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Talkspace, Inc. ( NASDAQ:TALK – Get Free Report )’s share price shot up 4.6% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $3.18 and last traded at $3.16. 271,352 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 1,594,733 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.02. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TALK has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. KeyCorp started coverage on Talkspace in a research report on Monday, December 9th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $4.50 target price for the company. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Talkspace from $2.00 to $3.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 29th. Needham & Company LLC restated a “hold” rating on shares of Talkspace in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Mizuho began coverage on shares of Talkspace in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $5.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Northland Securities started coverage on Talkspace in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $5.00 target price for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $4.38. Check Out Our Latest Report on Talkspace Talkspace Stock Performance Talkspace ( NASDAQ:TALK – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $47.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $47.50 million. Talkspace had a negative net margin of 0.76% and a negative return on equity of 1.17%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned ($0.03) earnings per share. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in TALK. Creative Planning grew its holdings in Talkspace by 30.6% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 26,386 shares of the company’s stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 6,179 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Talkspace by 27.1% in the third quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 41,140 shares of the company’s stock worth $86,000 after purchasing an additional 8,764 shares during the last quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP increased its holdings in Talkspace by 37.8% in the third quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP now owns 35,568 shares of the company’s stock valued at $74,000 after purchasing an additional 9,766 shares during the period. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Talkspace during the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Talkspace during the 2nd quarter worth $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.37% of the company’s stock. About Talkspace ( Get Free Report ) Talkspace, Inc operates as a virtual behavioral healthcare company in the United States. The company offers psychotherapy and psychiatry services through its platform to individuals, enterprises, and health plans and employee assistance programs. It provides text, audio, and video-based psychotherapy from licensed therapists. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Talkspace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Talkspace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .In conclusion, President Trump's response on whether the U.S. will stay in NATO depends on fair burden sharing among member countries. The ongoing debate over defense spending within the alliance reflects broader tensions and challenges facing NATO in the 21st century. It remains to be seen how member countries will address these issues and whether they can find a sustainable solution that upholds the principles and objectives of the alliance. As the United States and its allies navigate these challenges, the future of NATO hangs in the balance.The Sparks will open the 2025 WNBA season on Friday, May 16, in San Francisco against the expansion Golden State Valkyries at the Chase Center, the league announced on Monday. After a historic 2024 season in which the WNBA had its most-watched regular season in 24 years while drawing the most spectators in two decades, the league is expanding its schedule again – this time to 44 games. WNBA teams played 40 games each of the last two seasons and 36 before then. The Sparks and new head coach Lynne Roberts will play their home opener on Sunday, May 18, against the 2024 WNBA runner-up Minnesota Lynx. The Sparks face the defending champion New York Liberty at home on Aug. 12 and in Brooklyn on July 3 and July 26. “We look forward to tipping off the WNBA’s 29th season in May of 2025 and continuing to build on the success of last season, when the WNBA delivered its most-watched draft and All-Star Game and set records for viewership, attendance, digital consumption and merchandise sales,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “We look forward to the expansion Golden State Valkyries taking the court for the first time.” The Valkyries, who join the league as its 13th team and will be coached by former Marina High and UCLA star Natalie Nakase , have their expansion draft on Friday (3:30 p.m. PT). Golden State will pick fifth in the 2025 WNBA Draft in April. The Sparks, who finished last in the league in 2024 and have missed the postseason for four consecutive years, have the No. 2 selection in the April draft . The New York Liberty will celebrate their first title with a ring and banner