lucky calico download apk CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Atlantic Coast Conference fined four of its schools on Monday for scuffles that broke out during rivalry week in college football, which had a rash of fights between players who attempted to plant flags and other team symbols on their rivals’ fields. North Carolina and N.C. State were fined for a brawl that started when Wolfpack players attempted to plant a flag on North Carolina’s field after beating the Tar Heels 35-30 on Saturday. Virginia and Virginia Tech were fined for a pregame scuffle. The ACC said the teams’ actions violated the league’s sportsmanship policy and called what happen at both games unacceptable. The league did not disclose the amount of the fines, but said they would be the maximum allowed by league bylaws. The money collected from the fines will go into the ACC’s postgraduate scholarship account. At North Carolina, the teams had to be separated near midfield. The brawl overshadowed coach Mack Brown’s final game. At Blacksburg, players from the Cavaliers and Hokies mixed it up during pregame warmups and had to be separated. The Big Ten Conference fined Michigan and Ohio State $100,000 each on Sunday for a fight that broke out in Columbus, Ohio, after Wolverines players attempted to plant their flag at midfield. That one had to be broken up by police officers, who deployed pepper spray to quell the melee. One officer suffered a head injury when he was “trampled” and was taken to a hospital, a police official said. The officer has since been released. Arizona State defensive lineman Jacob Rich Kongaika tried to plant a team trident in the middle of Arizona’s logo after a 49-7 win over the Wildcats. Florida edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. planted a flag on Florida State’s logo after a 31-11 win, sparking another melee. BRIEFLY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Syracuse QB Kyle McCord was named AP National Player of the Week. The Ohio State transfer completed 26 of 36 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-38 win over then-No. 8 Miami. Hawaii freshman Micah Alejado finished runner up after throwing for 469 yards and five TDs in a 38-30 win over New Mexico. IOWA: Big Ten rushing leader Kaleb Johnson announced he will declare for the NFL draft and not play in the Hawkeyes’ bowl game. He made the announcement in a social media post. Johnson ran for more than 1,500 yards this season for an average of 128 per game to lead the conference. He ranked sixth nationally. Johnson also finished with a school-record 23 touchdowns. MISSOURI: Wide receiver Luther Burden III declared for the NFL draft. He is expected to be a first-round pick. Burden said in a statement he will skip the Tigers’ bowl game. Despite playing just three seasons, Burden finished sixth on the school’s career list with 2,263 yards receiving. He also finished fourth in receptions with 192 and fifth with 21 touchdown catches. OKLAHOMA: Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was hired to serve in the same capacity for the Sooners. Arbuckle has been the play-caller at Washington State the past two years. The Cougars rank 12th nationally with 36.8 points per game this season. NEBRASKA: Dana Holgorsen signed a two-year contract to remain Nebraska’s offensive coordinator. Coach Matt Rhule brought in Holgorsen in early November as a consultant and days later moved him into the role of coordinator and play-caller for the final three games of the regular season. FLORIDA STATE: FSU hired Tony White to be its defensive coordinator after he developed consecutive top-20 defenses at Nebraska. That’s according to a person familiar with the decision. ESPN reported that White signed a three-year contract. White replaces Adam Fuller, who was fired last month. USC: QB Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal after losing the Trojans’ starting job last month. Moss started USC’s bowl victory last season and the team’s first nine games this season before coach Lincoln Riley replaced him with Jayden Maiava in early November. APPALACHIAN STATE: Head football coach Shawn Clark was fired following the school’s first losing season since 2013. Clark was 40-24 in five seasons with the Mountaineers, but the team dropped to 5-6 this year following a 29-20 loss to Georgia Southern on Saturday. FLORIDA ATLANTIC: The Owls finalized the hiring of Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley as their new head coach. He is replacing Tom Herman, who was fired two weeks ago. ALABAMA A&M: Bulldogs coach Connell Maynor was fired after seven seasons. Athletic director Paul A. Bryant announced the decision with a brief statement.

