a-777

a-777 The Cirrus Vision SF50 is among the most popular very light jet . Known as the Vision Jet, this aircraft was developed by Cirrus Aircraft in 2006. The first mock-up was released in 2007, and the prototype flew the following year. Due to issues caused by funding delays, CAIGA acquired this single-engine jet in 2011 and received FAA type certification in October 2016. Deliveries started the same year, and by 2020, the Vision SF50 became the best-selling model between 2018 and 2023. How much does the Cirrus Vision Jet cost? As the saying goes, quality comes at a price, and so does the Vision Jet. Even though it is not the most expensive jet on the market, new models nowadays cost around $3 million, whereas used versions start from $1.9 million. The price depends on the manufacturing year, and each model presents a slightly different price tag. When production started in 2016, the price ranged from $2.1 million to $2.8 million. In 2019, the following model, Vision Jet SF50 G2, swung between $2.75 million and $3.7 million. The G2+, the most expensive and recent version, ranges between $3.2 million and $3.6 million. As of February 2023, more than 150 G2+ models have been constructed, and almost 120 are still in operation. The average hourly rate for those interested in renting this jet is about $3,000. The average purchase cost is around $2,000,000, while the price of a pre-owned Vision Jet is $1,500,000. The aircraft is mainly flown as Pleasure & Business for owner pilots for insurance purposes. As such, getting insurance may be challenging under some conditions. For instance, if the pilot is over 75 years old, if there are more than two fractional owners, if more than four pilots are named on the policy, or if the plane is involved in more than two dry leases. Insurance companies usually require pilots to have a minimum of 500 hours of total flying time and 50 hours of training with a mentor pilot. Many providers, though, would need 1,000 hours of total flying time due to the high value of the Vision Jet. The small personal Cirrus Vision Jet is a marvel of simplicity, safety, and efficiency. A closer look at the Vision Jet 50 design The Vision Jet 50 is a low-wing cantilever monoplane powered by a single Williams FJ33-4A-19 turbofan, producing 1,900 lbf (8,500 N) of thrust. The aircraft, composed of a V-tail, retractable tricycle landing gear and built entirely from composite material, is designed to serve 12,000 flight hours. The plane is equipped with a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute (CAPS) , which deploys from the nose of the plane, making it the first jet to have such a feature. A clamshell door gives access to the cabin on the left side of the fuselage. The cabin is 5.1 ft (1.56 m) wide and 4.1 ft (1.24 m) high, allowing five passengers to sit. Usually, two seats are found in the cockpit, two in the second row, two further seats in the third row, and a small seat between the second and third row, which is only suitable for children. In charter versions, the jet can transport one or two pilots and seat three to four adults and two children up to 90 pounds (40 kg). Purchasing travel insurance can give you peace of mind. Despite its market value, the interior is quite luxurious, with leather seats and premium equipment. There is generous space between the seats, sidewall cut-outs for additional room to store luggage, armrests, cupholders, and a USB power port. Passengers can find crew seats equipped with airbag seatbelts and climate-controlled air conditioning. In addition, some upgrades include interior lighting, entertainment screens, WiFi connection, and 115V AC power. Cabin size: Length: 11.5 ft (3.5 m) Width: 5.1 ft (1.56 m) Height: 4.1 ft (1.24 m) Aircraft size: Length: 30.9 ft (9.42 m) Wingspan: 38.68 ft (11.78 m) Height: 10.9 ft (3.32 m) The Vision Jet uses Garmin G3000 avionics featuring Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) , assuring improved situational awareness and a limpid interface. Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) provides automated engine control for performance and safety. The aircraft features urethane de-icing boots and a single carbon shell for cabin pressurization. Some crucial airframe parts and the wing spar are constructed with low-temperature carbon fiber and pre-carbon fiber, respectively. High-strength metal alloys are used for the landing gear and other concentrated stress areas, whereas the primary flight control surfaces and wing flaps are aluminum with mechanical control. The notion of a single-engine jet was once seen as improbable, if not impossible – until the Vision Jet. Diving into VisionJet's performance Cirrus Vision SF50 features: Cruise speed: 311 KTAS (576 km/h) Rate of climb: 1609 ft (490 m) Takeoff distance: 2035 ft (621 m) Landing distance: 1628 ft (496 m) Max takeoff weight: 6,000 lbs (2,722 kg) Payload with full fuel: 498 lbs (226 kg) Compared to its first model, the prototype G2 includes new properties like a higher maximum operating altitude, upgraded avionics, new cabin appointments, lithium-ion batteries, and extra paint schemes. The engine has been adjusted to operate at altitudes ranging from 24,000 ft (7,315 m) to 31,000 ft (9,448 m). These improvements result in an enhanced climb performance and increased cruising speed, reaching 311 knots of true airspeed (ktas). In 2018, the Vision Jet was awarded the J. Collier Trophy for its outstanding achievement, innovation, and design as the first single-engine personal jet equipped with a parachute system. Other accolades have been received, including the Flying Editors' Choice Award 2017, Plane & Pilot Plane of the Year 2017, Flying's Innovation Award 2018, and the 2023 Edison Awards Gold Prize in Air Mobility.A 7-year-old boy underwent open heart surgery after a malfunctioning drone struck him in the chest Saturday night in Orlando, Florida. Adriana Edgerton was at Lake Eola watching a drone show with her children when the incident occurred, according to in Florida. “Everyone’s natural instinct was to duck and scatter, and before we realized it, my daughter found my son on the floor unconscious. He had blood coming out of his face,” Edgerton said. “This should not have happened, and no family should be going through this. We were trying to watch a show and have a good time.” Harrowing footage shows the moment numerous went haywire before