3 suspects operation red circus

circus props Forte scores 21, South Dakota beats Western Illinois 89-66The Darnold-Jefferson connection is thriving for the surging Vikings Sam Darnold sensed the backside pressure as soon as he dropped back with Minnesota trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter in Seattle, so he moved into a safe space in the pocket and did precisely what the Vikings would prefer him to do wi Dave Campbell, The Associated Press Dec 23, 2024 3:40 PM Dec 23, 2024 4:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) and quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrate after a 5-yard touchdown catch by teammate wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Sam Darnold sensed the backside pressure as soon as he dropped back with Minnesota trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter in Seattle, so he moved into a safe space in the pocket and did precisely what the Vikings would prefer him to do with the game on the line. He threw the ball down the field to Justin Jefferson. The perfectly placed throw near the sideline beat double coverage for a 39-yard touchdown that put the Vikings back in front with 3:51 remaining in a 27-24 victory over the Seahawks on Sunday. “It was a great call,” said Jefferson, who had 10 receptions for 144 yards and two scores, all season highs. “I’m not going to say too much about that play, but something went on where me and Sam were on the same page, and he found me and we went up.” The Vikings were understandably coy about the context around the go-ahead touchdown , when Darnold made a difficult on-the-run pass just over cornerback Tariq Woolen that Jefferson deftly twisted to catch next to his backside hip so he could shield the ball from late-breaking safety Julian Love. Darnold saw Love's shoulders initially shaded inside just enough to believe he couldn't retreat fast enough to prevent Jefferson from getting the ball. Jefferson also applied some improvisation to his route that Darnold clearly and properly read during the play. “I want those guys to have some freedom in those moments,” coach Kevin O'Connell said. “We do a lot of things with Justin and Sam, seeing the coverage and then with some route opportunities to get to at the line of scrimmage, and I think those guys have just gotten so comfortable with that stuff.” Darnold's long-delayed breakout performance under O'Connell has been one of the stories of the NFL this season, one that wouldn't have unfolded as neatly for the third overall pick in the 2018 draft without such synergy between him and his superstar wide receiver. If the Vikings (13-2) win their last two games, they will not only be NFC North champions for the second time in three years but also get the No. 1 seed and the lone first-round bye in the NFC for the playoffs. “Every single game we’re finding different ways to overcome adversity, overcome the different stuff defenses have thrown towards us," Jefferson said. “Sam has done a great job being a leader.” What's working The pass rush was strong, with Andrew Van Ginkel recording two sacks and pressure leading to both interceptions of Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. The Vikings were credited with eight hits on Smith. What needs help The Vikings converted only three of 12 third downs, their second-worst rate of the season. Stock up Theo Jackson, who saw significant playing time at safety with Harrison Smith out, had the game-sealing interception with 49 seconds left. Stock down Tight end Josh Oliver has played 47% of the snaps the last two games, his two lowest usage rates of the season. He dropped the only pass he was thrown on Sunday. Injury report The defense ought to get a big boost this week with the expected return of the 13-year veteran Smith from his first absence in two years when he was sidelined at Seattle with a foot injury. Linebacker Ivan Pace, who has missed four games on injured reserve with a hamstring strain, is also on track to be back with his return to practice. Backup defensive lineman Jalen Redmond, who didn't play against the Seahawks because of a concussion, has made progress through the protocol, O'Connell said. Backup cornerback Fabian Moreau, who was inactive at Seattle with a hip injury, will continue to be evaluated throughout the week. Key number 13.6% — That's the third-down conversion allowance rate for the Vikings over the last two games, with Chicago and Seattle combining to go just 3 for 22. The Vikings rank second in the NFL in third-down defense at 33.7% for the season and also rank second on fourth down at 36.7%. Up next The Vikings host Green Bay on Sunday, with the kickoff moved to the late afternoon showcase spot on Fox. If Minnesota loses to the Packers, the Lions will clinch the NFC North and the Vikings would open the playoffs on the road as the No. 5 seed at best. Even if the Lions were to lose at San Francisco on Monday night, the Vikings would need to win at Detroit on Jan. 5 to take the division title. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Dave Campbell, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Aiming for top seed, Lions play 49ers on road before closing regular season at home against Vikings Dec 23, 2024 4:03 PM Nothing's guaranteed, but Bucs need to win out to give themselves best shot to make the playoffs Dec 23, 2024 3:55 PM NFL Inactive Report Dec 23, 2024 3:54 PM

Huntsville committee hears where YWCA Muskoka has spent the town's donation dollars this year

CHICAGO — With a wave of her bangled brown fingertips to the melody of flutes and chimes, artist, theologian and academic Tricia Hersey enchanted a crowd into a dreamlike state of rest at Semicolon Books on North Michigan Avenue. “The systems can’t have you,” Hersey said into the microphone, reading mantras while leading the crowd in a group daydreaming exercise on a recent Tuesday night. The South Side native tackles many of society’s ills — racism, patriarchy, aggressive capitalism and ableism — through an undervalued yet impactful action: rest. Hersey, the founder of a movement called the Nap Ministry, dubs herself the Nap Bishop and spreads her message to over half a million followers on her Instagram account, @thenapministry . Her first book, “Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto,” became a New York Times bestseller in 2022, but Hersey has been talking about rest online and through her art for nearly a decade. Hersey, who has degrees in public health and divinity, originated the “rest as resistance” and “rest as reparations” frameworks after experimenting with rest as an exhausted graduate student in seminary. Once she started napping, she felt happier and her grades improved. But she also felt more connected to her ancestors; her work was informed by the cultural trauma of slavery that she was studying as an archivist. Hersey described the transformation as “life-changing.” The Nap Ministry began as performance art in 2017, with a small installation where 40 people joined Hersey in a collective nap. Since then, her message has morphed into multiple mediums and forms. Hersey, who now lives in Atlanta, has hosted over 100 collective naps, given lectures and facilitated meditations across the country. She’s even led a rest ritual in the bedroom of Jane Addams , and encourages her followers to dial in at her “Rest Hotline.” At Semicolon, some of those followers and newcomers came out to see Hersey in discussion with journalist Natalie Moore on Hersey’s latest book, “We Will Rest! The Art of Escape,” released this month, and to learn what it means to take a moment to rest in community. Moore recalled a time when she was trying to get ahead of chores on a weeknight. “I was like, ‘If I do this, then I’ll have less to do tomorrow.’ But then I was really tired,” Moore said. “I thought, ‘What would my Nap Bishop say? She would say go lay down.’ Tricia is in my head a lot.” At the event, Al Kelly, 33, of Rogers Park, said some of those seated in the crowd of mostly Black women woke up in tears — possibly because, for the first time, someone permitted them to rest. “It was so emotional and allowed me to think creatively about things that I want to work on and achieve,” Kelly said. Shortly after the program, Juliette Viassy, 33, a program manager who lives in the South Loop and is new to Hersey’s work, said this was her first time meditating after never being able to do it on her own. Therapist Lyndsei Howze, 33, of Printers Row, who was also seated at the book talk, said she recommends Hersey’s work “to everybody who will listen” — from her clients to her own friends. “A lot of mental health conditions come from lack of rest,” she said. “They come from exhaustion.” Before discovering Hersey’s work this spring, Howze said she and her friends sporadically napped together in one friend’s apartment after an exhausting workweek. “It felt so good just to rest in community,” she said. On Hersey’s book tour, she is leading exercises like this across the country. “I think we need to collectively do this,” Hersey explained. “We need to learn again how to daydream because we’ve been told not to do it. I don’t think most people even have a daydreaming practice.” Daydreaming, Hersey said, allows people to imagine a new world. Hersey tells her followers that yes, you can rest, even when your agenda is packed, even between caregiving, commuting, jobs, bills, emails and other daily demands. And you don’t have to do it alone. There is a community of escape artists, she said of the people who opt out of grind and hustle culture, waiting to embrace you. The book is part pocket prayer book, part instruction manual, with art and handmade typography by San Francisco-based artist George McCalman inspired by 19th-century abolitionist pamphlets, urging readers to reclaim their divine right to rest. Hersey directs her readers like an operative with instructions for a classified mission. “Let grind culture know you are not playing around,” she wrote in her book. “This is not a game or time to shrink. Your thriving depends on the art of escape.” The reluctance to rest can be rooted in capitalist culture presenting rest as a reward for productivity instead of a physical and mental necessity. Hersey deconstructs this idea of grind culture, which she says is rooted in the combined effects of white supremacy, patriarchy and capitalism that “look at the body as not human.” American culture encourages grind culture, Hersey said, but slowing down and building a ritual of rest can offset its toxicity. The author eschews the ballooning billion-dollar self-care industry that encourages people to “save enough money and time off from work to fly away to an expensive retreat,” she wrote. Instead, she says rest can happen anywhere you have a place to be comfortable: in nature, on a yoga mat, in the car between shifts, on a cozy couch after work. Resting isn’t just napping either. She praises long showers, sipping warm tea, playing music, praying or numerous other relaxing activities that slow down the body. “We’re in a crisis mode of deep sleep deprivation, deep lack of self-worth, (and) mental health,” said Hersey. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2022 , in Illinois about 37% of adults aren’t getting the rest they need at night. If ignored, the effects of sleep deprivation can have bigger implications later, Hersey said. In October, she lectured at a sleep conference at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, where her humanities work was featured alongside research from the world’s top neuroscientists. Jennifer Mundt, a Northwestern clinician and professor of sleep medicine, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, praises Hersey for bringing the issue of sleep and rest to the public. In a Tribune op-ed last year, Mundt argued that our culture focuses too heavily on sleep as something that must be earned rather than a vital aspect of health and that linking sleep to productivity is harmful and stigmatizing. “Linking sleep and productivity is harmful because it overshadows the bevy of other reasons to prioritize sleep as an essential component of health,” Mundt wrote. “It also stigmatizes groups that are affected by sleep disparities and certain chronic sleep disorders.” In a 30-year longitudinal study released in the spring by the New York University School of Social Work, people who worked long hours and late shifts reported the lowest sleep quality and lowest physical and mental functions, and the highest likelihood of reporting poor health and depression at age 50. The study also showed that Black men and women with limited education “were more likely than others to shoulder the harmful links between nonstandard work schedules and sleep and health, worsening their probability of maintaining and nurturing their health as they approach middle adulthood.” The CDC links sleeping fewer than seven hours a day to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and more. Related Articles Although the Nap Ministry movement is new for her followers, Hersey’s written about her family’s practice of prioritizing rest, which informs her work. Her dad was a community organizer, a yardmaster for the Union Pacific Railroad Co. and an assistant pastor. Before long hours of work, he would dedicate hours each day to self-care. Hersey also grew up observing her grandma meditate for 30 minutes daily. Through rest, Hersey said she honors her ancestors who were enslaved and confronts generational trauma. When “Rest Is Resistance” was released in 2022, Americans were navigating a pandemic and conversations on glaring racial disparities. “We Will Rest!” comes on the heels of a historic presidential election where Black women fundraised for Vice President Kamala Harris and registered voters in a dizzying three-month campaign. Following Harris’ defeat, many of those women are finding self-care and preservation even more important. “There are a lot of Black women announcing how exhausted they are,” Moore said. “This could be their entry point to get to know (Hersey’s) work, which is bigger than whatever political wind is blowing right now.” Hersey said Chicagoans can meet kindred spirits in her environment of rest. Haji Healing Salon, a wellness center, and the social justice-focused Free Street Theater are sites where Hersey honed her craft and found community. In the fall, the theater put on “Rest/Reposo,” a performance featuring a community naptime outdoors in McKinley Park and in its Back of the Yards space. Haji is also an apothecary and hosts community healing activities, sound meditations and yoga classes. “It is in Bronzeville; it’s a beautiful space owned by my friend Aya,” Hersey said, explaining how her community has helped her build the Nap Ministry. “When I first started the Nap Ministry, before I was even understanding what it was, she was like, come do your work here.” “We Will Rest!” is a collection of poems, drawings and short passages. In contrast to her first book, Hersey said she leaned more into her artistic background; the art process alone took 18 months to complete. After a tough year for many, she considers it medicine for a “sick and exhausted” world. “It’s its own sacred document,” Hersey said. “It’s something that, if you have it in your library and you have it with you, you may feel more human.” lazu@chicagotribune.comThe Detroit Lions have equaled the franchise record for most consecutive victories and stand alone atop the NFC standings. They still have plenty of obstacles to clear to remain at that perch. Even the NFC North remains up for grabs and they'll try to create a little more separation when they host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The Lions (11-1), who have won 10 straight, haven't been able to shake free from Minnesota (10-2) or Green Bay (9-3). Detroit will host Minnesota, which has won five straight, in the regular-season finale next month. The Packers have remained in contention by winning seven of their last eight, with the only loss coming at the hands of the Lions. Detroit opened up a 21-point lead early in the third quarter and held on for a 24-14 victory. Lions coach Dan Campbell says the fun really begins now. "The best part of all of this -- we're in playoff football right now, that's where we're at," he said. "We're in December, and our schedule says that. Man, we play tough opponent after tough opponent -- we've got plenty coming up. So, man, this is the type of stuff that you live for and it's also the type of stuff that gets you ready for the tournament. "So, yeah, we're a resilient bunch and nothing's going to change that. We've just got to worry about the one in front of us." Detroit is coming off a 23-20 win over Chicago on Thanksgiving Day in which it nearly blew a 16-point lead. The Bears' poor clock management cost them an opportunity to send the game into overtime and led to coach Matt Eberflus' firing. The Lions have been hit with a wave of injuries, particularly on the defensive side. They signed four players over the past week to fortify their depth. "I know the elephant in the room is all the injuries that have happened with us on the defensive side," defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. "Our personnel staff does a really good job of acquiring players that fit exactly who we are. I would say this, it's not the playbook that's the most important thing for these guys to come in and learn. It's the style of play that we have and that's easy to learn." Jared Goff has thrown for six touchdowns and zero interceptions in the past three games after tossing five picks against the Houston Texans on Nov. 10. The Packers also played on Thanksgiving, defeating Miami 30-17. Green Bay opened up a 24-3 halftime lead as Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed. Now the Packers face a Detroit team that has defeated them in five of the last six meetings. "With most good teams, they play the game the right way," Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. "Certainly, Detroit's been doing that for a couple years now. That's who they are and that's who we are as well. It should be a great game on Thursday night." The Packers might have to win via a shootout, considering the Lions are averaging a league-best 31.9 points per game (Green Bay ranks eighth at 26.5). Stopping the running game will be key, according to LaFleur. "They're two very dynamic backs. (David) Montgomery, he's going to beat you up physically and the other guy (Jahmyr Gibbs), you've got to try to corral because he can take it the distance," he said. "Jared (Goff) is playing at an MVP level, so they've got a really potent offense." Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (knee) and three defensive linemen -- DJ Reader (shoulder), Josh Paschal (knee) and Levi Onwezurike (hamstring) -- didn't practice on Tuesday. Offensive guard Elgton Jenkins (knee), Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) and cornerback Corey Ballentine (knee) missed the Packers' practice. --Field Level MediaTight race for the North Carolina Supreme Court is heading to another recount

Artists with a powerful and much-loved Saanich program are building a tradition in its Victoria gallery, inviting collectors and newcomers alike to its ArtWorks holiday opening. For years the program, run by the Garth Homer Society, showcased works on the halls of its Darwin Avenue site. In 2021 the organization quietly opened ArtWorks – a studio and gallery home to 16 artists at 2-1950 Government St. “Now that we have a location downtown, we’re starting to do more and more art shows like we have in the past,” society CEO Geoffrey Ewert told Victoria News. Garth Homer supports individuals with diverse needs in a variety of areas with a focus on community inclusion, services for people who are aging, employment and residential. “ArtWorks is huge. It’s one of our most high-demand programs in the south Island and I think one of the reasons it’s so important is it recognizes the people in the program as artists first and not as supported individuals,” Ewart said. “None of us like to be categorized in a way that is not about who we feel we are.” The site in the downtown arts district proved popular almost immediately upon opening in 2021. While health concerns at the time kept things low-key, the site quickly developed a following, selling an item almost immediately to a passerby. Sold through the window, it was the start of recognition both locally and globally, Ewart said. “We’ve got a number of collectors of the artwork that the artists do.” Many will likely be on hand as artists offer demonstrations, works for sale and a silent auction during the annual Paint the Halls event on Dec. 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. at ArtWorks Gallery, 2-1950 Government St. “It’s really looking to get the artwork out there and seen. I think a lot of the time people would see artwork in a gallery or an art show but don’t know it’s coming from our ArtWorks program,” he said. “This is our invitation to come in and get to know us ... but also just a great social event.”When Kevin Towers was the San Diego Padres’ general manager, he received a voicemail delivered in a high-pitched, high-energy voice then familiar to most baseball people: “KT! It’s Rickey! Calling about Rickey! Rickey wants to play baseball!” Rickey Henderson, in 2001, became a Padre again. His combination of talents earned him sport’s honorific: Like the song (“Talkin’ Baseball”) that celebrated New York City’s three 1950s center fielders (“Willie, Mickey and the Duke”), Rickey’s first name sufficed. He came from Oakland, an incubator of athletic excellence, including basketball’s Bill Russell. He became something novel: a first-ballot Hall of Famer who played for nine teams. Without today’s arcane metrics, they recognized baseball value, including a high pain threshold, when they saw it. Baseball fans, debating the all-time best team, select three outfielders from a pantheon that includes Henry Aaron, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson and Roberto Clemente. Only two of those 10 should be in the starting lineup. Rickey should start in left field and bat first: He homered in the first inning a record 81 times. Baseball’s objective is to score runs. Rickey scored more than anyone: 2,295. More than Cobb (2,245), Aaron or Ruth (2,174), or Mays (2,068). When Aaron retired in 1976, he probably held the record for the most records held, but he was particularly proud of his total bases: Home runs are glorious, but the game is basically about 90-foot increments. Winning is getting enough of them. Rickey’s total bases (4,588), though more than Mantle’s (4,511), do not tell the full story. In football or basketball, an individual — a hot-handed quarterback or shooter — can take over a game. In baseball, a pitcher can dominate a game, but supposedly no batter can. Rickey could. Tie game, bottom of the ninth, he leads off. In his crouch, with a strike zone the size of a sandwich, he walks. (He walked 496 more times than he struck out. He walked leading off an inning 796 times.) He steals second. He steals third (or gets there on a ground ball to the right side of the infield). Scores on a sacrifice fly. We’ll see you tomorrow night. A college football coach, tired of hearing football called “a contact sport,” said: Dancing is a contact sport, football is a collision sport. Those who think baseball is for the delicate have never taken a 98-mph fastball to the ribs. Or done what Rickey did stealing bases. Only three players (Pete Rose, Cobb, Barry Bonds) reached base more often. No player made better use of being there than Rickey did. Mays led the National League in stolen bases four times, with a four-season total of 136, just six more than Rickey’s single-season record of 130 in 1982. His career total 1,406 steals is 468 more than Lou Brock’s second-best. He stole third — for the catcher, a shorter throw than to second — 322 times. Think of leaping from a car going about 20 mph, landing on your chest on sunbaked dirt, approximately 2,000 times over 25 seasons, well into middle age. No player absorbed more punishment in the pursuit of excellence. Bill James, the high priest of seamheads (baseball nerds fascinated by ever-more-arcane metrics), said of Rickey, “If you could split him in two, you’d have two Hall of Famers.” One for his 3,055 hits (27th all-time), one for everything else. Joe Posnanski in “The Baseball 100” says Rickey “was born on Christmas Day in 1958, in the back seat of an Oldsmobile speeding toward the hospital. ‘I was already fast,’ he said.” As an 18-year-old in Modesto, California, he stole seven in one game. He stole his last in the major leagues at 44. Because of Rickey’s eccentricities — he framed a $1 million bonus check; think about that — he was caricatured as an athletically gifted child. The cerebral Tony La Russa, who won more games than any manager not named Connie Mack, and who managed Rickey and against him, remembers him even more for “his baseball IQ” than for his legs. Rickey died the day before Dec. 21, the “shortest day,” with the least amount of sunlight, the beginning of winter. But to baseball fans, it is the beginning of the end of something awful: the offseason. Forty-five seasons ago, Rickey began playing major league baseball in a way — his wanting as well as his playing — no one else has. Will writes for The Washington Post. Get local news delivered to your inbox!India, ISA ink agreement for solar projects in four Indo-Pacific countries

