks Stirista's fourth consecutive year on the list, moving up two spots from last year's ranking and further solidifying its place as a powerhouse in the marketing technology space. The Fast Track Awards recognize the region's fastest-growing companies, celebrating innovation, success, and contributions to the local economy. Stirista's continued rise on the list highlights its sustained growth, fueled by data solutions, strategic client partnerships, and its commitment to excellence in marketing. "We are honored to be recognized for the fourth consecutive year, and moving up to the #4 spot re-affirms our dedication to exceeding expectations and the trust our clients continue to place in us," said Ajay Gupta , CEO of Stirista. "This achievement reflects our never-ending drive to push boundaries, deliver value, and make a meaningful impact in marketing technology. San Antonio has been an incredible foundation for our success, and we're excited to continue contributing to this vibrant business community." Achieving record growth of 73% (2021-2023), Stirista's upward trajectory on the Fast Track Awards is attributed to its proprietary platforms and data-driven strategies that enable marketers to connect with their audiences effectively and responsibly. Recent milestones include the incorporation of AI, high customer retention, and continued strategic acquisitions. For more information about Stirista and its marketing solutions, visit www.stirista.com . About Stirista Stirista is a data-driven marketing technology provider that combines the power of authoritative identity data with the execution of omnichannel marketing. Through its data and customer-centric approach, Stirista is helping Fortune 500 and mid-market brands increase brand loyalty and acquire new customers. Stirista's privacy compliant data insights helps clients interact with customers and prospects via digital, email and social channels. For more information, please visit http://www.stirista.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stirista-climbs-to-4-on-san-antonio-business-journals-2024-fast-track-awards-302330550.html SOURCE StiristaSupporters of suspected CEO killer Luigi Mangione establish defense fund

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rack the spine of your 2025 planner and start filling in some dates, because we’ve rounded up all the biggest new and returning shows of next year. 2024 has seen the death of plenty of TV shows, some by design—like Larry David’s long-running , the vampire comedy , and the most unlikely spin-off hit of all time, Then there were those that had the rug pulled out from under them, like the Star Wars series , Netflix’s Greek god epic , and Taika Waititi’s fan-favorite . Still, where some TV doors close, new browser windows open, and next year looks to be packed to the rafters with big-budget swings like a new prequel and a positively stacked Apple TV+ originals slate, as well as highly anticipated returning faves like , , and We’ve narrowed down the shows we think will be on everyone’s lips in 2025. Jan. 2 Just days before Christmas in 1988, the UK saw its deadliest terror attack in history when a Pan Am flight was blown up over the small Scottish town of Lockerbie, killing 270 people. In , Colin Firth takes on the role of Jim Swire, who lost his daughter in the explosion and became the spokesperson for families who lost loved ones on board. He believes the government is covering up what really happened on the flight, but as 36 years of history reveal, the story is never clear. Jan. 9 If the title of Netflix’s gritty new drama implies something dangerous and evil, well, that’s the idea. chronicles the birth of the American West, with all the perils and violence that came with warring cultures and religions vying for dominance. Taylor Kitsch leads Peter Berg's series as a traumatized man traversing the terrain, with the always excellent Betty Gilpin as a mother looking for a guide across the country. They hope for freedom, but in the frontier, the best they can ask for may be survival. Jan. 9 Noah Wyle as an ER doc? In 2025? It’s more likely than you think. sees Wyle return to the fluorescent-lit hospital halls as the chief attendant at a Pittsburgh hospital. More than , each episode of the series follows one hour in Wyle’s 15-hour shift and aims to show the relentless conditions for modern-day healthcare workers in America, from crammed waiting rooms to nursing shortages. Jan. 22 After the sob-fest that was , we’re grateful that Leo Woodall’s follow-up series looks to be more adrenaline-spiking than tear-jerking. follows Woodall’s Edward Brooks, a math genius (hence the reference to prime numbers) on the brink of a major breakthrough who senses someone may be trying to thwart his discovery. He and the FBI agent sent to spy on him (Quintessa Swindell) will attempt to unravel the conspiracy at the heart of both of their work. Jan. 26 If there are three things that the average TV viewer loves, they are medical dramas, police procedurals, and innovative spins on recognizable IP. Enter , the new series about Sherlock Holmes’ doctor sidekick, which bills itself as part medical mystery, part detective show. Morris Chestnut takes the mantle of John Watson (following Lucy Liu’s run in the character’s last primetime procedural outing in ), who, after the death of Sherlock Holmes, sets up his own practice dedicated to strange and unusual medical issues. Jan. 28 Sterling K. Brown is teaming back up with creator Dan Fogleman for this series centered around the murder of the President of the United States (played by James Marsden, always a joy to see pop up in things). Brown plays the head of security, who just so happens to have been the last person to see him alive after being let in on something top secret and potentially world-altering. Cue the intrigue, espionage, gripping mysteries, and Brown doing what he does best: expertly playing a character we don’t know whether to root for or against. Feb. 16 ’s birthday bash has been a full-season affair so far, with legacy hosts and returning cast members galore. The actual big five-oh celebration for Lorne Michaels’ comedy brainchild will be a three-hour live special dedicated to the sketch show’s half-century run. Details so far are thin on the ground, with no word yet on who will take on hosting duties and who from the show’s illustrious run will be back for some nostalgic commemoration. Based on the show’s 40th anniversary special 10 years ago, we can certainly expect a carousel of big names and multiple musical guests. Feb. 20 , Netflix’s upcoming political thriller, marks Robert De Niro’s first step into the world of prestige TV, an impressive feat to hold off on considering so many of his A-list peers have made the jump over the last few years. He’ll be joined by Jesse Plemons, Dan Stevens, Lizzy Caplan, and Angela Bassett in the series, about a beloved and former United States president (De Niro, naturally) as he leads the investigation into a catastrophic cyberattack. Feb. 23 Move over David Attenborough, is coming for your bag. Hanks takes on narrating duties for this expansive docuseries that shows the beauty of nature spanning the most remote parts of both North and South America. The series was filmed over five years, taking viewers from the top of the world in the Arctic to the bottom in the Antarctic. Feb. 23 If there’s one thing that L.A. has in abundance, it’s lawyers. So it makes sense that the first spin-off of the wildly popular, Meghan Markle-starring series about NYC attorneys that after it ended in 2019, would decamp for the West Coast. The series stars Stephen Amell as a federal prosecutor from New York who moves to Hollywood to represent some of Los Angeles’ most powerful clients. Maggie Grace will also star. March 4 It’s been a long, long road to get us to ’s release. The long-awaited solo return for Charlie Cox’s blind superhero outside of the short-lived Marvel-Netflix partnership was first announced in 2022, but by 2023 it was undertaking a massive creative overhaul with ’s Dario Scardapane brought in as showrunner. The show, which has been billed as a continuation of the character’s initial three-season Netflix run rather than a reboot, will bring back series originals Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio as villain Kingpin, and Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson and Karen Page to the gritty streets of New York’s Hell’s Kitchen. March 14 is another crime novel adaptation set to hit the small screen next year. screenwriter Peter Craig’s 2009 story will star and Wagner Moura as a duo that runs a grift posing as DEA agents to rob an unknown house in the countryside, only to realize they’ve stumbled across the biggest narcotics corridor on the East Coast. Ridley Scott will executive produce. March 20 So far, Netflix’s more than $100-million deal with Shonda Rhimes has given us the bodice-ripping behemoth , its spin-off , and the Anna Delvey miniseries . The newest jewel in the crown is , a murder mystery set within the walls of the White House. Described as an “upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs” story, the series stars Uzo Aduba as the eccentric detective alongside Giancarlo Esposito and Randall Park. March 26 The sign of truly making it in Hollywood isn’t an award or a mansion in the hills, it’s wracking up enough caché to get , Ron Howard, Charlize Theron, Zac Efron, and Kathryn Hahn to berate you on screen. stars Seth Rogen as a movie studio head on the brink of existential crisis as he tries to toe the line between making art and “movies with a capital M.” The trailer alone is like a rolodex of big-name cameos playing heightened versions of themselves, which, when executed well, can be delightful. April 11 Jon Hamm as a somewhat sociopathic businessman conning his way through New York? We think we’ve seen this one before. In , Hamm will lead his first TV series since and suit back up as a hedge fund manager who, after losing his job and marriage, starts stealing from the wealthy residents of his suburb. Naturally, the con gets out of hand, and when he steals the wrong thing from the wrong house, his new life of petty crime starts to unravel. The series will also star Olivia Munn and Amanda Peet. April 16 Another series in Apple TV+’s loaded slate is , starring and executive-produced by . The surrealist comedy is set in 1969 and revolves around a quirky family in L.A. Oyelowo plays its patriarch who, after being released from prison, tries to curry favor with his wife and kids who resent his absence and have seemingly built a strange life around lofty pursuits and odd hobbies in the time he’s been away. The show is created by Paul Hunter, dubbed one of the most influential hip-hop music video directors of all time. Unsurprisingly, early images of the series look gorgeous. Summer TBA The franchise has had a long and storied existence in cinema (the latest installment, , came out this year), but will be its first live-action iteration on TV. They’ve brought in the big guns for the xenomorph’s small-screen debut, roping in series creator Noah Hawley to helm the (space) ship. The series is a prequel to the original 1979 Ridley Scott film starring Sigourney Weaver and takes place on Earth after a mysterious vessel containing a dangerous entity (three guesses for what it might be!) threatens life as we know it. TBA Owen Wilson is pitching on the green in , a comedy about golf. He stars as Pryce Cahill, an ex-pro golfer who, after having his career prematurely cut short, becomes the coach for a troubled but talented 17-year-old. If you’ve seen (2016) or (1984), you might get a sense of what we’re in for. There’s still a lot of mystery around this series, but we do know that Timothy Olyphant and Judy Greer will also star. TBA Taron Egerton will team back up with creator for , a fictionalized take on the true-crime podcast of the same name about the hunt for an arsonist who seemed to confess their crimes in a novel manuscript. Egerton will star as an enigmatic arson investigator on the hunt for two serial arsonists terrorizing the area. The series will also star Jurnee Smollet, John Leguizamo, and Rafe Spall. TBA Jason Momoa wears multiple hats in a series he wrote, executive produced and stars in. It tells the story of the bloody and brutal colonization of Hawaii from the indigenous point of view, and Momoa stars as the warrior Ka'iana, known as the "most famous Hawaiian in the world.” TBA The universe continues to expand its reach. Along with , 2025 will see another prequel come our way. The series is set 100 years before ’s Targaryen turf war and is based on the novellas in George R. R. Martin’s original series. It revolves around a naive knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his squire known as Egg. Martin will write the series and has said it will have a different tone to its successors but it’s still Westeros so “No one is truly safe.” TBA “ ” is extending its run into 2025 with , a comedy series Powell co-created with Michael Waldron based on Eli Manning’s character of the same name. Taking inspo from Manning’s ESPN docuseries in which he went undercover during college football tryouts, Powell will play a disgraced college quarterback who tries to get a second shot at his big break by disguising himself on a new college team under a different identity (bad wig and prosthetics included!). TBA For those pleading for the return of good old-fashioned classic rom-coms, you may be in luck with , Tina Fey’s remake of the 1981 Alan Alda and Carol Burnett comedy, which was a love story about friendship as much as it was a romance. The story follows three couples who vacation with each other each season, but their harmony is thrown off balance when one of them gets divorced and brings a new partner into the fold. Fey will lead the show and reunite with her co-star Steve Carrell. Elsewhere in the cast, we have Will Forte, Colman Domingo, Kerri Kenney-Silver, and Erika Henningsen. TBA The snapshots of the child-murdering sewer clown Pennywise’s history that we got in (2017) and (2019) inform the story of , the prequel series about Maine’s most haunted town. Taking place 27 years before Stephen King’s original novel (because Pennywise only shows up in 27-year intervals), the show will explore the town’s first sightings and experiences with the dancing clown. Set in the 1960s, expect all the hallmarks of King’s penchant for vintage vignettes, including the looming fear of the Cold War as well as whatever monsters live beneath the sewer grates. TBA Liz Moore’s novel topped multiple year-end critics lists and was named one of Barack Obama’s favorite books of the year when it was released in 2020, so naturally, it is heading to the small screen with an adaptation. Amanda Seyfried will star in the series which follows a beat cop working as the opioid crisis grips the streets of Philadelphia. Her sister, who she’s more or less estranged from, battles on the fringes of addiction and the latest danger that sweeps the city, a killer who targets sex workers. TBA After Mindy Kaling wrapped up her Netflix high school rom-com last year, questions turned to where she’d go next. The answer is not very far. She is back with the streamer for her next creation, , a Kate Hudson-starring series about a woman who inherits the top seat of her family business—one of the biggest basketball franchises in the country. Sitcom lovers will rejoice at the show’s supporting cast, which includes Drew Tarver, of the sublimely hilarious , Brenda Song, whose renaissance the internet is cheering on enthusiastically, and Max Greenfield, who’s not playing Schmidt from but who will always be Schmidt in our hearts. TBA If you, like seemingly the rest of the world in 2024, decided to rewatch and now yearn for more of Lena Dunham’s specific lens on the world of friendship and romance, you’re in luck! She’s back with , a series she’s written with her husband Luis Felber, about a New Yorker who moves to London after a painful breakup and meets a handsome and kind local. Considering Dunham herself moved from the Big Apple to the other side of the pond and married a hot Brit, we sense there could be some autobiographical license. If the premise wasn’t enough, Dunham has roped in Meg Stalter, consistently one of the funniest people on screen (watch !) and Season 2’s hunky nerd Will Sharpe. We’re so back, baby! TBA Although Netflix’s mononymous David Beckham 2023 docuseries focused on the footballer’s ascent to “Golden Balls” status, it was his wife Victoria, the fashion designer and former Spice Girl, who came out as the real star. The series reminded viewers that behind the pout, Victoria has always had a razor-sharp wit and isn’t precious when it comes to joking about herself (as seen in her previous satirical reality show ). Unsurprisingly, the streamer has jumped on that goodwill and greenlit another series, this time focused on Victoria and her shift from extravagant pop star to quiet luxury fashion mogul. Jan. 9 The most gripping reality TV series out there, is thankfully returning very early on in 2025. Happy New Year to us! The show where celebrities are pitted against each other in a high-stakes party game of Mafia, in which some are designated secret “traitors” who are vying to get others eliminated to steal the top prize, is heading back to the Scottish Highlands with Alan Cumming as host (we would riot if not!) and the likes of Bob the Drag Queen, Chrishell Stause, Dorinda Medley, and Tom Sandoval competing in the mix. Jan. 17 The wait between Seasons 1 and 2 of Ben Stiller’s high-concept workplace drama felt longer than that stretch between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the office on any given Wednesday, but finally, it’s upon us. Adam Scott is back as Mark, an employee of , where employees can separate their work memories from their real-life memories. Season 1 gave us plenty of mysteries about what Lumon is actually up to; let’s hope Season 2 gives us some answers before it clocks out for the end of its shift. Jan. 23 After its first season launched as one of the most watched shows in Netflix’s history, it was only a matter of time (a month, to be exact) before was greenlit for a second (and third) series. Gabriel Basso’s FBI agent Peter Sutherland is back for more explosive twists and turns as he gets further immersed in Night Action, a secret organization full of danger. Jan. 30 semi-autobiographical comedy series about his life as a Palestinian refugee in Houston is back for a second season. The show, which is co-created by Ramy Youssef, will pick up with Mo’s continued attempts at seeking asylum in the U.S., but in Season 2 he’s stranded across the border in Mexico without a passport. Feb 14 What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with a bit of survival-based cannibalism? Season 2 of , the dual-timeline series about a group of teens who got stranded in the wilderness, created even more tension and questions than its first outing. In Season 3, it looks like the team is getting hunted by someone who knows their secret—but everyone who knows the story is “us or dead.” Feb. 16 The third installment of Mike White’s resort-based murder mystery is one of the most anticipated shows of 2025, especially after the in late 2022. Following from Hawaii and then Italy, this series takes place at the White Lotus branch in Thailand. Naturally, White has cobbled together a killer (literally, perhaps) cast including Parker Posey, Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, and Lisa from the K-pop girl group Blackpink. April 22 spin-off shows haven’t had the most success lately, but among the expansive galaxy’s offerings. The show chronicles the events leading up to 2016’s , with intelligence officer Cassian Andor anchoring the series. While Season 1 took place over a single year, Season 2 will span four years. Spring TBA It will have been almost three years since the last season of by the time Season 6, the show’s last, lands in our laps next year, but the creators have promised that the wait will have been worth it. Season 5 left us with an unlikely team-up and an increasingly authoritarian threat in Canada. TBA ’s popularity has bubbled over like a pot of boiling water since its debut. Its second season swept every award going and while its third season was met with a more mixed bag of reviews, it's still one of the most talked about shows on TV right now—not least because it's banging out seasons in a way we haven’t seen in decades. Four seasons in four years? We forgot we could live like this! TBA satirical anthology about technology’s chokehold on us will be back for a seventh season, so be prepared to start looking at your cell phone or air fryer with some suspicion again. The series will include Emma Corrin, Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, Cristin Milioti, and Chris O’Dowd. TBA Apple TV+’s answer to is the story of five ambitious high-society American women navigating the culture clash of 1870s London. Greg Wise and Leighton Meester will be joining the show’s second season. TBA Never has a TBA been more TBA than when it comes to , Sam Levinson’s dive into the drug-addled, sex-fueled lives of teenagers. While its cast, including Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney, have entered bonafide Hollywood A-list status began in 2022, Levinson has confirmed that the show will be back for a third season that’s due to start filming in January. It’s said there will be a time jump from last season, meaning the characters will have aged out of being teenagers. TBA Julian Fellowes’ , set in late-1800s New York, proves that great drama can be found anywhere, even in high-society quibbles over who has the superior opera house. Season 3 will see an evolving New York, where the old guard has been usurped and new socialites run the town. became one of the most popular and gripping shows with its 2023 debut, putting to bed the idea that video games can’t be successfully adapted to the screen and solidifying Pedro Pascal’s “Internet Daddy” status. Season 2 will be based on the game’s second installment, , meaning we’re time-jumping a few years into the future with Bella Ramsey’s Ellie being 19 rather than 14. TBA Rian Johnson has truly cornered the market in whodunits or, as he calls , a howcatchem. will return as Charlie Cale, a case-of-the-week Las Vegas detective, pointing fingers at all manner of big-name guest stars. Kumail Nanjiani, Katie Holmes, John Mulaney, Ego Nwodim, and Sam Richardson will all pop by this season. TBA It’s been so long since ’ last season that we’re almost ready to bring “Running Up That Hill” for its second cultural renaissance just to feel something. Still, the wait will hopefully be worth it as we get ready to say goodbye to Hawkins, the Upside Down, and all the characters who are definitely still supposed to be 15-year-olds despite this show nearing its 10th anniversary. After Hawkins gave way to Vecna’s destruction last season, the gang will have to pool together one last time to save their town from its biggest villain yet. TBA Season 1 launched to unprecedented levels of popularity in 2023, usurping ’ chokehold when it came to streaming numbers. Its second installment has a lot to live up to, but if Jenna Ortega’s sardonic take on the classic pigtail-braided character has taught us anything, it’s that we should never underestimate The Addams Family (and that black really does look good with everything). TBA Will finally get what’s coming to him? That’s the question we’ll all be asking as we head into ’s final season. After murdering his way through New York, California, and London with varying degrees of success, Penn Badgley’s stalking serial killer is back on home turf, although this time he’s got a multi-millionaire wife to hide behind.