Oncocyte first to published randomized interventional data to rule-in for biopsy in high-risk patient population Study shows that monitoring with Oncocyte's assay significantly reduces time to rejection diagnosis in patients with newly developed donor-specific antibodies Early detection of transplant rejection is growing in significance as novel therapeutic treatments show promising early results in antibody mediated rejection. Study published in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oncocyte Corp., OCX , a diagnostics technology company, today announced additional favorable data regarding its lead assay VitaGraftTM, which was published in the journal, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. VitaGraft KidneyTM quantifies the amount of DNA fragments in transplant patients' blood that originate from the donor organ, a key biomarker for assessing graft health. This process is commonly referred to as donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) testing and is widely used in clinical practice today. In this latest study, Oncocyte's proprietary diagnostic dd-cfDNA test using digital PCR was able to diagnose antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in kidney transplant recipients nearly a year ahead of standard protocols 1 . "We are excited to see our dd-cfDNA technology demonstrate strong predictive value for AMR, supporting clinicians in identifying AMR in patients sooner, thereby enhancing the opportunity for better outcomes," said Oncocyte Chief Science Officer Dr. Ekkehard Schuetz. "The trial's results further validate dd-cfDNA as a critical biomarker that can bridge diagnostic gaps for transplant patients." For further context, de-novo donor specific antibody (dnDSA) is a routine biomarker used in kidney transplant management. The appearance of dnDSA in a patient -- that is, the patient is found to be dnDSA-positive (dnDSA+) -- signals an increased risk of AMR. This latest study shows that compared to standard of care, VitaGraft Kidney can significantly reduce the time to diagnosis of AMR in dnDSA+ patients. It is also the first randomized interventional study to validate any dd-cfDNA technology as a rule-in test for biopsy in a high-risk population. Catching AMR early, when kidney graft loss can be minimized, is becoming increasingly important as physicians explore the use of drugs, including the anti-CD38 drugs felzartamab and daratumumab, to manage rejection. Monitoring with VitaGraft in this high-risk patient population could support early intervention with these new therapeutic options. Once patients are on therapy, monitoring for therapeutic efficacy is also important to manage potential unwanted side effects. Publications using VitaGraft to monitor for efficacy for both aforementioned drugs can be found in the New England Journal of Medicine and Transplant International . In addition, earlier this year, Oncocyte signed an agreement with a European biotechnology company to be the provider of dd-cfDNA testing for a Phase II clinical trial for a separate therapeutic in AMR. Oncocyte expects to submit for claims expansion to its payor, MolDX 2 , to support the use of VitaGraft for these high-risk patients in the clinic. If granted, it would expand the use case beyond the current for-cause claim, opening significant new revenue opportunities. In sum, this clinical trial provides compelling evidence for dd-cfDNA monitoring as a tool for enhancing early intervention and improving outcomes for patients at increased risk of transplant rejection. Oncocyte scientists and inventors of the technology, Dr. Schuetz, Julia Beck and Kirsten Bornemann-Kolatzki, co-authored the study, which was initiated by researchers at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin under the leadership of Prof. Klemens Budde. The study was published in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation: Oxford Academic and may be found by accessing this link. Additional study details: Highlighting potential for improved patient outcomes, as well as implications for broader clinical applications and future therapies The interventional randomized trial, conducted between June 2021 and July 2023, involved 40 kidney transplant recipients with dnDSA, assessing longitudinal dd-cfDNA monitoring as a guiding tool for diagnostic biopsy compared to standard clinical practices. Oncocyte's proprietary dd-cfDNA technology was able to detect the onset of AMR significantly earlier in patients by guiding the indication for biopsy (median time from inclusion to diagnosis: 2.8 months) compared to the control group using standard of care (14.5 months). As noted above, this early intervention could offer a valuable advantage in transplant care by enabling prompt treatment before irreversible damage occurs. "This study underscores the impact of dd-cfDNA as a critical biomarker for early AMR detection, providing healthcare teams with timely data enabling them to initiate treatments sooner," said Dr. Aylin Akifova, first author from Charité. This study also suggests that dd-cfDNA monitoring could also be instrumental in identifying subclinical AMR—a silent condition that, if undiagnosed, can lead to significant graft damage. Additionally, the findings come at a crucial time, as mentioned above, as promising new treatments, including CD38-targeted therapies, are showing unprecedented efficacy in treating AMR. Early diagnosis with dd-cfDNA could provide the earliest window for intervention, offering an advantage for patients suffering from AMR, a disease with historically very limited treatment options. "We congratulate Charité's research teams on these compelling findings, which further underscore our mission to empower clinicians with tools for precision diagnostics while also democratizing access to novel molecular diagnostic testing to improve patient outcomes," said Josh Riggs, CEO of Oncocyte. "We look forward to expanding the clinical applications of dd-cfDNA technology and supporting transplant communities worldwide with our innovative diagnostic solutions." About Oncocyte Oncocyte is a diagnostics technology company. The Company's tests are designed to help provide clarity and confidence to physicians and their patients. VitaGraftTM is a clinical blood-based solid organ transplantation monitoring test. GraftAssureTM is a research use only (RUO) blood-based solid organ transplantation monitoring test. DetermaIOTM is a gene expression test that assesses the tumor microenvironment to predict response to immunotherapies. DetermaCNITM is a blood-based monitoring tool for monitoring therapeutic efficacy in cancer patients. For more information about Oncocyte, please visit https://oncocyte.com/ . For more information about our products, please visit the following web pages: VitaGraft KidneyTM - https://oncocyte.com/vitagraft-kidney/ VitaGraft LiverTM - https://oncocyte.com/vitagraft-liver/ GraftAssureTM - https://oncocyte.com/graftassure/ DetermaIOTM - https://oncocyte.com/determa-io/ DetermaCNITM - https://oncocyte.com/determa-cni/ VitaGraftTM, GraftAssureTM, DetermaIOTM, and DetermaCNITM are trademarks of Oncocyte Corporation. CONTACT: Jeff Ramson PCG Advisory (646) 863-6893 jramson@pcgadvisory.com Forward-Looking Statements Any statements that are not historical fact (including but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates," "may," and similar expressions) are forward-looking statements. These statements include those pertaining to, among other things, the expectation that Oncocyte will submit for claims expansion to MolDX to support the use of VitaGraft for high-risk patients in the clinic, which may expand the use case and open significant new revenue opportunities, the company's anticipated expansion of clinical applications of dd-cfDNA technology, the company's goal to support transplant communities worldwide with its innovative diagnostic solutions, and other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of diagnostic tests or products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, the capacity of Oncocyte's third-party supplied blood sample analytic system to provide consistent and precise analytic results on a commercial scale, potential interruptions to supply chains, the need and ability to obtain future capital, maintenance of intellectual property rights in all applicable jurisdictions, obligations to third parties with respect to licensed or acquired technology and products, the need to obtain third party reimbursement for patients' use of any diagnostic tests Oncocyte or its subsidiaries commercialize in applicable jurisdictions, and risks inherent in strategic transactions such as the potential failure to realize anticipated benefits, legal, regulatory or political changes in the applicable jurisdictions, accounting and quality controls, potential greater than estimated allocations of resources to develop and commercialize technologies, or potential failure to maintain any laboratory accreditation or certification. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and accordingly such statements should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of Oncocyte, particularly those mentioned in the "Risk Factors" and other cautionary statements found in Oncocyte's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, which are available from the SEC's website. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Oncocyte undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action

Jamichael Stillwell scores 22 to lead Milwaukee to 69-65 victory over St. Thomas-MinnesotaBy WILL WEISSERT, JUAN ZAMORANO and GARY FIELDS PANAMA CITY (AP) — Teddy Roosevelt once declared the Panama Canal “one of the feats to which the people of this republic will look back with the highest pride.” More than a century later, Donald Trump is threatening to take back the waterway for the same republic. Related Articles National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process The president-elect is decrying increased fees Panama has imposed to use the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He says if things don’t change after he takes office next month, “We will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question.” Trump has long threatened allies with punitive action in hopes of winning concessions. But experts in both countries are clear: Unless he goes to war with Panama, Trump can’t reassert control over a canal the U.S. agreed to cede in the 1970s. Here’s a look at how we got here: What is the canal? It is a man-made waterway that uses a series of locks and reservoirs over 51 miles (82 kilometers) to cut through the middle of Panama and connect the Atlantic and Pacific. It spares ships having to go an additional roughly 7,000 miles (more than 11,000 kilometers) to sail around Cape Horn at South America’s southern tip. The U.S. International Trade Administration says the canal saves American business interests “considerable time and fuel costs” and enables faster delivery of goods, which is “particularly significant for time sensitive cargoes, perishable goods, and industries with just-in-time supply chains.” Who built it? An effort to establish a canal through Panama led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, who built Egypt’s Suez Canal, began in 1880 but progressed little over nine years before going bankrupt. Malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases devastated a workforce already struggling with especially dangerous terrain and harsh working conditions in the jungle, eventually costing more than 20,000 lives, by some estimates. Panama was then a province of Colombia, which refused to ratify a subsequent 1901 treaty licensing U.S. interests to build the canal. Roosevelt responded by dispatching U.S. warships to Panama’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The U.S. also prewrote a constitution that would be ready after Panamanian independence, giving American forces “the right to intervene in any part of Panama, to re-establish public peace and constitutional order.” In part because Colombian troops were unable to traverse harsh jungles, Panama declared an effectively bloodless independence within hours in November 1903. It soon signed a treaty allowing a U.S.-led team to begin construction . Some 5,600 workers died later during the U.S.-led construction project, according to one study. Why doesn’t the US control the canal anymore? The waterway opened in 1914, but almost immediately some Panamanians began questioning the validity of U.S. control, leading to what became known in the country as the “generational struggle” to take it over. The U.S. abrogated its right to intervene in Panama in the 1930s. By the 1970s, with its administrative costs sharply increasing, Washington spent years negotiating with Panama to cede control of the waterway. The Carter administration worked with the government of Omar Torrijos. The two sides eventually decided that their best chance for ratification was to submit two treaties to the U.S. Senate, the “Permanent Neutrality Treaty” and the “Panama Canal Treaty.” The first, which continues in perpetuity, gives the U.S. the right to act to ensure the canal remains open and secure. The second stated that the U.S. would turn over the canal to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, and was terminated then. Both were signed in 1977 and ratified the following year. The agreements held even after 1989, when President George H.W. Bush invaded Panama to remove Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega. In the late 1970s, as the handover treaties were being discussed and ratified, polls found that about half of Americans opposed the decision to cede canal control to Panama. However, by the time ownership actually changed in 1999, public opinion had shifted, with about half of Americans in favor. What’s happened since then? Administration of the canal has been more efficient under Panama than during the U.S. era, with traffic increasing 17% between fiscal years 1999 and 2004 . Panama’s voters approved a 2006 referendum authorizing a major expansion of the canal to accommodate larger modern cargo ships. The expansion took until 2016 and cost more than $5.2 billion. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said in a video Sunday that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to.” He added that, while his country’s people are divided on some key issues, “when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.” Shipping prices have increased because of droughts last year affecting the canal locks, forcing Panama to drastically cut shipping traffic through the canal and raise rates to use it. Though the rains have mostly returned, Panama says future fee increases might be necessary as it undertakes improvements to accommodate modern shipping needs. Mulino said fees to use the canal are “not set on a whim.” Jorge Luis Quijano, who served as the waterway’s administrator from 2014 to 2019, said all canal users are subject to the same fees, though they vary by ship size and other factors. “I can accept that the canal’s customers may complain about any price increase,” Quijano said. “But that does not give them reason to consider taking it back.” Why has Trump raised this? The president-elect says the U.S. is getting “ripped off” and “I’m not going to stand for it.” “It was given to Panama and to the people of Panama, but it has provisions — you’ve got to treat us fairly. And they haven’t treated us fairly,” Trump said of the 1977 treaty that he said “foolishly” gave the canal away. The neutrality treaty does give the U.S. the right to act if the canal’s operation is threatened due to military conflict — but not to reassert control. “There’s no clause of any kind in the neutrality agreement that allows for the taking back of the canal,” Quijano said. “Legally, there’s no way, under normal circumstances, to recover territory that was used previously.” Trump, meanwhile, hasn’t said how he might make good on his threat. “There’s very little wiggle room, absent a second U.S. invasion of Panama, to retake control of the Panama Canal in practical terms,” said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington. Gedan said Trump’s stance is especially baffling given that Mulino is a pro-business conservative who has “made lots of other overtures to show that he would prefer a special relationship with the United States.” He also noted that Panama in recent years has moved closer to China, meaning the U.S. has strategic reasons to keep its relationship with the Central American nation friendly. Panama is also a U.S. partner on stopping illegal immigration from South America — perhaps Trump’s biggest policy priority. “If you’re going to pick a fight with Panama on an issue,” Gedan said, “you could not find a worse one than the canal.” Weissert reported from West Palm Beach, Florida, and Fields from Washington. Amelia Thomson-Deveaux contributed to this report from Washington.quantic69 The SPDR® S&P Telecom ETF ( NYSEARCA: XTL ) is a fund that seeks to mimic the returns of a select group of telecommunication companies called the S&P Telecom Select Industry Index. The portfolio is spread out across many sizes, but Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. 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Incoming Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., called some Republican lawmakers' push to block transgender people from using restrooms that align with their gender an "attempt to misdirect" from issues Americans care about. McBride was elected in November as the first openly transgender person to Congress. "Every single time we hear them say the word trans, look what they're doing with their right hand. Look at what they're doing to pick the pocket of American workers, to fleece seniors by privatizing Social Security and Medicare ," she said on CBS' "Face the Nation ." "Every bit of time and energy that is used to divert the attention of federal government to go after trans people is time and energy that is not focused on addressing the cost of living for our constituents," she added. "And we have to be clear that there is a real cost for the American worker every time they focus on this." New policy House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Wednesday announced a policy banning transgender people from using some Capitol restrooms that correspond with their gender. Johnson announced the policy two days after Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a resolution that would bar transgender women from using women's restrooms at the Capitol. She also filed broader legislation that would apply to every federal building and federally funded school. Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team. Transgender rights was a prominent GOP campaign issue, with President-elect Donald Trump increasingly running anti-transgender ads close to Election Day. About 0.5 percent of adults in the U.S. identify as transgender. McBride told CBS Friday that she never planned to use multi-stall bathrooms at the Capitol, something she would have shared with new colleagues if they had asked. It is unclear how the policy would be enforced for transgender tourists or staff. Thousands of people work on the Capitol grounds and millions visit each year. McBride has been criticized by some, including some in the LGBTQ community, for complying with Johnson's new policy not taking a stand on the issue. McBride has urged her new Democratic colleagues to push back on dehumanizing language, but not to let Congress or the media's focus be on culture fights. "I didn't run for the United States House of Representatives to talk about what bathroom I use. I didn't run to talk about myself. I ran to deliver for Delawareans. And while Republicans in Congress seem focused on bathrooms and trans people, and specifically me, I'm focused on rolling up my sleeves, diving into the details, setting up my office, and beginning the hard work of delivering for Delawareans on the issues that I know keep them up at night," she said Sunday. "At the end of the day, how I'm being treated does not matter. What matters is how the American people are being treated and whether we're actually focused on the issues that matter to them."By WILL WEISSERT, JUAN ZAMORANO and GARY FIELDS PANAMA CITY (AP) — Teddy Roosevelt once declared the Panama Canal “one of the feats to which the people of this republic will look back with the highest pride.” More than a century later, Donald Trump is threatening to take back the waterway for the same republic. Related Articles National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl The president-elect is decrying increased fees Panama has imposed to use the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He says if things don’t change after he takes office next month, “We will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question.” Trump has long threatened allies with punitive action in hopes of winning concessions. But experts in both countries are clear: Unless he goes to war with Panama, Trump can’t reassert control over a canal the U.S. agreed to cede in the 1970s. Here’s a look at how we got here: It is a man-made waterway that uses a series of locks and reservoirs over 51 miles (82 kilometers) to cut through the middle of Panama and connect the Atlantic and Pacific. It spares ships having to go an additional roughly 7,000 miles (more than 11,000 kilometers) to sail around Cape Horn at South America’s southern tip. The U.S. International Trade Administration says the canal saves American business interests “considerable time and fuel costs” and enables faster delivery of goods, which is “particularly significant for time sensitive cargoes, perishable goods, and industries with just-in-time supply chains.” An effort to establish a canal through Panama led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, who built Egypt’s Suez Canal, began in 1880 but progressed little over nine years before going bankrupt. Malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases devastated a workforce already struggling with especially dangerous terrain and harsh working conditions in the jungle, eventually costing more than 20,000 lives, by some estimates. Panama was then a province of Colombia, which refused to ratify a subsequent 1901 treaty licensing U.S. interests to build the canal. Roosevelt responded by dispatching U.S. warships to Panama’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The U.S. also prewrote a constitution that would be ready after Panamanian independence, giving American forces “the right to intervene in any part of Panama, to re-establish public peace and constitutional order.” In part because Colombian troops were unable to traverse harsh jungles, Panama declared an effectively bloodless independence within hours in November 1903. It soon signed a treaty allowing a U.S.-led team to begin construction . Some 5,600 workers died later during the U.S.-led construction project, according to one study. The waterway opened in 1914, but almost immediately some Panamanians began questioning the validity of U.S. control, leading to what became known in the country as the “generational struggle” to take it over. The U.S. abrogated its right to intervene in Panama in the 1930s. By the 1970s, with its administrative costs sharply increasing, Washington spent years negotiating with Panama to cede control of the waterway. The Carter administration worked with the government of Omar Torrijos. The two sides eventually decided that their best chance for ratification was to submit two treaties to the U.S. Senate, the “Permanent Neutrality Treaty” and the “Panama Canal Treaty.” The first, which continues in perpetuity, gives the U.S. the right to act to ensure the canal remains open and secure. The second stated that the U.S. would turn over the canal to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, and was terminated then. Both were signed in 1977 and ratified the following year. The agreements held even after 1989, when President George H.W. Bush invaded Panama to remove Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega. In the late 1970s, as the handover treaties were being discussed and ratified, polls found that about half of Americans opposed the decision to cede canal control to Panama. However, by the time ownership actually changed in 1999, public opinion had shifted, with about half of Americans in favor. Administration of the canal has been more efficient under Panama than during the U.S. era, with traffic increasing 17% between fiscal years 1999 and 2004 . Panama’s voters approved a 2006 referendum authorizing a major expansion of the canal to accommodate larger modern cargo ships. The expansion took until 2016 and cost more than $5.2 billion. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said in a video Sunday that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to.” He added that, while his country’s people are divided on some key issues, “when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.” Shipping prices have increased because of droughts last year affecting the canal locks, forcing Panama to drastically cut shipping traffic through the canal and raise rates to use it. Though the rains have mostly returned, Panama says future fee increases might be necessary as it undertakes improvements to accommodate modern shipping needs. Mulino said fees to use the canal are “not set on a whim.” Jorge Luis Quijano, who served as the waterway’s administrator from 2014 to 2019, said all canal users are subject to the same fees, though they vary by ship size and other factors. “I can accept that the canal’s customers may complain about any price increase,” Quijano said. “But that does not give them reason to consider taking it back.” The president-elect says the U.S. is getting “ripped off” and “I’m not going to stand for it.” “It was given to Panama and to the people of Panama, but it has provisions — you’ve got to treat us fairly. And they haven’t treated us fairly,” Trump said of the 1977 treaty that he said “foolishly” gave the canal away. The neutrality treaty does give the U.S. the right to act if the canal’s operation is threatened due to military conflict — but not to reassert control. “There’s no clause of any kind in the neutrality agreement that allows for the taking back of the canal,” Quijano said. “Legally, there’s no way, under normal circumstances, to recover territory that was used previously.” Trump, meanwhile, hasn’t said how he might make good on his threat. “There’s very little wiggle room, absent a second U.S. invasion of Panama, to retake control of the Panama Canal in practical terms,” said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington. Gedan said Trump’s stance is especially baffling given that Mulino is a pro-business conservative who has “made lots of other overtures to show that he would prefer a special relationship with the United States.” He also noted that Panama in recent years has moved closer to China, meaning the U.S. has strategic reasons to keep its relationship with the Central American nation friendly. Panama is also a U.S. partner on stopping illegal immigration from South America — perhaps Trump’s biggest policy priority. “If you’re going to pick a fight with Panama on an issue,” Gedan said, “you could not find a worse one than the canal.” Weissert reported from West Palm Beach, Florida, and Fields from Washington. Amelia Thomson-Deveaux contributed to this report from Washington.

