BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag —a sister publication of POLITICO owned by the Axel Springer Group — published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. “The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the last spark of hope for this country,” Musk wrote in his translated commentary. He went on to say the far-right party “can lead the country into a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity and technological innovation are not just wishes, but reality.” The Tesla Motors CEO also wrote that his investment in Germany gave him the right to comment on the country’s condition. The AfD is polling strongly, but its candidate for the top job, Alice Weidel , has no realistic chance of becoming chancellor because other parties refuse to work with the far-right party. An ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, the technology billionaire challenged in his opinion piece the party’s public image. “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Musk’s commentary has led to a debate in German media over the boundaries of free speech, with the paper’s own opinion editor announcing her resignation, pointedly on Musk’s social media platform, X. “I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print,” Eva Marie Kogel wrote. A critical article by the future editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Jan Philipp Burgard, accompanied Musk’s opinion piece. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally wrong,” Burgard wrote. Responding to a request for comment from the German Press Agency, dpa, the current editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Ulf Poschardt, and Burgard — who is due to take over on Jan. 1 — said in a joint statement that the discussion over Musk’s piece was “very insightful. Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression.” “This will continue to determine the compass of the “world” in the future. We will develop “Die Welt” even more decisively as a forum for such debates,” they wrote to dpa.Appalachian State hires South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains as head coachcircus festival 2024 。

Tax reforms: Tinubu won’t undermine democracy –Information MinisterThe gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. Here's the latest: The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. “We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer made sure to wear a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras that have aided authorities piecing together his movements and his identity. A law enforcement official said Friday that new surveillance footage shows the suspect riding the subway and visiting establishments in Manhattan and provided more clues about his actions in the days before he ambushed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . The gunman’s whereabouts and identity remain unknown Friday, as did the reason for Wednesday’s killing. New York City police say evidence firmly points to it being a targeted attack . ▶ Read more about the search for the gunman In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was walking to when he was fatally shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized. “It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area. Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering. Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders. ▶ Read more about how companies protect their leaders Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. — Mike Balsamo Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations. The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday. “The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.” Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution. The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event. “All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.” Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage. The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators. “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said. But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter. “We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX. Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely. Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said. Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled. The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say. Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks. ▶ Read more about the steps companies take to protect their leadership Police said Thursday they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper from a trash can near the scene of the ambush and think the suspect bought them from a Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The items were being tested by the city’s medical examiner.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — . The Canadian Union of Postal Workers strike, starting one week ago today, means disruptions to mail, including the mailing of the Foundation’s most significant fundraising drive of the year, their ‘More Firsts’ holiday appeal. The appeal, which features the emotional story about the impact Foundation donors have had on one grateful Calgarian, is waiting at Canada Post processing centres to be mailed out to over 40,000 households this season. Sandy, a grateful patient and Calgary Health Foundation supporter whose story is featured in the appeal, had a medical emergency in 2023 that resulted in her being rushed to Rockyview General Hospital. Sandy spent 15 critical days in Rockyview’s Intensive Care Unit due to kidney failure and medication toxicity. “I almost didn’t make it,” Sandy remembers. “Thankfully, I had an incredible healthcare team looking after me. Caring and concerned community members were a huge part of the reason the team was able to save my life.” Last year, Calgary Health Foundation’s holiday appeal brought in over $250,000, an amount that accounts for a significant portion of its year-end fundraising. Without knowing how long the strike will last or what impact it will have on its operations, the Foundation is preparing for a substantial drop in donations. “As a registered charity committed to championing healthcare in Southern Alberta, we rely on the support of donors to bring to life the projects we commit to. The recent mail interruption limits our donors’ ability to give back to medical innovation and ensure we can continue to offer more healthcare firsts to patients. While this disruption affects traditional ways of giving, we still have many ways for donors to give. We encourage everyone to please call us, visit our website, or reach out for alternative ways to contribute.” Murray Sigler, President & CEO, Calgary Health Foundation. Calgary Health Foundation is currently committed to projects and programs advancing healthcare in the areas of, but not limited to, women’s health initiatives, endoscopic spine and breast cancer surgery, interventional radiology, minimally invasive heart surgery, Parkinson’s disease, Indigenous healthcare, mental health impatient treatment, and eating disorder programming. Donor gifts to Calgary Health Foundation help ensure Calgary remains a world-class hub of medical care and continues to attract the best healthcare professionals, purchase the latest cutting-edge equipment and technology, and offer superior programs so patients can heal faster and enjoy more firsts with their families. Donors can still give the gift of health this holiday season through on-line, phone and in-person donations. -30- . Alternatively, donors can call Calgary Health Foundation at 403-943-0615 to make alternative arrangements.

Sindh urges federal govt to convene CCI meetingThe Expansion of Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS): What It Means For Defense Drones

Sri Lanka took another significant step toward textile circularity with a four-day program under the GTEX Phase II initiative, organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The event, which combined a two-day training-of-trainers session with a workshop on Circular Economy Business Models for the Textile and Clothing Industry, reflects the nation’s ongoing commitment to a sustainable textile future. The workshop, held from December 16th to 19th, provided around 90 participants with a comprehensive understanding of circularity in textiles. Key sessions focused on designing for circularity, enhancing reverse logistics for reuse and recycling, and exploring advanced textile recycling technologies and quality standards. These insights aim to position Sri Lanka as a frontrunner in the global sustainable textile movement. The program began with a training-of-trainers session attended by 19 Sri Lankan academics, textile professionals, and government representatives. By embedding knowledge locally, it ensures the scalability and sustainability of circular practices across the country. In 2025, GTEX Sri Lanka plans to train approximately 500 industry professionals and students, enabling wider adoption of these innovative business models. “Sustainability is no longer an option but a necessity. Through this program, we are equipping Sri Lanka’s textile industry with the tools to stay competitive in global markets while addressing the urgent need for circularity,” said Matthias Knappe, Head of Fibres, Textiles, and Clothing at ITC. Yohan Lawrence, Secretary General of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), echoed this sentiment, stating, “This initiative reinforces Sri Lanka’s commitment to building a responsible, future-ready textile sector. It’s an important step toward aligning our industry with international standards and making it more resilient to global market demands.” The GTEX/MENATEX Phase II program is a multi-country initiative supporting export competitiveness in the textile and clothing sectors of Sri Lanka, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia. It focuses on sustainability and circularity as key drivers of growth, while also addressing the sector’s potential for job creation and poverty reduction. By fostering transformational change in the industry, the program helps participants meet international sustainability standards and aligns closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Sri Lanka, GTEX collaborates with key organizations such as JAAF, the Export Development Board (EDB), the Central Environmental Authority, and the University of Moratuwa to implement these practices effectively. “The collaboration between local institutions, industry players, and international partners ensures a holistic approach to transforming Sri Lanka’s textile and clothing industry,” Knappe added. “It’s about creating a more sustainable and inclusive ecosystem, which benefits everyone from manufacturers to end consumers.” This concerted effort aims to prepare Sri Lanka’s textile sector for a competitive, sustainable future, balancing environmental responsibilities with economic opportunities. Photo Caption: The "Circularity in Action" Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop

JAAF partners with GTEX to drive textile innovation and competitiveness in Sri LankaInterview: ONE OR EIGHT talks about their new music, working with Big Sean, and the digital age

Jim Rossman | Tribune News Service Cord cutting used to refer to abandoning pay TV and putting up an antenna to watch free over-the-air TV. Then cord cutting expanded to include streaming services like Netflix and Hulu and individual streaming sources. Related Articles TV and Streaming | Best TV of 2024: A modestly better lineup than usual, but why didn’t it feel that way? TV and Streaming | ‘Emilia Pérez’ leads Golden Globe nominations with 10, followed by ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Conclave’ TV and Streaming | Column: 40 years after it premiered, ‘The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ remains one of the best Doyle adaptations TV and Streaming | What to watch: ‘Flow’ and ‘The Order’ are both worth your attention TV and Streaming | ‘Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary’ review: More than an ironic musical pleasure Now we also include streaming bundles, like YouTube TV or Hulu Live or DirecTV Stream. These bundled services mimic cable and satellite service, in that they have hundreds of channels. The ease or complexity of the cord cutting experience depends on how you have things set up. Let’s take a look at some gift options for your favorite cord cutter. As far as I know DirecTV is the only streaming bundle service that offers its own hardware. The Gemini Air is a small dongle that plugs into an HDMI port on your TV. It is paired with a remote control to allow for easy navigation. If you were an AT&T U-Verse TV customer, the Gemini Air/DirecTV Stream experience will be very familiar. The Gemini Air is a rarity in that it has number buttons. DirecTV Stream has the option of turning on channel numbers in the guide. I’ve used DirecTV Stream with my Roku TV and with the Gemini Air and the Air makes navigating the huge list of channels much easier. The Gemini Air runs the Google operating system, so you can see and use all your other streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Max and more. You can also load apps and games from the Google Play store. The Gemini Air connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network, and it can stream 4K content to your TV. The remote control has a microphone so you can use your voice to search or interact with Hey Google’s voice assistant. DirecTV Stream customers can get a free Gemini Air from AT&T with their service. Additional units are available for $120. There are lots of smart TV brands. Some run on the Roku operating system, some run Google TV and some use their own brand of smart TV apps. If you’d like to add Google TV to any set, you can get Google’s new TV Streamer (4K) for just $99 from store.google.com. The small device connects to your TV’s HDMI port. It also can connect to your home’s internet via Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet connection. The Google TV interface is not tied to any specific streaming service. You can use any streaming service or app that’s available on the Google Play store. It features a simple remote with voice control and the Google TV Streamer is also a hub and controller for Matter and Thread home devices that work with Google’s home ecosystem. If you use an over-the-air antenna for watching your free local channels, I’m betting you’d like the option to record those channels. TiVo used to be the best/easiest way to record OTA TV, but they’ve discontinued their OTA recorders. A great alternative is from TabloTV, which is a small box that you connect to your TV antenna. The TabloTV does not directly connect to your TV. Instead it connects to your home’s Wi-Fi, and the antenna signal is wirelessly sent to any TV or compatible device in your home. Your TV picks up the signal through a free app, which is compatible with smart TV brands like Samsung, LG, Google TV, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV or Android TV. This method is extremely handy if you don’t want to be bothered running an antenna wire from your attic or roof all the way to your TV. It’s also great if you want to use an indoor antenna, but your TV is not situated in a room that faces the broadcast towers. You can place the antenna and TabloTV where you get the best reception. The TabloTV comes in two models – with either two or four tuners. This means you can record or watch two or four shows at a time. TabloTV has onboard storage to record up to 50 hours of shows, but you can plug in any USB hard drive and expand to record thousands of hours of programming. You can also bundle a TabloTV with an OTA antenna if you like, or you can use your own antenna. Two things to know, there are no ongoing subscription costs for guide data, and there is no streaming service integration. You will need another way to add in streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. TabloTV models start at $99.95 for the two tuner model at tablotv.com. The four-tuner model is $139.95, but they may be on sale during the holidays. ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

HOUSTON -- A federal judge in Texas rejected the auction sale of Alex Jones' Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet, criticizing the bidding for the conspiracy theory platform as flawed as well as how much money families of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting stood to receive. The decision late Tuesday night is a victory for Jones, whose Infowars site was put up for sale as part of his bankruptcy case in the wake of the nearly $1.5 billion that courts have ordered him to pay over falsely calling one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history a hoax. Families of the Sandy Hook victims had backed The Onion's bid. Following a two-day hearing in Houston, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said he would not approve the sale, while citing concerns about transparency in the auction. That clears the way for Jones to keep - at least for now - Infowars, which is headquartered in Austin, Texas. The Onion had planned to kick Jones out and relaunch Infowars in January as a parody. "We are deeply disappointed in today's decision, but The Onion will continue to seek a resolution that helps the Sandy Hook families receive a positive outcome for the horror they endured," Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, posted on social media late Tuesday. Lopez cited problems - but no wrongdoing - with the auction process. He said he said he did not think that those involved in the auction acted in bad faith and that everyone "put their best foot forward and tried to play within the rules." Still, Lopez said he said he did not want another auction and left it up to the trustee who oversaw the auction to determine the next steps. The Onion offered $1.75 million in cash and other incentives for Infowars' assets in the auction. First United American Companies, which runs a website in Jones' name that sells nutritional supplements, bid $3.5 million. The bids were a fraction of the money that Jones has been ordered to pay in defamation lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas filed by relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook shooting. Lopez said the auction outcome "left a lot of money on the table" for families. "You got to scratch and claw and get everything you can for them," Lopez said. Christopher Mattei, a lawyer for the Sandy Hook families who sued Jones in Connecticut, said they were disappointed in the judge's ruling. "These families, who have already persevered through countless delays and roadblocks, remain resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses accountable for the harm he has caused," Mattei said in a statement. "This decision doesn't change the fact that, soon, Alex Jones will begin to pay his debt to these families and he will continue doing so for as long as it takes." Jones, who did not attend the proceedings, went back on his program late Tuesday to celebrate the judge's ruling, calling the auction "ridiculous" and "fraudulent." Although The Onion's cash offer was lower than that of First United American, it also included a pledge by many of the Sandy Hook families to forgo $750,000 of the auction proceeds due to them and give it to other creditors, providing the other creditors more money than they would receive under First United American's bid. Alex Jones' bankruptcy case The sale of Infowars is part of Jones' personal bankruptcy case, which he filed in late 2022 after he was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion in defamation lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas filed by relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook shooting. Jones repeatedly called the shooting that killed 20 children and six educators a hoax staged by actors and aimed at increasing gun control. Parents and children of many of the victims testified in court that they were traumatized by Jones' conspiracies and threats from his followers. Jones has since acknowledged that the Connecticut school shooting happened. Most of the proceeds from the sale of Infowars, as well as many of Jones' personal assets, will go to the Sandy Hook families. Some proceeds will go to Jones' other creditors. The auction overseer defends his decision Trustee Christopher Murray had defended The Onion's bid in court this week, testifying that he did not favor either bidder over the other and was not biased. He also revealed that First United American submitted a revised bid in recent days, but he said he could not accept it because the Sandy Hook families in the Connecticut lawsuit objected. The Onion valued its bid, with the Sandy Hook families' offer, at $7 million because that amount was equal to a purchase price that would provide the same amount of money to the other creditors. In a court filing last month, Murray's lawyers called First United American's request to disqualify The Onion's bid a "disappointed bidder's improper attempt to influence an otherwise fair and open election process." Jones' attorney, Ben Broocks, noted that the Sandy Hook lawsuit judgments could be overturned in pending appeals and got Murray to acknowledge that the Sandy Hook families' offer in The Onion bid could fall apart if that happens. That's because the percentage of the auction proceeds they would be entitled to could drop sharply and they wouldn't get the $750,000 from the sale to give to other creditors. Putting Infowars up for auction Up for sale were all the equipment and other assets in the Infowars studio in Austin, as well as the rights to its social media accounts, websites, video archive and product trademarks. Jones uses the studio to broadcast his far-right, conspiracy theory-filled shows on the Infowars website, his account on the social platform X and radio stations. Many of Jones' personal assets also are being sold. Jones has set up another studio, websites and social media accounts in case The Onion wins approval to buy Infowars and kicks him out. Jones has said he could continue using the Infowars platforms if the auction winner is friendly to him. Jones is appealing the money has been ordered to pay in judgments citing free speech rights.2024 Ibrahim Index of African Governance Highlights Progress Amid Growing ChallengesChimerix Reports Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)Calzada TD to Alexander sends Incarnate Word to FCS quarterfinal with win over Villanova

AP News Summary at 12:10 a.m. ESTISRO to sign off 2024 with space docking experiment mission on December 30

