PV football readies for opening round of CIF state playoffsDriver Ben is carefully examining a bunch of red roses – peeling off their plastic wrapping and dead-heading any wilting stems. We’re standing on an ordinary residential road somewhere between Blackley and Moston , looking for an address among a row of identical 1930s-built houses. It’s a gorgeous late autumn day, resplendent blue skies but glitteringly cold, the crisp leaves carpeting the floor a burnished auburn-gold, everything sparkling with frost. In the distance, the snow-dusted shoulders of the Pennines are basking in the November sun. READ MORE: 'We've seen demand to help families in need double - but we almost had to close' Ben is no florist, and the roses are a little dog-eared, bearing a ‘reduced’ sticker, but they’ll perk up once they’ve been placed in water, drooping stems now deftly removed. And their inclusion in the parcel is just one of those little touches that makes Humans the foodbank with a difference. “When we’re packing orders, we will often have a conversation where we think, what else can we do for this family?” founder Lewey Hallewell told the M.E.N. “Say they’ve got a one-year old – have we got some wipes, nappies, baby food? Stuff they’re not expecting - but stuff that just lightens the load for that client.” Humans deliver their parcels to their clients in unmarked vans, to ensure privacy and help avoid the stigma that can surround using a food bank. And they give clients a choice over what they eat, catering to a variety of different dietary requirements including vegan, vegetarian and halal. Humans MCR's van stocked up with deliveries. (Image: Greta Simpson / Manchester Evening News) “A lot of clients have said they’ve come to us because they’ve been using a ‘normal’ foodbank and not had the best experience,” Ben says. “But Lewey has done a good job of making us different.” “He started this cause he used to use conventional foodbanks and would often get broken items and rotten veg.” This Christmas , the Manchester Evening News is supporting Humans MCR to deliver Christmas hampers to 1,000 people across Greater Manchester. You can find out more about the campaign and how to donate here . “I want people to eat food that they are familiar with, that is comforting to them,” said Lewey. “Because otherwise there is no dignity in that delivery.” “We love to include flowers as much as we can,” he added. “A lot of these people may never get flowers. We want it to be a nice treat for them.” Back on the road in north Manchester, Ben places the roses carefully on top of the food crate, grabs a bag of fresh fruit and veg, and carries it all to the door of its recipient. The flowers certainly have the desired effect. “Wow!” exclaims the woman who opens the door, wrapped in a dressing gown with an eye mask perched on her head. Behind her is a cluttered but cosy-looking living room, washing hanging up to dry, a dog yapping somewhere, and a toddler in a high chair looking disconcertedly at the strangers at the door. “I wasn’t expecting all this. Thank you so much.” Ben says he was told when he first started that some clients might “feel ashamed” about receiving their parcels. “I didn’t see it much at first, but there have been a few people where it’s been obvious that they were.” “So for me it’s a case of making them feel at ease with it. Telling them that lots of people need it and it’s not a bad thing - we’re here for a reason.” A food bank delivery ready for its recipient - with flowers on top. (Image: Manchester Evening News) Our next stop is a quiet curving street in Blackley, dotted with 1970s red-brick complexes. Down to the basement flats, it’s toasty warm in the stairwell, with several prams parked outside the doors to the flats. A couple come to the door, bearing broad smiles to see who has arrived. They give words of warm thanks as they hand back the empty box. A carer takes in the next delivery. She too is surprised by how much has been brought: a crate’s worth of dry goods, plus the fresh items and another bag with an assortment of random but useful items. A toilet brush, a jumbo box of washing powder and a pair of thick winter socks – especially needed in this weather – are all included. “He’ll love this,” she smiles. At the third address, only a woman and her baby are at home. Originally from Syria, we speak with her husband over the phone. Not speaking any English, we get by with some rusty Arabic, and she gratefully takes in the box. Behind her are blue balloons and the bouncing baby in his chair, wearing a tiny England shirt. People are referred to the food bank by community professionals who think they might need it. This can be anyone from a local MP to a GP to a social worker. But as we make our rounds, it becomes clear that sometimes the details the referral partners have provided are wrong. Some clients have only half a mobile number; others, scant instructions on how to reach a particular address in a labyrinthine housing estate. It can’t be the easiest job in the world – but Ben enjoys what he does, and says it’s a nice change from his previous job delivering for a supermarket, where he says there was “a big corporate machine” hanging over him. “People are always very appreciative,” he says. “Very grateful. I’ve had people hug me before.” Another delivery for a client. Typically it will consist of a crate of dry goods and a bag of fresh produce (Image: Manchester Evening News) “The only thing I don’t always enjoy is driving itself – there are terrible drivers on the road. But that’s the only downside. Otherwise, I feel really appreciated, like I’m doing a really good thing for people.” Humans has its own delivery app which Ben uses to find clients’ addresses and get directions for his route. He rings each client before setting off – that is, if the number’s right – to give them notice that he’s coming. “They’re supposed to get a notification about it the day before,” he says, “but they’re not always in.” That means Ben is left with a difficult decision. “We can’t normally leave it outside unless there’s a secure location,” he says. “And we can’t really wait around either. That would mean Lewey having to pay me to wait, when there’s other people relying on our deliveries.” One such case happens on our route. We pull up on a terraced street in Gorton , but the woman on our list isn’t in. “I’ve just been at an induction for a job I’m starting,” she says down the phone. “I’m coming back on the bus, I’ll be about half an hour.” We can’t wait that long – Ben is on the seventh of fourteen deliveries on his route, and traffic is building as the school day draws to a close. The client suggests a neighbour we can leave the parcel with. Luckily, he is in, and instantly agrees to take it when Ben explains the situation. A happy ending – but it isn’t always the case. Ben sometimes has to give the news over the phone that delivery won’t be possible that day, which is hard. “You can hear the desperation down the phone,” he says. “I do have a lot of compassion, but I can be slightly numb to it all too. I think you need to have that kind of personality to get through the day in a job like this. “People explain their situations to you, and a lot of them are desperate. I’m good at talking to people and then not taking it on board. And it helps that you know you are providing relief to that situation.” Ben doesn’t handle the referrals side of things, so he can’t speak to whether Humans are busier now than when he started this January. Some addresses he has visited regularly; others are new. “A lot of people have had an injury or have fallen ill, so quite suddenly find themselves in a position where they can’t work,” says Ben. “We’re like a stop gap for that situation.” Humans has a community grocers scheme too, where people who apply can purchase supermarket groceries at a heavily discounted rate. “That helps people get back on their feet too,” Ben says. “But a lot of people take pride in telling me “this is the last time I’m going to need this,” he says. “And that once they're back on their feet, they're going to donate.” Humans MCR The Manchester Evening News Christmas Appeal is once again supporting Humans MCR, a charity doing incredible work to tackle hunger in Greater Manchester. This organisation is small but mighty - they work to tackle hunger directly. The charity is run by someone who has relied on foodbanks himself. We love this charity because they treat everyone with the dignity and respect we all deserve. Each week they provide a lifeline for 400 families and individuals across Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Trafford, Stockport and Bury. All their food is delivered in unmarked vans so no one knows the people they help are getting support from a foodbank. And they give people in need a choice over what they eat, accommodating a range of diets including vegan, vegetarian, halal and gluten-free. The charity was set up by Lewey Hellewell whose own experience of using traditional food banks after being made redundant left him feeling that the process lacked dignity and compassion. People can be referred to the charity by any local community professional - including GPs, local MPs, health visitors, care and social workers - to get emergency food packages, delivered straight to their door in unmarked vans. This Christmas, they're expecting to deliver festive hampers to over 1,000 people in our region. The hampers have everything to make a full Christmas dinner - plus presents for children, and treats for adults. £12.50 will give a single person a food package for three days £36 will feed a family of four for three days £61 will provide a family with a Christmas hamper. Donate here.online casino login login ph365 。

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The 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.Before we get into the top-five late-night clips, three things feel of note this week: ➽ Angelina Jolie made her return to late night after what she says was at least a decade. She went on The Tonight Show barefoot, talked about almost becoming a funeral director, and generally was the frank and open girlie we all fell in love with during the Girl, Interrupted / Tomb Raider press tours. ➽ Two different shows ( The Daily Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live! ) made separate and distinct O.J. Simpson jokes, seemingly out of nowhere. Why? Is it because he’s been dead for most of the year, that it’s the 30th anniversary of the murder, or the writers are following the social-media account Norm Macdonald Joke of the Day like I am? Many options. ➽ Technically this happened last week, but the column didn’t run on Black Friday, so we’re talking about it now: The season finale of Busy This Week had an interesting anecdote from Stephen Colbert about getting shitfaced with Dakota Johnson on his show. But maybe the story was actually about Jennifer Lawrence? Like all Dakota Johnson stories , the details are fuzzy and only raise more questions. But the main point is that people should be partying on late night more often. It’s good TV. Now let’s talk heehees and hahas for this week in late night. 5. Seth Meyers is one of the best interviewers in the game thanks to his adaptability. So him taking the “Colbert Questionert” is fascinating, because being malleable and a fun hang is actually a hindrance. You need the big swings, and you need to stand by them. Meyers’s answers are great, but the true delight is watching him go full “A Delight to Have in Class”-core with Colbert. Also, his joke about being the only child at a Temptations concert hits real good. 4. This whole interview is giving off Local Boy Makes Good energy in the sweetest way. Kyle Mooney used to be a contributor to Jimmy Kimmel Live! , So having him return as a big-shot movie director is a chance for Kimmel to just bask in the talent he saw all along. It’s so nice. And Mooney brought a drink, which rocks. As we’ve already discussed this week, drinking on late night rules and should be encouraged. 3. Colbert asked to be in Knives Out 4, a reasonable request. Get that guy in there — he’s a great ensemble player! Daniel Craig is like, “Do you do any accents?” You can see Colbert’s improv mind whirring, and you can even clock the moment he settles on “pirate voice” as the way to go. But then to act like it’s his impression of Craig? Absurd, lovely, a great move. As perhaps the biggest Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law stan there is to be found, I will never turn down Colbert doing a weird voice. Great stuff. 2. Ralph Fiennes and Stephanie Hsu recreated the RHOSLC Angie K./Meredith Marks fight from the Breakfast at Tiffany ’s lunch, and boy howdy, does Fiennes go full Conclave on it. You can tell he has no idea what is going on, but he eats that text down. His Meredith Marks is much more befuddled than the genuine article, a move that honestly is more sympathetic than the duchess-from-on-high attitude she usually takes. Ms. Marks, take notes. 1. A crazy huge chunk of TikTok is people from America and Not America calling each other out for random shit: Americans only eat fast food; Europeans think they’re so healthy but their food-safety laws are a joke; Australians hate Americans but Americans are full Don Draper “I don’t think about you at all,” etc. It’s endless, and it seems to get high engagement, so if you’re looking to get internet famous, it’s a niche to consider exploiting. Australian (but naturalized American) On After Midnight , Josh Thomas called out America for its obsession with paper records — and he’s right! There are too many important tiny sheets of paper for this digital-ass country. It is insane that we have to get our registration out of the glove compartment when dealing with trigger-happy American cops. The paper our social-security cards are printed on is laughable. He’s right, and he should say it louder! The fact that the whole anti-paper tirade happens while he’s trying to untangle a big extension cord is the hat-on-a-hat doofiness we’ve come to expect from After Midnight. Thanks, CBS.

Piedmont Tree Services Expands Expert Solutions in High Point And Winston Salem, NC 12-05-2024 11:52 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire Piedmont Tree Services announces professional tree care services for local residents at extremely affordable prices. The company offers clearing trees and site grading to prepare your property well. They also provide lot clearing and stump grinding for your yard needs. Customers can call for tree removal services today. Furthermore, they specialize in tree stump removal. Their team uses strong tools to handle every project with care and skill. They work quickly to ensure your trees are removed safely and neatly, making their services trusted by many in the community. Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/e5f006711a796d33bf76ea147439456f.jpg Additionally, the company offers clear and fair pricing for all its tree care services. It provides free estimates so customers know the costs upfront. 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Daily Post Nigeria BREAKING: JFM building in Delta on fire Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News BREAKING: JFM building in Delta on fire Published on December 6, 2024 By Matthew Omonigho There is palpable tension in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, as fire is currently raging at the former JFM building. There are fears that the inferno might spread to other buildings within the area if not quickly contained. Details as to the cause of the fire are still sketchy at the time of filing this report. At about 8:43 pm, officials from the Delta State Command’s Fire Service ran short of water and could not quench the inferno ravaging the building that harbours Current FM. Policemen are on standby to forestall any breakdown of law and order or looting of the building by hoodlums. Related Topics: breaking Delta JFM Don't Miss Tinubu, Wike’s support for judiciary commendable – Awomolo You may like Court jails 12 illegal scrap metal collectors in Delta Nigerian Police file fresh cybercrime charges against Dele Farotimi Delta: Ibori-Suenu dumps PDP for APC Ibori’s daughter dumps PDP, moves to APC Four Labour Party’s federal lawmakers defect to APC Bomb explosion rocks Zamfara Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd

Are you tired of waiting for your computer to boot up or applications to load? Frustrated by sluggish performance and endless loading screens? If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a spinning wheel, wishing for a faster and more responsive system, you’re not alone. Many users experience the pain of outdated storage solutions that simply can’t keep up with their demands. Fortunately, this Black Friday, Samsung is offering a game-changing solution with significant discounts on their top-tier Samsung 990 EVO SSDs. The 1 TB model is priced at just $69—down from $149 (53% off) while the 2TB version is on sale for $129, reduced from $239 . These record low prices make it so much easier than ever to upgrade your storage and enjoy the speed and efficiency that comes with solid-state drives. See 990 EVO SSD 1TB at Amazon See 990 EVO SSD 2TB at Amazon Shopping on Amazon during Black Friday also comes with additional benefits: their best price guarantee means that if you buy an item and its price drops further during the promotional period, they will refund you the difference. Plus, Amazon has extended its return policy until January 31, 2025—much longer than the usual 30 days—which is very convenient for holiday shoppers who want to ensure their gifts are perfect. NVMe technology Designed for high performance, the Samsung 990 EVO SSDs use PCIe Gen 4×4 and Gen 5×2 M.2 2280 NVMe technology to deliver record breaking speeds of up to 5,000MB/s . This means you can load games, transfer files and access applications in the blink of an eye—no more waiting around for your system to catch up with you. The Samsung 990 EVO SSD has an advanced thermal management system for optimal performance even during intensive tasks. With a nickel-coated controller that effectively dissipates heat and Dynamic Thermal Guard technology monitoring temperatures in real time, this SSD maintains consistent speed and reliability without overheating . While the Samsung 990 EVO is a great choice for (almost) all users, it’s worth noting that Samsung has also released the Samsung 990 PRO SSD which is currently on sale on Amazon as well. However, this model is tailored more towards professional users who require ultra-high performance for specialized tasks such as video editing or high-end gaming. With read speeds reaching up to 7,450MB/s, the 990 PRO is designed for those who need top-tier storage technology. For everyday consumers, though, the capabilities of the 990 EVO will be more than sufficient . See 990 EVO SSD 1TB at Amazon See 990 EVO SSD 2TB at AmazonTHE MOJ: It's Thanksgiving down south, and the Canucks aren't looking free and clear

NFL Week 12 takeaways: Is the Commanders offense collapsing? Are the Texans still a year away?The 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.North Yorkshire farm shop praised for 'delicious' eggs revealed among UK's best

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. People are also reading... Margaret Atwood OSU event altered over threats The real reason Corvallis' Pastega Lights moved to Linn County Tree farm fiasco has Corvallis homelessness under microscope Commentary: Gulbranson shows he should be starter in thrilling win over Cougars Head-on crash on Highway 228 kills 1, injures 2 Philomath woman suspected in Eugene Airport bomb scare Strike over: Benton County, union reach tentative deal American flag thrown by driver fleeing Benton County deputies Sweet Home man sentenced for crash that injured his daughter In trying to flee, suspect accused of driving over Albany police officer How is the OSU grad strike impacting students? Corvallis man gets prison for armed robbery case Corvallis homes in on layout options for a new government center UPDATED: Feds halt drawdown at Green Peter Reservoir after local cities complain OSU women's basketball: Ferreira brings versatility to the Beavers' lineup Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Gobble up these 14 political cartoons about Thanksgiving Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan gave athletic director Warde Manuel a five-year contract extension Thursday on the heels of the Wolverines’ upset over rival Ohio State and a strong start to the basketball season. Manuel, who has held the position since 2016, signed through June 30, 2030, the school announced. Manuel of the College Football Playoff selection committee. “During Warde’s tenure as director, Athletics has put a structure in place where our student-athletes compete for Big Ten and national championships, excel in the classroom, and proudly graduate with their University of Michigan degrees,” university President Santa J. Ono said in the announcement. Michigan had a disappointing football season, finishing 7-5 (5-4 Big Ten), but a 13-10 win over then-No. 2 Ohio State took some pressure off of the program. The Buckeyes were favored by 21 points, the widest point spread for the rivalry since 1978, according to ESPN Stats and Info. The Wolverines last year in their final season led by coach Jim Harbaugh, whose tenure at the school involved multiple NCAA investigations for recruiting and sign-stealing allegations. Manuel supported Harbaugh through those processes. In basketball, the women’s team made its season debut (No. 23) in the AP Top 25 this week. The men are 7-1 a season coach Juwan Howard, who lost a school-record 24 games in 2023-24 as Michigan plummeted to a last-place finish in the Big Ten for the first time since 1967. Michigan has won 52 Big Ten championships since 2020. “Every day, I am thankful to work at this great institution and to represent Michigan Athletics,” Manuel said in a statement. “I especially want to thank the student-athletes, coaches and staff who compete for each of our teams and who have helped us achieve unparalleled success athletically and academically. I am excited to continue giving back to a university that has provided me with so much over my career.” ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and

