online game in pc ZURICH (AP) — Saudi Arabia scored a major win in its campaign to attract major sports events to the kingdom when it was formally appointed as the 2034 World Cup host on Wednesday. Still, many questions remain about the tournament as well as the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three games in South America. Here are some of the key issues that need to be answered over the next decade: Saudi Arabia proposes 15 stadiums — eight still on paper — in five cities: Eight in the capital Riyadh, four in the Red Sea port city Jeddah, and one each in Abha, Al Khobar and Neom, the planned futuristic mega-project. Each would have at least 40,000 seats for World Cup games. The opening game and final are set for a 92,000-seat venue planned in Riyadh. Some designs are vivid . In Neom, the stadium is planned 350 meters (yards) above street level and one near Riyadh is designed to be atop a 200-meter cliff with a retractable wall of LED screens. Saudi Arabia aims to host all 104 games, though there has been speculation that some games could be played in neighboring or nearby countries. Surely not in the traditional World Cup period of June-July, when temperatures in Saudi Arabia routinely exceed 40 Celsius (104 degrees). FIFA moved the Qatar-hosted World Cup to November-December 2022, though those dates were not loved by most European clubs and leagues whose seasons were interrupted. Also, that slot is complicated in 2034 by the holy month of Ramadan through mid-December and Riyadh hosting the multi-sport Asian Games. January 2034 could be a possibility even though that would be just before the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The International Olympic Committee has signaled it won’t be opposed to back-to-back major events. In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Saudi World Cup bid official Hammad Albalawi said the precise dates of the tournament are up the world soccer body. “That’s a decision by FIFA. We stand ready to be part of this conversation. But ultimately it’s a FIFA decision together with the confederations,” Albalawi said. Giving more rights and freedoms to women in a traditionally conservative society is fundamental to Saudi messaging around the modernization program known as Vision 2030. The kingdom decided in 2017 to let women attend sports events, initially in major cities and in family zones separate from men-only sections. By 2034, at the promised pace of social reforms, female fans should not be restricted. Saudi Arabia launched a women’s professional soccer league in 2022 with players joining from clubs in Europe. They face no restrictions playing in shorts and with hair uncovered. The Saudi prohibition of alcohol is clear and understood before FIFA signs any sponsor deals for 2034. But will there be any exceptions? The alcohol issue was problematic for the World Cup in Qatar because the expectation was created that beer sales would be allowed at stadiums even before Qatar won its bid in 2010. One year later, FIFA extended a long-time deal to have Budweiser as the official World Cup beer through 2022. Qatar then backtracked on that promise three days before the first game, causing confusion and the sense of a promise broken. In Qatar, alcohol was served only at luxury suites at the stadiums. Visitors could also have a drink in some hotel bars. But Saudi Arabia has even stricter rules on alcohol — and there is no indication that will change. Albalawi noted that Saudi Arabia has successfully hosted dozens of sports events where alcohol wasn't served. “We’re creating a safe and secure family environment for fans to bring their families into our stadiums,” he said. Saudi promises to reform and enforce labor laws, and fully respect migrant workers, have been accepted by FIFA but face broad skepticism from rights groups and trade unions. A formal complaint is being investigated by the U.N.-backed International Labor Organization. Protecting the migrant workers needed to build stadiums and other tournament projects — a decade after it was a defining issue for Qatar — looms as a signature challenge for Saudi Arabia. Saudi-Israeli relations had been improving when FIFA all but gave the 2034 World Cup to the kingdom on Oct. 4 last year. Three days later Hamas attacked Israel and diplomacy got more complicated. Any soccer federation bidding to host a FIFA tournament accepts a basic principle that whichever team qualifies is welcome. That did not stop Indonesia putting up barriers last year to Israel coming for the men’s Under-20 World Cup. Indonesia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel which had qualified through a European tournament nine months before the issue flared. FIFA moved the entire tournament to Argentina and the Israeli team reached the semifinals. Israel played at the 1970 World Cup but has never advanced through qualifying in Europe, where it has been a member of UEFA for 30 years. Europe should have 16 places in the 48-team World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Most of the attention at the FIFA Congress on Wednesday was on the Saudi decision, but the soccer body and its members also formally approved the hosts of the 2030 World Cup — the most spread out and longest ever. One game each in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, the original host in 1930, will be played from June 8-9. The tournament resumes four days later for the other 101 games shared between Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Six countries, three continents, multiple languages and currencies. Fans traveling on planes, trains, automobiles and boats across about 14 kilometers (10 miles) of water between Spain and Morocco. The final is due on July 21, 2030 and a decision on where it will be played could cause some tension between the host countries. Morocco wants it in the world’s biggest soccer venue — the planned 115,000-seat King Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca. Spain, meanwhile, has proposed to host the final in either of the remodeled home stadiums of club giants Real Madrid or Barcelona. Associated Press writer Baraa Anwer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, contributed to this report.Iris Recognition Market to Witness Massive Growth | Major Giants Iris ID, IDEMIA, NEC 11-30-2024 08:15 PM CET | IT, New Media & Software Press release from: HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Pvt. Ltd. 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Market Trends: Integration with AI, Faster processing, Multimodal biometric solutions Market Challenges: High costs, Privacy concerns, Need for robust infrastructure Market Opportunity: Expansion in mobile and wearable devices, Government projects Dominating Region: North America, Europe Fastest-Growing Region: Asia-Pacific Ask for Discount on Immediate purchase 👉 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/3785796-iris-recognition-market-4?utm_source=Saroj_openpr&utm_id=Saroj The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below: In-depth analysis of Iris Recognition market segments by Types: Mobile Iris Scanners, Fixed Scanners, Multimodal, Wearable Devices, Access Systems Detailed analysis of Iris Recognition market segments by Applications: Security, Finance, Healthcare, Border Control, Consumer Electronics Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, market share, and growth rate of the following regions: •The Middle East and Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Egypt, etc.) •North America (United States, Mexico & Canada) •South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, etc.) •Europe (Turkey, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) •Asia-Pacific (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia). 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UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Peyton Smith's 12 points helped Fairfield hold off Vermont 67-66 on Sunday. Smith shot 4 of 7 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Stags (3-4). Prophet Johnson scored 10 points, finishing 4 of 6 from the floor. Makuei Riek had 10 points and shot 4 for 9, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc. TJ Long led the Catamounts (3-4) in scoring, finishing with 18 points. TJ Hurley added 17 points for Vermont. Jace Roquemore finished with 13 points and two steals. NEXT UP Fairfield takes on Fairleigh Dickinson at home on Sunday, and Vermont hosts SUNY-Plattsburgh on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

In South Korea’s crisis playbook, currency stability is paramountEdo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Saturday, said that those who conjured election results and announced same on social media during the September 21 governorship election are the same people crying that the polls were rigged. Okpebholo said this while expressing gratitude to the people of Esan, at the Esan Central Local Government Council Secretariat, the venue of the homecoming reception held in celebration of his victory by the Esan people of Edo Central. According to Okpebholo, it is sad that criminals are crying today that they lost the election, stressing that they would continue to lose, spend their money on fruitless ventures, wasting away time, energy and resources. He said, “I thank the Edo people for the overwhelming support given to our party during the September 21 governorship election in Edo State. I am happy for the resounding victory God gave us. I thank President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of our party for not playing anti-party but stood firm for justice and equity to prevail, which led to the success and victory recorded by our party. “The people who wrote results and were announcing fake results on the internet are the same people crying today that somebody rigged the election. It is sad to say that the criminals are crying today that they have lost and will continue to lose. They are spending money day and night and wasting their money, and they will wait in vain. Edo people have spoken. They have chosen the path of development, peace, and unity. This is what Edo people have chosen, and that is how it will remain. “I want to thank the Esan people for standing by me and ensuring a resounding victory. Thank you for the confidence reposed in me, and thank you for your votes. This crowd has shown that you people voted for me. I will not disappoint the Edo people. I will not disappoint the Esan people. I will do the right thing and allow justice to prevail. Related News Edo security corps to profile members, says coordinator Edo workers to get 13th month salary Okpebholo offers automatic employment to Edo first-class graduates “I thank the traditional rulers in the entire Esan land, leaders of Esan land, party leaders, and all those who stood by me to become the Governor of Edo State and above all I give God the glory.” The Onojie of Uromi, His Royal Highness, Anselm Aidenojie II, said the people of Esan land were happy that their son is the governor of the State. He added, “We, the traditional rulers from Esan land, went round the state to appeal for support to produce the governor, and today it is a reality. We thank the Oba of Benin Kingdom, Oba Ewuare ll and grateful to all for the support. We believe that the Governor will deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Edo State,” he said. APC state chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, thanked Edo people for the mandate given to Okpebholo, saying he has already hit the ground running since his inauguration. “We are happy to celebrate the victory God Almighty has given to us, and we thank Edo people for the mandate as all can see that the Governor has hit the ground running. This is how it will be in the next eight years. In the last eight years, there was no governance. Governor Okpebholo has started from where Comrade Adams Oshiomhole stopped.” Dignitaries at the reception organized by the Esan people for the Governor are traditional rulers from Edo Central; Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Musa Ikhilor; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Gani Audu; members of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA); top government officials, party faithful and others.

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A Kelowna group with concerns over a holiday sign in the downtown core has apparently got their wish. Each year, the Knights of Columbus put up a nativity scene display as part of the downtown Christmas decorations. The Knights go through a permitting process to do this, according to the City of Kelowna. This year, a sign saying "Keep Christ in Christmas" was part of the display, upsetting some people in the community, including the Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists Association (KASHA). However, the sign has since been removed. According to the city, the sign wasn't part of the permit. It was taken down on Tuesday, Dec. 10. On Monday, Dec. 9, (KASHA) expressed in a letter that it understands the nativity scene is part of Christmas symbols like "lights, festive trees, and other decorative displays." But KASHA had concerns with the "Keep Christ in Christmas" sign. "This message is not merely festive—it is political, advocating for a specific religious interpretation of the holiday," said KASHA in its letter to Black Press Media. "It may appear inoffensive and inconsequential for the city to endorse one religion so overtly. But it is important to understand that this does impact people of other faiths, and people who have no religious beliefs. It makes them feel less Canadian." Capital News has reached out to Knights of Columbus for comment.

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Daiwa Securities Group Inc. grew its position in Southwest Airlines Co. ( NYSE:LUV – Free Report ) by 11.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 38,795 shares of the airline’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,074 shares during the period. Daiwa Securities Group Inc.’s holdings in Southwest Airlines were worth $1,149,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mizuho Securities USA LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Southwest Airlines by 6,414.5% in the third quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 3,006,000 shares of the airline’s stock valued at $89,068,000 after acquiring an additional 2,959,857 shares in the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund acquired a new position in Southwest Airlines in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $48,551,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its stake in Southwest Airlines by 629.5% in the 2nd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,590,298 shares of the airline’s stock valued at $45,498,000 after buying an additional 1,372,305 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Southwest Airlines by 21.6% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 5,828,166 shares of the airline’s stock worth $166,742,000 after purchasing an additional 1,034,496 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nuance Investments LLC acquired a new position in Southwest Airlines in the 2nd quarter valued at $21,573,000. Institutional investors own 80.82% of the company’s stock. Analyst Ratings Changes LUV has been the subject of a number of research reports. Evercore ISI raised shares of Southwest Airlines from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their price target for the company from $30.00 to $35.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Southwest Airlines from an “underperform” rating to a “hold” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $24.00 to $32.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Southwest Airlines in a research note on Monday, November 4th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $33.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Southwest Airlines from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Southwest Airlines from $19.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, September 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Southwest Airlines currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $30.25. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Rakesh Gangwal bought 643,788 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was purchased at an average price of $29.98 per share, with a total value of $19,300,764.24. Following the purchase, the director now owns 3,606,311 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $108,117,203.78. This trade represents a 21.73 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link . Also, major shareholder Elliott Investment Management sold 1,203,920 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.83, for a total value of $35,912,933.60. Following the sale, the insider now owns 59,912,580 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,787,192,261.40. The trade was a 1.97 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . 0.33% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Southwest Airlines Stock Performance NYSE:LUV opened at $32.36 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $30.94 and a two-hundred day moving average of $28.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.41 billion, a PE ratio of -462.29, a P/E/G ratio of 7.56 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.88. Southwest Airlines Co. has a fifty-two week low of $23.58 and a fifty-two week high of $35.18. Southwest Airlines ( NYSE:LUV – Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The airline reported $0.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.05 by $0.10. Southwest Airlines had a negative net margin of 0.06% and a positive return on equity of 4.56%. The company had revenue of $6.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.77 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.38 earnings per share. Southwest Airlines’s revenue was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Southwest Airlines Co. will post 0.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Southwest Airlines Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.22%. Southwest Airlines’s payout ratio is currently -1,028.57%. Southwest Airlines Profile ( Free Report ) Southwest Airlines Co operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and near-international markets. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated a total fleet of 817 Boeing 737 aircraft; and served 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LUV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Southwest Airlines Co. ( NYSE:LUV – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Southwest Airlines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southwest Airlines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Rookie of the Year Carson Hocevar to Carry Zeigler Livery for Multi-Race Program KALAMAZOO, Mich. , Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeigler Automotive Group, one of the largest privately-owned automotive dealer groups in the United States , will return to Spire Motorsports to partner with Michigan native and reigning NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year Carson Hocevar for multiple races in 2025. The announcement was made today during a press conference hosted at Zeigler Motorsports in Kalamazoo . The event also included a fan meet and greet with Hocevar. "We are very excited for the 2025 season with Carson and the Spire team," said Aaron J. Zeigler, president and CEO of Zeigler Auto Group and Zeigler Racing. "This past year has been nothing short of incredible, with Carson earning the well-deserved Rookie of the Year award. His performance on the track has exceeded all expectations, and if this past year is any indication of what's to come, we're in for an exciting ride. Carson's commitment to excellence, both on and off the track, has made a tremendous impact, and we are honored to continue to support our hometown hero. His dedication to the community has been inspiring, and we can't wait to see what's next for Carson, Zeigler , and the entire Spire team." Zeigler.com and Zeigler Auto Group will be showcased as the team's primary sponsor in eight Cup Series races in 2025 beginning with the first points-paying race of the season Feb. 16 at Daytona International Speedway. The distinct yellow and black Zeigler paint scheme will be featured aboard Hocevar's No. 77 Chevy Camaro at the following races in 2025: Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin , Illinois , Indiana , and Michigan . Vehicle brands represented include all the domestic and majority of the imported manufacturers. The family-owned and -operated organization has been a regular on the Cup Series tour since 2019. Hocevar, 21, earned top 2024 rookie honors on the strength of one top-five, six top-10 and 13 top-15 finishes. In his first full-season at the controls of the No. 77 Chevrolet, Hocevar brought home a career-best third-place finish in the Cup Series' September visit to Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. "I'm excited to continue our partnership with Zeigler Automotive Group after a successful rookie season," said Hocevar. "They've been such a great support group since day one for me and the No. 77 team. I'm looking forward to continuing to build our partnership on and off the track and can't wait to take the Zeigler Chevrolet to Victory Lane." The Portage, Mich. , native impressed throughout his rookie campaign, accumulating 686 points and being the top-finishing rookie in 15 races on NASCAR's senior circuit. He out-distanced his next closest competitor by a handsome 107-point advantage when the checkered flag fell on the 2024 season finale at Phoenix Raceway. The 21-year-old made his NCS debut for Spire Motorsports on June 4, 2023 at World Wide Technology Raceway. In addition to his NCS debut, Hocevar made four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts for Spire Motorsports in 2023, earning top-10 finishes at Darlington Raceway (sixth) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (eighth). Hocevar is the third Michigan -born driver to win Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors, following in the footsteps of Johnny Benson (1996) and Erik Jones (2017). The 67th running of the Daytona 500 will be televised live on FOX, Sunday, Feb. 16 beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and will also be the first NASCAR event streamed live on Amazon Prime. The first of 36 points-paying races on the 2025 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. About Zeigler Auto Group Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin , Illinois , Indiana , and Michigan . Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers. Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company. The Kalamazoo -based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago , three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm. Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people, ranking among the top one percent of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2023. The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin , Chicago , and Michigan . Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor's 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2024, and among Glassdoor's top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance. For more information, please visit zeiglerracing.com or follow us on @zeigler_racing on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Linkedin. About Spire Motorsports Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus "T.J." Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports campaigned the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team also fielded the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019 . Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports' No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team's most recent win came on April 12, 2024 , when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth . MEDIA CONTACT: Francis Mariela (Zeigler PR) - (239) 273-6976 fm@zeigler.com / letswork@francismariela.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zeigler-auto-group-announces-2025-nascar-cup-series-campaign-with-spire-motorsports-at-press-conference-302333059.html SOURCE Zeigler Automotive Group

DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims On Behalf Of Investors Of ASML HoldingWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. His threat was directed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have applied to become members and several other countries have expressed interest in joining. While the U.S. dollar is by far the most-used currency in global business and has survived past challenges to its preeminence, members of the alliance and other developing nations say they are fed up with America’s dominance of the global financial system . Trump, in a Truth Social post, said: “We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy." At a summit of BRIC nations in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. of “weaponizing” the dollar and described it as a “big mistake.” “It’s not us who refuse to use the dollar,” Putin said at the time. “But if they don’t let us work, what can we do? We are forced to search for alternatives.” Russia has specifically pushed for the creation of a new payment system that would offer an alternative to the global bank messaging network, SWIFT, and allow Moscow to dodge Western sanctions and trade with partners. Trump said there is "no chance" BRIC will replace the U.S. dollar in global trade and any country that tries to make that happen "should wave goodbye to America.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Snell and the Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized a $182 million, five-year contract. The reigning World Series champions announced the deal with the two-time Cy Young Award winner on Saturday. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.EcoWaste Coalition Backs Recall of Mini Toy Sets with Toxic Resins

Sales of new and used seeding equipment plummetAbuja Court Set To Commence Suit Against Alleged “Illegal Operations” Of Arewa 24

Podcast: Vikings are 9-2 after Bears take them into overtime at Soldier FieldCOLUMBIA, Mo. — FairCom RTG ensures COBOL builds your company up, instead of holding your business back. And it’s easier than ever with . The latest version of RTG brings considerable improvements to how companies handle legacy COBOL data. lets customers use SQL, JSON, and other modern APIs to query and modify COBOL data. And—as always—RTG runs without modifying the source application’s COBOL code. “FairCom RTG has always been the bridge between COBOL data and modern features and capabilities,” said Ray K. Brown, COO at FairCom Corp., “but we truly believe this latest edition empowers anyone to use their legacy data, even with a limited technical background.” FairCom RTG acts as a drop-in replacement for a COBOL application’s file system. It preserves the app’s source code while bringing modern code, scalability, and replication with the legacy application, allowing companies to confidently build upon the foundational systems that have powered their business for the past 50 years. In addition to , RTG also acts as a replacement for the Btrieve© navigational database, providing users with an active and engaged support team. Version 5 breathes new life into your legacy applications. Standouts include: From flexible file formats to multi-API access, FairCom remains committed to empowering customers to do more with their data, here and in the future. Wherever and however you build, FairCom is the reliable data foundation for your business. For more than forty-five years, FairCom has been building better ways to manage your data. We’re passionate about the technology that powers businesses worldwide, and we’ve built that passion into all of our data technology products. Learn more about the FairCom data evolution at Gary Arnold FairCom Corporation 800.234.8180Vijilan Security Partners with Cribl to Modernize Data Management for MSPs and Enterprises

The central board of trustees of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation on Saturday approved the EPFO Amnesty Scheme 2024 , encouraging employers to voluntarily disclose and rectify past non-compliance or under-compliance without facing penalties, a move aimed at fostering employment generation under the employment-linked incentive scheme . Following this, the ministry of labour and employment will hold stakeholder consultation and notify the scheme. However, it is expected to be rolled out with the ELI schemes by the end of this year. “It is expected that several small establishments (under micro, small and medium enterprises ( MSME sector or otherwise) may wish to avail of the benefits under the ELI scheme but would be worried in enrolling under EPFO,” the ministry of labour and employment said in a statement issued after the meeting. “This Amnesty Scheme would provide the confidence to such employers to enrol without any fear or additional financial burden.” ET first reported on November 26 that the EPFO is working on an amnesty scheme to encourage formal job creation under the ELI scheme. Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Leadership Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Office Productivity Microsoft Word Mastery: From Beginner to Expert By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Web Development Advanced Java Mastery: Object-Oriented Programming Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Intermediate C++ Skills: Master Pointers, Structures and File Stream By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Startup Fundraising: Essential Tactics for Securing Capital By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program The central board of trustees is the highest decision making body of the EPFO. It is chaired by the labour and employment minister and comprises representatives of the employees, employers and the government. The 236th meeting of the board approved over a half a dozen other proposals including simplification of the criteria for empanelment of banks, both agency and scheduled commercial banks, for centralised collection of EPF contributions. “This initiative will enhance both the ease of doing business and the ease of providing service,” it said. Besides, the board approved the proposal to pay interest to EPFO subscribers till the claim settlement date unlike the existing provisions under which the claim settled till 24th of the month was entitled to interest up to the end of the preceding month. “Now, the interest will be paid to the member up to the date of settlement. This will result in financial benefit to the members and reduce the grievances,” it said, adding after this decision, these claims will be processed for the entire month leading to reduced pendency, timely settlement and optimized utilization of resources. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is November 30, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )PRN: Industrials Dashboard For December

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online game pc During the Singapore FinTech Festival, I had a chance to visit the National Library of Singapore and explore the Generative AI-powered ChatBook featuring one of the founders of modern Singapore S. Rajaratnam. The showcase was inaugurated by Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong while launching the second volume of the biography of S. Rajaratnam, “The Lion’s Roar”, authored by Irene Ng. Singapore’s Senior Minister and former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who graced the showcase, noted: “Raja belonged to the core group of Founding Fathers who shared fierce conviction of what Singapore should be, and defied the odds to build a united, successful, and confident nation. It is befitting that NLB has made this ChatBook prototype publicly available with Raja’s materials.” Rajaratnam was born on 25 February 1915 in Jaffna, Ceylon, and at the age of six months, his mother brought him to join his father in Malaya. His mother had taken the precaution of giving birth to him in her hometown Jaffna because of her traumatic experience at a hospital in Malaya a few years earlier. Rajaratnam spent his childhood in Malaya and later went to London to study at King’s College but had to return to Malaya before completing his studies due to World War II. Eventually, he settled in Singapore, where he became a prominent journalist, political leader, and one of the Founding Fathers of independent Singapore. Rajaratnam was close to Lee Kuan Yew, and they shared a strong working relationship as part of Singapore’s founding leadership. Both were core members of the People’s Action Party (PAP) and worked together to guide Singapore through its early years of independence. Rajaratnam served as Singapore’s first Foreign Minister, while Lee was the first Prime Minister, and their shared vision for the country’s future helped them build a solid and effective partnership. As the Foreign Minister, Rajaratnam was skilled in diplomacy and worked to establish Singapore’s presence on the global stage, especially during a time when Singapore was a small, newly independent country. He advocated for principles of non-alignment, peaceful coexistence, and cooperation, which allowed Singapore to build strong relationships with both Eastern and Western nations. His influence also extended domestically. He played a key role in promoting multiculturalism and social cohesion, particularly through the drafting of the Singapore National Pledge, which emphasised unity across racial and religious lines. His ideals of harmony, meritocracy, and national unity continue to shape Singapore’s identity today. Rajaratnam’s contributions to the nation’s broader development had a significant impact on Singapore’s emergence as a global financial hub. As Foreign Minister, he played a key role in shaping Singapore’s international image and establishing diplomatic ties with countries and organisations that would later facilitate global trade and investment. His efforts in building strong foreign relations and advocating for Singapore’s strategic location as a neutral and stable nation created an environment conducive to economic growth, including in the financial sector. Additionally, Rajaratnam’s emphasis on national stability, meritocracy, and social cohesion helped to create the social and political foundation that made the country an attractive destination for global businesses and investors. Singapore’s reputation as a stable, efficient, and transparent country, with policies that encouraged foreign investment, was crucial to its success as a powerful financial hub in the world today. (The writer is the Founding President of Fintech Association of Sri Lanka and a relative of Late S. Rajaratnam)

BUCHAREST (AP) – Romania’s defiant far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu yesterday stood outside a closed polling station to denounce a top court’s unprecedented decision to annul the first round of the vote in which he emerged as frontrunner. “Today is Constitution Day and there is nothing constitutional in Romania anymore. I am here in the name of democracy,” Georgescu, 62, he told media in Mogosoaia, outside Bucharest. “By canceling democracy, our very freedom is canceled.” The court cited the illegal use of digital technologies including artificial intelligence, as well as undeclared sources of funding. Without naming Georgescu, the court said one candidate received “preferential treatment” on social media platforms, distorting voters’ expressed will. Despite being a huge outsider who declared zero campaign spending, Georgescu topped the polls in the first round on November 24, and was due to face reformist Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party in a runoff. Thirteen candidates ran in the first round presidential race in the European Union and NATO member country, the aftermath of which was gripped by myriad controversies including a recount of the vote ordered by the same court. New dates will be set to rerun the presidential vote from scratch. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said in a statement marking Constitution Day on Sunday that “we find ourselves in a moment of profound responsibility towards the values that characterise us as a nation.”Strikes retaliation for Ukraine hits on Russia: KremlinConor McGregor Regrets Cheating on Dee Devlin, Thanks Family For Support

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S&P/TSX composite up more than 150 points, U.S. stock markets mixedThe back-to-back defending champs have their first loss of the year just five games into the season. Penny Hardaway and unranked Memphis knocked off No. 2 UConn 99-97 at the Maui Invitational on Monday, snapping a 17-game winning streak for the Huskies. UConn, which finished 37-3 a year ago, hadn't lost since Feb. 20 when they fell to Creighton in a Big East matchup. It was UConn's first loss to a non-conference opponent in almost a year. The Tigers led by double digits late in the second half, but Dan Hurley's squad had a late push to make it a three-point game with just over a minute to go. Memphis hit a pair of free throws before UConn did the same on the other end. The Huskies then forced a turnover down three with 13 seconds left. UConn scrambled on its final possession before Solo Ball drained a three with just over a second remaining to tie things up. Memphis' game-winner attempt from beyond halfcourt missed and the game went into overtime. It was back and forth for much of overtime before Hurley picked up a technical with less than a minute to go. The Tigers made both technical free throws before making two free throws from the previously called foul to make it a four-point game. A chaotic final minute saw UConn cut it back down to a one-possession game, but it was too little, too late with just two seconds remaining. Memphis looked to veteran transfer Tyrese Hunter in the win, and he delivered. The senior had 26 points on a scorching hot 7-of-10 from deep. Sophomore guard PJ Haggerty also contributed 22 points and five assists while senior forward Dain Dainja dropped 14 off the bench. After the game, fans were stunned to see the defending champs fall to an unranked squad. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .

NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin extended its streak of record highs after ticking above $99,000 for the first time. The cryptocurrency has rocketed more than 40% in just two weeks. Now, bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000, just two years after dropping below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX . The dramatic rally rolls on as industry players expect the incoming Trump administration to bring a more “crypto-friendly” approach toward regulating the digital currency. Bitcoin was trading at $99,526 Friday afternoon, according to CoinDesk. As with everything in the volatile crypto markets, the future is impossible to know. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Here’s what you need to know. Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But, chances are, you've heard about it more and more over the last few years. In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it’s typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money, but the large majority of daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Crypto industry players have welcomed Trump’s victory, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. Trump, who was once a crypto skeptic, recently pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. How of this will actually pan out — and whether or not Trump will successfully act quickly on these promises — has yet to be seen. “This is not necessarily a short-term story, it’s likely a much longer-term story," Citi macro strategist David Glass told The Associated Press last week. "And there is the question of how quickly can U.S. crypto policy make a serious impact on (wider adoption).” One step Trump must take in the short-term is name a new head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which shares oversight of cryptocurrencies. Gary Gensler, current chair of the SEC, has led the U.S. government’s crackdown on crypto over recent years, penalizing a number of companies for violating securities laws. But he's also faced criticism from industry players in the process, like the chief legal officer of Robinhood , who described Gensler's approach toward crypto as “rigid” and "hostile.” Gensler will step down in January when Trump takes office. Adam Morgan McCarthy, a research analyst at Kaiko, thinks the industry is craving “just some sort of clarity.” Much of the approach to regulating crypto in the past has been “enforcement based,” he notes, which has been helpful in weeding out some bad actors — but legislation might fill in other key gaps. Despite crypto’s recent excitement around Trump, McCarthy said that 2024 has already been a “hugely consequential year for regulation in the U.S.” — pointing to January’s approval of spot bitcoin ETFs, for example, which mark a new way to invest in the asset. Spot ETFs have been the dominant driver of bitcoin for some time now — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. According to Kaiko , bitcoin ETFs recorded $6 billion in trade volume for the week of the election alone. In April, bitcoin also saw its fourth “halving” — a preprogrammed event that impacts production by cutting the reward for mining, or the creation of new bitcoin, in half. In theory, if demand remains strong, some analysts say this “supply shock” can also help propel the price long term. Others note it may be too early to tell. History shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you’ve made it. Long-term price behavior relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of Federal Reserve rate hikes. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $17,000. Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs. But experts still stress caution, especially for small-pocketed investors. And lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could mean less guardrails. “I would say, keep it simple. And don’t take on more risk than you can afford to," McCarthy said — adding that there isn't a “magic eight ball” to know for certain what comes next. Assets like bitcoin are produced through a process called “mining,” which consumes a lot of energy. Operations relying on pollutive sources have drawn particular concern over the years. Recent research published by the United Nations University and Earth’s Future journal found that the carbon footprint of 2020-2021 bitcoin mining across 76 nations was equivalent to the emissions from burning 84 billion pounds of coal or running 190 natural gas-fired power plants. Coal satisfied the bulk of bitcoin’s electricity demands (45%), followed by natural gas (21%) and hydropower (16%). Environmental impacts of bitcoin mining boil largely down to the energy source used. Industry analysts have maintained that clean energy has increased in use in recent years, coinciding with rising calls for climate protections

