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jj kk ll Extensive confidential documents in the lead-up to the collapse of Northern Ireland’s institutions in 2002 have been made available to the public as part of annual releases from the Irish National Archives. They reveal that the Irish Government wanted to appeal to the UK side against “manipulating” every scenario for favourable election results in Northern Ireland, in an effort to protect the peace process. In the years after the landmark 1998 Good Friday Agreement, a number of outstanding issues left the political environment fraught with tension and disagreement. Mr Trimble, who won a Nobel Peace Prize with SDLP leader John Hume for their work on the Agreement, was keen to gain wins for the UUP on policing, ceasefire audits and paramilitary disarmament – but also to present his party as firmer on these matters amid swipes from its Unionist rival, the DUP. These issues were at the front of his mind as he tried to steer his party into Assembly elections planned for May 2003 and continue in his role as the Executive’s first minister despite increasing political pressure. The documents reveal the extent to which the British and Irish Governments were trying to delicately resolve the contentious negotiations, conscious that moves seen as concessions to one group could provoke anger on the other side. In June 2002, representatives of the SDLP reported to Irish officials on a recent meeting between Mr Hume’s successor Mark Durkan and Prime Minister Tony Blair on policing and security. Mr Blair is said to have suggested that the SDLP and UUP were among those who both supported and took responsibility for the Good Friday Agreement. The confidential report of the meeting says that Mr Durkan, the deputy First Minister, was not sure that Mr Trimble had been correctly categorised. The Prime Minister asked if the SDLP could work more closely with the UUP ahead of the elections. Mr Durkan argued that Mr Trimble was not only not saleable to nationalists, but also not saleable to half of the UUP – to which Mr Blair and Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid are said to have laughed in agreement. The SDLP leader further warned that pursuing a “save David” campaign would ruin all they had worked for. Damien McAteer, an adviser for the SDLP, was recorded as briefing Irish officials on September 10 that it was his view that Mr Trimble was intent on collapsing the institutions in 2003 over expected fallout for Sinn Fein in the wake of the Colombia Three trial, where men linked to the party were charged with training Farc rebels – but predicted the UUP leader would be “in the toilet” by January, when an Ulster Unionist Council (UUC) meeting was due to take place. A week later in mid September, Mr Trimble assured Irish premier Bertie Ahern that the next UUC meeting to take place in two days’ time would be “okay but not great” and insisted he was not planning to play any “big game”. It was at that meeting that he made the bombshell announcement that the UUP would pull out of the Executive if the IRA had not disbanded by January 18. The move came as a surprise to the Irish officials who, along with their UK counterparts, did not see the deadline as realistic. Sinn Fein described the resolution as a “wreckers’ charter”. Doubts were raised that there would be any progress on substantive issues as parties would not be engaged in “pre-election skirmishing”. As that could lead to a UUP walkout and the resulting suspension of the institutions, the prospect of delaying the elections was raised while bringing forward the vote was ruled out. Therefore, the two Governments stressed the need to cooperate as a stabilising force to protect the Agreement – despite not being sure how that process would survive through the January 18 deadline. The Irish officials became worried that the British side did not share their view that Mr Trimble was not “salvageable” and that the fundamental dynamic in the UUP was now Agreement scepticism, the confidential documents state. In a meeting days after the UUC announcements, Mr Reid is recorded in the documents as saying that as infuriating as it was, Mr Trimble was at that moment the “most enlightened Unionist we have”. The Secretary said he would explore what the UUP leader needed to “survive” the period between January 18 and the election, believing a significant prize could avoid him being “massacred”. Such planning went out the window just weeks later, when hundreds of PSNI officers were involved in raids of several buildings – including Sinn Fein’s offices in Stormont. The resulting “Stormontgate” spy-ring scandal accelerated the collapse of powersharing, with the UUP pulling out of the institutions – and the Secretary of State suspending the Assembly and Executive on October 14. For his part, Irish officials were briefed that Mr Reid was said to be “gung ho” about the prospect of exercising direct rule – reportedly making no mention of the Irish Government in a meeting with Mr Trimble and Mr Durkan on that day. The Northern Ireland Secretary was given a new role and Paul Murphy was appointed as his successor. A note on speaking points for a meeting with Mr Murphy in April showed that the Irish side believed the May elections should go ahead: “At a certain stage the political process has to stand on its own feet. “The Governments cannot be manipulating and finessing every scenario to engineer the right result. “We have to start treating the parties and the people as mature and trusting that they have the discernment to make the right choices.” However, the elections planned for May did not materialise, instead delayed until November. Mr Trimble would go on to lose his Westminster seat – and stewardship of the UUP – in 2005. The November election saw the DUP emerge as the largest parties – but direct rule continued as Ian Paisley’s refused to share power with Sinn Fein, which Martin McGuinness’ colleagues. The parties eventually agreed to work together following further elections in 2007. – This article is based on documents in 2024/130/5, 2024/130/6, 2024/130/15Game-changing holiday gifts for building fires, printing photos, watching birds and more

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The UK Government was warned that a “save David campaign” for UUP leader Lord Trimble would ruin progress made under the Good Friday Agreement. Extensive confidential documents in the lead-up to the collapse of Northern Ireland’s institutions in 2002 have been made available to the public as part of annual releases from the Irish National Archives. They reveal that the Irish Government wanted to appeal to the UK side against “manipulating” every scenario for favourable election results in Northern Ireland, in an effort to protect the peace process. In the years after the landmark 1998 Good Friday Agreement, a number of outstanding issues left the political environment fraught with tension and disagreement. Mr Trimble, who won a Nobel Peace Prize with SDLP leader John Hume for their work on the Agreement, was keen to gain wins for the UUP on policing, ceasefire audits and paramilitary disarmament – but also to present his party as firmer on these matters amid swipes from its Unionist rival, the DUP. These issues were at the front of his mind as he tried to steer his party into Assembly elections planned for May 2003 and continue in his role as the Executive’s first minister despite increasing political pressure. The documents reveal the extent to which the British and Irish Governments were trying to delicately resolve the contentious negotiations, conscious that moves seen as concessions to one group could provoke anger on the other side. In June 2002, representatives of the SDLP reported to Irish officials on a recent meeting between Mr Hume’s successor Mark Durkan and Prime Minister Tony Blair on policing and security. Mr Blair is said to have suggested that the SDLP and UUP were among those who both supported and took responsibility for the Good Friday Agreement. The confidential report of the meeting says that Mr Durkan, the deputy First Minister, was not sure that Mr Trimble had been correctly categorised. The Prime Minister asked if the SDLP could work more closely with the UUP ahead of the elections. Mr Durkan argued that Mr Trimble was not only not saleable to nationalists, but also not saleable to half of the UUP – to which Mr Blair and Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid are said to have laughed in agreement. The SDLP leader further warned that pursuing a “save David” campaign would ruin all they had worked for. Damien McAteer, an adviser for the SDLP, was recorded as briefing Irish officials on September 10 that it was his view that Mr Trimble was intent on collapsing the institutions in 2003 over expected fallout for Sinn Fein in the wake of the Colombia Three trial, where men linked to the party were charged with training Farc rebels – but predicted the UUP leader would be “in the toilet” by January, when an Ulster Unionist Council (UUC) meeting was due to take place. A week later in mid September, Mr Trimble assured Irish premier Bertie Ahern that the next UUC meeting to take place in two days’ time would be “okay but not great” and insisted he was not planning to play any “big game”. It was at that meeting that he made the bombshell announcement that the UUP would pull out of the Executive if the IRA had not disbanded by January 18. The move came as a surprise to the Irish officials who, along with their UK counterparts, did not see the deadline as realistic. Sinn Fein described the resolution as a “wreckers’ charter”. Doubts were raised that there would be any progress on substantive issues as parties would not be engaged in “pre-election skirmishing”. As that could lead to a UUP walkout and the resulting suspension of the institutions, the prospect of delaying the elections was raised while bringing forward the vote was ruled out. Therefore, the two Governments stressed the need to cooperate as a stabilising force to protect the Agreement – despite not being sure how that process would survive through the January 18 deadline. The Irish officials became worried that the British side did not share their view that Mr Trimble was not “salvageable” and that the fundamental dynamic in the UUP was now Agreement scepticism, the confidential documents state. In a meeting days after the UUC announcements, Mr Reid is recorded in the documents as saying that as infuriating as it was, Mr Trimble was at that moment the “most enlightened Unionist we have”. The Secretary said he would explore what the UUP leader needed to “survive” the period between January 18 and the election, believing a significant prize could avoid him being “massacred”. Such planning went out the window just weeks later, when hundreds of PSNI officers were involved in raids of several buildings – including Sinn Fein’s offices in Stormont. The resulting “Stormontgate” spy-ring scandal accelerated the collapse of powersharing, with the UUP pulling out of the institutions – and the Secretary of State suspending the Assembly and Executive on October 14. For his part, Irish officials were briefed that Mr Reid was said to be “gung ho” about the prospect of exercising direct rule – reportedly making no mention of the Irish Government in a meeting with Mr Trimble and Mr Durkan on that day. The Northern Ireland Secretary was given a new role and Paul Murphy was appointed as his successor. A note on speaking points for a meeting with Mr Murphy in April showed that the Irish side believed the May elections should go ahead: “At a certain stage the political process has to stand on its own feet. “The Governments cannot be manipulating and finessing every scenario to engineer the right result. “We have to start treating the parties and the people as mature and trusting that they have the discernment to make the right choices.” However, the elections planned for May did not materialise, instead delayed until November. Mr Trimble would go on to lose his Westminster seat – and stewardship of the UUP – in 2005. The November election saw the DUP emerge as the largest parties – but direct rule continued as Ian Paisley’s refused to share power with Sinn Fein, which Martin McGuinness’ colleagues. The parties eventually agreed to work together following further elections in 2007. – This article is based on documents in 2024/130/5, 2024/130/6, 2024/130/15Cam Ward Opting Out of Pop-Tarts Bowl at Halftime Was Pretty WeirdSoccer-Dortmund beat Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 to stay firmly on qualification course

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Madera Child Hit By Car in School Zone Gifted Bicycle by CHP, Local SupporterSam Darnold has played most of his football on either the East or West Coast. After staying home to play his college ball at Southern California, Darnold spent his first three NFL seasons with the New York Jets before stints in Carolina and San Francisco. Now that he's in the Upper Midwest, the veteran quarterback has a much better appreciation of the rivalry between his Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. The NFC North foes will battle Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. "It's the whole entire NFC North, man," Darnold said. "It's an incredible kind of rivalries or bitterness, I guess you could say. It's awesome to be able to run into Packers fans. I'm not going to lie, they're nice and everything, but when you start to talk about football, they're not shy about speaking their mind about who they think the better team is. "It's just fun, man. It makes everything more fun, makes the game more fun. That's the reason we play." Along with the traditional bragging rights between the border rivals, Sunday's matchup also holds significant playoff implications for the Vikings (13-2) and Packers (11-4), though both teams already have clinched a spot in the postseason. Minnesota is tied with the Detroit Lions for the top spot in the division with two games to play, though the Lions hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their 31-29 win at the Vikings in Week 7. Green Bay could end up with the No. 5, 6 or 7 seed as a wild-card team, and Sunday's outcome will go a long way toward determining its playoff positioning. "We're playing for something," said Packers running back Josh Jacobs, who leads Green Bay's ground attack with 1,216 yards and 13 scores. Jacobs ran for 69 yards and a touchdown in the Packers' 34-0 home win over New Orleans on Monday night. Quarterback Jordan Love threw for 182 yards and a score without committing a turnover for Green Bay in its second straight win. Love has passed for 3,135 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions over his 13 starts this season, good for a 97.8 passer rating. Jayden Reed has a team-high 52 catches for 803 yards and six touchdowns. Christian Watson is next with 29 catches for 620 yards and two TDs. "What's really cool is you are getting contributions from a lot of different people," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. "I think that is usually the mark of a good team. "You have to stay healthy and continue to build on what you've done. I love the energy of our group. Our guys show up ready to work, willing to work every day, and we have to continue to push one another to be at our best because this is the time when you need to be playing your best ball." Minnesota is going for its ninth straight win. The Vikings' only other loss besides Detroit came four days later, a 30-20 Thursday night setback at the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8. Darnold has powered Minnesota with 3,776 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 starts. He has posted a 105.4 passer rating in his first season with the team. Former Green Bay star Aaron Jones is Minnesota's top running back with 1,046 yards and five TDs. Justin Jefferson is Darnold's top target with 92 receptions for 1,387 yards and 10 touchdowns. No. 2 receiver Jordan Addison has 56 catches for 806 yards and eight scores. Packers top cornerback Jaire Alexander is dealing with a knee injury that could keep him out of Sunday's contest. While he may not match up against one of the league's premier defenders in Alexander, Jefferson remains motivated for the divisional clash. "I love any competition regardless of if it's Green Bay or I'm playing the No. 1 corner in the league," Jefferson said. "I'm always going to prepare to go out there and play my best regardless of who's out there. I always say I love these types of games, the games that you really need, the games that are exciting for everyone to watch." Alexander was limited in Green Bay's practice Thursday, as were safety Javon Bullard (ankle), tackle Andre Dillard (concussion), linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper (ankle) and tight ends Tucker Kraft (hip) and Luke Musgrave (ankle). Guard Elgton Jenkins (knee), linebacker Quay Walker (ankle), safety Evan Williams (quad) and Watson (knee) sat out Thursday's session. The Vikings were fully healthy for Thursday's practice aside from cornerback Fabian Moreau, who has not practiced all week due to a hip injury. This will be the final regular-season meeting between the rivals. Minnesota jumped ahead of host Green Bay 28-0 before holding on 31-29 on Sept. 29. --Field Level MediaNo need to mourn exit of Just Eat Takeaway from London Stock Exchange

South Korea impeaches second president in two weeksAround five million people in England do not have a dentist, figures have revealed Some 140,526 people needed treatment in a month but did not have their own dentist and were unable to access NHS dental care, a Liberal Democrat analysis of ONS Health Insight Survey showed. Of these patients, more than 1,500 went to A&E but the majority of patients - 79.7% or 111,999 - reported that they were unable to receive the treatment they needed. The Liberal Democrat’s health spokeswoman Helen Morgan MP said: “As more and more patients are forced to perform dangerous DIY dentistry, it’s like pulling teeth trying to get ministers to take the action we need. “The crisis in NHS dentistry cannot be allowed to continue - the government must act urgently to bring dentistry back from the brink. “The new government must not repeat the mistakes of the Conservatives that created swathes of dental deserts up and down the country.” Britons have resorted to pulling teeth out with pliers and a bottle of spirits because of a “national crisis” in dentistry. Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association chair, previously told the Express there are no “dental oases” in the country as millions of people struggle to access NHS surgeries. He said: “Talk of ‘dental deserts’ might give the impression there are some ‘dental oases’ out there. There aren’t. We’re not looking at a few ‘hotspots’ but a national crisis affecting millions.” The NHS provided 4.7million fewer courses of dental treatment last year than 2019-20 and only 40% of adults in England saw a dentist in the two years to this March – down from the 49% who did so pre-pandemic, the National Audit Office found in a report last month. The Labour Government has pledged to “rebuild NHS dentistry”, starting with an extra 700,000 emergency dentistry appointments. Sir Keir Starmer also promised to start supervised toothbrushing at schools. Their announcements followed a damning report by the Commons Health and Social Care committee in July which found that extractions have been performed with pliers in some cases, while others have been forced to make a five-hour round trip to see a professional. The committee said "urgent and fundamental reform" is needed to stop cases of pain and distress that are "totally unacceptable in the 21st century". A spokesman for the Department for Health and Social care said: “NHS dentistry is broken after years of neglect and has failed patients and staff for too long. “It is unacceptable that patients are being forced to take matters into their own hands because they were unable to get an appointment. “This government is committed to rebuilding dentistry, but it will take time. We will start with an extra 700,000 urgent dentistry appointments to help those who need it most, and reform the dental contract to encourage more dentists to offer NHS services to patients.”

Jury awards $310 million to parents of teen killed in fall from Orlando amusement park ride ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The parents of a 14-year-old Missouri boy who fell to his death from a Florida amusement park ride has won a $310 million verdict against the attraction's Austrian builder. The Orlando jury on Thursday ordered Funtime to pay Tyre Sampson's parents $155 million each. The trial lasted only a day as Funtime never appeared in court to defend itself. Icon Park had already settled with Sampson’s family for an undisclosed amount. Sampson stood 6 foot, 2 inches tall and weighed 380 pounds. He fell from the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park because the harness did not fit him and he wasn't warned. Princess of Wales takes another step in return to public life after chemotherapy with carol service LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales is taking another step in her return to public life following cancer treatment as she hosts her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey. This year’s concert is designed to celebrate the support people give to one another, especially as they struggle through difficult times, a theme that may have particular resonance for the princess after abdominal surgery and chemotherapy forced her to step back from public duties for much of 2024. The princess, often referred to simply as Kate, alluded to this in a letter thanking the 1,600 people invited to attend the event because of their efforts to help others in their communities. Hall of Famer Randy Moss is stepping away from ESPN for an extended time to deal with health issue Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is stepping away from his ESPN analyst role for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge, the network said in a statement. Moss revealed last week that he’s dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made his announcement on Instagram from the set of the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying any particular illness. More than a million oven gloves are being recalled after consumers report 92 minor burns NEW YORK (AP) — More than one million pairs of oven gloves are being recalled due to a burn hazard, after dozens of injury reports. Video and e-commerce retailer QVC is recalling about 1.1 million of its “Temp-tations Oven Gloves” because they fail to provide sufficient heat protection. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, QVC has received 162 reports of insufficient heat protection, including 92 minor burns. Consumers in possession of the now-recalled gloves are urged to stop using them immediately — and contact QVC for a refund. Lionel Messi wins MLS MVP award, the latest trophy on a long list of honors for the Inter Miami star FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi is the MVP of Major League Soccer for 2024. The award comes after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina’s national team. He still factored into a league-high 36 goals by scoring 20 and assisting on 16 others. His 2.1 goal contributions per 90 minutes played is the best by any player in any season in MLS history. MLS revealed the voting results Friday. Messi edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández for the award, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members. Alternative healer gets 10 years in UK prison for death of woman at slap therapy workshop LONDON (AP) — An alternative healer who advocated “slapping therapy” to treat a range of maladies has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the death of a 71-year-old diabetic woman who stopped taking insulin during his workshop. Hongchi Xiao, 61, was sentenced Friday after being convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence for failing to get medical help for Danielle Carr-Gomm in 2016. Prosecutors say she was howling in pain and frothing at the mouth during the fourth day of a workshop. The California healer promoted paida lajin therapy that advocates slapping to release “poisonous waste” from the body. He was previously convicted of manslaughter in the death of a six-year-old boy in Australia. Stellantis recalling more than 300,000 Ram trucks for braking system defect Stellantis is recalling more than 300,000 Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks because a faulty part could cause certain braking and tracking systems to fail. The Netherlands-based automaker said the hydraulic control unit on the trucks is prone to failure, which can cause the anti-lock brake, electronic stability control and traction control systems to not work properly. Stellantis said regular braking systems are not affected by the defective part and that it’s unaware of any related injuries. The trucks in question are all model years 2017-18 and include the Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500. The company is unaware of any injuries related to the defect. El Salvador's president is triumphant after his bet on bitcoin comes true SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele is triumphant about his big bet on bitcoin as the cryptocurrency reached historic highs, surpassing $100,000 for the first time. Bitcoin has been legal tender in the country since 2021 but it never quite matched the president’s enthusiasm. The value of the government’s reported investment now stands at more than $600 million. Bitcoin has rallied mightily since Donald Trump’s election victory last month, exceeding the $100,000 mark on Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. NBA returning to China for pair of Suns-Nets preseason games in 2025 The NBA is returning to China next season. The league has struck a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned for Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Brooklyn and Phoenix will play games in China’s gambling hub of Macao on Oct. 10, 2025, and again two days later. There are more games planned for China in 2026, a source told The Associated Press. F1 champion Max Verstappen to become first-time father with girlfriend Kelly Piquet ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is set to become a father for the first time with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet. There’s racing heritage on both sides of the family. Verstappen secured his fourth F1 title last month and Kelly’s father Nelson Piquet was a three-time champion in the 1980s. Verstappen says on Instagram that "we couldn’t be happier with our little miracle.” Verstappen is aiming to win his 10th F1 race of the year at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. Practice gets underway later.

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Starlink is seeking a licence to provide internet service in Guyana, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has revealed. Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, LLC, an international telecommunications provider that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American aerospace company SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk. Speaking to reporters during his weekly press conference on Thursday, the Vice President explained that Starlink’s interest is “actively being considered” by the Government. He explained that if the licence is approved, it means the company will have to pay taxes to the Government. Currently, private individuals would import the Starlink equipment and provide internet services to sections of the local population, specifically in hinterland areas. Jagdeo said this practice is unfair to other companies providing similar services, since those companies are subjected to paying taxes. He explained that this was one of the topics discussed between President Dr Irfaan Ali and tech giant Elon Musk, founder of Space X, in July. The Office of the President had issued a brief statement on that meeting, stating that “discussions focused on the advancement of Guyana’s economy, particularly in the areas of innovation and technology, and the opportunities that exist in the respective sectors.”