American Airlines has announced the expansion of its new boarding technology aimed at curbing the issue of “gate lice”. The airline said it will implement this technology at more than 100 airports across the US during the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas travel periods, following successful trials in Albuquerque, Washington, and Tucson. "Gate lice" refers to passengers who crowd the gate, eager to board the plane before their assigned group is called. How the technology works American Airlines ' newly introduced software ensures passengers cannot board before their designated group is called. If a passenger attempts to scan their boarding pass prematurely, the system will trigger an audible alert for the gate agent, notifying them of the violation. The technology also displays a message on the screen for airline staff, who can then politely ask the customer to step aside and wait for their group to be called. For passengers traveling with a companion in an earlier boarding group, the gate agent has the ability to override the alert and allow the pair to board together, ensuring a smooth process for those traveling together. Successful trials and customer feedback The new boarding system was successfully tested in Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and Tucson International Airport (TUS) in the US last month. American Airlines reported positive feedback from both passengers and team members, with the system proving effective in managing gate congestion and ensuring that boarding occurs in an orderly fashion. Efficient boarding for the holiday rush Julie Rath, Senior Vice President of Airport Operations, Reservations, and Service Recovery at American Airlines, expressed her satisfaction with the initial results. “We’ve heard from our customers that the ability to board with their assigned group is important to them because it’s a benefit associated with their AAdvantage status or fare purchase. American’s Senior Vice President of Airport Operations, Reservations and Service Recovery. “The initial positive response from customers and team members has exceeded our expectations, so we are thrilled to leverage this technology to deliver for them ahead of the T hanksgiving holiday,“ said Rath. The technology comes as part of American Airlines’ continued efforts to enhance the customer experience and improve operational efficiency during peak travel periods. With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, the airline expects the system to alleviate common boarding delays and reduce congestion at gates.

ph365 register Published 5:13 pm Saturday, November 23, 2024 By Staff Reports Ranked squads will be on Sunday’s college basketball schedule in three games, including the Pittsburgh Panthers taking on the Wisconsin Badgers. See the article below for picks against the spread. Place your bets on any men’s college basketball matchup at BetMGM. Sign up today using our link. Bet on the Georgia-St. John’s spread—or any other NCAA men’s basketball matchup—with BetMGM ! Bet on the Kennesaw State-Rutgers spread—or any other NCAA men’s basketball matchup—with BetMGM ! Bet on the Wisconsin-Pittsburgh spread—or any other NCAA men’s basketball matchup—with BetMGM ! Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is alone at the top. Crosby broke Mario Lemieux's franchise record for most assists in team history during a 3-2 win against the New York Islanders on Sunday. “I want to congratulate Sid on setting the team's assist record,” Lemieux said in a statement released by the team. “He's an amazing player and we're so fortunate to have him in Pittsburgh. I look forward to even more great things from him.” Crosby was behind the net in the second period when he sent a backhand feed to Michael Bunting, who buried a power-play goal behind Marcus Hogberg at 1:36, putting the Penguins ahead 2-0. After the goal was announced, play briefly stopped as Crosby received a standing ovation and waved his glove to acknowledge the hometown crowd. “As the years go on, I think you appreciate those kinds of things a little bit more,” said Crosby, who said he plans to give the puck to his father. “It's not why you play by any means, but to get (the record) and to get that kind of reception, it means a lot.” Crosby now has 1,034 assists, good for 12th in NHL history. Only three players — Ray Bourque, Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman — have more assists with a single team. The 37-year-old Crosby has played 1,310 regular-season games. Lemieux played 915. “I have a lot of appreciation for what the guys have done on that list, especially Mario and what he means to the city and the organization,” Crosby said. “All the guys who have played prior to me, it's just really nice to be part of that company.” Crosby scored a goal and added three assists to tie the record during a 7-3 home win Monday against Philadelphia. Crosby thought he broke the mark during a road loss on Saturday against the Islanders, but the assist was taken away. “It was a little weird the way it went down,” Crosby admitted. Lemieux, who finished his Hall of Fame career with 1,723 points, led Pittsburgh to its first two Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992 as a player. Lemieux owned the team when Crosby captioned the Penguins to championships in 2009, 2016 and 2017. “The accomplishment, the milestone he's reached, this is just one more,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “It's more evidence of an amazing career. He's one of the best players to ever play.” AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Joe Douglas is gone. Robert Saleh already was fired. Aaron Rodgers could be next to leave the New York Jets. Douglas lost his job as the general manager on Tuesday, six weeks after the head coach was replaced following a 2-3 start. The Jets have gone 1-5 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich so owner Woody Johnson sent Douglas packing. Rodgers has played more like a 40-year-old quarterback coming off an Achilles tendon injury than a four-time NFL MVP. He's expressed a desire to play another season. The big question is whether the Jets will want him back. Maybe they'll decide to take one more shot at a playoff run with Rodgers while having him mentor a rookie quarterback. Or, they could start fresh. There are significant contract ramifications either way. Rodgers is slated to make a non-guaranteed $37.5 million in 2025 with a dead cap hit of $49 million as his salary cap total goes from $17.1 million to $23.5 million. The Jets could spread the dead money over two years by releasing Rodgers with the use of post-June 1 designation. He has a no-trade clause in his contract so they would need his permission to make a deal. If Rodgers doesn't retire and New York's new regime wants a clean slate, here are potential destinations for the future first-ballot Hall of Famer: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: This could only happen if Brock Purdy's shoulder injury is more significant than is known. Rodgers is a native of northern California and grew up a Niners fan. Returning home to help San Francisco win its sixth Super Bowl has to be attractive. Playing for coach Kyle Shanahan surrounded by playmakers Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle would be a quarterback's dream. Again, Purdy is the team's present and future. And, he's resilient. Purdy rebounded from elbow surgery following his rookie season to start Week 1 last year and ended up finishing fourth in MVP voting, leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl. Purdy also is due for a contract extension and a major raise so the salary cap makes this even more of a longshot. But never say never in the NFL. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Sam Darnold has been more than a stopgap, helping the Vikings (8-2) to an impressive start. J.J. McCarthy is the future, however, and Darnold will be a free agent after the season. If the Vikings fall short of a Super Bowl and Rodgers shows over the final six weeks that he can play championship football, this could be a fit. The Vikings could let McCarthy sit and learn for another year, especially coming off a knee injury that required a second surgery earlier this month. NEW YORK GIANTS: Rodgers wouldn't have to move. The Giants will need a quarterback after benching Daniel Jones and eventually releasing him. They could draft a quarterback in the first round and have him learn behind Rodgers for a season. That'll depend on which pick New York ends up with because it's a thin draft class. Unlike the Jets, the Giants (2-8) haven't made any coaching or GM changes yet. If it's status quo with GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll, one year with Rodgers isn't unrealistic. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: They also need a quarterback. Brock Bowers could set an NFL record for most catches by a tight end if he had Rodgers next season. The Raiders (2-8) are aiming for a high pick to get a shot at a quarterback of their choice. New minority owner Tom Brady believes rookie quarterbacks need time to develop and learn. The seven-time Super Bowl champion would have to be in favor of having Rodgers start and tutor a youngster. TENNESSEE TITANS: If Will Levis doesn't prove over the final seven games that he can be a No. 1 quarterback, the Titans (2-8) will be in the QB market and likely have a high draft pick. It's another scenario where Rodgers would fit as a one-year bridge. Get local news delivered to your inbox!PM urges people to make a resolve to annihilate feeling of division, hatred in society

Joe Douglas is gone. Robert Saleh already was fired. Aaron Rodgers could be next to leave the New York Jets. Douglas lost his job as the general manager on Tuesday, six weeks after the head coach was replaced following a 2-3 start. The Jets have gone 1-5 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich so owner Woody Johnson sent Douglas packing. Rodgers has played more like a 40-year-old quarterback coming off an Achilles tendon injury than a four-time NFL MVP. He's expressed a desire to play another season. The big question is whether the Jets will want him back. Maybe they'll decide to take one more shot at a playoff run with Rodgers while having him mentor a rookie quarterback. Or, they could start fresh. There are significant contract ramifications either way. Rodgers is slated to make a non-guaranteed $37.5 million in 2025 with a dead cap hit of $49 million as his salary cap total goes from $17.1 million to $23.5 million. People are also reading... The Jets could spread the dead money over two years by releasing Rodgers with the use of post-June 1 designation. He has a no-trade clause in his contract so they would need his permission to make a deal. If Rodgers doesn't retire and New York's new regime wants a clean slate, here are potential destinations for the future first-ballot Hall of Famer: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: This could only happen if Brock Purdy's shoulder injury is more significant than is known. Rodgers is a native of northern California and grew up a Niners fan. Returning home to help San Francisco win its sixth Super Bowl has to be attractive. Playing for coach Kyle Shanahan surrounded by playmakers Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle would be a quarterback's dream. Again, Purdy is the team's present and future. And, he's resilient. Purdy rebounded from elbow surgery following his rookie season to start Week 1 last year and ended up finishing fourth in MVP voting, leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl. Purdy also is due for a contract extension and a major raise so the salary cap makes this even more of a longshot. But never say never in the NFL. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Sam Darnold has been more than a stopgap, helping the Vikings (8-2) to an impressive start. J.J. McCarthy is the future, however, and Darnold will be a free agent after the season. If the Vikings fall short of a Super Bowl and Rodgers shows over the final six weeks that he can play championship football, this could be a fit. The Vikings could let McCarthy sit and learn for another year, especially coming off a knee injury that required a second surgery earlier this month. NEW YORK GIANTS: Rodgers wouldn't have to move. The Giants will need a quarterback after benching Daniel Jones and eventually releasing him. They could draft a quarterback in the first round and have him learn behind Rodgers for a season. That'll depend on which pick New York ends up with because it's a thin draft class. Unlike the Jets, the Giants (2-8) haven't made any coaching or GM changes yet. If it's status quo with GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll, one year with Rodgers isn't unrealistic. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: They also need a quarterback. Brock Bowers could set an NFL record for most catches by a tight end if he had Rodgers next season. The Raiders (2-8) are aiming for a high pick to get a shot at a quarterback of their choice. New minority owner Tom Brady believes rookie quarterbacks need time to develop and learn. The seven-time Super Bowl champion would have to be in favor of having Rodgers start and tutor a youngster. TENNESSEE TITANS: If Will Levis doesn't prove over the final seven games that he can be a No. 1 quarterback, the Titans (2-8) will be in the QB market and likely have a high draft pick. It's another scenario where Rodgers would fit as a one-year bridge. Be the first to knowThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has berated former Rivers State Governor, Celestine Omehia, and the ex-National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, over their recent remarks during the commissioning of projects in Rivers State. Wike, speaking at the Ahoada East and Ahoada West PDP end-of-year thanksgiving held in Ochigba, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday, criticised Omehia for questioning his contributions to the state as FCT Minister. He also dismissed Secondus’ comments, accusing him of hypocrisy, and alleged that Secondus once tried to impose his cousin as governor of Rivers State. Reacting to Omehia’s remarks during the project inauguration, Wike said, “I overheard one, Celestine Omehia, saying they should ask me what I have done for Rivers State as Minister. Let me educate him: I am not a minister of Rivers State; I am the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. “When I was Minister of Education, I brought a Faculty of Law to the University of Port Harcourt, provided grants to Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, and renovated Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, among others. These are tangible contributions he should focus on, not unfounded allegations.” Wike also fired back at Secondus, who allegedly labeled him an “enemy of the state.” He accused Secondus of working against Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s emergence and questioned his newfound alliance with the governor. Related News Yuletide: Wike urges residents to obey God’s commandments FCT doctors issue Wike ultimatum, threaten "deadliest shutdown" Rivers community hails Fubara on education “Secondus wanted his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to be governor. He was against Fubara. Today, he claims to be the governor’s friend while calling me an enemy. The records are clear; I removed Secondus as PDP chairman because of his actions,” Wike said. Highlighting the political appointments secured for Rivers State under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Wike declared, “There is no governor in Rivers’ history that has attracted more political appointments than me. By the grace of Mr. President, Rivers State has the highest number of appointees in Tinubu’s government.” Wike said most completed projects, including the Ring Road, were initiated during his tenure as governor. “I awarded and paid 50% for the projects being commissioned today. The essence was to ensure continuity, but I’m disappointed to see some projects canceled,” Wike added. The event host and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prince Chibudum Nwuche, commended Wike for his contributions to Rivers State and Abuja. “Wike has proven that his achievements in Rivers were no fluke. Abuja is now being transformed into a world-class city under his leadership,” Nwuche said.

Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby breaks Lemieux's franchise record for assists

Baijiayun was honored with the title of "Exclusive Member Unit" by the Beijing Educational Informationization Industry Alliance.

Analysis: If Jets don't want Rodgers, others will

Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby breaks Lemieux's franchise record for assists

At least 65 million tune in for Netflix NFL Christmas Day games. NBA holiday ratings also skyrocketVirgo, Weekly Horoscope, December 29 to January 04, 2025: Love, career, and financial aspects see promising developmentsPanaji : The Social Welfare Department’s website in Goa has been ‘out of service’ for the last five years, causing much inconvenience to the citizens seeking to get information on various schemes of the government and apply for the same. The website, which was created in 2013, was supposed to help people access important social welfare schemes, apply for financial aid, and stay updated about government programmes. However, since 2019, the website has not been working properly, leaving many without a vital tool they once relied on. Before the website stopped working, it allowed people to apply online for various types of assistance like financial support for the elderly, scholarships for students from poor families, and grants for people with disabilities. The website made it easier for people to apply for these benefits without having to wait in long lines or visit government offices. But for the past five years, citizens have been left without an easy way to access these services. According to sources, Terasoft Technology was in charge of maintaining the website until 2020, but after a year of free service, the contract was not renewed due to poor performance. Since then, the website has not been updated or maintained, causing it to break down completely. A citizen, whose family depends on social welfare programmes, said that “the website was an important tool for people needing help. Whether it was financial aid for the elderly, scholarships for students, or grants for people with disabilities, it was the easiest way to apply for these benefits. Now that it’s not working, it’s causing a lot of problems. The government needs to fix it as soon as possible.” One student who had been waiting for an update on their application said, “It’s about time the government fixed this problem. The internet makes it easier to reach people quickly, and the website could be used to share important information about new schemes, deadlines, and how to apply for help.” One resident said, “I know many elderly people and families who are stuck because they can’t apply for any help. There’s no way to stay informed or know what’s going on with government programmes. It’s causing a lot of confusion and stress. Without the website, people who rely on government help are struggling to know how to access the aid they need.”