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‘The president’s Middle East policy has failed’: Democrats are breaking with Biden over Israel and GazaAs Americans are beyond burned out, Tricia Hersey’s Nap Ministry preaches the right to rest

HE the Minister of Transport Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Thani affirmed that the celebration of the Qatar National Day is an occasion to renew the pledge of allegiance to the homeland and its wise leadership, which continues the path of construction, development and comprehensive renaissance and consecrates the values of unity, solidarity and love of the homeland that were established by the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of the National Day, he extended his congratulations and blessings to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, and to the wise government and the generous Qatari people. He added that as the National Day approaches, the Ministry of Transport is looking forward to exert all efforts to fulfil the obligations towards the homeland, and achieve the ambitious goals of its vision. This includes enhancing Qatar's global standing in the transport sector by continuing to strengthen the infrastructure for land, maritime, and air transport with the latest systems and technological innovations. These efforts aim to support the needs of all service, economic, and environmental sectors, while effectively connecting the State of Qatar to the regional and global economy. Related Story QSWF participates in Unesco's Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination Darb Al Saai a place to enjoy Qatari traditionsIs Washington positioned for long-term success in the Big Ten? We aren't convinced, for a variety of reasons. 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: She won’t marry me because of my young hiking buddy Dear Abby: She won't marry me because of my young hiking buddy Miss Manners: The bride ignored my rules as mother of the flower girl Miss Manners: The bride ignored my rules as mother of the flower girl 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: The old-timers insist on their strange pronunciations for streets Miss Manners: The old-timers insist on their strange pronunciations for streets Dear Abby: Do I have to thank the driver who hit my bicycling son? Dear Abby: Do I have to thank the driver who hit my bicycling son? ‘Bomb cyclone’ storm dumps more rain, with Friday to be biggest day in East Bay, Peninsula and South Bay 'Bomb cyclone' storm dumps more rain, with Friday to be biggest day in East Bay, Peninsula and South Bay 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 Alec Baldwin wasn’t invited to ‘Rust’ premiere, incites anger of slain cinematographer’s family Alec Baldwin wasn't invited to 'Rust' premiere, incites anger of slain cinematographer's family Harriette Cole: I’m worried about living with my brother’s persnickety wife Harriette Cole: I'm worried about living with my brother's persnickety wife Harriette Cole: Nobody understands why I won’t learn to drive Harriette Cole: Nobody understands why I won't learn to drive Trending Nationally Castle Rock school bus driver who left 40 kids at busy intersection “didn’t know what to do” A ‘horrific accident’: 2 deputies who died, 1 injured in Palm Beach County crash identified Illinois high court overturns Jussie Smollett’s convictions in allegedly staged hate crime San Diego toddler’s backyard snake bite bills totaled more than a quarter-million dollars Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdrawsEl Salvador Congress votes to end ban on metal mining

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KILLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she suffered an abrasion on her left hip and that something “stabbed” her when she crashed during her second run of a World Cup giant slalom race Saturday, doing a flip and sliding into the protective fencing. Shiffrin stayed down on the edge of the course for quite some time as the ski patrol attended to her. She was taken off the hill on a sled and waved to the cheering crowd before going to a clinic for evaluation. “Not really too much cause for concern at this point, I just can’t move,” she said later in a video posted on social media . “I have a pretty good abrasion and something stabbed me. ... I’m so sorry to scare everybody. It looks like all scans so far are clear.” She plans to skip the slalom race Sunday, writing on Instagram she will be “cheering from the sideline.” The 29-year-old was leading after the first run of the GS and charging for her 100th World Cup win. She was within sight of the finish line, five gates onto Killington’s steep finish pitch, when she an outside edge. She hit a gate and did a somersault before sliding into another gate. The fencing slowed her momentum as she came to an abrupt stop. Reigning Olympic GS champion Sara Hector of Sweden won in a combined time of 1 minute, 53.08 seconds. Zrinka Ljutic of Croatia was second and Swiss racer Camille Rast took third. The Americans saw Paula Moltzan and Nina O’Brien finish fifth and sixth. “It’s just so sad, of course, to see Mikaela crash like that and skiing so well,” Hector said on the broadcast after her win. “It breaks my heart and everybody else here.” The crash was a surprise for everyone. Shiffrin rarely DNFs — ski racing parlance for “did not finish.” In 274 World Cup starts, she DNF'd only 18 times. The last time she DNF'd in GS was January 2018. Shiffrin also has not suffered any devastating injuries. In her 14-year career, she has rehabbed only two on-hill injuries: a torn medial collateral ligament and bone bruising in her right knee in December 2015 and a sprained MCL and tibiofibular ligament in her left knee after a downhill crash in January 2024. Neither knee injury required surgery, and both times, Shiffrin was back to racing within two months. Saturday was shaping up to be a banner day for Shiffrin, who skied flawlessly in the first run and held a 0.32-second lead as she chased after her 100th World Cup win. Shiffrin, who grew up in both New Hampshire and Colorado and sharpened her skills at nearby Burke Mountain Academy, has long been a fan favorite. Shiffrin is driven not so much by wins but by arcing the perfect run. She has shattered so many records along the way. She passed Lindsey Vonn’s women’s mark of 82 World Cup victories on Jan. 24, 2023, during a giant slalom in Kronplatz, Italy. That March, Shiffrin broke Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark’s Alpine mark for most World Cup wins when she captured her 87th career race. To date, she has earned five overall World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals — along with a silver — and seven world championships. In other FIS Alpine World Cup news, the Tremblant World Cup — two women’s giant slaloms at Quebec’s Mont-Tremblant scheduled for next weekend — were canceled. Killington got 21 inches of snow on Thanksgiving Day, but Tremblant — five hours north of Killington — had to cancel its races because of a lack of snow. AP Sports Writer Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report. More AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiingcircus rides 。

Facing her first Thanksgiving without her sons, Johnny and Matthew, Jane Gaudreau still wants to give thanks. As part of the endless love and support that has been since the brothers’ passing in August, her family has been invited to attend the Flames game next Tuesday when the Columbus Blue Jackets come to town. The Gaudreaus will do so, en masse. Although the Flames have kept details of their Dec. 3 tribute under wraps, the Gaudreau family will be flown in to be part of an evening honouring Johnny Hockey for his work in the community and the nine years of brilliance he exhibited as one of organization’s most popular stars. “We are deeply grateful to the Flames organization for inviting us back,” said Jane in a text message from her home in New Jersey. “Guy and I, along with our entire family, are looking forward to reconnecting with many friends in Calgary. “The love and support so many have shown for John, Matty, and our entire family has helped us through the hardest time of our lives.” It promises to be one of the most stirring evenings in Saddledome history, as Flames fans will get a chance to wrap their arms around a man, his brother and a family that meant so much to the organization and city. And it couldn’t come at a better time. “It’s been a really tough few months for Guy and me,” admitted Jane, referring to her husband, who taught Johnny how to skate using Skittles as lures. “Some days are okay, but others are incredibly challenging. This past week, with Thanksgiving approaching, was especially difficult for us.” Although his parents flew out west for regular visits throughout his time in Calgary, Johnny missed seeing family for things like Thanksgiving so much that it prompted him to sign in Columbus in 2022 to be closer to home. The move was upsetting to Flames fans, but nothing compared to the hurt the city felt when news of his passing hit. The day after the two were struck and killed while bicycling on the side of a rural road near their family home in New Jersey , thousands of Calgarians made emotional pilgrimages to the ’Dome to pay their respects. They brought flowers, sticks, jerseys, photos, stuffies, Skittles and purple Gatorade. They cried, they hugged, they shared, they reflected. for the brothers was attended by more than 10,000, which included former teammates and alumni. The Gaudreau family saw it all from afar, and used it as nourishment to help deal with their unspeakable pain. “The Flames organization and the Calgary fans have been a special part of our lives for over 13 incredible years,” said Jane, whose son was a Flames fourth-round draft pick in 2011. “Some of the friendships we’ve made here have become like family to us, and we will always cherish the memories we’ve created together.” They’ll create even more Dec. 3, just four days after the Flames visit Columbus for the first time this season. That too promises to be emotional. Many have wondered if the Flames will retire Johnny’s No. 13, raise a banner with his name on it or pay tribute to him in other ways. Nothing will be more enduring or powerful than the memory of seeing his pregnant wife, Meredith, and two kids, his sisters Katie and Kristen, his parents, his brother’s pregnant wife and extended family members in house. It was Katie’s wedding they were all slated to be at the day after the brothers were killed. Jane and Guy are beloved in Calgary, where Guy showed up several times with hockey gear in search of some beer league action. They are recognized wherever they go, and have long been embraced by locals who watched their undersized college standout become an NHL all-star. Aside from a video they did for Sportsnet to thank fans for their support on opening night, Jane and Guy have kept a very low profile, quietly battling through every parent’s worst nightmare. Coming to Calgary and stepping back into the spotlight takes courage. They’ll be welcomed with love. “Many of our fondest memories were in Calgary,” said Jane. “It’s where we watched John grow from a college student into a remarkable young man, and as parents we are so incredibly proud. “We are so thankful for the time we’ve spent in this wonderful city, and look forward to seeing everyone again.” The feeling is mutual.

Funding and launch platform Kickstarter will make its debut at CES in 2025. The 15-year-old company raises money via investors for independent creators and innovators. In that time it says backers have pledged over $3.4 billion to support design and technology ideas, including those from companies including Peloton, Oura Ring, Bird Buddy and Anker. Early stage startups and established brands have used Kickstarter, which is being employed in Australia by those seeking funding for things such as limited edition enamel pins, novels, pocket knives, playing cards and video games. CES 2025 is in Las Vegas January 7-10, 2025, but many events are held in the days prior to the show starting. On January 6 Kickstarter will hold a prototype showcase. Kickstarter projects in Australia. “Creators of three soon-to-be launched Kickstarter campaigns – a new slow-tech device from Astrohaus, dolls designed to help teach girls how to code from E-liza and the world’s first instant solar kit from Zoltux – will debut their prototypes in the Kickstarter space for the first time,” the company said. On January 9 attendees can meet and take advice from Kickstarter creators. BioLite’s VP of Marketing, Erica Rosen, and Unistellar’s Co-CEO and cofounder, Laurent Marfisi, will be at the Kickstarter booth for “casual conversations about their journeys, how they leveraged crowdfunding to grow their businesses, and what makes a campaign thrive”. BioLite and Unistellar are both repeat Kickstarter creators. Combined, they have raised over US$10 million (A$16 million)across seven crowdfunding campaigns. On January 10 Kickstarter’s GM Andrew Marks will talk about Kickstarter’s new in-house performance marketing unit and “offer actionable advice on building an effective performance marketing strategy”. Laura Feinstein, Senior Design and Technology Editor, will offer tips on how to successfully launch a crowdfunding campaign for design or technology projects. Kickstarter’s CES 2025 booth will “act as a real-life timeline, paying homage to some of the most successful products that started as Kickstarter campaigns over the last 15 years. Products from Hypershell, LARQ, Looking Glass, Meticulous, PongBot and ChompShop will also be on display.Warriors face Pelicans, out to stay perfect in NBA Cup play

The Green Bay Packers pitched a shutout. Green Bay concluded Week 16 with a 34-0 home rout over the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football . > Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are Jordan Love didn't have the best performance in the victory, but a solid rushing attack got the Packers over the line. The Saints tried to compete with injury issues, but Spencer Rattler couldn't help put any points on the board. New Orleans dropped to 5-10 with the loss having already been eliminated from postseason contention. Green Bay improved to 11-4 and clinched its spot for the second straight season with Love. Let's analyze the game further with winners and losers: WINNER: Green Bay's rushing attack The Packers were propelled by Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks on the ground. Jacobs, as usual, led the way with 69 yards on 13 carries, while Wilson added 52 yards on 11 carries. Josh Jacobs confirmed STRONG pic.twitter.com/fORemLJWIf Brooks tacked on 23 yards on six tries, with all three rushers scoring a touchdown apiece. With a total of 188 ground yards between nine different rushers (including Malik Willis' three QB kneels), Green Bay easily outpaced New Orleans. LOSER: New Orleans' rushing attack It was the opposite story on the ground for the Saints. Without leading rusher Alvin Kamara, no option could generate any momentum against the Packers' front. Rattler led the way with 28 yards on five attempts. Three other rushers tallied 15 carries for just 39 yards, with Jordan Mims' 16 yards on four attempts leading the way. Kendre Miller had 15 yards on eight runs. WINNER: Playoff berths The win moved Green Bay to 11-4 and officially clinched the team a playoff spot. The Packers are currently the No. 6 seed after being No. 7 last season and showcasing the potential for a deep run. Right above Green Bay is the Minnesota Vikings, which is 13-2 and duking it out with the also 13-2 Detroit Lions for the NFC North title and No. 1 seed in the NFC. Green Bay will need help if it hopes to climb the ladder. LOSER: QB play While the Packers put up 34 points, Love wasn't as influential as he could've been on the night. He completed just 16 of 28 passes for 182 yards, one touchdown and no picks. Love had a strong run in the playoffs last season, but he's struggled with inconsistency this year. Though he avoided throwing a pick, he'll need to be much better to give the Packers a chance against the real contenders. Rattler was also predictably poor, completing 50% of his passes for 153 yards, no touchdowns and a pick. WINNER: Shutouts Green Bay's win became the first shutout of the 2024 regular season. As the league continues to focus on offensive play and scoring, New Orleans had nothing to show. With Derek Carr and a healthier offense things could've been different, but for now the Saints entered the wrong side of history despite their ability to light up the scoreboard in the first few weeks.AI companies that develop software capable of creating child abuse images will soon face criminal charges under new laws designed to close a critical loophole. At present, a gap in the law means that people who possess and distribute abuse images generated by artificial intelligence can be prosecuted, but the software developers cannot. Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, the online safety minister, told peers on Thursday that the government would “bring forward legislative measures to address the issue in this session” and that the Home Office would “make an announcement on this early in the new year”. AI-created child abuse images have become a growing problem as software has advanced. Peers have been told that the images are being created on an “industrial scale”. The Internet

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their 19-9 win over the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay’s team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don’t stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they’ve mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other’s weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay’s fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. What’s working Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams’ offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. What needs help Stafford’s 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday’s weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Stock up Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. Stock down CB Cobie Durant didn’t play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA’s first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon’s recent play when asked why Durant didn’t get on the field in New Jersey. Injuries The Rams’ improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee’s successful season debut. Key number 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. Next steps The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can’t clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC’s third seed, but that doesn’t matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North’s two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Universal Pictures has revealed that Christopher Nolan's next film will be The Odyssey, a 'mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology' that will be released in theaters on July 17, 2026. Nolan's The Odyssey will bring "Homer's foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time" and will be a retelling of the Ancient Greek epic poem that was first written in the 8th or 7th century BC. For those unfamiliar, The Odyssey follows the journey of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who travels the world for 10 years in an attempt to get home after the Trojan War. While Universal didn't reveal any further details on Nolan's The Odyssey, reports have already been painting a picture of the stacked cast the film will have. Matt Damon was the first person reported to be in talks to star in Nolan's next film, which marks his return to Universal after 2023's Oppenheimer, which won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. Alongside Damon, reports state he may be joined by Charlize Theron, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, and Robert Pattinson. We're obviously excited about Nolan's next film as we gave Oppenheimer a 10/10. In our review, we said, "A biopic in constant free fall, Oppenheimer is Christopher Nolan’s most abstract yet most exacting work, with themes of guilt writ large through apocalyptic IMAX nightmares that grow both more enormous and more intimate as time ticks on. "A disturbing, mesmerizing vision of what humanity is capable of bringing upon itself, both through its innovation, and through its capacity to justify any atrocity." For more, read about Nolan's very public split with Warner Bros. and which movie we said was the best of 2024. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com . Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.Short-rested Chiefs, Steelers gear up for Christmas Day clash

