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Silicon Surrender How Ending Russian Electronics Imports Supports NegotiationsIRVING, Texas (AP) — The NFL will consider expanding replay assist to include facemask penalties and other plays. Officials have missed several obvious facemask penalties this season, including two in a three-week span during Thursday night games. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekAs a former teacher, coach, principal in the Newark school system, I have always made education a top priority in my political life as a councilman and now as Newark mayor. In all those roles, and as a parent, I see the academic performance of our children as the imperative foundation for every measure of success we hope to achieve. We began the Newark Street Academy for disengaged former students to get GED diplomas in the first years of my administration. Most recently, we launched an ambitious 10-point, community-based literacy program for children in their developmental years, so they are reading proficient by third grade, a key marker for academic success. In between, we’ve added many educational programs from the Mayor’s Book Club to our Guaranteed Education Program, which sends 40 students a year to St. Elizabeth University for free. A recent Star-Ledger editorial titled “Newark schools get spanked over waste,” suggested I have been silent over the Newark Board of Education’s performance, but my actions say otherwise. My focus has been and will always remain on addressing the core challenges that affect student achievement in Newark — not on public admonishments or squabbles over territory, egos, or issues that do little to advance our children’s education. We must bring our charter and public schools together for staff enrichment and data sharing in order to identify best educational practices. I share the frustrations of many Newarkers when time and money are wasted for non-educational, petty turf battles. That is why we bring the entire education community together as often as we can, because we believe strongly that everything we do together, we do well. The real losers in these fights are our children — the very people we should be prioritizing above all else. Every dollar spent and every decision made must put our students first. Anything less is a disservice to the children and families of Newark, and a distraction from our ultimate goal of ensuring their success. Ras J. Baraka, Mayor of Newark Editor’s note: The Editorial Board sent questions to the mayor’s office requesting comment for the editorial in question, and did not receive a reply. Take mystery drones more seriously The mysterious drones flying over New Jersey are a legitimate news story. It’s not a supermarket tabloid story about aliens. NJ Advance Media is guilty of insufficient reporting on this. We should see daily updates. These are not the typical drones of hobbyists. They have been described by observers as being as big as a dining room table or a small car. They are only seen flying at night. Local governments have no idea what they are. The state government claims to know nothing about them. The federal government, including the FBI, is asking the public for information about them. Isn’t this an obvious problem? “See something, say something?” We’re saying something!! To be almost a month into these sightings and still have no answers is unacceptable. And, despite this lack of knowledge, the message to the public is that these drones should not be seen as a threat. I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but with zero information from our government, such theories are ripening on the vine. Among them are terrorism, or that the government itself is flying the drones. How else can they say, “Nothing to see here, move along”? There are too many questions. At this point, we need answers. The drones have been seen in clusters and hovering near military facilities, water reservoirs and other critical infrastructure. I don’t like to sound paranoid, but my imagination is beginning to get active. I can’t be the only one who wants this taken more seriously. Pressure needs to be brought to find out what’s going on. As journalists, this is your job. Gene Domowicz, Hillsborough Soto and Steinbrenner Regarding Bob Klapisch’s recent article, “ The two reasons why Juan Soto said ‘no thanks’ to Yankees”: I am a big fan of Klapisch, but I have a completely different take on Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and his attempt to keep the star outfielder Juan Soto. I am not ready to admit I am wrong on whether or not Steinbrenner is cheap, but I do feel Steinbrenner offered just enough money ($760 million over 16 years) to ensure that the Yankees would come in second to the Mets in a free-agent battle. The Mets grabbed Soto with a 15-year pact worth at least $765 million. I say this because Steinbrenner has passed on mega-star free agents such as Manny Machado, Bryce Harper and Corey Seager. Steinbrenner has shown a propensity to pursue older, washed up veterans on the cheap, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. Plus, in light of the fact that the Yankees are the most valuable baseball franchise, worth an estimated $7 billion, it is a huge mistake to not spend the money necessary to attract stars and maintain the highest quality product. Steinbrenner has failed to accept the fact that the cost of the highest quality stars has risen exponentially. It is no longer feasible to rely on the Yankees’ history and tradition to woo star free agents, and I don’t agree with Klapisch’s observation that " You can count on the Bombers looking radically different — and better — by spring training. " I hope I am wrong and Klapisch is right. Bill Gottdenker, Mountainside Fake ID from N.J. raises question in CEO murder The State Police and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission need to investigate how Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, obtained a fake New Jersey driver’s license. Mangione allegedly presented the New Jersey identification ( with a different name on it ) to Altoona, Pennsylvania, police who captured him. Is New Jersey’s license/ID system secure enough so that potential bad actors will be stopped from getting fake ones for criminal purposes? Will the TSA honor New Jersey’s version of Real ID for boarding planes in the future? The Legislature and the governor’s office need to demand answers. Maybe NJ Advance Media can do some investigative reporting on how easy is it to get fake ID in this state. Stan Gurski, Clark Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion . Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion . Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion . Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters .

300-acre park coming to north Fort Worth as part of $13.4M purchaseANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a pro athlete in the U.S., authorities said Tuesday. No one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Deputies weren't immediately able to determine what items were stolen. A person who is employed by Burrow arrived at the Anderson Township home Monday night to find a shattered bedroom window and the home in disarray. The person called their mother, and then 911 was contacted, according to the report. Deputies reached out to neighbors in an attempt to piece together surveillance footage. “Our investigators are exploring every avenue,” public information officer Kyla Woods said. The homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into in October. In the NBA , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into Nov. 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.'s home was burglarized on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information. Both the NFL and NBA issued security alerts to players after those break-ins, urging them to take additional precautions to secure their homes. In league memos previously obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL said homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” And the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