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FAIRVIEW, N.C. (AP) — Vice President-elect JD Vance on Friday assured residents of western North Carolina still cleaning up from Hurricane Helene that they haven't been forgotten as he surveyed storm wreckage and talked to first responders in one of his first public appearances since the election. Vance said he was visiting because the holidays are approaching and he wants to provide some comfort to those affected by the hurricane as they go about trying to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. “My simple message to the people of Appalachia is that we haven’t forgotten you — we love you,” said Vance, who made a name for himself writing about the region in his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy.” He added, “Certainly when this administration changes hands in the next 45 days, we’re going to do everything that we can to help people rebuild, to get them back on their feet, to bring some commerce back to this area, but, most importantly, to allow people to live in their homes.” The hurricane struck in late September and caused at least $53 billion in damage in North Carolina, according to a state government estimate. More than 100 North Carolina residents died from the storm, which the state estimates damaged over 120,000 homes, at least 6,000 miles (9,700 kilometers) of roads and over 160 sewer and water systems. The incoming vice president and his wife, Usha, visited the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department, where they heard that the building flooded with 4 to 6 inches of water and that roughly a dozen people contracted walking pneumonia as they responded to the hurricane's destruction. Power outages meant that some first responders and their families could not check in on each other for several days. At least one firefighter lost his life while trying to save lives in the storm. Vance also toured a two-story house that is being rebuilt after the storm. The construction is being undertaken by Samaritan's Purse, an evangelical Christian charity led by Franklin Graham, son of the late pastor Billy Graham, who was known for his close relationships with U.S. presidents. “We want you to have the best Christmas as you possibly can have, despite the circumstances,” he said in a message to residents while speaking to reporters after touring the damaged home. More than 60% of voters in Buncombe County, where Vance visited Friday, backed Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, in November's presidential election. Liberal-leaning Asheville is known for its vibrant arts scene and the Biltmore Estate tourist attraction. The city’s arts district faced substantial damage from Helene. But the majority of North Carolina voters supported President-elect Donald Trump, and he generally fared better among voters hurt by Hurricane Helene. The Republican gave a blistering critique of the Biden administration's relief efforts, which President Joe Biden characterized as “un-American” misinformation. AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of the electorate, found that 26% of North Carolina voters said the hurricane affected their lives by damaging their homes, causing extended power outages or interfering with their ability to cast a ballot. Trump won 53% of those voters. Vance has largely stayed out of the public eye since the Nov. 5 election aside from shepherding Trump's Cabinet nominees around Capitol Hill. Vance defended Pete Hegseth after his tour of the region, saying that Trump's defense secretary nominee deserved a Senate confirmation hearing rather than a “sham hearing before the American media” over allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking of alcohol. The incoming vice president also said he did not know whether he would be escorting Kash Patel, Trump's pick for FBI director, around the Senate next week. In North Carolina, state lawmakers have already allocated more than $900 million in disaster relief, but Gov. Roy Cooper has sought at least $3.9 billion. The Democratic governor and other state leaders have asked the federal government for $25 billion in aid. Hundreds of miles of roads have been reopened and water systems are back online, but the work has been slow-going. More than 100,000 western North Carolina residents were told just two weeks ago that they could once again use water coming out of Asheville’s water system to bathe and to drink from the faucet. A destroyed water system in at least one isolated county could take years to rebuild. Many Republicans and residents were critical of the initial recovery operations by the federal government and Cooper’s administration. Housing for displaced residents for the winter has become a concern, and some allies of Cooper have blamed GOP lawmakers for failing to provide grants to small businesses at risk of failing and housing renters faced with eviction.WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is weighing whether to issue sweeping pardons for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly targeted by President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, a preemptive move that would be a novel and risky use of the president’s extraordinary constitutional power. The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But Biden himself has discussed the topic with some senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all. Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes – and usually those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for those who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. They fear that Trump and his allies, who have boasted of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for their targets even if they don’t result in prosecutions. While the president’s pardon power is absolute, Biden’s use in this fashion would mark a significant expansion of how they are deployed, and some Biden aides fear it could lay the groundwork for an even more drastic usage by Trump. They also worry that issuing pardons would feed into claims by Trump and his allies that the individuals committed acts that necessitated immunity. Recipients could include infectious-disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was instrumental in combating the coronavirus pandemic and who has become a pariah to conservatives angry about mask mandates and vaccines. Others include witnesses in Trump’s criminal or civil trials and Biden administration officials who have drawn the ire of the incoming president and his allies. Some fearful former officials have reached out to the Biden White House preemptively seeking some sort of protection from the future Trump administration, one of the people said. It follows Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter — not just for his convictions on federal gun and tax violations, but for any potential federal offense committed over an 11-year period, as the president feared that Trump allies would seek to prosecute his son for other offenses. That could serve as a model for other pardons Biden might issue to those who could find themselves in legal jeopardy under Trump. Biden is not the first to consider such pardons — Trump aides considered them for him and his supporters involved in his failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that culminated in a violent riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But he could be the first to issue them since Trump’s pardons never materialized before he left office nearly four years ago. Gerald Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” in 1974 to his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. He believed a potential trial would “cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States," as written in the pardon proclamation. Politico was first to report that Biden was studying the use of preemptive pardons. On the campaign trail, Trump made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him. Trump has talked about “enemies from within" and circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He also zeroed in on former Rep. Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris and helped investigate Jan. 6, and he promoted a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals for supposed treason. Kash Patel, whom Trump has announced as his nominee to be director of the FBI, has listed dozens of former government officials he wanted to “come after.” Richard Painter, a Trump critic who served as the top White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said he was reluctantly in support of having Biden issue sweeping pardons to people who could be targeted by Trump's administration. He said he hoped that would “clean the slate” for the incoming president and encourage him to focus on governing, not on punishing his political allies. “It’s not an ideal situation at all,” Painter said. “We have a whole lot of bad options confronting us at this point.” While the Supreme Court this year ruled that the president enjoys broad immunity from prosecution for what could be considered official acts, his aides and allies enjoy no such shield. Some fear that Trump could use the promise of a blanket pardon to encourage his allies to take actions they might otherwise resist for fear of running afoul of the law. “There could be blatant illegal conduct over the next four years, and he can go out and pardon his people before he leaves office,” Painter said. "But if he’s going to do that, he’s going to do that anyway regardless of what Biden does." More conventional pardons from Biden, such as those for sentencing disparities for people convicted of federal crimes, are expected before the end of the year, the White House said.In Gaza's crowded tent camps, women wrestle with a life stripped of privacy

Aston Villa receive new referee verdict as double VAR point made in RB Leipzig winIndiana 72, Columbia 62Two luxury real estate brokers and their brother have been charged with luring, drugging and violently raping dozens of women over more than a decade, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday in Manhattan. State charges were also filed Wednesday in Florida against two of the brothers and a third man stemming from three alleged sexual assaults. Federal prosecutors allege in the New York indictment that Oren and Tal Alexander, known for brokering deals on high-end properties in New York City and Miami, and sibling Alon Alexander used their wealth and influence to take advantage of women from at least 2010 to 2021. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App The brothers, who all reside in Miami, used “deception, fraud, and coercion” to entice victims to travel with them or attend parties or events, often covering flights, hotels and other expenses, according to the indictment. They also at times used the promise of a romantic relationship, it said. The women were then drugged and raped by one or more of the brothers, as well as other men, before being sent away with concert tickets and other luxuries. “This conduct was heinous,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said at a news conference in Manhattan. The brothers typically met their victims on dating apps, through social events and at bars and nightclubs, but they also used party promoters to “source” women, according to Williams. He added that the women were often provided drugs, including cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms and GHB. The brothers even surreptitiously drugged some of the women’s drinks, leaving them physically impaired and unable to fight back or escape from the sexual assaults, prosecutors said in their indictment. "In some instances, the defendants physically restrained and held down their victims during the rapes and sexual assaults and ignored screams and explicit requests to stop,'' the indictment said. In the Florida cases, state prosecutors described one incident in December 2016 as a “gang rape” of a woman who said she was invited to a barbecue at Alon Alexander’s Miami Beach apartment only to discover no one there, save Alon, his brother Oren and another relative, Ohad Fisherman, who remains at large. The woman, who is not named, said she was led into a bedroom where Fisherman held her down and the brothers argued over who would rape her first as she pleaded with them not to assault her, according to Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. The second incident, in October 2017, involved a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by Oren Alexander at his apartment after drinking a glass of wine that left her feeling weak and unable to control her body, according to prosecutors. They said the third incident happened in October 2021 and involved a woman who said she was assaulted by Oren Alexander after going back to his residence with friends following dinner. Follow the CTV News channel on WhatsApp Williams, the U.S. Attorney in New York, said the three brothers were arrested in Florida on Wednesday and will appear in Miami federal court before being brought to New York. He declined to say if others also will be charged but urged any other possible victims to come forward. Meanwhile lawyers for the brothers denied the charges, which include one count of engaging in a sex trafficking conspiracy for each sibling. “Oren Alexander is innocent,” attorney Susan Necheles wrote in an email. “The evidence will show that neither he nor his brothers ever committed a crime.” “My client will be entering a not guilty plea and dealing with these charges in the appropriate forum .. .the courtroom,” responded Isabelle Kirshner, a lawyer for Alon Alexander. Joel Denaro, a lawyer for Tal Alexander, declined to comment. The elder brother appeared in Miami federal court Wednesday and will have a detention hearing Friday as prosecutors argue he’s a danger to the community and a flight risk. The two other brothers are in state custody and are expected to appear in court Thursday. Representatives for a number of women who filed lawsuits earlier this year claiming they were violently raped by the brothers welcomed the charges. Read more of the latest international headlines “We are glad to hear that there will finally be some measure of accountability for the Alexander brothers and justice for their many victims,” lawyer David Gottlieb wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “We applaud all the survivors who have had the strength and courage to speak up about their unimaginable experiences after years of pain and suffering.” Tal Alexander, 38, and Oren Alexander, 37, first worked as a team under real estate giant Douglas Elliman, listing properties for Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Liam Gallagher, and Lindsay Lohan. In 2022, they started a new company called Official. Alon Alexander, who is Oren's twin brother, attended law school and joined the family's private security business. __ Associated Press reporter Michael Schneider in Orlando, Florida, contributed to this story.

AP Business SummaryBrief at 2:15 p.m. ESTcircus poster 。

The Chicago Cubs will need to make big changes after underachieving in 2025. They could move on from some key players to make way for young stars in the organization. While listing Cubs players who would not be on the team at the end of Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings, FanSided's Zach Pressnell predicted that second baseman Nico Hoerner would be traded. "Hoerner takes the spot at second base, blocking the Cubs top prospect from coming to the big leagues. Matt Shaw is the Cubs top prospect and he's big-league-ready. Last season, Shaw slashed .284/.379/.488 split between Double-A and Triple-A. While in Triple-A for just under 40 games, Shaw slashed an incredible .298/.395/.534," wrote Pressnell. "It's hard to imagine that somebody with his raw talent and results will stick in the minor leagues for long. He's a huge piece of Chicago's future and there's not going to be any holding him back in the minor leagues." Hoerner is a Gold Glove Award winner, but offensively the Cubs need more. He had a .273 batting average, but his OPS was .708. He does not take many walks and does not really hit home runs. He had just seven last season. Meanwhile, Matt Shaw has been great offensively. Hoerner signed a three-year, $35 million extension with the Cubs before the 2023 season. He is a great defender and could fetch a decent return in a trade. Trading him would open the door for Shaw to start on Opening Day. The Scubs would not struggle to find a trade partner. Hoerner's defense and .335 OBP should make him a target for teams in need of a second baseman. More MLB: Cubs trade proposal ships 2-time All-Star to Yankees to replace Anthony RizzoUpdate 3:08 p.m. EST, (2008 UTC): SpaceX pushed back the T-0 liftoff time of the Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX is preparing for its third Falcon 9 launch in less than 24 hours. On board are the latest pair of communication satellites for one of its oldest customers: Luxembourg-based communications company, SES. Liftoff of the O3b mPOWER 7 and 8 satellites from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center is set for 5 p.m. EST (2200 UTC), which is the opening of a nearly 1.5-hour-long launch window. It will be the 90th orbital launch from the Florida spaceport comprising of Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Spaceflight Now will have live coverage of the mission beginning about an hour prior to liftoff.  Heading into the launch opportunity, the 45th Weather Squadron forecast so-so conditions at liftoff. Its outlook issued Monday suggested a 55 percent chance of favorable weather at launch with concerns for both cumulus clouds and a violation of the surface electric fields rule. “Strong high pressure moving off the coast of New England today will settle into the Central Atlantic through mid-week, with the axis to the north of the Spaceport. This feature will block the approaching easterly wave as it moves west, pushing it into the state on Tuesday,” meteorologists wrote. “The arrival of this trough brings deeper moisture and instability, with a higher coverage of onshore moving showers, and occasional lightning is not out of the question. “Most models show coverage peaking in the late afternoon and evening, potentially overlapping at least the latter part of the primary launch window Tuesday afternoon.” The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, tail number B1090, will launch for its first mission. It’s positioned to land on the droneship, ‘Just Read the Instructions,’ about 8.5 minutes after liftoff. SES began work on the O3b mPOWER satellites in partnership with manufacturer, Boeing, in 2017 when it ordered the construction of seven initial medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites. It began signing up customers for the on orbit broadband service in 2020 with the likes of Carnival Corporation for its cruise ships and Orange, which supports internet service in Africa. The first two O3b mPOWER satellites were launched in 2022 and were followed by two more pairs of satellites in 2023. SES began providing service through the satellites in spring 2024. “We are very excited that O3b mPOWER is now ready to serve our customers around the world. Over the last few years, our SES team, along with our technology partners across space and ground segments, have worked tirelessly to bring our O3b mPOWER system online,” said Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, in an April 2024 statement. “I’m proud to say that all the core infrastructure is deployed, tested and ready on a global basis.” However the first O3b mPOWER satellites ran into electrical problems. Ahead of the launch of the third pair of satellites in November, SES told investors that it documented “an increased number of sporadic power module switch offs” within satellites 1-4, which resulted in “a few non-recoverable events. “After a comprehensive investigation where the causes were identified by Boeing and SES, mitigations for these events will be put in place for the initial satellites that include updated operational procedures and leveraging elements of the constellation in a resilient configuration, which will enable the expected high-performance services to customers,” SES wrote in a YTD 2023 financial statement. “With the operations of this initial O3b mPOWER constellation, in combination with the existing O3b MEO constellation, SES expects it can support its currently signed O3b mPOWER customers, as well as future customers and market growth.” The power issues were determined to cause those satellites to experience operational life that “will be significantly lower than previously expected.” A plan was developed to replace the faulty power modules on the remaining satellites left on the contract at the time (7-11) and to add two additional satellites to the constellation. SES currently plans to deploy 13 O3b mPOWER satellites, with satellites 9-11 set to launch in 2025 and the final pair in 2026. “The total amount of remaining U.S. C-band clearing cost reimbursements expected to be received in future is now approximately $150 million and SES is continuing to engage with insurers regarding the claim of $472 million relating to O3b mPOWER satellites 1-4,” SES wrote in a statement covering YTD and Q3 2024 financial results. The company said that as of April 2024, it said its second-generation MEO constellation was supporting “more than 15 million end users”. The satellites orbit approximately 8,000 km (4,971 mi) above the Earth’s surface at an inclination of 70 degrees.

In the history of presidential pardons, the absolution granted to Hunter Biden by President Joe Biden stands alone. This clemency will register as one of the shameful culminating acts of a good man, and father, now inelegantly exiting the West Wing. The crimes committed by Hunter Biden, the youngest son of Joe Biden, are far from the most heinous ever to elicit the mercy of a U.S. president. Presidents have extended pardons to war criminals. And it’s not historically rare for a president to pardon someone who shares a direct family bloodline — though this is the first time a president has bestowed the extraordinary forgiveness to a direct progeny. What makes the president’s pardon historically consequential is that it’s a pardon Joe Biden said on several occasions he wouldn’t offer. He didn’t equivocate. So now we’re left to question whether Joe Biden simply changed his mind or deliberately misled the American public in the heat of an election campaign from which he had yet to withdraw. When President Biden told the American public he would accept the will of the jury, which convicted Hunter Biden on gun charges earlier this year, he was clear. He vowed to respect the rule of law as our best leaders do. “I’m extremely proud of my son Hunter,” Joe Biden said after the conviction. “He has overcome an addiction. He is one of the brightest, most decent men I know. I abide by the jury decision. I will do that, and I will not pardon him.” Jurors found Hunter Biden guilty in June of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application by saying he was not a drug user and illegally possessing a gun for 11 days. At the time of this pardon, he had yet to be sentenced. Before the pardon, Hunter Biden was also scheduled to face a judge to be sentenced on a felony tax-evasion guilty plea. The false equivalencies have begun in earnest. Shortly after Joe Biden’s grant of clemency was announced Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump wrote the following post on the Truth Social platform: “Does the pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 (January 6th) hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” Trump wrote. “Such an abuse and miscarriage of justice!” A spokesperson for the Trump transition team offered additional perspective in defense of Trump, who was found guilty of 34 felony charges related to a hush-money payment to a porn actress in the 2016 campaign. The cases involving Trump and Hunter Biden bear no comparison, but that hasn’t prevented either side from arguing that they are victims of a politicized Department of Justice. “The failed witch hunts against President Trump have proved that the Democrat-controlled DOJ and other radical prosecutors are guilty of weaponizing the justice system,” Trump’s incoming White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement to Fox News. “That system of justice must be fixed, and due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people,” Cheung said. It’s a false equivalency. Trump and a group of his supporters attempted to overturn a fair and free election. He branded the Jan. 6 protesters (and associated insurrectionists) as patriots and now may soon use his sweeping constitutional powers to grant them the same courtesy that Joe Biden granted his son. At least Trump has previously said he would consider pardons on a case-by-case basis. Even the sad spectacle of Trump potentially pardoning those who stormed the Capitol won’t completely eclipse one of the final acts of Joe Biden as U.S. president. He chose his son over country. He did so despite his stated intent that he wouldn’t. Morris is the opinion editor for the Minneapolis Star Tribune . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!NEW YORK , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Paramount Global (the "Company") (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) today announced that it would redeem all of its remaining outstanding 4.750% senior notes due May 15, 2025 (the "4.750% senior notes") on December 27, 2024 . The redemption price for the 4.750% senior notes is equal to the sum of 100% of the principal amount of the 4.750% senior notes that remain outstanding, the make-whole amount calculated in accordance with the terms of the 4.750% senior notes and the related indenture under which the 4.750% senior notes were issued, and the accrued and unpaid interest on the remaining 4.750% senior notes up to, but excluding, the redemption date of December 27, 2024 . The aggregate principal amount of the 4.750% senior notes outstanding and the aggregate principal amount of the 4.750% senior notes to be redeemed is as set forth below: Title of Security Aggregate Principal Amount Outstanding Aggregate Principal Amount to be Redeemed 4.750% senior notes $125,561,000 $125,561,000 Holders owning 4.750% senior notes through a broker, bank, or other nominee should contact that party for information. For more information, holders of the 4.750% senior notes may call the paying agent for the redemption of the 4.750% senior notes, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas at (800) 735-7777. About Paramount Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) is a leading global media, streaming and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, its portfolio includes CBS, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+ and Pluto TV. The Company holds one of the industry's most extensive libraries of TV and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, the Company provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution, and advertising solutions. Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains both historical and forward-looking statements, including statements related to our future results, performance and achievements. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans or goals are or may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events; generally can be identified by the use of statements that include phrases such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "foresee," "likely," "will," "may," "could," "estimate" or other similar words or phrases; and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: risks related to our streaming business; the adverse impact on our advertising revenues as a result of advertising market conditions, changes in consumer viewership and deficiencies in audience measurement; risks related to operating in highly competitive and dynamic industries, including cost increases; the unpredictable nature of consumer behavior, as well as evolving technologies and distribution models; risks related to our ongoing changes in business strategy, including investments in new businesses, products, services, technologies and other strategic activities; the potential for loss of carriage or other reduction in or the impact of negotiations for the distribution of our content; damage to our reputation or brands; losses due to asset impairment charges for goodwill, intangible assets, FCC licenses and content; liabilities related to discontinued operations and former businesses; risks related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters; evolving business continuity, cybersecurity, privacy and data protection and similar risks; content infringement; domestic and global political, economic and regulatory factors affecting our businesses generally; disruptions to our operations as a result of labor disputes; the inability to hire or retain key employees or secure creative talent; volatility in the prices of the Companyʼs common stock; potential conflicts of interest arising from our ownership structure with a controlling stockholder; business uncertainties, including the effect of the Skydance transactions on the Companyʼs employees, commercial partners, clients and customers, and contractual restrictions while the Skydance transactions are pending; prevention, delay or reduction of the anticipated benefits of the Skydance transactions as a result of the conditions to closing the Skydance transactions; the Transaction Agreementʼs limitation on our ability to pursue alternatives to the Skydance transactions; risks related to a failure to complete the Skydance transactions, including payment of a termination fee and negative reactions from the financial markets and from our employees, commercial partners, clients and customers; risks related to change in control or other provisions in certain agreements that may be triggered by the Skydance transactions; litigation relating to the Skydance transactions potentially preventing or delaying the closing of the Skydance transactions and/or resulting in payment of damages; challenges realizing synergies and other anticipated benefits expected from the Skydance transactions, including integrating the Companyʼs and Skydanceʼs businesses successfully; potential unforeseen direct and indirect costs as a result of the Skydance transactions; any negative effects of the announcement, pendency or consummation of the Skydance transactions on the market price of the Companyʼs common stock and New Paramount Class B Common Stock; and other factors described in our news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. There may be additional risks, uncertainties and factors that we do not currently view as material or that are not necessarily known. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date of this communication, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. PARA-IR View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paramount-global-announces-redemption-of-its-4-750-senior-notes-due-may-2025--302334251.html SOURCE Paramount GlobalDec. 13 (UPI) -- Police in Wyoming are reminding residents to decorate their homes for Christmas instead of their vehicles after a driver was pulled over with their car illuminated by festive lights. The Wyoming Highway Patrol shared a photo on social media showing a Ford Mustang pulled over by a trooper who noticed the entire vehicle was decked out in colorful lights for the holidays. "As the holiday season approaches, we would like to remind you of a Wyoming statue," the post said. The statute in question states that "no person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway with any lamp or device thereon capable of displaying a red or blue light visible from directly in front of the center thereof." The post said that while decorating a car "might look cool and be festive, we would to remind you that it is illegal. Please remember to stay safe when celebrating this season!" Read More