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — David Green scored 20 points as Rhode Island beat Detroit Mercy 81-75 on Wednesday. Green also contributed eight rebounds for the Rams (6-0). Cam Estevez scored 15 points, shooting 5 for 6 from beyond the arc. Jamarques Lawrence shot 4 for 9, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 13 points. The Rams picked up their sixth straight victory. Orlando Lovejoy finished with 28 points, seven assists and two steals for the Titans (3-5). Legend Geeter added 11 points, six rebounds and four steals for Detroit Mercy. Jared Lary also had 10 points and six rebounds. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Patrick Mahomes threw a walk-off pass to win the Super Bowl. Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam to win a World Series game. Stephen Curry said “nuit, nuit” to win an Olympic basketball title in Paris. Noah Lyles won 100-meter gold by about the smallest margin possible. And Sabrina Ionescu won a WNBA Finals game with a 30-foot heave. Depending on who you rooted for, some made you cheer, some left you crushed. Some were the sort that have never been seen before, in a good way: Shohei Ohtani, on the night he started baseball’s 50-50 club, drove in 10 runs in a performance for the ages. Some were the sort that have never been seen before, in a jarring way: Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer, got arrested before the second round of the PGA Championship and taken away in handcuffs to jail — where he had a sandwich and started warming up for the tee time he ended up making. And maybe the best way to describe what we had, when all these things happened, are the words Washington Commanders right guard Sam Cosmi used after his team beat the Chicago Bears with a Hail Mary pass: “Front-row seats,” Cosmi said, “to something amazing.” Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors’ superstar sharpshooter, made his Olympic debut one to remember and saved his best for last. He hit four 3-pointers in the final minutes, each shot more dramatic than the last, to seal the U.S. win over host France for gold. Curry’s signature celebration is the “night night,” where he puts his hands together at the side of his face, as if it’s time to go to sleep. In Paris, he brought shirts that made it perfectly clear to the French what that meant — yes, the message written on the shirts was “nuit nuit.” Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes did something no one has ever done: He threw a Super Bowl-winning touchdown pass on the final play of the title game. San Francisco kicked a field goal to open overtime of Super Bowl 58, and Mahomes had 75 yards to go to try and answer. He scrambled for eight yards on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive — a huge play that probably very few remember. He went 8 for 8 on passes in overtime, engineering a perfect drive. The finale: a 3-yard toss to Mecole Hardman with 3 seconds left in overtime, and the Chiefs were back-to-back champions. OK, technically, the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team won the Olympic bronze medal with a kick (a conversion, they call it). But the real moment was Alex Sedrick, running the length of the field and into history. Sedrick got the ball with about 8 seconds left, ran through three Australia defenders and took it all the way down the field for a try that tied the game at 12-12 with no time left. Her kick won bronze for the Americans, a result that made star Ilona Maher — the undisputed face of the sport in the U.S. — an even bigger name, and breathed new life into the sport in a country where it still has tons of room to grow. In this case, let’s make three games — Iowa vs. UConn, South Carolina vs. N.C. State, then South Carolina vs. Iowa for the title — one moment. Maybe a movement is the better word. Caitlin Clark’s record-setting year, South Carolina’s undefeated run to the national title, UConn’s return to the Final Four, they were all part of a scintillating year for women’s basketball. The WNBA saw enormous growth — Clark, its rookie of the year, helped fuel that in a big way — and more eyeballs were on the game than ever before. Everything at an Olympics is a moment for someone; a lifetime of work typically coming down to a few seconds. But in Paris, a few stood out more than others. Start with Sifan Hassan, trading elbows in the stretch of the marathon to win her third distance medal — this one gold. Or Cole Hocker, looking like Forrest Gump in coming from nowhere to beat the two favorites in the men’s 1,500-meter run. The highlight, of course, was Noah Lyles’ .005-second victory in the 100-meter dash. He ran the fastest time of his life and didn’t take the lead until the absolute last instant, a finish that even had commentators guessing wrong about who actually prevailed. Of the 346,000 swings taken by batters in Major League Baseball this year, three probably jumped out more than the rest. There was Freddie Freeman, hitting the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history to move the Los Angeles Dodgers a step closer to beating the New York Yankees and winning the title. There was Pete Alonso, saving the season for the New York Mets with a home run to lift them past the Milwaukee Brewers in the deciding game of an NL wild-card series. And then there was Shohei Ohtani, a night like none other in a season like none other. On the night in Miami when he joined — created, really — baseball’s 50-homer, 50-steal club, he hit three home runs, stole two bases and drove in 10 runs on a 6-for-6 night. Cleveland’s Max Strus lived every kid’s hoop-in-the-driveway fantasy ... down by one, time running out, let-it-fly ... a 59-footer to give the Cavaliers a 121-119 win over Dallas. But the buzzer-beater of the year: Take a bow, Sabrina Ionescu. From just inside of the logo, her 3-pointer with 1 second left gave the New York Liberty a win over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals — and the Liberty would win the title in five games. World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler had a year of moments — most of them great (nine wins worldwide), one of them bizarre (the arrest at the PGA Championship). But the signature moment of 2024 for Scheffler might have been weeping as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played in honor of his Olympic golf gold medal in Paris. He rallied from six shots back with a final-round 62 to win the gold. On the way to winning the Stanley Cup, Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had a save he’ll never forget. Bobrovsky — out of “desperation,” he’d say later — dove backward across the goal mouth, reached out blindly with his left wrist and somehow got his glove side in the way of Tampa Bay’s Matt Dumba’s shot to keep the game tied at 2-2. It wound up being a game-saver; the Panthers got a goal from Carter Verhaeghe 2:59 into overtime for a 3-2 win. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley used a spin move — and a leap — on the same play. The 180-degree hurdle was one of the signature moves of 2024 in the NFL. It made a 14-yard reception unforgettable. “Best play I’ve ever seen,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. They call it a “Hail Mary” in football, the desperation pass into the end zone with no time left to try and win a game. The Washington Commanders pulled it off against the Chicago Bears, Jayden Daniels’ throw going into team lore. And Virginia Tech thought it had pulled one off against Miami, only to have officials — who originally said the Hokies won — overrule the call after replay review, sealing a win for the Hurricanes. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.The best women’s snow pants for skiing, sledding and beyondORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In losing Sunday’s battle with the Buffalo Bills, perhaps the best team in football, Jerod Mayo won the war. Best I can tell, he’s staying put. For 2025, and maybe beyond. To his angry fan base and incredulous pockets of the New England Patriots’ media corps, remember Mayo’s future doesn’t hinge on winning this season. It’s not about what you want, or what I think. It’s about the Krafts, who hand-picked Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick four and a half years before he actually did, believing in him, and finding reasons to maintain that belief. In the eyes of someone who wants to believe, Sunday supplied enough reason. The Patriots led at halftime, then lost by three as 14-point underdogs. They became the first team since mid-October to hold the Bills under 30 points. Drake Maye outplayed the next MVP of the league for most of the game and took another step toward his destiny as a franchise quarterback, If that sounds like a low bar, that’s because it is. Such is life in Year 1 of a rebuild, a multi-year process ownership has committed to seeing through to the end with their organizational pillars now in place: Mayo, Maye and de facto GM Eliot Wolf. As frustrating as this 3-12 campaign has been, there are always nuggets of optimism amid the rubble of a losing season; particularly if you want to find them. The Krafts do, and so does Maye, who loves his head coach, by the way; calling questions about Mayo’s job security “BS.” “We’ve got his back,” Maye said post-game. Maye’s voice matters. Certainly more than any number of fans or media members. Ever since media-fueled speculation that Mayo could get canned at the end of his first season began rising, the caveat has always been the same: if, a Gillette Stadium-sized “if,” the Patriots bomb atomically down the stretch, ownership could pull the plug on Mayo. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport became the latest to join that chorus Sunday with this pregame report: “The Krafts want to keep Jerod Mayo,” he said. “They believe he is the leader for the organization for the future, and they knew it would be a multi-year process to get this thing right. Now if things go off the rails, if they really start to struggle and he loses the locker room the last couple games of the season, we’ve seen this thing turn. “But as of now, the Patriots believe Jerod Mayo is their leader for the future.” Well, Mayo hasn’t lost the locker room. That’s a fact. To a man, both in public and from those I’ve spoken to in private, Patriots players believe in their head coach. Mayo might be a players’ coach, yes, in the best and worst senses. But the Patriots were a few plays away Sunday from pulling off their largest upset since Super Bowl XXXVI. “I think we’re building something good,” Maye said. The Patriots also played their best half of football this season against their toughest opponent yet. Another fact. Now, to the frustrated, I am with you. To the shocked, I understand. But to the trigger-happy, lay down your arms. Mayo, by all accounts, is returning in 2025. Alex Van Pelt, however, is another story. In the same vein that the Krafts could have viewed Sunday’s performance as a reason to save Mayo — despite his pathetic punt at midfield, down 10 with just eight and a half minutes left — they could have convinced themselves their offensive coordinator is the real problem. After all, team president Jonathan Kraft was visibly exasperated over Van Pelt’s play-calling during the Pats’ loss at Arizona a week earlier. Four days later, Van Pelt told reporters he had yet to hear from his boss. Well, that time may be coming. Trailing by three in the fourth quarter Sunday, Van Pelt called a pass that resulted in an unnecessary lateral and game-winning touchdown for Buffalo. His offense later operated like it was taking a Sunday drive with the game on the line, using up 3:16 of the final 4:19 en route to its final touchdown. Van Pelt, finally, weaponized Maye’s legs in critical situations, something that arguably should have been done weeks ago. Not to mention, Van Pelt’s top running back can’t stop fumbling, and the offensive line remains a hot mess. Call him Alex Van Fall Guy. Because Van Pelt’s offense, for the first time in a while, under-performed relative to Mayo’s defense. On merit, he deserves to stay; a case that’s harder to make for defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. But it’s not about merit this season. It’s not about what you want. It’s not about what I think. It’s about the Krafts; what they see, what they want, what they believe. Even in defeat. ____ Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox!

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — David Green scored 20 points as Rhode Island beat Detroit Mercy 81-75 on Wednesday. Green also contributed eight rebounds for the Rams (6-0). Cam Estevez scored 15 points, shooting 5 for 6 from beyond the arc. Jamarques Lawrence shot 4 for 9, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 13 points. The Rams picked up their sixth straight victory. Orlando Lovejoy finished with 28 points, seven assists and two steals for the Titans (3-5). Legend Geeter added 11 points, six rebounds and four steals for Detroit Mercy. Jared Lary also had 10 points and six rebounds. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Anthony hits winning layup with 1.3 seconds left, Magic complete 17-point rally to beat Nets 102-101

On December 23, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission issued FAQs: One-to-One Consent Rule for TCPA Prior Express Written Consent . What is the FCC’s New One-to-One Consent Rule In December 2023, the FCC adopted new rules in the Second Report and Order to combat unwanted and illegal telemarketing calls and texts, including a rule that closed the lead generator loophole. The rule expressly prohibits lead generators, texters and callers from using a single consumer written consent to inundate consumers with unwanted telemarketing robocalls and robotexts from dozens of sellers when consumers visit comparison shopping websites. The FCC made it unequivocally clear that each caller and texter soliciting consumers’ business must obtain a consumer's prior express written consent prior to making such robocalls or robotexts. Under the Commission’s new one-to-one consent rule— which takes effect on January 27, 2025 —the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s prior express written consent requirement applies to a single seller at a time. In other words, robocallers and robotexters must obtain a consumer’s written consent for marketing messages for each seller. For example, on a comparison shopping website, the consumer could check a separate box for each seller they wish to receive a robocall or robotext from. In addition, such consent must be in response to a clear and conspicuous disclosure that the consumer will receive robocalls or robotexts from each selected sellers, and the content of ensuing robotexts and robocalls must be logically and topically related to the website where the consumer gave consent. When Was the TCPA Enacted, and What is its Purpose? In 1991, Congress enacted the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”), codified in section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 USC § 227 , to address certain practices considered to be an invasion of consumer privacy and, in some instances, a risk to public safety. The TCPA generally prohibits making any nonemergency call using an artificial or prerecorded voice to any residential telephone line, wireless telephone number, or certain other telephone numbers (for example, a 911 line, other emergency telephone numbers, or a patient room at a hospital) without the prior express consent of the called party. The TCPA also prohibits making any nonemergency call using an automatic telephone dialing system (also referred to as an autodialer) to certain telephone numbers—including any wireless telephone number—without the prior express consent of the called party. The TCPA generally requires callers to get consumer consent before making certain calls to consumers using an autodialer or an artificial or prerecorded voice. FCC rules require prior express written consent for all telephone calls using an artificial or prerecorded voice to deliver an advertising or telemarketing message to wireless numbers and residential lines (such written consent is also required for calls to certain telephone numbers, including wireless numbers, using an autodialer). In addition, in a 2003 Order , the FCC explained that the TCPA applies to both voice calls and text messages. The FCC’s most recent actions have centered on a consumer’s right to revoke consent when they no longer want robocalls or robotexts and on the growing use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) in calling and texting. In a 2024 Order the FCC took steps to protect consumers by strengthening consumers’ ability to revoke consent to receive robocalls and robotexts and also required that callers and texters implement such requests in a timely manner. More recently, the FCC released a 2024 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing steps to protect consumers from the abuse of AI in robocalls. Are There Written Consent Requirements to Protect Consumers Whose Telephone Numbers are Registered in the Do-Not-Call Registry? The FCC’s Do-Not-Call (“DNC”) rules also protect consumers from unwanted telephone solicitations or telemarketing calls when the consumer has added their number to the National DNC Registry . These additional protections apply to all telemarketing calls, regardless of the technology used to make the call or whether the call is to a wireline or a wireless number. However, even if a consumer’s telephone number is listed in the DNC Registry, the consumer can provide prior express written consent to receive telemarketing calls or texts from a particular seller. To obtain prior express invitation or permission for a telemarketing call to a DNC line, the caller must meet the requirements of section 64.1200(c)(2)(ii) of the FCC’s rules: “Such permission must be evidenced by a signed, written agreement between the consumer and seller which states that the consumer agrees to be contacted by this seller and includes the telephone number to which the calls may be placed.” Why Did the FCC Adopt the One-to-One Consent Rule? In short, the FCC believes that lead generated communications were a large percentage of unwanted robocalls and robotexts and “often rely on flimsy or nonexistent claims of consent.” The FCC also states its belief that while comparison shopping websites that involve lead generation can benefit consumers by enabling them to quickly compare goods and services and discover new sellers, “new protections were necessary to stop abuse of its established prior express written consent requirement.” The FCC also states that “this rule is consistent with the Federal Trade Commission’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, which requires one-to-one consent as well.” Does the New FCC Requirement for One-to-One Prior Express Written Consent Apply When a Third Party is Added to an Ongoing Live Telemarketing Call? The FCC explained in its Second Report and Order that the new one-to-one consent rule would not affect the practice of connecting a third-party agent to a prospective customer on a telemarketing call that is not autodialed and does not include a prerecorded or artificial voice message. “Indeed, the new one-to-one consent rule has no bearing on such calls. It only applies to calls made using an autodialer or prerecorded or artificial voice.” However, if the third party seeks to reconnect with a consumer following this initial live call, the caller must obtain the necessary consumer consent if its future calls will be placed using an autodialed and/or prerecorded or artificial voice. Where Can I Find the Second Report and Order? The Second Report and Order is available, here , The Federal Register Summary of the Second Report and Order is available, here . Takeaway: Lead generators and telemarketers should consult with an experienced FTC defense lawyer ahead of the looming one-to-one consent rule effective date. Without limitation, failing to ensure lawful consent language and processes, utilizing regulated technologies (versus, for example, utilizing lawful human selection systems) with leads procured outside the constraints of the new rule, working with lead generators that do not comply with applicable legal regulations, and/or failing to adhere to the new “logically and topically” related requirement potentially expose corporate entities and individuals associated therewith to significant liability exposure.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — David Green scored 20 points as Rhode Island beat Detroit Mercy 81-75 on Wednesday. Green also contributed eight rebounds for the Rams (6-0). Cam Estevez scored 15 points, shooting 5 for 6 from beyond the arc. Jamarques Lawrence shot 4 for 9, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 13 points. The Rams picked up their sixth straight victory. Orlando Lovejoy finished with 28 points, seven assists and two steals for the Titans (3-5). Legend Geeter added 11 points, six rebounds and four steals for Detroit Mercy. Jared Lary also had 10 points and six rebounds. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Dear Abby: Mother unsure how to handle aftermath of son's accidentChhapra: Three cybercriminals have been arrested in connection with fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 45.86 lakh from the bank account of one Vikas Kumar, a resident of Nehru Tola in Mashrakh police station, in Saran district. Saran DSP-cum-in charge of the cyber police station, Aman Kumar, on Monday said that the police arrested the three persons on December 21, but they were yet to recover the amount from them. He said the arrested criminals were identified as Vikas Sharma of New Defence Colony and Subhash Pal of Pur Parsi under Murad Nagar police station in Ghaziabad, and Sunita Devi, wife of Subhash Pal. According to the cyber police, the victim had lodged a complaint in the cyber police station on November 3, alleging that he received a fraud call on his cellphone. The caller disclosed himself as crime branch officer. We also published the following articles recently Saran police initiate steps to curb crime Saran Police has split the district into six zones to intensify patrolling and curb crimes. Revilganj police seized four sand-laden tractors and arrested two for illegal mining. Doudpur police recovered a stolen phone under 'Operation Muskan.' Manjhi police rescued a gunshot victim after a brawl, arrested one individual, and started an investigation. Man escapes from police station after tenants arrest in drugs case A 56-year-old man from Navi Mumbai, Keshav Kadu, escaped from a police station after his foreign tenants were arrested for drug possession. Kadu had not informed authorities about his tenants' nationality. The police were in the process of arresting him when he managed to flee the station, stated an official from Kharghar police station. 3 cyber cheats held for duping man of Rs 45 lakh in Saran dist Three individuals, including one woman, were arrested on December 21 for fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 45.86 lakh from a bank account in Saran district. The arrested, linked to Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, used fraudulent methods, including fake legal threats, to gain access to funds. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes.Andrew Callahan: It’s time to forget about Jerod Mayo getting fired

Doha wins UNESCO Learning Cities Award 2024Tweet Facebook Mail Would-be troublemakers are being warned of a massive police presence at Sydney's New Year's Eve party, with officers ready to crack down on bad behaviour. NSW Police said the biggest operation of the year was launching today ahead of celebrations across Sydney and the state. A particular focus will be the Sydney Harbour foreshore, where thousands are expected to gather for the annual holiday celebration and fireworks display. LIVE UPDATES: Injury rocks Aussie camp with Test set to explode  Crowds gather at Mrs Macquarie's Chair to watch the fireworks during New Year's Eve celebrations. (Getty) Police said officers from every area command and district around the state would be on duty, along with specialist officers including mounted police and riot police. Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said both uniformed and plain-clothed police would be on patrol. "We want everyone to enjoy their New Year's Eve celebrations in a safe and responsible way," McKenna said. READ MORE: Experts weigh in as questions remain over South Korea plane crash  Thousands are expected to attend Sydney's festivities. (Dion Georgopoulos) "People planning on coming to the city for free vantage points are urged to get in early to avoid missing out. "If a location becomes full, do not attend and find an alternative location. "We ask people to drink responsibly, know their limit and avoid starting 2025 in the back of a police truck." The public is encouraged to leave their car at home and use public transport as there will be major road closures and special event clearways in place throughout the CBD on New Year's Eve and into New Year's Day. READ MORE: Man charged after gunshot fired at NSW Central Coast unit  Foty Family employees load firework barges at Glebe Island. (Dominic Lorrimer) Police will be travelling on trains, light rail, metro, buses, and ferries, watching for criminal and anti-social behaviour, including anyone drinking alcohol. "It is illegal to drink alcohol on public transport," McKenna said. "Don't ruin a good night out for yourself or others with foolish behaviour that you will come to regret." People are also reminded that a licence is required to purchase or use fireworks, with heavy penalties for lawbreakers. Police will be highly visible around Sydney. (Dion Georgopoulos) Maritime police will also watch for illegal behaviour on the water. "The same drink-driving rules apply on the water as they do on our roads," McKenna said. "Boaters should make sure they have all the necessary safety and emergency equipment. "Specialist police will conduct drug and alcohol testing, as well as compliance checks on vessels, so please be smart and safe." Sun, celebration, sadness: Christmas in Australia and around the world View Gallery Transport for NSW coordinator-general Howard Collins encouraged people to make an early New Year's resolution to catch public transport to and from their December 31 celebrations and take the stress out of the evening. "As always we will have thousands of extra public transport services – that's extra trains, buses and light rails – but on top of all that, this year for the first time we have Sydney Metro online from Tallawong to Sydenham, with services running throughout the night," Collins said. "This is Transport's busiest two days of the year, operating round the clock for almost 48 hours to move Sydneysiders and visitors to and from New Year's celebrations, family events, shopping in the sales and all the other great things to do." DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .

Public health surveillance, from social media to sewage, spots disease outbreaks early to stop them fastBy LISA MASCARO and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee’s long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations , including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican’s bid to lead the Justice Department . Related Articles National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report’s release on Monday, slammed the committee’s findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a Justice Department investigation into the allegations ended without any criminal charges filed against him. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” Gaetz wrote in one post on Monday. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Here’s a look at some of the committee’s key findings: The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women “likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.” He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the “transactional nature” of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman’s request that he send her money, “claiming she only gave him a ‘drive by.’” Women interviewed by the committee said there was a “general expectation of sex,” the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that “99 percent of the time” that when she hung out with Gaetz “there was sex involved.” However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so “some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature,” the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their “rendezvous,” the report said. While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled “on several occasions” with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she has a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does “$400 per meet.” Greenberg replied: “He understands the deal,” along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asks if they are old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him “really cute.” “Well, he’s down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard,” Greenberg replied. The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with “multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid.” The committee pointed to “credible testimony” from the now-woman herself as well as “multiple individuals” who corroborated the allegation. The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, “which she understood to be payment for sex,” according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was “certain” of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There’s no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn’t tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he didn’t how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. “Gaetz pointed to evidence that would ‘exonerate’ him yet failed to produce any such materials,” the committee said. Gaetz “continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed.” The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as “nosey” and a “weaponization” of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 get-away with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt “to” the destination, but declined to share his return “from” the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would “welcome” the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would “no longer” voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation “frivolous,” adding: “Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.” The report said that while Gaetz’s obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress “act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House.” The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn’t disclose information about investigations that don’t result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, but after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over “publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual,” according to the report. “To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses,” the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn’t want to “relive their experience,” the committee said. “They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ’s lack of action on their prior testimony,” the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women’s statements. The agency’s lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee’s probe, lawmakers said.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — How good can Mike Macdonald be? Good enough to trick a 41-year-old, three-time NFL MVP into a game-losing mistake. The Seahawks’ rookie head coach, four years younger than the New York Jets’ star quarterback, made history for Leonard Williams Sunday. And that made the Seahawks’ cold afternoon in the Meadowlands go from disastrous to divine. Earlier this season, Macdonald dialed back his multiplicity and disguising within Seattle’s defense. That was because his Seahawks were struggling with mere basics, let alone his tricks. The team was in last place beneath the NFC West, giving up acres of yards and bushels of points. Now, with the season in its stretch run, the defensive whiz is showing off the schemes that made Seattle hire the 37-year-old away from the Baltimore Ravens last winter as the NFL’s youngest head man. And — presto! — the Seahawks (7-5) are in first place. They’ve won three straight games heading into a showdown rematch with the division-rival Arizona Cardinals (6-6) next weekend in the desert. “We talk about December football, and this is when you want to be playing your best ball,” Macdonald said after Seattle’s largely inexplicable rally 26-21 past the bad New York Jets. “I wouldn’t say this is our best game. But we won, and that’s all that matters. “So it’s about stacking those wins. And you got to play a certain brand of ball to win in December.” That brand is becoming more Macdonald’s style of confusing, disguising and moving defense. Midway through the second quarter Sunday the lowly Jets (3-9) had just recovered a fumble on a kickoff return by Seattle’s Laviska Shenault. They had the ball inside the Seahawks 10-yard line. New York already led 21-7. It was 9 yards from seizing a three-score lead, and maybe the game. On second down, Rodgers was not pressured. He had wide receiver Garret Wilson free behind cornerback Josh Jobe for a touchdown on the right side of the end zone. But Rodgers (21 for 39, 185 yards) overthrew Wilson by 2 yards incomplete. On third down, Macdonald had Williams move from defensive end to nose tackle, over Jets center Joe Tippmann. At the snap, Williams charged one step into the line. Rodgers read Williams pass rushing, so the 20-year veteran who’s seen it all read Williams was out of the coverage plan, as usual. Except he wasn’t. Macdonald’s play call this time had Williams dropping into coverage after his feigned charge. Rodgers did not expect a 6-foot-5, 310-pound nose tackle to be in the way of his throw over the middle to Wilson breaking on an in route. That’s how Macdonald fooled Rodgers on this game’s pivotal play. “That’s pretty much what that drop’s meant to be,” Williams said after Seattle’s comeback win he sparked. “Our technique is to ‘rush to touch.’ So I rush the guard. As soon as I get hands on him (the quarterback) thinks I’m coming. Then at the last second I pop out. “And the ball just happened to be in arm’s reach.” Like a volleyballer, Williams tapped the unsuspecting Rodgers’ throw from where a linebacker normally covers, straight up in the air, to himself. Williams caught the rebound at the Seahawks 8-yard line. And he took off running the other way. Took off like he never ran before. “He ran like hell,” speedy Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen said, in admiration. Williams got across the field to the Seattle sideline. His teammates were there cheering him on, as no Jet showed up to slow him down. When the defensive end they call “Big Cat” got to midfield, he needed a friend. “I didn’t expect to get that far,” Williams said, smiling. “I thought I was running fast. ...But all my teammates were hyping me out, telling me I was movin’ on the sideline. “I looked up to my left and right, and once I crossed the 50 I was actually looking to pitch it to somebody. But I saw ‘Spoon’ (cornerback Devon Witherspoon) and my whole defense, the cavalry, pretty much running down the field. They were all almost more excited for me to get that touchdown than myself.”Selden scores 29, Gardner-Webb takes down Bethune-Cookman 79-64

Middle East latest: Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital wound 3, Netanyahu vows 'iron fist' in LebanonHezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday after multiple Israeli strikes inside Lebanon since a ceasefire took hold last week. The militant group said the volley, its first during the truce, was a warning shot in response to what it called repeated Israeli violations . Israeli leaders threatened to retaliate, and within hours, Israel’s military carried out a string of strikes in southern Lebanon, state media reported. There was no immediate word on casualties or what was struck. Israel has said its strikes in since the ceasefire began Wednesday have been in response to unspecified Hezbollah violations, and that under the truce deal it reserves the right to retaliate. Hezbollah began launching its attacks in solidarity with Hamas militants who are fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,429 Palestinians , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war in Gaza has destroyed vast areas of the coastal enclave and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times . Here’s the Latest: Trump demands immediate release of Oct. 7 hostages, says otherwise there will be ‘HELL TO PAY’ WASHINGTON — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is demanding the immediate release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office for a second term there will be “HELL TO PAY.” “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social site . He added that, “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!” It was not immediately clear whether Trump was threatening to directly involve the U.S. military in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Trump allies have said he hopes there will be a ceasefire and hostage release deal before he returns to office early next year. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Some 100 are still held inside Gaza , around two-thirds believed to be alive. Biden administration downplays significance of Israeli strikes in Lebanon, says ceasefire is holding WASHINGTON — Senior American officials have had conversations with Israelis to raise questions about some of the strikes they have carried out against Hezbollah since a ceasefire went into place but have not found the Israelis to be in gross violation of the terms of the ceasefire, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive conversations with the Israelis, said those conversations were part of a mechanism that was created to ensure that ceasefire agreement is implemented. “This is that mechanism working,” the official added. White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday that “largely speaking the ceasefire is holding.” “We’ve gone from, you know dozens of strikes, you know, down to one a day maybe two a day,” Kirby told told reporters aboard Air Force One as President Joe Biden made his way for a visit to Angola. “That’s a tremendous, tremendous reduction. And we’re going to keep trying and see what we can do to get it down to zero so that both sides are fully implementing it. But, this is, this is the only it’s only a, a week or so old.” — By Aamer Madhani Hezbollah fires its first attack since the ceasefire began, targets a disputed border zone held by Israel JERUSALEM — Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday, the militant group’s first attack since its ceasefire with Israel took hold last week, after Lebanon accused Israel of violating the truce more than 50 times in recent days. The Israeli military said two projectiles were launched toward Mount Dov, a disputed Israeli-held territory known as Shebaa Farms in Lebanon, where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel meet. Israel said the projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries were reported. Hezbollah said in a statement that it fired on an Israeli military position in the area as a “defensive and warning response” after what it called “repeated violations” of the ceasefire deal by Israel. It said complaints to mediators tasked with monitoring the ceasefire “were futile in stopping these violations.” The U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday calling for a 60-day halt in fighting, aiming to end more than a year of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel. Since then, Israel has carried out a number of strikes in Lebanon, most recently on Monday, when a drone strike killed a man on a motorcycle in southern Lebanon and another hit a Lebanese army bulldozer in the northeastern town of Hermel, wounding a soldier. The Lebanese army had stayed on the sidelines of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel says the strikes are in response to Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire, without giving specifics. Lebanon's parliament speaker says Israel has violated the ceasefire with Hezbollah more than 50 times BEIRUT — Lebanon’s parliament speaker on Monday accused Israel of committing 54 breaches of the ceasefire that ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel, demanding urgent intervention to halt what he called “flagrant violations.” Speaking to the Lebanese newspaper Al Joumhouria, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned Israel’s “aggressive actions,” including the alleged demolition of homes in border villages, the persistent overflight of Israeli reconnaissance drones, and airstrikes that have caused casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Berri’s assertions. Israel says it reserves the right under the ceasefire deal to respond to perceived ceasefire violations. An Israeli drone strike on Monday hit a Lebanese army military bulldozer in the northeastern town of Hermel, wounding a soldier, the Lebanese army said in a statement. Also on Monday, an Israeli drone strike targeting a motorcycle in Jdeidet Marjayoun in southern Lebanon killed one person, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. In Bint Jbeil province, a drone strike injured one person, the state-run National News Agency said. On Saturday, two people were killed in an airstrike on Marjayoun province, Lebanon’s state media said. Berri called on the technical committee established to monitor the ceasefire to take immediate action, urging it to “oblige Israel to halt its violations and withdraw from Lebanese territories without delay.” He said that Lebanon and Hezbollah have fully adhered to the terms of the ceasefire since the early hours of Wednesday. Berri is the leader of the Shiite Amal movement, which is closely allied with the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Israeli drone strikes reported in Lebanon days after fragile ceasefire BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Monday one person was killed in an Israeli drone strike that hit a motorcycle, while the Lebanese army said that a soldier was wounded in an Israeli strike on a military bulldozer at an army base. The Israeli military said that it carried out a series of strikes in Lebanon on Sunday and Monday, including one in the same area where the soldier was said to have been wounded. It said it struck several military vehicles in Lebanon’s Bekaa province as well as strikes on Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. The incidents underscored the fragility of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah reached after nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting. Since the ceasefire went into effect on Wednesday, Israel has struck several times in response to what it says have been ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the deal but so far Hezbollah has not resumed its rocket fire. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Monday rejected accusations that Israel is violating the tenuous ceasefire agreement, saying it was responding to Hezbollah violations. In a post on X, Saar said that he made that point in a call with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot. France, along with the U.S., helped broker the deal and is part of an international monitoring committee meant to ensure the sides uphold their commitments. Israel says that it reserves the right under the deal to respond to perceived ceasefire violations. Israeli American soldier thought to have been taken hostage is now presumed dead TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli military said Monday an Israeli American soldier who was believed to have been taken hostage alive on Oct. 7, 2023, is now presumed to have been killed during Hamas’ attack and his body taken into Gaza. Neutra, 21, was a New York native who enlisted in the Israeli military and was captured when Hamas attacked southern Israel. Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna, led a public campaign while he was thought to be alive for their son’s freedom. They spoke at protests in the U.S. and Israel, addressed the Republican National Convention this year and kept up ties with the Biden administration in their crusade to secure their son’s release. In a statement announcing the death, the military did not say how it came to the conclusion over Neutra’s fate. He was one of seven American Israelis still held in Gaza, four of whom are now said to be dead. Hamas released a video of one, Edan Alexander, over the weekend, indicating he was still alive. In late summer, Israel said Hamas killed Hersh Goldberg-Polin , another prominent Israeli American hostage, along with five other captives, whose bodies the Israeli military recovered. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Some 100 captives are still held inside Gaza , around two-thirds believed to be alive. Iranian-supported Iraqi militias back Syrian government's counteroffensive against insurgents Iraqi militias supported by Iran deployed in Syria on Monday to back the government’s counteroffensive against a surprise advance by insurgents who seized the largest city of Aleppo, a militia official and a war monitor said. Insurgents led by jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a two-pronged attack on Aleppo last week and the countryside around Idlib before moving toward neighboring Hama province. Government troops built a fortified defensive line in northern Hama in an attempt to stall the insurgents’ momentum while jets on Sunday pounded rebel-held lines. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus Sunday and announced Tehran’s full support for his government. He later arrived for talks in Ankara, Turkey, one of the rebels' main backers. Iran has been of Assad’s principal political and military supporters and deployed military advisers and forces after 2011 protests against Assad’s rule turned into an all-out war. Tehran-backed Iraqi militias already in Syria mobilized and additional forces crossed the border to support them, said the Iraqi militia official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. According to Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, some 200 Iraqi militiamen on pickups crossed into Syria overnight through the strategic Bou Kamal. They were expected to deploy in Aleppo to support the Syrian army’s pushback against the insurgents, the monitor said. US Navy destroys Houthi missiles and drones targeting American ships in Gulf of Aden DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. Navy destroyers shot down seven missiles and drones fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the warships and three American merchant vessels they were escorting through the Gulf of Aden. No damage or injuries were reported. U.S. Central Command said late Sunday that the destroyers USS Stockdale and USS O’Kane shot down and destroyed three anti-ship ballistic missiles, three drones and one anti-ship cruise missile. The merchant ships were not identified. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement and said they had targeted the U.S. destroyers and “three supply ships belonging to the American army in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.” Houthi attacks for months have targeted shipping through a waterway where $1 trillion in goods pass annually over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon. A ceasefire was announced in Lebanon last week. The USS Stockdale was involved in a similar attack on Nov. 12 . Read more of the AP's coverage of the Middle East wars: https://apnews.com/hub/mideast-warsSuitcase killer Sarah Boone sentenced to life in prison for sealing boyfriend in luggage & laughing as he suffocatedonline game roblox 。

NoneJimmy Carter Dies: Longest-Living U.S. President Was 100

ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia , where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A president from Plains A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. READ: “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. And then, the world Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” ‘An epic American life’ Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. A small-town start James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. 'Jimmy Who?' His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire , establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Accomplishments, and ‘malaise’ Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. 'A wonderful life' At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” ___ Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Men's Top 25 Roundup: No. 6 Purdue routs Marshall

