US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. Bitcoin ticks closer to $100,000 in extended surge following US elections NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, setting another new high above $99,000 overnight. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Australia rejects Elon Musk's claim that it plans to control access to the internet MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian Cabinet minister has rejected X Corp. owner Elon Musk’s allegation that the government intends to control all Australians' access to the internet through legislation that would ban young children from social media. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Friday that Musk’s criticism was “unsurprising” after the government introduced legislation to Parliament that would fine platforms including X up to $133 million for allowing children under 16 to hold social media accounts. The spat continues months of open hostility between the Australian government and the tech billionaire over regulators’ efforts to reduce public harm from social media. Parliament could pass the legislation as soon as next week. Oil company Phillips 66 faces federal charges related to alleged Clean Water Act violations LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oil company Phillips 66 has been federally indicted in connection with alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in California. The Texas-based company is accused of discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater containing excessive amounts of oil and grease. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on Thursday. Phillips is charged with two counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. An arraignment date has not been set. A spokesperson for the company said it was cooperating with prosecutors. US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent Android from favoring its search engine. Regulators also want to ban Google from forging multibillion-dollar deals to lock in its dominant search engine as the default option on Apple’s iPhone and other devices. What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday could radically alter Google’s business. Regulators want Google to sell off its industry-leading Chrome web browser. They outlined a range of behavioral measures such as prohibiting Google from using search results to favor its own services such as YouTube, and forcing it to license search index data to its rivals. They're not going as far as to demand Google spin off Android, but are leaving that door open if the remedies don't work. Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it heads for a winning week NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks gained ground on Wall Street, keeping the market on track for its fifth gain in a row. The S&P 500 was up 0.4% in afternoon trading Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 351 points and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Retailers had some of the biggest gains. Gap soared after reporting quarterly results that easily beat analysts' estimates. EchoStar fell after DirecTV called of its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. European markets were mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Crude oil prices gained ground. Apple and Google face UK investigation into mobile browser dominance LONDON (AP) — A British watchdog says Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers. The watchdog's report Friday recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year. The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker’s tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. The CMA’s report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers “the clearest or easiest option.” Apple said it disagreed with the findings. German auto supplier Bosch to cut 5,500 jobs in further sign of carmakers' woes FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany's technology and services company Bosch is cutting its automotive division workforce by as many as 5,500 jobs in the next several years, in another sign of the headwinds hitting the German and global auto industries. The company cited stagnating global auto sales, too much factory capacity in the auto industry compared to sales prospects and a slower than expected transition to electric-powered, software-controlled vehicles. Some 3,500 of the job reductions would come before the end of 2027 and would hit the part of the company that develops driver assistance and automated driving technologies. About half those job reductions would be at locations in Germany. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration.It Takes Two Dev Confirms Next Game to Be Revealed at The Game Awards

The lights have been confusing some people - but there is a simple explanation People were left scratching their heads this evening after mysterious lights were seen hovering in the sky above Merseyside. In a video taken by a resident on Church Road in Walton, a cluster of lights rotating in the shape of an infinity symbol can be seen in the sky. Another person got in touch with the Liverpool ECHO when they saw the lights and asked: "Is Santa paying Liverpool an early visit? Or are the aliens finally here?" And another said: "What is the beam of light in Liverpool tonight which turns into a dancing figure of 8?!" However there is a simple explanation for the lights, which are coming from the windows of Spellow Library in Walton. The library was torched after violence that erupted on County Road following the tragic attacks in Southport in July. Violence erupted across Merseyside and throughout the country, with hundreds of people taking to the streets in the seaside town and then on County Road, where the Liverpool Council-run Spellow Hub was torched , causing significant damage. The arson attack on Spellow Library and Community Hub in Walton prompted a huge outcry and a nationwide response, with book donations from Her Majesty the Queen and a host of famous authors, as well as a £250,000 fundraising campaign. After months of repairs, the library is preparing to open on Thursday, December 12 and the symbol in the sky tonight is ahead of the special occasion. To mark the reopening, the Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Liam Robinson, called on local authorities across the country to be part of a nationwide symbolic moment on the evening of Wednesday, December 11. Scores of libraries – from Lancashire and Newcastle to Southampton, Cornwall and even the Isle of Wight – have agreed to light up in solidarity and share photographs of it on their social media platforms using the hashtag #ShareTheLight, which is understood to be what the infinity symbol of lights in the sky across Merseyside is in relation to. The building is being officially reopened on the morning of Thursday, December 12 at a civic event, which will include members of the local community, schoolchildren, first responders and political leaders. There will also be contributions from poet Levi Tafari and Waterstones Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Following the event, the venue will welcome the public from 12.30pm. Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Liam Robinson, said: “The torching of Spellow Library and Community Hub affected not just the local community, but also people across the country. The #ShareTheLight moment on Wednesday evening is an opportunity to show that hate will never win in our communities. “Spellow Library and Community Hub’s rebirth is testament to the spirit not only of this City, but to the people across the country and beyond who reached out in support. I know that the library staff can’t wait to welcome back the local community and show them the work that has been done to restore this valuable resource. “The reopening of Spellow Library Hub marks the start of a new beginning for Walton, which we will be saying more about in the coming weeks and months.” Following the reopening, there will be a weekend of family Christmas events on Thursday 12, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December, which the local community are welcome to attend. More information is available by searching for Spellow Library here .