The Osun Unity Forum, a support group within the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, has announced plans to adopt a strategy used by American President-elect Donald Trump to unseat Governor Ademola Adeleke in the 2026 governorship election. According to the group’s convener, Abimbola Amusan, the APC would mobilise new voters and students just like Trump did in the US to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris in the November presidential poll. Speaking at a press briefing held at the Osun APC State Secretariat in Osogbo, the group’s convener, Amusan, outlined a strategy to engage voters who will be turning 18 before the election. He said, “Every four years, new people reach voting age, and these are the demographics we are focusing on. “Let me give an example from American politics: Donald Trump became US President partly because he appealed to young voters just entering college. This shows how crucial this new bloc of voters can be. “So, we are focused on rallying this group behind the APC before the 2026 governorship poll. While I can’t provide exact numbers, we are targeting significant support from this demographic.” He said efforts would be made to make the young people realise they had a major stake in the polity. Related News Trump’s policies and old global ties Osun gov unveils agric scheme Osun recovers ₦53m overpayment to retirees “The best people to give the right orientation about political associations are the youth. We will use a technocratic approach to help them understand that politics is not just a jamboree but an intellectual endeavour where they can contribute meaningfully as voters,” he said. Amusa said his group would fully support whichever candidate emerges as the APC flagbearer, adding that the group’s activities were funded by committed APC members passionate about reclaiming power in Osun. He also expressed confidence that party elders would provide guidance at the appropriate time. But in an interview with The PUNCH, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, dismissed the APC forum’s plans as futile. Alimi boasted that the 2026 governorship election would be a walkover for Adeleke, given his performance in office in the last two years. “We have infrastructural projects spread across the state, and when it is time for re-election, it will be a walkover for the governor, I can assure you,” Alimi said. “They can continue to dream.”How SCV’s flying mammals play a crucial role in the ecosystem

Combining Blockchain and VR: Redefining Immersive ExperiencesThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . Mega automobile merger Nissan and Honda have begun official merger discussions , the two companies announced on Monday. Negotiations will end June 2025. Japan-listed Honda shares were last up 13.4% on Tuesday and on track for their best day since October 2008 , after the company announced plans to buy back 24% of its issued shares by Dec. 23 next year. Taiwan tops Asian markets As of Dec. 23, Taiwan's Taiex had gained 28.85%, making it the best-performing stock market in Asia-Pacific in 2024. The Taiex's focus on tech and tech-related stocks helped supercharge its performance. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company soared 82.12% in 2024, and Foxconn — which trades as Hon Hai Precision Industry — advanced 77.51%. Positive start to holidays U.S. markets rose on Monday on the back of a strong showing by large tech stocks. The New York Stock Exchange closes early Tuesday for Christmas Eve. Asia-Pacific stocks traded mixed on Tuesday . Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped roughly 0.4% even as Honda shares popped. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index climbed more than 1%. UK GDP not OK The U.K. economy failed to expand in the three months ending September, according to revised figure from the Office for National Statistics, published Monday. Previous estimates had pegged third-quarter gross domestic product at 0.1%. Earlier this month, data from the ONS showed the U.K. economy had unexpectedly contracted by 0.1% in October. [PRO] Buffett's biggest war chest Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is currently holding $325 billion in cash — the largest amount it's hoarded in absolute terms. Cash now comprises around 30% of Berkshire's total assets, the highest proportion in 34 years, according to data from Oppenheimer. Buffett sold large quantities of Apple and Bank of America shares this year. Why is the 94-year-old legendary investor holding on to so much cash? Analysts weigh in. U.S. markets began the trading week in holiday cheer. The S&P 500 gained 0.73% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average , recovering from earlier losses, ticked up 0.16%. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.98% on the back of strong performances from large tech firms such as Nvidia , Tesla and Meta Platforms . However, shares of bitcoin proxy MicroStrategy slumped 8.8% on its first day in the Nasdaq-100 index, following the cryptocurrency's price falling to below $93,000 on Monday. That said, MicroStrategy is still among the best-performing U.S. tech companies valued at $5 billion or more, according to FactSet data. Its shares have rocketed 426% so far this year, mostly thanks to the company's stockpile of bitcoins , which it started to amass in 2020. With the rally in bitcoin following Donald Trump's election victory, MicroStrategy's bitcoin holding is now worth around $42 billion. It's the basis for the company's market capitalization ballooning to $82 billion from roughly $1.1 billion from the time it began buying bitcoin in bulk. Investors looking to ride on MicroStrategy's explosive rise should remember that the company's share price is currently trading on the back of bitcoin prices. The flipside of it is that if bitcoin prices crater for any reason — volatile as cryptocurrency can be — MicroStrategy shares may stumble too. Trading is likely to be thin this week. Markets in the U.S. will close early on Tuesday and take a break on Wednesday for Christmas Day. But light trading doesn't mean small moves in markets. "With the market's primary uptrends still intact, we are not giving up on the potential for a Santa Claus to come to Broad & Wall this year," Craig Johnson, chief market technician at Piper Sandler, said in a note. As investors celebrate the festivities — and the S&P's 25.25% year-to-date pop — they might find an extra present underneath the tree. — CNBC's Yun Li, MacKenzie Sigalos and Ari Levy contributed to this report. CNBC Daily Open will be on hiatus and return next year. Happy holidays!

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Christmas 2024: 80+ WhatsApp wishes to share with your loved ones

Global Neurofeedback System Market To Reach $2.14 Billion By 2028 With A Growth Rate Of 10.7%

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Top Countries Making the Best Use of AISANTA ANA, Calif., Dec. 13, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — In a groundbreaking move for the property management and inspection industry, DrBalcony ( drbalcony.com ) introduces its cutting-edge app, a pioneering digital platform designed to revolutionize the balcony inspection process. This innovative tool empowers homeowners, property managers, and Homeowner Associations (HOAs) with a streamlined, intuitive experience, eliminating inefficiencies and redefining how inspections are managed. With a user-friendly interface and advanced features, the DrBalcony App transforms what was once a complex, time-consuming process into one that is seamless and efficient. Users can now obtain instant quotes, create and manage projects, and schedule inspections—all with just a few taps on their devices. “At DrBalcony, we are passionate about reimagining property management through technology,” said Greg, VP of Sales of DrBalcony. “The app reflects our dedication to simplifying inspections while upholding safety and compliance standards. With over 2,500 inspections completed, we’re proud to offer a solution that sets a new benchmark for convenience and reliability.” FEATURES THAT SET THE DRBALCONY APP APART The DrBalcony App is tailored to meet the specific needs of California property owners, offering features designed to ensure the integrity of balcony structures while making compliance with state laws like SB 721 and SB 326 more accessible than ever. Learn more: https://drbalcony.com/services/ A SOLUTION BACKED BY REAL RESULTS “For years, the balcony inspection process has been frustrating and inefficient,” shared Omid, CEO of DrBalcony. “This app eliminates unnecessary complications. From instant quotes to straightforward scheduling, it’s a game-changer.” DOWNLOAD THE DRBALCONY APP TODAY The DrBalcony App is now available for download and marks a significant leap forward in property management. By addressing common pain points in the inspection process, DrBalcony ensures peace of mind for property owners, engineers, and HOAs, all while maintaining safety and compliance with California’s strict balcony safety regulations . About DrBalcony: DrBalcony leverages innovative technology to enhance balcony inspection, focusing on efficiency, safety, and customer-centric solutions. With a mission to simplify the complex, DrBalcony has become a trusted name in the balcony inspection industry, ensuring compliance and safety standards are met with ease. Learn more: https://drbalcony.com/ . Your property’s safety has never been simpler—download the DrBalcony App today! NEWS SOURCE: DrBalcony Keywords: Real Estate, DrBalcony, Balcony Inspections, home inspection, safety, app, solution, service, SB 326, SB 721, SANTA ANA, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (DrBalcony) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire . Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P122836 APDF15TBLLI To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/drbalcony-app-redefines-balcony-inspections-with-unparalleled-efficiency/ © 2024 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.

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

Shares of Alphabet ( GOOG 3.54% ) ( GOOGL 3.60% ) moved higher today after the tech giant was named a top stock for 2025 by Barron's and seemed to benefit from broader market news. As a result, the stock was up 4.3% at 12:46 p.m. ET. Alphabet keeps climbing A number of news items seemed to lift the tech stock higher today as it added to last week's gains after the launch of its quantum computing chip, Willow. Today, investors seemed to react to Barron's choice to include Alphabet on the list of its 10 favorite stocks to buy for 2025. Alphabet was the only "Magnificent Seven" stock to make the list, and the tech giant is cheaper than most of those peers, still trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 26 even as the stock reached an all-time high today. In other news that could favor Alphabet, the incoming Trump administration wants to drop a car-crash reporting requirement related to autonomous vehicles, which could benefit Waymo as it attempts to scale up its autonomous vehicle business, and investors also seem to think that Trump's choice to head the Federal Trade Commission, Andrew Ferguson, is likely to be friendlier to big tech than Lina Khan, the current head. Finally, a report this weekend said that CEO Sundar Pichand and co-founder Sergey Brin dined with Trump on Thursday, offering another sign of possibly improved relations with the new administration. What's next for Alphabet Alphabet, which still makes most of its money from search advertising, is closely tied to the broader economy, so the stock is likely to continue doing well if the global economy remains stable and continues to expand next year. Given its valuation, it does seem safer than some of its Magnificent Seven peers, though its advertising business still faces risk as artificial intelligence technology evolves.Israel launches new strikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to ceasefire with Hezbollah

TOM LEONARD: Chilling words on bullets fired at murdered health insurance boss that hint at why he was targeted Follow all the latest news and updates in the manhunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's killer By TOM LEONARD Published: 22:52 GMT, 5 December 2024 | Updated: 23:33 GMT, 5 December 2024 e-mail View comments It was still dark when Brian Thompson, chief executive of America’s biggest health insurance company, stepped out of his luxury hotel in Manhattan’s Midtown on Wednesday morning and walked across the street towards the Hilton. After breakfast, he and scores of executives, investors and Wall Street analysts would be gathering in the second-floor ballroom for UnitedHealth Group’s annual ‘investor day’. They would hear presentations about the dazzling performance of a business with projected revenues of at least £350billion next year – most of which came from UnitedHealthcare, the arm of the health empire run by Thompson. However, as the world now knows, Thompson – a 50-year-old father of two sons, who earned an annual salary of $10million (£7.8million) – never made it to the meeting. He was just a few feet from the Hilton’s entrance at 6.46am when a masked gunman wearing a dark hoodie and grey backpack stepped from behind a parked car. The next few moments, caught on one of the CCTV cameras that are ubiquitous in that upmarket area, continue to be scrutinised for clues. The footage shows the assailant had been waiting for several minutes, lurking by a side entrance. Allowing Thompson, wearing a blue suit, to pass by him first, he then pulled out a gun fitted with a silencer and shot his target in the back from just a few feet away. The next few moments, caught on one of the CCTV cameras that are ubiquitous in that upmarket area, continue to be scrutinised for clues, writes Tom Leonard The footage shows the assailant had been waiting for several minutes, lurking by a side entrance His victim stumbled and looked back at his assassin, who walked calmly towards him His victim stumbled and looked back at his assassin, who walked calmly towards him. The killer’s 9mm pistol malfunctioned but he cleared the jam and continued firing, hitting his target in the back and leg as he collapsed on the pavement and tried to crawl away. The assassin then coolly walked off, breaking into a run only to cross the street before fleeing down an alleyway, mounting an electric bike and riding into nearby Central Park, where CCTV coverage is sparse. Even if he hadn’t used a silencer on his gun – in movies, always the mark of a professional hitman – the premeditated but audacious assassination in the heart of Manhattan by a killer able to swiftly vanish, had the hallmarks of a Hollywood film. Read More Chilling actions of UnitedHealthcare CEO gunman revealed by witness who 'saw the whole thing' And yesterday, fresh details emerged about the murder that has gripped the US and raised startling questions about the extent of anger over its controversial health-insurance industry. Last night, police released a picture of the grinning gunman taken in a hostel in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Police, who have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture, believe that the suspect stayed at the hostel. Other clues have emerged – among them that the killer stopped off before the attack in a nearby branch of Starbucks, where he was again captured on CCTV – this time wearing a mask and buying a bottle of water and two energy bars. Investigators also discovered a mobile phone near the shooting which they believe was his – and obtained a search warrant to analyse its contents. Officers have confirmed it was a ‘targeted’ and ‘brazen’ attack in a neighbourhood that at this time of year is heaving with tourists browsing the famous Christmas window displays along nearby Fifth Avenue. Many have suggested this is a macabre reference to a 2010 book by Professor Jay M Feinman, an insurance law expert, titled Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims And What You Can Do About It Investigators also discovered a mobile phone near the shooting which they believe was his – and obtained a search warrant to analyse its contents The manhunt continued and investigators refused to comment on a possible motive But as the manhunt continued and investigators refused to comment on a possible motive, many Americans wasted little time in concluding that the victim’s death must have been related to his job at the top of a deeply loathed, trillion-dollar industry. Suspicions that Thompson was shot in retaliation for his company’s behaviour, perhaps for a specific denial of insurance coverage, grew after police revealed that the words ‘deny’, ‘defend’ and ‘depose’ were found ‘meticulously’ written in marker pen on three bullet casings at the scene of the murder. Many have suggested this is a macabre reference to a 2010 book by Professor Jay M Feinman, an insurance law expert, titled Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims And What You Can Do About It. The book is billed as an ‘expose of insurance injustice and a plan for consumers and lawmakers to fight it’. Americans pay more for healthcare than in any other country – with total spending in 2022 reaching a jaw-dropping £3.5trillion, more than 17 per cent of US GDP. And much of that goes to health insurers. British people may have a love-hate relationship with the NHS but, for all its faults, no Briton has gone bankrupt for lack of healthcare since the end of the Second World War. Yet it’s rare to find an American who doesn’t regard their own country’s wildly profitable health insurers as ruthless blood-suckers, charging punitive premiums while doing everything they can to avoid paying out for treatments. And UnitedHealthcare, which has tens of millions of customers and 140,000 staff, had a particularly bad reputation in this respect. Thompson’s estranged wife Paulette has since revealed that he had received ‘some threats’ that she believed were about ‘a lack of coverage’. She added: ‘I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.’ Unsurprisingly, the company removed the names of its other executives from its website within hours of the shooting. Some of them have also deleted their profiles from the social networking site LinkedIn. Last night, police released a picture of the grinning gunman taken in a hostel in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Police, who have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture, believe that the suspect stayed at the hostel Thompson’s estranged wife Paulette has since revealed that he had received ‘some threats’ that she believed were about ‘a lack of coverage’. Insiders say it’s not uncommon for health insurance company bosses to receive threats – while Philip Klein, a security company chief who has provided bodyguard services to Thompson in the past, said he was shocked he hadn’t been protected at the time of the shooting. It also emerged that Thompson’s mansion in Maple Grove, Minnesota – close to his company’s headquarters – was targeted in a bomb threat 12 hours after his killing. In an email to a local official, a pipe bomb was said to have been left at the house. Police, who found no explosives at the address, also searched his wife’s home a mile away. After Thompson’s death, many ordinary Americans went online to say how much they hated his industry. ‘I’m an ER nurse and the things I’ve seen dying patients get denied for by insurance makes me physically sick,’ said one. ‘I just can’t feel sympathy for him because of all of those patients and their families.’ Another wrote sarcastically: ‘The ambulance ride to the hospital probably won’t be covered.’ A third said: ‘This needs to be the new norm: EAT THE RICH.’ Whoever killed Thompson certainly knew how to handle a gun, experts have said. The silencer fitted to the weapon is designed to quieten the noise and reduce flash. The gunman also assumed a practised shooting stance and showed no sign of panic when his pistol malfunctioned, smoothly and quickly clearing the jam and continuing to fire. The killer’s decision to cycle into Central Park, where security cameras would have had much more trouble tracking him, was astute. The son of a grain elevator worker, Thompson had joined UnitedHealth in 2004 and worked his way up. He took over his new job running the insurance arm of the business in 2021. His reign at UnitedHealthcare had seen the company’s profits rise – but not without considerable controversy. It has faced various inquiries and been accused by US Congressmen and federal regulators of routinely refusing to pay for medical operations and treatments. The company is being sued by the estates of two people who died after it denied them healthcare coverage. The lawsuits claim the company uses a secretive but deeply flawed AI algorithm called nH Predict, which forecasts how long patients will need to stay in rehab. Designed to maximise profits for the company, it allegedly overrides doctors’ judgments and denies critical health coverage to elderly and disabled patients. The company says the lawsuit has ‘no merit’ and that the algorithm ‘is not used to make coverage determinations’. Brian Thompson also faced a further lawsuit from investors alleging insider trading after he sold $15million worth of shares in his company before it was publicly disclosed that it is being investigated by the US Justice Department over alleged anti-competitive behaviour. As an analyst hailed a ‘very dark day for all of health care’, the people at the top of a reviled industry must now worry about their own health and well-being. Brian Thompson Share or comment on this article: TOM LEONARD: Chilling words on bullets fired at murdered health insurance boss that hint at why he was targeted e-mail Add commentTrans rights activists stage 'bathroom sit-in' near Mike Johnson's office amid Capitol Hill restroom ban