Laurie Essig started receiving texts this year asking whether she was the gender studies professor at Middlebury College. When she responded that she was and then asked who was sending the messages, the replies startled her. “They were texting me to tell me that although men had temporarily lost the sex war, they were going to win it,” she said. Professor Laura Essig, of Middlebury College, received a couple messages a week from young men, some of whom blasted her views on gender, sexuality and feminism. Essig’s cellphone had been doxed on Reddit following comments she made to the New York Times about men struggling and falling behind in college. The unwelcome texts were just one of a growing number of misogynistic incidents on campuses at a time when more college men are embracing the Republican Party and its brand of masculinity. Over the next few months, Essig received a couple messages a week from young men, some of whom blasted her views on gender, sexuality and feminism. Others showed genuine curiosity about her comments. “They didn't call me names and it wasn’t the worst trolling in my life,” noted Essig, who formerly taught gender studies in Russia. “I think they were kind of young and lost and sad.” BETRAYAL AND FEAR The spike in sexist behavior on college campuses surfaced during a heated presidential campaign in which gender took centerstage. President-elect Donald Trump often came under fire for wielding sexist insults against Vice President Kamala Harris and courting misogynistic speakers at his rallies. At a Madison Square Garden rally in October, one speaker compared Harris to a prostitute, declaring she “and her pimp handlers will destroy our country.” In Greensboro, North Carolina, after a rally attendee yelled that Harris “worked on the corner,” Trump laughed and said, “This place is amazing.” Harris and other Democratic candidates also used gender to paint Republicans as anti-woman and present a bleak future for reproductive rights and other women’s issues if Trump won a second term. Essig noted at Middlebury College, following the Harris’ election loss, comments such as “your body, my choice” and “shouldn’t you be getting fitted for your Handmaid’s outfit?” appeared on the social media site Yik Yak, which allows students to make anonymous posts only viewable by others at the college. The Vermont school wasn’t alone. The day after the election, the terms “your body, my choice” and “get back in the kitchen” saw a 4,600% spike on X, according to a study by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. One parent said her daughter was told three separate times on campus “your body, my choice,” and another group of boys told her to “sleep with one eye open tonight,” according to the study. At the University of New Mexico, a Reddit user reported women were being harassed by gangs of men in MAGA gear telling them to “go home where they belong.” In another incident at Texas State University, two men not affiliated with the college were escorted from campus for holding signs that said “Women Are Property” and “Homo Sex Is Sin.” Witnessing the surge in misogynistic behavior and reading sexist comments online have left some young women feeling disillusioned and alone, according to Rebecca Ewert, a Northwestern University sociologist who teaches a class on masculinity. “There’s kind of this feeling of betrayal,” she said. “They’re expressing fear, anger and feeling alienated from people they consider to be close, people from home or even friends on campus.” POLITICS TURNS MASCULINE Sylvia Slotkin, a Northwestern sophomore and Democrat studying journalism, said she experienced those feelings after the election. One conservative male friend mockingly told her “Sorry, Trump won” as a way to insult her. Sylvia Slotkin, a Northwestern sophomore and Democrat studying journalism, said she experienced those feelings after the election. “Others were posting like, ‘Boohoo, the liberals are crying’ and just being so tasteless,” she said. “When people think of toxic masculinity, they think of bottling up emotions, so they’re making fun of these people crying because their candidate lost. That was definitely jarring.” That kind of condescending behavior from men is becoming more mainstream at her campus, Slotkin explained, and the culprit can be found in the kinds of social media that college men consume. Slotkin pointed specifically to Joe Rogan, a hugely popular podcaster with millions of listeners, and social-media personality Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports media. Both appeal to a bro-culture, male-centric sensibility sometimes associated with college Greek life. During his campaign, Trump courted those influencers, giving interviews that ranged from discussions about policy to speculation about the existence of UFOs. Others asked Trump whether he’d ever been in a fist fight. Boosting his appeal to young men, Trump attended testosterone-fueled events such as Ultimate Fighting Championship competitions. He was introduced to the Republican National Convention by Dana White, head of the UFC. Hulk Hogan attended and tore off his shirt. Such campaign strategies tap into a growing male perception of politics as an expression of masculinity. The Survey Center on American Life found in 2022 that 54% of Republicans described themselves as “very masculine,” compared to 33% of Democrats. Hulk Hogan speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) In 2022, nearly 40% of college men identified as Republican compared to just 21% who considered themselves Democrat, according to College Pulse's Future of Politics survey that included interviews with over 1,500 undergraduate students. Men in the 18-29 age range, in particular, say it’s personally important that others perceive them as masculine or manly. Nearly half reported feeling that way and also reported they believe American society has become “too soft and feminine,” according to the Survey Center. The fallout of those views was clear after the election. About 56% of young men voted for Trump. The number was even higher, 63%, among young white men. Daniel Cox, director of the Survey Center, believes the survey findings are tied into Republicans’ attempts to reassert aggressive, unapologetic and dominant politics — the kind of masculinity defined by Trump. “I don’t have a hard time believing that certain Republican candidates can attract support from young men,” he wrote in a survey analysis. “... Young men today are adapting to behavioral requirements foreign to older generations of men. It can be disorienting.” Andre Rocker, a Northwestern junior wrestler studying political science, said for college guys who might feel insecure about their masculinity, right-leaning social media influencers provide a playbook on how to be a man. Andre Rocker, a Northwestern junior wrestler studying political science, said for college guys who might feel insecure about their masculinity, right-leaning social media influencers provide a playbook on how to be a man. The influencers' support for Trump and his sexist behavior made it easy for many male students to vote for him. For Slotkin, the journalism student, the connection between Trump and the rise in misogynistic comments and incidents on college campuses is even clearer. “Trump's presidency will impact so many women so negatively,” she said. “I think, just inherently, if you voted for Trump, that is a sign of toxic masculinity. There's no other way to slice that.” ‘A DEAFENING SILENCE’ The impulse of some liberals to define all male Trump voters as toxic is actually causing serious harm to young men, argued Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men. The notion that college males have shifted their views on gender equality and become more sexist isn’t supported by data or surveys, he maintained, and it’s a “fatal mistake” to think those who voted for Trump now are more likely to denigrate women. Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, said the notion that college males have shifted their views on gender equality and become more sexist isn’t supported by data or surveys, he maintained, and it’s a “fatal mistake” to think those who voted for Trump now are more likely to denigrate women. “I think it's incredibly important that we don't let the exception get characterized as the rule,” he said. “We are in danger of throwing a generation of men under the bus completely falsely as a new generation of misogynists.” For many young men, the left’s rhetoric about "mansplaining" and patriarchy is unwelcoming and sometimes feels like a personal attack, argued Reeves. That carries over to their perception of college, which some view as liberal bastions where men are blamed for society’s inequities. Today, fewer men than women enroll in or finish college, and men are far more likely to kill themselves while at college, yet university leaders have done little to reach out or support them, according to Reeves. “There has been such a huge blind spot on the left and at progressive institutions, including colleges, towards the genuine challenges of men,” he said. “The deafening silence on men's issues on the left has made ... college-age men feel somewhat politically homeless and up for grabs.” Enter Republicans, whose messaging during the campaign was crystal clear: They like the things most men like, and they like men, Reeves explained. Rocker, the Northwestern wrestler, said when that messaging is packed with not-so-subtle sexist undertones, it can normalize bad behavior toward women. He sees it happening with some of his peers. “I do feel like, generally, our youth is not going in the right direction,” he said. “I think that direction is sort of reverting on our treatment of women as human beings.” Trump and other Republicans have also used gender issues to generate deep concern among conservatives that colleges are attempting to "turn kids gay" and promote what some call deviate behavior, argued Essig, the Middlebury professor. That fear played out in Indiana last year when the GOP-controlled legislature stripped state funding for Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute, which researches sex, gender and relationships. In Florida, new legislation eliminated diversity programs and severely restricted gender, race and sexuality studies at state-funded colleges. Women who don’t live by traditional gender roles — including college women — are increasingly targeted by male misogyny and sexism, argued Essig. That’s why she found it jarring, but not unsurprising, when anonymous texters began attacking her work in gender studies this year. “It’s a really easy way of tapping into very fragile and wounded masculinity,” she said. “I think about how compelling that rhetoric is for young men, because actually naming the real problems they face is far more complicated.”Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office President-elect Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. Trump's request Friday came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court. Oral arguments are scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The brief said Trump opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” Stock market today: Wall Street slips as the 'Magnificent 7' weighs down the market NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing lower as Wall Street ends a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% Friday and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 333 points, or 0.8%. The Nasdaq composite dropped 1.5%. The “Magnificent 7” stocks weighed on the market, led by declines in Nvidia, Tesla and Microsoft. Even with the loss, the S&P 500 had a modest gain for the week and is still headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62%. 10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025 NEW YORK (AP) — As the calendar changes to 2025, you might be thinking about how to approach your relationship with money in the new year. Whether you’re saving to move out of your parents’ house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated. If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they’re attainable for your lifestyle. Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-January WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling, as early as January 14th, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. The department has taken such action in the past. But once those measures run out the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government’s ability to borrow. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. Canadian Cabinet ministers meet with Trump's nominee for commerce secretary in bid to avoid tariffs TORONTO (AP) — Two top Canadian Cabinet ministers have met with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary at Mar-a-Lago as Canada tries to avoid sweeping tariffs when Trump takes office. New Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, as well as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department. The meeting was a follow up to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month. Trump has threatened to impose sweeping tariffs if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and fentanyl into the United States. Most Americans blame insurance profits and denials alongside the killer in UHC CEO death, poll finds WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger. So says a new poll from NORC at the University of Chicago. It finds that about 8 in 10 Americans say that the person who committed the killing has “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the Dec. 4 shooting of Brian Thompson. Still, some see suspect Luigi Mangione as a heroic figure. About 7 in 10 adults say coverage denials or health insurance profits also bear at least “a moderate amount” of responsibility for Thompson’s death. Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal? Remember this moment because it probably won’t last: A U.S. lottery jackpot has soared above $1 billion, and that’s still a big deal. After three months without anyone winning the top prize, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night. The high number has evoked headlines and likely lured more people to convenience stores with dreams of private spacewalks above the Earth. Jonathan Cohen is the author of the book “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America.” He says he expects jackpots to continue to grow in size. Larger payouts attract more media attention, increase ticket sales and bring in new players. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze.Schools targeted with AI learning apps despite experts' doubts

Suriname's government announced Saturday that the small South American nation will not hold a state funeral for its ex-president Desi Bouterse, who this week died a fugitive from justice aged 79. Current President Chan Santokhi "has decided, based on his powers and advice received, that there will be no state funeral... No period of national mourning," Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin told a press conference. Bouterse was a former military man who twice mounted coups, in 1980 and again in 1990, to take charge as a dictator. He eventually returned to power after being elected president in 2010 and governed for a decade. He died Tuesday in the unknown location where he had been holed up as a fugitive, with in-absentia convictions for cocaine trafficking and murder. Bouterse's body was dropped off at his residence in the capital Paramaribo. An autopsy was ordered, though police said there were "no signs of criminal activity." Bouterse had been sentenced to 20 years in prison in December 2023 for the 1982 execution of political opponents, including lawyers, journalists, businessmen and military prisoners. He remained a popular figure with the poor and working class in the former Dutch colony. The foreign minister said that, out of respect for Bouterse's status as an elected former president, flags would be flown at half-staff on government buildings on the day of his funeral, whose date has not yet been given. str-jt/rmb/acb

ph365 taya NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.Social media users are misrepresenting a Vermont Supreme Court ruling , claiming that it gives schools permission to vaccinate children even if their parents do not consent. The ruling addressed a lawsuit filed by Dario and Shujen Politella against Windham Southeast School District and state officials over the mistaken vaccination of their child against COVID-19 in 2021, when he was 6 years old. A lower court had dismissed the original complaint, as well as an amended version. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was filed on Nov. 19. But the ruling by Vermont's high court is not as far-reaching as some online have claimed. In reality, it concluded that anyone protected under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, or PREP, Act is immune to state lawsuits. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that schools can vaccinate children against their parents' wishes. THE FACTS: The claim stems from a July 26 ruling by the Vermont Supreme Court, which found that anyone protected by the PREP Act is immune to state lawsuits, including the officials named in the Politella's suit. The ruling does not authorize schools to vaccinate children at their discretion. According to the lawsuit, the Politella's son — referred to as L.P. — was given one dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic held at Academy School in Brattleboro even though his father, Dario, told the school's assistant principal a few days before that his son was not to receive a vaccination. In what officials described as a mistake, L.P. was removed from class and had a “handwritten label” put on his shirt with the name and date of birth of another student, L.K., who had already been vaccinated that day. L.P. was then vaccinated. Ultimately, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that officials involved in the case could not be sued. “We conclude that the PREP Act immunizes every defendant in this case and this fact alone is enough to dismiss the case,” the Vermont Supreme Court's ruling reads. “We conclude that when the federal PREP Act immunizes a defendant, the PREP Act bars all state-law claims against that defendant as a matter of law.” The PREP Act , enacted by Congress in 2005, authorizes the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a declaration in the event of a public health emergency providing immunity from liability for activities related to medical countermeasures, such as the administration of a vaccine, except in cases of “willful misconduct" that result in “death or serious physical injury.” A declaration against COVID-19 was issued on March 17, 2020. It is set to expire on Dec. 31. Federals suits claiming willful misconduct are filed in Washington. Social media users described the Vermont Supreme Court's ruling as having consequences beyond what it actually says. “The Vermont Supreme Court has ruled that schools can force-vaccinate children for Covid against the wishes of their parents,” reads one X post that had been liked and shared approximately 16,600 times as of Tuesday. “The high court ruled on a case involving a 6-year-old boy who was forced to take a Covid mRNA injection by his school. However, his family had explicitly stated that they didn't want their child to receive the ‘vaccines.’” Other users alleged that the ruling gives schools permission to give students any vaccine without parental consent, not just ones for COVID-19. Rod Smolla, president of the Vermont Law and Graduate School and an expert on constitutional law, told The Associated Press that the ruling “merely holds that the federal statute at issue, the PREP Act, preempts state lawsuits in cases in which officials mistakenly administer a vaccination without consent.” “Nothing in the Vermont Supreme Court opinion states that school officials can vaccinate a child against the instructions of the parent,” he wrote in an email. Asked whether the claims spreading online have any merit, Ronald Ferrara, an attorney representing the Politellas, told the AP that although the ruling doesn't say schools can vaccinate students regardless of parental consent, officials could interpret it to mean that they could get away with doing so under the PREP Act, at least when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines. He explained that the U.S. Supreme Court appeal seeks to clarify whether the Vermont Supreme Court interpreted the PREP Act beyond what Congress intended. “The Politella’s fundamental liberty interest to decide whether their son should receive elective medical treatment was denied by agents of the State and School,” he wrote in an email to the AP. “The Vermont Court misconstrues the scope of PREP Act immunity (which is conditioned upon informed consent for medical treatments unapproved by FDA), to cover this denial of rights and its underlying battery.” Ferrara added that he was not aware of the claims spreading online, but that he “can understand how lay people may conflate the court's mistaken grant of immunity for misconduct as tantamount to blessing such misconduct.” John Klar, who also represents the Politellas, went a step further, telling the AP that the Vermont Supreme Court ruling means that “as a matter of law” schools can get away with vaccinating students without parental consent and that parents can only sue on the federal level if death or serious bodily injury results.

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Yesterday, Kendrick Lamar shocked fans and critics alike by dropping an entire new album, GNX . The project quickly became one of the biggest topics on social media, as countless users shared their reactions to it. Of course, these have been mixed , but the album has been generally well-received so far. Most listeners agree that this was yet another unexpected and impressive move on Kendrick's part. Others are having a difficult time listening to it, though it may not be for the reasons one would expect. Earlier today, Kendrick's alleged ex-girlfriend Nitty Scott took to Instagram to share what appears to be her reaction to the surprise drop . Unfortunately, she admits that she can't listen to any of Kendrick's music without being reminded of an old toxic partner. According to her, the partner tried to ban her from listening to the Compton rapper in the car. "I can't listen to kendrick without having flashbacks of when my ex tried to ban me from playing him in the car [crying emojis]. IYKYK! that mf bring out the insecurity in EVERYBODY." Read More: Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" Producer Reveals He Only Gave Him The Title Track Beat Days Ago This wasn't the first time people close to Nitty Scott tried to create ample distance between the two artists, however. In 2015, she appeared on Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning , where she recalled her relationship with Kendrick. “ That was my boo . I was seeing him and him only for at least a year,” she explained at the time. “The people that were in charge of my career in the past, that was a relationship that they were not comfortable with, " she continued. "I think that’s out of pocket already simply because I don’t think your personal relationships should be determined by people you are involved with professionally. But that is what really made it so that it couldn’t flourish just because I was told that was not a good look.” Read More: Drake Looks Unbothered In New Selfie Despite Kendrick Lamar Fans’ Relentless Clowning [Via]After losing their fifth consecutive game in improbable fashion on Thursday night, the Sacramento Kings reportedly made the decision to fire head coach Mike Brown on Friday, ending a two-and-a-half-year run with the team. Just In: The Sacramento Kings are parting ways with head coach Mike Brown, sources told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/mNdn5EOv4U Along with the five-game losing streak, the Kings have also lost 12 of their last 17 games and find themselves in 12th place in the Western Conference on the outside of the playoff picture. The biggest issue this season for the Kings, among many, has been closing out games, having lost five games after entering the fourth quarter with the lead. That is the second-most games in the NBA this season, trailing only the Toronto Raptors. If they had simply held on to even two or three of those games, they would at least be in a play-in position at the moment instead of on the outside looking in. In Brown's first year as the Kings' head coach, he led the team to a 48-34 record and the franchise's first playoff berth in 16 years, snapping what was the longest playoff drought in NBA history. That season resulted in him winning the league's Coach of the Year Award for the second time. The Kings took a small step backward in 2023-24, winning two fewer games and narrowly missing out on a playoff spot by losing a play-in game to the New Orleans Pelicans. They have taken an even bigger step back this season, resulting in the change. It is a harsh reminder of how quickly things can change for coaches in professional sports. Not even two years ago, Brown helped rejuvenate a dormant, irrelevant franchise. This past June, he was given a new contract extension. Now, not even halfway through the season, he is out of a job.