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Diversity statements will no longer be used in University of Michigan faculty hiring, promotion and tenure, a move applauded by critics who have called the practice "litmus tests" that limit diversity of thought while diversity advocates said the process was "preordained" and dishonest. Provost Laurie McCauley announced the decision Thursday based on a recommendation from a UM faculty working group to end diversity statements. But the recommendation is "deceptive," coming after the regents rejected a previous recommendation to keep the diversity statements, a faculty leader said. Diversity statements are documents written by faculty job candidates that let applicants explain to a search committee the distinct experiences they would bring to the university along with their commitment to diversity. The statements help search committees identify applicants "who have professional skills, experience and/or willingness to engage in activities that would enhance campus diversity and equity efforts," according to a University of California at San Diego statement referenced by UM's Center for Research on Learning & Teaching. McCauley's announcement came hours before the Board of Regents is scheduled to meet and a protest is planned beforehand at UM President Santa Ono's house. Many in the UM community are concerned the regents may dismantle a multimillion dollar diversity, equity and inclusion effort built after the school was at the center of a decade-long national debate around affirmative action in higher education, and DEI programs have been under attack across the nation.. "Diversity, equity and inclusion are three of our core values at the university," McCauley said in the University Record, an internal UM publication for faculty and staff, in announcing the end of diversity statements. "Our collective efforts in this area have produced important strides in opening opportunities for all people. As we pursue this challenging and complex work, we will continuously refine our approach.” But there is more that happened in this process, UM Faculty Senate Chair Rebekah Modrak wrote on the University Record page under the announcement. After the regents called for diversity statements to be banned last summer, McCauley formed a faculty committee to review diversity statements in the spirit of shared governance that came up with a different recommendation, Modrak wrote. "My understanding is that the committee’s first report recommended that the use of diversity statements should be up to each unit, a recommendation that honors our decentralization, independence, and academic freedom," Modrak wrote. "The Regents rejected that report and central leadership didn’t support their own faculty committee. Sending a committee back to work to give a second report with preordained results is neither honest nor respectful of faculty expertise. The University Record’s erasure of the Regents’ autocratic hand in this process is also deceptive." Regents will not vote on the provost's action, but may discuss it during the meeting, said Regent Sarah Hubbard, one of two Republicans on the eight-member UM board. "I applaud the provost for ending the practice of requiring diversity statements," said Hubbard. "This policy change removes a barrier to diversity of thought on campus by eliminating the ideological litmus test." No action is expected during Thursday's meeting around other DEI issues, added Hubbard, who previously said the regents have been looking for a long time at the university's DEI efforts and want to realign funds closer to student scholarships. Any budget decisions wouldn't happen until next year when budgetary decisions get made, she said. Even so, hundreds of students, faculty and staff demonstrated on campus earlier this week to show support for the university's DEI programs, and others are planning to attend the protest organized by UM's Black Student Union before the regents meeting and show up to the official meeting. UM's decision to discontinue diversity statements came after the statements were also eliminated in May at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in June at Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. In June, UM's provost charged the eight-member faculty working group to examine diversity statements, though the university did not have an institutional policy on the statements but units did have the discretion to ask for them. The working group recommended the end of the statements after reviewing other policies and surveying more than 2,000 faculty members. “Critics of diversity statements perceive them as expressions of personal identity traits, support of specific ideology or opinions on socially-relevant issues, and serve as a ‘litmus test’ of whether a faculty member’s views are politically acceptable,” the working group wrote in its report. “Thus, as currently enacted, diversity statements have the potential to limit viewpoints and reduce diversity of thought among faculty members.” The working group said it acknowledged the concerns. "But, well-written diversity statements do not necessarily require expression of one’s identity, and they need not express one's beliefs or stances on socially-charged issues," the working group wrote. "Instead, well-written diversity statements contain reflections of how identity has shaped a faculty member’s approach with their students, how they work with their colleagues, and how they interact with society. These are desirable features of current and future U-M faculty members, and this information should be considered when potential faculty are hired and current faculty are promoted." The work group also offered two other recommendations, including that the university "can and must" incorporate of content about DEI into teaching, research and service statements. "Through this incorporation, the problematic features of diversity statements can be eliminated, while the useful and necessary information that exists in diversity statements can be saved and placed where it more naturally belongs," the group wrote in its report. However, UM did not adopt those recommendations. UM's decision to discontinue diversity statements followed other steps the university has taken in recent months that supporters said will create an environment that expands diverse views on campus. They include the regents' controversial adoption last month of a policy on institutional neutrality that prohibits some officials from taking public stances on political and social issues not related to the internal governance of the university. Last month the Faculty Senate passed a resolution censuring the Board of Regents and accusing the regents of "increasingly exhibiting authoritarian tendencies, and silencing free speech. ©2024 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.One of the framed photos on the table in the middle of the Cottonwood gym Friday morning was of Braylon Morris with a baseball in his hand when he was two or three years old. Now a Cottonwood High senior, Morris will continue to have a baseball in his hand as a pitcher for the Wallace College Govs for the next two seasons after signing to play for the Dothan community college. Cottonwood's Braylon Morris signs with Wallace College baseball as family members and Cottonwood coaches watch. “It’s a blessing to be able to sign a scholarship to play baseball,” Morris said. “I want to thank my parents and the Lord above. It’s a blessing to have a great program (Wallace) to work out with. Everything they do is to get you to the next level, so it’s a blessing to have an opportunity.” Morris has been a standout pitcher for the Bears in the last few years. This past spring, the right-hander amassed a 5-3 record and 2.93 earned run average with 73 strikeouts over 55 innings. He also starred at the plate with a .342 batting average and a .569 on-base percentage, highlighted by drawing 34 walks and being hit by nine pitches. His success both as a pitcher and hitter earned him Dothan Eagle Super 12 honorable mention recognition and helped Cottonwood to a 16-15 record and the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs. In addition to his role as a pitcher, Morris also plays third base and second base for the Bears. While he excels on both offense and pitching, Morris is expected to be a pitcher only at Wallace. “I would love to hit or DH, but as of right now, I am going to go pitch,” Morris said. On the mound, Morris says he has four main pitches – two-seam fastball, four-seam fastball, a change-up and his go to pitch – a slider. His velocity is usually around the 87 mile per hour range, said Morris. “His location is what makes him great as a pitcher,” Cottonwood head coach Danny Coachman said. “He studies the batters If he knows what a batter can’t hit, that batter is going to get that pitch. He has control of his pitches. He can throw a 3-2 breaking ball, a 3-2 change-up or 3-2 off speed. He can place the pitch really well.” Coachman said a strong work ethic has made Morris a standout baseball player. “He is a dedicated hard worker,” Coachman said. “I know it is a cliché, but he really is the first to come and last to leave. He displays his leadership skills on the field by doing what is supposed to be done. He is just a great kid – a great kid that I have enjoyed working with for the last five years. “I know he will do well at Wallace because he is going to work to be a great player.” The Bears’ senior credits his baseball success to his older brother, Brody, who was a pitcher and infielder at Cottonwood before graduating in 2021. Cottonwood's Braylon Morris thanks teammates, family members and friends for their support during a ceremony after signing with Wallace College baseball. “My brother has blessed me. I spent most of my weekends watching my brother (play baseball),” Morris said. “I watched him, and I picked up a lot of things and that is what has made me so successful.” Morris has shown himself to be a big-time pitcher in the pressure situations. As a sophomore, he had a three-hit shutout over six innings in a playoff game against Pike Liberal Arts. This past spring, he allowed only four hits and a run, while striking out 11 in a 10-1 opening-playoff win over Ranburne. A week later, he gave up only five hits and three runs over six plus innings with eight strikeouts and only two walks against Pike Liberal Arts before hitting the 120-pitch limit and having to come out of the game. In addition to baseball, Morris has also starred at Cottonwood in football. For the past two years, he has been the Bears’ starting quarterback. This past season, the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder threw for 1,587 yards (122.1 a game) with 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions off 77-of-115 (66.9 percent). He also rushed for 1,009 yards (77.6 yards a game) with 13 touchdowns on 154 carries (6.6 yards a carry). Combined rushing, passing, receiving, he accounted for 2,614 yards (201.1 yards a game) and 30 TDs. He also recorded 37 tackles on defense as a linebacker with 11 tackles for loss and three QB sacks, while helping Cottonwood to a 12-1 record, a region title and to the Class 2A state quarterfinals. Morris “Going into high school, I didn’t think I would be a quarterback,” Morris said. “I was more of fullback. I was a heavier set kid. Over the years, I put on some muscle and got a little slender. Last year, another quarterback went down (with an injury), and I said, ‘Give me a shot.’ They put in there and the rest is history.” Morris said he chose to play baseball at Wallace for several reasons. “The coaches are great people,” Morris said. “It is closer to home. It is a great program and why not stay home when you have a great program around you.” He added, “I am blessed that they picked me. They make kids from the Wiregrass great athletes and develop them a lot better than some others do. They were the No. 2 JUCO in the nation last year for a long time and I think they can help me reach my goals after I get done playing with them.” Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.If you are looking for ASX dividend stocks to buy, then it could be worth listening to what Bell Potter is saying about the three in this article. They have been named on the broker's Australian equities panel for December, which are the stocks it believes offer attractive risk-adjusted returns over the long term. Here's what it is saying: ( ) The first ASX dividend stock that has been named on the broker's Australian equities panel is Eagers Automotive. It is the leading player in the automotive retail market in Australia, with a market share of greater than 10%. Bell Potter believes that it is well-positioned to pay big dividends thanks to a combination of revenue growth and margin expansion. It said: APE should continue to grow revenue via a mix of inorganic and organic growth. The company is also looking to drive margin expansion by buying existing dealership properties (to reduce rent), increasing penetration in finance and insurance (F&I) (higher margin) and through productivity initiatives (technology). Together, management are expecting ~200bps of margin improvement from these initiatives, which would be extremely material (pre-COVID margins of 2.9%). Bell Potter expects a fully franked 5.8% in FY 2025. ( ) Another ASX dividend stock that could be a buy according to Bell Potter is retail giant JB Hi-Fi. The broker believes that JB Hi-Fi could be a big winner from the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. It said: JBH is well positioned to benefit from an upgrade cycle of consumer electronics, specifically mobile phones and personal computers (PC), driven by AI enhancements. We see incremental revenue growth to JBH from the AI-driven upgrade cycle, where we estimate that the AI opportunity could add up to ~12% to the company's topline mid-long-term and presents significant upside to JBH's highly efficient earnings base. Its analysts expect this to underpin a fully franked 2.9% dividend yield in FY 2025. ( ) Bell Potter also has this youth fashion retailer's shares on its Australian equities panel this month. The broker likes Universal Store due to its attractive valuation and positive growth outlook. It explains: Universal Store Holdings is a leading youth focused apparel, footwear and accessories retailer in Australia. UNI will continue to increase store numbers over the next few years, supporting earnings growth of 12% p.a. over (FY25-27). Valuation looks attractive, trading on a fwd P/E of ~14x. UNI is a quality small cap (ROE ~25%) that is executing on its rollout strategy. Bell Potter is forecasting a fully franked 3.9% dividend yield in FY 2025.

circus synonym UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New YorkTeam claims NASCAR rescinded approval to buy charterStock market today: Wall Street’s rally stalls as Nasdaq pulls back from its recordInstitutional and Insider Ownership 24.3% of CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.1% of Augmedix shares are owned by institutional investors. 11.0% of Augmedix shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Valuation and Earnings This table compares CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA and Augmedix”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Augmedix. Augmedix is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability Summary CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA beats Augmedix on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA ( Get Free Report ) CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA provides e-health services worldwide. It operates through Ambulatory Information Systems, Hospital Information Systems, Consumer and Health Management Information Systems, and Pharmacy Information Systems segments. The Ambulatory Information Systems segment develops and sells practice management software for registered physicians, medical care centers, and physician networks; offers supplementary app, internet, and intranet solutions; and delivers solutions for medical facilities, such as medica; care centers and practice associations. The Hospital Information Systems segment develop and sells of clinical and administrative solutions for inpatient sector; provides software solutions for administration, planning and provision of care in outpatient and inpatient medical facilities; and healthcare services to acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, welfare institutions, multi-location hospital networks, healthcare regions, regional care organizations, medical laboratories, and radiologists. The Consumer and Health Management Information Systems segment provides software interfaces for data exchange, portals for retrieving data from the German outpatient healthcare market, medical decision support tools, medication and treatment databases for healthcare service providers, solutions for the insurance industry, and digital healthcare applications, patient portals, and mobile apps; and operates telematics infrastructure business, that offers secure links, as well as security solutions for service providers. The Pharmacy Information Systems segment develop and sell administrative and billing related software applications, including procuring and shipping, managing and controlling inventory, planning, performing, and monitoring retail activities for pharmacies. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Koblenz, Germany. About Augmedix ( Get Free Report ) Augmedix, Inc. provides remote medical documentation solutions and live clinical support services in the United States. Its platform offers Augmedix Live that provides synchronous medical note documentation and point of care support; Augmedix Go Assist that offers asynchronous medical documentation based upon previously recorded visits; Augmedix Prep that provides patient demographics, past medical history, medication changes and other points from the patient's health record; and Augmedix Go, an autonomous, ambient AI mobile software application that offers fully automated medical documentation based upon recorded visits. The company enables clinicians to access its applications through mobile devices, such as smartphones. It serves health systems and specialty groups. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Receive News & Ratings for CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