ARLINGTON, Texas, Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenway Technologies, Inc. (OTCPINKSHEETS: GWTI), (“Greenway”), is an advanced gas-to-liquids (“GTL”) and gas-to-hydrogen (“GTH”) technology development company. On October 13, 2023, GME Hydro LP (“GME”) and Greenway signed a non-binding letter of intent (“LOI”) under which GME would purchase two patented GWTI H-Reformer TM units (“H-Reformers TM ”). The H-Reformers would be used to convert natural gas (CH 4 ) to hydrogen (H 2 ) for use in electrical power generation. In conjunction with the execution of the agreement, GME committed to make an investment in GWTI via the purchase of restricted stock. Since that time, GME and Greenway (the Parties”) have worked together to develop a definitive agreement to effectuate the terms of the October 13, 2023 LOI. To reaffirm the commitment of the Parties, a new LOI dated December 12, 2024, was executed. Greenway’s two H-Reformer TM units will be configured to produce a daily total of up to 20,000 KG of hydrogen that will fuel reciprocating generators, which are components of a larger power generation system, in quantities sufficient to generate 10 MW of electricity. Greenway’s H-Reformer TM units are scalable to meet small and large hydrogen production specifications by adjusting the unit output production configuration or by “stacking” multiple units. GME will purchase, install, and operate the two H-Reformer TM units at its Johnstown, PA facility, (or at a site to be determined) where the locations would have access to on-site fossil and renewable natural gas. By combining incoming fossil natural gas with 25% renewable natural gas, the project should be eligible for Federal Clean Air H 2 Credits. GME will fully optimize Greenway’s proprietary technology to achieve its goal of a low-cost, on-site clean hydrogen production solution with very low atmospheric carbon, as H-ReformerTM units are compatible with processes that separate carbon from its only hydrogen production bi-product, CO 2 . The valuable liquified carbon will be sold to provide additional revenue and offset operating costs. In a statement, Kevin Jones, President of GWTI, said, “Greenway Technologies has been working diligently on Research and Development over the last ten years to develop and patent processes and procedures to perfect innovative and clean gas-to-hydrogen solutions. Hydrogen shows great promise as a fuel but has been prevented from widespread use due to the prohibitively high price of transportation, whether it be by truck, rail, or an extremely limited pipeline infrastructure. Because natural gas is abundantly available at numerous locations, the winning hydrogen solution was always going to be one that could perform the hydrogen creation at the final site where it is used without carbon generation into the atmosphere. Additionally, other hydrogen-creation processes are either non-scalable, carbon-generating, or too expensive to be practical. The world can truly see the first step in widespread hydrogen production and use, whether it be for power generation, automobile, truck or train fueling stations, or other applications in a small, clean, and previously unimagined price at virtually anywhere there is a natural gas supply. Jones went on to say “Since the time of the original LOI, GME Hydro and GWTI have been investigating the use of additional GWTI technology for a variety of purposes. Research has begun on converting methane produced by municipal waste dumps into hydrogen to fuel additional electrical generation equipment. In addition, GME Hydro and GWTI have been investigating the use of GWTI’s other technology, the G-Reformer TM . By using this technology in conjunction with their projects, the G-Reformer TM units can be configured to create synthetic diesel blend stock and associated liquid chemicals. Finally, GME Hydro and GWTI are investigating using the G-Reformer TM to create methanol, a liquid fuel, in those areas where removal of the created offtake is more easily accomplished as a single liquid”. Methanol is emerging as a clean burning hydrocarbon fuel which has substantial value if created in a low-carbon emitting process. Methanol created using renewable methane is in large demand at premium prices due to worldwide interest in lower carbon standards.” About Greenway Technologies, Inc. Based in Arlington, Texas, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Greenway Innovative Energy, Inc., is engaged in the research and development of proprietary GTL and GTH syngas conversion systems that can be scaled to meet oil and gas field production requirements, or the requirements of various processes where natural gas is produced or available. The Company’s patented technology has been integrated into its recently completed first-generation commercial G-Reformer TM unit, a unique component used to convert natural gas into synthesis gas (a mixture of Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide). In the case of hydrogen creation, an additional new technology, the H-Reformer TM , has been created which creates synthesis gas consisting of Hydrogen gas and CO 2 . When combined with an FT reactor and catalyst, G-Reformer TM units can be deployed to process a variety of natural gas streams, including pipeline gas, associated gas, flared gas, vented gas, coal-bed methane, and biomass to produce fuels including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and methanol as well as valuable chemical outputs. When derived from natural gas, these fuels are incrementally cleaner than conventionally produced oil-based fuels. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the ongoing effects of the pandemic on delays and orders regarding Greenway's proprietary gas-to-liquids system, potential business developments and future interest in our clean fuel technologies. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, general economic and political conditions, the continuation of Research and Development, and the ongoing impact of the pandemic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CONTACT: Kevin Jones, President Greenway Technologies, Inc. Investors & Analysts Contact: Greenway Investor Relations ir@gwtechinc.com SEC filings can be found at: http://gwtechinc.com/SEC-filings/ For more information, visit GWTI's website: www.gwtechinc.com ###

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The white-bearded Christian saint whose acts of generosity inspired America’s secular Santa Claus figure is known worldwide — but Saint Nicholas’ origin story is not. The legends surrounding jolly old St. Nicholas — celebrated annually on Dec. 6 — go way beyond delivering candy and toys to children. St. Nicholas was a fourth century Christian bishop from the Mediterranean port city of Myra (in modern-day Turkey). “Much of the rest is legend. There’s not really a lot of hard historical evidence about St. Nicholas,” said the Rev. Nicholas Ayo, author of “Saint Nicholas in America: Christmas Holy Day and Holiday.” But whether the stories are true is not so much the point, said Ayo, an 89-year-old retired Notre Dame University professor named after St. Nicholas. “There’s no Santa Claus that lands on the roof, but there’s a desire in people’s heart for an unconditional love that doesn’t depend on your behavior, but the fact that you’re somebody’s child.” Devotion to St. Nicholas — also referred to as St. Nick — spread during the Middle Ages across Europe and he became a favorite subject for medieval artists and liturgical plays, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. He is the patron saint of Greece and Russia, Moscow and New York, as well as charities, children and pawnbrokers. He also is the patron saint of sailors. In 1807, Italian sailors took the remains of St. Nicholas from Myra to the seaport of Bari, on the southeast coast of the boot of Italy. They built a church in his honor; relics believed to be his are kept in Bari’s 11th century basilica of San Nicola. St. Nicholas Day is celebrated every year on Dec. 6, typically by filling the stockings and shoes children leave out overnight with sweets and toys. It also is a fitting date for the patron saint of sailors. “The December feast day of Saint Nicholas coincides with the beginning of the winter storm season on the Mediterranean,” Ayo wrote. Legends surrounding St. Nicholas’ generosity appear in texts ranging from medieval manuscripts to modern-day poems, including how he interceded on behalf of wrongly condemned prisoners and miraculously saved sailors from storms. One of the most famous legends, Ayo said, features the aging father of three young women who didn’t have means to pay for their dowry. St. Nicholas is said to have thrown gold pieces into the man’s window. “It is the quintessential Nicholas,” Ayo wrote. “It requires no miracle, no credulity from the hearer, and no superstition at any level. What is needed is only a generous heart ready to give of his wealth in a self-effacing way that others may come to know a deep love in their life.” k inspired Santa Devotion to St. Nicholas seems to have faded after the 16th century Protestant Reformation, except in the Netherlands where his legend remained as Sinterklaas. In the 17th century, Dutch Protestants who settled in New York brought the Sinterklaas tradition with them. “The Dutch had St. Nicholas on the bow of the first ship that went into New York harbor,” Ayo said. Eventually, St. Nicholas morphed into the secular Santa Claus. Artist Thomas Nast, an engraver in Morristown, New Jersey, who illustrated the front cover of Harper’s magazine for many years, played a key role in the transformation, Ayo said. “He followed the description of Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas — and Clement Clarke Moore’s ‘Twas the Night before Christmas’ poem,” Ayo said. “So, that’s how that got changed. But in Europe, the bishop shows up in bishop’s clothing at the door sometimes.”iOS 18.2 is nearing its public release and it's packed with AI features

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy meet with Republicans to talk spending cuts. They face a steep climb.MasterChef bosses ‘plot to ERASE’ Gregg Wallace from new series after filming last month in bid to salvage show

Preview: Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Borussia Dortmund - prediction, team news, lineupsLiam Devlin’s first game at Matthews Arena as a member of the University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team was a full-circle moment. Devlin, who is from Needham, Mass., grew up attending Northeastern University hockey games at the historic arena. The senior left wing played his first game there when he was about 12 years old as a member of the Boston Junior Eagles. When Devlin first played at Matthews as a Wildcat in 2021, the Huskies featured several of his old Junior Eagles teammates like Sam Colangelo, Jayden Struble and Riley Hughes. UNH (6-4-2, 1-3-2 Hockey East) will make its final scheduled trip to Matthews Arena on Friday for a 7 p.m. Hockey East bout against Northeastern (3-6-3, 1-4-3). The game will be televised on NESN and streamed on ESPN+. The arena will be demolished after this season and replaced by a multipurpose athletic facility that is estimated to open in 2028. “It’s always been a cool place to go, watch games,” Devlin said. “It’s cool to say that I’ve skated on it, played some games on it towards the end with all the history that’s there in the rink.” Formerly Boston Arena, Matthews opened in 1910 and is the world’s oldest multipurpose athletic building. It features the world’s oldest artificial ice sheet and is considered to be the world’s oldest ice hockey arena still in use. The Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics and New England Whalers, which became the Hartford Whalers and now Carolina Hurricanes, all played their first home games at the arena. The Beanpot and ECAC tournaments both started there. “Growing up in Boston, it’s all you hear about as a kid -- the old Boston Arena,” said seventh-year UNH coach Mike Souza, who is from Wakefield, Mass. “Saturday afternoon hockey from morning until late at night. Middlesex League games and the Bay State games. I think it holds a special place in Massachusetts hockey lore.” Souza said he does not have many specific memories playing at Matthews while at UNH except scoring a shorthanded goal on a two-on-one rush with teammate Jason Krog. Don’t ask him what year that was. Souza, who played at UNH from 1996-2000, got his first win at Matthews as the Wildcats’ coach last year -- a 4-2 UNH triumph on Nov. 17, 2023, behind two goals and an assist from Brentwood’s Cy LeClerc. The win marked the Wildcats’ first at Matthews since Nov. 15, 2013. Devlin said he and his teammates were aware of the team’s winless drought there entering the game -- the first of a Wildcats home-and-home series sweep. “That was a really cool feeling,” said Devlin, who was sidelined with an injury that game. “I thought that was a big weekend for our team moving forward in the year. Last year, I thought that helped catapult some success for us.” Those victories last season were part of UNH’s best start to a campaign in 11 years. The Wildcats finished 20-15-1 overall and fell to rival Maine in the Hockey East quarterfinals. UNH traveled to Matthews last month, earning a 1-1 tie with the Huskies on Nov. 16. Northeastern won the shootout. It was the second game of a home-and-home series. The Wildcats won, 4-1, at the Whittemore Center the night before. Souza said Northeastern has had the hardest schedule in the country so far. The Huskies have played five teams that were ranked among the top 15 in the country when they faced them -- then-No. 8 Quinnipiac University, then-No. 1 Denver, then-No.6 Maine, then-No. 11 Providence College and No. 3 Boston College. They went a combined 2-5-2 in those contests. UNH is coming off a non-league home weekend sweep of Rochester Institute of Technology. The Wildcats outscored the Tigers, 11-2. “I think you’ve got to manage the puck, I think we’ve got to play to our identity, make sure we don’t beat ourselves and (don’t) get into a track meet with their top guys,” Souza said of playing Northeastern. ahall@unionleader.com

Automatic voter registration set to get underway in WalesAs Hegseth’s public profile grew, he faced deepening private turmoil

Adewale 0-2 0-0 0, Klaczek 0-5 4-4 4, Briggs 4-9 6-6 17, Marshall 3-7 9-10 17, Strand 1-4 2-2 5, Neely 6-14 0-0 12, Matulu 1-1 0-0 2, Lindsey 4-5 0-0 8, Taylor 1-4 0-0 3, Adnan 0-2 0-0 0, Reddish 0-1 0-0 0, Topuz 0-2 0-0 0, Giralt 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 20-56 21-24 68. Fielder 3-6 3-3 10, Sorber 6-9 1-1 14, Epps 4-7 0-0 8, Mack 6-8 1-1 16, Peavy 9-14 3-3 24, Burks 5-6 0-0 11, Mulready 1-3 0-0 2, Ca.Williams 4-6 1-1 9, Cu.Williams 2-3 0-0 4, McKenna 1-1 0-0 2, Montgomery 0-1 0-0 0, Asadallah 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 41-65 9-9 100. Halftime_Georgetown 49-35. 3-Point Goals_Albany (NY) 7-22 (Briggs 3-5, Marshall 2-3, Strand 1-3, Taylor 1-3, Adnan 0-1, Reddish 0-1, Topuz 0-1, Klaczek 0-2, Neely 0-3), Georgetown 9-22 (Mack 3-4, Peavy 3-6, Burks 1-2, Fielder 1-2, Sorber 1-2, Montgomery 0-1, Cu.Williams 0-1, Epps 0-2, Mulready 0-2). Rebounds_Albany (NY) 21 (Neely 5), Georgetown 33 (Sorber 13). Assists_Albany (NY) 6 (Marshall, Neely 2), Georgetown 26 (Peavy 8). Total Fouls_Albany (NY) 14, Georgetown 17.ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Sydney Shaw scored 20 points and made four 3-pointers, JJ Quinerly added 14 points and No. 12 West Virginia handed Boise State its first loss, 82-47 on Saturday in the Gulf Coast Showcase. West Virginia advances to the championship game on Sunday, while Boise State plays for third place. The Mountaineers have started 8-0 in back-to-back seasons after last year's 11-0 beginning. Quinerly also had three steals to help West Virginia reach double figures in that category in every game this season. The Mountaineers also forced 20-plus turnovers for the eighth straight game. Boise State was held to just six points in the first and third quarters. West Virginia went on two 10-0 runs in the first quarter to build a 16-point lead. The Mountaineers led by double figures the rest of the way. It was 45-23 at halftime then Quinerly scored four straight points to begin a 9-0 run that ended in a 32-point lead. Freshman Jordan Thomas, coming off her first career double-double, had 10 points and six rebounds for West Virginia. Elodie Lalotte scored 11 points for Boise State (7-1). Teryn Gardner addd 10. West Virginia was coming off an 89-54 victory over High Point on Friday to begin the tournament. The Mountaineers led by as many as 39 points and forced 22 turnovers in that one. ___ 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-basketball

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Nonehere is no doubt that the dirty war that arises from politics knows no limits and transcends and permeates the spheres that allow it, and one of the most susceptible and obvious are social networks, the personal profiles of the 'protagonists' of certain stories that have their origin in issues beyond their control. These are the characteristics of a case that has scandalized the whole of Colombia, although the matter has many edges A content creator named Aida Victoria Merlano is the protagonist of a delirious story after her mother, congresswoman Aida Merlano, was accused and detained on charges of criminal association, electoral offenses and possession of weapons The mother's political background Merlano made world news when she escaped from El Buen Pastor prison in Bogota in 2019 while attending a dental appointment, and four months later she was recaptured in Maracaibo, Venezuela. She was then prosecuted on charges of false identity, use of false documents and criminal association, and was deported to her country on March 10, 2023. Merlano's case is noteworthy because, since her imprisonment, she claims to have information implicating powerful people in Colombian politics in corruption scandals and crimes, and because her own daughter is accused of having helped her escape. The plot against the influencer And now, the batteries of an alleged plot that would seek to sink the Merlano family are focused on the daughter, Aida Victoria, influencer and content creator well known in the country and with a considerable fan base. Aida Victoria had a romance for a while with another influencer, named Luis Villa, better known as Westcol, whose followers today leaked some alleged photographs in which a woman - who they claim is Aida Victoria - appears holding bestiality with a horse, which would be a gift from her current partner, whose phone number was leaked, as well as that of the influencer. Of course, Merlano came out to deny these images: "Of course it's not me. Look, I love my number, I'm not going to change it, I don't have a problem. They wanted to put me in jail, my mom flew out of a jail, they parked motorcycles in front of me, they put guns on my back, I mean, those things don't scare me." However, the damage is done and this smear campaign has found an echo in different social networks and of course in media around the world.

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

Liverpool boss Arne Slot talks up ‘special player’ Mohamed SalahMINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota: In Hong Kong, the topic of subdivided flats - or “ shoebox homes ” - always raises heated discussion. In his latest policy address , Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced new regulations aimed at phasing out subdivided flats from the city. Subdivided flats are a major source of housing for low-income households. The flats are usually rented out to unrelated individuals , who may be crammed into spaces that barely fit one bed . Many subdivided flats are in core residential areas in Hong Kong, featuring convenient access to wet markets, train stations, schools and business areas. According to a survey by Hong Kong’s Census Department in 2021, there are around 108,000 subdivided units accommodating over 200,000 persons. The median floor area of each unit is 11 sq m , while the median per capita floor area is 6 sq m . For the first time, the government will impose minimum living standards on subdivided units, including the provision of windows, an individual toilet, and a floor area of no less than 8 sq m - the size of two king-sized beds. Landlords will be given a grace period to comply with new rules, and subdivided units will henceforth be redesignated as Basic Housing Units. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun said that 70 per cent of existing subdivided units already meet the requirements, while the rest would require minor fixes. In Mr Wong’s estimation, subdivided units will gradually phase out with the provision of public rental housing. LONG WAITING LIST FOR PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING In his policy address, Mr Lee said that 30,000 new public housing units will be completed by 2028. Hong Kong’s public rental housing system has an income ceiling for applicants, depending on their household size and type. The waiting list for public rental housing is still long. There are a total of 123,100 applications from families and the elderly, and 91,500 applications from non-elderly singles. For family applications, the current waiting time is 5.5 years. Mr Lee said that this would be shortened to 4.5 years by 2027 when more public housing units are available. Not all those who live in subdivided units are eligible for public rental housing. Michael Wong estimates that 60 per cent of tenants are eligible, but he did not comment on the remaining 40 per cent. Without the affordable option of renting public housing or subdivided flats, these tenants must seek more expensive accommodation in the private home rental market. Moreover, the Census Department’s 2021 survey indicates that 21.2 per cent of households have at least one member residing in Hong Kong for less than seven years, which disqualifies them from most of Hong Kong’s social benefits. Such households who fall in the low-income category may find themselves in a precarious situation when tighter regulations for subdivided units kick in. AFFORDABLE HOUSING REMAINS AN ISSUE Tenants living in non-compliant subdivided units may have to pay more to continue living in a Basic Housing Unit. Landlords would have to reduce the number of subdivided units within a property, which will drive rental prices up . It is unclear whether the government can provide transitional and affordable housing for those who are forced to leave. Those who are neither eligible for public housing nor able to find an affordable home might have to resort to the illegal rental market. Advocacy groups expressed concern over finding new accommodation for tenants. ComHome Social Realty is a social real estate agency aimed at matching low-income households with affordable housing. Since the group’s founding in 2023, among some 300 participants, only 17 managed to find their match. This low success rate is a result of the sheer discrepancy between participants’ financial ability and home rental prices. In July, the median rent for subdivided units in Hong Kong Island was HK$7,000 (US$900) per month, while that in Kowloon reached HK$5,300 per month. Statistics in 2021 indicate that the median monthly household income of tenants of subdivided units is HK$15,310. Assuming their incomes rose alongside average wage growth from 2021 to 2024, this figure is currently HK$16,160. That means that a sizeable one-third to half of their income goes into the rent for a subdivided unit. The 2024 policy address shows the government’s resolution to solve Hong Kong’s housing issues. The introduction of the Basic Housing Units is a fresh start, and Hong Kong is on its way to build more houses. But with the extreme imbalance between the demand for housing in central areas and the chronic shortage of affordable options , housing for Hong Kong’s most vulnerable individuals will continue to be an issue in the foreseeable future. John Hanzhang Ye is a PhD candidate in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine programme at the University of Minnesota.

