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AAP FACTCHECK – Fake images of Elon Musk doing mundane activities such as eating breakfast, holding flowers or wearing pyjamas are being used to lure Facebook users into the hands of scammers. The images are generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Facebook users who comment on the photos are being targeted by scammers. A Facebook photo search for “Elon Musk” returns hundreds of images of the technology billionaire. Some are genuine but many are clearly AI-generated. Many of the AI images are published on Elon Musk fan pages, and some include invitations. A picture published on December 16, 2024, in a Facebook group named “ CEO Space X-Tesla “, carries the caption “Just thinking about you puts a smile on my face” and purports to show him with a large plate of fried eggs and steak and holding a white coffee cup. But there are clear signs the picture was created using AI. Mr Musk’s fingers and thumbs are warped, the coffee cup he is holding appears to be balancing on his hand, and the steak on his plate has an unusual bone attached. Another Facebook post published on December 12 on an “Elon Musk fan group” purports to show Mr Musk holding up a card with the US flag and some writing. However, the letters on the card are warped and indecipherable, a common feature of AI-generated images . Many of the posts appear to be “engagement bait”. Facebook describes engagement bait as “a tactic that urges people to interact with Facebook posts through likes, shares, comments and other actions in order to artificially boost engagement and get greater reach”. Scammers appear to be using the comments section of the fake Elon Musk posts to encourage people to send them private messages or click on suspicious links. Dr TJ Thomson from RMIT and Associate Professor Amy Dawel from the Australian National University previously provided AAP FactCheck with eight tips for spotting AI-based visual disinformation. The tips included looking for visual inconsistencies in the image, trying to find the original image using a reverse image search tool such as TinEye , and using an AI detection tool such as AI or Not . Scammers are producing thousands of Facebook posts like this that encourage people to share the post and/or click nefarious links. Many people could be tricked into a scam – or advertising a scam – to family and friends on Facebook without realising it. That’s why it’s vital to know how to identify a potential scam. Treat posts offering extremely cheap or free products and services, or appealing for help to find lost or found people or pets, with caution if they include more than one of the following features: * The person encourages everyone to share their post widely. * They don’t provide their contact details or they ask people to send them a DM or PM (direct message or private message). * The post includes only very vague details about the location of the giveaway, person or pet. * The account of the person posting is less than a year old, has no profile picture, has very few friends, or isn’t located in the same area as the subject of the post. This indicates the account is fake. * You can’t comment on the post because comments are disabled. This is done to stop people from warning others it’s a scam. All information, text and images included on the AAP Websites is for personal use only and may not be re-written, copied, re-sold or re-distributed, framed, linked, shared onto social media or otherwise used whether for compensation of any kind or not, unless you have the prior written permission of AAP. For more information, please refer to our standard terms and conditions .

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*Approves 2025 World Bank business enabling action plan *As Sokoto professionals canvass indigenous support for govt Onuminya Innocent Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has assented to the 2025 Appropriation Bill, promising to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the state. Aliyu described the 2024 budget implementation as a success story, and reiterated his administration’s determination to continue to execute people-oriented projects already started. In another development, the Sokoto State government took a significant step towards economic growth and development by approving the 2025 World Bank Business Enabling Action Plan. The plan is an annual document that outlines the state’s 12-month business strategy, which is a requirement for the state to participate in the World Bank’s $750 million programme. Meanwhile, Sokoto Professional Network (SPN) appealed to indigenes of the state from different fields to support the state government for rapid development of the state. Chairman of SPN, Engineer Zayyanu Yabo, made the appeal at the network’s second Annual General Meeting, (AGM) held in Sokoto. Elaborating on his government’s 2024/2025 budgets, Aliyu stated, “In the outgoing financial year, we succeeded in executing many developmental projects that had impacted positively on the lives of our people. “We would, in sha Allah, sustain this invaluable gesture by delivering more dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of our people.” He reaffirmed his administration’s support to the fight against banditry and other forms of criminality in the state. The governor thanked the lawmakers for the speedy passage of the bill, stating that it has clearly demonstrated their unwavering commitment towards making the lives of their people better. He thanked the people of the state for their fervent prayers and continued support for his administration. Earlier, Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Tukur Bodinga, said the lawmakers had subjected the appropriation bill to thorough scrutiny to ensure it was line with the yearnings and aspirations of the electorate. Bodinga commended the governor for the myriad dividends of democracy he had so far delivered across the state. The speaker assured of the lawmakers’ support to the governor’s policies and programmes aimed at transforming the state. Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the World Bank meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Alhaji Bello Danchadi, explained that the programme aimed to improve land administration, investment processes, and access to finance, as well as increase sustainable large-scale investments and resolve commercial disputes efficiently Danchadi was accompanied by his colleagues, including Professor Jabir Maihulla (Ministry of Religious Affairs); Professor Attahiru Sifawa (Ministry of Science and Technology); and Alhaji Haruna Bashir (Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry). Danchadi explained that with the state executive council’s approval, Sokoto State was now eligible to participate in the World Bank’s 2025 programme. In addition to the World Bank programme, the Sokoto State Executive Council also approved several other projects. The council approved the renovation and upgrading of nine Juma’at mosques across three senatorial districts in the state, with contracts awarded to various companies at a total cost of over N1.2 billion. It approved the construction of pedestrian bridges along Airport Road and Shehu Shagari College of Education road, at a cost of N331.135 million, to improve safety and reduce accidents in the area. SPN chairman, Yabo described the network as a coalition of professionals from Sokoto State working across various sectors, including science, technology, humanities, arts, and other public and private domains. He highlighted the organisation’s objectives, which included promoting sustainable professionalism, supporting advocacy and capacity development, and implementing initiatives to enhance the skills and scholarship opportunities for Sokoto youths to drive state-wide development. Reflecting on the network’s achievements over the past two years, Yabo stated significant milestones, including the training of 50 youths in solar installation and maintenance. He said many of the beneficiaries were now gainfully employed or running their own businesses. “Our network remains committed to supporting the development of Sokoto State and its people. The ultimate goal is to build a skilled and empowered population that contributes positively to societal growth,” Yabo stated. Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Goronyo, commended the network for its initiatives. Goronyo emphasised that this year’s theme, “A Year of Consolidation and Progress,” aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which advocated strategic partnerships and collaborations as catalysts for economic growth. “The efforts of SPN are commendable, and I applaud the leadership for organising such a significant gathering to consolidate its achievements and chart new paths for progress,” Goronyo said.Constellation Brands Inc. Cl A stock falls Friday, underperforms market

Elon Musk hits out at Sydney Morning Herald for ‘boring audiences to death’ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, roughly 22 months after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections and house the homeless as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. Biden spoke later Sunday evening about Carter, calling it a “sad day” but one that “brings back an incredible amount of good memories.” “I’ve been hanging out with Jimmy Carter for over 50 years,” Biden said in his remarks. He recalled the former president being a comfort to him and his wife Jill when their son Beau died in 2015 of cancer. The president remarked how cancer was a common bond between their families, with Carter himself having cancer later in his life. “Jimmy knew the ravages of the disease too well,” said Biden, who was ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A president from Plains A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. And then, the world Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors. He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” ‘An epic American life’ Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. A small-town start James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. ‘Jimmy Who?’ His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Accomplishments, and ‘malaise’ Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015. “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”

Stephon Gilmore still not practicing for VikingsWASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Friday publicly expressed support of Pete Hesgeth, his embattled pick to lead the Pentagon, following Hesgeth’s whirlwind week of meetings with lawmakers, negative press and speculation that Trump could soon replace him. In a post on the Trump-owned Truth Social social media site, Trump said that Hegseth was doing well. “His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe. He was a great student – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump said. Hegseth had spent the past week in the Capitol, working to shore up support among Republican senators whose votes he will need to be confirmed next year, and to do damage control to combat a steady drip of negative press — including allegations of excessive drinking, sexual impropriety and mismanagement of funds at two veterans organizations, of which he was the head. As the allegations mounted, media reports citing unnamed sources said Trump was considering replacing Hegseth. Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Pentagon official Elbridge Colby had all been floated as contenders for the top Defense Department job. In hallway interviews and a high-profile sit-down with Megyn Kelly, who like Hegseth is a former Fox News host, Hegseth said he was being “smeared” by the media. Republican senators have not openly opposed Hegseth — and many support him — but some have voiced concerns over the allegations. And Hegseth can afford to lose precious few votes given Republicans’ 53 Senate seats next year, assuming all Democrats oppose him. As scrutiny builds, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., wrote to Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., and ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., urging them to ensure financial records from two nonprofit groups Hegseth used to lead are available for panel members to review. Blumenthal in his Wednesday letter made the case for demanding that the groups Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America “preserve and produce” credit card records, tax filings, revenue reports and more from the time of Hegseth’s employment at both nonprofits. And Hegseth is expected to continue meeting with lawmakers next week, including key GOP moderates Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Collins, currently the top Republican on the Defense Appropriations panel, told reporters Wednesday night that she has “a host of questions” for Hegseth, “ranging from his views on Ukraine and the size of our Navy to the allegations that have been lodged against him.” Ernst, a member of the Armed Services Committee with whom Hegseth met on Wednesday, pointedly declined to publicly endorse his selection, simply describing their meeting as a “frank and thorough conversation.” Speaking Thursday morning on Fox News, Ernst again did not signal support for Hegseth, and instead stressed the importance of the confirmation process. “I think for a number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared, and that’s why we have to have a very thorough vetting process,” she said. Thus far, Hegseth has not met with any Senate Democrats, a decision Blumenthal criticized Thursday. (CQ-Roll Call's Briana Reilly contributed to this report.) ©2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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India will host the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) for the first time in February 2024, marking a significant milestone in the country's entertainment sector. The summit, set to be held from February 5 to 9, will bring together media and entertainment leaders, as well as creative minds from across the globe, to discuss collaboration, innovation, and India’s growing influence in global content creation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared the exciting news during his monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat, on Sunday, describing the summit as a pivotal step in positioning India as a global hub for creative and content industries. PM Modi Highlights India’s Growing Creative Economy PM Modi emphasized the importance of the WAVES Summit in India's broader economic context, noting that it aligns with the country’s ambition to become a five trillion dollar economy. “This Summit is an important step towards making India a hub of global content creation,” he said. The Prime Minister acknowledged the role of India’s youth in shaping the future of creative industries. He encouraged young creators and professionals from all areas of the media and entertainment sector—whether in Bollywood, regional cinema, animation, gaming, or entertainment technology—to participate in the summit and share their ideas and innovations with the world. "Whether you are a young creator or an established artist, associated with Bollywood or regional cinema, a professional from the TV industry, an expert in animation, gaming, or an innovator in entertainment technology, I encourage you to be a part of the WAVES Summit," PM Modi remarked. A Platform for Collaboration and Global Engagement The WAVES Summit will serve as a global platform to foster collaborations, showcase India’s creative talents, and highlight advancements in animation, gaming, entertainment technology, and cinema. PM Modi stated, “The WAVES Summit is poised to serve as a global platform for India’s creative talents, fostering collaborations and showcasing the country’s potential as a hub for world-class content creation.” The summit is expected to attract global attention, drawing leaders and influencers from the media and entertainment industries to discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities in the creative sector. Also Read: Kangana Ranaut seeks desire of meeting PM Narendra Modi: “I don’t get an audience with the Prime Minister, I have requested for one...” BOLLYWOOD NEWS - LIVE UPDATES Catch us for latest Bollywood News , New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection , New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi , Entertainment News , Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2024 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.Novanta CFO Robert Buckley sells $275,148 in stock

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Cameron Haffner scored 13 points as Evansville beat Missouri State 57-40 on Sunday to snap a five-game losing streak. Haffner went 5 of 12 from the field (3 for 7 from 3-point range) for the Purple Aces (4-9, 1-1 Missouri Valley Conference). Joshua Hughes added 11 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Tayshawn Comer scored 11. Dez White finished with 12 points, four assists and six steals for the Bears (7-6, 0-2). Missouri State also got 10 points, 12 rebounds and two steals from Michael Osei-Bonsu. Zaxton King had eight points. Evansville carried a slim three-point lead into halftime, as Haffner led the way with seven points. Evansville took the lead for what would be the final time on Haffner's 3-pointer with 18:44 remaining in the second half. His team would outscore Missouri State by 14 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins were ready to deal veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell to the Baltimore Ravens ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline until Mike McDaniel stepped in. “I may or may not have thrown an adult temper tantrum,” Miami's coach said, confirming the news first reported by NFL Network Sunday morning. The Dolphins were 2-6 and had lost three straight at that point. They'd played four uninspired games without their starting quarterback, going 1-3 after Tua Tagovailoa went on injured reserve on Sept. 17 with a concussion. Campbell would have had a chance to rejoin the contending Ravens, and Miami would have received a 2026 fifth-round pick in return, NFL Network reported. McDaniel argued that Campbell was too valuable to lose. “I was happy that they brought me into the conversations," Campbell said after Miami's 34-15 win over the New England Patriots . “They didn't have to say anything to me at all. We had a really good conversation about what we think about this team, where we are. We felt like we had a good shot to get back into the fight.” Added McDaniel: “I think it wasn’t like it was (GM) Chris (Grier) versus me. ... That’s the tricky thing about Chris’ job is he has to look long-term and short-term at the same time, what’s the best for the organization.” Campbell, a 17-year veteran, signed with the Dolphins after playing for Atlanta last season. Players and coaches have praised the 38-year-old's contributions on the field and in the locker room. “There’s no one’s game I’ve come to respect more than Calais up front on the D-line,” defensive tackle Zach Sieler said, “being with him this year and just the energy, the attitude and the mindset he brings every week. It can’t be matched, and that’s the reason why he is who he is today and doing what he’s doing at 17 years.” Campbell leads the team with four sacks. With back-to-back sacks in Weeks 10 and 11, he became the eighth player 38 or older to record sacks in consecutive games since the 1970 merger. He also has nine tackles for loss, giving him at least five tackles for loss in 15 of his 17 seasons. He played for Baltimore from 2020-2022, totaling 11 sacks and 113 tackles. “I think he means a great deal to not only the defensive line room, but the entire defense as well as the entire team,” McDaniel said earlier this week. “It’s rare for a guy to get here when he did, and then be voted, with such conviction, captain. I think the way that he operates to be a pro, I think has had a substantial impact on a lot of players that hadn’t been fortunate enough to be around someone with sustained success like he’s had.” The Dolphins have won three straight games since the deadline. Miami's defense held the Patriots scoreless until the fourth quarter on Sunday. Campbell broke down the team's pregame huddle as he has done before most games this season. He was also seen coaching up rookie linebacker Chop Robinson, who is always seeking pointers from the six-time Pro Bowler. “My job is to speak on behalf of what’s the best thing for the 2024 Dolphins,” McDaniel said. “I’m just fortunate to work in an organization where myself and the GM can be transparent and work together. “And he didn’t want to see any more adult temper tantrums.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

J&K students lead nation in showcasing innovative projectsKalaburagi (Karnataka) [India], December 25 (ANI): Three people were died and nine injured after a collision between a sugarcane-loaded truck, tour travel vehicle and a bike near Gobbur village in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district on Wednesday. According to the police, the deceased were identified as Vinita (56), Anoop (29) and Basavaraj (40). The injured were shifted to hospital. Also Read | Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj Gears Up for Mahakumbh With Latest Technology. Kalaburagi Superintendent of Police, A Srinivasulu visited the accident spot to inspect for the cause of the accident. More information is awaited. (ANI) Also Read | Delhi Metro Completes 22 Years of Operation: DMRC Says 'Its Mission To Transform Urban Transportation, Enhancing Quality of Life of Residents of Delhi NCR'. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

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GAINESVILLE — The Florida men’s basketball team remains unbeaten, but also has been untested. The No. 18 Gators will begin to gauge their considerable potential during this week’s ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee. UF (6-0) opens at 2:30 p.m. Thursday against Wake Forest (6-1) aiming to avenge a November 2023 loss to the Demon Deacons. Minnesota (5-1) and Wichita State (5-0) meet at noon, with the winners and losers squaring off Friday at the intimate, 5,000-seat State Farm Field House. “This 48 hours down in Orlando will give us a good experience to see what we’re made of in a different setting, playing two games back to back,” coach Todd Golden said Tuesday. The Gators last appeared in the event in 2016 when it featured eight teams, finishing third during a season that ended at the 2017 Elite Eight. Golden’s third Florida team could have the make-up for a postseason run. Before opening SEC play Jan. 4 at Kentucky, the Gators will have several growth opportunities, beginning with this week’s event followed by a Dec. 4 visit from Virginia and neutral-floor matchups with Arizona State (Dec. 14, Atlanta) and North Carolina (Dec. 17, Charlotte). “It’s a start of hopefully a little run in the next few weeks, when we have this tough schedule,” sophomore post player Alex Condon said. Following Friday’s 93-68 win against Southern Illinois, FAU transfer Alijah Martin said the Gators boast superior talent and depth to the Owls’ 2023 Final Four squad . Each aspect will be tested during consecutive games against quality opponents as UF seeks its first 7-0 start since 2012-13, when the Gators also reached the Elite Eight. The current Gators have proven to have a lot of pieces and answers winning by an average of 20.3 points. Five different players have led UF in scoring, with four averaging double figures — led by Martin (16.7 points per game) and Walter Clayton Jr. (16.5). Martin also leads the Gators in rebounding (6.7) and is second in assists (3.5) to Clayton (4.2). The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Martin, who has 12 steals, also sets the tone for a defense determined to improve after allowing 79.7 points — more than any Florida team other than the 1974-75 Gators who finished 12-16 under John Lotz. “He brings it defensively, which is a little bit different from last year,” Condon said. “It’s awesome to have, just bringing that dog mindset.” Martin is sure to cross paths Thursday with Wake Forest star Hunter Sallis, who scored 24 points to help his team erase a nine-point deficit during the second half of an 82-71 home win against the Gators last season. The 6-foot-5, 185-pound guard averages a team-leading 18.9 points and 4.3 assists. Everything runs through Sallis and senior Cameron Hildreth, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound guard averaging 11 points and 4.3 assists. “They are able to play with the ball in their hands quite a bit,” Golden said. “Those two guys make a majority of their decisions, whether it’s in transition or in the pick-and-roll.” The 6-foot-11, 230-pound Condon said the Gators will be ready for the Demon Deacons’ 1-2 punch after last year’s defeat. “Everyone who’s returning is carrying a chip on their shoulder,” he said. “We really need this game.” Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com Up next ... Florida vs. Wake Forest When: 2:30, Thursday, State Farm Field House in Kissimmee TV: ESPNThe South Carolina women's basketball team has been defeated for the first time since March 31, 2023. The No. 1 Gamecocks fell Sunday in Los Angeles as Lauren Betts posted a double-double effort to lead No. 5 UCLA to a 77-62 triumph. The Gamecocks (5-1) suffered their first defeat after 43 consecutive victories, dating back to the loss to Iowa 77-73 in the NCAA Tournament semifinals. South Carolina defeated Iowa last season for the national championship. Betts finished with 11 points, a game-high 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks to power the Bruins (5-0) to a historic victory. UCLA also got 15 points from Londynn Jones on 5-of-5 shooting from 3-point range, 13 points from Elina Aarnisalo and 11 each from Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jacquez. It's the first time UCLA has beaten South Carolina since 1981. The Bruins lost twice to the Gamecocks in the 2022-23 season, including in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Te-Hina Paopao had 18 points for South Carolina on 4-of-4 3-point shooting, while Tessa Johnson had 14 points. UCLA won the rebounding battle 41-34, marking the second time this season the Gamecocks have been outrebounded. South Carolina also got outscored in the paint 26-18. It's rare that a Dawn Staley-coached team -- units that typically revolve around dominant centers from A'ja Wilson to Aaliyah Boston to Kamilla Cardoso -- gets beat in the paint and on the glass, but with 6-foot-7 Betts, UCLA had the recipe to outmuscle the Gamecocks in those areas of the game. South Carolina never led after UCLA began the game with an 18-5 run, capped off by back-to-back 3-pointers from Jones. The Gamecocks cut the deficit to nine points in the second quarter, but the Bruins responded with a 17-5 run and entered halftime ahead by 21 points. Aarnisalo scored seven points during that run. From there, the Gamecocks never got within single digits of the lead in the second half. It's the first time in 21 tries that UCLA has beaten an AP-ranked No. 1 team. And it's the first time South Carolina lost a true road game since 2021, a streak of 33 games. The schedule doesn't get any easier for South Carolina. While UCLA faces UT Martin next on Friday, the Gamecocks play No. 8 Iowa State on Thursday. This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.

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In response to the recent incident involving a drone crash into the sea by artist Cai Guo-Qiang, the village committee issued a statement attributing the accident to signal interference. The incident, which occurred during a live art performance, has raised concerns about the safety and use of drones in artistic endeavors.

Are you still hunting around for last-minute gift ideas and substantive stocking stuffers? Instead of loading your loved one’s mantle-mounted sock up with candy and whatever Walmart or Target has hanging around in the checkout lanes, why not turn your attention to an awesome pair of Beats headphones? As a matter of fact, you’ll even be able to save a few dollars on one of the best over-ear pairs of cans the company makes: Right now, when you purchase the Beats Studio Pro Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones through Best Buy, you’ll only pay $150. At full price, this model sells for $200. We tested these cans back in July 2023 , and reviewer Simon Cohen said the Beats Studio Pro “offer some much-needed enhancements. And not a moment too soon.” We also recommend taking a look at some of the other great Best Buy deals we’ve been tracking down. Why you should buy the Beats Studio Pro Renowned for its warm, bass-friendly sound signatures on both its headphone and earbud products, Beats is a terrific choice when it comes to listening to music and podcasts. We’d even recommend using the Studio Pro for watching movies and playing video games! Not only are the controls intuitive and easy to recall, but the Studio Pro feel comfortable to wear for long periods, and they deliver clear and balanced sound. These premium headphones also deliver class-leading ANC, helping to deaden the sounds of the bustling world around you. We’re also glad to see that these headphones support head-tracking sound (or Spatial Audio) as well as lossless, wired USB-C playback. On a full charge, you can expect the Studio Pro to last up to 40 hours with ANC disabled and around 24 hours of playback with ANC turned on. We’re not sure how long this discount is going to stick around, so today might be the best day to save big on Beats! Take $50 off the Beats Studio Pro when you purchase through Amazon, Best Buy, and a couple of other retailers. We also suggest taking a look at our lists of the best Beats headphone deals and best headphone deals .

Dunhuang, Sanxingdui Shine on Alipay's Cultural Skin: The New Must-have for Youngsters Seeking FortuneA thin layer of smog enveloped Mumbai and the air quality in the metropolitan city was recorded in the 'moderate' category on Monday morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board , the city recorded an AQI of 112, as of 9.00 am this morning. AN AQI under the "moderate" category generally means the air quality is acceptable, but there may be a slight health concern for a very small number of sensitive individuals. For most people, air quality at this level doesn't pose significant risks, but those with respiratory issues, such as asthma or allergies, may experience mild symptoms. The city which was shrouded by smog and mist, cleared up after sunrise. Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Entrepreneurship Validating Your Startup Idea: Steps to Ensure Market Fit By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial Intelligence By - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Tabnine AI Masterclass: Optimize Your Coding Efficiency By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Crypto & NFT Mastery: From Basics to Advanced By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Data Science MySQL for Beginners: Learn Data Science and Analytics Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship From Idea to Product: A Startup Development Guide By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Visuals from Bandra Reclamation show the beautiful sun rise improve visibility from the fog and misty weather. Meanwhile, the air quality in the national capital remained in the 'poor' catgory, with thin layer of smog covering parts of the metropolitan city and and limiting visibility. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in Delhi was recorded 231 as of 8.00 am on Monday morning. As per IMD, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 8°C today with mist in the air. Night shelters have been setup in several areas of the national capital including AIIMS, Lodhi road and Nizamuddin flyover. The IMD has predicted a cold wave in West Rajasthan from December 9 to December 14, while Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh, and West Uttar Pradesh will start experiencing similar conditions from December 11. In Uttar Pradesh, people sat around the fire to warm themselves in Kanpur this winter morning as the minimum temperature dipped to 8°C as per the IMD. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

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niceph 22 On Jan. 2, I stepped off the treadmill gasping for breath and learned I’d flunked the test, but this failing grade could put a permanent period on my earthly life. Terror struck my heart at the thought of leaving my family behind even though my faith in God assured me peace and love awaited me on the other side. Fear is a terrific motivator. I gave up red meat, butter and high-fat foods, hoping my changes even at this late date might make a difference. Two months later, an Olympia cardiologist inserted a stent in an artery into my heart to increase blood flow around a 95 percent blockage. So as Thanksgiving approaches this year, I count my blessings as I do every year, but especially the blessing of still being here to celebrate with my cherished loved ones. After surviving an operation to insert a stent — perhaps routine for the cardiologist but seldom for the patient — I decided to take a hard look at my bucket list and quit putting off longed-for trips. My husband and I toured British Columbia and Alberta in August, an item on his list. I’m visiting the Panama Canal with my sister, crossing off a desire from my list. Last weekend, I sold books at the Elma Country Christmas Bazaar, sharing a table with fellow authors Sandy Crowell (author of “The Land Called Lewis” and “Water, Woods, and Prairies”) and Bill Lindstrom (who wrote “John Tornow: Victim or Villain? The untold story of the ‘Wildman of the Wynooche and Strait Press”). I visited with passersby, greeted old friends and thought how, despite contentious election seasons, we all have more in common than divides us. Sometimes, our favored candidate wins; other times, the one we liked loses. But life goes on. I liked a meme on Facebook before the election that stated: “Don’t lose friendships today over two people who don’t even know your name.” That’s so true, and it’s sad to see how fractured our divided nation has become. Families disagree. Friends no longer speak. Some on each side demonize those who hold different beliefs. Even in my own family, I’ve seen divisions over politics create tensions among people who love each other. A year ago, I spent a week in November in Los Cabos with my four sisters at an all-inclusive hotel. My eldest and youngest sisters have made the annual trip to Mexico with their husbands to celebrate their birthday: they were born on the same day, six years and 15 minutes apart. At one point, one of my sisters mentioned that Donald Trump might win election as president again. I threw out a quick quip: “Only if he steals the election.” When she stood and walked away, I realized my offhand comment offered partly in jest had offended her. I never want to destroy relationships over politics. I love my sisters and my brother too much to let differences in opinions separate us. The next day, all was fine. Just as the Bible promises that nothing can separate us from God’s love, we should let nothing separate us from our love for one another. Another Facebook meme offered wisdom: “Please don’t let the elephants and donkeys make you forget you belong to The Lamb!” Our faith, our family relationships, our friendships mean so much more than politics, even though, as my husband points out, voting decides who controls the government, which can adversely affect our lives. But it doesn’t need to destroy our relationships. While I counted my blessings over the weekend, I did what I often do: I picked up my camera and snapped photos. I love to chronicle life as I live it. In the past, before Facebook, my digital photos remained trapped in my camera or on my memory card, never to be printed. But the advent of Facebook allowed me to share those photos with friends online in more than 4,000 albums. What’s most fun, and a reminder of the blessings in my life, is when Facebook pops up with a photo from a year ago, five years ago, a decade ago. Often it’s a photo of one of my children when they were younger. Other times it’s a precious friend who has passed away, and I think how grateful I am to have known them. That happened with a photo of the late Margaret Shields of Centralia and Harold Borovec of Chehalis who were walking together in the Lewis County Historical Museum. My life is richer from having known them both. So as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s time to set aside political differences and simply enjoy being in the presence of loved ones. If you have time, pull out your camera and snap photos to capture those precious memories. Open the video or audio recorder on your phone and ask questions about the past (I have lists of oral history questions on my website at www.chaptersoflife.com under Help for Historians). Treasure your family and your shared past and preserve it for future generations. And count your blessings. ••• Julie McDonald, a personal historian from Toledo, may be reached at memoirs@chaptersoflife.com.

Nominations Open for 2025 Defense IT Summit Flywheel AwardsForthright and fearless, the Nobel Prize winner took pot-shots at former prime minister Tony Blair and ex-US president George W Bush among others. His death came after repeated bouts of illness in which images of the increasingly frail former president failed to erase memories of his fierce spirit. Democrat James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr swept to power in 1977 with his Trust Me campaign helping to beat Republican president Gerald Ford. Serving as 39th US president from 1977 to 1981, he sought to make government “competent and compassionate” but was ousted by the unstoppable Hollywood appeal of a certain Ronald Reagan. A skilled sportsman, Mr Carter left his home of Plains, Georgia, to join the US Navy, returning later to run his family’s peanut business. A stint in the Georgia senate lit the touchpaper on his political career and he rose to the top of the Democratic movement. But he will also be remembered for a bizarre encounter with a deeply disgruntled opponent. The president was enjoying a relaxing fishing trip near his home town in 1979 when his craft was attacked by a furious swamp rabbit which reportedly swam up to the boat hissing wildly. The press had a field day, with one paper bearing the headline President Attacked By Rabbit. Away from encounters with belligerent bunnies, Mr Carter’s willingness to address politically uncomfortable topics did not diminish with age. He recently said that he would be willing to travel to North Korea for peace talks on behalf of US President Donald Trump. He also famously mounted a ferocious and personal attack on Tony Blair over the Iraq war, weeks before the prime minister left office in June 2007. Mr Carter, who had already denounced George W Bush’s presidency as “the worst in history”, used an interview on BBC radio to condemn Mr Blair for his tight relations with Mr Bush, particularly concerning the Iraq War. Asked how he would characterise Mr Blair’s relationship with Mr Bush, Mr Carter replied: “Abominable. Loyal, blind, apparently subservient. “I think that the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world.” Mr Carter was also voluble over the Rhodesia crisis, which was about to end during his presidency. His support for Robert Mugabe at the time generated widespread criticism. He was said to have ignored the warnings of many prominent Zimbabweans, black and white, about what sort of leader Mugabe would be. This was seen by Mr Carter’s critics as “deserving a prominent place among the outrages of the Carter years”. Mr Carter has since said he and his administration had spent more effort and worry on Rhodesia than on the Middle East. He admitted he had supported two revolutionaries in Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, and with hindsight said later that Mugabe had been “a good leader gone bad”, having at first been “a very enlightened president”. One US commentator wrote: “History will not look kindly on those in the West who insisted on bringing the avowed Marxist Mugabe into the government. “In particular, the Jimmy Carter foreign policy... bears some responsibility for the fate of a small African country with scant connection to American national interests.” In recent years Mr Carter developed a reputation as an international peace negotiator. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his commitment to finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, his work with human rights and democracy initiatives, and his promotion of economic and social programmes. Mr Carter was dispatched to North Korea in August 2008 to secure the release of US citizen Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labour after being found guilty of illegally entering North Korea. He successfully secured the release of Mr Gomes. In 2010 he returned to the White House to greet President Barack Obama and discuss international affairs amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. Proving politics runs in the family, in 2013 his grandson Jason, a state senator, announced his bid to become governor in Georgia, where his famous grandfather governed before becoming president. He eventually lost to incumbent Republican Nathan Deal. Fears that Mr Carter’s health was deteriorating were sparked in 2015 when he cut short an election observation visit in Guyana because he was “not feeling well”. It would have been Mr Carter’s 39th trip to personally observe an international election. Three months later, on August 12, he revealed he had cancer which had been diagnosed after he underwent surgery to remove a small mass in his liver. Mr Obama was among the well-wishers hoping for Mr Carter’s full recovery after it was confirmed the cancer had spread widely. Melanoma had been found in his brain and liver, and Mr Carter underwent immunotherapy and radiation therapy, before announcing in March the following year that he no longer needed any treatment. In 2017, Mr Carter was taken to hospital as a precaution, after he became dehydrated at a home-building project in Canada. He was admitted to hospital on multiple occasions in 2019 having had a series of falls, suffering a brain bleed and a broken pelvis, as well as a stint to be treated for a urinary tract infection. Mr Carter spent much of the coronavirus pandemic largely at his home in Georgia, and did not attend Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration in 2021, but extended his “best wishes”. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Mr Carter during his term as US president, died in November 2023. She had been living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” Mr Carter said in a statement following her death. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”Inauguration of CMA Terminals Khalifa Port Boosts the Port’s Total Container Capacity by 23% to almost 10m TEUs

Like a football off McBride’s helmet, the Cardinals aren’t getting many lucky bounces these daysGreat Osobor scored 12 points, grabbed six rebounds and had three assists in 18 minutes of playing time as Washington wrapped up nonconference action with a 90-53 rout of NJIT on Sunday afternoon in Seattle. Zoom Diallo came off the bench to contribute 12 points and a game-high five assists for the Huskies (9-4), and Wilhelm Breidenbach, who missed Monday's 79-70 upset loss to Seattle U., added 10 points and five rebounds. Sebastian Robinson led the Highlanders (2-12) with 16 points, Tim Moore Jr. scored 14 and Ari Fulton added 11. NJIT, which suffered its third consecutive defeat and dropped to 0-9 on the road, played without leading scorer Tariq Francis (18.6 ppg) because of an ankle injury. The Huskies shot 34 of 61 from the field (55.7 percent) and were 10 of 24 from 3-point range. NJIT was 19 of 51 (37.3 percent) and just 3 of 17 from distance. Washington forced 13 turnovers while committing just five, leading to a 17-4 edge in points off miscues. The Huskies also had sizable advantages in points off the bench (47-4), in the paint (42-24) and in fastbreak scoring (17-0). The Huskies led 46-26 at the half as Osobor, Breidenbach and Mekhi Mason each scored seven points. Osobor scored the game's first five points and Mason made a 3-pointer to give the Huskies an 8-2 lead. A jumper by Mason extended the lead to 26-16 with 8:30 left in the first half. The Huskies continued to pull away, with Jase Butler capping an 8-0 run with a 3-pointer to make it 42-22 with 2:29 remaining before the intermission. A 9-0 run gave Washington its first 30-point lead of the day at 60-30 with 15:24 still to play. The Huskies led by as many as 40 on Luis Kortright's fastbreak layup at the 7:09 mark. Mason, Kortright, Christian King and KC Ibekwe all scored nine points for Washington. Washington resumes Big Ten Conference play Thursday when Maryland makes a trip to the West Coast. The Highlanders have one more nonconference game before opening America East play Jan. 9. --Field Level Media

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SOUTHBURY – Dorothy Judson Winship Gagnon died Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, at her son’s home in Southbury. She was born to Prentice and Vera Judson in Bethlehem in 1925, and she recently celebrated her 99th birthday on Oct. 23. Dorrie was the beloved sister of six siblings (who all predeceased her) and was the one to give care where needed, nursing her mother, mother-in-law, husband, and many others over the years. She leaves her dearest sister-in-law Joan Judson of Woodbury. Dottie married Anson Winship in 1949 and made her home in Southbury until his passing. Hard work was second nature on the family dairy farm, milking cows and operating farm equipment to harvest corn and hay. Horses were a pleasure and saddling up for an evening ride a rare treat. She loved to travel to national parks in a Volkswagen camper. A good mystery would keep her reading until deep into the night, and a sewing basket was never far away, always stitching to mend or create something new. It didn’t take much to bring her joy, be it an extra pinch of salt or a candy found. Later in life she married Joseph A. Gagnon and lived in Meriden, where his family became her family. They loved spending winters in Florida and made many friends in the years at Central Park RV. At Joe’s passing she moved to Vermont, where she relaxed and enjoyed the beauty of the Green Mountains. She might be found riding her golf cart at End of the Road Farm with Anne and Dave, or at the Old Schoolhouse Camp with Walt and Pat, enjoying a lively card game, one of her greatest pleasures. She will be very sadly missed by all who knew her, especially her children Anne (David) Kehmna, Walter (Pat) Winship, daughter-in-law Martha Winship, nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild. She was predeceased by her son Peter Winship. Friends may gather at the Southbury location of Munson Lovetere Funeral Home, 235 Main St. North, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a short service at 1 p.m. A private burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery. To send an online condolence, visit munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.The Giants were a no-show against the Bucs after releasing quarterback Daniel Jones

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said linebacker De’Vondre Campbell won’t be part of the 49ers moving forward after he refused to enter a game after losing his starting job. Shanahan said the team is still working through the options of how to deal with Campbell, who walked to the locker room in the middle of a to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night when he refused to enter the game. “His actions from the game are not something you can do to your team or teammates and still expect to be a part of our team,” Shanahan said Friday. “We’re working through the semantics right now, but we’ll handle the situation appropriately.” Shanahan said Campbell won’t be part of the team for the final three weeks. Teams have the ability to suspend players up to four games without pay for conduct detrimental to the team, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Niners also could just waive Campbell outright, which would allow him potentially to be claimed or signed by another team. Campbell signed a $5 million, one-year contract with San Francisco in March. Campbell had started 12 of the first 13 games of the season and played 90% of defensive snaps for the 49ers but was benched Thursday night after Dre Greenlaw came back for his first game since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season’s Super Bowl. When the 49ers wanted to put Campbell in the game in the third quarter because Greenlaw was sidelined with soreness in his Achilles tendon, Campbell refused, something Shanahan said has never happened to him in his time as a head coach or an assistant in the NFL. Shanahan said Friday that he has not gotten any explanation from Campbell on why he didn’t play. Campbell then walked off the field with a towel draped over his head and went into the locker room before the end of the game with the Rams that almost ended the 49ers’ playoff hopes. Shanahan said he didn’t send Campbell to the locker room and didn’t know why he left the field. “Once I found out he wasn’t playing, I moved on to people we could count on,” he said. Campbell’s decision left his teammates angered and bewildered. “He’s a professional,” cornerback Charvarius Ward said after the game. “He’s been playing for a long time. If he didn’t want to play, he shouldn’t have dressed out. He could have told them before the game. So I feel like that was selfish. It definitely hurt the team. Dre went down and we needed a linebacker. ... For him to do that, that’s sucker (stuff) in my opinion. He’s probably going to get cut soon.” Ward is one of several 49ers who has played through injury or personal tragedy during a trying season for San Francisco. Ward’s 1-year-old daughter died on Oct. 28 but he has returned and played the last three games for San Francisco. Tight end George Kittle called Campbell’s actions “stupid” and “immature.” “It’s one person making a selfish decision,” Kittle said. “I’ve never been around anybody that’s ever done that and I hope I’m never around anybody who does that again.” The 31-year-old Campbell signed in the offseason with San Francisco after being cut by Green Bay in March. He had been an All-Pro in 2021 for the Packers but his play fell off the last two seasons in Green Bay. That led to Campbell complaining on social media that he was misused by Green Bay. He expressed excitement about being with a new team but he never got back to his All-Pro level. Campbell had a few bright moments in San Francisco this season but struggled frequently with tackling and in coverage. ___ AP NFL:Nominations Open for 2025 Defense IT Summit Flywheel Awards“Wanted” posters with the names and faces of health care executives have been popping up on the streets of New York. Hit lists with images of bullets are circulating online with warnings that industry leaders should be afraid. The apparent targeted killing of and the menacing threats that followed have sent a shudder through corporate America and the health care industry in particular, leading to for executives and some workers. In the week since the , health insurers have removed information about their top executives from company websites, canceled in-person meetings with shareholders and advised all employees to work from home temporarily. An internal New York Police Department bulletin warned this week that the online vitriol that followed the shooting could signal an immediate “elevated threat.” Police fear that the Dec. 4 shooting could “inspire a variety of extremists and grievance-driven malicious actors to violence,” according to the bulletin, which was obtained by The Associated Press. “Wanted” posters pasted to parking meters and construction site fences in Manhattan included photos of health care executives and the words “Deny, defend, depose” — similar to a phrase scrawled on bullets found near Thompson’s body and echoing those used by . Thompson’s wife, Paulette, told NBC News last week that he told her some people had been threatening him and suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Investigators believe the shooting suspect, , may have been motivated by hostility toward health insurers. They are studying his writings about a previous back injury, and his disdain for corporate America and the U.S. health care system. Mangione’s lawyer has cautioned against prejudging the case. Mangione, 26, has remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was . Manhattan prosecutors are working to bring him to New York to face a murder charge. UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, said this week it was working with law enforcement to ensure a safe work environment and to reinforce security guidelines and building access policies, a spokesperson said. The company has taken down photos, names and biographies for its top executives from its websites, a spokesperson said. Other organizations, including CVS, the parent company for insurance giant Aetna, have taken similar actions. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. has announced that its investor day will be held online, rather than in-person as originally planned. Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm, said last week it was temporarily closing its six offices for security reasons and would have its employees work from home. Heightened security measures likely will make health care companies and their leaders more inaccessible to their policyholders, said former Cigna executive Wendell Potter. “And understandably so, with this act of violence. There’s no assurance that this won’t happen again,” said Potter, who’s now an advocate for health care reform. Private security firms and consultants have been in high demand, fielding calls almost immediately after the shooting from companies across a range of industries, including manufacturing and finance. Companies have long faced security risks and grappled with how far to take precautions for high-profile executives. But these recent threats sparked by Thompson’s killing should not be ignored, said Dave Komendat, a former security chief for Boeing who now heads his own risk-management company. “The is different. The social reaction to this tragedy is different. And so I think that people need to take this seriously,” Komendat said. Just over a quarter of the companies in the Fortune 500 reported spending money to and top executives. Of those, the median payment for personal security doubled over the last three years to just under $100,000. Hours after the shooting, Komendat was on a call with dozens of chief security officers from big corporations, and there have been many similar meetings since, hosted by security groups or law enforcement agencies assessing the threats, he said. “It just takes one person who is motivated by a poster — who may have experienced something in their life through one of these companies that was harmful,” Komendat said.

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In a season of raised expectations due to the arrivals of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, Rutgers is experiencing some underwhelming moments. Off to a mediocre start through 12 games, Rutgers faces a tough test in its final nonconference game Monday night when it hosts Columbia in Piscataway, N.J. Rutgers (7-5) is hoping to avoid a second straight loss to an Ivy League opponent, and the Lions (11-1) are off to a better start than Princeton (9-4), which beat the Scarlet Knights on Dec. 21 in Newark, N.J. Four of the Scarlet Knights' losses are by five points or fewer, including a two-point loss to Kennesaw State and the 83-82 defeat to Princeton when it gave up a last-second basket along with 19 offensive rebounds and 23 second-chance points. It was the sixth time Rutgers allowed at least 80 points this season and it is 2-4 in those games. "I thought we played hard and did some good things out there, but a lot of second shots and just gotta be one possession better," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. "We scored plenty of points to win." Harper scored 22 points and has scored at least 20 in four straight games and 10 of 12. Bailey collected 15 points and 12 rebounds but has shot less than 50 percent in five of his past eight games after making 6 of 16 shots vs. Princeton. Columbia has lost the past 10 meetings and is seeking its second win over a power-conference opponent. The Lions earned a 90-80 win at Villanova on Nov. 6 and are on a three-game winning streak since a 15-point loss to Albany on Dec. 4. Columbia is averaging 83.3 points so far and scored at least 80 for the ninth time when it shot a season-beat 57.7 percent (30 of 52) in Saturday's 85-72 win over Fairfield. The Lions are led by Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa, whose 19.6 scoring average is third in the Ivy League. Rubio De La Rosa is also shooting 53.7 percent and is second in the Ivy League at 46.4 percent from 3-point range. Rubio De La Rosa has scored at least 20 points seven times, including a 27-point outing against Fairfield when he shot 8-of-15 after a scoreless opening half. Rubio De La Rosa also scored 22 in Columbia's win over Villanova. "With the break we had we just need to get into it, I wasn't surprised we were so slow in the first half," Columbia coach Jim Engles said. "Now we got to play top-five draft picks, so that's bad scheduling." --Field Level Media

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niceph slot login app CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders has been discharged from the Carolinas Medical Center after suffering a neck injury in the Panthers' 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Panthers coach Dave Canales offered no update on Sanders’ status other than to say he was released from the hospital after being evaluated by doctors. Team officials said Sanders had full use of all of his extremities. Sanders, who has been a budding young star on the Panthers offense, caught a 10-yard pass near the sideline before being upended by Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie near the end of the first half. He flipped in the air and landed on the back of his head and remained on the ground for several minutes as teammates gathered around him. Sanders was put on a backboard and taken to the locker room. He appeared to raise his arms with a trainer's hand draped on top of them as he left the field. Sanders had three catches for 49 yards before the injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Original MLS clubs LA Galaxy, NY Red Bulls cap their amazing turnarounds with showdown for MLS CupOriginal MLS clubs LA Galaxy, NY Red Bulls cap their amazing turnarounds with showdown for MLS CupLOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Snell and the Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized a $182 million, five-year contract. The reigning World Series champions announced the deal with the two-time Cy Young Award winner on Saturday. Snell, who turns 32 on Wednesday, went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts for San Francisco this year, throwing a no-hitter at Cincinnati on Aug. 2 for one of only 16 individual shutouts in the major leagues this season. The left-hander struck out 145 and walked 44 in 104 innings. He was sidelined between April 19 and May 22 by a strained left adductor and between June 2 and July 9 by a strained left groin. Snell gets a $52 million signing bonus , payable on Jan. 20, and annual salaries of $26 million, of which $13 million each year will be deferred. Because Snell is a Washington state resident, the signing bonus will not be subject to California income tax. Snell joins Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto atop Los Angeles’ rotation. Ohtani didn’t pitch this year while recovering from right elbow surgery but the two-way star is expected back on the mound in 2025. Snell won Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with San Diego. He is 76-58 with a 3.19 ERA in nine seasons with the Rays (2016-20), Padres (2021-23) and Giants. Because he turned down a qualifying offer from San Diego last November, the Giants were not eligible to give Snell another one and won’t receive draft-pick compensation. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

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Eco Wave Power stock surges to 52-week high of $12.5NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to a “sudden loss of consciousness at home,” the hospital said in a statement. “Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency” at 8:06 p.m., the hospital said, but “despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 p.m.” Singh was being treated for “age-related medical conditions,” the statement said. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and leader of the Congress Party in the Parliament's Upper House, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi . But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term as prime minister was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi . Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Prime Minister Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, called him one of India’s “most distinguished leaders” who rose from humble origins and left “a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years.” “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi said in a post on the social platform X. He called Singh’s interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker “insightful” and said “his wisdom and humility were always visible.” Rahul Gandhi, from the same party as Singh and the opposition leader in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, said Singh’s “deep understanding of economics inspired the nation” and that he “led India with immense wisdom and integrity.” “I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” Gandhi wrote on X. The United States offered its condolences, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that Singh was “one of the greatest champions of the U.S.-India strategic partnership.” “We mourn Dr. Singh’s passing and will always remember his dedication to bringing the United States and India closer together,” Blinken said. Born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India, Singh’s brilliant academic career took him to Cambridge University in Britain, where he earned a degree in economics in 1957. He then got his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Singh taught at Panjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics before joining the Indian government in 1971 as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. In 1982, he became chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. He also served as deputy chair of the Planning Commission and governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that opened up the economy and moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. His accolades include the 1987 Padma Vibhushan Award, India’s second-highest civilian honor; the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995; and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Singh was a member of India’s Upper House of Parliament and was leader of the opposition from 1998 to 2004 before he was named prime minister. He was the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Under Singh, India adopted a Right to Information Act in 2005 to promote accountability and transparency from government officials and bureaucrats. He was also instrumental in implementing a welfare scheme that guaranteed at least 100 paid workdays for Indian rural citizens. The coalition government he headed for a decade brought together politicians and parties with differing ideologies that were rivals in the country’s various states. In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended India’s nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hit his government adversely, with Communist allies withdrawing support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. Singh adopted a pragmatic foreign policy approach, pursuing a peace process with nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. But his efforts suffered a major setback after Pakistani militants carried out a massive gun and bomb attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also tried to end the border dispute with China, brokering a deal to reopen the Nathu La pass into Tibet, which had been closed for more than 40 years. His 1965 book, “India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth,” dealt with India’s inward-oriented trade policy. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. Associated Press writer Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — For a pair of lower-level downhill events, this sure had plenty of Olympic medal-capturing and World Cup-winning ski racers. The stage belonged to Lindsey Vonn, the 40-year-old who took another step on her comeback trail Saturday with her first races in nearly six years. Vonn wasn't particularly speedy and finished in the middle of the pack on a cold but sunny day at Copper Mountain. Times and places weren't the mission, though, as much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit this season. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races that she had enough points to enter World Cup events. The timing couldn't be more perfect — the next stop on the women's circuit is Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a week. Vonn, who used to own a home in nearby Vail, hasn't committed to any sort of timetable for a World Cup return. “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn wrote on X. “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove.” Lindsey Vonn reacts after her run at a downhill skiing race at Copper Mountain Ski Resort on Saturday in Copper Mountain, Colo. Her competition — a veritable who's who of high-profile ski racers — applauded her efforts. “I don't expect her to come back and win — just that she comes back and she has fun,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She's having fun, and she’s doing what she loves. That’s the best thing that she could do.” In the first race on a frigid morning, Vonn wound up 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds posted by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. In her second race through the course later in the morning, Vonn was 1.53 seconds behind Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who finished in 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning season-long World Cup downhill champion. “It’s really nice to compare with her again, and nice to have her (racing) again,” Huetter said. “For sure, for the skiing World Cup, we have a lot of more attention. It's generally good for all racers because everyone is looking.” Also in the field were Nadia Delago of Italy, who won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, the Olympic silver winner in super-G in Beijing. In addition, there was Marta Bassino of Italy, a winner of the super-G at the 2023 world championships, and two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin of Switzerland. “For me, it was really a training, but it was fun to have a World Cup race level right here,” Gisin said. “It was a crazy race.” Vonn remains a popular figure and took the time after each run to sign autographs for young fans along with posing for photos. Lindsey Vonn competes in a downhill skiing race at Copper Mountain Ski Resort on Saturday in Copper Mountain, Colo. When she left the sport, Vonn had 82 World Cup race victories, which stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont, last weekend. Vonn’s last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist left the circuit still near the top of her game. But all the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. She had a partial knee replacement last April and felt good enough to give racing another shot. “It's very impressive to see all the passion that Lindsey still has,” Gisin said. Also racing Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once competed for the United States but now represents Mexico. Schleper was the next racer behind Vonn and they got a chance to share a moment between a pair of 40-somethings still racing. “I was like, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a highway tuck, the whole thing.’ Then she’s like, ‘It’s just like the good old days.’" Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

WASHINGTON D.C., DC — For Makenzie Gilkison, spelling is such a struggle that a word like rhinoceros might come out as “rineanswsaurs” or sarcastic as “srkastik.” The 14-year-old from suburban Indianapolis can sound out words, but her dyslexia makes the process so draining that she often struggles with comprehension. “I just assumed I was stupid,” she recalled of her early grade school years. But assistive technology powered by artificial intelligence has helped her keep up with classmates. Last year, Makenzie was named to the National Junior Honor Society. She credits a customized AI-powered chatbot, a word prediction program and other tools that can read for her. “I would have just probably given up if I didn’t have them,” she said. Artificial intelligence holds the promise of helping countless other students with a range of visual, speech, language and hearing impairments to execute tasks that come easily to others. Schools everywhere have been wrestling with how and where to incorporate AI , but many are fast-tracking applications for students with disabilities. Getting the latest technology into the hands of students with disabilities is a priority for the U.S. Education Department, which has told schools they must consider whether students need tools like text-to-speech and alternative communication devices. New rules from the Department of Justice also will require schools and other government entities to make apps and online content accessible to those with disabilities. There is concern about how to ensure students using it — including those with disabilities — are still learning. Students can use artificial intelligence to summarize jumbled thoughts into an outline, summarize complicated passages, or even translate Shakespeare into common English. And computer-generated voices that can read passages for visually impaired and dyslexic students are becoming less robotic and more natural. “I’m seeing that a lot of students are kind of exploring on their own, almost feeling like they’ve found a cheat code in a video game,” said Alexis Reid, an educational therapist in the Boston area who works with students with learning disabilities. But in her view, it is far from cheating : “We’re meeting students where they are.” Ben Snyder, a 14-year-old freshman from Larchmont, New York, who was recently diagnosed with a learning disability, has been increasingly using AI to help with homework. “Sometimes in math, my teachers will explain a problem to me, but it just makes absolutely no sense,” he said. “So if I plug that problem into AI, it’ll give me multiple different ways of explaining how to do that.” He likes a program called Question AI. Earlier in the day, he asked the program to help him write an outline for a book report — a task he completed in 15 minutes that otherwise would have taken him an hour and a half because of his struggles with writing and organization. But he does think using AI to write the whole report crosses a line. “That’s just cheating,” Ben said. Schools have been trying to balance the technology’s benefits against the risk that it will do too much. If a special education plan sets reading growth as a goal, the student needs to improve that skill. AI can’t do it for them, said Mary Lawson, general counsel at the Council of the Great City Schools. But the technology can help level the playing field for students with disabilities, said Paul Sanft, director of a Minnesota-based center where families can try out different assistive technology tools and borrow devices. “There are definitely going to be people who use some of these tools in nefarious ways. That’s always going to happen,” Sanft said. “But I don’t think that’s the biggest concern with people with disabilities, who are just trying to do something that they couldn’t do before.” Another risk is that AI will track students into less rigorous courses of study. And, because it is so good at identifying patterns , AI might be able to figure out a student has a disability. Having that disclosed by AI and not the student or their family could create ethical dilemmas, said Luis Pérez, the disability and digital inclusion lead at CAST, formerly the Center for Applied Specialized Technology. Schools are using the technology to help students who struggle academically, even if they do not qualify for special education services. In Iowa, a new law requires students deemed not proficient — about a quarter of them — to get an individualized reading plan. As part of that effort, the state’s education department spent $3 million on an AI-driven personalized tutoring program. When students struggle, a digital avatar intervenes. More AI tools are coming soon. The U.S. National Science Foundation is funding AI research and development. One firm is developing tools to help children with speech and language difficulties. Called the National AI Institute for Exceptional Education, it is headquartered at the University of Buffalo, which did pioneering work on handwriting recognition that helped the U.S. Postal Service save hundreds of millions of dollars by automating processing. “We are able to solve the postal application with very high accuracy. When it comes to children’s handwriting, we fail very badly,” said Venu Govindaraju, the director of the institute. He sees it as an area that needs more work, along with speech-to-text technology, which isn’t as good at understanding children’s voices, particularly if there is a speech impediment. Sorting through the sheer number of programs developed by education technology companies can be a time-consuming challenge for schools. Richard Culatta, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education, said the nonprofit launched an effort this fall to make it easier for districts to vet what they are buying and ensure it is accessible. Makenzie wishes some of the tools were easier to use. Sometimes a feature will inexplicably be turned off, and she will be without it for a week while the tech team investigates. The challenges can be so cumbersome that some students resist the technology entirely. But Makenzie’s mother, Nadine Gilkison, who works as a technology integration supervisor at Franklin Township Community School Corporation in Indiana, said she sees more promise than downside. In September, her district rolled out chatbots to help special education students in high school. She said teachers, who sometimes struggled to provide students the help they needed, became emotional when they heard about the program. Until now, students were reliant on someone to help them, unable to move ahead on their own. “Now we don’t need to wait anymore,” she said. ___ This story corrects that Pérez works for CAST, formerly the Center for Applied Specialized Technology, not the Center for Accessible Technology. The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.OpenAI Just Released Its Text-to-Video Generator, Sora. Here's How the New AI Could Impact Small Businesses and Creators.

A story flew under the radar today but could have a big impact on Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens . The Vegas Golden Knights , who are the next opponents of Martin St-Louis' squad, announced earlier today the signing of forward Brett Howden. A 5-year contract worth a total of $12.5 million, ($2.5 million per year). A contract that could make Jake Evans ' mouth water Howden's contract will certainly serve as a benchmark in the negotiations for Evans' upcoming deal, as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) next summer. Howden is certainly a solid comparison for Jake Evans, but the Canadiens' forward appears to be slightly better, so it's reasonable to expect more than $2.5 million per year for Evans. Howden, 26, has recorded 9 points in 20 games this season after tallying 19 points in 72 games last season (a total plus/minus of -13). Over the last three years, he has averaged 27 points per 82 games. Evans, 28, has recorded 10 points in 19 games this season after notching 28 points in 82 games last season (a total plus/minus of -2). Over the last three years, he has averaged 30 points per 82 games. This shows they are similar players, with the Canadiens' forward seeming to have the edge. With all this in mind, would you be willing to offer Jake Evans around $12.5 million over 5 years? This article first appeared on Habs Fanatics and was syndicated with permission.

ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions Transforms its Go-to-Market-Strategy in Canada to Drive Customer Excellence

Amphenol Corp. Cl A stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsNew labor reform protects rideshare and other platform gig workers'Break them open'- Postecoglou bemoans Tottenham’s inability to open Nottingham Forest flood doors

PRINCETON, NJ, Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc. (the "Company" or "Sonnet") (NASDAQ:SONN), a clinical-stage company developing targeted immunotherapeutic drugs, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with institutional investors for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 1,085,325 shares of its common stock (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) (the “Registered Direct Shares”) and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,085,325 shares of common stock (the “Registered Direct Warrants”), in a registered direct offering. Each share of common stock (or pre-funded warrant in lieu thereof) is being sold in the registered direct offering together with one common warrant at a combined offering price of $2.23, priced at-the-market under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Registered Direct Warrants will have an exercise price of $2.10 per share, are immediately exercisable and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The Company has also entered into a definitive agreement with an existing investor, in a concurrent private placement, for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 673,000 shares of its common stock (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) (the “PIPE Shares”) and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 673,000 shares of common stock (the “PIPE Warrants”). Each share of common stock (or pre-funded warrant in lieu thereof) is being sold in the private placement offering together with one common warrant at a combined offering price of $2.23, priced at-the-market under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The PIPE Warrants will have an exercise price of $2.10 per share, are immediately exercisable and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The closing of the registered direct offering and the concurrent private placement is expected to occur on or about December 10, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Chardan is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the registered direct offering and the concurrent private placement. The gross proceeds to the Company from the registered direct offering and the concurrent private placement are expected to be approximately $3.9 million, before deducting the placement agent's fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds for research and development, including clinical trials, working capital and general corporate purposes. The Registered Direct Shares are being offered and sold by the Company in a registered direct offering pursuant to a "shelf" registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-251406) that was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on December 22, 2023, and declared effective on January 4, 2024. The offering of such securities in the registered direct offering is being made only by means of a prospectus supplement that forms a part of the effective registration statement. A final prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus relating to the registered direct offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus may also be obtained, when available, from Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, 17 State Street, Suite 2130, New York, New York 10004, at (646) 465-9000, or by email at vdealwis@chardan.com . The PIPE Shares, the PIPE Warrants and the Registered Direct Warrants and the shares underlying the PIPE Warrants and the Registered Direct Warrants described above are being offered in a private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and have not been registered under the Act, or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the PIPE Shares, the PIPE Warrants, the Registered Direct Warrants and the shares of common stock underlying the PIPE Warrants and the Registered Direct Warrants may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Act and such applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. About Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc. Sonnet is an oncology-focused biotechnology company with a proprietary platform for innovating biologic drugs of single or bifunctional action. Known as F H AB (Fully Human Albumin Binding), the technology utilizes a fully human single chain antibody fragment (scFv) that binds to and "hitch-hikes" on human serum albumin (HSA) for transport to target tissues. Sonnet's F H AB was designed to specifically target tumor and lymphatic tissue, with an improved therapeutic window for optimizing the safety and efficacy of immune modulating biologic drugs. F H AB is the foundation of a modular, plug-and-play construct for potentiating a range of large molecule therapeutic classes, including cytokines, peptides, antibodies, and vaccines. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended, including those relating to the closing of the registered direct offering and the concurrent private placement and the expected use of proceeds, the outcome of the Company’s clinical trials, the Company's cash runway, the Company's product development, clinical and regulatory timelines, market opportunity, competitive position, possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, potential growth opportunities and other statements that are predictive in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management's current beliefs and assumptions. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "potential,” "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements relate to future events or our financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investor Relations Contact: JTC Team, LLC Jenene Thomas 908.824.0775 SONN@jtcir.com Source: Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.Publishing Market to expand by USD 19.37 Billion (2024-2028), fueled by rising demand for diverse content; report explores AI-driven market transformation - Technavio

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48 niceph Moscow evacuates part of its diplomatic personnel in SyriaIn April, the UFC announced that for fighters that would offer more mobility and flexibility while reducing eye pokes and hand injuries. The new gloves, coined "3Eight/5Eight" (the 3Eight glove is for three-round fights, and the 5Eight gold glove for championship fights), premiered at UFC 301 in June. It marked the first time since fingerless gloves became mandatory for all fighters back in 1997 that the fight glove had evolved. "This redesign will truly be a game changer for the entire sport of MMA," UFC CEO and president Dana White said in the April statement. "These gloves will feel lighter, fit fighters' hands better, prevent injuries and provide maximum flexibility during the fights." But after five months -- 21 UFC events (pay-per-views and Fight Nights) and 10 "Dana White's Contender Series" cards -- and return to the original fingerless gloves. "The new gloves are now the old gloves," UFC CEO Dana White said in a surprise announcement ahead of UFC 309 last weekend. "You know what, there were good intentions with the new gloves. We spent a lot of time, energy and money on them. ... It didn't work out and it is what it is." The abrupt about-face came as a shocker.. Interestingly enough, the switch came just days after independent researcher and data scientist Nate Latshaw posted a detailed report demonstrating a significant drop in knockouts from when the new gloves were introduced. Comparing the knockout rate of the old gloves -- now referred to as "classic" by the UFC -- from Jan. 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024, to when the new gloves were in play from June 1 to Nov. 9, Latshaw's findings showed an 8.5% drop off in knockout rates. Between Latshaw's report gaining traction on social media and UFC heavyweight champion balking at the fit and feel of the new gloves ahead of his fight with at UFC 309, the timing of the announcement felt like a little more than a coincidence. "The shape, the curve in your hands, they're very uncomfortable for me," Jones said last week in New York. "I was actually really stressed thinking, 'How am I going to go into fight week wearing these gloves that I don't even really want to train in?'" When the switch was announced, several UFC fighters breathed a sigh of relief over the promotion reversing course. "When I first got the new gloves, I didn't like them," lightweight told ESPN. "I think they look and felt cheap. The material was not very good, and I didn't like the design." Moicano had one of his best performances with the new gloves, a decisive TKO victory over in September. The fight was stopped due to a doctor's intervention. "I was thinking to myself, 'This is a bad glove,' and then I had an awesome performance," Moicano said. "Maybe it actually was the glove? I don't know. But I don't think it affected my performance at all." Women's flyweight contender echoed Moicano's assessment of the gloves feeling "cheap." "I wasn't opposed to the new gloves when they announced they were coming, but when I saw them, I didn't like how they looked," Blanchfield said. "I didn't like the design, and the colors looked tacky and cheap. They looked like something you can buy from a sporting goods store." Blanchfield, who relies heavily on her wrestling and grappling, found that the gloves felt restrictive and affected her grip during her unanimous decision victory over earlier this month. "It felt harder to close my hands because the fingers were so tight," she said. While Blanchfield eventually broke in the new gloves during training, she was issued a new pair ahead of her fight. "I had my cornermen working on the gloves the entire time in the locker room," Blanchfield said. "Just pulling at them, stretching them out, really trying to loosen them up for me. They literally had to make a tool that everyone in the locker room passed around to loosen up the fingers." Strawweight , who lost a decision to in the new gloves in August, said they "felt like having memory foam wrapped around your fist." "I hated them at first," Hill said. "But after training in them for a while, I didn't mind them as much. They are way thinner and aren't formed at all. The old gloves had more of a natural curve to them." The restrictive feel that Hill and Blanchfield are referring to was originally installed to prevent fighters from extending their fingers and committing eye-poke fouls. But both said that the intent didn't match the outcome. "I don't think they did anything for eye pokes," Hill said. "Until you break them in, it's harder to make a closed fist." What about the decrease in knockouts? Latshaw, a data scientist with a focus on quantitative analysis in MMA, noted that the research didn't include the variety of ways to obtain a knockout. "I continue to caution against drawing any particularly strong conclusions from the data," Latshaw told ESPN. "I'm looking at all knockdowns and all knockouts, which is really not a good way to study the impact of the gloves because I'm including knockouts and knockdowns that come from head kicks, elbows, knees, things like that where the gloves aren't impactful." While the old gloves are now back in play, it doesn't mean the "new" gloves are gone forever...yet. A UFC spokesperson told ESPN that "some fighters may still be wearing the new gloves in upcoming events while UFC re-stocks its inventory of the classic gloves." According to White, fighters will use the "classic" gloves at UFC 310 on Dec. 7. "They tried a new idea, and it ended up being a mistake, so they decided to go back to the old gloves once they saw the gloves weren't working out," Moicano said. "That's better than to keep trying to push a glove on us that everyone hates. This is what was good for business. "I don't know if we'll ever get the perfect glove, but I hope they keep trying."

Why is the Brainchip share price rocketing 14% today?With nearly all of the votes counted, left-leaning Mr Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling conservative HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%. Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on January 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Mr Milanovic thanked his supporters but warned that “this was just a first run”. “Let’s not be triumphant, let’s be realistic, firmly on the ground,” he said. “We must fight all over again. It’s not over till it’s over.” Mr Milanovic, the most popular politician in Croatia, has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, the 58-year-old has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and continuous sparring between the two has been a recent hallmark of Croatia’s political scene. Mr Plenkovic has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and Nato. He has labelled Mr Milanovic “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him (Mr Primorac) and Milanovic is quite simple: Milanovic is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme commander of the military. Mr Milanovic has criticised the Nato and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, thought it is a member of both Nato and the EU. Mr Milanovic has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a Nato-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war”. His main rival in the election, Mr Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East”. However, his bid for the presidency has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and which featured prominently in pre-election debates. Trailing a distant third in the pre-election polls is Marija Selak Raspudic, a conservative independent candidate. She has focused her election campaign on the economic troubles of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a snap parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.

PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol, forcing the Philadelphia Eagles to play against Dallas without their star quarterback. The Eagles will turn to backup Kenny Pickett on Sunday because Hurts is still dealing with the lingering effects of a concussion suffered against Washington. Hurts was injured early at Washington after his head slammed against the ground on one run and he was hit in the helmet by Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu at the end of another. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said the Eagles would lean on the medical staff on a daily basis to know where Hurts — who threw two touchdown passes and ran for a pair of scores in the first meeting against Dallas in November — was in his recovery from the head injury. The 26-year-old Hurts did not practice this week, leaving Pickett — who suffered a rib injury in relief action against the Commanders — in line for his first start as an Eagle. Pickett was 14 of 24 for 143 yards against the Commanders, throwing a touchdown pass to A.J. Brown and an interception. Related Story: Pickett’s Opportunity to Shine Pickett is from New Jersey and said when he was acquired from Pittsburgh that he had “great memories” of going to games at Lincoln Financial Field with his dad and grandfather since he was 5. The chance to run out of the home team tunnel — which he could get Sunday if he’s the starting QB — left him absolutely delighted. “It’s a big opportunity,” Pickett said this week. “I’ve been working hard to stay ready. I felt like I was in a good position last game with my preparation. Now, having a week to practice, I’ll feel even better going into the stadium.” Pickett, a first-round pick out of Pitt in 2022, went 14-10 as a starter for the Steelers. The Eagles will bump third-stringer Tanner McKee to the backup spot. The Eagles also signed QB Ian Book this week to the practice squad. Related Story: Recent Precedent for Concussion Recovery There has been recent precedent for quarterbacks to play a week after entering the league’s concussion protocol. Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence sustained a head injury while scrambling up the middle on the team’s final drive in Week 15 loss to Baltimore last season. Lawrence misfired on seven of his final eight passes after the hit, a stretch that raised concerns on the sideline about his health. Lawrence reported symptoms after the game. He entered the protocol but was cleared in time to start the next game at Tampa Bay. Related Story: Eagles’ Playoff Implications The Eagles (12-3) could decide to play it safe and rest Hurts with the team needing a win against Dallas or the New York Giants to clinch the NFC East and the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Hurts shook off a sluggish start over the first four games and has thrown 18 touchdowns against just five interceptions to turn the Eagles into Super Bowl contenders. Thanks in large part to the tush push, Hurts has 14 rushing touchdowns this season. The Eagles won the Super Bowl for the 2017 season behind backup QB Nick Foles when starter Carson Wentz went down with a late-season injury.NEW YORK (AP) — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded “the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”