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja Family members, friends and hundreds of other well-wishers from across political, banking, education and other divide gathered in Abuja, at the weekend, for the 4th memorial lecture series of the late Amaka Ndoma-Egba, the wife of former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba. Amaka Ndoma-Egba, alongside six others, died in an auto crash in November, 2020, on their way for a burial ceremony in Igbokoda, Ondo State. Annually, memorial lecture is held in her honour at the event pavilion of the Start-Rite School, Abuja, a school she founded 17 years ago. This year, being the 4th in the series, the Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, led a delegation from the State to attend the event; while two former Senate Presidents, Pius Anyim and David Mark, former Minister of Justice, Bayo Ojo; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Chairman of NDLEA, Buba Marwa, several serving and non serving Senators, government officials from states and federal government, clergymen and businessmen, were conspicuously present at the event. The event also provided opportunity for the family members and well-wishers, some of whom came from different parts of the country, to relate and recommit to the dreams and aspirations of the late banker, educationist and philanthropist, Amaka Ndoma-Egba. Teachers, students, and other management staff of the Start-Rite School, Abuja, also turned out massively, and made presentations in form of music, dance, poem, and other artistic presentations, to celebrate the late Amaka Ndoma-Egba. In his welcome address, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, appreciated the massive support and condolences he has received from friends and well-wishers since the death of his wife, in 2020. He said the deluge of support has been overwhelming, and has also been the strength and inspiration that has kept him going, thereby, appreciating the calls, visits and others that showed concerns. He said: “My late wife loved children and she never hid it. She picks up children from the street, clean them up and give them life. So, I wasn’t surprised when i was presented with about four pages of names of children that are on the pay list of my late wife. “She was, unarguably, a builder of human beings. She built more human beings than structures. In our house, nobody is referred as house girl or boy. Everyone who entered our house became part of the family, and all of them are university graduates. “Amaka was very full of life, but sadly, she died suddenly. I know we could do something to ensure that the people she cared for get the kind of attention she had wished for them whether alive or dead, and the only way to do that was to institutionalize the support.” “We decided to float a Foundation, Victor & Amaka Ndoma-Egba Foundation (VANEF) which stands for helping, healing and caring, to immortalize her and care for these people that depend on her for a better tomorrow.” Principal of School, Femi Akinlade, in his speech, said the school has witnessed tremendous growth and success, academically and otherwise, which is in line with the dreams and aspirations of the late Amaka Ndoma-Egba. He disclosed that the school started with seven students 17 years ago, but has grown with over 800 students, and over 200 workers. “The school is running well since the death of the founder some years ago, and has achieved more success as has been the desire of late Amaka Ndoma-Egba.” Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, in his remarks, acknowledged the importance of education to the development of any individual and society, hence the state government’s increased investment in the sector. He appealed for the replication of the Start-Rite School in Calabar, to afford the children the opportunity to enjoy quality and affordable education, and promised all the support that might be required for the smooth takeoff and running of the educational facility in the state. NDLEA Chairman, Marwa, who served as the Chairman of the occasion, used the opportunity to expose the students, teachers and even parents to dangers of drug and substance abuse to their lives. He asked the students to eschew actions that could lead them to drug and substance abuse, so they can fully actualize their potentials in life. Bishop Kukah, in a keynote address titled: “Leaders of Tomorrow: Creating Lasting Change in a Complex World”, said that Nigeria has faced prolonged underdevelopment because of undefined leadership style that is effective for the people considering the uniqueness of the people. In addition to that, Nigeria has had accidental leaders (Presidents) in the past, and not people who had prepared for the leadership, hence it was always a case of trial and error. “I am not talking about perfect governance system, because it’s unexisting nor found anywhere, but some leadership style that will consider the uniqueness of the people, and give them what is workable for them. Roads, water and other things being celebrated by politicians, are not dividends of democracy,” he said. He thus challenged the parents and the school operators to help shapen the future of the children, because they are the posterity and major asset that Nigeria has.SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy pulled off his gray 49ers sweatshirt Friday and, as he headed for the locker room showers, his sore right shoulder was exposed. There was no noticeable swelling or lump, aside from minor marks via treatment he received since last Sunday’s once-subtle injury. His muscular 24-year-old build appeared stout as ever. Looks can be deceiving. So can words, in any NFL team’s injury descriptions, any Instagram doctors’ prognosis, or any reporters’ déjà vu feelings. “I don’t want to say there’s long-term concern,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday, referring to Purdy’s MRI exam and indicating the quarterback will miss Sunday’s game at Green Bay. Brandon Allen will make the spot start. For how long, though? Exercising caution is wise to protect a bona fide franchise quarterback who threw for a 49ers-record 4,280 yards last season on a surgically repaired elbow and is due for a 49ers-record contract extension at this season’s likely bitter end. Shanahan and general manager John Lynch indicated that Purdy’s MRI on Monday did not reveal a dire, franchise-altering ailment. “We thought he just needed some rest and really weren’t concerned about him not being good this week,” Shanahan said. “But when he started up Thursday, (his shoulder) just surprised him, surprised us, how it felt.” It’s no surprise, however, how a shoulder injury can grow into a bigger firestorm. For now, public proclamations are minimizing any long-range