Cruise into this holiday season with a non-traditional vacation

Gary Neville has aimed a cheeky dig at Pep Guardiola after Manchester City were drawn against Salford in the FA Cup . The reigning Premier League champions will host local fourth-tier opposition in the third round in January after the two clubs were paired together in Monday night’s draw at Old Trafford . Such a fixture is certainly not short on narrative, with League Two side Salford co-owned by United’s famous ‘Class of 92’ stars in Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt. And Neville could not resist a playful jab at Guardiola on social media straight after Monday’s draw, writing on X: “He’s getting sacked in the morning @SalfordCityFC.” That is a reference to the chants aimed at the Catalan - to which he responded by holding up six fingers as a reminder of how many Premier League titles he has won - by the gleeful home fans at Anfield as Premier League leaders Liverpool deepened the sense of crisis at City with a 2-0 win on Sunday that moved them nine points clear at the top of the table. City are now winless in their last seven matches across all competitions, having last tasted victory at home to struggling Southampton on October 26. Their recent uncharacteristic slump has included an initial run of five successive defeats and now four consecutive Premier League losses, while they also inexplicably threw away a 3-0 lead at home to Feyenoord in the Champions League to draw 3-3. By far the worst run of his illustrious managerial career to date has taken its toll on Guardiola, who said before watching his team fall 11 points off the Premier League title pace on Merseyside: “I don’t like it. I don’t enjoy it at all. “I don’t sleep as good as when I won every game. Maybe it’s more unusual to win four Premier League titles in a row. In that moment I was stable enough, I was happy because I eat better and sleep better.” Among the multitude of other compelling narratives to emerge from Monday’s FA Cup third round draw was League One Peterborough being handed a trip to face Premier League strugglers Everton at Goodison Park - a match that could see the Toffees’ veteran winger Ashley Young go up against his son Tyler, 18. “WOW.......... Dreams Might Come True #FaCup #GoosebumpsMoment #YoungVsYoung,” Young Sr wrote on X.President Joe Biden had long pledged that he would not pardon his son Hunter, who was set to be sentenced this month for gun and tax convictions. But on Sunday, the president did it anyway. The sweeping pardon covers not only Hunter Biden’s convictions in two cases in Delaware and California but also any other “offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.” Biden is hardly the first president to deploy his pardon powers to benefit those close to him. But it was still a surprising reversal for a man who pledged to restore norms and respect for the rule of law. What’s a pardon anyway? The U.S. Constitution says that a president has the power to grant clemency, which includes both pardons and commutations. A pardon forgives federal criminal offenses; a commutation reduces penalties but isn’t as sweeping. The power has its roots in English law — the king could grant mercy to anyone. The U.S. Supreme Court has found the presidential pardon authority to be very broad. And presidents use the power a lot: Donald Trump granted 237 acts of clemency during his four years in office, and Barack Obama granted clemency 1,927 times in his eight years. Presidents have forgiven drug offenses, fraud convictions and Vietnam-era draft dodgers, among many other things. But a president can only grant pardons for federal offenses, not state ones. Impeachment convictions also aren’t pardonable. What are the crimes Hunter Biden was accused of committing? Hunter Biden was convicted in June of lying on a federal form when he purchased a gun in 2018 and swore that he wasn’t a drug user. Just months later, he pleaded guilty to charges accusing him of a scheme to avoid paying at least $1.4 million in taxes. Prosecutors alleged he lived lavishly while flouting the tax law, spending his cash on things like strippers and luxury hotels. Both cases stemmed from a period in Hunter Biden’s life in which he struggled with drug and alcohol abuse before becoming sober in 2019. After the gun trial aired salacious and unflattering details about Hunter Biden’s life, the president’s son said he agreed to plead guilty to the tax charges to spare his family another embarrassing criminal trial. The tax trial was also expected to showcase details about Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings, which Republicans have seized on to try to paint the Biden family as corrupt. Hunter Biden was supposed to be sentenced this month in the two cases by judges in California and Delaware who were nominated to the bench by Trump. Special counsel David Weiss’ office had not said whether prosecutors had planned to seek prison time. The tax charges carried up to 17 years behind bars, and the gun charges were punishable by up to 25 years in prison, though federal sentencing guidelines were expected to call for far less time and it was possible the younger Biden would have avoided prison time. Didn’t Biden say he wouldn’t pardon his son? Yes. Hunter Biden has been under federal investigation since 2020. He reached a deal with federal prosecutors and was supposed to plead guilty last year to misdemeanor tax offenses and would have avoided prosecution in the gun case as long as he stayed out of trouble for two years. But the plea hearing quickly unraveled when the judge raised concerns about unusual aspects of the deal. He was subsequently indicted in the two cases, and he’s claimed that he was singled out because he is the president’s son. The president told reporters earlier this summer that he would not pardon his son. “I’m extremely proud of my son Hunter. He has overcome an addiction. He is one of the brightest, most decent men I know,” he said. “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that, and I will not pardon him.” Why did Biden break his promise? In his statement Sunday, Biden said that his son had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.” Biden has been concerned — as Hunter Biden was — about his political adversaries. Also, the president is no longer running for office. He made his no-pardon pledge before he dropped out of the presidential race in June. In his statement, the president said it was clear that his son was treated differently from other defendants in similar predicaments. The plea deal unraveled and Biden’s political opponents took credit for pressuring the process, he said. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” the president said. “There has been an effort to break Hunter — who has been 5 1⁄2 years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me — and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.” Have other presidents pardoned their family members or friends? Yes. In his final weeks in office, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner. He also pardoned multiple allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother Roger Clinton in 2001 after he had completed a prison term for drug charges. Clinton also pardoned his former business partner Susan McDougal, who had been sentenced to two years in prison for her role in the Whitewater real estate deal. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Grand Tamasha: Decoding India’s policies, their impact in near East

How Women in Tech Are Redefining Cognitive Engineering: Insights from Merlin BalamuruganStock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs reportMiddle East latest: Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital wound 3, Netanyahu vows 'iron fist' in Lebanon

Middle East latest: Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital wound 3, Netanyahu vows 'iron fist' in LebanonThe IMF and the World Bank must be abolished to save the planet

Mary Church Terrell Club hosts first meetings of the year

Israeli drone strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital on Tuesday, wounding three medical staff at one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of Gaza , the facility’s director said. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya said the drones were dropping bombs, spraying shrapnel at the hospital. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. In Lebanon, a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has held despite Israeli forces carrying out several new drone and artillery strikes on Tuesday, killing a shepherd in the country's south. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed keep striking “with an iron fist” against perceived Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire. Hezbollah began launching rockets, drones and missiles into Israel last year in solidarity with Hamas militants who are fighting in the Gaza Strip. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,500 Palestinians , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war in Gaza has destroyed vast areas of the coastal enclave and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times . Here's the Latest: WASHINGTON — U.S. forces conducted a self-defense strike Tuesday in the vicinity of Mission Support Site Euphrates, a U.S. base in eastern Syria, against three truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers, a T-64 tank and mortars that Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said presented “a clear and imminent threat” to U.S. troops. The self-defense strike occurred after rockets and mortars were fired that landed in the vicinity of the base, Ryder said. The Pentagon is still assessing who was responsible for the attacks — that there are both Iranian-backed militias and Syrian military forces that operate in the area. Ryder said the attack was not connected to the offensive that is ongoing in Aleppo, where Syrian jihadi-led rebels taken over the country’s largest city. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria to conduct missions to counter the Islamic Stage group. CAIRO — Israeli drone strikes hit the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza on Tuesday, wounding three medical personnel, the facility’s director said. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya said the drones were dropping bombs, spraying shrapnel at the hospital, located in the town of Beit Lahiya. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. In comments released by Gaza’s Health Ministry, Abu Safiya said one of the injured was in critical condition and was undergoing a complex surgery. “The situation has become extremely dangerous,” he said. “We are exhausted by the ongoing violence and atrocities.” Kamal Adwan Hospital has been struck multiple times over the past two months as Israeli forces have waged a fierce offensive in the area, saying they are rooting out Hamas militants who regrouped there. In October, Israeli forces raided the hospital, saying that militants were sheltering inside and arrested a number of people, including some staff. Hospital officials denied the claim. Abu Safiya was wounded in his thigh and back by an Israeli drone strike on the hospital last month. TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli court has ordered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take the stand next week in his long-running corruption trial, ending a long series of delays. Netanyahu’s lawyers had filed multiple requests to put off the testimony, arguing first that the war in Gaza prevented him from properly preparing for his testimony, and later that his security could not be guaranteed in the court chamber. In Tuesday’s decision, judges in the Jerusalem district court said that following a security assessment, his testimony will be moved to the Tel Aviv district court. Israeli media said the session would take place in an underground chamber. His testimony in the trial, which began in 2020, is expected to begin on Dec. 10 and to last at least several weeks. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate scandals involving powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. He denies wrongdoing. NABATIYEH, Lebanon — In destroyed areas of southern Lebanon, residents clearing away rubble on Tuesday said they didn’t trust Israel to abide by the week-old ceasefire with Hezbollah. “The Israelis are breaching the ceasefire whenever they can because they are not committed,” said Hussein Badreddin, a vegetable seller in the southern city of Nabatiyeh, which was pummeled by Israeli airstrikes over several weeks. “This means that they (can) breach any resolution at any time.” Since it began last Wednesday, the U.S.- and French-brokered 60-day ceasefire has been rattled by near daily Israeli strikes, although Israel has been vague about the purported Hezbollah violations that prompted them. Imad Yassin, a trader who owns a clothing shop in Nabatiyeh, said Israel was constantly breaching the ceasefire because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to continue the displacement of residents of southern Lebanon. “The Israeli enemy was defeated and the truth is that he is trying to get revenge. Netanyahu is trying to displace us as citizens of southern Lebanon,” Yassin said. They spoke as bulldozers cleared streets strewn with rubble and debris from destroyed buildings. Electricians worked to fix power lines in an effort to restore electricity to the city. Both men were displaced by the war and returned to Nabatiyeh on Wednesday, the day the ceasefire went into effect. Yassin found his clothing shop had been destroyed. He said he would wait to see if the state will dispense compensation funds so that he can repair and reopen his business. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Two separate Israeli airstrikes killed at least nine people in Gaza City on Tuesday, Palestinian medical authorities said. Six people, including two children, who were killed when an Israeli strike hit a school sheltering displaced people Tuesday afternoon in the Zaytoun neighborhood, according to the Health Ministry’s emergency services. A second strike hit a residential building in the Sabra neighborhood, killing at least three people, the services said. Israeli forces have almost completely isolated northernmost Gaza since early October, saying they’re fighting regrouped Hamas militants there. That has pushed some families south to Gaza City, while hundreds of thousands more live in the territory's center and south in squalid tent camps, where they rely on international aid. JERUSALEM — Israel's military confirmed it killed a senior member of Hezbollah responsible for coordinating with Syria's army on rearming and resupplying the Lebanese militant group. Syrian state media said a drone strike on Tuesday hit a car in a suburb of the capital Damascus, killing one person, without saying who was killed. Israel's military said he was Salman Nemer Jomaa, describing him as “Hezbollah’s representative to the Syrian military,” and that killing him “degrades both Hezbollah’s presence in Syria and Hezbollah’s ongoing force-building efforts.” Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years. Israel rarely acknowledges its actions in Syria, but it has said that it targets bases of Iran-allied militant groups. Iran supports both Hezbollah and the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad, which is currently fighting to push back jihadi-led insurgents who seized the country’s largest city of Aleppo . TUBAS, West Bank — Israeli soldiers opened fire inside a hospital in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday during a raid to seize the bodies of alleged militants targeted in earlier airstrikes, a Palestinian doctor working at the hospital told The Associated Press. Soldiers entered the Turkish Hospital complex in Tubas after the bodies of two Palestinians killed and one wounded in airstrikes in the northern West Bank on Tuesday were brought there, said Dr. Mahmoud Ghanam, who works in the hospital’s emergency department. The troops briefly handcuffed and arrested Ghanam and another doctor. “The army entered in a brutal way, and they were shooting inside the emergency department,” said Ghanam. “They handcuffed us and took me and my colleague.” The military confirmed that its troops were operating around the hospital searching for those targeted in the airstrikes, which they said had hit a militant cell near the Palestinian town of Al-Aqaba in the Jordan Valley. It denied that troops had entered the hospital building or fired gunshots inside. The soldiers left after learning that the wounded man had been transferred to another hospital, Ghanam said. The soldiers wanted to take the bodies of the two men killed in the strike, but the hospital’s manager refused to hand over the bodies, Ghanam said. Israeli raids on hospitals in the West Bank are rare but have grown more common since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. In Gaza, Israeli troops have systematically besieged, raided and damaged many hospitals. About 800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza ignited the war there. Israel has carried out near-daily military raids in the West Bank that it says are aimed at preventing attacks on Israelis — attacks which have also been on the rise. Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek all three territories for an independent state. CAIRO — Palestinian officials say Fatah and Hamas are closing in on an agreement to appoint a committee of politically independent technocrats to administer the Gaza Strip after the war . It would effectively end Hamas’ rule and could help advance ceasefire talks with Israel. The rival factions have made several failed attempts to reconcile since Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007. Israel has meanwhile ruled out any postwar role in Gaza for either Hamas or Fatah, which dominates the Western-backed Palestinian Authority . A Palestinian Authority official on Tuesday confirmed that a preliminary agreement had been reached following weeks of negotiations in Cairo. The official said the committee would have 12-15 members, most of them from Gaza. It would report to the Palestinian Authority, which is headquartered in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and work with local and international parties to facilitate humanitarian assistance and reconstruction. A Hamas official said that Hamas and Fatah had agreed on the general terms but were still negotiating over some details and the individuals who would serve on the committee. The official said an agreement would be announced after a meeting of all Palestinian factions in Cairo, without providing a timeline. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media on the talks. There was no immediate comment from Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is dismantled and scores of hostages are returned. He says Israel will maintain open-ended security control over Gaza , with civilian affairs administered by local Palestinians unaffiliated with the Palestinian Authority or Hamas. No Palestinians have publicly volunteered for such a role, and Hamas has threatened anyone who cooperates with the Israeli military. The United States has called for a revitalized Palestinian Authority to govern both the West Bank and Gaza ahead of eventual statehood. The Israeli government is opposed to Palestinian statehood. Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed. NUSEIRAT REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip — Palestinians lined up for bags of flour distributed by the U.N. in central Gaza on Tuesday morning, some of them for the first time in months amid a drop in food aid entering the territory. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, gave out one 25-kilogram flour bag (55 pounds) to each family of 10 at a warehouse in the Nuseirat refugee camp, as well as further south in the city of Khan Younis. Jalal al-Shaer, among the dozens receiving flour at the Nuseirat warehouse, said the bag would last his family of 12 for only two or three days. “The situation for us is very difficult,” said another man in line, Hammad Moawad. “There is no flour, there is no food, prices are high ... We eat bread crumbs.” He said his family hadn’t received a flour allotment in five or six months. COGAT, the Israeli army body in charge of humanitarian affairs, said it facilitated entry of a shipment of 600 tons of flour on Sunday for the World Food Program. Still, the amount of aid Israel has allowed into Gaza since the beginning of October has been at nearly the lowest levels of the 15-month-old war. UNRWA’s senior emergency officer Louise Wateridge told The Associated Press that the flour bags being distributed Tuesday were not enough. “People are getting one bag of flour between an entire family and there is no certainty when they’ll receive the next food,” she said. Wateridge added that UNRWA has been struggling like other humanitarian agencies to provide much needed supplies across the Gaza Strip. The agency this week announced it was stopping delivering aid entering through the main crossing from Israel, Kerem Shalom, because its convoys were being robbed by gangs. UNRWA has blamed Israel in large part for the spread of lawlessness in Gaza. The International Criminal Court is seeking to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over accusations of using “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel rejects the allegations and says it has been working hard to improve entry of aid. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war isn't over against Hezbollah and vowed to use "an iron fist" against the Lebanese militant group for any perceived violations of a week-old ceasefire. “At the moment we are in a ceasefire, I note — a ceasefire, not the end of the war," Netanyahu said at the start of the government meeting Tuesday. He said the military would retaliate for “any violation — minor or major.” Netanyahu also thanked U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for his recent demands for Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza. Trump posted on social media Monday that if the hostages are not freed before he takes office in January there would be “HELL TO PAY.” Netanyahu convened Tuesday's meeting in northern Israel, where around 45,000 Israelis had been displaced by the war as of last week, according to the prime minister’s office. Netanyahu said the government was focused on getting them back in their homes and rehabilitating the area. BERLIN — German authorities have arrested a Lebanese man accused of being a member of Hezbollah and working for groups controlled by the militant organization in Germany. Federal prosecutors said the suspect, identified only as Fadel R. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested in the Hannover region on Tuesday. The man is suspected of membership in a foreign terrorist organization and is not accused of direct involvement in any violence. Prosecutors said he joined Hezbollah in the summer of 2008 or earlier and took part in leadership training courses in Lebanon. From 2009, he allegedly had leadership duties in two groups controlled by Hezbollah in the Hannover area, organizing appearances by preachers close to the militants. According to prosecutors, he was briefly a correspondent for a Hezbollah media outlet in 2017 and was tasked with coordinating building work at a mosque. Germany is a staunch ally of Israel. It is also home to a Lebanese immigrant community of more than 100,000. BEIRUT — The Lebanese army is looking for more recruits as it beefs up its presence in southern Lebanon after the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. Lebanon’s army is a respected national institution that kept to the sidelines during the nearly 14-month conflict. During an initial 60-day truce, thousands of Lebanese troops are supposed to deploy in southern Lebanon, where U.N. peacekeepers also have a presence. Hezbollah militants are to pull back from areas near the border as Israel withdraws its ground forces. The army said those interested in joining up have a one-month period to apply, starting Tuesday. The Lebanese army has about 80,000 troops, with around 5,000 of them deployed in the south. DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria’s state news agency says a drone strike hit a car in a suburb of the capital, Damascus, killing one person. The agency did not give further details or say who was killed. It said the attack occurred Tuesday on the road leading to the Damascus International Airport south of the city. The area is known to be home to members of Iran-backed militant groups. Israel is believed to have carried out a number of strikes in the area in recent months as it has battled Iran-backed Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. Israeli officials rarely acknowledge such strikes. JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister warned that if the shaky ceasefire with Hezbollah collapses, Israel will widen its strikes and target the Lebanese state itself. He spoke the day after Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes that killed nearly a dozen people. Those strikes came after the Lebanese militant group fired a volley of projectiles as a warning over what it said were previous Israeli violations. Speaking to troops on the northern border Tuesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said any violations of the agreement would be met with “a maximum response and zero tolerance.” He said if the war resumes, Israel will widen its strikes beyond the areas where Hezbollah’s activities are concentrated, and “there will no longer be an exemption for the state of Lebanon.” During the 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which came to an end last week with a ceasefire brokered by the United States and France, Israel largely refrained from striking critical infrastructure or the Lebanese armed forces, who kept to the sidelines . When Israeli strikes killed or wounded Lebanese soldiers, the Israeli military said it was accidental . The ceasefire agreement that took effect last week gives 60 days for Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and for Hezbollah militants to relocate north of the Litani River. The buffer zone is to be patrolled by Lebanese armed forces and U.N. peacekeepers. Israel has carried out multiple strikes in recent days in response to what it says are violations by Hezbollah. Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, accused Israel of violating the truce more than 50 times in recent days by launching airstrikes, demolishing homes near the border and violating Lebanon’s airspace. Berri, a Hezbollah ally, had helped mediate the ceasefire. JERUSALEM — Palestinian officials say an Israeli airstrike in the northern West Bank has killed two Palestinians. Israel’s military said it struck a militant cell near the town of Al-Aqaba, in the Jordan Valley. It did not immediately give more details. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the two deaths and said a third person was moderately wounded. About 800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza ignited the war there. Israel has carried out near-daily military raids in the West Bank that it says are aimed at preventing attacks on Israelis, which have also been on the rise. Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories for an independent state. BEIRUT — Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon made his first public appearance in Beirut since he was wounded in an attack involving exploding pagers in mid-September. Mojtaba Amani, who returned to Lebanon over the weekend after undergoing treatment in Iran, visited on Tuesday the scene south of Beirut where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sept. 27. Speaking about the airstrike that destroyed six buildings and killed Nasrallah and others, Amani said Israel should get for its act “the highest medal for sabotage, terrorism, blood and killing civilians.” Amani suffered serious injuries in his face and hands when a pager he was holding exploded in mid-September. The device was one of about 3,000 pagers that exploded simultaneously, killing and wounding many Hezbollah members. A day after the pager attack, a similar attack struck walkie-talkies. In total, the explosions killed at least 37 people and wounded more than 3,000, many of them civilians. Last month, a spokesperson for the office of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pager attack was approved by Netanyahu.