ceremony on May 17 when they host the Las Vegas Aces, who they met in the 2023 WNBA Finals. The Liberty, who beat Minnesota in five games in last season’s Finals in October, will face the Lynx four times in 2025: in Minneapolis on July 30 and Aug. 16, and in New York on Aug. 10 and Aug. 19. The Indiana Fever and 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark visit Los Angeles to take on the Sparks on Aug. 5 and Aug. 29 at Crypto.com Arena. The All-Star Game will be held in Indianapolis for the first time on July 19. The games designated for the Commissioner’s Cup standings will be played from June 1-17. Each team plays the others in its conference – five games for the six Eastern Conference teams and six for the seven Western Conference teams. The top teams in each conference meet in the Cup title game on July 1, hosted by team with the best winning percentage in Cup play. The regular season ends on Sept. 11 with the expanded playoffs to take place after that. The WNBA Finals have been expanded to a best-of-seven series this year and the best-of-three opening round of the playoffs will switch to a 1-1-1 format, guaranteeing each team gets at least one home game. In the past, the team with the better seed would host the first two games. The semifinals remain best-of-five. The league will hold its draft on April 14 with Connecticut star Paige Bueckers expected to go first to the Dallas Wings. Free agency precedes that. Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on Jan. 21, and can start signing players on Feb. 1. The television and streaming broadcast schedule will be announced in 2025, likely in March. SPARKS’ 2025 SCHEDULE (all times are PT) May 16 – at Golden State, 7 p.m. May 18 – vs. Minnesota, 3 p.m. May 21 – at Las Vegas, 7 p.m. May 23 – vs. Golden State, 7 p.m. May 25 – vs. Chicago, 3 p.m. May 27 – vs. Atlanta, 7 p.m. May 30 – at Las Vegas, 7 p.m. June 1 – vs. Phoenix, 3 p.m. June 6 – vs. Dallas, 6:30 p.m. June 9 – vs. Golden State, 7 p.m. June 11 – at Las Vegas, 7 p.m. June 14 – at Minnesota, 10 a.m. June 17 – vs. Seattle, 7 p.m. June 21 – at Minnesota, 5 p.m. June 24 – at Chicago, 5 p.m. June 26 – at Indiana, 4 p.m. June 29 – vs. Chicago, 3 p.m. July 3 – at New York, 4 p.m. July 5 – at Indiana, 4 p.m. July 10 – vs. Minnesota, noon July 13 – vs. Connecticut, 3 p.m. July 15 – vs. Washington, 7 p.m. July 22 – at Washington, 4:30 p.m. July 24 – at Connecticut, 4 p.m. July 26 – at New York, 4 p.m. July 29 – vs. Las Vegas, 7 p.m. Aug. 1 – at Seattle, 7 p.m. Aug. 5 – vs. Indiana, 7 p.m. Aug. 7 – vs. Connecticut, 7 p.m. Aug. 9 – at Golden State, noon Aug. 10 – vs. Seattle, 3 p.m. Aug. 12 – vs. New York, 7 p.m. Aug. 15 – at Dallas, 4:30 p.m. Aug. 17 – at Washington, Noon Aug. 20 – vs. Dallas, 7 p.m. Aug. 26 – Phoenix, 7 p.m. Aug. 29 – vs. Indiana, 7 p.m. Aug. 31 – vs. Washington, 5 p.m. Sept. 1 – at Seattle, 7 p.m. Sept. 3 – at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 5 – at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 7 – vs. Dallas, 3 p.m. Sept. 9 – at Atlanta, 7 p.m. Sept. 11 – vs. Las Vegas, 7 p.m.

According to the technical director, one of the biggest challenges in remaking the Yakuza series is the need to balance preserving the original essence of the games while also modernizing them to meet the expectations of today's gaming audience. This delicate balance requires a careful approach to redesigning gameplay mechanics, enhancing graphics, and optimizing performance to ensure that the remakes capture the magic of the originals while also offering a fresh and updated experience for players.Egypt has tested a new 10-kilometre (6.2-mile) extension to the Suez Canal as it tries to minimise the impact of currents on shipping and increase the key waterway's capacity. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for Two ships used the new extension on Saturday, a statement from the Suez Canal Authority said. Authority chief Osama Rabie said the development in the canal's southern region will "enhance navigational safety and reduce the effects of water and air currents on passing ships". Vessels navigating the waterway have at times run aground, mostly because of strong winds and sandstorms. In 2021, giant container ship Ever Given became wedged diagonally in the canal, blocking trade for nearly a week and resulting in delays that cost billions of dollars. 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In 2015, Egypt undertook an $8-billion expansion to the waterway, followed by several smaller development projects. The Suez Canal has long been a vital source of foreign currency for Egypt that has been undergoing its worst ever economic crisis. According to the International Monetary Fund, revenue from the canal has been slashed by up to 70 percent since last year because of attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea. Before the attacks pushed companies to change routes, the vital passage accounted for around 10 percent of global maritime trade . (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Critics of Google and Meta's dominance in the digital advertising market argue that their market power can harm smaller competitors and limit choices for advertisers and publishers. By allegedly striking secret deals that give them an unfair advantage, these tech giants may be distorting competition and hindering innovation in the industry.