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Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’

Texas Instruments announces award agreement for CHIPS and Science Act fundingWill Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco Play vs. Panthers?Technology and TV writer Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Shields Gazette, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. The leaderboard for this week’s episode of Strictly Come Dancing has taken shape after the judges' votes. It was musical week as the stars took on classic tracks from the West End. Performances included dances to songs from Wicked and West Side Story as well as newer favourites like Six and The Color Purple. Just six couples remain in the show as we near the final. Advertisement Advertisement Fans will now have a chance to vote for their favourite couples after the performances. The judges handed out their scores - with plenty of tens being thrown around. Stay up-to-date with the latest UK news and culture with our free UK Today newsletter. The first couple up was Sarah and Vito, who performed Popular from Wicked - doing the Charleston. Next was Montell & Johannes who did a Rumba to I’m Here from The Color Purple. Tasha & Aljaz did the Argentine Tango to Ex-wives from Six (a musical based on the wives of Henry VIII). The fourth couple to go was Chris & Dianne who did a Quickstep to You’re the top from Anything Goes. Advertisement Advertisement Pete and Jowita were next and did a performance of Somewhere from West Side Story, doing a Waltz. Finishing the night was JB and Lauren who did a Viennese Waltz to Let's Go Fly a Kite from Mary Poppins. The judge gave out plenty of high scores on Saturday night. It meant the top of the leaderboard was very tight. The voting is now open for Strictly Come Dancing this week. You have multiple options for backing your favourite performances from musical week. You can vote by calling or texting the number that was shown onscreen during the episode - with the correct ending for your favourite couple. But you can also go to the Strictly website to vote . Advertisement Advertisement The BBC show will be back on Sunday evening - see my guide here for the exact time. It will be for the results show, which will see the professionals do a performance from the musical Hamilton. The bottom two couples will battle it out for their place in the semi-final tomorrow. You still have time to vote. What did you think of the performances on Strictly Come Dancing tonight? Let me know by emailing me: [email protected] . National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Even when Luigi Mangione was surrounded by people who cared about him, he was isolated by a spinal defect that gave the athletic young man crippling pain and contributed to a jaundiced view of the US healthcare system. Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Credit: nna\josh.hohne Authorities have charged Mangione, 26, with murder in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York and police said on Wednesday they believe the motive was animosity toward the health insurance industry and corporate America. New York police found a three-page, handwritten document on Mangione that expressed disdain for the health business, they’ve said. Mangione foreshadowed that scepticism about the healthcare industry on Reddit in April as he offered advice for getting a doctor to perform spinal surgery. “Tell them you are ‘unable to work’ / do your job,” he wrote. “We live in a capitalist society. I’ve found that the medical industry responds to these key words far more urgently than you describing unbearable pain and how it’s impacting your quality of life.” Mangione’s Reddit posts, under the name mister_cactus, had once linked to his personal programming site and offered numerous matching personal details. Reddit declined to confirm whether the account, which was deactivated this week, belonged to him. Reporters reviewed the posts in an internet archive. A poster depicting Luigi Mangione hangs outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in New York. Credit: AP Nothing in his Reddit posts reviewed by The Washington Post presaged violence. Authorities have not laid out their case for what they think drove Mangione to escalate his frustration with the health system, which is common in the United States, into an allegedly premeditated murder of a prominent executive. Thomas M. Dickey, an attorney for Mangione, didn’t respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Mangione’s arrest has stunned his friends and family, most of whom appeared to have lost touch with him in the last six months. “We all condemn violence of any kind,” said Josiah Ryan, a spokesman for Surfbreak HNL, a co-living community in Honolulu where Mangione lived for six months in 2022. He added: “There’s sadness because he was a person who was well-loved and no one saw this coming.” Ryan said Mangione’s back pain was well-known within the Surfbreak community. “It was a real problem for him, and he had to think about that in a way that most 24-year-old young men living in Hawaii would not have to worry about their health,” Ryan said. Mangione at the police station in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Credit: Pennsylvania State Police/AP Mangione’s struggles with his back pain offer a glimpse into the interior life of a man who outwardly lived a charmed existence – the scion of a wealthy family in Maryland who was valedictorian of his prestigious private school in Baltimore and earned degrees in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania. In archived Reddit comments, Mangione doesn’t express anger toward UnitedHealthcare or other health insurers. But the posts chronicle his struggle over the years to deal with back pain that became increasingly debilitating. “From childhood until age 23, my back would always ache if I stood too long, but it wasn’t too bad,” he wrote in February. But as he entered his mid-20s, the pain began to disrupt his life. He once described the sensation of an unstable spine as being able to “feel the bones moving/grinding.” Loading He also struggled with cognitive issues, according to his posts. In a Reddit group focused on brain fog, he wrote, “The people around you probably won’t understand your symptoms – they certainly don’t for me.” By January 2022, Mangione was living at Surfbreak in Hawaii, where a surfing accident exacerbated his spinal condition, according to his Reddit posts and interviews with friends. He had a spinal fusion surgery – a procedure that stabilises the spine with surgical screws – in July 2023, according to his Reddit posts, and he seemed pleased with the results for months afterward. “Haven’t had a bad day since,” he wrote in November 2023. Mangione’s discussion of surgery aligns with an image of an X-ray prominently displayed on his profile for the social media platform X. An orthopedic surgeon who reviewed the image for The Post described it as a “lumbar spine with posterior spinal instrumentation, possible fusion”. It’s a common procedure for people with spondylolisthesis, a condition where a vertebra shifts forward and can cause excruciating pain in the lower back. Loading He found a community on Reddit dedicated to spondylolisthesis, which he described as “my injury” in handwritten notes uploaded to his profile on the book-review site Goodreads in 2019. Mangione regularly offered advice to others, sometimes with an edge of bitterness about the reluctance of the medical profession to provide the care he considered necessary. To persuade doctors reluctant to perform surgery, he suggested an extreme option would be to “fake a foot drop” (difficulty lifting the front part of the foot) “or piss yourself. This is the absolute nuclear option, but there comes a point where it’s just ridiculous that people won’t operate on your broken spine.” His struggles drew empathy from people close to him. Surfbreak’s owner RJ Martin told the New York Times that Mangione “knew that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasn’t possible”. In a text message to The Post , Martin said he was overwhelmed and exhausted and deferred comment to Ryan, his spokesman. Martin found Mangione “to be a really special person,” Ryan said. “He expected to have a lifelong friendship with him.” Mangione’s arrest “was pretty devastating for him”. Marc McCoy, 59, owner of Moped Garage, a store near Surfbreak, said that he sold Mangione a moped and that they had multiple conversations. The Maryland native was eager to talk to McCoy, who has lived in Hawaii for a half-century, about how to fit in and respect the local culture and not be an ugly American stereotype, McCoy said. “He was well-spoken, intelligent, conscientious,” he said. “I’m in complete shock.” Mangione spent some time in Japan this year. A picture posted to X in late February by Japanese professional poker player Jun Obara shows him appearing to enjoy a meal at a Tokyo restaurant with a smiling Mangione and others. “He came in by himself and we talked to him and treated him to a meal and drinks because we wanted him to enjoy Japan,” Obara wrote in a subsequent post this week. “He said he was on vacation from Hawaii.” Most friends and family appear to have lost touch with Mangione since May. That appears to be when he last posted to his accounts on Goodreads and Reddit, where he linked to a video shared by another user in a group for discussing Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. Members of the New York police crime scene unit photograph bullets lying on the footpath. Credit: AP His apparently last post on X, formerly Twitter, was a retweet of a podcast episode on how smartphones and social media impact mental health on June 10. June 10 also was the last time Gurwinder Bhogal, a UK-based writer, said he received a message from Mangione, who was seeking advice about curating his social media feeds. The two had struck up a correspondence in April after Mangione subscribed to his Substack publication. They discussed politics, said Bhogal, who recalled him complaining “about how expensive health care in the U.S. was.” In comments circulated to reporters, Bhogal wrote, “Overall, the impression I got of him, besides his curiosity and kindness, was a deep concern for the future of humanity, and a determination to improve himself and the world.” United Healthcare chief executive Brian Thompson. Credit: AP He added, “He was so polite and thoughtful it was hard to conceive of him murdering someone.” Mangione’s movements in the summer and fall are still not clear. Mangione’s mother, Kathleen Mangione, called the San Francisco police on Nov. 18 and said her son had not been heard from since July, according to local media reports. A source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Post that a missing-person report was filed. The San Francisco Police Department declined to comment on the case and referred questions to New York police. An NYPD spokesperson declined to comment on the missing-person report. Washington Post Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Crime For subscribers USA Healthcare Most Viewed in World Loading

Apple is planning to switch to a homegrown chip for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections for its devices starting next year, a move that will phase out some parts currently supplied by Broadcom, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. The chip, code-named Proxima, has been under development for several years and is now slated to go into the first iPhones and smart home devices produced in 2025, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. The iPhone maker's in-house chips will be produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the report added. At its annual developer conference in June, Apple said that it plans to use its own server chips to help power artificial intelligence features on its devices. The move is separate from Apple's reported plans to launch its long-awaited series of cellular modem chips next year, which will replace components from longtime partner Qualcomm, the report added. However, the two parts will eventually work together, Bloomberg said on Thursday. Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. The company is working with Broadcom to develop its first server chip, which is internally code-named Baltra, specifically designed for AI processing, the Information reported on Wednesday. The iPhone maker, along with some other big technology companies, has found it hard to cut reliance on Nvidia's pricey and short-in-supply processors despite in-house efforts to develop their own chips to power compute-heavy AI services. Last year, Broadcom, a major supplier of wireless components to Apple, had signed a multi-billion-dollar deal with the company to develop 5G radio frequency components.‘Unsurpassed’: Aussie great’s big announcement

superkill Player of week Peterson ready to lead Bucs against 49ersFederal prosecutors in Los Angeles this week unsealed criminal charges against five men alleged to be members of a hacking group responsible for dozens of cyber intrusions at major U.S. technology companies between 2021 and 2023, including LastPass , MailChimp , Okta , T-Mobile and Twilio . The five men, aged 20 to 25, are allegedly members of a hacking conspiracy dubbed “ Scattered Spider ” and “ Oktapus ,” which specialized in SMS-based phishing attacks that tricked employees at tech firms into entering their credentials and one-time passcodes at phishing websites. The targeted SMS scams asked employees to click a link and log in at a website that mimicked their employer’s Okta authentication page. Some SMS phishing messages told employees their VPN credentials were expiring and needed to be changed; other phishing messages advised employees about changes to their upcoming work schedule. These attacks leveraged newly-registered domains that often included the name of the targeted company, such as twilio-help[.]com and ouryahoo-okta[.]com . The phishing websites were normally kept online for just one or two hours at a time, meaning they were often yanked offline before they could be flagged by anti-phishing and security services. The phishing kits used for these campaigns featured a hidden Telegram instant message bot that forwarded any submitted credentials in real-time. The bot allowed the attackers to use the phished username, password and one-time code to log in as that employee at the real employer website. In August 2022, multiple security firms gained access to the server that was receiving data from that Telegram bot, which on several occasions leaked the Telegram ID and handle of its developer, who used the nickname “ Joeleoli .” That Joeleoli moniker registered on the cybercrime forum OGusers in 2018 with the email address joelebruh@gmail.com , which also was used to register accounts at several websites for a Joel Evans from North Carolina. Indeed, prosecutors say Joeleoli’s real name is Joel Martin Evans , and he is a 25-year-old from Jacksonville, North Carolina. One of Scattered Spider’s first big victims in its 2022 SMS phishing spree was Twilio , a company that provides services for making and receiving text messages and phone calls. The group then used their access to Twilio to attack at least 163 of its customers. According to prosecutors, the group mainly sought to steal cryptocurrency from victim companies and their employees. “The defendants allegedly preyed on unsuspecting victims in this phishing scheme and used their personal information as a gateway to steal millions in their cryptocurrency accounts,” said Akil Davis , the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office. Many of the hacking group’s phishing domains were registered through the registrar NameCheap , and FBI investigators said records obtained from NameCheap showed the person who managed those phishing websites did so from an Internet address in Scotland. The feds then obtained records from Virgin Media, which showed the address was leased for several months to Tyler Buchanan , a 22-year-old from Dundee, Scotland. As first reported here in June , Buchanan was arrested in Spain as he tried to board a flight bound for Italy. The Spanish police told local media that Buchanan, who allegedly went by the alias “ Tylerb ,” at one time possessed Bitcoins worth $27 million. The government says much of Tylerb’s cryptocurrency wealth was the result of successful SIM-swapping attacks, wherein crooks transfer the target’s phone number to a device they control and intercept any text messages or phone calls sent to the victim — including one-time passcodes for authentication, or password reset links sent via SMS. According to several SIM-swapping channels on Telegram where Tylerb was known to frequent, rival SIM-swappers hired thugs to invade his home in February 2023. Those accounts state that the intruders assaulted Tylerb’s mother in the home invasion, and that they threatened to burn him with a blowtorch if he didn’t give up the keys to his cryptocurrency wallets. Tylerb was reputed to have fled the United Kingdom after that assault. Prosecutors allege Tylerb worked closely on SIM-swapping attacks with Noah Michael Urban , another alleged Scattered Spider member from Palm Coast, Fla. who went by the handles “ Sosa ,” “ Elijah ,” and “ Kingbob .” Sosa was known to be a top member of the broader cybercriminal community online known as “ The Com ,” wherein hackers boast loudly about high-profile exploits and hacks that almost invariably begin with social engineering — tricking people over the phone, email or SMS into giving away credentials that allow remote access to corporate networks. In January 2024, KrebsOnSecurity broke the news that Urban had been arrested in Florida in connection with multiple SIM-swapping attacks. That story noted that Sosa’s alter ego Kingbob routinely targeted people in the recording industry to steal and share “grails,” a slang term used to describe unreleased music recordings from popular artists. FBI investigators identified a fourth alleged member of the conspiracy – Ahmed Hossam Eldin Elbadawy , 23, of College Station, Texas — after he used a portion of cryptocurrency funds stolen from a victim company to pay for an account used to register phishing domains. The indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges Elbadawy controlled a number of cryptocurrency accounts used to receive stolen funds, along with another Texas man — Evans Onyeaka Osiebo , 20, of Dallas. Members of Scattered Spider are reputed to have been involved in a September 2023 ransomware attack against the MGM Resorts hotel chain that quickly brought multiple MGM casinos to a standstill. In September 2024, KrebsOnSecurity reported that a 17-year-old from the United Kingdom was arrested last year by U.K. police as part of an FBI investigation into the MGM hack. Evans, Elbadawy, Osiebo and Urban were all charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Buchanan, who is named as an indicted co-conspirator, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. A Justice Department press release states that if convicted, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy count, and a mandatory two-year consecutive prison sentence for aggravated identity theft. Buchanan would face up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud count as well. Further reading: The redacted complaint against Buchanan (PDF) Charges against Urban and the other defendants (PDF).