BECAUSE of the rapidly changing times, traditional values that harp on integrity as a core pillar of personal conduct may be going out of fashion. Still, they hold self-evident truths that society can only trifle with or abandon at its own peril. In particular, the saying that honesty is the best policy illustrates the primacy of plainness in societal dealings, as the story of former Hearts of Oak midfielder Joe Tagoe, popularly known as Bobby Short, brings out most poignantly. Now in retirement, the Ghanaian football great recently admitted to falsifying his age during his football career, relating how his actions cost him so dearly. As Tagoe revealed during a television interview, in a bid to escape the poverty trap, he had reduced his age from 35 to 19 in 2017 to secure a spot with an Egyptian under-19 team. Indeed, in a desperate bid to hide his age, the midfielder dyed his grey hair daily, but as it turned out, he could not withstand the intense pressure of the game, and had to quit. Hear him: “I was home and received a call from Francis Martey (a fellow footballer) about an offer for an under-19 player. Looking at my height, I said okay. At that time, I was about 34 or 35 years old. Poverty can make you do such things, and the system isn’t fair to us. I would have died if I hadn’t taken care of myself. I trained with both the senior team and U-20s, but the running with the U-20s always left me dizzy. Many players like me face similar situations.” Around the world, age cheating in football is almost as old as the sport. That is why for Nigerians in particular, Tagoe’s story sounds eerily familiar. For instance, ahead of the 2009 Under-17 World Cup at which the Golden Eaglets emerged runners-up, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) almost got on a collision course with the world soccer-governing body, FIFA, over the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to flush out age cheats. The test had already weeded out 15 age cheats from the Nigerian team, but the then NFF president, Sani Lulu, put up a stiff resistance, declaring that the federation would not use the FIFA-sanctioned method in detecting over-aged players. He said: “I will not use the MRI to disqualify my players. When we came on board to serve Nigerian people, we promised to eradicate age cheats in cadet championships. FIFA has not given us information on the MRI but I can only use it as a guide.” It took the intervention of the then Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Sani Ndanusa, to restore sanity. Pooh-poohing the NFF leadership’s decision to invite the parents of the players in camp to validate their ages, Ndanusa said: “We will not deviate from FIFA’s requirement in terms of ascertaining players’ age. The whole world has gone digital and we are following suit. We are no longer in the era of analog, so we are going to adhere to FIFA’s standard in ascertaining the ages of the players we are going to parade. FIFA has indicated the use of MRI, and we are going to just adhere to that, simple.” Actually, the MRI, although not without drawbacks, has been fairly effective in weeding out overage players over the years. In 2007, the Asian Football Confederation discovered that 10 players were above the age of 16 during an Under-15 tournament. Ahead of the 2009 FIFA Under-17 tournament, the Gambia Football Association found that a few players that had just failed the MRI scan had actually participated at the 2009 African Under-17 championship. According to FIFA, over the years, “over-age players had been wrongly entered into various youth competitions, often benefiting from an unfair advantage due to their greater physical maturity compared to players of the proper age.” That was why the body introduced the mandatory use of MRI during the 2009 Under-17 World Cup in order to determine the actual ages of the players presented by the various national teams. Back to Joe Tagoe’s confession. It is quite easy to join the football veteran in laughing at himself, but the issue he engages is an extremely serious one. Until recently, age cheating was a big problem in African football, particularly in cadet competitions, and the number of players who embarrassed themselves in Europe after getting signed by various clubs was considerable. Indeed, the malaise still goes on in the footballing world as many players, their agents and their parents seek to make cool cash through fraud. As Tagoe’s story demonstrates very clearly, age cheats in sports, or indeed any other field of human endeavour, are unfair even to themselves. They put their bodies through undue strain in order to gain advantage over others, and end up making cruel mockery of themselves. Tagoe’s self-deprecating story has taken some courage to tell, and its lessons are clear: age cheating is anathema in sports. Of course, the problem starts from the home front where undisciplined parents teach their children to lie, cheat and rob others at a very young age. And the situation is not helped by the actions of members of the political leadership, many of whom have biographies riddled with questionable claims. There have been instances where political leaders supposedly graduated from schools that did not even exist as of the time they claimed to have graduated from them. Such deception has a way of seeping through the pore of society and contaminating many people, including those down the pecking order. Any society that wants a massive turnaround must enthrone a transparent, honest and patriotic political leadership. Joe Tagoe’s story is instructive. It is hoped that up and coming athletes will learn from the experience of this veteran footballer and not see his story as mere comic relief. That would be quite tragic. Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel nowReal Life Don't miss out on the headlines from Real Life. Followed categories will be added to My News. Warning: Distressing The mother of a young girl brutally killed by her father and stepmother has blasted the pair for killing her 10-year-old daughter Sara Sharif, stating: “It is not human to do this to your own child.” Olga Domin, 38, lost custody of Sara in 2019 , despite accusing her ex-husband Urfan Sharif of abuse following their separation four years earlier. Sara then moved in with him and his new wife, Beinash Batool, where she suffered a campaign of abuse that ultimately led to her death last year, The Sun reports. The pair have just been found guilty of Sara’s murder after her body was found by police in her bunk bed on August 10, 2023. A post mortem uncovered she had 25 fractures and 71 external injuries , including six human bite marks, and burns from a domestic iron. Taxi driver Sharif, 43, beat Sara with a cricket bat and metal pole, sometimes tying her hands and legs together with tape. She was made to wear makeshift hoods during attacks and Sharif urged another child to hit her like a punchbag as if it was a game in what was described in court as a “daily living hell” for the 10-year-old. Sara Sharif, 10, was murdered by her father and stepmother in August last year. Picture: AFP / Surrey Police Batool, 30, often called Sharif back from work saying Sara was being naughty, knowing he would beat her up, the court heard. Meanwhile, Sara’s uncle 29-year-old Faisal Malik – who lived with them in an apartment then a cramped three-bedroom house in Woking, Surrey – failed to raise the alarm whenever Sara was attacked. Sharif hit Sara twice on the abdomen when she lay dying because he thought she was pretending to be ill. He refused to call for medical help and investigators suspect the three jet-washed Sara’s body before fleeing to Pakistan, leaving her in the bottom bunk, The Sun added. She had started wearing a hijab to school to conceal injuries to her face and head. A jury at London’s Old Bailey – the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales – found Sharif and Batool guilty of murder on Thursday following an eight-week trial. Malik was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child. Her dad Urfan Sharif throttled Sara and beat her with a cricket bat and metal pole. Picture: AFP / Surrey Police His new wife, Beinash Batool, would call Sharif back from work saying Sara was being naughty, knowing he would beat her up. Picture: AFP / Surrey Police Ms Domin, a Polish national, said she still cannot believe what happened to her child while in the custody of her father. “I still can’t believe what is going on, this situation,” she said. “It’s not human to do this stuff to your own child. “I can’t believe he was hitting her belly when she was dying. I still can’t manage that. They should all get the same for what they were doing. Monster is too nice word for him anyway. “I hope he will be dying in jail.” Paying tribute to “angelic” Sara, who dreamt of being on The X Factor , Ms Domin said: “She was always laughing, smiling. “She loved all the kids. She was always helping, and making videos. She was an amazing child. She was saying ‘I’ll be a model’. “I just don’t get why she is where she is.” Sara had 25 fractures and 71 external injuries – including human bite marks – at the time of her death. Picture: Surrey Police Sara was living with Ms Domin from 2015, when they fled to a domestic refuge to escape Sharif’s violence. He was having supervised contact at a Government-run children’s centre in Reading before a family court hearing in 2019 which ruled Sara should live with Sharif. It is understood Ms Domin did not contest the ruling at the time. Friends say Sharif took accusations made against him and threw them back at Ms Domin — and used the same tactic in his trial by blaming Batool for Sara’s murder, before admitting he too beat her up. Ms Domin was allowed contact with Sara, supervised by Batool, but she said the couple blocked this a few years before Sara’s death. The youngster has been laid to rest in Poland in a grave bearing her mum’s surname and adorned with flowers. Ms Domin visits daily. Sara’s mum had fled her marriage to Sharif over claims of abuse. Picture: Surrey Police But a court awarded Sharif custody in 2019. Picture: AFP / Surrey Police Ms Domin also said in a statement released through Surrey Police: “My dear Sara, I ask God to please take care of my little girl, she was taken too soon. “Sara had beautiful brown eyes and an angelic voice. Sara’s smile could brighten up the darkest room. “Everyone who knew Sara will know her unique character, her beautiful smile and loud laugh. “She will always be in our hearts, her laughter will bring warmth to our lives. We miss Sara very much. Love you Princess.” Sharif also dished out horrific abuse to Ms Domin, who said he did it all with “really evil eyes”. She said: “He choked me with a belt, he tried to set me on fire, he beat me with his fists. He was putting the oil on my body. His friend stopped him. He already had the lighter in his hand.” Sara’s body was left in her bed while Sharif, Batool fled to Pakistan. Picture: Surrey Police Ms Domin said Sharif would sleep with money all the time and she had to plead for cash for food for the children. She added: “He told me that he dressed me and no one would help me if I left him because I don’t know the language and I have never worked here. “He said he didn’t like my friend. I wasn’t allowed to meet her. I went to pick up something from the shop and he wouldn’t let me out. I was working nights cleaning the pubs. “They kicked him out of McDonald’s (where he was a shift manager) because he was stealing money. He didn’t have a job. He took all the money from me. “I took £100 (about $AU200) to buy clothes for my kids and he hit me because I took the money. “He would be cunning and would take my phone and he locked me out around three times. “When he did this he had evil eyes, really evil eyes. I was alone in a foreign country, without a language, without a family, until I finally realised that this was not the life I had and left.” Ms Domin was taken to a domestic violence refuge in 2015 and their divorce was completed in 2017. During the trial, Sharif spent six days lying to Old Bailey jurors, claiming Batool was an “evil psycho” and the “true villain of the piece”. On his seventh day in the witness box, Sharif dramatically confessed to beating Sara with a cricket bat and pole and ultimately killing her. But the self-confessed coward could never bring himself to admit he had murdered Sara, The Sun reported. Sara’s uncle Faisal Malik was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child. Picture: AFP / Surrey Police Sara’s family forced her to wear a hijab to hide her injuries. Picture: Surrey Police At one point he told the court he beat her repeatedly and intended to cause her “really serious harm” — but he then went back on his testimony insisting he had never meant to hurt her ever. Police found a note by her body, written by Sharif, which said: “I legally punished her and she died.” Once he landed in Pakistan, he called emergency services to say: “I’ve killed my daughter. I legally punished her and she died.” Batool and Malik both refused to give evidence. Det Chief Insp Craig Emmerson, of Surrey Police, said the trio only sought to preserve their own interests and showed no remorse. Mr Emerson added: “Sara was a bright and lively little girl who loved singing and dancing. “Sara’s spirit and bravery and resilience in the face of the suffering that she endured has shone through from the vast inquiries that have been undertaken in this case. “Sara’s young life was brought to an end as a result of the brutal abuse and unspeakable violence inflicted on her by Sharif and Batool, which Malik did nothing to prevent.” Meanwhile a friend of Ms Domin asked: “How could social services ever give Sara to that man? “He’s the worst of the worst. He treated her like a dog.” This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission More Coverage Porn star cries after sex act with 100 men Rebekah Scanlan ‘Perfect body’: Brazilian model a straight ‘10’ Eleanor Katelaris Originally published as Father, stepmum of 10-year-old Sara Sharif guilty of her horror murder More related stories Lifestyle ‘Die tonight’: Countless Aussies facing hell This time of year should be a merry one, spent celebrating with loved ones and hopefully enjoying a break. But for many, the next few weeks will be a living hell. Read more Real Life Porn star cries after sex act with 100 men Lily Phillips is “in training” to sleep with 1000 men, but despite insisting she enjoys the sex acts, new footage shows the real toll it takes. Read moreA lucky player won a huge prize from a scratch-off game in Florida, lottery officials said. Derinda Main, 67, of Brandon, purchased a $20 ticket from the $5,000,000 Crossword Cash scratch-off game — and turned it into a $1 million win, the Florida Lottery announced in a Dec. 12 news release. Lottery officials said Main bought the winning ticket from a grocery store in Seffner, about a 15-mile drive east from Tampa. She chose to take her winnings home as a one-time payment of $652,665.60, the release said. Two out of four top prizes of $5 million remain, and three out of 12 $1 million prizes remain, lottery officials said. The $5,000,000 Crossword Cash game — which launched in August 2023 — also features prizes ranging from $20 to $100,000. The overall odds of winning are 1 in 2.9.

UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New YorkBuffalo Next: What's happening in Buffalo Niagara business in the coming week?

The fall and winter season is a time when roads are almost always wet. And not every car, even with the right tires, can confidently handle such conditions. Some models are better than others at handling flooded streets, slippery surfaces, or muddy trails. And the Sunday Mail has collected five of those that cope with this task best. Land Rover Defender Designed for adventure and built to conquer any terrain, the Land Rover Defender is a great choice for driving in the rain. Thanks to its legendary off-road capabilities, advanced terrain response, and high ground clearance, the Defender is perfect for wet, slippery, and muddy roads. Nissan Patrol Known for its ruggedness and unmatched reliability, the Nissan Patrol is a reliable companion for rainy-day commuting. With its powerful V8 engine, advanced all-wheel drive system, and rugged construction, the Patrol delivers exceptional traction and stability on wet roads, ensuring a smooth and controlled ride in adverse weather conditions. Whether you're driving on city streets on a rainy day or heading off-road, the Patrol delivers the performance and confidence you need to handle any challenge with ease. Jeep Wrangler Rugged and adventurous, the Jeep Wrangler is the ultimate travel companion for driving in the rain. With its legendary four-wheel drive system, high ground clearance, and waterproofing capabilities, the Wrangler can handle any challenge you throw at it. Whether you're exploring off-road or cruising the city streets, the Wrangler offers unmatched versatility wherever you go in the rain. Ford Ranger Raptor With its powerful turbocharged engine, off-road suspension system, and advanced terrain management technology, the Ford Ranger Raptor delivers unmatched traction, control, and agility on wet and slippery surfaces. This model offers the performance and capability to confidently overcome any obstacle. Mercedes G63 AMG Combining luxury, performance, and off-road capabilities, the Mercedes G63 AMG is the perfect choice for rainy-day driving. Thanks to its powerful V8 engine, advanced all-wheel drive system, and luxurious interior, the G63 AMG provides an unrivaled driving experience in any weather conditions. Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.Constricted Pipeline for New Deliveries Means No New Wave to Maintain Equilibrium CHICAGO , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A widening supply and demand imbalance for apartments across the U.S. will drive national annual year-over-year (YOY) Class A multifamily rent growth up 2.4% by January 2026 , with rates in markets such as Colorado Springs , Dallas , Jacksonville , Las Vegas , Orlando , Raleigh and Tampa increasing between 4.0% and 5.7%. In its 2025 Rent Growth Forecast , Origin Investments' proprietary suite of machine learning models, Multilytics ® is also forecasting YOY Class A rent growth gains in the West, Northeast and Southeast regions of the country at or above the 3% historical national average. The Southwest region is an outlier where YOY rent growth is predicted to be only 0.2%. "We're seeing record delivery of new product, the result of unprecedented new development that broke ground three plus years ago, when interest rates were at their lowest," said David Scherer , co-CEO, Origin Investments. "But that tremendous wave of deliveries isn't being replaced. In the absence of the next wave, I see a world where rents continue escalating in the next one, two, three and maybe even four years." In the Multilytics report, Origin's five-year compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for rents in the 15 cities where it invests and/or owns and manages multifamily assets all are greater than 4.0%, and ranges from 4.2% in Austin to 5.7% in Tampa . Newmark projects the number of expected deliveries in 2024 to be approximately 600,000. However, the pipeline of deliveries is expected to fall precipitously, by 15.2% in 2025 and 53.8% in 2026. Demand for units, especially in growth markets around the country, isn't expected to change, with absorption keeping pace with mew deliveries. At the market level, Origin is predicting rent growth in 15 targeted markets where the firm continues to evaluate future potential developments or acquisitions. According to Multilytics, by June 2025 all but three of Origin's target markets will return to positive growth, with Austin , San Antonio and Denver lingering in the negative. However, by January 2026 , all markets will return to positive territory, with seven markets topping 4% and six increasing by at least 3%. Two markets will have rent growth from 1.5% to 2.0%. The Origin markets experiencing the greatest YOY annual rent growth for Class A apartments are Orlando , 5.6%; Jacksonville , 5.6%; Las Vegas , 4.6%; Tampa , 4.4%; and Raleigh , 4.4%. The two markets with rent growth lower than 2% are Denver , 1.7% and Austin , 1.6%. In other significant national and regional markets across the country, Origin projects that YOY Class A apartment growth will exceed 4.0% in Miami (4.3%) and Seattle (4.4%); meet or exceed 3.0% in New York (3.0%), Los Angeles (3.0%) and San Francisco (3.1%), and exceed 2.5% in Chicago (2.6%) and San Diego (2.8%). Multifamily market dynamics will produce a sharp contrast in YOY rent growth among some markets between June 2025 and January 2026 . In Austin , for example, YOY rent growth in June 2025 is projected at -2.6%, but in January 2026 it is projected to increase to 1.6%. Other markets with significant discrepancies include Denver , at -2.1% rent growth in mid-2025 but projected at 1.7% by January 2026 . San Antonio , too, will have a nice turnaround, from -0.4% at mid-year to 3.1% by January 2026 . According to the Origin report, three of the top five market reporting the most dramatic contrasts are in Texas : Austin , 4.2%; San Antonio , 3.4%; and Dallas , 3.3%. In Houston , the contrast from mid-year 2025 to the beginning of 2026 was only 1.0%. "From an investment perspective, I believe we are at the beginning of a pretty significant bull cycle for rents," Scherer said. "At this point, it will take an exogenous shock to bring it back on the supply side." Ryan Brown , Data Scientist, Origin Investments, identified a deep recession and meaningful decline in homeownership costs as two exogenous shocks that could significantly alter the record pace of absorption. In a recession, household formation would fall because instead of renting an apartment, individuals tend to move back home or take on one or more roommates who otherwise would be renting apartments themselves. He also noted markets where it could be as much as 40% to 50% more expensive to buy than rent. "The combination of a pricing reset and a significant reduction in mortgage rates isn't likely to occur quickly enough to make a meaningful difference in the cost of renting versus buying," he said. "As a result, we are increasingly becoming a nation of renters." Last year, Origin's prediction for a return to normalized rent growth was tempered by looming unquantifiable market risks. Despite a changed landscape, and in the presence of a transitioning political picture, unquantifiable risks remain a concern. The Origin report says it's too early to predict what a new administration will do in 2025 and beyond. President-elect Donald Trump's proposals to increase tariffs are likely to lead to higher interest rates and rising inflation. Other proposals could spur job creation. His goal to keep interest rates low to may be hampered by higher material costs, which could make new construction deals more difficult. About Origin Investments Founded in 2007, Origin Investments is a private real estate manager that helps high-net-worth investors, family offices and registered investment advisors grow and preserve wealth by providing tax-efficient real estate solutions through private funds. We build, buy and finance multifamily real estate projects in fast-growing markets throughout the U.S. In 2023, we founded affiliate firm Origin Credit Advisers, an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides yield-focused multifamily debt investments for qualified purchasers. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement by the Commission nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Through our Origin Exchange platform, introduced in 2024, investors can complete a 1031 exchange of their properties for professionally managed, institutional-quality assets. To learn more, visit www.origininvestments.com . How Origin is disrupting multifamily real estate investing Watch our new commercial View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/origin-investments-multilytics-report-year-over-year-class-a-multifamily-rent-growth-returns-to-historical-levels-will-continue-positive-trajectory-indefinitely-302313643.html SOURCE Origin InvestmentsNo MoU between DC Books and EP Jayarajan; investigation report saying autobiography leaked from DC BooksAdani’s Australian coal unit faces human rights complaint