The Los Angeles Chargers activated running back J.K. Dobbins from injured reserve on Friday. Dobbins is formally listed as questionable but figures to be the team's top running threat for Saturday's road game against the New England Patriots. Teammate Gus Edwards (ankle) was ruled out Thursday. Dobbins has missed the past four games since sustaining a knee injury against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 25. He was a full practice participant Thursday before receiving the questionable label. The injury-prone Dobbins was enjoying a solid season prior to the knee ailment, with 766 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground and 28 receptions for 134 yards in 11 games. His career high for rushing yardage is 805 for the Ravens in 2020. Dobbins' return comes with the Chargers (9-6) just one win from clinching an AFC wild-card playoff spot. Los Angeles also elevated safeties Eddie Jackson and Kendall Williamson from the practice squad. --Field Level Media

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kijiji download Google Street View | PACE vans help seniors make it to their medical appointments. Access to senior care in the most rural areas of the Central Valley has long been a challenge. Transportation, managing doctor and specialist visits or struggling to find in-home care options, many seniors in the Valley are left with a “what about me?” feeling. For Tulare and Kings counties, help is on the way at the new PACE Center. Opened this past summer, the center fills a much-needed role for senior care in an underserved region. But how did senior health care get so difficult to access in the Valley, and what does PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) hope to bring to the community? It’s well known that the region has trouble recruiting health care professionals. That’s exacerbated by the sheer demand as the population ages. Rural areas have it the worst. Anshuman Srivastava, a Visalia physician, said that nationwide, 57 million Americans reside in rural areas. The Central Valley has historically fallen behind urban regions in senior care access. “Because of this the health disparity has gotten worse compared to the urban areas,” Srivastava said. “If you compare the data...we have around a 21,000-health-professional shortage in rural areas compared to only a 900-shortage in urban areas.” Srivastava said the issue often stems from prioritization of other essential needs over health — not due to lack of concern, but lack of awareness. “I’m not going to blame any people, patients or populations about it,” Srivastava said. “It’s more because health was never a priority for them.” Grady Dodson, the Visalia PACE Program Director at Family Healthcare Network, agreed that a lack of health care professional incentives also have caused the Valley to fall behind. The opening of a new PACE Center, providing senior care to residents in Tulare and Kings counties, hopes to change the narrative for senior care. PACE stands for Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly and aims to provide just that — a continuum of well-rounded, holistic care for seniors, comprising many of the various specialties the community requires under one roof. Founded by Dr. William Gee and social worker Marie-Louise Ansak in San Francisco in 1971, the program keeps senior citizens out of hospitals and nursing homes, focusing on improving the quality of life for communities’ most health-vulnerable populations. “We want to see seniors age in place, remain in their communities,” Dodson said. “We know the quality of life for them is much higher there than it is, per say, going into a skilled nursing home.” The PACE Center in Visalia is funded by Medicare and functions as its members’ primary care provider, along with offering specialist services and partnering with local specialists to fill the gaps not directly provided by PACE itself. The 25,000 square-foot center, located at 500 E. School Ave. in Visalia, also boasts its own facilities including a day center for recreational therapy activities. Programming is meant to combat depression and loneliness — something that is elevated in the senior community. At the PACE center, members receive a hot lunch, engage in games and activities and also have access to a quiet room, as well as bathroom facilities with showers for members in need of hygiene assistance. “It’s really a holistic approach to their care,” he said. “The PACE Program also helps with taking care of their medications.” PACE’s system has patients working closely with an interdisciplinary team (IDT) to determine their individual needs. “Each member of the IDT, they all do their assessments — they spend a great amount of time with the participant,” Dodson said, evaluating their diets, social needs and other health concerns. “Each new participant gets that thoroughness to individualize their care plan.” Dodson added that each patient also has their own voice, granted the ability to advocate for themselves. Families also have the ability to voice their concerns. “It really becomes personal because there’s not a ‘cookie cutter,’ unlike other health care models that are out there,” he said. “PACE is guided by that principle.” Dodson said that through PACE’s work, MediCal has saved $131 million in health care costs through finding correct services for patients, preventing overlap of services and improving general day-to-day life through continuous care. In addition to the personalized services offered at PACE, the center also offers transportation — a key need for many senior residents in more rural communities. “Many of our seniors suffer from health issues simply because of a lack of transportation,” Dodson said. “If you have parents and loved ones, aunts and uncles, grandparents — some of them are not getting there because you’re busy at work and they can’t get to their next appointment.” An employee in the health care field for 17 years, Dodson, a Valley native, said that he has seen many different medical models, but said that PACE’s holistic approach and access to care is second-to-none in the health care industry. The center’s treatment of its members differs from the standard health care industry’s technique of “for service” visits. “Similar to Costco, they’re a member,” Dodson said. “You don’t treat members the same way you treat a customer; a customer’s going to be a one-time shopper...that’s the current model we have in health care now.” WelbeHealth company recently announced plans to build a second Visalia PACE center — 17,000 square feet at 1150 S. Ben Maddox Way in a complex that already includes a Kaweah Health clinic and DaVita Dialysis, reported the Sun-Gazette newspaper. WelbeHealth is a physician-led public benefit company founded in 2015 that provides comprehensive health care services for seniors. There are 99 PACE Centers and Alternative Care Sites in 27 counties serving 22,000 participants annually throughout California. Tulare and Kings county residents interested in PACE must be 55 years or older, live in the region served by a local PACE Center, be certified in the State of California as requiring nursing home-level care and be able to live safely in the community with PACE assistance. The Tulare/Kings County PACE Center can be reached at (877) 326-PACE (7223) or by email at pace@fhcn.org. Visitors are also welcome to stop by for more information at the PACE Center in Visalia, located at 500 E. School Ave. Access to senior care in the most rural areas of In a competitive real estate business that is constantly changing, On Tuesday, Dec. 10, The Business Journal hosted its 11th Access Plus Capital, a nonprofit community development financial institution thatGiants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn’t improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. Red Bull brings wrong rear wing to Las Vegas in mistake that could stall Verstappen's title chances LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen is suddenly in jeopardy of being denied a fourth consecutive Formula 1 title Saturday night. Red Bull apparently brought the wrong rear wing to Las Vegas and GPS data showed its two cars to be significantly slower on the straights than both McLaren and Mercedes, which led both practice sessions. Red Bull says it doesn’t have a replacement rear wing in Las Vegas to fix the issue and little chance of getting two flown in from England ahead of the race. Lawyer says ex-Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller met with NCAA for hours amid gambling probe PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A lawyer for former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller says the 22-year-old sat for a long interview with the NCAA amid an investigation into unusual gambling activity. But neither the lawyer nor federal law enforcement officials on Friday would confirm reports that a federal probe is now under way. Lawyer Jason Bologna says Miller cooperated because he hopes to play again. Miller was released last month after transferring to Virginia Tech. Temple President John Fry says the Philadelphia school has not been asked for any information from federal law enforcement officials. Caitlin Clark to join Cincinnati bid for 16th National Women's Soccer League team WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined Cincinnati’s bid for an expansion National Women’s Soccer League team. Major League Soccer franchise FC Cincinnati is heading the group vying to bring a women’s pro team to the city. The club issued a statement confirming Clark had joined the bid group. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has said the league plans to announce the league’s 16th team by the end of the year. The league's 15th team will begin play in 2026 in Boston. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Aaron Judge won't be bothered if Juan Soto gets bigger contract from Yankees than his $360M deal NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge won’t be bothered if Juan Soto gets a bigger deal from the New York Yankees than the captain’s $360 million, nine-year contract. Speaking a day after he was a unanimous winner of his second MVP, Judge says “It ain’t my money” and adds "that’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most.” Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in his first season with the Yankees, then became a free agent at age 26.SALT LAKE CITY — The Princeton women’s basketball team’s spirited fourth-quarter rally came up short as it fell to Utah, 79-76, on Sunday evening and was swept in both games of its west coast trip. Gianna Kneepkens scored 19 points for the Utes (8-2), including a pair of clutch free throws with three seconds remaining to give the home team a three-point lead. The Tigers (5-4) had a chance to take the lead down by one with eight seconds to play, but Skye Belker missed both free throws. Belker made five of her six 3-point attempts and finished with a game-high 24 points. Fadima Tall added 13 points and Ashley Chea finished with 11. Chea had a heave at the buzzer come up short. The Tigers trailed by 13 after three quarters and by as many as 18. The Utes scored 19 points off 15 Princeton turnovers. Princeton returns home on Wednesday to face Rhode Island in the first of a seven-game homestand that also includes the first three Ivy League games against Cornell, Harvard and Dartmouth. FDU 62, Rider 54 LAWRENCEVILLE — Teneisia Brown scored 19 points, Abaigeal Babore and Lilly Parke had 11 each and the Knights (7-2) outscored the Broncs (1-7) by six in the fourth quarter to erase a two-point deficit entering the final 10 minutes. Camryn Collins led Rider with 13 points and Gabby Turco finished with 12. Former Ewing High standout Joi Johnson recorded two points in five minutes off the bench for FDU. Wisconsin 66, Rutgers 64 MADISON, Wisc. — Ronnie Porter sank the second of two free throws with 0.7 seconds remaining and the Badgers (8-2, 1-0) repelled a comeback bid from the Scarlet Knights (5-4, 0-1) in the Big Ten opener for both. Destiny Adams poured in 23 points and Kiyomi Miller added 20 for Rutgers, but a foul with game tied at 64-all sent Porter to the line for two free throws. She missed the first and then made the second. Adams was then called for a technical foul and Natalie Leuzinger hit one of two free throws for the final margin.

With the end of the calendar year in sight, many older investors will soon be making significant withdrawals from their traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 401(k)s, etc. -- in particular, those who may have been putting off beginning those withdrawals for as long as they could. See, while you don't have to take your very first required minimum distribution -- or RMD -- from most tax-deferred accounts until April 1 of the year after you turn 72, for every year beyond that first one, these withdrawals must be made by Dec. 31. So if you do postpone that first distribution into the year that you turn 73, you'll need to take two distributions that year. The starting RMD for a 73-year-old is roughly 3.7% of the account's value as of the end of the previous year, for the record. But this percentage grows a little bit every year. These distribution requirements raise an important question for many senior investors, though: If you aren't taking these disbursements anyway to cover your living expenses and other bills, what should you do with the money you're being compelled to take out of your retirement accounts? Here are five solid options to consider. 1. If you're eligible, make an IRA contribution It may sound crazy given that you're being forced to withdraw money from your retirement accounts. But presuming that you're eligible, you can simultaneously use that RMD money to help fund IRA contributions for the tax year in which you withdrew it. The chief factor in determining that eligibility, of course, will be whether or not you have earned income -- via a job that generates work-based wages. This year, anyone 50 or older can contribute the lesser of $8,000 or 100% of their workplace earnings into either a traditional IRA or (if you aren't earning too much) a Roth IRA. However, the IRS doesn't really care where the money comes from. Hitting the age when you must start taking required minimum distributions also doesn't negate your eligibility to participate in an employer-sponsored plan like a 401(k) -- assuming you're still working somewhere that offers one. Just bear in mind that depositing new money into any non-Roth IRA will cause your future RMDs to be higher than they otherwise would be. Also remember that while contributions to IRAs can be tax-deductible, required minimum distributions are also taxable income. Whatever the case, if you'd still like to keep as much money as possible in a tax-deferred account, this option would work. 2. Help cover the tax bill of a Roth conversion If you don't want to worry about any of this RMD stuff with your IRA ever again, you could make it all go away. Just convert your traditional IRA into a Roth IRA -- Roths aren't subject to required minimum distributions. This move is almost always a 100%-taxable event, however. That is to say, the entire balance you convert will be treated as taxable income in the year you perform the maneuver. While you can use some of the converted funds to cover that tax bill, that would take a sizable bite out of your balance. The conversion also doesn't negate the RMDs for any year prior to the year it is completed. With a bit of careful timing, however, you can satisfy your prior year's required minimum distribution and offset at least some of the tax cost of converting your IRA to a Roth. Something else to think about: It's better to implement Roth conversions when the stock market's down since this will minimize your tax bill. 3. Put it in a money market fund If neither of these options works for you, there are other things you can do with your RMDs that are simpler in terms of taxes. Chief among these alternatives is just taking the money and parking it somewhere safe as well as productive. A high-yield money market account will do nicely. Let's be clear. The sort of rates offered by most checking and savings accounts remain unimpressive. You'll specifically want to deposit this money into a true money market mutual fund, most of which are paying in the ballpark of 4% to 5% right now. Some of these money market funds have minimum holding periods, and in most cases, you'll need to instruct your bank or broker to sell shares of them in order to access your money. It could take a day to settle such trades. However, considering how much stronger the returns are from such accounts, they're an attractive option. 4. Invest it as your portfolio's goals dictate If you have the financial flexibility to do so, you could -- and arguably should -- reinvest your RMD money in a way that helps your overall portfolio achieve your bigger-picture goals. This could mean putting it into dividend stocks, or it could mean buying growth stocks . Or maybe both. Whatever your goal, just remember that this money is no longer in a tax-deferred account, while a sizable remainder of your retirement savings may still be in an IRA. If you're buying dividend stocks specifically to live on the income they generate, you may as well do it in a taxable brokerage account. You'll be paying taxes on that dividend income either way. 5. Give it away (tax efficiently) Finally, if you're taking required minimum distributions that you don't need now and feel confident that you'll never need in the future, you can give the money away. Of course, that's the case with any funds you might have. If you're making charitable gifts, however, you may as well make them in as tax efficient a manner as possible. Designating an RMD as a qualified charitable distribution does that job nicely. These are simply direct transfers of cash or assets to legitimate charitable organizations before they ever reach your hands or are put in your name outside of a retirement account. At first blush, this direct-gifting process seems unnecessary. After all, although required minimum distributions are taxed as income, donations are tax deductible. There is a difference, however. You have to itemize to claim regular donations as charitable deductions, but a QCD effectively acts as a deduction without itemizing by reducing what otherwise would have been taxable income. Also, for most individual filers, there are relatively low annual limits to tax deductions stemming from charitable gifts of cash or assets held in your name. That's in contrast with qualified charitable distributions, which can be used to satisfy the IRS's required minimum distribution rules, but are never put in your name to begin with and therefore don't raise your taxable income in any given year. This year's qualified charitable distribution cap is $105,000 per person, or a total of $210,000 for joint filers.Honourable Habu James Philip is the Taraba State Commissioner for Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation. In this interview with our correspondent Terna Chikpa, the Commissioner sheds light on the transformative initiatives of Governor Agbu Kefas’s aim at ending poverty in Taraba by 2027. He also speaks on the state government’s commitment to sustainable development, economic empowerment, and making Taraba a leading agricultural hub in Nigeria. Could you briefly tell us about your mandate as the Commissioner for Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation? Thank you very much. Let me introduce myself: I am Honourable Habu James Philip, the Commissioner for the Ministry of Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation in Taraba State, and I hail from Bali Local Government Area. As Commissioner, my mandate is to identify vulnerable groups; the less privileged and the poor and work towards alleviating or eradicating their hardships. We aim to improve their livelihood through collaborations with various stakeholders. Thank you, sir. In your estimation, how well has this mandate been executed so far in Taraba State? When we started, it was a challenging mandate, considering Taraba has a population of about 4 million, with the majority facing extreme poverty. Statistics show that around 80% of the population lives in poverty. Poverty affects various areas such as education, infrastructure, healthcare, and access to electricity. Upon taking office, His Excellency Governor Agbu Kefas took immediate action by declaring free education and reducing higher education fees by half, which greatly helped reduce financial burdens. Additionally, he focused on agriculture, distributing new farm implements to cooperative farmers. This move has significantly impacted poverty reduction. By 2027, I believe we’ll see tangible improvements. The government is constructing roads to facilitate access to local markets, ensuring farmers can transport their products easily. Through the Ministry of Rural Development, road rehabilitation has been prioritized. For example, tractors were recently distributed to cooperative farmers, courtesy of the North East Development Commission. We’ve also offered financial support through social grant transfers, providing 50,000 to 100,000 naira to youths aged 18 to 45. These are concrete steps toward eradicating poverty in Taraba. That’s impressive. You mentioned a recent trip to China. Can you share how that experience benefits Taraba State and possibly the North in general? My trip to China was incredibly enlightening. We studied China’s poverty eradication strategies, which primarily involved agriculture and e-commerce. China transformed its rural areas by modernizing agriculture, building infrastructure, and encouraging e-commerce. This is achievable in Taraba as well, considering our vast arable land. With the Governor’s commitment to introducing advanced farming equipment and techniques, I believe Taraba is on the right track. Poverty remains a significant issue in Nigeria, especially in the North. What specific challenges does Taraba face in this fight, and how are you addressing them? One of the major challenges we’ve faced in Taraba has been a lack of leadership focused on poverty alleviation. But this administration has taken steps to improve education, infrastructure, and healthcare, and has made advanced agricultural tools accessible. Addressing these gaps is essential, as they contribute to poverty. The Governor’s initiatives in these areas are visible across the state, and we’re already seeing positive impacts. Cooperative societies are essential for economic empowerment. What programmes do you have to strengthen cooperatives in Taraba? Before, many people viewed cooperatives only as government intervention platforms. We’ve educated them on how cooperatives can be self-sustaining and financially strong. Our ministry has been actively training and guiding cooperative societies on best practices, and our directors regularly visit them across the state. We believe cooperatives are vital for poverty eradication because they empower groups to support each other economically. How do you think these cooperative societies have improved financial security for their members? Previously, cooperatives operated independently, with members saving and pooling funds. But under Governor Kefas’s administration, we’ve provided intervention programs like tractors and fertilizers to cooperative farmers. These resources boost agricultural productivity, strengthen the state’s economy, and reinforce the importance of cooperatives. Let’s talk about agriculture, especially with your recent experience in China. How do you intend to leverage agriculture to promote industrial growth in Taraba? Agriculture is indeed Taraba’s key sector for poverty reduction. About 85% of Taraba’s population should ideally be involved in farming due to our fertile lands. With the right training, I believe that within the next decade, Taraba can become a major agricultural exporter. We already have potential with crops like soybeans, maize, guinea corn, and yam, as well as cash crops like coffee and tea. Our governor’s support in modernizing agriculture will certainly lead to a prosperous future for Taraba. Could you share some recent success stories or statistics highlighting your ministry’s achievements? We have partnered with NG-Cares to provide financial support to verified vulnerable individuals. Recently, we distributed funds to 10,049 beneficiaries. We’ve also distributed farm implements from the North East Development Commission and are continuously creating access roads through the Ministry of Rural Development. These initiatives are yielding positive results, and our education sector is being strengthened through fee reductions, allowing parents to focus on farming. How has the ministry’s empowerment initiative included women? This administration is highly focused on women’s empowerment. Through the Nigeria for Women Project, funded by the World Bank, we provided rice and groundnut processing machines to women across the 16 local government areas. Empowering women is empowering the community, and this initiative has already transformed many lives. On security, you mentioned the Governor’s efforts in addressing insecurity. Could you elaborate on his approach? Before this administration, insecurity was a major concern in Taraba. Today, the state is significantly safer. I can personally attest to this, as I move around without security. Farmers are now able to work without fear, which directly supports agriculture and economic growth. There was a recent viral video where you mentioned “sustaining poverty” in Tribune. We believe it was an error; could you clarify? Yes, thank you for bringing that up. I was in China discussing poverty eradication and sustainability, and I mistakenly said “sustaining poverty” instead of “sustaining development.” It was an honest slip of the tongue. My goal is to sustain development through agriculture, e-commerce, and social empowerment, not poverty. I hope this clarifies the issue. Lastly, how does your ministry engage with communities to ensure their needs are met and gather feedback on your programmes? The Governor selected a grassroots-focused team, including myself, which allows us to directly connect with the people. We rely on our ministry’s directors and representatives to gather accurate data and feedback. This direct approach helps us address the real needs of our communities effectively. How has your ministry engaged with communities to ensure their needs are met, and how do you gather feedback on your programmes? Those are excellent questions. His Excellency Dr. Agbu Kefas is one of the most experienced governors I have ever met. If you look at the composition of his executive cabinet, he has appointed commissioners from the grassroots level and individuals with intellectual backgrounds and substantial experience. For those of us who come from the community, data collection is straightforward because we are familiar with our people and understand their needs. Being appointed as the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation feels like a natural fit, allowing me to engage directly with the people. My ministry has directors who gather accurate data on those who need intervention, so we don’t rely on third-party data. We conduct our research directly within the 16 local government areas, where we have established connections with the communities. We understand what each community is capable of producing. For instance, if I’m looking to empower cooperatives in southern Taraba, I know I’ll be dealing with yam farmers in places like Wukari and palm oil producers in Takum. Our data collection is effective because we know the people and what they need. You mentioned direct data collection and feedback, which leads me to ask: Do you have established channels for people across the state to share ideas or raise concerns regarding poverty alleviation initiatives? How easy is it for people to reach your ministry? Yes, we have a structured approach. Each community has gatekeepers, and Dr. Kefas has committees in place that include these community leaders. Our ministry has offices across the geopolitical zones, and these offices are always open to ideas that can help reduce poverty. For example, if farmers feel that the distributed fertilizers are inadequate or not of the best quality, they can come forward with suggestions through their gatekeepers, chairpersons, or counsellors. We’re open to feedback from all channels, whether it’s through the leaders of various organizations or directly from the communities. Benue State has always been known as the “Food Basket of the Nation.” However, recently, the governor of Niger State has earned a reputation as the “Farmer’s Governor” due to strong agricultural initiatives. Now, considering what Governor Kefas is doing in agriculture, do you see Taraba State becoming the new food basket, potentially surpassing Benue and Niger States? That’s a timely question. Benue may hold the basket, but we’re holding the food. Much of what is produced in Niger State actually originates from Taraba. If we were to close our borders, many parts of Nigeria would feel the impact. Taraba has long been a champion in agriculture, supplying the entire Northeast and much of the North Central region. Even before this administration, our farmers were producing food in abundance. If you’re transporting crops like maize or rice through Benue on the way to the south, you’ll pass countless checkpoints because they know the produce is from Taraba. The truth is, we produce the food, and they get the credit due to a strong media presence. But we are changing that. Our Ministry of Commerce is launching “Taraba Sacks” to proudly label our produce. With Governor Kefas introducing new agricultural technologies, we will show the country that Taraba is indeed the primary food source. What are your top priorities for the next few years in terms of poverty alleviation and economic development in Taraba State? By 2027 and beyond, poverty in Taraba State will be significantly reduced. When people have access to good food, decent housing, healthcare, and quality education, that’s the foundation for a prosperous life. Governor Kefas has taken significant steps to move Taraba out of poverty. Mark my words—Taraba will be a state that offers support to others, instead of needing assistance. That’s an ambitious vision. As one of Governor Kefas’s trusted allies, how would you describe him? Governor Kefas is a true “bulldozer.” He’s a “talk and do” leader with a profound sense of humanity. He has nearly eliminated opposition in Taraba and created an environment of unity. He doesn’t want to see any child struggling to get to school or going hungry. He is dedicated to ensuring that parents who serve the government receive their deserved gratuities, and he’s committed to providing affordable education to all. To me, he’s a transformative leader, and I consider him a saviour for Taraba State. READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! 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MONTREAL - Second Cup Canada is cutting ties with a franchisee operating at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital who was allegedly filmed making hateful and antisemitic comments during a protest in the city last week. Second Cup Canada announced Saturday it was cutting ties with a franchisee for “making hateful remarks and gestures,” and adding in a statement the actions breach the franchise agreement as well as inclusion and community values ​​held by the chain. Peter Mammas, CEO of Montreal-based Foodtastic, which owns Second Cup Canada, said in an interview on Sunday that he was at the movies when his phone started pinging non-stop. He saw the videos and the company’s operations staff spoke to employees that knew the woman, and they confirmed it was indeed the franchisee. Video shot during a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside of Concordia University’s downtown Montreal campus Thursday shows a woman walking around, masked, saying the “final solution is coming your way” — wording used to describe a Nazi plan to eliminate Jews in Europe during the Second World War. Another video also shows what appears to be the same woman, unmasked, making a Nazi salute while walking away. “We’re all for free speech and respectful conversations, but this wasn’t that,” Mammas said. “This was hate speech, and it was something that we thought could incite violence and we’re completely against that, so we sat down with our team and decided to revoke the franchise agreement.” Attempts to reach the franchisee were unsuccessful on Sunday. “Second Cup has zero tolerance for hate speech,” the coffee chain said in a statement on X. “In co-ordination with the hospital, we’ve shut down the franchisee’s café and are terminating their franchise agreement.” Mammas said lawyers for the franchisee and Second Cup were expected to meet on Monday. The regional health agency serving West-Central Montreal, which includes the Jewish General Hospital, said it was made aware of the video “containing antisemitic and hateful messaging.” The video is related to a franchisee of Second Cup, one of the private tenants operating within the (Jewish General), Carl Thériault, a spokesman, said in a statement on Sunday. “We fully support Second Cup’s decision to take swift and decisive action in this matter by shutting down the franchisee’s cafés and terminating their lease agreement.” The hospital has two locations operated by the same franchisee and both were shuttered on Saturday by the owners of the chain. The health agency “is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and stands firmly against antisemitism and any other form of discrimination or hate speech,” Thériault said. “We have franchisees who are Muslim, we have franchisees who are Jewish, we have franchisees that are Greek, French, we have employees from all different nations,” Mammas said. “So we definitely have no issue with that and we don’t take any political side, but ... hate speech ... you know we can’t accept that.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 24, 2024.Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara released a statement Friday slamming the "100% false" media reports that suggested he had thrown his final pass for the Hawkeyes. McNamara has been sidelined since sustaining a concussion during the Oct. 26 win against Northwestern. Backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan has started the last two games for the Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) but is out with an ankle injury for Saturday's game at Maryland (4-6, 1-6). Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said earlier this week that Jackson Stratton will be the likely starter against the Terrapins if McNamara is unavailable. McNamara's cloudy status prompted speculation on a podcast this week that he was "not mentally ready to play." The podcast hosts from the Des Moines Register and The Athletic also suggested that McNamara -- who played three years at Michigan (2020-22) before transferring to Iowa -- is not "fit to play quarterback in the Big Ten right now." "We don't want to bury his career yet, but it does seem like that interception against Northwestern was his last snap as a Hawkeye," Leistikow said. McNamara, who passed for 1,017 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games this season, released a statement updating his current status. "My status is the same as it's always been -- a proud member of this football team," he said. McNamara said he has not yet been cleared to play. He said he was cleared to practice on Sunday but suffered an "adverse reaction" and was unable to practice this week and therefore unable to travel with the team to Maryland. "I have been working with the University of Iowa doctors and trainers, a concussion specialist focused on vision training, as well as engaging in hyperbaric treatments as frequently as possible," McNamara said. "I have every intention to play versus Nebraska next Friday night and I am confident that my teammates will return from Maryland with a win." Including his time with the Wolverines, McNamara has completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 4,703 yards with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 34 games. --Field Level Media

Santa Ana’s sole independent bookstore LibroMobile may be closing its doors. “In the last six months, our book sales have been incredibly low, and so on top of that, California state arts funding was cut, which means we lost two big grants, like $50,000 worth of funding that we normally get for our programming,” says owner and founder Sarah Rafael García. “We don’t have enough money projected for 2025. Right now, we’re not even sure we’re going to make it to June.” SEE ALSO : Sign up for our free Book Pages newsletter about bestsellers, authors and more García, who works another full-time job that runs through May, has had to cancel LibroMobile’s annual literary festival and events programming and she’s been dipping into her own income to keep the doors open at the store, which has two employees and additional student help. “I have been contributing my own personal funds to keep it going,” she says. “We’re grassroots – I’m not a rich person, you know? I started the bookstore with a $10,000 yearly income, so I always tell people, I know how to survive off of very little money.” She plans to continue doing pop-up sales events and the quarterly open mic night, although the money crunch has affected that event as well. “We cannot pay our headliners. So whatever poet chooses to accept the invite to headline, they’re doing it for free,” she says. The problem, she says, is not enough book buyers. “We won’t be able to maintain a brick and mortar if people don’t buy books,” she says. “If we don’t increase book sales significantly in the next couple months, then in March I’m going to have to probably announce that we’re definitely closing in June.” And while she says she’ll find a way to keep doing pop-ups and other events – she launched LibroMobile with a hand-me-down garden cart that gave the venture its name – “We won’t have a brick and mortar store, which is a really sad thing for our city, as the only independent bookstore in Santa Ana.” No, it’s not the rent García makes one thing clear: Don’t blame her landlords. “We don’t pay market-rate rent. So when people say, ‘Oh, it’s your landlord, they should decrease it.’ That’s not true. They have been 100% supportive. They have not increased our rent because they know we’re in this situation,” she says. “They want to figure out how to make it work.” She says LibroMobile reciprocates by creating community events in English and Spanish at the Bristol Swap Meet to bring people to the food courts as well as by helping to fund the site’s murals with grant money and city support. “We’re more than a bookstore. We’re creating a place for our community where they can explore literature and the arts without having to pay for it,” she says, but adds that there are always costs to cover. “We have to pay a DJ. We have to pay for the equipment. Sometimes we have to rent chairs if we expect a bigger crowd for an event. So all those are additional costs.” But she’s committed to serving the community. “This is home for me ... Santa Ana is where I went to school and keep returning, even though I have nobody left here, other than friends and chosen family, my godparents. But it’s still what I call home.” Her father, Rafael Castillo García, worked for The Orange County Register for 10 years until he died unexpectedly in 1988 at age 36. She recalls how her father – who studied the paper to improve his language skills, attended community college and wrote poems he’d leave on the family refrigerator – would leave the house dressed in crisp slacks and a dress shirt. “He always dressed sharp to go to work, to try to impress us to have better jobs,” says García, who would learn about the physical nature of his work after his death. “I didn’t know he was a labor worker. I had to go empty his locker out, and I found the coveralls.” What’s next? García says she has considered suggestions to start a crowdfunding campaign but ultimately decided against it. “I know I could probably set up a GoFundMe, but where would that take us a year or two from now? We’ll be in the same position. If I don’t cultivate the culture and the tradition in Santa Ana and Orange County, then we’re still not creating sustainability,” she says. “I’m trying to cultivate the want and the need of books, not just holding rent.” So what can local readers do to help? “I want them shopping at the bookstore. [laughs] We go days without someone buying a book sometimes,” she says. “We are the only bookstore in Santa Ana, but not just that. We’re the only bookstore in Orange County that prioritizes Black, Indigenous, and People of Color books, as well as Spanish, multicultural and bilingual books. We have a whole beautiful collection of BIPOC cookbooks – like, who does that, right? – on top of a special collection that prioritizes ethnic studies, gender studies and academic books at affordable prices.” SEE ALSO : Bestsellers, authors, books and more can be found in the Books section García underscores her commitment to keeping prices reasonable – or even free. She stocks a Little Free Library at the Bristol Swap Meet, too. “Maybe that’s why we’re not making enough money. But that’s the whole point of keeping books that are relevant to our community accessible and affordable,” she says. While she says that the store is proudly political, García thinks LibroMobile has something that benefits the entire community. ​”If you don’t like our politics, there’s still plenty of other books you can read in our store,” she says. “We have something for everyone, but we’re also not going to hide our political stances for the sake of capitalism.” For more stories about : Sign up for our free Book Pages newsletter about bestsellers, authors and moreAP Trending SummaryBrief at 9:28 a.m. EST

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG purchased a new stake in Essex Property Trust, Inc. ( NYSE:ESS – Free Report ) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 2,185 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock, valued at approximately $645,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of ESS. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Essex Property Trust by 4.7% during the 3rd quarter. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC now owns 775 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $229,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Essex Property Trust by 3.7% during the first quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,228 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $301,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Essex Property Trust by 5.4% during the second quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,014 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $276,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Quilter Plc grew its position in Essex Property Trust by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Quilter Plc now owns 8,698 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $2,368,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. increased its stake in Essex Property Trust by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 781 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $231,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. 96.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Amal M. Johnson sold 2,453 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.00, for a total transaction of $735,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 2,585 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $775,500. The trade was a 48.69 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CEO Angela L. Kleiman sold 8,080 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.10, for a total transaction of $2,546,008.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 9,494 shares in the company, valued at $2,991,559.40. This represents a 45.98 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 20,402 shares of company stock worth $6,399,663 in the last ninety days. 3.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes View Our Latest Research Report on ESS Essex Property Trust Trading Up 0.4 % Shares of ESS opened at $305.53 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $297.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $285.35. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. Essex Property Trust, Inc. has a twelve month low of $210.36 and a twelve month high of $317.73. The stock has a market cap of $19.64 billion, a PE ratio of 35.69, a P/E/G ratio of 5.99 and a beta of 0.88. Essex Property Trust ( NYSE:ESS – Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.88 by ($2.04). The firm had revenue of $450.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $445.88 million. Essex Property Trust had a return on equity of 9.72% and a net margin of 31.55%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.78 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Essex Property Trust, Inc. will post 15.56 EPS for the current fiscal year. Essex Property Trust Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 11th. Investors of record on Monday, September 30th were given a dividend of $2.45 per share. This represents a $9.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 30th. Essex Property Trust’s payout ratio is 114.49%. About Essex Property Trust ( Free Report ) Essex Property Trust, Inc, an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily residential properties in selected West Coast markets. Essex currently has ownership interests in 252 apartment communities comprising approximately 62,000 apartment homes with an additional property in active development. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ESS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Essex Property Trust, Inc. ( NYSE:ESS – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Essex Property Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Essex Property Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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Rutgers looks to pick up steam in clash vs. Seton HallAfter a Thursday collapse, Indian equity markets rebounded strongly on Friday helped by buying trends across sectors with IT and bank heavyweights throwing their weights around. Individually Reliance Industries (RIL) was the single biggest contributor to their surge. While the S&P BSE Sensex settled at 79,117.11, up by 1961.32 points or 2.54%, the broader Nifty closed at 23,907.25, higher by 557.35 points or 2.39%. Here's how analysts read the market pulse: Commenting on the day's action, Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities said that Nifty is back to its 200-DMA after a strong Friday recovery, indicating an improving trend. Additionally, the 50-stock index has broken out of a few days of congestion on the daily timeframe, he said. "The RSI has entered a bullish crossover near the oversold zone, suggesting positive momentum. The sentiment appears favorable for a meaningful rally in the short term, as long as the index stays above 23,600,” De said. US markets Wall Street closed higher on Friday, with all three major indexes posting weekly gains, as investors took comfort from data pointing to robust economic activity in the world's biggest economy. A measure of business activity raced to a 31-month high in November, boosted by hopes for lower interest rates and more business-friendly policies from President-elect Donald Trump's administration next year. Stock Trading Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program Stock Trading Complete Guide to Stock Market Trading: From Basics to Advanced By - Harneet Singh Kharbanda, Full Time Trader View Program Stock Trading Derivative Analytics Made Easy By - Vivek Bajaj, Co Founder- Stockedge and Elearnmarkets View Program Stock Trading RSI Trading Techniques: Mastering the RSI Indicator By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program Stock Trading RSI Made Easy: RSI Trading Course By - Souradeep Dey, Equity and Commodity Trader, Trainer View Program Stock Trading Market 104: Options Trading: Kickstart Your F&O Adventure By - Saketh R, Founder- QuickAlpha, Full Time Options Trader View Program Stock Trading Futures Trading Made Easy: Future & Options Trading Course By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Stock Trading Technical Analysis for Everyone - Technical Analysis Course By - Abhijit Paul, Technical Research Head, Fund Manager- ICICI Securities View Program Stock Trading Dow Theory Made Easy By - Vishal Mehta, Independent Systematic Trader View Program Stock Trading Heikin Ashi Trading Tactics: Master the Art of Trading By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program Stock Trading Markets 102: Mastering Sentiment Indicators for Swing and Positional Trading By - Rohit Srivastava, Founder- Indiacharts.com View Program Stock Trading Algo Trading Made Easy By - Vivek Gadodia, Partner at Dravyaniti Consulting and RBT Algo Systems View Program Stock Trading Technical Analysis Made Easy: Online Certification Course By - Souradeep Dey, Equity and Commodity Trader, Trainer View Program European Markets Tech led gains in Europe on Friday, with the benchmark stock index on track for its first weekly advance in five, as the recent selling pressure due to geopolitical tensions eased, but the mood was still sombre after discouraging economic data. The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.6% as of 0915 GMT and was set for its second day of gains. Tech View Decoding the technical charts, Jatin Gedia, Technical Research Analyst at Sharekhan said that Nifty opened gap up today and witnessed a short covering rally. "It surpassed the high of the last five trading sessions and closed with gains of 557 points. On the daily charts we can observe that the Nifty surpassed the previous swing high of 23,780 and thereby reversing its short-term trend," Gedia said. On the upside he expects the Nifty to retrace towards 24,400 with potential to extend towards 24,730 while on the downside, 23,630 – 23,560 should act as a crucial support zone and only a dip below these levels will make the structure weak. Most active stocks in terms of turnover Protean eGoV Technologies (Rs 460.27 crore), Adani Green Energy (Rs 263.12 crore), Adani Enterprises (Rs 254.34 crore), Adani Power (Rs 193.80 crore), Power Grid (Rs 182.67 crore), Adani Ports (Rs 176.14 crore) Paytm (Rs 152.02 crore), Reliance Industries (Rs 131.50 crore) and SBI (Rs 124.03 crore) were among the most active stocks on BSE in value terms. Higher activity in a counter in value terms can help identify the counters with highest trading turnovers in the day. Most active stocks in volume terms Vodafone Idea (Traded shares: 7.25 crore), Srestha Finvest (Traded shares: 3.16 crore), Suzlon Energy (Traded shares: 1.58 crore), GTL Infra (Traded shares: 86.26 lakh), SpiceJet (Traded shares: 60.73 lakh), Yes Bank (Traded shares: 54.99 lakh) and Power Grid (Traded shares: 54.93 crore) were among the most actively traded stocks in volume terms on BSE. Stocks showing buying interest Shares of SBI, Bajaj Finance, Raymond, Praj Industries, Swan Energy, EaseMyTrip, MRPL and Sobha were among the stocks that witnessed strong buying interest from market participants. 52 Week high Over 163 stocks hit their 52-week highs today while 107 stocks slipped to their 52-week lows. Among the ones that hit their 52 week highs included Coforge, Coromandel International, CRISIL, Fortis Healthcare, HCL Technologies, Mastek, National Aluminium Company and Finance Company and Persistent Systems. Stocks seeing selling pressure Among the largecap names was Bajaj Auto. Other stocks that witnessed significant selling pressure were Adani Energy Solutions, Adani Green Energy, Network18 Media, Torrent Power, and Honasa Consumer (Mamaearth). Sentiment meter favours bears Action in heavyweights like Reliance Industries (RIL), Infosys and SBI helped markets shoot up amid buying trends across sectors. The market sentiments were bullish. Out of the 4,041 stocks that traded on the BSE on Friday, 1,539 stocks witnessed declines, 2,396 saw advances while 106 stocks remained unchanged. Also Read: ACC, Adani Enterprises among 6 Adani Group stocks where FIIs cut stakes in CY2024 (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times) (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel )

El Sailon hosts an ongoing speaker series focusing on Artificial Intelligence in Santa FeST. LOUIS — Robert Thomas scored twice, Jordan Kyrou had a goal and an assist, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Nashville Predators 7-4 on Friday night. Joel Hofer made 26 saves for the Blues, and defenseman Cam Fowler added a goal and two assists. Zack Bolduc, Philip Broberg and Colton Parayko also scored for St. Louis. Dylan Holloway had two assists. Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault each had a goal and an assist for Nashville. Mark Jankowski and Nick Blankenburg also scored. Predators goalie Juuse Saros was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals on 15 shots. Thomas scored the first goal of the game and got another one on a power play at 15:10 of the third period off assists from Kyrou and Fowler to make it 6-4. Parayko added an empty-netter with 1:15 remaining. Nashville Predators' Jeremy Lauzon (3) and St. Louis Blues' Tyler Tucker (75) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Scott Kane St. Louis scored on its first two shots. Thomas got an unassisted goal 1:20 into the game when he picked off a pass by Gustav Nyquist and scored with a wrist shot. Bolduc then fired in a slap shot from the right circle at 2:47. Takeaways Predators: Saros was pulled after he poked the puck directly to Broberg, who scored unassisted from the left circle at 15:29 of the second to make it 5-3. Justus Annunen replaced Saros and made 12 saves on 13 shots. Blues: Hofer improved to 5-0-1 in his last seven appearances. He is 8-3-1 this season. Key moment Fowler gave St. Louis a 4-2 lead at 18:05 of the first with a slap shot from inside the blue line for his first goal of the season. St. Louis acquired him from Anaheim in a Dec. 14 trade. St. Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou (25) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Scott Kane Key stat Thomas has 18 points in his last 12 games (six goals, 12 assists). Up next The Predators play Monday at Winnipeg. The Blues host Buffalo on Sunday.Danel Aboitiz —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO A notable trait that can set the Aboitiz Group apart is its sheer longevity—which it owes to the successful, intergenerational management by cousins, rather than by siblings or father-and-son teams. This makes it quite unique among the country’s enduring family-run conglomerates. The reins are currently held by Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) CEO Sabin Aboitiz, a member of the fourth generation who is focused on transforming the group into a “techglomerate,” where operations make full use of the latest technological innovations. Helping Sabin achieve this goal is a growing echelon of nephews and nieces—the fifth generation—holding top positions across the group. One of them is 43-year-old Danel Aboitiz, the only son of AEV chair Enrique Aboitiz and renowned painter Valeria Cavestany. Danel took over as president and CEO of Aboitiz Power Corp. on July 1 this year. Much is expected of Danel as his portfolio—consisting of 49 power generation facilities and nine electric distribution sites across the Philippines— accounts for the majority of the group’s total earnings. At the end of the first nine months of 2024, AEV, which also has interests in power, banking, property development, infrastructure and food, rang up a net income of P18.8 billion, up 4 percent from the P18 billion recorded in the same period last year. And of that profit, AboitizPower accounted for 64 percent or P14.5 billion, a share that was also up by 4 percent from the previous year thanks to higher generation and additional supply from newly built solar power plants. Danel’s decisions have an outsized impact on a conglomerate whose history traces back to the late 1800s. But he has years of experience to guide him. Before taking over as CEO, Danel was the chief commercial and stakeholder engagement officer and the senior vice president of the Regulatory Affairs and External Relations at AboitizPower. He also served as president and chief operating officer within the company’s coal and oil business units. He also significantly contributed to its geothermal business unit and the SN Aboitiz Power Group, the joint venture between Scatec of Norway and AboitizPower for large hydropower facilities in Luzon. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy and Politics from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and also completed a year of study at the Beijing Language and Culture University. As CEO, Danel, who was recruited to the group by his uncle and former AEV CEO Erramon Aboitiz, is determined to further grow its assets, which will include both traditional and renewable power plants. At present, about 70 percent of AboitizPower’s output still comes from fossil fuel-fired plants, including those using coal. But the medium to long-term goal is to gradually increase the share of renewables as long as the price and reliability issues are addressed. Danel is also an advocate of upstream natural gas and coal exploration, as he believes that securing indigenous sources will not only improve the country’s energy self-sufficiency but also provide a shield from global price fluctuations and foreign exchange risks. But he also hopes to introduce another type of “derisking” to AboitizPower, one aiming for a scenario where the company would no longer depend most heavily on Philippine operations for its revenues. Plans are therefore in place to expand abroad. “We are also looking to diversify away from coal, not to have an overreliance on just one technology. It does not mean we won’t build coal; it only means we will build other things faster,” Danel says. As AboitizPower expands, Danel says, the company will continue to be guided by the “timeless” values of integrity, responsibility, teamwork, innovation and service excellence. He defines integrity and responsibility as delivering on the group’s commitments and leaving things better than when they found them. These values, he says, provide AboitizPower with a strong foundation on its path toward achieving ambitious goals, which include having 4,600 megawatts of renewable capacity by 2030. Teamwork, or the desire for genuine collaboration across units within and outside the company, is a competitive advantage at AboitizPower, Danel stresses. Coupled with innovation and creative thinking, this allows them to capture synergies and efficiencies, therefore making the collective greater than the sum of its parts. Finally, and most importantly, service excellence, which Danel says is AboitizPower’s “reason for being.” “We always have the customer in mind. We strive to operate like a competitive retail business rather than a monopolistic utility. We endeavor to understand the needs of our customers, and innovate to better respond to their needs.” Putting the customer at the center of the business is a value that Danel shares with the rest of his cousins—and there are 17 of them, as of the last count, holding key posts across the organization. They all trace their roots to Paulino Aboitiz, a Spaniard who established Aboitiz & Co. in the late 1800s as a trading business dealing in abaca and general merchandise in Ormoc, Leyte. Also among the fifth-generation cousins managing the group are incoming Union Bank of the Philippines CEO Ana Aboitiz-Delgado, incoming Aboitiz Land Inc. CEO Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, and Pilmico Corp. CEO Tristan Aboitiz. Danel believes that family members naturally take a much longer view of the business, having an intimate knowledge of its history and deeply mindful of the legacy they want to leave for those next in line. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . But at the same time, this filial foundation of strength still needs to be fostered by a merit-based working environment, where professionals outside the generational circle can also thrive, grow as leaders in their own right, and help achieve the company’s mission. INQUndated file photo shows an aerial view of the ruins of an ancient city found at the Erlitou ruins in central China’s Henan Province. – Xinhua photo ZHENGZHOU (Dec 28): Chinese archaeologists have reported a significant breakthrough in their research on the Xia Dynasty (2070-1600 BC), China’s earliest known dynasty. They discovered rammed earth structures highly suspected to be the city walls of a Xia Dynasty capital. The findings were presented on Thursday during a briefing by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, which also highlighted other recent archaeological discoveries in the country. The rammed earth structures, extending over 2,000 metres in total, were excavated in Gucheng Village in central China’s Henan Province. Gucheng Village lies just opposite the renowned Erlitou ruins, a previously excavated site that archaeologists identified as one of the capital cities during the Xia Dynasty, across the Luohe River. The structures are highly likely to be the long-sought city walls of the Erlitou capital city, according to the archaeological team studying the Gucheng Village ruins. As ancient cities in China were typically fortified with city walls, the absence of city walls at the Erlitou ruins has become a missing puzzle piece that generations of Chinese archaeologists have been trying to uncover. Discovered in 1959 by the late historian Xu Xusheng, Erlitou, known as “the earliest China,” is of great reference value for studying the origin of Chinese civilisation, the rise of kingdoms, the regulation of ancient capitals, and other major issues related to the development of Chinese civilisation. Its central area currently covers approximately 3 million square metres. “The new findings have expanded the known area of the Erlitou capital city, offering crucial insights into its overall layout,” said Wang Wei, director of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, adding that the identification of the city walls will greatly alter the current understanding of the urban and cultural development of Erlitou ruins. Since its excavation in 2021, Gucheng Village ruins have seen three ditches (G1, G2 and G3) unearthed alongside the newly discovered rammed earth wall. Erlitou culture can be traced back 3,500 to 3,800 years. It was named after the Erlitou ruins. The G2 and G3 ditches and the rammed earth wall are from the same period as the main roads, walls and other rammed earth structures of the Erlitou ruins, noted Zhao Haitao, head of the Erlitou work team under the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The ditches and rammed earth structures enclose the Erlitou ruins on the eastern and northern sides. “Therefore, it is highly likely that they are the ditches and city walls encircling the Erlitou capital city,” Zhao added. The next step for the archaeologists will be to investigate the chronology and changes in the location of the ancient riverbed of the Luohe River, among other aspects, to gain further insights into the ditches and rammed earth walls, according to Zhao. The excavation and research related to the Erlitou ruins and the Gucheng Village ruins are ongoing. – Xinhua

NetApp Analysts Raise Their Forecasts After Strong Earnings

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday said Kyiv needed an "enduring" peace to protect it from Russia, after talks in Paris with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who warned he would "probably" reduce aid to Ukraine. Trump had earlier said Zelenskyy was keen for a "deal" and called for negotiations to start. The pair met a day earlier with French leader Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee. Trump, in an interview aired Sunday but recorded before the Saturday meeting, said his incoming administration would reduce aid to Ukraine, which Washington has been steadfastly backing since its invasion by Russia nearly three years ago. "Possibly. Yeah, probably, sure," Trump told NBC's "Meet the Press". Trump has boasted he could end the conflict swiftly without saying how. Moscow and Kyiv are readying for his arrival in the White House, with an escalation in deadly attacks in recent weeks in the drawn-out conflict. The Ukrainian president, who had previously opposed any territorial concessions, has eased his position in recent months. His army is struggling on the front line and fears are mounting of dwindling Western aid. Zelenskyy has floated the idea of temporarily forgoing Russian-controlled areas -- about one fifth of Ukraine -- in exchange for NATO security guarantees and weapons deliveries from the West. "I stated that we need a just and enduring peace -- one that the Russians will not be able to destroy in a few years, as they have done repeatedly in the past," Zelenskyy said on social media. Almost three years of war have ravaged Ukraine, killing thousands and leading millions to flee the country. "Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else," said Zelenskyy. "Russia brought war to our land, and it is Russia that most seeks to disrupt the possibility of peace". He called on Western allies not to "turn a blind eye to occupation" and said Kyiv would only agree to a deal that would bring long-term peace. "War cannot be endless -- only peace must be permanent and reliable," he said. In a rare admission of numbers, Zelenskyy said 43,000 Ukrainian troops had been killed in combat, while some 370,000 were wounded. Russia has not put an official figure on its losses, but independent media outlet Mediazona and the Russian service of the BBC -- working from publicly available data -- have estimated they have lost more than 82,000 soldiers. Some analysts believe the true figures on both sides could be higher. Zelensky gave no specifics on what any talks might look like, but a senior Ukrainian official said they had discussed "some key conditions" for ending the war. "We are not disclosing details, but the presidents discussed at the meeting that there should be something that would guarantee the reliability of the peace," the source added. The Kremlin, meanwhile, accused Ukraine of "refusing" to negotiate an end to the war. It said its conditions to enter peace talks -- which include Kyiv giving up four regions -- remain unchanged. "The Ukrainian side refused and is refusing negotiation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. He referred to a 2022 Ukrainian decree that ruled out talks with Putin, but not other Russian officials. Trump had earlier called for an "immediate ceasefire" and called for talks to begin. "Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Trump has said he has good relations with Putin. As leaders made statements in Kyiv, Moscow and Paris, the situation on the ground in eastern Ukraine remained dire. Moscow claimed another village in the east -- Blagodatne in the Donetsk region -- on Sunday, pressing steady gains. Russian forces are just a few kilometers away from the eastern city of Pokrovsk. Many in Ukraine have feared that Trump taking office would force it to make heart-aching concessions to Russia, while the nation is also suffering exhaustion. In the village of Osynovo in the eastern Kharkiv region, news of the meeting between Trump and Zelensky offered some hope to one of the frontline village's last remaining residents, Mykola Lytvynov. Cleaning earth from vegetables in his backyard, the 80-year-old said he hoped the meeting could help bring about a negotiated end to the conflict. "How long can we be at war? So many people have been killed, so many young people. And you see the massive level of destruction," he told AFP. He suggested Ukraine could have retained more of its territory by already entering into talks with Russia, but said he hoped for an end to the fighting for another, personal reason. "Both my sons are fighting. I just want them to survive." Ukraine also said that two civilians had been killed in the Donetsk region and a 73-year-old man in a village in the southern Kherson region. Kyiv said seven other people were wounded in attacks in other villages of the Kherson region.ST. PAUL — Kris Bolle is living the “van life” these days with Annie, his mini Australian shepherd. Bolle, 46, bought a 2020 Dodge Ram ProMaster cargo van this past fall. The Hayfield resident planned, essentially, a studio apartment inside. The van with a high roof has room for a full bed, a small kitchen area and a writing desk. He saves money by forgoing rent, but there is a cost — isolation. It’s a lifestyle he’s grown accustomed to since he had to hide his sexuality over the years, including in the Navy under the now-defunct “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which allowed gay and lesbian service members to stay in the military as long as they weren’t out, he said. “I had to be very, very tight-lipped about me ... so I’m used to it,” Bolle said. “But yes, it wears on you. It wears you down, and you feel isolated and you feel left out.” About 48% of Minnesotans feel left out some of the time or often, according to the “Minds of Minnesotans” survey conducted by APM Research Lab. The poll also finds that about half of Minnesotans feel lonely, at least some of the time. More specifically, 13% say they “often” lack companionship and another 35% lack companionship “some of the time.” Results were similar when Minnesotans were asked how often they feel left out and isolated from others. Bolle was one of 3,399 participants surveyed by the firm Lumaris. He said he often feels a lack of companionship as well. He hasn’t been in a relationship since 2009. He often feels left out and sometimes feels isolated. “I’m isolated in the sense where I really can’t find a suitable partner,” he said. His social connections are at his nursing assistant job, which he looks forward to, Bolle said. He’s never thoroughly enjoyed a job as much as his role at a skilled nursing facility, he said. “Work is great. I get to see people, I get to interact with people. I get to chat and talk and all the things that you know, that people do,” Bolle said. “That’s really hard to find.” The APM Research Lab included these questions in the survey, conducted this year between July 20 and Nov. 22, to better understand what the U.S. Surgeon General has called “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” The three questions used in the APM Research Lab survey were replicated from the widely used UCLA Loneliness Scale to help assess Minnesotans’ state of mind in the post-pandemic era, and possibly to help identify groups of Minnesotans that are faring better or worse with feelings of loneliness and isolation. In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a report calling loneliness an epidemic, posing significant health risks akin to tobacco usage, obesity and addiction. Loneliness intersects with various aspects of people’s lives, said Carrie Henning-Smith, an associate professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. “Social isolation and loneliness have profound impacts on health, on mortality risks, on all of the ways that our lives play out within health, within that sphere, but in so many other ways, too,” said Henning-Smith, who conducts research on rural populations as the co-director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center and the Rural Health Program. According to the U.S. Surgeon General report, “the physical health consequences of poor or insufficient connection include a 29 percent increased risk of heart disease, a 32 percent increased risk of stroke, and a 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia for older adults.” A lack of social connections increases the risk of premature death by more than 60%, the report added. Mary Jo Kreitzer, the founder and director of the Earl Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota, said the report is significant. “Just by him [Murthy] touching that subject, everybody remembers that he did,” she said. “People remembered that. Because I’m sure that everybody has somebody like that in their life, or they themselves are feeling lonely.” There’s also a stigma surrounding the idea of loneliness. “People are reluctant to admit that they feel lonely. It somehow means like that you’re unlikable or unlovable or there’s something wrong with you,” Henning-Smith said. “It’s important to have these conversations, because the truth is, just about everyone will feel lonely at some point in their life.” she added. “It's a universal part of being human.” Kreitzer said the data reported by APM Lab is comparable to other global and U.S. data on the subject. “Other studies, like this one found that loneliness peaks in younger age groups,” she said, calling it “a very interesting finding.” The survey found that the Gen Z cohort of 18 to 27, were the most lonely. “That surprises a lot of people, but I think it’s consistent with other data,” Kreitzer said. She said people assume that older people suffer from loneliness because they lack the social connections they once had earlier in their lives. The survey data, instead, showed that baby boomers, currently aged 60-78, are the least lonely of adult-age generations in Minnesota: 63% score as “rarely lonely” and only 7% indicated frequent loneliness. “Sometimes, like in the boomer generation, when people have retired, they actually have more time to build and strengthen connections,” Kreitzer said. “Boomers can be great at joining groups, pursuing interests, be that hobbies or fitness activities or book clubs or volunteering, and all of those are ways that can really help us build social connections.” She said her local YMCA in Grand Rapids is a hub of activity with engaged older folks. She sees them playing cards, working out, swimming and more. Gen Zers, however, are experiencing numerous life transitions. “During that age, they’re expected to separate from their family, to find a partner, to launch a career,” Kreitzer said. “So there’s been a lot of disruption in social connections that they probably have had in their life for a long, long time.” Henning-Smith called the loneliness rates among young adults “concerning.” Social media and technology may explain part of the higher rates. “People who live their lives online, people who are digital natives and were born into a world where they’re living their lives online, have fundamentally different ways of connecting with other people,” Henning-Smith said. “I worry that some of those skills and some of the infrastructure for connecting with people in meaningful ways and in-person connections might be lacking for some folks in younger generations.” Kreitzer suggests to those who may have frequent bouts of loneliness to acknowledge the feelings. Don’t ignore them. She advises them to reach out to family and friends to try to build or rebuild social connections. She also encourages people to join groups based on their interests. Kreitzer highly recommends volunteering because of the health benefits associated with it. “There’s actually research on that that, like, volunteering helps improve our own well-being,” she said. “It can actually improve our overall positive outlook, our mental health and well-being.” Back in Hayfield, Bolle said he tries to find community to fend off his loneliness. His location is a challenge because he finds groups in the Twin Cities some 90 miles away. He belongs to a spiritual group that meets once a week in Rochester, but that’s a 52-mile round trip, so he only goes from time to time. Bolle also prepares himself to encounter situations that bring on feelings of loneliness when he goes to Rochester on his weekends to run errands. “When I see families out having fun together, or groups of people, groups of young people, you know, out together and having fun, that can trigger pangs of loneliness,” he said. “I just feel like I’m missing out on human connection.” He said when he was younger, he bought into society’s emphasis on rugged individualism. “But it just doesn’t work, because you will almost ultimately, always end up feeling lonely,” he said. When he traveled the world with the Navy, Bolle said he saw community and family as top priorities in other countries as well as in the Mexican and Latino communities of Southern California where he grew up. “You really do need that connection with other people,” he said. “It’s almost as important as food and shelter, you know?” The data and the heart appear to agree. This story was originally published on MPRNews.org

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Light & Wonder, Inc. Announcement: If You Have Suffered Losses in Light & Wonder, Inc. ...The near future could see AI assistants that forecast and influence our decision-making at an early stage, and sell these developing "intentions" in real-time to companies that can meet the need—before we even realize we have made up our minds. This is according to AI ethicists from the University of Cambridge, who say we are at the dawn of a "lucrative yet troubling new marketplace for digital signals of intent," from buying movie tickets to voting for candidates. They call this the "intention economy." Researchers from Cambridge's Leverhulme Center for the Future of Intelligence (LCFI) argue that the explosion in generative AI, and our increasing familiarity with chatbots, opens a new frontier of "persuasive technologies"—one hinted at in recent corporate announcements by tech giants. "Anthropomorphic" AI agents, from chatbot assistants to digital tutors and girlfriends, will have access to vast quantities of intimate psychological and behavioral data, often gleaned via informal, conversational spoken dialogue. This AI will combine knowledge of our online habits with an uncanny ability to attune to us in ways we find comforting—mimicking personalities and anticipating desired responses—to build levels of trust and understanding that allow for social manipulation on an industrial scale, say researchers. "Tremendous resources are being expended to position AI assistants in every area of life, which should raise the question of whose interests and purposes these so-called assistants are designed to serve," said LCFI Visiting Scholar Dr. Yaqub Chaudhary. "What people say when conversing, how they say it, and the type of inferences that can be made in real-time as a result, are far more intimate than just records of online interactions" "We caution that AI tools are already being developed to elicit, infer, collect, record, understand, forecast, and ultimately manipulate and commodify human plans and purposes." Dr. Jonnie Penn, an historian of technology from Cambridge's LCFI, said, "For decades, attention has been the currency of the internet. Sharing your attention with social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram drove the online economy." "Unless regulated, the intention economy will treat your motivations as the new currency. It will be a for those who target, steer, and sell human intentions." "We should start to consider the likely impact such a marketplace would have on human aspirations, including free and fair elections, a free press, and fair market competition, before we become victims of its unintended consequences." In a paper, Penn and Chaudhary write that the intention economy will be the attention economy "plotted in time": profiling how user attention and communicative style connects to patterns of behavior and the choices we end up making. "While some intentions are fleeting, classifying and targeting the intentions that persist will be extremely profitable for advertisers," said Chaudhary. In an intention economy, Large Language Models or LLMs could be used to target, at low cost, a user's cadence, politics, vocabulary, age, gender, online history, and even preferences for flattery and ingratiation, write the researchers. This information-gathering would be linked with brokered bidding networks to maximize the likelihood of achieving a given aim, such as selling a cinema trip ("You mentioned feeling overworked, shall I book you that movie ticket we'd talked about?"). This could include steering conversations in the service of particular platforms, advertisers, businesses, and even political organizations, argue Penn and Chaudhary. While researchers say the intention economy is currently an "aspiration" for the tech industry, they track early signs of this trend through published research and the hints dropped by several major tech players. These include an open call for "data that expresses human intention... across any language, topic, and format" in a 2023 OpenAI blogpost, while the director of product at Shopify—an OpenAI partner—spoke of chatbots coming in "to explicitly get the user's intent" at a conference the same year. Nvidia's CEO has spoken publicly of using LLMs to figure out intention and desire, while Meta released "Intentonomy" research, a dataset for human intent understanding, back in 2021. In 2024, Apple's new "App Intents" developer framework for connecting apps to Siri (Apple's voice-controlled ), includes protocols to "predict actions someone might take in future" and "to suggest the app intent to someone in the future using predictions you [the developer] provide." "AI agents such as Meta's CICERO are said to achieve human level play in the game Diplomacy, which is dependent on inferring and predicting intent, and using persuasive dialogue to advance one's position," said Chaudhary. "These companies already sell our attention. To get the commercial edge, the logical next step is to use the technology they are clearly developing to forecast our intentions, and sell our desires before we have even fully comprehended what they are." Penn points out that these developments are not necessarily bad, but have the potential to be destructive. "Public awareness of what is coming is the key to ensuring we don't go down the wrong path," he said.kijiji edmonton 。

FOR millions of Filipinos living in poverty, a single opportunity to build a sustainable livelihood can open the door to a brighter future. Pure Bayanihan, a US-registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, aims to combat poverty in the Philippines. The organization has started a nationwide effort with the objective of establishing 1 million new livelihoods to solve the ongoing economic difficulties that many Filipinos, particularly those living in rural regions, experience. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its ongoing capital return program, NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) today announced that its board of directors has approved the payment of an interim dividend. The actions are based on the continued and significant strength of the NXP capital structure, and the board's confidence in the company's ability to drive long-term growth and strong cash flow. The board of directors has approved the payment of an interim dividend of $1.014 per ordinary share for the fourth quarter of 2024. The interim dividend will be paid in cash on January 8, 2025, to shareholders of record as of December 5, 2024. Taxation - Cash Dividends Cash dividends will be subject to the deduction of Dutch dividend withholding tax at the rate of 15 percent, which may be reduced in certain circumstances. Non-Dutch resident shareholders, depending on their circumstances, may be entitled to a full or partial refund of Dutch dividend withholding tax. If you are uncertain as to the tax treatment of any dividends, consult your tax advisor. About NXP Semiconductors NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) is the trusted partner for innovative solutions in the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communications infrastructure markets. NXP's "Brighter Together" approach combines leading-edge technology with pioneering people to develop system solutions that make the connected world better, safer, and more secure. The company has operations in more than 30 countries and posted revenue of $13.28 billion in 2023. Find out more at www.nxp.com . Forward-looking Statements This document includes forward-looking statements which include statements regarding NXP's business strategy, financial condition, results of operations, market data, as well as any other statements which are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected. These factors, risks and uncertainties include the following: market demand and semiconductor industry conditions; our ability to successfully introduce new technologies and products; the demand for the goods into which NXP's products are incorporated; trade disputes between the U.S. and China, potential increase of barriers to international trade and resulting disruptions to NXP's established supply chains; the impact of government actions and regulations, including restrictions on the export of US-regulated products and technology; increasing and evolving cybersecurity threats and privacy risks, including theft of sensitive or confidential data; the ability to generate sufficient cash, raise sufficient capital or refinance corporate debt at or before maturity to meet both NXP's debt service and research and development and capital investment requirements; our ability to accurately estimate demand and match our production capacity accordingly or obtain supplies from third-party producers to meet demand; our access to production capacity from third-party outsourcing partners, and any events that might affect their business or NXP's relationship with them; our ability to secure adequate and timely supply of equipment and materials from suppliers; our ability to avoid operational problems and product defects and, if such issues were to arise, to correct them quickly; our ability to form strategic partnerships and joint ventures and to successfully cooperate with our alliance partners; our ability to win competitive bid selection processes; our ability to develop products for use in customers' equipment and products; the ability to successfully hire and retain key management and senior product engineers; global hostilities, including the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and resulting regional instability, sanctions and any other retaliatory measures taken against Russia and the continued hostilities and the armed conflict in the Middle East, which could adversely impact the global supply chain, disrupt our operations or negatively impact the demand for our products in our primary end markets; the ability to maintain good relationships with NXP's suppliers; and a change in tax laws could have an effect on our estimated effective tax rate. In addition, this document contains information concerning the semiconductor industry, our end markets and business generally, which is forward-looking in nature and is based on a variety of assumptions regarding the ways in which the semiconductor industry, our end markets and business will develop. NXP has based these assumptions on information currently available, if any one or more of these assumptions turn out to be incorrect, actual results may differ from those predicted. While NXP does not know what impact any such differences may have on its business, if there are such differences, its future results of operations and its financial condition could be materially adversely affected. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak to results only as of the date the statements were made. Except for any ongoing obligation to disclose material information as required by the United States federal securities laws, NXP does not have any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after we distribute this document, whether to reflect any future events or circumstances or otherwise. For a discussion of potential risks and uncertainties, please refer to the risk factors listed in our SEC filings. Copies of our SEC filings are available on our Investor Relations website, www.nxp.com/investor or from the SEC website, www.sec.gov For further information, please contact:Every car discontinued in Australia in 2024

No. 1 Oregon Ducks vs. Washington Huskies: Score updates, live stream, odds, time, TV channel, how to watch onlineNo. 2 Ohio State takes control in the 2nd half and runs over No. 5 Indiana 38-15 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana 38-15. All Ohio State has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. Man City routed 4-0 by Tottenham in fifth-straight defeat as crisis deepens for Pep Guardiola What started as an evening of celebration for Manchester City ended with the four-time defending Premier League champion falling to a fifth-straight loss in all competitions and facing a deepening crisis in a season that is threatening to unravel. A 4-0 defeat to Tottenham left City five points behind league leader Liverpool, having played a game more. Two goals from James Maddison inside 20 minutes at the Etihad Stadium stunned the home crowd. Pedro Porro scored a third for Tottenham after halftime. Brennan Johnson added a fourth in the third minute of stoppage time. City manager Pep Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension this week. Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton all won and closed the gap on Liverpool to six points. Florida knocks No. 9 Ole Miss out of College Football Playoff contention, 24-17 in the Swamp GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — DJ Lagway threw two touchdown passes, Montrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a score, and Florida upset No. 9 Mississippi 24-17 on Saturday to knock the Rebels out of College Football Playoff contention. The Gators beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2008 and became bowl eligible. The late-season spurt provided another vote of confidence for coach Billy Napier, who is expected back for a fourth season. Ole Miss lost for the first time in four games and surely will drop out of the 12-team playoff picture. Jennings has 3 TDs as No. 13 SMU routs Virginia 33-7 to clinch a spot in the ACC title game CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Kevin Jennings threw for a career-high 323 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 13 SMU clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game by routing Virginia 33-7. Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte each had two sacks to help the Mustangs extend their winning streak to eight. They would earn an automatic bid into the expanded College Football Playoff by beating 11th-ranked Miami or 17th-ranked Clemson in the ACC title game on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina. UVa must beat rival Virginia Tech next week to become bowl eligible. No. 11 Miami pulls away late to beat Wake Forest 42-14 and move one win from the ACC title game MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward passed for 280 yards and threw two touchdowns to Jacolby George on another record-breaking day, Mishael Powell ran an interception back 76 yards for a touchdown and No. 11 Miami pulled away late to beat Wake Forest 42-14. The 10-1 Hurricanes can clinch a berth in the ACC title game with a win at Syracuse next weekend. Ward completed 27 of 38 passes, plus ran for a score. Demond Claiborne had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for 4-7 Wake Forest. No. 24 Illinois stuns Rutgers on Bryant's 40-yard TD reception with 4 seconds left PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending No. 24 Illinois to a wild 38-31 victory over Rutgers. Illinois was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched. Andy Murray will coach Novak Djokovic through the Australian Open Recently retired Andy Murray will team up with Novak Djokovic, working with him as a coach through the Australian Open in January. Murray’s representatives put out statements from both players on Saturday. Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam champion who has spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other player in tennis history. Murray won three major trophies and two Olympic singles gold medals who finished 2016 atop the ATP rankings. He retired as a player after the Paris Summer Games in August. Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini lift Italy past Australia and back to the Davis Cup final MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Top-ranked Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini won their singles matches to lift defending champion Italy past Australia 2-0 and back into the Davis Cup final. Sinner extended his tour-level winning streak to 24 sets in a row by beating No. 9 Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday on an indoor hard court in Malaga, Spain. That came after Berrettini came back to defeat Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5. Italy will meet first-time finalist Netherlands on Sunday for the title. The Dutch followed up their victory over Rafael Nadal and Spain in the quarterfinals by eliminating Germany on Friday. Argentina's Racing wins its first Copa Sudamericana championship by beating Brazil's Cruzeiro 3-1 ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Gaston Martirena and Adrian Martinez scored first-half goals as Argentina’s Racing won its first Copa Sudamericana championship by beating Brazil’s Cruzeiro 3-1 in the final on Saturday. Martirena opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Martinez added a goal five minutes later to help give “La Academia” its first international title since 1988 when it won the Supercopa Sudamericana. Roger Martinez sealed the victory with a goal in the 90th. “Maravilla” Martinez scored 10 goals in 13 matches and finished as the top scorer in the competition. Kaio Jorge scored in the 52nd for Cruzeiro. Formula 1 expected to expand grid to 11 teams as early as next week for Cadillac to enter in 2026 LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 is expected to approve grid expansion for an 11th team originally started by Michael Andretti as early as next week. The team will be called Cadillac F1 and powered by Ferrari engines when it enters the sport in 2026. General Motors is expected to complete its own Cadillac power unit ahead of the 2028 season. Multiple industry insiders spoke to The Associated Press about the grid expansion on condition of anonymity because an announcement ahead of Saturday night’s Las Vegas Grand Prix could potentially steal the spotlight from the showcase event on the F1 calendar.RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Jaden Green and Geoffrey Jamiel scored on long plays in the fourth quarter and unseeded Lehigh rallied to defeat No. 9 Richmond 20-16 on Saturday in a first-round game of the FCS playoffs. Lehigh advances to a second-round game at eighth-seeded Idaho on Dec. 7. The Mountain Hawks trailed 16-7 early in the fourth quarter after Richmond's Sean Clarke scored on a 7-yard pass from Camden Coleman. Green dashed 65 yards for a touchdown on the next play from scrimmage and Lehigh trailed 16-14 with 10 1/2 minutes remaining. The Mountain Hawks (9-3) forced a three-and-out, then Jamiel and Hayden Johnson connected on a 56-yard pass play for the go-ahead touchdown. The Spiders were stopped short of midfield on their final drive but nearly came up with a huge play when Lehigh's Quanye Veney muffed the punt at his own 14-yard line. Ignatious Williams recovered the loose ball for Lehigh to preserve the win. Johnson completed 14 of 18 passes for 199 yards. Jamiel caught 10 for 137 yards. Coleman was 24-of-37 passing for 199 yards. Zach Palmer-Smith had 107 yards rushing for Richmond (10-3). Richmond had 249 yards of total offense in the first half but managed only three short field goals by Sean O'Haire. The scoring drives were 76, 70 and 64 yards and Richmond controlled the ball for nearly 21 minutes in the first half. Lehigh took a 7-6 lead on Johnson's 7-yard TD pass to Logan Galletta, but the Spiders answered with O'Haire's third field goal for a 9-7 halftime lead. This is 13-time Patriot League champion Lehigh's first playoff appearance since 2017. Lehigh and Richmond will have a rematch in the 2025 season opener at Lehigh. It will be Richmond's debut as a member of the Patriot League. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballInvestor claims DMC Global execs schemed to withhold info, inflate stock price

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Jimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency of anyone to hold the office, and one of the most active. Here is a look back at his life. 1924 — Jimmy Carter was born on Oct. 1 to Earl and Lillian Carter in the small town of Plains, Georgia. 1928 — Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plains in the tiny community of Archery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity. 1941 — He graduated from Plains High School and enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus. 1942 — He transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. 1943 — Carter’s boyhood dream of being in the Navy becomes a reality as he is appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 1946 — He received his naval commission and on July 7 married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia. 1946-1952 — Carter’s three sons are born, Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950 and Jeff in 1952. 1962-66 — Carter is elected to the Georgia State Senate and serves two terms. 1953 — Carter’s father died and he cut his naval career short to save the family farm. Due to a limited income, Jimmy, Rosalynn and their three sons moved into Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains. 1966 — He ran for governor, but lost. 1967 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s fourth child, Amy, is born. 1971 — He ran for governor again and won the election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on Jan. 12. 1974 — Carter announced his candidacy for president. 1976 — Carter was elected 39th president on Nov. 2, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald Ford. 1978 — U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David. 1979 — The Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals overrun the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty is signed. 1980 — On March 21, Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the Olympic Games scheduled in Moscow. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as president by Ronald Reagan in November. 1981 — President Carter continues to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as president is over, the hostages are released. 1982 — Carter became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, and founded The Carter Center. The nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy. 1984 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps needy people in the United States and in other countries renovate and build homes, until 2020. He also taught Sunday school in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains from the mid-’80s until 2020. 2002 — Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 2015 — Carter announced in August he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain. 2016 — He said in March that he no longer needed cancer treatment. 2024 — Carter dies at 100 years old. Sources: Cartercenter.org, Plains Historical Preservation Trust, The Associated Press; The Brookings Institution; U.S. Navy; WhiteHouse.gov, GallupTrump offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled nominee to lead the Pentagon

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Justin Jefferson might be weary of all the safeties shadowing his every route, determined not to let the Minnesota Vikings go deep, but he's hardly angry. The double and triple coverage he continually faces, after all, is a sign of immense respect for his game-breaking ability. The strategy also simply makes sense. “I would do the same," Jefferson said. "It’s either let everybody else go off or let Justin go off. I’m going to let everybody else go off. That would be my game plan.” When the Vikings visit Chicago on Sunday, they're expecting the usual heavy dose of split-safety coverage designed to put a lid on the passing attack and force them to operate primarily underneath. “We see that every week: Teams just have different tendencies on film, and then when we go out on the field they play us totally different,” Jefferson said, later adding: “I don’t really feel like anyone else is getting played how I’m getting played.” Jefferson nonetheless is second in the NFL in receiving yards (912) behind Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase, his former college teammate at LSU. Last week, Jefferson set yet another all-time record by passing Torry Holt for the most receiving yards over the first five seasons of a career. Holt logged 80 regular-season games and accumulated 6,784 yards for St. Louis. Jefferson has 6,811 yards — in just 70 games. “I want to go up against those single coverages. I want to go have my opportunities to catch a deep pass downfield, just one-on-one coverage, like a lot of these other receivers get," Jefferson said. "It’s definitely difficult going up against an extra person or an extra two people, but it is what it is and the concepts that we’re drawing up and the ways that we’re trying to get me open, it definitely helps.” With fellow tight end Josh Oliver ruled out of the game on Sunday because of a sprained ankle, T.J. Hockenson is certain to have his heaviest workload since returning from knee surgery four weeks ago. He's also certain that Jefferson will continue to see persistent double-teams. “It puts it on us to make some plays and do some things to get them out of that,” Hockenson said. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell has been forced to dig deeper into the vault of play designs and game plans to help keep quarterback Sam Darnold and the offense on track. O'Connell said after Minnesota's 12-7 win at Jacksonville, when Darnold threw three interceptions to precipitate a safer strategy down the stretch, that he superseded his play-calling role with the wisdom of a head coach to help win that game. "Not just the egomaniac of wanting to score points and constantly show everybody how smart we are. There was a mode that I think you have to go into sometimes to ensure a victory,” O'Connell said on his weekly show on KFAN radio. Taking what the defense gives is usually the shrewdest strategy. “You’ve got to really implement some new things and some things that maybe you didn’t come across during your early coaching years whether as a coordinator or position coach or even when you’re responsible for a small area of the game plan as a younger coach," O'Connell said. "You really have to kind of look outside the lens of always what you see on tape.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLSpain's monarch pays tribute to the victims of Valencia floods in his Christmas Eve speech

(First of two parts) MANILA, Philippines—US President-elect Donald Trump has doubled down on his controversial immigration agenda, reigniting plans to strip naturalized citizens of their status and proposing to end birthright citizenship. These signal a sweeping crackdown on immigrants, both undocumented and legally settled, and stoke fresh anxieties among millions, including Filipinos in the US. Trump has pledged to implement the “largest deportation program in U.S. history” a cornerstone of his reelection campaign, with Vice President-elect JD Vance estimating the crackdown could result in up to one million removals annually. READ: Trump’s mass deportation plan: What it means for undocumented and legal immigrants This focus on immigration enforcement is not new; however. During Trump’s first term, his administration ramped up efforts to investigate cases of fraudulent naturalization, seeking to strip citizenship from individuals deemed to have obtained it illegally. Now, after defeating Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump has vowed to intensify these efforts while also pursuing another contentious policy: ending birthright citizenship. READ: What’s next for Fil-Am family petitions if Trump wins? Donald Trump first vowed to end birthright citizenship during his 2015 presidential campaign and revisited the proposal in 2018. However, despite his repeated rhetoric, he never followed through with an executive order to implement the policy. Birthright citizenship is a legal principle rooted in the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, granting automatic citizenship to individuals born on American soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. It specifically states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.” This doctrine, known as jus soli (right of the soil), has been a defining feature of US identity and inclusivity since its ratification in 1868. GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan / INQUIRER.net According to the American Immigration Council, the US applies a combination of: “The Fourteenth Amendment has served as a cornerstone to the commitment that every child born in the United States should be protected from discrimination and a caste-like system based on the race, ethnicity, country of origin, or immigration status of their parents,” said Bruce Lesley, president of bipartisan advocacy organization First Focus on Children. “[It] demonstrates the nation’s goal — after the Civil War — of striving to achieve fairness, inclusion, and opportunity. Over the last 156 years, it has provided millions of children every single year with a solid foundation to grow, thrive, and contribute to our society,” he added. The 14th Amendment was specifically designed to overturn the infamous Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, denying African Americans citizenship. Moreover, in the 1898 Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark, the court ruled that children born in the US to foreign parents — so long as they were not foreign diplomats or occupying military forces — are US citizens under the 14th Amendment. By ensuring that citizenship was determined by birthplace rather than ancestry, the amendment sought to eliminate racial and class hierarchies in determining who could belong to the nation. Removing birthright citizenship would represent a dramatic reversal of this vision, replacing it with a system in which citizenship is contingent on lineage or documentation status. “Citizenship is not merely an identity or status; it is foundational for accessing health care, nutrition, early education, housing, and much more. Creating bureaucratic obstacles risks delaying — or denying altogether — the support babies and children need at their most formative stages,” said Lesley. “Birthright citizenship confers simple and automatic nationality without impediments, such as the need for bureaucratic paperwork, legal barriers, bureaucratic interpretations, delays, errors, or the period of limbo status awaiting a decision from some currently unidentified bureaucracy,” he added. For millions of children born in the US to undocumented immigrants, this change would strip away their automatic claim to American citizenship. These children could become stateless, particularly if their parents’ home countries do not recognize them as citizens. Experts explained that this lack of legal status would jeopardize access to education, health care, and other vital services, creating an underclass of individuals marginalized from the very society in which they were born and raised. “The United States is among the only countries in the world that says even if neither parent is a citizen or even lawfully in the country, their future children are automatic citizens the moment the parents trespass onto our soil,” Trump said last year. Under Trump’s proposed policy, a child would only be granted citizenship if at least one parent is a US citizen or legal resident. In his campaign video posted in May 2023, Trump clarified that this policy would not be applied retroactively, suggesting it would only affect children born after its potential enactment. GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan / INQUIRER.net Donald Trump also emphasized that the policy aims to curb “birth tourism,” a practice Republicans argue involves foreign nationals traveling to the US late in pregnancy to ensure their children are born as US citizens. However, the scale of this phenomenon remains unclear, with limited data to support its prevalence. The exact number of children born annually to undocumented parents is uncertain. Estimates vary, but the Center for Immigration Studies, a group advocating for stricter immigration policies, has suggested that as many as 400,000 children are born each year to undocumented parents, with thousands possibly tied to birth tourism. In contrast, immigrant rights groups like the American Immigration Council highlight broader implications, citing census-based estimates that 3.7 million U.S.-born children currently have at least one undocumented parent. Adding to the complexity, a 2024 report from the Center for Migration Studies estimates there are approximately 4.7 million mixed-status households in the United States. Michael LeRoy, an immigration law and labor expert at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, emphasized in an interview that no president has the authority to unilaterally eliminate or alter a constitutional amendment. Despite this, he noted that the incoming president might still attempt to issue an executive order targeting birthright citizenship, even though “such an action would be blatantly unconstitutional.” The American Immigration Council points out that removing birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. would require a new constitutional amendment. This process would need a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate and ratification by three-quarters of the states — which the advocacy group described as an almost impossible political hurdle. But since the US Senate and House are now Republican-dominated, Donald Trump could have his way. Alternatively, it would take a radical reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment by the US Supreme Court, a highly contentious and uncertain path. “While Congress or the President could try to restrict birthplace-based birthright citizenship through legislation or executive order, these actions would violate the Fourteenth Amendment,” said the American Immigration Council. Legal experts also agree that any such effort would be met with immediate legal challenges. Stephen Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law at Cornell University, told CBS News, “Any executive action that a president might try to end birthright citizenship would be challenged in court and would be likely struck down as unconstitutional.” During Donald Trump’s first term, his administration took an aggressive stance on denaturalization — the process of stripping US citizenship from naturalized individuals. Efforts were launched to investigate cases where people were suspected of gaining citizenship through fraud. Under “Operation Janus,” immigration officials reviewed decades-old fingerprint records to find discrepancies that could signal fraud in naturalization applications. By 2018, thousands of cases had been referred for potential denaturalization, with hundreds pursued in federal courts. The US Justice Department even created a special Denaturalization Section in 2020 to handle such cases. Officials claimed the focus was on individuals who posed national security threats, were war criminals, or had committed egregious acts of fraud. GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan / INQUIRER.net But the move sparked concerns, with critics arguing it could sow fear in immigrant communities. “Denaturalization is a drastic measure that should only be taken in the most extreme circumstances,” the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a nonprofit civil rights organization, said. “These efforts to strip citizenship from Americans are systemic and chilling. They have made US citizens fearful that mistakes made years ago on their past applications could be used to target them, take away their citizenship, and destroy their lives,” the organization added. The Donald Trump administration’s focus on denaturalization marked a significant shift in immigration enforcement policies. Historically, denaturalization cases were pursued sparingly, averaging just 11 cases per year between 1990 and 2017. However, under Trump’s leadership, these efforts intensified dramatically. By 2018, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had already referred 95 cases for denaturalization to the Department of Justice (DOJ), signaling a stark departure from past practices. Eliminating birthright citizenship could have devastating consequences for millions of children and families, creating long-term social and economic challenges. According to a report from First Focus on Children, denying citizenship to US -born children of undocumented immigrants would leave many in legal limbo, without access to essential resources like education, health care, or housing. For children born and raised in the US, but unable to claim citizenship, this could mean being treated as outsiders in their own country. Stripping citizenship would also create a growing population of stateless individuals who struggle to get jobs, attend college, or participate fully in society. This would deepen inequalities, increase poverty, and strain community resources. For children, the harm isn’t just legal or financial — it’s deeply personal. Without citizenship, they might feel excluded or unwelcome in the only country they’ve ever known. “It’s important to remember that children rely on policymakers, advocates, and citizens to protect their interests because they cannot advocate for themselves. It is morally indefensible to enact a law that deprives them of their right to belong,” the report explains. Moreover, efforts to end birthright citizenship, coupled with the push for denaturalization, suggest that even those who meet all legal requirements or were born on US soil might not be secure in their place in the country. A report by Vox stressed that naturalized citizens, who often spend years navigating the rigorous legal process, now fear that even small mistakes in their applications could lead to losing their status. Critics argue that these policies create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, making immigrants and their families feel like they’re never truly safe. For many, this undermines the idea of America as a nation of opportunity and inclusion, raising concerns that citizenship is becoming conditional — a privilege that can be taken away rather than a right that guarantees stability and belonging. (Next: How could Trump’s immigration agenda affect Filipinos?) RELATED STORIES: Trump 2.0: PH stays optimistic amid worries on aid, health care Trump 2.0 impact on PH: Quack health advocate brings uncertaintyWASHINGTON (AP) — The bald eagle, a symbol of the power and strength of the United States for more than 240 years, earned an overdue honor on Tuesday: It officially became the country's national bird. President signed into law sent to him by Congress that amends the United States Code to correct what had long gone unnoticed and designate the bald eagle — familiar to many because of its white head, yellow beak and brown body — as the national bird. The bald eagle has appeared on the of the United States, which is used in official documents, since 1782, when the design was finalized. The seal is made up of the eagle, an olive branch, arrows, a flag-like shield, the motto “E Pluribus Unum” and a constellation of stars. Congress that same year designated the bald eagle as the the national emblem, and its image appears in a host of places, ranging from documents and the presidential flag to military insignia and U.S. currency, according to . But it had never been officially designated to be what many had just assumed it was — the national bird. The bald eagle is indigenous to North America. Darlene Superville, The Associated Press

Retailers coax Black Friday shoppers into stores with big discounts and giveaways NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the U.S. have used giveaways and bigger-than expected discounts to reward shoppers who ventured out on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving still reigns for now as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season even if it’s lost some luster. Analysts reported seeing the biggest crowds at stores that offered real savings. They say many shoppers are being cautious with their discretionary spending despite the easing of inflation. Stores are even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Online sales figures from Thanksgiving Day gave retailers a reason to remain hopeful for a lucrative end to the year. Inflation rose to 2.3% in Europe. That won't stop the central bank from cutting interest rates FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November — but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new U.S. tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth. The European Union’s harmonized index of consumer prices rose 2.3 percent, up from 2.0% in October, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. However, worries about growth mean the Dec. 12 ECB meeting is not about whether to cut rates, but by how much. Market buzz says there could be a larger than usual half-point cut in the benchmark rate, currently 3.25%. The ruble's in a slump. For the Kremlin, that's a two-edged sword Russia’s ruble is sagging against other currencies, complicating the Kremlin’s efforts to keep consumer inflation under control with one hand even as it overheats the economy with spending on the war against Ukraine with the other. Over time a weaker ruble could mean higher prices for imports from China, Russia's main trade partner these days. President Vladimir Putin says things are under control. One wild card is sanctions against a key Russian bank that have disrupted foreign trade payments. If Russia finds a workaround for that, the ruble could regain some of its recent losses. From T-shirts to thongs, how indie film merchandise became a hot commodity LOS ANGELES (AP) — Merchandise is nothing new. But in recent years, movie-inspired streetwear has exploded in popularity among film buffs, thanks in part to viral marketing campaigns put on by independent film studios. Take the hourslong line for one-day-only “Anora” pop-up in Los Angeles, for instance. Clothes are promoted as trendy and in limited supply and are often made in collaboration with popular brands. The experience of watching movies has become a less collective one in recent years. For many fans, repping their favorite films in public is a way to combat that. Stock market today: S&P 500 and Dow post gains and close out best month of 2024 NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks closed with solid gains as Wall Street put the finishing touches on one of its best months of the year. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 188 points, or 0.4%. The Nasdaq added 0.8%. Friday was an abbreviated trading day, with stocks closing at 1 p.m. ET and the bond market an hour later. Investors were looking to see how much shoppers are willing to spend on gifts for the holidays. Black Friday unofficially kicked off the holiday shopping season, although retailers had been offering early deals for weeks. Macy’s and Best Buy each gained around 2%. Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has approved the construction of a high-speed railway connecting the capital Hanoi in the north with the financial capital of Ho Chi Minh in the south. It is expected to cost $67 billion and will stretch 1,541 kilometers (957 miles). The new train is expected to travel at speeds of up to 350 kph (217 mph), reducing the journey from the current 30 hours to just five hours. The decision was taken by Vietnam’s National Assembly on Saturday. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and Vietnam hopes that the first trains will start operating by 2035. But the country has been beleaguered by delays to its previous infrastructure projects. Massachusetts lawmakers push for an effort to ban all tobacco sales over time BOSTON (AP) — A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have weighed similar “generational tobacco bans.” The bans phase out the use of tobacco products based not just on a person's age but on birth year. Lawmakers plan to file the proposal next year. If approved, the bill would set a date and ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after that date forever, eventually banning all sales. Santa's annual train visit delivers hope and magic to one corner of coal country ON BOARD THE SANTA TRAIN (AP) — Since 1943, the people of Appalachian Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee have looked forward to Santa’s arrival. Not in a sleigh on their rooftops, but on a train. At each stop of the CSX Santa Train there are dozens to hundreds of people. Many crowd around the back, where Santa and his helpers toss stuffed animals. Meanwhile groups of volunteer “elves” fan out with gifts, making sure every child goes home with something. Many of the children who line the tracks on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, waiting for Santa, are the third, fourth or fifth generation to do so. Sandra Owens has been coming for 43 years and now brings her grandchildren. She says, “The faces of the kids, that’s what makes me happy. You can’t see anything better.” Donald Trump's call for 'energy dominance' is likely to run into real-world limits WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is creating a National Energy Council that he says will establish U.S. “energy dominance” around the world. It will be key in Trump’s pledge to sell more oil to allies and his intent to move away from President Joe Biden’s focus on climate change. But the president-elect’s energy wishes are likely to run into real-world limits. For one, U.S. oil production under Biden is already at record levels. And Trump’s bid to boost oil supplies and lower U.S. prices is complicated by his threat to impose 25% import tariffs on Canada and Mexico, two of the largest sources of U.S. oil imports. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau flies to Florida to meet with Trump after tariffs threat WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has flown to Florida to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Trump's picks for commerce secretary, interior secretary and national security adviser, and the three men's wives. From the Canadian side, the dinner guests included Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security. Trump’s transition did not respond to questions about what they had discussed or whether the conversation alleviated Trump’s concerns about the border. A smiling Trudeau declined comment upon returning to his West Palm Beach hotel late Friday.President Joe Biden said he’ll order a state funeral in Washington for Jimmy Carter, calling the former Democratic president who died Sunday “an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian.” While the White House didn’t immediately announce specific plans, state funerals for presidents usually include lying in state at the US Capitol and a memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral. The US stock market has traditionally closed on the day of presidential funerals. No announcement has been made as of yet by exchange overseers. Biden, President-elect Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama were among those paying tribute to Middle East peace efforts and a long post-presidential run of humanitarian work by Carter, who died at age 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia. Obama drew an arc from Carter teaching Sunday school at the Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains “for most of his adult life” and the Camp David Accords to the former president’s appointing Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the federal bench, launching her path to the US Supreme Court. “He believed some things were more important than reelection – things like integrity, respect, and compassion,” Obama said in a statement. Biden’s statement, issued during his year-end vacation in the US Virgin Islands, included a tribute to Carter’s efforts to “eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Trump said Carter was a “truly good man” who “worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect.” “While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I also realized that he truly loved and respected our Country, and all it stands for,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. Trump frequently brought up Carter during the 2024 election campaign, seeking to use him as reference point for Biden’s presidency. “Biden is the worst president in the history of our country, worse than Jimmy Carter by a long shot,” Trump said at a campaign stop in Manhattan in April. “Jimmy Carter is happy because he has had a brilliant presidency compared to Biden.” During Trump’s first term in office, Carter criticized Trump, at one point accusing him in a 2018 CBS interview of being “careless with the truth.” Both Carter and his wife attended Trump’s inauguration in 2017. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger — a Republican who clashed with Trump over the state’s 2020 presidential election result — called Carter “a true-servant leader.” This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.Jimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency of anyone to hold the office, and one of the most active. Here is a look back at his life. 1924 — Jimmy Carter was born on Oct. 1 to Earl and Lillian Carter in the small town of Plains, Georgia. 1928 — Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plains in the tiny community of Archery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity. 1941 — He graduated from Plains High School and enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus. 1942 — He transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. 1943 — Carter’s boyhood dream of being in the Navy becomes a reality as he is appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 1946 — He received his naval commission and on July 7 married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia. 1946-1952 — Carter’s three sons are born, Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950 and Jeff in 1952. 1962-66 — Carter is elected to the Georgia State Senate and serves two terms. 1953 — Carter’s father died and he cut his naval career short to save the family farm. Due to a limited income, Jimmy, Rosalynn and their three sons moved into Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains. 1966 — He ran for governor, but lost. 1967 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s fourth child, Amy, is born. 1971 — He ran for governor again and won the election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on Jan. 12. 1974 — Carter announced his candidacy for president. 1976 — Carter was elected 39th president on Nov. 2, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald Ford. 1978 — U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David. 1979 — The Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals overrun the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty is signed. 1980 — On March 21, Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the Olympic Games scheduled in Moscow. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as president by Ronald Reagan in November. 1981 — President Carter continues to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as president is over, the hostages are released. 1982 — Carter became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, and founded The Carter Center. The nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy. 1984 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps needy people in the United States and in other countries renovate and build homes, until 2020. He also taught Sunday school in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains from the mid-’80s until 2020. 2002 — Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 2015 — Carter announced in August he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain. 2016 — He said in March that he no longer needed cancer treatment. 2024 — Carter dies at 100 years old. Sources: Cartercenter.org, Plains Historical Preservation Trust, The Associated Press; The Brookings Institution; U.S. Navy; WhiteHouse.gov, Gallup

Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has described the reappointment of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as director-general (DG) of World Trade Organisation (WTO) as well deserved, saying that she is one of the world’s finest public servants. The ex-presidential candidate, who stated this while congratulating Okonjo-Iweala over her recent reappointment, expressed hope that her new mandate would improve global trade, foster social justice, international friendship and sustainable development to end poverty and insecurity. Recall that the General Council of WTO had on Friday, November 29, reappointed Okonjo-Iweala for a second term as its DG. The new four-year tenure will begin on September 1, 2025. Reacting to the appointment on his official X handle, Adebayo also thanked President Bola Tinubu and other global stakeholders at WTO for making Okonjo-Iweala’s reappointment possible. He wrote: “I am most delighted to congratulate our dear sister and one of the world’s finest public servants @NOIweala on her reappointment for a second term as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. I thank @officialABAT and other global stakeholders of the @wto for their support for a most deserving candidate. “It is my hope that global trade will become a means of fostering social justice, international friendship and sustainable development in our time to bid farewell to poverty and insecurity in a world awash with capital, technology and enterprise.”Chehalis baker Megan Knudsvig competed against some of the best bakers in North America during her stint on season 11 of the Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Championship” and made it through five rounds of holiday party-themed challenges. But the sixth episode of the series, which aired Monday, Dec. 2, ended with Knudsvig’s elimination from the competition. Knudsvig was the sixth baker eliminated of the 12 bakers competing this season. “Well friends, my time in the Holiday Baking Championship kitchen has come to an end,” Knudsvig posted on the social media accounts associated with her business, The White Whisk, on Wednesday after the episode aired. “This experience has been one of the most wonderful, challenging, exciting, exhausting and rewarding things I've ever done.” Knudsvig, 31, completed a bakery and arts program at South Puget Sound Community College and went on to work as a decorator at Frosted: The Cupcake Shop in Walla Walla. She later moved to Lewis County and worked for several years as a decorator for Dawn’s Delectables in Centralia before deciding she wanted to stay home with her three young daughters. About three years ago, Knudsvig started The White Whisk, a business that offers recipes, decorating tutorials, classes, dessert marketing content development and restaurant food photography. “When I was approached to do the show I kept having the same thought ... are they sure? I felt wildly inadequate to compete but holy cow I'm SO glad I did it scared anyways,” Knudsvig wrote. Knudsvig and Rolf Runkle, a pastry instructor from Canada, landed in the bottom two of this week’s office Christmas party-themed episode’s spirited truffle challenge, with the judges ultimately deciding to advance Runkle through to next episode’s semifinals and to eliminate Knudsvig. During her tenure on the show, Knudsvig won one main heat challenge and placed in the top two for a second, with judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Carla Hall praising her on her flavor combinations and decorations. “I learned SO much from the challenges, the other bakers, the judges and was stretched in my baking abilities in many ways. It was so hard to go home so close to the end, but I walked away from this experience feeling more inspired than ever to pursue new things in baking.” Knudsvig thanked her fellow competitors and the judges, as well as her friends, family and other supporters back at home. “To everyone who's supported me along this journey, thank you for every word of encouragement, cheering me on, watching the show and supporting me like crazy. It truly has meant so much and I've been overwhelmed with the love and kindness shown,” Knudsvig wrote. Her full statement, as well as recipes that she presented on the Holiday Baking Championship, can be found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.white.whisk/?hl=en or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071904943877 . For information on classes, tutorials, ebooks and other services offered by The White Whisk, visit https://thewhitewhisk.com/ or @the.white.whisk on Instagram. The 11th season of the Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship premiered on Monday, Nov. 4, with episodes airing every Monday at 8 p.m. and going up onto streaming services the Wednesday after. The remaining two episodes of this season air Dec. 9 and Dec. 16. The season winner will earn the title of Holiday Baking Champion, a feature in Food Network Magazine and a grand prize of $25,000.

Madhyapur Festival ends

Cal Baptist makes cross-country trip to battle Darius Johnson, UCF

Share Tweet Share Share Email In an era where technology is rapidly advancing, the art of storytelling has evolved. One of the most exciting innovations in the creative world is the AI Spicy Story Generator , offered by My Spicy Vanilla . This tool is transforming how we generate and consume stories, bringing together the power of artificial intelligence with the magic of creativity. Whether you’re an aspiring writer, a seasoned author, or simply someone looking for a bit of entertainment, the AI Spicy Story Generator opens up endless possibilities for creative expression. What Makes the AI Spicy Story Generator Unique? The world of storytelling is no longer confined to traditional methods. Thanks to AI technology, stories can now be crafted in new, exciting ways. The AI Spicy Story Generator is not just another story creation tool; it is a revolutionary platform that allows you to create rich, dynamic narratives instantly. 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3 jili Fox News royalty Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt celebrate Christmas with engagement at their home churchValparaiso 87, N. Illinois 82Philadelphia star quarterback Jalen Hurts remains in concussion protocol and has been ruled for Sunday's game against the visiting Dallas Cowboys, with the Eagles expected to start Kenny Pickett. Hurts missed practice all week, and head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed before Friday's session that Hurts remains in the concussion protocol, adding, "It's going to be tough for him to make it this week." Hurts and Pickett (ribs) were both injured during last weekend's 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders, but Pickett was a full participant in Thursday's practice and was limited on Friday. The Eagles also have Tanner McKee as the emergency third quarterback and signed Ian Book to the practice squad this week. Pickett, who grew up as an Eagles fan in Ocean Township, N.J., will have a chance to help Philadelphia (12-3) clinch the NFC East title in his first start for the franchise. "I'm very excited. It's a big opportunity," he told reporters Thursday. "I've been working hard to stay ready and I felt like I was in a good position last game with my preparation and now having a week to practice, I'll feel even better going into the stadium. So, I'm excited. I just want to get the win." Pickett relieved Hurts in the first quarter against Washington and completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Prior to that, he had appeared in three games in mop-up duty. "He's done a great job," Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown said on Friday. "He did a great job last week. I know he had a few hiccups, but overall he's doing a great job. It's not his first rodeo. We have a lot of confidence in him, I do, and I'm excited. "(He's) poised, confident. He comes in, he's commanding the huddle and that's what you want to see." Pickett, 26, compiled a 14-10 record as the starter for the Steelers from 2022-23 after being drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round (20th overall) in 2022. After the Steelers acquired Russell Wilson in March, Pickett was traded along with a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick and two 2025 seventh-rounders. Pickett has completed 62.3 percent of his pass attempts for 4,622 yards with 14 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 29 career games. He has rushed for 303 yards and four scores. Hurts, 26, has completed 68.7 percent of his passes this season for 2,903 yards with 18 TDs and five picks in 15 starts. He has rushed for 630 yards and is tied for the NFL lead with 14 rushing touchdowns. --Field Level Media

Friends, colleagues remember former state Rep. Mary MurphyA hippopotamus for Christmas: Baby pygmy hippo born at Virginia zoo

Tayshawn Comer scores 18 to lead Evansville past Campbell 66-53Chuck Woolery, game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83

By Fabio Teixeira RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The 163 Chinese workers found by Brazil's labor ministry in what it described as "slavery-like conditions" at a factory construction site owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD have been removed and taken to hotels, while officials negotiate with BYD and the Jinjiang Group about further measures to protect them, authorities said. The growing controversy in the automaker's biggest overseas market has put a spotlight on immigrant worker conditions in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. A deal with labor prosecutors involving BYD and the Jinjiang Group could be inked as soon as Jan. 7, when they are scheduled to meet. Earlier this week, the labor prosecutor's office described the workers, who had been hired by Chinese construction firm Jinjiang Group, as human trafficking victims. The firm had withheld the passports of 107 of the workers, investigators said. Investigations into slavery can carry powerful consequences for employers in Brazil, including a restriction on their access to bank loans. Jinjiang has denied any wrongdoing, while BYD said it had cut ties with Jinjiang. Both companies are collaborating with authorities on the investigation. Jinjiang said, in a social media post reposted by a BYD spokesperson, that describing the workers' conditions as "slavery-like" was inaccurate, while a BYD executive said media and other groups were "deliberately smearing Chinese brands and the country and undermining the relationship between China and Brazil." If the two companies are charged by labor inspectors with submitting workers to slavery-like conditions, they could be added to Brazil's so-called "dirty list" - a public listing of employers found liable for such charges. While the names of companies are only added to the list after all possibility of appeal is exhausted, which can take years, once a company is included it would stay there for two years. Beyond the substantial reputation risk the "dirty list" carries, companies in it are also barred from obtaining certain types of loans from Brazilian banks. Companies can avoid being included on the "dirty list" by signing a deal with the government committing to change their practices and compensate workers whose rights were abused. Companies and executives are also subject to legal action. Prosecutors who monitor labor affairs can sue companies that are found to have abused workers' rights, unless they agree to pay damages to the Brazilian government and to victims. Separately, federal prosecutors may also pursue criminal charges against executives. Charges of human trafficking and keeping workers in slavery-like conditions carry sentences of up to eight years in prison each. Federal prosecutors have already asked labor authorities to share the evidence they have gathered against BYD and the Jinjiang Group, according to a Thursday statement from the Labor Prosecutor's Office. NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN Labor inspectors are now negotiating with the companies for compensation for the workers whose rights they believe were abused. That could include payment for missed wages and severance. The workers will also receive unemployment benefits. "The efforts of the government bodies at this time are focused on the victims and guaranteeing the victims' rights," said Mauricio Krepsky, a former head of Brazil's Division of Inspection for the Eradication of Slave Labor (DETRAE), a government body staffed by labor inspectors. Victims of human trafficking can choose to stay in Brazil or go back to their home countries, said Ludmila Paiva, co-founder of I-MiGRa, a non-profit that develops projects and research on human trafficking. During a meeting on Thursday, BYD has labor prosecutor's office.already agreed to purchase tickets and cover up to $120 in travel expenses for the return trip to China of seven employees scheduled to return on Jan. 1, according to a statement from Brazil's Negotiations between labor authorities and companies that are suspected of submitting workers to degrading conditions can take months to come, depending on the complexity of the case, the number of victims involved and whether the firms cooperate with authorities or not, experts told Reuters. If the firms are charged, it could still take years for their names to be added to the list, as companies can appeal internally to the government or file lawsuits to keep their names out of the registry. (Reporting by Fabio Teixeira, Editing by Manuela Andreoni and Aurora Ellis)EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Tayshawn Comer scored 18 points as Evansville beat Campbell 66-53 on Sunday night. Comer had six rebounds and six assists for the Purple Aces (3-4). Cameron Haffner scored 16 points and added six rebounds. Gabriel Pozzato shot 3 for 5, including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 10 points. Jasin Sinani led the way for the Fighting Camels (3-4) with 22 points. Colby Duggan added 11 points and Nolan Dorsey totaled eight points, seven rebounds and four steals. Evansville took the lead with 1:45 left in the first half and never looked back. The score was 34-28 at halftime, with Haffner racking up eight points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Vikings thrive under coach of year favorite O'Connell, a relatable state for Packers with LaFleurTayshawn Comer scores 18 to lead Evansville past Campbell 66-53

Brookfield Infrastructure Renews Its Normal Course Issuer BidsConners, Tate lead Appalachian State over Sam Houston 66-63

Dreams on a Pillow is a video game experience about the 1948 Nakba, an event where roughly 700,000 people were displaced from their land and homes due to Zionist occupation. The game, described as “a pseudo-3D stealth adventure game about a land full of people being made into a people without land,” is from Palestinian developer Rasheed Abu-Eideh. But before I tell you more about that, let me tell you about his previous game. In 2016, Abu-Eideh released Liyla and the Shadows of War , a game about a 2014 assault on Gaza by Israel, known as Operation Protective Edge. Liyla follows a Palestinian girl and her family as they navigate attacks in their neighborhood. It’s short but emotional, and it blends elements of platformers and choose-your-own-adventure storytelling. In 2021, the game was a part of an Indie Bundle Pack that raised nearly $900,000 for Palestinian aid through UNRWA USA. Currently, Liyla and the Shadows of War is free on mobile and Windows. But back in 2016, it was initially rejected as a game in the Apple App Store. Abu-Eideh was told to remove all description of it as a “Game” and re-categorize it as “News” or “Reference” due to its political nature. The hypocrisy of the decision was noted by many at the time: As reported by Eurogamer , Apple denied Liyla as a game, but allowed a game called Israeli Heroes in the game section. After Abu-Eideh spoke about Apple’s decision on social media, Apple finally allowed Liyla to be categorized as a game. Dreams on a Pillow is currently being crowdfunded by Abu-Eideh on LaunchGood till Jan. 13, and funds raised from the LaunchGood campaign will go towards asset creation, outsourcing, and salaries for the current team of 9 individuals. The game is aiming to launch in Q4 2026. Gaming News VideoWILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Dior Conners led Appalachian State with 19 points and Myles Tate made a jumper from the free-throw line with 25.1 seconds left as the Mountaineers knocked off Sam Houston 66-63 on Wednesday night. Conners shot 4 of 9 from the field, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 9 for 10 from the line for the Mountaineers (4-2). Tate scored 17 points, going 6 of 14 from the floor, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and 2 for 4 from the line. Jackson Threadgill had 11 points and shot 4 for 11, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc. Lamar Wilkerson led the way for the Bearkats (3-3) with 22 points. Marcus Boykin added 11 points, five assists and four steals for Sam Houston. Dorian Finister also had 10 points and seven rebounds. Threadgill scored nine points in the first half and Appalachian State went into the break trailing 33-30. Tate scored a team-high 10 points for Appalachian State in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Mad about the price of eggs? Wait ’til you see coming health coverage cost hikes.NoneBeyoncé crowned Billboard's greatest pop star of the 21st centuryWILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Dior Conners led Appalachian State with 19 points and Myles Tate made a jumper from the free-throw line with 25.1 seconds left as the Mountaineers knocked off Sam Houston 66-63 on Wednesday night. Conners shot 4 of 9 from the field, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 9 for 10 from the line for the Mountaineers (4-2). Tate scored 17 points, going 6 of 14 from the floor, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and 2 for 4 from the line. Jackson Threadgill had 11 points and shot 4 for 11, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc. Lamar Wilkerson led the way for the Bearkats (3-3) with 22 points. Marcus Boykin added 11 points, five assists and four steals for Sam Houston. Dorian Finister also had 10 points and seven rebounds. Threadgill scored nine points in the first half and Appalachian State went into the break trailing 33-30. Tate scored a team-high 10 points for Appalachian State in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell's stirring locker room tribute to his team last week at Seattle was respectfully interrupted by seven-year veteran right tackle Brian O'Neill, who flipped the script on the game ball awards by tossing one to the boss in honor of his second 13-win season in three years. The Vikings have obliterated even the most optimistic of external predictions for this transitional season, taking a sparkling 13-2 record into their matchup against the Green Bay Packers that has made O'Connell the current favorite for the NFL Coach of the Year award. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.Last summer, the Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana launched a new fragrance: Fefé, a perfume designed for dogs. Featuring natural and floral notes, the alcohol-free scent aims to convey freshness and cleanliness without overwhelming a dog’s sensitive sense of smell. The polished glass bottle is coated in green lacquer with a red cap, adorned with a 24-karat gold-plated dog paw. Named after Domenico Dolce’s poodle, Fefé is the brand’s first dog perfume, priced at 99 euros. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dolce&Gabbana Beauty (@dolcegabbana_beauty) However, many veterinarians have raised concerns about the impact of dog perfumes on their highly developed sense of smell. Dr. Federico Cuccia, a veterinarian from Rome, told Italian media that “dogs recognize themselves and their surroundings through smells. Changing their natural scent may confuse them and interfere with their communication.” Similarly, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in London said that “we would not be surprised to find out that dogs are irritated by the smell of perfume.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by KYLIE💫 KENDALL💫 JENNER 🦋 (@kylie_dolls_kendall) Kendall Jenner walks with a dog in Bottega Veneta's campaign Dolce & Gabbana, known for innovative marketing strategies (they were among the first to seat bloggers in the front row of fashion shows), is tapping into the growing luxury pet market with this move. The trend has seen other brands entering the space, such as Boss, which launched a dog clothing and accessories line inspired by human fashion two years ago in collaboration with the dog accessories brand Kanine. The collection even allowed pet owners to match their outfits with their dogs while walking them or cleaning up after them. 5 View gallery Debbie Harry and a Yorkshire Terrier dog in Gucci's holiday campaign ( Photo: Nan Goldin ) Luxury clothing and accessories for pets are nothing new, and over the past two decades, they have become staples in the repertoire of high-end products. Ornate, diamond-encrusted collars, dedicated carrier bags from Louis Vuitton and Gucci for small dogs, cashmere knitwear and Polo Ralph Lauren bowls are just some examples. In 2020, Prada introduced a collection of dog coats priced at an average of $750 per item, followed a year later by Versace, which launched a luxury dog bed for $1,170. When pet owners spend thousands on purebred dogs and are inspired by social media influencers, buying a Gucci collar for thousands of dollars seems like a natural extension of their lifestyle. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @dunhill Dunhill's autumn campaign View this post on Instagram A post shared by Burberry (@burberry) A Pomeranian dog gets "dinner" in a Burberry campaign Now, dogs are making their mark in luxury advertising as loyal companions to the photographed stars. Recent campaigns feature singer Debbie Harry with a poodle and a Yorkshire terrier in Gucci’s holiday campaign; Kendall Jenner leading a Doberman in Bottega Veneta’s summer campaign, which includes a $1,150 braided leather dog collar; and a sleek Weimaraner lending its noble appearance to Dunhill’s autumn campaign. Burberry took it a step further, showcasing Jane, a Pomeranian, in a video campaign where the pampered pup enjoys "dinner" at a dining table complete with a white napkin. The growing trend combining a love of animals with high fashion is gaining momentum. Dogs bring warmth and charm to campaigns, drawing attention while making brands appear more approachable and relatable. 5 View gallery Virtual covers of Vogue magazine starring dogs under the title 'Dogue' ( Screenshot: Vogue.com ) Even Vogue magazine embraced this connection last summer with a dozen virtual covers featuring dogs under the title "Dogue." The magazine noted that the bond between dogs and fashion dates back to the late 19th century, citing a Labrador puppy illustration on its February 1897 cover, followed by a collie in a beret a year later. Iconic designers like Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel and Azzedine Alaïa were famously photographed with their beloved dogs. This year, the luxury brand Valentino leaned into the personal side of this trend. Alessandro Michele, the brand's new artistic director, launched his first campaign paying homage to Oliver, the pug of Valentino Garavani, the fashion house’s founder. Campaign images feature pug dogs alongside iconic Valentino designs, including red dresses and black-and-white polka-dot prints. Oliver is treated like a celebrity; five years ago, he was even "interviewed" about his favorite restaurants and movies. 5 View gallery Pre-Spring-Summer 2025 campaign of Louis Vuitton ( Photo: Glen Luchford ) Another notable campaign comes from Louis Vuitton, which highlighted dogs in its Spring-Summer 2025 pre-collection. Under the name "Dandim Dog Handlers," models were photographed leading or posing with dogs accessorized in luxury items: branded carry-all bags, portable water and food bowls, velvet berets and leashes and collars featuring the brand's signature monogram. For interested buyers, a Louis Vuitton dog collar costs 280 euros, while a chic dog carrier bag comes with a "modest" price tag of 2,900 euros. The brand explained that the campaign, directed by Pharrell Williams, highlights dogs as part of the Dog LVers collection. "The campaign celebrates the special bond between people and dogs, with luxury designs and accessories that reflect the cosmopolitan culture of dogs and their handlers," the press release read. To underscore this theme, the brand created a fictional dog show where dogs win prizes, blending fashion, emotion and a winning motif. 5 View gallery Louis Vuitton Pre-Spring-Summer 2025 Campaign ( Photo: Victor Brun ) 5 View gallery Anthropologie's Fall-Winter 2024-25 campaign ( Photo: Yulia Gorbachenko ) The contemporary presence of dogs in fashion campaigns is driven by two factors: image and economics. Fashion companies aim to market pet-specific design lines, expanding their offerings to new customers and needs. Dogs also serve as an opportunity to strengthen brand identity. The Autumn-Winter 2024-25 campaign from Anthropologie, shot in New York by photographer Yulia Gorbachenko, features models Taylor Hill and Barbara Palvin accompanied by dogs. According to writer Mark Whitmer from The Impression, the dogs create a homey, warm atmosphere and foster an emotional connection between the audience and the brand, appealing to customers through a heartfelt approach. Beyond economics, dogs symbolize loyalty, warmth, and reliability. Incorporating them into campaigns strengthens the emotional bond consumers feel toward a brand and lends it a more authentic, approachable image. Dogs also evoke themes of nature and healthy living, values that have gained traction in recent years. For many pet owners, dogs are integral members of the family. Brands recognize this bond and strive to connect with animal lovers by portraying dogs as part of the family or an extension of personal identity. >

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Manchester City's struggles continued as Pep Guardiola's side remarkably blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain to leave the French club in danger of elimination. There were also big wins for Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, while Inter Milan went top of the standings after five games and Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski reached a century of Champions League goals. However, the biggest drama came at the Etihad Stadium, where City were cruising early in the second half with a three-goal advantage as they sought to end a run of five successive defeats in all competitions. Erling Haaland opened the scoring from a penalty just before half-time, and Ilkay Gundogan's deflected shot made it 2-0 in the 50th minute. Haaland struck again to make it 3-0, but Feyenoord's comeback began on 75 minutes when Anis Hadj Moussa took advantage of hapless defending to round goalkeeper Ederson and pull one back. Substitute Santiago Gimenez bundled in to make it 3-2 on 82 minutes and the equaliser arrived a minute from the end. Ederson was again caught out with Igor Paixao going around the goalkeeper and crossing for Slovak international David Hancko to head in. "We concede a lot of goals because we are not stable," complained Guardiola. "We lost a lot of games lately. We are fragile and of course we need a victory." It is the first time that a team has gone into the last 20 minutes of a Champions League game trailing by three goals and still avoided defeat, as the point boosts the Dutch side's hopes of progressing. City are two points outside the top eight places which offer direct qualification for the last 16, while Bayern moved above them by beating PSG 1-0 in Munich. South Korean defender Kim Min-jae scored the only goal seven minutes before half-time, heading in after goalkeeper Matvei Safonov failed to clear a corner. PSG had Ousmane Dembele sent off in the second half and the French champions have just four points, and three goals, from five games. They are a lowly 26th in the 36-team league, a point adrift of the positions which offer a place in the play-off round in February. "We need to win our last three matches, otherwise we risk being eliminated," admitted PSG coach Luis Enrique. Lewandowski notched his 100th goal in the competition with an early penalty in Barcelona's 3-0 home win over French side Brest. Dani Olmo netted midway through the second half before Lewandowski sealed Barca's win at the death, his 101st goal in the Champions League -- only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have scored more. Inter lead the standings with 13 points, a point ahead of Barcelona and Liverpool, after a 1-0 win at home to RB Leipzig which means they are also still yet to concede a goal. Castello Lukeba's own goal made the difference at San Siro, and Leipzig are one of only three teams to have lost five games out of five. Arsenal romped to a 5-1 victory away to Sporting in Lisbon, as the Portuguese side adapt to life without coach Ruben Amorim, who has departed for Manchester United. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes all scored in the first half for Arsenal, before Goncalo Inacio pulled one back shortly after the restart. Bukayo Saka converted a penalty on 65 minutes after Martin Odegaard had been brought down, and Leandro Trossard headed in to seal Arsenal's win late on. Atalanta romped to a 6-1 win over rock-bottom Young Boys in Switzerland, with Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere both scoring braces. Sead Kolasinac and Lazar Samardzic also netted for the Italians, with Silvere Ganvoula getting the hosts' reply. Florian Wirtz struck twice, including a penalty, as Leverkusen crushed Red Bull Salzburg 5-0, with Alejandro Grimaldo scoring a superb free-kick and Patrik Schick and Aleix Garcia also netting. Julian Alvarez and substitute Angel Correa each scored twice and Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann once as Atletico romped to a 6-0 win away to Sparta Prague. Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham were the scorers in AC Milan's 3-2 win at Slovan Bratislava, whose goals came from Tigran Barseghyan and Nino Marcelli. Marko Tolic saw red at the end for Slovan, who are without a point. as/nfkkjili casino no deposit bonus 。

Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Seoul | South Korean legislators’ attempt to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol ended in failure on Saturday night, prolonging the political upheaval and uncertainty that has roiled the country since his short-lived imposition of martial law this past week. The failed vote was a reversion to political deadlock in the deeply divided country , despite large-scale protests calling for the president’s removal. It was a contrast to the brief moment early on Wednesday when legislators across the political spectrum came together to vote swiftly and unanimously against the president’s martial law declaration. Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Introducing your Newsfeed Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Latest In Asia Fetching latest articles Most Viewed In World

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US stock indices pushed to fresh records Tuesday, shrugging off tariff threats from President-elect Donald Trump while European equities retreated. Trump, who doesn't take office until January 20, made his threat in social media posts Monday night, announcing huge import tariffs against neighbors Canada and Mexico and also rival China if they do not stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Both the Dow and S&P 500 notched all-time highs, with investors regarding the incoming president's words as a bargaining chip. "In theory, higher tariffs should not be good news for stocks. But, you know, I think the market's chosen to think of (it) as a negotiating tactic," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. "You have bullish sentiment," said LBBW's Karl Haeling. "People are tending to look at things as positively as possible." But General Motors, which imports autos from Mexico to the United States, slumped 9.0 percent, while rival Ford dropped 2.6 percent. Overseas bourses were also buffeted by the news. European stocks followed losses in Asia, despite Trump excluding Europe as an immediate target for tariffs. "These are his first direct comments on tariffs and tariff levels since becoming president-elect, and they have roiled markets," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB trading group, ahead of the Wall Street open. "It is early days, and there are plenty of opportunities for Trump to direct his attention to Europe down the line," Brooks added. The US dollar rallied against its Canadian equivalent, China's yuan and Mexico's peso, which hit its lowest level since August 2022. In other economic news, the Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose to 111.7 this month, up from 109.6 in October, boosted by greater optimism surrounding the labor market. "November's increase was mainly driven by more positive consumer assessments of the present situation, particularly regarding the labor market," said Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board. Pantheon Macroeconomics chief US economist Samuel Tombs added in a note that the increase in consumer confidence overall "likely was driven by euphoria among Republicans." "The index also jumped in late 2016, when Mr. Trump was elected for the first time," he said. Federal Reserve meeting minutes showed policy makers expect inflation to keep cooling, signaling a gradual approach to interest rate cuts if price increases ease further and the job market remains strong. - Key figures around 2150 GMT - New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 44,860.31 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.6 percent at 6,021.63 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.6 percent at 19,174.30 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 8,258.61 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.9 percent at 7,194.51 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.6 percent at 19,295.98 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.9 percent at 38,442.00 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: FLAT at 19,159.20 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,259.76 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0482 from $1.0495 on Monday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2567 from $1.2568 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 153.06 yen from 154.23 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.41 pence from 83.51 pence Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.3 percent at $72.81 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $68.77 per barrel bur-jmb/stWASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz withdrew Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation's chief federal law enforcement officer. The announcement caps a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth , who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," he added. Trump, in a social media post, said: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” He did not immediately announce a new selection. Last week, he named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible contender, Matt Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. The withdrawal, just a week after the pick was announced, averts what was shaping up to be a pitched confirmation fight that would have tested how far Senate Republicans were willing to go to support Trump’s Cabinet picks. The selection of the fierce Trump ally over well-regarded veteran lawyers whose names had circulated as possible contenders stirred concern for the Justice Department's independence at a time when Trump has openly threatened to seek retribution against political adversaries. It underscored the premium Trump places on personal loyalty and reflected the president-elect's desire to have a disruptor lead a Justice Department that for years investigated and ultimately indicted him. In the Senate, deeply skeptical lawmakers sought more information about Justice Department and congressional investigations into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls, which Gaetz has denied. Meanwhile, Justice Department lawyers were taken aback by the pick of a partisan lawmaker with limited legal experience who has echoed Trump's claims of a weaponized criminal justice system. As Gaetz sought to lock down Senate support, concern over the sex trafficking allegations showed no signs of abating. In recent days, an attorney for two women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. One of the women testified she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. Leppard has said that his client testified she didn’t think Gaetz knew the girl was underage, stopped their relationship when he found out and did not resume it until after she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18. "They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” Leppard said Thursday of his clients. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.” Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The Justice Department’s investigation ended last year with no charges against him. Gaetz’s political future is uncertain. He had abruptly resigned his congressional seat upon being selected as attorney general, a move seen as a way to shut down the ethics investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He did win reelection in November for the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, 2025, but he said in his resignation letter last week to House Speaker Mike Johnson that he did not intend to take the oath of office. He transmitted a similar letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the state launched a special election process to fill the vacancy. Republicans on the House Ethics Committee declined this week to release the panel's findings, over objections from Democrats in a split vote. But the committee did agree to finish its work and is scheduled to meet again Dec. 5 to discuss the matter. As word of Gaetz's decision spread across the Capitol, Republican senators seemed divided. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, called it a “positive move." Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” Others said they had hoped Gaetz could have overhauled the department. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a close ally of Trump, said he was “disappointed. I like Matt and I think he would have changed the way DOJ is run.” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he hoped that Trump will pick someone “equally as tenacious and equally as committed to rooting out and eliminating bias and politicization at the DOJ.” Gaetz is not the only Trump pick facing congressional scrutiny over past allegations. A detailed investigative police report made public Wednesday shows that a woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth, the former Fox News host now tapped to lead the Pentagon, after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared,” Hegseth told reporters Thursday at the Capitol, where he was meeting with senators to build support for his nomination. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Historian says Midwest played a crucial role in Black freedom movements worldwide

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#jilionline DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto gets free use of a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets behind home plate for regular-season and postseason New York Mets home games as part of his record $765 million, 15-year contract that was finalized Wednesday. The Mets also agreed to provide personal team security for the All-Star outfielder and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games, according to details of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press. Major League Baseball teams usually provide security for player families in seating areas at ballparks. New York also agreed to assist Soto's family for in-season travel arrangements, guaranteed Soto will have uniform No. 22 and included eight types of award bonuses. Soto wore No. 22 with all his previous major league teams: the Nationals, Padres and Yankees. Young third baseman Brett Baty wore No. 22 with the Mets the past three seasons. The Mets will formally introduce Soto in a news conference Thursday afternoon at Citi Field. “This is a seminal moment in franchise history,” owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a statement. “Juan Soto is a generational talent. He is not only bringing staggering historical statistics with him but also a championship pedigree." Soto's suite will be valued at the Mets' prevailing prices, presumably for tax purposes, and after 2025 he can by each Jan. 15 modify or give up his suite selection for the upcoming season. He can request the premium tickets, to be used by family members, no later than 72 hours before the scheduled game time. The Yankees had refused to offer Soto a free suite. “Some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites they buy them ... whether it's CC (Sabathia), whether it’s (Aaron) Judge, whether it’s (Gerrit) Cole, whether it’s any of these guys," general manager Brian Cashman said. "We've gone through a process on previous negotiations where asks might have happened and this is what we did and we’re going to honor those, so no regrets there." Cashman said the Yankees have a shared suite for player families and a family room with babysitting. Soto gets a $75 million signing bonus, payable within 60 days of the agreement’s approval by the commissioner’s office. The deal for the 26-year-old slugger, which tops Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers, was reached Sunday pending a physical that took place Tuesday. Soto receives salaries of $46,875,000 each in 2025 and 2026, $42.5 million in 2027, $46,875,000 apiece in 2028 and 2029 and $46 million in each of the final 10 seasons. Soto has a contingent right to opt out of the agreement within three days of the end of the 2029 World Series to become a free agent again, but the Mets have an option to negate the opt-out provision by increasing the yearly salaries for 2030-39 by $4 million annually to $50 million and raising the total value to $805 million. If the club exercises its option to negate the opt-out provision, Soto can make his opt-out decision by the fifth day after the World Series. He has a full no-trade provision and gets a hotel suite on road trips. “Today’s signing further solidifies our organizational commitment to consistent championship competitiveness,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “Not only does Juan provide historic levels of on field production, but his joy, intensity, and passion for the game mirror our budding culture. We are thrilled to add him to our team and look forward to watching his excellence for years to come.” Soto would receive a $500,000 bonus for winning his first Most Valuable Player award and $1 million for each MVP award. He would get $350,000 for finishing second in the voting and $150,000 for finishing third through fifth. Soto was third in AL voting this year. He would earn $100,000 for each All-Star selection and Gold Glove, $350,000 for World Series MVP and $150,000 for League Championship Series MVP. Soto would get $100,000 for selection to the All-MLB first or second team, $150,000 for a Silver Slugger award and $100,000 for the Hank Aaron Award. Award bonuses are to be paid by the Jan. 31 after the season in which the bonus is earned. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbA WOMAN revealed how her boyfriend's infidelity was made even worse. She explained the tattoo artist she had been dating had used his other woman as inspiration for her ink. In her viral video , TikTok user Jasmine ( @jazzklassy ) recounted the situation for her followers. She explained she had dated an "emo tattooed artist" and decided to get "all tatted up" because she was "sad too". Jasmine asked her boyfriend to ink Lilith from the Bible on her fore arm. The TikToker pointed out since nobody knows what the Biblical figure looks like, they had to take some freedoms with the design. She told her boyfriend to "freestyle" a woman's face, explaining that she trusted him. When he had finished, Jasmine was delighted with the end results of a seemingly fictious woman. However, months later the tattoo artist broke up with her the day before her sister's funeral. To make matters even worse, he revealed that he had been cheating on her during their relationship. According to Jasmine, the other woman had actually been her boyfriend's previous girlfriend. "Me being me, crazy, I go researching, I find her TikTok [and] I see exactly what she looks like and it’s the same exact face on my arm," she revealed. She assumed people would call her crazy for making the comparison. However, when she showed her friends and family an image of the woman and her tattoo side-by-side, they all agreed. While Jasmine showed her audience the tattoo, she refused to feature an image of the woman to protect her privacy. She explained she was exploring an legal options she may have in the situation. "I didn’t know that was his ex’s face, the girl that he was cheating on me with, if I had known that, I would have obviously never gotten the design," she said. 1. Think, think and think some more Tattoos done on a whim are far more likely to lead to regret than a tattoo you thought long and hard about. Think about why you want what you've chosen. And if you still want it after a few months, then get it. 2. Age restrictions apply You must be 18 years old to be tattooed in the UK. 3. Don't haggle over the price When you go to a tattoo shop the price is the price. You are paying for an artist’s time and skills, they charge what they believe those things are worth. 4. Don't get tattooed while you're hungry Eat before you go for your tattoo session and make sure you're hydrated. You’re about to be subjected to a period of sustained physical discomfort, if you’re feeling a little weak from hunger or you’re dehydrated things will not go as smoothly as they should. 5. Don't drink alcohol before you get tattooed If you are drunk or under the influence of drugs, don’t go for a tattoo. In fact, if your tattooist has anything at all about them they will turn you away if you are clearly under the influence of any intoxicating substances. I’d also avoid drinking the night before, even a few drinks will thin your blood and make your bleed more. TikTok users shared their thoughts on the situation in the comments section. "Nah, that’s a different type of evil to do to someone. I’m so sorry," wrote one viewer. "Get a quote on how much the removal will cost and take him to small claims court. If you can, get him to admit to it in writing," advised another follower. "That's so sick of him, I’m sorry you went through that," commented a third person. "I’m so sorry!! Get it touched up and have other stuff done to it, to change the look of it!! It’s possible!" suggested another commenter.Furthermore, the film's ensemble cast delivers standout performances that breathe life into the complex relationships and dynamics at play. From the charismatic leader Jack, portrayed with steely determination by veteran actor, Michael Chang, to the volatile and unpredictable Tony, brought to life with raw intensity by newcomer, Daniel Wu, each actor embodies their character with depth and authenticity.

Barclays PLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Informatica Inc. ( NYSE:INFA – Free Report ) by 25.8% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 68,462 shares of the technology company’s stock after selling 23,774 shares during the period. Barclays PLC’s holdings in Informatica were worth $1,731,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in INFA. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Informatica by 62.9% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 615,958 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $15,571,000 after acquiring an additional 237,876 shares during the period. Summit Partners Public Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Informatica during the third quarter valued at about $2,781,000. Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new position in Informatica in the second quarter valued at about $2,442,000. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in Informatica by 29.9% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 11,564,047 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $292,339,000 after purchasing an additional 2,662,379 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fred Alger Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Informatica by 63.3% during the second quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 794,084 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $24,521,000 after buying an additional 307,803 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.45% of the company’s stock. Insider Buying and Selling at Informatica In other Informatica news, CAO Mark Pellowski sold 10,026 shares of Informatica stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.76, for a total transaction of $268,295.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 142,671 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,817,875.96. The trade was a 6.57 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, EVP John Arthur Schweitzer sold 10,734 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.05, for a total transaction of $290,354.70. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 353,778 shares in the company, valued at $9,569,694.90. This trade represents a 2.94 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 39,296 shares of company stock worth $1,057,684. 48.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Informatica Price Performance Informatica declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, October 30th that authorizes the company to repurchase $400.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the technology company to buy up to 5.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Informatica from $38.00 to $34.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Guggenheim restated a “buy” rating on shares of Informatica in a research note on Friday, October 18th. UBS Group upped their price target on Informatica from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Truist Financial assumed coverage on Informatica in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $34.00 price objective for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Informatica has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $33.27. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on INFA About Informatica ( Free Report ) Informatica Inc develops an artificial intelligence-powered platform that connects, manages, and unifies data across multi-vendor, multi-cloud, and hybrid systems at enterprise scale worldwide. Its platform includes a suite of interoperable data management products, including data integration products to ingest, transform, and integrate data; API and application integration products that enable users to create and manage APIs and integration processes for app-to-app synchronization, business process orchestration, B2B partner management, application development, and API management; data quality and observability products to profile, cleanse, standardize, observe, and monitor data to deliver accurate, complete, and consistent data; and master data management products to create an authoritative single source of truth of business-critical data. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding INFA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Informatica Inc. ( NYSE:INFA – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Informatica Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Informatica and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Furthermore, the film's ensemble cast delivers standout performances that breathe life into the complex relationships and dynamics at play. From the charismatic leader Jack, portrayed with steely determination by veteran actor, Michael Chang, to the volatile and unpredictable Tony, brought to life with raw intensity by newcomer, Daniel Wu, each actor embodies their character with depth and authenticity.Hegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the Senate

The controversial Australian has played only one match in more than two years because of injury but that has not stopped him being an outspoken presence on social media during a difficult few months for the sport. First it was announced in August that Sinner had failed two doping tests in March but was cleared of fault, while in November Swiatek was handed a one-month ban for a failed test caused by contaminated medication. Feels good getting these consecutive days training in the bank man.... Wrist re construction and back out here... blessed..................Without failing any drug tests 🙂‍↕️🙏🏽 be proud kygs doing it the right way 😩😂 pic.twitter.com/J8l21lnTdI — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 5, 2024 Kyrgios has been particularly vociferous in his criticism of Sinner, who could yet face a ban after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the finding of no fault or negligence in his case. At a press conference ahead of the Brisbane International, Kyrgios told reporters: “I have to be outspoken about it because I don’t think there’s enough people that are speaking about it. I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug. “I just think that it’s been handled horrifically in our sport. Two world number ones both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look. “The tennis integrity right now – and everyone knows it, but no one wants to speak about it – it’s awful. It’s actually awful. And it’s not OK.” Kyrgios initially underwent knee surgery in January 2023, returning to action in June of that year, but he played only one match before pulling out of Wimbledon due to a torn ligament in his right wrist. He has not played a competitive match since, and it appeared doubtful that he would be able to return, but the 29-year-old will make his comeback in Brisbane this week. Kyrgios will take on France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in singles, while he will also team up with Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster doubles pairing. “It’s good to be back,” said Kyrgios. “I honestly never thought I’d be back playing at this level. Even entering an event like this, preparing, doing all the right things. A post shared by Nick Kyrgios (@k1ngkyrg1os) “I’m really excited to just go out there and play, just play tennis. I saw Novak in the gym, playing doubles with him, a lot to be excited about that I’m able to get out there and compete again.” Asked whether he could get back to the same level that saw him reach the Wimbledon final in 2022, Kyrgios said: “I still believe I can, whether or not that’s factual or not. There was another player who was like, ‘You have to be realistic’. That’s not how I am. I always back my ability.” The new tennis season is already under way, with the United Cup team event beginning on Friday. Great Britain, who are weakened by the absence of Jack Draper through injury, begin their campaign against Argentina in Sydney on Monday before facing hosts Australia on Wednesday. That could pit Katie Boulter against fiance Alex De Minaur, with the pair having announced their engagement last week. A post shared by Katie Boulter (@katiecboulter) “Obviously some incredible news from our side, but I think we kind of wanted it to die down a little bit before matches started,” said Boulter of the timing. “My private life is out in the public a little bit at the moment. But, in terms of the stuff that I’m doing on the court, I’ll be doing the best I can every single day to stay in my own little bubble.” Billy Harris has taken Draper’s place, with the British number one facing a race against time to be fit for the Australian Open because of a hip problem. Emma Raducanu is the sixth seed at the ASB Classic in Auckland and will begin her season with a match against Robin Montgomery, while Cameron Norrie takes on another American, Learner Tien, at the Hong Kong Open.

NoneOne of the key aspects of this power transition is the need for coordination to ensure that essential services and government functions continue to operate smoothly during the transition period. This is critical to prevent any disruption to the daily lives of the Syrian people and to maintain stability and order in the country.

Chandigarh: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against eight people, including four officials, three contractors, and their associates, for alleged manipulation in awarding a tender for outsourcing manpower by Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) 16 years ago. The FIR was filed on the recommendation of a DSP-level officer posted in the Gurugram bureau, who conducted a preliminary investigation into the allegations against former power minister Randeep Singh Surjewala . However, Surjewala’s name was referred for the probe only and is neither in list of accused nor in any observation made by the officer in his report while recommending the registration of case under sections 13 (1 and 2) and 13 D of Prevention of Corruption Act and section 12 0B of IPC. Other accused named in the case include Sumer Singh Yadav, now retired superintending engineer, operations circle, DHBVN Gurugram, two former DGMs, V K Aggarwal and Daljit Singh, and Ashok Mehta, former accountant, DHBVN. The accused contractors are Ajay Singh Sandhu and Ishwar Singh Nain, the owner and partners of Sandhu Security Services, and unidentified persons. The cause of action dates back to April 2021 when, acting on a complaint moved by Sandhu, the ACB began the probe, with one of the seven points of the complaint linked to DHBVN, Gurugram. Acting on the report of then-investigation officer, the bureau tasked the DSP-level officer in Gurugram to head the probe. Sandhu is also one of the accused in the case. The issue relates to outsourcing work for the contractual employment of 156 assistant linemen and 12 shift attendants to be attached to DHBVN’s operation circle in Gurugram. For this purpose, the DHBVN called for bids by floating the tender for hiring the manpower in 2009. The tender was awarded to Sandhu Security Services allegedly in violation of terms in the contract. We also published the following articles recently ACB to probe corruption charges against CRDA officials The Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) commissioner in Vijayawada ordered a corruption probe following complaints from Amaravati farmers about bribery and delays in plot registrations. One data entry operator was fired after a video surfaced of him soliciting a bribe. Despite additional staff, registration processing remained slow, fueling allegations of deliberate delays and demands for bribes by CRDA officials. Tender scam: Discharge pleas of accused rejected A Ranchi court rejected discharge pleas from two defendants, Ram Prakash Bhatia and Neeraj Mittal, accused of laundering Rs 4.5 crore in a rural development tender fraud case. This follows the rejection of all other discharge petitions in the case involving former minister Alamgir Alam and ex-chief engineer Veerendra Ram. Hema report: Probe into SIT-filed cases in limbo Kerala police face a dilemma investigating 35 FIRs stemming from the Hema Committee report on film industry sexual harassment. Victims are hesitant to cooperate, hindering progress despite a special investigation team's efforts. The cases, dating back to the early 2000s, lack sufficient evidence beyond victim statements. Actor Mala Parvathy challenges the probe in the Supreme Court, citing harassment. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who came into office with promises of transparency and accountability, now finds himself at the center of a major scandal that has shaken the foundations of the government. The news of his inclusion on the arrest warrant has sparked outrage among the South Korean public, who had placed their hopes in his leadership to bring about positive change.As we eagerly await the release of these and other upcoming titles, one thing is certain – PlayStation continues to deliver groundbreaking experiences that captivate and inspire players around the world. Stay tuned for more updates on the exciting games set to define the future of gaming on PlayStation in 2025 and beyond.

Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision via Getty Images Farmland Partners Inc. ( NYSE: FPI ) is emphasised today as we take a look at the agriculture REIT's latest prospects. While REITs can be a hot topic of conversation, the concept if often mundane to many due 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. Kindly note that our content on Seeking Alpha and other platforms doesn't constitute financial advice. Instead, we set the tone for a discussion panel among subscribers. As such, we encourage you to consult a registered financial advisor before committing capital to financial instruments. 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. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.In the realm of crime cinema, "Four Seas Brothers" emerges as a refreshing take on the classic gangster film genre. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker, John Lee, this new work shifts away from the conventional nonlinear storytelling approach often seen in such films, opting instead for a linear narrative structure that adds a sense of immediacy and clarity to the storytelling.

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HOUSTON — Western Governors University maintains a robust program of scholarships, made available to new and returning students in health and nursing. It's time to achieve your education goals and improve your career opportunities. With a state-of-the-art clinical training and simulation center in Houston, you can earn most of your education at home, while getting practice and teaching in a specialized space designed for optimum success. For information about WGU, call (866) 225-5948. You can also visit them online WGU.edu/Health and WGU.edu/Scholarships , plus follow them on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, TikTok and Facebook @WGU. Western Governors University is the nation's leading nonprofit, accredited online University dedicated to expanding access to affordable higher education. Offering more than 80 programs in business, healthcare, education and technology, they have awarded over 400,000 degrees since they began. This content sponsored by WGU and The Leavitt School of Healthkk jili 777 。

RBI deputy governor Michael Patra RBI deputy governor Michael Patra RBI deputy governor Michael Patra 1 2 MUMBAI: Interest rate guidance is more effective when policy rates are low as compared to when they are on their way down, according to RBI deputy governor Michael Patra . "Under heightened uncertainty, discretion in forward guidance has increasingly gained legitimacy among major central banks. Empirical evidence in the Indian context suggests that forward guidance in a policy tightening cycle loses steam as the policy rate increases beyond a threshold," Patra said. He was speaking at an RBI conference of central banks in the global south. According to Patra, the optimal level of communication remains the gold standard for all central bankers - too much can create a "signal extraction problem" while too little can keep markets guessing. In its Aug policy, RBI changed its stance from 'withdrawal of accommodation' to 'neutral' leading many to believe that a rate cut was around the corner. However, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das subsequently said that assuming an imminent rate cut was a wrong inference. Patra, in his speech, said that central banks have moved away from secrecy towards greater transparency and public engagement. This evolution has been driven by the need for accountability and the recognition that communication itself can be a policy tool. While transparency is important, there are limits, especially during times of high uncertainty. Ready to Master Stock Valuation? ET's Workshop is just around the corner!These coins could be hiding in your coin jar at home (Image: Getty) Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Brits are being encouraged to rummage through their spare change for three rare Christmas coins that could be worth a small fortune. An expert, known as the Coin Collecting Wizard on TikTok, has shared with his over 200,000 followers the specific coins to keep an eye out for, potentially fetching upwards of £8,000 if sold to collectors. He highlighted: "Christmas coins that will make you rich." Firstly, he pointed out a 50p coin from Gibraltar with a unique error – a 1990 dated coin featuring an image from the previous year. Despite Gibraltar coins not being legal tender in the UK, they often find their way into British pockets and this particular coin could command a price of up to £4,000, reports the Mirror . The expert elaborated: "This is a 50p from Gibraltar and is known as a mule error. The obverse of this coin features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, dated 1990." "This is paired with the incorrect 1989 Gibraltar Christmas design featuring a singing choir boy and a puppy wearing a Santa hat and a bow. Errors like this where a mismatched obverse and reverse die are used are extremely uncommon today due to advancements in modern minting technology. "This coin can sell for up to £4,000 so make sure to check if you have this one." He then advised viewers to look out for a 2003 50 pence piece depicting a scene from The Snowman. "This sought-after collectible coin is a new addition of a rare Christmas themed design first issued in 2003 inspired by Raymond Briggs' the Snowman first published in 1978," he elaborated. The coin features an image of the eponymous snowman dancing with the young boy, James. He explained: "The 2003 Snowman and James coin was the first in a popular series, produced in partnership with Popjoy Mint to mark the 25th anniversary of the original storybook. And if you have this 50 pence, then you are looking at around £300." He further detailed about some older coins known as wreath crowns, named after their "distinctive reverse design". He added: "These highly collectible silver coins were produced in limited numbers, between 1927 and 1936, as holiday gifts to important clients of the Bank of England leading to their other common name, 'Christmas crowns'. If you have this crown from 1934 then it is worth £4,000." Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow CambridgeLive Facebook X (Twitter) More On Christmas The Queen

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Light & Wonder, Inc. LNW resulting from allegations that Light & Wonder may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased Light & Wonder securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=29678 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On September 24, 2024, the Las Vegas Review-Journal published an article entitled "Slot manufacturer scores major win against Las Vegas-based rival." It stated that "Aristocrat Technologies Inc.'s request for a preliminary injunction in its trade-secret and copyright infringement lawsuit against Light & Wonder" had been granted, and that the "order prohibits [Light & Wonder] from the ‘continued or planned sale, leasing, or other commercialization of Dragon Train,' which Aristocrat claims uses intellectual property developed for its Dragon Link and Lightning Link games." On this news, the price of Light & Wonder common stock fell 19.49% on September 24, 2024. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Baker Mayfield, high-flying Bucs visit Chargers in matchup of teams with winning records

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MONTREAL, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (NYSE: ODV, TSXV: ODV) (“ ” or the “ “) announces that Ms. Marina Katusa has resigned from the Company’s board of directors (the “ “) effective immediately. The Company thanks Ms. Katusa for her service as a director and wishes her well in future endeavours. Osisko Development Corp. is a North American gold development company focused on past-producing mining camps located in mining friendly jurisdictions with district scale potential. The Company’s objective is to become an intermediate gold producer by advancing its 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project, located in central B.C., Canada, the Tintic Project in the historic East Tintic mining district in Utah, U.S.A., and the San Antonio Gold Project in Sonora, Mexico. In addition to considerable brownfield exploration potential of these properties, that benefit from significant historical mining data, existing infrastructure and access to skilled labour, the Company’s project pipeline is complemented by other prospective exploration properties. The Company’s strategy is to develop attractive, long-life, socially and environmentally sustainable mining assets, while minimizing exposure to development risk and growing mineral resources. For further information, visit our website at or contact:File photo/ABC MANILA, Philippines — Seventy-five individuals from Lebanon were repatriated on Sunday, bringing the total number of repatriated Filipinos from the war-torn country to 1,191 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMWs). Based on DMW’s latest data shared to reporters on Monday, a total of 2,245 OFWs have been repatriated from Israel, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza since October last year after Hamas launched its largest terrorist attack on Israel. READ: DMW: PH gov’t repatriates 290 more Filipinos from Lebanon Upon their arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday, the repatriates received financial and livelihood assistance from the DMW, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. “They also received educational vouchers from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority that they can use should they want to continue learning new skills, or their dependents,” the DMW said. The agency’s National Reintegration Center for OFWs, meanwhile, offered livelihood programs and assistance in employment opportunities. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .

Cyber-espionage group ‘ Salt Typhoon ’ targeting ‘at least’ eight US telecom and telecom infrastructure firms, according to The Guardian . U.S. government agencies have held a classified briefing for the House of Representatives on Salt Typhoon. This was the largest intelligence compromise in US history and it sparked a call to all U.S. citizens to switch to encrypted communications. Providing insights on Salt Typhoon and how organizations can proactively defend against APTs for Digital Journal is Renuka Nadkarni, Chief Product Officer at Aryaka . Nadkarni explains why the recent incident carries potential concerns for businesses: “Events like Salt Typhoon underscore how enterprises and users remain susceptible to breaches due to dependencies on external infrastructure. As distributed applications increasingly rely on public clouds, SaaS, and global service providers for computing, storage, and networking, organizations face expanding attack surfaces outside of their control. Breaches become a matter of “when” not “if.” There are structural reasons why vulnerabilities occur, linked to organizational setup and culture. Here Nadkarni reasons: “Many organizations rely on fragmented solutions from various vendors, leading to a lack of integration and limited visibility across their infrastructure, making it challenging to detect hidden malware. There is a lack of visibility due to complex environments such as sprawling IT systems with numerous endpoints, servers, and cloud integrations, which makes monitoring harder. Many organizations don’t log enough data or retain it long enough to trace the full extent of the compromise.” As a solution, streamlining is key. Nadkarni thinks: “Operational simplicity remains key for organizations to detect Salt Typhoon activity. These processes can become burdensome and difficult to sustain. Establishing clear roles and responsibilities for managing security policies and procedures is essential to maintaining an effective and manageable defence.” There are other measures that can be taken. Nadkarni recommends: “In addition to the guidance released by the FBI and CISA, organizations should adopt a zero-trust architecture that requires authentication and authorization for every access request, to help limit lateral movement and minimize the impact of a breach.” Furthermore, Nadkarni proposes: “Additionally, organizations should prioritize threat hunting by monitoring known APT-related indicators of compromise (IOCs) and indicators of Attack (IOAs). By utilizing network segmentation and AI-driven automation, organizations can quickly detect, triage, and respond to APT activity.” Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

White House: 3 Americans held for years in China have been releasedA sailor from Queanbeyan who was killed in an attack by Japanese suicide bombers in the Pacific in 1943 is to be honoured at the Australian War Memorial. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue Able Seaman Leslie Laurence Hart died on January 5, 1945. He was 20 years old. On January 5, 2025, he will be remembered at the Last Post ceremony at the Australian War Memorial. He will be cited as a hero. "Leslie Hart was born in Queanbeyan on November 1, 1925, and grew up with his parents and sister in the Canberra suburb of Ainslie," the director of the Memorial, Matt Anderson, said. "On July 1, 1943 he enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy and, after five months' training, he joined the crew of HMAS Australia in early December 1943." He was one of 25 crewmen killed in an explosion caused by a kamikaze attack on the ship. More were to die in attacks in the following days. The warship Australia had been attacked from the air before, in October 1944, and that attack led to a debate in military circles about whether the Japanese had a new tactic of using pilots to die by suicide by ramming ships with their fighters in what became known as kamikaze attacks. The earlier, October attacks on the vessel seemed to be by aircraft which were already damaged and destined to crash, so the original intention of the pilot to die by suicide in the attack was unclear. But the January 1945 attacks were clearly kamikaze operations. Able Seaman Leslie Laurence Hart. Picture supplied by the Australian War Memorial "By January 5, 1945, she was back in action in the Lingayen Gulf covering the allied invasion of Luzon Island," the Royal Australian Navy account states. "Here she was subjected to repeated suicide attacks, this time there was no doubt of the kamikaze nature of the Japanese planes. Australia was hit on 5, 6, 8 and 9 January, losing three officers and 41 ratings killed and one officer and 68 ratings wounded. This was the ship's last action in World War II." Able Seaman Hart from Queanbeyan was one of those victims. His story will be related at the daily Last Post ceremony at the war memorial at 4.30pm on the anniversary of his death. "The Last Post Ceremony is our commitment to remembering and honouring the legacy of Australian service," Mr Anderson said. "The Last Post is now associated with remembrance but originally it was a bugle call to sound the end of the day's activities in the military. It is a fitting way to end each day at the memorial." Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Steve Evans Reporter Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues." Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues." More from Canberra That's not a slide - this is a slide 15m ago Queanbeyan hero honoured at the Australian War Memorial 15m ago No comment s I'm overcome by a sense of escape and elation. Vincent feels it too 15m ago No comment s Thunder's top Billings: Canberra fan gets cool Manuka memento No comment s 'Tried to cheat the process': Kyrgios doubles down on criticism of world No.1 No comment s Police identify three youths after 'suspicious' bushfire in northern Canberra Newsletters & Alerts View all DAILY Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Loading... WEEKDAYS The lunch break Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Loading... DAILY Sport The latest news, results & expert analysis. Loading... WEEKDAYS The evening wrap Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Loading... WEEKLY Note from the Editor Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Loading... WEEKLY FootyHQ Love footy? We've got all the action covered. Loading... DAILY Early Look At David Pope Your exclusive preview of David Pope's latest cartoon. Loading... 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TWICE WEEKLY Voice of Real Australia Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Loading... AS IT HAPPENS Breaking news alert Be the first to know when news breaks. Loading... DAILY Today's Paper Alert Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Loading... DAILY Your favourite puzzles Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Loading...Horoscope Today, December 29, 2024: Some individuals, like Gemini, can look forward to a satisfying day filled with accomplishments. In contrast, others, such as Aquarius, may face challenges that disrupt their plans. While some people will experience a smooth and successful day, others will encounter obstacles that require patience and perseverance. It's essential to stay flexible and adapt to the ups and downs that come with each day. Find out what will happen in your life today by reading astrologer Harshit Sharma's horoscope predictions. Aries Horoscope Today - A new work opportunity may require embarking on a long journey, so prioritize self-care during travel. Your health will remain stable. However, you might need financial assistance for business purposes, leading you to seek help from relatives. This could lead to some family conflicts, particularly with your spouse, over certain issues. Be prepared to navigate these challenges and maintain open communication to resolve any disagreements. Taurus Horoscope Today - A fresh wave of enthusiasm will spark new ideas, prompting you to discuss innovative plans with colleagues. Business prospects look promising, making it an ideal time to invest in property. You may feel inclined to perform an auspicious ceremony at home, bringing good fortune to your family. A trip with your spouse and children is also on the cards, promising quality time and cherished memories with your loved ones. Gemini Horoscope Today - A remarkable day ahead promises significant improvements in health, potentially overcoming major ailments. A chance encounter with a special individual will unlock new opportunities. Business transformations made now will yield future benefits. Favorable conditions make it an ideal time to invest in the stock market. A family religious gathering is on the horizon, welcoming new guests. Quality time with your spouse and children ensures a delightful day filled with love and connection. Cancer Horoscope Today - A highly promising day awaits, bringing improved health and harmony to personal relationships. Long-standing differences with your spouse will be resolved, strengthening your bond. Business ventures will yield profits, and a chance meeting with a key individual may lead to significant new opportunities. Family respect and reputation will increase, accompanied by uplifting news that will delight your loved ones, filling your home with joy and positivity. Leo Horoscope Today - Physical exhaustion may leave you feeling lethargic and unenthusiastic about work. Be cautious, as opportunities may slip away due to your lack of motivation. Business partnerships may also be tested, with the risk of deception by your associate. Practice restraint in your communication to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Additionally, exercise extra caution while driving or operating vehicles to ensure your safety. Virgo Horoscope Today - Exercise extreme caution while driving to avoid accidents. A restless mind may cloud your judgment, so it's essential to make informed decisions at work, avoiding impulsive choices that may backfire. Lending large sums of money to others is also discouraged, as it may create financial strain and spark disagreements with your spouse and children, potentially damaging relationships. Libra Horoscope Today - Negative thoughts will dominate your mind, making it challenging to perceive things positively. Even well-intentioned comments may seem critical, and you may inadvertently create new conflicts. To avoid controversy, exercise restraint in your communication. Refrain from making significant business transactions, and steer clear of ongoing family disputes over ancestral property to avoid substantial losses. Caution and self-control are essential to navigate this sensitive period. Scorpio Horoscope Today - Embarking on new ventures will yield positive results, but beware of trusting strangers, as they may test your patience. When sealing business deals, scrutinize documents meticulously before making a decision. Exercise caution and reserve your emotions, avoiding discussions with your spouse that may lead to unnecessary conflicts. By being vigilant and discreet, you'll navigate this period successfully and make informed choices. Sagittarius Horoscope Today - A spiritual journey will rejuvenate your mind, filling it with positivity and peace. You'll be empowered to make important life decisions and receive support from loved ones. Business prospects look promising, with potential profits and reimbursement of pending payments. A new addition to the family may bring joy, and you'll have the opportunity to set aside savings for your spouse and children, securing their future and well-being. Capricorn Horoscope Today - A promising day ahead brings joy and accomplishment. The morning will usher in delightful news, setting a positive tone. Pending tasks will be completed in the afternoon, freeing up time for more fulfilling activities. A family visit to a sacred site can boost well-being, but remember to prioritise health and take necessary precautions to avoid seasonal illnesses. Stay vigilant and make the most of this beneficial day. Pisces Horoscope Today - A significant day lies ahead, marked by the resolution of a long-standing, major dispute. A substantial sum of money can be secured, guaranteeing a stable future. However, caution is advised against lending large amounts to others. Family harmony may be disrupted, leading to conflicts. Additionally, criticizing your in-laws to your spouse is strongly discouraged, as it may have severe consequences and damage relationships.

A miner who his partner and her ex-partner before getting into a "wrestle" with during his arrest will have to be of good behaviour for the next 12 months. or signup to continue reading The man, who will not be named due to the incident relating to family violence, appeared before the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on December 12 where he pleaded guilty to four charges, including unlawful assault. The court heard that on June 14, 2024 the man was at home around 8pm when his partner and her daughter arrived there. The man was intoxicated and an argument soon broke out about "cutting meat" for dinner. He became verbally abusive and started berating his partner while his son and her daughter were present. "Look at what you're doing to them," the man said to his partner during the argument about the children. As his son was upset by this argument, the child went to his room and was followed by the man's partner. While she was in that bedroom, the accused walked behind her and grabbed her before throwing her to the ground. The woman's daughter called triple-zero after seeing this and also called her biological father, the second victim and the ex-partner of the first assault victim. The second victim arrived at the house and immediately was drawn into a confrontation with the man which included multiple punches being thrown by the accused. One punch connected to the face of the victim. The man's partner attempted to intervene between the two men but was again thrown to the ground. The court heard that during the fight between the two men, the victim of the assault had a "head full of steam" and was "egging" the accused on. Police arrived and attempted to arrest the man who resisted which caused a wrestle between him and the officers. The accused began tearing items off of the jacket of the officers which forced them to deploy OC spray and arrest the man. After being taken to the Bendigo police station, an IVO was put in place and the man was released. The IVO restricted the man from being within 200 metres of his partner. However, at 1.47am on June 15 police spotted the man travelling north on the Midland Highway towards his home. He parked his car in a vacant block roughly 50 metres from the home before police confronted him and questioned why he was there. The accused said he was under the belief the IVO was only a 40m to 80m exclusion zone. Since the incident the man has been proactive in getting support including getting a mental health care plan from his GP, engaging with a psychologist and has enrolled in the men's behaviour change program. The man has been in the mining industry for 14 years and is still in a relationship with his partner following the incident. Magistrate Megan Aumair said the man's "kind of behaviour is never acceptable" and said she hoped this was "an incident that will hopefully never, ever happen again". He was sentenced to an adjourned undertaking to be of good behaviour for the next year. Ms Aumair said he must complete the men's behaviour change program, show the court he has done so and pay $1000 to the court fund. WA boy in Bendigo, happy to be in Central Victoria. WA boy in Bendigo, happy to be in Central Victoria. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!Police say suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing wasn't a client of the insurerAP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:02 p.m. EST

House Speaker Mike Johnson and U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks spoke to reporters following an event in Indianola Oct. 18, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ reelection win for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District was confirmed Wednesday as the recount requested by Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan concluded. The Associated Press called the race at 3:07 p.m. Wednesday, several weeks after the Nov. 5 general election. As of the latest updates from the AP, Miller-Meeks won with unofficial results showing her at 206,955 votes to Bohannan’s 206,157 — a 798-vote margin, slightly smaller than the 802-vote gap reported when Bohannan requested the recount earlier in November . The recount process was conducted in all 20 counties in the 1st Congressional District over the course of seven days, with the final two counties — Johnson and Keokuk counties — finishing their recounts Wednesday. There were no changes to the vote totals during the recount process in Keokuk County, according to the local county auditor’s office. In Johnson County, Miller-Meeks’ lead dropped by two votes and Bohannan’s dropped by six, according to county auditor staff. Bohannan conceded the race in a Wednesday statement, congratulating Miller-Meeks on her victory. She thanked election officials and volunteers for their efforts during the election and recount process — as well as thanking Iowans “for their patience” as the recount was conducted. “Although this is not the result we wanted, I am so proud of our campaign,” Bohannan said. “We exceeded all expectations and turned a district that many pundits thought was unwinnable into one of the very closest races in the country. ... I am honored by the roughly half of Iowans in this district – people of all political parties – who voted for me to be their next congresswoman. Although I won’t be able to represent them in Washington DC this January, I want them to know that I will continue our important work of putting Iowa first.” With the conclusion of the 1st Congressional District recount, all recount processes for 2024 elections in the state have concluded. Three legislative races were also brought to recount from the 2024 election with results showing two Democratic incumbents, Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-Waukee, and Rep. Monica Kurth, D-Davenport, keeping their seats, as well as confirming the loss of incumbent Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, to Republican Mike Pike. With these recounts over, Iowa’s federal delegation will continue to be all Republican. Republicans will also hold a trifecta of control at the Iowa Statehouse, with supermajorities in both the state House and Senate. Miller-Meeks gave her victory speech at her Election Night watch party and has criticized Bohannan for pursuing a recount. She, alongside the House GOP campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee, have criticized Bohannan for not conceding the race earlier because of the cost to the state, claiming the process had cost $21,000 as of Tuesday. Mike Marinella, a NRCC spokesperson, released a statement congratulating Miller-Meeks on her reelection Wednesday. “Congratulations to Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks on her incredible victory,” Marinella said. “As a doctor, veteran, and Congresswoman, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks has always answered the call to service. Rep. Miller-Meeks’ record speaks for itself, and she will continue to deliver valuable results for veterans, farmers, small business owners and families across Southeast Iowa.”A 25-per-cent U.S. tariff on Canadian goods would be “devastating” for the province’s lumber and forestry industries, British Columbia Premier David Eby said Wednesday ahead of a meeting with fellow premiers and the prime minister. Eby participated in the virtual meeting to discuss U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose the tariffs unless Canada and Mexico stop illegal border crossings and prevent illicit drugs from entering the United States. After the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said unity among provinces and the federal government is critical at this moment, but a statement from Ontario Premier Doug Ford accused the federal government of being flat footed in the face of Trump’s threat. Eby said before the meeting that the lumber and forestry sectors are already strained by a recent increase in duties amid the ongoing U.S.-Canada dispute over softwood lumber. The tariffs are “unjustified,” and they would hurt Americans as much as they would Canadians, Eby said after the first meeting of his new cabinet in Victoria. “It’s going to result in more-expensive wood for building homes and building things in the United States. (It) doesn’t make any sense,” he said. B.C. is a source of natural gas, wood products, minerals and other products that U.S. businesses depend on, Eby said, and the tariff would hinder jobs and opportunities in the province while making “life more expensive for Americans.” The premier said he believes B.C. has a strong case to make for the tariff being “badly placed” if Trump’s priority is to reduce costs for Americans. The tariffs would be paid by U.S. importers of Canadian products, potentially driving down demand. Eby and officials in Ottawa have called for a united front dealing with Trump’s tariff plan, which the president-elect announced on social media on Monday. Eby said B.C. officials had repeatedly raised concerns with Ottawa over organized crime and illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, in relation to border security. “It’s a priority for us. It has been for a while, we’ve written to Ottawa about it.” But Eby said it “doesn’t justify the tariffs.” The premier said Trump’s tariff plan “doesn’t make economic sense,” and it’s not necessary to address the serious issues at the border. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Quebec Premier François Legault have both said Trump’s concerns about the border are legitimate and need to be addressed. Legault said Wednesday that Ottawa shouldn’t try to deny that there’s a problem and instead present a plan to reassure Trump that Canada’s border is secure. Eby said he believes the premiers are “unified” when it comes to the tariff threat. “There are 13 of us plus the prime minister. It’s a big group of people with different political perspectives, but on this issue of ensuring that we’re protecting the people in our country from these unjustified tariffs, I believe we’re completely in line on that question.” Eby said he planned to meet with business and labour groups in B.C. to discuss the strategy to protect B.C. jobs and families. The premier also said B.C. has to “redouble” its efforts to diversity its trading partners and recalled a trade mission to the Asia Pacific region in 2023. “In Korea, in Japan, Singapore, these are really important relationships for British Columbia, and they will provide some buffer for us in moments like this.” Eby said B.C. is not in the same position as Quebec or Ontario in terms of the potential impact of the tariff, but the province is still exposed. “These unjustified tariffs do threaten the prosperity and security of many families in our province. So I’m going to make sure that we’re advocating strongly at the team Canada level to respond to this, (as a) unified front across Canada.” Eby also told reporters the first day of the next legislative session will be Feb. 18 when the Throne Speech is delivered. The NDP government would deliver a budget that reflects B.C. residents’ priorities around affordability, health care, economic growth and public safety, he said. Eby’s office said budget day would be March 4. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024.

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The Giants were embarrassed in Sunday's 30-7 loss , taunted by Mayfield after a touchdown run just before halftime. And then they saw their fans walk out on them again when the Bucs extended their lead to 30-0 and sent New York (2-9) to its sixth straight loss. The losing streak is the longest for the Giants since 2019, when they dropped a franchise-record nine straight games to finish 4-12. That led to the firing of coach Pat Shurmur after two seasons. Third-year coach Brian Daboll is clearly in trouble, with the Giants guaranteed a second straight losing season. They were 6-11 in a 2023 season that featured a lot of injuries. Daboll, who denies he has lost the team, isn't the only one whose job is in jeopardy. General manager Joe Schoen is on the hot seat and so is this entire franchise, which is celebrating its 100th year. It's one thing to lose. It's quite another to give up, and that's what the organization did when it decided to bench Daniel Jones a week ago and then release him on Friday after the 27-year-old asked co-owner John Mara to let him walk away. While he wasn't playing well, Jones was the Giants' best quarterback. He gave them more a of chance to win than either Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock. Removing him from the picture was all but certain to make the Giants worse, even if it was a good business decision. If Jones was hurt and unable the pass his physical before the 2025 season, the team would have been on the hook for a $23 million cap hit. The problem is the players care about now. By getting rid of Jones and elevating DeVito to the starting role, the front office was telling the team it didn't care about winning with seven games left in the season. So the players gave a lackluster effort. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence called the team soft. Rookie receiver Malik Nabers said he was sick of losing. Left tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said he saw a lack of effort by some players. What they all were saying was they were angry at being betrayed. Money is never more important than winning, and the Giants made that mistake. At this point in the season? Nothing. The offense once again. The Giants have scored a league-low 163 points, including only 60 in six games at MetLife Stadium, where they are winless this season. They have scored in double figures at home twice. Daboll's team has been held scoreless in the first half in three of 11 games and it has been held without a first-half touchdown seven times. Daboll said he will continue to call the offensive plays. S Tyler Nubin. The rookie has had a team-high 12 tackles in each of the last two games. His 81 tackles for the season are just two behind team leader Bobby Okereke. RB Tyrone Tracy. The rookie leads Giants running backs with 587 yards on 116 carries — a 5.1-yard average for the fifth-round pick. But holding onto the ball has been a big issue. Tracy's fumble in overtime cost New York a chance to win in Germany against Carolina. He also lost the ball in the third quarter at the Bucs 5-yard line with New York down 23-0. It earned him a seat on the bench. LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) and OLB Azeez Ojulari (toe) left Sunday's game in the first quarter. Chris Hubbard filled in at tackle and the Giants luckily got back DL Kayvon Thibodeaux this past week after he missed five games with a broken wrist. DeVito was banged up but Daboll expects him to start against the Cowboys. 10 — The Giants have gone 10 consecutive games without an interception, tying the NFL record held by the 1976-77 San Francisco 49ers and the 2017 Oakland — now Las Vegas — Raiders. The Giants and Raiders now share the single-season mark. A national showcase on Thanksgiving Day for the NFC-worst Giants at Dallas. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLTrump ally Caitlyn Jenner taunts Kamala HarrisNo. 21 Creighton PG Ashworth doubtful vs. SDSU

Taller people have naturally much more leverage and proprioception than smaller people. The problem with weight classes is that they ignore skeletal mass. For example Conor McGregor was much taller than Jose Aldo when Aldo got defeated in 13 seconds. Likewise Khabib had a much wider upper body frame than McGregor when Khabib won their contest. Perhaps there's a more subjective element for putting similar sized contestants together. Maybe boxing partially bypasses the issue of height by prolonging the fights through softer hand gloves. MMA is a dangerous sport yet from a mental health perspective self-harm is tolerable. MMA isn't much more dangerous than other extreme sports like rock climbing. The aggressive symbolism of MMA isn't very helpful to law-and-order even though the same could be said about alcohol and social deprivation. Overall I support Conor McGregor in his enthusiasm for representing Ireland even if there are one or two question marks over the sport in general. Perhaps other Irish athletes in rugby or soccer are too media-shy in comparison to Mr. McGregor. Maybe athletes in team sports fail to take the initiative when it comes to representing their working class backgrounds in community activities. Conor's quick knockout of Aldo isn't too embarrassing for Aldo given that projectile warfare and gun duels can cause deaths in milliseconds. The way Conor McGregor’s career “kickstarted” in his late 20s was inspirational for older adults in other sports to keep working on reflexes. One way to distinguish combat sports from gladiator contests is that you could theoretically let the fight happen and wait until afterwards to jail and arrest them. What machismo forgets with mutual combat is that both parties might be so irrelevant that society can afford to arrest them where slight amorality can defeat immorality. Let's see when he is drooling and absent minded in his early 50s. Lumpy Talbot said: Let's see when he is drooling and absent minded in his early 50s. Click to expand... Perhaps one way McGregor resonates is with his temporary tension against his parents when he was opting to do a risky career in MMA instead of apprenticeships where they eventually reconciled after a few verbal confrontations. Paradoxically any physical pushing against his father toughened him up for his MMA career. This helps to explain celebrity worship syndrome where celebrities can be the exception that prove the rule as if our parents truly could be that negligent were truly destined to be a superstar!Australian Senate begins debate on world-first social media ban for children under 16