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Cary-based Epic Games tops Forbes list of ‘America’s Dream Employers’

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Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more! Designer brands like Lowe to even department stores like Target have all deemed the fair isle sweater style a top trend for fall/winter 2024-25. Causing me to do a deep dive, I realized that the style has long been a favorite of royals. It was originally popularized by King Edward VIII in the 1920s and most recently worn by one of our favorite style icons, Kate Middleton . Proving that this is a timeless style, Middleton was last seen wearing a fair isle sweater last winter — that we know of! That was her latest public appearance wearing one but because they’re a cozy style, we’re willing to bet she’s worn them time and time over behind closed doors — such as to their cozy getaways to Balmoral castle! Her sweater pick from English brand Holland Cooper is still in stock and available to buy — just at a steeper price point of $299. If you love her fair isle sweater pick but don’t want to spend that much on just one style, we hear you! That’s why we found a lookalike version of her pick — and it’s just $34 on Amazon. Get the ​​ Amazon Essentials Crewneck Sweater for just $34 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, December 23, 2024, but are subject to change. Recreate cozy cabin getaway style the royal way with the Amazon Essentials Crewneck Sweater . Like the Princess of Wales’s pick, this style features the classic fair isle pattern and a mainly white coloring. It does have a few different tweaks however that we think make it even more wearable! These are having a crewneck design, a slim fit and a soft and stretchy fabric blend made of cotton, polyester, acrylic and elastane. Aside from the white and burgundy color pick that most-closely matches Middleton’s pick, this sweater comes in several eye-catching colors as well. You can also find it in brown, blues, black, multi-color styles and a few more! The sweater also comes in a larger size selection for more body types, that ranges from XS to XXL. To confirm our beliefs that this sweater makes a great wardrobe pick is its section of five-star ratings , which is now sitting at over 1,400 entries! One shopper said the sweater is “literally everything” they “dreamed of,” saying that it has a “great pattern,” is “very soft,” “fits right,” and is “not itchy in the least.” If you want to copy Middleton’s full look, pair the sweater with some Chelsea boots, skinny jeans and a shearling jacket! However, if you’re wanting to put your own spin on it you can wear it with leggings and some booties for traveling or with a skirt and heels for a winter party — it goes with so much! Considering this style has stuck around for hundreds of years, we’re confident it’ll be around for hundreds more. This Kate Middleton-approved style for $34 on Amazon — 89% less than her original pick! See it: ​​ Amazon Essentials Crewneck Sweater for just $34 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, December 23, 2024, but are subject to change. Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News Looking for something else? Explore more from Amazon Essentials here and more fair isle sweaters here ! Don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

In conclusion, while Wu Bai's farewell tour promises to be a momentous occasion for fans in Nanjing and beyond, potential attendees are advised to approach ticket purchases with caution and discernment. By staying informed and vigilant, concertgoers can ensure that they have a memorable and gratifying experience at the Wu Bai Rock Opera, free from the shadow of the retirement ticket controversy. Remember, the true essence of live music lies not in the price of a ticket, but in the shared passion and connection between artist and audience.SMU seeks 7th straight win with visit from LongwoodZymeworks Inc. ( NYSE:ZYME – Get Free Report ) Director Ecor1 Capital, Llc bought 16,692 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 26th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $14.38 per share, for a total transaction of $240,030.96. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 14,720,931 shares in the company, valued at approximately $211,686,987.78. The trade was a 0.11 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Ecor1 Capital, Llc also recently made the following trade(s): Zymeworks Price Performance Shares of NYSE:ZYME opened at $14.50 on Friday. Zymeworks Inc. has a 12 month low of $7.97 and a 12 month high of $17.70. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $14.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $12.00. The firm has a market cap of $998.73 million, a P/E ratio of -9.67 and a beta of 1.12. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Leerink Partners upgraded shares of Zymeworks from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $10.00 to $25.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Zymeworks from $21.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Zymeworks from $12.00 to $14.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Zymeworks from $16.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Leerink Partnrs upgraded Zymeworks from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $19.17. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Zymeworks Institutional Trading of Zymeworks Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in Zymeworks by 84.2% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,336 shares of the company’s stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 1,525 shares during the last quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale acquired a new stake in shares of Zymeworks during the third quarter worth $47,000. Quest Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Zymeworks by 8,049.6% in the second quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 9,209 shares of the company’s stock valued at $78,000 after purchasing an additional 9,096 shares in the last quarter. nVerses Capital LLC acquired a new position in Zymeworks during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $79,000. Finally, MQS Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Zymeworks in the 2nd quarter valued at about $92,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.89% of the company’s stock. About Zymeworks ( Get Free Report ) Zymeworks Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes biotherapeutics for the treatment of cancer. The company’s lead product candidates include zanidatamab, a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) that is in Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 clinical trials, including certain ongoing pivotal clinical trials; and zanidatamab zovodotin, a HER2 -targeted antibody-drug conjugate that is in Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of advanced or metastatic HER2-expressing tumors. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Zymeworks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zymeworks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Talkspace, Inc. ( NASDAQ:TALK – Get Free Report )’s share price shot up 4.6% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $3.18 and last traded at $3.16. 271,352 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 1,594,733 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.02. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TALK has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. KeyCorp started coverage on Talkspace in a research report on Monday, December 9th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $4.50 target price for the company. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Talkspace from $2.00 to $3.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 29th. Needham & Company LLC restated a “hold” rating on shares of Talkspace in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Mizuho began coverage on shares of Talkspace in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $5.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Northland Securities started coverage on Talkspace in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $5.00 target price for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $4.38. Check Out Our Latest Report on Talkspace Talkspace Stock Performance Talkspace ( NASDAQ:TALK – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $47.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $47.50 million. Talkspace had a negative net margin of 0.76% and a negative return on equity of 1.17%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned ($0.03) earnings per share. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in TALK. Creative Planning grew its holdings in Talkspace by 30.6% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 26,386 shares of the company’s stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 6,179 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Talkspace by 27.1% in the third quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 41,140 shares of the company’s stock worth $86,000 after purchasing an additional 8,764 shares during the last quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP increased its holdings in Talkspace by 37.8% in the third quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP now owns 35,568 shares of the company’s stock valued at $74,000 after purchasing an additional 9,766 shares during the period. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Talkspace during the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Talkspace during the 2nd quarter worth $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.37% of the company’s stock. About Talkspace ( Get Free Report ) Talkspace, Inc operates as a virtual behavioral healthcare company in the United States. The company offers psychotherapy and psychiatry services through its platform to individuals, enterprises, and health plans and employee assistance programs. It provides text, audio, and video-based psychotherapy from licensed therapists. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Talkspace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Talkspace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .A study of hot spots for collisions between ships and whales around the world, including Canadian waters, offers a map for measures to prevent the deadly strikes that could drive some species to extinction, one of the British Columbia-based authors says. Chloe Robinson said reported strikes represent a fraction of their true extent, and a lack of protection measures leaves whales vulnerable as global shipping expands. The study found shipping takes place across 92 per cent of the ranges for humpback, blue, fin and sperm whales worldwide, but measures to reduce vessel strikes have been implemented in less than seven per cent of high-risk areas. “That could really spell, you know, potential extinction for some of these species,” said Robinson, director of whales for Ocean Wise, a B.C.