smashing into the bewildered crowd below. So apparently they had to cancel the 2nd drone show at tonight and I wonder if the drones that got knocked out during the 1st show was the cause 😬 — MosquitoCoFL Podcast (@MosquitoCoFL) The drone struck the boy in the chest so forcibly that it crushed one of his heart valves, Edgerton said. “The blade cut his mouth, but there’s an actual imprint of the drone on his chest,” she said. The drone malfunction, which occurred during the first of two planned shows that night, prompted the city to cancel the second, according to . Due to technical difficulties the 8 p.m. Holiday Drone Show at Lake Eola has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience. — City of Orlando (@citybeautiful) is investigating the incident, but so far it is unclear what caused the drones to malfunction. “Drone arrays and light shows are subject to FAA regulation,” the FAA said, according to WESH. “Typically, these events require a waiver to the regulation that prohibits operating more than one drone at a time. We thoroughly review each application to make sure the flying public and people on the ground will be safe.” 🚨!!️ Holiday Drone Show Turns Tragic in Orlando A 7-year-old boy watching a holiday drone show with his family in Orlando was seriously injured Saturday night when one of the drones malfunctioned and struck him in the chest, his mother reported. ⚠️ The Federal Aviation... — Kristy Tallman (@KristyTallman) A distressed Edgerton later shared a social media update as she waited in the emergency room. 🚨 : Here’s a video of the mother of the 7-year-old boy, in tears in a hospital room , as she shares on social media what happened the night her son, now fighting for his life, was injured during the Christmas holiday drone show. — R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) On a page, Edgerton said her son would be spending in the intensive care unit. Sky Elements Drones, the Texas-based company responsible for the nationwide aerial shows, issued a statement on the incident. “Sky Elements Drones wants to extend our sincere hope for a full and speedy recovery to those impacted at our Lake Eola show in Orlando on Saturday, Dec. 21,” the statement read, per Click Orlando. “The well-being of our audience is our utmost priority, and we regret any distress or inconvenience caused. “We are diligently working with the FAA and City of Orlando officials to determine the cause and are committed to establishing a clear picture of what transpired. Millions of people see our shows annually, and we are committed to maintaining the highest safety regulations set forth by the FAA.” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. . For more A.F. Branco cartoons, go to WesternJournal.com/cartoons.

Tinubu canvasses systemic solution to address menace of corruptionCOLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Victims' families and others affected by crimes that resulted in federal death row convictions shared a range of emotions on Monday, from relief to anger, after President Joe Biden commuted dozens of the sentences . Biden converted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The inmates include people who were convicted in the slayings of police, military officers and federal prisoners and guards. Others were involved in deadly robberies and drug deals. Three inmates will remain on federal death row: Dylann Roof , convicted of the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; the 2013 Boston Marathon Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev , and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Opponents of the death penalty lauded Biden for a decision they'd long sought. Supporters of Donald Trump , a vocal advocate of expanding capital punishment, criticized the move as an assault to common decency just weeks before the president-elect takes office. Donnie Oliverio, a retired Ohio police officer whose partner, Bryan Hurst, was killed by an inmate whose death sentence was commuted, said the execution of “the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace.” “The president has done what is right here,” Oliverio said in a statement also issued by the White House. But Hurst’s widow, Marissa Gibson, called Biden's commutation distressing and a "complete dismissal and undermining of the federal justice system,” in a statement to The Columbus Dispatch . Heather Turner, whose mother, Donna Major, was killed in a 2017 South Carolina bank robbery, called the commutation of the killer's sentence a “clear gross abuse of power” in a Facebook post, adding the weeks she spent in court with the hope of justice “just a waste of time.” “At no point did the president consider the victims,” Turner wrote. “He, and his supporters, have blood on their hands.” There has always been a broad range of opinions on what punishment Roof should face from the families of the nine people killed and the survivors of the massacre at the Mother Emanuel AME Church. Many forgave him, but some say they can’t forget and their forgiveness doesn’t mean they don’t want to see him put to death for what he did. Felicia Sanders survived the shooting shielding her granddaughter while watching Roof kill her son, Tywanza, and her aunt, Susie Jackson. Sanders brought her bullet-torn bloodstained Bible to his sentencing and said then she can’t even close her eyes to pray because Roof started firing during the closing prayer of Bible study that night. In a text message to her lawyer, Andy Savage, Sanders called Biden’s decision to not spare Roof’s life a wonderful Christmas gift. Michael Graham, whose sister, Cynthia Hurd, was killed, told The Associated Press that Roof’s lack of remorse and simmering white nationalism in the country means he is the kind of dangerous and evil person the death penalty is intended for. “This was a crime against a race of people," Graham said. “It didn’t matter who was there, only that they were Black.” But the Rev. Sharon Richer, who was Tywanza Sanders’ cousin and whose mother, Ethel Lance, was killed, criticized Biden for not sparing Roof and clearing out all of death row. She said every time Roof’s case comes up through numerous appeals it is like reliving the massacre all over again. “I need the President to understand that when you put a killer on death row, you also put their victims' families in limbo with the false promise that we