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The second-biggest loser of the 2024 election is Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who is being demoted from the powerful Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate to the largely powerless Minority Leader. Schumer’s demotion to the minority status — which is shared by the other 46 Democrats — was smoothed by his support for President Joe Biden’s maximum-migration policy. That Schumer-backed policy imported roughly nine million southern migrants — ensuring the defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris and the loss of three Democrat-held Senate seats. That three-seat loss created a new 53-seat Republican majority in the Senate, thus forcing Schumer to hand over the gavel and return to minority status. Moreover, this is the second time Schumer has lost the Majority Leader job because he prefers mass migration above investment in American citizens’ prosperity, productivity, and births. In 2014, the Democrats lost five Senate seats because President Barack Obama welcomed illegal migrants and pushed for passage of the “Gang of Eight” amnesty and cheap labor bill. Schumer supported the bill, which canceled his expected promotion to Senate Majority Leader in 2015. By 2022, Schumer had forgotten his 2014 election disaster and was back touting the mass migration directed by Biden’s pro-migration border chief, Alejandro Mayorkas: The 2024 election was a rerun of the 2014 election, in part, because both disasters were caused by the Democrat party’s increasingly unpopular welcome for millions of migrants. Democrat senators are blaming the Schumer-backed policy for their fall. “We destroyed ourselves on the immigration issue in ways that were entirely predictable and entirely manageable,” a Democrat senator told the Hill for a November 29 report. “That’s political malpractice. That’s not someone else’s fault. That’s not the groups pushing us around,” the senator added. For many years, Schumer has favored migrants over American citizens: “We’re nothing if we’re not a Nation of Immigrants,” he told pro-migration business leaders in 2020: Immigrants [not Americans and their children] built this country with their hands, enriched our culture with their minds and spirit, and provided the spark that drives our economy. ... Many of you may not know this; My middle name is Ellis. Guess what? I was named after Uncle Ellis, who was named after Ellis Island, and in keeping with that tradition, our second daughter, we chose her middle name to be Emma for the poet Emma Lazarus, who wrote on this [plaque subsequently added to the] pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your poor, your tired, your huddled masses yearning to be free.” So this is in my bones as a New Yorker, as someone whose grandparents immigrated to the country in search of a better life. However, the elites and major donors in his hometown of New York City have other incentives to fund politicians who favor migration. The government-invited flood of low-wage migrants spikes their real estate wealth and cuts the cost of local labor. This inflow also hides the failure of the city government to reform its education agencies and weaken the economic clout of the middle-class New Yorkers who might collectively elect a reformist mayor and governor. “An international migration Ponzi scheme is the only thing that averts a demographic doom loop for cities like New York and San Francisco,” as Americans flee the Democrats’ huge and badly run cities, author Michael Lind wrote in a September 2023 article for Compact magazine. However, Schumer and his party are also deeply reliant on billionaire donors based in his hometown of New York and California, home of failed presidential candidate Harris. The party’s pro-migration donors are exemplified by FWD.us, whose top lobbyist has blamed Democrats for not providing enough economic support to Biden’s flood of wealth-shifting migrants. Mark Zuckerberg and a founding corps of West Coast consumer-economy investors created FWD.us in 2014 to support the “Gang of Eight” migration expansion bill. Schumer helped push that bill through the Senate, but it was torpedoed when GOP primary voters defenestrated the House Republican’s Majority Leader, pro-migration Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA). In 2020, Zuckerberg — and his policy adviser, David Plouffe — helped Biden defeat Trump . Since 2021, Mayorkas has imported roughly nine million inadmissible migrants to serve as consumers, renters, and workers for the U.S. consumer economy. The economic and civic damage done by Mayorkas’s deliberate migration policy pushed a large share of undecided swing voters to support Trump during the last week of the 2024 campaign, according to a report by Blueprint2024 , a pro-Democrat polling firm. Harris lost because “the political atmosphere was pretty brutal,” Plouffe rationalized in a PodSaveAmerica podcast on November 26 — without admitting how his FWD.us policies poisoned the political atmosphere for Harris. “I think the political atmosphere, the desire for change ... really presented huge challenges for us,” Plouffe evaded. On November 5, those challenges cost Schumer three senators plus the majority gavel — for the second time.COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Victims' families and others affected by crimes that resulted in federal death row convictions shared a range of emotions on Monday, from relief to anger, after President Joe Biden commuted dozens of the sentences . Biden converted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The inmates include people who were convicted in the slayings of police, military officers and federal prisoners and guards. Others were involved in deadly robberies and drug deals. Three inmates will remain on federal death row: Dylann Roof , convicted of the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; the 2013 Boston Marathon Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Opponents of the death penalty lauded Biden for a decision they'd long sought. Supporters of Donald Trump , a vocal advocate of expanding capital punishment, criticized the move as an assault to common decency just weeks before the president-elect takes office. Victims' families and former colleagues share relief and anger Donnie Oliverio, a retired Ohio police officer whose partner was killed by one of the men whose death sentence was commuted, said the execution of “the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace.” “The president has done what is right here,” Oliverio said in a statement also issued by the White House, “and what is consistent with the faith he and I share.” Heather Turner, whose mother, Donna Major, was killed in a bank robbery in South Carolina in 2017, called Biden's commutation of the killer's sentence a “clear gross abuse of power” in a Facebook post, adding that the weeks she spent sitting in court with the hope of justice were now “just a waste of time.” “At no point did the president consider the victims,” Turner wrote. “He, and his supporters, have blood on their hands.” Decision to leave Roof on death row met with conflicting emotions There has always been a broad range of opinions on what punishment Roof should face from the families of the nine people killed and the survivors of the massacre at the Mother Emanuel AME Church. Many forgave him, but they can’t forget and their forgiveness doesn’t mean they don’t want to see him put to death for what he did. Felicia Sanders survived the shooting shielding her granddaughter while watching Roof kill her son, Tywanza, and her aunt, Susie Jackson. Sanders brought her bullet-torn bloodstained Bible to his sentencing and said then she can’t even close her eyes to pray because Roof started firing during the closing prayer of Bible study that night. In a text message to her lawyer, Andy Savage, Sanders called Biden’s decision to not spare Roof’s life a wonderful Christmas gift. Michael Graham, whose sister, Cynthia Hurd, was killed, told The Associated Press that Roof’s lack of remorse and simmering white nationalism in the country means he is the kind of dangerous and evil person the death penalty is intended for. “This was a crime against a race of people," Graham said. “It didn’t matter who was there, only that they were Black.” But the Rev. Sharon Richer, who was Tywanza Sanders’ cousin and whose mother, Ethel Lance, was killed, criticized Biden for not sparing Roof and clearing out all of death row. She said every time Roof’s case comes up through numerous appeals it is like reliving the massacre all over again. “I need the President to understand that when you put a killer on death row, you also put their victims' families in limbo with the false promise that we must wait until there is an execution before we can begin to heal,” Richer said in a statement. Richer, a board member of Death Penalty Action, which seeks to abolish capital punishment, was driven to tears by conflicting emotions during a Zoom news conference Monday. “The families are left to be hostages for the years and years of appeals that are to come,” Richer said. “I’ve got to stay away from the news today. I’ve got to turn the TV off — because whose face am I going to see?” Biden is giving more attention to the three inmates he chose not to spare, something they all wanted as a part of what drove them to kill, said Abraham Bonowitz, Death Penalty Action’s executive director. “These three racists and terrorists who have been left on death row came to their crimes from political motivations. When Donald Trump gets to execute them what will really be happening is they will be given a global platform for their agenda of hatred,” Bonowitz said. One inmate's attorney expresses thanks — and his remorse Two of the men whose sentences were commuted were Norris Holder and Billie Jerome Allen, on death row for opening fire with assault rifles during a 1997 bank robbery in St. Louis, killing a guard, 46-year-old Richard Heflin. Holder’s attorney, Madeline Cohen, said in an email that Holder was sentenced to death by an all-white jury. She said his case “reflects many of the system’s flaws,” and thanked Biden for commuting his sentence. “Norris’ case exemplifies the racial bias and arbitrariness that led the President to commute federal death sentences,” Cohen said. “Norris has always been deeply remorseful for the pain his actions caused, and we hope this decision brings some measure of closure to Richard Heflin’s family.” ___ Swenson reported from Seattle. Associated Press writer Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, contributed to this report. Jeffrey Collins And Ali Swenson, The Associated PressExperts describe nuclear energy as key to addressing climate change, reforming energy sector Peaceful use of nuclear technology and its optimum utilisation holds the key to resolving energy-related woes of Pakistan besides helping the country achieve a sustainable solution to mitigate the climate change crisis. This was the crux of the deliberations and discourse held during the seminar on ‘Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy’ held here on Tuesday. The seminar was organised by the Center for International Strategic Studies Sindh (CISSS) in collaboration with DHA Suffa University (DSU) and Millennium Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship (MiTE), at the DSU auditorium. The seminar was divided into plenary and core sessions. Prof. Dr. Huma Baqai, Rector MiTE, chaired and opened the plenary session. She elaborated that according to the Government of Pakistan’s vision, 40,000MW of electricity to be produced through nuclear power plants (NPP) by 2050, fulfilling a quarter of the total energy needs of the country, is an appreciable landmark and needs to be pursued in the best national interest. Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saeed Minhas, Vice Chancellor DSU, delivered the welcome address. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between national departments for achieving sustainable goals for the country. Mr. Junaid Naqi, President, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), closed the session with remarks highlighting the role of NPPs including four in Chashma and two in Karachi providing over 3500MW of clean energy to the national grid. He further shed light on the role of nuclear energy being utilized by PAEC in radiopharmaceuticals, isotope production, non-destructive testing, water desalination and other venues which offer venues for collaboration between industry, academia, public and private sectors. “Energy fuels growth and growth empowers nations and use of Atom for Peace and Development is the out of box solution that the country direly needs and KATI vows to extend its full support in every step taken to this effect,” he added. The keynote address of the session was delivered by Mr. Khaqan Hassan Najeeb, former advisor, Ministry of Finance. He elaborated the energy reset vision. In his presentation, Mr. Khaqan paid a rich tribute to the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) which he said is the best example of how a competent workforce equipped with autonomy in making independent decisions can work wonders. The same model of success needs to be replicated in all public sector departments. He stressed that there is nothing like ‘game-changer’ as only hard work and consistent efforts to stabilise the macro economy can help Pakistan come out of the crisis. “Reorganized Energy Architecture is the ultimate destination for Pakistan. A competitive market in the energy retail industry is the need of the hour. Approximately 3,600MW of electricity, fulfilling 10 percent of electricity needs of the country is being produced through nuclear power which is quite encouraging and this clean source of energy which is also baseload needs to be further prioritized,” he added. Mr. Najeeb further said that policy and tax reorganization and reforms is a must and it can be achieved only by hiring the competent human resource, incentivising demand of electricity and managing its cyclicity. Explaining the economics of nuclear power, he said, in 2023 nuclear provided 17% of the total electricity, which is an impressive success story and Pakistan needs more such good stories. “Nuclear power plants (NPPs) keep running for 70 to 80 years, which makes them a better option as compared to oil, gas, and coal powered plants. NPPs run with over 80% of the efficiency and capacity factor. These NPPs keep running for 18 months without a break after every fuel load, which ensures energy security for the country,” Mr. Khaqan said. He closed his speech saying that by introducing a synergistic approach to energy planning, depth and substance in transformation and well-regulated market solutions, Pakistan can succeed in overcoming its energy woes. The core session of the seminar was opened and chaired by Ambassador Qazi M. Khalilullah retd), Executive Director CISSS. He said, “Pakistan embarked upon peaceful uses of the nuclear technology about six decades ago. Pakistan is operating its NPPs under International Atomic Energy Agency’s safeguards and have a well-recognized record of safety and security in running its civil nuclear facilities.” Afterwards, Mr. Waqar Ahmed Malik, former MD Fauji Foundation, shared his views on nuclear energy for industrial development in Pakistan.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss says he's being treated for cancer in his bile duct Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss says he is being treated for cancer in his bile duct between his pancreas and liver. Moss made the announcement Friday in an appearance on Instagram Live. He introduced himself as a cancer survivor and thanked his “prayer warriors” for their support. Moss had a procedure to put a stent in his liver on Thanksgiving after experiencing urine discoloration. Moss says he was hospitalized for six days before being released on Friday. He says he’s being treated with radiation and chemotherapy. De'Vondre Campbell won't be part of the 49ers after his refusal to enter a game, Kyle Shanahan says SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said linebacker De’Vondre Campbell won’t be part of the 49ers moving forward after he refused to enter a game after losing his starting job. Shanahan said the team is still working through the options of how to deal with Campbell after he walked to the locker room in the middle of a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Shanahan says the team is weighing its options, which could include a suspension or release, but that Campbell won't be part of the team for the final three weeks of the season. Trae Young, Hawks hoping to win big in Vegas at the NBA Cup semifinals LAS VEGAS (AP) — Trae Young might be the NBA’s biggest enigma. Young’s fans can point to numbers and say he’s an elite player. His detractors can point to numbers and say he’s overrated. Both arguments have validity. To some, his cocky ways are endearing. To others, they’re infuriating. This can’t be argued: He’s helping Atlanta author one of the season’s surprise stories. The Hawks are in the NBA Cup semifinals, set to play Milwaukee on Saturday before the other semifinal between Oklahoma City and Houston. The title game is Tuesday night. Analysis: Only LeBron James knows what's happening right now, and what's in his future LAS VEGAS (AP) — LeBron James was starring in Las Vegas at this time last year, the headline attraction while he and the Los Angeles Lakers were about to win the inaugural version of the event now known as the NBA Cup. That's not the case this year. “Personal reasons ... he’s taking some time” is what Lakers coach JJ Redick said this week when detailing why James was missing from practice. “Left foot soreness” is the reason why the Lakers have ruled him out of Friday’s game in Minnesota. There’s been trade speculation in recent days. It's all very different than a year ago at Cup time. Yankees get closer Devin Williams from Brewers for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees have acquired All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin. The Yankees also will send $2 million to the Brewers as part of the trade. A 30-year-old right-hander, Williams and his signature “Airbender” changeup are eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. He was diagnosed during spring training with two stress fractures in his back and didn’t make his season debut until July 28. Williams was 14 for 15 in save chances with a 1.25 ERA, striking out 38 and walking 11 in 21 2/3 innings. Cubs acquire All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in trade with the Astros CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have acquired All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros, paying a big price for one of baseball’s best hitters. The Cubs sent third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith, one of their top infield prospects, to the Astros for Tucker, who is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. Tucker was limited to 78 games this year because of a fractured right shin, but he hit .289 with 23 homers and 49 RBIs for the AL West champions. New West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez says leaving for Michigan 17 years ago was a 'mistake' MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Rich Rodriguez says he regrets leaving West Virginia 17 years ago. Rodriguez was introduced as the coach at his alma mater on Friday. Based on the welcome he got from the thousands of West Virginia fans in attendance, much seems to be forgiven. Rodriguez told the crowd that he never should have left his home state. The 61-year-old coach says he's grown both as a person and a coach throughout his long career, and that his departure at the end of the 2007 season for a head coaching job at Michigan was a mistake. Rodriguez went 60-26 at West Virginia from 2001 to 2007. Lindsey Vonn to enter World Cup ski races next weekend in Switzerland in her comeback at age 40 BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn will return to World Cup ski racing next weekend for a pair of super-G events in St. Moritz, Switzerland, as she continues her comeback at 40 years old. Vonn teased her return in an Instagram post through her sponsor, Red Bull, on Friday morning. She said “I hear St. Moritz is pretty nice this time of year.” The U.S. Ski Team then confirmed she will race in St. Moritz. She’s won five of her 82 World Cup races on the venue at St. Moritz. Picabo Street, a two-time Olympic medalist and Vonn’s former teammate, says “it’s the coolest thing ever.” Woman who falsely accused Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006 publicly admits she lied RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The woman who in 2006 falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her has admitted publicly for the first time that she made up the story. The accusations made national headlines at the time, stirring tensions about race, class and the privilege of college athletes. Crystal Mangum, who is Black, said in an interview with the “Let’s Talk with Kat” podcast that she “made up a story that wasn’t true” about the white players who attended a party where she was hired to perform as a stripper “because I wanted validation from people and not from God.” The former Duke players were declared innocent in 2007 after Mangum’s story fell apart under legal scrutiny. Belichick's bid to reshape football at UNC another sign of rising pro influence on college level CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's hiring of NFL coaching great Bill Belichick marks another sign of the growing influence of the NFL on college football. The challenges of managing the transfer portal and looming revenue sharing for athletes has led teams to take on more NFL-like structures to their programs. Belichick is set to structure North Carolina's program like an NFL front office. That includes hiring former NFL executive Michael Lombardi as general manager. At Florida, coach Billy Napier is interviewing general managers while saying the program is going to “a business model” to deal with a “major math puzzle.”Satellite Phone Store Steps in to Support Malibu Wildfire Recovery with Lifesaving Communication ToolsJAMAICA, N.Y. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) today announced that Turkish Airlines will begin operations at the new terminal when it opens in 2026. Turkish Airlines will also unveil a brand new, state-of-the-art lounge for its premium customers, launching the next phase of the award-winning airline's growth at its top U.S. gateway. The New Terminal One, set to be the largest international terminal in the United States , will offer best-in-class amenities and innovative technology for a transformational and efficient travel experience. The New Terminal One is a key component of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport into a world-class gateway, which will include two new terminals, the modernization and expansion of two existing terminals, a new ground transportation center, and an entirely new, simplified roadway network. Turkish Airlines, which currently flies 19 times weekly from JFK Airport to its hub at Istanbul , providing seamless connections to its extensive global network, will continue to offer top-tier service from the new terminal. As part of its expansion in the JFK market, Turkish Airlines will open an 11,000-square-foot lounge in the New Terminal One – twice the size of the airline's lounge at the existing Terminal 1. The new lounge will feature premium amenities, expansive views of JFK Airport's airfield and provide direct boarding access to aircraft, offering unmatched convenience for Turkish Airlines' business class customers and top-tier frequent flyers. Recognized for its exceptional in-flight service, Turkish Airlines recently received the World Class Award from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) for the fourth consecutive year, placing it among just 10 airlines in the world to have received this prestigious recognition. Turkish Airlines was also chosen as the Best Airline in Europe nine times by Skytrax. Over the years Turkish Airlines also received accolades from Skytrax and other prestigious organizations numerous times for its Business and Economy Class offerings and Lounges. Turkish Airlines offers service to 351 destinations, including 25 in the Americas. Turkish is a member of the Star Alliance and will join other alliance members at the New Terminal One: LOT Polish Airlines, EVA Air and Air China. "We are thrilled to welcome Turkish Airlines to the New Terminal One at JFK, where their commitment to world-class customer service aligns perfectly with our mission to provide an unparalleled customer experience," said The New Terminal One Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Aument . "We look forward to working closely with our colleagues at Turkish Airlines to elevate the travel experience for customers from 2026 and beyond." Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee Prof. Ahmet Bolat stated: "We are excited to bring Turkish Airlines' world-class service to the New Terminal One at JFK, further enhancing our passengers' travel experience with a state-of-the-art-lounge. This move underlines our commitment to continue our growth in the U.S market." In addition to Turkish Airlines, the New Terminal One has partnered with several other global carriers, including Air France, KLM, Etihad, LOT Polish Airlines, Korean Air, EVA Air, Air Serbia, SAS, Neos and Philippine Airlines. Air China is also partnering with the terminal on elevating the travel experience for Chinese customers visiting New York . The New Terminal One is focused on improving the customer experience by collaborating with potential airline partners. This includes working with airline teams across all customer journey touchpoints. Set to be JFK Airport's largest terminal when complete, the New Terminal One will offer a world-class customer experience and additional widebody aircraft gate capacity – providing international airlines a unique opportunity to grow their service at JFK, the top global gateway to the U.S. About The New Terminal One The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport is a bold and exciting project to develop a world-class international terminal that will serve as an anchor terminal in the Port Authority's $19 billion transformation of JFK into a global gateway to the New York metropolitan area and the United States . The New Terminal One will set a new standard for design and service, aspiring to obtain a Top 5 Skytrax ranking and be considered one of the finest airport terminals in the world. The New Terminal One is being built on sites now occupied by Terminal 1 and the former Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, where it will anchor JFK's south side. Construction is taking place in phases. The first phase, including the new arrivals and departures halls and first set of 14 new gates, is expected to open in 2026. At completion, anticipated in 2030, the New Terminal One will be 2.6 million square feet, making it the largest terminal at JFK and nearly the same size as LaGuardia Airport's two new terminals combined. The New Terminal One will be a 23-gate, state-of-the-art, international-only terminal. Sustainably designed and future-focused, the terminal will feature expansive, naturally lit public spaces, cutting-edge technology, and an array of amenities, all designed to enhance the customer experience and compete with some of the highest-rated airport terminals in the world. The New Terminal One consortium of labor, operating, and financial partners is led by Ferrovial, JLC Infrastructure, Ullico, and Carlyle. The New Terminal One is being built by union labor and is committed to local inclusion and labor participation, focusing on diversity and capacity-building opportunities, including ambitious participation goals of 30% for minority and women-owned enterprises, 10% for local business enterprises and 3% for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. To learn more about the New Terminal One at JFK International Airport, visit https://www.anewjfk.com/projects/the-new-terminal-one/ About Turkish Airlines Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 491 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 351 worldwide destinations in 130 countries (298 international destinations and 53 domestic destinations within Turkiye). More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on its official website www.turkishairlines.com or its social media accounts on Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/turkish-airlines-to-begin-operations-at-the-new-terminal-one-at-jfk-and-unveil-world-class-lounge-302331710.html SOURCE The New Terminal One at JFK

Nonehas hit back at a claim from fellow billionaire that he supposedly predicted would lose this month’s presidential election to Vice President Harris. "Just found out tonight at Mar-a-Lago that Jeff Bezos was telling everyone that [Trump] would definitely lose, so they should flog all their Tesla and SpaceX stock," Musk posted on social platform X, which he owns. "Nope," Bezos retorted to Musk’s post. "100% not true." Replying, Musk said: "Well, then, I stand corrected." Musk established himself as a key ally to Trump along the 2024 campaign trail, pumping millions into his campaign. After winning the election, Trump appointed the billionaire tech and media tycoon to head up a new agency, the "Department of Government Efficiency," to tackle what he and many Trump-loyal Republicans believe is unnecessary federal spending. Bezos made waves and caused a stir less than two weeks before the election, when he prevented the Washington Post from publishing an editorial endorsing Harris that the newspaper’s editorial board had written. Come and join The Daily Star on , the social media site set up by ex-Twitter boss Jack Dorsey. It's now the new go-to place for content after a mass exodus of the Elon Musk-owned Twitter/X. Fear not, we're not leaving , but we are jumping on the bandwagon. So come find our new account on , and see us social better than the rest. You can also learn more about The Daily Star team in what Bluesky calls a . So what are you waiting for?! Let's Bezos defended the decision in a subsequent op-ed in the Post, arguing presidential endorsements "create a perception of bias" and are detrimental to the publication’s mission at a time when trust in media is on the wane.