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Fifth Circuit Rejects OFAC Sanction of Tornado Cash Crypto CodeLawyers for Baltimore City on Wednesday told a judge two drug distribution companies should have to pay $5 billion to curb the raging opioid epidemic here. The approximately weeklong bench trial presided over by Circuit Judge Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill kicked off with the testimony of a public health professor the city hired to create a detailed plan to tackle the opioid crisis . Wednesday’s proceeding is the second phase of Baltimore’s civil case against drug distributors McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, now known as Cenora. A jury in November ordered the companies to pay $266 million for flooding Baltimore with hundreds of millions of addictive opioid painkillers from 2006 to 2019. Now it’s up to Fletcher-Hill to determine how much else, if anything, the drug distributors must pay to resolve the crisis jurors found them liable for. Baltimore initially asked Fletcher-Hill to make the companies pay $11 billion but reduced its monetary demands following the first trial. Unlike the monthslong jury trial that ended in November, lawyers did not give dramatic opening statements . Instead, they submitted arguments in writing before this so-called “abatement phase” trial began. Attorneys for Baltimore argue McKesson and AmerisourceBergen should pay at least $5 billion to offset the damage they caused by flooding the area with addictive painkillers with little regard for the havoc the companies knew they would wreak. Their reckless distribution of opioids, the city said, hooked a new generation on painkillers. They then overdosed and died at staggering rates after moving on to heroin and much more potent fentanyl when their prescriptions ran out. “The only viable remedy to reduce the nuisance and minimize its effect is to require Defendants to fund a plan to abate it,” city lawyers wrote. Attorneys for the drug distributors argue the city is abusing the civil justice system to force two companies to pay for societal issues they had no role in. They called the city’s abatement plan a “sweeping, 15-year social policy plan related to opioid addiction and many other social issues — e.g., homelessness, re-entry after incarceration, foster care, job training, food support, and bolstering the health care workforce.” “That type of public policy-making is for the General Assembly, not a Court sitting in equity in a lawsuit involving just two wholesale distributors,” the companies’ lawyers wrote The first witness Wednesday was Susan G. Sherman of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a social and behavioral scientist whose decades of research focuses on people who use opioids, primarily in Baltimore. Sherman highlighted the 91-page report she prepared before the trial that made recommendations she predicts in 15 years would bring down the fatality of overdoses by 23%, reduce initiation of nonmedical prescription opioid use by 7.5% and decrease the prescribing of opioids by approximately 55%. Sherman’s plan calls for dramatically expanding access to medication-assisted opioid treatment — regarded by experts as the most effective way to treat opioid addiction. It would also create more programs to reduce the deadliness of drug use and its side effects and offer education campaigns to allow officials to better respond to the crisis. She called it “a full response to the opioid epidemic.” Sherman also proposes expanding measures Baltimore already has, like the distribution of the opioid overdose-reversing drug naloxone and providing clean syringes to reduce the risk of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B. “It’s a philosophy of meeting people where they are in their drug use,” Sherman testified. Her plan also calls for some initiatives that would be novel in the city, such as overdose prevention sites, which provide people who use opioids a place to administer drugs under the supervision of medical professionals with life-saving resources available. There are at least 200 such places, also known as safe consumption sites, around the world but only two in America, located in New York City, Sherman’s report says. “Despite millions of injections taking place in OPSes worldwide, not one has resulted in a fatal overdose,” she said. Sherman testified that overdose prevention sites have led to people stopping drug use and entering treatment. She said there are plans to open such operations in Rhode Island, Vermont and Minneapolis. Under her plan, the percentage of opioid users in the city who were in treatment would climb from 13% to 41%, she testified. She calls for more easy-to-access treatment programs like Project Connections at Reentry, a van that offers opioid medications to people without identifications or health insurance outside the Baltimore Central Booking & Intake Center. She also called for more wrap-around services for people in treatment, including transportation, housing support, nutritional assistance, job training and mental health care. “It’s important for people to have stability — food, housing, mental health care — to be successful in treatment,” Sherman testified. ©2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Jerry Jones: Mike McCarthy Extension 'Not Crazy At All'As 2024 winds down, the drivers of telecoms sector have highlighted key issues and challenges that shaped the sector, while raising hopes for better service quality in 2025, writes Emma Okonji With a deep retrospect into the activities of the telecoms sector in 2024, telecoms operators came to a conclusion that the sector was fraught with challenges that slowed down development in the sector in 2024, a situation, which they said, compelled them to subsidise telecoms service offerings for data and voice calls below cost price that was not sustainable. Despite the challenges, telecoms operators contributed immensely to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, job creation, investments, connectivity, quality of service, broadband and internet penetration in 2024. GDP Growth Relying on the figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for GDP growth, telecoms operators are of the view that the sector contributed immensely to GDP growth in 2024. According to NBS figures, telecoms contribution to GDP in 2024 stood at 16 per cent, which is quite significant from the scheme of things. Pleased with the contribution of telecoms to Nigeria’s GDP, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), who doubles as the spokesperson for telecoms operators in Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, told THISDAY that the sector contributed immensely to GDP growth adding that there was increased growth of about three per cent in every quarter of 2024. According to Adebayo, “If you look at the statistics, the telecoms sector had the most-steady contribution to GDP as a sector. I think our contribution has been steady and has been consistent in the past years, in particular between 2023 and 2024. I think the contribution has been steady and that also in no small way, helped in stimulating the economy. Remember that we provide the infrastructure that drives other infrastructure. So in that regard, we can say that we have contributed immensely as a sector to Nigeria’s GDP, and the contribution of other sectors to the economy is powered by the telecoms sector.” Job Creation According to Adebayo, the telecoms industry has done more in terms of indirect employment because a lot of the non-core services in the telecoms sector, has gone into outsourcing, and so the impact of employment creation by outsourced companies supporting telecoms providers and by other sectors, depended on telecoms. He explained that the sector has helped small businesses to grow and that the small businesses have in turn, created employment for several Nigerians. “I would say we’ve had more jobs created outside of our sector, relying on the services provided by our sector. So the growth of Fintech, for example, is linked to the existence of the telecoms sector. So if Fintech employs X number of people in a year or in the intervening year, that wouldn’t have been possible if you don’t have the telecoms infrastructure behind it. Also, the eCommerce sector that has also employed several people, relied greatly on telecoms infrastructure in 2024,” Adebayo said. Telecoms Investment According to Adebayo, in the year 2024, there was not much investment in the telecoms sector, even though some telecoms operators had major investments that impacted the Nigerian economy in 2024. He said the Licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos), did a lot, both in terms of the expansion of the fiber backbone, including Data Center operators. “InfraCos did a lot in investment and Data Centers did a lot in investment in 2024, and such investments will boost development in 2025,” Adebayo further said. Connectivity While reviewing telecoms activities in the area of connectivity, Adebayo said connectivity improved in the year 2024, even though there were pockets of challenges that affected quality of service, such as vandalisation of telecoms infrastructure, denial of access to maintain telecoms sites by social miscreants, among others. Regulation Adebayo said telecoms regulation in 2024 was quite commendable. “I must appreciate the leadership of the industry. I must thank those who led the sector in terms of regulation and policy implementation in 2024. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) did very well in regulating the telecoms sector in 2024 and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, also did well in his business-friendly policies and implementation that helped the growth of the sector in 2024. The policy on SIM card linkage with the National Identification Number (NIN) of telecoms’ subscribers, was concluded this year, after several years of implementation. “As for the NCC, the interoperability between the various players is decided by the regulator. The rules of engagement are decided by the regulator, and the do’s and the don’ts are also decided by the regulator. Again, the fact that there was no significant infraction or significant penalty on any player, was because the regulator was transparent and the operators also complied with the laid down policies,” Adebayo said. Challenges According to Adebayo, the telecoms sector faced several challenges in 2024, that slowed down development in the sector. He said vandalisation of telecoms infrastructure led to significant revenue losses by operators, both in terms of connectivity and in terms of high cost of operations. “There were severe damages on telecoms’ infrastructure, caused by road contractors, which affected connectivity and quality of service in 2024, coupled with theft of diesel and power stations on sites. But I am glad about the passage of the Critical National Information and Infrastructure (CNII) Bill that seeks to protect telecoms infrastructure going forward,” Adebayo said. The biggest challenges we had in 2024 were more about vandalisation, denial of access to site by social miscreants, including site closure by government agencies, and of course, the issue of non-sustainability of telecoms tariff, Adebayo said, adding that telecoms tariff in 2024, was far below cost. “So I can say that 2024 was actually a year of subsidy where operators subsidised their services for everybody. We provided subsidised services and that is not commendable because it is not sustainable,” Adebayo said. Restoration of Damaged Subsea Cable This year, precisely March 14, 13 African countries faced internet disruptions, which led to operational downtime for all businesses connected to the internet, including banks, where bank customers could not carry out banking transactions for hours. Internet Service Providers (ISPs), as well as broadband connectivity providers were completely disconnected from the internet and from the broadband connections, as they could not provide connectivity access to their customers in banks, schools, churches, mosques, business centres, call centres as well as to organisations in different sectors of the economy. The disruption was caused by multiple cuts in the submarine cable around the coast line of Senegal and Cote d’ Ivoire. The affected 13 countries include: Cote d’ Ivoire, Liberia, Benin Republic, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Cameroon, Gabon, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Lesotho, and parts of South Africa. Speaking about the restoration process, the CEO, West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), Mr. Chris Wood, told THISDAY that 35 networks across West African countries, Nigeria inclusive, were restored to full capacity resilience, few after the cut. adding that it will take another four weeks to fully restore internet services to all network operators that are connected to the affected four submarine cables that came from Europe, with landing points along the West African coast. According to him, it cost a total of about $2 million to achieve full restoration to a single subsea cable, depending on the extent of the cut on the cable. This brings it to a total of about $8 million to fix the affected four submarine cables that were affected by the cut. Nigeria’s .ng Domain The total figure for the registration, renewal and restoration of Nigeria’s .ng domain name dropped slightly in July this year to 226,454, after a major leap in the months of May and June this year, which recorded 223,891 and 226,702 respectively. The statistics was released by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the body responsible for managing Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD). According to the statistics, the total .ng domain name registration, renewal and restoration, reached 223,891 in May 2024, and further increased to 226,702 in June 2024, before sliding slightly 226,454 in July 2024. THISDAY had last month, reported an initial steady growth of Nigeria’s .ng domain name, which grew from 212,890 in December 2023 to reach 215,496 in January 2024, before increasing again to 217,527 in February 2024, with a further increase to 220,216 in March 2024, and another increase to 222,820 and 223,891 in April and May 2024 respectively, before reaching 226,702 in June 2024. Although the summation of .ng domain name includes registration, renewal and restoration, but the latest statistics on Nigeria’s .ng domain name as released by NiRA, showed that registration alone reached 8,066 in May 2024, and it increased 8,164 in June 2024, with a further increase to 8,607 in July 2024. The .ng domain name renewal alone was 5,545 in May 2024, and it decreased to 5,028 in June 2024, before increasing to 5,743 in July 2024, while the .ng domain name restoration alone was 140 in May 2024 and it increased further to 142 in June 2024, with a further increase to 209 in July 2024. The ccTLD .ng domain name is Nigeria’s identity in cyberspace, which has the .ng at the suffix of every official email address that originates from Nigeria. In the United Kingdom, official email addresses end with . co.uk . In United States of America, they end with .com, while in South Africa, the official email addresses end with . co.za . WATRA’s Regulatory Framework In response to the growing challenges posed by the introduction of Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbits (NGSO) services across West Africa, the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), which Nigeria belongs to, has developed a comprehensive framework aimed at regulating the advanced satellite systems. During the 21st Annual General Meeting, which held recently in Freetown, Sierra Leone, WATRA resolved to establish an Ad hoc Technical Working Group tasked with developing recommendations to address the regulatory gaps surrounding NGSO services. NGSO satellites, which offer significant advancements in connectivity and data transmission, have created both opportunities and challenges for WATRA Member States. While some countries have successfully licensed these services, others are dealing with unauthorised NGSO operations that pose security risks, threaten national investments, and destabilise local telecommunications markets. Recognising the concerns, the newly formed Ad hoc Technical Working Group has proposed a detailed framework designed to guide member states in effectively regulating NGSO services. The Executive Secretary of WATRA, Aliyu Aboki, highlighted the importance of the recommendations in ensuring a stable and secure telecommunications sector. “The introduction of NGSO services has brought new technological capabilities to the region, but it has also introduced complex regulatory issues that cannot be ignored. This framework is a necessary step to protect the investments of our Member States, ensure national security, and maintain a fair and competitive market,” Aboki said. Support for Indigenous Tech Companies The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, during the year, promised government support for indigenous technology companies, through collaboration. The minister said this in Lagos, during his visit to Imose Technologies smartphone/tablet factory and the Teesas Learning Centre, one of the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Applied Learning Clusters (ALC). Pleased with his on-the-spot assessment of the factory and learning centre, Tijani said the assessment of Imose Technologies factory, would enable the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to understand how best it could support indigenous companies to scale. “We do need companies, businesses that can actually truly build solutions for our people. In the digital economy space, we can’t achieve our objectives without local companies. Even as we start to invest in fiber optic network to ensure we can reach all of our people, it’s going to be useless if people don’t have the devices, such as the phone, the tablets, the laptops to be able to access internet and use it for meaningful purposes. So that’s why we need indigenous companies like Imose Technologies and many more out there to understand their pain points and how we can support them so that they can start to truly fully manufacture devices in Nigeria. And that way it can become affordable and our people can have access,” Tijani said.

Former congressman, briefly practicing attorney, alleged child sex trafficker , and confirmed soundbite-chaser Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration as Donald Trump’s attorney general amid a new allegation of sex with a minor on Thursday. The move immediately sparked strong reactions and predictions about what comes next for him. But this is not a story about what comes next for Gaetz. In the 15 days since the presidential election was called for Trump, he’s unleashed a barrage of unserious nominees for his Cabinet. A surprising number of Trump’s TV-alumni dream team members are steeped in scandal, much like Dear Leader himself, and are crumbling under the most nominal of scrutiny—which makes you wonder if Team Trump knows how to do a Google. With Gaetz out of the way, which junk drawer nominee will be taken down by their own nonsense next? RELATED STORY: Watch Jimmy Kimmel mock Trump's ridiculous Cabinet picks The Fox News host—who was flagged by his fellow servicemen as an “insider threat” —is Trump’s pick to run the Pentagon, though that was announced before allegations surfaced that he was accused of rape by a fellow Republican in 2017 and paid an undisclosed sum to his alleged victim to make it all go away. On Wednesday, the police report was released, and it’s horrific . RELATED STORY: Trump's defense pick doesn't wash his hands—and 17 other ghastly facts The namesake of the beloved second son of Camelot is a family pariah who joined the Trump campaign in October after folding his own ridiculous run for the nation’s top office. Currently Trump’s pick to head up Health and Human Services, the brain worm-havin’, bear cub dumpin’, whale head haulin’ , chemtrail embracin’ antivaxxer also has some not-so-sexy scandals of his own . And on Thursday, CNN’s KFILE revealed RFK Jr. blasted “Hitler” Trump and his “outright Nazi” MAGA supporters. RELATED STORY: Mike Pence hates RFK Jr. too—but for such a Mike Pence reason This famed dog-killer from North Dakota is banned on all tribal lands in the state she rules with an iron fist, and allegedly cheated on her husband with Trump’s beloved adviser Corey Lewandowski. Heading up Homeland Security could be a sweet reward for Noem enduring Trump’s 39-minute dance party in October. This billionaire daughter-slapper built the World Wrestling Entertainment empire with husband, Vince McMahon. Four years after her disastrous turn as head of the Small Business Administration under Trump 1.0, she’s back to body-slam the Department of Education, despite previously lying about her utter lack of education in education . Predictably, she comes with her own baggage: She’s been accused of enabling a sexual predator who abused underage “ring boys” for decades. x #BREAKING 🚨🚨🚨 "Donald Trump has named the new U.S. Secretary of Education – she is Linda McMahon, co-founder of WWE. In this video, to the surprise of the audience, she took down a huge wrestler and slapped her daughter into submission." #WWE #Election2024 pic.twitter.com/Wr0y1AdAkC — SPORTIFY (@DasEvas1) November 20, 2024 Dr. Phil’s only true competitor for the title of “Worst TV Doctor” is back in the political spotlight two years after his disastrous carpetbagging attempt to flip a Senate seat in Pennsylvania. While Dr. Oz doesn’t seem to have any sexual assault allegations holding him back, he is a known quack who took a page out of the Alex Jones playbook and made millions through supplements he pushed on his viewers with a side of junk science. x BREAKING: Trump is nominating Dr. Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Biden passed Medicare drug negotiation, allowing for up to 50 drug prices to be negotiated over the next few years. Dr. Oz could be Trump's lead negotiator with Big Pharma. Learn more about him: pic.twitter.com/eJKzQRMI6p — More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) November 19, 2024 Perhaps the least famous of Trump’s roster of camera-chasing Cabinet picks, this unproductive congressional quitter’s IMDb page kicks off with an early season of MTV’s “The Real World” and two seasons of that network’s “Road Rules,” where he presented himself as a laidback lumberjack from Wisconsin . Since leaving his low-paying gig in the House mid-term in 2019, Duffy and his “Real World” alumna wife have kept a roof over the head of their nine children by shrieking right-wing talking points on Fox News. RELATED STORY: Trump taps 'Road Rules' has-been to run the nation's roads This Hawaii congressperson-turned-Democratic presidential candidate-turned former Democrat is reviled for palling around with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and echoing Kremlin talking points like a toddler learning to cuss. This sketchy South African native is the world’s richest man, even after pouring gobs of money into Trump’s campaign and running the town square formerly known as Twitter into the ground . Transphobic as hell and even more anti-labor , this black-clad billionaire is a known tax-dodger who pretends to found innovative companies. Musk has been practically glued to the president-elect’s side since Election Day, much to his cadre of nepo-babies’ dismay. RELATED STORY: First signs of backlash? Trump sidelines Musk at toothless commission This is just a partial list of Trump’s disastrous planned Cabinet, but we don’t have all day—and if we list them all, someone else might withdraw before we’re done. RELATED STORY: Even this notorious GOP jerk thinks Trump's Cabinet is nuts So what say you? Who will be the next junk drawer pick to fall? Thank you to the Daily Kos community who continues to fight so hard with Daily Kos. Your reader support means everything. We will continue to have you covered and keep you informed, so please donate just $3 to help support the work we do.

DIXFIELD — The Regional School Unit 56 board of directors approved a three-year contract for Superintendent Pam Doyen beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2028. The board approved the contract extension Tuesday following an executive session. Doyen began working as superintendent for the district from its inception on July 1, 2017, following its withdrawal from the Rumford-based Regional School Unit 10. RSU 56 serves the towns of Dixfield, Canton, Carthage and Peru. Due to budget cuts in October 2019, Doyen has served as both the principal of Dirigo High School and superintendent. This year in July the board hired Kaelyne Thompson as Dirigo High School principal, relieving Doyen of one position. In other business, the board of directors approved the proposed school staff substitutes’ daily pay rates. The substitute pay raise is expected to reflect about a 7% increase in the budget, which would be an increase of $10,902 in the 2025-26 budget, Doyen said . Some positions such as custodian substitutes were raised “a full dollar (per hour) the first year and then kept it the same for the second year, because we need to get it up there (in pay rate) quicker,” Doyen said. The substitute custodian pay rate is expected to increase to $15.50 an hour beginning on Jan. 1 and it will remain that amount the next year, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Substitute bus drivers’ pay is expected to increase by a dollar per hour in January to $18 an hour, and then an additional 50-cent increase the next year. Substitute teachers with at least two years of college are expected to see a $10 per day raise to $125 starting Jan. 1, with another increase to $135 per day on Jan. 1, 2026. “So, it would be an increase to the budget, obviously. But again, I feel like we need to remain competitive in order to get good people in to sub for us,” Doyen said. Board member Liz Kelly of Dixfield said that she thought increasing the wages for substitute staff was “critical” in importance for the district. “I’ve been a substitute for a few years after retiring, and there are some times when there’s not enough (subs) and you have, like, four people, five (staff members) missing at the middle school,” Kelly said. She added that pay should increase for substitute staff if the district wants to retain good-quality employees. In other news, district Technology Director Brian Keene reported the current student enrollment is 711 students, considering the number of students who are attending full-time at the three district schools: Dirigo High School, T.W. Kelly Dirigo Middle School and Dirigo Elementary School. 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. « Previous

Profits from today's car sales fund the development of their replacements. Every car company's research and development team is tasked with planning and innovating for the future though the extent of those strides varies greatly. Mercedes-Benz is all-in on the future, and wasn't shy about showing off the innovations the company is working on. Many are likely to make their way into production in some form or another in the next decade, if even in small scale. "Innovation has always been the key driver for our core principles: safety, quality, comfort and design. It's part of our DNA," Eileen Böhme, director of strategy, innovations and future technologies research and development at Mercedes-Benz AG, told Newsweek during a presentation in Germany. "Leading technologies means iconic design, and this is what we've always done, and this is what we will always continue to do. Under the theme of progress, you will see innovation... It's innovation in a different manner, because we are not just talking about innovation and tech. We're talking about it in the surrounding of society and human needs. So, we will balance the new technology with the human needs and see how and how we match them in the end," she said. The automaker has spent close to €74 billion on research and development for its Cars and Vans devisions over the last decade, making it one of the highest spenders in the automotive industry. Results have yielded transitional car models and powertrains, but the biggest impact bits are yet to come. The company previewed many of them during a two-day, media-only technology presentation at the home of Mercedes R&D in Germany. A future Mercedes may not be solar powered, but it may be able to harvest a significant amount of energy from the sun to fulfill its daily driver needs, and more depending on its parked location. Here's how it works. Solar modules are applied to the bodywork of an electric vehicle in a process akin to applying a wafer-thin layer of paste. In its current form, it cannot be applied like the paints the company uses on its current vehicles. The modules are small, significantly thinner than a human hair, the company said. They weigh 50 grams per square meter. On an area of 118.4 square feet, about the surface of a mid-size sport utility vehicle, the solar cells could produce energy to propel a vehicle up to 7,456 miles per year. The average American travels 14,263 miles annually according to the Federal Highway Administration. With an efficiency of 20 percent the modules are about as efficient as a home's rooftop solar panels. They generate energy even when a vehicle is parked. When a car covered in the cells has reached the end of its life, the cells are, "easy to recycle." On top of that, they are, "considerably cheaper to produce than conventional solar modules," a Mercedes representative said. No need for a head-up display and no need to miss a text, email or Teams message. It sounds too good to be true, but it could be the future of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. In a decade, augmented reality glasses have gone from large, cumbersome headsets to technology fitting into thick frames akin to something Clark Kent would wear as a disguise. The technology is becoming increasingly applicable and less expensive as well. Taking the "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) approach, customers would be able to wear their AR glasses in their vehicle. When they were worn within a Mercedes model, they would adapt to the actions being performed, displaying driving and infotainment information, controllable via eye gaze, allowing a driver to never take their eyes off the road to look at an infotainment screen. Mercedes engineers told Newsweek that glasses in a form that would be compatible with the brand's vehicle are likely three years out based on what suppliers have told them.Football photos: No. 6 St. Joseph (Mont.) at No. 1 Bergen Catholic, Non-Public A semis, Nov. 23, 2024superl philippines 。

Penticton vaccine discrimination complaint against B.C. Union dismissedPeople with could soon be able to watch TV without worry. Scientists in the UK have created glasses that can block out specific wavelengths of light known to cause seizures. It’s estimated that about have photosensitive epilepsy, and as the name suggests their seizures are triggered by light. Flashing and alternating patterns, such as those in clubs, emergency vehicles, television, movies and video games, can all be triggers if they have just the right mix of brightness, frequency and wavelength. Now, scientists at the Universities of Glasgow and Birmingham have developed a pair of glasses that could help reduce the risk. The lenses are designed to block out almost all light with wavelengths between 660 and 720 nanometers – a region of red light that was implicated in the in 1997, which triggered seizures in hundreds of viewers. These lenses contain liquid crystals that change their optical properties in response to heat. In this case, the frames of the glasses has a small circuit that heats the lenses up to 36.5 °C (97.7 °F), which causes them to reflect those particular wavelengths of red light. The idea there is that people could wear them out and about with normal vision most of the time, but could switch them on when they want to watch TV or play video games without worrying about having a reaction. Previous studies have used colored lenses to achieve a similar effect, but these only filtered about 50% of the targeted red light. On top of that, they don’t switch on and off, so affect the color vision of the wearer in all situations rather than just those with high-risk of seizures. In its current form, the glasses can only work in environments of up to 26 °C (78.8 °F), so this is something that the team plans to continue working on. In addition, they want to reduce the time it takes to activate them. The research was published in the journal . Source:

Ankara: Four individuals were killed when a helicopter crashed into a hospital in southwestern Turkey on Sunday, December 22. The provincial governor attributed the accident to thick fog. “The helicopter fell to the ground after having struck the fourth storey of a hospital during take-off,” killing two pilots, a doctor and an employee on board the vehicle, Mugla provincial governor Idris Akbiyik said. “There was intense fog,” Akbiyik said, adding that the authorities were investigating the cause of the accident. The helicopter took off from the roof of Turkey hospital in poor visibility en route to Antalya, as seen in images broadcast by the NTV television channel. The chopper can then be seen drifting in the fog several minutes after take-off, before crashing into an empty field next to the hospital it hit, Turkish media reported. Helicopter crashes into Turkish hospital, four dead The chopper can then be seen drifting in the fog several minutes after take-off, before crashing into an empty field next to the hospital it hit, Turkish media reported. pic.twitter.com/SWO8T80zWN The incident occurred less than two weeks after six soldiers died in a collision between two helicopters during an army training exercise in Turkey’s southwestern Isparta province. The defence ministry did not specify the cause of that crash. (With inputs of PTI)

Drill Collar Market Size in 2024: Revenue Prediction, Business Share and Demand Situation, and Up-to-Date Technology Prediction 2031 12-22-2024 12:28 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Coherent Market Insights Drill Collar Market According to the latest research from Coherent Market Insights, the Drill Collar Market is projected to experience significant growth between 2024 and 2031. This market intelligence report offers in-depth analysis based on thorough research, highlighting current trends, financial performance, and historical data evaluation. The company profiles within the report are derived from the current performance of the Drill Collar market, considering key factors such as drivers, trends, and challenges, as well as global market share, size, and revenue forecasts for comprehensive insights. To provide a clear understanding, the report examines leading companies, types, applications, and the factors contributing to a positive future outlook. The Drill Collar market report includes detailed charts, tables, and data analysis, with clear objectives aimed at potential stakeholders. It offers a comprehensive study of the Drill Collar market, providing valuable insights to support strong growth in the future. This report is designed for a wide range of interested parties, including stakeholders, market participants, investors, researchers, and other individuals associated with the business. ✅ Purchase This Research Report and Get Upto 45% Discount at : https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/promo/buynow/102148 📈 Overview and Scope of the Report: The Global Drill Collar Market Analysis Report offers a comprehensive overview of the market size across various segments and countries, including historical data and future forecasts. The report outlines the competitive landscape of the global market, discussing market dynamics, drivers, and segmentation by application, type, region, and manufacturer. It provides both qualitative and quantitative insights into the industry for the regions and countries covered. Additionally, the report highlights key opportunities in the Drill Collar market, identifying the factors driving growth and expected to continue fueling expansion. It also considers past growth trends, current drivers, and future market developments. The financial standings of key players, including gross profits, sales volumes, revenue, manufacturing costs, and other financial ratios, are accurately assessed. Additionally, analytical tools such as investment evaluation, SWOT analysis, and Porter's Five Forces analysis have been employed to examine the production and distribution capabilities of market participants. Deep-dive Analysis: The Report provides deep-dive qualitative and quantitative analysis on Drill Collar Market for all the regions and countries covered below: • North America (the United States, Canada, and Mexico) • Europe (Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, SCANDIVAN, Benelux, Russia, and Rest of Europe) • Asia-Pacific (Japan, South Korea, India, China, Southeast Asia, and Australia) • South America (Brazil, Argentina, and Rest of South America) • Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, South Africa, and Rest of the Middle East & Africa) • Each Country is covered in detail, and report provides qualitative and quantitative analysis on Drill Collar Market on each country. Highlights of Our Report: ⏩Extensive Market Analysis: A deep dive into the manufacturing capabilities, production volumes, and technological innovations within the Drill Collar Market. ⏩ Corporate Insights: An in-depth review of company profiles, spotlighting major players and their strategic manoeuvres in the market's competitive arena. ⏩Consumption Trends: A detailed analysis of consumption patterns, offering insight into current demand dynamics and consumer preferences. ⏩Segmentation Details: An exhaustive breakdown of end-user segments, depicting the market's spread across various applications and industries. ⏩ Pricing Evaluation: A study of pricing structures and the elements influencing market pricing strategies. ⏩ Future Outlook: Predictive insights into market trends, growth prospects, and potential challenges ahead. ✅ Purchase This Research Report and Get Upto 45% Discount at : https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/promo/buynow/102148 Reason to Buy this Report: ■ Study of the impact of technological developments on the market and the emerging trends shaping the industry in the coming years. ■ Analysis of the regulatory and policy changes affecting the market and the effects of these changes for market participants. ■ Summary of the competitive landscape in the Drill Collar market, including profiles of the key players, their market share, and strategies for growth. ■Identification of the major challenges facing the market, such as supply chain disruptions, environmental concerns, and changing consumer preferences, and analysis of how these challenges will affect market growth. ■Assessment of the potential of new products and applications in the market, and analysis of the investment opportunities for market participants. Questions Answered by the Report: (1) Which are the dominant players of the Drill Collar Market? (2) What will be the size of the Drill Collar Market in the coming years? (3) Which segment will lead the Drill Collar Market? (4) How will the market development trends change in the next five years? (5) What is the nature of the competitive landscape of the Drill Collar Market? (6) What are the go-to strategies adopted in the Drill Collar Market? Author of this marketing PR: Alice Mutum is a seasoned senior content editor at Coherent Market Insights, leveraging extensive expertise gained from her previous role as a content writer. With seven years in content development, Alice masterfully employs SEO best practices and cutting-edge digital marketing strategies to craft high-ranking, impactful content. As an editor, she meticulously ensures flawless grammar and punctuation, precise data accuracy, and perfect alignment with audience needs in every research report. Alice's dedication to excellence and her strategic approach to content make her an invaluable asset in the world of market insights ☎ Contact Us: Mr. Shah Senior Client Partner - Business Development Coherent Market Insights Phone: US: +12524771362 UK: +442039578553 AUS: +61-2-4786-0457 India: +91-848-285-0837 Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Website: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com About Us: Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. We are known for our actionable insights and authentic reports in various domains including aerospace and defense, agriculture, food and beverages, automotive, chemicals and materials, and virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients. This release was published on openPR.MotorTrend CEO on why the Ram 1500 won 'Truck of the Year' and what tariffs would mean for US buyers

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Editorial: Virginia needs Youngkin to oppose plans to gut the civil serviceNEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 11, 2024-- On November 14, 2024, Datalogz convened a compelling fireside chat as part of its Future Frontiers event series, exploring how data is transforming the federal government to address the nation’s most pressing challenges. The panel featured DJ Patil , the first U.S. Chief Data Scientist, Kristyn Jones , former Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, and Logan Havern , Co-Founder and CEO of Datalogz . This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211419898/en/ Kristyn Jones, former Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, Logan Havern, Co-Founder and CEO of Datalogz, and DJ Patil, the former U.S. Chief Data Scientist. (Photo: Business Wire) The conversation delved into data’s pivotal role in advancing federal efficiency, integrating innovative technologies, and solving challenges ranging from healthcare to national security. Attendees gained exclusive insights into the opportunities and obstacles facing federal data leaders today. Highlights from the Discussion 1. Data’s Mission-Critical Role DJ Patil, a pioneer in the field of data science, emphasized that regardless of administration changes, the government’s mission remains constant: to serve the American public. From enabling organ donation reform to opening hospital data to the public, Patil’s experiences underscore data’s transformative potential. “The mission is to use these technologies to better serve the American public and support our long-term interests,” said Patil. “That focus is what matters most.” 2. Data as a Strategic Asset in Defense Kristyn Jones highlighted data’s importance in military operations, particularly in an era of rapid change and technological advancement. “Data is the new oil,” Jones stated. “In the military, where the pace of operations is fast, data drives efficiency and operational decisions, enabling transparency and innovation.” Jones also detailed ongoing modernization efforts within the U.S. Air Force, which include consolidating data environments to improve decision-making and enhancing auditability through robust governance. 3. Addressing BI Sprawl in Federal Systems Both Jones and Patil acknowledged challenges stemming from BI Sprawl—a condition where disparate business intelligence tools create inefficiencies and mistrust in data. “BI Sprawl is frustrating and costly,” said Patil. “A clean, unified data environment is critical for effective governance and for supporting advanced technologies like AI.” Datalogz CEO Logan Havern shared how modern data monitoring solutions can help federal agencies address BI Sprawl, ensuring accurate, accessible, and actionable insights. 4. Cultivating a Data-Driven Culture The panelists stressed the importance of fostering a culture where data is integral to decision-making. Jones recalled leadership strategies from her time in the U.S. Air Force, including emphasizing data-driven accountability at all levels. “The tone from the top is critical,” said Jones. “Leadership must demand data-driven insights, set the example, and ensure teams have the tools and training needed to succeed.” Patil added that empowering grassroots initiatives within organizations can foster collaboration and innovation, ultimately creating a self-sustaining ecosystem of data-driven practices. 5. The ROI of Public Service While acknowledging that government roles may not offer the highest salaries, the panelists highlighted the profound sense of purpose inherent in public service. “Government service allows you to work on the world’s most impactful problems,” said Jones. “From national security to public health, the opportunity to make a difference is unparalleled.” Patil encouraged attendees to explore opportunities in government, whether at the federal, state, or local level. “Just jump in and be relentless. Once you’re in, you’ll find a community ready to support you,” he said. About Future Frontiers Datalogz’s Future Frontiers series brings together thought leaders to discuss the transformative power of data in addressing society’s most pressing challenges. This latest event exemplifies the series’ mission to foster dialogue and inspire action at the intersection of data, technology, and public service. For more information about Datalogz and upcoming events, visit datalogz.io/events . About Datalogz Datalogz is a fast-growing, culture-focused, venture-backed startup dedicated to building products that re-imagine an organization's Business Intelligence environments. Datalogz is creating the future of BI Ops and is on a mission to end BI and analytics sprawl. The team comprises elite data technology entrepreneurs and analytics leaders and is always looking to bring on talent that aligns with its vision, mission, and values. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211419898/en/ CONTACT: Tina Bhatia Datalogz +1-315-216-2203 Tina@datalogz.io KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT DEFENSE DATA ANALYTICS WHITE HOUSE/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MILITARY CONTRACTS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Datalogz Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/11/2024 05:49 PM/DISC: 12/11/2024 05:48 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211419898/en

Woolworths has filed an urgent application with the Fair Work Commission to stop union members from blocking access to its distribution centres, as it claims the industrial action has cost the business $50 million so far. A United Workers Union (UWU) picket line outside a critical distribution centre in Dandenong South in Melbourne’s south-east entered its 13th day on Tuesday, after the supermarket giant failed in its attempt to reopen the centre on Monday. Dozens of union members outside the Woolworths distribution centre on Tuesday, but in fewer numbers than Monday. Credit: Wayne Taylor Woolworths said many of the centre’s existing workers were ready to come back to work and break the strike, which began at four of its distribution centres on November 21. More than 1500 workers went on strike to fight for better pay and conditions. “The UWU commenced indefinite strike action at the four sites on 21 November, with the strike action now extending to 12 days,” Woolworths said in a statement. “This application to Fair Work alleges a breach of the good faith bargaining requirements in the Fair Work Act. The matter has not yet been listed for hearing.” In a separate ASX market update issued on Tuesday morning, Woolworths claimed the industrial action had so far cost the business $50 million in lost sales. “Since the start of the industrial action, Australian food sales have been negatively impacted by approximately $50 million to date (up to 2 December),” Woolworths said in an ASX statement. “Until the industrial action is resolved, a further impact to sales is expected. The full financial impact at this stage is unknown.” The union has held a 24-hour picket line outside the Dandenong South warehouse for 13 days, blocking access to the site. It has also blocked access to the other distribution sites. Woolworths said it intended to reopen the main site on Monday, with the first shift expected to begin at 6am and the “majority” of the centre’s usual workers wanting to come back and break the strike. However, a busload of workers never arrived, with the supermarket saying the union gave no assurance of safe passage for workers. “As long as [the UWU] continues to block access to our site, our customers will continue to face shortages on shelves in Victoria,” Woolworths said on Monday. The union, meanwhile, said the supermarket giant could resolve the situation if they simply sat down and listened to workers’ legitimate concerns. Woolworths intended to press ahead with the reopening on Tuesday, with workers still at the ready to come back, a spokesperson said. United Workers Union members outside the Dandenong South distribution centre on Tuesday. Credit: Wayne Taylor Dozens of union members were on the picket line on Tuesday morning but in significantly fewer numbers than on Monday. United Workers Union official Andy Giles said the union would continue to negotiate with Woolworths in meetings on Tuesday, after they failed to reach a resolution on Monday. “We’re really hopeful that we can reach resolution on the fair and just terms that our members deserve,” Giles said on the picket line. “Our members’ resolve is still strong, and we’ll be here as long as it takes ... [but] hopefully this can be over sooner rather than later.” Shortages have been reported at Woolworths stores in Victoria, NSW and the ACT. Credit: April Lombardo Union members have blocked driveways to the distribution centre. When asked how members would react if workers turned up on site, Giles said everyone’s focus should be on reaching a resolution on Tuesday. “That’s what [we] will be focused on, and we hope Woolworths is the same,” Giles said. Tuesday was union members’ 13th day picketing the distribution centre. The mood in the morning was settled, with members mulling around chatting and stationed on driveways, grateful for the cooler weather compared with Monday. Those on the picket line have set up marquees and portable toilets outside the distribution centre. Woolworths has blamed the strikes for stock shortages among staple items such as toilet paper, cereal, frozen goods, meat and dairy. While Victorians are bearing the brunt, stores in NSW and the ACT are also affected. The Dandenong South site accounts for more than 40 per cent of the four shuttered distribution centres’ total output, Woolworths has said. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Supermarkets Industrial relations Workplace disputes Cassandra Morgan is a breaking news reporter at The Age. Connect via Twitter or email . Most Viewed in National Loading‘Never had an argument’: Flanagan’s surprise claim as he opens up on Hunt relationship - Fox Sports

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Jeddah: The Jeddah Book Fair concluded on Saturday, attracting thousands of visitors with local and international booksellers. Held from Dec. 12-21 under the slogan “Jeddah Reads,” the fair featured more than 450 pavilions and showcased works from 1,000 publishing houses across 22 countries. Mohammed Alwan, CEO of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, said that the fair displayed nearly 400,000 titles, selling more than 450,000 books in various genres. The event hosted workshops, seminars, panel discussions and book signings led by experts in literature, arts and sports. A dedicated children’s section featured animation, educational books and advanced learning tools. One pavilion highlighted the cultural significance of camels, using modern technology to explore their history, types, and related poetry. Arabic manga publications targeting youth were also a key attraction, alongside interactive displays and models of famous characters, offering a blend of entertainment and education.FBI Director Christopher Wray announces resignation

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Kevin Jennings threw for a career-high 323 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 13 SMU clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game by routing Virginia 33-7 on Saturday. Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte each had two sacks to help the Mustangs (10-1, 7-0, No. 13 CFP) extend their winning streak to eight. They would earn an automatic bid into the expanded College Football Playoff by beating 11th-ranked Miami or 17th-ranked Clemson in the ACC title game on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina. "One of our first goals of the summer is done to make it there, but the job’s not finished at all," Smith said. “Not even close, so we still got a lot more work to do." Jennings led the way to get there, bouncing back from an interception and a fumble to complete 25 of 33 passes to six different receivers, including TD tosses to Jordan Hudson and Matthew Hibner. Brashard Smith provided a little balance on offense, running for 63 yards and his 13th touchdown of the season. "We got an unlimited amount of guys that can make plays," Jennings said. “I feel like just week by week, the game is getting slower for me.” SMU's defense overwhelmed UVa's offensive line, sacking Anthony Colandrea nine times and allowing the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4) just 173 yards. “Against a guy who’s hard to tackle,” said SMU coach Rhett Lashlee, whose contract extension was announced Friday. “Probably against like me back there, it’s 16 sacks — at least the older me.” Special teams contributed, too, with Roderick Daniels Jr. returning a punt 48 yards and Collin Rogers making two field goals. SMU is reveling in the underdog role after being picked to finish seventh in the ACC in their first season since joining from the American Athletic Conference “We came out, we play good and we just prove people wrong every week,” Daniels said. “As the season start going, they start seeing we were a threat and now they see what’s going on.” UVa's defeat made Notre Dame's opponents 2-7 in their next game after facing the Fighting Irish this season. SMU is responsible for three of those losses. SMU: Given their schedule and the ACC's lack of strength, blowing out a mediocre opponent is not likely to strengthen the Mustangs' at-large case for the playoff. But they can only beat who they play, and this was a dominant performance that showed this team isn't collapsing under pressure. Virginia: Coach Tony Elliott's decision to stick will Colandrea instead of starting Tony Muskett did not pay off, though it would have been difficult for most quarterbacks to get anything done under with so little time to operate. Faint chants of “We want Muskett!” from the senior day announced crowd of 36,305 came early in the fourth quarter — before Collandrea ended a streak of 20 consecutive drives without scoring by finding Malachi Fields in the end zone with 4:16 left. SMU should remain at No. 13 and could even move up if No. 5 Indiana drops significantly following its blowout loss at No. 2 Ohio State. SMU hosts California next Saturday to wrap up its first regular season of ACC play. Virginia visits rival Virginia Tech next Saturday night, needing to win to become bowl eligible. ___ AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25