Just as they did in 2024, Democrats lost the White House and both chambers of Congress in 2016. But they made historic gains in the first midterm election after Donald Trump's first victory. One member of Congress who was part of that midterm class is offering words of wisdom for the Democratic Party if they hope to repeat the successes of 2018. In a post to Bluesky , Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), also known by her initials "AOC," noted that her party "elected the largest class to Congress since Watergate" in the 2018 midterms. CNN reported that when the dust settled Democrats had a net gain of 40 seats . The only two larger midterm victories were the Tea Party-fueled 2010 midterms and the 1994 Republican wave during former President Bill Clinton's administration. AOC argued that a major part of that victory was "backlash" to Trump's presidency. But she emphasized that anti-Trump sentiment wasn't the entire story. "[T]he winners also had another thing in common, despite a wide range of differences: most rejected corporate PAC money," she weote. "It’s a hugely compelling factor to voters & underdiscussed." A 2018 article from Open secrets expands on Ocasio-Cortez's point. The article acknowledged that even though many Democrats were running in expensive and competitive races, they still managed to prevail over their Republican opponents despite losing the money race. ALSO READ: Multiple Republicans reveal plan to boot Mike Johnson as speaker "Fifty-two members of the 116th Congress — including 50 Democrats and 35 new members — pledged to reject money from corporate PACs before, during or soon after the 2018 election cycle," Opensecrets' Karl Evers-Hillstrom wrote. "Of the Democrat-dominated list, 32 members received little-to-no money — less than $10,000 each — from business-related PACs during the 2018 election cycle, according to new data from the Center for Responsive Politics." In a response to her initial skeet [the term used for Bluesky posts], AOC theorized that the reason the success of Democrats who rejected corporate PAC money isn't often discussed is because of the pervasive influence corporate money has on the American political system. "[L]ots of money and influence relies on pressuring electeds into taking corporate money and rejecting/reversing these no-lobbyist [money] pledges," she wrote. "I know members who went back on their promise and later lost seats to GOP. Voters want [people] who stand up to corruption." "It is hard to counter this combo of cynicism and lying without bonafide candidates who can throw a punch," she continued ., acknowledging that far-right conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. managed to tap into a groundswell of anger at the pharmaceutical lobby. "If we want to beat a right wing that weaponizes (justified!) public anger at Big Pharma to destroy the social safety net + spread conspiracies, we can’t run Dems who take money from Big Pharma." Click here to read AOC's thread in its entirety. President-elect Donald Trump’s signature economic plan of raising tariffs on imported goods could cause more harm to the economy than good, and offer a pathway toward a corrupt second administration , a columnist wrote Wednesday. Trump has long considered increased tariffs on certain foreign countries a “brilliant” strategy, but the reality is they could lead to disastrous effects and showcase how his first administration “could pale in comparison to his second” in terms of corruption, Paul Waldman wrote for MSNBC . “Trump believes that tariffs can do almost anything — force other countries to their knees, bring prosperity to the nation, even restore your sense of manly virility,” Waldman wrote. “Best of all, they can provide an avenue for him to reward those who please him, hurt those who fail to bend the knee, and maybe even use his office to make a few more bucks.” ALSO READ: Merrick Garland and his 'Justice' Department should never be forgiven The columnist built his case in his Friday opinion piece by offering readers as an example the “uneven rollout of tariffs” in Trump’s first term when the administration became “besieged by lobbyists, who filed thousands of requests for special exemptions and carve-outs to allow their clients to import goods and parts without paying the tariffs.” Waldman said Trump’s new proposal on tariffs, which promises to be more comprehensive than what he’s seen through in the past, “is a preview of the corruption to come.” “In a second term, Trump won’t just be doling out favors; he’ll also deliver punishments,” Waldman wrote. He concluded by reminding readers that the public is familiar with how personal Trump's views are toward companies and their CEOs, with the “determining factor” being “whether they treat him like the king he imagines himself to be.” “Firms looking at this history might reasonably decide that making good products isn’t enough to succeed; they also must win the goodwill of a petty and mercurial president, just as companies do in dictatorships around the world,” he wrote. Washington, D.C., residents are already concerned about Donald Trump coming after their city he's called a "filthy and crime-ridden embarrassment to our nation." Some are striking back, The Washington Post reported. Trump will host his inauguration outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, followed by a parade and several balls and events throughout the city. City residents have suggested blacking out rentals, leaving only expensive hotels and places in Virginia or Maryland. ALSO READ: The America-attacking Trump is coming for our military — and then he's coming for us Resident Stacy Kane began the movement along with friends, speaking to community groups and city council members. The goal is “to show Trump supporters who are coming into the DMV that we do not welcome hate, misogyny, or intentions to take over DC.” In 2020 , Trump's supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol and planted bombs at the Republican and Democratic Party headquarters. Both locations are nested in Capitol Hill neighborhoods. Jan. 6 endangered residents , terrorizing families and those who work in the area. Inaugurations are typically joyous events with "much-needed January boost[s] for the District’s hospitality businesses at an otherwise slow period as crowds flock to the nation’s capital." But people who scared Washingtonians four years ago are returning along with a "president who has made more threats to D.C.’s autonomy than any other chief executive in modern history," the Post noted. “We have been discussing and planning for many months in the case that the district has to defend itself and its values,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters at a news conference after Trump was declared the winner. Kane wanted to “try to make any kind of difference that we can in the situation we find ourselves in as D.C. residents and just as human beings right now,” she told the Post. She has a day job but also operates a two-bedroom rental apartment in her home less than four miles from the Capitol. When Trump was inaugurated in 2017, the women's march against him resulted in a 94% occupancy rate, the Post cited Destination DC . “With a Harris win, the historic perspective would have brought in a huge number of people to the city,” said the group's CEO, Elliott Ferguson. He explained that first-term inaugurations generate more interest than repeats. As for Trump's second, "We’ll have to see," he said. While he expects some protest, Ferguson said that most won't be willing to give up the revenue. The destruction of Jan 6. cost $2.7 billion, according to a 2023 Government Accountability Office report . Read the full report here. Donald Trump is reportedly planning to go after the career prosecutors who worked under special counsel Jack Smith in the two federal cases against him — which legal experts have called a gross violation of precedent . But at least one Republican senator is laying the groundwork to cheerlead Trump's move, according to MSNBC's Steve Benen. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) said on last weekend's "Meet the Press," that "First and foremost, the people involved with this should be fired immediately," and that those prosecutors investigated Trump "because they didn’t like his politics," noted Benen. Schmitt did not provide evidence for his statement. This is somewhat in line with what Trump's team has pushed, Benen wrote, with his incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying, “President Trump campaigned on firing rogue bureaucrats who have engaged in the illegal weaponization of our American justice system, and the American people can expect he will deliver on that promise. One of the many reasons that President Trump won the election in a landslide is Americans are sick and tired of seeing their tax dollars spent on targeting the Biden-Harris Administration’s political enemies rather than going after real violent criminals in our streets.” ALSO READ: Merrick Garland and his 'Justice' Department should never be forgiven Everything in this statement is wrong, Benen continued. "Members of the special counsel’s team aren’t 'rogue bureaucrats'; they’re law enforcement professionals who pursued highly credible criminal cases based on voluminous evidence. Meanwhile, there’s literally no evidence of 'illegal weaponization of our American justice system' — at least not from the last four years ." Additionally, Trump's win wasn't a "landslide" — just a narrow plurality — and crime has fallen under the Biden administration. Schmitt's endorsement of the plan, however, is a sign that Republicans in Congress aren't likely to be a check on how Trump interferes with the Justice Department, Benen concluded. Indeed, he wrote, Schmitt's language shows he "sees law enforcement as the bad guys in this story, and the defendant as the victim." "Keep this in mind if/when the incoming president starts targeting Smith’s colleagues early next year," he said.Hokies post-practice report: Bowen balancing young QB room

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I went undercover as an Uber Eats courier and made just $1.74 per hour online. Here's what I learned about the troubling cost of convenienceDallas Cowboys Issue 5-Word Message Before Thanksgiving Game

ALLEN PARK -- Jameson Williams continues to improve and flash more for the Detroit Lions. Despite missing two games, the electric wide receiver has 890 yards with two games left. Hitting 1,000 yards isn’t the ultimate goal, but it’s one Williams circled as a mark he wanted to hit in Year 3. With Amon-Ra St. Brown already at 1,126 yards, Williams wants to join his teammate in crossing that threshold. 2⃣5⃣ to Jamo out of the 2nd half gates #DETvsCHI | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/X9zxi6Zou3 . @JaredGoff16 delivering the deep dish 🎯 @bigsgjamo #DETvsCHI | 📺 FOX #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/nPm4Gn6Az1

Oil prices edge up ahead of imminent OPEC+ decision; geopolitical turmoil in focusSome tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to from other nations. The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist

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INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov.-elect Mike Braun on Tuesday pitched his first policy agenda since his November electoral victory — largely reemphasizing his commitment to campaign promises. Braun’s “Freedom and Opportunity Agenda” focuses on tax relief, government efficiency, economic development, public health and quality of life factors like public safety, energy affordability and water cleanliness. A news release indicated Braun wants to bring “historic” tax relief to Indiana families. “As Hoosiers contend with inflation, the State should provide comprehensive tax relief that protects taxpayers from runaway property taxes, supports retirees and families with targeted relief, and reduces the burden on Main Street businesses,” it read. The agenda includes limiting property tax increases 2%-3% annually and “resetting homeowner bills” to pre-pandemic levels. But the state can’t get too heavy-handed. It must abide by a decades-old ruling declaring Indiana’s previous tax system, which wasn’t based on the market, unconstitutional. Braun also wants to ditch state taxes on retirement income, establish farm savings accounts, change the formula used to assess farmland for property taxes, and introduce new sales tax holidays on things like back-to-school supplies. Braun leaned into his business roots in the agenda’s second priority: efficiency. “Unlike the private sector, where real economics incentivizes effectiveness and lower overhead, government at every level has grown unchecked,” the agenda reads. It goes on to suggest new performance metrics and trims of “unnecessary or underperforming” positions and programs. Indiana should also review its regulations to cut outdated requirements and lighten the load for agencies, it says. Braun also hopes to get agencies digital: automate eligibility verification procedures for veteran health care, streamline document processing at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and create a one-stop portal for farmer services. He’s already gotten started on another bullet point in the list — last month, Braun unveiled plans for a reorganized cabinet focusing on eight policy areas. He also hopes to present a balanced budget that “addresses the state’s deficit while reforming Medicaid spending,” per the release. Braun’s agenda views Indiana’s future prosperity as dependent on educating and developing a skilled workforce. He proposed implementing universal school choice, although Indiana is almost there. A recent hike in the income requirement means all but the state’s wealthiest families qualify for vouchers to private schools. The release also includes increases in teacher base pay, new performance-based pay, a focus on better literacy and math skills, and a dedicated school safety office. Braun also wants to push workforce development, with: a new workforce investment tax credit, a “restructured” Indiana Economic Development Corp, and more regional cooperation for creating jobs. Braun, who was active in the health care arena in the U.S. Senate, hopes to take aim at high prices and increase accessibility — while promoting industry innovation. Indiana faces expanding Medicaid costs and lower-than-expected revenues, however. Braun’s team said there weren’t plans to cut services. Instead, the gov.-elect hopes to find efficiencies to save money. Though states have little control over private employer-employee insurance deals, Braun’s team said he could still impact costs with more aggressive price transparency requirements, prior authorization reforms and pharmacy benefit manager regulations. The agenda also highlights rural health, calling for new incentives to draw health care facilities to rural areas — including obstetrics access— and better telehealth coverage. And it emphasizes continued coverage of pre-existing conditions, proposed a new primary care access revolving loan funding to support new facilities, and mental health treatment reforms intended to lift weight from the criminal justice system. Braun continued his focus on public safety in Tuesday’s agenda. “Hoosier families and communities deserve to know that their safety and security are the top priority of the state government,” it reads. “In today’s interconnected world, national issues like illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine have a real impact on communities across the state and country. Because of the complexity of modern public safety, it is imperative that the State supports our law enforcement officers in the line of duty.” Law enforcement offices could win higher salaries and better benefits packages, more training opportunities and non-discretionary minimum bail requirements for violent crimes. Braun also promised to protect qualified immunity. He also hit at drug trafficking and unauthorized immigration, with proposals for stronger drug distribution penalties, more interdiction powers for state police, sanctuary city ban enforcement and more. The agenda concludes with a push for lower energy costs. “Over the last decade, Hoosiers’ electricity bills have increased dramatically, outpacing the national average,” it says. “Indiana needs strong leadership to navigate these challenges and improve energy accessibility. The Braun administration will ensure that the State has enough affordable and reliable electricity to meet the needs of residents and attract new economic development.” Braun reemphasized commitment to an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, deregulation and still-development small modular nuclear reactor technology. His team expects combine executive actions, agency-level reforms and legislation to accomplish his priorities, according to the release.

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King Frederik and Queen Mary will uphold a long-standing Danish royal family Christmas tradition by spending their first festive season since the change of throne in Aarhus. The Danish royal household has confirmed the King and Queen, and their four children, will be at Marselisborg Castle for Christmas, taking up residence at the estate from December 23 to December 26. They will be joined by Queen Margrethe II , while her youngest son Prince Joachim and his wife, French-born Princess Marie, and their four children, will celebrate Christmas with Princess Marie's family. READ MORE: Son of Norway's Crown Princess released after rape claims It is not unusual for Prince Joachim's family to spend Christmas away from the rest of the royals . Recently, Count Nikolai spoke of his fond memories of Christmas with his family during his childhood at Schackenborg Castle . Marselisborg Castle is north-west of Copenhagen and has been the focal point of Danish royal Christmas celebrations since Queen Margrethe's ascension to the throne in 1972. The royal family also spends Easter at the same residence . Frederik X took over from his mother as monarch on January 14, 2024 , following her abdication. For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here . Margrethe, 84, made the announcement in her New Year's Eve speech. King Frederik will deliver his first New Year's address to the people of Denmark, live, from Frederik VIII's Palace, at Amalienborg. The palace is King Frederik and Queen Mary's winter residence in Copenhagen . READ MORE: Royal family are 'very dysfunctional' says Mike Tindall's friend The King and Queen will then host the three New Year's gala balls at Amalienborg and Christiansborg Palace from January 1. Before then, the community of Aarhus will welcome the royal family for Christmas. On Christmas Eve, King Frederik and Queen Mary, along with Crown Prince Christian , Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine are expected to attend mass at Aarhus Cathedral and again on Christmas morning, as per tradition. READ MORE: Greek Prince issues statement over internet scams Crown Prince Christian will return to Denmark in early December following his extended stay in eastern Africa. Danes typically celebrate Christmas on December 24 by opening presents and eating a lavish feast, including roast pork and duck and boiled potatoes, red cabbage and gravy. The main dessert is risalamande – a rice pudding topped with cherry sauce with an almond hidden inside. In previous years Mary and her family had spent Christmas at Marselisborg. But there have been notable exceptions. In 2015, 2017 and 2022 Mary and her family travelled to Australia to spend Christmas with her relatives in Hobart, where she was born. Mary made a brief return to Australia just before Christmas in 2023 but was in Aarhus for the main celebrations. The 52-year-old was briefly back in Australia, again, in late October this year to attend her niece's wedding in Tasmania. Mary was photographed with Princess Josephine at Sydney's Bronte Beach before their return to Denmark. King Frederik and Queen Mary are expected to share weekly highlights of their Christmas preparations through the Danish royal family's social media accounts, as Queen Margrethe did throughout her reign. This will include photographs and video of the royal family decorating the Christmas tree inside their home at Amalienborg. Traditions also include the lighting of the advent candle, which is typically burnt for one hour each day throughout December. It's unclear whether King Frederik will continue another beloved tradition, started by his mother. Queen Margrethe was known for her advent calendar which gave royal fans a daily insight into the royal family's Christmas. Since 2016, Queen Margrethe curated 25 days of festive fun which was shared onto the palace's social media accounts. It gave a rare look at spaces within the royal family's residences around Denmark, often revealing rooms and areas normally off-limits to the public. Margrethe also hand-made many of the decorations and characters featured on the advent calendar, including the Christmas elves – known as the nisse in Danish. FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE : Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.circus theme party outfit 。