Canada's Jonathan David scores milestone goal in Lille win over Brest in FranceBy HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, there was still time to read books. Related Articles Books | Percival Everett, 2024 National Book Award winner, rereads one book often Books | Gift books for 2024: What to give, and what to receive, for all kinds of readers Books | Our critic’s picks: Best mystery fiction books of 2024 Books | 10 best books of 2024: The surprising reads that stuck Books | ‘We are time’s subjects’: Author Clock keeps track of the hours, one literary quotation at a time U.S. sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market, with many choosing the relief of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up Taylor Swift’s tie-in book to her blockbuster tour, while others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Here are 10 notable books published in 2024, in no particular order. Asking about the year’s hottest reads would basically yield a list of the biggest hits in romantasy, the blend of fantasy and romance that has proved so irresistible fans were snapping up expensive “special editions” with decorative covers and sprayed edges. Of the 25 top sellers of 2024, as compiled by Circana, six were by romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas, including “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third of her “Crescent City” series. Millions read her latest installment about Bryce Quinlan and Hunter Athalar and traced the ever-growing ties of “Maasverse,” the overlapping worlds of “Crescent City” and her other series, “Throne of Glass” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” If romantasy is for escape, other books demand we confront. In the bestselling “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks into studies finding that the mental health of young people began to deteriorate in the 2010s, after decades of progress. According to Haidt, the main culprit is right before us: digital screens that have drawn kids away from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhoods. Although some critics challenged his findings, “The Anxious Generation” became a talking point and a catchphrase. Admirers ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee, who in a letter to state legislators advocated such “commonsense recommendations” from the book as banning phones in schools and keeping kids off social media until age 16. Bob Woodward books have been an election tradition for decades. “War,” the latest of his highly sourced Washington insider accounts, made news with its allegations that Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin even while out of office and, while president, had sent Putin sophisticated COVID-19 test machines. Among Woodward’s other scoops: Putin seriously considered using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president, for some of the problems with Russia. “Barack never took Putin seriously,” Woodward quoted Biden as saying. Former (and future) first lady Melania Trump, who gives few interviews and rarely discusses her private life, unexpectedly announced she was publishing a memoir: “Melania.” The publisher was unlikely for a former first lady — not one of the major New York houses, but Skyhorse, where authors include such controversial public figures as Woody Allen and Trump cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And its success was at least a minor surprise. Melania Trump did little publicity for the book, and offered few revelations beyond posting a video expressing support for abortion rights — a break from one of the cornerstones of GOP policy. But “Melania” still sold hundreds of thousands of copies, many in the days following her husband’s election. Taylor Swift was more than a music story in 2024. Like “Melania,” the news about Taylor Swift’s self-published tie-in to her global tour isn’t so much the book itself, but that it exists. And how well it sold. As she did with the “Eras” concert film, Swift bypassed the established industry and worked directly with a distributor: Target offered “The Eras Tour Book” exclusively. According to Circana, the “Eras” book sold more than 800,000 copies just in its opening week, an astonishing number for a publication unavailable through Amazon.com and other traditional retailers. No new book in 2024 had a better debut. Midnight book parties are supposed to be for “Harry Potter” and other fantasy series, but this fall, more than 100 stores stayed open late to welcome one of the year’s literary events: Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” The Irish author’s fourth novel centers on two brothers, their grief over the death of their father, their very different career paths and their very unsettled love lives. “Intermezzo” was