El Salvador Eyes $3 Trillion Gold Mine Beneath Its SoilNEW YORK — George Joseph Kresge Jr., who was known to generations of TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, has died at age 89. Kreskin's friend and former road manager, Ryan Galway, told The Associated Press that he died Tuesday at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey, where he spent much of his life. Galway said Kreskin had not been feeling well in recent weeks but otherwise did not provide a cause of death. FILE - George Joseph Kresge Jr., better known as "The Amazing Kreskin," poses for a portrait in Toronto on April 24, 2007. Inspired by the crime-fighting comic book character Mandrake the Magician, Kreskin launched his television career in the 1960s and remained popular for decades, making guest appearances on talk shows hosted by everyone from Merv Griffin to Johnny Carson to Jimmy Fallon. Fans would welcome, if not entirely figure out, his favorite mind tricks — whether correctly guessing a playing card chosen at random, or, most famously, divining where his paycheck had been planted among the audience. He also hosted his own show in the 1970s, gave live performances and wrote numerous books, including “Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin” and “Mental Power Is Real.” Although he was a talk show regular, one host wasn't amused by a Kreskin stunt. In 2002, he claimed that a UFO would appear over Las Vegas on the night of June 2, and added that he would donate $50,000 to charity if he was wrong. Hundreds of people gathered in the desert, in vain. Kreskin acknowledged to radio personality Art Bell that his prediction was a hoax, a way of proving that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks the year before had made people susceptible to manipulation. Bell called the ruse “lame, lame, lame” and banned him from his show. Galway said that Kreskin continued to make live appearances well into his 80s, and only stopped earlier this year after injuring himself in a fall. Kreskin never married and left no immediate survivors. “His career was his life. That was his marriage,” Galway said. “He was dedicated to his craft.” FILE - Mentalist George Joseph Kresge, known as "The Amazing Kreskin," attends a screening of "The Great Buck Howard" in New York on March 10, 2009. Glynis Johns, a Tony Award-winning stage and screen star who played the mother opposite Julie Andrews in the classic movie “Mary Poppins” and introduced the world to the bittersweet standard-to-be “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim, died, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. She was 100. Adan Canto, the Mexican singer and actor best known for his roles in “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and “Agent Game” as well as the TV series “The Cleaning Lady,” “Narcos,” and “Designated Survivor,” died Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, after a private battle with appendiceal cancer. He was 42. Bud Harrelson, the scrappy and sure-handed shortstop who fought Pete Rose on the field during a playoff game and helped the New York Mets win an astonishing championship, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. He was 79. The Mets said that Harrelson died at a hospice house in East Northport, New York after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević, a mentor to two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and a former star player in his native Serbia, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, after suffering a heart attack, the team announced. He was 46. Jack Burke Jr., the oldest living Masters champion who staged the greatest comeback ever at Augusta National for one of his two majors, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Houston. He was 100. Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “The Leader of the Pack,” died Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Palm Springs, Calif. She was 75. Norman Jewison, a three-time Oscar nominee who in 1999 received an Academy Award for lifetime achievement, died “peacefully” Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, according to publicist Jeff Sanderson. He was 97. Charles Osgood, who anchored “CBS Sunday Morning” for more than two decades, hosted the long-running radio program “The Osgood File” and was referred to as CBS News’ poet-in-residence, died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. He was 91. Melanie, a singer-songwriter behind 1970s hits including “Brand New Key,” died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. She was 76. Born Melanie Safka, the singer rose through the New York folk scene and was one of only three solo women to perform at Woodstock. Her hits included “Lay Down” and “Look What They've Done to My Song Ma.” Chita Rivera, the dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists, died Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. She was 91. Carl Weathers, a former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” movies, facing-off against Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore,” died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. He was 76. Wayne Kramer, the co-founder of the protopunk Detroit band the MC5 that thrashed out such hardcore anthems as “Kick Out the Jams” and influenced everyone from the Clash to Rage Against the Machine, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles, according to Jason Heath, a close friend and executive director of Kramer's charity, Jail Guitar Doors. Heath said the cause of death was pancreatic cancer. He was 75. Actor Ian Lavender, who played a hapless Home Guard soldier in the classic British sitcom “Dad’s Army,” died Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. He was 77. Country music singer-songwriter Toby Keith, whose pro-American anthems were both beloved and criticized, died Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. He was 62. Henry Fambrough, the last surviving original member of the iconic R&B group The Spinners, whose hits included “It’s a Shame,” “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” and “The Rubberband Man,” died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, of natural causes, according to a statement from his spokeswoman. He was 85. Bob Edwards, right, the news anchor many Americans woke up to as founding host of National Public Radio's “Morning Edition” for nearly a quarter-century, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 20243. He was 76. He's shown here with sports announcer Red Barber. Don Gullett, a former major league pitcher and coach who played for four consecutive World Series champions in the 1970s, died Feb. 14. He was 73. He finished his playing career with a 109-50 record playing for the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees. Lefty Driesell, the coach whose folksy drawl belied a fiery on-court demeanor that put Maryland on the college basketball map and enabled him to rebuild several struggling programs, died Feb. 17, 2024, at age 92. Germany players celebrate after Andreas Brehme, left on ground, scores the winning goal in the World Cup soccer final match against Argentina, in the Olympic Stadium, in Rome, July 8, 1990. Andreas Brehme, who scored the only goal as West Germany beat Argentina to win the 1990 World Cup final, died Feb. 20, 2024. He was 63. Despite the effort of Denver Broncos defensive back Steve Foley (43), Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Golden Richards hauls in a touchdown pass during NFL football's Super Bowl 12 in New Orleans on Jan 15, 1978. Richards died Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, of congestive heart failure at his home in Murray, Utah. He was 73. Richards' nephew Lance Richards confirmed his death in a post on his Facebook page. Comedian Richard Lewis attends an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on Dec. 25, 2012. Lewis, an acclaimed comedian known for exploring his neuroses in frantic, stream-of-consciousness diatribes while dressed in all-black, leading to his nickname “The Prince of Pain,” died Feb. 27, 2024. He was 76. He died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday night after suffering a heart attack, according to his publicist Jeff Abraham. Former Soviet Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov attends a session of the Federation Council, Russian parliament's upper house, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, June 25, 2014. Ryzhkov, former Soviet prime minister who presided over failed efforts to shore up the crumbling economy in the final years before the collapse of the USSR, died Feb. 28, 2024, at age 94. Brian Mulroney, the former prime minister of Canada, listens during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico relationship, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mulroney died at the age of 84 on Feb. 29, 2024. Akira Toriyama is pictured in 1982. Toriyama, the creator of one of Japan's best-selling “Dragon Ball” and other popular anime who influenced Japanese comics, died March 1, 2024. He was 68. Iris Apfel, a textile expert, interior designer and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric style, died March 1, 2024, at 102. Andy Russell, the standout linebacker who was an integral part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ evolution from perennial losers to champions, died Feb. 29, 2024. He was 82. Russell won two Super Bowls during a 12-year NFL career between 1963-76 that was briefly interrupted by a stint in the military. Russell played in 168 consecutive games and spent 10 years as a team captain. He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times. Russell remained active in the Pittsburgh community after retiring, writing several books and launching the Andy Russell Charitable Foundation. Pittsburgh Pirates' Ed Ott slides across home late out of reach of Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey to score the winning run in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the World Series at Baltimore, Oct. 11, 1979. Ott, a former major league catcher and coach who helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1979 World Series, died March 3, 2024. He was 72. He batted .259 with 33 homers and 195 RBIs in 567 major league games. Ott and Steve Nicosia were the main catchers when the Pirates won it all in 1979. In a photo supplied by ESPN, Chris Mortensen appears on the set of Sunday NFL Countdown at ESPN's studios in Bristol, Conn., on Sept. 22, 2019. Mortensen, the award-winning journalist who covered the NFL for close to four decades, including 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN, died March 3, 2024. He was 72. Mortensen announced in 2016 that he he had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Even while undergoing treatment, he was the first to confirm the retirement of Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. Mortensen announced his retirement after the NFL draft last year so that he could “focus on my health, family and faith.” Singer Steve Lawrence, left, and his wife Eydie Gorme arrive at a black-tie gala called honoring Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas on May 30, 1998. Lawrence, a singer and top stage act who as a solo performer and in tandem with his wife Gorme kept Tin Pan Alley alive during the rock era, died Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at age 88. Gorme died on Aug. 10, 2013. Martin Luther King III, right, the son of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., walks with his daughter Yolanda, and Naomi Barber King, left, the wife of Rev. King's brother, A.D., through an exhibition devoted to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to King at the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, in Atlanta. Civil rights activist Naomi Barber King died Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Atlanta, according to family members. She was 92. A Texas man who spent decades using an iron lung after contracting polio as a child died March 11, 2024, at the age of 78. Paul Alexander's longtime friend Daniel Spinks says Alexander died Monday at a Dallas hospital. Spinks called his friend one of the "bright stars of the world.” Friends of Alexander, who graduated from law school and had a career as an attorney, say he was a man who had a great joy for life. Alexander was a child when he began using an iron lung, a cylinder that encased his body as the air pressure in the chamber forced air in and out of his lungs. Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford stands near the NASA Motor Vessel Retriever during training Aug. 23, 1965, in the Gulf of Mexico. Stafford, who commanded a dress rehearsal flight for the 1969 moon landing and the first U.S.-Soviet space linkup, died March 18, 2024, at 93. New York Rangers' Chris Simon celebrates his second-period goal against the New York Islanders, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004, at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. Former NHL enforcer Chris Simon has died. He was 52. Simon died March 18, 2024, according to a spokesperson for the NHL Players' Association. M. Emmet Walsh arrives at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards, March 1, 2014, in Santa Monica, Calif. Walsh, the character actor who brought his unmistakable face and unsettling presence to films including “Blood Simple” and “Blade Runner,” died March 19, 2024, at age 88, his manager said Wednesday. "Babar" author Laurent de Brunhoff, who revived his father's popular picture book series about an elephant-king, has died at 98 after being in hospice care for two weeks. De Brunhoff was a Paris native who moved to the U.S. in the 1980s. He died March 22, 2024, at his home in Key West, Florida. Just 12 years old when his father, Jean de Brunhoff, died of tuberculosis, Laurent drew upon his own gifts as a painter and storyteller and as an adult released dozens of books about the elephant who reigns over Celesteville, among them "Babar at the Circus" and "Babar's Yoga for Elephants." Longtime Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos has died at the age of 94. His family announced in a statement that Angelos, who had been ill for several years, died March 23, 2024. Angelos was owner of an Orioles team that endured long losing stretches and shrewd proprietor of a law firm that won high-profile cases against industry titans such as tobacco giant Philip Morris. Angelos’ death came as his son, John, was in the process of selling the Orioles to a group headed by Carlyle Group Inc. co-founder David Rubenstein. Peter Angelos purchased the team for $173 million in 1993, at the time the highest for a sports franchise. His public role diminished significantly in his final years. Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore, left, and his running mate, vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, wave to supporters Oct. 25, 2000, at a campaign rally in Jackson, Tenn. Lieberman died March 27, 2024. He was 82 and died Wednesday of complications from a fall. Lieberman nearly won the vice presidency on Democrat Al Gore's ticket in the disputed 2000 White House race. Eight years later, he came close to joining the GOP ticket as John McCain’s running mate. The Democrat-turned-independent stepped down from the Senate in January 2013 after 24 years. His independent streak often irked Senate Democrats he aligned with. Yet his support for gay rights, civil rights, abortion rights and environmental causes at times won him the praise of many liberals over the years. Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots,” died March 28, 2024. He was 87. Gossett always thought of his early career as a reverse Cinderella story, with success finding him from an early age and propelling him forward, toward his Academy Award for “An Officer and a Gentleman.” He also was a star on Broadway, replacing Billy Daniels in “Golden Boy” with Sammy Davis Jr. in 1964 and recently played an obstinate patriarch in the 2023 remake of “The Color Purple.” Former cast members of SCTV, from left, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, foreground, Harold Ramis, Eugene Levy and Martin Short, pose at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival on March 6, 1999, in Aspen, Colo. Flaherty, a founding member of the Canadian sketch series “SCTV,” died Monday, April 1, 2024 at age 82. John Sinclair talks at the John Sinclair Foundation Café and Coffeeshop, Dec. 26, 2018, in Detroit. Sinclair, a poet, music producer and counterculture figure whose lengthy prison sentence after a series of small-time pot busts inspired a John Lennon song and a star-studded 1971 concert to free him, has died at age 82. Sinclair died Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Detroit Receiving Hospital of congestive heart failure following an illness, his publicist Matt Lee said. Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, right, tips his cap to fans as majority owner John Henry holds the 2013 World Series championship trophy during a parade in celebration of the baseball team's win, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, in Boston. Larry Lucchino, the force behind baseball’s retro ballpark revolution and the transformation of the Boston Red Sox from cursed losers to World Series champions, has died. He was 78. Lucchino had suffered from cancer. The Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, his last project in a career that also included three major league baseball franchises and one in the NFL, confirmed his death on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Playwright Christopher Durang appears on stage with producers to accept the award for best play for "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" at the 67th Annual Tony Awards, on June 9, 2013 in New York. Also on stage are actors, background from left, Shalita Grant, Kristine Nielsen and Billy Magnussen. Durang died Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at his home in Pipersville, Pennsylvania, of complications from logopenic primary progressive aphasia. He was 75. In this Oct. 16, 1969 file photo, New York Mets catcher Jerry Grote, right, embraces pitcher Jerry Koosman as Ed Charles, left, joins the celebration after the Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the Game 5 to win the baseball World Series at New York's Shea Stadium. Grote, the catcher who helped transform the New York Mets from a perennial loser into the 1969 World Series champion, died Sunday, April 7, 2024. He was 81. In this July 8, 2003 photo, Lori, left, and George Schappell, conjoined twins, are photographed in their Reading, Pa., apartment. Lori and George Schappell, who pursued separate careers, interests and relationships during lives that defied medical expectations, died April 7, 2024, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. They were 62. The University of Edinburgh says Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed the existence of a sub-atomic particle that came to be known as the Higgs boson, died April 8, 2024, at 94. Higgs predicted the existence of the particle in 1964. But it would be almost 50 years before the its existence could be confirmed at a particle collider in Switzerland called the Large Hadron Collider. Higgs’ work helps scientists understand of the most fundamental riddles of the universe: how the Big Bang created something out of nothing 13.7 billion years ago. Higgs won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work, alongside Francois Englert of Belgium. A retired U.S. Army colonel who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Korean War died April 8, 2024, at age 97. A funeral home says that Ralph Puckett Jr. died Monday at his home in Columbus, Georgia. President Joe Biden presented Puckett with the Medal of Honor in 2021, more than seven decades after Puckett was seriously wounded leading an outnumbered company of Army Rangers in battle. Puckett refused a medical discharge and served as an Army officer for another 20 years before retiring in 1971. Puckett received the U.S. military's highest honor from President Joe Biden on May 21, 2021, following a policy change that lifted a requirement for medals to be given within five years of a valorous act. O.J. Simpson, left, grimaces June 15, 1995, in a Los Angeles courtroom as he famously tries on one of the leather gloves prosecutors say he wore the night his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered. Simpson, t he decorated football star who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend but wound up in prison years later in an unrelated case, died April 10, 2024. He was 76. His family made an announcement Thursday in a statement on Simpson's X account. Simpson said last year that he was battling prostate cancer. Simpson’s gridiron legacy was forever overshadowed by the 1994 knife slayings of Brown Simpson and Goldman. A criminal court jury found him not guilty of murder, but a separate civil trial jury found him liable. Simpson's nine-year prison stint in Nevada was for the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers. Francis Coppola and wife, Eleanor, pose July 16, 1991, in Los Angeles. Eleanor Coppola, who documented the making of some of her husband Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic films, including the infamously tortured production of “Apocalypse Now,” and who raised a family of filmmakers, has died. She was 87. Coppola died April 12, 2024, at home in Rutherford, California, her family announced in a statement. Eleanor, who grew in Orange County, California, met Francis while working as an assistant art director on his directorial debut, the Roger Corman-produced 1963 horror film “Dementia 13.” Their first-born, Gian-Carlo, quickly became a regular presence in his father’s films, as did their subsequent children, Roman, and Sofia. After acting in their father’s films and growing up on sets, all would go into the movies. Robert MacNeil, seen in February 1978, who created the even-handed, no-frills PBS newscast “The MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour” in the 1970s and co-anchored the show for with his late partner, Jim Lehrer, for two decades, died April 12, 2024, at age 93. Artist Faith Ringgold poses for a portrait in front of a painted self-portrait during a press preview of her exhibition, "American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold's Paintings of the 1960s" at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, June 19, 2013. Ringgold, an award-winning author and artist who broke down barriers for Black female artists and became famous for her richly colored and detailed quilts combining painting, textiles and storytelling, died Friday, April 12, 2024, at her home in Englewood, N.J. She was 93. Alabama coach Bear Bryant, left, talks with his former star quarterback Steve Sloan, right, after practice in Miami for the Orange Bowl game New Years' night against Nebraska, Dec. 29, 1968. Former college coach and administrator Sloan, who played quarterback and served as athletic director at Alabama. has passed away. He was 79. Sloan died Sunday, April 14, 2024, after three months of memory care at Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, according to an obituary from former Alabama sports information director Wayne Atcheson. Oakland A's pitcher Ken Holtzman poses for a photo in March 1975. Holtzman, who pitched two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and helped the Oakland Athletics win three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, died April 14, 2024. He finished with a career record of 174-150 over 15 season with four teams and was the winningest Jewish pitcher in baseball history. Carl Erskine, center, pictured with teammate Duke Snider, left, and manager Charley Dressen in 1952, after beating the Yankees 6-5 in Game 5 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium in New York, Oct. 5, 1952. Erskine, who pitched two no-hitters for the Brooklyn Dodgers and was a 20-game winner in 1953 when he struck out a then-record 14 in the World Series, has died. Among the last survivors from the celebrated Brooklyn teams of the 1950s, Erskine spent his entire major league career with the Dodgers. He helped them win five National League pennants from 1948-59. Erskine won Game 3 of the 1953 World Series, beating the Yankees 3-2. He appeared in five World Series, with the Dodgers beating the Yankees in 1955 for their only championship in Brooklyn. Erksine died April 16 in his hometown of Anderson, Indiana, according to a hospital official. He was 97. St. Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog lets umpire John Shulock, right, know how he feels about Shulock's call on the tag attempt on Kansas City Royals Jim Sundberg by Cardinals catcher Tom Nieto, second from left, in the second inning of Game 5 of the 1985 World Series in St. Louis. Herzog, the gruff and ingenious Hall of Fame manager who guided the St. Louis Cardinals to three pennants and a World Series title and perfected an intricate, nail-biting strategy known as “Whiteyball,” has died. Herzog, affectionately nicknamed “The White Rat,” was a manager for 18 seasons, compiling an overall record of 1,281 wins and 1,125 losses. He was named Manager of the Year in 1985. Under Herzog, the Cardinals won pennants in 1982, 1985 and 1987 and won the World Series in 1982, when they edged the Milwaukee Brewers in seven games. He died April 15, 2024, and was 92. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., gestures as he answers questions regarding the ongoing security hearing on Capitol Hill, June 18, 2002, in Washington. Graham, who chaired the Intelligence Committee following the 2001 terrorist attacks and opposed the Iraq invasion, died April 16, 2024. He was 87. His family announced the death Tuesday in a statement posted on X by his daughter Gwen Graham. Graham served three terms in the Senate and two terms as Florida's governor. He made an unsuccessful bid for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, emphasizing his opposition to the Iraq invasion. But that bid was delayed by heart surgery in January 2003, and he was never able to gain enough traction with voters to catch up. He didn’t seek re-election in 2004 and was replaced by Republican Mel Martinez. Guitar legend and Allman Brothers Band co-founder Dickey Betts died April 18, 2024, at age 80. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer wrote the band's biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man.” Manager David Spero told The Associated Press that Betts died early Thursday at his home in Osprey, Florida. He says Betts had been battling cancer for more than a year and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Betts shared lead guitar duties with Duane Allman in the original Allman Brothers Band to help give the group its distinctive sound and create a new genre: Southern rock. Acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Kid Rock were influenced by the Allmans’ music, which combined blues, country, R&B and jazz with ’60s rock. Contemporary Christian singer Mandisa, who appeared on “American Idol” and won a Grammy for her 2013 album “Overcomer,” died April 18, 2024. She was 47. Mandisa gained stardom after finishing ninth on “American Idol” in 2006. In 2014, she won a Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album for “Overcomer,” her fifth album. She spoke openly about her struggles with depression, releasing a memoir that detailed her experiences with severe depression, weight-related challenges, the coronavirus pandemic and her faith. David Pryor, a former Arkansas governor and U.S. senator who was one of the state’s most beloved and active political figures, died April 20, 2024, at the age of 89. His son, former two-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, says the Democrat died Saturday of natural causes in Little Rock surrounded by family. David Pryor was considered one of the Democratic party’s giants in Arkansas and remained active in public life after he left office, including serving on the University of Arkansas’s Board of Trustees. Roman Gabriel was known for his big size and big arm. He was the first Filipino-American quarterback in the NFL. And he still holds the Los Angeles Rams record for touchdown passes. Gabriel died April 20, 2024, at age 83. His son posted the news on social media. He says Gabriel died at home of natural causes. Gabriel starred at North Carolina State and was the No. 2 pick by the Rams in the 1962 draft. The Oakland Raider of the rival AFL made him the No. 1 pick. Gabriel signed with the Rams and later played with the Philadelphia Eagles. Andrew Davis, an acclaimed British conductor who was music director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and orchestras on three continents, died April 20, 2024. He was 80. Davis died Saturday at Rusk Institute in Chicago from leukemia. That is according to his manager, Jonathan Brill of Opus 3 Artists. Davis had been managing the disease for 1 1/2 to 2 years but it became acute shortly after his 80th birthday on Feb. 2. Davis was music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1975-88, Britain’s Glyndebourne Festival from 1988-2000, chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1989-2000, then was music director of the Lyric Opera from 2000-21. Former hostage Terry Anderson waves to the crowd as he rides in a parade in Lorain, Ohio, June 22, 1992. Anderson, the globe-trotting Associated Press correspondent who became one of America’s longest-held hostages, died April 21, 2024. Anderson was snatched from a street in war-torn Lebanon in 1985 and held for nearly seven years. Anderson, who was tortured and chained to a wall, wrote about his experiences in the best-selling memoir, “Den of Lions.” After returning to the United States in 1991, Anderson gave public speeches, taught journalism and, at various times, operated a blues bar, Cajun restaurant, horse ranch and gourmet restaurant. He also struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. British army veteran Bill Gladden, who survived a glider landing on D-Day and a bullet that tore through his ankle a few days later, wanted to return to France for the 80th anniversary of the invasion so he could honor the men who didn’t come home. It was not to be. Gladden, one of the dwindling number of veterans who took part in the landings that kicked off the campaign to liberate Western Europe from the Nazis during World War II, died April 24, his family said. He was 100. With fewer and fewer veterans taking part each year, the ceremony may be one of the last big events marking the assault that began on June 6, 1944. Duane Eddy, a pioneering guitar hero whose reverberating electric sound on instrumentals such as “Rebel Rouser,” “Forty Miles of Bad Road" and “Cannonball” helped put the twang in early rock ‘n’ roll and influenced George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and countless other musicians, died April 30 at age 86. With his raucous rhythms, and backing hollers and hand claps, Eddy sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and mastered a distinctive sound based on the premise that a guitar’s bass strings sounded better on tape than the high ones. Author Paul Auster has died at age 77. Auster was a prolific, prize-winning man of letters and filmmaker known for such inventive narratives and meta-narratives as “The New York Trilogy” and “4 3 2 1." Auster’s death on April 30 was confirmed by his literary representatives. Auster completed more than 30 books, translated into dozens of languages. He never achieved major commercial success in the U.S., but he was widely admired overseas for his cosmopolitan worldview and erudite and introspective style. Auster’s novels were a mix of history, politics, genre experiments, existential quests and self-conscious references to writers and writing. Co-pilots Dick Rutan, right, and Jeana Yeager, no relationship to test pilot Chuck Yeager, pose for a photo after a test flight over the Mojave Desert, Dec. 19, 1985. Rutan, a decorated Vietnam War pilot, who along with copilot Yeager completed one of the greatest milestones in aviation history: the first round-the-world flight with no stops or refueling, died late Friday, May 3, 2024. He was 85. Music producer Steve Albini, seen in his Chicago studio in 2014, produced albums by Nirvana, the Pixies and PJ Harvey. Albini died at 61. Brian Fox, an engineer at Albini’s studio, Electrical Audio, says Albini died after a heart attack May 7. In addition to his work on canonized rock albums such as Nirvana‘s “In Utero,” the Pixies’ breakthrough “Surfer Rosa,” and PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me,” Albini was the frontman of the underground bands Big Black and Shellac. He dismissed the term “producer” and requested he be credited with “Recorded by Steve Albini." San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame football player Jimmy Johnson, left, is honored by owner Jed York before a 2011 game between against the St. Louis Rams in San Francisco. Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Jimmy Johnson, a three-time All-Pro and member of the All-Decade Team of the 1970s, has died. He was 86. Johnson's family told the Pro Football Hall of Fame that he died May 8. Johnson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994. He played his entire 16-year pro career with San Francisco. He played in 213 games, more than any other 49ers player at the time of his retirement. San Diego Padres third baseman Sean Burroughs fires a throw to first from his knees but is unable to get Los Angeles Dodgers' D. J. Houlton at first during the third inning of a baseball game June 22, 2005, in San Diego. Burroughs, a two-time Little League World Series champion who won an Olympic gold medal and went on to a major league career that was interrupted by substance abuse, has died. He was 43. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s online records said Burroughs died Thursday, May 9, 2024, with the cause of death deferred. Producer Roger Corman poses in his Los Angeles office, May 8, 2013. Corman, the Oscar-winning “King of the Bs” who helped turn out such low-budget classics as “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Attack of the Crab Monsters” and gave many of Hollywood's most famous actors and directors an early break, died Thursday, May 9, 2024. He was 98. A.J. Smith, a longtime NFL executive who was the winningest general manager in Chargers history, has died. He was 75. His son, Atlanta assistant general manager Kyle Smith, announced in a statement released by the Falcons that his father died May 12. Kyle Smith said his father had been battling prostate cancer for seven years. The Chargers won five division titles during Smith’s 10 seasons as GM. The franchise’s 98 wins, including the playoffs, were the sixth most in the league from 2003-12. Saxophone player David Sanborn performs during his concert at the Stravinski hall at the "Colours of Music night" during the 34th Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland on July 10, 2000. Sanborn, the Grammy-winning saxophonist who played lively solos on such hits as David Bowie's “Young Americans” and James Taylor's “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and enjoyed his own highly successful recording career as a leading performer of contemporary jazz, died Sunday, May 12, 2024, at age 78. Nobel laureate Alice Munro has died. The Canadian literary giant who became one of the world’s most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history’s most honored short story writers was 92. Munro achieved stature rare for an art form traditionally placed beneath the novel. She was the first lifelong Canadian to win the Nobel and the first recipient cited exclusively for short fiction. Munro was little known beyond Canada until her late 30s but became one of the few short story writers to enjoy ongoing commercial success. A spokesperson for publisher Penguin Random House Canada said Munro died May 13 at home in Port Hope, Ontario. Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in “9 to 5” and the nasty TV director in “Tootsie,” died May 16. He was 92. For two decades Coleman labored in movies and TV shows as a talented but largely unnoticed performer. That changed abruptly in 1976 when he was cast as the incorrigibly corrupt mayor of the hamlet of Fernwood in “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” a satirical soap opera. He won a Golden Globe for “The Slap Maxwell Story” and an Emmy Award for best supporting actor in Peter Levin’s 1987 small screen legal drama “Sworn to Silence.” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi listens to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, not in photo, during a joint news conference following their meeting at the Presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Jan. 24, 2024. Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others were found dead at the site of a helicopter crash site, state media reported Monday, May 20, 2024. Jim Otto, the Hall of Fame center known as Mr. Raider for his durability through a litany of injuries, died May 19. He was 86. The cause of death was not immediately known. Otto joined the Raiders for their inaugural season in the American Football League in 1960 and was a fixture on the team for the next 15 years. He never missed a game because of injuries and competed in 210 consecutive regular-season games and 308 straight total contests despite undergoing nine operations on his knees during his playing career. His right leg was amputated in 2007. Ivan F. Boesky, the flamboyant stock trader whose cooperation with the government cracked open one of the largest insider trading scandals on Wall Street, has died at the age of 87. A representative at the Marianne Boesky Gallery, owned by his daughter, confirmed his death. The son of a Detroit delicatessen owner, Boesky was once considered one of the richest and most influential risk-takers on Wall Street. He had parlayed $700,000 from his late mother-in-law’s estate into a fortune estimated at more than $200 million. Once implicated in insider trading, Boesky cooperated with a brash young U.S. attorney named Rudolph Giuliani, uncovering a scandal that blemished some of the most respected U.S. investment brokerages. Boesky died May 20. Jan. A.P. Kaczmarek poses with the Oscar for best original score for his work on "Finding Neverland" during the 77th Academy Awards, Feb. 27, 2005, in Los Angeles. Polish composer Kaczmarek, who won a 2005 Oscar for the movie “Finding Neverland,” has died on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at age 71. Kaczmarek’s death was announced by Poland’s Music Foundation. Train bassist and founding member Charlie Colin has died at 58. Colin’s sister confirmed the musician's death Wednesday to The Associated Press. Variety reported Colin slipped and fell in the shower while house-sitting for a friend in Brussels. Train formed in San Francisco in the early ’90s. Colin played on Train's first three records, 1998’s self-titled album, 2001’s “Drops of Jupiter” and 2003’s “My Private Nation.” The track “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” hit No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned two Grammys. Colin left the band in 2003. He also worked with the Newport Beach Film Festival. Colin died May 22. Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, an Oscar nominee whose most famous works skewered America’s food industry and who notably ate only at McDonald’s for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet, has died of cancer. He was 53. Spurlock made a splash in 2004 with his groundbreaking film “Super Size Me,” and returned in 2019 with “Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!” — a sober look at an industry that processes 9 billion animals a year in America. Spurlock was a gonzo-like filmmaker who leaned into the bizarre and ridiculous. His stylistic touches included zippy graphics and amusing music. Spurlock died May 23. Richard M. Sherman, one half of the prolific, award-winning pair of brothers who helped form millions of childhoods by penning classic Disney tunes, has died. He was 95. Sherman, along with his late brother Robert, wrote hundreds of songs together, including songs for “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” — as well as the most-played tune on Earth, “It’s a Small World (After All).” The Walt Disney Co. announced that Sherman died Saturday due to age-related illness. The brothers won two Academy Awards for Walt Disney’s 1964 smash “Mary Poppins.” Robert Sherman died May 25 in London in 2012. Basketball Hall of Fame legend Bill Walton laughs during a practice session for the NBA All-Star basketball game in Cleveland, Feb. 19, 2022. Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Basketball Hall of Famer and one of the biggest stars of basketball broadcasting, died Monday, May 27, 2024, the league announced on behalf of his family. He was 71. “The Godfather” producer Albert S. Ruddy died May 25 at 94. The Canadian-born producer and writer won Oscars for “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby,” developed the raucous prison-sports comedy “The Longest Yard” and helped create the hit sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes." A spokesperson says Ruddy died Saturday at the UCLA Medical Center. Ruddy produced more than 30 movies and was on hand for the very top and the very bottom. “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby” were box office hits and winners of best picture Oscars. But Ruddy also helped give us “Cannonball Run II” and “Megaforce,” nominees for Golden Raspberry awards for worst movie of the year. Larry Allen, one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL during a 12-year career spent mostly with the Dallas Cowboys, died June 2. He was 52. The Cowboys say Allen died suddenly on Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico. Allen was named an All-Pro six consecutive years from 1996-2001 and was inducted into the Pro Football of Hall of Fame in 2013. He said few words but let his blocking do the talking. Allen once bench-pressed 700 pounds and had the speed to chase down opposing running backs. Bob Hope and Janis Paige hug during the annual Christmas show in Saigon, Vietnam, Dec. 25, 1964. Paige, a popular actor in Hollywood and in Broadway musicals and comedies who danced with Fred Astaire, toured with Bob Hope and continued to perform into her 80s, died Sunday, June 2, 2024, of natural causes at her Los Angeles home, longtime friend Stuart Lampert said Monday, June 3. Parnelli Jones, the 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner, died June 4 at Torrance Memorial Medical Center after a battle with Parkinson’s disease, his son said. Jones was 90. At the time of his death, Jones was the oldest living winner of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Rufus Parnell Jones was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, in 1933 but moved to Torrance as a young child and never left. It was there that he became “Parnelli” because his given name of Rufus was too well known for him to compete without locals knowing that he wasn’t old enough to race. Boston Celtics' John Havlicek (17) is defended by Philadelphia 76ers' Chet Walker (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball playoff game April 14, 1968, in Boston. Walker, a seven-time All-Star forward who helped Wilt Chamberlain and the 76ers win the 1967 NBA title, died June 8. He was 84. The National Basketball Players Association confirmed Walker's death, according to NBA.com . The 76ers, Chicago Bulls and National Basketball Retired Players Association also extended their condolences on social media on Saturday, June 8, 2024. The Rev. James Lawson Jr. speaks Sept. 17, 2015, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Lawson Jr., an apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction, has died, his family said Monday. He was 95. His family said Lawson died on Sunday after a short illness in Los Angeles, where he spent decades working as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor. Lawson was a close adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who called him “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.” Lawson met King in 1957, after spending three years in India soaking up knowledge about Mohandas K. Gandhi’s independence movement. King would travel to India himself two years later, but at the time, he had only read about Gandhi in books. Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Jerry West, representing the 1960 USA Olympic Team, is seen Aug. 13, 2010, during the enshrinement news conference at the Hall of Fame Museum in Springfield, Mass. Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive, and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died June 12, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. He was 86. West, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his late-game exploits as a player, was an NBA champion who went into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. He will be enshrined for a third time later this year as a contributor, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called West “one of the greatest executives in sports history.” Actor and director Ron Simons, seen Jan. 23, 2011, during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, died June 12. Simons turned into a formidable screen and stage producer, winning four Tony Awards and having several films selected at the Sundance Film Festival. He won Tonys for producing “Porgy and Bess,” “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” and “Jitney.” He also co-produced “Hughie,” with Forest Whitaker, “The Gin Game,” starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones, “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations,” an all-Black production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” the revival of "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf" and the original work “Thoughts of a Colored Man.” He was in the films “27 Dresses” and “Mystery Team,” as well as on the small screen in “The Resident,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “Law & Order: SVU.” Bob Schul of West Milton, Ohio, hits the tape Oct. 18, 1964, to win the 5,000 meter run at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Schul, the only American distance runner to win the 5,000 meters at the Olympics, died June 16. He was 86. His death was announced by Miami University in Ohio , where Schul shined on the track and was inducted into the school’s hall of fame in 1973. Schul predicted gold leading into the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and followed through with his promise. On a rainy day in Japan, he finished the final lap in a blistering 54.8 seconds to sprint to the win. His white shorts were covered in mud at the finish. He was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1991. He also helped write a book called “In the Long Run.” San Francisco Giants superstar Willie Mays poses for a photo during baseball spring training in 1972. Mays, the electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players, died June 18. He was 93. The center fielder, who began his professional career in the Negro Leagues in 1948, had been baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer. He was voted into the Hall in 1979, his first year of eligibility, and in 1999 followed only Babe Ruth on The Sporting News’ list of the game’s top stars. The Giants retired his uniform number, 24, and set their AT&T Park in San Francisco on Willie Mays Plaza. Mays died two days before a game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals to honor the Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field in Birmingham , Alabama. Over 23 major league seasons, virtually all with the New York/San Francisco Giants but also including one in the Negro Leagues, Mays batted .301, hit 660 home runs, totaled 3,293 hits, scored more than 2,000 runs and won 12 Gold Gloves. He was Rookie of the Year in 1951, twice was named the Most Valuable Player and finished in the top 10 for the MVP 10 other times. His lightning sprint and over-the-shoulder grab of an apparent extra base hit in the 1954 World Series remains the most celebrated defensive play in baseball history. For millions in the 1950s and ’60s and after, the smiling ballplayer with the friendly, high-pitched voice was a signature athlete and showman during an era when baseball was still the signature pastime. Awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015, Mays left his fans with countless memories. But a single feat served to capture his magic — one so untoppable it was simply called “The Catch.” Actor Donald Sutherland appears Oct. 13, 2017, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sutherland, the Canadian actor whose wry, arrestingly off-kilter screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games,” died June 20. He was 88. Kiefer Sutherland said on X he believed his father was one of the most important actors in the history of film: “Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that.” The tall and gaunt Sutherland, who flashed a grin that could be sweet or diabolical, was known for offbeat characters like Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman's "M.A.S.H.," the hippie tank commander in "Kelly's Heroes" and the stoned professor in "Animal House." Before transitioning into a long career as a respected character actor, Sutherland epitomized the unpredictable, antiestablishment cinema of the 1970s. He never stopped working, appearing in nearly 200 films and series. Over the decades, Sutherland showed his range in more buttoned-down — but still eccentric — roles in Robert Redford's "Ordinary People" and Oliver Stone's "JFK." More, recently, he starred in the “Hunger Games” films. A memoir, “Made Up, But Still True,” is due out in November. Actor Bill Cobbs, a cast member in "Get Low," arrives July 27, 2010, at the premiere of the film in Beverly Hills, Calif. Cobbs, the veteran character actor who became a ubiquitous and sage screen presence as an older man, died June 25. He was 90. A Cleveland native, Cobbs acted in such films as “The Hudsucker Proxy,” “The Bodyguard” and “Night at the Museum.” He made his first big-screen appearance in a fleeting role in 1974's “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three." He became a lifelong actor with some 200 film and TV credits. The lion share of those came in his 50s, 60s, and 70s, as filmmakers and TV producers turned to him again and again to imbue small but pivotal parts with a wizened and worn soulfulness. Cobbs appeared on television shows including “The Sopranos," “The West Wing,” “Sesame Street” and “Good Times.” He was Whitney Houston's manager in “The Bodyguard” (1992), the mystical clock man of the Coen brothers' “The Hudsucker Proxy” (1994) and the doctor of John Sayles' “Sunshine State” (2002). He played the coach in “Air Bud” (1997), the security guard in “Night at the Museum” (2006) and the father on “The Gregory Hines Show." Cobbs rarely got the kinds of major parts that stand out and win awards. Instead, Cobbs was a familiar and memorable everyman who left an impression on audiences, regardless of screen time. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding limited performance in a daytime program for the series “Dino Dana” in 2020. Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman speaks with the media Nov. 7, 2009, at his campaign headquarters in Austin, Texas. The singer, songwriter, satirist and novelist, who led the alt-country band Texas Jewboys, toured with Bob Dylan, sang with Willie Nelson, and dabbled in politics with campaigns for Texas governor and other statewide offices, died June 27. He was 79 and had suffered from Parkinson's disease. Often called “The Kinkster" and sporting sideburns, a thick mustache and cowboy hat, Friedman earned a cult following and reputation as a provocateur throughout his career across musical and literary genres. In the 1970s, his satirical country band Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys wrote songs with titles such as “They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in Bed.” Friedman joined part of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1976. By the 1980s, Friedman was writing crime novels that often included a version of himself, and he wrote a column for Texas Monthly magazine in the 2000s. Friedman's run at politics brought his brand of irreverence to the serious world of public policy. In 2006, Friedman ran for governor as an independent in a five-way race that included incumbent Republican Rick Perry. Friedman launched his campaign against the backdrop of the Alamo. Martin Mull participates in "The Cool Kids" panel during the Fox Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour on Aug. 2, 2018, at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Mull, whose droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including “Roseanne” and “Arrested Development,” died June 28. He was 80. Mull, who was also a guitarist and painter, came to national fame with a recurring role on the Norman Lear-created satirical soap opera “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” and the starring role in its spinoff, “Fernwood Tonight." His first foray into show business was as a songwriter, penning the 1970 semi-hit “A Girl Named Johnny Cash” for singer Jane Morgan. He would combine music and comedy in an act that he brought to hip Hollywood clubs in the 1970s. Mull often played slightly sleazy, somewhat slimy and often smarmy characters as he did as Teri Garr's boss and Michael Keaton's foe in 1983's “Mr. Mom.” He played Colonel Mustard in the 1985 movie adaptation of the board game “Clue,” which, like many things Mull appeared in, has become a cult classic. The 1980s also brought what many thought was his best work, “A History of White People in America,” a mockumentary that first aired on Cinemax. Mull co-created the show and starred as a “60 Minutes” style investigative reporter investigating all things milquetoast and mundane. Willard was again a co-star. In the 1990s he was best known for his recurring role on several seasons on “Roseanne,” in which he played a warmer, less sleazy boss to the title character, an openly gay man whose partner was played by Willard, who died in 2020 . Mull would later play private eye Gene Parmesan on “Arrested Development,” a cult-classic character on a cult-classic show, and would be nominated for an Emmy, his first, in 2016 for a guest run on “Veep.” Screenwriter Robert Towne poses at The Regency Hotel, March 7, 2006, in New York. Towne, the Oscar-winning screenplay writer of "Shampoo," "The Last Detail" and other acclaimed films whose work on "Chinatown" became a model of the art form and helped define the jaded allure of his native Los Angeles, died Monday, July 1, 2024, surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles, said publicist Carri McClure. She declined to comment on any cause of death. Vic Seixas of the United States backhands a volley from Denmark's Jurgen Ulrich in the first round of men's singles match at Wimbledon, England, June 27, 1967. Vic Seixas, a Wimbledon winner and tennis Hall of Famer who was the oldest living Grand Slam champion, has died July 5 at the age of 100. The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced Seixas’ death on Saturday July 6, 2024, based on confirmation from his daughter Tori. In this June 30, 2020, file photo, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., speaks to reporters following a GOP policy meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Former Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma died July 9. He was 89. The family says in a statement that the Republican had a stroke during the July Fourth holiday and died Tuesday morning. Inhofe was a powerful fixture in state politics for decades. He doubted that climate change was caused by human activity, calling the theory “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” As Oklahoma’s senior U.S. senator, he was a staunch supporter of the state’s military installations. He was elected to a fifth Senate term in 2020 and stepped down in early 2023. The Oak Ridge Boys, from left, Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban, Duane Allen and William Lee Golden hold their awards for Top Vocal Group and Best Album of the Year for "Ya'll Come Back Saloon", during the 14th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., May 3, 1979. Bonsall died on July 9, 2024, from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Hendersonville, Tenn. He was 76. A Philadelphia native and resident of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Bonsall joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1973, which originally formed in the 1940s. He saw the band through its golden period in the '80s and beyond, which included their signature 1981 song “Elvira.” The hit marked a massive crossover moment for the group, reaching No. 1 on the country chart and No. 5 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100. The group is also known for such hits as 1982’s “Bobbie Sue." Shelley Duvall poses for photographers at the 30th Cannes Film Festival in France, May 27, 1977. Duvall, whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick's “The Shining,” died July 11. She was 75. Dr. Ruth Westheimer holds a copy of her book "Sex for Dummies" at the International Frankfurt Book Fair 'Frankfurter Buchmesse' in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007. Westheimer, the sex therapist who became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics, died on July 12, 2024. She was 96. Richard Simmons sits for a portrait in Los Angeles, June 23, 1982. Simmons, a fitness guru who urged the overweight to exercise and eat better, died July 13 at the age of 76. Simmons was a court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better. Simmons was a former 268-pound teen who shared his hard-won weight loss tips as the host of the Emmy-winning daytime “Richard Simmons Show" and the “Sweatin' to the Oldies” line of exercise videos, which became a cultural phenomenon. Former NFL receiver Jacoby Jones died July 14 at age 40. Jones' 108-yard kickoff return in 2013 remains the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history. The Houston Texans were Jones’ team for the first five seasons of his career. They announced his death on Sunday. In a statement released by the NFL Players Association, his family said he died at his home in New Orleans. A cause of death was not given. Jones played from 2007-15 for the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers. He made several huge plays for the Ravens during their most recent Super Bowl title season, including that kick return. The "Beverly Hills, 90210" star whose life and career were roiled by tabloid stories, Shannen Doherty died July 13 at 53. Doherty's publicist said the actor died Saturday following years with breast cancer. Catapulted to fame as Brenda in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” she worked in big-screen films including "Mallrats" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and in TV movies including "A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story," in which she played the "Gone with the Wind" author. Doherty co-starred with Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano in the series “Charmed” from 1998-2001; appeared in the “90210” sequel series seven years later and competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010. Actor James Sikking poses for a photograph at the Los Angeles gala celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Organization for Women, Dec. 1, 1986. Sikking, who starred as a hardened police lieutenant on “Hill Street Blues” and as the titular character's kindhearted dad on “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” died July 13 of complications from dementia, his publicist Cynthia Snyder said in a statement. He was 90. Pat Williams chats with media before the 2004 NBA draft in Orlando, Fla. Williams, a co-founder of the Orlando Magic and someone who spent more than a half-century working within the NBA, died July 17 from complications related to viral pneumonia. The team announced the death Wednesday. Williams was 84. He started his NBA career as business manager of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1968, then had stints as general manager of the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks and the 76ers — helping that franchise win a title in 1983. Williams was later involved in starting the process of bringing an NBA team to Orlando. The league’s board of governors granted an expansion franchise in 1987, and the team began play in 1989. Lou Dobbs speaks Feb. 24, 2017, at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Md. Dobbs, the conservative political pundit and veteran cable TV host who was a founding anchor for CNN and later was a nightly presence on Fox Business Network for more than a decade, died July 18. He was 78. His death was announced in a post on his official X account, which called him a “fighter till the very end – fighting for what mattered to him the most, God, his family and the country.” He hosted “Lou Dobbs Tonight” on Fox from 2011 to 2021, following two separate stints at CNN. No cause of death was given. Bob Newhart, center, poses with members of the cast and crew of the "Bob Newhart Show," from top left, Marcia Wallace, Bill Daily, Jack Riley, and, Suzanne Pleshette, foreground left, and Dick Martin at TV Land's 35th anniversary tribute to "The Bob Newhart Show" on Sept. 5, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Newhart has died at age 94. Jerry Digney, Newhart’s publicist, says the actor died July 18 in Los Angeles after a series of short illnesses. The accountant-turned-comedian gained fame with a smash album and became one of the most popular TV stars of his time. Newhart was a Chicago psychologist in “The Bob Newhart Show” in the 1970s and a Vermont innkeeper on “Newhart” in the 1980s. Both shows featured a low-key Newhart surrounded by eccentric characters. The second had a twist ending in its final show — the whole series was revealed to have been a dream by the psychologist he played in the other show. Cheng Pei-pei, a Chinese-born martial arts film actor who starred in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” died July 17 at age 78. Her family says Cheng, who had been diagnosed with a rare illness with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, passed away Wednesday at home surrounded by her loved ones. The Shanghai-born film star became a household name in Hong Kong, once dubbed the Hollywood of the Far East, for her performances in martial arts movies in the 1960s. She played Jade Fox, who uses poisoned needles, in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” which was released in 2000, grossed $128 million in North America and won four Oscars. Abdul “Duke” Fakir holds his life time achievement award backstage at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. The last surviving original member of the Four Tops died July 22. Abdul “Duke” Fakir was 88. He was a charter member of the Motown group along with lead singer Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton. Between 1964 and 1967, the Tops had 11 top 20 hits and two No. 1′s: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and the operatic classic “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” Other songs, often stories of romantic pain and longing, included “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” “Bernadette” and “Just Ask the Lonely.” Sculptress Elizabeth Catlett, left, then-Washington D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon, center, and then-curator, division of community life, Smithsonian institution Bernice Johnson Reagon chat during the reception at the Candace awards on June 25, 1991 in New York. Reagon, a musician and scholar who used her rich, powerful contralto voice in the service of the American Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggles around the world, died on July 16, 2024, according to her daughter's social media post. She was 81. John Mayall, the British blues musician whose influential band the Bluesbreakers was a training ground for Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and many other superstars, died July 22. He was 90. He is credited with helping develop the English take on urban, Chicago-style rhythm and blues that played an important role in the blues revival of the late 1960s. A statement on Mayall's official Instagram page says he died Monday at his home in California. Though Mayall never approached the fame of some of his illustrious alumni, he was still performing in his late 80s, pounding out his version of Chicago blues. Erica Ash, an actor and comedian skilled in sketch comedy who starred in the parody series “Mad TV” and “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” has died. She was 46. Her publicist and a statement by her mother, Diann, says Ash died July 28 in Los Angeles of cancer. Ash impersonated Michelle Obama and Condoleeza Rice on “Mad TV,” a Fox sketch series, and was a key performer on the Rosie O’Donnell-created series “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” Her other credits included “Scary Movie V,” “Uncle Drew” and the LeBron James-produced basketball dramedy “Survivor’s Remorse.” On the BET series “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” Ash played the ex-wife of Kevin Hart’s character. Jack Russell, the lead singer of the bluesy '80s metal band Great White whose hits included “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me” and was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island, died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. He was 63. Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, a Hall of Fame golfer whose antics on the greens and inspiring life story made him among the sport’s most popular players during a long professional career, died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. Susan Wojcicki, the former YouTube chief executive officer and longtime Google executive, died Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, after suffering with non small cell lung cancer for the past two years. She was 56. Frank Selvy, an All-America guard at Furman who scored an NCAA Division I-record 100 points in a game and later played nine NBA seasons, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. He was 91. Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, from complications with dementia. He was 88. Gena Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and who later charmed audiences in her son's tear-jerker “The Notebook,” died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. She was 94. Peter Marshall, the actor and singer turned game show host who played straight man to the stars for 16 years on “The Hollywood Squares,” died. Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 He was 98. Alain Delon, the internationally acclaimed French actor who embodied both the bad guy and the policeman and made hearts throb around the world, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. He was 88. Phil Donahue, whose pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre that brought success to Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and many others, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, after a long illness. He was 88. Al Attles, a Hall of Famer who coached the 1975 NBA champion Warriors and spent more than six decades with the organization as a player, general manager and most recently team ambassador, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. He was 87. John Amos, who starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots,” died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. He was 84. James Darren, a teen idol who helped ignite the 1960s surfing craze as a charismatic beach boy paired off with Sandra Dee in the hit film “Gidget,” died Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. He was 88. James Earl Jones, who overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen has died. He was 93. His agent, Barry McPherson, confirmed Jones died Sept. 9 at home. Jones was a pioneering actor who eventually lent his deep, commanding voice to CNN, “The Lion King” and Darth Vader. Working deep into his 80s, he won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tony Awards, a Grammy, the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors and was given an honorary Oscar and a special Tony for lifetime achievement. In 2022, a Broadway theater was renamed in his honor. Frankie Beverly, who with his band Maze inspired generations of fans with his smooth, soulful voice and lasting anthems including “Before I Let Go,” has died. He was 77. His family said in a post on the band’s website and social media accounts that Beverly died Sept. 10. In the post, which asked for privacy, the family said “he lived his life with a pure soul, as one would say, and for us, no one did it better.” The post did not say his cause of death or where he died. Beverly, whose songs include “Joy and Pain,” “Love is the Key,” and “Southern Girl,” finished his farewell “I Wanna Thank You Tour” in his hometown of Philadelphia in July. Joe Schmidt, the Hall of Fame linebacker who helped the Detroit Lions win NFL championships in 1953 and 1957 and later coached the team, has died. He was 92. The Lions said family informed the team Schmidt died Sept. 11. A cause of death was not provided. One of pro football’s first great middle linebackers, Schmidt played his entire NFL career with the Lions from 1953-65. An eight-time All-Pro, he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and the college football version in 2000. Born in Pittsburgh, Schmidt played college football in his hometown at Pitt. Chad McQueen, an actor known for his performances in the “Karate Kid” movies and the son of the late actor and racer Steve McQueen, died Sep. 11. His lawyer confirmed his death at age 63. McQueen's family shared a statement on social media saying he lived a life “filled with love and dedication.” McQueen was a professional race car driver, like his father, and competed in the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona races. He is survived by his wife Jeanie and three children, Chase, Madison and Steven, who is an actor best known for “The Vampire Diaries.” Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5, died at age 70 on Sept. 15. Jackson was the third of nine children, including global superstars Michael and Janet. The Jackson 5 included brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. They signed with Berry Gordy’s Motown empire in the 1960s. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and produced several No. 1 hits in the 1970s, including “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.” John David “JD” Souther has died. He was a prolific songwriter and musician whose collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s. Souther joined in on some of the Eagles’ biggest hits, such as “Best of My Love,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight." The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee also collaborated with James Taylor, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and many more. His biggest hit as a solo artist was “You’re Only Lonely.” He was about to tour with Karla Bonoff. Souther died Sept. 17 at his home in New Mexico, at 78. In this photo, JD Souther and Alison Krauss attend the Songwriters Hall of Fame 44th annual induction and awards gala on Thursday, June 13, 2013 in New York. Sen. Dan Evans stands with his three sons, from left, Mark, Bruce and Dan Jr., after he won the election for Washington's senate seat in Seattle, Nov. 8, 1983. Evans, a former Washington state governor and a U.S. Senator, died Sept. 20. The popular Republican was 98. He served as governor from 1965 to 1977, and he was the keynote speaker at the 1968 National Republican Convention. In 1983, Evans was appointed to served out the term of Democratic Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson after he died in office. Evans opted not to stand for election in 1988, citing the “tediousness" of the Senate. He later served as a regent at the University of Washington, where the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance bears his name. Eugene “Mercury” Morris, who starred for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins as part of a star-studded backfield and helped the team win two Super Bowl titles, died Sept. 21. He was 77. The team on Sunday confirmed the death of Morris, a three-time Pro Bowl selection. In a statement, his family said his “talent and passion left an indelible mark on the sport.” Morris was the starting halfback and one of three go-to runners that Dolphins coach Don Shula utilized in Miami’s back-to-back title seasons of 1972 and 1973, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. Morris led the Dolphins in rushing touchdowns in both of those seasons. John Ashton, the veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. He was 76. Maggie Smith, who won an Oscar for 1969 film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and won new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, died Sept. 27 at 89. Smith's publicist announced the news Friday. She was frequently rated the preeminent British female performer of a generation that included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench. “Jean Brodie” brought her the Academy Award for best actress in 1969. Smith added a supporting actress Oscar for “California Suite” in 1978. Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. He was 88. Drake Hogestyn, the “Days of Our Lives” star who appeared on the show for 38 years, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. He was 70. Ron Ely, the tall, musclebound actor who played the title character in the 1960s NBC series “Tarzan,” died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, at age 86. Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, from brain cancer, the league announced. He was 58. Frank Fritz, left, part of a two-man team who drove around the U.S. looking for antiques and collectibles to buy and resell on the reality show “American Pickers,” died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was 60. He's shown here with co-host Mike Wolfe at the A+E Networks 2015 Upfront in New York on April 30, 2015. Pete Rose, baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was 83. Cissy Houston, the mother of Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in her New Jersey home. She was 91. Ethel Kennedy, the wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who raised their 11 children after he was assassinated and remained dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter, died on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, her family said. She was 96. Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans, was found dead Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local officials said. He was 31. Mitzi Gaynor, among the last survivors of the so-called golden age of the Hollywood musical, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. She was 93. Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, died Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. He was 63. Jack Jones, a Grammy-winning crooner known for “The Love Boat” television show theme song, died, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. He was 86. Phil Lesh, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at age 84. Teri Garr, the quirky comedy actor who rose from background dancer in Elvis Presley movies to co-star of such favorites as "Young Frankenstein" and "Tootsie," died Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024. She was 79. Quincy Jones, the multitalented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists, died Sunday, Nov 3, 2024. He was 91 Bobby Allison, founder of racing’s “Alabama Gang” and a NASCAR Hall of Famer, died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. He was 86. Song Jae-lim, a South Korean actor known for his roles in K-dramas “Moon Embracing the Sun” and “Queen Woo,” was found dead at his home in capital Seoul, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. He was 39. British actor Timothy West, who played the classic Shakespeare roles of King Lear and Macbeth and who in recent years along with his wife, Prunella Scales, enchanted millions of people with their boating exploits on Britain's waterways, died Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024. He was 90. Bela Karolyi, the charismatic if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport, died Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. He was 82. Arthur Frommer, whose "Europe on 5 Dollars a Day" guidebooks revolutionized leisure travel by convincing average Americans to take budget vacations abroad, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. He was 95. Former Chicago Bulls forward Bob Love, a three-time All-Star who spent 11 years in the NBA, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. He was 81. Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. He was 83. Barbara Taylor Bradford, a British journalist who became a publishing sensation in her 40s with the saga "A Woman of Substance" and wrote more than a dozen other novels that sold tens of millions of copies, died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. She was 91. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Paschal Donohoe has said that no one could have done a better job as Justice Minister than Helen McEntee. On Friday, at an event outlining Fine Gael's plans to make Dublin City safer, Mr Donohoe said he has been proud to work alongside the outgoing Minister. "I believe she has done a sterling job and is an exemplary colleague and politician," he said. "I couldn't be stronger in making the case for her." Mr Donohoe defended Ms McEntee's record in her role, pointing to the €2bn budget designed to support An Garda Síochána, legal changes made to ensure that crimes against the person are dealt with "in a way that we believe is appropriate", and the rolling out of body cams. "I could make the case to you about further local changes that have happened. The fact that we have reopened Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station and the fact that there is now a Garda office on O'Connell Street," Mr Donohoe said. "But I do acknowledge that for too many at the moment, they want to feel safer when they come into Dublin. They feel that there is an air of edginess that has developed, that I have to recognise and we have to act on." He declined to speculate on who might or should take on the justice portfolio following the election, saying the difficulties the city faces are complex, but said he believes if a Fine Gael government is elected, it can make progress on the issue of safety. Responding to criticism of the Dublin Taskforce by Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon about the level of funding allocated to the city in Budget 2025, Mr Donohoe said the taskforce report was completed after the budget. He clarified that there is money in Dublin City Council's budget available to implement any recommendations put forth by the recent taskforce. "It is up to us to now ensure that the very best of it is brought to the fore so that everyone feels safe to enjoy it," Mr Donohoe said. "We will do this by implementing, in full, the taskforce recommendations, with a focus on revitalising O'Connell Street; delivering more visible policing and security; and transforming derelict sites, converting them to high-density residential units to ensure the re-population of our city streets." Mr Donohoe also addressed a dinner that he attended where Ryanair CEO was also in attendance, saying that no government business was discussed at the event. "If any issue in relation to government business, regulation, or policy had been dealt with, that would have been recorded and would have been dealt with in the same way that every other engagement that I do is dealt with," he said. Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty said that Mr Donohoe has failed to shed light on details about the dinner and should come out and "allay suspicions". "Fine Gael says that the meeting was attended by another unnamed person. Who was that person? "We have already witnessed Mr O'Leary launch the campaign of a Fine Gael election candidate in which he made disparaging remarks about our teachers and was cheered to the rafters by Fine Gael members in attendance," Mr Doherty said. "It would be instructive for the public to know just how much influence Michael O'Leary has with Fine Gael and, by extension, over decisions made by that party in government."By Leah Nylen and Jaewon Kang | Bloomberg A judge blocked Kroger Co.’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons Cos. , finding the takeover would lessen competition for US grocery shoppers, in a ruling that marks a likely death knell for the deal. In a decision filed in Oregon federal court Tuesday, US District Judge Adrienne Nelson found in favor of the US Federal Trade Commission. The agency had argued that the proposed tie-up violates US antitrust law and that a division of hundreds of stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. wouldn’t do enough to replace the lost competition. Also see: Biggest question from Kroger-Albertsons trial: What’s a grocery store? “There is ample evidence that the division is not sufficient in scale to adequately compete with the merged firm and is structured in a way that will significantly disadvantage C&S as a competitor,” Nelson wrote. “The deficiencies in the disvestiture scope and structure create a risk that some or all of the divested stores will lose sales or close, as has happened in past C&S acquisitions.” Nelson’s decision is a major victory for the FTC and its outgoing Chair Lina Khan, who came under harsh criticism from conservatives and business groups for stepped-up antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration. “Today’s win protects competition in the grocery market, which will prevent prices from rising even more,” said FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar. “This statement makes it clear that strong, reality-based antitrust enforcement delivers real results for consumers, workers, and small businesses.” Also see: Albertsons would have shed these 63 California stores A C&S Wholesale spokesperson said the company is disappointed by the court’s decision and that it looks forward to seeing how Kroger and Albertsons will determine the next steps of the proposed deal. Kroger and Albertsons didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Attorneys for the companies have said the acquisition would probably be called off if the judge ruled against the deal. Kroger shares jumped as much as 6.1% in New York trading on Tuesday, extending earlier gains. Albertsons slumped as much as 10%. Specific Market Nelson agreed with the FTC that supermarkets constitute a specific market, countering the companies’ argument that the market extends to online retailers like Amazon.com Inc. “Supermarkets are distinct from other grocery retailers,” Nelson wrote. “Supermarkets offer a larger selection of fresh and non-perishable items, a one-stop shopping experience that appeals to a particular consumer’s preference to meet all their grocery needs in one location, and a customer service focus with deli, bakery, meat, and other specialized departments.” The ruling marks a disappointing end to a two-year odyssey by Kroger and Albertsons, which sought to become a bigger player with a more substantial national footprint to better compete against larger, non-unionized rivals including Walmart Inc. Kroger and Albertsons agreed to combine in October 2022 in what would have been the biggest US grocery deal in history, bringing together more than 4,000 stores across 48 states and Washington, DC. Kroger will likely turn its focus back to improving and investing in its existing network of about 2,750 stores. Albertsons, on the other hand, could emerge again as a deal target, but is expected in the near term to invest in its roughly 2,270 stores and technology. The proposed deal has been a political hot potato, drawing pushback from elected officials, union groups and consumer advocacy firms. The companies vowed to spend $1 billion to cut prices, $1.3 billion to improve store conditions and $1 billion to raise worker wages and benefits following the deal. The FTC has increased antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration, though the results in court have been mixed. The FTC lost a challenge to Microsoft Corp.’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. and won against Illumina Inc. over its purchase of startup Grail and against Tapestry Inc.’s planned $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri Holdings Inc. The companies and the agency fought their case in court for three weeks over the summer in Oregon, as grocery inflation came back into the political spotlight ahead of the US presidential election. Grocery inflation hit a four-decade high in 2022 due to higher costs of labor, transportation and ingredients. Price increases have moderated and are expected to stay within historical ranges, though many American shoppers still say expensive groceries continue to squeeze their ability to spend. The FTC argued that the deal would harm consumers by eliminating competition on prices and quality, making the combined entity less likely to improve its services by offering flexible hours and pickup services. It said the grocers would have more leverage over workers, which would slow wage growth and worsen benefits, and that the proposed divestiture would be inadequate. The agency tried to depict Kroger and Albertsons as the most direct competitors. It said the deal would combine the two largest “traditional supermarkets” in a market that includes Walmart and Target, but does not include Amazon, Costco, Aldi and dollar stores. The companies argued that such a definition is “antiquated” and no longer describes how people shop and pointed to various changes they have made in response to newer threats. The grocers also said joining forces would help them increase market share and improve technology to compete with Amazon, Walmart and other companies. The case is Federal Trade Commission v. Kroger Co., 24-cv-00347, US District Court, District of Oregon (Portland). 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The recent arrest of the man accused in the Dec. 4 death of United Healthcare’s CEO has resurfaced the writings of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, who was apprehended by authorities in 1996 at his Montana cabin near Lincoln after nearly 17 years of mailing bombs that killed three and injured nearly two dozen others. Luigi Nicholas Mangione, Ted Kaczynski In social media posts, Luigi Mangione called Kaczynski a “political revolutionary,” according to a police bulletin obtained by the Associated Press. Several news agencies are reporting that Mangione wrote about “The Unabomber Manifesto” by Kaczynski, also known as the “Industrial Society and Its Future,” in January on the book review site Goodreads. "It's easy to quickly and thoughtless write this off as the manifesto of a lunatic, in order to avoid facing some of the uncomfortable problems it identifies. But it's simply impossible to ignore how prescient many of his predictions about modern society turned out," the reviewer wrote. “He was a violent individual − rightfully imprisoned − who maimed innocent people. While these actions tend to be characterized as those of a crazy luddite, however, they are more accurately seen as those of an extreme political revolutionary,” they wrote. Suspect Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. Mangione, 26, an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family, reportedly gave the manifesto a 4-star rating, or “liked it.” Ratings range from 1 star – “Didn’t like it” – to 5 stars: “It was amazing.” New York police officials have said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used in the Manhattan killing of Brian Thompson, who led United Healthcare, the United States’ largest medical insurance company. Thompson, 50, was killed Dec. 4 as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. Theodore “Ted” Kaczynski, the Harvard-educated mathematician who retreated to a dingy shack in the Montana wilderness and ran a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people and injured 23 others, died June 10, 2023. He was 81. Branded the “Unabomber” by the FBI, Kaczynski died by suicide at the federal prison medical center in Butner, North Carolina. Kaczynski’s manifesto, a 35,000-word anti-technology tirade, was printed in 1995 in The New York Times and The Washington Post and eventually led to his arrest. His capture thrust Lincoln into the international spotlight as FBI agents, other law enforcement and hordes of media converged on a tiny mountain town, where he had lived as something of recluse. This April 6, 1996, file photo shows Ted Kaczynski's cabin in the woods outside Lincoln. Kaczynski, a Harvard-educated mathematician, died by suicide while in federal custody in 2023. He was 81. He had been transferred to a federal prison medical facility in North Carolina in late 2021 after spending the past two decades in a federal Supermax prison in Colorado. His brother, David Kaczynski, told several news agencies that his brother should not be someone to aspire to. "His actions are like a virus," David Kaczynski said, according to Yahoo News. "They could be like a virus unless they understand he was a very angry and disturbed man. It doesn't mean his ideas are ideas of a lunatic, but his behavior, I believe, is the behavior of a lunatic." "To the extent that he may have attributed at all to sort of normalizing or recasting the violent acts as beneficial to humanity is a terrible mistake," David Kaczynski added. Mangione is fighting attempts to extradite him to New York so that he can face a murder charge, the Associated Press reported. At the time of his arrest after being spotted Monday at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Mangione was carrying a handwritten document expressing anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed and power, the Associated Press reported. Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Assistant editor/reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