Memphis fights off No. 2 UConn in OT in Maui Invitational thrillerThe internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse?LiveDeal stock plunges to 52-week low, touches $9.77

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Jammu, Dec 23: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said that Jammu and Kashmir was leading the country in implementing the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020. “I am proud that J&K is leading the country in implementing the recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020,” LG Sinha said inaugurating the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) Regional Centre in Jammu. He said that a revolution was taking place in J&K in the education sector in the past few years. The LG said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, J&K was witnessing a cultural resurgence. Emphasising the role of enlightened citizens and stakeholders in developing artistic mindset in the new generation, he said the creative potential of the youth would benefit other sectors of society. “The folk tradition of Jammu has been the source of values and ideals that have sustained the society through the ages and I believe the IGNCA’s regional centre will create a framework for nurturing the virtues of culture for enhancing quality of life,” LG Sinha said. “This centre will foster the promotion and preservation of our rich art and cultural heritage and help the growth of time-tested traditional wisdom and knowledge.” He called upon the intelligentsia to work with organisations like IGNCA for the promotion of J&K’s rich artistic heritage and also preserving and propagating Vedic oral tradition. “Our civilisational heritage represents a culture that is all-embracing and based on the concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, the world as one family. This mantra continues to be of great significance to the world even today,” the LG said. He said that in the future the IGNCA Centre at Jammu would further strengthen the government’s efforts for the promotion, development and enrichment of folk traditions. LG Sinha called for committed efforts for the dissemination of works of great thinkers and writers like Yogini Lalleshwari, Nund Rishi, Habba Khatoon, Parmanand, Dattu, Thakur Raghunath Singh, Pandit Hardutt, Gangaram, Padma Sachdev, especially to the younger generation. “In this era of rapid change, it is also our collective responsibility to ensure that the articles, monographs, books on regional literature, folk music, drama genre and Pahari art become a part of every household,” he said. The LG also applauded the IGNCA and J&K Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) for organising the Toycathon. He said that the Toycathon provides an opportunity for our youngsters to participate in grassroots innovation and lead them to design and develop toys based on local cultural ethos and life of local heroes. LG Sinha congratulated IGNCA, artists, writers, researchers, art lovers, innovators, and students on the occasion. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and President IGNCA Ram Bahadur Rai for dedicating IGNCA’s Regional Centre to Jammu. On the occasion, the LG felicitated the students who excelled during the District/School level competitions under Toycathon 2024. He also released several publications of IGNCA and visited the stalls put up by different school students exhibiting innovative and creative toy designs, and clay models prepared by artists from various states. Minister for School and Higher Education, Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare, Sakina Ittoo; Member Secretary IGNCA, Sachidanand Joshi; Principal Secretary Culture and School Education, Suresh Kumar Gupta; Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education, Rashmi Singh and Director SCERT J&K, Parikshat Singh Manhas were also present on the occasion. ADGP Jammu, Anand Jain; Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar; Vice Chancellors of several universities and heads of various educational institutions were also present on the occasion.The star has described reaching the milestone as "cuckoo loco" Chappell Roan has celebrated the fact that her song ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ has reached one billion streams on Spotify . The single was first released in April this year, written by Roan alongside Justin Tranter and Dan Nigro. It became Roan’s breakout hit, hitting Number Two in the UK and Number Four in the US, and has been nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the Grammys . Roan has reacted the news that it has crossed the milestone, writing on Instagram: “Good Luck Babe hitting a billion streams on Spotify is cuckoo loco. All I have to say is thank you.” A post shared by ・゚: *✧ Chappell Roan ✧*:・゚ (@chappellroan) Other recent songs to reach the one billion streams mark on Spotify include Sabrina Carpenter ’s ‘Espresso’ and Billie Eilish ’s ‘Birds Of A Feather’. The news comes just days after Franz Ferdinand covered the song on Jo Whiley’s BBC Radio 2 show . “It’s just an amazing song by an incredible artist,” said frontman Alex Kapranos . “It’s funny, you get some artists that have a moment, often it’s kind of divisive.” “Some people absolutely love them and some people hate them. But I’ve not come across anybody I know, none of my friends, nobody I know, who doesn’t like this artist. They’re just so good. This song’s incredible so we’re going to play it.” ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ was not included on Roan’s debut album ‘The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess’, which is up for Album of the Year at the Grammys. In a four-star review of the record , NME wrote that it is “a display of Roan’s bold and brazen pen, where she places searing revelations alongside some deliciously cheeky choruses.” Roan has been outspoken about how experience of sudden fame this year, comparing it to “an abusive ex-husband” . In an interview with The Face , the former NME Cover star vented about the normalisation of extreme fan behaviour including “stalking, talking shit online, [people who] won’t leave you alone, yelling at you in public.” She added: “I didn’t know it would feel this bad.” Prior to that, she had taken to TikTok to share her thoughts on “weird” and “creepy” followers , calling out the “predatory behaviour” of so-called “superfans” that includes “nonconsensual physical and social interactions”. Related Topics Chappell Roan Pop Spotify

Memphis beats No. 2 UConn 99-97 in overtime to tipoff Maui InvitationalPublished 00:23 IST, December 25th 2024 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said he has accepted the training policy recommendations made by the Capacity Building Commission. Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said he has accepted the training policy recommendations made by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC). The southern state inked an agreement with the CBC in August for employee training and the establishment of a global institute of good governance in Amaravati. "In a knowledge-driven economy, staying updated with the latest skills is crucial. As part of our efforts to enhance governance efficiency in Andhra Pradesh, I am pleased to announce the acceptance of the training policy recommendations by the CBC," Naidu said in a post on X. The chief minister also noted that these recommendations will serve as the foundation for establishing the Global Institute of Good Governance (GIGG) in Amaravati to drive transformative capacity-building initiatives. He said key programmes such as Mission Karmayogi will utilise advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence for targeted skill development, guided by comprehensive skills census. According to Naidu, training will commence for critical departments such as police, revenue, municipal administration, Panchayati Raj, agriculture, education and health. "The government of Andhra Pradesh is also exploring innovative workspace solutions, including work from home models, to enhance productivity and efficiency," the chief minister said. Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. Updated 00:24 IST, December 25th 2024Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are not having a $600 million wedding in Aspen, US, this weekend. Late last week, some reports claimed that billionaire Bezos will marry his fiance Lauren Sanchez next Saturday in an extravagant $600 million wedding in Aspen, Colorado. An upset Bezos has strongly denied the extravagant plans. Amazon's former CEO was so angry with the report that he took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to clarify. And what makes this clarification serious is the fact that Bezos is not a regular on Twitter. "Furthermore, this whole thing is completely false — none of this is happening. The old adage “don’t believe everything you read” is even more true today than it ever has been. Now lies can get ALL the way around the world before the truth can get its pants on. So be careful out there folks and don’t be gullible. Will be interesting to see if all the outlets that “covered” and re-reported on this issue a correction when it comes and goes and doesn’t happen," Bezos wrote. Elon Musk's 'comforting' reply Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who is widely known to share a frosty relationship with Bezos, replied to Bezos' angry post. "That said, I hope you do hold an epic wedding. It’s nice to know that epic events are happening somewhere in the world, even if one is not present. A world where there are amazing events somewhere is better than a world where they are happening nowhere," wrote Musk in a post seemingly aimed at comforting Bezos. No wedding dates confirmed The Daily Mail was the first to report the $600 million wedding plan quoting a “well-placed source.” The report was then picked up by the New York Post. Billionaire Bill Ackman then quote-tweeted a now-deleted post from New York Post writing, “This is not credible. Unless you are buying each of your guests a house, you can’t spend this much money.” Ackman's tweet was what Jeff Bezos quoted in his reply. Incidentally, Bezos, 60, and his fiance, 54, have so far remained mum on their wedding plans and have not yet publicly confirmed their wedding date.

Andhra CM Accepts Training Policy Recommendations by CBCPickMe, Sri Lanka’s leading digital mobility solutions company, recently entered into a strategic partnership with the University of Moratuwa (UoM) to strengthen human resource development and operational excellence in driving innovation in the logistics sector. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by PickMe CEO Jiffry Zulfer and UoM Vice Chancellor Prof. N.D. Gunawardena. As part of the collaboration, PickMe will offer Management Trainee placements to 10-15 graduates each year from UoM’s BSc (Hons.) in Transport and Logistics Management and BSc (Hons.) in Transport Management and Logistics Engineering programs. Additionally, 10 undergraduates from these programs will gain hands-on experience through internship opportunities at PickMe every year. The partnership also includes structured mentoring, skill-building initiatives, and career guidance to enhance students’ industry readiness. To support infrastructure and provide a conducive learning environment, PickMe will contribute to the maintenance and development of physical spaces within UoM’s Transport Management and Logistics Engineering Department (TMLE). UoM TMLE Professor Emeritus Amal S. Kumarage PhD says: “In the context of pressing needs in the $ 6 billion mobility industry in Sri Lanka, this collaboration between academia, research, and industry is timely to provide digital solutions to legacy problems. Undergraduates in transport at the UoM can now confidently embark on tech-based careers in transport and logistics, assured of industry opportunities, while the industry itself can scale up to fill multiple service gaps, given the continuous supply of specialist engineers.” In a shared commitment to advance logistics innovation, PickMe and UoM will form joint research teams to conduct at least two research projects annually. The projects will be aimed at solving industry-specific challenges and creating sustainable solutions via technology. This collaboration is expected to drive significant positive impact within Sri Lanka’s logistics industry, fostering innovation, job creation, sustainability, and economic growth. The partnership represents a mutually beneficial platform that provides invaluable opportunities for students, enhances industry relevance for PickMe, and propels the nation’s logistics capabilities. “The key benefit is that these budding engineers of UoM will gain first-hand exposure to real-world engagement, preparing them for newer dynamics in their field,” says Zulfer. “At the same time, our team at PickMe will also benefit from the partnership by having access to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities.” UoM Senior Professor and TMLE Head Prof. Asoka Perera said: “Partnering with the industry gives new opportunities to the University, fulfilling a great need. I am very happy to collaborate with the leading technology driven mobility solutions provider, PickMe, which benefits the department, staff, and students in academic work and research work. We look forward to new research, product development, effective training for students, and aligning the curriculum of the TMLE for the needs of the industry.” PickMe’s approach to adaptation and implementation is rooted in leveraging digital technology to respond flexibly to changes in the market and the needs of its users. Unlike traditional industrial-age companies, which are more rigid due to reliance on fixed processes, PickMe uses digital tools to create an agile environment. In the context of PickMe, adaptation involves continuously responding to shifts in customer expectations, technology advancements, and changes in external conditions. Implementation, on the other hand, is about actively executing these adaptations—integrating them into their technology, operations, and workforce strategies to ensure the business remains responsive and relevant.

NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump's lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution's suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea "absurd." The Manhattan district attorney's office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to "pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful," Trump's lawyers wrote in a 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump's lawyers filed paperwork this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won't include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn't sentenced and his appeal wasn't resolved because of presidential immunity. People are also reading... Former President Donald Trump appears May 30 at Manhattan criminal court during jury deliberations in his criminal hush money trial in New York. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney's office declined comment. It's unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump's request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution's suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump's parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution's suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the "ongoing threat" that he'll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. The prosecution's suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they contend. Attorney Todd Blanche listens May 30 as his client Donald Trump speaks at Manhattan criminal court during jury deliberations in his criminal hush money trial in New York. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump tapped for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution's novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to "fabricate" a solution "based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump" who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September "and a hypothetical dead defendant." Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what's already a unique case. "This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding," prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn't "precipitously discard" the "meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers." Prosecutors acknowledged that "presidential immunity requires accommodation" during Trump's impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury's verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Other world leaders don't enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation's wars in Lebanon and Gaza. President-elect Donald Trump attends a Dec. 7 meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Trump has fought for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. Trump's hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith ended his two federal cases, which pertained to Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in each case. Trump was scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November, but following Trump's Nov. 5 election win, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president's sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office. Here are the people Trump picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Pam Bondi, Attorney General Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Trump Transition FILE - Former Rep. Doug Collins speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Paul Atkins, Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. David Perdue, Ambassador to China President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. Pete Hoekstra, Ambassador to Canada A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Kimberly Guilfoyle, Ambassador to Greece Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign and became engaged to Don Jr. in 2020. Trump called her “a close friend and ally” and praised her “sharp intellect make her supremely qualified.” Guilfoyle was on stage with the family on election night. “I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First,” Don Jr. posted. The ambassador positions must be approved by the U.S. Senate. Guilfoyle said in a social media post that she was “honored to accept President Trump’s nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.” Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Rodney Scott, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Rodney Scott led during Trump's first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country's borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump's policies. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. He appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He's also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Billy Long, Internal Revenue Service commissioner Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Kelly Loeffler, Small Business Administration administrator Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Kari Lake, Voice of America Trump says he’s picking Kari Lake as director of Voice of America, installing a staunch loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor and a Senate seat to head the congressionally funded broadcaster that provides independent news reporting around the world. Lake endeared herself to Trump through her dogmatic commitment to the falsehood that both she and Trump were the victims of election fraud. She has never acknowledged losing the gubernatorial race and called herself the “lawful governor” in her 2023 book, “Unafraid: Just Getting Started.” Additional selections to the incoming White House Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Ron Johnson, Ambassador to Mexico Johnson — not the Republican senator — served as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first administration. His nomination comes as the president-elect has been threatening tariffs on Mexican imports and the mass deportation of migrants who have arrived to the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson is also a former U.S. Army veteran and was in the Central Intelligence Agency. Tom Barrack, Ambassador to Turkey Barrack, a wealthy financier, met Trump in the 1980s while helping negotiate Trump’s purchase of the renowned Plaza Hotel. He was charged with using his personal access to the former president to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates, but was acquitted of all counts at a federal trial in 2022. Trump called him a “well-respected and experienced voice of reason.” Andrew Ferguson, Federal Trade Commission Ferguson, who is already one of the FTC's five commissioners, will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Jacob Helberg, undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment Dan Bishop, deputy director for budget at the Office of Budget and Management Leandro Rizzuto, Ambassador to the Washington-based Organization of American States Dan Newlin, Ambassador to Colombia Peter Lamelas, Ambassador to Argentina Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Thanksgiving Travel Latest: Airport strike, staff shortages and weather could impact holiday travelKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — There seemed to be little joy in another last-second win for the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Patrick Mahomes looked stoic after fill-in kicker Spencer Shrader's field goal beat Carolina 30-27 . Travis Kelce, Chris Jones and the rest of the Chiefs merely joined him in walking from the sideline to midfield for handshakes, then headed back to the locker room, a scene completely different from the jubilation they exhibited at the end of so many other nail-biters. Might be that they're getting sick of the stress at the end of games; Kansas City has won 12 straight games decided by seven points or fewer, the longest streak in NFL history, and has won five games decided on the final play this season. Then again, it might be that the Chiefs felt as if they should have beaten the Panthers by a much wider margin. They committed 10 penalties for 91 yards. Their secondary struggled against Carolina quarterback Bryce Young, a one-time bust who has started to play better of late. And their offensive tackles were routinely beaten with Mahomes sacked five times. “You always want to have some blowouts. You want to be a little calmer in the fourth quarter,” said Mahomes, who had one of his best games despite the protection problems, throwing for 269 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. “It can be a good thing as you get to the playoffs and later in the season,” Mahomes added, “just knowing you've been in those moments before, and knowing how to kind of attack it play by play — not making it too big of a moment. I will say this more than anybody, I would love to win a game not by the very last play.” The Chiefs (10-1) nevertheless remained a game ahead of Buffalo in the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC heading into Friday's game against the Raiders. But there is no margin for error with the Bills now holding the tiebreaker over them. “It’s all about getting better. That’s the best thing about playing in the NFL,” Mahomes said. “We’ve got to just go back, learn from (Carolina), and know we have a short week against a hungry football team in the Raiders that’s coming to our house.” What’s working The Chiefs' tight ends have taken advantage of deep shell coverages played by opposing defenses by getting open underneath, especially Noah Gray , who had his second straight two-touchdown day against the Panthers. He finished with four catches for a team-best 66 yards, while Kelce was right behind with six catches for 62 yards. What needs help The Chiefs have had problems at tackle all season. Wanya Morris struggled again on the left side and veteran Jawaan Taylor was not much better on the right, and they're a big reason why Mahomes has been sacked 15 times over the past four games. Stock up Just a few weeks ago, Shrader was on the Jets practice squad, hoping for a chance to kick in another regular-season game. Now, with Harrison Butker on injured reserve, he is making the most of that chance in Kansas City. The undrafted rookie is 3 for 3 on field goals, including that 31-yard game-winner against Carolina, and perfect on six extra-point attempts. Stock down Just about everyone in the Kansas City secondary struggled against Carolina, whether it was cornerbacks Nazeeh Johnson and Chamarri Conner or safeties Bryan Cook and Justin Reid. Young shredded them for 263 yards passing and a touchdown. Injuries The Chiefs could have running back Isiah Pacheco and pass rusher Charles Omenihu back this week. Both have been practicing the past couple of weeks and were close to playing against Carolina. Pacheco is returning from an ankle injury sustained in Week 2 while Omenihu has not played since tearing his ACL in the playoffs last season. Key number 5 — Kansas City improved to 5-0 against the NFC this season, making it 26-6 against the AFC's rival conference since Mahomes became the franchise's regular starter for the 2018 season. Next steps The Chiefs have won seven of their past eight against Las Vegas heading into Friday's game, though they no doubt remember the Raiders' previous trip to Arrowhead Stadium. Las Vegas pulled the upset on Christmas Day last season. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Dave Skretta, The Associated Press