-based organization that provided data for the paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Science. “A recent study estimated anything up to 20,000 whales are killed a year through ship strikes, globally, and that’s just an estimate, a best-case estimate.” Robinson said she was surprised to see Swiftsure Bank, off the west coast of Vancouver Island, emerge as a risk hot spot for strikes of fin, blue and humpback whales. The area is a “migration highway” for humpbacks, she noted. The study also identified a hot spot for the same three species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence between Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. “This is something that Ocean Wise has been looking into because a lot of the management measures occur offshore and not sort of within the Gulf of St. Lawrence itself and even the St. Lawrence Seaway, (which) leads down to the Great Lakes,” she said. “That was a huge hot spot, which was really interesting for me.” Robinson said there have been smaller studies on the risk of ship strikes in different regions, but the study published Thursday is the first to map the distribution of the four whale species, using a variety of data sources, then compare it with the Automatic Identification System, a tool used for tracking vessels worldwide. “This was really the first of its kind to map these two on top of each other,” she said. The researchers found the highest levels of risk in the Indian, western North Pacific and Mediterranean, while it also identified high-risk areas in the eastern North Pacific, North and South Atlantic Ocean along with the South China Sea. The Southern Ocean was the only region that did not contain any ship-strike hot spots due to low levels of shipping, despite high use by whales, the study found. Robinson said the findings support a strong case for maritime authorities to adopt measures such as whale alert systems, speed limits and no-go zones. “We know where there are areas where there are lots of whales and lots of ships, so this is where we need to target for management,” she said in an interview. Robinson said Canada is home to many “eyes on the water” and researchers exploring innovative techniques for monitoring whales. But the country lacks mandatory mitigation measures, and it’s not alone. “Next to none of the measures globally are mandatory. So, having voluntary measures (is) great, provided people comply,” Robinson said. Ocean Wise launched an alert system in 2018 that notifies large vessels of the presence of whales in Pacific Northwest waters, and Robinson said about 80 per cent of mariners from Washington state up to Alaska have signed up. The WhaleReport alert system mainly functions in what she describes as “inshore” waters around busy ports in Seattle, Vancouver and Prince Rupert. The Port of Vancouver has also seen a high rate of compliance for its ECHO program, Robinson noted. The program encourages vessels to take voluntary steps, such as slowing down or staying farther away from whales, in order to reduce underwater noise and the potential for strikes in busy shipping areas. Robinson favours a multi-pronged approach to reducing ship strikes, but she said one single measure she believes could have a big impact would be equipping vessels with an infrared camera to detect whales within several kilometres. “Maybe some mariners ... respond better to knowing there 100 per cent is a whale 200 metres in front of your vessel, versus, ‘slow down, there might be a whale here.'” Robinson said such cameras can cost between US$50,000 and $75,000. But the cost was a “drop in the bucket” of major companies’ profits, she said. The cameras also present a public-relations opportunity for businesses to advertise themselves as operating in a more whale-friendly manner, Robinson said. “I know people who have had to go and have therapy after killing a humpback whilst at the helm,” she added. “I think there’s a lot to be said (for) the long-term benefits of this kind of technology.” The study also found areas with lower traffic that could provide refuge for whales, especially with added protections. It shows the Arctic Ocean, for example, has very few high-risk areas for vessel strikes, and Robinson said some researchers view it as potential sanctuary. But without protections, Robinson said Arctic waters could become the next high-risk hot spot as sea ice melts with climate change, opening up shipping routes. “Knowing the plans to expand shipping routes into these areas to cut shipping time, make things faster, right through prime whale habitat, I think this is a really good opportunity to get ahead of the issue before it becomes an issue,” she said. Whales play crucial roles in their ecosystems, including cycling nutrients that support other species, and they’re a boon for tourism, Robinson said. They’re also “magical” creatures that people feel connected to, she said, and they remain vulnerable after many species were hunted to the brink of extinction. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024. Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press

Former Liverpool defender aims cheeky dig at Everton after Nottingham Forest win

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscow would carry out more tests of the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile in "combat conditions," a day after firing one on Ukraine. "We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and character of the security threats posted to Russia," Putin said in a televised meeting with military chiefs. Russia fired the new-generation missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro early on Thursday in a major escalation of the weaponry being deployed in the nearly three-year conflict. The Kremlin boss also ordered the missile, which flies at speeds of Mach 10 -- 10 times the speed of sound -- to be put into serial production (mass production). Russia is developing similar advanced systems, he added. "We need to begin serial production. The decision... has in effect been taken," Putin said, praising the "particular strength of this weapon and its power. "The weapon system that was tested yesterday