must wait until there is an execution before we can begin to heal,” Richer said in a statement. Richer, a board member of Death Penalty Action, which seeks to abolish capital punishment, was driven to tears by conflicting emotions during a Zoom news conference Monday. “The families are left to be hostages for the years and years of appeals that are to come,” Richer said. “I’ve got to stay away from the news today. I’ve got to turn the TV off — because whose face am I going to see?” Biden is giving more attention to the three inmates he chose not to spare, something they all wanted as a part of what drove them to kill, said Abraham Bonowitz, Death Penalty Action’s executive director. “These three racists and terrorists who have been left on death row came to their crimes from political motivations. When Donald Trump gets to execute them what will really be happening is they will be given a global platform for their agenda of hatred,” Bonowitz said. Biden had faced pressure from advocacy organizations to commute federal death sentences, and several praised him for taking action in his final month in office. Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, said in a statement that Biden “has shown our country — and the rest of the world — that the brutal and inhumane policies of our past do not belong in our future.” Republicans, including Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, on the other hand, criticized the move — and argued its moral ground was shaky given the three exceptions. “Once again, Democrats side with depraved criminals over their victims, public order, and common decency,” Cotton wrote on X. “Democrats can’t even defend Biden’s outrageous decision as some kind of principled, across-the-board opposition to the death penalty since he didn’t commute the three most politically toxic cases.” Liz Murrill, Louisiana's Republican attorney general, criticized the commuted sentence of Len Davis, a former New Orleans policeman convicted of orchestrating the killing of a woman who had filed a complaint against him. “We can’t trust the Feds to get justice for victims of heinous crimes, so it’s long past time for the state to get it done,” the tough-on-crime Republican said in a written statement to the AP. Two men whose sentences were commuted were Norris Holder and Billie Jerome Allen, on death row for opening fire with assault rifles during a 1997 bank robbery in St. Louis, killing a guard, 46-year-old Richard Heflin. Holder’s attorney, Madeline Cohen, said in an email that Holder, who is Black, was sentenced to death by an all-white jury. She said his case “reflects many of the system’s flaws,” and thanked Biden for commuting his sentence. “Norris’ case exemplifies the racial bias and arbitrariness that led the President to commute federal death sentences,” Cohen said. “Norris has always been deeply remorseful for the pain his actions caused, and we hope this decision brings some measure of closure to Richard Heflin’s family.” Swenson reported from Seattle. Associated Press writers Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, and Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.This month, Nobel Prize winner Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain turns 100. One of the 20th century’s towering literary achievements, it is a sweeping critique of the dangerous totalitarian political forces that shaped – and very nearly destroyed – Europe in Mann’s lifetime. The novel also reflects Mann’s own dramatic public and political evolution. Initially politically reserved, he became an ardent patriot at the outbreak of World War I, only to become disillusioned by the rise of political extremism in postwar Germany. This shift set Mann on a collision course with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis – and ultimately led to him fleeing Germany in 1933. This intellectual novel is interested in the weightiest of topics – time, love, mortality, culture – and the fragility of civilisation. There are worrying parallels between 1924, when Mann’s magnum opus was published, and 2024, when we’re seeing a worldwide resurgence of these same impulses. There is the rise of the far-right in France , Austria and Germany . And then, American president-elect Donald Trump’s apparent admiration for dictatorial and authoritarian modes of governance. These forces loom ominously over our own era, threatening the democratic ideals Mann ultimately embraced. Things you’ve never dreamed of This encyclopedia of a novel (nearly 800 pages) opens in transit: An unassuming young man was travelling, in midsummer, from his native city of Hamburg to Davos-Platz in the Canton of the Grisons, on a three weeks’ visit. It is August 1907. Hans Castorp, a “perfectly ordinary” 23-year-old from an upwardly mobile merchant family is journeying to meet his cousin, Joachim Ziemssen – a patient at a tuberculosis sanitarium, located (Mann’s narrator estimates) 1,600 metres above sea level in the Swiss Alps. Mann’s amenable, omniscient narrator outlines the effect on the novel’s youthful protagonist: This being carried upward into regions where he had never before drawn breath, and where he knew that unusual living conditions prevailed, such as could only be described as sparse or scanty – it began to work upon him, to fill him with a certain concern. Home and regular living lay not only far behind, they lay fathoms deep beneath him, and he continued to mount above them. Poised between them and the unknown, he asked himself how he was going to fare. This is a sign of things to come. Joachim, who has already been at the Berghof Sanatorium for five months, implores Castorp to get properly “acclimatized” when he meets him at the train station. He continues: it isn’t so easy, you’ll see. And the climate isn’t the only queer thing about us. You’re going to see some things you’ve never dreamed of – just wait. Joachim advises his cousin to disabuse himself of the “class of ideas” typical of those who dwell at sea level “down below” – especially assumptions about time. He openly scoffs at Castorp’s woefully naïve assertion that he’ll be “going home in three weeks”. Soon after his arrival, Castorp catches a cold. Berghof’s medical director spies a suspicious dark spot on his lung and recommends he extend his stay indefinitely. Castorp spends the next seven years living at altitude. Time warps and wends in increasingly