Men lose 17 minutes of life with every cigarette they smoke while a woman’s life is cut short by 22 minutes with each cigarette, experts have estimated. This is more than previous estimates, which suggest that each cigarette shortens a smoker’s life by 11 minutes. The new estimates, which suggest that each cigarette leads to 20 minutes loss of live on average across both genders, are based on more up-to-date figures from long-term studies tracking the health of the population. Researchers from University College London said that the harm caused by smoking is “cumulative” and the sooner a person stops smoking, and the more cigarettes they avoid smoking, the longer they live. The new analysis, commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, suggests that if a 10-cigarettes-a-day smoker quits on January 1, then by January 8 they could “prevent loss of a full day of life”. By February 20, their lives could be extended by a whole week. And if their quitting is successful until August 5, they will likely live for a whole month longer than if they had continued to smoke. The authors added: “Studies suggest that smokers typically lose about the same number of healthy years as they do total years of life. Make 2025 the year you quit smoking for good. There’s lots of free support available to help you. Find out more 🔽 https://t.co/J0ehnoRM1D pic.twitter.com/LQpUp6HJBm — WHH 🏥 (@WHHNHS) December 27, 2024 “Thus smoking primarily eats into the relatively healthy middle years rather than shortening the period at the end of life, which is often marked by chronic illness or disability. “So a 60-year-old smoker will typically have the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker.” The analysis, to be published in the Journal of Addiction, concludes: “We estimate that on average, smokers in Britain who do not quit lose approximately 20 minutes of life expectancy for each cigarette they smoke. “This is time that would likely be spent in relatively good health. “Stopping smoking at every age is beneficial but the sooner smokers get off this escalator of death the longer and healthier they can expect their lives to be.” Dr Sarah Jackson, principal research fellow from the UCL Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group, said: “It is vital that people understand just how harmful smoking is and how much quitting can improve their health and life expectancy. “The evidence suggests people lose, on average, around 20 minutes of life for each cigarette they smoke. “The sooner a person stops smoking, the longer they live. “Quitting at any age substantially improves health and the benefits start almost immediately. “It’s never too late to make a positive change for your health and there are a range of effective products and treatments that can help smokers quit for good.” There are so many reasons to quit smoking this New Year – for your health, for more money, and for your family. Make a fresh quit for 2025 – find tips and support at https://t.co/GyLk65o8kS or https://t.co/iW6WLxTL00 pic.twitter.com/KxPZ5N378y — North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (@NTeesHpoolNHSFT) December 27, 2024 Health officials have said that smokers can find advice, support and resources with the NHS Quit Smoking app, as well as the online Personal Quit Plan. Public health minister Andrew Gwynne said: “Smoking is an expensive and deadly habit and these findings reveal the shocking reality of this addiction, highlighting how important it is to quit. “The new year offers a perfect chance for smokers to make a new resolution and take that step.” Commenting on the paper, Professor Sanjay Agrawal, special adviser on tobacco at the Royal College of Physicians, said: “Every cigarette smoked costs precious minutes of life, and the cumulative impact is devastating, not only for individuals but also for our healthcare system and economy. “This research is a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address cigarette smoking as the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the UK.”Nonelogin ph365 。

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that the club is planning to have meetings on the organization’s offensive philosophy.Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says a plan unveiled on Wednesday will ensure will New Zealand meets its emissions budgets and reaches net zero carbon dioxide emissions as early as 2044. Despite an 84 million tonne gap needing to be filled to meet New Zealand's first target under the Paris Agreement, Watts says he remains absolutely committed to meeting the target - but he did not say whether the government would commit to topping up using carbon offsets from overseas or how else the gap will be filled. He said the government was still considering a new recommendation by the Climate Change Commission to move from aiming for net zero emissions to "net negative" or pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2050. Watts said the government added to its emissions cutting plan covering 2026-2030 after consultation, to include chapters on building and housing and technology, and reflecting feedback from rangatahi who were concerned that the phrase "least cost" meant saving money now at the expense of future generations. The Green Building Council said although it was pleasing to see a chapter on housing added to the plan, it failed to include "easy wins and opportunities for slashing building emissions." The two actions mentioned in the plan on building - which accounts for 12 percent of the country's emissions - were expanding voluntary energy performance ratings for non-residential buildings and making it easier for people to retrofit their buildings to improve energy efficiency. "Coming from a draft plan that effectively ignored buildings and construction, it is welcome to see acknowledgment of the role our sector can play. However, the vague statements have no firm commitments and don't deliver significant change," Green Building Council chief executive Andrew Eagles said. Transport is one of New Zealand's biggest sources of emissions in New Zealand, and has risen when many other sectors have reduced emissions. Asked at a media stand-up if shaving 0.1m tonnes off transport with its plan to aim for 10,000 EV chargers was enough for such an important sector, Watts said New Zealanders were doing it tough and he needed to be realistic. The plan does not include measurable reductions from other transport areas, such as increasing walking, cycling or public transport use. EV sales plummeted after subsidies were scrapped but the Minister said people were buying clean vehicles. "As our plan is clearly outlining, the important aspect to increase EV uptake is reducing range anxiety," Watts said, citing media reports that EV prices are plunging. Watts said boluses (swallowed by cows and sheep) that could reduce methane burped by 75 percent and could be available "sooner than we thought." Pressed on the plan's reliance on using methane-cutting technology that is not yet on the market, and carbon capture and storage by large fossil fuel producers, he said technology moved quickly and carbon capture techniques were already in use overseas. "2035 is not tomorrow. 2030 is not tomorrow. You can't say where technology will be...in four years." Watts said Genesis Energy's moves to use biomass to replace some of the coal burned at Huntly showed the private sector was acting on emissions without any Government funding.CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL TO ANNOUNCE FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2024 RESULTS ON FEBRUARY 4, 2025Global Summit On 2D Materials and Graphene Technology

Greenenergybreaks The Coretec Group Inc. (CRTG) Marks 'Transformative Moment' In Positioning As Global Leader In Energy And TechnologyKUALA LUMPUR: National car maker Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) is set to establish its third manufacturing facility dedicated to electric vehicles (EVs) and the company is targeting an initial production of 500 units per month for its upcoming EV model. Perodua currently operates two plants in Rawang that are under Perodua Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (PMSB) and Perodua Global Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (PGMSB). Both are located adjacent to each other. Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the company anticipates significant demand for its EV model. “Based on our surveys, the interest shown in our model is actually very high, with numbers exceeding 9,000 to 10,000 units per month. “However, since this is a new venture for us, we will begin with a smaller production scale of maximum 500 units per month initially,” he told the press following the concept unveiling of the eMO-II EV at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show 2024 or KLIMS 2024 yesterday. “We’re going to have to start on a small scale of production before we move to the next level.” Zainal added Perodua had secured a new manufacturing licence for the facility. “It will be a simple EV plant that we plan to develop. It will not be a contract assembly. It will be our own practice,” he said. Zainal said the new facility will not rely on Perodua’s existing Daihatsu-based technical standards. Instead, he said, it will adopt Perodua’s proprietary standards. “This factory will have our own Perodua standards. “Unlike PMSB or PGMSB, where mostly we follow Daihatsu’s technical standards, this will be fully developed by us,” he said. Perodua’s upcoming EV aims to be affordable, with the price targeted at between RM50,000 and RM90,000. “We hope to remain under RM90,000,” Zainal said, adding the company aspires to offer the cheapest EV in Malaysia. “Based on our study, beyond 2025, other EV companies would not be able to sell at lower prices (than us), since it might compromise other things. “So for us, we still hope we can sell the cheapest EV around (in Malaysia),” he added. Perodua’s new EV promised to feature a range of over 400km and a zero-to-100km/h acceleration time of between six and seven seconds. Charging times are expected to be around 30 minutes using direct current fast charging and eight hours with alternating current chargers. To support its EV ambitions, Zainal said Perodua is working closely with suppliers to localise production components. “Initially, the battery and motor will still be imported, but we are committed to localising it. We are in discussions with suppliers to secure their commitment for local assembly,” Zainal said. Zainal said Perodua EV batteries will use lithium iron phosphate or LFP technology supplied by China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd or CATL. He also highlighted the need to expand charging infrastructure to alleviate range anxiety. “Based on our study, Malaysia requires a charging station every 40km to 50km. We are working with our partners to standardise charging rates and make them affordable for the average Malaysian,” he said. Beyond the new model, Zainal said Perodua envisions its venture into the EV space as a stepping stone towards developing its own automotive platform. “This journey has been a learning curve for our research and development team. Developing a product involves many challenges, from creating our own parts to setting production standards and systems. “However, this experience will equip us with the knowledge to explore broader opportunities,” Zainal added. He reiterated Perodua’s commitment to innovation as a national carmaker, noting: “It has always been our aspiration to develop and own this kind of technology.” Meanwhile, Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Mohd Shamsor Mohd Zain said KLIMS 2024 is marking its return after a six-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Shamsor highlighted the automotive industry’s importance to Malaysia’s economy, noting its annual contribution of 4% to the national gross domestic product and its employment of over 700,000 people. “The automotive industry is one of the key engines of growth for our country’s economy,” he said. “The total industry volume, or TIV, for the automotive industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the last three decades, from 200,000 units in 1994 to an all-time high of 799,731 units in 2023. “And we are expecting this year to achieve another record of above 800,000 units.” Looking ahead, Shamsor acknowledged the challenges posed by industry transformation, including stricter environmental regulations, electrification and digitisation. “The MAA council and I will continue to lead the industry and be the conduit between the government and the industry to ensure that a balance will be struck, and the industry and economy can continue to move forward sustainably,” he said. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, on the other hand, said Malaysia has the potential to become a regional hub for EV production and innovation. He said the growth of the mobility industry presents immense opportunities for local manufacturers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to integrate into the global supply chain. Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister, said Malaysia’s National Investment Aspirations aim to position the country as a global supply chain hub by attracting high-quality investments and enhancing the capabilities of local industries. “This strategic initiative focuses on integrating local manufacturers and SMEs into the global supply chain, thereby boosting economic growth and competitiveness,” he said in his speech at the KLIMS 2024 opening ceremony. “As we look to the future, I am confident that Malaysia has the potential to become a regional hub for electric vehicle production and innovation. Events like KLIMS are crucial in accelerating this vision, bringing together stakeholders from around the world to collaborate and create solutions that benefit everyone,” he added. The KLIMS 2024, themed “Beyond Mobility”, is organised by the MAA, and managed by Qube Integrated Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

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Denny Hamlin, at 43 years old, is heading for a restart of sorts with Joe Gibbs Racing after the race team announced this past Friday that he would have a new crew chief in 2025. Chris Gabehart, Hamlin’s crew chief for the last six seasons, was named competition director at JGR . Chris Gayle, who previously sat atop the pit box for teammate Ty Gibbs, will serve as Hamlin’s crew chief next season. NASCAR insider gives thoughts on the end of Denny Hamlin, Chris Gabehart partnership Jeff Gluck of The Athletic chimed in with his thoughts on Gabehart’s exit from the No. 11 team during “ The Teardown ” podcast, calling it a “gut punch” to Hamlin at this stage in his career. “You’ve heard Denny say on his podcast that Chris Gabehart is the last crew chief he’ll ever have because he intended to finish his career with him,” Gluck said. “He had found a guy who was obviously a good fit and as you suggested, just the mere idea of sort of starting over, especially in this era of the Next Gen car, driver-crew chief communication is the difference maker. All the cars are the same and so you have to find these little things. For a 43-year-old who maybe has I don’t know, two, three years left to start over essentially and try to rebuild that, it seems like a very daunting task... “There’s a lot of just like man, this guy was at the top of his game crew chief wise and had a driver who still had a couple years left where they could win, and he obviously had stated goals of trying to get to 60 wins, try to get a championship So, it’s like man, I just think for Denny it’s gotta be a huge gut punch because now you’re looking at this and going man, this is gonna be really, really tough. This journey that I’ve been on just got a whole lot harder.” Hamlin and Gabehart were a highly successful partnership, winning 22 races together in six seasons. That is tied with Kyle Larson/Cliff Daniels for the most wins among Cup Series driver/crew chief duos in that span. Hamlin qualified for the Championship 4 three times and finished fifth or better in points in five of six seasons with Gabehart. Hamlin said he was surprised by the news, having no warning ahead of time that a change was imminent. “It does, but again, they’ve gotta do what’s best for the company. And I think that they’re looking for an improvement on performance from the 54,” Hamlin said Friday. “And they’re looking for an overall performance for all the teams. Because we certainly haven’t won the amount of races as an organization as we should.” Chris Gabehart recalls breaking JGR Competition Director news to Denny Hamlin: ‘It’s still tough for me’ Gabehart, speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio , called it “tough” to realize he may have called his last race. “So, yeah the conversation with Denny was a tough one and it’s still tough for me admittedly, to come off the box and realize that maybe I’ve called my last race,” Gabehart said . “I’m not going to say I have but maybe I have. And I can certainly tell you that for the first time in 32 years now, going back to my childhood, when we go to Daytona the next race, I will not be focused on a singular door number. That is hard for me, that’s a very different role. But you know, where Denny’s concerned, I think he gets it. “We’ve talked at large and understand that one day this was going to come where he would move on to different things and I would have a lot more to contribute outside of a door number. There’s no easy way to have those conversations but in the end he’s a true professional and I think he truly understands this will make all of us better.” This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.Binghamton, N.Y., Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new agreement between Binghamton University and The Guthrie Clinic will pave the way for enhanced collaboration on future research initiatives with the goal to benefit the outcomes and wellness of the local community. The new Collaborative Research Agreement (CRA) establishes standardized guidelines for each research project undertaken by The Guthrie Clinic and Binghamton University. These guidelines eliminate the need for repetitive contract reviews, expediting the process of launching research projects and fostering seamless collaboration. By focusing on compliance and cybersecurity, the agreement also ensures the proper safeguards are in place to protect shared data. Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger and Guthrie Clinic President and CEO Edmund Sabanegh signed the agreement into effect during a press conference on Friday, Dec.13. "I'm excited for this new understanding, both as a way for our researchers to advance their work and to accentuate the care that Guthrie provides to its patients,” said Stenger. Guthrie Clinic President and CEO Dr. Edmund Sabanegh emphasized the organization's commitment to high-quality patient care and research efforts. "This partnership represents the best of what two respected organizations can achieve when they work together,” said Sabanegh. "This agreement allows us to collaborate more effectively, opening the door for greater innovation. It creates a solid framework to focus on meaningful research that can make a real difference in people's lives.” The scope of the partnership extends beyond health care research. With both institutions' diverse expertise, collaborative projects can span areas such as engineering, process improvement, and more. "Today's announcement marks an incredible milestone in fostering innovation and addressing health challenges through the partnership between Binghamton University and Guthrie,” said State Senator Lea Webb. "As a member of the NYS Senate Health and Higher Education Committees, I am thrilled to see how this collaboration will connect cutting-edge research with clinical expertise to improve healthcare access and outcomes in our community. By bringing together Binghamton researchers and Guthrie's healthcare professionals, we are building a bridge between academic discovery and practical solutions for our collective health and wellness.” Beyond the advancement of research, this agreement is poised to benefit the broader community. By joining forces, The Guthrie Clinic and Binghamton University aim to conduct essential research that could lead to new discoveries and improvements in healthcare practices, technology and other fields. Guthrie's recent expansion into Broome County, through its acquisition of Lourdes Hospital, further solidifies this relationship. The agreement allows Binghamton University direct access to Guthrie's entire network of specialists and clinical expertise, creating even more opportunities for collaboration. "The collaboration between Binghamton University's groundbreaking research and Guthrie's clinical practice is welcome news,” said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo. "The goal is to improve patient outcomes, while also inspiring a new generation of researchers interested in solving a myriad of health care delivery challenges. We can look forward to seeing advances in medical practice, including improvements in the way care is delivered across a variety of medical settings. I'd like to thank both of these institutions for today's announcement.” Stenger said that there is tremendous opportunity for collaboration between the two organizations. "Our university has a large group of faculty across disciplines doing significant work in furthering our understanding of healthcare and health outcomes,” said Stenger. "Guthrie is putting that theory into practice by providing care to people in need. By combining innovative research capabilities from the University and the practical healthcare experience of the hospital, we can improve outcomes on both ends.” ### The Guthrie Clinic is a non-profit multispecialty health system integrating clinical and hospital care along with research and education. Headquartered in Sayre, Pennsylvania, The Guthrie Clinic stands as one of the nation's longest established group practices, founded in 1910 by the visionary Dr. Donald Guthrie. The organization's patient-centered approach revolves around a clinically integrated network of employed providers. Among The Guthrie Clinic's more than 9,000 caregivers are close to 1,000 highly skilled physicians and advanced practice providers representing the spectrum of medical Specialties and sub-specialties. Situated across 10,000 square miles in northeastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York, The Guthrie Clinic's comprehensive six hospital campuses also encompass an expansive network of outpatient facilities across 13 counties. Post-acute care includes acute rehabilitation, skilled nursing, personal care home, home care and hospice services, completing the continuum of care. With a commitment to shaping the future of health care, the organization offers eleven residencies and five fellowships, serving as a training ground for the next generation of leaders in the field. Visit us at www.Guthrie.org . Follow us at Twitter.com/GuthrieClinic, Facebook.com/TheGuthrieClinic, Linkedin.com/company/TheGuthrieClinic, and Instagram.com/TheGuthrieClinic. CONTACT: Kathy Cramer Guthrie 570-887-4415 [email protected]

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ph365 log in to receive 1999 philippines The USS Zumwalt is at a Mississippi shipyard where workers have installed missile tubes that replace twin turrets from a gun system that was never activated because it was too expensive. Once the system is complete, the Zumwalt will provide a platform for conducting fast, precision strikes from greater distances, adding to the usefulness of the warship. “It was a costly blunder. But the Navy could take victory from the jaws of defeat here, and get some utility out of (the ships) by making them into a hypersonic platform,” said Bryan Clark, a defence analyst at the Hudson Institute. The US has had several types of hypersonic weapons in development for the past two decades, but recent tests by both Russia and China have added pressure to the US military to hasten their production. Hypersonic weapons travel beyond Mach 5, five times the speed of sound, with added manoeuvrability making them harder to shoot down. Last year, The Washington Post newspaper reported that among the documents leaked by former Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was a defence department briefing that confirmed China had recently tested an intermediate-range hypersonic weapon called the DF-27. While the Pentagon had previously acknowledged the weapon’s development, it had not recognised its testing. One of the US programmes in development and planned for the Zumwalt is the Conventional Prompt Strike. It would launch like a ballistic missile and then release a hypersonic glide vehicle that would travel at speeds seven to eight times faster than the speed of sound before hitting the target. The weapon system is being developed jointly by the Navy and Army. Each of the three Zumwalt-class destroyers would be equipped with four missile tubes, each with three of the missiles for a total of 12 hypersonic weapons per ship. In choosing the Zumwalt, the Navy is attempting to add to the usefulness of a 7.5 billion US dollars (£5.9 billion) warship that is considered by critics to be an expensive mistake despite serving as a test platform for multiple innovations. The Zumwalt was envisioned as providing land-attack capability with an advanced gun system with rocket-assisted projectiles to open the way for Marines to charge ashore. But the system featuring 155mm guns hidden in stealthy turrets was cancelled because each of the rocket-assisted projectiles cost up to one million dollars (£790,000). Despite the stain on their reputation, the three Zumwalt-class destroyers: Zumwalt, Michael Monsoor and Lyndon B Johnson; remain the Navy’s most advanced surface warships in terms of new technologies. Those innovations include electric propulsion, an angular shape to minimise radar signature, an unconventional wave-piercing hull, automated fire and damage control and a composite deckhouse that hides radar and other sensors. The US is accelerating development because hypersonics have been identified as vital to US national security with “survivable and lethal capabilities”, said James Weber, principal director for hypersonics in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies. “Fielding new capabilities that are based on hypersonic technologies is a priority for the defence department to sustain and strengthen our integrated deterrence, and to build enduring advantages,” he said.A melee broke out at midfield of Ohio Stadium after Michigan upset No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday. After the Wolverines' fourth straight win in the series, players converged at the block "O" to plant its flag. The Ohio State players were in the south end zone singing their alma mater in front of the student section. When the Buckeyes saw the Wolverines' flag, they rushed toward the 50-yard line. Social media posts showed Michigan offensive lineman Raheem Anderson carrying the flag on a long pole to midfield, where the Wolverines were met by dozens of Ohio State players and fights broke out. Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer was seen ripping the flag off the pole and taking the flag as he scuffled with several people trying to recover the flag. A statement from the Ohio State Police Department read: "Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games and will continue to investigate." Michigan running back Kalel Mullings on FOX said: "For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's bad for the sport, bad for college football. At the end of the day, some people got to learn how to lose, man. "You can't be fighting and stuff just because you lost the game. We had 60 minutes and four quarters to do all that fighting. Now people want to talk and fight. That's wrong. It's bad for the game. Classless, in my opinion. People got to be better." Once order was restored, officers cordoned the 50-yard line, using bicycles as barriers. Ohio State coach Ryan Day in his postgame press conference said he wasn't sure what happened. "I don't know all the details of it. But I know that these guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys weren't going to let that happen," he said. "I'll find out exactly what happened, but this is our field and certainly we're embarrassed at the fact we lost the game, but there's some prideful guys on our team that weren't just going to let that happen." The Big Ten has not yet released a statement on the incident. --Field Level MediaPooches in pullovers strut their stuff at London's canine Christmas sweater parade