also a book about chess: “You have to read a lot of opening theory — that’s the beginning of a game, the first moves,” one of the brothers explains. “And you’re learning all this for what? Just to get an okay position in the middle game and try to play some decent chess. Which most of the time I can’t do anyway.” Lisa Marie Presley had been working on a memoir at the time of her death , in 2023, and daughter Riley Keough had agreed to help her complete it. “From Here to the Great Unknown” is Lisa Marie’s account of her father, Elvis Presley, and the sagas of of her adult life, notably her marriage to Michael Jackson and the death of son Benjamin Keough. To the end, she was haunted by the loss of Elvis, just 42 when he collapsed and died at his Graceland home while young Lisa Marie was asleep. “She would listen to his music alone, if she was drunk, and cry,” Keough, during an interview with Winfrey, said of her mother. Meanwhile, Cher released the first of two planned memoirs titled “Cher” — no further introduction required. Covering her life from birth to the end of the 1970s, she focuses on her ill-fated marriage to Sonny Bono, remembering him as a gifted entertainer and businessman who helped her believe in herself while turning out to be unfaithful, erratic, controlling and so greedy that he kept all the couple’s earnings for himself. Unsure of whether to leave or stay, she consulted a very famous divorcee, Lucille Ball, who reportedly encouraged her: “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.” A trend in recent years is to take famous novels from the past, and remove words or passages that might offend modern readers; an edition of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” cuts the racist language from Mark Twain’s original text. In the most celebrated literary work of 2024, Percival Everett found a different way to take on Twain’s classic — write it from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. “James,” winner of the National Book Award, is a recasting in many ways. Everett suggests to us that the real Jim was nothing like the deferential figure known to millions of readers, but a savvy and learned man who concealed his intelligence from the whites around him, and even from Twain himself. Salman Rushdie’s first National Book Award nomination was for a memoir he wished he had no reason to write. In “Knife,” he recounts in full detail the horrifying attempt on his life in 2022, when an attendee rushed the stage during a literary event in western New York and stabbed him repeatedly, leaving with him a blinded eye and lasting nerve damage, but with a spirit surprisingly intact. “If you had told me that this was going to happen and how would I deal with it, I would not have been very optimistic about my chances,” he told The Associated Press last spring. “I’m still myself, you know, and I don’t feel other than myself. But there’s a little iron in the soul, I think.”

Olivia Ponton, an IMG model and social media influencer, called 911 to report a break-in at Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow's house in Anderson Township while the 28-year-old was in Dallas for Monday Night Football. Ponton made the call after she arrived at the residence, according to the incident report. She is employed by Burrow, according to the sheriff's report. Read More: Woman Comes Back From Dead In Viral Video? Truth Explained "Someone broke into my house," Ponton said in a 911 call. The report further added that the break-in took place between 2:30 PM local time and shortly after 8 PM and the suspect entered through a rear, first-flow window. Ponton told police that a bedroom window was shattere and the room ransacked. She then called her mother, Diane Ponton, who also reported the incident. Read More: From TikTok Fame To Crypto Flop: Mapping Hawk Tuah Girl Hailey Welch's Journey Who Is Olivia Ponton? Ponton is a social media influencer and model who rose to fame on TikTok, where she has amassed millions of followers. Born on May 30, 2002, in Naples, Florida, she first started sharing workout routines and lifestyle content during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 22-year-old's modeling career took off after signing with Wilhelmina Models, leading to collaborations with major brands like SKIMS and appearances in Sports Illustrated and Victoria’s Secret campaigns. She was also a member of the Hype House, a collaborative group of TikTok influencers. Ponton has about 2.9 million followers on Instagram and 7.6 million on TikTok. She also purchased a $1.2 million apartment in New York City in 2022, according to the New York Post. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams appears open to switching parties to become a Republican, as he declined to rule out a future change in political allegiances during a pair of interviews Friday that came as he has increasing warmed to President-elect Donald Trump. The comments from Adams, the top Democrat in one of the country’s most liberal cities, riled critics who have grown concerned over the mayor’s increasing willingness to throw his support behind Trump and his hardline immigration policies. Adams, who faces federal corruption charges , was a registered Republican in the 1990s and early 2000s but has spent his political career as a Democrat. In a Friday morning interview with the local cable news station NY1, Adams was asked if he would consider a return to the GOP. The Democrat appeared to leave open the possibility of a switch. “The party that’s the most important for me is the American party,” he said. “I’m a part of the American party. I love this country. This is the home of the free, the land of the brave.” In another interview about a half-hour later on PIX11, Adams said he would run for reelection as a Democrat but still appeared to leave some wiggle room for his future. RELATED COVERAGE Ex-police officer denies leaking confidential information to Proud Boys leader On pardons, Biden weighs whether to flex presidential powers in broad new ways Mother of Austin Tice, journalist missing in Syria, says new information proves her son is alive “So no matter what party I’m on or vote on, I’m going to push for the American values,” he said. “And I think America has told us, stop the squabbling, leaders, and start leading us out of the crisis that we’re facing.” Adams won office on a centrist platform and has spent significant time as mayor quarreling with the progressive wing of his party. But his rhetoric has taken a noticeable rightward turn in the weeks since Trump’s election victory, particularly on immigration, with Adams boosting the president-elect’s platform and appearing enthusiastic about the incoming administration. Rather than restricting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as he once promised, Adams recently expressed a willingness to roll back the city’s so-called sanctuary policies, and he plans to meet with Trump’s top border official over concerns about what the mayor said was the “rising illegal alien crime rate in New York City.” He has also praised those in Trump’s orbit, including Elon Musk, who has claimed falsely that Democrats are illegally “importing” migrants to garner votes. “This is a racehorse that wanted to run its right pace and we’ve been holding back that racehorse out of fear of being canceled,” Adams said of the country Tuesday. “And now you have a bunch of people who are not afraid of being canceled.” The shift comes as Adams is trying to fight off an indictment on federal corruption charges while governing the city and gearing up to run for a second term. Adams has pleaded not guilty in his criminal case, in which he has been accused of accepting free or discounted overseas trips and illegal campaign contributions from people looking to gain his influence, including people connected to Turkey or the Turkish government. Adams’ critics have seized on his recent comments about the Trump administration as a move toward self-preservation, accusing the mayor of cozying up to the next president in an effort to secure a pardon in his corruption case. “Eric Adams continues to sound more like he is auditioning for a job in right-wing media than running for reelection in a Democratic primary,” said Zohran Mamdani, a state assembly member who is challenging against Adams in the mayoral primary. “Eric Adams is in City Hall because Democratic voters sent him there. To serve his own narrow self-interests, he is clearly prepared to betray them.” Zellnor Myrie, a state senator who is also challenging Adams in the primary, said “at a time when the Republican Party has never been more out of line with New York values, we need a mayor who isn’t scared to call himself a Democrat.” “Instead of playing footsie with the next president, we need a mayor with the courage to stand up for our city,” Myrie wrote on X. Adams on Friday did distance himself from the Trump administration’s potential plans to carry out mass deportations, saying, “You know, I’m not for mass deportation, but I’m not for mass saturation.” Still, the mayor’s recent remarks are a major departure from his stance before he took office. In June of 2021, a few weeks before winning the Democratic mayoral primary, Adams spoke to a room full of immigrant New Yorkers about the challenges facing city residents who are in the country illegally. “Too many of our neighbors live in the shadows,” he said at the time, “scarred by the abusive rhetoric and tactics of the Trump era and fearing a denial of their rights.” ___ Izaguirre reported from Albany.