HOUSTON — After more than two decades since its demise, is Enron coming back? A company representing itself as Enron said it's relaunching and even announced its return with a new website and at least one billboard. There's even an account on social media with the name "Enron." A video was posted seemingly announcing the company's comeback. The new logo is the same as the old company logo. A full-page ad was also in Monday's edition of the Houston Chronicle. The advertisement shows the company logo with the words "We're back. Can we talk? (TM)" It also has a link to the website. It's noteworthy to mention that Enron filed for bankruptcy exactly 23 years ago -- on Dec. 2, 2001. On the new website, there's a clock counting down. According to the clock and the website, the company is going to make an announcement next Monday, Dec. 9. There are also links to career opportunities. The website appears to be promoting sustainable energy and also offers merchandise for sale, including shirts, hats, water bottles and stickers. "An energy company with global impact isn't just a job. It's a calling to those that want to light a cleaner, more equitable and brighter path for the rest of humanity," the careers section of the website says, in part. According to a news release on the website, the company is relaunching with the goal of "solving the global energy crisis." We wanted to get to the bottom of what's going on with the new effort. Upon closer look at the website, under the terms and conditions section, it says the website is "First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art and is for entertainment purposes only." KHOU 11 looked up trademark records and found out that Arkansas-based "The College Company" currently owns the trademark for Enron's logo, including for purposes of selling clothing. The company is owned by the co-creator of the group known as "Birds Aren't Real," a satirical conspiracy theory movement that also sells merchandise. The public relations firm representing the current Enron declined and interview and said only that more is coming soon. Enron filed for bankruptcy in 2001. The company's downfall was caused by a massive fraud scandal. It's considered one of the largest corporate scandals in United States history and led to indictments, convictions and jail sentences for many executives. The scandal rocked Houston and the corporate world. The return of the logo invokes a memory of a painful chapter in the city's history. In 2021, KHOU 11 News spoke with Sherron Watkins, the whistleblower of the Enron scandal. "5,000 people get dumped on the street with nothing. Horrible," she said. Watkins reflected on it from the pursuit of justice for the company's fraud to the catastrophic impact on workers who relied on the company's supposed success for salary and retirement funds. "A lot of people paid a price but so did every employee and every shareholder," she said.

House approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minorsCGI Inc. Cl A stock rises Tuesday, outperforms market

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Dexter: Original Sin will take audiences back in time to find out how the man became the monster — er, the monster-slayer — in the Showtime thriller. The prequel series, which premieres on Paramount+ with Showtime on Friday, December 13, takes place 15 years before we first met Dexter (then played by Michael C. Hall , who still narrates the new series) in the original Dexter . Taking over the title role in this iteration is Patrick Gibson , who has the character’s steely-eyed stares and smug sauntering style down to a science. With new characters being introduced in some familiar settings, the new series will bring some new details about Dexter’s past to light, but it will also inevitably retread some familiar territory from the first show, which had ample flashbacks. Here’s what to remember about Dexter ‘s past before Dexter: Original Sin . Dexter didn’t find out until he was a fully grown serial murderer that he had a big brother who was also running around slaughtering people. The Ice Truck Killer who stalked Dexter was actually Brian Moser, his slightly older brother who was not adopted (or even mentioned) by Harry. Dexter only found out about Brian because the Ice Truck Killer left clues that were tailored to catch his attention — reminding him of scenes from his past as part of the Morgan family. Laura Moser was the single mother to Brian and Dexter and worked as a confidential informant for Harry and the Miami-Metro Police Department against the Colombian cartel. She was brutally dismembered right in front of Brian and Dexter, who were left wading in her blood inside a shipping container. Harry adopted Dexter as his own upon finding him in the container, but Brian was sent into the foster system. In flashbacks in Dexter , it became clear that he was not a normal teenager with typical feelings or tendencies. In fact, he had an innate bloodlust that his father recognized and tried to quell with hunting trips, to the exclusion of his daughter Debra. Harry wanted to protect Dexter from himself — particularly his self-destructive impulses. Though Harry tried to find other ways for Dexter to quench his thirst for blood, so to speak, he soon gave in and encouraged him to kill someone when he discovered Nurse Mary was poisoning Harry and other patients in the hospital after his heart attack. Once Dexter began to kill, Harry worked hard to create a framework for his adoptive son to work within that, if he followed it to the letter, would keep his morality and freedom intact. The rules included being certain that the mark was worthy of being murdered and leaving no trace of evidence behind. Even after Harry’s death, Dexter worked to strictly adhere to this code in every kill. Randy Tepper/Showtime Dexter repeatedly revealed that he felt empty on the inside, and it was Harry who taught him to feign normal human feelings and social interactions around others — even if it meant faking a smile in his own family photos. Little by little throughout Dexter , we learn that Harry Morgan had several affairs while married to Doris, including with Laura Morgan and another confidential informant. Though Harry is definitely the most common star of Dexter’s flashback memories, his adoptive mother Doris is also a fixture of his past. She died when Deb was 16 and didn’t know about Dexter’s violent tendencies, even if she didn’t totally understand him at times. Dexter: Original Sin , Series Premiere, Streaming, Friday, December 13, Paramount+ with Showtime, Sunday, December 15, 10/9c, Paramount+ with Showtime More Headlines:

TORONTO - Canada’s main stock index lost more than 100 points Tuesday ahead of an expected interest rate cut Wednesday, while U.S. markets were also down. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 121.09 points at 25,504.33. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 154.10 points at 44,247.83. The S&P 500 index was down 17.94 points at 6,034.91,while the Nasdaq composite was down 49.45 points at 19,687.24. “Relative to the churn we have seen in the markets the last few days ... today being a little bit of a boring day would be fairly welcome for many investors,” said Stephen Duench, vice-president and portfolio manager for AGF Investments Inc. Wednesday is set to be more exciting, with an interest rate cut expected in Canada and important consumer inflation data coming in the U.S. “I do expect a little bit more fireworks tomorrow,” said Duench. The Bank of Canada is widely expected to announce an outsized cut Wednesday of half a percentage point, he said. “Anything other than that would be a surprise.” The U.S. Federal Reserve has its last decision of the year scheduled for next week, and market watchers are leaning toward a smaller quarter-percentage-point cut there, said Duench. It would be the third cut this year after the central bank hiked rates to a two-decade high to fight inflation. The inflation report will be the last significant data point before the central bank’s decision, Duench said. If the inflation report shows price growth is proving more stubborn than expected, that could change the Fed’s thinking on rates next week, he said. “Maybe that’s part of the reason we’ve seen churn in the market the last few days in the U.S.” Beneath the surface, there was some movement in the tech sector, where Oracle sank 6.7 per cent after its latest earnings report missed expectations. Meanwhile, Google’s stock price rose by more than five per cent. The company on Tuesday unveiled its new chip meant for quantum computing. Duench said after the advent of artificial technology led a rally earlier this year, quantum computing could be another frontier for investors to keep an eye on. The Canadian dollar traded for 70.59 cents US compared with 70.77 cents US on Monday. The January crude oil contract was up 12 cents at US$68.59 per barreland the January natural gas contract was down two cents at US$3.16 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was up US$32.60 at US$2,718.40 an ounceand the March copper contract was down less than a penny at US$4.27 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)Global Life Science Reagents Market Set For 7.2% Growth, Reaching $69.03 Billion By 2028

It’s been 20 years since the release of Love Actually, but fans of the Christmas classic are still discovering new layers hidden in its most memorable moments. The latest revelation comes from one of the most heartbreaking scenes from treasured actress Emma Thompson. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: TikTokers spot heartbreaking detail in Love Actually. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Thompson’s character, Karen, secretly opens a Christmas gift from her husband Harry (Alan Rickman), only to realise it’s a Joni Mitchell CD instead of the gold necklace she had seen him purchasing earlier. The devastating discovery leaves Karen in tears as she comes to suspect her husband’s infidelity. But eagle-eyed fans have noticed a hidden detail that makes the scene even more poignant. Karen is wearing red earrings, red lipstick, and a red scarf — perhaps an intentional choice, as she was anticipating receiving the gold necklace with ruby red detailing. The matching accessories suggest she had dressed with the necklace in mind, only to have her hopes crushed. The necklace, of course, was revealed to be a gift for Harry’s flirtatious coworker, Mia (Heike Makatsch), in one of the film’s most infamous subplots. TikToker Kathie at the Nook posted a video pointing out the detail to the social media platform on Saturday, sparking the frenzy. “The way she matched her earrings to the necklace, the way she holds it together for the kids, the way she pats down the bed. I stand with Emma Thompson,” she captioned the video. “Yep I’ve always said the earrings, lipstick and cardigan all ready to match it is the saddest part of all,” one user responded. “But how have I never noticed the earrings 😭💔,” a second said. “WAIT. What do you mean she matched her earrings?!! 😭😭😭 How have I NEVER noticed that???” another added. And a commenter observed: “The earrings were the bit that sent me over the edge I swear 😂 every year I’m p***** off all over again.” Released in 2003, Love Actually quickly became a festive favourite and a defining rom-com of the early 2000s. Written and directed by Richard Curtis (known for his work on Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Notting Hill), the film weaves together nine interconnected stories of love, heartbreak, and holiday chaos. With its star-studded cast — including Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, and Alan Rickman— the movie captured hearts worldwide, and grossed over $A245 million at the global box office.Innovative AstroRad Vest Poised to Safeguard Astronauts from Space Radiation

TORONTO — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Donald Trump that Americans would also suffer if the president-elect follows through on a plan to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products, a Canadian minister who attended their recent dinner said Monday. Trump threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if they don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders with the United States. He said on social media last week that he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security, attended a dinner with Trump and Trudeau at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on Friday. Trudeau requested the meeting in a bid to avoid the tariffs by convincing Trump that the northern border is nothing like the U.S. southern border with Mexico. “The prime minister of course spoke about the importance of protecting the Canadian economy and Canadian workers from tariffs, but we also discussed with our American friends the negative impact that those tariffs could have on their economy, on affordability in the United States as well,” LeBlanc said in Parliament. If Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, the price increases that could follow will collide with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation. Economists say companies would have little choice but to pass along the added costs, dramatically raising prices for food, clothing, automobiles, alcohol and other goods. The Produce Distributors Association, a Washington trade group, said last week that tariffs will raise prices for fresh fruit and vegetables and hurt U.S. farmers when the countries retaliate. Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the U.S. should Trump follow through on the threat. After his dinner with Trump, Trudeau returned home without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks “productive” but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. “The idea that we came back empty handed is completely false,” LeBlanc said. “We had a very productive discussion with Mr. Trump and his future Cabinet secretaries. ... The commitment from Mr. Trump to continue to work with us was far from empty handed.” Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department, and Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice to be his national security adviser. Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, told The Associated Press on Sunday that “the message that our border is so vastly different than the Mexican border was really understood.” Hillman, who sat at an adjacent table to Trudeau and Trump, said Canada is not the problem when it comes to drugs and migrants. On Monday, Mexico’s president rejected those comments. “Mexico must be respected, especially by its trading partners,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said. She said Canada had its own problems with fentanyl consumption and “could only wish they had the cultural riches Mexico has.” Flows of migrants and seizures of drugs at the two countries’ border are vastly different. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border during the last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Most of the fentanyl reaching the U.S. — where it causes about 70,000 overdose deaths annually — is made by Mexican drug cartels using precursor chemicals smuggled from Asia. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 1.53 million encounters with migrants at the southwest border with Mexico between October 2023 and September 2024. That compares to 23,721 encounters at the Canadian border during that time. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports as well. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing for national security.Five weeks have passed since the Colorado men’s basketball opened the season. The Buffaloes are nowhere near where they hope to be once they embark on the program’s return season in the Big 12 Conference. Yet in terms of making progress from week-to-week with a new-look roster, head coach Tad Boyle has been encouraged by the early returns. CU got back to work on Tuesday, reconvening for the first practice since improving to 7-2 with a Saturday night rivalry win against Colorado State. “I think we understand better now what our jobs are defensively,” Boyle said. “I thought against Colorado State, coming into that game they were a pretty efficient offensive team. They ran their stuff well. I thought we exerted our will defensively with our energy early. That was a key. “I think defensively, we’re understanding what our jobs are. Now, we’re not where we need to be for sure. But we’re making strides in that area. And I think the guys are getting used to playing with each other, understanding each other. And that’s part of it too. Especially in today’s world of college basketball, with so many new players on every team.” Taking stock of clubs based on conference rankings certainly isn’t an exact science in December, when all 16 Big 12 teams have faced varying schedules, but the Buffs have so far held their own in categories involving overall percentages. For instance, CU’s 76.0 points per game ranks a distant 15th in the Big 12, and Boyle would prefer a better defensive scoring average than 69.7, which ranks 11th. CU ranks ninth in overall field goal percentage (.469) and 10th in defensive field goal percentage (.412), but they have fared well from long range, ranking third in 3-point percentage (.398) and third in defensive 3-point percentage (.302). As CU fans might guess, the Buffs rank last in assist-to-turnover rate (1.07) and turnovers (15.1 per game). Yet even the turnovers have shown signs of improvement lately, with the Buffs averaging 13.5 in the past six games. “I think we’ve gotten better at a lot of things,” guard Javon Ruffin said. “I think the last game (against CSU) was the first game we came out with the defensive intensity we needed. But I think that’s something that’s improved since the beginning. We let a lot of those teams early on hang around. I think we’ve gotten a lot better at that. I think offensively, we’re getting a lot more consistent. I think early on we had a lot of long droughts, or maybe times we were scoring but not getting the shots we wanted. I think our offense is flowing a lot smoother now.” With only two games remaining in nonconference play, which resumes on Friday night against South Dakota State (7 p.m., ESPN+), the Buffs will be challenged to maintain that steady improvement during a time on the calendar heavy on practices but light on games. “It starts by having good practices,” Boyle said. “This week, we’ve got three days of practice that are critical for us to keep our edge, keep getting better, in everything that we need to do. It’s more about ourselves getting better right now, whether it’s offensively, defensively, rebounding the ball, competing. I want these guys to feel like practices matter. I’m making decisions about who’s playing in games based on practice, just as much as how you play in a game.”

okebet cc locale en CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — CJ Happy scored 16 points off the bench to lead Princeton past Portland, 94-67 to claim the seventh-place trophy at the Myrtle Beach Invitational tournament on Sunday. Happy went 7 of 9 from the field (2 for 4 from 3-point range) for the Tigers (5-3). Caden Pierce went 6 of 8 from the field (3 for 4 from 3-point range) to add 15 points. Blake Peters shot 5 for 11, including 4 for 10 from beyond the arc to finish with 14 points. The Pilots (2-5) were led by Vukasin Masic, who posted 12 points and four assists. Mikah Ballew added 12 points for Portland. Jinup Dobuol finished with 10 points. Princeton took the lead with 19:43 left in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 52-29 at halftime, with Pierce racking up 15 points. Princeton extended its lead to 61-29 during the second half, fueled by a 9-0 scoring run. Malik Abdullahi scored a team-high eight points in the second half as their team closed out the win. Princeton next plays Wednesday against Nazareth at home, and Portland will host Denver on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .NEW YORK — Stoli Group USA, the owner of the namesake vodka , has filed for bankruptcy as it struggled to contend with slowing demand for spirits, a major cyberattack that has snarled its operations and several years of fighting Russia in court. The company in its bankruptcy filing said it is “experiencing financial difficulties” and lists between $50 million and $100 million in liabilities. Stoli vodka and Kentucky Owl bourbon will continue to be available on store shelves while the company navigates the Chapter 11 process, which only pertains to its U.S. business. Until 2022, Stoli was sold as Stolichnaya in the United States, which loosely translates to “capital city” in Russian. The company shortened its title following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and boycotts against Russian-branded vodkas . Stoli Group’s founder, Russian-born billionaire Yuri Shefler, was exiled from that nation in 2000 because of his opposition to President Vladimir Putin. People are also reading... Intel announced on December 2 that CEO Pat Gelsinger has resigned after a difficult stint at the company. The once-dominant chipmaker’s stock cratered as it missed the AI boom and was surpassed by most of its rivals. The liquor has long been marketed as a Russian vodka, but its production facilities have been in Latvia for several decades. Stoli Group is a unit of Luxembourg-based SPI Group, which owns other spirit and wine brands. “The Stoli Group has been targeted by the Russian Federation since it was formed nearly 25 years ago,” said Stoli Group CEO Chris Caldwell in a statement. “Earlier this year the company and our owner were both named by the Russian state as ‘extremist groups working against Russia’s interests.’” Its ongoing legal battle with the Russia government has forced Stoli to “spend dozens of millions of dollars on this long-term court battle across the globe with the Russian authorities,” according to its court filing. Caldwell also said that Stoli’s global operations has been a “victim of a malicious cyber attack” that has forced the company to operate “entirely manually while the systems are rebuilt.” A slowdown in demand for alcohol has crushed several company’s bottom lines following the pandemic when people were stuck at home and stocked up. Stoli’s filings said that it has seen a “decline and softening of demand for alcohol and spirits products post-Covid and especially beginning in 2023 and continuing into 2024.” Stoli Group USA, maker of Stoli vodka, has filed for bankruptcy due to slowing demand for spirits, a major cyberattack, and ongoing legal battles with Russia. The-CNN-WireTM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Kobe Sanders scores 27 points, Nevada never trails in 90-78 win over Oklahoma State

France celebrated the re-opening of Notre Dame cathedral on Saturday at a special church service that featured a standing ovation for the firefighters who saved the 12th-century landmark from destruction during a 2019 blaze. A two-hour service attended by incoming US president Donald Trump among other world leaders began with the archbishop of Paris knocking on the doors of the cathedral three times. "Notre Dame, model of faith, open your doors to bring together the far-flung children of God in joy," archbishop Laurent Ulrich commanded, banging with a wooden staff crafted from a roof beam that survived the inferno five years ago. Trump could be seen sitting on the front row as guest of honour next to French President Emmanuel Macron, with invitees marvelling at the freshly cleaned walls, new furniture and state-of-the-art lighting installed as part of the overhaul. In a short speech, Macron expressed the "gratitude of the French nation" for the restoration work, achieved at frenzied speed over the last five years. France had "rediscovered what great nations can do -- achieve the impossible", he said. One of the most moving moments came when firefighters in their protective gear walked through the congregation to thunderous applause as the word "Merci" ("Thank you") was beamed on the intricate facade and famous belltowers of the Gothic masterpiece. Small crowds of Parisians and tourists braved wet weather and high winds outside to witness the renaissance of a monument, which came close to collapsing due to the intensity of the inferno that toppled its roof and spire. "I find it really beautiful, even more so now that the spire has been restored," Marie Jean, a 27-year-old dentist from southwest France, told AFP outside. The reconstruction effort cost around 700 million euros ($750 million), financed from donations, with the re-opening achieved within a five-year deadline despite predictions it could take decades. Workers had to overcome problems with lead pollution, the Covid-19 epidemic, and the army general overseeing the project falling to his death while hiking in the Pyrenees last year. Saturday's service featured classical music, the cathedral's choir as well as the "re-awakening" of the 8,000-pipe organ which is considered the voice and soul of the cathedral. A televised public concert planned outside featuring Chinese piano virtuoso Lang Lang and possibly US singer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams had to be pre-recorded on Friday night because of the stormy weather. Held up as an example of French creativity and resilience by Macron, Notre Dame's renaissance so soon after the fire comes at a difficult time for the country. The sense of national accomplishment in restoring a symbol of Paris has been undercut by political turmoil that has left France without a proper government since last week when prime minister Michel Barnier lost a confidence vote. Macron is hoping the re-opening might provide a fleeting sense of national pride and unity -- as the Paris Olympics did in July and August. He scored a major coup by attracting Trump along with around 40 heads of state and government, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who was given a round of applause as he entered Notre Dame. Macron hosted three-way talks with Zelensky and Trump at the presidential palace shortly before the ceremony, with future US military support for Ukraine's war effort against Russia's invasion expected to have been discussed. Trump has vowed to end the nearly three-year Ukraine war when he takes office on January 20, sparking fears in Kyiv that he will force Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia. "It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that," Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for talks with Macron. One surprising absentee on Saturday was Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church. He sent a message addressed to the French people and weighed into a row about whether the place of worship and tourist attraction should remain free to enter. The "immense" numbers set to visit Notre Dame should be welcomed "generously and free of charge", he said, clearly opposing a proposition from the French culture ministry to charge for entry. The exact cause of the 2019 blaze has never been identified despite a forensic investigation by prosecutors, who believe an accident such as an electrical fault was the most likely reason. On Sunday, the first mass with 170 bishops and more than 100 Paris priests will take place at 10:30 am (0930 GMT), followed by a second service in the evening at 6:30 pm which will be open to the public. adp-sjw/jj

Si-TPV dynamically vulcanised thermoplastic silicone-based elastomers for healthy baby growth 12-11-2024 09:02 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire In recent years, with the upgrading of family childcare consumption, the mother and baby market has been developing rapidly, and the situation is promising. At the same time, along with the rise of the younger generation, young people's consumer attitudes and habits are showing a new trend, they have a strong brand awareness, but also more concerned about the quality of life and safety and health. For children in daily life frequent contact with plastic toys, bottles, cutlery, spoons, washbasins, bath tubs, teethers and other maternal and child supplies, focusing on safety and environmental protection of young parents to select these supplies is no longer price and style-based, the environmental protection of the material itself and the safety of their choice of key indicators. In the field of mother and baby products, the choice of materials is crucial to ensure the safety, comfort and health of mothers and babies. Types of skin-friendly materials for mother and baby products - what you need to know are 1. Medical grade silicone: Safe and versatile Medical grade silicone is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic and safe product that is non-toxic, resistant to high temperatures, oxidation, flexibility and transparency. It is commonly used in baby products such as pacifiers, teething toys and breast pumps. Silicone is gentle on baby's gums and minimises the risk of allergic reactions. 2. Food-grade silicone: soft and comfortable, with a wide range of temperature resistance Food-grade silicone is soft, comfortable and elastic, giving a comfortable touch, will not be deformed, and a wide range of temperature resistance, long service life, designed for contact with food, does not contain harmful chemicals, easy to clean, long use, non-yellowing, ageing-resistant, and is the ideal choice for baby feeding products. Image: https://www.si-tpv.com/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/%E4%BC%81%E4%B8%9A%E5%BE%AE%E4%BF%A1%E6%88%AA%E5%9B%BE_17334694687556-circle.png 3. Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE): Soft and flexible TPE materials are widely used in baby products such as bottle nipples, straw cups, cutlery, bowls and toys, etc. TPE materials are soft, elastic, pliable and easy to wipe, etc. Many baby feeding utensils and cutlery are made from TPE. Many baby feeding utensils and cutlery also use a variety of TPE materials, not only soft, durable, and loved by babies. Spoons and bowls are also made of TPE materials, which are soft and flexible, which is very safe for babies who are just learning to use cutlery. Dynamically vulcanised thermoplastic silicone-based elastomers (Si-TPV): long-lasting, silky-smooth skin feel Si-TPV Dynamically Vulcanised Thermoplastic Silicone-based Elastomer [ https://www.si-tpv.com/si-tpv-solution-for-creating-safe-comfortable-and-aesthetically-appealing-products-in-the-maternal-and-baby-market-product/ ] is a non-toxic material for bite-resistant toys Plasticizer-free thermoplastic elastomer and Aesthetically comfortable brightly colored kids' product materialdeveloped by Thermoplastic Elastomer Manufacturer, Silicone Elastomer Manufacturers - SILIKE. It ensures the safety and hygiene of mother and baby products and reduces the potential risk of the products to human beings, so that consumers can use them with peace of mind. The Si-TPV range is a Safe Sustainable Soft Alternative Material [ https://www.si-tpv.com/si-tpv-solution-for-creating-safe-comfortable-and-aesthetically-appealing-products-in-the-maternal-and-baby-market-product/ ] to PVC and silicone or traditional plastics, and a ground-breaking innovation in the field of thermoplastic elastomers. Unlike traditional plastics, elastomers and materials, the Si-TPV range is an Eco-friendly soft touch material with an excellent soft touch feel, no additional processing or coating steps, is environmentally safer, anti-allergenic and provides enhanced comfort for mum and baby. It enables manufacturers to create unique products that are visually appealing, aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, ergonomic, colourful, non-migratory, non-sticky surfaces, and more resistant to bacteria, dust and other contaminants than other materials, making it a novel solution for products for mothers, babies and children. Applications for Si-TPV include handles for baby bath tubs, non-slip mats on children's toilet lids, cots, prams, car seats, high chairs, playpens, rattles, bath toys or grip toys, non-toxic baby play mats, soft-sided feeding spoons, and other baby products. For more details, visit www.si-tpv.com or Email: amy.wang@silike.cn [mailto:amy.wang@silike.cn]. Media Contact Company Name: Chengdu Silike Technology Co.,Ltd. Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=sitpv-dynamically-vulcanised-thermoplastic-siliconebased-elastomers-for-healthy-baby-growth ] Country: China Website: https://www.si-tpv.com/ This release was published on openPR.

Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Zvi Kogan was killed, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. Israeli strike kills Lebanese soldier and wounds 18 as Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel BEIRUT (AP) — An Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center has killed one soldier and wounded 18 others, the Lebanese military said. The Hezbollah militant group meanwhile fired barrages of rockets into northern and central Israel, wounding at least five people. Israeli strikes have killed over 40 Lebanese troops since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, even as Lebanon's military has largely kept to the sidelines. The Israeli military expressed regret over the strike, saying it occurred in an area of ongoing combat operations against Hezbollah. It said it does not target the Lebanese armed forces and that the strike is under review. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles WASHINGTON (AP) — During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump had hailed what would become Project 2025 as a conservative roadmap for “exactly what our movement will do." Trump pulled an about-face when Project 2025 became a political liability. He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans, even though some were written by his former aides and many allies. Now, after winning the 2024 election, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the effort he temporarily shunned. Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain this weekend while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Saturday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast earlier in the week, killing two people. Parts of the Northeast and Appalachia also began the weekend with heavy precipitation. Pakistan partially stops mobile and internet services ahead of pro-Imran Khan protest ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns” as supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan gear up for a protest in the capital. The government and Interior Ministry made the announcement on X, which is banned in Pakistan. Sunday's protest is to demand Khan's release. He has been in prison for more than a year but remains popular. His supporters rely heavily on social media and messaging apps to coordinate with each other. Pakistan has already sealed off Islamabad and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with Khan's power bases. Here's what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. But it’s a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still unsatisfied but hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. Japan holds Sado mines memorial despite South Korean boycott amid lingering historical tensions SADO, Japan (AP) — Japan has held a memorial ceremony near the Sado Island Gold Mines despite a last-minute boycott of the event by South Korea that highlighted tensions between the neighbors over the issue of Korean forced laborers at the site before and during World War II. South Korea’s absence at Sunday’s memorial, to which Seoul government officials and Korean victims’ families were invited, is a major setback in the rapidly improving ties between the two countries, which since last year have set aside their historical disputes to prioritize U.S.-led security cooperation. Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He teamed up with Young for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and became a full supporter Donald Trump.During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump pitched an idea to quickly reduce the number of tents on the nation’s streets: Offer up other places for people to camp. He’d start with a big plot of land. Then his team would hire social workers, psychiatrists and other medical staff which together could “create tent cities where the homeless can be relocated,” he said last year in a video . Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.West Side cements its place in history with 27-6 win over Declo for fifth state title in six yearsRevanth Reddy admits failure to counter social media campaign

'Open your doors': Notre Dame re-opens after five-year refit

A ground-breaking decision by the NCAA to make major-junior players eligible for college hockey is only weeks old but the impact of the rule change is already having a significant trickle-down effect. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * A ground-breaking decision by the NCAA to make major-junior players eligible for college hockey is only weeks old but the impact of the rule change is already having a significant trickle-down effect. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? A ground-breaking decision by the NCAA to make major-junior players eligible for college hockey is only weeks old but the impact of the rule change is already having a significant trickle-down effect. Overage players in the WHL, for instance, are already striking scholarship deals to play Division I hockey for next season. It’s also opening doors for Junior A players who previously eschewed major junior to preserve their eligibility for the U.S. college ranks. Andy Glass photo Goaltender Raiden LeGall has moved from the MJHL’s Niverville Nighthawks to the WHL without losing his NCAA eligibility. Goaltender Raiden LeGall of the MJHL’s Niverville Nighthawks is a prime example. LeGall, an 18-year-old from Morden, recently signed a WHL scholarship and development agreement with the Everett Silvertips despite already having an NCAA scholarship offer from Bemidji (Minn.) State University. LeGall had advance warning he might be considering a mid-season move. “In talking to my advisor he sort of mentioned the possibility of, ‘What would you think if the rule does change? Would you be interested in going to the WHL, or would you want to stay back?” said LeGall by phone from Everett, Wash., Friday afternoon. “I said, ‘Yeah, I’d be interested.” Joining the Canadian Hockey League’s fourth-ranked club is a plum assignment. Entering Friday’s game against the visiting Spokane Chiefs, Everett was clipping along at a league-best 17-3-1-0 and a 103-55 goal differential in 21 games. Injuries, however, could spoil the Silvertips’ terrific start. No. 1 goaltender Jesse Sanche (upper body) is sidelined indefinitely and the club is relying on Alex Garrett, recently acquired from the Calgary Hitmen, to fill the void. With the full extent of Sanche’s injury undetermined, the Silvertips moved quickly to sign LeGall. He flew west on Monday and served as Garrett’s backup in Everett’s 4-0 win over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday. “A month ago we would never have never thought of doing something like this,” said Everett GM Mike Fraser, who placed the undrafted LeGall on the club’s protected list in January of 2023. “So this is certainly one of the positives for us. In saying that, there’s so much unknown (about the NCAA decision)... “We’re all living through it. I said this to the players when it became official: ‘We’ll do our best to answer questions but there are questions that we don’t know the answers to, yet.’ We’re all going through this together and the extra wrinkle is it’s happening in the middle of the season.” Fraser had closely monitored and been mindful of LeGall’s progress in recent months. He has a 2.46 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and two shutouts while posting a 7-7-1 record with the Nighthawks. “I was impressed with his athletic ability and his demeanour and I really liked his compete and how hard he was always fighting for pucks,” said Fraser. “We had him out to training camp in the summer of 2023 and he played really well... We sent him back and it wasn’t too long after that that he got a commitment from Bemidji State.” The 6-foot, 175-pounder was considered a late bloomer likely to benefit from the additional development time afforded by an NCAA career. “I had pretty good training camp and they wanted me to stick around for the (WHL) pre-season, but that’s sort of when I decided that the college route was probably what I want to do and take a little more time developing,” said LeGall. “And then, sure enough, the rule changed this year and I can do both.” LeGall is expected to get a start in one of Everett’s weekend games in B.C. “What happens here short term is a little dependent on Jesse’s, injury but we certainly see him fitting in, worst-case scenario, next season,” said Fraser. “And who knows, depending on the injury, maybe sooner.” LeGall is keen to test himself against WHL shooters. “I’m thinking I’ll be here in Everett for as much of this year as I can be, and then next year as well and then probably go to Bemidji the year after,” said LeGall. 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. Soon after the NCAA eligibility rule change, college programs began targeting and recruiting elite 20-year-olds from major junior who will graduate following the 2024-25 season. Overage Silvertips forward Beau Courtney has already agreed to join the University of Alaska-Fairbanks while forwards Tyler MacKenzie and Dominik Rymon are also in talks with NCAA programs. Could NCAA teams eventually aim for younger WHL stars? “It’s fair to say we’re worried about it,” said Fraser. “I really don’t have any doubts that they are (interested). But again, how that plays out I really don’t know right now. We’re kind of waiting for the dust to settle.” mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca Mike Sawatzky is a sports reporter at the . He has been working at the newspaper since 2003. . Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Mike Sawatzky is a sports reporter at the . He has been working at the newspaper since 2003. . Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement AdvertisementOne of the most anticipated vehicle launches of all time happened on Nov. 30, 2023 with Tesla Inc TSLA delivering its first Cybertruck vehicles to a long waiting list of reservation holders of the highly anticipated electric pickup truck. Here's a look back at the company's unveiling of the truck and how much investors could have made timing their stock purchase. What Happened : Tesla recently shared a look back at what the company accomplished in its first year with the Cybertruck on the market. "1 year since we launched the truck that ‘they'd never actually make,'" Tesla tweeted . Tesla shared that since the launch, the Cybertruck has had multiple highlights, including achieving a positive gross margin in less than a year and starting deliveries in Canada. Other highlights shared in the X thread are the Cybertruck driving and parking itself, having Powershare, testing the bulletproof abilities, beating a Porsche 911 while towing a 911 and winning over diesel truck owners. The Nov. 30, 2023 delivery event was a long time coming for Tesla and fans of the company. Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the Cybertruck at a public event on Nov. 22, 2019. Originally set for a 2021 launch, the vehicle suffered several delays and setbacks before its eventual 2023 launch. The film “Blade Runner” and the James Bond vehicle from “The Spy Who Loved Me” inspired the design. The vehicle’s unique design and fans of Tesla and Musk have led to strong demand. A week after the unveiling, Tesla reported 250,000 reservations, via a $100 deposit. In recent comments, Tesla has said there are over one million reservations for the vehicle. Third-party estimates put the estimate closer to two million units reserved. With the Cybertruck, Tesla added another vehicle class to compete with Ford Motor Company F , General Motors Company GM and Rivian Automotive RIVN . In the U.S., trucks remain top sellers . In 2022, five of the top 10 bestselling vehicles were pickup trucks, including the top three vehicles. Pop culture references, like when the vehicle appeared on an episode of “The Simpsons,” sparked interest. Podcast host Joe Rogan has also discussed the vehicle and praised its unique design during several of his interviews. Tesla has estimated it will sell 250,000 Cybertruck units annually by 2025. Musk has tried to downplay early expectations for the highly anticipated vehicle’s deliveries. “I always try to downplay the start of production because the start of production is always very slow. It increases exponentially, but it’s always very slow at first. So I wouldn’t put too much thought into the start of production. It’s kind of when volume production happens, and that’s next year,” Musk said during an earnings call. Investors and analysts see the Cybertruck as a big catalyst, which could mean more upside for Tesla shares. If you purchased shares when the Cybertruck was first unveiled, you have already been rewarded. Are you buying when the CEOs of the Magnificent 7 are selling? Stay in the know with our Insider Trades page — see when leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jensen Huang are offloading their own shares. Investing $1,000 in Tesla Stock: A $1,000 investment could have purchased 2.94 shares of TSLA at the opening print on Nov. 22, 2019. Tesla underwent stock splits of five-for-one in 2020 and three-for-one in 2022. The splits would take the 2.94 shares to 44.1 total Tesla shares. The $1,000 investment would be worth $15,747.67 today, based on a Tesla price of $357.09 at the time of writing. It would be up 1,474.8% over the last five years. The same $1,000 invested in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY , which tracks the top 500 U.S. stocks, wouldn’t have fared as well. The $1,000 investment in the SPY would be worth $1,937.65 today. This represents a return of 93.8% over the last five years, significantly trailing the performance of Tesla over the same period. Investors who passed up the opportunity to buy Tesla stock when the Cybertruck was first unveiled may have considered buying the stock last November when deliveries took place. An investor could have bought 4.08 Tesla shares with $1,000 based on a price of $245.22 on Nov. 30, 2023. The $1,000 investment would be worth $1,456.93 today, up 45.7%. The same $1,000 invested in the SPY on Nov. 30, 2023, would be worth $1,321.95 today, up 32.2%. Read Next: Elon Musk Wanted To Make A Vehicle For The Future, One That Blade Runner Would Drive This article was previously published by Benzinga and has been updated. Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Bangladesh seeks to review major energy projects including one with India’s Adani Group

Tulsa fires coach Kevin Wilson a day after blowout loss to South FloridaDaily Post Nigeria Kungiyar tsofaffin yan sanda ta yi barazanar yajin aikin cin abinci Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport Hausa Kungiyar tsofaffin yan sanda ta yi barazanar yajin aikin cin abinci Published on December 11, 2024 By Nana Ismail Kungiyar tsofaffin ‘yan sandan Najeriya (NUP), reshen jihar Kano, ta yi barazanar fara yajin aikin cin abinci. Kungiyar ta ce za ta dauki matakin ne domin matsawa gwamnatin tarayya da hukumar kula da fanshon ‘yan sanda su biya su hakkokinsu. Sakataren kungiyar tsofaffin ‘yan sandan reshen jihar Kano, Kwamred SP Sa’idu Garba (rtd), ne ya tabbatar ne ya shaida wa manema labarai haka yammacin Laraba. Ya ce dole ne su fara yajin aikin cin abincin saboda sun yi duk abinda ya dace a baya, ciki har da zanga-zangar lumana a majalisar tarayya domin neman a biya su hakkokinsu na giratuti. Ya bayyana cewa fiye da shekara 10 suke bin hakkokinsu, amma har yanzu babu mafita. Sai dai ya ce, a baya, zanga-zangar lumana da suka yi ta sa majalisar dattawa ta yi karatu na farko da na biyu kan kudirin cire su daga karkashin Hukumar Kula da Haraji ta Kasa (PenCom) wadda ke rike musu kudadensu. SP Sa’idu Garba (rtd) ya ce abinda ake bashi a duk wata bai wuce N30,000 ba. “Nayi ritaya daga aikin dan sanda tun shekarar 2007 tare da tarin iyali, amma abinda ake bani bai taka kara ya karya ba,” in ji tsohon dan sandan. Ya ce dukanin shugabanninsu sun ki magana a kan abinda ya kira ‘zaluncin’ da ake musu’ saboda gudun rasa ayyukansu. Related Topics: Don't Miss Fiye da 70% na ayyukan gwamnati a Kaduna sun zama na zamani, in ji kwamishina You may like Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media LtdFederal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok as soon as next month, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to set its own record. Treasury yields eased after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass NEW YORK (AP) — In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million to surround CEO Mark Zuckerberg with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. And experts say the task of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them is getting more difficult. One of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to decide what represents a real threat. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. USDA orders nationwide testing of milk for bird flu to halt the virus The U.S. government has ordered testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu to better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows. The Agriculture Department on Friday said raw or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors nationwide must be tested on request starting Dec. 16. Testing will begin in six states — California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The move is aimed at eliminating the virus, which has infected more than 700 dairy herds in 15 states. Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on the ammunition used to kill UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That's according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. The words are similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend.” That's how attorneys describe insurers denying services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the words. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. Michigan Democrats move to protect reproductive health data before GOP takes control of House LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrats in Michigan are pressing to pass reproductive health care legislation before the party loses its majority with the new legislative session next year. A bill to protect digital reproductive health data including data logged on menstrual cycle tracking apps is a Democratic priority as lawmakers meet this month. Democratic women and supporters of the legislation say they are acting with new urgency before President-elect Donald Trump takes office because they don't believe his campaign promise to leave abortion to the states. The rush is also a reaction to Republicans taking control of the state House in January. Democrats kept control of the state Senate in the November election. Japan's Nippon Steel sets sights on a growing overseas market in its bid to acquire US Steel KASHIMA, Japan (AP) — The signs at Nippon Steel read: “The world through steel,” underlining why Japan’s top steelmaker is pursuing its $15 billion bid to acquire U.S. Steel. Japan's domestic market isn't growing, so Nippon Steel has its eyes on India, Southeast Asia and the United States, where populations are still growing. Nippon Steel gave reporters a tour of one of its plants in Japan on Friday. The bid for U.S. Steet is opposed by President-elect Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and American steelworkers. If the deal goes through, U.S. Steel will keep its name and its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but become subsidiary of Nippon Steel. China's ban on key high-tech materials could have broad impact on industries, economy BANGKOK (AP) — China has banned exports of key materials used for a wide range of products, including smartphones, electric vehicles, radar systems and CT scanners, swiping back at Washington after it expanded export controls to include dozens of Chinese companies that make equipment used to produce computer chips. Both sides say the controls are justified by national security concerns. Analysts say they could have a much wider impact on manufacturing in many industries and supply chains, depending on the ability of each side to compensate for loss of access to strategically important materials, equipment and components. Here's why this could be a tipping point in trade conflict between the two biggest economies.

Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State's Michael Van Buren Jr., Wisconsin's Braedyn Locke and Cal's Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal. Mensah, a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining, told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men's basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils (9-3) will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. Mensah, viewed as one of the top players in the portal, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns and completed 65.9% of his passes. He led the Green Wave to a 9-4 record and the American Athletic Conference championship game, where they lost 35-14 to Army. Tulane will play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl on Sunday. Van Buren, Mendoza and Locke announced on social media they had entered the portal. Van Buren started eight games as a true freshmen for the Bulldogs. He threw for 1,886 yards on 55% passing with 16 total touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8 Southeastern Conference). He took over as the starter when Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a 45-28 loss to Florida on Sept. 21. Shapen has said he plans to return next season. Van Buren, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound passer from St. Frances Academy in Maryland, had two 300-yard performances for the Bulldogs, including 306 yards and three touchdown passes in a 41-31 road loss against Georgia. Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards in 2024 with 16 TDs, six interceptions and a 68.7 completion percentage. "For the sake of my football future this is the decision I have reached," he posted. Locke passed for 1,936 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Wisconsin this season. He said he will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school. ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan cornerback Will Johnson has joined defensive tackle Mason Graham in the NFL draft. Johnson declared for the draft on Wednesday, one day after Graham decided he would also skip his senior season with the Wolverines. Both preseason All-America players are expected to be first-round picks. Johnson was limited to six games this year due to an injury. He had two interceptions, returning them both for touchdowns to set a school record with three scores off interceptions. Johnson picked off nine passes in three seasons. Graham played in all 12 games this season, finishing with 3 1/2 sacks and seven tackles for losses. He had 18 tackles for losses, including nine sacks, in his three-year career. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson is The Associated Press offensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference and South Carolina defensive lineman Kyle Kennard is the top defensive player. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was voted the top newcomer on Wednesday while the Gamecocks' Shane Beamer is coach of the year in voting by the panel of 17 media members who cover the league. Sampson led the SEC and set school records by rushing for 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. He is tied for third nationally in rushing touchdowns, recording the league's fifth-most in a season. Sampson was chosen on all but two ballots. Mississippi wide receiver Tre Harris and his quarterback, Jaxson Dart, each got a vote. Kennard led the SEC with 11-1/2 sacks and 15-1/2 tackles for loss. He also had 10 quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles. Beamer led the Gamecocks to just their fifth nine-win season, including a school-record four wins over Top 25 opponents. They've won their last six games and ended the regular season with a win over eventual ACC champion Clemson. South Carolina plays Illinois on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. Pavia helped lead Vandy to its first bowl game since 2018 after transferring from New Mexico State. He passed for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions. He ran for another 716 yards and six touchdowns, directing an upset of Alabama. AMES, Iowa — Matt Campbell, who led Iowa State to its first 10-win season and became the program's all-time leader in coaching victories, has agreed to an eight-year contract that would keep him with the Cyclones through 2032. University president Wendy Wintersteen and athletic director Jamie Pollard made the announcement Wednesday, four days after the Cyclones lost to Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game. “Given all the uncertainty currently facing college athletics, it was critical that we moved quickly to solidify the future of our football program,” Pollard said. “Matt is the perfect fit for Iowa State University and I am thrilled he wants to continue to lead our program. Leadership continuity is essential to any organization’s long-term success." The Cyclones won their first seven games for their best start since 1938 and are 10-3 heading into their game against Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 28. BRIEFLY FLAG PLANT: Ohio Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. MALZAHN: Gus Malzahn, who resigned as UCF’s coach last month to become Mike Norvell’s offensive coordinator at Florida State, said he chose to return to his coaching roots rather than remain a head coach distracted by a myriad of responsibilities. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok as soon as next month, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to set its own record. Treasury yields eased after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass NEW YORK (AP) — In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million to surround CEO Mark Zuckerberg with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. And experts say the task of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them is getting more difficult. One of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to decide what represents a real threat. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. USDA orders nationwide testing of milk for bird flu to halt the virus The U.S. government has ordered testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu to better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows. The Agriculture Department on Friday said raw or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors nationwide must be tested on request starting Dec. 16. Testing will begin in six states — California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The move is aimed at eliminating the virus, which has infected more than 700 dairy herds in 15 states. Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on the ammunition used to kill UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That's according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. The words are similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend.” That's how attorneys describe insurers denying services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the words. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. Michigan Democrats move to protect reproductive health data before GOP takes control of House LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrats in Michigan are pressing to pass reproductive health care legislation before the party loses its majority with the new legislative session next year. A bill to protect digital reproductive health data including data logged on menstrual cycle tracking apps is a Democratic priority as lawmakers meet this month. Democratic women and supporters of the legislation say they are acting with new urgency before President-elect Donald Trump takes office because they don't believe his campaign promise to leave abortion to the states. The rush is also a reaction to Republicans taking control of the state House in January. Democrats kept control of the state Senate in the November election. Japan's Nippon Steel sets sights on a growing overseas market in its bid to acquire US Steel KASHIMA, Japan (AP) — The signs at Nippon Steel read: “The world through steel,” underlining why Japan’s top steelmaker is pursuing its $15 billion bid to acquire U.S. Steel. Japan's domestic market isn't growing, so Nippon Steel has its eyes on India, Southeast Asia and the United States, where populations are still growing. Nippon Steel gave reporters a tour of one of its plants in Japan on Friday. The bid for U.S. Steet is opposed by President-elect Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and American steelworkers. If the deal goes through, U.S. Steel will keep its name and its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but become subsidiary of Nippon Steel. China's ban on key high-tech materials could have broad impact on industries, economy BANGKOK (AP) — China has banned exports of key materials used for a wide range of products, including smartphones, electric vehicles, radar systems and CT scanners, swiping back at Washington after it expanded export controls to include dozens of Chinese companies that make equipment used to produce computer chips. Both sides say the controls are justified by national security concerns. Analysts say they could have a much wider impact on manufacturing in many industries and supply chains, depending on the ability of each side to compensate for loss of access to strategically important materials, equipment and components. Here's why this could be a tipping point in trade conflict between the two biggest economies.

The Carolina Hurricanes, second in the Metropolitan Division with a 14-5-1 record, have lost both their starting goaltender and their backup to injury. Starting goaltender Frederik Andersen underwent knee surgery and is set to miss at least two months . Last night, young backup Pyotr Kochetkov left the game against Columbus in overtime after an awkward collision with his own teammate. There's been no injury update for Kochetkov, but Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour didn’t seem optimistic when he spoke with the media postgame. Assuming Kochetkov’s injury is as serious as it looked, Carolina is in need of a goaltender. Ryan Henkel of Yahoo! Sports suggests three trade candidates the Hurricanes could look to, one of them a familiar face . Alex Nedeljkovic, currently with the Pittsburgh Penguins, would be a cheap acquisition. The Penguins are spiralling, and are eager to create a roster spot for young goaltender Joel Blomqvist. Nedeljkovic has struggled so far this season— .877 SV% and 3.42 GAA— so he could probably be had for a 4th round pick. The Hurricanes could also look out West and give the San Jose Sharks a call and inquire about Mackenzie Blackwood or Vitek Vanecek. Blackwood is a pending Unrestricted Free Agent making $2.35 million. He’s performed well behind a rebuilding Sharks team. In 14 games played this season, he has a .907 SV%, 3.07 GAA and one shutout. San Jose, like Pittsburgh, is likely interested in moving a goaltender to create room on the roster for highly touted goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov, so Blackwood’s asking price might only be a 3rd or 4th round pick. Vanecek, like Blackwood, is a pending unrestricted free agent, and makes $3.4 million. He has a .899 SV% and a 3.36 GAA. If San Jose retains salary, Carolina could probably get Vanecek for a 4th round pick. Even if Kochetkov's injury doesn’t turn out to be long-term, Andersen’s 8-12 week recovery time gives Carolina incentive to work the phones. Having too many goaltenders isn’t a bad thing. It’s certainly better than facing the possibility of having to turn to a third-string.

AP Business SummaryBrief at 9:51 a.m. EST

Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State's Michael Van Buren Jr., Wisconsin's Braedyn Locke and Cal's Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal. Mensah, a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining, told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men's basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils (9-3) will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. Mensah, viewed as one of the top players in the portal, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns and completed 65.9% of his passes. He led the Green Wave to a 9-4 record and the American Athletic Conference championship game, where they lost 35-14 to Army. Tulane will play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl on Sunday. Van Buren, Mendoza and Locke announced on social media they had entered the portal. Van Buren started eight games as a true freshmen for the Bulldogs. He threw for 1,886 yards on 55% passing with 16 total touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8 Southeastern Conference). He took over as the starter when Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a 45-28 loss to Florida on Sept. 21. Shapen has said he plans to return next season. Van Buren, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound passer from St. Frances Academy in Maryland, had two 300-yard performances for the Bulldogs, including 306 yards and three touchdown passes in a 41-31 road loss against Georgia. Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards in 2024 with 16 TDs, six interceptions and a 68.7 completion percentage. "For the sake of my football future this is the decision I have reached," he posted. Locke passed for 1,936 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Wisconsin this season. He said he will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school. ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan cornerback Will Johnson has joined defensive tackle Mason Graham in the NFL draft. Johnson declared for the draft on Wednesday, one day after Graham decided he would also skip his senior season with the Wolverines. Both preseason All-America players are expected to be first-round picks. Johnson was limited to six games this year due to an injury. He had two interceptions, returning them both for touchdowns to set a school record with three scores off interceptions. Johnson picked off nine passes in three seasons. Graham played in all 12 games this season, finishing with 3 1/2 sacks and seven tackles for losses. He had 18 tackles for losses, including nine sacks, in his three-year career. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson is The Associated Press offensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference and South Carolina defensive lineman Kyle Kennard is the top defensive player. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was voted the top newcomer on Wednesday while the Gamecocks' Shane Beamer is coach of the year in voting by the panel of 17 media members who cover the league. Sampson led the SEC and set school records by rushing for 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. He is tied for third nationally in rushing touchdowns, recording the league's fifth-most in a season. Sampson was chosen on all but two ballots. Mississippi wide receiver Tre Harris and his quarterback, Jaxson Dart, each got a vote. Kennard led the SEC with 11-1/2 sacks and 15-1/2 tackles for loss. He also had 10 quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles. Beamer led the Gamecocks to just their fifth nine-win season, including a school-record four wins over Top 25 opponents. They've won their last six games and ended the regular season with a win over eventual ACC champion Clemson. South Carolina plays Illinois on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. Pavia helped lead Vandy to its first bowl game since 2018 after transferring from New Mexico State. He passed for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions. He ran for another 716 yards and six touchdowns, directing an upset of Alabama. AMES, Iowa — Matt Campbell, who led Iowa State to its first 10-win season and became the program's all-time leader in coaching victories, has agreed to an eight-year contract that would keep him with the Cyclones through 2032. University president Wendy Wintersteen and athletic director Jamie Pollard made the announcement Wednesday, four days after the Cyclones lost to Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game. “Given all the uncertainty currently facing college athletics, it was critical that we moved quickly to solidify the future of our football program,” Pollard said. “Matt is the perfect fit for Iowa State University and I am thrilled he wants to continue to lead our program. Leadership continuity is essential to any organization’s long-term success." The Cyclones won their first seven games for their best start since 1938 and are 10-3 heading into their game against Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 28. BRIEFLY FLAG PLANT: Ohio Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. MALZAHN: Gus Malzahn, who resigned as UCF’s coach last month to become Mike Norvell’s offensive coordinator at Florida State, said he chose to return to his coaching roots rather than remain a head coach distracted by a myriad of responsibilities. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Augie standouts, locals earn all-region honorsBUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A far-right populist took the lead in Romania’s presidential election Sunday, electoral data showed, and will likely face leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in a runoff in two weeks, an outcome that rocked the country's political landscape. Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, led the polls with around 22% of the vote, while Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party, or PSD, trailed at 20.6%. Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party, or USR, stood at about 17.4%, and George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR, took 14.3%. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Awards season has arrived in the form of the Golden Globes nominations. The awards, which honor both movies and television programs, is often viewed as a preview of the upcoming Oscars. In this week's episode, co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz go over the list, focusing largely on the movies, which tend to shine brightest at the ceremony. But they also take time to review a few of the TV shows, including the great, but rarely funny "The Bear," which is again in the comedy or musical category. We also have an interview with "Nickel Boys" director RaMell Ross, who spoke with Miller prior to the film receiving a nomination for best drama. Miller also talked with Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, who starred in the film. Complete list of Golden Globe nominations “Wicked”; “Anora”; “Emilia Perez”; “Challengers”; “A Real Pain”; “The Substance” “The Brutalist”; “A Complete Unknown,”; “Conclave”; “Dune: Part Two”; “Nickel Boys;” “September 5” Jesse Eisenberg, “A Real Pain”; Hugh Grant, “Heretic”; Gabriel LaBelle, “Saturday Night; Jesse Plemons, “Kinds of Kindness”’ Glen Powell, “Hitman”; Sebastian Stan, “A Different Man” Amy Adams, “Nightbitch”; Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked”; Karla Sofia Gascón, “Emilia Pérez”; Mikey Madison “Anora”; Demi Moore, “The Substance”; Zendaya, “Challengers” Pamela Anderson, “The Last Showgirl′′; Angelina Jolie, ”Maria”; Nicole Kidman, “Babygirl”; Tilda Swinton, “The Room Next Door”; Fernanda Torres, “I’m Still Here”; Kate Winslet, “Lee” Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist”; Timothée Chalamet, “A Complete Unknown’; Colman Domingo, “Sing Sing”; Ralph Fiennes, “Conclave”; Sebastian Stan, “The Apprentice’’ “Alien: Romulus”; Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”; Deadpool & Wolverine”; “Gladiator II”; “Inside Out 2”; “Twisters”; “Wicked”; “The Wild Robot” “All We Imagine As Light′′; ”Emilia Pérez”; “The Girl With the Needle”; “I’m Still Here”; “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”; “Vermiglio” “Flow”; “Inside Out 2”; “Memoir of a Snail”; “Moana 2”; “Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”; “The Wild Robot” Selena Gomez, ”Emilia Pérez”; Ariana Grande, “Wicked”; Felicity Jones, “The Brutalist”; Margaret Qualley, “The Substance”; Isabella Rossellini, “Conclave”; Zoe Saldaña, ”Emilia Pérez” Yura Borisov, “Anora”; Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”; Edward Norton, “A Complete Unknown”; Guy Pearce, “The Brutalist”; Jeremy Strong, ”The Apprentice”; Denzel Washington, “Gladiator II” Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez”; Sean Baker, ”Anora”; Edward Berger, “Conclave”; Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist”; Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance”; Payal Kapadia, “All We Imagine As Light” Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez”; Sean Baker, ”Anora”; Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold, “The Brutalist”; Jesse Eisenberg, “A Real Pain”; Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance”; Peter Straughan, “Conclave” Volker Bertelmann, “Conclave”; Daniel Blumberg, “The Brutalist”; Kris Bowers, “The Wild Robot”; Clement Ducol, Camille “Emilia Pérez”; Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, “Challengers”; Hans Zimmer, “Dune: Part Two” “Beautiful That Way” from “The Last Showgirl” (music/lyrics by Andrew Wyatt, Miley Cyrus, Lykke Zachrisson); “Compress/Repress” from “Challengers’ (music/lyrics by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Luca Guadagnino; “El Mal” from EL MAL” from “Emilia Pérez” (music/lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille, Jacques Audiard; “Forbidden Road” from ”Better Man′′ (music/lyrics by Robbie Williams, Freddy Wexler, Sacha Skarbek); “Kiss the Sky” from “The Wild Robot′′ (music/lyrics by Delacey, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Maren Morris, Michael Pollack, Ali Tamposi); ”Mi Camino′′ from “Emilia Pérez” (music/lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille) “Shogun”; “The Diplomat”; “Slow Horses”; “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”; “The Day of the Jackal”; “Squid Game” “Abbott Elementary”; “The Bear; “Hacks”; “Nobody Wants This”; “Only Murders in the Building”; “The Gentlemen” Donald Glover, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”; Jake Gyllenhaal, “Presumed Innocent”; Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”; Eddie Redmayne, “The Day of the Jackal”; Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shogun”; Billy Bob Thornton, “Landman” Kathy Bates, “Matlock”; Emma D’Arcy, “House of the Dragon”; Maya Erskine, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”; Keira Knightley, “Black Doves”; Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”; Anna Sawai, “Shogun” Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This”; Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”; Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”; Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building”; Kathryn Hahn, “Agatha All Along”; Jean Smart, “Hacks” Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”; Ted Danson, “A Man on the Inside”; Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”; Jason Segel, “Shrinking”; Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”; Jeremy All White, “The Bear” “Baby Reindeer”; Disclaimer"; “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”; “The Penguin”; “Ripley”; “True Detective: Night Country” Cate Blanchett, “Disclaimer''; Jodie Foster, ”True Detective: Night Country"; Cristin Milioti, “The Penguin''; Sofia Vergara, ”Griselda"; Naomi Watts, “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans”; Kate Winslet, “The Regime” Colin Farrell, “The Penguin”; Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”; Kevin Kline, “Disclaimer”; Cooper Koch, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”; Ewan McGregor, “A Gentleman in Moscow”; Andrew Scott, “Ripley” Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”; Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”; Dakota Fanning, “Ripley”; Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”; Allison Janney, “The Diplomat”; Kali Reis, “True Detective: Night Country” Tadanobu Asano, “Shogun''; Javier Bardem, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”; Harrison Ford, “Shrinking”; Jack Lowden “Slow Horses”; Diego Luna, “La Maquina”; Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear” Jamie Foxx, “Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was”; Nikki Glaser, “Nikki Glaser: Someday You'll Die”; Seth Meyers, “Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking”; Adam Sandler, "Adam Sandler: Love You"; Ali Wong, “Ali Wong: Single Lady”; Ramy Youssef, “Ramy Youssef: More Feelings” —List compiled by The Associated Press Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