Jan Suraj chief Prashant Kishore joined the aspirants of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) in their protest in Gandhi Maidan on Sunday. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for The BPSC aspirants continue their protest demanding a re-exam to be held for the 70th BPSC prelims. Meanwhile, accusing the Bihar government of turning democracy into " lathi-tantra ," Kishore emphasised the right to protest of the students in public spaces. Speaking to the media, Kishore said, "We are not going for a protest. Students are sitting there, we are going to meet them. Gandhi Maidan is a public place, people go there every day. If the students do not have any place, they will go to a public place. I don't know why the government has made it a question of its prestige, somewhere they are harming themselves." Kishore further added, "Bihar is the mother of democracy and if the students here do not have the right to speak their minds, then this is becoming a 'lathi-tantra'... that's why we are with the students." 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On Saturday, Delhi Police detained members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) who were protesting outside Bihar Bhawan in Delhi against the police lathi charge on BPSC aspirants in Patna. The protesting students in Patna are demanding the cancellation of the Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on December 13. (ANI) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Global energy executive joins Prometheus Hyperscale to accelerate sustainable data center growth and provide strategic counsel on $10B flagship project in Evanston, Wyoming HOUSTON , Nov. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prometheus Hyperscale, a leading developer of sustainable hyperscale data centres, is delighted to announce the appointment of Bernard Looney as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Looney, former CEO of BP, brings to the role more than three decades of energy sector expertise – from the frontline to the boardroom. He will provide strategic guidance on the development of the company's growth plans, including its $10B flagship data center in Evanston, Wyoming , which will be among the largest facilities of its kind in the world when completed. The announcement of Mr. Looney's appointment comes as societies and large technology companies grapple with how to power the explosive growth in artificial intelligence (AI). The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that by 2026 data centers globally will use over 1,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually, around the same as Japan uses today. Against this backdrop of soaring demand and squeezed supply, Prometheus is pioneering new standards in hyperscale data center operations. These approaches include harnessing a variety of energy sources to power its data centers, including renewables, natural gas and possibly nuclear at a later date through our strategic partnership with Oklo. Prometheus aims for its data centers to not impact grid customers. Another key challenge is the enormous amount of power and water used to cool data centers to prevent the servers from overheating. Prometheus Hyperscale uses a unique liquid cooling system that dramatically outperforms traditional air-cooling methods, reducing energy consumption by up to 50%. This system also utilises deep underground water reservoirs and captures the waste heat to reuse or sequester it. It's believed that Prometheus Hyperscale's flagship project will be the first hyperscale data center in the United States to combine liquid heat transfer and heat reuse technologies. Founded by Trenton Thornock , an experienced leader in energy, finance and infrastructure, Prometheus Hyperscale's flagship project in Evanston, Wyoming , promises to be the most advanced sustainable data center in the United States , and one of the largest in the world, when it becomes operational in 2025/26. The 1GW-capacity developed site will cover an area of 640-acres (one square mile), making it approximately three quarters the size of New York's Central Park. Four further sites are currently earmarked across Arizona and Colorado . As Chairman, Mr. Looney will ensure the successful execution of Evanston as well as Prometheus's broader business goals. His appointment comes following the recent announcement that Trevor Neilson , a renowned climate technology entrepreneur and philanthropist, will serve as the company's President. It's estimated that $1 trillion will be invested in the U.S. in data centers in the next five years – with an additional $1 trillion internationally. Trenton Thornock , Founder and CEO of Prometheus Hyperscale commented: "Having Bernard Looney join as Chairman is a tremendous step forward for Prometheus. Bernard's track record and transformative leadership in the energy sector aligns perfectly with our vision for the future of data centers. His insights, as well as his extensive operational and project delivery experience, will be invaluable as we bring our flagship project in Evanston, Wyoming to life and set new benchmarks for sustainable digital infrastructure." Trevor Neilson , President of Prometheus Hyperscale, commented: "Bernard is the perfect person to guide Prometheus as we form partnerships across the energy sector to access low-carbon electrons that will power the future of AI. His extensive industry experience and leadership will be instrumental as Prometheus establishes itself at the forefront of sustainable data center operations." Bernard Looney commented: "I am delighted to join Prometheus Hyperscale at this pivotal moment as the world grapples with the intersection of AI, Energy and Sustainability. Innovative power solutions are desperately needed to ensure that AI is unleashed to tackle some of the biggest global challenges including healthcare, economic growth, and the energy transition. We must work to find solutions that lead to Net Positive AI – where the benefits to our world outweigh any costs. The flagship Evanston project is one such solution and I look forward to lending a helping hand, working alongside Trenton, Trevor, and the entire Prometheus team to help bring this vision to life. I can't imagine a more exciting challenge." Factsheet: Prometheus Hyperscale's Flagship Project in Evanston, Wyoming Prometheus's site in Evanston, Wyoming , aims to redefine sustainable infrastructure in the data center industry, setting a new benchmark for operational excellence and environmental responsibility. Key aspects of the project include: Extensive Land and Power Capacity: The project encompasses a 12,000-acre ranch, including a dedicated 640-acre plot (about 1 square mile) for data center facilities. Prometheus has secured an initial 120 MW of grid power through Rocky Mountain Power, with plans for an additional 120 MW, ensuring robust power availability without curtailment risks. On-Site Renewable and Low-Carbon Power Generation: With an on-site generation goal of over 1 GW, which will make it one of the largest data centers in the world, Prometheus is incorporating a mix of wind, solar and gas power sources. Additionally, the company has a strategic partnership with Oklo focused on next-generation fission-based nuclear power, delivering reliable, sustainable baseload energy to the campus. High-Performance Fiber Connectivity: The Evanston site will connect directly to the Northern transcontinental fiber trunk, offering high-speed, low-latency connections between the East and West Coasts. With agreements for up to 400G of service and plans to scale up to 800G when commercially available, the project is poised to meet the rigorous connectivity needs of AI, cloud, and high-performance computing clients and to be one of the biggest data centers in the world. Cutting-Edge Liquid Cooling Technology: Prometheus's unique liquid cooling systems will be deployed to achieve unparalleled energy efficiency by capturing and reusing waste heat. This innovative solution is specifically engineered for high-performance computing environments and will play a critical role in reducing the carbon footprint of the facility. Strategic Location and Access to Skilled Labor: Located 80 miles from Salt Lake City, Utah , the Evanston site benefits from proximity to a large, skilled workforce, bolstered by a regional Journeyman Lineman program focused on data center operations. This strategic location supports the project's operational and expansion goals while reinforcing Prometheus's commitment to regional economic growth. For more information about Prometheus Hyperscale and its sustainability initiatives, please visit www.prometheushyperscale.com . About Prometheus Hyperscale Prometheus Hyperscale, founded by Trenton Thornock , is revolutionizing data center infrastructure by developing sustainable, energy-efficient hyperscale data centers. Leveraging unique, cutting-edge technology and working alongside strategic partners, Prometheus is building next-generation, liquid-cooled hyperscale data centers powered by cleaner energy. With a focus on innovation, scalability, and environmental stewardship, Prometheus Hyperscale is redefining the data center industry for a sustainable future. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bernard-looney-appointed-chairman-of-the-board-of-directors-at-prometheus-hyperscale-302314829.html SOURCE Prometheus Hyperscale

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The Russian military announced that their operation targeted a key Ukrainian fuel storage facility located near the front lines. The precise details of the strike were not disclosed, but Russian officials claimed that the action was necessary to undermine Ukrainian logistical capabilities and weaken their ability to sustain their military efforts. The attack was hailed as a strategic success by the Russian authorities, who emphasized the importance of disrupting Ukrainian supply lines to gain a tactical advantage in the conflict.After starting 2-0 in its inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference schedule, SMU looks to make the month even more special on Sunday, hosting Longwood in Dallas, Texas. The Mustangs seek a seven-game win streak in their final nonconference test before welcoming No. 4 Duke to Dallas on Jan. 4. In recent victories over Alabama State, Virginia, LSU, and Boston College, SMU (10-2) averaged 85.3 points per game, allowed just 66.0 ppg, and climbed to No. 30 in the NET rankings. "We're a different team right now than we were earlier in the season," SMU head coach Andy Enfield said at the beginning of December, his words ringing even truer as the season progresses. "They'd never been under pressure together until recently, so they're starting to learn and figure things out." Longwood (11-3) enters its third consecutive road game, having won five of its last six overall. That includes a major 82-67 win at North Carolina Central on Dec. 20. It was only the sixth nonconference home loss for NCC since 2016, and Longwood head coach Griff Aldrich saw it as a result of his team's growing cohesiveness. "We got great contributions from so many players," Aldrich said. "We have been working to play more and more connected, and this team has really taken positive steps this week." The Mustangs' Matt Cross is among the biggest threats to Longwood's defense, which allows just 66.6 points per game. A 6-foot-7 forward, Cross had 36 points over SMU's last two wins, including a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double against LSU. What Cross does with the ball in his hands is impressive -- he is averaging 13.5 ppg in December -- but it is also what he does off the ball that increases his value. "He's extremely tough," Enfield said after Cross' performance against LSU. "His wall up in transition, where (Corey) Chest came down, was going to dunk the ball, and he stood there and took the contact. ...That's a big-time basketball play." Longwood is paced by Michael Christmas, a veteran forward in his fourth year in the program. A hard-nosed wing who can score at all three levels, Christmas is Longwood's only returner who started at least 30 games on last year's NCAA Tournament team. He is averaging a team-high 11.9 points per game. "(He) loves this university, loves this town and community," Aldrich said of Christmas. "He opted to come back here to really invest in the program." --Field Level Media

One of the key reasons cited for the bans on electric cars with problematic windshields is the potential for impaired visibility. It has been observed that certain models of electric cars have windshields that are prone to glare from sunlight, resulting in poor visibility for drivers. This poses a serious safety risk as it may lead to accidents and collisions on the road. Furthermore, the materials used in some windshields have been found to be substandard, increasing the likelihood of shattering upon impact, which can cause serious injuries to occupants of the vehicle and bystanders.

Rite Aid is becoming a haunting sight across America. Once a staple in the drugstore business, the chain has filed for bankruptcy , slashing its footprint by more than 40% in just a few years. As stores close and shelves go bare, consumers are left searching for prescriptions and basic goods at competitors like Walmart and Amazon , leaving Rite Aid’s future hanging by a thread . In 2023, Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy and closed 470 locations, making it the retailer in the drugstore sector to shutter the most stores that year, according Coresight’s store closure data. At the time, Rite Aid had 2,324 locations. Just a year later, it’s footprint shrank to 1,818 stores, with an additional 188 closures planned for 2025 . As the Philadelphia-based company navigates its way out of financial distress, its shrinking footprint paints a grim picture of the wider challenges facing the pharmacy sector. “The decision to close a store is not one we take lightly,” spokesperson Alicja Wojczyk said in statement on behalf of Rite Aid to Quartz. “The company regularly assesses its retail footprint to ensure we are operating efficiently while meeting the needs of our customers, communities, associates and overall business.” Today, Rite Aid is a shadow of its former self. As of early December, about 100 Rite Aid locations remain open in the Philadelphia region, but many of these stores are operating as “zombies” – still open, but increasingly hollowed out. Shoppers often find shelves barren, with some sections understocked or lacking basic products. In many stores, basic items are locked behind glass cases , creating frustration and prompting customers to seek alternatives , often turning to Amazon for online shopping . This growing vacancy isn’t confined to Philadelphia, and for some retailers, it’s optimal timing to swoop in and clean house. Experts believe these closed stores could provide an opportunity for other retailers. Steven H. Gartner, executive vice president of real estate company CBRE ( CBRE -1.17% ), told the Philadelphia Inquirer that many of the vacant locations are in good condition and have already been repurposed by grocers like Aldi and Dollar General ( DG +0.37% ). But the question remains, why is Rite Aid struggling so much? A combination of fierce competition and shifting consumer habits has made it harder for the chain to maintain its relevance. Retail giants like Walmart ( WMT -1.28% ) and Amazon ( AMZN -1.71% ) have increasingly captured a share of the pharmacy market, offering consumers more convenience and lower prices. These companies can leverage their vast online reach, with Amazon even moving into prescription services and Walmart throwing its hat into the ring, too. Rite Aid’s financial struggles are compounded by more than just shrinking sales and stiff competition. The company’s massive debt load and ongoing legal battles have further pushed it to the brink. To stabilize during its bankruptcy, Rite Aid secured court approval for a $200 million loan , but also agreed to enter settlement discussions with creditors and individuals suing it over its role in the U.S. opioid crisis . Meanwhile, Walgreens is also having a tough time. The pharmacy giant said in October it would close roughly 1,200 U.S. stores over the next three years, including 500 locations in fiscal 2025. In June, it said about 8,600 locations would be shuttered over the next few years. Like Rite Aid, the consequences are gruesome for Walgreens ( WBA -0.67% ) customers who depend on the pharmacies for prescriptions, especially in areas where options are limited. For those customers, the lack of local, reliable pharmacies makes accessing vital medications more difficult, forcing them to travel farther or deal with the inconvenience of limited stock and delayed orders , Moody’s ( MCO -1.15% ) vice president of corporate finance Chedly Louis previously told Quartz. Rite Aid’s troubles are not unique. The chain, like the whole pharmacy sector, is grappling with rising costs, staffing shortages, and an increase in competition. As the chain continues its efforts to recover, it remains to be seen whether it can reinvent itself and ultimately survive. For now, these “zombie” stores – empty and decaying – may mark the end of an era for Rite Aid. 📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.Croatia's president faces conservative rival in election run-offThe trailer opens with dramatic music and stunning visuals that showcase the mythical world of "Black Myth: Wukong." From the detailed character designs to the intricate landscapes, it is evident that the game promises to deliver a truly immersive and visually stunning experience. As the camera pans over the fantastical setting, a familiar logo slowly fades into view - the Pepsi logo, indicating the upcoming collaboration.