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The observation came amidst the ongoing debate about Indian immigration and talent retention. Published: December 28, 2024 11:46 PM IST By Edited by Sridhar Vembu, an Indian billionaire business magnate and the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Zoho Corporation, has called on Indians to prioritize developing technological capabilities within India rather than seeking validation through achievements abroad. Sridhar Vembu’s observation came amidst the ongoing debate about Indian immigration and talent retention. He posted on X: “To earn true respect in the world, Indians have to develop deep capabilities in India. Achievements abroad won’t do it. I hope smart Indians keep this in mind.” To earn true respect in the world, Indians have to develop deep capabilities in India. Achievements abroad won’t do it. I hope smart Indians keep this in mind. — Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) “As an Indian, I work hard to retain talent in India because we so badly need the talent to develop India’s technology capability,” said Vembu as he praised America’s immigrant-friendly policies while questioning the sustainability of relying heavily on imported talent. Referring to the multifaceted undercurrents of the migration of talent internationally, he noted that while opposition to immigration can sometimes emanate from racism and xenophobia, it makes sense to discuss the feasibility of the dependence and reliance on human resource hired from abroad. To underscore his point, Vembu pointed out that American companies have historically preferred importing talent over developing it domestically. Articulating on a study about Indian immigration to the United States, Vembu acknowledged America’s success in attracting and integrating global talent while expressing his commitment to retaining skilled professionals in India while he emphasised the critical need for talent to advance India’s technological capabilities. The dialogue veered, touching on broader themes of national development and talent retention. Vembu posed a thoughtful question about prioritizing GDP rankings and technological leadership through imported talent. “Is it worth the bragging rights to be the number 1 in GDP or number 1 in AI or whatever, achieved with imported talent, but at the price of leaving your own people behind?” he asked. Sridhar Vembu is the 39th richest person in India with a net worth of $5.85 billion, as of 2024, according to Forbes. He was awarded India’s fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2021. Sridhar Vembu & siblings are ranked 51st with a net worth of $5.8 billion on the list of India’s 100 richest tycoons, dated October 9, 2024, as per Forbes. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on or follow us on and . Read more on Latest on . TopicsNFL Network forced to correct embarrassing error on Chargers vs. Patriots broadcast

NFL world reacts with excitement, surprise, questions after Bill Belichick is hired to coach UNC

Ex-Colorado footballer Bloom dedicates time to fulfilling wishes for older adultsIt looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. “The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more,” Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. “There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie,” said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction.” In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation , did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the “no-fault findings,” as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report , Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist “saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities.” But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's “decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable.” A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug “then entered the market through illegal channels,” he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles,” Li said. “The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice.” This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. “Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated,” he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. “It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. “Which clearly it has not.”None

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Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The Wiretap is your weekly digest of cybersecurity, internet privacy and surveillance news. To get it in your inbox, subscribe here . getty Both cybercriminals and digital spies sponsored by nation states are using artificial intelligence to add “volume and impact” to their attacks , according to a British government minister. On Tuesday, in an annual review issued by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) , an arm of U.K. signals intelligence agency GCHQ , minister for intergovernmental relations Pat McFadden warned that AI was “transforming the cyber threat” facing the western world . The NCSC went on to warn that generative AI like OpenAI’s ChatGPT models or Meta’s Llama “will make it harder for defenders to identify social engineering attacks without the development of new mitigations.” Already, cybercriminals have been using generative AI to write phishing emails . The same technology can be used as a reconnaissance tool to quickly identify vulnerable computers and help hackers exploit them, the agency added. There is another side to AI technology, however, in defense. In recent months, Google has shown how its AI can now find software vulnerabilities , helping defenders patch apps and protect users. In one recent example, Google said AI helped find 26 vulnerabilities in the widely-used website encryption code library known as OpenSSL. It represented “a milestone for automated vulnerability finding,” Google’s open source security team wrote. The future looks set to be an AI vs. AI world , with humans pushing the buttons of their digital helpers. Got a tip on surveillance or cybercrime? Get me on Signal at +1 929-512-7964 . FBI Is Investigating Exxon Lobbyist Over Hack Of Environmentalist Emails, Sources Say Getty Images Reuters reports on an FBI investigation into whether or not a lobbyist firm working for Exxon Mobil was involved in a hack-and-leak operation targeting hundreds of the oil company’s critics . Per the report, citing one of three sources familiar with the matter, U.S. authorities believe the DCI Group , a public affairs and lobbying company working for Exxon back in 2015, had compiled a list of targets and provided them to an Israeli private detective, who then outsourced the hacking. DCI later leaked some of the hacked materials to the media , according to Reuters. Stories You Have To Read Today As first reported by Wired , the Biden administration has imposed