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If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. is brimming with great deals on new games, including older titles you can purchase for pennies on the dollar and recent hits that might be hard to justify at full price. You can usually find great deals on gaming accessories, too, from controllers and headsets to expanded storage for consoles like the Xbox Series X / S. We’ve combed through all of the early Black Friday gaming deals to bring together the best of the bunch in one convenient spot Tons of games are discounted right now, as we’re seeing the lowest prices to date on recent hits like and . You can also find discounts on lesser-known gems like , which is on sale for $40 in one of its first major sales. Hardware discounts can be rare, but there are sizable savings to be had across the board, whether you’re after a , , a , or even a Steam Deck alternative like the . 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It doesn’t hurt that Sony’s titular robot is as adorable as ever. . includes the base game as well as CDPR’s excellent expansion, which improves the game significantly. The spy thriller DLC introduces players to a new area of Night City, along with a host of new quests and items. The Nintendo Switch OLED Model: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle includes a digital copy of and 12 months of Nintendo Switch Online, saving you an additional $79.98 when it’s not on sale. Sony’s new standard PlayStation 5 includes a removable disc drive, dual front-facing USB-C ports, 1TB of storage, and a slightly smaller and lighter design. The Xbox Series X is Microsoft’s flagship console, serving as its most powerful (and biggest) option focused on fast, 4K gameplay. . With an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, a 1TB SSD, and 24GB of RAM, the ROG Ally X is one of the most powerful PC gaming handhelds available. It also features a 7-inch 1080p variable refresh rate display and longer battery life than the original Ally. . The controller designed for the PS5, featuring adaptive triggers, a built-in microphone, and haptic feedback technologies. . The Switch Pro released alongside the Switch console in 2017, and it’s a tough controller to beat. It offers an unmatched set of features (HD rumble, motion controls, NFC), and it’s one of the most comfortable Switch controllers out there. Scuf’s Instinct Pro is its top-tier controller for Xbox consoles and PC. It’s one of the only third-party wireless options around, and for its very high price, you get rubberized grips, built-in mappable rear paddle buttons, hair-trigger locks, swappable sticks, and user-configurable cosmetics. The Fusion Pro 3 is the latest version of PowerA’s affordable alternative to premium controllers like the Xbox Elite Series 2. It comes with swappable sticks, friction rings, a compact zip-up case, and features four programmable buttons built into its rear. The Backbone One can connect to Android phones and iPhones as far back as the 6S, depending on the model. It’s a fully featured controller complete with dual analog sticks, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and its own software for capturing screenshots and connecting to game streaming services. Turtle Beach’s Recon Controller is a USB-C-wired gamepad that offers a great deal of audio tweaking for wired headsets. Its Superhuman Hearing mode draws out footsteps and gunfire in the mix, and the two rear buttons help make it great for FPS games. The Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset supports active noise cancellation, swappable batteries, Bluetooth support, and compatibility with PC and most consoles — including Xbox and PlayStation. This model includes a base station that makes it easy to toggle crucial sound settings. . Sony’s PlayStation Pulse Elite is an over-ear headset with a retractable boom mic. It’s designed to filter out background noise, deliver low latency and lossless audio, and work with the PlayStation Portal or the PlayStation 5, PC, and Mac via the PlayStation Link USB adapter. Proprietary SSD expansion for the Xbox Series X / S consoles. The plug-and-play drives are designed to be as fast as the Xbox internal SSD and are sold in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB configurations. Western Digital’s storage expansion cards for Xbox Series X / S consoles are speedy, plug-and-play cards that match the performance of the consoles’ onboard SSDs. They offer a slightly lower-cost alternative to Seagate’s expansion cards, which were the only game in town for years. You can use almost any microSD card for your Nintendo Switch, but SanDisk’s Nintendo-licensed versions come with ideal read / write speeds for Switch games and have been stamped with custom designs based on popular series like . Sony sells a bundle consisting of its PSVR 2, controllers, and a physical copy of for the PS5. The G502 X Lightspeed is Logitech’s equivalent of the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro — or vice versa. It uses Logitech’s 1,000Hz wireless tech and is compatible with the $120 Powerplay mat, which wirelessly charges the mouse as you play. / /

Retailers coax Black Friday shoppers into stores with big discounts and giveaways NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the U.S. have used giveaways and bigger-than expected discounts to reward shoppers who ventured out on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving still reigns for now as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season even if it’s lost some luster. Analysts reported seeing the biggest crowds at stores that offered real savings. They say many shoppers are being cautious with their discretionary spending despite the easing of inflation. Stores are even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Online sales figures from Thanksgiving Day gave retailers a reason to remain hopeful for a lucrative end to the year. Southwest Airlines says it is ending cabin service earlier to reduce chance of injury Southwest Airlines is ending its cabin service earlier starting next month. Beginning on Dec. 4, a company spokesperson says flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. The company says it's making the changes to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries. For passengers, that means they will need to return their seats to an upright position or do other pre-landing procedures earlier than before. While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, injuries have piled up over the years. Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday season PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — While retailers hope to go big this holiday season, customers may notice that the catalogs arriving in their mailboxes are smaller. Many of the millions of catalogs getting sent to U.S. homes were scaled down to save on postage and paper. Some gift purveyors are sending out postcards. In a sign of the times, the American Catalog Mailers Association rebranded itself in May as the American Commerce Marketing Association. Despite no longer carrying an extended inventory of goods, industry experts say catalogs help retailers cut through the noise and still hold their own in value because of growing digital advertising costs. Canada's Trudeau returns home after Trump meeting without assurances that tariffs are off the table WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is returning home after his meeting with Donald Trump without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump says the dinner talks Friday night at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida were “productive.” But he signaling no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. Trudeau spoke of “an excellent conversation” but offered no details. Trump said in a Truth Social post later Saturday that they discussed “many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address.” Trump and Republicans in Congress eye an ambitious 100-day agenda, starting with tax cuts WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans swept to power on Election Day and now control the House, the Senate and the White House, with plans for an ambitious 100-day agenda come January. Their to-do list includes extending tax breaks, cutting social programs, building the border wall to stop immigration and rolling back President Joe Biden's green energy policies. Atop that list is a plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring tax cuts that were a signature domestic achievement of Republican Donald Trump’s first term as president. It's an issue that may define his return to the White House. The ruble's in a slump. For the Kremlin, that's a two-edged sword Russia’s ruble is sagging against other currencies, complicating the Kremlin’s efforts to keep consumer inflation under control with one hand even as it overheats the economy with spending on the war against Ukraine with the other. Over time a weaker ruble could mean higher prices for imports from China, Russia's main trade partner these days. President Vladimir Putin says things are under control. One wild card is sanctions against a key Russian bank that have disrupted foreign trade payments. If Russia finds a workaround for that, the ruble could regain some of its recent losses. Iceland votes for a new parliament after political disagreements force an early election REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Icelanders are electing a new parliament after disagreements over immigration, energy policy and the economy forced Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to pull the plug on his coalition government and call early elections. This will be Iceland’s sixth general election since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy of the North Atlantic island nation and ushered in a new era of political instability. Opinion polls suggest the country may be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Benediktsson, who was named prime minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, struggled to hold together the unlikely coalition of his conservative Independence Party with the centrist Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement. Massachusetts lawmakers push for an effort to ban all tobacco sales over time BOSTON (AP) — A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have weighed similar “generational tobacco bans.” The bans phase out the use of tobacco products based not just on a person's age but on birth year. Lawmakers plan to file the proposal next year. If approved, the bill would set a date and ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after that date forever, eventually banning all sales. Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has approved the construction of a high-speed railway connecting the capital Hanoi in the north with the financial capital of Ho Chi Minh in the south. It is expected to cost $67 billion and will stretch 1,541 kilometers (957 miles). The new train is expected to travel at speeds of up to 350 kph (217 mph), reducing the journey from the current 30 hours to just five hours. The decision was taken by Vietnam’s National Assembly on Saturday. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and Vietnam hopes that the first trains will start operating by 2035. But the country has been beleaguered by delays to its previous infrastructure projects. Inflation rose to 2.3% in Europe. That won't stop the central bank from cutting interest rates FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November — but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new U.S. tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth. The European Union’s harmonized index of consumer prices rose 2.3 percent, up from 2.0% in October, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. However, worries about growth mean the Dec. 12 ECB meeting is not about whether to cut rates, but by how much. Market buzz says there could be a larger than usual half-point cut in the benchmark rate, currently 3.25%.MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bird Construction Inc. (TSX: BDT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Evelyn Angelle to its Board of Directors (the “Board”), effective immediately. Ms. Angelle will fill a vacancy on the Board, bringing the total number of directors to 10. Ms. Angelle, a private investor, philanthropist and director, joins the Board with a distinguished background in public company finance and public accounting, having held senior leadership positions at Halliburton Company after a 15-year career in the audit practice of Ernst & Young LLP. A certified public accountant in Texas and certified management accountant, Ms. Angelle’s expertise will be instrumental as Bird continues to pursue its strategic growth initiatives. “We are delighted to welcome Evelyn Angelle to our Board of Directors,” said Paul Raboud, Chairman of Bird Construction Inc. “With her extensive experience in public accounting and senior financial roles as well as her knowledge of supply chain management and investor relations, we are confident that she will make significant contributions to our Board and its Committees as we continue to execute on our strategic priorities and drive value for our shareholders.” Ms. Angelle will immediately join the Board’s Audit Committee and Health, Safety and Environment Committee. Mr. Richard Bird will continue to serve as Audit Committee Chair in an interim capacity. Ms. Angelle is an independent corporate director. She currently serves as a director of Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: FET), where she chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Nominating, Governance and Sustainability Committee. Ms. Angelle also serves as a member of the Board of Directors, and as a member of the Audit Committee, of STEP Energy Services, Ltd. (TSX: STEP), an oilfield services company. Ms. Angelle serves on the Board of Managers of Amp Americas II Holdings LLC, a privately held renewable natural gas company, where she chairs the Audit Committee. Through her career, Ms. Angelle served in numerous executive roles, including as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BJ Services Company LLC, and Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, for Halliburton. Prior to that, she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, and Vice President of Investor Relations, both with Halliburton. Before joining Halliburton, Ms. Angelle worked for 15 years in the audit practice of Ernst & Young LLP, specializing in serving large, multinational public companies. She is a graduate of St. Mary’s College (Notre Dame), where she holds a degree in Accounting. Additionally, she holds a certificate in Cyber Security Oversight from Carnegie Mellon University. Beyond her corporate roles, Ms. Angelle is actively engaged in charitable organizations, serving on the Board of Directors and executive committees of Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas and Junior Achievement USA. Ms. Angelle is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), where she was awarded the distinguished Board Leadership Fellow designation. “I am honored to join the Board of Directors at Bird Construction Inc. and look forward to working with the Board and management team to support the company’s strategic vision,” said Ms. Angelle. “I am excited to become part of Bird’s strong 100-year foundation and to build on its tradition of trust.” Bird (TSX: BDT) is a leading Canadian construction and maintenance company operating from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Servicing all of Canada’s major markets through a collaborative, safety-first approach, Bird provides a comprehensive range of construction services, self-perform capabilities, and innovative solutions to the industrial, buildings, and infrastructure markets. For over 100 years, Bird has been a people-focused company with an unwavering commitment to safety and a high level of service that provides long-term value for all stakeholders.

Negative Finish MondayThe Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the most surprising teams in the NFL this season, as Mike Tomlin's squad is 8-3 and atop the AFC North through 12 weeks. After a 24-19 defeat to the Cleveland Browns in Week 12, Pittsburgh will look to get back in the win column in Week 13 versus the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. One of the primary reasons for the Steelers' success in 2024 has been the play of the offense. Though Arthur Smith's unit has struggled over the last two games, the group has found an identity centered around running back Najee Harris and the rushing attack. Harris is having another solid campaign in 2024, totaling 944 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. The former Alabama standout is the engine of Pittsburgh's offense and is setting himself up for a lucrative payday in free agency this offseason. The Steelers declined Harris' fifth-year option worth $6.79 million in May , setting the stage for the 26-year-old to hit unrestricted free agency in 2025. Though the Steelers could look to re-sign Harris, the 2021 No.24 overall pick will have a competitive market. A plethora of teams will be interested in Harris' services, but during an appearance on the Joe Starkey Show on 93.7 The Fan , The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Brian Batko stated that he believes the Las Vegas Raiders will be a team to look out for in the Najee Harris sweepstakes in the spring. "I think he (Harris), too, wouldn’t mind a fresh start,” Batko said. “The team that I mentioned in my chat the other day when someone asked about him was the Las Vegas Raiders. We all know Marshawn Lynch was his mentor, another Oakland guy. They still have the same agent and stuff like that. They’ll be in the position, I think, to draft a rookie and probably pay a running back. So I think that would be pretty cool if Najee ends up in Vegas next year, I just don’t see him back here." The Raiders would be an intriguing landing spot for Harris, as Las Vegas has one of the worst running back rooms in the NFL and desperately needs a dynamic playmaker at the position. The Raiders will likely select a quarterback in the draft, and providing their presumed young signal-caller with a potent rushing attack would be a logical move from the franchise. Harris isn't an elite player but is a physical, downhill runner who has never missed a game. The Steelers would love to have Harris back, but the team has an adequate replacement for the 2021 Pro Bowler in Jaylen Warren. Pittsburgh could also look to use a Day 2 or Day 3 pick on a running back, so they have a ton of options at their disposal to replace Harris if the two-time National Champion departs the Steel City in the offseason. MORE PITTSBURGH STEELERS NEWS Steelers share thoughts on Hard Knocks: 'I'd rather stay in the shadows' Steelers vs. Bengals injury report has 2 ruled out, 2 questionable, 2 doubtful Will T.J. Watt apologize to Myles Garrett for DPOY tweet? Here's what Steelers star saidST Picks: Are we willing to pay more for hawker food?

( MENAFN - IANS) New Delhi, Dec 25 (IANS) On the joyous occasion of Christmas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and congress President Mallikarjun Kharge extended heartfelt greetings on Wednesday, emphasising the values of compassion, peace, and unity. Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi shared his warm wishes and reflected on the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ. In his post, he wrote: "Wishing you all a Merry Christmas. May the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ show everyone the path of peace and prosperity." PM Modi also shared a video from his recent visit to the Christmas programme organised by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI). In the video, he highlighted the enduring significance of Jesus Christ's teachings: "Jesus Christ showed the path of compassion and selfless service to the world. We celebrate and remember Jesus so that we can imbibe these values in our lives. I believe this is our personal responsibility, a social obligation, and also our duty as a nation." "Today, the country is taking this spirit forward through the resolve of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, and Sabka Prayas.' The teachings of the Lord Christ celebrate love, harmony, and brotherhood. It is important that we all work together to make this spirit stronger," said PM Modi. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also conveyed his Christmas greetings, focusing on the ideals of forgiveness, service, and compassion. In his post on X, he wrote: "To my fellow citizens, I extend warm wishes on Christmas, which embodies the ideals of forgiveness, peace, and unity. The festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ underscores the need to follow the ideals of sacrifice, service, redemption, and amity. The values of compassion for all living beings and concern for those in need imbue this joyous occasion with a unique spirit of sharing," said Kharge adding "May these festivities usher in a new era of hope, happiness, and prosperity for all. Merry Christmas!" MENAFN24122024000231011071ID1109028850 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.xbet casino online 。

Conte’s last public act as Spurs head coach after a 3-3 draw at St Mary’s in 2023 was to launch a furious tirade against his own “selfish” players who he claimed “don’t want to play under pressure” before he seemed to turn on the board as he questioned the club’s ongoing trophy drought. Eight days later Conte had left Tottenham by mutual consent after a whirlwind 16-month period, with Postecoglou his eventual permanent successor. Postecoglou has been in charge of the Premier League club for two months longer than the Italian, but managed 12 fewer matches and is currently in the middle of an injury crisis which has resulted in a drop in form, with Spurs only able to claim one victory from their last eight fixtures. However, when Postecoglou was asked if he would jump ship in the wake of making remarks like Conte did in March, 2023, he said: “Look, I don’t think it’s fair to comment. “Antonio is a world-class manager and has his own way of doing things, his own reasons for doing that. “I am here, I am in for the fight. I am in a fight, for sure. For better or worse I am not going anywhere at the moment because everything is still in my power and my responsibility. “I still have a real desire to get us through this stage so that people see what is on the other side. My resolve and determination hasn’t wavered one little bit. “I love a fight, I love a scrap, I love being in the middle of a storm when everyone doubts because I know what it is on the other side if you get through it. My job is to get through it.” Postecoglou was Celtic boss when Conte’s extraordinary 10-minute press conference made waves around the world, but acknowledged being aware of his predecessors’ comments and attempted to explain the psyche behind why a manager would make such a move. “I was on Planet Earth at that time, and yes I was well aware of it,” Postecoglou smiled. “I think you know when a manager gets to that point that there’s obviously some underlying issues. “I think most of the time when managers do that they’re trying to get a reaction, trying to get some sort of impact on the team. “In difficult moments, what you want from your leaders is action rather than inaction of just letting things drift along. He did it to try and get a positive impact on the group, one way or another. We’ve all been in that situation as a manager where you feel this is time to send a message.” Postecoglou sent out his own message on Thursday after a 1-1 draw away to Rangers when he insisted Timo Werner’s display “wasn’t acceptable” at Ibrox. Werner was replaced at half-time following an error-strewn performance, but was not alone in being below-par in Glasgow. A day later Postecoglou explained how with Spurs missing several key first-teamers, the onus is on their fit senior players to deliver a level of application and commitment – and admitted Werner will be required at St Mary’s on Sunday. “I’ve got no choice. Who else am I going to play? I’m pulling kids out of school, I literally am,” Postecoglou mentioned in reference to 16-year-old duo Malachi Hardy and Luca Williams-Barnett, who have recently made the bench. “That was the reasoning for me pointing it out last night. We need Timo. We need all of them. “In normal times if you have a poor game, there’s a price to pay. It doesn’t exist right now. We need everybody we’ve got.”A survey shows Bluesky users are more Democratic and politically engaged than Threads users. Threads has 300 million monthly users, surpassing Bluesky's 24 million. Bluesky allows users to add their own moderation policies. A new survey revealed stark political and behavioral differences between users of rival social media platforms Bluesky and Meta-owned Threads . Advertisement Bluesky's user base skews heavily Democratic, with nearly half of its users identifying with the party, according to findings published earlier this month by CivicScience, a research and survey company. In contrast, only 34% of Threads users identified as either Democrat or Independent. The study also found that Bluesky users are more politically engaged overall. And nearly three-quarters of them said that they experienced higher levels of stress postelection. In contrast, 33% of people who used Threads daily said that their stress levels decreased after Donald Trump's victory on November 5. Advertisement "With the surge of Bluesky coming so directly in the wake of the presidential election, it's not surprising that the user base is disproportionately more left-leaning than the user base of Threads," John Dick, CivicScience CEO and founder, told Business Insider. The survey included 12,188 Threads users and 5,431 Bluesky users. This roughly mirrors the ratio of both platforms' user bases in the adult US population, as 18% of respondents reported using Threads daily, compared to 8% for Bluesky , CivicScience data found. Both social networks experienced significant user growth following the US election, particularly as billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of X, threw his weight behind Trump and actively promoted misinformation that reportedly garnered over 2 billion views. Advertisement Still, Threads seems to be eating Bluesky's lunch. Earlier this month, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the platform had more than 300 million monthly active users, compared to Bluesky's 24 million users at the beginning of this month. Bluesky began life inside Twitter in 2019 as a project started under the company's former CEO, Jack Dorsey . Its goal was to give users more control over moderation. Bluesky has been an independent company since 2021 and is a decentralized social network. Bluesky is powered by the "AT Protocol" (Authenticated Transfer Protocol), which means that while Bluesky operates the main server, anyone can create and run their own server that can work with Bluesky . This allows users to choose different providers while maintaining a unified social network experience. Crucially, this also means that users can add their own moderation policies on top of Bluesky's built-in moderation systems . Advertisement "The decentralized moderation policies of Bluesky, which allow for more proliferation of political content on the platform, could be exacerbating this phenomenon," said Dick of Bluesky's left-leaning user base, "as Democrats and liberals create a sort of tribal safe space for their views and conversations." Beyond politics, the survey revealed an optimism gap between the two platforms regarding AI. Bluesky users appear to be significantly more bullish on the technology, with 62% believing that AI will have at least a somewhat positive impact on the quality of their lives over the next decade, compared to 51% of Threads users. Overall, More Bluesky users are likely to use platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and X every day compared to Threads users who gravitate toward Facebook and Instagram, which are both owned by Meta.

Mumbai: NGO Hosts ‘Samuhik Vivah’ For 25 Tribal Couples In Dahanu, Promoting Social Inclusion

Years of deficits are a sign of a structurally sick Victorian budget and long-term plans to fix it are reactive, the state’s financial watchdog has warned. Auditor-General Andrew Greaves has sounded the alarm about “structural issues” in his 2023/24 annual financial report into the state after the government sector posted another operating loss of $4.2 billion (US$2.7 billion). It was the eighth consecutive year the Victorian Labor government spent more money than it raised, with a fiscal cash deficit of $14.4 billion (US$9.3 billion). The result pushed total losses to $48 billion (US$31.1 billion) in the past five years, $31.5 billion (US$20.4 billion) of which the government blamed on its response to the COVID-19 pandemic and $16.5 billion (US$10.7 billion) on providing public services. But Greaves signalled the repeated outcome was symptomatic of bigger and broader problems. “Ongoing operating losses and fiscal cash deficits are indicators of structural issues with underlying revenue and expenditure policy settings that create risks to financial sustainability,” the report tabled in parliament on Nov. 22 said. Gross government sector debt outpaced revenue and economic growth to top $168.8 billion (US$109.4 billion) and was projected to reach $228.2 billion (US$147.9 billion) by mid-2028. Interest repayments on the ballooning debt jumped $1.7 billion (US$1.1 billion) from new or refinanced borrowings at higher interest rates. The higher interest bill, growing public sector employee wages and other costs including the $380 million (US$246.3 million) 2026 Commonwealth Games settlement pushed operating expenses $3.7 billion (US$2.4 billion) higher. The auditor-general’s office said interest expenses now made up 6.1 percent of operating revenue and were expected to soar to 8.8 percent by 2027/28. The Allan government has committed to reducing net debt levels, relative to a percentage of the state’s economy by 2027/28 with $4.9 billion (US$3.2 billion) in cost-saving initiatives across the next four years. “Achieving these savings and maintaining current service levels will be challenging given several emerging financial risks,” the report said. Greaves said current strategies were short-term, reactive and did not address both the existing financial challenges and emerging financial risks. Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson rejected his claim and another that structural issues in the budget could jeopardise the delivery of essential services. “I like Andrew personally but I don’t agree with his report,” he told reporters outside Treasury Place. “We’ve got a really strong, vibrant economy here in Victoria.” Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the report was a damning verdict on the Labor government’s debt record. “Nearly 10 percent of every dollar raised in revenue will be going simply to pay interest—that’s not acceptable,” he said.Nebraska’s sprawling football operation arrives in New York City ahead of Pinstripe BowlManila, Philippines – December 04, 2024 – Mondelēz International in the Philippines celebrated a major milestone in its sustainability journey as it has been conferred the Plastic Cleanup Partner Seal by the PCX Markets. This recognition highlights the company’s commitment to sustainable practices, particularly its adherence to the Philippine Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law and ongoing efforts to manage plastic waste within the snacking industry. The Plastic Cleanup Partner label is awarded to companies that take significant, measurable actions to clean up plastic waste. Mondelēz International’s involvement in this initiative is part of a broader sustainability strategy focused on reducing packaging waste, evolving packaging designs, and improving recycling systems to contribute to a circular economy. PCX Markets is a plastic credit marketplace that collaborates with organizations that collect and divert post-consumer plastic waste through a transparent, environmentally sound, and socially responsible framework. “Achieving the Plastic Cleanup Partner seal is an important milestone for us,” said Aleli Arcilla, Managing Director of Mondelēz International in the Philippines. “This seal is a powerful message to our stakeholders, consumers, and partners that we are actively working to ensure that plastic waste is diverted from nature and the landfill. It is a symbol of our dedication to our Sustainable Snacking Strategy,’ ensuring that the right snack is delivered in the right way.” In addition to receiving the Plastic Cleanup Partner seal, Mondelēz International also discussed its ongoing efforts to support the EPR Law. The company is committed to complying with the law’s guidelines and actively participates in initiatives to make packaging materials more circular and less wasteful. “We believe compliance with the EPR Law is not just about meeting requirements; it’s about leading by example and advocating for others to follow,” added Arcilla. “At Mondelēz International, we are committed to reducing plastic packaging, evolving our materials to use recycled content, and improving waste management systems in countries where we operate. That is why for every kilo of post-consumer plastic packaging we introduce to the market; we ensure the equivalent amount is collected and diverted from nature here in the Philippines.” This commitment goes beyond the 40% collection and diversion requirement of the EPR Law this 2024. The company’s sustainability programs also extends beyond certification. Their ‘Trash Right’ program, which educates teachers and schoolchildren about waste management and plastic collection, has already engaged twenty-seven public elementary schools in Parañaque City together with ocean advocacy group Save Philippine Seas. Mondelēz International has successfully collected almost ten metric tons of plastic for diversion to upcycling through this initiative. Furthermore, the company has just launched two new Aling Tindera sites in Parañaque City, providing local collection points to further support community recycling and sustainability efforts. This program, which transforms women micro-entrepreneurs running small “sari-sari” stores into sustainability leaders, allows local residents to sell their plastic waste directly to their neighborhood Aling Tindera. These women collect, clean, and store the plastic, which is then responsibly processed, with compensation provided for each delivery. Adds Rudi Ramin, Commercial Director of PCX Markets, “Mondelēz International’s achievement of the Plastic Cleanup Partner Seal in the Philippines shows their commitment to real, measurable action against plastic waste. Their initiatives, like ‘Trash Right’ and Aling Tindera, go beyond compliance—they empower communities and set the standard for sustainability in business. At PCX Markets, we’re proud to partner with Mondelēz International in creating a cleaner, more circular future.” The company’s commitment to diverting plastic pollution from nature is part of a wider plastic sustainability plan. Globally, Mondelēz International aims to ensure 98% or more of its packaging is designed for recyclability, and to reduce the amount of virgin plastic it uses by 2025. With its ongoing efforts and future commitments, Mondelēz International aims to continue its collection and diversion of its total post-consumer plastic packaging onwards, making sustainability a core aspect of its operations and contributing to a circular economy where plastic is seen as a valuable resource and does not end up as waste. ### About Mondelēz International Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world with 2023 net revenues of approximately $36 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as OREO, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Sour Patch Kids candy and Trident gum. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ . Being business-savvy should be fun, attainable and A+. BMPlus is BusinessMirror's digital arm with practical tips & success stories for aspiring and thriving millennial entrepreneurs.

World’s oldest surviving market running for 1,000 YEARS holds its final Christmas meat auction before it CLOSESCentessa: Shift In Focus With ORX750 Development Continues To Pay Off

1 2 3 Guwahati: Manipur, Assam, and Meghalaya are racing against time to complete the 100 per cent target in providing tap water connections to rural households, with close to 80 per cent coverage achieved. Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram have reached the 100 per cent target of providing tap water to households before the water crisis begins in the dry season. After achieving 81.31 per cent piped water supply coverage under JJM, no progress in JJM works has occurred since Oct amid quality assessment. Pointing out deficiencies in quality control and delays in project timelines, a temporary suspension was implemented on all projects under the JJM in Assam from Oct. An audit of the projects was commissioned. A govt release recently stated that Assam achieved a remarkable milestone, with tap water connections reaching over 82% of households, a substantial increase from just 1.67% in 2019. Public health engineering minister Jayanta Malla Baruah reaffirmed the govt's commitment to stringent monitoring of JJM projects and acknowledged the media's crucial role in identifying areas for enhancement. According to the JJM dashboard, as of Wednesday, among the northeastern states, Nagaland ranks third with 92.60 per cent coverage in household tap water connections. Tripura holds the fourth position with 84.62 per cent coverage, while Meghalaya (81.36) and Assam (81.31) occupy the fifth and sixth positions respectively. Violence-affected Manipur remains at the bottom among northeastern states with 79.58 per cent coverage. Before reaching a temporary halt, JJM Assam achieved 81% (i.e., 58.45 lakh) functional household tap connections alongside several other social initiatives. The endeavour has been to cover nearly 75 lakh rural households across 25,000 plus villages throughout the state, implementing via 8,000 plus contractors and utilising Rs. 19,550 crores thus far. Assam is implementing over 27,000 piped water supply schemes (PWSS) across the state, of which, a govt release said approximately 15,800 have been completed. However, it said challenges persist regarding project delays and suspected quality issues considering the scale of implementation and varied contractor capabilities in certain regions. The state govt maintains that the temporary standstill period was initiated to review the quality and timelines of ongoing projects. A team from the Centre for Urbanization, Buildings and Environment (CUBE), a joint initiative of IIT Madras and the Govt of Tamil Nadu, arrived in Assam in Nov to professionally evaluate the implemented works and submit a report with their observations and suggested improvements. These observations shall provide insights and data for enhanced decision-making by state authorities to ensure a sustainable drinking water supply to Assam's rural population. Ten inspection teams from CUBE, comprising 20 people, commenced evaluating work standards from Nov 2, 2024, across all districts. While sources indicate the assessment's completion, attention now focuses on future strategies to achieve complete coverage, particularly when 11 states and union territories have already attained 100 percent coverage nationwide. Current Status in Northeast India 1. 100% Coverage Achieved Arunachal Pradesh Mizoram 2. Progress in Other States Nagaland: 92.60% (3rd rank) Tripura: 84.62% (4th rank) Meghalaya: 81.36% (5th rank) Assam: 81.31% (6th rank) Manipur: 79.58% (lowest in NE) Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .Midfielder Leandro Trossard heads in a goal during Arsenal's 5-1 rout of Sporting Lisbon. LISBON - Arsenal extended their revival with a ruthless 5-1 rout of Sporting Lisbon to bolster their bid to reach the Champions League last 16 on Nov 26. Mikel Arteta’s side ended a three-match winless run in all competitions by beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 in the Premier League last weekend. And the Gunners built on that success with an even more dynamic display at the Jose Alvalade stadium. Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal an early lead and Kai Havertz increased their advantage before Gabriel Magalhaes struck just before half-time. Goncalo Inacio got one back for Sporting, but Bukayo Saka’s penalty underlined the gulf in class between the teams. Leandro Trossard netted late on to give Arsenal five away goals in a Champions League game for the first time since 2008. Arsenal’s third win in five Champions League matches this season lifted them into seventh place, with the top eight teams in the revamped tournament earning automatic qualification for the last 16. Sporting’s first defeat in Europe’s elite club competition this season leaves them below Arsenal on goal difference. Arsenal are nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after their dip, but this swaggering effort suggested they are finally back in the groove. Arteta had challenged Arsenal to make a statement against Sporting and they responded in emphatic fashion. Arsenal’s Kai Havertz scores their second goal. PHOTO: REUTERS The north Londoners’ first away win in the Champions League in six attempts was a welcome tonic after a 1-0 loss at Inter Milan in their last European fixture. Arsenal’s impressive performance was all the more notable as Sporting had crushed Manchester City 4-1 in their final Champions League game under Ruben Amorim, who has since taken charge of Manchester United. Joao Pereira has replaced Amorim as Sporting boss but he was unable to maintain their unbeaten start to the season as the Portuguese champions were defeated for the first time in 19 games in all competitions. Arsenal run riot It took just seven minutes for Martinelli to put Arsenal ahead. Jurrien Timber’s low cross was perfectly weighted and the Brazilian slid in to apply the finish inside the six-yard box. In stark contrast to City’s capitulation at Sporting earlier in November, Arteta’s men were in complete command. They picked the Sporting defence apart again in the 22nd minute as Thomas Partey’s incisive pass picked out Saka’s run beyond the hosts’ creaky offside trap. Saka guided a pin-point pass into the Sporting area and Havertz timed his run immaculately to slot home from close range. Sporting finally forced a save from David Raya when 17-year-old Geovany Quenda unleashed a fierce strike that the Arsenal keeper tipped over. But Gabriel bagged his first Champions League goal on the stroke of half-time. Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes scores their third goal past Sporting CP’s Franco Israel. PHOTO: REUTERS Arsenal’s set-piece prowess was on show as the Brazilian defender rose highest to power his header past Franco Israel from Declan Rice’s in-swinging corner. Gabriel marked the goal with a cheeky celebration as he mimicked the eye-covering gesture used by Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres when he scores. That inflammatory gesture briefly woke Sporting from their slumber and Inacio reduced the deficit two minutes after half-time. Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori went to sleep at a corner and Inacio took advantage to volley past Raya from close range. Sporting needed another goal quickly to put Arsenal under genuine pressure, but instead it was the visitors who struck again in the 65th minute. Ousmane Diomande’s lunge tripped Martin Odegaard in the area and Saka drilled his penalty into the corner of the net. Trossard put the seal on Arsenal’s demolition job in the 82nd minute, nodding home after Israel spilled Mikel Merino’s shot. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now

Should AI be used to resurrect extinct species like the Neanderthal? | Mohammad Hosseini

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Jamaica’s youth are being encouraged to add their voices to the discussion on pressing global issues, such as climate change and poverty. Senior Director in the Youth and Adolescent Policy Division, Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Yanique Williams, made the call while addressing the National Youth Leaders Symposium on Poverty and Climate Change at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters in Mona, St. Andrew, on Wednesday (November 20). Ms. Williams said youth participation is key in addressing the challenges, noting that, “this symposium [provided] a meaningful platform to amplify the youth voices and showcase their solutions.” “Climate change and poverty are challenges that know no boundaries, requiring innovative thinking, collaborative action, and an unwavering commitment to leaving no one behind,” she further pointed out. Ms. Williams said the symposium’s staging aligned with Jamaica’s national celebration of Youth Month under the theme: ‘IMPACT – Innovative Minds, Purposeful Action: Collective Triumphs’. She assured that the Ministry remains steadfast in its mission to empower the youth through education, skills training, and opportunities that enable meaningful participation in Jamaica’s development. Several young people, representing tertiary institutions and youth advocacy groups, participated in the Symposium. Also in attendance were His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, in his capacity as a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador, and UNDP officials. Ms. Williams expressed her appreciation to His Royal Highness for his dedication to amplifying youth voices across the globe. She said the Ministry acknowledges the significant role of strategic partnerships, particularly with the UNDP, in facilitating numerous projects, citing initiatives in social justice and biodiversity, and the Reducing Small Arms and Light Weapons in Jamaica joint programme (SALIENT). “Partnerships, like these, help us in our commitment to empowering young people, enabling them to lead and drive impactful change, here in Jamaica, and around the world,” Ms. Williams stated.