is another faithful guarantee of Russia's territorial integrity and sovereignty," he added. Putin claimed no other countries in the world had such missile technology. While he conceded other states would soon develop them, he said: "That will be tomorrow, after a year or two. But we have this system now. That's important." His choreographed meeting with the defence minister and those in charge of developing the missile came at the end of a week that has seen the Ukraine conflict escalate rapidly. Putin said the firing of the Oreshnik missile was a direct response to Kyiv's forces using US- and UK-supplied missiles on Russian territory for the first time. In an address to the nation on Thursday, Putin said Russia reserved the right to fire missiles at military facilities in countries whose weapons are being used by Ukraine -- specifically the United States and Britain.The Kimberley Curling Club (KCC) hosted the 2025 Safetek Profire BC U18 Curling Championships from Dec. 19 to 23. "We were thrilled with how everything went," said KCC general manager Blair Jarvis. "We knew that most teams were travelling a long way to get here and unfortunately they had to deal with some adventures with the snow we had last Wednesday. "We wanted to make sure that we gave them an experience that they would remember, so we spent a lot of time on the ice, we wanted to give them a great social experience off the ice as well and we heard from a number of curlers that it was the most U18 event that they’ve attended and so we’re really proud of that fact." The event had 12 teams competing on the Boys' side and seven Girls teams. On the Boys side of the competition, Team Jaeger out of Kelowna beat out Team Hrynew in the finals and for the Girls, Team Arndt from Vernon beat out Team Rempel to win the gold. With these wins, Team Jaeger has earned a spot at the Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships, which will be held at the Nutana Curling Club in Saskatoon, Sask. from Feb. 16-22, 2025. Teams Arndt and Rempel will both be headed to the Nationals. Team Jaeger was made up of coaches Tyler Jaeger and Travis Wielgosz, Lead Brendan Hruschak, Second Noel Wielgosz, Third Spencer Rempel and Skip Owen Jaeger. "We really worked hard this year, this year we really wanted to win," said Skip Owen Jaeger. "We put in a lot of work and it just feels really, really good to win and for all that hard work to pay off. We’re really, really excited, it’s our first National event, first U18 provincial win so we’re really excited." Team Arndt is Coach David Arndt, Lead Alicia Evans, Second Ivy Jensen, Third Bethany Evans and Skip Ava Arndt. "We’re just super excited," said Skip Ava Arndt. "It took us a couple years to get here, but the hard work payed off and we can’t believe it, I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. It’s been a lot of hard work from us and the coaches and the parents. It’s been amazing." Jarvis coached Kimberley's Team Reynolds, who went on to win bronze. "We had set a target of making the playoffs and really happy with how the boys came together," Jarvis said. "They had a couple of games with a tough start and battled back and so the resilience they showed and how they stayed positive, there were a lot of great things we can take away from that. And the bronze medal, we were just thrilled to do that. "We saw Team Jaeger on the boys side and Team Arndt on the girls side as well — if we want to get to that level next year, we have some things to work on and it’s great to see the high level of curling in this province and so I think we’ve come away very motivated as well about what we need to do to get better if we want to be a little higher on the podium next year." Jarvis extended his gratitude to the over 50 volunteers who helped out before, during and after the event, including members of the Cranbrook Curling Club. "We’ll take some of the learnings from this event and apply them to the High School Provincials at the end of February, but we’re really happy with how everything went," he said. "And this is an event for the kids, we want to make sure that they’re going to have an experience that they’ll remember, the teams that had success will obviously remember the things that happened on the ice, but for most kids it will be the experiences they had off the ice. "We had karaoke here on the one night and a bunch of teams were intermingling together and having a great time and those are the experiences that I’m going to take away from this event." Patti Caldwell was head official for the event and Jarvis said she and Ian Milligan worked tirelessly throughout the week. "Patti’s attitude is this is all for the kids and making sure that they have fun and sure it’s a competition, but it’s meant to be fun and we’re going to enjoy this," Jarvis said. "This is a sport that we can enjoy for life and so you want to make sure you’re building positive memories in every aspect." Lindsay Shannon, administrative and event manager at Curl BC, was also on hand for the event, and presented all the awards. "We would just like to thank the Kimberley Curling Club and the City of Kimberley who put on an amazing event here and welcomed all of our athletes who have performed so well," Shannon said. "We're really looking forward to cheering our winners on at the Nationals." The Kimberley Curling Club's next big event is the High School Provincials from Feb. 26 to March 1.The match will also see a battle of wits between the players on the field, with both teams boasting a wealth of talent and experience. From the defensive solidity of players like Alphonso Davies and Gerard Piqué to the attacking flair of Serge Gnabry and Antoine Griezmann, fans can expect fireworks as these two titans of European football go head-to-head.