strange ways, and the pace of daily life gradually grinds to a near total halt. Seasons change. Visitors come and go. Some of the patients die. Castorp falls in love with a Russian temptress resident. When he isn’t pining for her, he spends his time in conversation, gorging on elaborate and seemingly endless meals, listening to records, and occasionally attempting to commune with the spirits. In one memorable and symbolically charged moment, he gets hopelessly lost in a life-threatening blizzard. It takes the outbreak of World War I to finally shatter the spell the mountain has cast over him. The reader parts company with Castorp on a Flanders battlefield in 1914. The odds of survival don’t seem to be stacked in his favour. Of course, potted plot summaries of this sort cannot hope to do justice to the sheer ambition, thematic richness and formal rigour of The Magic Mountain. Origins: world war and political awakenings The novel’s origins can be traced to May 1912, when Thomas Mann embarked on a three-week trip to Davos, Switzerland. His wife, Katia, had been falsely diagnosed with tuberculosis and was staying at the recently opened Wald Sanatorium . Mann’s stay served as the catalyst for a new literary venture. Initially conceived as a satire, The Enchanted Mountain was meant to be a comedic counterweight to his just-published Death in Venice , which traces the tragic obsession of Gustav von Aschenbach, an ageing author, with a beautiful young boy during a vacation in cholera-racked Venice. Mann started in on what should have been a fairly straightforward, small-scale undertaking. But world history had other ideas. On August 4 1914, German troops flooded into neutral Belgium, bringing the British Empire into the week-old World War I – and shattering the cultural ideals and intellectual suppositions of pre-war Europe. Mann was 39 when the fighting broke out. A prominent figure in the German cultural establishment, Mann, who lived in Munich at the time, was in many senses a model bourgeois citizen. As intellectual historian Mark Lilla observes, Mann attended concerts, he befriended composers, he read Goethe, he sent his children to the Volksschule , and he never expressed any views about politics. That is, until 1914. “From one month to the next Mann became an intransigent and inflammatory defender of the German cause internationally,” Lilla adds, “writing articles and giving speeches that made him a favorite on the volkish nationalist right”. Rabid patriot to fleeing Nazi Germany The conflict seems to have absorbed all of Mann’s energy and focus. In 1915, he abandoned work on his novella, which had by then expanded significantly in both scope and size. Instead, he turned his attention to Reflections of a Nonpolitical Man . Published in October 1918, this 600-page tirade is a reactionary, rabid screed in which Mann lashes out at the progressive political forces and institutions he believed were intent on nothing less than the destruction of the German nation. Indeed, he goes as far as to admit that from the very start of the war, he had been consumed by a patriotic feeling so profound, he would not want to live anymore if Germany were beaten by the West, humbled, her belief in herself broken so that she would have to “conform” and accept the rationale of her enemies. Mann’s jingoistic fervour persisted even after Germany’s defeat, carrying over into the spring of 1919, when he finally returned to The Magic Mountain. However, everything had changed for Mann by 1922. Appalled by the waves of extremist political violence coursing through Germany, Mann was forced to take stock and reappraise his beliefs. That year, in an unprecedented move that shocked his supporters and critics, he wrote and delivered his speech, On the German Republic . In it, he publicly embraced the postwar Weimar Republic and the principles of its democracy, distancing himself from the types of authoritarian nationalism he had so passionately defended just a few years earlier. This remarkable development, which led to him fleeing Nazi Germany, left an indelible mark on the development of The Magic Mountain. Europe teetering on the abyss By the time he finished writing, the work had been transformed from a satirical novella into a sweeping Bildungsroman , focused on moral education and psychological development. It was now also an allegory of European civilisation teetering on the abyss – a “world festival of death”, as Mann puts it in the novel’s final sentence. Specifically, the phrase is a reference to World War I. More broadly – and just as powerfully – it reflects the sense of postwar disillusionment and social malaise that shaped the novel. The intense intellectual debates that unfold in The Magic Mountain, particularly between charismatic humanist Lodovico Settembrini and nihilistic, “terroristic” Jesuit communist Leo Naphta, offer Mann the means to reflect and comment on the totalitarian forces that were threatening to tear the world asunder. A century after the novel first appeared, its nuanced discussions of ideological conflict, the dangers of extremism and the fragility of civilisation remain, depressingly, as pertinent as ever. In 2024, the far-right has taken a firm foothold across Europe and the rest of the world, challenging the very democratic principles Mann came – albeit reluctantly – to value to champion. One can’t help but wonder what Mann, who wrote while the skies were slowly closing in over Europe, might have made of this situation. Read more: Germany's post-Holocaust moral remaking is being challenged by wars in Gaza and Ukraine – and the rise of the far-right History repeating? Would he, for instance, discern echoes of the same forces he grappled with in his modernist masterpiece, now manifesting in new, yet strangely familiar ways? And would he recognise the dangers of cultural and political polarisation and the allure of authoritarian forms of thought and activity that are currently casting increasingly long shadows over our own precarious moment? I suspect he might. In any case, these are just some of the questions worth asking as we mark the anniversary of a novel that, much like its creator, challenges us to confront the currents of history and their unsettling tendency to repeat. Near the end of the book, Mann writes: “These were such singular times.” Viewed from the perspective of 2024, I’m not so sure.