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superph game NoneTORONTO and HAIFA, Israel, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NurExone Biologic Inc. (TSXV: NRX), (OTCQB: NRXBF), (Germany: J90) (" NurExone " or the " Company "), a biopharmaceutical company developing exosome-based regenerative therapies, has announced significant findings from an expanded preclinical study of the potential of its portfolio drug, ExoPTEN, for repairing optic nerve damage. Conducted in collaboration with the Goldschleger Eye Institute at Sheba Medical Center, consistently ranked one of the top ten hospitals in the world 1 , the study builds on previously announced preliminary results 2 on June 28, 2024 and strengthens the suggestion of a promising treatment pathway for glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally 3 . The Optic Nerve Disorders treatment market is expected to grow from 5.54 (USD Billion) in 2023 to 11.5 (USD Billion) by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ~8.46% during the forecast period 4 . Researchers utilized a rodent model of optic nerve crush (ONC) to simulate the damage associated with conditions like glaucoma. After inducing injury, ExoPTEN was administrated via direct injection into the eyes. The study expanded on earlier findings which indicated that eyes treated with ExoPTEN regained nearly normal retinal activity, as evidenced by electrical tests. Expanded analyses of the study data showed clear recovery of signal transmission in treated eyes compared to untreated controls, which showed no significant response. Additionally, imaging results by optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans indicates and validates that in all of treated eyes (naïve exosome treatment or ExoPTEN treatment) a successful ONC procedure has been performed (Figure 1). The study also showed that ExoPTEN treatment significantly enhanced the survival of retinal ganglion cells - key neurons responsible for transmitting visual information to the brain. Detailed analysis of retinal flat-mounts confirmed this effect, with treated eyes exhibiting substantially higher counts of these cells compared to untreated or control-treated eyes (Figures 2A and 2B). Dr. Ifat Sher, the lead investigator from the Goldschleger Eye Institute, commented, “the results from this expanded study are extremely encouraging. ExoPTEN demonstrates potential as a treatment that restores functionality and offers neuroprotection. The study shows clear signal recovery, healthier optic nerve structures and preserved retinal ganglion cells. These results suggest that ExoPTEN could fundamentally change how we approach conditions like glaucoma and optic nerve trauma. Encouraged by these results, we are advancing to a larger study with more animals to validate and expand upon these findings.” Dr. Lior Shaltiel, CEO of NurExone, added, “these findings are an important step forward in our mission to develop groundbreaking therapies for regenerative medicine in several indications. ExoPTEN’s ability to repair both the structure and function of the optic nerve highlights its transformative potential for addressing vision loss and improving tens of millions of patient lives.” About NurExone NurExone Biologic Inc. is a TSX Venture Exchange (“ TSXV ”) and OTCQB listed pharmaceutical company that is developing a platform for biologically guided exosome-based therapies to be delivered, minimally-invasively, to patients who have suffered Central Nervous System injuries. The Company’s first product, ExoPTEN for acute spinal cord injury, was proven to recover motor function in 75% of laboratory rats when administered intranasally. ExoPTEN has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The NurExone platform technology is expected to offer novel solutions to drug companies interested in minimally invasive targeted drug delivery for other indications. For additional information and a brief interview, please watch Who is NurExone? , visit www.nurexone.com or follow NurExone on LinkedIn , X (formerly Twitter) , Facebook or YouTube Dr. Lior Shaltiel Chief Executive Officer and Director Phone: +972-52-4803034 Email: info@nurexone.com Oak Hill Financial Inc. 2 Bloor Street, Suite 2900 Toronto, Ontario M4W 3E2 Investor Relations - Canada Phone: +1-647-479-5803 Email: info@oakhillfinancial.ca Dr. Eva Reuter Investor Relations - Germany Phone: +49-69-1532-5857 Email: e.reuter@dr-reuter.eu Allele Capital Partners Investor Relations - US Phone: +1 978-857-5075 Email: aeriksen@allelecapital.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” that reflect the Company’s current expectations and projections about its future results. Wherever possible, words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict” or “potential” or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: the results of the Company’s preclinical trials and its suggestion of a promising treatment pathway for glaucoma; the growth of the Optic Nerve Disorders treatment market; the Company expanding to further studies; the Company developing groundbreaking therapies for regenerative medicine in several indications; ExoPTEN having the potential to address vision loss and improve patient lives; and the NurExone platform technology offering novel solutions to drug companies interested in minimally invasive targeted drug delivery for other indications. These statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. In developing the forward-looking statements in this press release, we have applied several material assumptions, including : the a bility to carry out its pre-clinical trials and realize upon the stated benefits of the pre-clinical trials; the Company’s ability to realize upon the stated potential for exosome-loaded drugs in regenerating or repairing damaged nerves; the Company’s ability to maintain its ongoing commitment to using its ExoTherapy platform to advance the field of regenerative medicine; the Optic Nerve Disorders treatment market continuing to grow as stated; the Company expanding to further studies; the Company developing groundbreaking therapies for regenerative medicine in several indications; ExoPTEN addressing vision loss and improve patient lives; and the NurExone platform technology will offer novel solutions to drug companies interested in minimally invasive targeted drug delivery for other indications. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to risks related to : the Company’s early stage of development; lack of revenues to date; government regulation; market acceptance for its products; rapid technological change; dependence on key personnel; dependence on the Company’s strategic partners; the fact that preclinical drug development is uncertain, and the drug product candidates of the Company may never advance to clinical trials; the fact that results of preclinical studies and early-stage clinical trials may not be predictive of the results of later stage clinical trials; the uncertain outcome, cost, and timing of product development activities, preclinical studies and clinical trials of the Company; the uncertain clinical development process, including the risk that clinical trials may not have an effective design or generate positive results; the potential inability to obtain or maintain regulatory approval of the drug product candidates of the Company; the introduction of competing drugs that are safer, more effective or less expensive than, or otherwise superior to, the drug product candidates of the Company; the initiation, conduct, and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials may be delayed, adversely affected or impacted by unforeseen issues; the potential inability to obtain adequate financing; the potential inability to obtain or maintain intellectual property protection for the drug product candidates of the Company; risks that the Company’s intellectual property and technology won’t have the intended impact on the Company and/or its business; the Company’s inability to carry out its pre-clinical trials and realize upon the stated benefits of the pre-clinical trials; the Company’s inability to realize upon the stated potential for exosome-loaded drugs in regenerating or repairing damaged nerves; the Company’s inability to maintain its ongoing commitment to using its ExoTherapy platform to advance the field of regenerative medicine; the Optic Nerve Disorders treatment market decreasing and/or plateauing ; the Company ’s inability to expand into further studies; the NurExone platform technology not offering novel solutions to drug companies interested in minimally invasive targeted drug delivery for other indications ; and the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” on pages 44 to 51 of the Company’s Annual Information Form dated August 27 , 202 4 , a copy of which is available under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca . These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Neither 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 release. 1 https://www.afsmc.org/2024/02/sheba-medical-center-named-a-newsweek-worlds-best-hospital-for-the-6th-consecutive-year/ 2 https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/06/28/2906122/0/en/NurExone-s-ExoPTEN-Being-Studied-as-Glaucoma-Treatment-for-US-3-4-Billion-Market.html 3 https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/10/1261 4 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/optic-nerve-disorders-treatment-market-30051 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e682a60-3287-44b2-b7da-08ebed8fa807

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A lopsided, shutout loss has left the beat-up New Orleans Saints limping into the final two games of a lost season — and into a rather cloudy future beyond that. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A lopsided, shutout loss has left the beat-up New Orleans Saints limping into the final two games of a lost season — and into a rather cloudy future beyond that. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A lopsided, shutout loss has left the beat-up New Orleans Saints limping into the final two games of a lost season — and into a rather cloudy future beyond that. Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi figured that a visit to playoff-bound Green Bay would be a tall order for his injury-riddled squad, whose prominent missing players included starters at quarterback, running back and receiver. And when New Orleans’ mostly healthy defensive front struggled against a Packers ground game led by running back Josh Jacobs, the rout was on. Nothing “stuck out on film other than a lack of execution and lack of playmaking,” Rizzi said Tuesday after reviewing video of Monday night’s 34-0 loss at Green Bay. “We played against a playoff team, at their place, that has very few holes on their team,” Rizzi added. “It was a little bit of a perfect storm.” Rizzi, a special teams coordinator who has made no secret that he sees his eight-game interim stint as an opportunity to further his head-coaching ambitions, has two more games left in what has been an up-and-down audition. The Saints are 3-3 on his watch, which includes one of New Orleans’ most lopsided losses since the turn of the century. With the playoffs unattainable, and with a lot of reserves pressed into service, the final two weeks will serve primarily as a player-evaluation period heading into the offseason, when there are bound to be myriad changes on the roster and perhaps the coaching staff. Rizzi said the Saints, realistically, have been in evaluation mode “for the last month or so,” but added that there maybe be additional young or practice-squad players getting longer looks in the final two games. “My big thing this week is to see how we can respond,” Rizzi said. “We’re going to find out a lot about a lot of people.” What’s working Of the Saints’ four punts, three were inside the Green Bay 20 and New Orleans did not allow a single punt return yard. The punt team might have been the only unit that executed its job (even the kickoff unit allowed a 38-yard return). What needs help The Saints had trouble protecting the quarterback (three sacks) and protecting the football (two turnovers). They couldn’t run the ball (67 yards). They couldn’t stop the run (188 yards allowed). They couldn’t pass the ball consistently (129 yards) or stop the pass when they needed to. As former Saints coach Jim Mora once said, they couldn’t do “ diddly poo.” Although rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler largely struggled and was responsible for both New Orleans turnovers, he had enough highlights — including a jumping, first-down pass on third-and-long — to keep him penciled in as the starter if the injured Derek Carr remains unable to play, Rizzi said. “It was definitely a performance where we got to take the good with the bad,” Rizzi said. “We’ve got to get rid of those negative plays.” Stock up New Orleans native Foster Moreau has emerged as one of the Saints’ most reliable offensive players. The sixth-year NFL tight end made two catches for a team-high 33 yards on Monday night, giving him 25 catches for 335 yards this season. His four TDs receiving entering the game remain tied for the team lead. Stock down Rizzi was riding high after two wins to start his interim term as head coach, but Monday night’s ugly loss is the club’s third in four games and took a lot of luster off his candidacy for a longer-term appointment. Injury report Center Erik McCoy left the game with an elbow injury, while guard Lucas Patrick hurt his knee in the closing minutes. Rizzi said McCoy won’t need surgery but could miss the rest of the season. The coach said Patrick needs more tests but is not expected to play again this season. While the chances of Carr (non-throwing, left hand) or top running back Alvin Kamara (groin) playing again this season appear slim, the Saints have declined to rule that out. Rizzi said Carr is getting closer to being able to play and wants the opportunity to go against his former team, the Las Vegas Raiders. Meanwhile, Rizzi said Kamara “is working his tail off to try to come back” this season. “Alvin told me this morning, in my office, that he really would like to play again,” Rizzi said. Key number 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. 24 — The number of years since the Saints suffered a more lopsided shutout loss, 38-0 against San Francisco in 2002. Up next The Saints’ home finale against lowly Las Vegas will be an anticlimactic affair bound to generate a level of fan interest similar to, if not less than, a preseason game. But the game will be important to the current regime, which needs victories in each of the club’s final two games to avoid the franchise’s worst record since it was displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and went 3-13. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Advertisement AdvertisementIs It Too late to Buy Bitcoin as It Threatens $100,000?None

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LeBron James ruled out of Lakers' game at Minnesota on Friday with foot sorenessThe Bake Off star said Wallace should stay off social media ‘because he’s just digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole’. Dame Prue Leith claimed TV executives have been “very weak” amid the Gregg Wallace furore, adding that they should be “tough with their presenters”. On Friday, BBC bosses said they would be supporting MasterChef production company Banijay UK as it investigates allegations of misconduct against Wallace, after he stepped away from hosting the BBC One cooking show. In a message sent to staff, director-general Tim Davie, and Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s chief content officer, said the corporation will not “tolerate behaviour that falls below the standards we expect”. The Great British Bake Off star Dame Prue told Cathy Newman on Times Radio that she believed TV executives are “very weak” when managing talent. “For goodness sake, they can replace Gregg Wallace. They can replace anybody. So they should be tough with their presenters,” the 84-year-old said. “They should be very clear about whatever the rules are. I do think they’ve been weak. “But I don’t want to say that he should be sacked because I don’t know what the crime is.” Dame Prue said she understands the decision for Wallace to “step aside while they investigate things” but does not agree that people “should be cancelled or sacked”. At the start of the week, Wallace apologised for claiming complaints about his behaviour came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”, adding he will “take some time out”. His lawyers have previously strongly denied “he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”, according to BBC News. “He should just stay off social media because he’s just digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole because he’s too insensitive to understand how offensive it is,” Dame Prue said. “But that’s his problem, that he’s insensitive. “He hasn’t, that I can see, disobeyed the law. I don’t believe people should be cancelled or sacked. “I can see why you would ask somebody to step aside while they investigate things, which I suppose is what they’re doing. “But I think the tragedy in this is that I bet you Gregg has no idea what he’s done wrong.” Dame Prue also voiced concerns that the industry could be inundated with “boring” presenters if it becomes “too regulated and too organised” because “nobody will ever dare say anything”. “And that’s silly too,” she said. “But I think broadcasters need to know. It is very tricky because I do a little programme on ITV on Saturday morning and it’s a cooking programme and every now and again, the production company will say, don’t say that because it’ll be offensive and I think that it’s not offensive. “And then I suppose that’s a Gregg Wallace thing. Maybe I don’t realise. I mean, for example, language changes all the time.” Earlier this week, Banijay UK said in a statement: “It is important to note that MasterChef welfare processes are regularly adapted and strengthened and there are clear protocols to support both crew and contributors. “These include multiple ways of reporting issues, including anonymously. HR contact details are promoted and contributors are assigned a point of contact on set available to discuss any issues or concerns.” This week, the BBC announced it was pulling a Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off special and a MasterChef Strictly Christmas special from its December TV schedules amid the controversy.

NINGDE, China , Dec. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 24th, CATL officially launched the CATL Bedrock Chassis, the world's first ultra-safe skateboard chassis. With its outstanding performance of withstanding 120 km/h frontal impact without catching fire or exploding, CATL's Bedrock Chassis sets a new standard for intelligent chassis safety, providing comprehensive protection across all scenarios and speed ranges. Ni Jun, Chief Manufacturing Officer, CATL With the battery-centered design, CATL's Bedrock Chassis utilizes Cell-to-Chassis integration technology, which directly integrates the battery cells into the chassis, allowing for a shared structural design between them. And based on the decoupling of the chassis from the upper body, the Bedrock Chassis is capable of absorbing 85% of the vehicle's collision energy (compared to around 60% absorbed by traditional chassis). Through various technological breakthroughs, the Bedrock Chassis successfully passed the world's first "highest speed + strongest impact" dual extreme safety test. This achievement enables the chassis to pass the 120 km/h frontal central pole impact test without catching fire, exploding or thermal runway, redefining the benchmark for safety in the industry. Currently, the speed for frontal impact safety test in the commonly used C-NCAP (China New Car Assessment Program) is 56km/h, which, when experiencing a frontal impact at this speed, generates collision energy equivalent to falling from 12-meter-high building. In comparison, a frontal impact at 120km/h is equivalent to falling from a 56-meter-high building, generating a collision energy 4.6 times that of collision at 56km/h. In more stringent frontal pole crash tests, which simulate crashes with non-standard objects such as power poles, large trees, or animals, the impact area is only 1/6 of that in a full-width frontal impact, exponentially increasing impact pressure. At a speed of 120km/h, the impact pressure on the chassis per unit area in a frontal central pole impact is 21 times that of the 56 km/h full-width frontal impact in C-NCAP testing. Due to the extremely high crash speed and intensity, there has been no previous instance of any new energy vehicle daring to challenge a 120km/h frontal pole impact test. With this extreme challenge, CATL's Bedrock Chassis has blazed a fresh trail for the industry. Open the era of ultra-safe transportation through three technological breakthroughs CATL's Bedrock Chassis has delved deep into the realm of structure and material innovation, leveraging three technological breakthroughs to provide unparalleled protection in all scenarios and speed ranges, ensuring rock-solid safety for the entire vehicle. The CATL Bedrock Chassis introduces a revolutionary three-dimensional biomimetic tortoise shell structure, where the body and energy unit framework are integrated, deeply coupled to provide the energy unit with indestructible protection. And its aircraft carrier-grade arresting structure disperses impact forces across multiple pathways during a crash, gradually decelerating the vehicle and significantly reducing the depth and speed at which obstacles intrude the cabin. The utilization of submarine-grade hot-formed steel with a strength of 2000MPa, aerospace-grade aluminum alloy with a strength of 600MPa, and multiple barrier structures further enhance the chassis' rigidity, making it virtually impervious. Moreover, the CATL Bedrock Chassis incorporates an ultra-safe battery cell design, NP technology, and a high-ductility energy-absorbing insulation film, leading the industry in a groundbreaking manner. In terms of high-voltage disconnection, it achieves instantaneous disconnection of high voltage circuit within 0.01 seconds of impact and completes the discharge of residual high-voltage energy in the vehicle within 0.2 seconds, setting a new industry record. Notably, the battery cells have undergone highly demanding tests, including high-speed sled impact tests at 60 km/h, 90-degree bending tests, and breakthrough sawing tests, the battery did not catch fire or explode across all three tests. These tests, all industry-firsts by CATL, have elevated the safety standards of battery cells to new heights. Unlocking the era of customization, and activating a trillion-yuan market The launch of the Bedrock Chassis not only redefines the standard for intelligent chassis safety but also activates a trillion-yuan market. It greatly accelerates the shift towards modular, personalized, and intelligent automotive design. Addressing the common pain points of high investment, long development cycles, and accelerated product iteration in the industry, the Bedrock Chassis incorporates three core characteristics: internal integration, decoupling of the chassis from the upper body, and external openness. With a rich array of toolkits and solution packages, it offers a scalable software and hardware architecture and standardized interfaces, enabling flexible configurations for different vehicle models and scenarios. This allows the realization of a "one chassis architecture, multiple vehicle models" concept and significantly improves development efficiency and shortens the R&D cycle. The time required for mass production of a vehicle is reduced from the traditional 36 months or longer to 12 to 18 months. Furthermore, the Bedrock Chassis breaks the limits of safety and modeling, and expands design flexibility through the design of decoupling of the chassis from the upper body. The fourth-generation Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) technology and inverted battery cell technology enhance the utilization of chassis space while reducing the risk of chassis scraping. Additionally, in terms of intelligence, the chassis supports mechanical decoupling, software decoupling and EE decoupling, enabling L3 to L4 intelligent driving capabilities. It provides high adaptability interfaces and promotes collaborative intelligent applications. At the launch ceremony, AVATR, the first automaker to use Bedrock Chassis, and CAIT-SH, CATL's skateboard chassis arm, signed an agreement to deepen cooperation on CATL's Bedrock Chassis to create a safer, higher-quality travel experience for users. Safety is a never-ending journey. In the future, CATL will continue to break technological barriers through continuous innovation, and work with partners to build a safe ecosystem for EV batteries and vehicles, safeguarding the safety of users. Yang Hanbing, CEO of Contemporary Amperex Intelligent Technology (Shanghai) Limited

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Innovative Industrial Properties: 8.1% YTM Bonds Offer Best Bet On CannabisINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions spent three months scoring at a historic rate. Now with the weather changing outside, they’re winning with old school football, too. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Is a liberal arts degree useless if you want to succeed in life? Not at all.Parachinar faces “genocide and terrorism”In France, start of construction of three photovoltaic projects Voltalia (Euronext Paris, ISIN code: FR0011995588), an international player in renewable energy, launches construction of three new solar power plants in the south of France with a total capacity of 25.1 megawatts The first project involves the construction of a photovoltaic park with a total output of 10.7 megawatts. The project is located on a 15-hectare agricultural wasteland. The choice of a specific technology for the structures supporting the solar panels with trackers 1 and the implementation of an appropriate irrigation system will enable farming activities to resume. The other two projects, with capacities of 8.2 megawatts and 6.2 megawatts respectively, are solar farms with fixed structures. In total, the production of the three projects represents the annual electricity consumption of more than 18,000 inhabitants and will prevent the emission of 7,500 tonnes of CO 2 . “ With a capacity of 461 megawatts in operation and under construction, Voltalia is a major player in renewable energy in mainland France and French Guiana. In addition, Voltalia is developing a pipeline of more than two gigawatts of future projects in the country” , said Sébastien Clerc, Chief Executive Officer of Voltalia. Next on the agenda: Q4 2024 turnover, January 29, 2025 (after market close) 1 Mobile structures that rotate the solar panels to follow the sun's path from morning to night Attachment In France, start of construction of three photovoltaic projects

Kari Dziedzic, former Minnesota Senate majority leader, dies at 62Owen McCown completed 23 of 30 passes for 254 yards and UTSA rolled up 257 yards on the ground in a 44-15 demolition of Coastal Carolina to win the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Monday in Conway, S.C. Will Henderson III led the rushing attack with 81 yards and a touchdown on five carries. McCown added a 35-yard rushing touchdown while throwing one TD and one interception for the Roadrunners (7-6), who won a bowl game for the second straight year. Chris Carpenter ripped off a 93-yard kick return touchdown for UTSA to seal the deal. Tad Hudson went 17-for-26 passing for 173 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns for Coastal Carolina (6-7), which was playing in the bowl game hosted on its campus for the first time. Hudson made his first collegiate start after quarterbacks Ethan Vasko and Noah Kim entered the transfer portal. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Hudson sailed a pass to a wide-open Bryson Graves for a 50-yard score that finally put the Chanticleers on the board, cutting the margin to 27-7. But on the ensuing kickoff, Carpenter started to his left, veered right and had nothing but daylight for his third career kick return touchdown. With Coastal trailing 37-7, Hudson hit Senika McKie for a 9-yard TD and completed a two-point conversion pass to Brooks Johnson with 4:43 to go. UTSA responded again, as on the next play from scrimmage Henderson broke off a 51-yard sprint to the end zone. In the first minute of the second quarter, UTSA running back Brandon High got help from his linemen on a 9-yard touchdown push. On the Roadrunners' next drive, McCown kept the ball on an option and chugged down the right sideline, scoring just his third rushing touchdown of the season. UTSA ripped off runs of 19 and 16 yards on its following possession, which lasted just 1:04. Using play-action, McCown tossed a 6-yard touchdown to a wide-open Patrick Overmyer for a 21-0 lead. Before halftime, Coastal Carolina marched down to UTSA's 4-yard line, but on a would-be halfback pass on fourth-and-goal, the Roadrunners disrupted the play and kept Braydon Bennett out of the end zone. UTSA's Tate Sandell made field goals from 38 and 27 yards to account for the third-quarter scoring. He kicked a 29-yarder during the fourth. --Field Level Media