The NCAA has sanctioned two international and three local airlines for breaching passenger rights during their operations. According to the aviation authority, the infractions by the airlines include but are not limited to flight delays and cancellations It added that it would implement more stringent enforcement actions against cases of non-compliance CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! Legit.ng journalist Victor Enengedi has over a decade's experience covering Energy, MSMEs, Technology and the Stock Market. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has penalised Air Peace, Ethiopian Airlines, and other carriers for breaching aviation regulations. According to Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, additional airlines facing sanctions include Arik Air, Aero Contractors, and Royal Air Maroc. Airlines penalised for several violations In a statement issued on December 24, the NCAA revealed that five airlines comprising two international and three domestic operators were penalised for contraventions under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations, 2023. Read also NCAA threatens tough sanctions for airline passengers causing trouble at airports PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! The cited violations include delays in passenger refunds, non-compliance with directives from the authority, incidents of missing or mishandled luggage, short-landed baggage, and challenges related to flight delays and cancellations. Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the NCAA threatened to penalise airlines for flight cancellations and delays, urging them to adhere strictly to reimbursement schedules to safeguard passenger rights. The NCAA revealed that Ethiopian Airlines requested additional discussions with the authority concerning the enforcement measures taken against it. The aviation authority stated that the international carrier was willing to adhere to NCAA regulations and committed to providing a compliance report by the next day. The statement read: “This is the first time in over a decade that the NCAA Consumer Protection Department is initiating sanctions against airlines.” Chris Najomo, the NCAA's acting director-general, presided over the stakeholders’ meeting and urged operators to adjust their flight schedules to realistic levels to reduce disruptions. Read also Air Peace addresses alleged plane crash in Western Sahara region He cautioned that the NCAA would implement more stringent enforcement actions against cases of non-compliance and emphasised that disruptive behaviour from passengers would equally not be condoned. NCAA demands operators be accountable In an interview with TheCable on Saturday regarding the penalties, Achimugu stated that the airlines are well-informed about the regulatory process and their responsibilities. He noted that Aero Contractors had confirmed resolving seven of the 11 violations highlighted in the NCAA’s official communication. “So there are penalties for all of these things. And I have made it very clear that it will no longer be business as usual." While recognising that several challenges arise from external factors beyond the airlines’ control, Achimugu emphasised that operators must still be held accountable for infractions directly caused by them. Air Peace clarifies video of passengers' rush Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Air Peace stated that customers never rushed to board its aircraft without following the operational guidelines set by aviation authorities. Read also “Aircraft Smuggling”: Nigerian arline responds to alleged violation of US sanction on Iran The airline claimed that the videos that went viral online were made by unidentified individuals to mislead and distract interested parties. It clarified that flight delays were due to adverse weather, specifically harmattan-induced fog and haze, which are common at this time of year. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ngOverall, the prospect of Lincoln's integration with Ford in China presents a promising opportunity for the luxury automotive brand to overcome its sales challenges and establish a stronger presence in one of the world's largest automotive markets. By leveraging Ford's expertise, resources, and infrastructure, Lincoln could enhance its brand recognition, streamline operations, offer competitive pricing, and introduce innovative products tailored to the Chinese market.But it wasn't just the action that drew praise. The performances of the cast, led by the charismatic Aragorn, the wise Gandalf, and the courageous Éowyn, brought depth and emotion to the story. Each character, from the noble Boromir to the cunning Gollum, was brought to life with skill and nuance, making them feel real and relatable.

Title: Barcelona Believes It's Difficult to Reach Contract Extension with Ter Stegen, player currently has no intention to leave2. BMW i4: BMW's new electric sedan, the i4, is poised to compete with the likes of Tesla and other luxury electric vehicles. With a stylish design and impressive range, the i4 promises to deliver a premium driving experience for those looking to make the switch to electric.

A fishing boat sank off the coast of Madh Koliwada in Mumbai's Malad area in the early hours of Sunday after it was hit by a cargo ship before being retrieved, though there were no reports of injuries to anyone, a police official said. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for The boat was retrieved by a group of eight other vessels in the area and brought to the shore, the official added. "The boat belonged to Madh Koliwada resident Hemdeep Harishchandra Tipri. It was hit by a cargo ship and sank. However, it was retrieved by a local rescue group called Savati. No one was injured. A sailor on the boat was rescued by those on the Savati boats," the official said. Navy and Coast Guard personnel also helped in the retrieval and rescue operation, the police official informed. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Kimball Electronics Wins Highest Customer Ratings in Seven Categories of CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY’S 2024 Service Excellence AwardsTrending News Today Live Updates on December 29, 2024 : Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Christmas decision: Why they opted for a quiet celebration in California

Former President Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States who dedicated his life after leaving office to brokering international peace, has died at age 100, his office confirmed Sunday. Carter had been receiving hospice care since February 2023 at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he lived with his wife of , Rosalynn Carter. The Nov. 19, 2023, two days after her family said she . “They are still holding hands,” the couple’s grandson, Josh Carter, told in August 2023. “It’s just amazing.” In February 2023, the Carter Center that the former president had “decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention” following a series of short hospital stays. “He has the full support of his family and his medical team,” the statement said. President Joe Biden offered his prayers to Carter at the time, : “We admire you for the strength and humility you have shown in difficult times. May you continue your journey with grace and dignity, and God grant you peace.” Days before his 99th birthday and seven months after he entered hospice, the riding in an SUV at the Plains Peanut Festival in Georgia. In October 2024, for Carter’s 100th birthday, Biden recognized him in shared with CBS News, saying, “Mr. President, you’ve always been a moral force for our nation and the world. I recognized that as a young senator. That’s why I supported you so early. You’re a voice of courage, conviction, compassion, and most of all, a beloved friend of Jill and me and our family.” Carter was to reach their 100th birthday. A Georgia native and a Democrat, Carter was elected president in 1976, defeating the Republican incumbent, Gerald Ford, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal. Carter served one term before losing re-election in 1980 to Ronald Reagan, his bid hobbled by an inability to resolve the Iran hostage crisis, a standoff that lasted 444 days. Carter also was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his human rights work around the world. The oldest living former president since the death of George H.W. Bush in 2018 at 94, Carter was the first American president to have been . Only 56 years old when he left the Oval Office, Carter would spend the next four decades focusing on good works that made him an almost universally revered figure, sometimes called America’s greatest ex-president — a sharp contrast to his relatively low popularity when he exited the White House in January 1981. For years, he and his wife could be found on construction sites hoisting beams and pounding nails to build homes for the disadvantaged with the nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity. Around the world, Carter was recognized after his presidency for his tireless work promoting peaceful resolutions to conflict and advancing democracy, human rights and social justice, primarily through the Carter Center, which he and the former first lady established at Emory University in Atlanta in 1982. Working through the center, the Carters traveled to developing countries to monitor elections, help build democratic institutions, lobby for victims of human rights abuses and spearhead efforts to eradicate diseases. In February 1986, Carter secured the release of the journalist Luis Mora and the labor leader José Altamirano from prison in Nicaragua. In 1994, he traveled to North Korea at the request of then-President Bill Clinton and soon announced the negotiation of a “treaty of understanding” with the then-leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung. Carter was also credited with having helped to persuade Egypt and Tunisia to ease violence in the Great Lakes Region of Africa in 1996, and he helped to negotiate the Nairobi Agreement to end the war between Sudan and Uganda in northern Uganda in 1999. In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts” and his “outstanding commitment to human rights.” For Carter, the award was something of a mark of rehabilitation after a presidency that ended with one of the , averaging just 45.5% over his single term in office, according to Gallup. In 1978, President Carter brokered the Camp David Accords, a historic peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. The deal, which capped 16 months of negotiations, led to Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978. Many historians also credit the Carter administration with having been at the forefront of events that led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Carter and his hard-line national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, used human rights to put Moscow on the ideological defensive, and their forceful support for Lech Walesa’s Solidarity movement in Poland helped to fuel a revolutionary wave in Eastern Europe that eventually sparked the fall of communism. But Carter was often characterized as an ineffectual micromanager whose efforts to rally the American people during a time of economic recession and energy shortages landed with a thud. He was mocked for wearing sweaters in the White House to encourage Americans to turn down their thermostats in the winter to conserve energy, and his declaration in a nationally televised address in July 1979 that the United States was suffering a “crisis of confidence” was widely panned, given that it came after 21⁄2 years into his leadership. It came to be known as Carter’s “malaise” speech, even though he never used the word. Reagan would present himself as the sunny alternative to Carter’s scolding demeanor to win the 1980 election in a landslide. In addition, Carter’s decision to boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow in protest of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan was popular domestically, but it remains controversial among historians, with some characterizing it as a missed opportunity to open warmer relations with Moscow and others declaring that it led to a decade of intensified Soviet repression before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The final year of Carter’s presidency was dogged by the Iran hostage crisis, which began Nov. 4, 1979, when Iranian students took more than 60 U.S. hostages at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran after Carter had allowed the deposed shah of Iran to receive medical treatment in the United States on humanitarian grounds. In April 1980, Carter sent an elite rescue team into the embassy compound, but a desert sandstorm crippled several of the military helicopters. One of them crashed into a transport plane on takeoff, killing eight U.S. service members and leading Carter to abort the mission. The debacle prompted Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to order the hostages scattered among numerous locations to prevent another rescue attempt, and it gave him more ammunition with which to denounce the United States as “the Great Satan.” An official investigation into the rescue attempt found major deficiencies in planning, command and control, and identified critical shortcomings in communication and coordination among the U.S. military branches, bolstering perceptions of Carter as a weak leader and leading to the passage of the Goldwater–Nichols Act, which ordered a top-to-bottom reorganization of the Department of Defense in 1986. Fifty-two of the hostages would remain captive for 444 days, each day ticked off by Walter Cronkite at the end of the “CBS Evening News,” until they were released on Jan. 20, 1981 — the day Reagan was inaugurated as president. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in the tiny Sumter County town of Plains in southwest Georgia, where he grew up on a peanut farm. His intellect was recognized early, and he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy He graduated in 1946 and the same year married Rosalynn Smith, a 19-year-old childhood friend who was a star student at Plains High School. Carter became a submariner in the Navy, where he was spotted by Adm. Hyman Rickover, who is considered the father of the U.S. nuclear submarine program. Rickover selected Carter as an aide and assigned him to Schenectady, New York, where the family relocated while Carter studied reactor technology and nuclear physics at the Union Graduate College. Eventually, Carter would become a senior officer of the USS Seawolf, the United States’ second nuclear submarine. Speaking of Rickover in a 1984 interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Carter said, “There were a few times when I hated him, because he demanded more from me than I thought I could deliver.” Carter appeared set for a stellar military career under Rickover’s tutelage, but in 1953, he left the Navy after the death of his father, returning to Georgia to run the family peanut business. As the company grew, Carter became prominent in south Georgia politics, speaking out as a rare advocate of civil rights in church addresses and as chairman of the Sumter County School Board. He was elected as a Democrat to the state Senate in 1962 in a special election after he challenged his defeat in what an investigation revealed to have been a fraudulent vote. Carter rose quickly, becoming a member of the Democratic Executive Committee and chairman of the Senate Education Committee in just his second two-year term. After just four years in the Senate, Carter launched a campaign for governor, losing the Democratic primary but winning enough votes to force a runoff between the presumed front-runner and an outlandish segregationist chicken-restaurant owner, Lester Maddox. Maddox would win the runoff and the general election. Carter tried again in 1970, this time compromising his civil rights record by declaring himself “basically a redneck” and complimenting the divisive Maddox — who was famous for having used an ax handle as a weapon to drive Black activists from his restaurant in 1964 — for being “steadfast” and “honorable” in his beliefs. “Carter, believe it or not, ran a segregated race, one that he was connected with George Wallace of Alabama,” with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, adding that Carter “hoodwinked enough people to make them believe” that he would work to undermine integration. “I can win this election without a single Black vote,” in July 1970. Carter was forced into a runoff in the Democratic primary, which he easily won. And then he changed strategy to one he would use for the rest of his career — reaching out to Black voters and campaigning in Black churches and easily defeating a Republican news broadcaster in the general election. In his 2014 biography, “ ,” the Dartmouth College religion historian Randall Balmer wrote that Carter regretted the 1970 campaign for the rest of his life. Barred from running for re-election as governor in 1974 and seizing on the opening left by disarray in both major parties after the Watergate scandal, Carter leaped into the 1976 presidential campaign, starting out near the bottom of the polls in a Democratic field of more than a dozen candidates. He was generally derided as “Jimmy who?” Relying on his reputation as a reformer with deep ties in the Baptist church and promising voters “I will never lie to you” — and capitalizing on political cartoonists’ depictions of him as a peanut with a big smile by adopting them in his campaign — Carter entered a record number of state primaries and caucuses. He campaigned tirelessly in Black and other minority communities and slowly chipped away at the opposition. Turning back a liberal “Anybody But Carter” movement led by California Gov. Jerry Brown and Sen. Frank Church, D-Idaho, he had by June wrapped up the nomination. Helped by a colossal blunder by the Republican vice presidential nominee, Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas — who dismissed the U.S.-led victories in both World War I and World War II as “Democrat wars” — Carter defeated President Ford with 50.1% of the vote. Carter took pains to project a modest image to a scandal-weary nation. He walked down Pennsylvania Avenue during his inaugural parade. He carried his own bags on Air Force One. And there were his constant messages to Americans that he couldn’t address the nation’s problems alone, often in self-effacing sweater-wearing public appearances. Throughout his busy post-presidency, Carter wrote — a lot. He wrote more than two dozen books, some with his wife. And as always, his faith, and his humble roots, remained his guides. He continued to teach Sunday school at his hometown church, Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, until the in early 2020, forcing him and his wife to forgo most public engagements. Carter still participated in church activities by video amid the pandemic. “When I got through being governor, I went back to Plains,” . “When I got through being president, I went back to Plains, and now no matter where we are in the world, you look forward to getting back home to Plains.” Carter was the only living president aside from Donald Trump President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, due to the pandemic. It was the first inauguration Carter had missed as a former president. President Biden and first lady Jill Biden to the Carters in Georgia in April 2021. “We sat and talked about the old days,” Biden said afterward. Carter was diagnosed with in 2015, a virulent form of skin cancer that had spread to his liver and his brain. He underwent experimental treatment with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, and a few months later, he announced that doctors had ended his treatments after having found . Carter spent much of the second half of 2019, right before the pandemic hit, in the hospital for brain surgery, infections and that resulted in a broken hip and pelvis. He was back teaching Sunday school at the Maranatha Baptist Church two weeks after he fractured his pelvis. He told the congregation at the time that since doctors told him in 2015 that cancer had spread to his brain, he had been “absolutely and completely at ease with death.”Southampton boss fumes at VAR and two crucial decisions that went in Liverpool's favourplay online game 。

Avior Wealth Management LLC decreased its stake in shares of DWS Municipal Income Trust ( NYSE:KTF – Free Report ) by 31.2% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 15,162 shares of the investment management company’s stock after selling 6,874 shares during the period. Avior Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in DWS Municipal Income Trust were worth $151,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Logan Stone Capital LLC raised its position in shares of DWS Municipal Income Trust by 17.7% in the second quarter. Logan Stone Capital LLC now owns 653,273 shares of the investment management company’s stock valued at $6,186,000 after purchasing an additional 98,334 shares during the period. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of DWS Municipal Income Trust by 28.0% in the third quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 484,836 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $4,834,000 after acquiring an additional 106,180 shares during the last quarter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. increased its position in DWS Municipal Income Trust by 3.8% during the second quarter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. now owns 412,392 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $3,905,000 after acquiring an additional 15,127 shares during the period. Melfa Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of DWS Municipal Income Trust by 2.3% during the second quarter. Melfa Wealth Management Inc. now owns 161,069 shares of the investment management company’s stock valued at $1,525,000 after buying an additional 3,600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HB Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in DWS Municipal Income Trust during the second quarter worth about $1,420,000. 57.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. DWS Municipal Income Trust Stock Down 0.4 % DWS Municipal Income Trust stock opened at $9.86 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $9.94 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.72. DWS Municipal Income Trust has a 12 month low of $8.31 and a 12 month high of $10.22. DWS Municipal Income Trust Dividend Announcement DWS Municipal Income Trust Profile ( Free Report ) Deutsche Municipal Income Trust is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in investment-grade tax-exempt municipal securities which are exempt from federal income tax. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KTF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for DWS Municipal Income Trust ( NYSE:KTF – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for DWS Municipal Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DWS Municipal Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Young American college footballer Medrick Burnett Jr wrongly pronounced dead in since-deleted postCanada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.