MADRID (AP) — Real Valladolid beat Valencia 1-0 and rose off the bottom of La Liga on Friday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * MADRID (AP) — Real Valladolid beat Valencia 1-0 and rose off the bottom of La Liga on Friday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? MADRID (AP) — Real Valladolid beat Valencia 1-0 and rose off the bottom of La Liga on Friday. Moroccan forward Anuar scored with a solo effort after 19 minutes. “It’s a sense of relief because we needed the three points,” Anuar said on broadcaster DAZN. “It was like a final, and fortunately, we managed to come out on top.” Valladolid’s Juanmi Latasa was sent off 12 minutes from time after a video review showed he used an elbow, but the home side managed to hold on for the win against a toothless rival. It was a welcome three points for caretaker coach Álvaro Rubio and his first since replacing Paulo Pezzolano, who was fired at the start of December. Valencia replaced Valladolid on the bottom of the table. Valencia has only two wins in 15 league games, but two games in hand. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer AdvertisementMax Verstappen spotted in Rwanda as F1 champion follows FIA's ordersChristmas Day bombing: HURIWA condemns military airstrikes, tells Tinubu to prosecute responsible officers

NoneINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions spent three months scoring at a historic rate. Now with the weather changing outside, they’re winning with old school football, too. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for two scores , David Montgomery added a third TD run and Detroit's increasingly stingy defense kept the Indianapolis Colts out of the end zone on Sunday, leading the Lions to their ninth straight win, 24-6. “This is, whatever it is, 10 quarters without allowing a touchdown and the three last games in the second half we're not allowing it,” coach Dan Campbell said. “We talk about it all the time — limiting points, play physical style, shut down the run — we were able to do that.” They've been doing it all season in their greatest run in decades, but have been more effective lately and it has shown. The Lions improved to 10-1 for the first time since 1934, their inaugural season in the Motor City. They own the league's longest active winning streak and are 6-0 on the road this season. While the Lions have scored points by the dozens all season, Campbell's preference for physical football means they're equally capable of grinding out wins with the combination of a ball-control offense and an ascending defense that propelled them to this win. Gibbs finished with 21 carries for 90 yards on a day Goff went 26 of 36 with 269 yards and no touchdowns. And for the third straight week, all against AFC South foes, the Lions had a second-half shutout. “If you can win on the road, you're normally a pretty damn good team,” Campbell said. “And we can win on the road.” The Colts (5-7) found out the hard way by losing their second straight home game and for the fourth time in their past five games. Anthony Richardson had another up-and-down game , going 11 of 28 with 172 yards while rushing 10 times for 61 yards. But it was Indy's inability to finish drives with touchdowns that again cost the team. That flaw was evident right from the start when Richardson took the Colts inside the Lions 5-yard line on the game's first series and settled for a short field goal when they couldn't punch it in. “We've got to take advantage of our opportunities,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “This league comes down to inches, it comes down to yards and you've got to take advantage of those opportunities. We've had issues down in the red zone and you have to look at the tape and clean it up.” Detroit made Indy pay dearly for its offensive miscues. Gibbs' 1-yard TD run on the Lions' second series made it 7-3 early in the second quarter and after Indy settled for another short field goal, Montgomery spun his way across the goal line for a 6-yard TD and a 14-6 lead. Detroit's defense made sure that was all the scoring punch it needed. “Those players, we've been around each other long enough, they've been around each other to know exactly what we're looking for,” Campbell said. “We have an identity about us. We know the critical factors as they pertain to winning, and those guys take that stuff serious.” Gibbs' 5-yard TD run late in the third quarter gave Detroit a 21-6 lead and they closed it out with a 56-yard field goal midway through the fourth. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six passes for 62 yards for Detroit while Michael Pittman Jr. had six catches for 96 yards for Indy despite leaving briefly in the first half with an injured shoulder. Gibbs' first score extended Detroit's league record to 25 consecutive games with a TD run, including the playoffs. He's also the third Lions player with 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 TDs in each of his first two pro seasons with Detroit, joining Billy Sims and Barry Sanders. Gibbs and Montgomery have each scored at least one TD in the same game nine times. Lions: Things got ugly during a third-quarter flurry. Receiver-punt returner Kalif Raymond (foot), left tackle Taylor Decker (right leg) and Montgomery (shoulder) all left in quick succession. Raymond and Montgomery did not return. Decker did. CB Carlton Davis II left early in the fourth with what appeared to be a left knee injury. Colts: Indy deactivated left tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee), forcing the Colts to again use three rookie linemen. Receivers Ashton Dulin (ankle) and Josh Downs (shoulder) both left in the second half. Downs returned, Dulin did not. Lions: Host Chicago in its traditional Thanksgiving Day game. Colts: Visit New England next Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLMrBeast’s $1M Ronaldo Challenge Brings Sports Legends Together—But Fans Want More

If you’re new to snowboarding, you may not realize the importance of a solid pair of snowboard bindings. In reality, this piece of gear does more than just secure your boots to the snowboard. Bindings are responsible for transferring the power from your legs to the board, allowing improved control and comfort. A quality pair of bindings could last for years, so the decision to buy is a big one. For snowboard bindings that are durable, lightweight and comfortable, check out the BURTON Malavita Snowboard Bindings . Some snowboard bindings are better suited for certain riding styles. Consider how you plan to use your snowboard before settling on a specific pair of bindings. If you’re not sure, try renting some gear for a day and see how the bindings feel on the slopes. Many snowboard manufacturers include a 1 to 10 flexibility rating with their bindings. A high number indicates stiff bindings, while a low number is assigned to bindings that are particularly soft and flexible. Most snowboard bindings have straps that secure the ankle and toe sections of your boots to the board. The ankle straps keep you in a flexible yet fixed position when you lean forward onto your toes, while the toe straps keep your feet in place when you lean back. Padding is used on snowboard bindings to absorb some of the shock caused by bumpy runs. Think about your riding style when deciding how much padding you need. Mounts secure the bindings to the board. You can use mounting screws to attach the bindings and adjust the foot positioning to your preference. Just like a snowboard, snowboard bindings come in a wide variety of different colors and patterns. If you want a cohesive look, pick out bindings that match the rest of your gear. When shopping for snowboard gear online, try to purchase from well-known brands like Burton, Salomon or Rossignol. Cheap snowboard bindings from an obscure manufacturer might be tempting, but you could find yourself with an inferior product once you hit the slopes. The cost of snowboard bindings can vary depending on the brand name and the quality of the parts. Beginner and intermediate snowboarders can expect to pay around $100-$250 for a quality pair of bindings, while advanced snowboard bindings regularly exceed $300. A. Most snowboard bindings are sold in two to five size options. Look at the model’s sizing chart and compare it with your boot size to find bindings that fit you. A. Yes. Although there are women’s snowboard bindings that advertise particular design features, snowboard bindings are universal. This means you can choose any pair you want, as long as they’re the right size. BURTON Malavita Snowboard Bindings What you need to know: Despite being advertised as men’s snowboard bindings, these bindings use advanced technology to deliver quality support and performance for any rider. What you’ll love: Backed by Burton’s legendary reputation, these snowboard bindings offer an advanced level of performance, control and comfort in a stylish package. The padding has a gel to absorb extra shock, and the bindings come in five color options. What you should consider: These bindings might be too expensive for beginner and intermediate riders. Salomon Pact Snowboard Bindings What you need to know: These versatile bindings are durable and affordable enough for almost any rider. What you’ll love: A solid choice for beginners, these snowboard bindings have a rear-entry design with high-quality straps for fine adjustments. Many users note their durability and comfort during long days of riding. What you should consider: These bindings have a limited number of size options, and the mounting discs may not attach to every board type. BURTON Grom Snowboard Bindings What you need to know: Designed for kids and small snowboarders, these popular bindings have a solid construction and reasonable price tag. What you’ll love: Perfect for young riders hitting the slopes for the first time, these beginner bindings are compatible with most snowboard mounting systems and feature a single-component baseplate for consistent control and responsiveness. They’re also available in two sleek color options, black and white. What you should consider: Some users questioned the quality and longevity of the bindings’ highback. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.BOSTON , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The China Fund, Inc. (NYSE: CHN) (the "Fund") announced today that the Fund's annual stockholder meeting (the "Meeting") will be scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2025 , via a virtual forum at 11:00 a.m. ET . Stockholders of record as of January 15, 2025 will be entitled to notice of, and to attend and vote at, the Meeting. The notice for the Meeting will be mailed to shareholders on or about February 10, 2025 . The Fund is a closed-end management investment company with the objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities (i) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is in the People's Republic of China (" China "), or (ii) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is outside of China , or constituting direct equity investments in companies organized outside of China , that in both cases derive at least 50% of their revenues from goods and services sold or produced, or have at least 50% of their assets, in China . While the Fund is permitted to invest in direct equity investments of companies organized in China , it presently holds no such investments. Shares of the Fund are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CHN". The Fund's investment manager is Matthews International Capital Management, LLC. For further information regarding the Fund and the Fund's holdings, please call (888)-CHN-CALL (246-2255) or visit the Fund's website at www.chinafundinc.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-china-fund-inc-announces-date-of-annual-meeting-of-stockholders-302331705.html SOURCE The China Fund, Inc.

By ERIC TUCKER WASHINGTON (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies , as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China’s hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals.” Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number” were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are “primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.ETSU 79, Austin Peay 57

Paris Hilton reveals her secret to aging backwards without Botox or cosmetic surgeryNovember 30 - A melee broke out at midfield of Ohio Stadium after Michigan upset No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday. After the Wolverines' fourth straight win in the series, players converged at the block "O" to plant its flag. The Ohio State players were in the south end zone singing their alma mater in front of the student section. When the Buckeyes saw the Wolverines' flag, they rushed toward the 50-yard line. Social media posts showed Michigan offensive lineman Raheem Anderson carrying the flag on a long pole to midfield, where the Wolverines were met by dozens of Ohio State players and fights broke out. Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer was seen ripping the flag off the pole and taking the flag as he scuffled with several people trying to recover the flag. A statement from the Ohio State Police Department read: "Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games and will continue to investigate." Michigan running back Kalel Mullings on FOX said: "For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's bad for the sport, bad for college football. At the end of the day, some people got to learn how to lose, man. "You can't be fighting and stuff just because you lost the game. We had 60 minutes and four quarters to do all that fighting. Now people want to talk and fight. That's wrong. It's bad for the game. Classless, in my opinion. People got to be better." Once order was restored, officers cordoned the 50-yard line, using bicycles as barriers. Ohio State coach Ryan Day in his postgame press conference said he wasn't sure what happened. "I don't know all the details of it. But I know that these guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys weren't going to let that happen," he said. "I'll find out exactly what happened, but this is our field and certainly we're embarrassed at the fact we lost the game, but there's some prideful guys on our team that weren't just going to let that happen." The Big Ten has not yet released a statement on the incident. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

BOSTON , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors (the "Board") of The China Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") has declared a distribution in the amount of $0.1497 per share. The distribution is comprised entirely of ordinary income. The dividend will be payable on January 10, 2025 , to stockholders of record on December 30, 2024 , with an ex-dividend date of December 30, 2024 . The Fund has a Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the "Plan") in which each stockholder automatically participates, unless the stockholder instructs Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the "Plan Agent"), in writing, to have all distributions, net of any applicable U.S. withholding tax, paid in cash. If the Fund's shares are trading at a premium to the net asset value ("NAV") per share of the Fund on the distribution payment date, the Plan provides that stockholders will be issued Fund shares valued at NAV. If the Fund's shares are trading at a discount to the NAV per share, stockholders will be issued shares of the Fund valued at market price. Stockholders will not be charged a fee in connection with the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. A stockholder may terminate his or her participation in the Plan by notifying the Plan Agent in writing at the address below. Stockholders who have questions regarding the distribution may contact EQ Fund Solutions, LLC at 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255). The Fund is a closed-end management investment company with the objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities (i) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is in the People's Republic of China (" China "), or (ii) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is outside of China , or constituting direct equity investments in companies organized outside of China , that in both cases derive at least 50% of their revenues from goods and services sold or produced, or have at least 50% of their assets, in China . While the Fund is permitted to invest in direct equity investments of companies organized in China , it presently holds no such investments. The Fund's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CHN." The Fund's investment manager is Matthews International Capital Management, LLC. For more information regarding the Fund and the Fund's holdings, please call 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255) or visit the Fund's website at www.chinafundinc.com . For more information about the Plan or to terminate your participation in the Plan, please contact Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at c/o The China Fund, Inc. at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078, by telephone at 1-800-426-5523 or via the Internet at www.computershare.com/investor . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-china-fund-inc-declares-distributions-302331625.html SOURCE The China Fund, Inc.