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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s online media association said two reporters were killed and several others were wounded in a gang attack on Tuesday on the reopening of Port-au-Prince’s biggest public hospital. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and they forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year. Authorities had pledged to reopen the facility Tuesday but as journalists gathered to cover the event, suspected gang members opened fire in a vicious Christmas Eve attack. Robest Dimanche, a spokesman for the Online Media Collective, identified the dead journalists as Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean. Dimanche said an unspecified number of reporters had also been wounded in the attack, which he blamed on the Viv Ansanm coalition of gangs. Haiti’s interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. “I send my sympathies to the people who were victims, the national police and the journalists,” Voltaire said, pledging “this crime is not going to go unpunished.” A video posted online by the reporters trapped inside the hospital showed what appeared to be two lifeless bodies of men on stretchers, their clothes bloodied. One of the men had a lanyard with a press credential around his neck. Radio Télé Métronome initially reported that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded. Police and officials did not immediately respond to calls for information on the attack. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. They forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year during violence that also targeted the main international airport and Haiti’s two largest prisons. Authorities had pledged to reopen the facility Tuesday but as journalists gathered to cover the event, suspected gang members opened fire. Video posted online earlier showed reporters inside the building and at least three lying on the floor, apparently wounded. That video could also not be immediately verified. Johnson “Izo” André, considered Haiti’s most powerful gang leader and part of a gang known as Viv Ansanm, which that has taken control of much of Port-au-Prince , posted a video on social media claiming responsibility for the attack. The video said the gang coalition had not authorized the hospital’s reopening. Haiti has seen journalists targeted before. In 2023, two local journalists were killed in the space of a couple of weeks — radio reporter Dumesky Kersaint was fatally shot in mid-April that year, while journalist Ricot Jean was found dead later that month. In July, former Prime Minister Garry Conille visited the Hospital of the State University of Haiti, more widely known as the General Hospital, after authorities regained control of it from gangs. The hospital had been left ravaged and strewn with debris. Walls and nearby buildings were riddled with bullet holes, signaling fights between police and gangs. The hospital is across the street from the national palace, the scene of several battles in recent months. Gang attacks have pushed Haiti’s health system to the brink of collapse with looting, setting fires, and destroying medical institutions and pharmacies in the capital. The violence has created a surge in patients and a shortage of resources to treat them. Haiti’s health care system faces additional challenges during the rainy season, which is likely to increase the risk of water-borne diseases. Poor conditions in camps and makeshift settlements have heightened the risk of diseases like cholera, with over 84,000 suspected cases in the country, according to UNICEF. Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-americaShould AI be used to resurrect extinct species like the Neanderthal? | Mohammad HosseiniIssues, Challenges that Shaped Telecoms Sector in 2024

Willis finished 3 of 9 from 3-point range and 6 for 7 from the line for the Golden Hurricane (4-3). Isaiah Barnes scored 12 points while shooting 4 for 9, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc and added seven rebounds. Dwon Odom had 11 points and went 5 of 8 from the field. Jared Lary led the way for the Titans (3-4) with 12 points and two steals. Tulsa led 36-27 at halftime, with Willis racking up nine points. Tulsa extended its lead to 54-35 during the second half, fueled by a 9-2 scoring run. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

5ok Arizona (7-8) at Los Angeles Rams (9-6) Saturday, 8:15 p.m. EST, NFL Network BetMGM : Rams by 6 1/2. Against the spread: Cardinals 9-6; Rams 8-7. Series record: Rams lead 50-41-2. Last meeting: Cardinals beat Rams 41-10 in Glendale, Ariz. on Sept. 15. Last week: Cardinals lost to Carolina 36-30, OT; Rams beat New York Jets 19-9. Cardinals offense: overall (11), rush (5), pass (20), scoring (14). Cardinals defense: overall (20), rush (22), pass (13), scoring (T-13). Rams offense: overall (15), rush (20), pass (13), scoring (17). Rams defense: overall (24), rush (25), pass (19), scoring (21). Turnover differential: Cardinals minus-4; Rams plus-5. Cardinals player to watch WR Marvin Harrison Jr. has had a relatively productive rookie season with 51 catches for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. But it’s also true that he hasn’t always looked like the true franchise changing force the Cardinals expected when they took him with the No. 4 overall pick. Arizona might be out of the playoff race, but Harrison’s development continues to be a major focus for the team down the stretch. Rams player to watch RB Kyren Williams is coming off his best game of the season after rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries to help Los Angeles grind out a win at the Meadowlands. He hardly factored into the first meeting against Arizona, a game the Rams trailed 14-0 halfway into the first quarter and 24-3 at halftime, getting 12 carries and running for 25 yards and a touchdown behind a battered offensive line. Key matchup Cardinals QB Kyler Murray vs. Rams defensive line. Los Angeles had no answers for Murray in September as he threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns without an interception and added 59 yards rushing. But their defensive front is much more cohesive than it was in the second week of the season, with rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske proving to be menaces in the backfield. If Murray feels that pressure and can’t keep his eyes downfield, the Rams will be in much better shape to limit Arizona’s passing game. Key injuries The Cardinals have been beat up over the past two games. Both of the starting tackles — Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) and Jonah Williams (knee) — are out for the season after they were put on injured reserve this week. Others such as RB James Conner (knee), LB Baron Browning (neck), LB Mack Wilson Sr. (concussion) and DL Darius Robinson (calf) have been limited during practice. ... The Rams are in good shape, a far cry from where they were to start the season. RT Rob Havenstein was the only name on their injury report through Wednesday, when he was limited because of a shoulder injury. Series notes Arizona has not swept the season series since 2014 when the Rams were playing in St. Louis. ... The Rams and Cardinals have split the past four meetings. Arizona had dropped 11 of the previous 12 in the series. ... Los Angeles is 3-2 against Arizona since moving into SoFi Stadium in 2020, kickstarting its run to the Super Bowl after the 2021 season with a 34-11 win in an NFC wild-card game. Stats and stuff The Cardinals have lost four of their past five games and were eliminated from the playoff race after last week’s 36-30 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Cardinals have made the playoffs just once over the past nine seasons. That was in 2021 ... Harrison had four catches for 130 yards and two TDs vs. the Rams in Week 2. All of that production came in the span of seven plays in the first quarter. ... The Cardinals are No. 5 in the NFL with 145.8 yards rushing per game. They also rank No. 2 with 5.28 yards per carry. ... Chad Ryland has made 25 field goals since his debut in Week 5, which ranks fourth in the NFL over that span. ... Safety Budda Baker has a career-high 148 tackles this season, which broke his previous high of 147 set in 2019. ... James Conner has 1,500 yards from scrimmage this season, including 1,090 rushing and 410 receiving. ... Trey McBride has caught 91 passes this season, which is a franchise record at tight end for the Cardinals. ... The Rams can clinch a playoff spot with a win and either a Seahawks loss or tie or a series of results elsewhere to secure the strength of victory tiebreaker. ... Rams QB Matthew Stafford threw for 110 yards against the Jets. Los Angeles has won all four games this season where Stafford has finished with fewer than 200 yards through the air. ... WR Puka Nacua had a record-setting rookie season, but Arizona was the one team that kept him in check. Nacua made four catches in each of the two meetings in 2023, finishing with 26 and 27 yards. ... The Rams didn’t have LT Alaric Jackson (suspension), LG Steve Avila (knee) or Nacua (knee) in the Week 2 game against the Cardinals. ... Los Angeles has run for at least 132 yards in four straight games, with Williams accounting for at least 87 yards in each outing that span. Fantasy tip Cooper Kupp likely sank many a fantasy title push with his limited production over the past month, and the Rams WR should remain on benches this week for any owners still in the mix. Kupp has topped 44 yards receiving once in his past five games against Arizona. ___ AP NFL: The Associated PressBad Bunny announces a new album, 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos'

WOOD DALE, Ill. , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, today announced that it will release financial results for its second quarter of fiscal year 2025, ended November 30, 2024 , after the close of the New York Stock Exchange trading session on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 .PLYMOUTH — A 76-yard rushing score from Foxboro High’s Ben Angelini with 36 seconds to go in the game lifted the Warriors over Hanover High to punch No. 3 Foxboro’s ticket for the Division 5 Super Bowl with a 14-7 victory last Friday. The play, which was a draw to Angelini, was one that brought Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli a jubilant outlook on the sideline. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

This story was published as part of Billboard’s music technology newsletter ‘Machine Learnings.’ Sign up for ‘Machine Learnings,’ and Billboard’s other newsletters, here . Let’s get the news out of the way: on Monday (Nov. 24) Drake initiated legal action against Universal Music Group — the parent company of his record label — and Spotify over allegations that the two companies conspired to artificially inflate the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” This, he says, was done through a variety of allegedly illegal promotional methods, like UMG — which also is the parent company to Kendrick’s label — accepting a royalty reduction in exchange for boosting streams; payola via independent radio promotions; and paid but undisclosed influencer campaigns. (For their part, Universal called these claims “ offensive and untrue .”) Longtime readers of Machine Learnings know that most of the topics presented in Drake’s case are ones we’ve covered extensively in this newsletter. I don’t take the issues of streaming fraud and shady digital marketing tactics lightly, and if these allegations are true, it would be a bombshell that one of the world’s biggest artists called out the world’s largest music company for partaking in it. (And trust me, I’d be all over reporting that!) But while Drake’s allegations could still hold some merit, this particular court document seems to be backed up with questionable evidence and — it seems — some level of misunderstanding about the way music promotion works today. So let’s break it down. Here are a few key quotes from Monday’s court document, with commentary. “In his memo to staff reflecting on the highlights of 2021, the CEO of UMG, Lucian Grainge, remarked on it being ‘harder than ever for artists to break through the noise: sixty thousand songs are added to Spotify every day. ’” Maybe I’m splitting hairs by pointing this out, but I find this to be a strange way to begin laying out these allegations. Why are they citing highlights from 2021 when we get updates every year about how many songs are added to Spotify on a daily basis? It would have been far more effective to start by including the 2023 stat: 120,000 songs are uploaded to Spotify each day, according to Luminate. Or, if they want to keep the quote from Grainge in, why not tack that current number on to the end? Throughout this document, it seems like Drake’s team is missing key, up-to-date information on the ways songs are released and marketed today. This is surprising, given Drake is one of the most successful artists in the world and one who often makes savvy marketing and business decisions. One of those marketing tactics that immediately comes to mind is when Drake graced the cover of a ton of Spotify playlists during the release of his album Scorpion in 2018 to raise awareness, and streams, for the project. It was so over the top that Billboard reported at the time that some fans were calling for Spotify to provide refunds because they were seeing too much Drake. “On information and belief, UMG charged Spotify licensing rates 30 percent lower than its usual licensing rates for “Not Like Us” in exchange for Spotify affirmatively recommending the Song to users who are searching for other unrelated songs and artists. Neither UMG nor Spotify disclosed that Spotify had received compensation of any kind in exchange for recommending the Song.” Rather than some nefarious back room deal, this sounds like Drake’s lawyers are referring to Spotify’s Discovery Mode feature , which is used by a wide array of labels and artists and is practically never disclosed. According to an article from Spotify’s support team, artists who want a song to receive an additional algorithmic boost on the platform can opt in to Discovery Mode which “doesn’t require an upfront budget” and instead takes a “30% commission... to recording royalties generated from all streams of selected songs in Discovery Mode contexts.” When Spotify debuted this feature in November 2020, it immediately drew controversy. In June 2021 , Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Hank Johnson Jr. (D-GA) sent a letter to Spotify’s CEO/founder Daniel Ek voicing worries that the feature “may set in motion a ‘race to the bottom’ in which artists and labels feel compelled to accept lower royalties as a necessary way to break through an extremely crowded and competitive music environment.” Again, in March 2022 , Reps. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Judy Chu (D-CA) and Tony Cardenas (D-CA) — co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Multicultural Media — expressed concerns that Discovery Mode “lack[ed] transparency” for both artists and consumers. The representatives then asked the company to publish “on a monthly basis the name of every track enrolled in the program” and the agreed-upon discounted royalty rate for each, calling Discovery Mode “a serious risk for musicians.” That said, it’s not clear if “Not Like Us” was part of Spotify’s Discovery Mode program, and historically, Universal Music Group has not been known to use the feature for any of its frontline releases — including any Kendrick Lamar or Drake songs. “UMG, directly or through Interscope, also conspired with and paid currently unknown parties to use ‘bots’ to artificially inflate the spread of ‘Not Like Us’ and deceive consumers into believing the Song was more popular than it was in reality... One individual unknown to Petitioner revealed publicly on a popular podcast that Mr. Kendrick Lamar Duckworth’s ‘label’ (i.e., Interscope) paid him via third parties to use ‘bots’ to achieve 30,000,000 streams on Spotify in the first days of the release of ‘Not Like Us’” If this is true, this is streaming fraud and would be a serious offense. Just a few months ago, a man named Michael Anthony Smith was indicted by federal prosecutors on charges of wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy for allegedly using bots to boost the streams of his catalog and to help him siphon $10 million out of the royalty pool. But the evidence here is sketchy. Drake’s lawyers admit that the “individual” who was allegedly solicited to artificially drive up Kendrick’s streams is “unknown to [Drake]” but that this anonymous person went on DJ Akademiks ’ podcast to talk about this alleged scheme. DJ Akademiks is a podcaster who is known to be close with Drake, and he has played a significant role in backing up Drake during the beef earlier this year . Even if this ended up being true, which seems like a stretch, it feels quite biased. “While historically payola has been thought of in terms of paying radio stations to play songs, in February 2020, the Federal Trade Commission released guidance stating that ‘by paying an influencer to pretend that their endorsement or review is untainted by a financial relationship, this is illegal payola.’ On information and belief, UMG employed a similar scheme by paying social media influencers to promote and endorse the Song and Video. For example, Petitioner understands that UMG paid the popular NFR Podcast — which has nearly 300,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 330,000 followers on X — to promote ‘Not Like Us’” Drake’s team is citing a quote from February 2020 by the FTC that has been removed from the agency’s website. I do not know if that means it is no longer their current rule, or if there was another reason. What I do know is that just a few months ago, I wrote a story on the topic of influencers receiving undisclosed payments to play songs in the background of TikTok videos. I went into the reporting believing, as Drake’s team seems to, that this was definitely against FTC guidelines, but the FTC told me that wasn’t necessarily the case. “While we can’t comment on any particular example, that practice seems somewhat analogous to a product placement,” the FTC told me. “When there are songs playing in the backgrounds of videos, there are no objective claims made about the songs. The video creator may be communicating implicitly that they like the song, but viewers can judge the song themselves when they listen to it playing in the video. For these reasons, it may not be necessary for a video to disclose that the content creator was compensated for using a particular song in the background in the video.” Some of the examples from NFR that Drake cites here are not exactly the same type of pay-to-play content I researched for my story, but I could see these examples being acceptable by the FTC based on what they told me. One example of UMG’s alleged influencer payola cited by Drake’s lawyers was a tweet by NFR that says that Kendrick Lamar’s new music video was released. Another was NFR saying “Kids rapping Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ word for word at a birthday party.” Another: “Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ becomes the FASTEST rap song to reach 300M Spotify streams.” All three of these examples are objective statements about one of the biggest artists in the world. Referring back to the statement I got from the FTC, “There are no objective claims made about the songs...viewers can judge the songs themselves.” (I say all this while also acknowledging that some of the other examples listed might be in more of a gray area with the FTC). The practice of paying influencers to post about new songs is nothing new, and one major label marketer told me he estimated “75% of popular songs on TikTok started with a creator marketing campaign.” According to digital marketing experts, influencer campaigns have been the go-to marketing strategy at every major label since TikTok took off in 2020. With that in mind, it is hard for me to imagine that Drake’s team has never run a similar campaign for any of his own viral hits, which would undermine his entire argument. “Streaming and licensing is a zero-sum game. Every time a song ‘breaks through,’ it means another artist does not. UMG’s choice to saturate the music market with ‘Not Like Us’ comes at the expense of its other artists, like Drake. As Drake is Petitioner’s sole owner, and Petitioner owns the copyright to Drake’s entire catalogue, Petitioner suffered economic harm as a result of UMG’s scheme.” I find this to be a strange claim — that if Kendrick’s song streams well it directly takes away from Drake or other artists. It feels like a stretch to blame Kendrick for other artists not succeeding with their songs at the same time. I imagine Drake faced more “economic harm” from the reputational damage this song did to him (by calling him a “pedophile”) than it did by being a “zero-sum” streaming game. Plus, with UMG the parent company distributing both artists — and thus making money from their success — it makes no business sense for them to be deliberately harming his career and prospects. This zero-sum claim seems to be what he’s getting at in his second legal filing , released Tuesday (Nov. 26). In it, he claims UMG should have stopped Kendrick from releasing a song with “false” claims that defamed his character. “UMG ... could have refused to release or distribute the song or required the offending material to be edited and/or removed,” Drake’s lawyers write in the court document. “But UMG chose to do the opposite. UMG designed, financed and then executed a plan to turn ‘Not Like Us’ into a viral mega-hit with the intent of using the spectacle of harm to Drake and his businesses to drive consumer hysteria and, of course, massive revenues. That plan succeeded, likely beyond UMG’s wildest expectations.” By saying this, Drake is essentially advocating for labels to censor their artists, which is a very slippery slope — I’d wager most people would find it troublesome if a billion-dollar corporation started preemptively censoring art. Not to mention, Drake has levied plenty of his own unsubstantiated claims against Kendrick this year, most notably on also-UMG-released diss track “Family Matters.” The hip-hop industry has fought for years to remind the judicial system in the U.S. that not everything a rapper says in a song is a cold hard fact, and it should not be used as evidence against a rapper in a criminal sense. As top music attorney Dina Lapolt once put it to Variety , “[these] attempts to put all rap lyrics into the categories of historical fact and fiction [are] failing to understand that hip-hop, like most art, is more complex than that... lyrics are not to be taken literally.”California vows to step in if Trump kills US EV tax credit