Elon Musk pens German newspaper opinion piece supporting far-right AfD party

PALERMO, Calif. (AP) — Two children were wounded in a shooting Wednesday at a small religious K-8 school in Northern California and the shooter died from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot, sheriff’s officials said. The children’s conditions were not immediately known. The shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, a private, K-8 school in Palermo, a community of 5,500 people about 65 miles (104 km) north of Sacramento. Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said the 911 calls reported “an individual on campus who had fired shots at students,” and said that the shooter did not appear to have a connection to the school. The motive was not immediately known, he continued. One student was flown to a nearby hospital, Honea said. Authorities rushed students to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene to be reunited with their families, the sheriff’s office said. The school has been open since 1965 and caters to fewer than three dozen children, according to its website.Gun Ownership Is Rising Among A New Group, Poll ShowsWeatherford Announces Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Conference Call

FILE PHOTO: Jul 13, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward (8) walks off the field during the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Globe Life Field. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo The Los Angeles Dodgers named former Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward as their first-base coach. Woodward replaces Clayton McCullough, who was named the Miami Marlins manager earlier this month. A native of the Los Angeles area, Woodward was the Rangers' manager from 2019 into the 2022 season before he was dismissed after compiling a 211-287 record. He was an adviser to the Dodgers' player-development staff last season and was the Los Angeles third-base coach from 2016-18. The 48-year-old played 12 seasons in the major leagues, batting .239 with 33 home runs and 191 RBIs over 659 games for five teams, including his first six seasons (1999-2004) with the Toronto Blue Jays before returning to Toronto in 2011. --Field Level Media REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowUS officials are urging Americans to make calls and send text messages over encrypted apps to minimize the risk of private information falling into the hands of foreign adversaries who might still be lurking in America’s telecommunications networks, . Two officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) spoke with news outlets, including Tuesday on the lasting effects of a . The attack, which was tied to Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon, impacted companies including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Lumen Technologies, first reported in October. later reported that included phone numbers for people in the Donald Trump and Kamala Harris campaigns. Two months after the initial report of the hack, malicious actors to sensitive information about Americans’ communications from the telecom networks. An FBI official on the call, who was not identified in press reports, reportedly said hackers accessed information including call records showing phone numbers called and the times of the call, and in some cases actual live phone calls of certain targets. that hackers could have gained access to unencrypted texts as well. Jeff Greene, executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA, told reporters on the call that the scale of the hack was so great that agencies could not possibly predict when there would be a “full eviction” of malicious material, writes. “Encryption is your friend, whether it’s on text messaging or if you have the capacity to use encrypted voice communication,” Greene said, according to . “Even if the adversary is able to intercept the data, if it is encrypted, it will make it impossible.” Services like and WhatsApp offer end-to-end encrypted messaging that can obscure communications outside of the users involved in the call or text. Law enforcement’s embrace of encrypted apps is particularly notable given that the FBI has previously railed against tech companies’ protectiveness over the technology. Though the FBI it does not oppose encryption, it has strict parameters on its support. The agency’s website states that it “does not want encryption to be weakened or compromised so that it can be defeated by malicious actors,” but wants companies that “manage encrypted data to be able to decrypt that data and provide it to law enforcement only in response to U.S. legal process.” That’s something tech companies say could undermine the whole system. The bureau engaged in following a shooting in San Bernadino, California in 2015, because the company refused to break the encryption on the shooter’s iPhone to give investigators access, warning that to do so would endanger users’ privacy across its products. The FBI eventually . /

Dan Fitzsimons Sells 8,895 Shares of Pure Storage, Inc. (NYSE:PSTG) StockDynasties fall, Fadnavis rises & BJP shakes off LS jitters. Maharashtra, Jharkhand & bypoll takeawaysTeam claims NASCAR rescinded approval to buy charter

UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York

LinkedIn is shutting down its 'Audio Events' featureA Republican senator has blocked the promotion of a general who oversaw troops in Kabul during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, a Senate aide told NBC News . The move by Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin follows threats from President-elect Donald Trump to fire senior officers and officials who oversaw the chaotic pullout from Afghanistan in 2021. It also comes as Trump’s transition team weighs possible court-martial proceedings against current and former officers involved in the withdrawal, as NBC News previously reported. Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue was nominated for promotion to become a four-star general and to oversee U.S. Army forces in Europe. His nomination was among more than 900 proposed nominations sent to the Senate but Donahue’s was put on hold by Sen. Mullin, according to the Senate aide. Mullin’s office declined to comment. Donahue was the last American service member to board the final U.S. military plane out of Afghanistan in 2021. A night-vision photograph of Donahue boarding a cargo plane went viral, capturing the symbolism of the end of America’s 20-year-long war. After the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan fell to Taliban militants, Donahue — then commander of the 82nd Airborne Division — was ordered to Kabul to oversee the withdrawal of U.S. forces, American embassy staff and Afghans who fought alongside American troops. Retired Gen. Tony Thomas, former head of Special Operations Command, said in a social media post that the decision was a “disgrace” and that Donahue was being treated as a “political pawn.” Heather Nauert, who worked for the State Department in Trump’s first presidential term, said in a social media post that she is a Trump supporter and likes Sen. Mullin but disagreed with the hold put on Donahue’s promotion. “Unless there are facts I don’t know, holding up military promotions bc of our disgraceful Afghanistan withdrawal is wrong,” she wrote. Donahue is currently commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Liberty in North Carolina. His promotion could now be at risk as the current Senate will soon go into recess and the new Republican-controlled Congress will start its work in 2025. This article first appeared on NBCNews.com . Read more from NBC News here:Biden approved a controversial plan for an off-reservation casino. It could start a gambling war among tribes By SONYA GUGLIARA FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 18:02, 28 December 2024 | Updated: 18:02, 28 December 2024 e-mail View comments President Joe Biden hastily approved a hotly contested proposal that could irreversibly damage inter-tribal relations across Oregon and California. Now, tribes are fighting back. Last month, Biden's administration filed a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) to allow off-reservation gambling for controversial plans for a South Medford casino project. The Coquille Tribe of Coos Bay has been trying for 13 years to open the Class II casino in Jackson County off of Highway 99 - about 165 miles away from their reservation. The tribe already owns the land and the former Roxy Ann Lanes bowling alley that they want to convert into a slot machine-only gaming facility called The Cedars at Bear Creek. These plans have sparked outrage from the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians in Douglas County, along with several tribes from Southern Oregon and Northern California . The Cow Creek Tribe said they have ancestral ties to the land and believe this casino would threaten their financial stability, as well as take business away from their own casino. It could result in a nasty gambling war that could pit one tribe against the other. In a lawsuit filed on Monday, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Karuk Tribe and Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation requested a 'temporary restraining order against the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and members of the Biden administration, including Secretary Deb Haaland.' Tribes and politicians across Oregon and California are frustrated with President Joe Biden's administration's last minute decision to push through the plans for the hotly contested casino plans The outlined plans for the controversial Cedars at Bear Creek Class II gaming facility (pictured) Oregon Governor Tina Kotek (pictured left) has requested an extension of the 30-day commenting period. Carla Keene, Chairman of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians (pictured right), said she's 'frustrated' the plans They are asking a federal court judge to stop the casino plans 'that would cause irreparable harm to their economic, environmental, cultural, and historic wellbeing.' 'This legal action is our option of last resort after being denied repeated requests for consultation,' Cow Creek Umpqua Tribal Chairman Carla Keene said of the suit in a statement . 'The administration has failed in their responsibility under its own Executive Order, NEPA rules and executive proclamation to consult with our Tribes about a project that puts the interests of one Tribe over many others.' The casino, the case's plaintiffs argue, 'would cannibalize the gaming revenue generated from the Cow Creek Umpqua and other Oregon and regional tribes'. 'Acutely, there would be devastating social, cultural and economic impacts - and a loss of revenue for our Tribe’s healthcare, safety, mental health, economic development and education programs,' Keene wrote to DailyMail.com before the lawsuit. The Cow Creek-owned Seven Feathers Casino Resort in Canyonville is about an hour's drive from the proposed Cedars at Bear Creek. Biden's go-ahead launched a 'feedback' period, lasting at least 30 days, for politicians and community members to voice their opinions about the casino before a final verdict is made. Since then, the many enemies of the bill have let their anger known. In a lawsuit filed on Monday, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Karuk Tribe and Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation requested a 'temporary restraining order against the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and members of the Biden administration, including Secretary Deb Haaland'. The suit seeks to stop the casino (pictured) from being built This consideration period is set to wrap up on Tuesday, which has evoked intense fear and anticipation among the Cow Creek Tribe as they feel unheard and unconsidered by the federal administration. And they're not alone in their misgivings. Several politicians from Oregon and California have also spoken out against the new casino and called for an extension of this consideration period. Keene wrote: 'An approval would completely jeopardize our Tribe’s ability to deliver essential services - all fundamental to our people’s well-being. ‘If approved, this decision would upend the Indigenous cultural tradition of kinship between Tribes through proliferating off-reservation gaming while disregarding, and even fabricating, ancestral land ties.' Keene claimed that the Coquille Tribe falsely cited ancestral ties to the plot of land to obtain federal approval. The Coquille Tribe of Coos Bay wants to place a casino where the former Roxy Ann Lanes bowling alley is in Medford, Oregon Several politicians have come forward with concern about the national precedent this decision may set (stock image) Oregon Native American tribes are at odds over the Medford Casino plans Biden's administration set forward 'Historically speaking, the Coquille simply did not exist in Medford,' Keene asserted. In response to this accusation, Judy Farm, the Executive Director of Coquille construction firm Tribal One, said her tribe has every right to build on the more than two acres of land the casino would sit on. Farm argued that these plans are justified under the Coquille Restoration Act , which is aimed at rectifying the the negative effects of tribes termination in 1954. She revealed to DailyMail.com: 'The Coquille Tribe was terminated in 1954. Congress restored the Tribe in 1989. 'Within the law, Congress designated five counties in which Coquille could purchase land and have that become Coquille reservation land through a process called “fee-to-trust.” Read More Native Americans demand Biden create three new national monuments in West Coast state 'Congress also designated Jackson county as a place the Tribe could pursue self-sufficiency through economic development. Cow Creek is well aware of these facts.' Farm claimed that a fear of competition has been the true reason behind the stir surrounding the casino. She explained: 'At the heart of opposition to this project is competition. Tribes have been set up to compete for resources in Oregon and Cow Creek is simply trying to protect market share as long as they are able. 'We understand that as ten years ago, the Coos Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians opened a second class II casino only four miles away from us. 'We welcomed them to the market knowing we would need to compete and provide better service to our customers.' But Native Americans beyond the Cow Creek Tribe and local politicians are concerned about the precedent this decision may set for future off-reservation plans. The Coquille Tribe already owns The Mill Casino in North Bend on the Coos Bay Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American Congresswoman, was slammed by the Cow Creek Tribe for not taking their concerns seriously Oregon Senator Wyden told NBC 5 : 'This appears to set Oregon up on a path where decision-makers 3,000 miles away spawn a gambling arms race, changing our state forever and thoughtlessly tossing out the longstanding agreement come to in Oregon by Oregonians that all Tribes should share equal opportunity at success rather than an endless effort of one-up-manship.' Senator Jeff Merkley agreed: 'I am disappointed by the Biden administration's decision to move the Coquille Indian Tribe's Medford casino application forward in the approval process.' The Cow Creek Tribe said they feel voiceless and defeated, as they feel the federal government, specifically the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI), has not been hearing their cries for help. Keene told DailyMail.com: 'The most part frustrating is how Interior Secretary Deb Haaland consistently dismissed our concerns, failing to treat us with the respect owed to sovereign nations. 'Instead, we were treated as an inconvenience, unworthy of meaningful engagement.' The DOI declined DailyMail.com's request for comment about the casino and the claims made against Haaland. The Record of Decision, which is the ultimate resolution about the future of the Medford casino, will be published in the Federal Register when the BIA draws their final conclusion. On December 16, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued a public letter to the DOI, requesting an extension of the commenting period for another 30 days. Senator Ron Wyden said this decision could set off a 'gambling arms race' that would send shockwaves through the state The letter states: 'This decision carries significant implications for Oregon’s communities, economic landscape, and broader state interests. It is critical to ensure that all stakeholders—Tribal Nations, local governments, and residents alike—have sufficient time to thoughtfully consider the FEIS and provide meaningful feedback.' California Governor Gavin Newsom's office wrote to the Cow Creek Tribe: 'I write to express grave concern that the US Department of the Interior continues to move forward with at least two off-reservation gaming projects.' The letter cited the Medford Casino, as well as two other projects that have raised concerns - the Shiloh Resort and Casino Project, and the Scotts Valley Casino and Tribal Housing Project. Indian Country Today, an organization that serves Indigenous Communities, shared a statement on Facebook on December 18, wiritng: 'The Biden administration and the Department of the Interior are rushing to approve a Medford casino project without proper consultation with affected Tribes. 'This is a blatant disregard for Tribal sovereignty and environmental justice. We demand transparency and respect of Tribal nations.' Oregon's city of Phoenix also expressed deep worry for the casino plans, with City Manager Eric Swanson writing a letter to the BIA on December 17. He echoed the sentiment that this consideration period is being rushed and claimed the environmental analysis in the FEIS 'does not accurately reflect the reality of the impacts on Medford.' 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ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — Maverick McNealy steadied himself after a rugged start Saturday with a 4-under 66 and caught up with Vince Whaley in a wild third round at the RSM Classic in which a half-dozen players had at least a share of the lead. McNealy looked as though he might have the lead when he hit wedge on the final hole that rolled just by the cup and settled 8 feet away. He missed the putt, still in great position to go after his first PGA Tour victory. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, has called attention to pressing issues in the agricultural sector that emerged during this Christmas season, particularly the shortages in key fruits and vegetables. While the sector demonstrated resilience in meeting many demands, Paul warned that these shortfalls underscored the need for strategic planning and better resource management to secure the nation’s food supply in the future. Paul attributed the crop shortfalls to adverse weather conditions, which disrupted yields and impacted the availability of some holiday staples. “Potatoes are one of the crops everyone looks forward to at Christmas , but our production this year was not as abundant as expected due to the weather. It’s unfortunate but the weather played a major role in limiting what was available,” he explained. He added that while production was ongoing, some crops were delayed from reaching the market. He expressed optimism that these challenges would ease with more favourable conditions. The shortages prompted Paul to stress the importance of better planning to prevent similar issues in the future. “We’ve seen these shortfalls with certain crops this year and even earlier issues with chicken supplies, which were eventually resolved. It’s clear that we need a structured plan of action to address these recurring problems,” Paul said. Reflecting on the poultry sector, he pointed out its significant turnaround as an example of what could be achieved with effective coordination. “Despite concerns earlier this year, consumers experienced no difficulty acquiring poultry during the Christmas season. The sector met market demands and supermarket shelves remained well stocked,” he said. Paul credited this success to collaborative efforts within the industry but cautioned against complacency. The BAS head also highlighted a larger concern regarding Barbados’ agricultural future: the loss of farming land to non-agricultural use. He described the reduction in arable land as the most pressing issue threatening the country’s food security. “We’re seeing increasing amounts of agricultural land going out of production, being repurposed for development. This is the biggest threat to our ability to maintain food security,” he warned. He criticised the over-reliance on technology as a solution to agricultural challenges. “There’s a fallacy that technology alone can solve all of our problems. Technology has its limits and suggesting otherwise gives a misleading impression. What we need is a serious review of our land-use policies to ensure that agriculture remains a priority,” he said. In addressing the shortages of fruits and vegetables, Paul proposed strategies that included greater climate resilience, improved land management and forward planning. He stressed that these measures must be implemented proactively to avoid the repeat of such issues during next year’s Christmas season. When asked about further interventions in the poultry sector, Paul dismissed the idea of extensive Government involvement. He argued that the sector, as part of the private industry, must take responsibility for its own organisation and management. “Government can provide support, but it is incumbent upon the sector itself to ensure it meets not only its own objectives, but also the country’s objectives for a stable food supply. What we need is responsible management within the industry.” Despite the challenges, Paul praised the resilience of Barbadian farmers and their ability to adapt to difficult circumstances. He noted that with better weather, production would likely pick up in the coming months, reducing the strain felt during the holiday season. As Barbados moves into the new year, Paul called for greater investment in the agricultural sector, coupled with policies that prioritised food security. He reiterated the need to protect agricultural lands and to enhance the efficiency of local farming practices. (CLM) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.Two students wounded and gunman dead after shooting at Northern California elementary schoolGlobal South nations stand dissatisfied with COP29's preliminary deals - Philippines rep