ramifications. Purdy was not made available to reporters, but as he walked through the locker room Friday, he tried to exude a positive outlook, saying: “We’re all good.” His demeanor remained as upbeat and polite as ever in an ensuing conversation with a staff member. Neither of Purdy’s understudies, Allen and Josh Dobbs, has a history of shoulder injuries, so they were hesitant to speak about how fear-inducing those must be for a quarterback. “I’m not too worried about it, I don’t think any of our guys are,” Allen said. “He’ll rehab and get back as fast as he can. And as far as shoulders, it happens. I don’t think it’ll be anything lingering or long-term for him.” Three seasons ago, when the 49ers last visited Lambeau Field, Jimmy Garoppolo was a week removed from hurting his shoulder – a torn capsule, the 49ers said – in a wild-card playoff win at Dallas. Garoppolo played through the injury, the 49ers won without scoring an offensive touchdown. Two months after losing in the NFC Championship Game, Garoppolo surprised the 49ers by electing to have surgery on his shoulder, complicating a potential trade or release and keeping him on the roster. That made for an awkward but necessary comeback in 2022 as he served as a helpful bridge between Trey Lance’s two-start cameo and Purdy’s late-season emergence for another playoff run. Go back nine years and there is another 49ers quarterback quandary. Colin Kaepernick was listed as probable to play at Seattle, but a day before kickoff, the 49ers surprisingly put him on injured reserve. He headed for surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. Benched three weeks before that IR move, Kaepernick spent the ensuing offseason rehabilitating for what would be one final season with the 49ers and the NFL. An even messier shoulder story unfolded with Kaepernick’s predecessor, Alex Smith. A 2007 feud ensued between Smith and third-year coach Mike Nolan, who publicly dismissed Smith’s shoulder pain that traced back to a Sept. 30 separation. Smith played hurt a few games, then confessed to the nagging pain in his shoulder, after the 49ers had listed him out of practice with a forearm strain. Smith rallied and rebuilt his career, albeit under other coaches. Now it’s Purdy stepping aside for an unknown length of time. Allen relayed their Friday conversation: “He believes in me, says ‘You’re here for a reason. Go in, step up, play well.’ He’ll be back. So I’m not worried about it.” “He’s doing well. He’s in good spirits,” Dobbs added. “Obviously, I don’t want to speak for him, but he wants to be out there. So he will work his butt off to get back out there, and we’ll hold it down for him until he gets back.” ©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at mercurynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

ICC’s decision may worsen war in Gaza and Lebanon, analysts warnThe Australian sharemarket is tipped to open weaker despite a rally from some of the world’s largest technology companies that spurred a rebound on Wall Street. ASX 200 futures were down 15 points or 0.2 per cent at 8.183 at 7.15 AEDT, after the S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 1.7 per cent on Monday to post its best session in six months. Overnight, US stocks recovered from a wobble that was fuelled by weaker-than-expected data on US consumer confidence. While most companies in the S&P 500 retreated, Tesla and Nvidia drove a gauge of the “Magnificent Seven” megacaps up over 1 per cent. However, it was a thin trading session at the start of a holiday-shortened week, with volume roughly 20 per cent below the average of the past month. Wall Street recovered from an early wobble as the heavyweight technology stocks spurred a rebound. Credit: Bloomberg “Primary uptrends remain intact for equities despite the recent profit-taking,” Craig Johnson at Piper Sandler said. “Given the short-term oversold conditions, we expect a ‘Santa Claus Rally’ to be a strong possibility this year.” To Morgan Stanley’s Michael Wilson, negative breadth — when falling shares outnumber those that are rising — may not matter as much for high-quality stock indexes with robust price momentum. Earlier, stocks lost steam momentarily after data showed consumer confidence unexpectedly sank for the first time in three months on concerns about the outlook for the US economy. “The economic outlook is deteriorating,” said Neil Dutta at Renaissance Macro Research. “This was true before the Fed’s December confab and remains true. The risk of the Fed flip-flopping is quite high.”

Bears keep GM Ryan Poles in driver's seat for coaching searchInvestors in old Ma Bell would be proud of the 2024 performance of ( ) stock. But can the telecom giant, which offers an attractive dividend, repeat its success next year? AT&T stock has gained 36% in 2024. Heading into 2025, nine Wall Street analysts rate AT&T stock a buy, while eight rate it hold, according to research firm FactSet. Also, one analyst rates AT&T stock as sell. Fourth-quarter earnings for AT&T stock are due Jan. 27. Bernstein Research analyst Laurent Yoon recently initiated coverage of telecom firms and rated AT&T stock as outperform. "Since the breakup of the original AT&T in 1982, it has taken four decades of consolidation to arrive at today's relatively stable oligopoly structure, characterized by roughly equal market shares but unequal market positions," he said. AT&T Fiber-Optic Network Expands Yoon rated ( ) and ( ) at market perform. "Each player continues to amalgamate into larger entities, while the demarcation between fixed and wireless blurs under the familiar theme of bundling — or as it's now called, convergence." Meanwhile, AT&T has been expanding its wireline fiber-optic network in a push to add broadband customers. At JPMorgan, analyst Sebastiano Petti holds an overweight rating on AT&T stock. "AT&T remains our top pick," Petti said in a report. "AT&T's rapidly expanding fiber footprint and 2029 fiber locations target of 50 million extends the company's leadership position in convergence, which should help drive higher share capture and improving economics over time as consumer preferences shift to converged bundles," Petti added. At an investor day on Dec. 3, AT&T said it expects to churn out over $50 billion in free cash flow over the next three years with $20 billion going to stock buybacks. Wireless Services Growth Key For AT&T Stock Wireless phone services are still AT&T's primary business. At the investor day, the company forecast mobility service revenue growth of 2% to 3% annually over the next three years. Meanwhile, AT&T stock holds an IBD Relative Strength Rating of 85 out of a best-possible 99, according to . AT&T has returned to its telecom roots, shedding satellite TV broadcaster DirecTV and WarnerMedia.