The pros and cons of buying CSL shares right now

MDB Capital ( NASDAQ:MDBH – Get Free Report ) and Bakkt ( NYSE:BKKT – Get Free Report ) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations and dividends. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for MDB Capital and Bakkt, as provided by MarketBeat. Bakkt has a consensus target price of $13.13, indicating a potential downside of 55.22%. Given Bakkt’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Bakkt is more favorable than MDB Capital. Volatility and Risk Profitability This table compares MDB Capital and Bakkt’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Earnings and Valuation This table compares MDB Capital and Bakkt”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation. MDB Capital has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Bakkt. MDB Capital is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Bakkt, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Institutional and Insider Ownership 0.4% of MDB Capital shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 11.1% of Bakkt shares are owned by institutional investors. 55.5% of MDB Capital shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.8% of Bakkt shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Bakkt beats MDB Capital on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About MDB Capital ( Get Free Report ) MDB Capital Holdings, LLC, through its subsidiaries, primarily operates as a broker-dealer. The company operates through two segments, Broker Dealer & Intellectual Property Service, and Technology Development. The Broker Dealer & Intellectual Property Service segment operates as a full-service broker dealer that focuses on conducting private and public securities offerings, as well as providing research services for investment banking due diligence. The Technology Development segment engages in the synthetic biology technology development business. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in Addison, Texas. About Bakkt ( Get Free Report ) Bakkt Holdings, Inc. offers software as a service and application programming interface solutions for crypto and loyalty, powering engagement, and performance. The company operates Bakkt Marketplace, a platform that enables consumers to buy, sell, and store crypto in an embedded web experience; Bakkt Crypto, a platform that supports clients with a range of crypto solutions; and Bakkt Trust, institutional-grade qualified custody solution for market participants. Its platform also offers a range of loyalty solutions, including redemption solutions for various rewards categories comprising travel, gift cards, and merchandise; travel solutions that offer a retail e-commerce booking platform, as well as live-agent booking and servicing; and unified shopping experience. The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia. Receive News & Ratings for MDB Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MDB Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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WASHINGTON — Donald Trump threatened the United States's closest neighbours with big tariffs this week, in a move that has reminded many of the unpredictable tactics the president-elect deployed during his first tenure in the White House. Trump said Monday he would use an executive order to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico until the two countries stop drugs and migrants from illegally crossing the U.S. border. The announcement, made on Truth Social, brought swift responses from officials and industry in both countries who are bracing for chaos during Trump's second tenure. He has long used the threat of import taxes to pressure other countries to do his bidding, saying this summer that "the most beautiful word in the dictionary is 'tariff.'" It's unlikely the move would violate the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, which was negotiated during the first Trump administration. Laura Dawson, an expert on Canada-U. S. relations and the executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, said the president can impose tariffs under his national security powers. This type of duty has a time limit and can only be made permanent through Congressional approval, but for Trump, national security powers are like a "get out of jail free card," Dawson said. "This is exactly what happened in the last Trump administration," Dawson said. "Everyone said, 'Well, that is ridiculous. Canada is the U.S.'s best security partner. What do you mean our steel and aluminum imports are somehow a source of insecurity?'" But within the global trade system, she said, no country challenges another's right to define their own national security imperatives. Trump's first administration demonstrated how vulnerable Canada is to America's whims when the former president scrapped the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. is Canada's closest neighbour and largest trading partner. More than 77 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S. Negotiation of CUSMA, commonly dubbed "the new NAFTA," was a key test for Ottawa following Trump's first victory. The trilateral agreement is up for review in 2026 and experts suspect this week's tariff announcement is a negotiating tactic. Scott Bessent, Trump's pick for treasury secretary, said in a recent op-ed that tariffs are "a useful tool for achieving the president's foreign policy objectives." "Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defence, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing co-operation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role." During the initial CUSMA negotiations in 2018, Trump floated the idea of a 25 per cent tariff on the Canadian auto sector — something that would have been crippling for the industry on both sides of the border. It was never implemented. At the time, he did use his national security powers to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports, casting fear of an all-out trade war that would threaten the global economy. The day after announcing those levies, Trump posted on social media "trade wars are good, and easy to win." Former U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer recounted in his book that the duties sent an "unmistakable signal that business as usual was over." "The Trump administration was willing to ruffle diplomatic feathers to advance its trade agenda." It led to a legendary clash between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump at the G7 in Quebec. Trudeau said Canada would impose retaliatory measures, saying the argument that tariffs on steel and aluminum were a matter of national security was "kind of insulting." Trump took to social media, where, in a flurry of posts he called Trudeau "very dishonest and weak." Canada and other countries brought their own duties against the U.S. in response. They targeted products for political, rather than economic, reasons. Canada hit yogurt with a 10 per cent duty. Most of the product impacted came from one plant in Wisconsin, the home state of then-Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. The European Union, Mexico and Canada all targeted U.S. whiskey products with tariffs, in a clear signal to then Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his home state of Kentucky’s bourbon industry. Ultimately, Canada and Mexico were able to negotiate exemptions. Carlo Dade, the director of trade and trade infrastructure at the Canada West Foundation, said Trump is returning to the White House with more experience and a plan. But he suspects Americans will not like the blow to their bank accounts. Trump’s new across-the-board tariff strategy would not only disrupt global supply chains, it would also cause a major shakeup to the American economy. It's unclear if Trump will go through with them, or for how long, after campaigning on making life more affordable and increasing the energy market. "I think it will be short-term," Dade said. "The U.S. can only inflict damage on itself for so long." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Pressroblox online game 。

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Thanks to another $70,000 in matching funds from generous donors, we are raising our end-of-the-year goal to $310,000. Every dollar you give today will be matched. The year-long fight over Valencia Street bikeway continues. When the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s board approved a new curbside Valencia bike lane design on Nov. 19 — after a year with the controversial center-running bike lane — many expected it to be an end. Weeks later, however, a nascent coalition of Valencia street merchants and residents has filed an appeal against the new design, demanding the city to re-evaluate the project. The group — the Valencia Association of Merchants, Artists, Neighbors, and Organizations, or VAMANOS (let’s go) in Spanish — maintains that the new bikeway project fails to address legal, environmental, and community considerations required under the California Environmental Quality Act exemption granted for the project, according to the appeal . Want the latest on the Mission and San Francisco? Sign up for our free daily newsletter below. The appeal was filed Dec. 4 to the Board of Supervisors. The board will hold a hearing on the matter on Jan. 28, 2025 at 3 p.m. The outcome could delay the planned January 2025 construction start for the side-running lanes . Julio Ramos, an attorney representing VAMANOS, said the merchants feel “the city is not recognizing or appropriately studying” “a lot of impacts.” Meanwhile, Ramos said, “VAMANOS wants it resolved as quickly as possible” so merchants and residents on Valencia Street can move on. “Hopefully, we can avoid litigation. And that the MTA will take a harder look at the environmental impacts of the project.” VAMANOS currently has about 12 active members, two-thirds of which are merchants, including Amado’s and Consumer Auto Body Inc. according to its attorney Ramos. A May email from the group listed Rossi Art Gallery, Yasmin, Amado’s, Consumer Auto Body Inc., Gola, Chic n’ Time, the Phoenix, Jays Cheesesteaks, Valencia Whole Foods, and Sidewalk Juice. The group is “being more militant” than the Valencia Corridor Merchants Association, Ramos said. “They’re not going to agree to the bike lane concepts without at least understanding what it means moving forward.” Kevin Ortiz, the co-founder of VAMANOS , stepped aside from the Latinx Democratic Club in July of this year after allegations of a 2021 sexual harassment incident. SFMTA spokesperson Michael Roccaforte said in a statement that the new design is the result of outreach and engagement with the Valencia community throughout 2024. “From one-on-one merchant meetings and outreach events to block-by-block planning, every detail of our new curbside design reflects hundreds of conversations, community insights, our technical expertise and our commitment to safer streets that work for all.” The appeal argues that the Valencia corridor’s historic character may be threatened by the proposed curbside bike lanes’ “modern, fragmented designs.” That design includes hundreds of plastic barriers, “unconventional bike lanes,” and “floating parklets,” which are parklets that will be separated from the sidewalk by the bike lane. Another issue: the proposed bikeway may have an impact on the environment by removing parking. The new design will remove about 79 parking or loading spots, or 40 percent of the 225 spaces on Valencia between 15th and 23rd streets, according to the SFMTA. The appeal claims that will cause drivers to circle for parking spaces and worsen congestion. The center bike lane removed around 70 parking spaces . Additionally, the appeal claims, the floating parklets of the new design may pose safety risks as they require employees of small businesses to cross bike lanes to serve customers sitting in parklets. The move by VAMANOS has dismayed the Valencia Corridor Merchants Association, which was founded in early 2000s and has been a major player in negotiations with the SFMTA about the bikeway designs. President Manny Yekutiel said he understands the general sentiment in the appeal but has “major concerns about this tactic.” “Doing this has a very high likelihood of just extending the life of the center running bike lane by months, if not a year,” said Yekutiel, who said the merchants also fear that the appeal might push construction of the new bikeway into the spring and summer, the busier seasons for the commercial corridor. Yekutiel said “It’s time for us to move on” from the bike lane discussions. The appeal, he said, is “just going to continue the fighting. It’s going to continue the debate. It’s going to hurt. It’s going to make it even harder for the Valencia corridor to start a new chapter.” We're a small, independent, nonprofit newsroom that works hard to bring you news you can't get elsewhere. Fresh off months of election coverage, we're in a crazy period of end-of-year fundraising at an equally crazy political time. We're asking for your support. We just received more matching funds to double your donation and take our fundraising to $310,000 . If you can, consider joining the 1,800+ readers who've given to our scrappy, hard-hitting operation. About 75% of our revenue comes from readers like you Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn MastodonA POPULAR chocolate brand has been slammed by unsatisfied shoppers after they found a day blank in all their advent calendars. Tony's Chocolonely made the bold decision to keep door 10 of their beloved yearly Christmas treat empty with fans saying the reason why is "woke". The Dutch brand were trying to raise awareness of the inequality cocoa farmers face in the chocolate supply chain through the act. But those who forked out £14.99 for the 24 day chocolatey calendar were less than impressed with the marketing ploy. Behind the 10th door was a QR code and a message reading: "Not much to find in there, huh? Bummer! "Cos the cocoa industry is unequally divided, so is our calendar." read more in advent calendar Many quickly voiced their complaints over a friendly advent calendar , often purchased for children, making a political statement. One said: "Sorry I know it’s activism but if I opened my calendar and the door was empty it would ruin my day." Another said opening up the door was "such a let down". A third simply wrote: "Woke nonsense." Most read in Money Others also referenced how the confectionery company has used the same tactic in the past. They were made to apologise in 2021 for causing "confusion and disappointment" among shoppers. One commented on social media this week following the backlash saying: " That's why I've got a Cadbury one. I want daily chocolate, not preaching to ." Addressing the issues, a statement on the Tony's Chocolonely 's website read: “Big chocolate companies make big profits, while cocoa farmers aren’t paid enough for their cocoa. " The result? Many of them still live way below the poverty line.” "The bitter truth is 1.56 million children in cocoa-growing families are involved in child labour in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. "At Tony’s, we exist to change that. By chomping on our choc, you’re helping us break the mould to end exploitation in cocoa, bar by bar, bite by bite." This time around, to make up for the missing day, an additional two chocolates are actually included on day nine in the calendar. This means there are actually 25 sweet treats inside. Some saw the positives from the situation and regarded the bold move as "quite clever" for raising awareness. The nearly £15 is often regarded as a top ranged advent treat in the UK with it often selling out across several stores. Dubbed a big countdown calendar it contains 225g of chocolate in 10 different flavours. Each one comes in a mini size with the 9th and 24th having two bars inside. Worst value advent calendars revealed Not all advent calendars are made equal with some offering never-before-seen treats inside and others giving shoppers a chance to buy bulk items all at once for a slashed price. Some, on the other hand, are not quite as good value for money . The Walkers advent calendar is £10 from Iceland and features 24 doors with a pack of crisps in each. However, you can get a multi-pack of 20 bags for £4.85 also from Iceland . It means that if you bought two packs, you would get 40 bags of crisps - almost double the amount in the calendar, for a lower price. The Lindt 5ft advent calendar certainly stands out. But at £180 at Costco , it doesn't come cheap. Each of the 24 doors contains a full-size Lindt chocolate treat including gold reindeer and bears, as well as 200g boxes of Lindor. However, £180 for 24 days works out at £7.50 a window. READ MORE SUN STORIES You can even get an advent calendar for your cat these days with one from Lily's Kitchen costing £9.99 for 24 days of treats. However, the calendar almost four times more expensive than a normal pack of treats from the same store. Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save money on your Christmas shopping. Limit the amount of presents - buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb. Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you're not having to buy multiple presents. Plan ahead - if you've got the stamina and budget, it's worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales. Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you're not forking out more than you should though. Buy in Boxing Day sales - some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25. Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent. Shop via outlet stores - you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts. They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.

Curl-Salemme, Michaela Cava each score twice, Frost beat Sceptres 6-3 in PWHLDigital marketing concept, Businessman using laptop with Ads dashboard digital marketing strategy ... [+] analysis for branding. online advertisement, ad on website and social media. SEO. SMM. How is search on the open web evolving for advertisers in 2025 and beyond? originally appeared on Quora : the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Steven Read, Chief Product Officer in New York, on Quora : It’s important to understand the history of search and how it’s remained nearly stagnant for a decade to contextualize where it’s heading next. Twenty-five years ago, search transformed the digital world. Larry Page and some Stanford colleagues invented a brilliant search engine that allowed anyone with a web browser to access relevant results to any query instantly for free. They founded Google in 1998, and their “back rub” and “page rank” algorithms were so much better than competing search engines that the word “Google” became a verb that is now synonymous with search. In 2000, Google began monetizing search results with search ads using an innovative revenue model invented by Overture called pay per click (PPC) advertising. PPC advertising was a transparent, auction-based system that allowed advertisers to bid on keywords that were relevant to people’s search queries — and only pay when the person clicked on the ad. Google quickly dominated the search advertising market thereafter. The 85 Best Black Friday Deals So Far, According To Our Editors 60+ Early Black Friday Deals Worth Shopping Right Now In the mid-2000s, Google extended its digital advertising empire with the acquisitions of YouTube for video ads and Doubleclick for display ads. The only losers seemed to be news and editorial publications who traded analog and dollars for digital pennies when they raced to give away content for traffic. With full market penetration, Google needed to lock out competitors, raise ad rates, and turn more search real estate into billable clicks to grow search ad revenue. Over the last decade, Google search has grown its revenue 5x and Alphabet’s enterprise value shot up 5x as Google successfully eliminated all meaningful — and any potential — search competitors. In this last decade of value extraction, the losers were users and advertisers. But search doesn’t equal just Google. Search isn’t even just a search engine. Sixty percent of consumer searches begin on the open web. Building native search experiences on the open web so that users can find relevant results without being forced or funneled to legacy search engine results pages will open up the broader search market to $675bn. The state of search now is populated with frustrated advertisers who lack transparency and control over their search advertising budgets, publishers who can no longer monetize and scale effectively, and users who must deal with a poor consumer search experience with less relevant results. We are now fully entering this new era of search, made possible by technological advancements like generative AI and the DOJ ruling that Google illegally maintained a monopoly in the search engine advertising and search text ads markets. We’re finally seeing the door open to transparent innovation and market competition we haven’t seen in over a decade. This grants more power to browsers, who can curate search experiences for their users. And for advertisers, this means they get to move money away from Google when it’s too pricey or insufficiently transparent. The search market is primed for this paradigm shift — a shift that will unequivocally prove that there is indeed a better way to search. That better way is search on the open web, cultivated and powered by valuable moments of consumer intent. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.

Jaipur: Union govt on Saturday launched its 100-day TB elimination campaign in 347 districts nationwide, of which five are in Rajasthan: Baran, Kota, Jhalawar, Hanumangarh, and Rajsamand. The campaign aims to enhance diagnostic and treatment services, particularly focusing on vulnerable populations, including residents of remote areas, marginalised communities, and individuals with conditions like diabetes, HIV, and malnutrition. The programme emphasises on improving access to advanced diagnostics and reducing treatment delays in high-burden areas. Principal secretary (health) Gayatri Rathore said this initiative was crucial for achieving a TB-free state and country. The state plans an intensive three-and-a-half-month drive to identify and treat previously missed patients. TB elimination activities will commence at Chief Minister Ayushman Health Camps from Dec 15, she said. The state-level launch occurred at SMS Medical College. The programme includes organising Nikshay camps over the 100-day period. "Our efforts should ensure that Rajasthan leads in the TB-free campaign. NGOs and voluntary organisations also play a crucial role in this endeavour," Rathore said. The initiative will utilise existing healthcare infrastructure , including Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs, and target high-risk groups, providing specialised care packages for those with additional health complications. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

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"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.Digi International director Khanuja sells $222,329 in stock

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Lisa Kudrow dishes on reason why ‘Friends’ is still popular Lisa Kudrow has a theory for why young fans still love ‘Friends’ Lisa Kudrow thinks there is a particular reason why Friends remains one of the most popular shows even among younger generations today. The 61-year-old actress shared that she isn’t surprised to see fans attached to the 90s sitcom in an interview and explained why. “I’m not amazed because it’s good and it’s familiar,” Kudrow, who played the fan-favourite character of Phoebe Buffay told Page Six , on Friday, December 7th. The Come Back star continued to explain that she believes Friends holds a “subconscious nostalgia” for younger fans who grew up with cell phones and social media. “For something they don’t have, which is in-person connections and relations. And that’s always been at the heart of every successful show.” She added, “That’s why people get attached to them and then if it’s funny, there [are] good performances, good jokes, that’s a bonus and Friends had all that.” The Emmy winning artist shared that many people around her questioned if the sitcom would ever succeed and asked her if “a bunch of young people sitting on a couch talking” was even a show. “That’s not my problem,” Kudrow quipped. “I’m just in it, but yes it was a show.” The final episode of fan's beloved show, which aired in May 2004, had over 52 million viewers, making it the fifth most-watched series finale in US history. The Friends alum is set to appear on the screen with her upcoming movie No Good Deed which comes out on December 12th. Gigi Hadid stuns onlookers with cosy appearance in NYC Princess Charlene rocks flared jeans for family day out Angelina Jolie struts in Paris set photos, despite broken toe Zachary Levi prepares to welcome first child with Maggie KeatingWhere to buy Oregon Ducks Big Ten victory shirts, more fan gear

The year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upwardCurl-Salemme, Michaela Cava each score twice, Frost beat Sceptres 6-3 in PWHL

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