THE Ifugao State University (IFSU) Potia Campus launched Project Banac to empower rural communities with innovative knowledge and tools featuring groundbreaking and community-responsive projects and training to uplift local residents in Sitio Banac, Barangay Potia, Alfonso Lista, Ifugao, on Dec. 3, 2024. Spearheaded by program leader Serafin Ngohayon, the initiative aligns with the university's goals of fostering a strong research culture and promoting sustainable extension and community engagement. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.Israeli attorney general orders probe into report that alleged Netanyahu's wife harassed opponents

The Briefing: Who can stop Liverpool, fragile Haaland and why are Man Utd conceding 'olimpicos'?How Trump's bet on voters electing him managed to silence some of his legal woesIsrael strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to help New York fight the effects of climate change under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor signed the new law Thursday. It requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state infrastructure fund for repairs or projects that help avoid future damage from climate change. Lawmakers approved the bill earlier this year. It's meant to make big oil and gas companies contribute to the cost of repairs after extreme weather events or for resiliency projects. Such projects may include restoring coastal wetlands or upgrading roads, bridges and water drainage systems. Legal challenges to the new law are expected. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.

By LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune (TNS) CHICAGO — Rickey Henderson’s numbers are astounding. The Hall of Fame outfielder stole more bases than anyone in major-league history. He also scored the most runs and hit the most leadoff home runs while collecting more than 3,000 hits on the way to enshrinement in Cooperstown, N.Y. Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa will remember Henderson for more than the stats. “Rickey Henderson, as great a player, just as great of a teammate,” La Russa said during a conference call with Chicago reporters Sunday afternoon. “He was always in the midst of everything happening in the clubhouse, dugout and on the plane. “Great sense of humor. Personally, my interchanges with him was just honored to have him on the team.” Henderson died Friday at age 65. He and La Russa were together for parts of seven seasons (1989-93 and 1994-95) with the Oakland Athletics. It was a very successful period. The A’s won the 1989 World Series, with Henderson earning MVP honors in the American League Championship Series. Henderson was named AL MVP in 1990 as the A’s captured their third consecutive pennant. “The thing about Rickey was the old saying, ‘When your best player or one of your best players sets the best example on and off the field, it’s a huge plus for your team,’” La Russa said. “He made other teammates want to be part of a team that was like glue. “Rickey was the ideal great player, great teammate and made everybody better.” La Russa recalled having to prepare to face Henderson while he was managing the Chicago White Sox from 1979-86. And also what it was like getting to write Henderson’s name at the top of his lineup with the A’s. “One of the things, one of the realities of Rickey’s career — and we knew it (going) against him — was that he was so dangerous that teams focused on stopping him,” La Russa said. “And look at the career he had. He was a marked man whether he was hitting or baserunning. People went through all the extremes to stop him and you couldn’t stop him. “I was just in awe. Our teammates were in awe of how hard he played. There were a lot of attempts to intimidate him, which never made us happy. You couldn’t scare him and you couldn’t stop him.” Henderson was born in Chicago and grew up in Oakland, where he later would become a superstar. His 1,406 stolen bases, 2,295 runs and 81 leadoff homers are the most in MLB history. He also holds the modern-era record for stolen bases in a season, swiping 130 in 1982. FILE - Former baseball player Rickey Henderson waves after speaking during a ceremony inducting him into the Oakland Athletics' Hall of Fame before a baseball game between the Athletics and the New York Yankees in Oakland, Calif., Sept. 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) AP He finished his 25-year career with a .279/.401/.419 slash line, 3,055 hits, 510 doubles, 66 triples, 297 home runs and 1,115 RBIs while playing for nine teams, including four stints with the A’s. He won a second World Series ring with the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays. “I don’t think anybody would disagree, in our generation, he was the most dangerous player on the other side in a tie game or you are one run ahead,” La Russa said. “The all-timers, he’s on the team.” La Russa also praised the 10-time All-Star’s baseball IQ. “As smart as any position player I’ve ever been around,” La Russa said. “(He had) that stance with the small strike zone, but he was ready to strike if you threw a strike. All the leadoff homers. He was smart. And he learned to be a great base stealer, learned to be a better hitter. “He told me a couple years ago, there was one statistic in his career that he never expected — he didn’t say he ‘appreciates more than the others’ because he had to work hard to hit those home runs and steal all those bases — but it was that he never had a thought that he could be a 3,000-hit guy. “He explained because he drew so many walks, (he) never thought he’d have enough at-bats. When you think about all the at-bats that didn’t count, the fact that he got 3,000 hits — remarkable, makes him even greater. One of a kind. As good as any player who has ever played the game.” La Russa and Henderson remained in contact through the years. La Russa estimated he saw Henderson about “three or four times” in the last three months. FILE - Contestants dressed as former Oakland Athletics players Dennis Eckersley, left, Rickey Henderson, center, and Rollie Fingers stand with fans after racing during the seventh inning of a baseball game between the Athletics and the Seattle Mariners in Oakland, Calif., July 3, 2015. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) AP “If you looked at him like we looked at him, we commented, ‘Look how great he looks,’” La Russa said. “He could still play. Very, very difficult to accept. “Great person, great player, great teammate. ... Great friend.” ©2024 Chicago Tribune. Visit chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More sports news Pittsburgh Steelers miss on potential reunion with Pro Bowl wide receiver Penn State volleyball captures 8th national title behind ‘inspiration’ Katie Schumacher-Cawley Pittsburgh Steelers Injury Report: Five key players return to practice, star cornerback sits out How Eagles are preparing for a huge game against the Cowboys amid QB uncertaintyNew Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) Hailed as the architect of India's economic reforms, former prime minister Manmohan Singh in one his last interviews had said in 2019 that the country's economy was "over-regulated", the government exerted control and interferences were aplenty with even regulators having "morphed into controllers". Speaking to PTI in an exclusive interview on May 5, 2019, days before his successor Narendra Modi returned as the prime minister for the second consecutive term, Singh cited the then economic growth figures to suggest an impending slowdown. He had also rued the "growing interference" of courts in the economic policies, and said the Congress would have handled the economy differently. Singh, who served as prime minister for two terms from 2004 to 2014, has been credited with spearheading India's economic reform process. He had alleged that the lack of any vision or understanding of the country's dynamics of economy by the Narendra Modi-led government led to "disruptive" decisions like demonetisation, which he had earlier dubbed as "organised loot and legalised plunder". Singh had also said that people were "fed up" with the daily rhetoric and cosmetic change by the current dispensation and there was an undercurrent against this "illusion and boastful self aggrandizement". He noted that he had always welcomed scrutiny and accountability of government, as the same is intrinsic to democracy. Claiming that he had initiated action against his own people even when allegations were made, Singh had said that the Modi government considered itself inscrutable and unaccountable to a litany of corruption allegations and preferred to brazen it out by often shooting the messenger. The former prime minister claimed that this government came to power on the promise to usher in transparency and fight against corruption. However, he said, in the last five years, "we have only witnessed the stench of corruption peaking to unimaginable proportions". Demonetisation was perhaps the biggest scam of independent India, he had noted. Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms and a consensus builder in the rough world of politics, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, on Thursday night. He was 92. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

NEW YORK , Dec. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global fantasy sports market size is estimated to grow by USD 9.72 billion from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.05% during the forecast period. For comprehensive forecast and historic data on regions,market segments, customer landscape, and companies- Click for the snapshot of this report Report Attribute Details Base Year 2023 Forecast period 2024-2028 Historic Data for 2018 - 2022 Segments Covered Product (Fantasy soccer, Fantasy baseball, Fantasy basketball, Fantasy football, and Others), Platform (Mobile application and Website), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Key Companies Covered APKMozo.com, Blitz Studios Inc., Dream Sports, FantasyPros.com, Fantrax, Flutter Entertainment Plc, Fox Corp., GamesKraft Technologies Pvt. Ltd., GDC Media Ltd., Head Digital Works Pvt. Ltd., i3 Interactive Inc., MyTeam11, NFL Enterprises LLC, Paramount Global, Playerzpot Media Pvt Ltd, Premier League Ltd., RealTime Fantasy Sports Inc., Sachar Gaming Pvt. Ltd., Sorare, and Yahoo Regions Covered North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Region Outlook North America Europe Asia Rest of World 1. North America - North America is estimated to contribute 37%. To the growth of the global market. The Fantasy Sports Market report forecasts market growth by revenue at global, regional & country levels from 2017 to 2027. The North American fantasy sports market is primarily driven by the substantial player base in the region, which exceeds 50 million individuals. This figure continues to expand annually. The market's growth is attributed to the enhanced user experience offered by fantasy sports platforms. Additionally, the popularity of sports like football and Internet infrastructure contribute significantly to the market's strength. Notably, North American gamers have a higher disposable income compared to their counterparts in other regions, making it an attractive market for vendors. Key players in the North American market include Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Microsoft. For more insights on North America's significant contribution along with the market share of rest of the regions and countries - Download a FREE Sample Segmentation Overview Product 1.1 Fantasy soccer 1.2 Fantasy baseball 1.3 Fantasy basketball 1.4 Fantasy football 1.5 Others Platform 2.1 Mobile application 2.2 Website Geography 3.1 North America 3.2 Europe 3.3 APAC 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments - Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! 