iRobot Announces Inducement Grant under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Total Revenue of $529.4 million , up 22% Year-over-Year Continued Strong Customer Growth with Over 52,600 Customers as of October 31, 2024 MongoDB Atlas Revenue up 26% Year-over-Year; 68% of Total Q3 Revenue NEW YORK , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MongoDB, Inc. MDB today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended October 31, 2024 . "MongoDB's third quarter results were significantly ahead of expectations on the top and bottom line, driven by better-than-expected EA performance and 26% Atlas revenue growth. We continue to see success winning new business due to the superiority of MongoDB's developer data platform in addressing a wide variety of mission-critical use cases," said Dev Ittycheria, President and Chief Executive Officer of MongoDB. "We continue to invest in our legacy app modernization and AI offerings as our document model and distributed architecture are exceptionally well suited for customers looking to build highly-performant, modern applications. MongoDB is in a great position to be a central pillar of the emerging AI tech stack and benefit from the next wave of application development in the years ahead." Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights Revenue: Total revenue was $529.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of 22% year-over-year. Subscription revenue was $512.2 million , an increase of 22% year-over-year, and services revenue was $17.2 million , an increase of 18% year-over-year. Gross Profit: Gross profit was $394.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, representing a 74% gross margin compared to 75% in the year-ago period. Non-GAAP gross profit was $405.7 million , representing a 77% non-GAAP gross margin, consistent with a non-GAAP gross margin of 77% in the year-ago period. Loss from Operations: Loss from operations was $27.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, compared to a loss from operations of $45.2 million in the year-ago period. Non-GAAP income from operations was $101.5 million , compared to non-GAAP income from operations of $78.5 million in the year-ago period. Net Loss: Net loss was $9.8 million , or $0.13 per share, based on 74.0 million weighted-average shares outstanding, for the third quarter of fiscal 2025. This compares to a net loss of $29.3 million , or $0.41 per share, in the year-ago period. Non-GAAP net income was $98.1 million , or $1.16 per share, based on 84.2 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding. This compares to a non-GAAP net income of $79.1 million , or $0.96 per share, in the year-ago period. Cash Flow : As of October 31, 2024 , MongoDB had $2.3 billion in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash. During the three months ended October 31, 2024 , MongoDB generated $37.4 million of cash in operations, used $2.0 million of cash in capital expenditures and used $0.9 million of cash in principal repayments of finance leases, leading to free cash flow of $34.6 million , compared to free cash flow of $35.0 million in the year-ago period. A reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure has been provided in the financial statement tables included at the end of this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures." Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 and Recent Business Highlights MongoDB announced the general availability of MongoDB 8.0, the best-performing version of MongoDB. With more than 45 architectural enhancements and new features like vector quantization in MongoDB Atlas Vector Search, MongoDB 8.0 provides significant performance improvements, reduced costs, and additional scalability, resilience, and data security capabilities. MongoDB continues to expand its partnerships with the major cloud providers. At Amazon Web Services' (AWS) re:Invent conference, MongoDB was named AWS's Technology Partner of the Year for North America . MongoDB also announced that it obtained the AWS Modernization Competency designation and launched a MongoDB University course focused on building AI applications with MongoDB and AWS. At Microsoft Ignite, MongoDB announced new technology integrations for AI, data analytics, and automating database deployments across on-premises, cloud, and edge environments. Launched in July 2024 , the MongoDB AI Applications Program (MAAP) is designed to help companies unleash the power of their data and to take advantage of rapidly advancing AI technologies. We recently announced that Capgemini, Confluent, IBM, Unstructured, and QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey have joined the MAAP ecosystem, offering customers additional integration and solution options. Executive Leadership Update Michael Gordon , MongoDB's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, will be stepping down at the end of the Company's fiscal year on January 31, 2025 , and afterwards will serve as an advisor to ensure a smooth transition. The Company has commenced an executive search process for a new CFO and will evaluate internal and external candidates. Serge Tanjga, MongoDB's Senior Vice President of Finance, will serve as interim CFO starting February 1st if a permanent successor has not been named by that date. Dev Ittycheria commented, "On behalf of everyone at MongoDB, I want to thank Michael for everything he has done to contribute to our success in his nearly 10 years with the company. In Michael's time here, MongoDB had a successful IPO, has grown revenue nearly 50x and has successfully scaled the business model to generate meaningful operating leverage. Michael has also built out a world-class finance team that I am confident will deliver a smooth transition to a new CFO in the coming months." Michael Gordon said, "I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished as a team in my almost ten years with the company. While we have achieved much success to date, I strongly believe MongoDB is still in the early stages of realizing its full potential as it continues to expand its share in one of the largest markets in software. I'd like to thank Dev for our tremendous partnership this past decade." Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2025 Guidance Based on information available to management as of today, December 9, 2024 , MongoDB is issuing the following financial guidance for the fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2025. Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2025 Full Year Fiscal 2025 Revenue $515.0 million to $519.0 million $1.973 billion to $1.977 billion Non-GAAP Income from Operations $55.0 million to $58.0 million $241.8 million to $244.8 million Non-GAAP Net Income per Share $0.62 to $0.65 $3.01 to $3.03 Reconciliations of non-GAAP income from operations and non-GAAP net income per share guidance to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are not available without unreasonable efforts on a forward-looking basis due to the high variability, complexity and low visibility with respect to the charges excluded from these non-GAAP measures; in particular, the measures and effects of stock-based compensation expense specific to equity compensation awards that are directly impacted by unpredictable fluctuations in MongoDB's stock price. MongoDB expects the variability of the above charges to have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on its future GAAP financial results. Conference Call Information MongoDB will host a conference call today, December 9, 2024 , at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss its financial results and business outlook. A live webcast of the call will be available on the "Investor Relations" page of MongoDB's website at https://investors.mongodb.com . To access the call by phone, please go to this link ( registration link ), and you will be provided with dial in details. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. A replay of the webcast will also be available for a limited time at http://investors.mongodb.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements concerning MongoDB's financial guidance for the fourth fiscal quarter and full year fiscal 2025. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts and statements identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "will," "would" or the negative or plural of these words or similar expressions or variations. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to us and on assumptions we have made. Although we believe that our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects as reflected in or suggested by those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that the plans, intentions, expectations or strategies will be attained or achieved. Furthermore, actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and are subject to a variety of assumptions, uncertainties, risks and factors that are beyond our control including, without limitation: our customers renewing their subscriptions with us and expanding their usage of software and related services; the effects of the ongoing military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas on our business and future operating results; economic downturns and/or the effects of rising interest rates, inflation and volatility in the global economy and financial markets on our business and future operating results; our potential failure to meet publicly announced guidance or other expectations about our business and future operating results; our limited operating history; our history of losses; failure of our platform to satisfy customer demands; the effects of increased competition; our investments in new products and our ability to introduce new features, services or enhancements; our ability to effectively expand our sales and marketing organization; our ability to continue to build and maintain credibility with the developer community; our ability to add new customers or increase sales to our existing customers; our ability to maintain, protect, enforce and enhance our intellectual property; the effects of social, ethical and regulatory issues relating to the use of new and evolving technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in our offerings or partnerships; the growth and expansion of the market for database products and our ability to penetrate that market; our ability to integrate acquired businesses and technologies successfully or achieve the expected benefits of such acquisitions; our ability to maintain the security of our software and adequately address privacy concerns; our ability to manage our growth effectively and successfully recruit and retain additional highly-qualified personnel; and the price volatility of our common stock. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2024 , filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024 . Additional information will be made available in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2024 , and other filings and reports that we may file from time to time with the SEC. Except as required by law, we undertake no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, changes in expectations or otherwise. Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release includes the following financial measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per share and free cash flow. Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin exclude expenses associated with stock-based compensation. Non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share exclude: expenses associated with stock-based compensation including employer payroll taxes upon the vesting and exercising of stock-based awards and expenses related to stock appreciation rights previously issued to our employees in China ; amortization of intangible assets for the acquired technology and acquired customer relationships associated with prior acquisitions; and in the case of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share, amortization of the debt issuance costs associated with our convertible senior notes and gains or losses on our financial instruments; additionally, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share are adjusted for an assumed provision for income taxes based on an estimated long-term non-GAAP tax rate. The non-GAAP tax rate was calculated utilizing a three-year financial projection that excludes the direct impact of the GAAP to non-GAAP adjustments and considers other factors such as operating structure and existing tax positions in various jurisdictions. We intend to periodically reevaluate the projected long-term tax rate, as necessary, for significant events and our ongoing analysis of relevant tax law changes. MongoDB uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing its financial results and believes they are useful to investors, as a supplement to GAAP measures, in evaluating MongoDB's ongoing operational performance. MongoDB believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing its financial results with other companies in MongoDB's industry, many of which may present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. Free cash flow represents net cash from/used in operating activities, less capital expenditures, principal repayments of finance lease liabilities and capitalized software development costs, if any. MongoDB uses free cash flow to understand and evaluate its liquidity and to generate future operating plans. The exclusion of capital expenditures, principal repayments of finance lease liabilities and amounts capitalized for software development facilitates comparisons of MongoDB's liquidity on a period-to-period basis and excludes items that it does not consider to be indicative of its liquidity. MongoDB believes that free cash flow is a measure of liquidity that provides useful information to investors in understanding and evaluating the strength of its liquidity and future ability to generate cash that can be used for strategic opportunities or investing in its business in the same manner as MongoDB's management and board of directors. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. In particular, other companies may report non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per share, free cash flow or similarly titled measures but calculate them differently, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, as presented below. This earnings press release and any future releases containing such non-GAAP reconciliations can also be found on the Investor Relations page of MongoDB's website at https://investors.mongodb.com . About MongoDB Headquartered in New York , MongoDB's mission is to empower innovators to create, transform, and disrupt industries by unleashing the power of software and data. Built by developers, for developers, MongoDB's developer data platform is a database with an integrated set of related services that allow development teams to address the growing requirements for today's wide variety of modern applications, all in a unified and consistent user experience. MongoDB has tens of thousands of customers in over 100 countries. The MongoDB database platform has been downloaded hundreds of millions of times since 2007, and there have been millions of builders trained through MongoDB University courses. To learn more, visit mongodb.com . Investor Relations Brian Denyeau ICR for MongoDB 646-277-1251 ir@mongodb.com Media Relations MongoDB press@mongodb.com MONGODB, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data) (unaudited) October 31, 2024 January 31, 2024 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 673,054 $ 802,959 Short-term investments 1,629,038 1,212,448 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $8,212 and $8,054 as of October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024, respectively 334,629 325,610 Deferred commissions 103,715 92,512 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 53,827 50,107 Total current assets 2,794,263 2,483,636 Property and equipment, net 47,345 53,042 Operating lease right-of-use assets 35,859 37,365 Goodwill 69,679 69,679 Acquired intangible assets, net 963 3,957 Deferred tax assets 5,575 4,116 Other assets 271,101 217,847 Total assets $ 3,224,785 $ 2,869,642 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 11,444 $ 9,905 Accrued compensation and benefits 120,598 112,579 Operating lease liabilities 10,787 9,797 Other accrued liabilities 86,795 74,831 Deferred revenue 286,431 357,108 Convertible senior notes, net 1,124,720 — Total current liabilities 1,640,775 564,220 Deferred tax liability 1,030 285 Operating lease liabilities 27,639 30,918 Deferred revenue 18,481 20,296 Convertible senior notes, net — 1,143,273 Other liabilities 34,884 41,661 Total liabilities 1,722,809 1,800,653 Stockholders' equity: Common stock, par value of $0.001 per share; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized as of October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024; 74,493,146 shares issued and 74,393,775 shares outstanding as of October 31, 2024; 72,840,692 shares issued and 72,741,321 shares outstanding as of January 31, 2024 73 73 Additional paid-in capital 3,357,146 2,777,322 Treasury stock, 99,371 shares (repurchased at an average of $13.27 per share) as of October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024 (1,319) (1,319) Accumulated other comprehensive income 2,606 4,545 Accumulated deficit (1,856,530) (1,711,632) Total stockholders' equity 1,501,976 1,068,989 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 3,224,785 $ 2,869,642 MONGODB, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data) (unaudited) Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Revenue: Subscription $ 512,205 $ 418,339 $ 1,412,906 $ 1,182,387 Services 17,170 14,599 45,139 42,622 Total revenue 529,375 432,938 1,458,045 1,225,009 Cost of revenue: Subscription (1) 111,150 87,954 318,728 250,949 Services (1) 24,181 19,104 67,553 58,895 Total cost of revenue 135,331 107,058 386,281 309,844 Gross profit 394,044 325,880 1,071,764 915,165 Operating expenses: Sales and marketing (1) 217,954 192,977 658,937 571,644 Research and development (1) 151,410 128,150 446,437 370,387 General and administrative (1) 52,556 49,969 163,892 135,900 Total operating expenses 421,920 371,096 1,269,266 1,077,931 Loss from operations (27,876) (45,216) (197,502) (162,766) Other income, net 20,767 19,554 61,749 51,336 Loss before provision for income taxes (7,109) (25,662) (135,753) (111,430) Provision for income taxes 2,667 3,635 9,145 9,710 Net loss $ (9,776) $ (29,297) $ (144,898) $ (121,140) Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (0.13) $ (0.41) $ (1.97) $ (1.71) Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share, basic and diluted 74,020,593 71,560,023 73,472,900 70,878,162 (1) Includes stock‐based compensation expense as follows: Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Cost of revenue—subscription $ 7,884 $ 6,018 $ 21,566 $ 17,607 Cost of revenue—services 3,495 3,200 10,151 9,490 Sales and marketing 40,540 40,585 121,193 118,567 Research and development 57,850 50,759 168,211 143,238 General and administrative 15,943 15,267 47,777 44,194 Total stock‐based compensation expense $ 125,712 $ 115,829 $ 368,898 $ 333,096 MONGODB, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands of U.S. dollars) (unaudited) Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Cash flows from operating activities Net loss $ (9,776) $ (29,297) $ (144,898) $ (121,140) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 2,405 4,711 9,580 13,257 Stock-based compensation 125,712 115,829 368,898 333,096 Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs 715 849 2,419 2,543 Amortization of finance right-of-use assets 994 994 2,981 2,981 Amortization of operating right-of-use assets 3,229 2,302 8,300 6,781 Deferred income taxes (825) (195) (799) (572) Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on short-term investments, net (5,656) (10,896) (19,117) (36,405) Realized and unrealized gain on financial instruments, net (338) — (1,190) (1,294) Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) 788 (1,621) 1,992 (322) Change in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, net (24,557) (397) (11,258) 11,761 Prepaid expenses and other current assets (1,964) 3,485 (582) 700 Deferred commissions (18,821) (12,720) (38,794) (17,160) Other long-term assets (8,395) (77) (17,704) (215) Accounts payable 1,370 1,434 1,569 1,078 Accrued liabilities (6,719) 16,855 22,494 20,314 Operating lease liabilities (3,777) (2,333) (9,145) (6,989) Deferred revenue (17,039) (47,374) (71,352) (138,724) Other liabilities, non-current 92 (3,127) (3,741) (2,840) Net cash provided by operating activities 37,438 38,422 99,653 66,850 Cash flows from investing activities Purchases of property and equipment (1,981) (2,078) (3,571) (3,336) Investments in non-marketable securities (250) — (5,750) (2,056) Business combinations, net of cash acquired — (15,000) — (15,000) Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities 135,000 435,000 570,000 1,190,000 Purchases of marketable securities (786,170) (583,252) (971,803) (1,233,851) Net cash used in investing activities (653,401) (165,330) (411,124) (64,243) Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from settlement of capped calls — — 170,589 — Proceeds from the issuance of common stock under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan — — 18,640 19,781 Proceeds from exercise of stock options 315 1,303 1,621 4,812 Principal payments of finance leases (895) (1,380) (4,534) (4,083) Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (580) (77) 186,316 20,510 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (274) (2,513) (2,825) (1,098) Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (616,817) (129,498) (127,980) 22,019 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period 1,292,480 607,856 803,643 456,339 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $ 675,663 $ 478,358 $ 675,663 $ 478,358 MONGODB, INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data) (unaudited) Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Reconciliation of GAAP gross profit to non-GAAP gross profit: Gross profit on a GAAP basis $ 394,044 $ 325,880 $ 1,071,764 $ 915,165 Gross margin (Gross profit/Total revenue) on a GAAP basis 74 % 75 % 74 % 75 % Add back: Expenses associated with stock-based compensation: Cost of Revenue—Subscription 7,999 6,201 22,145 18,252 Expenses associated with stock-based compensation: Cost of Revenue—Services 3,639 3,194 10,393 10,734 Non-GAAP gross profit $ 405,682 $ 335,275 $ 1,104,302 $ 944,151 Non-GAAP gross margin (Non-GAAP gross profit/Total revenue) 77 % 77 % 76 % 77 % Reconciliation of GAAP operating expenses to non-GAAP operating expenses: Sales and marketing operating expense on a GAAP basis $ 217,954 $ 192,977 $ 658,937 $ 571,644 Less: Expenses associated with stock-based compensation 42,155 42,349 125,129 130,638 Amortization of intangible assets — 760 85 2,280 Non-GAAP sales and marketing operating expense $ 175,799 $ 149,868 $ 533,723 $ 438,726 Research and development operating expense on a GAAP basis $ 151,410 $ 128,150 $ 446,437 $ 370,387 Less: Expenses associated with stock-based compensation 59,017 52,133 173,166 148,679 Amortization of intangible assets 170 2,052 2,908 5,122 Non-GAAP research and development operating expense $ 92,223 $ 73,965 $ 270,363 $ 216,586 General and administrative operating expense on a GAAP basis $ 52,556 $ 49,969 $ 163,892 $ 135,900 Less: Expenses associated with stock-based compensation 16,377 17,024 50,469 48,329 Non-GAAP general and administrative operating expense $ 36,179 $ 32,945 $ 113,423 $ 87,571 Reconciliation of GAAP loss from operations to non-GAAP income from operations: Loss from operations on a GAAP basis $ (27,876) $ (45,216) $ (197,502) $ (162,766) GAAP operating margin (Loss from operations/Total revenue) (5) % (10) % (14) % (13) % Add back: Expenses associated with stock-based compensation 129,186 120,901 381,303 356,632 Amortization of intangible assets 170 2,812 2,993 7,402 Non-GAAP income from operations $ 101,480 $ 78,497 $ 186,794 $ 201,268 Non-GAAP operating margin (Non-GAAP Income from operations/Total revenue) 19 % 18 % 13 % 16 % Reconciliation of GAAP net loss to non-GAAP net income: Net loss on a GAAP basis $ (9,776) $ (29,297) $ (144,898) $ (121,140) Add back: Expenses associated with stock-based compensation 129,186 120,901 381,303 356,632 Amortization of intangible assets 170 2,812 2,993 7,402 Amortization of debt issuance costs related to convertible senior notes 716 849 2,419 2,543 Less: Gains on financial instruments, net 338 — 1,190 1,294 Income tax effects and adjustments * 21,858 16,145 40,809 41,061 Non-GAAP net income $ 98,100 $ 79,120 $ 199,818 $ 203,082 Reconciliation of GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted, to non-GAAP net income per share, basic and diluted: Net loss per share, basic and diluted, on a GAAP basis $ (0.13) $ (0.41) $ (1.97) $ (1.71) Add back: Expenses associated with stock-based compensation 1.75 1.69 5.19 5.03 Amortization of intangible assets — 0.04 0.04 0.10 Amortization of debt issuance costs related to convertible senior notes 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.04 Less: Gains on financial instruments, net — — 0.02 0.02 Income tax effects and adjustments * 0.30 0.23 0.56 0.58 Non-GAAP net income per share, basic $ 1.33 $ 1.10 $ 2.71 $ 2.86 Adjustment for fully diluted earnings per share (0.17) (0.14) (0.32) (0.39) Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted ** $ 1.16 $ 0.96 $ 2.39 $ 2.47 * Non-GAAP financial information is adjusted for an assumed provision for income taxes based on our long-term projected tax rate of 20%. Due to the differences in the tax treatment of items excluded from non-GAAP earnings, our estimated tax rate on non-GAAP income may differ from our GAAP tax rate and from our actual tax liabilities. ** Diluted non-GAAP net income per share is calculated based upon 84.2 million and 83.7 million of diluted weighted-average shares of outstanding common stock for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2024, respectively, and 82.7 million and 82.2 million of diluted weighted-average shares of outstanding common stock for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2023, respectively. The following table presents a reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, for each of the periods indicated (unaudited, in thousands): Three Months Ended October 31, Nine Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 37,438 $ 38,422 $ 99,653 $ 66,850 Capital expenditures (1,981) (2,078) (3,571) (3,336) Principal repayments of finance leases (895) (1,380) (4,534) (4,083) Capitalized software — — — — Free cash flow $ 34,562 $ 34,964 $ 91,548 $ 59,431 MONGODB, INC. CUSTOMER COUNT METRICS The following table presents certain customer count information as of the periods indicated: 10/31/2022 1/31/2023 4/30/2023 7/31/2023 10/31/2023 1/31/2024 4/30/2024 7/31/2024 10/31/2024 Total Customers (a) 39,100+ 40,800+ 43,100+ 45,000+ 46,400+ 47,800+ 49,200+ 50,700+ 52,600+ Direct Sales Customers (b) 5,900+ 6,400+ 6,700+ 6,800+ 6,900+ 7,000+ 7,100+ 7,300+ 7,400+ MongoDB Atlas Customers 37,600+ 39,300+ 41,600+ 43,500+ 44,900+ 46,300+ 47,700+ 49,200+ 51,100+ Customers over $100K (c) 1,545 1,651 1,761 1,855 1,972 2,052 2,137 2,189 2,314 (a) Our definition of "customer" excludes users of our free offerings and all affiliated entities are counted as a single customer. (b) Direct Sales Customers are customers that were sold through our direct sales force and channel partners. (c) Represents the number of customers with $100,000 or greater in annualized recurring revenue ("ARR") and annualized monthly recurring revenue ("MRR"). ARR includes the revenue we expect to receive from our customers over the following 12 months based on contractual commitments and, in the case of Direct Sales Customers of MongoDB Atlas, by annualizing the prior 90 days of their actual consumption of MongoDB Atlas, assuming no increases or reductions in their subscriptions or usage. For all other customers of our self-serve products, we calculate annualized MRR by annualizing the prior 30 days of their actual consumption of such products, assuming no increases or reductions in usage. ARR and annualized MRR exclude professional services. MONGODB, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE INFORMATION The following table presents certain supplemental revenue information as of the periods indicated: 10/31/2022 1/31/2023 4/30/2023 7/31/2023 10/31/2023 1/31/2024 4/30/2024 7/31/2024 10/31/2024 MongoDB Enterprise Advanced: % of Subscription Revenue 29 % 28 % 28 % 26 % 27 % 26 % 25 % 24 % 25 % Direct Sales Customers (a) Revenue: % of Subscription Revenue 87 % 88 % 88 % 88 % 88 % 88 % 87 % 87 % 88 % (a) Direct Sales Customers are customers that were sold through our direct sales force and channel partners. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mongodb-inc-announces-third-quarter-fiscal-2025-financial-results-302326649.html SOURCE MongoDB, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Bad Bunny Announces a New Album, 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos'ISLAMABAD: Following PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s complaints against the incumbent government, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a committee to resolve the issues between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the committee comprises Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Minister for Economic Affairs Ahmad Khan Cheema. Other members include Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Engineer Amir Muqam, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan, Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Jaffer Khan Mandokhel, and Bashir Ahmed Memon. The prime minister has tasked the committee with the responsibility of "political cooperation and resolving issues after detailed consultations with the ally." The committee will engage in discussions with the members designated by the Bilawal-led party to determine the future course of action, the statement added. After the February 8 general elections, the PPP formed a government in Sindh and announced its support for PML-N in the formation of the government in Centre and Punjab but refused to accept the ministries. Earlier this month, the PPP chairman expressed dissatisfaction with the federal government’s policies and governance style, alleging that PML-N was violating its agreement with his party. Speaking to journalists, Bilawal voiced concerns over the lack of respect shown to his party and complained about the questionable politics being practised by their federal allies. He also expressed disappointment over the Centre’s persistent discrimination against Sindh, terming it a matter of grave concern for his party. He said that as an ally the PPP supported the federal government morally and expected the latter to keep their end of the bargain as per the agreed terms. Though Bilawal's outburst made headlines yet there is no threat to the regime, The News reported. All key PPP leaders know that despite their complaints against the PML-N, the party will not withdraw its support for the Shehbaz-led government, it added. The PPP had recently set up a negotiation committee to resolve its differences with the federal government. The negotiating team includes senior leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman, and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider are also part of the committee, which is tasked with presenting its findings to the CEC next month.

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C3 AI Announces Fiscal Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Article content There are any number of ways to approach the scourge of speeding in residential neighbourhoods — but one Colorado resident went a few extra steps than most. And so now cops in Colorado are seeking whoever’s responsible for the manufacture and installation of road signs which take a blunt approach in telling drivers to slow down. Popping up around the city of Boulder, the signs are the correct shape and colour (and close enough in font) to, at first glance, be official signage. However, the wording on them is definitely not approved by the council. They trade typical messaging such as “Slow Down Kids at Play” for a far more blunt “Don’t Kill Any Kids Today.” A simple “Slow the F*** Down” has also appeared, with the four-letter F-word appearing uncensored. One outlet says about five signs total have been spotted. Harsh but fair, we feel, especially given the fact that any deaths or injuries caused by inattentive or reckless driving are too many. Still, there are rules in society preventing the unauthorized addition or alteration of official traffic signs, a law this vigilante effort flouts. “I appreciate the fact that it’s drawing attention to the fact that we’d like people to slow down and not be on their phones,” police commander Darren Fladung told Denver’s 9News. “But there’s probably, again, a few more appropriate ways about getting that message out.” Local media reports the Transportation Department has removed all the rogue signage ; we idly wonder how many of them now reside on the walls of DoT offices as creatively worded trophies. These signs seem to be professionally manufactured in metal and not just simple sheets of laminated paper some frustrated resident duct taped to a pole. An interactive data set said to be maintained by the City of Boulder until about a year ago suggests there were approximately five fatal crashes in and around the area last year . The same data says just under half of the roughly 1,200 total crashes resulted in some sort of injury or potential injury. Numbers appear to have spiked pre-pandemic at about 2,100 crashes involving vehicles, about 600 of which may have caused some injury or fatality. Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X , Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.Commerce Bancshares senior vice president sells $120,293 in stockThis is CNBC's live blog covering Asia-Pacific markets. Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are Asia-Pacific markets opened mixed on Wednesday, following gains on Wall Street that saw the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach new intraday and closing records. Traders in Asia will assesses monthly consumer price index figures out of Australia, set to be released later in the day. A poll from Reuters expects the monthly CPI indicator to have risen 2.3% in October year on year, from 2.1% in September. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 opened to trade up 0.5%. Japan's Nikkei 225 opened to trade down 0.5%, while the broad-based Topix dropped 0.5%. The South Korean blue-chip Kospi index was down 0.1% at open, while small-cap Kosdaq was trading flat. Hong Kong Hang Seng index futures were at 19,172 slightly higher than the HSI's last close of 19,159.2. In the U.S. on Tuesday, the blue-chip Dow advanced 123.74 points, or 0.28%, to a record close of 44,860.31, while the S&P 500 added 0.57% to a record 6,021.63. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 0.63% to 19,174.30. The strong performance came after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called for a 25% tariff on products from Mexico and Canada, as well as an additional 10% levy on Chinese goods. He has already said he would impose a tariff of up to 20% on all imports, and an additional duty of at least 60% on products from China. According to one market analyst that spoke to CNBC, market participants appeared to look past Trump's announcement as they either expect the taxes to not actually come to fruition, or they have already been priced in by traders. — CNBC's Samantha Subin and Alex Harring contributed to this report. CNBC Pro: 'Cargojet is expensive': Short seller bets against Canada's largest cargo airline A London-based hedge fund is betting against Cargojet , Canada's largest cargo airline, citing concerns about the company's aging fleet, accounting practices, and leadership style. The company did not respond to requests for comment from CNBC Pro. Edgar Allen, founder and chief investment officer of High Ground Investment Management, revealed his firm's bearish stance on Cargojet during the Sohn investment conference earlier this month. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Ganesh Rao CNBC Pro: U.S., China and more: Value investor reveals what to buy as Trump tariffs loom News that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's plans to hike tariffs on imports from China, Canada and Mexico sent ripples across global markets Tuesday. Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at the U.S.-headquartered Bleakley Financial Group, revealed his take on the tariffs, as well as sectors — and stocks — he is watching globally. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here. — Amala Balakrishner Stocks close higher Stocks finished Tuesday's session higher, bringing another all-time closing high for the Dow and S&P 500 . The blue-chip Dow added 0.3%. The broad S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each added 0.6%. — Alex Harring Tariffs will have bigger effect on economy than tax cuts, economist warns The economic outlook next year will depend more on tariffs than on tax cuts, according to Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon. The U.S. economy is robust and is expected to remain so in 2025, the economist said. Daco expects the economy could grow at 2% in 2025, from 2.6% real GDP growth in the fourth quarter, according to the Atlanta Fed GDPNow estimate . But the extent to which tariffs proposed by President-elect Trump will be implemented in the coming year remains an overhang on the economic forecast, and has greater weight than any changes to tax policy. "The truth is that the drag from tariffs on growth is likely to outweigh tax cuts on the forecast horizon," said Daco. "If I tell you that your taxes are not changing in 2026, your reaction to that is going to be very different than if I tell you that your taxes are going lower in 2026. And I think that's a big misconception in terms of the potential boost to economic activity from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," Daco continued. "If it expires, it weighs on the economy by about 1%. If it doesn't expire, it has essentially no effect. You don't get that drag, but it has no positive effect." — Sarah Min Consumer confidence rises in Conference Board survey Consumer confidence moved higher in November while expectations for the stock market climbing hit a new record, the Conference Board reported Tuesday. The organization's consumer confidence index increased to 111.7, or 2.1 points higher than October and slightly above the Dow Jones estimate for 111. Increased expectations for the labor market helped drive the move. At the same time, 56.4% of respondents said they expect stock market prices to be higher a year from now, a fresh record. Inflation expectations also improved, with the five-year outlook down to 4.9%, the lowest since March 2020. — Jeff CoxRays will play 13 of first 16 games at home and 47 of 59, then have 69 of last 103 on road

Inter Milan, one of Italy's most successful football clubs, currently finds itself in the midst of a challenging period. The pressure is mounting on head coach Simone Inzaghi and his players, with recent performances failing to meet the high expectations set by both the club and its fans. As they navigate through a crucial phase in the Serie A season, their upcoming clash against Lazio could potentially deepen their woes and push them into a crisis.agent okebet com 。

Title: "Dark Myth: New Moves for Monsters in Raid Boss 'Tiger Vanguard' Are Super Cool!"Anushka Sharma’s Reaction Goes Viral As Virat Kohli Falls To Familiar Trap Again - WatchIn light of this incident, it is crucial for universities to strengthen their efforts in promoting cultural sensitivity and mutual respect among their diverse student population. Education on gender equality, boundaries, and appropriate behavior should be a priority in creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for everyone.For Barcelona, the signing of Ormeo represents not just a strategic move to improve the team but also a statement of intent and ambition. In a competitive football landscape where quality players are in high demand, securing top talents like Ormeo is essential for staying competitive and challenging for titles.

Ibrahimovic, known for his physicality, aerial prowess, and thunderous shots, achieved the feat in just 11 matches during his time with Paris Saint-Germain. His incredible goal-scoring record, both in France and across Europe, has solidified his status as one of the most prolific forwards of the modern era.

At the top of the table, the perennial contenders and defending champions, Inter Milan, find themselves leading the pack with their strong performances and consistent results. Under the guidance of coach Simone Inzaghi, the Nerazzurri have displayed remarkable resilience and tactical discipline, showcasing why they are the team to beat this season. With star players such as Edin Dzeko and Nicolo Barella in fine form, Inter Milan have set the pace for the rest of the chasing pack.

Furthermore, the Chinese Table Tennis Team's impressive performance in the ITTF World Ranking has further solidified their position as the best in the world. With multiple players consistently ranked at the top of the world rankings, the Chinese team has proven time and time again that they are the ones to beat, showcasing their unrivaled skill, determination, and passion for the sport.

In conclusion, as more and more young people begin to embrace the rural charm, it is clear that a new paradigm is emerging. By stepping away from the frenetic pace of city life and reconnecting with nature, they are not only improving their own well-being but also setting a positive example for future generations. So let's join them in saying goodbye to fatigue and embracing a brighter and more fulfilling future in the coming year.Royce Global Trust (NYSE: RGT) as of Nov 30, 2024

In addition to technological advancements, infrastructure development has also been a key factor driving the transformation of Southeast Asian overseas warehousing. Governments in the region have been investing in improving transport networks, building new ports, and expanding airports to facilitate the movement of goods across borders. This focus on infrastructure development has not only enhanced the efficiency of logistics operations but has also attracted foreign investment and bolstered economic growth in the region.Whatever the verdict, one thing is for certain: the eyes of the footballing world will be firmly fixed on the Premier League as it delivers its judgement on Manchester City. The outcome of this case will have far-reaching consequences, not just for the club in question, but for the entire landscape of English football. Only time will tell whether Manchester City will be able to weather the storm and emerge unscathed, or whether they will be forced to pay the ultimate price for their indiscretions.

In a landmark development, Syrian Prime Minister has agreed to transfer power to the opposition, marking a major step towards resolving the long-standing conflict in the war-torn country. The decision came after extensive negotiations and deliberations between the government and opposition forces, with the aim of fostering a peaceful transition of power and ensuring the continuity of essential services for the Syrian people.

In conclusion, the decision by the Syrian Prime Minister to transfer power to the opposition and to coordinate the power transition process is a positive and encouraging development for the people of Syria. It represents a unique opportunity to build a more stable, inclusive, and peaceful future for the country, and to ensure that essential services are maintained during this critical period of transition. By working together in a spirit of cooperation and unity, the government and opposition can pave the way for a brighter and more hopeful future for all Syrians.

Netflix will have one of its biggest days Wednesday since the site launched in 1998 when it airs two NFL games for the first time. "NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix" begins with a two-hour pregame show at 11 a.m., before Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City. Baltimore faces Houston in the second game. The streaming giant agreed to a three-year contract in May to carry Christmas Day games. Netflix's 282.3 million subscribers in over 190 countries will be able to stream the games, marking the first time one outlet has distributed an NFL game globally. Netflix will have the games available in five languages — English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. The games will also air on CBS affiliates in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston. NFL policy dictates that games on cable or being exclusively streamed must also be on an over-the-air station in the competing teams' markets. It will also be available on mobile devices in the U.S. for those who have NFL+. The biggest reason is money. The league is getting $150 million from Netflix for the two games this season. It also continues the NFL's moves into streaming — Thursday night games are in their third season on Amazon Prime Video and the "Sunday Ticket" package moved to YouTube TV last year. But Christmas is on a Wednesday when games usually aren't played. That's true, but the league wasn't about to give up Christmas after seeing the ratings. Last year's three games averaged 28.68 million viewers. The early afternoon contest between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs led the way, averaging 29.48 million. The Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens and Texans played on Saturday, giving them the same turnaround they would have if they played on Sunday and then Thursday. All four have clinched playoff spots in the AFC, but seeding remains up for grabs. Kansas City (14-1) can clinch the top seed — which would mean a first-round bye and home field throughout the playoffs — with a win over the Steelers. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are tied atop the AFC North at 10-5, with the Steelers holding the tiebreaker due to a better conference record. Houston (9-6) has wrapped up the AFC South and holds the fourth seed. Netflix hopes so. Brandon Riegg, Netflix's vice president of nonfiction series and sports, said the system was stress tested, and then some, during the Nov. 14 bout, along with internet service providers reporting they were also overwhelmed by the surge that occurred before and during the fight. The bout peaked at 65 million concurrent streams, including 38 million concurrent streams in the United States. According to the website Down Detector, nearly 85,000 viewers logged problems with outages or streaming leading up to and during the fight. Possible? Yes. Likely? No. The largest audience for a streamed-exclusive NFL game was 23 million on Peacock for last season's AFC wild-card game between the Miami Dolphins and Chiefs. Nielsen will measure the ratings for the Christmas Day games, with early numbers expected late afternoon on Thursday. It will probably be at kickoff for both games, but especially around 5:45 p.m. EST. That would be near halftime of the Ravens-Texans game, and when Beyoncé will be performing. Mariah Carey will kick off the day with a taped performance of "All I Want for Christmas is You." There is no word if Taylor Swift will make the trip to Pittsburgh to watch her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Swift has been spending time in Kansas City since she wrapped up her Eras Tour two weeks ago. How many Christmas games will Netflix carry in the next two seasons? The NFL will have at least two games on Dec. 25 in 2025 and '26, with Netflix slated to have at least one each year. Amazon Prime Video will have a night game with Christmas on a Thursday next year. Netflix's worldwide partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment will begin on Jan. 6 when "Monday Night Raw" moves to the streaming service. On Friday, Netflix secured the U.S. rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Jimmy Carter, the 39th US President and the third American leader to visit India — during which a village in Haryana was named Carterpuri in his honour — has died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family, the Carter Centre said. Carter died on Sunday, December 29, aged 100. He was the longest-lived President in US history. “Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” President Joe Biden said in a statement mourning his loss. Carter is survived by his children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Rosalynn and one grandchild. “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs,” Chip Carter said. In his statement, Biden said over six decades, with his compassion and moral clarity, Carter worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among the people. He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe. Tune in as I deliver remarks on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. https://t.co/uBeA38kmch “He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism. We will miss them both dearly, but take solace knowing they are reunited once again and will remain forever in our hearts,” said Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden. President-elect Donald Trump said while he “strongly disagreed” with Carter “philosophically and politically”, he also realised that he truly loved and respected “our country, and all it stands for”. “He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect. He was a truly good man and, of course, will be greatly missed. He was also very consequential, far more than most Presidents, after he left the Oval Office,” Trump said. Carter was considered a friend of India. He was the first American president to visit India after the removal of emergency and victory of the Janata Party in 1977. In his address to the Indian Parliament, Carter spoke against authoritarian rule. Tonight we will shine in Red White and Blue to honor the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter 📷: captiv_8/IG pic.twitter.com/xIksQuUp68 “India’s difficulties, which we often experience ourselves and which are typical of the problems faced in the developing world, remind us of the tasks that lie ahead. Not the Authoritarian Way,” Carter said on January 2, 1978. “But India’s successes are just as important because they decisively refute the theory that in order to achieve economic and social progress, a developing country must accept an authoritarian or totalitarian government and all the damage to the health of the human spirit which that kind of rule brings with it,” he told members of the Parliament. “Is democracy important? Is human freedom valued by all people?... India has given her affirmative answer in a thunderous voice, a voice heard around the world. Something momentous happened here last March, not because any particular party won or lost but rather, I think, because the largest electorate on earth freely and wisely choose its leaders at the polls. In this sense, democracy itself was the victor,” Carter said. A condolence message from The King to President Biden and the American people following the death of former US President Jimmy Carter. pic.twitter.com/EIZqj7MZeb A day later at the signing of the Delhi declaration along with then Prime Minister Morarji Desai, Carter said at the heart of the friendship between India and the US is their determination that the moral values of the people must also guide the actions of the states, the governments. “The United States gave the world an illustration of a new form of government, with a new relation between the citizen and the state — a relation in which the state exists to serve the citizen, and not the citizen to serve the state,” he said. “India experimented with creating political unity from overwhelming human diversity, enabling people of different cultures and languages and religions to work together, both in independence and also in freedom. Yours is an experiment whose success the world is celebrating anew,” Carter said in the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. According to the Carter Centre, on January 3, 1978, Carter and then First Lady Rosalynn Carter travelled to the village of Daulatpur Nasirabad, an hour southwest of New Delhi. He was the third American President to visit India and the only one with a personal connection to the country – his mother, Lillian, had worked there as a health volunteer with the Peace Corps during the late 1960s. Every time Jimmy Carter flew Delta, he shook hands with each person on the plane. Because that's who he was. Someone who treated people as people. pic.twitter.com/mnWiiDwaZ3 “The visit was so successful that shortly after, village residents renamed the area ‘Carterpuri’ and remained in contact with the White House for the rest of President Carter’s tenure. The trip made a lasting impression: Festivities abounded in the village when President Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, and January 3 remains a holiday in Carterpuri,” the Carter Centre said, adding that the visit laid the groundwork for an enduring partnership that has greatly benefited both countries. President Carter understood that shared democratic principles formed a strong foundation for a long, fruitful relationship between the US and India. It is, therefore, no surprise that the two nations grew steadily closer in the decades after he left office, it said. “In fact, since the Carter administration, the US and India have worked closely on energy, humanitarian aid, technology, space cooperation, maritime security, disaster relief, counterterrorism, and more. In the mid-2000s, the United States and India struck a landmark agreement to work toward full civil nuclear cooperation, and bilateral trade has since skyrocketed,” the centre said. “In 2010, the first US-India Strategic Dialogue took place in Washington DC, launching what President Barack Obama called ‘an unprecedented partnership’. The arc of US-India ties from the Carter administration to the Biden administration is one of increasing cooperation in both depth and breadth. There are many areas of mutual interest — particularly trade and defense — where successful collaboration has fostered interdependency between the two countries,” it said. Ronak D Desai, Partner and India Practice Leader at Paul Hastings law firm, said Carter’s presidency marked a pivotal moment in US-India relations. After the strain caused by the Nixon administration’s infamous “tilt” toward Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, Carter understood the critical importance of re-engaging with India as a democratic partner in a rapidly evolving global order. His visit to India in 1978 was not merely symbolic but a substantive effort to rebuild trust and establish a framework for dialogue rooted in mutual respect and shared values, he said. “While Carter’s presidency was often viewed through the lens of domestic challenges, his contributions to US-India relations were transformative,” Desai said.

In conclusion, the rumors regarding Sun Xingmin's potential move to the Turkish Super Lig have been swiftly debunked by his agent, who clarified that negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur are still ongoing. Sun Xingmin's future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: his commitment to the Spurs and his determination to succeed at the highest level of football. Fans can continue to support and cheer for Sun Xingmin as he looks to make his mark on the pitch and lead Tottenham Hotspur to further glory in the seasons to come.