MALAGA, Spain -- The last man to face -- and beat -- in professional tennis, 80th-ranked , converted his 10th match point Friday to close out a 6-4, 6-7 (12), 6-3 victory over and help the Netherlands reach its first Davis Cup final by sweeping Germany. sealed the 2-0 win for the Dutch in the best-of-three semifinal by hitting 25 aces and coming back to defeat 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-4. When it ended, appropriately on an ace, Griekspoor shut his eyes, dropped to his knees and spread his arms wide. "We have been talking about this for two, three years," Griekspoor said. "We believed in ourselves so much. We always felt like this was possible. To do it now feels unbelievable." The other semifinal is Saturday, with No. 1-ranked and defending champion Italy taking on Australia. The championship will be decided Sunday. "We don't have that top-five player. We don't that top-10 player. We don't have that top-15 player," Dutch captain Paul Haarhuis said. "But it's a team effort. ... So proud of these guys." In Friday's opener, Van de Zandschulp was up a set and a point away from leading 5-2 in the second when Altmaier began playing more aggressively and interacting more with the German fans, yelling and throwing uppercuts or raising his arms after key points. In the tiebreaker, Altmaier managed to save five match points before converting his fourth set point to extend the contest. But Van de Zandschulp, who upset four-time Grand Slam champion at the US Open, quickly moved out front in the final set, even if he eventually needed five more match points in the final game before serving it out. "At some point, I didn't know what to do any more on the match points," Van de Zandschulp said. "I had the toughest match of my life on Tuesday [against Nadal], so everything that comes next is maybe a little bit easier." In the quarterfinals, Van de Zandschulp outplayed Nadal for a 6-4, 6-4 result that marked the end of the 22-time Grand Slam champion's career because the Netherlands went on to eliminate Spain 2-1. The 38-year-old Nadal announced last month that the Davis Cup would be his final event before retiring. Presumably because people purchased tickets ahead of time with plans to watch Nadal compete in the semifinals, there were hundreds of unoccupied blue or gray seats surrounding the indoor hard court at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martina Carpena in southern Spain on Friday. Now truly a neutral site, the place was not nearly as loud and rowdy as on Tuesday, although there were shouts of "Vamos, Rafa!" that drew laughter while Van de Zandschulp played the 88th-ranked Altmaier. It took No. 40 Griekspoor more than 75 minutes and nearly two full sets to figure out how to break No. 43 Struff, and then he did it twice in a row to lead 6-5 in the second set and go up 1-0 in the third. That was plenty, because Griekspoor saved the only two break points he faced. The Netherlands hadn't been to the semifinals since 2001. The Germans -- whose best current player, two-time major finalist , is not on the team in Malaga -- have won three Davis Cups, but not since 1993, when 1991 Wimbledon champion Michael Stich led them to the title.Number of seats: 4 Seats filled: 1 10.45pm: The redistribution of the 292 surplus votes of Neale Richmond has resulted in the elimination of Independents, Kevin Daly and Conor Murphy and National Party candidate Garrett McCafferty in the second count. The largest beneficiary of Mr Richmond’s surplus was, as expected, his running mate Maeve O’Connell with 198 votes. 9.15pm: As the dust settles after the first count, here are the full results as counting staff work to redistribute Mr Richmond’s surplus of 292 votes. Candidates are battling it out to reach the quota of 9,752 votes. Turnout was 61pc in Rathdown, with a total valid poll of 48,759. Shay Brennan (FF) – 5913 Liam Coughlan (Aon) – 1808 Kevin Daly (IND) – 253 Elaine Dunne (FF) –1417 Michael Fleming (IND) – 4380 Sinéad Gibney (SD) – 4277 Catherine Martin (GP) – 4146 Garrett McCafferty (NP) – 367 Lettie McCarthy (LAB) – 3043 Conor Murphy (IND) – 66 Síomha Ní Aonghusa (PBP) – 1336 Maeve O'Connell (FG) – 6375 Neale Richmond (FG) –10044 Alan Shatter (IND) – 1783 Shaun Tracey (SF) – 3551 8.45pm: Fine Gael junior minister Neale Richmond has been re-elected on the first count, topping the poll with 10,044 first preference votes. Speaking after his election and surpassing the quota of 9,752 by 292 votes, Mr Richmond said he was “lucky” to be backed by his team of supporters through an “exhaustive” campaign. "Myself and Maeve O’Connell were given a very clear task by Simon Harris, to deliver two seats here and it looks like we will. Personally, obviously, I’m chuffed and hopefully we will see a lot more Fine Gael seats elected over the next couple of hours and days,” he said. Mr Richmond, who grew up "500 metres” from the count centre at Ballinteer Community School, said he “fully expects” his running mate Ms O’Connell to be elected as the pair ran a “united campaign” in their constituency. "We ran a really united ticket that delivered two seats for Fine Gael in Dublin Rathdown again even though many people said that we couldn’t do it.” 6pm: A first count looks imminent in Rathdown as Green Party minister Catherine Martin has said it has been a "disappointing day" for her party. Speaking to reporters as she arrived at the count centre, she said her seat remains in the "hands of the electorate" after initial tallies of first preferences placed her in sixth-place in her constituency of Rathdown. She thanked those who voted for her in what has become a "very, very tight" race in her constituency. "It's very, very tight here (in Rathdown) but still, all is to play for but we will have to see what unfolds in the next few counts." Asked what she believes may have "gone wrong" for the party, Ms Martin said she believes it could be "the old story of the junior coalition partner gets the punishment of a government". "I remember being at the count centre in 2011 when Eamon lost his seat and at that time there was a feeling or a sense that the Green Party hadn't delivered enough in that government. I certainly felt coming into this election that we had a track record of delivery and certainly punched above our weight." She said she had been "hopeful" that the party would have retained seats in this election, adding that the party remains "in contention" for her own seat and for the seats held by party leader Roderic O'Gorman and Dun Laoghaire incumbent Ossian Smyth. "They are very tight, tight battles. I felt throughout the campaign that there was no anger on the doorsteps and I congratulate all the candidates actually on really terrific campaigns, very respectful campaigns in Dublin Rathdown by everybody too. We'll see what happens but its a very, very disappointing day for the Green Party and my heart goes out to everyone, all of the candidates. "We ran in every single constituency and it's a tough day but this has happened before and we will come back and we will come back stronger than ever before, that I can be sure of." She said climate action did not feature in the campaign even though constituents had raised the issue on the doors, adding that she is "proud" of her work and the work of the Green Party in government. Ms Martin said there was a warm reception on doors but "maybe it was just a case of the smaller party get edged out". "I am incredibly proud to be here having represented Rathdown," she said, adding that the fate of the party is "in the hands of the electorate and I respect that". She said the issue of climate is "much more important than us as a political party". "I was in the hands of the electorate and I'm still in the hands of the electorate," she said, adding that the Green party term in government was "challenging at times" but it was also "rewarding". "It is an absolute privilege to serve at Cabinet and be one of the few women, I was very conscious of that at all times. I never forgot that honour and every day I've been in Leinster House I look back and go 'It's an honour to be here'." Ms Martin said she was surprised by the scale at which the Green Party appears to be struggling across the country as counting continues. She paid tribute the Green Party teams working on campaigns across the country, adding that even as the exit poll results came in last night that she believed the party would maintain at least "5 or 6 seats" but the party is now looking at three tight contests in Dublin. 4pm: Rathdown is still counting in a quiet Ballinteer Community School. Conversation has turned to speculation over when the first count can be expected – a fairly inexact science. 2.20pm: There is a sense of calm before the storm as the count chugs steadily onwards in Rathdown, with Fine Gael junior minister Neale Richmond expected to top the poll. It is a conclusion foreseen since ballot boxes were first opened this morning, with the real race beginning once transfers enter the state of play after the first count later today. His running mate Maeve O’Connell is well placed to take the second seat. The count continues in Ballinteer Community School as Rathdown looks to elect four TDs. 1pm: Counters have taken a break here in the hall of Ballinteer Community School, with party supporters making peace with the results of their tallies before the official outcome of the first count rolls in later this afternoon. The electorate in Rathdown has often dealt the blows of what can only be described as a mild ‘curse of the minister’ in elections past, with sitting Media minister Catherine Martin likely to now face an uphill battle for the final seat in this four-seater with a sixth-place finish in the tallies with 8pc of first preferences. Transport minister Shane Ross lost his seat in Rathdown four years ago, while former justice minister Alan Shatter also lost his seat here in 2016. It remains to be seen whether Ms Martin will be the latest casualty of this ‘curse’, having been the one to benefit from Mr Shatter’s loss eight years ago when she was first elected to the Dáil. 12pm: We are close to a full tally in Rathdown, with 99pc of the boxes open and a clear trend emerging for Fine Gael based on first preferences. Junior minister Neale Richmond looks likely to take 20pc, now followed by his running mate Maeve O’Connell on 13pc. It shows signs of two seats for Fine Gael here once our first count is completed and transfers are taken into account. Fianna Fáil candidate Shay Brennan is on 12pc, followed by both independent Michael Fleming and Social Democrats candidate Sineád Gibney on 9pc. Catherine Martin is still in the race with 8pc of first preferences based on these tallies, but she could face an uphill battle for the final seat and be more reliant on transfers than anticipated. Sinn Féin’s Shaun Tracey is on 7pc, followed by Labour’s Lettie McCarthy on 6pc. Neale Richmond was re-elected on the first count. Tallies indicate first major wins and casualties in tight race 11.10am: Tallies are showing it will be a tight race in Rathdown as first preferences are keeping multiple candidates in with a fighting chance of a seat, including Green Party minister Catherine Martin. With 66pc of the boxes opened, Neale Richmond continues to lead based on tallies with 21pc of the first preference vote share. He is followed by Fianna Fáil candidate Shay Brennan on 12pc, who is closely followed by independent Michael Fleming on 10pc and Social Democrat Sineád Gibney, Green Party minister Catherine Martin and Sinn Féin’s Shaun Tracey all on 9pc. Fine Gael councillor Maeve O’Connell has an 8pc share of first preferences based on these tallies and she will be expected to benefit from the transfers of her running mate on the ticket, Mr Richmond. Former Fine Gael minister Alan Shatter, who is running as an independent, does not appear to be fulfilling the disruptive role he was initially cast in when he announced his candidacy. Based on first preference tallies, Mr Shatter is performing at around 4pc. Transfers will be the key to victory in Rathdown. 10.25am: Initial tallies are being calculated as parties and supporters keep a close eye on the counting here. Tally people have told each other it is “early days” when others have optimistically pointed to strong first preference showings for their candidates in boxes across the constituency. Although just 24pc of the boxes have been opened, initial tallies show Fine Gael minister Neale Richmond leading the pack with around 21pc of first preferences, followed by Fianna Fáil councillor Shay Brennan with 14.3pc, Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney on 10pc, Green Party minister Catherine Martin on 9.8pc and Sinn Féin candidate Shaun Tracey on 9.2pc. Turnout is around 59pc based on these initial tallies. There are candidates here which will do better in some parts of the constituency over others. A local election poll topper like independent Michael Fleming is a prime example of this, who appears to be polling well in his own local electoral area of Glencullen-Sandyford. It remains to be seen whether his local success can translate across the constituency. Counting begins in Ballinteer Community School. 9am: Boxes have been opened in Rathdown The ballot boxes have now been opened in Ballinteer Community School, where the constituency of Rathdown will soon return four seats to the Dáil. There are just two incumbent candidates seeking re-election in Green Party minister Catherine Martin and Fine Gael junior minister Neale Richmond after Fine Gael’s Josepha Madigan left politics and an additional seat was added to the constituency. Tally people have received their instructions and will be keeping a close eye on first preference votes throughout the morning to see which way the wind has blown in Rathdown. While both incumbents have been considered safe throughout the election campaign, the remaining two seats will make for an interesting contest. Former Fine Gael minister Alan Shatter has run in this election as an independent, while Fianna Fáil councillor Shay Brennan will be looking to make a gain for the party in this constituency alongside his running mate Elaine Dunne. Local councillor Michael Fleming, who was elected to the local council in June with more than double the necessary quota of votes, has been among the favourites to pick up the new fourth seat in Rathdown. Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney, the former chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission who raised her profile in the European elections earlier this summer, and the Labour Party’s well-tested local poll topper Lettie McCarthy also cannot be ruled out. It all remains to play for in Rathdown as counting begins and the early tallying gets underway.

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Rams in search of offensive consistency in New OrleansMax Verstappen has completed the 'work of public interest' ordered by the FIA after swearing in a televised press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix . The Red Bull star and reigning world champion was penalised by the motorsports governing body after describing his car as 'f***ed' in an arena which restricts drivers from using foul language. FIA boss Mohammed Ben Sulayem decided to tie the community work in with the FIA Awards Ceremony 2024 in Rwanda tonight (Friday). Before heading to the gathering in Kigali, Verstappen attended the grassroots development program of the Rwandan Automobile Club (RAC) - an organisation which seeks to create opportunities for youngsters to enter the world of motorsports. Footage posted to social media shows Verstappen, standing alongside Ben Sulayem, addressing a crowd of people at an outdoor track after watching an activity involving an 'FIA affordable cross car', which was built by the RAC using FIA blueprints. "In the whole world, everything is getting more and more expensive, so the more you can build [motorsports] in your own country, the more you make it affordable for kids," he said . "I think it's great to have that possibility, and I hope it stimulates all these kids so that they want to be a racing driver or an engineer in the future. "It has massive potential and that is what I think everyone is working on trying to make everyone very enthusiastic. It doesn't matter where in the world you come from, anything is possible. Max Verstappen in Rwanda today completing his community service for swearing ?????? (via fia.official/IG) pic.twitter.com/M124sasKCe "That's why I also think it's important that we're here. I'm very excited to see that hopefully, in five to ten years, there are more people coming through [into motorsports]." Verstappen's kind words came two months after he described his unusual punishment - the specifics of which were undisclosed at the time - as 'ridiculous'. The Grand Prix Drivers' Association also wrote an open letter to the FIA asking to be treated like adults. The trip to Rwanda is a celebratory one for Verstappen, who mathematically sealed his fourth consecutive Drivers' Championship two races before the end of the 2024 season. Lando Norris - his nearest challenger - ended up 63 points adrift. A fourth crown catapults Verstappen even further into the upper echelons of F1 greatness. Now level with Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost, only Juan Manuel Fangio, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher have enjoyed more world title success than the Dutchman.

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ph365 net login PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have no plans to pitch prized prospect Andrew Painter in spring training games as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old Painter hurt his elbow during spring training in 2023 and had surgery that July 25 with Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Painter was the 13th overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft and signed for a $3.9 million bonus. “He'll throw but not plan on pitching” in games, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Monday. “We're going to push the innings back.” Dombrowski said Painter will build up at some point in the minor leagues and could make his major league debut at some point in the summer. Painter made six starts and allowed four runs in the Arizona Fall League. He struck out 18 batters in 15 2/3 innings after he sat out each of the last two seasons. Painter sprinted through Philadelphia’s system in 2022, going 6-2 with a 1.48 ERA in 26 appearances spread across two Class A teams and Double-A Reading. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

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PORTLAND, Maine — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes for one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy — seafood — and some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture, as they are concerned Trump’s pending trade hostilities with major trading partners Canada and China could make an already pricy kind of protein more expensive for consumers. Conservationists also worry Trump’s emphasis on government deregulation could jeopardize fish stocks that are already in peril. But many in the commercial fishing and seafood-processing industries said they are excited for Trump’s second presidency. They said they expect he’ll allow fishing in protected areas as he did in his first presidency, crack down on offshore wind expansion and cut back regulations they describe as burdensome. They expect a marked shift from the administration of President Joe Biden, who prioritized ocean conservation and championed wind power from the start. The seafood industry isn’t hungry for another tariff war, which hurt fishermen during Trump’s first term, said Beth Casoni, executive director of the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association. But she said the new Trump administration has a unique chance to throw its support behind U.S. fishermen. “I think we should be focused on feeding Americans,” Casoni said. “The ‘America First’ administration I think will make that point loud and clear. Know where your food is coming from.” But the seafood industry, which is international in nature, could be seriously disrupted if Trump goes through with a plan to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada, said John Sackton, a longtime industry analyst and founder of Seafood News. Canada is the largest seafood market for the U.S. for both imports and exports, and nearly a sixth of the seafood imported by the U.S. is from its northern neighbor, according to federal statistics published in November. In total, about 80% of seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported. Losing Canada — an especially important buyer of American lobster — as a market for U.S. seafood could cause prices for fishermen to collapse, Sackton said. And some products could become unavailable while others become more expensive and still others oversupplied, he said. He described the seafood industry as “interdependent on both sides of the border.” In Canada, members of the country’s seafood industry are watching closely to see what changes Trump ushers in, said Geoff Irvine, executive director of the Lobster Council of Canada, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. “A potential trade war will cost everyone more (in Canada and the U.S.) and cause damage to the seafood section in Canada and the United States,” Irvine said via email. “We are working with allies in Canada and the U.S. to send this message to all governments.” One of the major changes for fishermen under a new Trump administration is that they can expect to have a seat at the table when high-level decisions get made, representatives for several commercial fishing groups said. Last time around, Trump sat down with fishermen and listened to their concerns about loss of fishing rights in Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, a nearly 5,000-square mile protected area off New England, said Robert Vanasse, executive director of industry advocate Saving Seafood. That goodwill is likely to carry over into Trump’s new presidency. And the industry feels it already scored a win with election of a president who is an outspoken critic of offshore wind power, said Drew Minkiewicz, an attorney who represents the New Bedford, Massachusetts-based Sustainable Scalloping Fund. Fishermen of valuable seafoods such as scallops and lobsters long opposed offshore wind development because of concerns wind power will disrupt prime fishing grounds. “There is excitement in the industry that offshore wind will basically be contained to its existing footprint and nothing beyond that,” Minkiewicz said. Others in the industry said they’re concerned about how Trump will handle the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal agency that regulates fisheries. The undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, who is currently the Biden-appointed Rick Spinrad, will be one of Trump’s key appointees. Trump went through three different administrators at the post during his first term of office. The industry recently suffered major crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and trade hostilities with Russia, another major trading partner, and isn’t in a position to withstand unstable leadership, said Noah Oppenheim, coordinator for Fishing Communities Coalition, which represents small-scale commercial fishing groups. “The Fishing Communities Coalition is always deeply concerned that any administration’s shifts away from a fishery management focus on conservation and accountability will do serious lasting damage to the industry,” Oppenheim said. Conservation groups who pushed for stricter vessel speed rules and new fishing standards, such as new gear that is less likely to harm whales, said they’re also waiting to see the direction Trump takes fisheries and ocean policy. They said they’re hopeful progress made under Biden can withstand a second Trump presidency. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — RJ Felton had 21 points in East Carolina's 71-64 victory over Stetson on Friday. Felton also added eight rebounds for the Pirates (5-1). Joran Riley scored 14 points while going 4 of 11 and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds. Cam Hayes shot 3 for 7 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points. The Hatters (1-5) were led in scoring by Mehki, who finished with 15 points and two steals. Abramo Canka added 14 points for Stetson. Jordan Wood had 12 points. East Carolina led Stetson at the half, 39-33, with Hayes (10 points) its high scorer before the break. East Carolina took the lead for good with 6:56 left in the second half on a free throw from Felton to make it a 60-59 game. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Over 20,000 jobs for working families are at risk in California’s Inland Empire. The reason? Fallout from a regulation raising concerns amongst businesses, labor groups, government officials, and even environmental advocates . Let’s take a step back. Founded over 50 years ago, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been a world leader in air pollution control, smog reduction, and climate science. And the air across Southern California is better for it. However, CARB’s new “In-Use Locomotive Regulation,” mandating railroads like Union Pacific and BNSF set aside hundreds of millions of dollars today for the technology of the future, risks undermining this precarious balance. While the goal of reducing emissions is commendable, the technology required to meet this mandate is not yet commercially viable to move freight across the country. BNSF has said that its planned $1.5 billion investment in the Barstow International Gateway (BIG) is in jeopardy if the regulation moves forward. As a result, this regulation could jeopardize over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs in the high desert. BNSF plans to develop the 4,500-acre Barstow rail yard, intermodal facility and warehouses for transloading freight project in the next few years, creating thousands of jobs and reducing truck miles traveled from the 130-mile trip from the ports to the Inland Empire along the Interstate 15 corridor. The project would also reduce vehicle miles traveled up and down the Cajon Pass from high desert residents who would have job opportunities closer to home. However, the costs of complying with the regulation and transitioning to non-existent technology would divert capital and resources from railroads, threatening the viability of significant investments like BIG. The potential loss of the BIG project would deal a significant blow to the local economy, particularly to the working families in the region. Moreover, over 86,000 businesses and one in nine jobs in Southern California connected to the San Pedro Bay Port Complex depend on efficient rail connections. Maintaining these connections is essential for the region’s growth and stability and we cannot afford increased traffic congestion and carbon emissions from continuing to force freight onto highways. Related Articles Commentary | A roadmap for healthcare reform in the Trump era Commentary | Californians deserve real solutions, not yet another Newsom vanity project Commentary | Biden wanted to be a transformative historical figure. Instead, he will be a footnote. Commentary | As Los Angeles prepares for Olympics, transportation money gets shuffled toward fiber network Commentary | Democrats welcome Trump ‘the fascist’ with open arms Freight rail, which is responsible for 40 percent of U.S. long-distance freight but only 1.7% of transportation emissions, is one of our most efficient means of moving goods. BIG is also touted to be a state-of-the-art answer to many of the regional and national supply chain issues we’ve all felt over the last several years as our ports have been winning back trade from importers because they are rail connected. While the goals of CARB’s locomotive rule are aligned with our shared commitment to addressing climate change, the regulation’s timing and feasibility are out of step with current technological realities. Our organizations agree with CARB on this: we see a path forward for zero emissions locomotives; we need to convene to align timing, technology, and transition. As Californians, we understand the urgency of transitioning to a zero-emission future, but we must also ensure that our policies support both environmental and economic sustainability. By aligning climate goals with technological capabilities, we can protect jobs, support economic growth, and continue to lead in the fight against climate change while maintaining good jobs for working families in our region. Jon Switalski is the executive director of the Rebuild SoCal Partnership. Sarah Wiltfong is the chief public policy and advocacy officer at the Supply Chain CouncilPrairie View fires football coach Bubba McDowellPhillies have no plans to start pitching prospect Andrew Painter in spring training following injury

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanian lawmakers on Monday voted narrowly in favor of a new pro-European coalition government led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The move could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election by a top court. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in Romania's 466-seat legislature. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Better data, innovation and regulation needed to tackle growing space debris threat