1.1 Fastest growing segment: Fantasy soccer is a popular game where participants build teams of real-life soccer players and earn points based on their actual on-field statistics. This game involves selecting eleven players for four positions. Soccer's global appeal fuels the fantasy soccer market's growth. Notable leagues include Draft Fantasy Football, McDonald's FIFA World Cup Fantasy, Fantasy Premier League, and UEFA Champions League Fantasy Football. Players can make transfers before the season, with a cap on the number during the season. Some websites offer unlimited transfers but deduct points. Player performance determines transfer fees. The increasing viewership on various media platforms, such as the internet and mobile, is expected to boost the segment's expansion in the global fantasy sports market during the forecast period. Research Analysis The Fantasy Sports Market is experiencing exponential growth, fueled by the increasing popularity of sports leagues and tournaments across the globe. NFL, Premier League, IPL, and various other leagues have a massive fan base, driving the demand for fantasy sports platforms. High-speed internet and smartphones have made online gaming more accessible than ever before. The market size is projected to expand significantly due to the rise of the Online gaming business. Secure payment methods and the integration of blockchain-based apps ensure a safe and transparent user experience. Fantasy chatbots offer personalized recommendations and real-time updates, enhancing fan engagement. However, the market faces challenges from illegal sports betting and the need for regulatory frameworks. Sports Tech is revolutionizing the industry, with software engineers and data scientists at the forefront of innovation. Baseball, Cricket, Football (rugby), Volleyball, and other sports continue to captivate audiences worldwide, fueling the growth of the Fantasy Sports Market. Internet penetration is a key factor, with more regions embracing digital platforms for sports consumption. Market Overview Fantasy sports market is experiencing exponential growth, fueled by the popularity of sports leagues and tournaments across the NFL, Premier League, IPL, and more. Fan engagement reaches new heights with fantasy sports platforms, enabling high-speed internet users to enjoy online gaming experiences, including eSports, football, baseball, basketball, hockey, cricket, and more. Gameplay is enhanced through user interfaces, social interaction, and daily fantasy contests, as well as virtual trading and NFT-based games like Reignmakers and Fantasy Football. The mobile application sector is a significant driver, with platforms offering mobile applications and virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences. Online gambling and sports betting are also integral parts of the fantasy sports ecosystem. However, it's essential to maintain secure payment methods and adhere to regulations against illegal sports betting . Software engineers, data scientists, and cybersecurity professionals are crucial in developing these innovative platforms, ensuring seamless user experiences and protecting against potential threats. The online gaming business continues to evolve, with freemium models, in-app purchases, advertising, and premium subscriptions driving revenue. Emerging sports like badminton, football (rugby), volleyball, and others are also gaining traction in the fantasy sports world. Internet penetration and the rise of Sports Tech have played a significant role in the market's growth. As more users access these platforms, the importance of sensor tower data and advertising opportunities increases. The future of fantasy sports lies in the integration of blockchain-based apps, fantasy chatbots, and the potential of in-app advertisements, pay-per-download, and subscription services. Start exploring market insights by Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Venodr Landscape 11 Vendor Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fantasy-sports-market--37-of-growth-to-originate-from-north-america-technavio-302331215.html SOURCE Technavio © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Syra Health to Present at NobleCon20

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Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently shared his perspective on former President Trump’s endorsement of cryptocurrency, noting how this support is enhancing the industry’s credibility in the world of mainstream politics. As the crypto sector continues to expand, such high-profile backing plays a significant role in boosting its legitimacy. As the potential for profits in the crypto space rises, Plus Wallet has emerged as a leading choice for users looking to capitalize on this growth. The wallet offers a range of essential features, along with innovative reward programs such as Swap to Earn and Refer to Earn, which allow users to generate passive income. Coupled with its intuitive and user-friendly design, Plus Wallet has become the top pick for traders who want to maximize their earnings in the expanding digital currency market. At the same time, Binance has announced the relaunch of its Web3 wallet. The Binance Wallet Relaunch is designed to enhance accessibility, making it easier for users at all experience levels to engage with decentralized technologies. Ripple CEO Discusses Crypto's Increasing Mainstream Appeal Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently shared his thoughts on former President Donald Trump’s growing support for cryptocurrency, noting that the sector has reciprocated this endorsement. This exchange of support underscores how crypto is steadily gaining ground in both mainstream politics and the broader economic landscape. With the rising popularity of digital currencies, endorsements from high-profile figures like Trump play a crucial role in enhancing the credibility of the industry. This signals a larger trend, where cryptocurrencies are gradually becoming a more influential element in global financial systems and policymaking. Binance Wallet Relaunch Focuses on Simplifying Web3 Binance has unveiled the relaunch of its wallet, designed to make Web3 more accessible to a broader audience. The updated Binance Web3 wallet will be introduced in phases, addressing various challenges related to adoption and user experience. Winson Liu, the Global Lead of Binance Wallet, highlighted that the primary goal of this relaunch is to enhance simplicity and usability. By focusing on a more intuitive design, Binance aims to provide a smoother experience for both newcomers and seasoned users. The overall vision is to make Web3 as easy to navigate as everyday tasks like checking email or shopping online, empowering users to easily explore and leverage the benefits of decentralized technologies. Effortless Passive Income Made Simple with Plus Wallet In today’s dynamic financial landscape, many are turning to passive income as a way to boost