In the weeks since Republicans decisively won the White House as well as both chambers of Congress, Democrats and pundits alike have voiced countless theories for their defeat. However, the even more critical question is, where do Democrats go from here? Do Democrats double down on the “resistance” that has defined the party for the better part of a decade? Or do Democrats try a different approach and return to the center in order to win back millions of voters who have abandoned the party? Ever since 2016, the Democratic Party’s platform can almost entirely be defined by one word: resistance. Whatever President-elect Donald Trump supported, Democrats rejected and organized in resistance to, often at the expense of formulating their own competing policies. Now, with the politics of resistance soundly rejected, if Democrats want to remain politically viable, they need to return to the center and develop policies for actual issues. They need a specific agenda to address inflation, create jobs, and better manage the economy. This should include a strong position on border security with a viable pathway to citizenship for migrants already here, instead of the open border advocacy that the resistance wing, led by the progressive “Squad” loudly called for during Trump’s first term. On the economy, Democrats should reject progressives’ preference for overbearing taxes and an expansive welfare state. Instead, moderate Democrats must work with the GOP to achieve less regulations, agree to job-boosting tax cuts, and cutting inflationary yet wasteful government spending. To be clear, the 2024 election exposed the hollowness of resistance politics. Voters made it clear that they want elected officials who will address the actual issues, not those who are defined solely by what – or who – they oppose. Indeed, rather than articulating an agenda to address voters’ concerns about the economy, cost of living, immigration, or crime, Democrats – and Vice President Kamala Harris in particular – almost entirely campaigned on the need to stop Trump, lest his “fascism” destroy our democracy. Yet as we saw, this was a costly mistake. Trump won because voters felt he had actual solutions to kitchen-table issues, and Democrats’ appeals largely fell flat with moderate and swing voters. Put another way, as Brett Stephens noted in the New York Times, adherence to resistance politics “led Democrats astray...It distracted them from the task of developing superior policy responses to the valid public concerns he was addressing.” Fortunately for Democrats, they should look to the past to develop a roadmap for the party’s future. Four decades ago, also in the wake of a devastating election loss – former Vice President Walter Mondale’s in 1984 – Democrats, led by then-Governor Bill Clinton, created the Democratic Leadership Council to bring the party back to the center and push back against the growing influence of the party’s left-wing. The DLC advocated for policies that many leftwing Democrats today would shudder at – balancing the budget, welfare reform, and a tougher stance on crime – but that was what Democrats needed then, and that is what they need now. In that same vein, what made the DLC effective was its focus on commonsense values that appealed to the majority of Americans – smaller government, fiscal responsibility, safe cities, and border security. Comparatively, the resistance playbook seeks to divide Americans via progressive identity politics, promotion of an unpopular “woke” agenda, and a refusal to compromise on solutions to challenges facing all Americans. The fact that Donald Trump won the popular vote with one of – if not the – most racially diverse coalition assembled by a Republican in decades underscores the ineffectiveness of progressives’ resistance platform, as well as its toxicity to the Democratic Party as a whole. To that end, the dangers to Democrats posed by progressive-led resistance politics are backed by the data. Beginning in 2016, progressives have driven Democrats significantly further to the left than the average American voter, risking the overall party’s viability should they continue diverging. An analysis from the Financial Times shows that in the last eight years, Democrats hard left turn on supporting increased immigration has taken them nearly 60-points to the left of the average voter. Related Articles Opinion Columnists | California’s political clout will fade as long as population growth remains slow Opinion Columnists | Here’s to hoping Trump delivers on some of his Libertarian promises Opinion Columnists | Grand DOGE promises of massive cuts to the federal government are unlikely to materialize Opinion Columnists | Republican populism goes all in for the Nanny State Opinion Columnists | After botched Gaetz nomination, Trump should pivot on Cabinet picks As John Burn-Murdoch wrote, the data “suggests that Trump’s election radicalized the left, not the right.” And while this analysis was done prior to the 2024 election, there is little reason to believe Democrats have made up the lost ground. The first step for Democrats’ new approach should be to move back to where the average voter is. They can start by committing to working with centrist Republicans for commonsense solutions to the problems we face. Doing so is also smart politically. Working with – rather than against – Trump, will benefit Democrats if his second term does in fact produce a strong economy, secure borders, a more stable geopolitical environment, and overall prosperity. Ultimately, where Democrats go from here remains to be seen, but the 2024 election was a stinging rebuke of a party with little to offer aside from stubborn opposition to Donald Trump. If Democrats want to avoid being consigned to minority status for years to come, it is critical that they shun calls to double down on the politics of resistance and begin offering genuine, centrist solutions that address Americans’ concerns. Douglas Schoen is a longtime Democratic political consultant.Netflix getting set to air NFL on Christmas DayDelaying contentious power line projects will push up billsDiabetes Care Drugs Market Expectation Surges with Rising Demand and Changing Trendsmcfive circus 。

Anti-fraud efforts meet real-world test during ACA enrollment periodKobe Sanders, Nevada beat Oklahoma St. for fifth place in Charleston

NEW YORK , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Average weekly trading volume of approximately 529,390 shares Fund's adviser has more than 50 years of small- and micro-cap investment experience CLOSING PRICES AS OF 11/30/24 NAV 11.80 MKT 10.32 AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN AS OF 11/30/24 NAV (%) MKT (%) One-Month* 11.32 10.73 Year to Date* 19.30 18.23 One-Year 32.77 31.23 Three-Year 6.30 6.46 Five-Year 14.13 13.80 10-Year 10.17 9.69 *Not Annualized Important Performance and Expense Information All performance information reflects past performance, is presented on a total return basis, net of the Fund's investment advisory fee, and reflects the reinvestment of distributions. Past performance is no guarantee of future results Current performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted. Returns as of the recent month-end may be obtained at www.royceinvest.com . The market price of the Fund's shares will fluctuate, so that shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when sold. The Fund normally invests in micro-cap companies, which may involve considerably more risk than investing in larger-cap companies. The Fund's broadly diversified portfolio does not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss. PORTFOLIO DIAGNOSTICS Average Market Cap 1 $854.6M Weighted Average P/B 2 2.2x Net Assets $603.1M 1 Geometric Average : This weighted calculation uses each portfolio holding's market cap in a way designed to not skew the effect of very large or small holdings; instead, it aims to better identify the portfolio's center, which Royce believes offers a more accurate measure of average market cap than a simple mean or median. 2 Harmonic Average : This weighted calculation evaluates a portfolio as if it were a single stock and measures it overall. It compares the total market value of the portfolio to the portfolio's share in the earnings of its underlying stocks. The Price-to-Book , or P/B, Ratio is calculated by dividing a company's share price by its book value per share. Portfolio Composition TOP 10 POSITIONS % OF NET ASSETS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Transcat 1.8 Sprott 1.7 PAR Technology 1.6 Richardson Electronics 1.6 Universal Technical Institute 1.5 Applied Optoelectronics 1.5 BioLife Solutions 1.3 Mesa Laboratories 1.3 IES Holdings 1.2 nLIGHT 1.2 TOP FIVE SECTORS % OF NET ASSETS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Information Technology 23.3 Industrials 23.3 Financials 16.1 Health Care 11.8 Consumer Discretionary 5.7 Recent Developments Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. is a closed-end diversified investment company whose shares of Common Stock (RMT) are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The Fund's investment goal is long-term capital growth, which it seeks by investing primarily in equity securities of companies that, at the time of investment, have market capitalization of $1 billion or less. Daily net asset values (NAVs) for Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. are now available on our website and online through most ticker symbol lookup services and on broker terminals under the symbol XOTCX. For more information, please call The Royce Funds at (800) 221-4268 or visit our website at www.royceinvest.com An investor in Royce Micro-Cap Trust should consider the Fund's investment goals, risks, fees, and expenses carefully before investing. Important Disclosure Information Closed-End Funds are registered investment companies whose shares of common stock may trade at a discount to their net asset value. Shares of each Fund's common stock are also subject to the market risks of investing in the underlying portfolio securities held by the Fund. Royce Fund Services, LLC. ("RFS") is a member of FINRA and has filed this material with FINRA on behalf of each Fund. RFS does not serve as a distributor or as an underwriter to the closed-end funds. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royce-micro-cap-trust-nyse-rmt-as-of-nov-30-2024-302338580.html SOURCE Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

No. 12 West Virginia women beat Boise State 82-47 to reach title game of Gulf Coast Showcase

The veteran TV journalist Bob McNeil has died. McNeil began his career in newspapers and radio but was best known for his 20-year stint as a reporter on TV3 - a role that took him to countless countries and made him a household name in New Zealand. Colleagues paying tribute on social media this morning recalled his kindness, humour and empathy for the people he interviewed. Veteran TVNZ Pacific reporter Barbara Dreaver described him as "a damn fine journo and a gentleman", while former TV3 investigative reporter Karen Rutherford said he was "one of the kindest, most genuine journos with such great wit". Journalist David Farrier described meeting McNeil in 2020, when his old friend and mentor was already battling Alzheimer's disease. "He was the master of forming trusted relationships with pretty much anyone, loved, loved, loved stories, and using humour as a way to tell them," Farrier said. McNeil's first job out of school was at the Taranaki Daily News in New Plymouth. He trained at Palmerston North Teachers College in 1961-1962, and taught at various schools, mostly in Taranaki, until 1970. In that year he took a job at Radio Waikato in Hamilton, covering major news events such as the Springbok tour protests while working at 1ZH. In 1987 he joined radio 1ZB in Auckland. A few years later, in 1989, he was hired as a news reporter by the fledgling TV channel TV3. He soon built up a reputation among his colleagues and the public for his kindness, wit and love of a good story. He retired from journalism in 2010 at the age of 67. McNeil was born in Wellington and spent his childhood in Otago, Taranaki and Hawke's Bay. He met his wife, Jeanette, during an OE in Britain. Their three children include Seven Sharp reporter Sacha McNeil. The funeral arrangements are yet to be announced. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey gambling regulators have handed out $40,000 in fines to two sportsbooks and a tech company for violations that included taking bets on unauthorized events, and on games that had already ended. In information made public Monday, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement fined DraftKings $20,000. It also levied $10,000 fines on Rush Street Interactive NJ and the sports betting technology company Kambi. According to documents released by the state, Rush Street accepted 16 bets worth $1,523 in Nov. 2021 on a college basketball game between the University of North Carolina-Asheville and Tennessee Tech University after the game had already concluded with a UNC victory. Kambi told the enforcement division that a trader had failed to manually remove that game from its betting markets, saying it had stopped receiving messages from its own sports data provider due to a network connectivity error. Kambi said it has updated its guidelines and retrained its traders to prevent a recurrence. Kambi, which is based in Malta, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday. Rush Street declined comment, and DraftKings had no immediate comment Monday. DraftKings stopped using Kambi in 2021. In March 2022 Rush Street took seven bets totaling just under $2,900 on three Magic City Jai Alai games after the results were already known. Kambi told the division it experienced a connectivity issue that allowed the bets to be accepted after the games were over. An explanation of what Kambi did to address the situation was blacked out in documents released by the division. A month earlier Rush Street took 13 wagers worth $8,150 with pre-match odds on a Professional Golf Association match after the event had already begun. In this case, Kambi told the division a newly hired trader failed to enter the correct closing time time for bets on the event. The trader and a supervisor underwent retraining. DraftKings was fined for taking bets on unapproved events including Russian basketball for nine months in 2020 and 2021. It eventually voided over $61,000 in bets and returned the money to customers after being directed to do so by the state. In this case, Kambi told the division it misidentified this particular Russian basketball league as one that was approved for wagering in New Jersey. DraftKings told the state it did not catch the error, either. In 2020, DraftKings accepted 484 wagers on unapproved table tennis matches. Kambi incorrectly enabled the events for wagering without conditions required by the state, the division said. In Feb. 2022, the division said DraftKings took pre-season NFL bets involving specific players but did not give the state specific information on what information was to be included in the bets, drawing 182 wagers worth nearly $7,000 that were later voided and refunded to customers. Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryACIreland ran out 22-19 winners in Dublin but the Wallabies have restored pride on their European tour, after a dismal World Cup campaign last year. Australia had chances to win and looked a thoroughly different side to the one that was thumped 40-6 by Wales in September last year. Coach Joe Schmidt has shown the Wallabies have enough firepower to challenge the British and Irish Lions next year when at one stage it looked like the upcoming series would be a completely one-sided affair. How Australia’s players fared against Ireland 1) James Slipper - 6.5 Gave his all for 50 minutes but was penalised for collapsing a scrum just before half-time that led to an Ireland three-pointer. In Dublin in 2022, Slipper made the bold call that he wanted to play against the Lions and at 36 next year, looks set to do so. 2) Brandon Paenga-Amosa - 7 Australia didn’t lose a lineout all night, with Paenga-Amosa having a pleasing end to the tour. It was a major improvement from last week against Scotland. Jake Gordon sprints away for the Wallabies. Credit: AP 3) Taniela Tupou - 7.5 Picked off an intercept and streaked down the field but threw a loose pass to ruin the good work. His scrum work was good but certainly not dominant like we know he can be. Came off after 45 minutes in a more polished performance than some this year. 4) Nick Frost - 6.5 Second on the tackle count for Australia (17). Won five lineouts, the same as Ireland’s James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne. Was excellent in Dublin two years ago and backed that up here. Involved in a nice breakaway link play with Harry Wilson that once again highlighted Frost’s athleticism. 5) Jeremy Williams - 6.5 A solid 59-minute shift from someone who was not in the Wallabies frame last year. Did his job at the lineout and will feature next year against the Lions after a good spring tour. 6) Rob Valetini - 8 Valetini’s bad games are few and far between. Made 14 carries - four more than any other Australian player - to go with 10 tackles. Was almost yellow-carded for a forearm while carrying the ball into his former Brumbies teammate Mack Hansen. Pictured next to Hansen after the match, with the latter enjoying a Guinness. 7) Fraser McReight - 8.5 One of his best games in a gold jersey. Pulled off three turnovers at critical moments that gave the men in gold a major energy lift. Only blemish was an inaccurate, rushed pass to Tom Wright that was put down with four minutes to go with the Wallabies searching for a match-winning try. Tim Horan described McReight’s timing at breakdowns “amazing”. Topped the tackle count with 21. 8) Harry Wilson - 7.5 The sight of red headgear in space is becoming more common as Wilson and Frost combined with Ireland on the back foot. 13 tackles and 10 carries rounded out a productive day for the skipper. After not featuring for the Wallabies at last year’s World Cup, it has been some turnaround. 9) Jake Gordon- 7 A reasonable 61-minute shift with no major issues. Kicked high in midfield for Suaalii, a play which we could see more of during the Lions series. Service was solid as always and gets to rucks quickly. 10) Noah Lolesio - 7 Nailed all his kicks at goal, including a 48-metre penalty in the final quarter of the match. His wrap-around and service out the back in the lead-up to Jorgensen’s try was outstanding and shows what he’s capable of at this level. The Wallabies have lost their final game of 2024 to Ireland. Credit: AP 11) Max Jorgensen - 7 Finished off a nice team try in the 18th minute to put Australia up 8-0 but barely got his hands on the ball after that. Eight tackles across his 80 minutes. 12) Len Ikitau - 7 Tried to get into the game but didn’t have as big an impact as other games on the tour. Is No.12 his best position? Jury is out. How the Wallabies backline shapes for the Lions will be fascinating. Made more tackles than any Wallabies back (13). 13) Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii - 6 Certainly not as spectacular as he was on debut. Put a huge shot on Keenan early. Not as effective winning balls back from restarts. Five carries for 15 metres. Threw the ball away with three minutes to go and the Wallabies searching for a five-pointer. Got found out a few times defensively in the notoriously difficult No.13 channel. 14) Andrew Kellaway - 7 Ever reliable. Won a turnover and made nine carries for 25 metres. Great try-saving tackle that knocked the ball clean out of an Ireland player’s hand. 15) Tom Wright - 6.5 Standard showing without any major highlights. Ran the ball for more metres (42) than any Wallaby. Threw the final pass for Jorgensen’s try. 16) Billy Pollard - 5: No dramas with any throws after coming on with 23 minutes to go. 17) Isaac Kailea - 5.5: A late replacement with Angus Bell ruled out ill. Footwork into contact a highlight. Made eight tackles in his 30-minute stint on the park. 18) Allan Alaalatoa - 6: Did his job and the stuff no one looks closely at. Gave Ireland prop Cian Healy a hard time. 19) Lukhan Salakaia-Loto - 5: Came on with 21 minutes to go. No real highlights. Seven tackles. 20) Langi Gleeson - 5: Same boat as Salakaia-Loto, coming on with six minutes to go. 21) Tate McDermott - 6: Ireland kept a close eye on McDermott in a period where the home side had a lot of the ball. 22) Tane Edmed - n/a: Beaming with pride at becoming Wallaby No.709, Edmed’s debut only lasted three minutes as he came off for a Head Injury Assessment. He looked shattered. “Are you serious?” Edmed said as he walked off. 23) Harry Potter - n/a: Came on with 95 seconds to go. Not enough time for any wizardry.

Educational institutions closed amid political turmoil in twin cities

Anti-fraud efforts meet real-world test during ACA enrollment period

monty python's flying circus As the transfer window approaches, the spotlight is firmly on Chelsea and their defensive frailties. The Blues have looked shaky at the back in recent matches, with individual errors and lapses in concentration costing them valuable points. Former England international Ian Wright has weighed in on the situation, stating that Chelsea must strengthen their defense if they are to compete for major honors this season.

As the winter season approaches, cold air has begun to sweep across various parts of China, bringing with it heavy snowfall and plummeting temperatures. Multiple regions in the country are expected to experience significant drops in temperature, accompanied by strong winds, which may lead to hazardous conditions and impact daily life.

The bond between Harlow and Mauresmo goes beyond just a professional relationship - it is a true partnership built on trust, mutual respect, and a shared passion for music. Their collaboration has not only resulted in chart-topping hits but has also paved the way for a strong mentorship that continues to inspire both artists and fans alike.