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Sip, Shop, and Support: California Closets Shines at Wine Women & ShoesYou can forget about checking that numbered triangular code as you gather plastic bottles, jugs and containers for recycling in North Platte. The city now is accepting all seven types of plastics at its seven dropoff sites across town, City Administrator Layne Groseth said Thursday. It’s one of the first fruits of the City Council’s Oct. 1 vote to send recyclable plastics, tin cans and paper products to Western Resources Group of Ogallala. The city had used ABC Recycling of North Platte exclusively since 2020. The dropoff sites continue to accept cardboard, tin and aluminum cans, newspapers and magazines and other paper products as well as plastics. ABC’s plastic markets accepted only sorted No. 1 and No. 2 plastics, Groseth said, forcing residents to throw other types of plastics into the regular trash. WRG handles all plastic types and doesn’t care if different types are mingled, he added. North Platte’s new blue dropoff bins, decorated with colorful photos of local attractions, haven’t yet been updated to indicate that all seven types of plastics now can be left there, Groseth said. “We’ll work with Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful in the next few months to do more public education on that,” he said. The city hopes to soon begin accepting recyclable glass, because WRC also has a marketer for those products, he said. Since the October switchover, the city’s Public Service Department has been taking cardboard from the dropoff sites to be mulched with wood, brush and other yard waste at North Platte’s transfer station near Lake Maloney. City workers are taking aluminum cans deposited at the dropoff sites to Alter Recycling of North Platte, Groseth said. The tin cans go to WRG in Ogallala with the plastics and paper. Since the ABC Recycling contract expired, he said, recyclables from the dropoff sites are being collected at one of the Public Service Department’s white-roofed, Quonset-shaped buildings. An application for a federal grant of just over $1 million, endorsed by the council Tuesday, aims to fund a permanent city sorting and transfer building. Groseth said the desired Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant would pay for that structure, a new recycling truck and forklift, two rolloff recycling bins and five rolloff cardboard bins. That would let the city add a couple more recycling dropoff sites, he said. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress in 2022 sets aside $275 million nationally to better equip local recycling programs. City Hall hopes to learn by the end of July if it gets the $1 million-plus grant, Groseth said. A new sorting and transfer building likely would rise on the city’s sand and gravel lot across East 12th Street (U.S. Highway 30) from Garden Glove and The Coffee Bin. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Special projects reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds shareholders that a class action was filed on behalf of all investors that purchased or otherwise acquired ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ: ASML) ordinary shares between January 24, 2024 and October 15, 2024. ASML is a leading supplier to the semiconductor industry, providing chipmakers with hardware, software, and services to mass produce integrated circuits (i.e., microchips). For more information, submit a form , email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) Misled Investors About How Issues in the Semiconductor Industry Would Impact the Company According to the complaint, during the class period, defendants failed to disclose that: (1) the issues being faced by suppliers, like ASML, in the semiconductor industry were much more severe than defendants had indicated to investors; (2) the pace of recovery of sales in the semiconductor industry was much slower than defendants had publicly acknowledged; (3) defendants had created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to customer demand and anticipated growth, while also downplaying risk from macroeconomic and industry fluctuations, as well as stronger regulations restricting the export of semiconductor technology, including the products that ASML sells; and (4) as a result, defendants’ statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis. As a result of these acts, ASML stock has declined significantly, harming investors. What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against ASML Holding N.V. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their application to the court by January 13, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP: Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. To be notified if a class action against ASML Holding N.V. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a5fd11c-859b-4575-b6f4-862a0506d704Report on attempts to kill Trump urges Secret Service to limit protection of foreign leaders

PHILADELPHIA -- Former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller sat for a long interview with the NCAA as it looked into concerns about unusual gambling activity, his lawyer said Friday amid reports a federal probe is now under way. “Hysier Miller fully cooperated with the NCAA’s investigation. He sat for a five-hour interview and answered every question the NCAA asked. He also produced every document the NCAA requested,” lawyer Jason Bologna said in a statement. “Hysier did these things because he wanted to play basketball this season, and he is devastated that he cannot.” Miller, a three-year starter from South Philadelphia, transferred to Virginia Tech this spring. However, the Hokies released him last month due to what the program called “circumstances prior to his enrollment at Virginia Tech.” Bologna declined to confirm that a federal investigation had been opened, as did spokespeople for both the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia. ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reported Thursday that authorities were investigating whether Miller bet on games he played in at Temple, and whether he adjusted his performance accordingly. “Hysier Miller has overcome more adversity in his 22 years than most people face in their lifetime. He will meet and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead," Bologna said. Miller scored eight points — about half his season average of 15.9 — in a 100-72 loss to UAB on March 7 that was later flagged for unusual betting activity. Temple said it has been aware of those allegations since they became public in March, and has been cooperative. “We have been fully responsive and cooperative with the NCAA since the moment we learned of the investigation,” Temple President John Fry said in a letter Thursday to the school community. However, Fry said Temple had not received any requests for information from state or federal law enforcement agencies. He vowed to cooperate fully if they did. “Coaches, student-athletes and staff members receive mandatory training on NCAA rules and regulations, including prohibitions on involvement in sports wagering," Fry said in the letter. The same week the Temple-UAB game raised concerns, Loyola (Maryland) said it had removed a person from its basketball program after it became aware of a gambling violation. Temple played UAB again on March 17, losing 85-69 in the finals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. League spokesman Tom Fenstermaker also declined comment on Friday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Autodesk appoints Janesh Moorjani as chief financial officerSan Diego, California–(Newsfile Corp. – December 24, 2024) – Swerv Dating, the innovative platform disrupting traditional dating apps by prioritizing in-person connections, today announced the launch of its Ambassador Program, empowering users and influencers to help transform the dating app landscape while earning commissions. Swerv Dating Logo Unlike conventional dating apps that emphasize digital conversations, Swerv shows users where potential matches are in real time, helping them make better decisions about where to spend their evening. The platform plots matching users anonymously on a map, allowing people to see which venues have the highest concentration of compatible matches. To facilitate real-world meetings, users can only message their matches when they’re at the same venue. “We’re humans. We evolved to have that in-person connection,” explains Scott Demyon, founder and CEO of Swerv. “There are so many cues that happen in person with body language, personality, and emotion that you just don’t get through electronic interaction. That’s why we limit digital conversations to helping matches connect in person.” The Ambassador Program marks a significant shift in dating app promotion, moving away from traditional digital advertising to focus on authentic, community-driven growth. Swerv Ambassadors will receive unique promotional codes and earn commissions for premium membership upgrades, creating a direct link between successful real-world connections and ambassador rewards. “Say you’re heading out on a Friday night,” Demyon illustrates. “That bar has four potential matches for you, but the bar across the street has 23 potential matches that align with what you’re looking for. So now you change your plans-or ‘swerv’ your plans-to that bar across the street, dramatically increasing your chances of a meaningful connection.” Key features of the Swerv Ambassador Program include: The announcement comes as dating app users increasingly report frustration with traditional platforms’ focus on digital interaction and rising concerns about AI-powered fake profiles. Swerv’s approach is inherently “AI-proof” as it focuses on real-world meetings where authenticity is immediately apparent. “Traditional dating apps have destroyed our dating culture the same way social media has made us less social,” Demyon notes. “People shouldn’t be finding a partner from the solitude of their couch. They should be out meeting people in the real world, the tried and true way of meeting.” The platform’s sophisticated privacy features include anonymous profiles by default, geofencing capabilities, and movement detection to ensure user safety while encouraging real-world connections. Users appear as anonymous pins on a map until they choose to reveal themselves, maintaining privacy while facilitating organic meetings. The Ambassador Program launches today and is open to participants across the United States. Interested individuals can apply at swervdating.com/ambassador . About Swerv Founded by mobile dating pioneer Scott Demyon, who created one of the first mobile dating platforms in 2005, Swerv is reinventing dating apps by prioritizing real-world connections. The platform uses innovative location-based technology to help users find potential matches at local venues, bringing authenticity back to dating. For more information, visit swervdating.com . To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/235081 #distro

Colorado adds record insurance coverage for Sanders and Hunter with both playing in Alamo Bowl

EU orders TikTok to freeze Romanian elections data

Carson Jerema: Trudeau prefers Canada as a spoiled American satellite

Wherever you are between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5, there’s probably a National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count within reach. Dedicated birdwatchers hop into more than one count, driving or flying to places that promise views of elusive birds. In Oregon alone, about 47 groups will join the effort. Connect with the Christmas Bird Count organizer at your local chapter . You’ll see Dec. 14 counts in Florence, Grants Pass, Port Orford, and Tillamook Bay, for instance. The Portland count will be Jan. 4 (visit birdalliance.org for details). Volunteers are needed to help gather information and experience isn’t necessary. Here are 10 tips to help first-timers enjoy the delight of tromping through fields, shorelines and mountain trails to contribute to a highly valued community science effort: Read about Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) and contact an Audubon chapter area leader organizing a count in advance to volunteer as a feeder watcher, if you live within a designated count circle and agree to tally the birds seen on CBC day, or become a field observer alongside experience birders, said Dawn Villaescusa of Seven Capes Bird Alliance in Lincoln City. Practice finding birds by listening and looking at exposed perches — snags, power lines, fence posts, tree tops — and scanning fields, mudflats, lakes, beaches, and other open areas using binoculars . If possible, scout your sector in advance and look on Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s eBird , a free, online platform for recording bird observations and tracking sightings, to see what’s been seen in the area. Identify birds with the help of Audubon’s Guide to North American Birds or Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Merlin Bird ID app , powered by eBird . “Brush up on resident birds that stay here year-round, and get a sense of what you might see on the count,” said Joe Liebezeit of the Bird Alliance of Oregon, who is in charge of Portland’s annual Christmas Bird Count. Check the weather and dress in layers to be comfortable all day. Be prepared for wind and rain, and wear “real rain gear or you’ll be soaked,” said Villaescusa. Rite in the Rain and other weatherproof notebooks can help keep data dry. Pack snacks and carry water. “It’s a long day,” said Villaescusa, “and some area leads don’t want to stop for lunch.” You may be dirty at the end of the day. Bring clean, dry clothes and shoes to change into for the get together. “The camaraderie is totally worth” attending the post-count party, said Villaescusa, whose group puts on a breakfast and a count-down chili and beer dinner. “It’s fun getting together and feeling you’re adding value to the information that’s out there.” Realize that while the social aspects of the annual count are the glue that holds the whole tradition together and while there are times to talk, you’ll be expected to be quiet while listening for birds. Unlike guided bird walks designed for beginners, where people will drop back and “chat about their sister’s brother’s cousin or recipes, and may not even see a bird, you can’t do that on bird count day,” said Villaescusa. Upload your photos and see photos posted from other participates at the CBC Live tracker at gis.audubon.org/cbclive . Photographing birds is challenging as they move in a lake, into a tree, across a field. Field biologist and photographer Frank Lospalluto said: “Know your camera, feel confident using it, and make sure the battery is charged and the memory card has space. Many cameras today work exceptionally well on auto.” Sign up at act.audubon.org/a/community-science-signup to see the results in Audubon’s American Birds newsletter and learn about other volunteer opportunities such as Climate Watch and The Great Backyard Bird Count . “Don’t be intimidated by people who have more experience than you do,” said Liebezeit. “This is about being outdoors, meeting new friends, learning and having fun.” — Janet Eastman covers design and trends. Reach her at 503-294-4072, jeastman@oregonian.com and follow her on X @janeteastmanEC declared results in NA-10 despite zero turnout of women

New Real-Time Flood Alert System Unveiled in New Orleans in Partnership with United Way and VerizonNEW YORK , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Hub (SRJ Hub) at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) launched the newest iteration of the civil society-led Global 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence campaign. For more than 30 years, feminist activists and movements around the world have used the 16 days between the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women ( November 25 ) and Human Rights Day ( December 10 ) to advocate for an end to gender-based violence. With the help of the SRJ Hub, the campaign now will transition into a year-round initiative, reflecting the 365-days-a-year efforts of feminist activists to shift norms, secure accountability, and transform power structures that oppress women, girls, and gender-diverse people. The 2024 campaign responds to requests from grassroots organizers who asked for more flexible and diverse campaign messages, illustrations, and resources. Their perspectives are complemented by insights from the campaign's Advisory Council composed of scholars and organizers with deep experience in gender, economic, racial, reproductive, and environmental justice. Bodily autonomy, the 2024 campaign theme, makes visible the ways different causes and manifestations of gender-based violence are linked. By avoiding a uniform, standardized approach, the campaign will enable local partners to adapt materials according to their unique needs, prioritizing authenticity and safety in local activism. "Women's and feminist gender justice organizations and movements have always been at the forefront of the push for bodily autonomy, and now more than ever we need to support the efforts of grassroots organizers who know what works in their contexts," said CUNY SPH Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs Terry McGovern . "The campaign materials will allow organizers to mix and match sample images and messages or use their own." The SRJ Hub continues to encourage funders to support the requests of grassroots organizers for multi-year, trust-based core funding that advances their efforts to promote bodily autonomy and end gender-based violence. This includes support for local events and strategic resources or organizers in restrictive environments. Addressing Urgent Global Trends A confluence of global trends threaten previously enshrined protections and push equality farther out of reach for far too many women, girls, and gender-diverse people across the globe. These include femicide and restrictions on abortion access; exclusion and marginalization of LGBTQI+ people; growing gender inequality as debt crises, austerity measures, and corruption crowd out social expenditures; conflict and occupation enabled by disregard for international law; increasingly frequent and devastating climate crises; and failure to fully engage with patriarchal practices driving the popularity of anti-gender movements. Bodily Autonomy Theme Connects Movements At a time when equality remains out of reach for far too many women, girls, and gender-diverse people across the globe and many previously enshrined protections are being rolled back, the 2024 campaign theme will amplify the efforts of feminist grassroots groups to resist and counter the impacts of gender-based violence by framing bodily autonomy as a fundamental human right. The campaign defines bodily autonomy as the freedom to express every thought, feeling, need, and desire through our bodies, each uniquely shaping who we are . "Too often campaigns focus on suffering and victimization," said SRJ Hub consultant Oriana López Uribe, who led the campaign strategy design process. "We want people to imagine what life could be like if everyone had the power and right to make choices about our physical selves, and to feel empathy and solidarity with others who want the same thing." This approach is reflected in the campaign's principles, which emphasize positivity, bravery, and collective care for all: Grassroots organizers who reviewed and contributed to the sample messages told us, "I like the different levels of messaging, the intentional counter-messaging for some of the more dominant narratives, and some really simple questions that can lead to rich conversations. Many messages were a refreshing change from NGO comms which I appreciate," and "I appreciate the nuances in the design of the framework and in the messaging. It has been a long time since I encountered those layers in a global campaign. And I love that the messaging is evoking emotions and not dictating policy solutions. I think this is a tactic that progressive movements have abandoned and that anti-rights groups are good at." The campaign is on Instagram, 'X' and TikTok as @365toEndGBV and c ampaign materials are available for download after submitting individual or collective information in this form . The campaign materials include sample templates, illustrations, and messages in Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian, as well as tips for designing campaigns and activities, and examples from other campaigns. The SRJ Hub plans to update and expand materials throughout the year based on user feedback. Media contact: Clarisa Bencomo Clarisa.Bencomo@sph.cuny.edu 917-702-0998 About the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Hub In 2024, the City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) began hosting the Global 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence campaign following the closure of its founding host, the Center for Women's Global Leadership at Rutgers University . The campaign is housed at the Sexual & Reproductive Justice Hub (SRJ Hub) at CUNY SPH, which coordinates solutions-oriented scholarship, training, and advocacy, centering the lived experiences of women of color and funding their and other marginalized people's work. Our work is informed by our experience as part of the United States' largest, oldest, and most diverse urban public university system, with faculty, staff, and students connected to communities and populations around the world. Origin of the Global 16 Days Campaign The Global Campaign was launched in 1991 at the first Women's Global Leadership Institute held by the Center for Global Women's Leadership (CGWL), with the goal of raising awareness of GBV as a human rights violation. From the beginning, the Campaign brought together a diverse group of activists and researchers working at all levels from grassroots to international, and united in their belief that ending GBV requires local and global work to change the norms and systems that drive GBV in all its manifestations. Under CGWL's stewardship the Global Campaign gained traction in more than 187 countries, with participation from over 6,000 organizations and a reach of over 300 million. It played a pivotal role in gaining recognition of GBV as a human rights violation in the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Program of Action and the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action . Early campaign themes addressed health impacts of GBV, cultural drivers, racism, sexism, and militarism, among others. More recent campaign themes have included femicide (2021-2022), violence against women working in the informal economy (2020), and violence and harassment in the world of work (2018 – 2019). The latter included advocacy in support of the adoption of the historic International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 190 , concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work (2019). In August 2022 , CGWL sadly closed its doors after 31 years of collaborative and transformative global work. The 16 Days Campaign is now housed at CUNY SPH, ensuring that the important work of CGWL will continue going forward. About CUNY SPH The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is committed to promoting and sustaining healthier populations in New York City and around the world through excellence in education, research, and service in public health and by advocating for sound policy and practice to advance social justice and improve health outcomes for all. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/16to365-new-resources-for-year-round-activism-to-end-gender-based-violence-and-strengthen-bodily-autonomy-for-all-302314570.html SOURCE CUNY SPHMarta's magic helped get the Pride to Saturday's NWSL title game against the Washington Spirit

okbet 777 It’s been a tough year for business. Growth across the UK remains low, and many businesses in the Highlands are still facing challenges in attracting staff; the housing shortage; and our inadequate transport infrastructure, which hampers the movement of goods and people across the region and to further afield. Business success is crucial. Growing businesses generate more tax revenue and create more jobs, which in turn contribute further to tax receipts. This funds essential public services like the NHS. A portion of this revenue is also reinvested to help businesses grow further, creating a cycle of continued economic growth. • • • For the past 20 years, productivity across Europe has fallen behind that of the United States, with one of the main reasons being lack of investment in technology, both at the government and business levels. When businesses fail to grow, fewer people are employed, tax revenue fails to keep pace with the increasing costs of public services, and the economy stagnates - a situation the UK has found itself in for several years. The new UK government appeared to recognise the need for business growth - they certainly talked about it often. So, it was disappointing when their first Budget resulted in larger-than-expected increases in business taxes. It’s a similar story with the Scottish Government. Despite claiming to be a business-friendly administration, they have failed for the third consecutive year to fully pass on the rates relief for hospitality and retail that is available in England. They have also resisted long-standing calls for reform of business rates. Locally, the hospitality industry is deeply concerned about the proposed “tourist tax”, which would be levied on top of VAT and business rates that are already among the highest in Europe. At Inverness Chamber of Commerce, we continue to campaign on these issues. Over the past year, we have expanded the services we offer to our members, with more improvements planned. For the year ahead, we’ve made the decision to freeze our membership fees. In light of the many challenges businesses are facing, we hope this gesture helps.HP Enterprise Earnings Beat Estimates. It’s ‘Doing AI ‘In a Disciplined Way.’ - Barron'sWe all know what happens when voice acting goes wrong. There’s a reason your brain still reads "It's-a-me, Mario!" in Charles Martinet’s legendary voice, not whatever Chris Pratt’s doing (or isn’t doing) in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Paramount's Sonic the Hedgehog family flicks are playing the same adaptation game, but avoid making the same mistakes when it comes to gimmick casting that doesn’t benefit the role. That's the problem with celebrity stunt casting in animated movies and why it should be avoided — you sacrifice quality for a (hopeful) box office cheat code. Everyone's favorite Parks and Recreation brat isn't just Ben Schwartz-ing through Sonic's dialogue. The actor strives to honor Sonic's voice in past SEGA video games while putting his spin on a more juvenile character interpretation. There's an art to Schwartz's voice acting and acknowledgment of Sonic's prior iterations. Like Mario, Sonic's voice appears in television shows and video games when speech became more than 8-bit garble or speech synthesis. Why would you want to erase all that history and relation? The difference in quality between The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise depicts the stark contrast between memorable and forgettable revamps. Universal and Illumination's mushroom-eating adaptation opts for the aforementioned celebrity stunt castinga cold and transactional method focused on maximizing profits at all costs. Sonic the Hedgehog invests in transformative voice acting, where the draw isn't who's behind pixelated recordings but the characters on screen. It's an animated film's job to immerse audiences in fantastical worlds, which the hybrid live-action Sonic movies accomplish whether in the fictional town of Green Hills, modern-day Tokyo, or a digitized mushroom planet. That’s because no matter the backdrop, Schwartz and company want you to believe Sonic, Tails, and the whole gang are real. They don’t want the credit themselves. The Super Mario Bros. Movie boasts a stacked cast, but what do they bring to their character personalities? Jack Black grumbles and croons as a serviceable Bowser (Black himself is a cartoon character, so that checks out), but even impressionist Keegan-Michael Key's Toad is oddly flat. Luigi sounds like Charlie Day but vaguely New Yorker, Donkey Kong is straight-up Seth Rogen, Princess Peach is an unaltered Anya Taylor-Joy — there's no passion behind vocal development. It's the equivalent of dialogue cosplay if purchased on Temu, like slapping a novelty mustache on Chris Pratt while he holds a plunger. Meanwhile, Ben Schwartz has a motormouth zip about his words that matches Sonic's hyperspeed lifestyle. Schwartz can be hilarious as Sonic does his best Quicksilver from X-Men impression during slow-motion action scenes, but also heartfelt and emotional when Sonic faces insurmountable odds or learns everlasting lessons. There's depth to Schwartz's vocal performance that speaks to the values of professional voice acting, which is infinitely harder than it looks. You’re reading lines off scripts in silent isolation, unable to interact with co-stars who’ll share scenes with your pixelated and dubbed role — yet Schwartz makes it look easy. Sonic never feels out of place next to James Marsten or Jim Carrey, as Schwartz’s range, through sound only, hits more dimensions than live-action actors benefitting from all their theatrical tools. What's distracting and frustrating about The Super Mario Bros. Movie is how all the film's voices have countless reference points, none of which the studio cares to duplicate or reward. When novels or comic books are adapted to film, there's a freedom to cast without direct audible comparisons. But a video game series with hours upon hours of line readings from voice actors who are still readily available for role reprisals? It's not only disrespectful to the artists who've mastered their crafts and helped galvanize a studio's brand, but distracting from a fanbase standpoint. Slaslfilm’s BJ Colangelo makes a compelling case to "stop screwing with legacy characters," and she's right. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 takes its reverence for its source material a step farther,, introducing beloved animal buddies Miles "Tails" Prower and Knuckles the Echidna. Now, Tails has one of the more unique voices in the Sonic universe — so Paramount went right to the source by hiring Tails' voice actress since 2010, Colleen O'Shaughnessey. Knuckles eventually went to Idris Elba, but not as stunt casting. Elba's take on Knuckles understands the fight-first character, echoing his Drax-like barbarian mannerisms with a gruff warrior's tone. There's even a video of Elba wearing personalized Knuckles gloves during recording sessions so he can disappear into the role, which helps us forget there's an Englishman in a box somewhere reading lines. Then there's the casting of Keanu Reeve as Shadow in Sonic The Hedgehog 3. A handful of voice actors have put their spin on Shadow as a baddie and anti-hero, which Reeves manipulates into his John Wickian hedgehog. You can hear Reeves in Shadow's bluntness and gravel, but there's a more profound parallel. Shadow's history is one of coldness and tragedy at the hands of G.U.N., which Reeves handles with empathy. Reeves himself has dealt with unthinkable hardships throughout his life, tying this sympathetic bond between actor and character. Keanu Reeves isn’t playing Shadow the Hedgehog, he is Shadow the Hedgehog, and the parallels between actor and character help develop a well-rounded alien who is himself on screen, not the man behind the words (even if he sounds just like him). Each actor's connection to their colorful counterparts is the secret sauce that's elevated Paramount's Sonic franchise above other video game adaptations. The Super Mario Bros. Movie sold itself on the backs of Chris Pratt, Jack Black, and the entire ensemble cast. Sonic the Hedgehog has enlisted equally impressive stars, but these movies aren't about Keanu Reeves or Idris Elba. Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow are the stars — the characters are who we’re talking about after after the credits roll. When you watch any Sonic the Hedgehog after or before The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the debate over celebrity stunt casting falls apart. As an Italian, I laughed when Chris Pratt was announced as Mario but kept an open mind only to be proven wrong. As a Sonic fan who saw those nightmare first renderings of Sonic with teeth, I entered even more nervous — once again proven wrong. Paramount's voice cast choices have been aces thus far, endearing these movies to Sonic fans instead of pushing them away. Let's give kudos where appropriate — the fantastic voice actors selflessly bringing Sonic and his buddies to life on the big screen.

President of Montenegro extends condolences to President Ilham AliyevThe Atlanta Falcons drafting of Michael Penix Jr. just six weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a $180 million contract doesn't seem like that much of a head-scratcher anymore. Penix, the eighth overall pick in this year's draft, was supposed to serve as Cousins' understudy for a year or two, a plan that was scuttled when Cousins quickly lost the zip and accuracy on his passes and his grip on the starting job. It was hard to argue with making the change after Cousins had nine picks and one touchdown pass in his last five starts — but it was a daring move nonetheless with the Falcons trailing first-place Tampa Bay by a single game with three weeks left. Penix made the move pay off with a solid first NFL start in the Falcons' 34-7 rout of the New York Giants on Sunday that bolstered Atlanta's playoff hopes , and the Falcons (8-7) moved back into first place in the NFC South with the Buccaneers' loss at Dallas on Sunday night. The left-hander was not at all overwhelmed by the moment, completing 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards — numbers that would’ve been better if not for at least three dropped passes, one of which Kyle Pitts bobbled right into the hands of a New York defender for Penix’s lone interception. “He went out and played almost flawless football,” coach Raheem Morris said. Cousins will almost certainly be looking for his fourth team in 2025. If the Falcons cut ties as expected, they'll have paid Cousins $90 million for 14 games. Cousins' career earnings are about $321 million and his record is 84-77-2, including a 1-3 mark in the playoffs and 7-7 this season. In the spirit of expedited judgments, let's take a gander at how other quarterbacks have fared with their new teams in 2024. Russell Wilson The Pittsburgh Steelers landed the biggest bargain of the season in Wilson, whom they signed for the veteran's minimum of $1.21 million, leaving his former team, the Denver Broncos, on the hook for the remaining $37.79 million of his 2024 salary. Wilson's calf injury in camp forced the Steelers to start Justin Fields, who went 4-2 before Mike Tomlin made the risky switch to Wilson, who's gone 6-3 with 15 TD throws and four interceptions. With the Steelers (10-5) playoff-bound, Wilson will make his first postseason appearance since 2020. The only question is whether it'll be at home as AFC North champ or on the road as a wild-card. They're tied with the Ravens atop the division but currently own the tiebreaker. Sam Darnold This was expected to be a rebuilding year in Minnesota after the Vikings lost Cousins in free agency. They signed Darnold, the third overall pick in 2018, to a $10 million, one-year contract and drafted national champion J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick. McCarthy tore the meniscus in his right knee during the preseason opener and has undergone two surgeries, opening the way for Darnold's breakthrough season. Darnold brought a 21-35 career record with him to Minneapolis and all he's done is go 13-2 while setting career highs with 32 touchdown passes, 3,776 passing yards and a 67.2% completion percentage. The Vikings are tied with the Lions atop the packed NFC North and the division crown could come down to Minnesota's season finale at Detroit on Jan. 5. Gardner Minshew The Las Vegas Raiders signed Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract and he beat out incumbent Aidan O'Connell for the starting gig. But he only went 2-7 and sustained a season-ending broken collarbone in a Week 12 loss to the Broncos, opening the door for O'Connell (1-4) to return. The Raiders' 19-14 win over Jacksonville on Sunday snapped a 10-game skid but might have taken them out of the Shedeur Sanders sweepstakes. They are 3-12, a game behind the Giants (2-13), who jettisoned QB Daniel Jones less than two years after signing him to a four-year, $160 million contract and have gone with Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito instead. Caleb Williams The Chicago Bears had high hopes after drafting Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, but it might turn out that the second QB taken — Washington's Jayden Daniels — is better than the first as was the case last year when C.J. Stroud outperformed Carolina's Bryce Young. Williams has a terrific TD-to-INT ratio of 19-5, but the Bears are 4-11 and have lost nine in a row. Their last win came way back on Oct. 13 against Jacksonville. Jayden Daniels The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU has led the Washington Commanders (10-5) to the cusp of their first playoff appearance since 2020. His bolstered his Rookie of the Year credentials with a five-TD performance Sunday in leading the Commanders to a 36-33 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. For the year, Daniels has 22 TD throws and eight interceptions. Bo Nix The former Auburn and Oregon star hasn't looked much like a rookie after starting an NCAA QB record 61 times in college. The Broncos (9-6) could snap an eight-year playoff drought with a win Sunday at Cincinnati thanks to Nix's steady play , Sean Payton's exhaustive guidance and Denver's traditionally stingy defense. Nix was drafted 12th overall after the Broncos released Wilson despite a a whopping $85 million dead money charge on top of the $37.79 million they're paying Wilson to play for Pittsburgh this year. With 22 TDs and 11 interceptions, Nix has almost matched Russell's win total (11-19) in his two seasons in Denver. AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry in Atlanta contributed to this report. Behind the Call analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL during the season. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

15 top Christmas online casino games to get you in the spiritUC San Diego 73, James Madison 67NEW HOPE, Pa. (AP) — Dayle Haddon, an actor, activist and trailblazing former “Sports Illustrated” model who pushed back against age discrimination by reentering the industry as a widow, has died in a Pennsylvania home from what authorities believe was carbon monoxide poisoning. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! NEW HOPE, Pa. (AP) — Dayle Haddon, an actor, activist and trailblazing former “Sports Illustrated” model who pushed back against age discrimination by reentering the industry as a widow, has died in a Pennsylvania home from what authorities believe was carbon monoxide poisoning. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? NEW HOPE, Pa. (AP) — Dayle Haddon, an actor, activist and trailblazing former “Sports Illustrated” model who pushed back against age discrimination by reentering the industry as a widow, has died in a Pennsylvania home from what authorities believe was carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities in Bucks County found Haddon, 76, dead in a second-floor bedroom Friday morning after emergency dispatchers were notified about a person unconscious at the Solebury Township home. A 76-year-old man police later identified as Walter J. Blucas of Erie was hospitalized in critical condition. Responders detected a high level of carbon monoxide in the property and township police said Saturday that investigators determined that “a faulty flue and exhaust pipe on a gas heating system caused the carbon monoxide leak.” Two medics were taken to a hospital for carbon monoxide exposure and a police officer was treated at the scene. As a model, Haddon appeared on the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Esquire in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She also appeared in about two dozen films from the 1970s to 1990s, according to IMDb.com, including 1994’s “Bullets Over Broadway,” starring John Cusack. Haddon left modeling after giving birth to her daughter, Ryan, in the mid-1970s, but then had to reenter the workforce after her husband’s 1991 death. This time she found the modeling industry far less friendly: “They said to me, ‘At 38, you’re not viable,’” Haddon told The New York Times in 2003. Working a menial job at an advertising agency, Haddon began reaching out to cosmetic companies, telling them there was a growing market to sell beauty products to aging baby boomers. She eventually landed a contract with Clairol, followed by Estée Lauder and then L’Oreal, for which she promoted the company’s anti-aging products for more than a decade. She also hosted beauty segments for CBS’s “The Early Show.” “I kept modeling, but in a different way,” she told The Times, “I became a spokesperson for my age.” In 2008, Haddon founded WomenOne, an organization aimed at advancing educational opportunities for girls and women in marginalized communities, including Rwanda, Haiti and Jordan.’ Haddon was born in Toronto and began modeling as a teenager to pay for ballet classes — she began her career with the Canadian ballet company Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, according to her website. Haddon’s daughter, Ryan, said in a social media post that her mother was “everyone’s greatest champion. An inspiration to many.” “A pure heart. A rich inner life. Touching so many lives. A life well lived. Rest in Light, Mom,” she said. Advertisement

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UConn 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. People are also reading... 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. Robbins heading to Tulsa 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. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!2024 in pop culture: In a bruising year, we sought out fantasy, escapism — and cute little animals

Justin Herbert threw three touchdowns as the Los Angeles Chargers booked their place in the NFL playoffs with a blowout 40-7 win at the New England Patriots on Saturday. The Patriots, who suffered a sixth straight loss, were booed off the field by the remaining fans at Gillette Stadium as they fell to 3-13 on the season. But for the Chargers it was a job well done as the confident Herbert ensured a second post-season place in three seasons with another accomplished quarterback display. Herbert completed 28 of 38 passes and threw for 281 yards against a Patriots defense that caused few issues against the passing game. The Chargers took the lead late in the first quarter thanks to a beautiful 23-yard Herbert pass, superbly caught by the diving Derius Davis. After a Cameron Dicker field goal early in the second, Herbert found rookie receiver Ladd McConkey at the back of the end-zone with a pinpoint pass to make it 17-0. Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye had been forced out of the game in the first quarter after suffering a hit to the head by Cam Hart when running down the sideline. But Maye, who had been cleared to return for the second quarter, showed he was in good shape with a fine 36-yard touchdown pass to DeMario Douglas to give the Patriots some hope. But the Chargers ran away with the game with Herbert again connecting with McConkey, this time with a 40-yard pass down the middle and a two-yard rush from J.K Dobbins in the fourth completed the rout. Herbert's performance meant he set a new record for the most passing yards in the first five years of an NFL career -- passing Peyton Manning's tally of 20,618 yards. But the quarterback, who has yet to win a playoff game, was quick to give credit for his achievement to his team-mates. "It says so much about the guys we had catching those passes and a great offensive line giving me the time to get the ball off and (the defense) getting me the ball back," he said. "I couldn't have done it without them," he added. The Denver Broncos can clinch a place in the playoffs when they face the Bengals in Cincinnati later on Saturday. sev/nfCalifornia urges Buttigeg to grant last-minute cash for LA-SF bullet train as DOGE looms