Daily Post Nigeria Gov Eno presents N955bn budget to Akwa Ibom Assembly Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Gov Eno presents N955bn budget to Akwa Ibom Assembly Published on November 26, 2024 By Lovina Anthony Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, presented a proposed total budget outlay of N955 billion for the 2025 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for consideration on Tuesday. This was against the revised provision of N923.46 billion in the 2024 budget. The 2025 financial appropriation estimate comprised recurrent expenditures of N300 billion and capital expenditures of N655 billion. Eno said that the total capital receipts and expenditure for the year 2025 is estimated at N655 billion as against the proposed revised provision of N573.32 billion for 2024. He said that the 2025 Budget, which is christened “Budget for Consolidation and Expansion,” is predicated on an oil benchmark of $75 per barrel at a production rate of 2.12 million barrels per day with an estimated exchange rate of N1,400/US$. The Governor added that the 2025 oil benchmark and exchange rate is in line with the National Budget benchmark projections. He said that the total projected recurrent revenue for 2025 is estimated at ₦830 billion as against the proposed revised provision of B803.70 billion, representing a 3 per cent increase in revenue projection for the year 2025. The governor said the policy thrust objectives of the 2025 budget would be to achieve food security through investing heavily in the agricultural revolution. Other objectives included rural development through robust investments in modern living facilities such as all seasonal roads, rural electrification and others within rural communities to ultimately improve the quality of life for those in the rural areas and help stem rural-urban migration. Ensuring that public schools in the state are equipped and staffed by teachers who are passionate and dedicated. He said to realise the year 2025 budget objectives, the state shall adopt and improve the effectiveness of budget performance by ensuring fiscal discipline through the implementation of only programmes that were captured in the budget, among other strategies. In his remarks, Speaker of the Assembly, Udeme Otong, assured the governor that the lawmakers would quicken the consideration process to ensure speedy passage of the 2025 budget estimate to fasten development in the state. Otong urged all heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state to cooperate with the House of Assembly during the budget defence to ensure speedy passage of the budget. Related Topics: Akwa Ibom Assembly Eno Don't Miss Kano Govt pays new minimum wage of N71,000 You may like Akwa Ibom: Eno approves N955bn budget estimate for 2025 Eno announces N80,000 minimum wage for Akwa Ibom workers Gov Eno vows to complete all road projects inherited from past govts Autonomy does not mean LG is separate entity – Gov Eno warns newly elected chairmen Gov Eno denies appointing daughter as Akwa Ibom First Lady following wife’s death Gov Eno appoints daughter Akwa Ibom First Lady after wife’s death Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd

NAHCON inaugurates committees for 2025 Hajj operations

Percentages: FG .541, FT .818. 3-Point Goals: 6-18, .333 (Mayo 2-3, Hensley 2-4, Davis 1-5, Steffe 1-5, Dibba 0-1). Team Rebounds: 0. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 3 (Massey 2, Moreno). Turnovers: 11 (Dibba 2, Mayo 2, Sharp 2, Sykes 2, Hensley, Massey, Moreno). Steals: 7 (Davis 2, Dibba, Massey, Moreno, Sharp, Sykes). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .346, FT .737. 3-Point Goals: 4-17, .235 (Brown 2-6, Polk 2-7, Ford-Belton 0-1, Thiam 0-1, Dimou 0-2). Team Rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: 3. Blocked Shots: 1 (Brown). Turnovers: 11 (Brown 5, Dimou, Edden, Malekinusic, Polk, Thiam, Turgut). Steals: 8 (Thiam 2, Brown, Dimou, Edden, Malekinusic, Murphy, Polk). Technical Fouls: None. A_213 (7,186).Share Tweet Share Share Email As 2024 draws to a close, we can safely look back and say it’s been another hard year for cyber security. Cybercriminals have developed numerous clever new ways to attack businesses. On top of this, there is a huge global shortage of cyber security professionals—over 6 million globally. Upon recognising this immediate danger, Scottish cyber security experts Jera IT decided to set up an IT academy to train the next generation of cyber security professionals. In this interview, Ally Hollins-Kirk offers insight into the founding of the academy, what the programme the students go through looks like, and where the future of Scottish cyber security lies. What Prompted Jera IT to Create the Jera IT Academy? As a managed service provider, we eat, breathe and sleep cyber security . We’ve been doing it for over 20 years and have faced just about every major attack you could think of. With that, we’re always talking to potential prospects and our clients about their cyber security preparedness. 9 times out of 10, we came across the same two problems: People think they’re either too small or in an irrelevant industry to worry about cyber attacks We don’t have the money to pay for cyber security staff, and even if we did, there aren’t any available! The first issue is one of the most common things we come up against, and we hate to burst the bubble, but everyone is at risk. Cybercriminals target small businesses just as happily as the larger ones, and unlike those big businesses, small and medium businesses probably don’t have the resources to protect themselves or survive an attack. The next point is even more worrying. It’s not just cyber security; the IT sector as a whole has faced shortages. The talent pool is small, and therefore you have to pay a whole lot for the recruits that are out there, and it may be a case where you simply have to take what you get. We’ve noticed it ourselves when trying to find people for our team. Recently we had to find a number of engineers and cyber security team members and unfortunately hit brick wall after brick wall. From that experience, we figured out a way to solve both problems at once. The Jera IT Academy was that solution . Who can take advantage of the academy? Whilst we do have plans to expand the offerings, our first run this year has been exclusively offering a foundation apprenticeship. That means we take in students doing their highers in high school, replacing one of the higher qualifications they would do at that level. As far as the students themselves, the main qualities we’re looking for are curiosity, people skills and a good attitude. Knowledge about software and computers isn’t vital; our intention is to teach that, so while some background knowledge might be helpful, it isn’t a deal breaker for the right candidate. Having your Standard Level Math and Standard Level English will also be pretty important. At the moment we’re operating alongside schools in Edinburgh; however, we are looking to expand into Aberdeen and other areas of Scotland in the near future. What does an average day for the academy students look like? So it’s a bit of a cliché, but there isn’t really an average day. Part of what draws students in is that the academy is a learning experience completely different from their other highers. Yes, there is an element of traditional education, but you’re kickstarting a career in cyber security, and that means rolling up your sleeves and diving in! We host the students at our state-of-the-art facility we’ve set up specifically to house the academy. This means they get hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology and software in the cyber security space. They’ll also be getting experience and tutoring with the best-rated managed service team in Scotland. As for the foundation apprenticeship itself, the students will cover the following: Security Fundamentals Network Fundamentals Server Administration Fundamentals IT and Telecom System Operation and support Customer Service skills And what happens when they graduate? Upon completing the foundation apprenticeship, a number of options become open to successful students. They’ll be fully prepared to take their first step into the world of cyber security. There are three main paths open to students: Get right out there and start working in IT. The academy looks fantastic on a CV, and upon completion of the apprenticeship, we’ll provide a glowing reference. There will also be opportunities for networking to meet potential employers in the space. Students could also further their qualifications at the academy. In the not-too-distant future, we’ll also be offering a modern apprenticeship with an opportunity to get real-world experience with some of the biggest businesses in Scotland The other option is to go on and study further at a university or similar. With the foundation apprenticeship on your application, students will be able to separate themselves from the competition for many technology-based courses. If you had anything to say to convince young people to take on a career in IT and cyber security, what would it be? As we mentioned before, there is a massive shortage of cyber security professionals globally at the moment. That means that as a cyber security professional, your job prospects will be vastly improved. IT jobs are generally well paid; they also offer a great opportunity for career advancement. What our team loves most about working in IT is flexibility. Every industry needs IT support, so your options are practically endless. We also know how important flexibility is to young workers. A career in IT means you have the flexibility to work anywhere in the world. The era of digital nomads is right around the corner, and with the lack of cyber security professionals, your skills will be in demand globally as a graduate of the academy. How can students apply? At the moment, we work exclusively with schools in Mid Lothian. In order to apply, students need to speak to their guidance counsellor or career advisor. If you’re a school we currently work with, they’ll guide you on how best to apply; if we don’t, they can reach out and get in touch with the team, and we can work on the best way to offer the course to schools in your area! The future of cyber security in Scotland is the future of business in Scotland. Whether we want to admit it or not, that future looks bleak, but with the academy, we’re training a whole new generation of cyber security defenders. Anyone interested in hearing more about how the academy can help their business directly can get in touch today to hear more. Related Items: business in Scotland , Cyber Security , Jera IT Academy Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Shared Proxy: A Cost-Effective Solution for Seamless Online Navigation Expert Insights: The Hidden Dangers of Cloud Environments – What CISOs Need to Know Scott Dylan: How Mastercard’s Acquisition of Recorded Future Will Revolutionise Cybersecurity in the Payment Industry Comments

Iran Lifts Ban On Whatsapp And Google Play A Turning Point For Internet Freedom?Why 'Wheel of Fortune' Fans Are Doubting Ryan Seacrest's Hosting AbilitySAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nutanix , Inc. (NASDAQ: NTNX ), a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, today announced that its management will present at the following upcoming financial community event: Barclays 22 nd Annual Global Technology Conference Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:25 a.m. PST; 1:25 p.m. EST A live webcast and replay of the presentation will be accessible on the Nutanix Investor Relations website at ir.nutanix.com About Nutanix Nutanix is a global leader in cloud software, offering organizations a single platform for running applications and managing data, anywhere. With Nutanix, companies can reduce complexity and simplify operations, freeing them to focus on their business outcomes. Building on its legacy as the pioneer of hyperconverged infrastructure, Nutanix is trusted by companies worldwide to power hybrid multicloud environments consistently, simply, and cost-effectively. Learn more at www.nutanix.com or follow us on social media @nutanix. © 2024 Nutanix, Inc. All rights reserved. Nutanix, the Nutanix logo, and all Nutanix product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of Nutanix, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other brand names and marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s). I nvestor Contact Richard Valera ir@nutanix.com

Brandon Libby, 36, left, enters a Cumberland County Superior Courtroom for a hearing in February. Libby was charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend in 2021. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer A Standish man accused of killing his girlfriend is headed to trial next week, and prosecutors plan to challenge his version of events with a reconstruction of the shooting. Brandon Libby, 37, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Amanda Brown, whom police found dead in their home in 2021. Libby pleaded not guilty that fall. He rejected a plea offer from the Office of the Maine Attorney General in June, which would have capped his sentence at 42 years. Police responded to a call on June 16, 2021, and forced their way into the couple’s Standish home, where they found Brown, 29, who had been shot in the stomach and killed. Police found Libby barricaded in a home about 14 miles away in North Waterboro before convincing him to come out and talk. It wasn’t until after he was indicted by a grand jury in November 2021 that he was taken to the Cumberland County Jail, where he has spent three years waiting for trial. Libby is scheduled for trial Dec. 4. In excerpts of a police interview that prosecutors played in court during a pretrial hearing Tuesday, Libby could be heard saying that Brown pointed the gun at him first. He suggested that the gun went off after he tried pushing it out of her hand. Larry Rose, a Maine State Police sergeant who said he reconstructed the shooting, said in court that he reviewed Brown’s autopsy report, police reports and videos of the home where Brown was found. Gunshot markings on Brown’s clothing suggest that the gun was fired at extremely close range, with the muzzle against her shirt, Rose said. An employee from the Maine State Police crime lab tried replicating those markings by firing guns at varying distances, Rose said, but it only worked when the gun was in close contact. Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Liam Funte helped Rose determine the trajectory of the bullet, from its entry point in Brown’s stomach to where it stopped in her back, Rose said. Rose even demonstrated for Superior Justice Thomas McKeon how he believes the gun was fired, using a small plastic blue gun on Maine State Police detective Justin Huntley, who stood in Brown’s place. The sergeant said his theory was peer-reviewed. He also said the plastic gun was similar to the one used to shoot Brown. Rose also demonstrated for McKeon what Libby said happened. But the officer said it would have been “difficult” for the gun to go off the same way, according to Libby’s version. “It doesn’t get to the angle that it needs to be,” Rose said, theatrically pretending to knock the gun from Huntley’s hand. Libby attorney Matthew Crockett said in an email Tuesday that Libby’s legal team had no response to Rose’s testimony but “look(s) forward to presenting our defense next week.” Libby’s lawyers previously opposed the state’s plans to show Rose’s reconstruction, but they withdrew that objection Tuesday. Earlier this year, Libby tried to prevent the use of several statements he made to police while they were bringing him to a hospital, after he had been bitten by one of their K-9s in North Waterboro. Although Libby’s statements were made before police read him his Miranda rights, Superior Justice MaryGay Kennedy agreed that the statements were fair game for the state because police told him repeatedly he didn’t have to talk with them. Trial rescheduled for Standish man accused of killing girlfriend in 2021 Judge denies motions to throw out evidence, statements before Standish man’s murder trial Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous

Labor eyes last chance of 2024 to tick policy boxesEazeye Radiant TLCD Monitor Offers Several Advantages Over LCDDonald Trump calls them “patriots” and “hostages.” He says they could be pardoned within “nine minutes” after he sits in the Oval Office on January 20. January 6, 2021, was “a day of love,” according to the president-elect. More than 1,500 people who have been criminally charged in connection with a mob’s assault on the Capitol — fuelled by his bogus narrative that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and stolen from him — are now awaiting potential pardons for alleged crimes live-streamed to millions of viewers. Defendants, many of whom have been banned from Washington, D.C., are increasingly asking judges for permission to attend Trump’s inauguration, while judges have quietly been raising alarms about looming pardons for some of the worst offenders. Trump could issue mass amnesty to hundreds of defendants as soon as his first day in office, maintaining that even violent offenders could be granted clemency on a “case-by-case” basis. The scale of legal absolution for January 6 defendants is still unclear, though his promised clemency and his re-election itself mark a symbolic victory for the movement that threatened to derail an American election. In 2023, Trump appeared noncommittal about whether he would pardon some of the defendants charged with more serious crimes “I don’t know. I’ll have to look at their case,” he said. “But I will say in Washington, D.C., you cannot get a fair trial, you cannot. Just like in New York City, you can’t get a fair trial either.” Asked by NBC correspondent Kristen Welker after his election victory about the nearly 200 people who have pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement, Trump said “they had no choice.” “Look, I know the system,” Trump said. “The system’s a very corrupt system.” The leader of the far-right anti-government militia group was sentenced to 18 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of seditious conspiracy. Stewart Rhodes and Oath Keepers members spent weeks discussing plans for their response to the 2020 election on encrypted messaging apps, then organized a weapons and supply cache at a nearby hotel before joining the mob. Rhodes did not enter the building that day, but the founder of the group “not only contributed to the attack on the Capitol but helped to organize it,” federal prosecutors wrote in court filings. Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the neo-fascist group, and three of his lieutenants who stormed the halls of Congress were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their roles in the attack. A jury did not reach a verdict for a fifth member of the group who was on trial. Tarrio wasn’t even in Washington, D.C. on January 6, but the former leader and his allies “saw themselves as Donald Trump’s army, fighting to keep their preferred leader in power no matter what the law or the courts had to say about it,” according to federal prosecutors. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Joe Biggs was sentenced to 17 years, Zach Rehl to 15 years, and Dominic Pezzola — who smashed through a Capitol window with a police shield and lit up a cigar in celebration — received 10 years. After sobbing and pleading for leniency at his sentencing hearing, Pezzola raised his fist and shouted “Trump won” as he was escorted out of the courtroom. At his campaign rallies , Trump played a recording from a group of January 6 defendants in a Washington, D.C., jail singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” through a prison phone. Trump produced the song, and sales have been used to pay for their legal aid. Members of the so-called J6 Choir have not been identified, but federal prosecutors have said in court filings that they “were so violent that their pretrial release would pose a danger to the public.” Department of Corrections rosters list 20 defendants jailed in connection with January 6, including 17 who are accused of assaulting law enforcement officers. One of those men, Shane Jenkins, is accused of hurling “nine different objects” at police officers, “including a solid wooden desk drawer ... a flagpole, a metal walking stick, and a broken wooden pole with a spear-like point,” according to federal prosecutors. He was sentenced to 84 months in prison. Jonathan G. Mellis, who was sentenced to 51 months in prison, used a “large wooden stick like a sword and stabbed at the faces and heads of officers at least five times, violently striking some officers in the face, head, neck, and body area,” according to prosecutors. A California man who attacked police officers with his hands, feet, a flagpole, crutches, pepper spray and pieces of furniture was sentenced to 20 years in prison. David Dempsey, a former construction worker and restaurant employee, “was one of the most violent rioters, during one of the most violent stretches of time, at the scene of the most violent confrontations at the Capitol,” prosecutors wrote in court filings. He was accused of treating the crowd as “human scaffolding” as he climbed over rioters to face off against police, “swinging pole-like weapons more than 20 times, spraying chemical agents at least three times, hurling objects at officers at least 10 times, stomping on the heads of police officers as he perched above them five times, attempting to steal a riot shield and baton, and incessantly hurling threats and insults at police while rallying other rioters to join his onslaught,” prosecutors wrote. The Pennsylvania rioter was sentenced to 14 years in prison after he was found guilty on 10 charges for throwing a chair at officers and spraying them with pepper spray. Metropolitan Police Department officer Michael Fanone’s body camera captured him screaming in pain while Daniel Rodriguez hit him with a stun gun. He later shot a fire extinguisher at officers and shoved a wooden pole into a police line. In an interview with federal agents , he described himself as a “f****ing piece of s***” and regreted falling for the “joke” theory that the attack could stop Joe Biden from becoming president. After a judge sentenced him to 12 years in prison, he screamed “Trump won” as he was led out of the courtroom. The retired New York City police officer tackled an officer and grabbed his gas mask while wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a Marine Corps flag on a metal pole. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Julian Khater pleaded guilty to two felony counts of assaulting officers for spraying Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick and another officer with a chemical irritant. He was sentenced to 80 months in prison with credit for 22 months of time served. Khater’s co-defendant, George Tanios, was also sentenced to time served. Sicknick died of a stroke one day after the attack. Richard “Bigo” Barnett — whose defense attorneys compared to “everyone’s crazy redneck uncle from out of town” — left a “nasty” note for then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi before putting his feet up on her desk. “Hey Nancy, Bigo was here you biotch,” he wrote, according to court filings. He phoned into his trial, calling the proceedings a “bunch of crap” and accused prosecutors of “dragging this out.” The retired firefighter was convicted on eight counts, including felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, and sentenced to roughly four years in prison. A mother-and-son duo who carried zip ties as they searched for lawmakers after breaching the Capitol were convicted on obstruction and conspiracy charges. Eric Munchel – who was also armed with a Taser – was additionally found guilty of disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon and unauthorized possession of a deadly or dangerous weapon on Capitol grounds. He was sentenced to five years in prison. His mother Lisa Marie Eisenhart was sentenced to 30 months in prison. As they made their way into the Senate gallery, with Munchel shouting “I want that f****** gavel,” the pair wondered aloud where the “traitors” and “cowards” who evacuated the chamber had gone. Prosecutors said the pair were looking for “potential hostages.” In one rioter’s footage of the attack, a voice over a megaphone can be heard yelling about “Trumpy bear” before helping rioters smash through a glass window and crawl through it. “You are not going to take away our Trumpy bear!” Gina Bisignan yelled. “They are not going to take our Trumpy bear! They will not take away our Trumpy bear! We love you, President Trump!” The California beautician — who was pictured with makeup streaming down her cheeks behind aviator sunglasses after being hit with a chemical irritant — withdrew her guilty pleas for a number of charges and will face a new trial in 2025. A rioter clad in a stars-and-stripes jacket was sentenced to five years in prison in December 2021 after pleading guilty to assaulting police officers with a fire extinguisher, a plank and a pole. He was the first rioter to be sentenced on a charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers using a dangerous or deadly weapon, and received the longest sentenced at the time. “I was caught up in the moment,” he said from prison. Trump could have stopped him, he said. “He could have tampered it down a bit,” he told Voice of America . “If he didn’t say, ‘We’re going to go up there, and we are not going to let this election happen,’ I wouldn’t have gone.”VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 21, 2024-- AbCellera (Nasdaq: ABCL) today announced that executives from the Company will present at the following investor conferences: Live audio webcasts of the presentation may be accessed through the link that will be posted on AbCellera's Investor Relations website . Replays of the webcast will be available through the same links following the presentations. About AbCellera Biologics Inc . AbCellera (Nasdaq: ABCL) discovers and develops antibody medicines for indications across therapeutic areas, including cancer, metabolic and endocrine conditions, and autoimmune disorders. AbCellera’s engine integrates technology, data science, infrastructure, and interdisciplinary teams to solve the most challenging antibody discovery problems. AbCellera is focused on advancing an internal pipeline of first-in-class and best-in-class programs and collaborating on innovative drug development programs with partners. For more information, please visit www.abcellera.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121268256/en/ CONTACT: InquiriesMedia: Tiffany Chiu;media@abcellera.com, +1(236)521-6774 Business Development: Murray McCutcheon, Ph.D.;partnering@abcellera.com, +1(604)559-9005 Investor Relations: Peter Ahn;ir@abcellera.com, +1(778)729-9116 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CANADA CALIFORNIA NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BIOTECHNOLOGY PHARMACEUTICAL HEALTH ONCOLOGY SOURCE: AbCellera Biologics Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/21/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 11/21/2024 04:06 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121268256/en