Tubeless Insulin Pump Market Poised for Tremendous Growth from 2024 to 2032 12-24-2024 05:47 PM CET | Health & Medicine Press release from: Cognate Insights Tubeless Insulin Pump Market Latest Market Overview The global tubeless insulin pump market is projected to reach USD 5.2 billion by 2024, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4% from 2024 to 2032. The market is primarily driven by the increasing prevalence of diabetes worldwide, particularly type 1 and type 2 diabetes, along with advancements in insulin delivery systems. Tubeless insulin pumps offer enhanced convenience, improved control over blood glucose levels, and discreet usage, making them highly attractive to both patients and healthcare providers. Furthermore, the rising adoption of wearable devices and the growing focus on personalized diabetes management are significant factors contributing to the expansion of this market. The Tubeless Insulin Pump Market has experienced steady growth in recent years and is expected to continue expanding at a strong pace from 2024 to 2032. This analysis offers a comprehensive overview, providing valuable insights into key trends and developments within the Tubeless Insulin Pump industry. These findings equip business leaders with the necessary knowledge to devise more effective strategies and enhance profitability. Furthermore, the report serves as a useful resource for new and emerging businesses, helping them make informed decisions as they navigate the market and seek growth opportunities. Major Players of Tubeless Insulin Pump Market are: Insulet Corporation - USA, Revenue: USD 1.3 billion (2023) Medtronic plc - Ireland, Revenue: USD 31.2 billion (2023) Tandem Diabetes Care - USA, Revenue: USD 835 million (2023) Ypsomed AG - Switzerland, Revenue: USD 510 million (2023) Roche Diabetes Care - Germany, Revenue: USD 2.5 billion (2023) Get Latest PDF Sample Report @ https://www.cognateinsights.com/request-sample/tubeless-insulin-pump-market-research Our Report covers global as well as regional markets and provides an in-depth analysis of the overall growth prospects of the market. Global market trend analysis including historical data, estimates to 2024, and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) forecast to 2032 is given based on qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market segments involving economic and non-economic factors. Furthermore, it reveals the comprehensive competitive landscape of the global market, the current and future market prospects of the industry, and the growth opportunities and drivers as well as challenges and constraints in emerging and emerging markets. Global Tubeless Insulin Pump Market Landscape and Future Pathways: North America: United States Canada Europe: Germany France U.K. Italy Russia Asia-Pacific: China Japan South Korea India Australia China Taiwan Indonesia Thailand Malaysia Latin America: Mexico Brazil Argentina Korea Colombia Middle East & Africa: Turkey Saudi Arabia UAE Korea Speak to Our Analyst for A Discussion on The Above Findings, And Ask for A Discount on The Report @ https://www.cognateinsights.com/check-discount/tubeless-insulin-pump-market-research Key drivers and challenges influencing the Tubeless Insulin Pump market: Regional Analysis: The report involves examining the Tubeless Insulin Pump market at a regional or national level. Report analyses regional factors such as government incentives, infrastructure development, economic conditions, and consumer behaviour to identify variations and opportunities within different markets. Market Projections: Report covers the gathered data and analysis to make future projections and forecasts for the Tubeless Insulin Pump market. This may include estimating market growth rates, predicting market demand, and identifying emerging trends. Company Analysis: Report covers individual Tubeless Insulin Pump manufacturers, suppliers, and other relevant industry players. This analysis includes studying their financial performance, market positioning, product portfolios, partnerships, and strategies. Consumer Analysis: Report covers data on consumer behaviour, preferences, and attitudes towards Tubeless Insulin Pump This may involve surveys, interviews, and analysis of consumer reviews and feedback from different by Application. 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For In-Depth Competitive Analysis - Purchase this Report now at @ https://www.cognateinsights.com/purchase-report/tubeless-insulin-pump-market-research Contact Us: Cognate Insights Web: www.cognateinsights.com Email: info@cognateinsights.com Phone: +91 8424946476 About Us: We are leaders in market analytics, business research, and consulting services for Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, financial & government institutions. Since we understand the criticality of data and insights, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. To be at our client's disposal whenever they need help on market research and consulting services. We also aim to be their business partners when it comes to making critical business decisions around new market entry, M&A, competitive Intelligence and strategy. This release was published on openPR.On the other hand, their Premier League rivals Arsenal have been closely monitoring the situation of Dan Ashworth, a highly respected figure in football circles. Ashworth, known for his role in developing young talents and implementing successful academy structures, has garnered attention from several top clubs looking to strengthen their football infrastructure. Arsenal's interest in Ashworth suggests their commitment to revamping their youth development system and scouting processes to compete at the highest level.

Notre Dame Reopens Five Years After FireIn conclusion, Liverpool's ascent to an 82% likelihood of winning the Premier League highlights the team's outstanding form and determination to succeed. With the finish line in sight, all eyes will be on Anfield as the Reds look to maintain their lead and secure the coveted title. As for Arsenal and Manchester City, they will need to regroup and bounce back quickly if they are to challenge Liverpool for the championship. The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the Premier League season, with twists and turns still to come.

4. **Environmental Neglect:** Despite the growing concerns over environmental degradation, Governor Larragus has turned a blind eye to the destruction of natural habitats and the pollution of water sources. His negligence has put the environment at risk.Marshall's 17 lead Albany over Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 93-50

In conclusion, Sworn NPCs represent a new era of companion AI in gaming, where intelligence and efficiency are prioritized over unnecessary dialogue. By striking the perfect balance between assistance and brevity, these companions ensure that players can fully engage in the game without being annoyed by excessive chatter. With Sworn NPCs by their side, players can embark on epic adventures knowing that they have a reliable and intelligent companion to support them every step of the way.During the conference, Cloud Fast Charge highlighted its advanced cloud-based charging platform, which enables seamless integration of charging and swapping services for electric vehicle users. By leveraging data analytics and AI technology, Cloud Fast Charge's platform optimizes charging schedules, enhances user experience, and maximizes operational efficiency for charging station operators. Through the collaboration with local partners in Anhui, Cloud Fast Charge aims to deploy its innovative solutions to support the growth of the new energy vehicle ecosystem in the region.

After missing two games with a head injury, UConn's Alex Karaban is expected to return to the lineup when the No. 25 Huskies battle the Texas Longhorns on Sunday in Austin, Texas. Karaban was injured against Dayton in the final game of the Maui Invitational. Earlier this week, UConn head coach Danny Hurley said Karaban is feeling better, and he told reporters Saturday that Karaban "should be available" to play against the Longhorns, barring any setbacks. Karaban is averaging a team-high 15.9 points per game. Freshman Liam McNeeley helped fill the scoring void by tossing in 17 points when the Huskies (6-3) beat No. 15 Baylor 76-72 Wednesday in the Big 12-Big East Battle. UConn has won both of its games since going 0-3 in Maui. "I think part of the problem has been me," Hurley said following the Baylor win. "I've coached these guys frustrated, and I've coached them frustrated for too long. This is a team that's going to be a work in progress, and a team that's going to get better and better. And we're relying on a lot of young players and new players. "For us, I have to coach this team with more grace and more building them up and more enthusiasm and more energy. I can't coach them mad because we're not currently playing as well as the last two (UConn) teams have played. And I think, like I said yesterday, there's been some people that have helped me kind of check, whether it is my ego, or just my approach with the team." Texas (7-1) has won seven games in a row since opening the season with an 80-72 loss to Ohio State. The Longhorns are coming off a 63-57 win over host NC State on Wednesday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Freshman Tre Johnson went 4 of 6 from 3-point range and scored 18 points in the win. He is averaging a team-high 20.8 points per game and is shooting 44.6 percent on 3-pointers (25 of 56). He broke a 57-57 tie with N.C State by making a 3-pointer with 1:43 to play. "Tre Johnson is a big-time player," Texas coach Rodney Terry said. "He makes big-time plays. He works really hard on his defense as well, but he's a guy that throughout the course of the year we'll play through." Arthur Kaluma had 15 rebounds -- one shy of his career high -- against NC State. Kaluma enters Sunday's game as the team's No. 1 rebounder (8.0) and No. 2 scorer (13.6). "I think my team is growing up," Terry said. "We still have a ways to go on our journey, but proud of the way they persevered (against NC State) and found a way to win in a tough environment." Kadin Shedrick is the only other Texas player scoring in double figures at 10.1 points per game. He also leads the Longhorns with 17 blocked shots. An injury prevented Shedrick from playing when UConn beat Texas 81-71 last season. "Back-to-back national champions, what else can I say?" Shedrick said of UConn. "They're really good, and they're going to be hungry coming off their rough week (at Maui). They're going to be locked in when we play them, so we've just got to make sure we're locked in and ready for them to want to throw a punch." --Field Level Media50 Cent is mocking Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs on social media after they were accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000. The "Baby by Me" rapper, 49, shared a fake AI video, originally posted by the account @manmeetsmachine, on Instagram Tuesday that shows Jay-Z, 55, and Combs, 55, getting arrested and sent to jail. 9 50 Cent performs at the 26th Annual Best Buddies Miami Gala Honoring Global. Getty Images for Best Buddies International The video, set to the song "Sound of da Police" by rapper KRS-One, begins with the pair being placed in handcuffs by police officers and escorted off in front of other party guests. 9 Jay-Z and Diddy in AI video. Jay-Z and Combs are both wearing suits and holding wine glasses during their arrests. The video ends with the rappers standing in a jail cell. 9 Diddy and Jay-Z in AI video. 9 Diddy and Jay-Z in AI video. 50 Cent captioned his post, "I want to post this but I'm afraid I'm gonna get shot. LOL 😆." On Sunday, Jay-Z (born Shawn Carter) and Combs were both named in a lawsuit filed in October by "Jane Doe," who accused them of raping her at an after-party for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards when she was 13. The complaint, which was obtained by The Post, also claims the assault... Eric Todisco

DBV Confirms Alignment with U.S. FDA on Accelerated Approval Pathway for the Viaskin® Peanut Patch in Toddlers 1 – 3 Years-OldIn addition to President Yoon, the other individuals on the arrest warrant list include high-ranking government officials, business leaders, and others connected to the alleged corruption scandal. The breadth and depth of the allegations have underscored the extent of the problem of corruption in South Korea, and have highlighted the need for strong and effective measures to combat it.In recent months, the situation in Hong Kong has been a significant point of contention between China and the United States. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken a firm stance on protecting its sovereignty and maintaining stability in Hong Kong. In response to the interference and malicious behavior of certain US individuals in Hong Kong affairs, the Chinese government has decided to impose visa restrictions on these individuals.

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ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — PGA Tour rookie Patrick Fishburn played bogey-free for an 8-under 64 for his first lead after any round. Joel Dahmen was 10 shots behind and had a bigger cause for celebration Friday in the RSM Classic. Dahmen made a 5-foot par putt on his final hole for a 2-under 68 in tough conditions brought on by the wind and cold, allowing him to make the cut on the number and get two more days to secure his PGA Tour card for next year. He is No. 124 in the FedEx Cup. “I still got more to write this weekend for sure,” said Dahmen, who recently had said his story is not yet over. “But without having the opportunity to play this weekend, my story would be a lot shorter this year.” Fishburn took advantage of being on the easier Plantation course, with trees blocking the brunt of the wind and two additional par 5s. He also was helped by Maverick McNealy, who opened with a 62 on the tougher Seaside course, making two bogeys late in his round and having to settle for a 70. Fishburn, who already has locked up his card for next year, was at 11-under 131 and led McNealy and Lee Hodges (63) going into the weekend. Michael Thorbjornsen had a 69 and was the only player who had to face Seaside on Friday who was among the top five. What mattered on this day, however, was far down the leaderboard. The RSM Classic is the final tournament of the PGA Tour season, and only the top 125 in the FedEx Cup have full status in 2025. That's more critical than ever with the tour only taking the top 100 for full cards after next season. Players like Dahmen will need full status to get as many playing opportunities as they can. That explains why he felt so much pressure on a Friday. He didn't make a bogey after his opening hole and was battling temperatures in the low 50s that felt even colder with the wind ripping off the Atlantic waters of St. Simons Sound. He made a key birdie on the 14th, hitting a 4-iron for his second shot on the 424-yard hole. Dahmen also hit wedge to 2 feet on the 16th that put him on the cut line, and from the 18th fairway, he was safely on the green some 40 feet away. But he lagged woefully short, leaving himself a testy 5-footer with his job on the line. “It was a great putt. I was very nervous,” Dahmen said. “But there's still work to do. It wasn't the game-winner, it was like the half-court shot to get us to halftime. But without that, and the way I played today, I wouldn't have anything this weekend.” His playing partners weren't so fortunate. The tour put three in danger of losing their cards in the same group — Zac Blair (No. 123), Dahmen and Wesley Bryan (No. 125). The cut was at 1-under 141. Blair and Bryan came to the 18th hole needing birdie to be assured of making the cut and both narrowly missed. Now they have to wait to see if anyone passes them, which is typically the case. Thorbjornsen in a tie for fourth and Daniel Berger (66 at Plantation) in a tie for 17th both were projected to move into the top 125. Dahmen, indeed, still has work to do. Fishburn gets a weekend to see if he can end his rookie year with a win. “I've had a lot of experience playing in cold growing up in Utah, playing this time of year, kind of get used to playing when the body’s not moving very well and you’ve got to move your hands,” said Fishburn, who played college golf at BYU. “Just pretty happy with how I played.” Ludvig Aberg, the defending champion and No. 5 player in the world competing for the first time in more than two months because of knee surgery, bounced back with a 64 on Plantation and was back in the mix. Aberg played with Luke Clanton, the Florida State sophomore who looks like he belongs each week. Clanton, the No. 1 player in the world amateur ranking who received a sponsor exemption, had a 65 at Plantation and was two shots off the lead. Clanton already has a runner-up and two other top 10s since June. “Playing with him, it's pretty awesome to watch,” Clanton said. “We were kind of fanboying a little it. I know he's a really good dude but to be playing with him and to see what he's done over the last couple years, it's pretty inspirational.” AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Arizona Cardinals can cement themselves as NFC hopefuls with Sunday win | Sporting News