Marine Dynamic Positioning System Market Set to Sail Past $17.6 Billion Globally by 2030, Riding a 12.5% CAGR Wave | AMRAs tech enthusiasts eagerly await CES, a thrilling GPU leak has set the community abuzz. Asus is rumored to be expanding its high-end ROG lineup with a mesmerizing “Astral” sub-series of graphics cards. New whispers from the tech sphere, thanks to listings by Intcomex and El Changarro, suggest that the Asus ROG Astral RTX 5080 could make its grand debut soon. As major retailers gear up, anticipation is mounting over what this new series will bring to the table. Three Product Families Asus is well-known for segmenting its products into three main categories: Prime, TUF, and ROG. Each tier caters to different market segments, from budget-conscious to premium users. This leak highlights three key GPUs: the Nvidia RTX 5080, alongside AMD’s RX 9070 XT and RX 9070. Interestingly, the AMD’s RX 9070 XT is speculated to be a part of the rebranded RX 9000 series. Specifications and Expectations The RTX 5080 is expected to feature 16GB of memory, aligning with prior speculations. Meanwhile, the AMD counterparts, RX 9070 XT and RX 9070, are anticipated to include the same memory capacity but with GDDR6 technology. This strategic release could pit these models directly against Nvidia’s upcoming Blackwell series, including the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5070. Excitement is building as Asus’s Astral series may bring a celestial design theme, potentially adopting stunning white or silver aesthetics. As fans await official announcements, the tech world watches closely for any updates on these next-gen powerhouses. Unveiling ASUS’s New Astral Series: The Future of GPU Design? As CES approaches, the tech community is buzzing with anticipation over a potential game-changing reveal from ASUS. The rumored expansion of ASUS’s high-end Republic of Gamers (ROG) lineup with a new “Astral” sub-series of graphics cards has enthusiasts eagerly awaiting more details. — Innovative Features and Design Themes ASUS is renowned for pushing the limits of hardware design, and the Astral series is poised to continue this trend. Speculation suggests that the series will feature a mesmerizing celestial theme, possibly incorporating sleek white or silver aesthetics that appeal to both gamers and designers seeking visually stunning setups. This aesthetic shift could signify a new trend in GPU design, where visual appeal is balanced with raw performance. — Performance Specifications The RTX 5080 within the rumored Astral series is expected to come with 16GB of VRAM. This aligns with key trends in the GPU market, where higher memory capacities are becoming standard to accommodate demanding applications like AI-driven simulations and 4K gaming. The use of GDDR6 technology for AMD’s RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 models points to a competitive edge, promising faster data rates and improved performance efficiency. — Market Position and Competition ASUS traditionally segments its products into Prime, TUF, and ROG tiers, targeting a wide range of users from budget to premium segments. The leaked information suggests that the Astral series will face stiff competition from NVIDIA’s upcoming Blackwell series. This includes NVIDIA’s RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5070, setting the stage for a potential showdown in high-performance gaming and creator markets. — Industry Predictions and Insights Analysts predict that the Astral sub-series could redefine market expectations with its cutting-edge design and performance capabilities. If the RTX 5080 and AMD’s RX 9070 XT can deliver on these speculated promises, ASUS could strengthen its position as a leader in the gaming hardware industry, potentially influencing design trends for years to come. — Implications for Consumers For tech enthusiasts and consumers looking to upgrade their gaming systems, the potential release of the ASUS Astral series presents an exciting opportunity. With advanced GPUs potentially offering substantial performance improvements, users can expect better gaming experiences, particularly with high-resolution setups. The growing anticipation underscores the significance of innovation in the GPU market, and the ASUS Astral series could be a pivotal development. As we await official announcements, the rumor mill continues to fuel excitement and speculation. For further insights into their innovations, visit the ASUS official site here .

Alex Berenguer prodded the hosts ahead after 53 minutes before Mbappe – who failed to convert a Champions League penalty against Liverpool last week – sent his kick too close to Bilbao goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. Jude Bellingham appeared to have rescued a point for Real after scoring for the fourth successive league game 12 minutes from time. 📸 PORTERAZO. JULEN, JULEN! JULEN JULEN! #AthleticRealMadrid #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/w260s6xo79 — Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) December 4, 2024 But Federico Valverde’s mistake two minutes later gifted Gorka Guruzeta the winner in front of a delirious San Mames crowd. On a busy night of second-round Copa del Rey action, Villarreal suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Pontevedra while there were wins for Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia. Fiorentina went out of the Coppa Italia to Empoli on penalties on an emotional night at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Viola were back in action after Edoardo Bove’s health scare forced their weekend league fixture with Inter Milan to be abandoned during the first half. Midfielder Bove collapsed on the pitch and required emergency medical treatment. He was taken to hospital but regained consciousness in intensive care. Esposito's penalty books Empoli's place in the next round 💪 #FiorentinaEmpoli pic.twitter.com/UUxghH9l6b — Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 4, 2024 Empoli led at half-time through Emmanuel Ekong’s fourth-minute opener before Moise Kean and Riccardo Sottil put Fiorentina ahead. Sebastiano Esposito struck 15 minutes from time to make it 2-2 and take the last-16 tie into extra time, Empoli eventually winning 4-3 on penalties. Benjamin Sesko opened the scoring and Luis Openda struck twice as RB Leipzig brushed aside Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in the German DFB Pokal. Second-half goals from Denis Vavro, Jonas Wind and Yannick Gerhardt saw Wolfsburg beat Hoffenheim 3-0. Cologne knocked out Hertha Berlin 2-1 after extra time with Dejan Ljubicic converting a penalty in the final seconds, while Augsburg prevailed 5-4 on penalties against Karlsruhe after a 2-2 draw.

Indian Share Market Opens In Green As Nation Pays Homage To Dr SinghSan Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has spoken out after being placed on injured reserve with yet another injury, potentially ending his 2024 season. McCaffrey released a message on his social media. "Football is the greatest game on the planet to me," McCaffrey's Instagram post began . "I love that you can find out exactly who you are without ever saying a word. It lifts you up and breaks you down and it can happen fast. It's humbling in the best ways. You can do everything right and still fail. That's life and that's football. It's a constant test of wills and those who just keep going tend to reap the benefits of their perseverance. "This wasn't my year, and sometimes when it rains, it pours. You can feel sorry for yourself and listen to the birds, or you can hold the line. I'm grateful for the support of everyone in my corner and promise I'll work smarter and harder than ever to come back better from this. I love my teammates, I love the 9ers, and I love football. God doesn't miss. Onward." More news: 49ers Sign Former Jets RB to Replace Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason McCaffrey's 2024 season was one to forget. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year award winner suffered a calf strain in training camp that turned into Achilles tendinitis in both legs. McCaffrey was expected to be ready for the beginning of the regular season but was instead ruled out right before the team's Week 1 Monday night opener. He was then placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 2. McCaffrey would miss the next two months, before finally returning to play after the 49ers' bye week in Week 10. He played in three full games, before getting hurt in his fourth game back in the second quarter of the 49ers' Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills. McCaffrey suffered a PCL injury that will sideline him for at least six weeks . While McCaffrey could technically return for the playoffs, the 49ers are currently 5-7 and would need a late-season turnaround to even make that a potential reality. The 2024 season is officially looking like a lost one for both the 49ers and McCaffrey. The 28-year-old signed a two-year extension with the 49ers in June, maintaining his status as the highest-paid running back in the league. More news: Ravens Suspend WR Diontae Johnson Without Pay as Wild Saga Since Trade Continues For more NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.

Elevance Health Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitorsProspera Financial Services Inc decreased its holdings in shares of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:OLLI – Free Report ) by 2.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,763 shares of the company’s stock after selling 133 shares during the period. Prospera Financial Services Inc’s holdings in Ollie’s Bargain Outlet were worth $463,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in the second quarter worth $31,000. Crewe Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in the second quarter worth $36,000. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new position in shares of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet during the second quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet by 686.7% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 472 shares of the company’s stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 412 shares during the last quarter. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Stock Up 4.3 % Shares of NASDAQ:OLLI opened at $94.61 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.80 billion, a PE ratio of 28.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.84. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $94.79 and its 200-day moving average price is $92.31. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. has a twelve month low of $68.05 and a twelve month high of $104.98. Insider Activity at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet In other news, President Der Valk Eric Van sold 7,479 shares of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.32, for a total transaction of $750,293.28. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 5,615 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $563,296.80. The trade was a 57.12 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, CFO Robert F. Helm sold 2,401 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.68, for a total transaction of $227,326.68. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 2,021 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $191,348.28. This represents a 54.30 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last three months, insiders have sold 24,880 shares of company stock worth $2,462,470. Corporate insiders own 0.87% of the company’s stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have weighed in on OLLI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet from $113.00 to $105.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 30th. Loop Capital reissued a “buy” rating and set a $110.00 price target on shares of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $107.00 price objective on shares of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in a research report on Friday, October 4th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Ollie’s Bargain Outlet from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, August 30th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Ollie’s Bargain Outlet from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $104.92. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on OLLI About Ollie’s Bargain Outlet ( Free Report ) Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc operates as a retailer of brand name merchandise in the United States. The company offers housewares, bed and bath, food, floor coverings, health and beauty aids, books and stationery, toys, and electronics; and other products, including hardware, candy, clothing, sporting goods, pet and lawn, and garden products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ollie's Bargain Outlet Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ollie's Bargain Outlet and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Trying to fit in routines around work can be tricky, especially for women. New research from Vitality’s ‘Active women, healthy lives’ report finds that eight in 10 women under 50 say their demanding work schedules are holding them back from being active. As a result, a quarter of women exercise less than once a week (25%), and over half of women exercise less than they used to (52%). Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, in partnership with Vitality, is launching Walk Out to Work Out, a new initiative encouraging women to reclaim time during their busy working days to stay active. Jessica Ennis-Hill has shared a few tips to help women fit in exercise around their working day (Image: Vitality) Additionally, she has shared some top tips on how to fit some exercise in during the working day. The full ‘Active women, healthy lives’ report can be found on the website here . Jessica shared: "As a busy mum and business owner, I know how challenging it can be to fit in long workouts. That’s why I swear by short bursts of activity—what I call "exercise snacks." "Whether it’s a 5-minute stretch between meetings or a quick walk to clear your mind, these small moments can really add up and keep you feeling active without disrupting your day. Jessica explained: "When I need to take calls or brainstorm ideas, I often head out for a walk with my dog while doing it – ticking off two things I have to do. I find it not only helps me stay active but also boosts my creativity and focus. "Turn phone calls or virtual meetings into walking meetings where possible. It’s a simple way to add movement while staying productive." 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"I use part of it for physical activity, whether it’s a quick workout, a jog, or a calming walk. "If you feel like your lunch break has disappeared into your workday, speak to your employer about how you can reclaim that time — it’s yours to use for your well-being. I suggest putting it in the diary as a meeting – this will ring-fence the time for you." Jessica explained: "I have worked with a lot of different sponsors and their teams and I’ve seen the difference it makes when workplaces support physical activity. "If you’re struggling to stay active, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with your employer. Suggest ideas like walking meetings, group exercise activities, or even flexible working hours to make staying active more achievable. "Remember, these changes benefit everyone, from employees to the company itself. Recommended reading: Jessica said: "I rely on technology to keep me on track. Fitness trackers or simple alarms can remind you to stand, stretch, or take a short walk every hour. "Even small movements like this can make a huge difference to your energy levels and focus throughout the day."

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superphosphate formula Drones spotted across New Jersey have left residents puzzled and unsettled, with no official explanations offered as the mystery continues. Former CIA Operations Officer Laura Ballman weighed in on the strange sightings suggesting they could be part of a classified government exercise. Ballman, during an appearance on Fox News Live, described the drone activity as "extremely unsettling" and noted that recent statements from National Security spokesman John Kirby — affirming the drones are not operating illegally — suggest a US-government-related operation could be at play. "Deducing the statements from [National Security spokesman] John Kirby that these drones are not operating illegally, coupled with several op-eds that have been out there in the last 24 hours about the need to look at our detection systems, makes me think perhaps this is actually a classified exercise to test either evasion technology or detection technology in urban areas," Ballman was quoted as saying by the news website. Although she emphasized that she would be "shocked" if the CIA were directly involved, she expressed concern over the lack of transparency from the US government. Ballman said it is "troubling" that the reasons for these mysterious drone sightings remain undisclosed, leaving the public in the dark. The drone activity continues to raise questions as officials struggle to provide concrete answers, and residents demand clarity on what might lie behind the skies of New Jersey. Kirby had previously said the aircraft could be lawfully operated planes or helicopters mistaken for drones. "While there is no known malicious activity occurring, the reported sightings there do, however, highlight a gap in authorities," he told reporters Thursday, calling for Congress to pass new legislation to "extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities." Mysterious drone sightings spark federal investigation Dozens of mysterious nighttime drone flights have been reported over New Jersey and the East Coast, raising concerns among residents and officials. The sightings began in mid-November and have since expanded to include Maryland, Massachusetts, and other states, with some drones spotted near key locations such as the Picatinny Arsenal — a US military research and manufacturing facility — and over former President Donald Trump ’s golf course in Bedminster. Federal response New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has taken action by writing to President Joe Biden to demand answers about the sightings. Additionally, New Jersey's newly elected Senator Andy Kim joined the investigation. The FBI is leading the investigation alongside other federal agencies and is calling on residents to share any videos, photos, or information that might shed light on the origins of these drones. Dozens of witnesses have reported sightings across the state, with initial reports concentrated along the Raritan River. Joe Biden administration's position Although reports of the drones have sparked fear and speculation, the outgoing Biden administration has sought to downplay the public's concerns. Officials have stressed that most sightings involve manned aircraft rather than potential threats and have found no conclusive evidence of a national security risk. However, frustration is mounting among Democrats, over the perceived lack of transparency and urgency from the federal government in addressing these concerns. Trump’s comments fuel speculation Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the sightings , calling for transparency and immediate action. In a social media post last week, Trump questioned the government’s role , stating: “Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so. Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down.” As investigations continue and the drone sightings expand, questions remain about their origins and purpose — whether they represent a national security issue, government testing, or something far more mysterious.

* Synopsys falls after forecasting FY25 revenue below estimates * Focus on Friday's payrolls data * Indexes: Dow down 0.4%, S&P 500 off 0.1%, Nasdaq down 0.01% (Updates to afternoon trading) By Caroline Valetkevitch NEW YORK, Dec 5 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were little changed on Thursday, with technology shares easing after recent sharp gains and investors bracing for Friday's jobs report, but all three indexes remained close to the previous session's closing high. The S&P 500 technology index was down 0.3% from the record closing high on Wednesday, when both other major U.S. stock indexes also notched closing highs. Shares of UnitedHealth were down 4.7% and the stock the biggest weight on the Dow and S&P 500. On Wednesday , Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth's insurance unit, was killed outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel in what police described as a targeted attack. Forecasters believe Friday's employment report will show nonfarm payrolls increased by 200,000 jobs in November, a Reuters survey showed. In October, payrolls rose 12,000, the smallest rise since December 2020. Data earlier in the day showed the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose slightly last week. Daniel Morgan, portfolio manager at Synovus Trust in Atlanta, Georgia, said investors are digesting economic data and looking ahead to Friday's employment report. "Obviously the Street is going to be trading on what the Fed is going to do," he said. "Also, there is a new administration coming in that's going to be friendly to the stock market and the economy." On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the U.S. economy is stronger now than the central bank had expected when it started cutting rates in September, and he appeared to signal support for a slower pace of reductions. Markets are pricing in about a 70% chance of a 25-bp rate cut this month, and a 30% chance of a pause. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 174.96 points, or 0.39%, to 44,839.08, the S&P 500 lost 4.55 points, or 0.07%, to 6,081.94 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 1.93 points, or 0.01%, to 19,733.18. Former U.S. President Donald Trump's win in the Nov. 5 elections helped to lift stocks in November as investors cheered his talk of tax cuts and looser regulation. Shares of Synopsys fell 12.2% after the chip design software firm forecast fiscal 2025 revenue below Wall Street expectations, in part due to a slump in China sales. Cryptocurrency and blockchain-related stocks lost steam after surging earlier in the day when bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, stormed above the $100,000 mark for the first time. MicroStrategy, the largest corporate holder of bitcoin, was down 3.9%. Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 1.14-to-1 ratio on the NYSE. There were 330 new highs and 65 new lows on the NYSE. On the Nasdaq, 1,592 stocks rose and 2,684 fell as declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 1.69-to-1 ratio. (Additional reporting by Shashwat Chauhan and Purvi Agarwal in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai and Maju Samuel)It’s been a horror year for many Australian brands forced to close their doors amid rising costs, with 40 per cent more businesses filing for insolvency since before the Covid-19 pandemic. CreditorWatch chief economist Ivan Colhoun said businesses were facing ongoing financial pressures much like their customers who were finding ways to cut their budget amid cost-of-living pressures. “Together with some greater caution in discretionary spending and softness in interest rate sensitive sectors of the economy, this unsurprisingly has led to higher voluntary business closures and some rise in insolvencies,” Mr Colhoun said. “We’re yet to see the extent to which the 1 July tax cuts now flowing through the economy will ease some of the pressures on consumers and businesses.” The latest CreditorWatch business risk index found that Aussie businesses were failing at their highest rate (5.04 per cent) since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in October 2020 (5.08 per cent). The average failure rate for Australian businesses has climbed from 3.97 per cent in October last year. The food and beverage sector recorded the highest failure rate of all industries in October, increasing to 8.5 per cent from 8.3 per cent in the 12 months up to September this year. Administrative and support services were next with a 6.0 per cent failure rate in October, followed by arts and recreation services (5.9 per cent) and transport, postal and warehousing (5.8 per cent). Meanwhile, both the retail and construction industries look to be levelling out after each recorded a 5.5 per cent increase in insolvencies or business deregistrations during the same time period. Big brands under pressure During the 2023-2024 financial year, 2832 construction companies went into insolvency in Australia, according to ASIC data. Some of those failed companies will have lasting impacts on vital infrastructure and business projects across the country. Quasar Construction is just one of the construction companies that fell into administration this year. It continues to owe an estimated $60m to 600 creditors after its collapse earlier this year. The company’s collapse potentially impacts 10 projects across NSW, including a Bunnings, a $50m shopping centre and parts of the new Western Sydney Airport. Financial woes have also impacted the retail sector this year, with international brands like Dion Lee collapsing despite the company’s best efforts. Not even dressing US megastar Taylor Swift at the 2024 Super Bowl helped the popular fashion brand survive the horror year in fashion retail. Queensland University of Technology marketing professor Gary Mortimer told NewsWire that high-end fashion brands like Dion Lee had a “very small footprint and market size” that was hard to compete against brands such as Burberry or Chanel. “When you think about the likes of Chanel, even if their fashion business isn’t doing so well, they can certainly draw business from other revenue like make-up and cosmetics,” Mr Mortimer said. “Big brands like Louis Vuitton, Moet, and Hennessy have very differential business models, so if one element of the model or one element of the business isn’t working so well, they pull money from other businesses. “Dion Lee wasn’t able to do that.” Mr Mortimer said brands were having to come up with ways to beat their competition, but that didn’t always work out for the best. He said brands like Mosaic Brands, which went into voluntary administration in October owing $250m to creditors, tended to fall prey to “self cannibalisation”. Mosaic Brands confirmed it was in trouble earlier this year when it announced it would shut down its entities Autograph, BeMe, Crossroads, Rockmans and W.Lane in a bid to improve investment in its other brands Katies, Millers, Noni B and Rivers. Mosaic Brands had more than 700 stores and 10 online shops. Mr Mortimer said this type of retailing structure could be problematic in the long run. “Mosaic has five or six brands that are all targeting the same customer of the middle-aged woman,” he said. “It was all essentially the same type of product. “In a centre where you’d have two or three of the same brands, you’re all competing against yourself for the same customer.” Cost-of-living pressures The University of Sydney retail expert Lisa Asher said the cost-of-living crisis continuing to impact consumers’ discretionary spending was a major issue going against smaller Australian brands. “Those below 65, they’re going into savings, but those over 65 have the money (to spend),” Ms Asher told NewsWire. “Because of that, what it’s done is people have to priorities spend, and it’s shelter and food and basic necessities.” Mr Mortimer said consumers who were tightening their budgets could have a lasting impact on businesses. “Where we see discretionary spending categories like fashion, footwear or accessories sales have flatlined or in some cases have declined, it’s because households are more concerned about the cost of food, the cost of rent, servicing their mortgage, electricity bills going up and utilities bills going up,” he said. “In that certain economic climate, certain categories tends to trade less and decline in sales.” Ms Asher said consumers were more willing to turn to fast fashion, like Temu or Shein, when they want to buy something new instead of spending money on quality items. “What has happened because of this, within apparel, there’s been lot of changes within apparel and clothing,” she said. “Fast fashion and it’s actually killing off traditional apparel brands we’ve seen historically.” Trying to find a way forward Unfortunately, more businesses are likely to shut up shop in 2025. CreditorWatch forecasts food and beverage businesses are likely to fail at 9.1 per cent in the next 12 months. Mr Mortimer said retailers normally liked to rely on Christmas spending to help boost their profits as they head into the new year. “We still spend about $36bn in the month across the retail sector but that’s not more than what we spent last year,” he said. “As we move into the busy Christmas period, it’s projected that we will spend $69.7bn in the six weeks leading up to Christmas but that’s essentially what we spent last year. “Retailers aren’t expecting a significant kick in these sales as we move into the busy Christmas period.” But all eyes will be on the Reserve Bank of Australia in the new year as people look to see if interest rate relief is on the way. “A slowdown in the inflation rate will certainly help businesses, but we must remember this just means that price rises have slowed down, so the cost pressures remain,” CreditorWatch chief executive officer Patrick Coghlan, said. “In most cases, you won’t see the cost of goods and services coming down. “Businesses desperately need interest rates to come down so households have some relief in cost-of-living pressures and start spending more.” Originally published as Thousands of Australian businesses collapse during 2024 amid rising costs