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Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani has proposed to establish a Global Environmental Bar to facilitate cross-border legal collaboration and knowledge exchange. He was speaking at a round-table conference organised by All India Lawyers Forum along with the University College London on ‘Global Environment Laws’ in New Delhi recently. Reflecting on India’s diversity, Mr. Venkataramani stressed the importance of framing policies that respect cultural and regional variations. He pointed out that legal education should emphasise social justice missions over monetary incentives in litigation. Supreme Court advocates Pragya Parijat Singh, Durgesh Gupta, Yog Maya and Vikas Verma spoke at the conference. Published - November 24, 2024 09:59 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Delhi / IndiaWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has chosen Keith Kellogg, a highly decorated retired three-star general, to serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, who is one of the architects of a staunchly conservative policy book that lays out an “America First” national security agenda for the incoming administration, will come into the role as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its third year in February. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social account, and said “He was with me right from the beginning! Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!” Kellogg, an 80 year-old retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence , was chief of staff of the National Security Council and then stepped in as an acting security adviser for Trump after Michael Flynn resigned. As special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg will have to navigate an increasingly untenable war between the two nations. The Biden administration has begun urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of troops as young as 18. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in less than months. Trump has criticized the billions that the Biden administration has poured into Ukraine. Washington has recently stepped up weapons shipments and has forgiven billions in loans provided to Kyiv. The incoming Republican president has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. As a co-chairman of the American First Policy Institute’s Center for American Security, Kellogg wrote several of the chapters in the group’s policy book. The book, like the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025,” is a move to lay out a Trump national security agenda and avoid the mistakes of 2016 when he entered the White House largely unprepared. 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.” Trump's proposed national security advisor U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) tweeted Wednesday that “Keith has dedicated his life to defending our great country and is committed to bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution.” Kellogg was a character in multiple Trump investigations dating to his first term. He was among the administration officials who listened in on the July 2019 call between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump prodded his Ukrainian counterpart to pursue investigations into the Bidens. The call, which Kellogg would later say did not raise any concerns on his end, was at the center of the first of two House impeachment cases against Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate both times. On Jan. 6, 2021, hours before pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Kellogg, who was then Pence’s national security adviser, listened in on a heated call in which Trump told his vice president to object or delay the certification in Congress of President Joe Biden ’s victory. He later told House investigators that he recalled Trump saying to Pence words to the effect of: “You’re not tough enough to make the call.” Baldor reported from Washington. AP writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.

Zach Werenski's goal in OT and 5-point game helps Blue Jackets to 7-6 win over Lightning

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Kobe Sanders, Nevada beat Oklahoma St. for fifth place in CharlestonNew novel "Secretary of Faith" by K.C. Boyd is released, a dystopian tale that reflects the urgent need to resist the threat to American democracy 12-04-2024 11:14 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire "Secretary of Faith - A Fictional Companion to Project 2025" by K.C. Boyd has been released worldwide. This 283-page novel illustrates, with gritty detail, the realpolitik of governmental corruption, dishonesty, and religious extremism, with emphasis on the long-term danger of Project 2025. A continuation of Boyd's first book, "Being Christian - A Novel," this story of a fracturing society follows Christian Hillcox, a megapastor and televangelist who is named the country's first Secretary of Faith. As religion-fueled nationalism strengthens its grip on the public, the American citizenry submits to fear, xenophobia, and isolationism, allowing the rising administration to trample basic rights and pursue their goal of long-term power. While the novel is a work of fiction, the author spent twenty years researching the growing marriage between religious fundamentalists and American politics, infiltrating Christian Nationalists' events, while at the same time observing the cult-like following of those who would turn over control of the country to demagogues and radical religious leaders. The America of "Secretary of Faith" is frighteningly close to today's reality, making the tale a provocative warning against unchecked power. At the same time, it also provides a sense of hope, showing that in times of grave socio-political upheaval - even when the country seems all but broken - good people can come together and find strength in pushing back. Woven through the story's post-societal events, readers will find scenes of compassion and empowerment, ideas that hopefully drive readers to join together for truth, reason, and good. Craig Unger, New York Times Bestselling Author of "House of Bush-House of Saud," "House of Trump-House of Putin," "American Kompromat," and the newly released "Den of Spies" said of the novel: "If you think today's headlines portend a grim theocratic future, welcome to the United Christian States of America as depicted in K. C. Boyd's riveting and fast-paced dystopian fantasy about what happens when radical right-wing Christian nationalism takes power. In Secretary of Faith, Boyd takes us into a dark and often lurid hellscape filled with murder, treachery, and various other unspeakable acts that are a little too close for comfort to today's reality. It's a gripping narrative that shows that in life, as in fiction, the only antidote to desperate times is a powerful Resistance." At once riveting, terrifying, and an inspiring rallying cry for those willing to resist a slip into neofascist theocracy, Boyd's novel is a timely reminder of what's at stake both today and for the future of the nation. The events of the book are at risk of playing out in the real world, and Boyd's writing is a plea for the American people to unite against the dangerous combination of hypocrisy, indoctrination, wealth consolidation, and zealotry that pose an existential threat to the entire world. Secretary of Faith (ISBN: 9781662942037) can be purchased through retailers worldwide, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The paperback retails for $12.95, and the ebook retails for $2.99. Review copies and interviews are available upon request. Learn more at https://secretaryoffaith.com/ From the back cover: Lies, fear, and the Holy Bible are the country's undoing in K.C. Boyd's second, dystopian tale, a story that all too closely resembles an America in which Project 2025 rules. Vividly depicting the present-day racism, greed, and religious hypocrisy, Secretary of Faith serves as a cautionary warning to Project 2025. After an orchestrated victory, the newly elected President redefines the country by changing its name to the United Christian States of America. Next, he reduces the traditional number of seats in his cabinet to four, and adds a fifth, the Department of Faith, appointing his lifetime mentor, Christian Hillcox, as its first ever Secretary. The rule of law is no more. Sanctioned by the administration, violent mobs take to the streets. Media is state-run; neighbors inform on neighbors; loved ones vanish, never to return. When a natural disaster strikes the West Coast, an already well-organized Resistance emerges and Secretary Hillcox finds himself in a battle to maintain both the administration's narrative and his own position through evermore frightening means. In a showdown between Good and Evil, the question is-will citizens rise to the occasion and save the Republic? About the author: Twenty years ago, in Ohio, K. C. Boyd became alarmed about the growing marriage between American politics and religion. Point of fact, the things Boyd saw then foretold today's Project 2025. After time spent visiting megachurches across the state and national family-values voter's conferences. Being Christian - A Novel was born. In the sequel, Secretary of Faith - A Fictional Companion to Project 2025 , Boyd responds to the current American existential crisis in a rip-roaring story could have been ripped from today's headlines. Media Contact Company Name: MindStir PR Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=new-novel-secretary-of-faith-by-kc-boyd-is-released-a-dystopian-tale-that-reflects-the-urgent-need-to-resist-the-threat-to-american-democracy ] Phone: 800-767-0531 Address:8335 W. Sunset Blvd. Suite 360 City: West Hollywood State: California Country: United States Website: https://mindstirpr.com/ This release was published on openPR.circus vs carnival 。

WSVU students create interactive app to learn about Woodland art inspired by Cowlitz Tribe

Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he'll “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole. Trump said that he will direct the Department of Justice to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated.” Trump was vague on what specific actions he may take. 21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court ruling MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country’s highest court confirmed ruling party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections has killed at least 21 people, including two police officers. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court’s announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. Prosecutors find workers in 'slavery like' conditions at Chinese car company site in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — A task force led by Brazilian prosecutors says it has rescued 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like” conditions at a construction site in northeastern Brazil, where Chinese electric vehicle company BYD is building a factory. The Labor Prosecutor’s Office released videos of the dorms where the construction workers were staying, which showed beds with no mattresses and rooms without any place for the workers to store their personal belongings. In a statement issued Monday, the prosecutor’s office said the workers had been hired in China by Jinjian Group, one of the contractors on the site, which is located in Camaçari, a city in the Salvador metropolitan region. NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it's their duty to spread their love of Jesus ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his faith. The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way, such as Houston's C.J. Stroud, Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, and Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. Stunning photos show lava erupting from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano HONOLULU (AP) — Lava is erupting from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano for the second straight day. The eruption has stayed within Kilauea’s summit caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and no homes are threatened. Molten rock began spewing out of the volcano before dawn on Monday when fissures opened in the caldera floor and shot lava high into the air. It then oozed across the caldera floor. Scientists expect activity to fluctuate in coming days. The lava paused Monday afternoon but fountains reemerged Tuesday morning. The eruption has occurred in an area that’s been closed to the public since 2007 due to hazards including crater wall instability and rockfalls. Haiti gangs fire on journalists covering a planned hospital reopening, leaving casualties PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Suspected gang members have opened fire on journalists in Haiti’s capital as they were covering the attempted reopening of the country’s largest hospital, wounding or killing an unknown number of people. The country's interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the vicious Christmas Eve attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. Radio Télé Métronome said earlier on Tuesday that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded in the shooting. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Hurricane-force winds bear down on California, latest in stretch of extreme weather LOS ANGELES (AP) — California has been hit hard by extreme weather over the past several weeks. Atmospheric rivers, which are long stretches of wet air that can produce heavy rains, brought a record-setting rainfall before Thanksgiving. A series of atmospheric rivers are producing strong waves and storms near Santa Cruz this week. Thousands were left under evacuation warnings and orders because of a fire around Malibu. Climate change means that strong storms will be responsible for a greater share of the state's yearly precipitation and the periods between those events will be drier. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled.

Blues supporters also sang the name of head coach Maresca during the closing stages of an emphatic success sealed by goals from Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and substitute Jadon Sancho. Bottom club Southampton briefly levelled through Joe Aribo but were a man down from the 39th minute after captain Jack Stephens was sent off for pulling the hair of Marc Cucurella. Chelsea, who have endured an underwhelming period since Todd Boehly’s consortium bought the club in 2022, climbed above Arsenal and into second place on goal difference, seven points behind leaders Liverpool. “It was a very good feeling, especially because you can see that they are happy, that is our target,” Maresca said of the atmosphere in the away end. “We work every day to keep them happy and tonight was a very good feeling, especially the one that they can see that Chelsea’s back. This is an important thing.” Maresca rotated his squad in Hampshire, making seven changes following Sunday’s impressive 3-0 win over Aston Villa. Following a sloppy start, his side, who stretched their unbeaten run to six top-flight games, could easily have won by more as they hit the woodwork three times, in addition to squandering a host of chances. “I’m very happy with the five we scored,” said the Italian. “I’m not happy with the first 15, 20 minutes, where we struggled. The reason why we struggled is because we prepared the game to press them man to man and the first 15, 20 minutes we were not pressing them man to man. “After 15, 20 minutes we adjust that and the game was much better. For sure we could score more but five goals they are enough.” Southampton manager Russell Martin rued a costly “moment of madness” from skipper Stephens. The defender’s ridiculous red card was the headline mistake of a catalogue of errors from the beleaguered south-coast club as they slipped seven points from safety following an 11th defeat of a dismal season. “I don’t think anyone will be as disappointed as Jack,” Martin said of Stephens, who was sent off for the second time this term after tugging the curls of Cucurella as Saints prepared to take a corner. “I haven’t got to sit down and talk with him about that at all. He will be hurt more than anyone and it’s changed the game for us tonight, which is disappointing. “I think they have to describe it as violent conduct; it’s not violent really but there’s no other explanation for that really. It’s a moment of madness that’s really cost us and Jack.” Southampton repeatedly invited pressure with their risky attempts to play out from defence, with goalkeeper Joe Lumley gifting Chelsea their second goal, scored by Nkunku. While Saints were booed off at full-time, Martin, who was missing a host of key players due to injuries and suspensions, praised the effort of his depleted team. “When they see such a big scoreline and a couple of the goals we concede, I understand it (the jeers),” he said. “It’s football, it’s emotive, people feel so much about it, it’s why it’s such a special sport in this country and so big. “I understand it but I feel really proud of the players tonight, some of the football we played at 11 v 11 was amazing. “For an hour with 10 men we’ve dug in so deep, there were some big performances. I’m proud of them for that and I’m grateful for that because that’s not easy in that circumstance.”Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, who was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday in what New York police called a "brazen, targeted attack," was a longtime leader in Corporate America, a model student and star high school athlete – and he had been caught up in a high-profile insider trading lawsuit this year. Thompson, 50, lived in Minnesota and was visiting New York for UnitedHealthcare's annual investors conference before he was killed. Thompson was appointed chief executive of UnitedHealthcare in 2021, and had been at the company since 2004. Prior to being named chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, Thompson worked as CEO of the company's government programs business, which includes its Medicare and retirement businesses. UnitedHealthcare is part of UnitedHealth Group, America's largest insurance company. Prior to joining UnitedHealthcare in 2004, Thompson worked as a manager and practiced as a CPA at PwC for nearly seven years. Thompson graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in accounting. He graduated as valedictorian, according to his LinkedIn. He was a Collegiate Scholar, Carver Scholar, State of Iowa Scholar and Faculty Scholar. Thompson graduated from South Hamilton High School in Jewell, Iowa, in 1993. Thompson was the valedictorian of his class, Heather Holm, the superintendent for South Hamilton Community School District, told CNN. "During his time at South Hamilton, Brian was a star student, athlete, homecoming king, and a respected leader. His achievements and character left a meaningful legacy within our schools and community," Holm said in a statement. "We join all who are mourning in remembering Brian's life and legacy." Thompson is remembered as a beloved leader and friend, according to UnitedHealth Group. "Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him," the company said in a statement. Thompson in May was sued for alleged fraud and illegal insider trading. The Hollywood Firefighters' Pension Fund filed a lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group, CEO Andrew Witty, Executive Chairman Stephen Hemsley and Thompson, alleging the executives schemed to inflate the company's stock by failing to disclose a U.S. Justice Department antitrust investigation into the company. UnitedHealth Group in 2021 announced it would buy Change Healthcare. The Justice Department sued to break up the deal but a judge ultimately allowed it go through. But the Wall Street Journal in February 2024 reported the Department of Justice re-opened its case, even after the merger went through, to investigate whether the companies properly set up a so-called firewall to prevent customer information from flowing between divisions of the merged company. The lawsuit claimed Thompson knew about the investigation as early as October 2023 and sold 31% of his company shares, making a $15 million profit, 11 days before the Journal publicized the probe. The Journal report sent UnitedHealth's stock sinking 5%. The revelation of the alleged insider trading led Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey to write a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, calling on Chairman Gary Gensler to investigate UnitedHealth for the executives' stock sales. The senators noted Thompson faced up to $5 million in penalties and 20 years of prison time if convicted. "The reports regarding these trades reveal a disturbing fact pattern," the senators wrote. "The timing of these trades... raises numerous questions." The lawsuit, which remains active, was seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages from UnitedHealth and the executives named in the suit, including Thompson. The Southern District of New York declined to comment. UnitedHealthcare did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit. CNN's Kara Scannell contributed to this report.