Week 16 game between Broncos and Chargers flexed to Thursday nightBears general manager Ryan Poles was granted a reprieve complete with a second swing at hiring a head coach in Chicago. Poles will interview candidates and select a replacement for Matt Eberflus, who was fired Friday after the Bears' sixth consecutive loss and fourth of the season decided on a final play. "Ryan Poles is the general manager of the Chicago Bears, and he will remain the general manager of the Chicago Bears," president and CEO Kevin Warren said Monday. "Ryan will serve as the point person of our upcoming search for a head football coach. We will closely, we will work together on a daily basis to make sure we have the right person as our head football coach." Warren said the McCaskey family provided "all the resources" to build a championship environment. He confirmed that Thomas Brown, who a month ago was passing game coordinator before replacing Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator, will serve as interim head coach and shift from the press box to the sideline starting this week. Warren did not say whether Brown would automatically receive an interview for the full-time coaching position, which he said "will be the most coveted head coaching job in the National Football League." Poles said consideration will be given to candidates with the plan to develop rookie No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, but there are no set plans to involve the quarterback in the interview process. He said the Bears showed great progress through two seasons but couldn't sustain growth. "At the end of the day, we just came up short too many times," Poles said of firing Eberflus, his pick to be the Bears' head coach in January 2022. Brown promoted wide receivers coach Chris Beatty to interim offensive coordinator on Monday and announced that defensive coordinator Eric Washington will be the defensive play caller, a role Eberflus previously held. Trailing 23-20 on Thanksgiving Day, the Bears were within field-goal range when quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked. With 32 seconds remaining, Eberflus elected not to use his final timeout as Williams heaved an incompletion down the right sideline as time expired. "When you look at the end-of-the-game situations, detailing to finish in some of those moments. We all know a lot of games come down to those critical moments where we weren't able to get over the hump," Poles said. Eberflus said after the game that everything was handled properly and held a press conference via Zoom on Friday voicing confidence he'd have the team ready to play the 49ers this week. But three hours later, he was fired. Warren admitted the franchise could've handled the timing better, but clarified there was no decision on Eberflus' status at the time of his media session. "The decision was made to terminate the employment of head coach Matt Eberflus," Warren said 72 hours later. "We try to do everything in a professional manner. That decision was made on Friday." "Coach Eberflus had his press conference, we had not made a final decision. I think you know me, you know Ryan you know George McCaskey. One thing we stand for is family, integrity, doing it the right way. In retrospect, could we have done it better? Absolutely." Eberflus, 54, went 14-32 in two-plus seasons. The Bears (4-8) travel to San Francisco (5-7) in Week 1. --Field Level Media

Caprock Group LLC trimmed its position in shares of Qualys, Inc. ( NASDAQ:QLYS – Free Report ) by 5.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 2,878 shares of the software maker’s stock after selling 178 shares during the quarter. Caprock Group LLC’s holdings in Qualys were worth $370,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Financial Enhancement Group LLC lifted its position in Qualys by 1.5% during the third quarter. Financial Enhancement Group LLC now owns 6,100 shares of the software maker’s stock valued at $784,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in shares of Qualys by 2.2% during the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 4,896 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $699,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Legacy Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Qualys by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Legacy Advisors LLC now owns 8,272 shares of the software maker’s stock valued at $1,180,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Qualys by 8.1% in the 1st quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,684 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $281,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its stake in Qualys by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 46,436 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $6,622,000 after buying an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. 99.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades QLYS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Qualys from $150.00 to $162.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Needham & Company LLC started coverage on shares of Qualys in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a “hold” rating for the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Qualys from $123.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Qualys from $120.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price objective on shares of Qualys from $160.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $152.80. Qualys Stock Up 2.1 % Shares of QLYS opened at $153.37 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $131.26 and its 200-day moving average price is $135.03. The company has a market capitalization of $5.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.78 and a beta of 0.47. Qualys, Inc. has a 52 week low of $119.17 and a 52 week high of $206.35. Qualys ( NASDAQ:QLYS – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 5th. The software maker reported $1.56 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.23. Qualys had a net margin of 28.72% and a return on equity of 40.24%. The business had revenue of $153.87 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $150.74 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.24 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Qualys, Inc. will post 4.34 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling at Qualys In other news, insider Bruce K. Posey sold 1,330 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.80, for a total transaction of $164,654.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 55,618 shares in the company, valued at $6,885,508.40. This trade represents a 2.34 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, Director Jeffrey P. Hank sold 4,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.31, for a total value of $585,240.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 12,666 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,853,162.46. The trade was a 24.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders sold 21,919 shares of company stock valued at $2,993,000. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock. Qualys Company Profile ( Free Report ) Qualys, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides cloud-based platform delivering information technology (IT), security, and compliance solutions in the United States and internationally. It offers Qualys Cloud Apps, which include Cybersecurity Asset Management and External Attack Surface Management; Vulnerability Management, Detection and Response; Web Application Scanning; Patch Management; Custom Assessment and Remediation; Multi-Vector Endpoint Detection and Response; Context Extended Detection and Response; Policy Compliance; File Integrity Monitoring; and Qualys TotalCloud, as well as Cloud Workload Protection, Cloud Detection and Response, Cloud Security Posture Management, Infrastructure as Code, and Container Security. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Qualys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Qualys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .