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Fluence Energy (NASDAQ:FLNC) Misses Q3 Sales Targets, But Stock Soars 5.2%Amid growing speculations about the possible imposition of the governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday clarified the Centre has no intention of taking such a step against its rival PTI-led government in the province. His remarks came days after the recent federal cabinet meeting discussed the option of governor’s rule in KP. The huddle blamed KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s administration for using “state machinery to attack the Centre” during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “do-or-die” protest in Islamabad, well-placed sources had told the media. Speaking to the media, Adviser to PM on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Thursday said: “The federal cabinet in its meeting discussed the option of imposing governor’s rule in KP but a consensus could not emerge and the matter has been deferred for further deliberations.” Addressing a press conference, the defence minister, while referring to Islamabad unrest, said that PTI tried to sink the country’s economy. “PTI launched a third onslaught on the Centre which was thwarted.” Rubbishing the PTI’s claim about causalities at the hands of law enforcers, the minister said: “Security personnel were martyred during the PTI’s protest but found no evidence of any citizen’s death.” A day earlier, PTI claimed: “At least 12 people were killed on the spot and the bodies were not handed over to the relatives.” Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram slammed the government for “denying the facts”. The government authorities said that five security personnel, three Rangers and two Punjab police personnel were martyred during the protests of the former ruling party. The defence minister said: “The KP government attacked Centre with [official] weapons and equipment.” He advised the provincial government to focus on the law and order situation in the province in general and in Parachinar in particular. The death toll from ongoing tribal clashes in District Kurram has risen to 124, as two more individuals lost their lives and 10 others were injured in fresh incidents of firing, sources told the media. The police confirmed that the latest spell of violence, now entering its tenth day, has claimed 124 lives in total and injured 178 others. Meanwhile, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, during his interaction with journalists, said that the PPP was not in favour of the governor’s rule in KP. He further said that if a “militant wing” of the political party is formed then the ban could be considered. The governor said that the embattled PTI should review its behaviour. Separately, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi has warned that ‘imposing a ban on PTI would be a significant mistake.’ Speaking to the media during his appearance at an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Qureshi expressed concern over reports about the potential imposition of Governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), calling it tantamount to sowing division and hatred within the province. Qureshi stressed that banning PTI would not be beneficial for the country’s political landscape. He argued that all political parties should focus on the nation’s well-being, and ‘attempting to crush PTI would not be in the best interest of Pakistan’s politics.’ He further criticised the government for banning other political groups such as Tehreek-e-Labbaik and Pakistan Awami Tehreek, questioning the effectiveness of such measures. Qureshi also thanked the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Maulana Fazlur Rehman for rejecting the idea of banning PTI. He expressed his gratitude towards Mahmood Achakzai for opposing the move as well. Earlier on Friday, Senator Aimal Wali Khan, leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), expressed solidarity with anyone working for peace, emphasizing the deep grief within the Pashtun community over the recent Kurram incidents. He further stated that imposing Governor’s Rule in K-P would not resolve the ongoing crises in the region. Speaking alongside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at Wali Bagh, Aimal Wali Khan invited all political parties, including the chief minister, to participate in an All-Parties Conference (APC) focused on peace. “The situation is dire, with both my district and the chief minister’s district now surrounded by terrorists,” remarked Governor Kundi. During their meeting, the two leaders held detailed discussions on terrorism and the recent Kurram incidents. Aimal Wali Khan also highlighted the long-standing ideological partnership between the ANP and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). In his remarks, Qureshi also requested the authorities to facilitate a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan, suggesting that such a meeting would help in addressing political issues. Meanwhile,Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Friday, signaled the possibility of banning the PTI, urging both civil and military leaders to formulate a strategy to prevent any recurrence of PTI’s recent attempt to storm Islamabad, which he claimed posed a serious threat to the nation’s hard-won peace and macroeconomic stability. “Pakistan’s reputation has been severely damaged,” the Prime Minister stated. “This marks the third or fourth attempt by PTI to invade the federal capital in the past eight months. Such disruptive actions were unheard of before 2014. It all began with the 126-day sit-in in 2014, which severely harmed both the economy and the country’s image,” he added during a high-level meeting he chaired to discuss the law and order situation. His remarks came just a day after the Balochistan Assembly passed a resolution calling for a ban on PTI due to its “anti-Pakistan” activities. A similar resolution was introduced in the Punjab Assembly on Friday. They were made meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was attended by federal cabinet members, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, senior government officials, and law enforcement representatives.

49ers QB Brock Purdy, DE Nick Bosa out, Brandon Allen to start at Green BayMaresca led the Foxes to the Sky Bet Championship title last season before joining Chelsea over the summer. Leicester famously toasted their improbable Premier League success in 2016 with an impromptu bash at Vardy’s house. But the venue for last April’s party was not at the striker’s abode, but at Maresca’s house when the players turned up unannounced at 2am. Maresca recalled: “The best present I had from last season was when we got promoted and they arrived at my home. All the team. “This showed the connection between the players; they could go for a party at a different place but they all arrived at my home. It was a fantastic connection and I will always be thankful for them. “I was at home celebrating with my staff and my family and about two o’clock in the morning all the squad was there. We celebrated all together. Last night at Enzo’s 🏡 💙 pic.twitter.com/dqP8BFsDn3 — Leicester City (@LCFC) April 27, 2024 “When I was a player and I won things I never thought to go to the manager’s home. That shows the connection.” Similarly to when they clinched the Premier League crown, Leicester were not actually playing when they found out they were promoted after Leeds lost at QPR. “To be honest I was at home watching the game and when it finished all the staff came over – and later the players,” added the Italian. “They didn’t knock on the door, they were in the garden and knocked on the window. What time did they leave? I don’t remember.” Vardy might not be having a party at the end of this season but he is still banging in the goals at 37 and Maresca rates the striker even more highly than England’s two top goalscorers – Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney. “People don’t realise how good he is,” added Maresca. “I know England have been quite lucky because of Kane and Rooney, this type of striker, they are fantastic. “But Jamie is, if you ask me, the best one.” Maresca returns to the King Power Stadium for the first time with Chelsea on Saturday, but he will be without captain Reece James due to a hamstring problem.Australian stock exchange targets 2029 for phase two of trading software overhaul

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella changed his cleats just 12 minutes into the game after his slips contributed to both of Tottenham's early goals in the teams' London derby in the Premier League on Sunday. The Spain international ceded possession by slipping on the turf at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the fifth and 11th minutes — and from the ensuing attacks, Spurs scored through Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski. Immediately after Kulusevski's shot hit the net to make it 2-0, Cucurella sprinted to the sideline while shrugging his shoulders and pointed to his cleats. He took them off and threw them away in disgust before putting on new ones. It seemed to work. Within six minutes, he provided the pass that led to Jadon Sancho scoring for Chelsea to make it 2-1. Chelsea went on to win 4-3 — and Cucurella posted a photo on social media after the match, showing the first cleats he wore nestled in a bin. “It almost slipped away,” Cucurella wrote on Instagram Stories, “but proud of the amazing team effort to turn things around.” ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer Steve Douglas, The Associated PressLA Galaxy strike early, hold off New York Red Bulls 2-1 to win their record 6th MLS Cup championship

Formula 1 is expanding with an 11 th team joining the global motorsport for the 2026 season, naming General Motors GM with Andretti Global. While the new team is still over a year away from starting, it will add an increased American presence to the sport and more competition for recent and four-time consecutive champion Max Verstappen. What Happened : Formula 1, which is a unit of publicly traded Liberty Formula One FWONA FWONK , announced it reached an agreement with General Motors for a new team, branded as Cadillac, which will enter beginning in 2026, following up a previous rejection of a GM-linked team earlier this year. General Motors will also become an engine supplier for the league at a later date, the league announced . The GM team will use Ferrari engines until the GM engines are officially approved for the sport. "With Formula 1's continued growth plans in the U.S., we have always believed that welcoming an impressive U.S. brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei said. General Motors President Mark Reuss called Formula 1 the "pinnacle of motorsports" and said the announcement of becoming the 11 th team is an honor for the automotive company. "We're committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM's engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level." The approval of the team comes after the U.S. Justice Department launched an investigation into why Liberty Media, who owns the commercial rights to Formula 1, would not approve the American team bid started by Michael Andretti. The new team, called Cadillac F1, will be run by Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter after Andretti stepped aside from the group in September. Former Formula 1 champion and racing legend Mario Andretti will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1 while his son Michael will have no official position. Read Also: Netflix Lands More Live Sports: How Success Of Docuseries Helped Pave The Way Why It's Important: The announcement comes after Formula 1's Las Vegas Grand Prix, one of three U.S. races in 2024, was recently held and saw Max Verstappen win his fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship. While Verstappen finished fifth in the race, he secured enough points to guarantee that no one could match his points total with two races left in the season. This marks the fourth consecutive title by Verstappen with his first title in 2021 a close one with racing legend Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen has been dominant in the sport in recent years winning the title with races still left in season three of the four years. Verstappen won seven of the first 10 races this season before falling out of form but later did enough to win enough points to secure the title. The new GM team marks the second American-owned team . Gene Haas owns a team but chooses to have international drivers. Michael Andretti's original vision was to have an American-owned team and also feature American drivers, something that fans of the sport will be closely watching. Team expansion has been infrequent with four teams added in 2010 to push the total to 13 teams and 26 cars. Of the four teams added, one never raced and the other three were out of the league by 2017, as reported by the Associated Press. The existing 10 team owners have been against expansion due to the dilution of prize money, but have no formal say in the approval process. Adding another American team could benefit ESPN, which is a unit of Walt Disney Co DIS . ESPN secured the renewal of the U.S. rights in 2022, paying an estimated $75 million to $90 million annually for the rights for three additional years. ESPN fought off several other parties interested in the rights, as viewership for the sport has surged in recent years. Along with recent growth in viewership in the U.S. Formula One teams have also experienced increased interest in ownership stakes from investors, including several notable American football players. The Alpine racing team received investments in 2023 from Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce , professional golfer Rory McIlroy and actor Ryan Reynolds. FWONA Price Action : Liberty Formula One shares were up 4.25% to $80.74 on Monday, hitting an intraday high of $80.88, which is a new 52-week high. The stock is up 41% year-to-date in 2024. Read Next: Ryan Reynolds’ Billion-Dollar Streak: Will His Viral Marketing Firm Go Public Next? Photo: Jay Hirano Photography via Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.NEW YORK (AP) — He's making threats, traveling abroad and negotiating with world leaders. Donald Trump has more than a month and a half to go before he's sworn in for a second term. But the Republican president-elect is already moving aggressively not just to fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but to achieve those priorities . Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, prompting emergency calls and a visit from Canada's prime minister that resulted in what Trump claimed were commitments from both U.S. allies on new border security measures. The incoming president has warned there will be “ALL HELL TO PAY" if, before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, Hamas does not release the hostages being held in Gaza . He has threatened to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by a Japanese company, warning "Buyer Beware!!!” And this weekend, Trump was returning to the global stage, joining a host of other foreign leaders for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral five years after it was ravaged by a fire. On Saturday, he met with French President Emmanuel Macron — joined at the last minute by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — and had plans to see Britain's Prince William also in Paris. Absent in Paris: lame duck President Joe Biden, who has largely disappeared from headlines, except when he issued a pardon of his son , Hunter, who was facing sentencing for gun crimes and tax evasion. First lady Jill Biden is attending in his place. “I think you have seen more happen in the last two weeks than you’ve seen in the last four years. And we’re not even there yet,” Trump said in an over-the-top boast at an awards ceremony Thursday night . For all of Trump's bold talk, though, it is unclear how many of his efforts will bear fruit. The pre-inauguration threats and deal-making are highly unusual, like so much of what Trump does, said Julian Zelizer, a political historian at Princeton University. “Transitions are always a little complicated in this way. Even though we talk about one president at a time," he said, “the reality is one president plus. And that plus can act assertively sometimes." Zelizer said that is particularly true of Trump, who was president previously and already has relationships with many foreign leaders such as Macron, who invited both Trump and Biden to Paris this weekend as part of the Notre Dame celebration. “Right now he’s sort of governing even though he’s not the president yet. He’s having these public meetings with foreign leaders, which aren't simply introductions. He's staking out policy and negotiating things from drug trafficking to tariffs," Zelizer said. Trump already has met with several foreign leaders, in addition to a long list of calls. He hosted Argentinian President Javier Milei in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago club in November. After the tariff threat, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago for a three-hour dinner meeting. Canadian officials later said the country is ready to make new investments in border security, with plans for more helicopters, drones and law enforcement officers. Last Sunday, Trump dined with Sara Netanyahu, wife of the Israeli prime minister. Incoming Trump aides have also been meeting with their future foreign counterparts. On Wednesday, several members of Trump's team, including incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz, met with Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Zelenskyy, in Washington, as Ukraine tries to win support for its ongoing efforts to defend itself from Russian invasion, according to a person familiar with the meeting. Yermak also met with Trump officials in Florida, he wrote on X . That comes after Trump's incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Qatar and Israel for high-level talks about a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza, according to a U.S familiar with the efforts, meeting with the prime ministers of both countries. There is no prohibition on incoming officials or nominees meeting with foreign officials, and it is common and fine for them to do so — unless those meetings are designed to subvert or otherwise impact current U.S. policy. Trump aides were said to be especially cognizant of potential conflicts given their experience in 2016, when interactions between Trump allies and Russian officials came under scrutiny. That included a phone call in which Trump's incoming national security adviser, Michael Flynn, discussed new sanctions with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, suggesting things would improve after Trump became president. Flynn was later charged with lying to the FBI about the conversation. Trump’s incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that, “All transition officials have followed applicable laws in their interactions with foreign nationals.” She added: “World leaders recognize that President Trump is returning to power and will lead with strength to put the best interests of the United States of America first again. That is why many foreign leaders and officials have reached out to correspond with President Trump and his incoming team.” Such efforts can nonetheless cause complications. If, say, Biden is having productive conversations on a thorny foreign policy issue and Trump weighs in, that could make it harder for Biden “because people are hearing two different voices” that may be in conflict, Zelizer said. Leaders like Russia's Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu may also anticipate a more favorable incoming administration and wait Biden out, hoping for more a better deal. It also remains unclear how extensively the Biden administration has been kept apprised of Trump transition efforts. Although there is no requirement that an incoming administration coordinate calls and meetings with foreign officials with the State Department or National Security Council, that has long been considered standard practice. That is, in part, because transition teams, particularly in their early days and weeks, do not always have the latest information about the state of relations with foreign nations and may not have the resources, including interpretation and logistical ability, to handle such meetings efficiently. Still, the Biden and Trump teams have been talking, particularly on the Middle East, with the incoming and outgoing administrations having agreed to work together on efforts to free hostages who remain in held in Gaza, according to a U.S. official, who, like others, was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive talks and spoke on condition of anonymity. That includes conversations between Witkoff and Biden’s foreign policy team as well as Waltz and Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Last month, Biden administration officials said they had kept Trump’s team closely apprised of efforts to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border. “I just want to be clear to all of our adversaries, they can’t play the incoming Trump administration off of the Biden administration. I’m regularly talking to the Biden people. And so, this is not a moment of opportunity or wedges for them," Waltz said Friday in a Fox Business interview. But when it comes to immigration, Biden administration officials haven’t been entirely in the loop on discussions around how to execute on Trump’s pledge to deport millions of migrants, according to four administration officials with knowledge of the transition who spoke on condition of anonymity. That’s not terribly surprising given how differently the teams view migration. Trump’s team, meanwhile, is already claiming credit for everything from gains in the stock and cryptocurrency markets to a decision by Walmart to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion policies Trump opposes. “Promises Kept — And President Trump Hasn’t Even Been Inaugurated Yet,” read one press release that claimed, in part, that both Canada and Mexico have already pledged "immediate action” to help “stem the flow of illegal immigration, human trafficking, and deadly drugs entering the United States." Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stopped short of saying Trump mischaracterized their call in late November. But she said Friday that Trump “has his own way of communicating, like when we had the phone call and he wrote that we were going to close the border. That was never talked about in the phone call.” Earlier this week, Mexico carried out what it claimed was its largest seizure of fentanyl pills ever. Seizures over the summer had been as little as 50 grams per week, and after the Trump call, they seized more than a ton. Security analyst David Saucedo said that "under the pressure by Donald Trump, it appears President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration is willing to increase the capture of drug traffickers and drug seizures that Washington is demanding.” Biden, too, tried to take credit for the seizure in a statement Friday night. ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Colleen Long and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Boys Town Nebraska, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boys Town today announced the filing of patents for two groundbreaking AI-integrated innovations in virtual training & mixed reality technology. Boys Town is a leader in changing the lives of children and families across the country. Boys Town’s success comes with teaching caregivers researched-based strategies to effectively change the behaviors of at-risk children. Boys Town is also a leader in helping children with hearing loss and communication disorders. This new AI model will help to effectively teach more caregivers across the country and aid those using American Sign Language (ASL). “Boys Town is known for its groundbreaking research informed care that serves children and families nationwide,” said Rod Kempkes, CEO. “This new technology will help us share the Boys Town mission with even wider audiences across the world and sets Boys Town apart as a thought leader in the nonprofit sector.” The first system is an AI-driven training application designed to instruct individuals on effectively implementing the Boys Town Model for teaching social skills to children. This new technology can help train caregivers how to respond when working with children. The system features AI-powered characters designed to simulate children’s behavior, enabling realistic and dynamic interactions. Users can engage with these AI characters through natural language while the system leverages computer vision to interpret and respond to user cues. These teachings can then be used when dealing with real world scenarios and provide AI-driven feedback on how the interactions were handled. The second technology facilitates seamless communication between individuals using American Sign Language (ASL) and those communicating verbally. It translates ASL into speech and converts spoken language into text, which is displayed as captions on smart eyewear, allowing both parties to communicate effortlessly. Boys Town is a leader in communication disorders research along with treating those with hearing loss. This technology will be an asset to helping children and families navigate communication barriers. About Boys Town: ​​​​​For over a century, Boys Town has been a beacon of hope, transforming the lives of America's children and families through innovative youth, research, and healthcare programs. Boys Town provides compassionate, research-proven education, prevention, training, and treatment for behavioral and physical problems in multiple locations throughout the United States, with a comprehensive array of services. In 2023, more than 715,000 children and families across the United States were impacted by Boys Town programs. You can find more information about Boys Town online at www.boystown.org . Attachments Artificial Intelligence in Training Boys Town Reality Coach49ers QB Brock Purdy, DE Nick Bosa out, Brandon Allen to start at Green BayThe archbishop of Paris re-opened Notre Dame cathedral on Saturday by symbolically knocking on the doors and entering the 12th-century landmark which has been restored after a devastating fire in 2019. Wearing new designer vestments and carrying a staff cut from one of the roof beams that survived the inferno, Laurent Ulrich joined hundreds of VIPs inside the Gothic masterpiece for a two-hour ceremony. Ulrich commanded the cathedral to "open your doors" and he entered the magnificently-restored edifice. US President-elect Donald Trump sat on the front row as guest of honour next to French President Emmanuel Macron, with invitees marvelling at the freshly cleaned walls, new furniture and state-of-the-art lightening installed as part of the cathedral's overhaul. Outside, small crowds of Parisians and tourists braved wet weather and high winds to witness the renaissance of a beloved monument which came close to being totally destroyed by the inferno that toppled its roof and spire. "I find it really beautiful, even more so now that the spire has been restored," Marie Jean, a 27-year-old dentist from southwest France, told AFP outside. The reconstruction effort has cost around 700 million euros ($750 million), financed from donations, with the re-opening achieved within a five-year deadline set by Macron despite predictions it could take decades. Workers had to overcome problems with lead pollution, the Covid-19 epidemic, and the army general overseeing the project falling to his death while hiking in the Pyrenees last year. It is "a cathedral like we have never seen before," Philippe Jost, who took over as project manager last year, told Franceinfo radio, adding that he was proud to "show the whole world" a "great collective success and a source of pride for all of France". Saturday's service will feature prayer, organ music and hymns from the cathedral's choir. A public concert planned in front of the cathedral featuring Chinese piano virtuoso Lang Lang and possibly US singer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams had to be pre-recorded on Friday night because of the stormy weather. - 'Do the impossible' - Held up as an example of French creativity and resilience by Macron, Notre Dame's renaissance so soon after the fire comes at a difficult time for the country. The sense of national accomplishment in restoring a symbol of Paris has been undercut by political turmoil that has left France without a proper government since last week when prime minister Michel Barnier lost a confidence vote. Macron is hoping the re-opening might provide a fleeting sense of national pride and unity -- as the Paris Olympics did in July and August. The scale of the immense security operation also recalls the Olympics -- with some 6,000 police officers and gendarmes mobilised. The re-opening "is the proof that we know how to do grand things, we know how to do the impossible" Macron said Thursday in a televised address to the country. He is set to address the congregation during Saturday's ceremony. Trump show? Macron has scored a major coup by attracting incoming US president Donald Trump for his first foreign trip since his re-election. Another 40 heads of state and government are also present, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who was given a round of applause as he entered Notre Dame, as well as British heir to the throne, Prince William. Macron hosted three-way talks with Zelensky and Trump at the presidential palace shortly before the ceremony, with future US military support for Ukraine's war effort against Russia's invasion expected to have been discussed. Trump has vowed to force an end to the nearly three-year Ukraine war when he takes office, sparking fears in Kyiv that he will force Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia which Zelensky is resisting. "It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that," Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for talks with Macron. One surprising absentee on Saturday was Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church. He sent a message addressed to the French people which is set to be read out. The exact cause of the 2019 blaze has never been identified despite a forensic investigation by prosecutors, who believe an accident such as an electrical fault was the most likely reason. On Sunday, the first mass with 170 bishops and more than 100 Paris priests will take place at 10:30 am (0930 GMT), followed by a second service in the evening at 6:30 pm which will be open to the public. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the worldWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday he intends to nominate real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to his own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, had sought. Christie has blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and has called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. ___ Tucker reported from Newtown, Pennsylvania.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — JuJu Watkins scored 21 points to lead No. 6 Southern California to a 66-53 win over Oregon in the Big Ten opener for both teams on Saturday. Watkins was 6 for 15 from the field, including 3 of 9 on 3-pointers, in 28 minutes before fouling out. Kiki Iriafen added 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Trojans (8-1, 1-0 Big Ten). Deja Kelly scored 16 points and Peyton Scott added 13 to lead the Ducks (7-3, 0-1). Oregon led 13-12 after the first quarter, but USC scored the first 18 points of the second quarter and never trailed again. The Trojans built the lead to 40-19 at halftime with 15 points from Watkins. Scott opened the third quarter with four straight points, but USC scored five straight points right after and kept the lead in double digits the rest of the way. USC: The Trojans won their fourth straight since a loss to No. 10 Notre Dame. USC returns to nonconference play over the next three weeks, including a trip to No. 2 UConn. Oregon: The Ducks started the season 6-0 and moved up to No. 23 in the AP poll but have now lost three of four games. Kelly scored to put Oregon up 13-12 early, but USC held the Ducks scoreless for more than five minutes to start the second quarter while scoring 18 straight points. Watkins had a seven-point run of her own within that span. USC outrebounded Oregon 45-31, including 34 defensive rebounds. The Trojans are averaging nearly 12 more rebounds per game than their opponents on the season. USC hosts Fresno State on Tuesday night, and Oregon hosts Air Force on Dec. 17. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballThe Newest Dow Growth Stocks Nvidia and Amazon Crushed the S&P 500 in 2024, but Which Is the Best Buy for 2025?WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Sunday that the sudden is a “fundamental act of justice” after decades of repression, but it was “a moment of risk and uncertainty” for the Mideast. Biden spoke at the White House hours after after rebel groups completed a takeover of the country after more than a dozen years of violent civil war and decades of leadership by Assad and his family. Biden said the United States was unsure of Assad's whereabouts, but was monitoring reports he was seeking refuge in Moscow. The outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump were working to make sense of new threats and opportunities across the Middle East. Biden credited action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria's backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He said “for the first time” that they could no longer defend Assad's grip on power. “Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," Biden said, after a meeting with his national security team at the White House. Trump said Sunday that Assad had fled his country, which his family had ruled for decades, because close ally Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, “was not interested in protecting him any longer.” Those comments on Trump's social media platform came a day after he used another post to decry the possibility of the U.S. intervening militarily in Syria to aid the rebels, declaring, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT." The Biden administration had no intention of intervening, according to President Joe Biden's national security adviser. The U.S has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Biden said he intended those for troops to remain, adding that U.S. forces on Sunday conducted “dozens” of what he called “precision air strikes" on Islamic State camps and operations in Syria. The Syrian opposition that brought down Assad is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The Biden administration has designated the group as a terrorist organization and says it has links to al-Qaida, although Hayat Tahrir al-Sham says it has since broken ties with al-Qaida. “We will remain vigilant,” Biden said. “Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses.” He added that the groups are “saying the right things now.” “But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions,” Biden said. Assad's fall adds to an already tense situation throughout much of region on many fronts, including Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza and its fragile cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump, who takes office Jan. 20, 2025, made a connection between the upheaval in Syria and Russia's war in Ukraine, noting that Assad's allies in Moscow, as well as in Iran, the main sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah, “are in a weakened state right now.” Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, a veteran of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, wrote on own social media Sunday to express skepticism about the insurgents. “Many of ‘the rebels’ are a literal offshoot of ISIS. One can hope they’ve moderated. Time will tell,” he said, using another acronym for the group. Trump has suggested that Assad's ouster can advance the prospects for an end to fighting in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022. Trump wrote that Putin's government “lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine” and the Republican called for an immediate cease-fire, a day after meeting in Paris with the French and Ukrainian leaders. Daniel B. Shapiro, a deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, said the American military presence will continue in eastern Syria but was “solely to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and has nothing to do with other aspects of this conflict.” “We call on all parties in Syria to protect civilians, particularly those from Syria’s minority communities to respect international military norms and to work to achieve a resolution to include the political settlement,” Shapiro said. “Multiple actors in this conflict have a terrible track record to include Assad’s horrific crimes, Russia’s indiscriminate aerial bomb bombardment, Iranian-back militia involvement and the atrocities of ISIS," he added. Shapiro, however, was careful not to directly say Assad had been deposed by the insurgents. “If confirmed, no one should shed any tears over the Assad regime,” he said. As they pushed toward the Syrian capital of Damascus, the opposition freed political detainees from government prisons. The family of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice renewed calls to find him. “To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we’re waiting for Austin,” Tice’s mother, Debra, said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media. "We know that when he comes out, he’s going to be fairly dazed & he’s going to need lots of care & direction. Direct him to his family please!” Tice disappeared in 2012 outside Damascus, amid intensification of what became a civil war stretching more than a decade. We’ve remained committed to returning him to his family,” Biden said at the White House. "We believe he’s alive, we think we can get him back but we have no direct evidence to that yet. And Assad should be held accountable.” The president added: “We have to identify where he is."

JuJu Watkins scores 21, No. 6 USC downs Oregon 66-53 in Big Ten openerTrump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders

BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria gained speed on Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and with the government forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. As they have advanced, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands rushed the Syria border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those that remained open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some shops were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reach the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. Assad's status Amid the developments, Syria’s state media denied rumors flooding social media that Assad has left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. Assad's chief international backer, Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine, and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up his forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran, meanwhile, has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. Pedersen said a date for the talks in Geneva on the implementation of U.N. Resolution 2254 would be announced later. The resolution, adopted in 2015, called for a Syrian-led political process, starting with the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were also marching from eastern Syria toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. Syria’s military, meanwhile, sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama, the country’s fourth largest city. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani told CNN in an interview Thursday from Syria that the aim is to overthrow Assad’s government. The Britain-based Observatory said Syrian troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle is looming. If the insurgents capture Homs, they would cut the link between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where the president enjoys wide support. The Syrian army said in a statement Saturday that it has carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists.” The army said it is setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. After the fall of the cities of Daraa and Sweida early Saturday, Syrian government forces remained in control of five provincial capitals — Damascus, Homs and Quneitra, as well as Latakia and Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. Tartus is home to the only Russian naval base outside the former Soviet Union while Latakia is home to a major Russian air base. Diplomacy in Doha In the gas-rich nation of Qatar, the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey met to discuss the situation in Syria. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. After the fall of the cities of Daraa and Sweida early Saturday, Syrian government forces remained in control of five provincial capitals — Damascus, Homs and Quneitra, as well as Latakia and Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. On Friday, U.S.-backed fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces captured wide parts of the eastern province of Deir el-Zour that borders Iraq as well as the provincial capital that carries the same name. The capture of areas in Deir el-Zour is a blow to Iran’s influence in the region as the area is the gateway to the corridor linking the Mediterranean to Iran, a supply line for Iran-backed fighters, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. With the capture of a main border crossing with Iraq by the SDF and after opposition fighters took control of the Naseeb border crossing to Jordan in southern Syria, the Syrian government's only gateway to the outside world is the Masnaa border crossing with Lebanon. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.

Just_Super/E+ via Getty Images Shares of Salesforce ( NYSE: CRM ) surged 11% after the CRM applications provider submitted a better than expected earnings sheet (in terms of revenue) for the third fiscal quarter. Salesforce beat top line estimates by a wide margin and is Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of CRM either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Syrian insurgents reach the capital's suburbs. Worried residents flee and stock up on supplies

CARSON — It was the perfect start to the perfect end of the 2024 season for the Galaxy. Within the first 15 minutes, just barely enough time after the pregame festivities, the Galaxy seized control, first with Joseph Paintsil’s opening goal, followed by Dejan Joveljic for a quick two-goal lead. From there, the Galaxy, who had been known to run up the scoreboard, dug in and eventually saw a 2-1 win, claiming the club’s sixth MLS Cup title, Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in front of 26,812. This was the Galaxy’s first MLS Cup appearance since 2014. After going unbeaten at home in the regular season, the Galaxy is now unbeaten (4-0) at home in MLS Cups. Last year at this time, the Galaxy was well into their offseason rebuilding project. The 2023 regular season was dismal, finishing in 13th place in the Western Conference, but before contending for the MLS Cup, the Galaxy had to win its offseason. And that’s what they did, with the acquisitions of goalkeeper John McCarthy and defender John Nelson and the signings of Designated Players Paintsil and Gabriel Pec. The moves, coupled with the re-emergence of Joveljic and fiery Riqui Puig paid dividends during the season. One question for Saturday was how the Galaxy would replace Puig, who suffered an ACL injury in last week’s conference final win against Seattle. In stepped Gaston Brugman, who hadn’t appeared in the starting lineup since Oct. 5 and had just three starting assignments since September. Brugman assisted on Paintsil’s opening goal, slotting a ball from midfield through the defense right to Paintsil in the ninth minute. Joveljic made it 2-0 in the 13th minute. The Red Bulls received a lifeline in the 28th minute on Sean Nealis’ goal after the Galaxy failed to clear a corner kick. The Red Bulls had a stretch of four consecutive corner kicks later in the half to test the Galaxy’s structure, but weren’t able to break through. The Red Bulls, seeking their first MLS title, received a bit of bad news before the game as center back Andres Reyes was removed from the starting lineup due to an illness. This was the first MLS Cup appearance for the Red Bulls since 2008. The Red Bulls were the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and recorded three consecutive upsets to advance, knocking second-seeded Columbus in the first round, sixth-seeded New York City FC in the conference semifinal and third-seeded Orlando City in the conference final. More to come on this story.Letter: Let the wealthy have a say in what state projects are greenlightedLawyer says ex-Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller met with NCAA for hours amid gambling probeERIE, Pa. (AP) — Alex Chaikin's 20 points off of the bench helped Lafayette to a 77-73 victory against Mercyhurst on Saturday. Chaikin went 7 of 8 from the field (6 for 7 from 3-point range) for the Leopards (5-5). Justin Vander Baan added 13 points while shooting 3 of 5 from the field and 7 for 9 from the line while he also had six rebounds and five blocks. Andrew Phillips had 10 points and shot 4 of 6 from the field and 1 for 3 from the line. Shemar Rathan-Mayes finished with 21 points and four assists for the Lakers (5-6). Aidan Reichert added 18 points, six rebounds and three steals for Mercyhurst. Jeff Planutis also recorded 13 points. Chaikin scored nine points in the first half and Lafayette went into the break trailing 38-31. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

ATLANTA — On the very last play of the first half of the SEC Championship game between Georgia and Texas, Bulldog quarterback Carson Beck took a hard hit while attempting a Hail Mary throw. Beck stayed down on the field while trainers tended to him. He got up after about a minute and trotted off the field into the locker room. Before heading into the locker room, ESPN's Holly Rowe asked Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart if Beck would be able to play in the second half, to which he replied, "He should be. I don't know. We've got to go look at him." However, at the start of the second half, Rowe passed along the message that Beck would not be playing the rest of the game. So, who will be taking snaps? Who is Georgia's backup quarterback? Georgia's backup QB is sophomore Gunner Stockton. Stockton has seen limited action in his two seasons with the Bulldogs but he's no stranger to game. In 2023, he completed 12 passes for 148 yards across his four separate appearances. So far this season, Stockton has only appeared in two games: against Tennessee Tech and Umass. This second half of the SEC Championship game will be the most the young QB has played and it's in the biggest moment of Georgia's season thus far.WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Charles Kushner arrives July 20, 2022, for the funeral of Ivana Trump in New York. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to Kushner's own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, sought. Christie blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Tbilisi, Georgia, Saturday, building barricades, breaking windows and setting off fireworks outside parliament to protest the government’s withdrawal from talks to join the European Union. The crowds were met by riot police firing water cannons and tear gas, according to reports . Protests also erupted in multiple other cities across the former Soviet republic. The protests were the latest, and biggest, since the anti-Western ruling party was elected last month in a contest that the pro-EU opposition has claimed was fixed. As the chaos unfolded demonstrators burned an effigy of Georgia’s richest man, the ruling party’s founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, on the steps of parliament, and a small fire, possibly caused by fireworks, briefly burned inside the building. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused the pro-EU opposition of plotting a revolution and the State Security Service said political parties were attempting to “overthrow the government by force.” The US said that the decision to suspend the process of joining the EU “goes against the promise to the Georgian people enshrined in their constitution to pursue full integration into the European Union and NATO.” By suspending the process, Kobakhidze’s Georgian Dream party “has rejected the opportunity for closer ties with Europe and made Georgia more vulnerable to the Kremlin,” the State Department said in a statement. The government’s “various anti-democratic actions have violated the core tenets of our U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership,” the statement said, announcing that the US has suspended the partnership . It urged Georgia to “return to its Euro-Atlantic path,” investigate election irregularities and repeal anti-democratic laws that limit protest. With Post wiresLana Del Rey Credits Jack Antonoff for Her Marriage to Jeremy Dufrene: His Love For Margaret Qualley Is ‘A Big Reason’ Why She Waited to Tie the Knot

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WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack, President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. Trade Representative and head of the small business administration. Rollins, speaking on the Christian talk show “Family Talk" earlier this year, said Trump was an “amazing boss” and confessed that she thought in 2015, during his first presidential campaign, that he would not last as a candidate in a crowded Republican primary field. “I was the person that said, ‘Oh, Donald Trump is not going to go more than two or three weeks in the Republican primary. This is to up his TV show ratings. And then we’ll get back to normal,’” she said. “Fast forward a couple of years, and I am running his domestic policy agenda.” Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to strip ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes. In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs. Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Josh Funk and JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report.Arkansas approved for $10.1M in broadband funding

Tooth Filling Materials Market Set for Exceptional Growth in the Forecast 2024-2032ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan-based Coherix is expanding its industry-wide engineering workshop program designed to improve the application of adhesives and sealants in product-manufacturing operations. The company plans to double the number of workshop sessions offered in 2024 from three to six next year and increase potential enrollment for automotive and consumer-electronics engineers from 70 up to 200. Sponsored by the , the unique workshop brings together engineers from a variety of industries to discuss and discover solutions to common dispensing issues seen in production environments. Systems integrators, robot suppliers, dispensing equipment suppliers, material suppliers and end users all come together in one room to share first-hand experiences and converse about the latest technologies and methods for adhesive dispensing in manufacturing environments. Next year's first workshop will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23 at the Coherix Technical Center, 3980 Ranchero Drive in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Registration and additional information is available online . Enrollment is free of charge but limited. The Total Dispensing System Engineering Workshop (TDSE) is moderated by Terry Taylor, an engineer with more than 25 years of dispensing-system experience. Taylor manages . "The development of trouble-free dispensing systems is an extremely complex process that includes robots, fixturing, adhesive-dispensing equipment and process-control measures along with a host of other factors," said Dwight Carlson, Coherix chairman and CEO. "It's been an art form up until now, but we hope these workshops will inject more science and inter-company cooperation into the process." Carlson added that the TDSE Workshop is designed to help participants develop solutions to a variety of common adhesive and sealant dispensing issues. "Due to the overwhelming interest these workshops generated last year from customers, partners and the dispensing industry in general, we decided to more than double enrollment capability in 2025," he noted. In 2025 Coherix is offering TDSE workshops in January, March, May, July, September and November, registration and details can be found on the . Workshop discussion topics will include: A pioneer in the development of 3D-enabled adaptive-process-control technology, Coherix provides high-performance adhesive-dispensing inspection technology to global OEMs, tier-one suppliers, line builders, dispensing-equipment companies and vision-system integrators in a variety of industries. The company recently introduced industry-first technology to monitor and adjust the application of adhesives on extremely small assemblies found in automotive electronic-control modules, cell phones, medical systems and other electronic devices. The Coherix 3D MiniTM can check adhesive beads as small in width as two human hairs faster and more effectively than 2D systems currently in use. Nearly 150 of the world's leading automakers and tier-one automotive suppliers are Coherix customers with more than 4,500 dispensing systems equipped with Coherix 3D computer-vision technology installed on manufacturing and assembly lines around the world. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the company also has operations in China, Germany, Japan, Mexico and Singapore. More information is available at . View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CoherixNEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ZETA) between February 27, 2024 and November 13, 2024, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important January 21, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Zeta securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Zeta class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31333 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Zeta used two-way contracts to artificially inflate financial results; (2) Zeta engaged in round trip transactions to artificially inflate financial results; (3) Zeta utilized predatory consent farms to collect user data; (4) these consent farms have driven almost the entirety of Zeta’s growth; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about Zeta’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Zeta class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31333 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com

Tooth Filling Materials Market Set for Exceptional Growth in the Forecast 2024-2032Tenor Co-Founders James Cross (l) and Charlie Stigler (r) SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tenor , providers of AI-driven leadership development solutions that help every manager be more effective, today emerged from stealth and announced its seed funding round. Base10 Partners led the $5.4M round, with participation from Reach Capital and notable angel investors across the AI, HR technology, and learning spaces. Research shows that when managers are more effective, it has an outsized impact on the productivity and effectiveness of the overall organization. Every year, $60 billion is spent on leadership development globally - and this is set to grow, with a Gartner survey recently finding that leadership development is a top spending priority in 2025. Gartner also reported that traditional management training activities have a negative impact on managers' effectiveness. With companies eager to try new approaches, this creates a huge opportunity for AI innovation. Tenor brings a brand-new approach to this problem, enabled by AI. Tenor's platform helps managers hone their communication skills through realistic voice AI simulations that are hyper-tailored to their company's leadership philosophies. By receiving immediate coaching-style feedback, managers can track their growth and progress. With voice, text, Slack, and Teams integrations, Tenor's AI leadership coach can help managers to grow their skills in the flow of work. Enterprise-ready from day one, Tenor is SOC 2 Type 1 Certified, integrates with learning management systems, and has built-in AI trust and safety features. And Tenor will soon integrate across the HR stack, making the coaching experience personalized and contextual to each manager. "Tenor allows our managers to practice critical conversations right when they need it most – whether it's minutes before a feedback session or in preparation for a performance review," said Eli Bildner, senior director of Talent at Guild. "We're already seeing this ‘in-the-flow-of-work' learning boosting our managers' communication skills and confidence. With Tenor, we're not just investing in AI; we're investing in our managers' ability to lead effectively in real-world situations." "Nothing is more important to the success of a company than the effectiveness of its managers. Great leadership is about how you show up and engage with the people around you," said Tenor co-founder James Cross. "AI will help leaders be more effective across every dimension: how they communicate, how they set goals for their teams, how they give feedback, and how they're supported day-to-day as they face situations and challenges. This is one of the highest-leverage uses of AI for learning, and with this funding, we're building the defining platform in the category." Rexhi Dollaku, General Partner at Base10, commented, "As companies reimagine their businesses with the digital transformation AI is promising, having great managers becomes more important than ever. Tenor is already having clear and immediate impact for its early customers, and we are thrilled to see this company drive change in the HR market." About Tenor Tenor's co-founders, Charlie Stigler and James Cross, have dedicated their careers to unlocking human potential with technology. Their earlier start-ups were both acquired by Workday and serve as the foundation of Workday Learning, now one of the world's leading learning management systems. Their latest venture is Tenor, the AI platform for leadership development. For more information and to find out how Tenor can be easily incorporated into your learning and development programs, visit www.tenorhq.com About Base10 Partners Founded by Adeyemi Ajao and TJ Nahigian, Base10 is a San Francisco-based venture capital fund investing in founders who believe purpose is key to profits and in companies that are automating sectors of the Real Economy. Through its program the Advancement Initiative, Base10 donates a percentage of profits to underfunded colleges and universities to support financial aid and other key initiatives. Portfolio companies include Notion, Figma, Nubank, Stripe, Popmenu, and Aurora Solar. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31ab07e2-f241-41fa-b00e-0c529709ab77 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Former Democrat presidential candidate Marianne Williamson has announced her bid to chair the Democratic National Committee (DNC), saying she will “work to reinvent the party from the inside out.” In a Substack blog post on Thursday, the 72-year-old author said the rise of the “MAGA phenomenon” means that Democrats need to change their “playbook” to regain control of the White House: This year’s election of a DNC Chair feels different than in past years. Before now, the party had faced defeats to be sure. But our playbook still basically worked. The waters were turbulent at times, but our ship was steady. This year, the party faces a more critical problem than we have ever faced before. The MAGA phenomenon now challenges the very way that politics are done in America, and the traditional tool kit of party organizing will not be enough to meet the moment. Asserting that Democrats need to recognize and understand President-elect Donald Trump’s “appeal,” Williamson said the typical strategies of data analysis, fundraising, field organizing, and “beefed-up” technology “will not be enough to prepare the way for Democratic victory.” “That’s why I have decided to run for DNC Chair this year,” she stated, before citing her experience running for president in 2020 and 2024. FLASHBACK: She’s Back! Democrat Marianne Williamson “Unsuspends” Her Presidential Campaign She then linked to her “Manifesto for a Renewed Democratic Party,” published on December 16, which reflected on the mistakes the DNC made that cost them the November election: In essence, the Democratic party has lost its spiritual connection with the American people. Many who used to trust the Democratic party now feel cynical about it – and often for understandable reasons. The party has squandered its moral authority, its processes and policies having been corrupted by corporate influence. It has become increasingly disconnected from the values – particularly economic values – that have always been central to the party’s identity, resulting in a mass exodus of the working people of the United States away from it. This was a huge mistake and a tragic failure. Williamson concluded her post-Christmas candidacy announcement by urging DNC members to sign her petition to get her into the candidate panels in January, adding that “Republicans will be ready on Day 1. As DNC Chair, I’ll make sure that we are ready to take them on.” The chairmanship election, which is expected to be held on February 1, 2025, has also garnered bids from New York State Sen. James Skoufis (D), Minnesota Democrat party chair Ken Martin, Wisconsin Democrat party chair Ben Wikler, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, and former Homeland Security official Nate Snyder, according to the Hill .

NAHCO targets N300bn revenue growth by 2029Pre-arrest bails of IK’s sisters extended

How to gift smartphones and gadgets to your child this seasonOTTAWA — The RCMP will create a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of Canada's border using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers. The move is part of the federal government's $1.3-billion upgrade to border security and monitoring to appease concerns of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump about the flow of migrants and illegal drugs. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican exports to the U.S. as soon as he is inaugurated next month unless both countries move to improve border security. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he has discussed parts of the plan with American officials and that he is optimistic about its reception. Canada will also propose to the United States to create a North American "joint strike force" to target organized crime groups that work across borders. The government also intends to provide new technology, tools and resources to the Canada Border Services Agency to seek out fentanyl using chemical detection, artificial intelligence and canine teams. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2024. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press

AP News Summary at 6:42 p.m. EST

EFL still considering introduction of VAR despite objection from fans

( MENAFN - GetNews) Cursor Fitness Treadmill, a new name in the fitness industry, is excited to announce the official launch of its online store, CursorFitnessTreadmill , dedicated to providing high-quality, space-saving treadmills tailored for modern lifestyles. The launch marks a significant step forward in making fitness more accessible and convenient for everyone, from beginners to seasoned athletes. Cursor Fitness Treadmill specializes in innovative treadmill solutions, including compact folding models and under-desk walking treadmills. These products are designed to meet the needs of todayu2019s busy individuals who want to stay active without leaving their homes. Each treadmill features advanced technology, whisper-quiet motors, and ergonomic designs to ensure users can achieve their fitness goals with ease and comfort. 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With an emphasis on convenience, technology, and exceptional customer service, Cursor Fitness Treadmill helps individuals achieve their wellness goals from the comfort of their own homes. MENAFN19122024003238003268ID1109014480 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Protein A Resins Market Set for Exceptional Growth in the Forecast 2024-2032Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military didn't immediate respond to questions about the WHO chief's statement. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. Israel's plan to double the number of settlers in the Golan Heights is met with conflicting emotions EIN ZIVAN, Golan Heights (AP) — Earlier this month, Syrian leader Bashar Assad was ousted after nearly 25 years in power. Within hours, Israeli tanks rolled into the Golan Heights' demilitarized buffer zone in Syria created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. Days later, the Israeli government approved a plan to double the population of settlers in the Golan Heights. Israel seized the mountainous region from Syria in 1967, and most of the world considers it occupied Syrian territory. In the towns and kibbutzim of Israeli-controlled Golan, the news has been met with a mixture of skepticism, excitement and shock. Previous attempts to encourage more settlement in the Golan have received a lukewarm response. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. 6,000 inmates escape from a high-security prison in Mozambique amid post-election violence MAPUTO, Mozambique. (AP) — Mozambique’s police chief has said that at least 6,000 inmates have escaped from a high-security prison in the capital on Christmas Day after a rebellion, as widespread post-election riots and violence continue to engulf the country. The police chief Bernardino Rafael said 33 prisoners died and 15 others were injured during a confrontation with the security forces. The escape from the Maputo Central Prison, located 14 km southwest of the capital, started around midday Wednesday after “agitation” by a “group of subversive protesters” nearby, Rafael said, adding that prisoners at the facility snatched weapons from prison warders and started freeing other detainees. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose. Pope brings Holy Year and prayers for better future to Rome prison, a 'cathedral of pain and hope' ROME (AP) — Pope Francis is bringing his Holy Year to Rome’s main prison. Francis traveled to Rebibbia prison Thursday on a frigid morning. He knocked on the door to the chapel and walked across the threshold. It was reenacting the gesture he performed at St. Peter’s Basilica two nights earlier on Christmas Eve. The opening of the Basilica's Holy Door officially kicked off the Jubilee year. It's a church tradition dating to 1300 that nowadays occurs every 25 years and involves the faithful coming to Rome on pilgrimages. About 32 million people are expected in Rome in 2025. India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, architect of economic reforms, dies aged 92 NEW 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. The hospital said Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to “sudden loss of consciousness at home.". He was “being treated for age-related medical conditions,” the statement added. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and earned a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.

NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) has long been a cornerstone in the technology sector, particularly in gaming graphics. As the world anticipates the next leap in gaming technology, NVDA’s stock trend is capturing significant attention. The company’s innovative strides in AI-driven graphics and real-time ray tracing promise to redefine gaming experiences, making NVDA an attractive prospect for investors and gamers alike. One of the key drivers behind NVIDIA’s stock momentum is its pioneering work in AI enhancements within gaming. The implementation of NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology allows for stunning, lifelike graphics without compromising performance. This has been a game-changer for developers aiming to push the boundaries of what gaming can look like, setting a new standard for future releases. As cloud gaming platforms continue to grow, NVIDIA’s stock is bolstered by its leadership in providing the necessary infrastructure. Their GeForce NOW platform exemplifies their commitment to enhancing cloud-based gaming, offering high-quality gaming experiences across various devices. By effectively integrating cloud technology, NVIDIA positions itself as an essential player in the future of gaming. Moreover, Nvidia’s involvement in the burgeoning field of the metaverse provides further upsides for the stock. By developing technology that powers virtual worlds and immersive experiences, NVIDIA is not just participating but leading the charge in this digital frontier. The future is clear: NVIDIA stands at the forefront of technological innovation in gaming. Their stock trend is a reflection of their strategic foresight and impactful technologies, indicating a promising trajectory as they continue to influence how we interact with digital worlds. NVIDIA’s Gaming Innovations: What’s Next for Gamers and Investors? NVIDIA Corporation has revolutionized the gaming world with groundbreaking advancements like AI-driven graphics and real-time ray tracing. But what else is driving its impressive stock trajectory, and what new developments can we expect from NVIDIA moving forward? Here, we explore the latest trends, technologies, and predictions that solidify NVIDIA as a key player in the gaming and tech sectors. NVIDIA’s DLSS technology is a standout innovation, utilizing AI to enhance graphics quality without sacrificing performance. But even as DLSS sets new graphic standards, NVIDIA is exploring next-generation AI tools designed to automate game testing and quality assurance, significantly reducing development cycles and costs for game developers. NVIDIA’s involvement in the metaverse is more than just a buzzword. By developing powerful GPUs and software stacks tailored for metaverse applications, NVIDIA aims to drive high-fidelity virtual environments. This commitment extends to creating tools for developers to construct detailed, immersive worlds, potentially leading to NVIDIA’s technology being a staple in future metaverse platforms. Cloud gaming continues to evolve, and NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW is at the forefront, offering flexibility across devices with minimal latency and superior graphics. This infrastructure supports a wide array of indie to AAA titles, making high-end gaming accessible to a broader audience without the need for high-spec hardware. With increasing attention on digital security, NVIDIA integrates enhanced encryption technologies to safeguard data within its platforms and services. Additionally, NVIDIA is committed to sustainable practices, improving GPU efficiency to minimize energy consumption, aligning with global calls for environmentally friendly tech development. NVIDIA’s strategic initiatives suggest continued stock growth alongside other prominent tech firms. Analysts predict significant expansion in sectors like autonomous vehicles and AI infrastructure, areas where NVIDIA’s existing technologies can be adapted and optimized. NVIDIA remains at the cutting edge of gaming technology, pioneering innovations that redefine digital experiences. For investors, NVIDIA’s diverse expansion into AI, cloud services, and the metaverse suggests a robust and promising future. For gamers, NVIDIA’s technologies promise more vivid and engaging experiences. For more about NVIDIA Corporation and to follow their latest developments, visit the official NVIDIA website .Trace3, a technology and business transformation consulting firm, has acquired a provider of software engineering and modernization services that also represents a foray into the government market for the buyer. By purchasing Zivaro, Trace3 is establishing a third vertical alongside health care and financial services as part of a . Zivaro employs approximately 200 people and essentially becomes the first building block of what now operates as the Trace3 Government vertical, the companies said Thursday. Irvine, California-headquartered Trace3 now touts a workforce of approximately 1,500 employees with Zivaro now in its fold. Financial terms were not disclosed. Zivaro opened for business in 1998 and also touts managed hybrid cloud computing as a core service line, in conjunction with the software engineering and modernization work. Zivaro has recorded approximately $53.6 million in unclassified prime contract obligations over the trailing 12 months with the Army being its largest customer at 49.5% of that spend, according to USASpending.gov. The Interior and Treasury departments are also significant federal clients. State and local government agencies, health care, financial services, education and energy represent other markets of interest for Zivaro in addition to federal.

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I always wondered what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political fate would have been had he come clean on the SNC-Lavalin scandal in 2018-19 and admitted to Canadians that he went too far when he tried to pressure then-attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to drop criminal charges against the Montreal-based company. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * I always wondered what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political fate would have been had he come clean on the SNC-Lavalin scandal in 2018-19 and admitted to Canadians that he went too far when he tried to pressure then-attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to drop criminal charges against the Montreal-based company. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Opinion I always wondered what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political fate would have been had he come clean on the SNC-Lavalin scandal in 2018-19 and admitted to Canadians that he went too far when he tried to pressure then-attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to drop criminal charges against the Montreal-based company. It was a turning point in Trudeau’s political career, one that will likely end in either his resignation or electoral defeat in 2025. By the fall of 2019, after it was clear the prime minister and his most senior staff badgered Wilson-Raybould for months to try to get her to change her mind on the SNC-Lavalin case, Trudeau’s Liberals were reduced to a minority government in an October federal election. The prime minister never recovered. The SNC-Lavalin scandal in 2018-19 could be considered a turning point in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political career. (Spencer Colby / The Canadian Press files) He could have taken a different path. Trudeau could have, in the first place, refrained from politically interfering in a criminal prosecution case. That would have been the best option. But once he and others in his government did try to pressure Wilson-Raybould (and, by extension, the director of public prosecutions) to drop charges against SNC-Lavalin in favour of a “remediation agreement,” he still could have admitted his error and told Canadians the truth. He was given that option by Wilson-Raybould, who eventually resigned from cabinet and was subsequently punted by Trudeau from the Liberal caucus. She suggested to Trudeau when the two met alone at a private plane terminal at the Vancouver International Airport on Feb. 10, 2019 that he still had the chance to tell Canadians the truth. “There still would have been a way to admit everything publicly, address the wrongs, and do better — much better,” wrote Wilson-Raybould in her 2021 book titled (which I’m finally getting around to reading). “There still would have been a way to preserve the credibility of our system and respect the rule of law.” Wilson-Raybould said she was hopeful when she left the meeting that the prime minister would do the right thing. The SNC-Lavalin story was still fresh; it was just three days after the reported that the Trudeau government attempted to politically interfere in a criminal prosecution. Trudeau immediately denied the story, calling the allegations “false.” But Wilson-Raybould thought there was still time to turn things around by telling the truth. “He said he would think about it and that we would talk again,” she wrote. “I left the meeting feeling hopeful — in hindsight, too hopeful.” That hope was short-lived. Trudeau called a second meeting with Wilson-Raybould for the next day, this time at a Vancouver hotel. The prime minister was condescending, dismissive and refused to admit wrongdoing. He rejected Wilson-Raybould’s advice. “I recounted, again, the incidents where pressure was attempted, and he again had excuses or answers for everything,” she wrote. “I could see the agitation visibly building in the prime minister. His mood was shifting. I remember seeing it. I remember feeling it.” Trudeau became “strident” and disputed everything Wilson-Raybould said. He claimed everyone in his office was telling the truth (implying Wilson-Raybould wasn’t) and that she had not experienced what she said she did, a line he would later use publicly by claiming Wilson-Raybould “experienced things differently.” He was gaslighting her. He wanted her to lie. The prime minister became increasingly angry during the hotel-room meeting because he wasn’t getting his way. In a third meeting that evening, she told the prime minister she would be resigning from cabinet the next day. She did and the rest is history. But what would have happened had Trudeau taken Wilson-Raybould’s advice and publicly acknowledged his errors, early enough to avoid — or at least mitigate — the catastrophic political fallout that ensued? He could have said something like: “In my zeal to find a solution to the SNC-Lavalin issue and to avoid job losses, I went too far in my discussions with the attorney general. Upon reflection and after seeking further advice, I now realize that by repeatedly urging Ms. Wilson-Raybould to reconsider her position not to overturn the decision of the director of public prosecutions, I was inappropriately interfering in a criminal prosecution. That was wrong, I apologize unreservedly and I am committed to upholding the rule of law and the independence of the prosecutions branch.” Don’t people want their politicians to admit errors when they make them? Wouldn’t that be a refreshing change from the constant duck-and-cover style of politics we’re so used to, where politicians rarely, if ever, acknowledge wrongdoing? Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Elected officials will make mistakes from time to time — it’s unavoidable. Wouldn’t it be healthier and more constructive for them to admit those errors, to demonstrate — for the public good — that they have the intellectual capacity to change their minds upon further reflection, or due to changing circumstances? Would they not be rewarded politically for doing so? We’ll never know for sure on the SNC-Lavalin file. But Trudeau’s decision to dig in, lie and gaslight Canadians, rather than admit he was wrong (his wrongdoings were later confirmed in a scathing ethics commissioner report), was the beginning of his political downfall. There were other things that contributed to that downward spiral and his inability to form a majority government again. But things may have turned out very differently for Trudeau had he taken Wilson-Raybould’s advice during those meetings in early February 2019. tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. . Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The ’s editing team reviews Tom’s columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the ’s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. . Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The ’s editing team reviews Tom’s columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the ’s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement AdvertisementThe fallout from the bipartisan spending bill earlier this month, which was heavily influenced by Elon Musk , along with his recent comments supporting foreign workers, has prompted some Republicans to criticize and question Musk's business ties to China. Why It Matters As one of Donald Trump 's top allies and largest financial backers, Musk has demonstrated his influence in the incoming administration, playing a key role in the collapse of the bipartisan spending agreement earlier this month. Musk urged Republican lawmakers to reject the bill, which some House Democrats allege was motivated by its restrictive investment provisions targeting China. Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX , has deep business ties with China and often speaks favorably of the country that shares a tense relationship with the U.S. and the Republican Party . President-elect Donald Trump has advocated for higher tariffs on Chinese goods, has often referred to the coronavirus as "China virus," and has criticized President Joe Biden for not countering China, particularly on trade policies. What To Know Musk, the world's wealthiest person, has invested in China, a country crucial to his electric car company. Tesla's Shanghai plant opened in 2019 and is the company's largest factory, accounting for half of Tesla's global car production, according to The Wall Street Journal . Newsweek has reached out to Tesla via email on Friday for confirmation and to contact Musk. In addition to production, China is also a major market for Tesla and is a key player in the global battery supply chain. Musk has met with a handful of high-ranking Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang, Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Industry Minister Jin Zhuanglong, and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. The tech giant often praises China's technological advancements, including the country's space program, infrastructure, and renewable energy. In 2019, he was offered permanent residency in the country after visiting and saying, "I love China and want to come here more often." Earlier this month, Musk came out against the bipartisan spending bill that would avert a government shutdown, with some lawmakers suggesting he was against it due to the provisions on China. The original bill would have prohibited or required notification of overseas transactions involving China in sectors like semiconductors, quantum technology and artificial intelligence. It also would have included an expanded review of Chinese real estate purchases near national security-sensitive sites and a requirement to study national security risks posed by Chinese-made consumer modems and routers. The final version of the bill removed all China-related provisions. Prior to his nomination as co-lead of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), some Republicans were wary of Musk's relationship with China, such as former Trump White House chief strategist Steven Bannon who previously said that " his paymasters " are from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Now, amid the inter-party strife over H-1B visas, more Trump supporters are raising eyebrows over Musk's business ties to China. What People Are Saying Steve Bannon told Newsweek via text message on Friday, "I've always been public about my deep reservations concerning Elon's financial ties to the CCP [Chinese Communist Party]—the Tesla joint venture underpins his entire business empire and they control it." Bannon also told Newsweek he doesn't believe that Musk didn't support the bipartisan spending bill over its China provisions. Laura Loomer said on Steve Bannon's show, War Room , on Friday morning: "I also have a problem with his [Musk's] ties to China....Why does this guy have why does this guy have unfettered access to President Trump? And what are the national security implications of this?" Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro in a December 20 press release: "Musk's investments in China and his ties with the Chinese Community Party have only grown over the last few years with Tesla's Shanghai plant producing about 50 percent of Tesla's global automobile output. It is no surprise 'President' Musk does not want to see a funding deal containing this provision be signed into law." Republicans against Trump posted on X on Thursday: "MAGA just finding out that DOGE was never about "government efficiency." Instead, it was a tool for Elon Musk to push for deregulation, shut down criminal investigations into his companies, and make it easier for him to expand his businesses in China." Republican Senator Marco Rubio posted on X on January 3, 2022 : "Right after President Biden signed Sen. Rubio's Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act into law, @Tesla opened a store in #Xinjiang. Nationless corporations are helping the Chinese Communist Party cover up genocide and slave labor in the region." What Happens Next It is unclear what U.S.-China relations will look like under the new Trump administration. While Elon Musk presents a friendly face, the nominations of prominent China hawks Marco Rubio as secretary of state and Mike Waltz as national security adviser suggest a contrasting approach.

What happens next with Alex Jones' Infowars? No certainty yet after sale to The Onion is rejected

A Louisiana law that reclassified abortion-inducing drugs as controlled substances has made it more difficult for doctors to treat a wide range of gynecological conditions, doctors say. Now, a similar proposal has been filed in Texas. Texas Rep. Pat Curry, a freshman Republican from Waco, said the intent of House Bill 1339 is to make it harder for people, especially teenagers, to order mifepristone and misoprostol online to terminate their pregnancies. Doctors in Louisiana say the measure has done little to strengthen the state’s near-total abortion ban, but has increased fear and confusion among doctors, pharmacists and patients. “There’s no sense in it,” said Dr. Nicole Freehill, an OB/GYN in New Orleans. “Even though we kept trying to tell them how often [these medications] are used for other things and how safe they are, it didn’t matter. It’s just a backdoor way of restricting abortion more.” These medications are often used to empty the uterus after a patient has a miscarriage, and are commonly prescribed ahead of inserting an intrauterine device. Misoprostol is also often the best treatment for obstetric hemorrhages, a potentially life-threatening condition in which women can bleed to death in minutes. Since the Louisiana law went into effect, hospitals have taken the medication off their obstetrics carts and put them in locked, password-protected central storage. One hospital has been running drills to practice getting the medications to patients in time, and reported, on average, a two minute delay from before the law went into effect, the Louisiana Illuminator reported. “In obstetrics and gynecology, minutes or even seconds can be the difference between life and death,” Dr. Stella Dantas, president of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, said in a statement after the Louisiana law passed. “Forcing a clinician to jump through administrative hurdles in order to access a safe, effective medicine is not medically justified and is, quite simply, dangerous.” Curry said these restrictions won’t stop doctors from prescribing these medications when necessary, but will stop the “wide misuse” of the drugs to circumvent the state’s near-total abortion ban. Curry said he consulted with the author of the Louisiana law, as well as OB/GYNs in Texas to draft the bill. He said the doctors who have criticized the legislation are raising these concerns as a “smokescreen” because they don’t want more restrictions. “I understand that. We don’t need or want all kinds of regulations,” he said. “Especially as Republicans, regulations should not be high on our list, but in this case it’s a necessary evil given the situation.” In March 2022, Mason Herring, a Houston attorney, spiked his wife’s water with misoprostol to force her to have an abortion. Catherine Herring was pregnant with the couple’s third child, a daughter who was born 10 weeks premature. She survived, but has significant developmental delays, according to the Associated Press. Mason Herring was charged with felony assault to induce abortion, and pled guilty to injury to a child and assault to a pregnant person. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years of probation. Catherine Herring’s experience led her brother, Louisiana state Rep. Thomas Pressly, to file a bill that would have made it a crime to coerce someone into having an abortion. But at the last minute, the bill was amended to also reclassify abortion-inducing drugs as controlled substances, according to the Louisiana Illuminator, leaving hospitals and doctors scrambling to comply with the new restrictions. The state health department advised storing the medication in a locked area on the crash cart, which at least some hospitals have said is not feasible. “We had to rework how we utilize misoprostol across our hospital systems,” Freehill said. “Labor and delivery, pharmacy, nursing staff, you name it, they were all involved with figuring out how to stay within the law but still use these medications that we need access to.” It’s rare for a state to decide on its own to classify a drug as a controlled substance. Most commonly, the federal government decides which medications should be “scheduled,” based on their medical usefulness and the potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs, like heroin, have no medical use and are often used recreationally; Schedule IV and V are medications that are useful but have a potential for abuse, like Xanax or Valium. There are enhanced penalties for having a controlled substance without a prescription, and increased restrictions on how doctors can dispense them. Pharmacists must report any prescriptions for controlled substances to the state Prescription Monitoring Program, and doctors are required to check the database before prescribing certain controlled substances. Law enforcement also has access to that database. Prescription monitoring has been key to combating the opioid epidemic by identifying doctors who were overprescribing and patients who were getting prescriptions from multiple providers. But with so much political attention on mifepristone and misoprostol as abortion-inducing drugs, doctors are worried about scrutiny for frequently prescribing these common medications. “We had to fix a problem that wasn’t broken,” said Freehill. “There’s no reason for it to be Schedule IV. It’s not something people abuse. It’s not something people can become addicted to. It’s extremely safe.” A group of Louisiana health care providers recently filed a lawsuit arguing the law discriminates against people who need mifepristone and misoprostol for other conditions, and challenging whether the last minute amendments to the bill were proper. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has said the new restrictions are clear and should not delay care. Those who “have attempted to sow confusion and doubt,” she said in a statement, “profit from misinformation.” When the law first went into effect, Anna Legreid Dopp, senior director of government relations for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, told CNN that the group expected other states to consider similar measures. “Almost immediately, our members raised concern that if this is being done in one state, it can easily be a template for other states to use it,” Dopp said. Curry, who recently won a special election to fill the seat long held by Republican Rep. Doc Anderson, said Pressly and Herring have offered to come testify in support of his bill this session. He anticipates it getting wide support from his fellow lawmakers. Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, conservative groups have turned their attention to restricting access to abortion-inducing medications. A group of anti-abortion doctors filed a lawsuit to revoke the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, which the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately rejected. Curry said there are reasons to keep these medications on the market beyond abortion, but they need tighter restrictions. “You can lie about your age, you can lie about your name, you can lie about your address, there's no verification whatsoever,” he said, referring to online prescribers. “And it gets shipped to a 15-year-old girl, a 13-year-old girl.” It is already a crime to mail abortion-inducing medications in Texas, and many of the online pharmacies operate in a legal gray area outside U.S jurisdiction. Others are working in states that have “shield laws” that protect doctors’ ability to prescribe and mail pills into states that have banned abortion. None of these interstate and international legal questions have been tested in court with regards to abortion. Freehill said she would encourage Texas doctors to learn from what has happened in Louisiana as they prepare to advocate against this bill this session. “There's a lot of education that needs to be done surrounding what this means and what these drugs are really used for,” she said. “I don’t know that we would have been able to sway people, even with more time, but we can at least educate on why this is completely inappropriate and really governmental overreach.” This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/25/abortion-texas-pills-controlled-substance/ . The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org .marketreport 121224

Lamar Jackson set an NFL record, Derrick Henry achieved a single-season franchise mark and the visiting Baltimore Ravens moved into first place in the AFC North with a 31-2 rout of the Houston Texans on Wednesday. Jackson rushed for 87 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, to give him 6,110 rushing yards for his career. That's one more than Michael Vick, making Jackson the all-time leader in career rushing yards by a quarterback. Henry rushed for 147 yards and a score on 27 carries, giving him 16 touchdowns for the year, the most for a single season in team history. His performance helped Baltimore (11-5) take a one-game lead on Pittsburgh with one week left in the season. The Ravens can clinch the AFC North title next week with a home win over Cleveland. Jackson completed 10 of 15 passes for 168 yards with two touchdowns and another 87 yards on the ground with the score as Baltimore earned a 432-211 advantage in total yardage. The Ravens collected five sacks and came up with a goal-line stand in the second quarter with the game still up for grabs. C.J. Stroud hit 17 of 31 attempts for 185 yards with an interception for Houston (9-7), which lost its second straight game and is now locked into the No. 4 spot for the AFC playoffs. Henry initiated the scoring at the 10:08 mark of the first quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run, capping a 75-yard drive. Baltimore made it 10-0 the next time it touched the ball as Justin Tucker drilled a 52-yard field goal with 2:47 to go in the first. The Texans got their only points with 10:09 left in the first half when Kamari Lassiter tackled Henry in the end zone for a 4-yard loss and a safety. Houston had a chance to score a touchdown on the ensuing possession but Joe Mixon was stopped at the 1 on a fourth-and-goal pass. Baltimore sailed 99 yards down the field on its next possession, with Jackson throwing a 9-yard strike to Isaiah Likely with 1:51 remaining for a 17-2 halftime lead. The Ravens made it a rout in the third quarter on Jackson's long scoring run and his 1-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews at the 5:50 mark. --Field Level MediaST. LOUIS — Robert Thomas scored twice, Jordan Kyrou had a goal and an assist, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Nashville Predators 7-4 on Friday night. Joel Hofer made 26 saves for the Blues, and defenseman Cam Fowler added a goal and two assists. Zack Bolduc, Philip Broberg and Colton Parayko also scored for St. Louis. Dylan Holloway had two assists. Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault each had a goal and an assist for Nashville. Mark Jankowski and Nick Blankenburg also scored. Predators goalie Juuse Saros was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals on 15 shots. Thomas scored the first goal of the game and got another one on a power play at 15:10 of the third period off assists from Kyrou and Fowler to make it 6-4. Parayko added an empty-netter with 1:15 remaining. Nashville Predators' Jeremy Lauzon (3) and St. Louis Blues' Tyler Tucker (75) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Scott Kane St. Louis scored on its first two shots. Thomas got an unassisted goal 1:20 into the game when he picked off a pass by Gustav Nyquist and scored with a wrist shot. Bolduc then fired in a slap shot from the right circle at 2:47. Takeaways Predators: Saros was pulled after he poked the puck directly to Broberg, who scored unassisted from the left circle at 15:29 of the second to make it 5-3. Justus Annunen replaced Saros and made 12 saves on 13 shots. Blues: Hofer improved to 5-0-1 in his last seven appearances. He is 8-3-1 this season. Key moment Fowler gave St. Louis a 4-2 lead at 18:05 of the first with a slap shot from inside the blue line for his first goal of the season. St. Louis acquired him from Anaheim in a Dec. 14 trade. St. Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou (25) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Scott Kane Key stat Thomas has 18 points in his last 12 games (six goals, 12 assists). Up next The Predators play Monday at Winnipeg. The Blues host Buffalo on Sunday.

Wall Street’s holiday cheer ended abruptly today, with all three main benchmarks closing lower in a broad-based sell-off affecting even tech and growth stocks that had driven markets higher through much of the shortened trading week. The decline ended the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s five-session winning streak that had followed a 10-session decline, its worst losing stretch since 1974. The Dow fell 333.59 points, or 0.77%, to 42,992.21. The S&P 500 lost 66.75 points, or 1.11%, to finish at 5,970.84 points, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 298.33 points, or 1.49%, to end at 19,722.03. “Today feels like there is quite a bit of profit-taking across the board,” said Michael Reynolds, vice president of investment strategy at Glenmede. “We are more than two years into a pretty strong bull market ... so it’s really not surprising to see some people taking their profits and rebalancing their portfolios ahead of the new year.” Highlighting the profit-taking theme, the 45 top performers year-to-date on the S&P 500 all finished lower today. The sell-off thwarted the seasonal Santa Claus rally, in which stocks traditionally rise during the last five sessions of December and the first two of January. Since 1969, the S&P 500 has climbed 1.3% on average, according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac. Thursday’s session hinted at momentum stalling, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posting marginal losses to end multi-session winning runs. Rising U.S. Treasury yields had been catching investors’ attention, with the benchmark 10-year note hitting a more than seven-month high in the previous session. The yield hovered close to that mark today, at 4.63%. Higher yields are seen as hampering growth stocks, as they raise borrowing costs for business expansion. These stocks, especially the so-called Magnificent Seven technology megacaps which had been key drivers of the market’s 2024 rally, were also caught up in Friday’s sell-off. For the second successive day, Tesla led decliners among the group, dropping 5%. Among the other members, Nvidia shed 2.1% while Alphabet, Amazon.com and Microsoft all slipped more than 1.5%. “We have a higher cost of capital whenever rates go up like this, and they have gone up pretty significantly over the last month or so,” said Glenmede’s Reynolds. “Investors may just be reassessing the bets they are taking when the cost of capital is higher, perhaps looking at some of the valuations on the Mag 7 and wondering whether they can find better value elsewhere.” All of the 11 major S&P sectors fell. Friday’s worst performers were the three indexes which have been 2024’s leading lights: consumer discretionary, information technology and communication services. The trio dropped between 1.1% and 1.9% on the day. Despite Friday’s declines, all three indexes recorded weekly gains. For the week, the S&P 500 advanced 0.7%, the Dow edged up 0.36% and the Nasdaq climbed 0.75%. News events helped some stocks to buck the market sell-off. Amedisys gained 4.7%, its best one-day advance since July 1, after the home health service provider and insurer UnitedHealth extended the deadline to close their $3.3 billion merger. Lamb Weston climbed 2.6% after a filing showed activist investor Jana Partners is working with a sixth executive to push for changes at the French fry maker, a move which could result in a majority of the company’s board being replaced. Trading volumes in this holiday-shortened week have been below the average of the last six months and are likely to remain subdued until Jan. 6. The next major focus for markets will be the December employment report due on Jan. 10.BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania is reeling after a little-known, far-right populist secured the first round in the presidential election, beating the incumbent prime minister. Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, will face reformist Elena Lasconi in a Dec. 8. runoff after most local surveys predicted he would win less than 10% of the vote. Georgescu, 62, was ahead after nearly all ballots were counted with around 22.95%. According to local media, Georgescu in the past has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a man who loves his country” and called Ukraine “an invented state.” He has also sparked controversy for describing Romanian fascist and nationalist leaders from the 1930s and 1940s as national heroes. Lasconi, of the progressive Save Romania Union party, or USR, followed with 19.17%. She beat by a slim margin incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party, or PSD, who stood at 19.15%. Lasconi on Monday warned that Romania is now in “a historical confrontation between preserving Romania’s young democracy ... and those who want to return Romania to the Russian sphere of influence.” She added: “Let us be very clear, Calin Georgescu is an open admirer of Vladimir Putin. He is open against NATO and the European Union ... He is for Romania’s isolation, which he calls neutrality ... And without NATO we are at the mercy of Russia.” Georgescu on Monday denied charges of being an extremist as “false, totally fake” and said he is “completely dedicated” to the Romanian people. “We remain directly linked to European values, but we must find our (own) values,” he said. “I’m not an extremist, I’m not a fascist, I’m a Romanian who loves his country.” Many observers have attributed Georgescu’s success to his TikTok account , which has 3.7 million likes and 274,000 followers. He gained huge traction and popularity in recent weeks. It is the first time in Romania’s 35-year post-communist history that the country’s most powerful party, the PSD, doesn't have a candidate in the second round of a presidential race, underscoring voters’ anti-establishment sentiment. Ciolacu's shocking defeat prompted him to submit his resignation as party leader on Monday. After polls closed on Sunday, the Central Election Bureau said 9.4 million people — about 52.5% of eligible voters — had cast ballots. Georgescu won 43.3% of the vote in Romania's large diaspora, while Lasconi got 26.8%. Romania's president serves a five-year term in the European Union and NATO member country and has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security, foreign policy and judicial appointments. According to his website, Georgescu holds a doctorate in pedology, a branch of soil science, and held positions in Romania’s environment ministry in the 1990s. Between 1999 and 2012, he was a representative for Romania on the national committee of the United Nations Environment Program. His campaign positions included supporting farmers, reducing import dependence and ramping up local energy and food production. Georgescu's rising popularity will be tested when he faces Lasconi, who may attract more moderate voters who initially choose other candidates. Lasconi, a former journalist, told The Associated Press ahead of the vote that she saw corruption as one of Romania's biggest problems and expressed support for increased defense spending and continued aid to Ukraine. If she wins the final vote, she will be the first female president in Romania's history. Romania will also hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 1 that will determine the country’s next government and prime minister. Get any of our free daily email newsletters — news headlines, opinion, e-edition, obituaries and more.

W hile sales of electric vehicles surge in China, adoption of more environmentally friendly vehicles is stumbling in the United States and Europe as carmakers and governments struggle to meet years-old promises about affordability and charging stations. Adding to those headwinds: an incoming new U.S. president who has disparaged government support for electric vehicles. China is the exception. Driven by government subsidies and mandates, vehicles with electric motors, including plug-in hybrids that combine electric and fossil fuel motors, topped 50% of sales in the month of July. Concerns about range, charging infrastructure and higher prices are sore points among both electric car enthusiasts and skeptics in Europe and the U.S. Solar panels power charging at Detlef Mueller-Salis’ home in Mainz, Germany, so he thought he was all set to go electric. But range concerns, charging times and confusing charging payment methods proved frustrating. So after four years, he and his wife sold their Porsche Taycan and Fiat 500 electrics and bought a BMW 5-Series and a Volkswagen Polo, both internal combustion. The smaller Fiat could run about 136 miles on a charge in summer and 112 in winter, he said, against the manufacturer’s specification of 198 miles. Constantly checking the battery before quick trips to visit grandchildren and elderly parents grew annoying. So did going on vacation with payment cards from five charging plans. The Porsche took 30 minutes to charge instead of the 22 minutes advertised, not a huge difference but “not what the company promised,” said Mueller-Salis, who is retired from a logistics company. Driving fast on the autobahn reduced range so that “you paid for it with charging time.” Both retirees in their 70s, Ken and Roxanne Honeycutt mainly drive their used Kia Soul around their town near Oakland, California. They charge the EV, with a range of about 111 miles, in their garage and don’t rely much on public infrastructure. But for longer trips they have to plan fast-charging stops ahead of time. “We wanted to try it,” Roxanne said of the EV. “Sometimes we found that the charging stations don’t always work, they’re broken down, so that gives you a little bit of anxiety if you know, OK, I need to charge.” On one cold, rainy January day, the Soul’s range dropped faster than expected, so they had to stop twice to charge. Another time, they hit multiple nonfunctioning chargers — even in California, where EV adoption leads the rest of the country. Their range dropped to 13 miles. “We’re used to having a gas station on every corner, 24 hours a day,” Roxanne said, adding they still like the vehicle. Electric cars aren’t going away. They are essential for planet-warming carbon emissions reductions governments agreed to under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Electrified vehicle sales will reach 17 million this year, or one car in five sold globally, according to the International Energy Agency. That includes plug-in hybrids that combine electric with internal combustion motors. But about 60% of those sales are in China. In Europe, sales of electric-only cars fell 5.8% in January-September from a year earlier, while their market share fell to 13% from 14%. Pure EVs accounted for 8% of overall U.S. vehicle sales in October. So, the market is growing, but sales slowed. They’re not plunging, but they’re not yet growing fast enough to meet climate goals. Higher prices matter. A Volkswagen ID. 3 hatchback costs about $42,090, compared to the similar-sized Volkswagen Golf fuel engine version at $29,136, according to the ADAC auto association. U.S. EV prices have fallen significantly since 2022, but the average price in October for a new one, $56,902, still exceeded the average $48,623 for a new vehicle. Cost remains an issue for the more mainstream American consumers EV makers hope to target, according to a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Uncertainty over purchase subsidies also complicates price comparisons. EV sales plunged in Germany early this year after the government abruptly canceled the purchase premium of roughly $7,100 for cars up to $42,000 and about $4,700 for cars up to about $68,000. ADAC says that means most internal combustion models are a better deal over a car’s lifetime. Conservative political parties and the industry are now questioning the EU’s goal of eliminating most fuel engine vehicles by 2035, a decision that’s up for review in 2026. The European Auto Manufacturers’ Association is urging that carbon dioxide limits, which carmakers must meet by 2026 or face heavy fines, be relaxed. Some carmakers have pushed back electrification plans. Republican President-elect Donald Trump vowed to end what he called the Democratic Biden administration’s EV “mandate,” though he softened his anti-EV stance as his ties with Tesla CEO Elon Musk grew closer. Automakers are not required to sell EVs under the Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas emissions standards regulating tailpipe pollution, though they need EVs to make up at least 56% of their total sales to meet the ambitious standards for cutting emissions. Trump may also eliminate critical EV tax credits. Even if fewer buyers choose EVs, tax credits or not, auto companies show no intention of fully retreating from the transition away from gas-burning cars and trucks. China’s auto market, the world’s largest, was transformed by billions of dollars in subsidies, with EV sales reaching 25.8% of the 13.5 million vehicles sold in January-August, according to the China Passenger Car Association. The government is encouraging car buyers to go electric, and many are buying EVs or plug-in hybrids under an economic stimulus program. The phasing out of earlier subsidies in 2022 unleashed a fierce price war, toppling some weaker automakers. Some Chinese EVs sell for less than $20,000 in their home market. The government push encouraged many start-ups that took the Tesla model and ran with it. They simplified car designs to cut costs and filled interiors with gadgetry appealing to a smartphone-savvy generation. Photographer Wu Cong sat inside his $23,000 Hongqi E-QM5 as it recharged in Beijing. He travels often for work, racking up 50,000 miles in the past two years. The EV saves him about $7 in fuel costs for every 62 miles, he said, which would add up to $5,600 over two years. The sedan’s navigation system reminds him to recharge after driving a distance of his choosing. “It will tell you if there are charging stations ahead and if anyone is using them,” he said. Beijing tech worker Shang Wenting said her family hardly uses its gasoline-powered car anymore except for on long trips, preferring a sapphire Tesla Model Y that cost about $37,000. During a weekly trip to a charging station 10 minutes from her home, Shang said the Tesla is cheaper to drive and she loves its “smart features,” like an energy recovery system that means she can press on the accelerator less. “It feels like switching from an old phone to a smartphone,” she said. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Former New Orleans priest convicted of raping teen boy dies while serving life sentenceSHAREHOLDER ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Reminds Shareholders with Losses on their Investment in Sun Communities Inc. of Class Action Lawsuit and Upcoming Deadlines - SUI

The Christian's Approach To Morality And The 2024 Election - Drew Alan HallMother orca and children make 'grocery shopping' trip near downtown Vancouver

Fantasy Football Week 17 DFS lineups: Another dominant performance appears to be in the cards for Bucky IrvingWASHINGTON — FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought,” roughly three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations, including two that led to separate indictments of Trump last year. Wray’s intended resignation was not unexpected considering that Trump had settled on Patel to be director and had repeatedly aired his ire at Wray, including in a television interview broadcast Sunday. But his departure is nonetheless a reflection of how Trump’s norm-breaking style has reshaped Washington, with the president-elect yet again flouting tradition by moving to replace an FBI director before his term was up and Wray — by resigning before he could be fired — opting to avert a collision with the incoming Trump administration that he said would have plunged the FBI into political fighting. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The resignation would clear the way for Patel’s ascension, assuming he is confirmed by the Senate. A White House staffer during Trump’s first term, Patel has insisted that the federal government should be rid of “conspirators” against Trump. The comments have stirred alarm that he could seek to use the FBI for retribution against perceived enemies despite longstanding guardrails meant to ensure investigations have a proper basis. It’s extremely rare for FBI directors to be ousted from their jobs before the completion of their 10-year terms, a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations. But Trump has done it twice, placing Wray in the job in 2017 after firing Director James Comey amid an investigation into ties between Russia and the Republican president’s campaign. Despite having appointed Wray, Trump had telegraphed his anger with the FBI director on multiple occasions. Trump said in the recent interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “I can’t say I’m thrilled with him. He invaded my home,” a reference to the FBI search of his Florida property , Mar-a-Lago, two years ago for classified documents from Trump’s first term as president. That search, and the recovery of boxes of sensitive government records, paved the way for one of two federal indictments against Trump. The case, and another one charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election, have both been dismissed. Trump applauded the resignation news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice.” and complaining anew about the Mar-a-Lago search. Attorney General Merrick Garland, meanwhile, praised Wray for having “served our country honorably and with integrity for decades.” He said: “Under Director Wray’s principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law.” Natalie Bara, the president of the FBI Agents Association. said in a statement Wray had led the FBI “through challenging times with a steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe. ” Story continues below video Throughout his seven years on the job, Wray brought a workmanlike approach to the job, repeatedly preaching a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra to bureau personnel despite a steady drumbeat of attacks from Trump and his supporters. In fact, Wray was quick to distance himself and his leadership team from the FBI’s Russia investigation that was well underway when he took office. On the same day of a harshly critical inspector general report on that inquiry, Wray announced more than 40 corrective actions to the FBI’s process for applying for warrants for secret national security surveillance. He said mistakes made during the Russia inquiry were unacceptable and he helped tighten controls for investigations into candidates for federal office. FBI officials actively trumpeted those changes to make clear that Wray’s leadership had ushered in a different era at the bureau. Even then, though, Wray’s criticism of the investigation was occasionally measured — he did not agree, for instance, with Trump’s characterization of it as a “witch hunt” — and there were other instances, particularly in response to specific questions, when he memorably broke with the White House. In 2020, he said that there was “no indication” that Ukraine had interfered in the 2016 election, countering a frequent talking point at the time from Trump. When the Trump White House blessed the declassification of materials related to the surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide, Wray made known his displeasure. Wray also angered Trump for saying that antifa was a movement and an ideology but not an organization. Trump had said he would like to designate the group as a terrorist organization. Then came the FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search, which officials defended as necessary given the boxes of documents that were being concealed at the Palm Beach property and the evidence of obstruction that the Justice Department said had been gathered. Trump railed against the FBI over that action and has kept up his criticism ever since, including after Wray said at a congressional hearing last summer that there was “some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel” that struck Trump’s ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. The FBI later stated unequivocally that it was indeed a bullet. Before being named FBI director, Wray worked at a prestigious law firm, King & Spalding, where he represented former Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., during the “Bridgegate” affair. He also led the Justice Department’s criminal division for a period during President George W. Bush’s administration.

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Controversial streamer Nick Fuentes has reportedly been arrested from Brewin, Illinois on Friday in a case of assault on a woman named Marla Rose, last month. Fuentes has reportedly been charged with battery after allegedly macing an activist who confronted Fuentes for a misogynist comment the 26-year-old made after Donald Trump won the election. According to the New York Daily News, Brewyn Police Department booked Fuentes on November 27, and is expected to make his first appearance in court on December 19. What Did Nick Fuentes Do? According to reports, after Nick Fuentes made a controversial comment about abortion rights activists on the social media platform X, it sparked widespread outrage. Mocking the popular feminist slogan. "My Body, My Choice," Fuentes wrote: "Your Body, my choice. Forever" After this, Fuentes' address was shared on social media amid the backlash. A Chicago coman, named Marla Rose, went to Fuentes' home and confronted the 26-year-old. Fuentes then allegedly maced the woman. He sprayed something on her and seized and stomped her phone. Nick Fuents' Police Report Viral A police report, filed by Detective Phillip Quattrocchi of the Berwyn Police Department, documents the arrest of Nicho Fuentes on November 27, 2024. Fuentes was charged with one count of Class A misdemeanor battery under Illinois law (720 ILCS 5/12-3(a)(2)), stemming from a complaint filed by Marla Rose, the activist Fuentes assaulted. At 7:03 p.m., Fuentes was in the lobby of the police department and was escorted to a private area for processing. He underwent a search for weapons, fingerprinting for identification and received a citation. He signed a notice to appear in court on December 19, 2024, at the Maybrook Courthouse. The arrest process concluded around 7:20 p.m.. Detective Quattrocchi contacted Marla Rose at 7:50 p.m. to inform her of the charges and provide court details. The case was marked closed following these actions. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.LibDems to vote down Budget if it contains 'even a penny' of independence spendingoffline roulette game 。

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Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office

UPDATES: 3 Magic Valley football teams battle in state championshipsMUNICH, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The solar technology company Sono Group N.V. SEVCF (hereafter referred to as "Sono" or the "Company", parent company to Sono Motors GmbH or "Sono Motors") today announced its financial results for the first six months of 2024, highlighting a €60.6 million profit and its recovery following its exit from insolvency earlier this year. Key financial highlights €60.6 million profit: The profit primarily stemmed from the extinguishment of liabilities, parental guarantee reversal and recapitalization and reconsolidation of Sono Motors. Operational efficiency: General and administrative expenses decreased significantly from €8.1 million in H1 2023 to €2.9 million in H1 2024, reflecting leaner operations post-restructuring. Substantial reduction in development expenses: Cost of development expenses decreased by over 96% from €16.0 million in H1 2023 to €0.6 million in H1 2024, reflecting the streamlined focus on retrofitting solar technology onto third party vehicles and the discontinuation of the Sion passenger car program. Strengthened cash position: The Company maintained a cash balance of €2.2 million as of June 30, 2024, which was further enhanced by receipt of the second tranche of funding from YA II PN, Ltd. ("Yorkville") in September 2024 in the amount of €3.0 million. This funding reinforced the Company's financial stability and supported its operational growth. Six-Month 2024 Milestone Achievements Exiting insolvency: The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Sono Motors, successfully exited its self-administration proceedings in February 2024, marking what the Company believes is a crucial step towards the financial and operational stability of Sono. Additional funding: In H1 2024 Sono received funding commitments of up to €9 million, of which €4 million were received in February 2024 and €3 million in September 2024. Subject to compliance with the terms of the investment, the Company expects the commitments to position it to obtain sufficient funding for its business strategy and operations through June 2025. Commencement of OTCQB trading: On July 2, 2024, the Company's ordinary shares began trading on OTCQB under the symbol "SEVCF," enhancing access for investors and reinforcing shareholder transparency. Recent Updates Green Innovation Award: Sono received the prestigious Green Innovation Award at the Intermobility and Bus Expo (IBE) in Rimini, Italy. The Company believes this accolade highlights the innovative and transformative nature of Sono's solar technology and reinforces its strong position in sustainable mobility solutions. Partnership with Hofmeister & Meincke: Sono is leveraging Hofmeister & Meincke's strong market presence in Germany and globally to distribute its Solar Bus Kit, Solar Kits for trucks and vans and other solar products to potential customers. A recently completed training program for 80 Hofmeister & Meincke's sales representatives ensures they are equipped to effectively promote Sono's innovative solutions, expanding the reach of sustainable mobility technologies. Expanded product portfolio: Sono expanded its portfolio with new options for its solar bus kit, new solar kits for trucks, vans and trailers, as well as high-voltage solar solutions for refrigerated vehicles. These innovative solutions are designed to help fleet operators reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions and cut operational costs, showcasing Sono's commitment to sustainable and versatile solar applications across various vehicle types. Progress Toward Planned Nasdaq Uplisting: On November 7, 2024, at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, key measures to advance Sono's planned uplisting to the Nasdaq Capital Market were approved. These included appointing Owen May to the Supervisory Board, approving amendments to the Articles of Association to meet Nasdaq requirements, and authorizing preferred shares intended to enable potential future conversion of debt into equity. Debt-to-Equity Conversion Term Sheet Signed: Sono has entered into a non-binding term sheet with Yorkville to convert approximately $32 million in outstanding debt into equity through the issuance of preferred shares. This initiative, pending the signing of definitive agreements, strengthens Sono's balance sheet, reduces default risk, and marks significant progress towards the Company's planned Nasdaq uplisting. Looking Ahead Managing Director, CEO and CFO George O'Leary said, "We believe our results demonstrate the resilience of our business model and the effectiveness of our strategic pivot to solar retrofit solutions. We see the €60.6 million profit and successful exit from insolvency mark as a key turning point for Sono, setting the stage for sustainable growth." The Company remains committed to advancing its solar integration technology, providing scalable solutions for the transportation sector and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. For more information about Sono Group N.V., Sono Motors GmbH and their solar solutions, visit sonogroupnv.com and sonomotors.com . ABOUT SONO GROUP N.V. Sono Group N.V. SEVCF and its wholly-owned subsidiary Sono Motors GmbH are on a pioneering mission to accelerate the revolution of mobility by making every commercial vehicle solar. Our disruptive solar technology has been developed to enable seamless integration into all types of commercial vehicles to reduce the impact of CO2 emissions and pave the way for climate-friendly mobility. CONTACT: Press: press@sonomotors.com | ir.sonomotors.com/news-events Investors: ir@sonomotors.com | ir.sonomotors.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sonogroupnv FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release may contain forward-looking statements. The words "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "aim", "forecast", "project", "target", "will" and similar expressions (or their negative) identify certain of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are statements regarding the intentions, beliefs, or current expectations of the Company and Sono Motors (together, the "companies"). Forward-looking statements involve inherent known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and could cause the companies' actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, risks, uncertainties and assumptions with respect to: our ability to access the unfunded portion of the investment from YA II PN, Ltd. ("Yorkville"), including our ability to successfully comply with the agreements related thereto and the absence of any termination event or any event of default; our ability to maintain relationships with creditors, suppliers, service providers, customers, employees and other third parties in light of the performance and credit risks associated with our constrained liquidity position and capital structure; our status as a foreign private issuer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; our ability to comply with OTCQB continuing standards, as well as our ability to have our shares admitted to trading on a national stock exchange, including the Nasdaq Capital Market, in the future; our ability to enter into a definitive agreement with Yorkville with respect to the conversion of outstanding debt into equity through the issuance of preferred shares; our ability to achieve our stated goals; our strategies, plan, objectives and goals, including, among others, the successful implementation and management of the pivot of our business to exclusively retrofitting and integrating our solar technology onto third party vehicles; our ability to raise the additional funding required beyond the investment from Yorkville to further develop and commercialize our solar technology and business as well as to continue as a going concern. For additional information concerning some of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect our forward-looking statements, please refer to our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including our Annual Report on Form 20-F, which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on our website at ir.sonomotors.com. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond our ability to control or estimate precisely, such as the actions of courts, regulatory authorities and other factors. Readers should therefore not place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. FINANCIAL RESULTS (amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) INCOME STATEMENT Six months ended €k June 30, 2024 (unaudited) June 30, 2023 (unaudited) Revenue - 42 Cost of goods sold - (70) Gross income(loss) - (28 ) Cost of development expenses (557) (16,029) Selling and distribution costs (242) (1,054) General and administrative expenses (2,874) (8,090) Other operating income/(expenses) 70 (9,065) Gain/(loss) on deconsolidation/reconsolidation 63,491 (2,877) Operating income/(loss) 59,888 (37,143 ) Interest and similar income 5,688 5,172 Interest and similar expense (4,936) (2,705) INCOME/(LOSS) BEFORE TAX 60,640 (34,676 ) Tax on income and earnings - - Income/(loss) after tax 60,640 (34,676 ) Income (loss) for the period 60,640 (34,676 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) - - TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD 60,640 (34,676 ) Earnings per shares for income(loss) attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the company: BASIC/DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE IN EUR 0.56 (0.33 ) BALANCE SHEET €k June 30, 2024 Unaudited Dec. 31, 2023 Audited ASSETS Property, plant, and equipment 76 - Right-of-use assets 1,023 - Other financial assets 50 1,037 Noncurrent assets 1,149 1,037 Work in progress 6 - Other financial assets 8 156 Other non-financial assets 487 266 Cash and cash equivalents 2,191 7,412 Current assets 2,692 7,834 TOTAL ASSETS 3,841 8,871 EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Subscribed capital 10,843 10,840 Capital reserve 287,903 287,926 Accumulated deficit (323,698) (384,338) Equity (24,952 ) (85,572 ) Financial liabilities 938 987 Noncurrent liabilities 938 987 Financial liabilities 26,578 38,102 Trade and other payables 713 1,491 Other liabilities 564 3 Provisions - 1,628 Parental guarantee 52,232 Current liabilities 27,855 93,456 TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 3,841 8,871 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

A US federal appeals court on Friday upheld a law requiring Chinese-based ByteDance to divest its popular short video app TikTok in the United States by early next year or face a ban. The decision is a win for the Justice Department and opponents of the Chinese-owned app and a devastating blow to ByteDance. The ruling now increases the possibility of an unprecedented ban in just six weeks on a social media app used by 170 million Americans. The ruling is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court. Free speech advocates immediately criticized the decision. The American Civil Liberties Union said it sets a "flawed and dangerous precedent." "Banning TikTok blatantly violates the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans who use this app to express themselves and communicate with people around the world," said Patrick Toomey, deputy director of the ACLU's National Security Project. But the appeals court said the law "was the culmination of extensive, bipartisan action by the Congress and by successive presidents. It was carefully crafted to deal only with control by a foreign adversary, and it was part of a broader effort to counter a well-substantiated national security threat posed by the PRC (People's Republic of China)." US appeals court Judges Sri Srinivasan, Neomi Rao and Douglas Ginsburg considered the legal challenges brought by TikTok and users against the law that gives ByteDance until Jan. 19 to sell or divest TikTok's US assets or face a ban. The decision -- unless the Supreme Court reverses it -- puts TikTok's fate in the hands of first President Joe Biden on whether to grant a 90-day extension of the Jan. 19 deadline to force a sale and then President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20. But it's not clear whether ByteDance could meet the heavy burden to show it had made significant progress toward a divestiture needed to trigger the extension. Trump, who unsuccessfully tried to ban TikTok during his first term in 2020, said before the November presidential election he would not allow the TikTok ban. TikTok said it expected the Supreme Court would reverse the appeals court decision on First Amendment grounds. "The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans' right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," TikTok said in a statement, adding the law will result "in outright censorship of the American people." The Justice Department did not have an immediate comment on the decision. The decision upholds the law giving the U.S. government sweeping powers to ban other foreign-owned apps that could raise concerns about collection of Americans' data. In 2020, Trump also tried to ban Tencent-owned WeChat, but was blocked by the courts. Shares of Meta Platforms, which competes against TikTok in online ads, hit an intraday record high following the ruling, last up over 3%. Google parent Alphabet, whose YouTube video platform also competes with TikTok, was up over 1% following the ruling. TIKTOK BAN LOOMS The court acknowledged its decision would lead to TikTok's ban on Jan. 19 without an extension from Biden. "Consequently, TikTok's millions of users will need to find alternative media of communication," the court said, which was because of China's "hybrid commercial threat to U.S. national security, not to the U.S. Government, which engaged with TikTok through a multi-year process in an effort to find an alternative solution." The opinion was written by Ginsburg, an appointee of President Ronald Reagan, and joined by Rao, who was named to the bench by Trump, and Srinivasan, an appointee of President Barack Obama. The Justice Department says under Chinese ownership, TikTok poses a serious national security threat because of its access to vast personal data of Americans, asserting China can covertly manipulate information that Americans consume via TikTok. U.S. officials have also warned TikTok's management is beholden to the Chinese government, which could compel the company to share the data of its American users. TikTok has denied it has or ever would share U.S. user data, accusing American lawmakers in the lawsuit of advancing "speculative" concerns. TikTok and ByteDance argue the law is unconstitutional and violates Americans' free speech rights. They call it "a radical departure from this country's tradition of championing an open Internet." ByteDance, backed by Sequoia Capital, Susquehanna International Group, KKR & Co, and General Atlantic, among others, was valued at $268 billion in December 2023 when it offered to buy back around $5 billion worth of shares from investors, Reuters reported then. The law prohibits app stores like Apple and Alphabet's Google from offering TikTok and bars internet hosting services from supporting TikTok unless ByteDance divests TikTok by the deadline. Apple and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In a concurring opinion, Srinivasan acknowledged the decision will have major impacts, noting "170 million Americans use TikTok to create and view all sorts of free expression and engage with one another and the world. And yet, in part precisely because of the platform's expansive reach, Congress and multiple Presidents determined that divesting it from (China's) control is essential to protect our national security." He added that "Because the record reflects that Congress's decision was considered, consistent with longstanding regulatory practice, and devoid of an institutional aim to suppress particular messages or ideas, we are not in a position to set it aside." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the worldROANOKE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 27, 2024-- Luna Innovations Incorporated (Nasdaq: LUNA) (the “Company”), a global leader in advanced fiber optic-based technology, today announced that, Pamela Coe, a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”), will be retiring from the Luna board effective today. Ms. Coe was elected to the Board in May 2021 for a three-year term. “We are very grateful for Pam's notable contributions and leadership throughout her time on the Board,” said Barry Phelps, Chairman of the Board of the Company. “Her expertise, focus and commitment have been instrumental in guiding Luna. We wish Pam all the best in her future endeavors.” About Luna Luna Innovations Incorporated ( www.lunainc.com ) is a leader in optical technology, providing unique capabilities in high-performance, fiber optic-based, test products for the telecommunications industry and distributed fiber optic-based sensing for a multitude of industries. Luna’s business model is designed to accelerate the process of bringing new and innovative technologies to market. Forward-Looking Statement The statements in this release that are not historical facts constitute “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include expectations regarding the Company’s continuing operations, results from operations and strategic alternatives. Management cautions the reader that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to a number of both known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and actual results, performance, and/or achievements of the Company may differ materially from the future results, performance, and/or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. These factors include, without limitation, risks set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, as well as in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Such filings are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on Luna’s website at www.lunainc.com . The statements made in this release are based on information available to Luna as of the date of this release and Luna undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241227000518/en/ CONTACT: Investor Contact: Allison Woody Luna Innovations Incorporated Phone: 540.769.8465 Email:woodya@lunainc.com KEYWORD: VIRGINIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY NANOTECHNOLOGY OTHER TECHNOLOGY TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE OTHER DEFENSE SOURCE: Luna Innovations Incorporated Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/27/2024 04:40 PM/DISC: 12/27/2024 04:40 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241227000518/enNEW YORK — He’s one of the most famous corporate leaders in the world, delivering products embraced by billions. But it’s the haters that companies like Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta worry about. In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million on guards, alarms and other measures to keep Zuckerberg and the company’s former chief operating officer safe. Some high-profile CEOs surround themselves with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while he walked alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take in protecting their leaders against threats. Thompson had no personal security and appeared unaware of the shooter lurking before he was gunned down. And today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say. “We are better today at collecting signals. I’m not sure we’re any better at making sense of the signals we collect,” says Fred Burton of Ontic, a provider of threat management software for companies. After Thompson’s shooting, Burton said, “I’ve been on the phone all day with some organizations asking for consultation, saying, ’Am I doing enough?” Since the killing, some health insurers have taken steps to safeguard their executives and rank-and-file workers. Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm, said Friday it is temporarily closing its six offices for security reasons and will have its employees work from home. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution,” the company said in a statement. A Medica spokesman said the company had also removed biographical information about its executives from its website as a precaution. UnitedHealth Group, parent of the insurer Thompson led, removed photos of its top executives from its website hours after the shooting, later removing their names and biographies. But well before the attack, some of the biggest U.S. companies, particularly those in the tech sector, were spending heavily on personal and residential security for their top executives. Meta, whose businesses include Facebook and Instagram, reported the highest spending on personal security for top executives last year, filings culled by research firm Equilar show. Zuckerberg “is synonymous with Meta and, as a result, negative sentiment regarding our company is directly associated with, and often transferred to, Mr. Zuckerberg,” the Menlo Park, California, company explained earlier this year in an annual shareholder disclosure. At Apple, the world’s largest tech company by stock valuation, CEO Tim Cook was tormented by a stalker who sent him sexually provocative emails and even showed up outside his Silicon Valley home at one point before the company’s security team successfully took legal action against her in 2022. Cook is regularly accompanied by security personnel when he appears in public. Still, the company’s $820,000 allotted last year to protect top executives is a fraction of what other tech giants spent for CEO security. Just over a quarter of the companies in the Fortune 500 reported spending money to protect their CEOs and other top executives. Of those that did, the median payment for personal security doubled over the last three years to about $98,000. In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare’s Thompson was walking to when he was shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized. “It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area. Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering. Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. — citing Thompson’s death — announced Thursday that its upcoming Investor Day will be held online, rather than in-person as originally planned. “But there are also company cultures that really frown on that and want their leaders to be accessible to people, accessible to shareholders, employees,” Komendat said. Depending on the company, such an approach may make sense. Many top executives are little known to the public, operating in industries and locations that make them far less prone to public exposure and to threats. “Determining the need for and appropriate level of an executive-level protection program is specific to each organization,” says David Johnston, vice president of asset protection and retail operations at the National Retail Federation. “These safeguards should also include the constant monitoring of potential threats and the ability to adapt to maintain the appropriate level of security and safety.” Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks. “There are always threats directed towards senior leaders at companies. Many of them are not credible,” Komendat said. “The question always is trying to determine what is a real threat versus what is someone just venting with no intent to take any additional action.” Burton, a former special agent with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, points out that despite the current climate, there is little in the way of organized groups that target companies. Today, one of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to zero in on such dialogue and decide whether or not it represents a real threat. And CEOs aren’t the only targets of disgruntled customers. In the U.S., there were 525 workplace fatalities due to assault in 2022, according to the National Safety Council. Industries including healthcare, education and service providers are more prone to violence than others, and taxi drivers are more than 20 times more likely to be murdered on the job than other workers, the group said. But the ambush of UnitedHealthcare’s Thompson this week is bound to get some CEOs second-guessing. “What invariably happen at moments like this in time is you will get additional ears listening” to security professionals seeking money to beef up executive protection, Burton says. “Because I can guarantee you there’s not a CEO in America who’s not aware of this incident.”

NoneThe Sun Devils are in good shape if they win out, with one possible exception. Share this: Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Report an error Policies and Standards Contact Us Most Popular Dear Abby: I tell them I won’t go out after 5 p.m., and still they pressure me Dear Abby: I tell them I won't go out after 5 p.m., and still they pressure me Dear Abby: She won’t marry me because of my young hiking buddy Dear Abby: She won't marry me because of my young hiking buddy Asking Eric: After the latest drama, should I just be done with my sister? Asking Eric: After the latest drama, should I just be done with my sister? Miss Manners: The old-timers insist on their strange pronunciations for streets Miss Manners: The old-timers insist on their strange pronunciations for streets Asking Eric: I saw what my teen calls me in his phone contacts Asking Eric: I saw what my teen calls me in his phone contacts Miss Manners: I don’t know what the waiter saw, but I was embarrassed Miss Manners: I don't know what the waiter saw, but I was embarrassed San Jose State volleyball faces Mountain West tourney uncertainty after loss to Fresno State San Jose State volleyball faces Mountain West tourney uncertainty after loss to Fresno State Harriette Cole: Nobody understands why I won’t learn to drive Harriette Cole: Nobody understands why I won't learn to drive Map: Tracking the storm in the Bay Area Map: Tracking the storm in the Bay Area Dear Abby: I don’t want to spend my wedding budget on shirttail in-laws Dear Abby: I don't want to spend my wedding budget on shirttail in-laws Trending Nationally Elon Musk slams Massachusetts sanctuary cities as Natick looks to join that growing group Advance Auto Parts closing all California stores School bus driver accused of abandoning 40 elementary students miles from home San Diego toddler’s backyard snake bite bills totaled more than a quarter-million dollars Alec Baldwin wasn’t invited to ‘Rust’ premiere, incites anger of slain cinematographer’s familySailGP is considered the a world wide competition founded by Larry Ellison – an American tech billionaire – and champion yachtsman Russell Coutts in 2019. The best sailors in the world race the fastest boats in and above the water using hydrofoil technology which allows the boat to achieve speeds over 50 knots (equivalent to ). They race in the F50 catamarans which are exactly the same design to test the sailors’ skills in different venues across the globe. Most Read on Euro Weekly News Dubai’s Port Mina Rashid came alive as the Rolex SailGP’s fleet, featuring 11 national teams, started with the . Racing continues Sunday with the event winner takes all final. On Day 1, the America’s Cup winning crew, the Black Foils, were trailing the strong Aussie team leading after day 1 with new wing trimmer onboard. The USA impressed winning the first race and finishing equal second on 14 points. Switzerland, bolstered by Alinghi Red Bull Racing imports, won Race 2 but struggled with consistency, sharing second place in a four-way tie with Germany, Australia, and the USA.( ) is one of the most talked about artificial intelligence (AI) stocks in recent memory. Rising 1,124% in just a few short years and eclipsing as the world’s biggest company by market cap, it has done big things. With all that being said, it’s beginning to look like NVIDIA’s winning ways are coming to end — or at least slowing down. Last week, the company put out an earnings release that easily beat expectations yet was followed by NVDA shares tanking in the markets. Additionally, the company’s billionaire backers, including its own chief executive officer (CEO), have been selling at a furious pace. Today, NVIDIA trades at 60 times earnings and 30 times sales. Stocks this pricey don’t usually stay that way for long. Fortunately, there are other ways to get in your portfolio. In this article, I will explore three stocks that I like more than NVDA at today’s prices. Taiwan Semiconductor ( ) is a Taiwanese computer chip company that is best known as NVIDIA’s contract manufacturer. All this explosive revenue growth that you see NVIDIA doing results in sales for TSM as well as NVIDIA. This fact shows up in TSMC’s financials. For example, over the last 12 months, the company’s revenue, earnings, and free cash flow have grown at the following rates: No, these are not even close to NVIDIA’s blistering fast growth rates in the TTM period. However, TSMC’s business is much more diversified than NVIDIA’s. It does business with on-device AI companies like Apple, traditional tech companies, car companies, and so much more. So, if there is a downturn in NVIDIA’s data centre business, TSMC can still thrive. That, combined with its much lower multiples, makes TSMC a better buy than NVIDIA today, in this author’s opinion. Constellation Software ( ) is a Canadian software company best known for its excellent long-term compounding track record. It invests in relatively small companies at the early stages of their development, with the aim of eventually integrating them with its existing operations. In this respect, it operates somewhat like a venture capital firm, only one that holds long-term instead of seeking “exits.” Constellation Software’s AI exposure is not quite as strong as that with NVIDIA or TSMC, but it’s definitely there. For example, the company’s marketing consulting software has generative AI features that allow customers to create and deploy content swiftly. With its innumerable subsidiaries, Constellation has more AI under the hood than just that — it just happens to be one good example. Brookfield ( ) is a Canadian financial services company that you might be surprised to see on this list. Best known for its investments in infrastructure, renewables and , it’s not something that looks very AI-related. But looks can be deceiving. Brookfield actually does have considerable investments in AI, mainly through its partially owned subsidiary, . Brookfield Infrastructure Partners invests in AI data centres, which are of vital importance in actually serving AI to end users. These investments make Brookfield a real player in generative AI, even if it isn’t writing the code or designing the chips itself.

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Inventus Mining Corp. ( CVE:IVS – Get Free Report ) shares fell 21.1% during mid-day trading on Saturday . The company traded as low as C$0.08 and last traded at C$0.08. 118,000 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 26% from the average session volume of 93,681 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.10. Inventus Mining Stock Down 21.1 % The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 0.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 41.50. The company has a market capitalization of C$12.60 million, a PE ratio of -7.00 and a beta of 0.83. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is C$0.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$0.05. Insider Activity In other news, Director Glen Alexander Milne bought 577,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 19th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$0.06 per share, with a total value of C$31,735.00. Insiders bought a total of 1,952,000 shares of company stock valued at $99,235 in the last three months. 31.70% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Inventus Mining Company Profile Inventus Mining Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. The company explores for gold and base metals. It holds 100% interests in the Pardo Paleoplacer gold project covering an area of 3.8 square kilometers block of mineral leases and 180 square kilometers of mineral claims; and Sudbury 2.0 project totaling an area of 240 square kilometers of mineral claims located in Sudbury Mining Division, Ontario. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Inventus Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Inventus Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .fruit roulette poppo 。

NoneAzincourt Energy Corp. ( CVE:AAZ – Get Free Report )’s stock price was up 50% during mid-day trading on Saturday . The company traded as high as C$0.02 and last traded at C$0.02. Approximately 253,181 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 2% from the average daily volume of 259,671 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.01. Azincourt Energy Trading Up 50.0 % The company has a 50-day moving average price of C$0.01 and a 200 day moving average price of C$0.02. The stock has a market capitalization of C$4.48 million, a P/E ratio of -1.50 and a beta of 2.78. Azincourt Energy Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Azincourt Energy Corp., an exploration and development company, focuses on the alternative fuels/alternative energy sector in Canada and Peru. It explores for uranium and lithium deposits, as well as other clean energy elements. The company owns interest in the East Preston project covering an area of approximately 25,000 hectares located in Saskatchewan, Canada; and the Big Hill Lithium project covering approximately an area of 7,500 hectares located in southwestern Newfoundland, Canada. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Azincourt Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Azincourt Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Saturday, November 23, 2024 Telangana’s Forest Minister, Konda Surekha, has urged officials to adopt a scientific and sustainable approach to eco-tourism development. In a recent review meeting with the Forest Department and allied agencies, she emphasized the importance of balancing tourism growth with forest conservation efforts. Plans are underway to enhance eco-tourism at prime locations, including: The Telangana Forest Development Corporation (TGFDC) is leading efforts to transform these areas into eco-tourism hubs, providing unique nature-based experiences while maintaining ecological balance. TGFDC has outlined several infrastructure enhancements, including: Additionally, the department has identified 18 potential eco-tourism circuits for phased development across the state. All projects will prioritize eco-friendly infrastructure, such as sustainable lodging, renewable energy systems, and green transportation, ensuring strict adherence to wildlife and forest protection laws. Minister Konda Surekha highlighted the importance of involving local communities in eco-tourism projects. “Empowering local communities is key to fostering responsibility towards forest preservation and biodiversity conservation,” she stated. This approach aims to ensure that local populations benefit economically and socially while contributing to conservation efforts. The Amrabad and Kawal tiger reserves were identified as flagship eco-tourism destinations. Activities such as safaris, trekking, and community-based conservation initiatives will position these reserves as major attractions for eco-conscious travelers. The minister called for public awareness campaigns to educate tourists and locals about the importance of forest preservation. By promoting responsible tourism, the state seeks to safeguard its rich biodiversity while fostering a thriving eco-tourism sector. With these initiatives, Telangana aims to establish itself as a premier destination for eco-tourism, attracting travelers who value sustainability and environmental conservation. This comprehensive plan reflects the state’s commitment to developing tourism that supports both nature and communities.

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SIMI VALLEY, California: The United States unveiled a $988 million aid package of new arms and equipment to Ukraine for its ongoing fight against Russia's invasion on Saturday. The package nearly halves the available $2.21 billion remaining in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative as the Biden administration works to commit to buying weapons from industry, rather than pulling from US weapons stocks. The USAI funds will be put toward buying ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) made by Lockheed Martin as well as drones and spare parts to maintain artillery equipment, according to the Pentagon. Announcement of the package came on Saturday as the defense industry and policy makers meet at the annual Reagan National Defense Forum in California. The Biden administration has often used Presidential Drawdown Authority, which authorizes President Joe Biden to transfer excess articles and services from US stocks without congressional approval during an emergency. The USAI funds are separate and will go to purchase new weapons from industry. The Biden administration still has about $6 billion of congressionally granted presidential drawdown authority, including funds authorized in 2024 and funds discovered by the Pentagon after overestimating the value of arms shipped to Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, the US has committed more than $62 billion worth of security assistance to Ukraine.

Welling scores 21 as Utah Valley takes down West Georgia 77-74Lilly's 21 lead Brown over Canisius 83-76NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global recruitment process outsourcing market size is estimated to grow by USD 11.41 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 18.68% during the forecast period. Cost reduction by streamlining the hiring process is driving market growth, with a trend towards emergence of data analytics and artificial intelligence. However, risk of overdependence on a single vendor poses a challenge. Key market players include Accenture Plc, Adecco Group AG, Alexander Mann Solutions, Allegis Group, AMN Healthcare Services Inc., Automatic Data Processing Inc., Cielo Inc., Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd., Hays Plc, Hudson Global Inc., Infosys Ltd., International Business Machines Corp., Kelly Services Inc., Korn Ferry , ManpowerGroup Inc., Orion ICS LLC, PeopleScout Inc., Randstad Sourceright EMEA B.V., TrueBlue Inc., and WilsonHCG., ADP, Inc., IBM Corporation, Pontoon Solutions, Sevenstep, Fortune Media IP Limited Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Market Driver The Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) market is experiencing significant growth due to the integration of data analytics and artificial intelligence. HR teams are utilizing vast amounts of data to make informed recruitment decisions, with tools like people analytics and recruitment analytics playing crucial roles. Data sources extend beyond traditional qualifications to include personality traits, with platforms like LinkedIn's Talent Insights employing big data analytics for enhanced statistical hiring. AI enhances candidate engagement through real-time communication and onboarding support, reducing the need for HR interaction and fostering market expansion. The Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) market is experiencing significant growth, with businesses increasingly relying on RPO services to manage their hiring needs. This trend is driven by the benefits RPO offers, such as cost savings, improved efficiency, and access to a larger talent pool. RPO providers use advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to streamline the recruitment process, making it more effective and productive. Additionally, RPOs offer customized solutions tailored to specific industries and companies, ensuring a better fit for the organization's hiring needs. Overall, the RPO market is poised for continued growth as more businesses recognize the value of outsourcing their recruitment processes. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! Market Challenges The reliance of organizations on a sole Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) vendor for all recruitment activities can negatively impact business operations. Risk of confidential information exposure and strained relationships due to demanding behavior from RPO firms are concerns. Effective communication between RPO firms and clients is crucial to mitigate failures and strengthen partnerships. Overreliance on a single RPO vendor may hinder market growth during the forecast period. The Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) market faces several challenges. Talent acquisition and retention are key concerns, requiring advanced technologies and strategies. Consistent with this, the need for cost-effective solutions and efficient processes is paramount. The use of technology, such as AI and machine learning, can streamline processes and improve candidate selection. However, the integration of these technologies with existing HR systems can be complex. Additionally, cultural fit and compliance with labor laws in various regions pose challenges. The RPO market must adapt to these challenges to provide effective and efficient solutions for businesses. Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! Segment Overview This recruitment process outsourcing market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 IT and telecom 1.2 Manufacturing 1.3 BFSI 1.4 Healthcare 1.5 Others 2.1 Large enterprises 2.2 SMEs 3.1 North America 3.2 APAC 3.3 Europe 3.4 Middle East and Africa 3.5 South America 1.1 IT and telecom- The global recruitment process outsourcing market is experiencing growth due to the adoption of just-in-time recruitment and SMAC technology. Just-in-time recruitment allows for faster response to client needs, optimizing resources, and tapping potential candidates. Wipro Infotech, for instance, implemented this approach to hire 900 people and secure larger projects. SMAC technology, such as Cognizant's cloud-based applicant-tracking system, offers benefits like language support, cost reduction, and social media integration. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the market is expected to recover as businesses resume operations and focus on hiring again. Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics Research Analysis The Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies. RPO providers are assisting HR departments and resourcing teams in managing recruitment-related operations, from candidate sourcing and screening to offer execution. A written agreement between the HR department and the third-party RPO provider is crucial for the successful implementation of RPO services. The use of RPO suppliers enables organizations to access a larger pool of skilled workers, reducing the nightmare scenario of hiring freezes and backlogs. Job posting and recruitment are essential functions of RPO, ensuring that the right candidates are identified and selected for various roles within an organization. Market Research Overview The Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) market refers to the practice of outsourcing the recruitment process to third-party service providers. This market has gained significant traction due to the benefits it offers, such as cost savings, improved efficiency, and access to a larger talent pool. RPO providers use various technologies and methodologies, including applicant tracking systems, social media recruiting, and artificial intelligence, to streamline the recruitment process. The RPO market caters to various industries and sectors, including IT, finance, healthcare, and retail. The services offered by RPO providers range from end-to-end recruitment solutions to project-based recruitment support. The market is expected to grow at a steady pace due to the increasing demand for flexible and efficient recruitment solutions. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation End-user IT And Telecom Manufacturing BFSI Healthcare Others Type Large Enterprises SMEs Service Geography North America APAC Europe Middle East And Africa South America 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio

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d2d roulette Who wouldn’t want a mattress that can fly? A mattress, that with enough imagination, is fueled to take its passengers anywhere. But, for one young pirate, the mattress would bring more than he bargained for. “Tommy and the Flying Mattress” is the first book published by Thomas Walker of North Ridgeville. A graduate of St. Ignatius High School and the University of Tiffin by way of Kent State University and Cuyahoga Community College, Walker said he’s been wanting to write a book for several years and actually began the children’s tale more than a decade ago. “Tommy and the Flying Mattress” is aimed at toddlers and ideal for parental storytelling. Related Articles Local News | Lorain County Junior Fair Board donates 32,580 pounds of food for ‘Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer’ contest Local News | Lorain Gold Star Spouses of America honors fallen soldiers Local News | Farah L. Emeka announces candidacy for Oberlin Municipal Court judge Local News | Lorain Lions Club donates toys for children in memory of Ashton Taylor Local News | Elyria Community Partnership to host Downtown Holiday Open House It follows the adventures of a young boy named Tommy, a rambunctious young pirate who has an aspiring career on the high seas. With his first mate, Stella, Tommy leads a mutiny against Capt. Ted E. Bear. That is, until his father reminds him that he actually is a boy with a very messy room that was supposed to be cleaned. Tommy is sent to bed early for not cleaning his room. Well, as one knows, pirates do not clean rooms, and they certainly don’t go to bed early because their parents said they should. It is in that room that Tommy’s mattress gets involved and takes him and Stella on a wild ride. After a fright-filled flight, the mattress splashes down, of all places, next to a pirate ship. Here, Tommy and Stella are pressed into service and find out that the life of a pirate is not all pillage, plunder and play. And the entire concept of the book came about because of a restless night and a turn of a phrase from Walker’s wife. On a trip, Walker had been tossing and turning all night, when his wife remarked that it looked like the mattress was about the fly out of the room. “I was just looking for an idea of some kind,” he said. “Something to take a character places and when she said that, a light went off and I wrote the book. “The first copy, I didn’t really like and set it aside for maybe a decade. And then the (coronavirus) pandemic hit. Right before that, I had told someone at work I wrote this kid’s book and they said I should try to publish it. “So, I went back and I rewrote it, and when the pandemic hit, I got laid off. And, so, I really started working at pitching this book. About three years ago, (book publisher) Austin McCauley said ‘hey we’ll publish it,’ so I worked really hard with their editors and their project managers and we finally put this book out. “I like the idea of going to a pirate ship on the mattress. In my head that can take that Tommy and Stella anywhere. I can go anywhere in space and time, and I wanted it to say something. I’m from that generation where we watched cartoons and there always seemed to be that public service announcement. “There was always a good message at the end of it, and so, I wanted to make sure there was something in there.” Which is largely summed up by listening to your parents, Walker smiled. Essentially, Tommy was rebelling against his parents and didn’t want to clean his room. He goes on an adventure to a pirate ship, but realizes at the end, the pirate life was no place for him, and that it would have been easier to just listen to his dad. Walker previously worked as a field representative, where he supervised 150 employees in six states. But, his industry was hit particularly hard by the pandemic which saw 80 percent of his fellow employees laid off. So, the future author began a business buying and selling on Amazon. And now, Walker hopes many people will buy his very own book on the platform. It’s also available at Barnes & Noble and Walmart online portals, and his hope is to soon have it in physical bookstores and libraries. Walker admits that both he and his family were thrilled to finally see the book in print. He said his sister has enjoyed reading it to his nieces and nephews at bedtime and says it makes the perfect bedtime read, clocking in at about 10 minutes, with plenty of illustrations to share. “I remember calling my wife when they told me the day it would come out, and she was at work and we were both so excited that I called my parents and I was glowing,” Walker beamed. “It’s just something to see your name on a book.”

Syria latest: Syrians celebrate in the streets as Russian media says Assad has arrived in MoscowSAN DIEGO (AP) — Mark Few liked what he saw unfold at San Diego State's Viejas Arena when his No. 3 Gonzaga Bulldogs made their first foray outside of Spokane, Washington, this season. A double-digit victory in a packed, loud arena. Toughness from a deep, experienced lineup that once again is driven to win an elusive national championship. And, peeking a few seasons ahead, he saw an SDSU team that he views more as a future Pac-12 partner than rival. Behind big man Graham Ike and guard Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga displayed its size, speed and strength in beating Brian Dutcher's young, hobbled squad 80-67 on Monday night. The Bulldogs returned the favor after SDSU won 84-74 last December at The Kennel in Spokane, which ended their 59-game nonconference winning streak. Both teams reached the Sweet Sixteen last season. Gonzaga is the only team in the nation to reach the Sweet Sixteen the last nine seasons as the Bulldogs extended their streak of NCAA Tournament appearances to 25 straight. Back in Spokane on Wednesday night, the Zags improved to 5-0 by routing Long Beach State 84-41, no doubt firing up expectations in the Lilac City and beyond. In a college sports climate dominated by NIL and the transfer portal, the Zags are stacked. Of the 12 possible players who could return from last year, 10 did, including all four starters. They returned 81% of last season's scoring and 71% of their rebounding. Six of its top seven scorers are back, along with 81.4% of minutes played. “We're tougher,” Few said. “We're physically tougher, we're mentally tougher, at least so far in the season. A lot of the same guys from last year. That's what happens when you stick around a couple of years. “You've got to have both to be able to go on the road in a place like this and dig out wins," Few added. "That's one thing San Diego State is going to bring. They're going to bring physicality, they're going to bring great athleticism, they're going to challenge you in every facet of the game.” Hoops powerhouse Gonzaga announced on Oct. 1 that it will move from the West Coast Conference, where it has dominated for most of the last quarter-century, into a Pac-12 conference being rebuilt around football. Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, Gonzaga will become the eighth member along with holdovers Washington State and Oregon State, and fellow newcomers Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Utah State and Colorado State from the Mountain West. While not as dominant as the Zags, the Aztecs have been one of the West Coast's best programs for several years, first under Steve Fisher and then Dutcher, his longtime assistant who is in his eighth season as head coach. “They're just going to be such a great partner, because they value basketball and they support basketball,” said Few, who's in his 26th season as head coach. “They understand, when you have a national program like we both have, it pays unbelievable dividends to the university, to the community, to the city and the state, like the Northwest and down here. They get that. We're looking for other like-minded places to partner with us.” Few said he would often chat with Fisher about the possibility of the Zags and Aztecs playing in the same conference. Fisher watches Aztecs games with his wife, Angie, from the second row above Steve Fisher Court. “We talked about it forever,” Few said. “I'm happy for Dutch. He's doing a great job." San Diego State reached its first Final Four in 2023, when Lamont Butler's thrilling buzzer-beater against Florida Atlantic lifted the Aztecs into the national championship game, where they lost 76-59 to UConn. SDSU was routed again by UConn, 82-52, in last season's Sweet Sixteen, while Gonzaga lost to Purdue. Gonzaga opened this season with a 101-63 win against then-No. 8 Baylor at the Spokane Arena. It was Gonzaga’s biggest victory margin over a top-10 opponent, over a team it lost to in the 2021 national title game in Indianapolis. Nembhard, who had 19 points and 10 assists against the Aztecs, said the Zags “did a really good job, actually,” of handling the pressure of playing at Viejas Arena. "Every time they went on a little run and the crowd got loud, we did a good job staying composed and trusting our offensive sets.” Nembhard will be gone when the Bulldogs and Aztecs are in the Pac-12 together, but thinks "the rivalry will be great. This is a great program. I played them a couple of times at Creighton, and they always gave us a tough game. They have a great fan base, a great coach over there, and they play really hard. I think it’ll be a great rivalry to come.” ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Peter Dutton will go to the election as the presumptive prime minister unless there is a dramatic disruption to the long, steady trend that is taking him within sight of victory. The opposition leader faces big obstacles in forming government – not least driving the “teal” independents out of parliament – but has gained ground at a rate that should alarm the Labor loyalists who thought he could never succeed. But he is also defying gravity, in a sense, because he is now ahead in the opinion polls at a time of deep unrest over the cost of living when he has no significant public plan to fix the problem. Nobody can be sure if Dutton will return to earth with a thud after he reveals the cost of his stated policy to build seven nuclear power stations over the coming decades. And nobody knows if voters will thank Dutton at the election for advocating a “back-to-basics” approach to federal spending that could cut services many voters take for granted. Dutton is certainly confident. “There is zero prospect now of a majority Albanese government after the next election,” he said on Sunday. He uses the prospect of a minority Labor government to warn voters about the power of the Greens in a hung parliament. At the same time, he benefits from the common assumption that he will not be running the country next year. He limits the media appearances that expose him to hard questions. He delivers sharp attack lines without having to worry about being put on the defensive. This means there is a softness to the Coalition plan even when the language is tough. When tested on his migration policy on Sky News on Sunday, for instance, Dutton ducked and weaved about whether he would reduce net migration to 160,000 as he claimed in May. The target has clearly been abandoned. Dutton’s policy on migration is a mystery; his plan for the economy a vacuum. What is certain, however, is that the trend is his friend. He has lifted the Coalition back from defeat and taken its primary vote to 38 per cent, safely above the 35.7 per cent result at the last election. He has slipped at times, as he did this month, but recovered later. Labor, meanwhile, has just experienced one of its biggest falls in the Resolve Political Monitor, conducted for this masthead by Resolve Strategic. Its slump from 30 to 27 per cent over the past month should jolt the party loyalists who keep hoping for a turnaround. In two-party terms, assuming preferences flow as they did at the last election, the latest Resolve Political Monitor results show the Coalition at 51 per cent to Labor’s 49 per cent. It was 50 per cent each one month ago. Here is the crucial fine print: the Coalition lead is within the margin of error, which is 2.4 per cent for this survey. The Coalition two-party vote could be as high as 53.4 per cent or as low as 48.6 per cent. The Labor result could vary by the same amount. Most polls gloss over this inherent uncertainty. This should be no consolation for Labor, however, when voters clearly prefer Dutton and the Coalition on economic management and most other key policies. If the trend continues, it puts Dutton on track to reach the primary vote that delivered government for Scott Morrison as prime minister in 2019. Yes, the “teals” are an obstacle. But the Coalition primary vote is now at a level that should challenge assumptions about “unwinnable” seats. While Anthony Albanese expresses absolute certainty about winning the election, these results should deepen the anxiety among his cabinet ministers about the government’s chances. Nothing the prime minister does seems to lift his fortunes: not the “stage 3” tax revamp, not the energy subsidies, not the passage of age limits for social media. Albanese has told colleagues that the political argument will change when it stops being dominated by complaints about Labor and starts to become a real contest about what the Coalition offers instead. He believes the mood will shift when voters no longer compare the government against perfection and start to compare it to the actual alternative – Dutton and the Coalition. Australians cannot know what Dutton offers. He has made sure not to tell them – at least not yet. And it has worked. Dismissed for so long as someone who could never be prime minister, Dutton may become the presumptive prime minister instead. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter .President Biden and first lady Jill Biden brought together researchers, investors and advocates Wednesday for the White House's first ever research conference on women's health. "The National Institutes of Health is using their funding to break down the silos," President Biden said during the event. "For example, we know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. But we don't know enough about how menopause may affect heart disease, and that's going to change." The Biden Administration launched an initiative last year to focus on Women's Health Research. And according to the White House, in the last year they "galvanized nearly $1 billion in funding to close gaps in research on women's health. These investments will advance research to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and conditions." In the spring, President Biden also signed an executive order that directed federal agencies to expand and accelerate research into not just women-specific health issues, but how to prevent, diagnose and treat conditions uniquely for women. "The goal was to fundamentally change and improve how we approach and invest in women's health research," he said. "To pioneer the next generation of scientific research and discoveries that are going to improve care women receive all across the country. Because the fact is the health of our moms and grandmothers, sisters and daughters, friends and colleagues, affects not just women's well-being but the prosperity of the entire nation." RELATED STORY | Who decides health care costs? This group recommends how doctors should be paid The gender gap in medical research extends to both the public and private sectors. A recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found "Despite having a longer life expectancy than men, women spend more years living with a disability and in poor health:" roughly 25% more time than men in poor health. It also found that grant funding from the NIH on women's health research between fiscal years 2013-2023 averaged only about 9 percent of its total research spending. It was not until 1993 that it was required for women and minorities to be included in clinical research funding the National Institutes of Health. Prior to that they had not just been excluded but for a period outright banned. In 1977 the FDA created a guideline that prohibited the inclusion of women of reproductive age from participating in phase 1 and phase II clinical trials following the use of the sedative Thalidomide, which caused birth defects. Today, researchers have found biological discrepancies in areas like heart disease and Alzheimer's, but differences in treatment and risk. "A new future can ring out from this conference," First Lady Jill Biden told attendees. "One that answers the call from women who have been waiting for too long. Let this be the moment that we push harder. The moment that people say change the world of women's health forever." Both the President and First lady emphasized that this is the starting point, not the finish line. And Dr. Biden said she plans to continue to build alliances and push for funding after she laves the White House, as well.

SAN FRANCISCO — Google on Wednesday unleashed another wave of artificial intelligence designed to tackle more of the work and thinking done by humans as it tries to stay on the technology’s cutting edge while also trying to fend off regulatory threats to its empire. The next generation of Google’s AI is being packaged under the Gemini umbrella, which was unveiled a year ago . Google is framing its release of Gemini 2.0 as a springboard for AI agents built to interpret images shown through a smartphone, perform a variety of tedious chores, remember the conversations consumers have with people, help video game players plot strategy and even tackle the task of doing online searches. In a blog post , Google CEO Sundar Pichai predicted the technology contained in Gemini 2.0 will “understand more about the world around you, think multiple steps ahead and take action on your behalf, with your supervision.” It’s a similar goal being pursued by hard-charging rivals such as OpenAI, with its chatGPT technology, and industry powerhouse such as Microsoft with a variety of similar tools on its Windows software. A lot of Google’s latest AI technology will initially be confined to test groups and subscribers who pay $20 per month for Gemini Advanced, but some features will be made available through its search engine and mobile apps. Google is planning wider releases next year that will include the technology popping up in its smorgasbord of free products, including its Chrome browser, digital maps and YouTube. Besides trying to outshine OpenAI and other ambitious startups, Google is also trying to stay a step ahead of Apple as that trendsetting company begins to blend AI into its latest iPhones and other devices. After releasing a software update enabling the first bundle of the iPhone’s “Apple Intelligence” features that spruced up the device’s Siri assistant, another batch of the AI technology came out with a free software update that was also released Wednesday. Google is pushing forward with its latest AI advances even as the U.S. Justice Department is trying to break up the Mountain View, California, company to prevent further abusive practices by its dominant search engine, which was declared an illegal monopoly by a federal judge earlier this year as part of a landmark antitrust case. Among other things, Gemini 2.0 is supposed to improve the AI overviews that Google began highlighting in its search results over its traditional listing of the most pertinent links to websites earlier this year in response to AI-powered “answer engines” such as Perplexity. After the AI overviews initially produced some goofy suggestions, including putting glue on pizza , Google refined the technology to minimize such missteps. Now, company executives are promising things are going to get even better with Gemini 2.0, which Pichai said will be able to engage in more human-like reasoning while solving more advanced math problems and even churn out some computer code. The improvements to AI Overviews will initially only appear to a test audience before a wider release next year. The technological upgrade is also supposed to infuse a still-experimental universal AI agent dubbed “Project Astra,” with even more smarts and versatility, enabling people to have more meaningful and helpful conversations with the technology. In a show of confidence, Google said it will expand the number of people testing Project Astra without providing any specifics of the group’s size. As part of Gemini 2.0, Google is also going to begin testing an extension to Chrome called “Project Mariner,” which can be turned on to do online searches and sift through the results so people don’t won’t have to bother. If the U.S. Department of Justice gets its way, Google will be forced to sell or spin off Chrome as part of its punishment for deploying its search engine in ways that stifled competition and potential innovation. Google has ridiculed the Justice Department’s proposal as “overly broad” and vowed to resist any attempt to break up the company during federal court hearings scheduled to begin in Washington D.C. next spring. Even if those proceedings culminate in a court order mandating a breakup, Google could still appeal in a process that could take years to resolve while it continues its AI expansion. “I can’t wait to see what this next era brings,” Pichai wrote in his blog post, signaling the company doesn’t believe it will be deterred by regulators.WASHINGTON (AP) — In an evening announcement, President-elect Donald Trump railed against Mexico and Canada, accusing them of allowing thousands of people to enter the U.S. Hitting a familiar theme from the campaign trail and his first term in office, Trump portrayed the country's borders as insecure and immigrants as contributing to crime and the fentanyl crisis. In an announcement that could have stark repercussions, he threatened to impose 25% tariffs on everything coming into the country from those two countries. Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric has resonated with voters concerned about immigration and crime. Yet there's more to the story than Trump's short statement suggested. A look at what the numbers and studies say about border crossings, fentanyl smuggling and whether there's a connection between immigration and crime: The number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border is a key metric watched intensely by both Republicans and Democrats. Customs and Border Protection, an arm of the Department of Homeland Security, releases monthly statistics that track everything from drug seizures to cross-border trade. One of the metrics tracked is the number of Border Patrol arrests or encounters each month with people entering the country between the official border crossings — known as the ports of entry. The vast majority of those arrests happen at the southern border. Those numbers have actually been falling this year under the Biden administration. The Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests in October, which is about a four-year low. It hasn't always been like that. The Biden administration struggled to bring down the growing number of migrants coming to the southern border. A little less than a year ago, in December 2023, the Border Patrol made about a quarter of a million arrests along the southern border — an all-time high . Cross-border trade was damaged as border agents were reassigned to help process migrants and train traffic was temporarily shut down. Since then, the numbers of people encountered at the southern border have dropped and stayed down through a combination of stricter enforcement on the Mexican side and asylum restrictions announced earlier this year by the Biden administration. Republicans put a caveat on those numbers. They have frequently accused the Biden administration of using an app called CBP One to let hundreds of thousands of people into the country who otherwise wouldn't be allowed in. They've described the program where 1,450 people a day can schedule an appointment to come into the U.S., as essentially a way to keep the border encounter numbers artificially low. On the northern border, the numbers are much smaller. Border Patrol made 23,721 arrests between October 2023 and September 2024, compared with 10,021 the previous 12 months. Trump also struggled to get a handle on illegal border crossings. Arrests topped 850,000 in 2019, nearly triple the amount two years earlier, though still far below the tally of more than 2 million for two different years under Biden. Trump and many Republicans have often portrayed the U.S.'s southern border as wide open to drug smuggling. They have also linked immigrants to drug smuggling and accused Mexico of doing little to stop it. Much of America’s fentanyl is smuggled from Mexico. The fentanyl scourge began well before Biden took office. Border seizures have jumped sharply under Biden, which may partly reflect improved detection. About 27,000 pounds (12,247 kilograms) of fentanyl was seized by U.S. authorities in the 2023 government budget year, compared with 2,545 pounds (1,154 kilograms) in 2019, when Trump was president. Cooperation between the Mexican and U.S. governments on fighting drug smuggling undoubtedly suffered under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who left office at the end of September. Before López Obrador took office in December 2018, the U.S. worked closely with Mexico’s military to take down drug capos. But López Obrador, a nationalist and folksy populist, railed against the violence set off by the drug war waged by his predecessors and the Americans. He proposed addressing the root societal causes of violence found in poverty and a lack of opportunity for young people, in what he called “hugs, not bullets.” For years, López Obrador denied that Mexico made fentanyl, despite evidence to the contrary, including statements from his own security officials. He blamed U.S. society, where he said families push children out of home too early, for cultivating addicts. It's only two months into the term of President Claudia Sheinbaum. But while most of the fentanyl comes from Mexico, statistics show that it is Americans who are doing the smuggling across the border. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission , 86.4% of people sentenced for fentanyl trafficking crimes in a 12-month period ending September 2023 were American citizens. Trump also has argued that the influx of immigrants is causing a crime surge in the U.S., although statistics show violent crime is on the way down. Texas is the only state that tracks crime by immigration status. A study published by the National Academy of Sciences, based on Texas Department of Public Safety data from 2012 to 2016, found people in the U.S. illegally had “substantially lower crime rates than native-born citizens and legal immigrants across a range of felony offenses.” While FBI statistics do not separate out crimes by the immigration status of the assailant, there is no evidence of a spike in crime perpetrated by migrants, either along the U.S.-Mexico border or in cities seeing the greatest influx of migrants, like New York. Studies have found that people living in the U.S. illegally are less likely than native-born Americans to have been arrested for violent, drug and property crimes. Some crime is inevitable given the large population of immigrants. There were an estimated 11 million people in the country illegally in January 2022, according to the latest estimate by U.S. Homeland Security Department. In 2022, the Census Bureau estimated the foreign-born population at 46.2 million, or nearly 14% of the total, with most states seeing double-digit percentage increases in the last dozen years. Republicans have highlighted high-profile crimes by immigrants such as the February killing of 22-year-old Laken Riley in Georgia and argued that any crime committed by someone in the country illegally is a crime that shouldn't have happened. A Venezuelan man who entered the country illegally was convicted and sentenced to life in prison this month in Riley's killing .

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The suspect in the high-profile killing of a health insurance CEO that has gripped the United States graduated from an Ivy League university, reportedly hails from a wealthy family, and wrote social media posts brimming with cerebral musings. Luigi Mangione, 26, was thrust into the spotlight Monday after police revealed his identity as their person of interest, crediting his arrest to a tip from a McDonald's worker.Bill Belichick confirms talks with UNC, maps out vision for college football programTORONTO - Canada's decision to deploy a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session at the Paris Olympics was "completely stupid," says FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * TORONTO - Canada's decision to deploy a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session at the Paris Olympics was "completely stupid," says FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? TORONTO – Canada’s decision to deploy a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session at the Paris Olympics was “completely stupid,” says FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani. “In the sense that I have no idea what the hell you’re going to get out of that,” said Montagliani, a former Canada Soccer president who is also president of CONCACAF, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean. The scandal cost Canada women’s coach Bev Priestman her job, with assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joe Lombardi also leaving Canada Soccer. All three are serving one-year suspensions from FIFA. Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF and vice-president of FIFA, speaks during a fireside chat in Toronto on Thursday, February 1, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov “Now, listen, do clubs and countries push the envelope to try to gain an upper hand? Yeah,” said Montagliani when asked about the scandal at a media roundtable Monday. “If we say no to that, we’re fools. “We’ve all been into countries that will do anything they can, whether its fireworks the night before a match. Whatever they think that will get you three points. Because when it comes to football, a lot of countries think it’s war. But for me personally I just thought it (the drone spying) was the definition of stupidity.” FIFA, which runs the football competition at the Olympics, also docked the Canadian women six points at the tournament after a Canadian staffer was caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand team practices before the start of competition at the Paris Games. Canada Soccer was also fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($322,500). Canada Soccer continues to investigate just how deep a culture of spying was ingrained in the organization and has opened a disciplinary hearing into former Canada men’s and women’s coach John Herdman, who resigned as Toronto FC coach last month. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “If any of this stuff reveals any new information whatsoever that’s subject to FIFA jurisdiction, the FIFA ethics committee or discipline committee, or both, will act on it,” Montagliani said. Montagliani says disciplinary issues in soccer usually fall under the national governing body. But Canada Soccer could refer the matter to FIFA if it has wider-ranging implications. — Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement

The Board of the National Water Commission (NWC) says the claim by Opposition Spokesperson on Water, Ian Hayles, that the NWC was blindsided by Prime Minister Andrew Holness' announcement that it is to write off the debts of some pensioners is false. "The Board of Commissioners was consulted before the announcement and given the opportunity to provide feedback to strengthen the policy direction," the NWC's board said in a release to the media on Tuesday afternoon. Hayles, who was speaking at press conference on Tuesday morning, accused the Government of playing “political football” with the agency. However, the NWC board said Holness' announcement is an extension of the NWC's receivables management plan already in operation in Portmore. "The Board fully supports the plans announced by the Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Growth & Job Creation to ease the burden of the cost of living for Jamaicans while providing greater access to water," the NWC board said. Addressing the Jamaica Labour Party's 81st annual conference on Sunday, party leader Holness also stated that persons who have been disconnected for longer than six months, but have payment arrangements will get a 50 per cent or more discount on the debt based on needs assessment. He said they will get up to one year to pay. This amnesty will last three months and will commence on January 2, 2025. Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com .

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fruit roulette The Miami Dolphins need help at edge rusher, but reinforcements could be on the way. Coach Mike McDaniel announced Monday that Pro Bowl linebacker Bradley Chubb and third-year pass rusher Cameron Goode begin practicing this week after their 21-day activation windows were opened. “They’ll be out there practicing on Wednesday,” McDaniel told reporters . “That’s never lost on teammates when you have an extensive injury that happens in-season so then you are finishing the season rehabbing. “The offseason program, they’re watching them rehab. The beginning of the season, they’re watching them rehab. While everyone’s on vacation, they are here rehabbing. So it’ll be exciting to get their windows started and they’ll be practicing on Wednesday.” Chubb tore his ACL in Week 17 last season against the Baltimore Ravens , ending a career year with 11 sacks and six forced fumbles . Goode, a 2022 seventh-round pick, suffered a season-ending knee injury in Miami’s Week 18 loss to the Buffalo Bills . “I think just from a team standpoint, any time you have, like I said, guys that are sacrificing day in, day out, right in front of you, just having them to start practice; that in itself, beyond the players but the people, you inherently don’t take as much for granted when you’re out there watching them go through it and been fortunate enough to be for all the teammates that will be out there with them,” McDaniel said. With just 1.8 sacks per game, the Dolphins rank 29th in the league. Chubb and Goode’s return could help an edge-rushing unit that combined for only nine sacks through 12 games . Uncertainty at Cornerback The Dolphins faced a tough Thanksgiving Day loss, entering their 30-17 defeat to the Green Bay Packers without cornerback Kendall Fuller (concussion) and losing both Cam Smith (shoulder) and Kader Kohou (back) during the game. Fuller, who suffered his second concussion of the 2024 season during Monday Night Football against the Rams, hasn’t played since Nov. 11. However, head coach Mike McDaniel expressed optimism for Sunday’s game following discussions with Fuller and the medical team. As for Kohou and Smith, their status remains uncertain. McDaniel provided updates on both players: The Dolphins barely hold onto playoff hopes but can right the ship at Hard Rock Stadium this weekend against a New York Jets team that has lost nine of the last 10 games. Wednesday’s injury report will give us a first look at which of these five defenders will be available for Week 14.TrutanklessTM Shipping GEN3: Redefining Electric Tankless Water Heating

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Philadelphia takes on Vegas after overtime winFrom left, Uprise Investment Management CEO Moon Yil-ho, Uprise CEO Lee Choong-yeub and Doomoolmori Investment Advisory CEO Lee Seung-kyu speak to The Korea Times at Uprise's headquarters in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Uprise By Lee Yeon-woo It wasn’t Lee Choong-yeub’s first startup. Having successfully exited two previous ventures aimed at leveraging information technology to modernize underdeveloped sectors of traditional industries, he set his sights on a new challenge. In 2018, Lee observed inefficiencies in the investment sector and founded Uprise, launching a robo-advisor platform called dndn to bridge service gaps. Moon Yil-ho, a veteran fund manager at Samsung Asset Management for a decade, shared a similar vision. A former classmate of Lee’s, Moon had grown disillusioned with the repetitive cycle of creating and selling exchange-traded funds despite the market’s growth. He believed there was untapped value in integrating investment elements and delivering them effectively to customers. This conviction led him to join Uprise three and a half years ago. Meanwhile, across Seoul, a team came together in 2015, inspired by the financial innovation of U.S.-based robo-advisors. They called themselves Doomoolmori and launched their own robo-advisor service, Boolio. Among the founding members was Lee Seung-kyu, then a graduate student in statistics. Confident in his ability to analyze data and approach investments from a statistical perspective, he took charge of developing and implementing their solutions. In late November, these three individuals, each from different backgrounds, made an unexpected announcement — the merger of their respective robo-advisor platforms. The merged service will hold managing assets worth 530 billion won ($370 million), becoming the largest of its kind in the industry. As part of the merger, Uprise’s Lee Choong-yeub will serve as CEO of the newly established entity named Horizon Wealth. It will subsequently acquire two investment advisory subsidiaries, each led by Moon and Doomoolmori's Lee Seung-kyu. From left, Doomoolmori Investment Advisory CEO Lee Seung-kyu, Uprise CEO Lee Choong-yeub and Uprise Investment Management CEO Moon Yil-ho attend a press meeting announcing their merger at a cafe in Seoul, Nov. 26. Courtesy of Uprise The strategic decision was driven by recent regulatory changes. Financial authorities had introduced a sandbox program permitting individual retirement pension investments through robo-advisors. The accumulated funds in the pension currently total around 400 trillion won and are steadily growing. But at the same time, most subscribers are facing old-age poverty, with only 10 percent of subscribers actively managing their investments. The potential for growth was clear. Read More Individual retirement pension balance of major banks rises by $7.9 bil. due to aging society Financial authorities, labor ministry vow to expand retirement pension market "Robo-advisors are an industry at the intersection of finance and IT services," Moon told The Korea Times. "At dndn, we’ve excelled in delivering solutions to customers. When I analyzed the market, I saw that Doomoolmori, while once a competitor, excelled in developing cutting-edge solutions. I thought merging our strengths would create significant synergy." Lee Seung-kyu agreed. "Many clients approach us with details of their disposable income, earnings and long-term financial goals, asking for guidance on growing their retirement funds steadily over time. To meet these needs, we’ve developed algorithms that provide personalized advice." He added that the merger process was surprisingly smooth, saying, "There was hardly any disagreement. Both companies shared a similar vision for business synergy and an aligned outlook on the industry’s future." Lee Choong-yeub viewed the sandbox as a pivotal moment in the robo-advisor market. In the U.S., robo-advisors manage over half of defined contribution retirement plans. Other countries that produce successful robo-advisor companies, like Singapore and Japan, have also opened their pension market to the industry, he added. "In the U.S., many retirees discover they’ve grown wealthy because their retirement funds have been actively invested in U.S. stocks. In Korea, however, most people don’t actively manage their retirement funds. Instead, the majority remains in savings accounts earning just 1 to 2 percent annually, leading to significant opportunity costs," Lee Seung-kyu said. "Korea faces many challenges, but the aging population is the most pressing. We will focus on closing the gaps in retirement preparedness, helping to address this critical issue."

When the Washington Commanders play the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, one of the primary storylines will be head coach Dan Quinn facing the team that employed him for the past three seasons. Due to his ties to both organizations, Quinn knows the magnitude of the Commanders/Cowboys rivalry is. In fact, he's known since he was just a kid. Quinn, who was raised in New Jersey, grew up in the 1980s watching the bitter battles of the NFC East. At the time, that included Bill Parcells' Giants, Buddy Ryan in Philadelphia, Tom Landry in Dallas and Joe Gibbs in Washington. Quinn has been known throughout his career as a motivator and a culture builder, and despite downplaying his own history in Dallas, it's clear he's well aware that this week means more than most other games for the Commanders. There's no doubt he will have his team extra fired up for Sunday. Several of Quinn's former pupils are also now Commanders, including Dante Fowler, Jr., Dorance Armstrong, Tyler Biadasz, Noah Igbinoghene and Noah Brown. Fowler, Armstrong and Igbinoghene worked with Quinn specifically on the defensive side of the ball. As for those still in Dallas, it doesn't seem there are any hard feelings towards Quinn from his former players despite his defection to the divisional foe. Micah Parsons and Malik Hooker both spoke highly of him , claiming he remains in touch with them. Suffice to say, Sunday will mean a lot for all parties involved -- even by Commanders vs. Cowboys standards.

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NoneElon Musk, the world’s richest person, on Wednesday became the first to hit $400 billion ($627 billion AUD) in net worth, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The value of shares in Tesla, Musk’s electric vehicle company, have soared in recent months – hitting an all-time high of $424.88 a share on Wednesday and closing at a record of $424.77. But it was an insider share sale in Musk’s privately held space firm, SpaceX, that helped push his net worth to new heights – and make his space company the most valuable private startup in the world. The sale sent Musk’s net worth soaring skyward by $50 billion to $439.2 billion, according to Bloomberg’s estimate. It’s a huge comeback for the billionaire businessman, who owns Tesla, SpaceX, xAI and X, formerly known as Twitter. In 2022, Musk lost between $180 billion and $200 billion as Tesla’s stock sank. Musk has seen his net worth soar since President-elect Donald Trump’s election win in November. The tech billionaire was one of Trump’s most powerful and outspoken advocates, donating a whopping $250 million to his campaign efforts and pro-Trump PACS, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission, and rallying on his behalf in swing states. He has remained one of Trump’s close confidants and has been selected to lead the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency, which aims to slash federal spending – an idea of Musk’s that he floated during Trump’s campaign. Tesla shares have risen about 65% since Trump’s win as investors expect the president-elect to speed along the rollout of Musk’s autonomous vehicles and eliminate tax credits for electric vehicle purchases, a policy that largely helped Tesla’s rivals. The value of xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, has more than doubled since its last fundraising round in May to $50 billion. On Wednesday, SpaceX and its investors agreed to buy stock from insiders in a $1.25 billion purchase offer – sending the company valuation to $350 billion, according to Bloomberg and CNBC. SpaceX makes most of its money through government contracts. Nearly $19.8 billion in federal contracts have gone to NASA and the Department of Defense to pay for SpaceX’s rockets and satellites since 2008, according to USA Today. The space company will likely see continued support under the Trump administration. The president-elect praised Musk’s goal to land astronauts on Mars and attended a SpaceX launch soon after he won the election. Jared Isaacman, Trump’s pick to lead NASA, also has close ties to Musk. He became the first non-professional astronaut to walk in space earlier this year via a SpaceX rocket and last month called the firm “the most innovative, literally impressive organization that I’ve ever seen.” He invested $27.5 million in SpaceX in 2021 through his payments firm, according to SEC filings. Isaacman, worth about $1.7 billion according to Forbes, made his fortune from his payment processing company Shift4 Payments, which he founded at age 16. A Delaware judge last week denied Musk his “excessive” 2018 pay package that is now worth more than $100 billion. It was the second such ruling, which Musk blasted as “totally crazy.” Even if the pay package is revoked, Musk would still be the richest person in the world. Originally published as Elon Musk’s net worth surpasses $627 billion mark - a historic first - as value of Tesla, SpaceX surge

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Ducks starting to ‘play with an identity’ ahead of hosting OttawaEducation and Planning Adviser Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud says he would like to see a politically elected government next year. "I think we'll see a politically elected government next year. This is my opinion, but I'm not sure what will happen," he told a conference in Dhaka yesterday. "No country becomes a developed nation overnight. It requires collective efforts. Our interim government is here for a short term," the adviser said while responding to a query on when Bangladesh might achieve a developed country status. The Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) organised a four-day annual conference at Lakeshore Hotel in Gulshan. The conference's theme is "equality, opportunity, freedom, and dignity: restructuring institutions for equitable and sustainable development". "We are still not thinking about the low-income trap. We have not yet considered how we would achieve the position that the Philippines and Thailand have achieved, let alone Malaysia," the adviser said. He recalled Vietnam's per capita income in the 1990s, claiming it was like that of Bangladesh at the time. The adviser added that Vietnam's per capita income is now 40 to 50 times more than Bangladesh. The country is now availing $20 billion in foreign direct investment every year, while Bangladesh gets $1-2 billion. "While their entire economy is export-oriented, we only have one or two sectors like that," said Prof Mahmud. "Currently, they have 30 to 40 free trade agreements (FTA), including with the European Union," he said. Recently, Vietnam has signed a strategic partnership with the US on particular technology transfer. They also trade with The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. "Our economy has to be more competitive as a prerequisite condition for that. "If you don't become competitive, you can ask for a one-sided concession rather than any bilateral or multilateral move where there is an issue of give and take," he said. Prof Mahmud also expressed concern about the quality of human capital as it would be difficult to move on creative destruction. "Our industries must be more competitive for the economic development of the country." "Competitive does not mean only cheap labour and poor technology. Technological innovation and human resource development are needed where education will play a role." He explained that in East Asia, 30 percent students pursue higher education, while about 70 percent go for vocational education. "In our country, only 20 percent students pursue vocational education. Around 80 percent posts of teachers are vacant." On the other hand, the country is building infrastructure for universities in every district for general education, the adviser said. "From this perspective, how will we go for the creative destruction? It is not possible for us [interim government]. I have enough doubt whether any political government can do it." BIDS Director General Binayak Sen delivered the opening remarks during the inaugural session.

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: All records related to interception, including the orders and the intercepted messages, must be securely and “with extreme secrecy” destroyed by the government’s review committee, as well as the authorising entities — Union or state home secretary — and law enforcement agencies, every six months, according to the new interception rules notified by the Centre, with experts raising questions about accountability and transparency. The Telecommunications (Procedures and Safeguards for Lawful Interception of Messages) Rules, 2024 — which replace Rule 419 and 419A of the Telegraph Rules, 1951 — were brought into effect by the department of telecommunications (DoT) on Friday. The draft rules were released for public consultation on August 29. They have been issued under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, which allows the Centre to specify one or more agencies to intercept messages for five reasons — in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence and security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, and preventing incitement to the commission of any offence. “While under the earlier rule, one could still hope to get some information about the interception orders by filing RTIs related to the Review Committee, that is also now gone. It will be as if the interception never existed. Where is then the scope for oversight and accountability?” Namrata Maheshwari, senior policy counsel and encryption policy lead at Access Now, said. Under the new rules, even findings of the review committee, which is responsible for assessing the legality of the interception orders, will need to be destroyed. This review committeeis empowered to set aside non-compliant interception orders. Interception records that law enforcement agencies are required to maintain include details of the intercepted messages, person whose messages have been intercepted, officer or agency to whom the message has been disclosed, number of copies of message made, date of destruction of copies, and duration for which the interception order was in force. The composition of the review committees that must confirm the interception orders at central and state level also remains the same. For Maheshwari, this is a problem as this means the review committee is not independent from the executive. “Independent judicial oversight or parliamentary oversight over surveillance orders, as in many other regions, should be the norm,” she added. DoT and the telecommunication entity must also destroy records within two months of discontinuation of interception, as is the case now and was reiterated in the draft rules. According to the rules, the interception order must specify: the authorised agency that will intercept; and one or more of the five reasons for which interception can be ordered and will limit use of intercepted messages to these reasons only. Unless revoked earlier, the order will remain in force for a maximum of 60 days but can be renewed. No order can remain in force for more than 180 days. Interception orders cannot be passed if the information can be acquired through “other reasonable means”, the rules say. An interception order can be issued by the Union or state home secretary. In “unavoidable circumstances”, a duly authorised joint secretary-level officer may issue the order. Lower threshold for orders The notified rules lower the threshold for circumstances where officers other than the Union or state home secretary, or the joint secretary-level officer, can issue interception orders. Earlier, in “emergent cases in remote areas” or “for operational reasons” when it was not feasible for the home secretaries to issue the order, the head or second senior-most officer of an authorised law enforcement or security agency, not below the rank of inspector general of police, could issue the order. Now, an officer not below the rank of an IGP at state level, or the head or second senior-most officer of an authorised agency at the Central level, in “remote areas or for operational reasons” can issue an interception order. By removing the requirement for “emergent cases”, the threshold is lowered. What constitutes an “emergent case” depends on the interpretation of the executive, Nikhil Narendran, partner at Trilegal, said, adding: “Public emergency could be one standard.” These orders will need to be confirmed by the home secretary (union or state) within seven working days from the date of issue. If not confirmed, the interception must immediately stop, the intercepted messages cannot be used for any purpose, including as evidence in court, and copies must be destroyed within two days. “There is no judicial remedy spelt out for persons affected by the orders that were not confirmed by the home secretary,” Maheshwari said. “So it is possible that an interception takes place, is then halted, and the persons affected never find out. Notice and intimation, as feasible under different circumstances, and judicial remedy are key to any surveillance framework in a democracy.” All interception orders must be sent to the relevant review committee within seven working days of being issued or confirmed. The notified rules exclude demonstration and testing of lawful interception systems and monitoring facilities that telecom entities might be required to put in place by the government, a departure from Rule 419A. The provision to fine or suspend/revoke the licence of service providers for not maintaining secrecy and confidentiality of such orders or for unauthorised interception has been removed in the notified rules. Telecom entities will now be responsible for the actions of both their employees and their vendors that result in any unauthorised interceptions. Ambiguity over entities covered As is the case with the parent act, it is not clear whether telecommunication services, and thus telecom entities, include online communication services such as WhatsApp, Signal, FaceTime, and potentially even email services such as Gmail and Outlook. While the then communications minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, after the bill was passed in Parliament in December 2023, had said that online communication services are not included within the ambit of the Act, he did not make this statement on the floor of either house, and the definitions within the act remain ambiguous enough to allow for the regulation of such services. In case of end-to-end encrypted services such as WhatsApp and Signal, the act and the interception rules thus have significant implications. “While the minister had publicly stated that OTT services would not fall within the purview of the Act, this statement is not legally binding, and the definition of telecom services in the Act is broad enough to facilitate a range of interpretations,” Maheshwari said. This ambiguity has been a significant point of confusion, so much so that in the TRAI open house discussion on how authorisations (the regime that replaces the extant system of granting licenses to telecom entities) should work, telcos like Jio and Airtel repeatedly disagreed with associations like Broadband India Forum that represent the technology companies on whether or not services such as WhatsApp need specific authorisations from the government to operate in India. The notified rules also empower the government to exempt certain telecom entities from needing to comply with obligations related to interception. “The scope of this remains unclear. How will the government exercise this exemption? Will it be determined by size of the entity? Their technical ability? This needs to be clearly defined for predictability which is expected from every policy,” Maheshwari said. How will an interception ordered Once the home secretary (or other authorised officers) issues an interception order, it will be sent to the authorised agency (the law enforcement agency doing the interception). The authorised agency will send the order either “in writing or using other secure mode of communication” determined by the central government to the DoT or the telecom entity. Orders can be physically delivered only by officers who are at least sub-inspectors. The DoT or the telecom entity must acknowledge receipt of an interception order within 2 hours. The rules require confidentiality, “extreme secrecy”, and “utmost care and precaution” to be maintained by the law enforcement agency, the DoT, and the telecom entity while dealing with interception orders. Only authorised nodal officers in each of these entities are allowed to handle any matters related to interception. The authorised agency must appoint two nodal officers, at least at the rank of superintendent of police, to send the order to the nodal officer of the DoT (two such officers in every service area) or the telecom entity (like an Airtel or a Jio). Each telecom entity is required to notify the central government of the details of two senior employees in every service area of its operation who will act as nodal officers to implement the interception orders, a requirement that Maheshwari says might prove to be too onerous for smaller entities. The notified rules require the nodal officers in DoT and the telecom entity to submit fortnightly reports on the first and sixteenth of each month. These reports must have a list of interception orders received, reference number, date of issuance or confirmation, date and time or receipt of orders, and date and time of implementation of orders.No. 10 Maryland holds off George Mason late, 66-56 in a matchup of unbeatens

Bucs with Bowles on the plays that mattered in critical overtime win over PanthersJERUSALEM — Israel approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. In the hours leading up to the Cabinet meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah in the final hours before any ceasefire takes hold. Israel's security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East, but neither he nor Netanyahu have proposed a postwar solution for the Palestinian territory, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” Netanyahu's office later said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but "reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides’ compliance. But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” In this screen grab image from video provide by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a televised statement Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Jerusalem, Israel. Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollah’s military capabilities. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said. Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate. A police bomb squad officer inspects the site where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since. Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Flag football scours nation with talent camps to uncover next wave of stars