NoneVice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla is the Chief of Naval Staff, he was appointed to the position by President Tinubu in June 2023. A seasoned navigator, he is expected to lead the Nigerian Navy in manning Nigeria’s vast maritime frontier which stretches a formidable 84,000 nautical miles, with over 3,000 lakes and rivers, the former equating with a third of Nigerians landmass. This herculean task demands a leader that is determined, disciplined, with a wealth of experience and exceptionally focused vision, to harness the potentials in both the Maritime Sector and develop the nation’s Blue Economy, who also appreciates the imperatives of building the capacity of the Nigerian Navy to secure its maritime environment, as well as extend it to the Gulf of Guinea CNS Ogalla may not command all the salient qualities demanding of his formidable and highly demanding office. No one, even him nor President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who appointed him, genuinely expected that he possess such conspicuous qualities. Ikechukwu simply came in unexpectedly, simply put the current CNS came on board as a dark horse. His emergence was greeted with mixed reactions. Not many believe in his capacity, and his capability to deliver just as the C-in-C knew. But today he has proven many wrong. Ogalla has shown that, one’s ethnicity is not what is required to deliver on a job like this. He has proved that contrary to misconceptions about him, he is a man prepared for the job. Under the leadership of CNS Ogalla, the Nigerian Navy maritime security made significant improvements in legitimate shipping activities due to reduction of crimes in Nigerian waters, leading to appreciable rise in oil production and progressive decline in oil theft and illegal oil bunkering activities. Ogalla through the annual sea inspection exercise has made giant strides in positively impacting on the readiness for combat operations of the naval personnel, which also has exposed other maritime agencies to the benefits of interagency cooperation. This has led to positive rise in oil production as several companies have reported 100 per cent terminal factor. The sustained presence of Nigerian Navy ships at sea, deployment of technology for surveillance, improved inter agency collaboration and international partnerships as facilitated by exercises such as DEIN ABAJI which translates to ‘Calm Waters’ in Kalabari dialect, has led to unprecedented breakthroughs as well as curb maritime threats in line with the statutory roles of the Nigerian Navy which include protecting the maritime environment for national economic prosperity, and supporting existing domestic and regional maritime security initiatives. Ogalla utilized his comprehensive strategy; the Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy (TSMS), and his vast knowledge of the maritime domain and tactical operations to tackle maritime crimes and promote economic growth. This holistic agenda which includes the designation of Special Courts for Maritime Crimes, Advocacy Campaigns to enlist community support, and Socioeconomic Crime Prevention Strategies, also focuses on enhancing naval capabilities through fleet renewal, operational readiness, and infrastructural development, and the prioritization of human capital development through personnel welfare and motivation, manpower training, and youth and sports development has greatly impacted on the Nigerian Navy. Part of his strategy of is to effectively implement a robust maritime stakeholders’ engagement and interagency cooperation. By implementing these measures, the CNS aims to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime interests, promote economic growth, and enhance regional stability. Through this robust confidence-building, partnership and interagency relationship dialogue, he initiates the various security outcomes within Nigeria’s maritime domain and the littorals, including land-based engagements in fulfilment of national interest. The synergy has led to intelligence sharing amongst various agencies such as NIMASA, NPA, NDLEA, NOSDRA, and NEMA, as well as many foreign bilateral meetings and talks with the American Chief of Naval Service, Operation (CNO), and also enhanced trust, confidence building, synergy and operational successes. A strong believer in a highly motivated professional naval force, CNS Emmanuel Ogalla, set in various measures and alternatives aimed at maintaining and equipping a professionally competent and ethical naval force, which will leverage on all the elements of national powers to effectively defend Nigeria’s maritime area against all forms of threat and deliver the imperatives of national security. In order to give action to his words, the CNS carried out various practical reforms and projects aimed at recapitalizing the Naval ship, one of such is the re-equipping of the Naval Shipyard Limited to construct and fabricate small boats, big vessels and other facilities of the Navy, has eliminated capital flight and encouraged the training and development of skilled manpower not just within the Navy but as a means to entrepreneurial development and self-employment. This move has in no small measure reduced capital flight and enhanced, as well as encouraged the training and development of skilled manpower. As part of his commitment and dedication to the welfare of his personnel, Vice Admiral Ogalla conducts frequent inspection and supervisory tours of the various Naval ships aimed at fostering closer ties, as well as establishing the welfare of the personnel. Those visits served as a morale booster and helped to motivate the personnel, as it equally becomes an avenue for having firsthand knowledge of the conditions of the personnel. The visit has been adjudged to greatly increase the morale of the officers and men, as well as a forum for a one-on-one with the CNS. For instance, in one fell swoop operation, within three months, the Nigerian Navy recorded a debilitating breakthrough against the criminals, leading to the seizure of 95 wooden boats, 119 de-activated storage tanks refining ovens, 447 deactivated dugout pits, 120 deactivated Illegal Refining Sites, 13 seized fibre boats, 9 seized vehicles, 74 arrested suspects, and 14 arrested vessels including MT KALI, MT HARBOUR SPIRIT, MT SAISNIL, MV TOKITO, MT VINILLARIS and MT SWEET MIRI, among others. Some of the arrested vessels include MT KALI, MT HABOUR SPIRIT, MT SAISNIL, MV TOKITO, MT VINILLARIS, and MT SWEET MIRI. The Nigeria Navy under his watch, has shown avowed commitment to the ideals of the Tinubu Presidency, by supporting land operations in all the geopolitical zones of the country, winning the war against evil and ensuring a crime-free Nigeria through the strategy of Maritime Domain Awareness Capacity, he strategy has also compelled naval personnel to civility, and activated deterrent measures to curb negligence and unprofessional conduct of personnel but also provided all year-round situation awareness of Nigeria’s maritime domain extending to the limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone. With the capitalization of 2 XSeaward Defense Boats (SDB); constructed locally, the various Platforms, thereby ensuring and supporting its anti-piracy, anti-CoT, anti-IUU and anti-illegal drugs, combined with the acquisition of 2nd Offshore Survey Vessels, 2 by 32m FPBs and helicopters (NNS CHALAWA, P196-Seaward Defense Boat, NNS ZUR P195 – Seaward Defense Boat and NNS OCHUZOR Survey Vessels and the delivery of 2 by 76m OPVs from Turkey, the Nigeria Navy remains the most dominant in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) and the 4th largest in Africa. Presently, under Vice Admiral Ogalla, the Nigerian Navy has over 50 capital ships and several hundreds of boats to cover the maritime space and internal waters. While the capital ships are used to patrol the sea, the small vessels carry out routine patrols also. His non-kinetic approach has brokered several peace initiatives amongst communities and deepened community-military harmony within Nigeria’s Oil/Gas littoral area. Not leaving out the welfare of the personnel, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has also demonstrated leadership and empathy by ensuring the construction of 50 units of 3 bedrooms, 128 units of 2 bedrooms and 120 units of 2 bedrooms apartments in Galadimawa, Asokoro Abuja, Lagos, Calabar and Port-Harcourt. With an eye on sustainability, intellectual development and research, the Chief of Naval Staff on the 1st of June, 2024 launched the International Maritime Institute (IMION), an institution which will serve as a confluence for maritime discourse, the scintillation of ideas, and a vehicle for the articulation of maritime strategy on the African Continent. With the launch of this crowning glory, the CNS intends to decimate, with a single shot, an institution which will also serve as a think-tank for maritime strategic thinkers, practitioners and allies with a far-reaching benefit of enhancing effective interaction, idea sharing and research into maritime strategic affairs affecting not only the Gulf of Guinea but the rest of the world, in such thematic areas as, maritime and ocean governance, maritime security, law enforcement, hydrography, blue economy, and climate change amongst others. Under Ogalla’s visionary leadership, Nigeria’s war against oil theft has witnessed unprecedented success. His bold strategies, collaborative approach, and commitment to personnel welfare have transformed the Nigerian Navy into a formidable force. The Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy has yielded remarkable results, significantly boosting national security and contributing to global maritime stability. Ogalla’s efforts have solidified his legacy as a champion of maritime security and economic growth, earning the confidence of Nigerians and international partners alike. It is instructive to note that the FALCON eye system of the Nigerian Navy is a state-of-the-art surveillance facility that incorporates various sensors located along the nation’s enormous coastline, such as Radars, long-range Electro Optic Systems with thermal or night vision capability, Automatic Identification System receivers, Weather Stations and marine Very High-Frequency Radios for communication. The device consists of over-the-horizon radars with a range of 200 miles, long-range electro-optical systems with a range of 30 miles, and automatic identification system (AIS) receivers. These are linked to three regional control centres and a network operations centre to provide real-time situational awareness of the country’s waters. The integration of these technologies has led to the generation of real-time situational awareness of the activities of vessels in the Nigerian maritime domain and some selected parts in the Gulf of Guinea. Presently, the deployment of technology has assisted in attaining real-time aerial surveillance. Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors can provide continuous aerial surveillance of pipelines, oil facilities, and surrounding areas, capturing real-time data and visual feeds. Drones can capture detailed images and videos, allowing for the identification of unauthorized activities, potential threats, and illegal taps on pipelines, all of these enhance rapid response. In the area of criminal detection, prevention and deterrence, with detection being the key reason for the deployment of the technology, early detection and deterrence can be easily and promptly achieved. Early detection, advanced sensors and AI algorithms are now effectively and efficiently used to detect anomalies such as leaks, illegal taps, and unauthorized movements along pipelines thereby preventing wastages and the dangers of scooping and its potential risk. Thermal imaging by drones equipped with thermal cameras is also used to identify heat signatures from illegal activities or equipment tampering, even in low visibility conditions such as nighttime or dense vegetation, this has become a potent tool for deterrence, while the physical visible presence of drones also acts as a deterrent to potential thieves, reducing the likelihood of thefts. While in flight, drones programmed to send automated alerts can automatically alert security personnel and local authorities upon detecting suspicious activities, enabling rapid intervention. The deployment of innovative mandatory of the technology has led to an unprecedented high level of safety for all personnel and minimization of access to hazardous areas, thereby reducing the risk of injury or exposure to toxic substances and dangerous situations including armed attacks by oil thieves. Instead Naval personnel can now monitor and respond to incidents from a safe distance, enhancing overall safety and minimizing direct human involvement. All these leads also to overall cost efficiency, the strengthening of the operational capacity of the Navy and the enhancement of its capability to keep personnel abreast of global trends relating to evolving technological advancements in the maritime industry, as well as maintain a competitive edge during operations. Aside, the use of AI has greatly improved the Nigerian Navy’s decision-making processes, such as predicting the most fuel-efficient way to operate a vessel and has also affected the ship’s navigation system, radar operations or threat-detection systems to help operators’ process information faster, effectively respond to a range of maritime threats such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU); drug smuggling; and piracy, eliminating the loss in revenue suffered annually by Nigeria of about $70 million to IUU fishing perpetrated by a host of foreign fleets, mostly Chinese. Part of the achievements of the automatic mode is that the CMS can detect a target and identify, classify and prioritize targets before deploying weapons, although people are involved in decisions about when and how to use weapons. As part of another landmark breakthrough, the CNS has established an overarching control facility at Naval Headquarters in Abuja. The Command-and-Control Centre is filled with television screens on one wall, directly faced by at least a dozen individual workstations for monitoring the sensors. The Command-and-Control Centre is to enable the Nigerian Navy generate a comprehensive intelligence picture of activities within the maritime environment. This can thereafter be analyzed in appropriate cases, dispatching a Nigerian Navy ship for interdiction, investigation, and/or subsequent arrest of erring vessels. The various operations with clear mandate to tackle Crude Oil Theft (COT), Illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and a host of other criminalities on the nation’s maritime area have significantly disrupted oil thieves and vandals, leading to the recovery of substantial amounts of stolen products and the dismantling of illegal refining sites, with the recovery of massive quantities of stolen products, the dismantling of Illegal Refining Sites, arrest of suspects, and seizure of stolen products, are clearly eloquent testimonies of a determined result-oriented leader. Today, the Nigerian Navy is at its highest state of operational readiness and ranks as the 4th largest Navy in Africa. Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla’s footprints are clearly on the rock of time, as a clear case of not judging a book by its cover. Adebayo is a maritime communication expert based in Abuja.The major stock indices in the US are closing mixed with the Dow industrial average lower, the broader S&P and NASDAQ indices are higher. The small-cap Russell 2000 was little changed. Both the S&P and NASDAQ indices closed at record levels The final numbers are showing: Dow industrial average felt -128.65 points or -0.29% at 44782.00 S&P index rose 14.77 points or 0.24% at 6047.15 NASDAQ index rose 185.78 points or 0.97% at 19403.95 Russell 2000 fell -0.587 points or -0.02% at 2434.13 Intel had a wild ride as they ousted their CEO Pat Gelsinger. after 4-years of mistake after mistake. The stock was up over 5%, but is closing the day down -0.50% Some other big gainers today: Super Micro Computer: +28.62% Lam Research: +6.27% Taiwan Semiconductor: +5.27% Block: +4.24% Arm: +6.05% First Solar: +4.33% Roblox: +4.05% AMD: +3.56% Tesla: +3.46% Meta Platforms: +2.84% Qualcomm: +2.44% Moderna: +2.79% Trump Media & Technology Group: +2.78% The biggest losers on the day include: GameStop Corp: -6.13% SoFi Technologies: -3.05% General Dynamics: -2.73% RTX Corp: -2.59% Rocket: -2.41%

Latest News | Dharmshala's Gaggal Airport Gets Disdrometer to Predict Better Weather ModelsReport: Iowa CB Jermari Harris opts out of rest of season

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey will not need surgery on his injured right knee but he will miss the rest of the regular season. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that McCaffrey will be out at least six weeks after injuring his posterior cruciate ligament in a loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night . McCaffrey will be placed on injured reserve for the second time this season after previously missing the first eight games with Achilles tendinitis. “I just feel for him,” Shanahan said. “It was a real frustrating year for him. He worked his ass off to get back to this point and I think he was really feeling good and about to take off and just had that real unfortunate injury last night. I know he’s as crushed as anyone, but he’ll get through this. He’s a hell of a player, a hell of a person and an unbelievable 49er. He’ll be back stronger than ever next year to help us.” San Francisco (5-7) sits alone in last place in the NFC West standings, two wins behind division-leading Seattle, and in jeopardy of missing the playoffs a year after losing to Kansas City in the Super Bowl. The 49ers also lost McCaffrey's backup to an injury with Jordan Mason also set to go on injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain in the game against the Bills. It has been a frustrating season for McCaffrey, who won the 2023 AP Offensive Player of the Year then signed a lucrative contract extension in the offseason. McCaffrey injured his Achilles tendon early in training camp and missed the first eight games of the season. He rushed for just 149 yards on 43 carries in his first three games back as he struggled to get back to form. He looked much better early Sunday night with seven carries for 53 yards, including a 19-yarder that was his longest of the season. He appeared to hurt his knee on an 18-yard run in the second quarter. He then went down immediately on his next carry on a sweep to the left on a snow-slicked field for a 5-yard loss. Mason had played well as McCaffrey's replacement, rushing for 789 yards and averaging 5.2 yards per carry this season. San Francisco will now turn to rookie Isaac Guerendo and promote Patrick Taylor from the practice squad. Shanahan said the team will also look to add another running back to the mix. In other injury news from the game, defensive lineman Kevin Givens tore his pectoral muscle and will be out for the rest of the season. Shanahan said cornerback Deommodore Lenoir should be back at practice Wednesday after missing the game with a knee injury and that stars Nick Bosa (hip, oblique) and Trent Williams (ankle) will be evaluated as the week goes on. Bosa and Williams have both missed the last two games. Williams has also been dealing with family tragedy as his wife announced on Instagram that she gave birth to stillborn Trenton O’Brien Williams Jr. on Nov. 24. Sondra Williams also wrote that she was initially pregnant with twins and lost the other child earlier in the pregnancy. Shanahan said Williams spent time with his family last week but is trying to get back to play. “He was there at the hospital with her and got to meet him and say bye,” Shanahan said. “Then he had to cremate him on Friday. So he’s been dealing with that and he’s working through it. We’re all just trying to be there for him through it all.” NOTES: OL Aaron Banks and DT Jordan Elliott remain in the concussion protocol. ... LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee) is day to day. ... LB Dre Greenlaw will get more work this week after his practice window was opened last week for the first time since he tore his Achilles in the Super Bowl. ... S Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) will have his IR practice window opened this week. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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DRAPER, Utah (AP) — DRAPER, Utah (AP) — HealthEquity Inc. (HQY) on Monday reported fiscal third-quarter profit of $5.7 million. On a per-share basis, the Draper, Utah-based company said it had net income of 6 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 78 cents per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 71 cents per share. The provider of services for managing health care accounts posted revenue of $300.4 million in the period, which also beat Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $289.3 million. HealthEquity expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.08 to $3.16 per share, with revenue in the range of $1.19 billion to $1.2 billion. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( http://automatedinsights.com/ap ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HQY at https://www.zacks.com/ap/HQY

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Zong Ze, who previously served as a senior executive at a beverage company, was found guilty of using the famous Wahaha trademark without authorization in his company's products. This blatant infringement not only violated intellectual property rights but also led to confusion among consumers who mistook the products for genuine Wahaha beverages.Talen Energy Corporation Announces Upsize of Term Loan B Financing and Related Repurchase of ...

UN General Assembly adopts convention on cybercrimeKENT, Ohio (AP) — Jalen Sullinger led Kent State with 25 points and secured the victory with a 3-pointer with 43 seconds remaining as the Golden Flashes knocked off Heidelberg 84-80 on Sunday night. Sullinger shot 9 of 20 from the field, including 4 for 10 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 4 from the line for the Golden Flashes (9-3). VonCameron Davis scored 21 points while shooting 8 for 13 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds and five assists. Mike Bekelja had 14 points and shot 4 for 5 from beyond the arc and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line. Eric Panning finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and two steals for the Student Princes. Manny Hill added 15 points and seven rebounds for Heidelberg. Elijah Harden had 15 points. Sullinger scored 11 points in the first half and Kent State went into halftime trailing 42-36. Davis scored 15 points in the second half. Kent State outscored Heidelberg by 10 points over the final half. Kent State hosts Ball State in its next matchup on Saturday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Southern California defense contractors optimistic Trump administration could create jobs locallyWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against Facebook parent Meta , stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. The justices heard arguments in November in Meta’s bid to shut down the lawsuit. On Friday, they decided that they were wrong to take up the case in the first place. The high court dismissed the company’s appeal, leaving in place an appellate ruling allowing the case to go forward. Investors allege that Meta did not fully disclose the risks that Facebook users’ personal information would be misused by Cambridge Analytica, a firm that supported Donald Trump ’s first successful Republican presidential campaign in 2016. Inadequacy of the disclosures led to two significant price drops in the price of the company’s shares in 2018, after the public learned about the extent of the privacy scandal, the investors say. Meta spokesman Andy Stone said the company was disappointed by the court’s action. “The plaintiff’s claims are baseless and we will continue to defend ourselves as this case is considered by the District Court,” Stone said in an emailed statement. Meta already has paid a $5.1 billion fine and reached a $725 million privacy settlement with users. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

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As a seasoned coach with a strong passion for football, Xu Zhengyuan understands the importance of continuous learning and improvement. Despite the holiday season, he made the decision to visit the English Premier League to gain insights and ideas that could benefit his team back in Chengdu. The trip was not just a leisurely vacation, but a valuable opportunity to enhance his coaching skills and knowledge.As the global economy continues to face uncertainties and challenges, China's foreign trade sector has been resilient and proactive in navigating the complex landscape. With various stakeholders working together to boost trade activities and stockpile momentum, the prospects for China's foreign trade to end the year on a stable note appear promising.

Consumers who are concerned about the provenance of the products they purchase can take certain steps to verify the authenticity of items sold in the Russian supermarket. They can inquire about the sourcing practices of the store, request information on the suppliers and manufacturers of specific products, and examine product labels for details on country of origin.Spotify Has A Pirated Software Problem - SlashdotFu Jing's portrayal of Lily is both endearing and comedic, showcasing her impeccable timing and knack for physical comedy. Her chemistry with the rest of the cast, including veteran actor Li Cheng and rising star Wang Xiaoming, adds another layer of depth to the film's narrative.

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One of the most compelling aspects of "Empress Xi Returns to the Palace" is the dynamic between Empress Xi and the other characters in the show. Whether it is her relationship with the Emperor, her interactions with the concubines, or her alliances with loyal courtiers, each interaction is imbued with tension, emotion, and intrigue. The chemistry between the actors is palpable, drawing viewers in and keeping them on the edge of their seats.

By KELVIN CHAN LONDON (AP) — After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is a garble that can’t be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won’t be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here’s a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you’re an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there’s a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption on all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent, or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal’s encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp , so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger , which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels” but contrary to popular perception, it doesn’t turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France . Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.65 Christmas Pickup Lines to Secure Your Spot on the Naughty ListEdmunds: Five dream-worthy vehicles you wish you got for the holidays

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. stock rises Thursday, outperforms marketThe move to restrict simultaneous streaming is also expected to generate additional revenue for Tencent Video, as it may potentially encourage users to purchase multiple VIP subscriptions for their household or family members. Furthermore, with the rise of online piracy and illegal streaming practices, tighter control over the number of devices accessing VIP content can help Tencent Video combat copyright infringement and ensure fair compensation for content creators.