their earnings. However, building a reliable income stream can feel out of reach, especially for those with limited time or resources. Plus Wallet bridges this gap, offering innovative earning opportunities through a simple and flexible digital crypto wallet. The wallet’s built-in Swap to Earn and Refer to Earn programs make generating passive income easy and rewarding. Swap to Earn provides users with rewards for every trade they complete, without any limits on the number of transactions. Refer to Earn, on the other hand, lets users earn rewards based on the trading activity of the people they refer. With these programs, users can seamlessly earn extra income while performing everyday crypto transactions. Plus Wallet’s design prioritizes usability, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced traders. Its cross-chain compatibility supports a wide range of blockchains, including Bitcoin, Binance, Ethereum, and more. This multichain support gives users the freedom to explore and trade digital assets across various networks effortlessly. By combining innovative earning features, ease of use, and robust cross-chain functionality, Plus Wallet stands out as the ultimate digital crypto wallet for efficient portfolio management and steady passive income today. A Glimpse into the Future Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse highlights the growing role of cryptocurrency in shaping the global economy, with support from influential figures like Trump adding to its credibility. As this evolution unfolds, newcomers need practical and adaptable tools to navigate the crypto landscape and make the most of their opportunities. While Binance has announced a wallet relaunch to address these needs in the near future, Plus Wallet is already setting the standard. With its smooth rewards programs, users can generate extra money painlessly and enjoy their trading profits. Combining an easy interface with a lot of sophisticated trading capabilities, Plus Wallet is the ultimate crypto wallet for trading and managing digital assets anywhere and at any time. Website: https://pluswallet.app/ Download: https://pluswallet.onelink.me/8QWS/install Twitter: https://x.com/pluswalletapp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluswallet.app/ Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.MCLA-129 is a monoclonal antibody commercialized by , with a leading Phase II program in Solid Tumor. According to Globaldata, it is involved in 3 clinical trials, which are ongoing. Smarter leaders trust GlobalData The gold standard of business intelligence. The revenue for MCLA-129 is expected to reach an annual total of $35 mn by 2040 globally based off GlobalData’s Expiry Model. The drug’s revenue forecasts along with estimated costs are used to measure the value of an investment opportunity in that drug, otherwise known as net present value (NPV). Applying the drug’s phase transition success rate to remaining R&D costs and likelihood of approval (LoA) to sales related costs provides a risk-adjusted NPV model (rNPV). The rNPV model is a more conservative valuation measure that accounts for the risk of a drug in clinical development failing to progress. MCLA-129 Overview MCLA-129 is under development for the treatment of solid tumor including non-small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC), gastroesophageal junction (GC/GEJ) adenocarcinoma, Paranasal Sinus And Nasal Cavity Cancer; Oropharyngeal Cancer; Laryngeal Cancer, head and neck cancer and colorectal cancer. It is administered through intravenous drip. The therapeutic candidate is a bi-specific monoclonal antibody that acts by targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET). The drug candidate is being developed based on Multiclonics (biclonics) technology platform. Merus Overview is a clinical-stage oncology company that develops innovative antibody therapeutics. The company utilizes the Multiclonics, Biclonics and Triclonics platforms to develop human bispecific and tri-specific antibodies. Its pipeline products include petosemtamab (MCLA-158), a low-fucose human full-length IgG1 antibody that targets head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); MCLA-129 and MCLA-145 targeting advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and solid tumors; Zenocutuzumab (MCLA-128), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) drug for non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer; ONO-4685 for refractory T cell lymphoma and psoriasis; and INCA32459 and INCA33890 for advanced malignancies and select advanced solid tumors. The company operates through its subsidiaries in the Netherlands and the US. is headquartered in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The company reported revenues of (US Dollars) US$44 million for the fiscal year ended December 2023 (FY2023), an increase of 5.7% over FY2022. The operating loss of the company was US$156.6 million in FY2023, compared to an operating loss of US$160 million in FY2022. The net loss of the company was US$154.9 million in FY2023, compared to a net loss of US$131.2 million in FY2022. The company reported revenues of US$7.3 million for the second quarter ended June 2024, a decrease of 7.1% over the previous quarter. For a complete picture of MCLA-129’s valuation, This content was updated on 11 March 2024 From Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors. , the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article. To create this model, GlobalData takes into account factors including patent law, known and projected regulatory approval processes, cash flows, drug margins and company expenses. Combining these data points with GlobalData’s world class analysis creates high value models that companies can use to help in evaluation processes for each drug or company. The rNPV method integrates the probability of a drug reaching a clinical stage into the cash flow at that time, which provides a more accurate valuation, as it considers the probability that the drug never makes it through the clinical pathway to commercialization. GlobalData’s rNPV model uses proprietary likelihood of approval (LoA) and phase transition success rate (PTSR) data for the indication in the highest development stage, which can be found on GlobalData’s .