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New Mechatronics Lab Equips Future Rocket Engineers for Ohio’s Evolving IndustriesNatWest is giving its customers in Wales the chance to buy someone experiencing homelessness a Christmas dinner this year. The bank has introduced the initiative through its MyRewards programme. Customers can now donate their available rewards, if more than £5, to buy a Christmas meal for a person experiencing homelessness in partnership with Social Bite. NatWest has also promised to match all donations to any of its 16 MyRewards charities, including Social Bite, up to £50 until December 31, up to a total of £150,000. This initiative is part of Social Bite’s ‘Festival of Kindness’, an annual mission aiming to provide 300,000 meals, gifts, and essential items to people who are homeless and vulnerable during the festive season. Jessica Shipman, chair of the NatWest Cymru Regional Board, said: "Social Bite makes a positive difference to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. "The festive season often brings into focus the hardship so many face every day. We know that people want to help but don’t know how. "We’re excited to support Social Bite’s inspiring 'Festival of Kindness' initiative, giving our customers a way to gift a homeless person a warm meal. "We encourage everyone to join in and help make the festive season a little brighter for the most vulnerable in our society." Since the launch of Festival of Kindness in 2020, Social Bite has distributed 1.1 million meals, gifts, and essentials to people who are homeless during the festive period. Josh Littlejohn, founder of Social Bite, added: "Social Bite is proud to have had the support of NatWest for a number of years, and together, we've made great strides to help people break the cycle of homelessness. "A big thank you to all the wonderful NatWest customers who chose to donate their rewards to Social Bite."

Vietnam jails more officials over Covid-19 flight bribesPatricia Technologies begins compensation for 2022 security breachFounded in 2010, the nonprofit runs a nine-week school program that encourages teens to work together as they meet their personal challenges. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.MADRID (AP) — Spanish King Felipe VI used his traditional Christmas Eve speech to remember the victims of the catastrophic Valencia flash floods , and urged the country to remain calm while addressing hot-button issues such as immigration and housing affordability. In a pre-recorded speech that usually reviews the year's most relevant issues, Felipe said Spain “must never forget the pain and sadness" the floods caused. The Oct. 29 floods killed more than 225 people in eastern Spain, damaging countless homes and leaving graveyards of cars piled on top of each other. In some towns, the heavy downpours that caused the floods dropped as much as a year's worth of rain in just eight hours. In early November, as Spaniards' shock at the wreckage turned into frustration, a political blame game began, directed especially at regional authorities who failed to send timely emergency alerts to cell phones on the day of the floods. The frustration of residents in hard-hit Paiporta near Valencia was on display when people tossed mud and shouted insults at the king and government officials in early November when they made their first visit to the town. “We have seen — and understood — the frustration, the pain, the impatience, the demands for greater and more effective coordination," Felipe said about how the disaster was managed. He also addressed the country's housing crunch and high rents, which have become a leading concern in the southern European country that is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy. Fast-rising rents are especially acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where incomes have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Felipe urged that “all the actors involved reflect” and "listen to each other” so that they facilitate bringing access to housing under “affordable conditions.” Spain's immigration debate should keep in mind the country's European partners and immigrants' countries of origin, Felipe said, warning that “the way in which we are able to address immigration ... will say a lot in the future about our principles and the quality of our democracy.” Felipe said Spain needed to remain calm in the public sphere, even in the face of a “sometimes thunderous” contest in its politics.

Morgan Stanley joins US peers putting Middle East HQ in RiyadhVijay Gir is a Certified Blockchain Expert with over 8 years of experience in the blockchain industry. He has a deep passion for sharing his knowledge of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and web3 technologies. For the past 7 years, Vijay has been dedicated to writing about these transformative topics, helping others stay informed and understand the evolving landscape of decentralized technologies. a silent closing? Bitcoin is hovering around $96,316 with a slight dim of 0.35% from December opening. A few minutes ago it was over 2%, however as we approach christmas eve, it looks like Santa is preparing the gift. Current Momentum: A Mixed Bag December started with Bitcoin flirting with record highs, but it's now down $15,000 from last week's peak. Still, BTC has climbed by 2.28% in the past two hours, showing that short-term traders are staying active. Zooming out,...IF you're planning a tasty creamy mash for your Christmas dinner, look no further. A cooking expert has shared her tips for perfecting the festive side dish. The chef revealed that you've probably been making your mash all wrong. According to the expert, we need to stop boiling our spuds in water if we want it to be extra creamy - yes, you heard that correctly. If you want to make the best mashed potatoes, you need to boil your potatoes in milk. Rosie Gill, director of Milk Street Cooking School, took to social media to share her mashed potatoes recipe - leaving many open-mouthed. Read More On Food She explained that it’s time to stop boiling your potatoes in water - as you’ll need to use milk instead. She revealed: “We simmer your mashed potatoes in milk, not water! And here’s why. “Potatoes are like pasta, they release starches into their cooking liquid. “That becomes liquid gold - allowing us to get lush, silky, creamy, mashed potatoes. Most read in Fabulous “When you throw out water that you cook your potatoes in, you throw all that starch down the drain, so you’re wasting it. “The milk becomes our cooking liquid - and a replacement for heavy cream.” As she showed off her finished side dish, she added: “We just mash the potatoes directly in the pot - no mixer needed. “And that is how we get still creamy, but not too heavy, mashed potatoes.” Rosie later confirmed: “In the case of pasta, you want to reserve some of that liquid to give the sauce a luscious shine and bind it to the noodles. “In mashed potatoes, cooking in milk, and preserving that starchy liquid, gives your potatoes a natural creaminess and allows you to skip the weighty heavy cream.” The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @177milkstreet, has clearly left many stunned, as it was shared just one day ago, but has quickly gone viral, and has racked up a staggering 3.3 million views. Foods must be stored correctly to keep them fresh and prevent the spread of bacteria. Nutrition expert Birgit Brendel said bread will last longer when stored in the fridge or freezer. However, this can compromise the flavour. Storing in ceramic or pottery containers is an alternative that allows for air to flow easily and slow the growth of mould. Robert Morris, managing director of food safety consultants, Complete Food Safety, revealed the best place to store fresh fruit and vegetables. He said salad foods should be stored in the fridge drawer, but away from anything grown in the soil such as carrots, parsnips and beetroot. Tomatoes are an exception to the rule as fridges can alter the natural ripening process and diminish their taste. He also advised against putting avocados and bananas in the fridge as this will cause them to blacken quicker. But social media users were divided at the cooking tip - while some were impressed, not everyone was as keen. One person said: “Awesome tip! I’m married to this from now on!” Another added: “Brilliant.” A third commented: “Genius.” Whilst another food fan beamed: “Great idea.” However, not everyone was impressed with the foodie’s hack and many revealed that they didn’t actually think her mash looked that great. One user claimed: “Tried it - weird mush. Prefer chicken broth or chicken stock with water.” A second penned: “Looks v lumpy.” Someone else chimed in: “They don't look smooth though.” READ MORE SUN STORIES Whilst another wrote: “That mash looks way too wet.” Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line .

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FORT WORTH, Texas — Navy football capped a turnaround season with an uplifting victory in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl — and made some history in the process. Quarterback Blake Horvath directed a gutsy 12-play, 66-yard touchdown drive that put Navy ahead of Oklahoma. The Mids hung on thanks to defensive end Justin Reed, who preserved the 21-20 win by sacking Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. on a two-point conversion attempt with six seconds remaining. Horvath’s 6-yard keeper with 4:34 left capped a string of 21 straight Navy points to fully erase a 14-0 lead Oklahoma built in the first quarter. However, the Sooners drove 65 yards in 1:41 to get in position to win the game after Hawkins threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jake Roberts. Coach Brent Venables decided to go for the win and Hawkins never had a chance to get off a pass as several Navy defenders broke into the backfield. Reed dropped the dangerous freshman as the Midshipmen breathed a collective sigh of relief. Navy’s winning score came after taking possession at its own 34-yard line following a missed field goal by Oklahoma early in the fourth quarter. The Midshipmen converted on third down twice and fourth down once to stay on the field. Horvath completed a clutch 10-yard pass to snipe Brandon Chatman on a third down, then later found snipe Eli Heidenreich open in the flat for a 16-yard gain on fourth down to set up the winning score. On first-and-goal from the 6, Horvath found an opening on the right side, got a great block from fullback Alex Tecza and scooted untouched into the end zone, giving Navy its first lead of the game and causing a raucous celebration along the visiting sideline. The drive took more than seven minutes off the clock and left less than five for the Sooners to tie or win. An exchange of punts left Oklahoma at its own 35-yard line with 1:47 to go in the game. Hawkins calmly completed seven passes as the Sooners drove 65 yards in 13 plays. He got the touchdown the Sooners needed, but couldn’t escape Reed with the game on the line. Horvath was the offensive hero for Navy (10-3), rushing for 155 yards and two touchdowns with almost all of that coming in the second half. Horvath overcame a slow start throwing the ball to complete 7 of 12 passes for 92 yards. Inside linebackers Colin Ramos and Kyle Jacob spearheaded the defense for the Midshipmen. Ramos recorded a game-high 12 tackles, while Jacob totaled nine tackles, a forced fumble and a sack. This Navy team became just the sixth in program history to reach double digits for wins, the first since 2019, which also was the last time Navy won a bowl game. The Midshipmen defeated a Southeastern Conference opponent in a bowl game for only the second time in program history. Way back in 1954, Navy’s “Team Named Desire” defeated Mississippi in the Sugar Bowl. “It was all Oklahoma early as the Navy defense was overmatched on two straight possessions to start the game, while the offense shot itself in the foot. Hawkins directed an efficient nine-play, 65-yard touchdown drive on the game’s opening possession. Gavin Sawchuk capped it with a 21-yard scoring scamper. He burst through a big hole on the left side and raced untouched into the end zone to give the Sooners a 7-0 lead with just over three minutes elapsed. Navy nearly countered with a score of its own as Horvath hit wide receiver Nathan Kent in stride on a deep throw. Kent got way behind the entire secondary and was wide-open, but Horvath’s throw was high. Kent made a spectacular catch to snag the ball, but fell to the turf at the Oklahoma 41-yard line. Navy eventually punted. Oklahoma added to the lead on its second possession with Hawkins using his running ability to make things happen. He scrambled for 16 yards to convert a third down then did it again to produce a touchdown, eluding pressure then finishing Zion Kearney for a 56-yard touchdown that made it 14-0. Navy finally got its offense going late in the second quarter. Oklahoma’s second turnover on downs gave Navy a short field and the Mids took advantage. Horvath used a fake quarterback draw and jump pass to convert a third down with a 21-yard completion to tight end Cody Howard. Two plays later, Tecza found a seam up the middle then ran through two defenders for a 21-yard touchdown that made it 14-7 at the break. Following an exchange of punts to start the second half, Horvath electrified the crowd by bursting up the middle on a quarterback keeper and racing 95 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest touchdown run in Navy football history and the also the longest in Armed Forces Bowl history. Set up in shotgun formation and standing on his own goal-line, Horvath saw the parting of the Red Sea and galloped untouched the length of the field. Heidenreich made a great hustle play by racing downfield to get in the way of the nearest chasing defender. Nathan Kirkwood’s extra point tied the game at 14 with 3:49 left in the third period. Oklahoma appeared to take the lead back with a 56-yard Hawkins touchdown run late in the third quarter, but it was called back for holding. The Sooners still put together a couple of first downs to get to Navy’s 34, but a 52-yard field goal by Zach Schmitt was off the mark and Navy proceeded to embark on its winning touchdown drive. (c)2024 The Capital (Annapolis, Md.) Visit The Capital (Annapolis, Md.) at www.hometownannapolis.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.None

Sado, Nov 24 (AP) Japan held a memorial ceremony on Sunday near the Sado Island Gold Mines, listed this summer as a UNESCO World Heritage site after the country moved past years of historical disputes with South Korea and reluctantly acknowledged the mines' dark history. However, it has not offered an apology. At these mines, hundreds of Koreans were forced to labour under abusive and brutal conditions during World War II, historians say. Japanese officials at Sunday's ceremony paid tribute for the first time to “all workers” including Korean labourers who died at the mines, without acknowledging they were forced labourers — part of what critics call a persistent policy of whitewashing Japan's history of sexual and labour exploitation before and during the war. The ceremony, supposed to further mend wounds, renewed tensions between the two sides. South Korea boycotted Sunday's memorial service citing unspecified disagreements with Tokyo over the event. “As a resident, I must say (their absence) is very disappointing after all the preparations we made,” said Sado Mayor Ryugo Watanabe. “I wish we could have held the memorial with South Korean attendees.” The Associated Press explains the Sado mines, their history and the controversy. What are the Sado gold mines? The 16th-century mines on the island of Sado, about the size of the Pacific island of Guam, off the western coast of Niigata prefecture, operated for nearly 400 years, beginning in 1601, and were once the world's largest gold producer. They closed in 1989. During the Edo period, from 1603 to 1868, the mines supplied gold currency to the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate. Today, the site has been developed into a tourist facility and hiking site where visitors can learn about the changes in mining technology and production methods while looking at the remains of mine shafts and ore dressing facilities. Critics say the Japanese government only highlights the glory of the mines and covers up its use of Korean victims of forced labour and their ordeals. The mines were registered as a cultural heritage site in July after Japan agreed to include an exhibit on the conditions of Korean forced labourers and to hold a memorial service annually after repeated protests from the South Korean government. A few signs have since been erected, indicating former sites of South Korean labourers' dormitories. A city-operated museum in the area also added a section about Korean labourers, but a private museum attached to the main UNESCO site doesn't mention them at all. What's the controversy? At the UNESCO World Heritage Committee July meeting, the Japanese delegate said Tokyo had installed new exhibition material to explain the “severe conditions of (the Korean labourers') work and to remember their hardship.” Japan also acknowledged that Koreans were made to do more dangerous tasks in the mine shaft, which caused some to die. Those who survived also developed lung diseases and other health problems. Many of them were given meagre food rations and nearly no days off and were caught by police if they escaped, historians say. But the Japanese government has refused to admit they were “forced labour.” South Korea had earlier opposed the listing of the site for UNESCO World Heritage on the grounds that the Korean forced labourers used at the mines were missing from the exhibition. South Korea eventually supported the listing after consultations with Japan and Tokyo's pledge to improve the historical background of the exhibit and to hold a memorial that also includes Koreans. Historians say Japan used hundreds of thousands of Korean labourers, including those forcibly brought from the Korean Peninsula, at Japanese mines and factories to make up for labour shortages because most working-age Japanese men had been sent to battlefronts across Asia and the Pacific. About 1,500 Koreans were forced to work at the Sado mines, according to Yasuto Takeuchi, an expert on Japan's wartime history, citing wartime Japanese documents. The South Korean government has said it expects Japan to keep its pledge to be truthful to history and to show both sides of the Sado mines. “The controversy surrounding the Sado mines exhibit underscores a deeper problem” of Japan's failure to face up to its wartime responsibility and its growing “denialism” of its wartime atrocities, Takeuchi said. Who did the ceremony commemorate? All workers who died at the Sado mines were honoured. That includes hundreds of Korean labourers who worked there during Japan's 1910-1945 colonisation of the Korean Peninsula. At Sunday's ceremony, four Japanese representatives, including central and local government officials and the head of the organising group, thanked all mine workers for their sacrifice and mourned for those who died. None offered any apology to Korean forced labourers for the harsh treatment at the mines. Attendants observed a moment of silence for the victims who died at the mines due to accidents and other causes. The ceremony dredged up long-standing frustrations in South Korea. About 100 people, including officials from Japan's local and central government, as well as South Korean Foreign Ministry officials and the relatives of Korean wartime laborers, were supposed to attend. Because of South Korea's last-minute boycott, more than 20 seats remained vacant. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday it was impossible to settle the disagreements between both governments before the planned event on Sunday, without specifying what those disagreements were. There has been speculation that the South Korean boycott might have been due to the presence of parliamentary vice minister Akiko Ikuina at Sunday's ceremony. In August 2022, Ikuina reportedly visited Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine, weeks after she was elected as a lawmaker. Japan's neighbours view Yasukuni, which commemorates 2.5 million war dead including war criminals, as a symbol of Japan's past militarism. Her visit could have been seen as a sign of a lack of remorse. Some South Koreans criticised the Seoul government for throwing its support behind an event without securing a clear Japanese commitment to highlight the plight of Korean labourers. There were also complaints over South Korea agreeing to pay for the travel expenses of Korean victims' family members who were invited to attend the ceremony. How has Japan faced up to its wartime atrocities? Critics say Japan's government has long been reluctant to discuss wartime atrocities. That includes what historians describe as the sexual abuse and enslavement of women across Asia, many of them Koreans who were deceived into providing sex to Japanese soldiers at frontline brothels and euphemistically called “comfort women,” and the Koreans who were mobilised and forced to work in Japan, especially in the final years of World War II. Korean compensation demands for Japanese atrocities during its brutal colonial rule have strained relations between the two Asian neighbours, most recently after a 2018 South Korean Supreme Court ruling ordered Japanese companies to pay damages over their wartime forced labour. Japan's government has maintained that all wartime compensation issues between the two countries were resolved under the 1965 normalisation treaty. Ties between Tokyo and Seoul have improved recently after Washington said their disputes over historical issues hampered crucial security cooperation as China's threat grows in the region. South Korea's conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol announced in March 2023 that his country would use a local corporate fund to compensate forced labour victims without demanding Japanese contributions. Japan's then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida later expressed sympathy for their suffering during a Seoul visit. Security, business and other ties between the sides have since rapidly resumed. Japan's whitewashing of wartime atrocities has risen since the 2010s, particularly under the past government of revisionist leader Shinzo Abe. For instance, Japan says the terms “sex slavery” and “forced labour” are inaccurate and insists on the use of highly euphemistic terms such as “comfort women” and “civilian workers” instead. Takeuchi, the historian, said listing Japan's modern industrial historical sites as a UNESCO World Heritage is a government push to increase tourism. The government, he said, wants “to commercialise sites like the Sado mines by beautifying and justifying their history for Japan's convenience.” (AP) GSP (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)