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Fifteen of the more conservative council members say Chicago's city budget has expanded dramatically since the pandemic and there needs to be a fiscal reset. "Our starting point is, let's look at 2020, budget adjust that for inflation, and that should be the starting point on the mayor's spending plan," 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly said. 15 council members sent a letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson saying that they could reduce spending by $568 million, and help avoid a property tax hike. "We have set forth parameters to provide a framework for a budget that is responsible and reasonable. The ball is in the mayor's court," 23rd Ward Alderwoman Silvana Tabares said. However, Johnson's allies said the proposed budget adjustments will result in cuts in services, and layoffs. "I don't know how you cut 500 and some odd million dollars out of $5 billion, and not have layoffs," Budget Committee Chairman Jason Ervin said. Ervin that the council is not going to go for cuts because residents have told them they want to maintain levels of service. The same group of alders calling for cuts also commissioned a poll showing the mayor's approval rating was at 15%. 81% favor cuts over a property tax hike. The polls also found 81% of respondents preferred some cuts in services versus raising property taxes by $150 million. "Well, the fact that they're doing this polling and the fact that they're exploring other possible candidates for mayor, shows that they are emboldened," ABC7 Political Analyst Laura Washington said. "They see the opportunity to take the lead and grab power from the mayor, and this budget may be the tipping point for that." "I think the mayor needs to back off his position that city jobs are entitlements and that we can't look at making any cuts," Reilly said. "Every private company does that when they have a bad revenue year. Every household does that when they're facing job insecurity, or their rent goes up." When push comes to shove it seems unlikely significant cuts will have sufficient support to go through. But it's clear this council is not done flexing its political muscle.

The entry of products deemed environment-friendly to the Philippines—a net goods importer—faces challenges due to expensive non-tariff barriers, according to the World Bank. "The Philippines' share of green goods trade is relatively low, partly due to the high incidence of non-tariff measures (NTMs) on imports of green goods," said the World Bank report titled "Trade Policy, Green Goods and the Labor Market: Evidence from the Philippines" published on Dec. 13. This assessment is based on a comparison made by the Washington-based multilateral lender with the Philippines' peer-countries as well as leading green industries. In particular, the World Bank cited "costly" NTMs impacting imported energy transition-related technologies, among other green products. For the World Bank, this is a missed opportunity for the Philippines, given its vulnerability to climate change challenges, citing that "bolding the green trade can support the country's transition towards a more sustainable area, enhance resilience, and alleviate environmental risks." "As the Philippines heavily relies on fossil fuel imports, investing in green energy such as hydropower, wind, or solar can reduce the dependence on fossil fuel imports," the World Bank pointed out. Also, the report noted that the Philippines' participation in green trade aligns with its global climate commitments, including as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) agreement. "More importantly, promoting green goods imports and exports can drive job creation, increase wages for people, and support economic growth," it added. According to the World Bank, out of the around 90 "burdensome" NTMs, there are five specific measures that, if reformed, may increase trade in green goods, as there is a direct link between higher exports and imports. But the report warned that this may also lead to fewer high-skilled labor involved in export industries, even as it could jack up the proportion of females working in import sectors. While importing green products is associated with bigger overall industry earnings, the report cautioned that reforming trade policies to become more climate- and environment-friendly could cause shifts in the labor market, hence requiring additional measures supporting impacted workers. In all, "green goods trade will matter for the transition to a low-carbon global economy as well as for its adaptive capacity to climate events," the World Bank said.

Higher FCNR rates fail to bring in the moolahA double cancer diagnosis for the King and the Princess of Wales marked a difficult, challenging 2024 for the royal family. It was, in the words of the Prince of Wales, a “brutal” time. Kate shared heartfelt updates on her cancer journey, as both the princess and the monarch underwent treatment for the disease. Charles was back on public duties in the spring with the Queen often urging him to take it easy. The princess has made a gradual return, while the King carried out a major long haul tour to Australia and hosted two state visits. Kate’s festive annual carol concert was a highlight, but there was controversy as the year came to a close thanks to the Duke of York’s close links to an alleged Chinese spy. January January started badly for Andrew with hundreds of pages of court documents relating to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal unsealed in the US. Allegations the duke sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre when she was 17, which he denies, were given a fresh airing in the legal papers, amid growing pressure on the Metropolitan Police to investigate. Then the royal family was hit by a double health scare when Kate underwent abdominal surgery and it was announced on the same day that the King was to be treated in hospital for a benign, enlarged prostate. Kate spent 13 nights in hospital and was expected to take the next three months to recuperate. Charles visited his daughter-in-law’s bedside as he was admitted to the same clinic for his procedure, and a three-night stay. William stepped back from official duties to juggle caring for his children and his wife, and Kensington Palace said Kate’s operation was not-cancer related. Just days later, there was a further blow to the royal family when Sarah, Duchess of York was revealed to have skin cancer, with her malignant melanoma diagnosis coming less than a year after she had breast cancer. February The Windsors’ health problems were only just beginning. On February 5, Buckingham Palace announced to the nation the King had cancer – not prostate cancer but another undisclosed form. The Duke of Sussex made a transatlantic dash to see his father, but in the end met him for around 30 minutes, and had no reunion with William. Charles, who had already begun treatment, cancelled all face-to-face public duties, and William returned to work, restarting his official engagements, with the Princess Royal and the Queen also holding the fort. Camilla, on a visit to Salisbury, said the King was doing “extremely well under the circumstances”. Harry gave an interview to Good Morning America and suggested the King’s illness could lead to a reconciliation with his father, saying: “I love my family.” Charles went on to resume his weekly audiences with the then-prime minister, and told Rishi Sunak the public’s “wonderful” get well messages had “reduced me to tears most of the time”. William pulled out of attending his godfather King Constantine of Greece’s memorial service in Windsor at the last minute due to an undisclosed personal matter, fuelling speculation about Kate’s health. There was devastating news at the end of February when the Palace announced the sudden death of Thomas Kingston, the 45-year-old husband of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent’s daughter Lady Gabriella Kingston. Mr Kingston took his own life, in what his family said was an impulsive action provoked by an adverse reaction to depression drugs and sleeping tablets, an inquest later found. March There were concerns about the “threadbare” working monarchy, with Anne carrying on with her many engagements, the ailing Duke of Kent also out on public duties and the Queen heading off on a week’s break. Rumours began to intensify on social media about Kate, with no sighting of the princess for more than two months. But soon after, she was papped, wearing dark sunglasses, being driven in a car by her mother near Windsor. Sarah, Duchess of York was given good news, when she learned her skin cancer had not spread. Conspiracy theories about Kate’s whereabouts abounded online and speculation grew worse when Kensington Palace released a Mother’s Day photograph of the princess and her three children, and photo agencies “killed” the image when it turned out to have been digitally altered. Kate made a public apology and confessed to having edited the photograph, and she was seen soon after smiling as she visited a farm shop in Windsor with William – but the rumours continued. The princess was also at the centre of an alleged royal data breach, when unauthorised staff at the London Clinic, where she had her surgery, allegedly tried to access her confidential medical records. Then just days later on March 22, the princess revealed in a shock video message that she was undergoing chemotherapy after post-operative test showed she had cancer. She described the development as a “huge shock”, but vowed “I am going to be OK” and asked for time, space and privacy. Well-wishes flooded in from around the world and the King was said to be “so proud” of his “beloved daughter-in-law” for her courage in speaking out about her diagnosis. On Easter Sunday, the King made his most significant public appearance since his diagnosis. He attended church with Camilla in Windsor and conducted a walkabout to greet the crowds. April The Netflix drama Scoop, featuring Holiday actor Rufus Sewell as the Duke of York, Gillian Anderson as interviewer Emily Maitlis and Billie Piper as producer Sam McAlister, was released, delving into the story behind the infamous Newsnight interview about Andrew’s friendship with Epstein. William returned to official engagements after Easter after spending quality time with his family. At food distribution charity Surplus to Supper, based in Sunbury-on-Thames, he promised a volunteer he would “take care” of Kate. The Waleses celebrated Louis’ sixth birthday, released a new picture – stressing it was unedited – straight to social media in a change in tactic to avoid a repeat of the Mother’s Day photo furore. The King, meanwhile, returned to public duties, with his medical team “very encouraged” by the progress he had made. Charles and Camilla visited University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London, with the King becoming patron of Cancer Research UK, and he spoke of his “shock” at his diagnosis, telling fellow patients “I’m well”. The Duchess of Edinburgh became first British royal to visit Ukraine since the start of war with Russia. May Princess Charlotte’s ninth birthday was celebrated with an image taken by Kate showing the smiling princess pictured next to a pink clematis. Charles received a hug from niece Zara Tindall as he braved the rain to visit the Royal Windsor Horse Show. And Harry returned to the UK to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games with a service at St Paul’s Cathedral, but there was no reunion with the King or the William. He followed it with a three-day quasi-royal tour to Nigeria with the Duchess of Sussex to champion mental health for young people affected by conflicts and to promote the Invictus Games. The same month, their charity the Archewell Foundation was temporarily listed as “delinquent” in California following an apparent issue with the receipt of the renewal fees. William made his first trip to the Scilly Isles since becoming the Duke of Cornwall, and bought pasties and played volleyball on the beach. Just days later, Charles officially handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps – Harry’s former regiment – to William during a rare joint engagement, which saw William flying off in a Apache helicopter. And the first completed portrait of the King since his coronation – by Jonathan Yeo – depicted the monarch bathed in red with, at Charles’s suggestion, a butterfly at his shoulder, symbolising his metamorphosis from prince to King. Some commentators described it as like a poster for a horror movie, and others said it appeared as if the King was “burning in hell”, while Camilla praised its likeness to the King. The announcement of a surprise summer election, set for July 4, meant the royal family postponed engagements “which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign”. Football fan George joined William as he presented the FA Cup to winners Manchester United at Wembley. June D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations went ahead with Charles and Camilla travelling to Portsmouth and Normandy where they appeared visibly moved during poignant services in remembrance of the fallen. But the event turned into a major blunder for then-PM Mr Sunak, when he was heavily criticised for returning early and missing an international ceremony, attended by heir to the throne William, to record a television interview. Harry stayed away from the Duke of Westminster’s wedding in Chester, where William was acting as an usher, as the brothers’ long-running estrangement showed no signs of abating. A new photo and written message to the nation came from Kate ahead of a brief return to the public spotlight at Trooping the Colour – her first official engagement of the year and since her diagnosis. The princess in her candid words revealed she was “making good progress” but had “good days and bad days”, was “not out of the woods yet” and was facing a few more months of treatment. She was pictured in the grounds of the Windsor Castle estate, standing in a tranquil setting against a weeping willow tree near a lake. At Trooping, the princess rode in closed carriage with her children and took to the balcony. Charles participated this year from a carriage, rather than on horseback. At the traditional Order of the Garter, William, Charles and Camilla, in their robes, walked down from Windsor Castle’s state apartments to St George’s Chapel. George and Charlotte joined William at a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley Stadium at the end of June to celebrate their father’s 42nd birthday, taking a backstage selfie with the US pop singer. There was a further health blow for the royal family in late June when Anne was rushed to hospital after being struck by a horse while out walking on her Gatcombe Park estate. She suffered concussion and mild head injuries, and spent five nights in hospital. Yet, the show carried on, with the King and Queen hosting the Japanese state visit, but with political elements such as Downing Street meetings removed because of the forthcoming election. Charles in his banquet speech made cultural reference to Hello Kitty and Pokemon, telling guests: “The Pokemon phrase, gotta catch ’em all, may resonate with my grandchildren, but for me it is, perhaps, aspirational.” Camilla wore the King’s new Family Order – the diamond-encased miniature portrait of her husband set on a silk ribbon – on her banquet gown for the first time. July Charles played a central role post-election, inviting Sir Keir Starmer to form a new government as he became the third Prime Minister of Charles’ reign and the first Labour one. The King sympathised with his new PM, telling him you must be “utterly exhausted and nearly on your knees”. Charles took a trip to Cardiff to celebrate 25 years of Welsh devolution as he addressed the Senedd. Kate attended the Wimbledon men’s final with Charlotte – her second public engagement since her diagnosis – and presented the trophy to Carlos Alcaraz. The same day, George went to Berlin with William for the England’s men’s football team’s Euro 2024 final. Charles urged the squad to “hold your heads high” after their defeat to Spain, while William said “we’re all still so proud of you”. Kensington Palace released a photo of Charlotte and Prince Louis, wearing England shirts bearing their names, watching the game at home. Meanwhile, the King wrote privately to Donald Trump after the former US president survived an assassination attempt. The room behind Buckingham Palace’s famous balcony opened to the public for the summer and Charles and Camilla made an official visit to Jersey and Guernsey. It was a busy month for Charles. The King carried out his duty and delivered the second King’s Speech of his reign at the State Opening of Parliament. At his side was the Queen, who was celebrating her 77th birthday the same day. A new black and white photo of George, looking grown up in an open-necked white shirt and dark blazer and wearing a friendship bracelet on his left wrist, marked his 11th birthday. A National Audi Office report revealed the ongoing £369 million renovations of Buckingham Palace had been well managed but structural damage and the discovery of asbestos, which led to cost increases, “could have been foreseen”. In other royal finances, soaring Crown Estate profits meant the monarchy will receive a boost of more than £45 million, with a 53% jump in its official annual income to more than £130 million. Harry said his determination to fight the tabloids was a “central piece” in destroying his relationship with his family, with the “rift” in part due to his mission, in ITV ’s Tabloids On Trial documentary. He also said it would be “still dangerous” for Meghan to return to the UK. August Meghan, in an interview with CBS Sunday, said she had not “really scraped the surface” in talking about her suicidal thoughts. Later in the month, the couple undertook a four day quasi-royal trip to Colombia, where Meghan said her three-year-old daughter Princess Lilibet had “absolutely found her voice” during a talk on gender equality. The first £1 coins featuring the King entered circulation. And Charles reportedly axed his private funding of Andrew’s security team, with the change due in the autumn. The King suspended his traditional Balmoral break to made a solo trip to meet survivors of the fatal Southport knife attack and their relatives in Merseyside, expressing his sympathy as he viewed the floral tributes. The next day, he met bereaved families during a private audience at Clarence House. Both William and Harry attended the funeral of their uncle Lord Fellowes in Norfolk, but they sat apart and were not seen interacting. September William grew a summer beard, but kept it, debuting his new look on public duties, and later revealing a previous beard left Charlotte in floods of tears. The King reached the second anniversary of his accession to the throne and the death of his mother the late Queen, with royal sources saying his health was “heading in a very positive trajectory”. Kate issued a deeply personal video update on her cancer journey, saying she had finished her chemotherapy but her “path to healing and full recovery is long”, she was taking each day at it came, and hoping to return to a light programme of public duties. Her words were narrated over stylised footage showing the Waleses and their children enjoying the outdoors, walking through woods and the couple cuddling as they held hands. The King found himself in the middle of a scrum when he accepted a hug from New Zealand women’s rugby player Ayesha Leti-I’iga and her team-mates at a Palace reception Charles also marked the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament with an address to the chamber. Harry’s US visa application remained private despite him admitting taking drugs in his memoir, after a ruling from an American judge. And he turned 40 in September, and in a rare step, William and Kate’s Kensington Palace social media account wished him a happy birthday in a message on X. The duke also carried out a run of solo engagements in New York, and returned to the UK for the WellChild awards ceremony. October The Palace announced Beatrice was pregnant with her second child. Kate was pictured hugging aspiring teenage photographer Liz Hatton, who had a rare and aggressive form of cancer, after inviting her to take pictures at William’s Windsor Castle investiture. Harry travelled solo to South Africa and Lesotho for his charity Sentebale, reuniting around a bonfire with his close friend Prince Seeiso, who described him as “my younger brother Mohale, the warrior”. Sarah, Duchess of York, visited the set of Coronation Street with actress Sally Dynevor, and poured a pint in the Rovers Return, as she raised awareness of breast cancer. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visited the late Queen’s home in Malta, recreating a picture of Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Villa Guardamangia. And Kate made a surprise visit with William to meet the bereaved families of the Southport stabbing victims in Merseyside. She told emergency responders: “I can’t underestimate how grateful they all are for the support you provided on the day.” On a trip to Chad, Sophie was moved to tears after she met refugees fleeing to escape the civil war in Sudan and heard their “devastating” experiences of sexual violence. The King paused his cancer treatment and set off on a historic tour to Australia – his first as the country’s King. There was controversy when Charles was berated by Australian senator Lidia Thorpe who accused him of “genocide” against her nation’s indigenous people and declared: “You are not my king” during his welcome at Parliament House, Canberra. But thousands flocked to the famous Sydney Opera House to see the monarch and Camilla. The King and Queen flipped sausages on a Sydney barbecue, met an alpaca wearing a bow tie, and the King shared a hug with Uncle James Michael Welsh, a survivor of Australia’s stolen generation when First Nations children were taken away from their parents for assimilation into white society. Charles stumbled slightly during one four-minute speech and said over the microphone: “God almighty. They’ve got two pages of this bloody thing”. In Samoa, the King showed off his own take on local fashion during welcoming ceremonies. He swapped his trademark tailored suit for a short-sleeved white jacket and trousers he designed himself as he was honoured with a new title, sipped a symbolic drink and was presented with a pig for feasting on the opening day of his state visit to the Pacific nation, before attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The King and Queen also stopped off in India for a break in a luxury spa on their way home. In an ITV documentary about William’s Homewards initiative, the prince said he used the school run to talk to his children about homelessness when they spot rough sleepers. November William travelled to Cape Town for his Earthshot Prize Awards, where he played a game of touch rugby with youngsters, and sported a second-hand double-breasted Prince of Wales check jacket sourced from a vintage store at the ceremony. In interviews, he admitted he did not like the added responsibility that came with being heir to the throne, and described the past 12 months, with his wife and father’s health challenges, as “brutal” and probably “the hardest year of my life”. Meanwhile, an investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and the Sunday Times into William and the King’s Duchies found the estates have struck rental agreements worth millions of pounds with the armed forces, the NHS and state schools. Charles’s Duchy of Lancaster agreed a deal to store ambulances in a warehouse on its land at a cost of more than £11 million to the NHS over 15 years. Camilla caught a seasonal bug and missed a run of engagements including Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph. She ended up with pneumonia and post viral fatigue, and amid it all, her dog and faithful companion Beth had to be put down. In an ITV documentary on her domestic violence campaigning, Camilla vowed to “keep trying” to end the crime until she is “able to no more”. Kate made appearances over the Remembrance weekend in honour of the nation’s war dead, including at the Cenotaph, where Sophie placed a comforting hand on Kate’s back in a show of support. Charles marked his 76th birthday with a visit to a food distribution hub. On the evening before, he celebrated the UK’s film and television industry at a star-studded Buckingham Palace reception, followed by a night out at the Gladiator II premiere with stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal. William and Kate paid tribute to photographer Liz Hatton, who died aged 17, at the end of November. December The princess joined the King and William in welcoming the Emir of Qatar to the UK at a state visit at the start of December, another step in her journey back to her public role. The princess looked relaxed as she greeted the Gulf state leader and attended the Horse Guards Parade welcome. She missed the state banquet, but there for the first time were David and Victoria Beckham, raising speculation the former England captain was in line for a knighthood. Kate brought Christmas cheer with her annual carol concert in Westminster Abbey, where she gathered with William and their children, other royals, and stars such as Paloma Faith and Richard E Grant. Louis left a touching message to his Middleton grandparents on a “kindness tree”, writing: “Thank you to granny and grandpa because they have played games with me.” Kate spoke to Faith of “challenging times” and how she “didn’t know” what this year would bring. In Paris, William met US president-elect Donald Trump after the Notre Dame reopening, with Mr Trump later saying the prince was “very handsome” and “some people look better in person”, and how the King “is fighting very hard” against cancer. Harry and Meghan’s e-Christmas card gave a glimpse of Lilibet, pictured from behind, with long, flowing ginger hair, and Archie next to her. The duke earlier in the month dismissed rumours that his marriage to the duchess was in trouble when he appeared at The New York Times Dealbook Summit, saying: “We’ve apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well. So it’s just like, what?” And the Sussexes’ Polo series hit Netflix, but attracted a flurry of negative reviews. The year ended as it began with Andrew back in the headlines, when it emerged he had been a “close confidante” of alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo, who paid visits to Buckingham Palace but was later banned from entering the UK on national security grounds. The duke and ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York took the decision to stay away from the King’s traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham in a bid to avoid further embarrassment for the royal family. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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By BILL BARROW, Associated Press PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Newly married and sworn as a Naval officer, Jimmy Carter left his tiny hometown in 1946 hoping to climb the ranks and see the world. Less than a decade later, the death of his father and namesake, a merchant farmer and local politician who went by “Mr. Earl,” prompted the submariner and his wife, Rosalynn, to return to the rural life of Plains, Georgia, they thought they’d escaped. The lieutenant never would be an admiral. Instead, he became commander in chief. Years after his presidency ended in humbling defeat, he would add a Nobel Peace Prize, awarded not for his White House accomplishments but “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” The life of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, ended Sunday at the age of 100 where it began: Plains, the town of 600 that fueled his political rise, welcomed him after his fall and sustained him during 40 years of service that redefined what it means to be a former president. With the stubborn confidence of an engineer and an optimism rooted in his Baptist faith, Carter described his motivations in politics and beyond in the same way: an almost missionary zeal to solve problems and improve lives. Carter was raised amid racism, abject poverty and hard rural living — realities that shaped both his deliberate politics and emphasis on human rights. “He always felt a responsibility to help people,” said Jill Stuckey, a longtime friend of Carter’s in Plains. “And when he couldn’t make change wherever he was, he decided he had to go higher.” Carter’s path, a mix of happenstance and calculation , pitted moral imperatives against political pragmatism; and it defied typical labels of American politics, especially caricatures of one-term presidents as failures. “We shouldn’t judge presidents by how popular they are in their day. That’s a very narrow way of assessing them,” Carter biographer Jonathan Alter told the Associated Press. “We should judge them by how they changed the country and the world for the better. On that score, Jimmy Carter is not in the first rank of American presidents, but he stands up quite well.” Later in life, Carter conceded that many Americans, even those too young to remember his tenure, judged him ineffective for failing to contain inflation or interest rates, end the energy crisis or quickly bring home American hostages in Iran. He gained admirers instead for his work at The Carter Center — advocating globally for public health, human rights and democracy since 1982 — and the decades he and Rosalynn wore hardhats and swung hammers with Habitat for Humanity. Yet the common view that he was better after the Oval Office than in it annoyed Carter, and his allies relished him living long enough to see historians reassess his presidency. “He doesn’t quite fit in today’s terms” of a left-right, red-blue scoreboard, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the former president multiple times during his own White House bid. At various points in his political career, Carter labeled himself “progressive” or “conservative” — sometimes both at once. His most ambitious health care bill failed — perhaps one of his biggest legislative disappointments — because it didn’t go far enough to suit liberals. Republicans, especially after his 1980 defeat, cast him as a left-wing cartoon. It would be easiest to classify Carter as a centrist, Buttigieg said, “but there’s also something radical about the depth of his commitment to looking after those who are left out of society and out of the economy.” Indeed, Carter’s legacy is stitched with complexities, contradictions and evolutions — personal and political. The self-styled peacemaker was a war-trained Naval Academy graduate who promised Democratic challenger Ted Kennedy that he’d “kick his ass.” But he campaigned with a call to treat everyone with “respect and compassion and with love.” Carter vowed to restore America’s virtue after the shame of Vietnam and Watergate, and his technocratic, good-government approach didn’t suit Republicans who tagged government itself as the problem. It also sometimes put Carter at odds with fellow Democrats. The result still was a notable legislative record, with wins on the environment, education, and mental health care. He dramatically expanded federally protected lands, began deregulating air travel, railroads and trucking, and he put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. As a fiscal hawk, Carter added a relative pittance to the national debt, unlike successors from both parties. Carter nonetheless struggled to make his achievements resonate with the electorate he charmed in 1976. Quoting Bob Dylan and grinning enthusiastically, he had promised voters he would “never tell a lie.” Once in Washington, though, he led like a joyless engineer, insisting his ideas would become reality and he’d be rewarded politically if only he could convince enough people with facts and logic. This served him well at Camp David, where he brokered peace between Israel’s Menachem Begin and Epypt’s Anwar Sadat, an experience that later sparked the idea of The Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter’s tenacity helped the center grow to a global force that monitored elections across five continents, enabled his freelance diplomacy and sent public health experts across the developing world. The center’s wins were personal for Carter, who hoped to outlive the last Guinea worm parasite, and nearly did. As president, though, the approach fell short when he urged consumers beleaguered by energy costs to turn down their thermostats. Or when he tried to be the nation’s cheerleader, beseeching Americans to overcome a collective “crisis of confidence.” Republican Ronald Reagan exploited Carter’s lecturing tone with a belittling quip in their lone 1980 debate. “There you go again,” the former Hollywood actor said in response to a wonky answer from the sitting president. “The Great Communicator” outpaced Carter in all but six states. Carter later suggested he “tried to do too much, too soon” and mused that he was incompatible with Washington culture: media figures, lobbyists and Georgetown social elites who looked down on the Georgians and their inner circle as “country come to town.” Carter carefully navigated divides on race and class on his way to the Oval Office. Born Oct. 1, 1924 , Carter was raised in the mostly Black community of Archery, just outside Plains, by a progressive mother and white supremacist father. Their home had no running water or electricity but the future president still grew up with the relative advantages of a locally prominent, land-owning family in a system of Jim Crow segregation. He wrote of President Franklin Roosevelt’s towering presence and his family’s Democratic Party roots, but his father soured on FDR, and Jimmy Carter never campaigned or governed as a New Deal liberal. He offered himself as a small-town peanut farmer with an understated style, carrying his own luggage, bunking with supporters during his first presidential campaign and always using his nickname. And he began his political career in a whites-only Democratic Party. As private citizens, he and Rosalynn supported integration as early as the 1950s and believed it inevitable. Carter refused to join the White Citizens Council in Plains and spoke out in his Baptist church against denying Black people access to worship services. “This is not my house; this is not your house,” he said in a churchwide meeting, reminding fellow parishioners their sanctuary belonged to God. Yet as the appointed chairman of Sumter County schools he never pushed to desegregate, thinking it impractical after the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board decision. And while presidential candidate Carter would hail the 1965 Voting Rights Act, signed by fellow Democrat Lyndon Johnson when Carter was a state senator, there is no record of Carter publicly supporting it at the time. Carter overcame a ballot-stuffing opponent to win his legislative seat, then lost the 1966 governor’s race to an arch-segregationist. He won four years later by avoiding explicit mentions of race and campaigning to the right of his rival, who he mocked as “Cufflinks Carl” — the insult of an ascendant politician who never saw himself as part the establishment. Carter’s rural and small-town coalition in 1970 would match any victorious Republican electoral map in 2024. Once elected, though, Carter shocked his white conservative supporters — and landed on the cover of Time magazine — by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Before making the jump to Washington, Carter befriended the family of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whom he’d never sought out as he eyed the governor’s office. Carter lamented his foot-dragging on school integration as a “mistake.” But he also met, conspicuously, with Alabama’s segregationist Gov. George Wallace to accept his primary rival’s endorsement ahead of the 1976 Democratic convention. “He very shrewdly took advantage of his own Southerness,” said Amber Roessner, a University of Tennessee professor and expert on Carter’s campaigns. A coalition of Black voters and white moderate Democrats ultimately made Carter the last Democratic presidential nominee to sweep the Deep South. Then, just as he did in Georgia, he used his power in office to appoint more non-whites than all his predecessors had, combined. He once acknowledged “the secret shame” of white Americans who didn’t fight segregation. But he also told Alter that doing more would have sacrificed his political viability – and thus everything he accomplished in office and after. King’s daughter, Bernice King, described Carter as wisely “strategic” in winning higher offices to enact change. “He was a leader of conscience,” she said in an interview. Rosalynn Carter, who died on Nov. 19 at the age of 96, was identified by both husband and wife as the “more political” of the pair; she sat in on Cabinet meetings and urged him to postpone certain priorities, like pressing the Senate to relinquish control of the Panama Canal. “Let that go until the second term,” she would sometimes say. The president, recalled her former aide Kathy Cade, retorted that he was “going to do what’s right” even if “it might cut short the time I have.” Rosalynn held firm, Cade said: “She’d remind him you have to win to govern.” Carter also was the first president to appoint multiple women as Cabinet officers. Yet by his own telling, his career sprouted from chauvinism in the Carters’ early marriage: He did not consult Rosalynn when deciding to move back to Plains in 1953 or before launching his state Senate bid a decade later. Many years later, he called it “inconceivable” that he didn’t confer with the woman he described as his “full partner,” at home, in government and at The Carter Center. “We developed a partnership when we were working in the farm supply business, and it continued when Jimmy got involved in politics,” Rosalynn Carter told AP in 2021. So deep was their trust that when Carter remained tethered to the White House in 1980 as 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran, it was Rosalynn who campaigned on her husband’s behalf. “I just loved it,” she said, despite the bitterness of defeat. Fair or not, the label of a disastrous presidency had leading Democrats keep their distance, at least publicly, for many years, but Carter managed to remain relevant, writing books and weighing in on societal challenges. He lamented widening wealth gaps and the influence of money in politics. He voted for democratic socialist Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and later declared that America had devolved from fully functioning democracy to “oligarchy.” Related Articles Yet looking ahead to 2020, with Sanders running again, Carter warned Democrats not to “move to a very liberal program,” lest they help re-elect President Donald Trump. Carter scolded the Republican for his serial lies and threats to democracy, and chided the U.S. establishment for misunderstanding Trump’s populist appeal. He delighted in yearly convocations with Emory University freshmen, often asking them to guess how much he’d raised in his two general election campaigns. “Zero,” he’d gesture with a smile, explaining the public financing system candidates now avoid so they can raise billions. Carter still remained quite practical in partnering with wealthy corporations and foundations to advance Carter Center programs. Carter recognized that economic woes and the Iran crisis doomed his presidency, but offered no apologies for appointing Paul Volcker as the Federal Reserve chairman whose interest rate hikes would not curb inflation until Reagan’s presidency. He was proud of getting all the hostages home without starting a shooting war, even though Tehran would not free them until Reagan’s Inauguration Day. “Carter didn’t look at it” as a failure, Alter emphasized. “He said, ‘They came home safely.’ And that’s what he wanted.” Well into their 90s, the Carters greeted visitors at Plains’ Maranatha Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and where he will have his last funeral before being buried on family property alongside Rosalynn . Carter, who made the congregation’s collection plates in his woodworking shop, still garnered headlines there, calling for women’s rights within religious institutions, many of which, he said, “subjugate” women in church and society. Carter was not one to dwell on regrets. “I am at peace with the accomplishments, regret the unrealized goals and utilize my former political position to enhance everything we do,” he wrote around his 90th birthday. The politician who had supposedly hated Washington politics also enjoyed hosting Democratic presidential contenders as public pilgrimages to Plains became advantageous again. Carter sat with Buttigieg for the final time March 1, 2020, hours before the Indiana mayor ended his campaign and endorsed eventual winner Joe Biden. “He asked me how I thought the campaign was going,” Buttigieg said, recalling that Carter flashed his signature grin and nodded along as the young candidate, born a year after Carter left office, “put the best face” on the walloping he endured the day before in South Carolina. Never breaking his smile, the 95-year-old host fired back, “I think you ought to drop out.” “So matter of fact,” Buttigieg said with a laugh. “It was somehow encouraging.” Carter had lived enough, won plenty and lost enough to take the long view. “He talked a lot about coming from nowhere,” Buttigieg said, not just to attain the presidency but to leverage “all of the instruments you have in life” and “make the world more peaceful.” In his farewell address as president, Carter said as much to the country that had embraced and rejected him. “The struggle for human rights overrides all differences of color, nation or language,” he declared. “Those who hunger for freedom, who thirst for human dignity and who suffer for the sake of justice — they are the patriots of this cause.” Carter pledged to remain engaged with and for them as he returned “home to the South where I was born and raised,” home to Plains, where that young lieutenant had indeed become “a fellow citizen of the world.” —- Bill Barrow, based in Atlanta, has covered national politics including multiple presidential campaigns for the AP since 2012.The Inside Scoop On The First Ever Electric Vehicle To Hit The Rose Bowl ParadeAmericans' least-favorite Thanksgiving dish, plus travel expert says 'pack your patience' this holiday

NFC's No. 1 seed comes down to Vikings-Lions showdown at Detroit in Week 18 The NFC’s No. 1 seed will come down to the final week when the Detroit Lions host the Minnesota Vikings. The winner takes the NFC North and gets a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The loser becomes the No. Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press Dec 29, 2024 6:16 PM Dec 29, 2024 6:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Minnesota Vikings' Jordan Addison celebrates his touchdown catch with Justin Jefferson during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) The NFC’s No. 1 seed will come down to the final week when the Detroit Lions host the Minnesota Vikings. The winner takes the NFC North and gets a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The loser becomes the No. 5 seed and must play on the road in the wild-card round. The Vikings (14-2) held on for a 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers to set up the high-stakes showdown in Week 18. The Lions (13-2) visit the San Francisco 49ers (6-9) on Monday night in a rematch of the NFC title game. Win, lose or tie, they have to beat the Vikings again. Detroit beat Minnesota 31-29 in Week 7. The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East and locked up the No. 2 seed with a 41-7 rout of the Dallas Cowboys. However, coach Nick Sirianni has a tough decision to make this week. Saquon Barkley is 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season record for yards rushing in a season. Sirianni has to decide whether to rest Barkley and most of his starters to prepare for the playoffs or let his star try for the 40-year-old record. The Los Angeles Rams (10-6) were on the verge of clinching the NFC West. They would lock it up Sunday night if the Commanders beat the Falcons. The outcome of the Atlanta-Washington game has a major impact on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7). If the Falcons win, they’d remain first in the NFC South and would win the division with a victory against Carolina next week. If the Falcons lose, the Buccaneers would take over first place and would secure the division with a victory over New Orleans next week. The Commanders would secure a wild-card spot with a win against Atlanta. If they lose, Seattle stays mathematically alive for a wild card and the Buccaneers could also find a path to the playoffs as a wild-card team. Three teams in the AFC have already secured their seeds. The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) won the AFC West weeks ago and clinched the No. 1 seed. The AFC East champion Buffalo Bills (13-3) are the No. 2 seed. The AFC South champion Houston Texans (9-7) are the No. 4 seed. The Baltimore Ravens (11-5) would win the AFC North and get the No. 3 seed with a win or tie against Cleveland next weekend or a loss or tie by Pittsburgh, which hosts Cincinnati. If they don’t win the division, the Steelers have already clinched a wild-card berth. The Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) also secured a wild-card spot. They’ll be no lower than the sixth seed. The final AFC playoff spot comes down to the Broncos (9-7), Dolphins (8-8) or Bengals (8-8). Denver clinches with a win or tie against the Chiefs. The Dolphins need the Broncos to lose and they must beat the Jets on the road to get in. The Bengals must win and the Broncos and Dolphins have to lose for them to get in. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Darnold gives Vikings another gem with career-high 377 yards in 27-25 win over Packers Dec 29, 2024 6:26 PM Huntley fills in for injured Tagovailoa, leads Dolphins past Browns 20-3 to keep playoff hopes alive Dec 29, 2024 5:53 PM Moment of silence for former President Jimmy Carter held before the Falcons-Commanders game Dec 29, 2024 5:52 PM

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The Australian sharemarket is tipped to open weaker despite a rally from some of the world’s largest technology companies that spurred a rebound on Wall Street. ASX 200 futures were down 15 points or 0.2 per cent at 8.183 at 7.15 AEDT, after the S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 1.7 per cent on Monday to post its best session in six months. Overnight, US stocks recovered from a wobble that was fuelled by weaker-than-expected data on US consumer confidence. While most companies in the S&P 500 retreated, Tesla and Nvidia drove a gauge of the “Magnificent Seven” megacaps up over 1 per cent. However, it was a thin trading session at the start of a holiday-shortened week, with volume roughly 20 per cent below the average of the past month. Wall Street recovered from an early wobble as the heavyweight technology stocks spurred a rebound. Credit: Bloomberg “Primary uptrends remain intact for equities despite the recent profit-taking,” Craig Johnson at Piper Sandler said. “Given the short-term oversold conditions, we expect a ‘Santa Claus Rally’ to be a strong possibility this year.” To Morgan Stanley’s Michael Wilson, negative breadth — when falling shares outnumber those that are rising — may not matter as much for high-quality stock indexes with robust price momentum. Earlier, stocks lost steam momentarily after data showed consumer confidence unexpectedly sank for the first time in three months on concerns about the outlook for the US economy. “The economic outlook is deteriorating,” said Neil Dutta at Renaissance Macro Research. “This was true before the Fed’s December confab and remains true. The risk of the Fed flip-flopping is quite high.”How major US stock indexes fared Monday, 12/23/2024