new controls designed to prevent China getting ahead in the AI race . The new rules prohibit sales of certain kinds of chips to China , while adding more than 100 Chinese companies to a restricted trade list. The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against Evolv Technologies, saying the company made false claims about how effective its AI screening tech was at detecting weapons on a person. The company has sold to thousands of schools, some of whom may now be able to cancel their contracts because of Evolv’s settlement with the FTC. Per the FTC, among various overstatements about its ability to uncover weapons being brought onto customer premises, “Evolv’s Express scanners reportedly failed to detect a seven-inch knife brought into a school in October 2022 that was used to stab a student . Afterwards, school officials increased the system’s sensitivity settings, prompting a 50% false alarm rate.” Winner of the Week Sixgen , a government contractor for offensive and defensive cyber services, has announced its fourth acquisition in a year, confirming plans to merge with competing company Kyrus Tech . The deal follows hot on the footsteps of its previous acquisition of Boldend , a Founders Fund-backed startup which had made headlines for developing hacks to spy on WhatsApp . “Kyrus brings highly specialized capabilities that align with Sixgen’s vision of building a formidable ecosystem of solutions for the modern digital warrior,” said Jack Wilmer, CEO of Sixgen. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Loser of the Week A suspected ransomware coder Mikhail Matveev , who also goes by the online moniker Wazawaka , has been arrested in Russia . Wazawaka had previously been linked to some of the most notorious ransomware crews including LockBit and Conti. It’s claimed he also once published his FBI Most Wanted poster on a t-shirt. More On Forbes Editorial Standards Forbes Accolades Join The Conversation One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. Forbes Community Guidelines Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space. In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's Terms of Service. We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil. Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain: False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information Spam Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author Content that otherwise violates our site's terms. 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SAP SE ( NYSE: SAP ) UBS Global Technology and AI Conference December 3, 2024 10:55 AM ET Company Participants Dominik Asam - CFO Conference Call Participants Michael Briest - UBS Michael Briest Okay. Thank you, everyone, for turning up this morning. Welcome to the UBS Technology Conference. I'm Michael Briest, I lead up our European software effort and delighted to have with me Dominik Asam, who is CFO of SAP, as I'm sure you know. Question-and-Answer Session Q - Michael Briest So, we've got about half an hour. If you have any questions, there's a QR code on the desk, and you can submit some questions to me, which I can put to Dominik. But obviously, I've got some to start with. And I'm sure you're getting tired of this. Every conference starts with a macro question. But you're doing a fantastic job in moving your customers to upgrade ERP. A lot of the industries you serve are financially challenged. There's political uncertainty in much of Europe, including in your domestic market. Why do you think customers are willing to sign on the dotted line for those sort of multiyear commitments of migrations? What is the value they see? And is there any more hesitancy today than there was, say, three or six months ago? Dominik Asam So, I'd say the major benefit we have is right now just the upgrade cycle that a lot of customers need to move to the next generation of SAP systems. And I think the evangelization on the benefits of the cloud is making good progress. And they also see that with AI being in the cloud has certain advantages they can lever. Yes, of course, there's macroeconomic pressure, and we do see that also in some segments, think about Fieldglass, Temporary Workers, Concur, Travel Expenses, and then also on the Ariba network onPETALING JAYA: The much-awaited results for the Putra Brand Awards (PBA) and Putra Aria Brand Awards (PABA) for 2024 have been finalised. Billed as the “People’s Choice Awards”, the awards organising chairman and senior adviser of the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) Datuk Johnny Mun told StarBiz the board of governors met late October to endorse the results. “The research was conducted by Ipsos, which is a global leader in market research. We have a record number of participants in the research numbering over 20,000 unique respondents with well over 65,000 responses. “This makes the PABA and PBA the most robust research event in the country and probably in Asia covering over 60 digital media platforms. “There are some surprises in the awards this year with some perennial winners being replaced by newcomers,” he added. Mun said the survey covers multiple categories, allowing consumers to voice their opinions on their favourite brands in areas ranging from food and beverage to technology and personal care. He reiterated that this comprehensive approach provides a holistic view of consumer preferences and highlights brands that have successfully established strong connections with their audience. He said the award nights for PABA are on Jan 16 and for PBA on Jan 17. Mun said the venue has shifted back to the iconic Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, to match the pomp and importance of the events. Mun is also calling marketers to buy their tables to celebrate the 15th instalment of the PBA and the third instalment of PABA to avoid disappointment. He added that for PABA, there are over 150 awards and for PBA over 160 awards. Both awards are organised by the 4As in collaboration with Star Media Group Bhd . The event is supported by the Malaysian Advertisers Association, Media Specialists Association and Malaysian Digital Association and is endorsed as Brand Champion Partner by Malaysia External Trade Development Corp or Matrade. The Star is the official news partner for the awards. The highlight for the PBA show would be the four special awards similar to last year. They are the Putra Most Enterprising Brand of the Year, Putra Malaysian Marketer of the Year, Putra Brand Personality Award and Putra Brand of the Year. There would also be the Putra Hall of Fame award, an accolade introduced in 2019 for brands that have won their respective categories for over 10 successive years. The Putra Most Enterprising Brand of the Year award reflects outstanding achievements in developing a brand that has made strong inroads into the international market via product or service innovation; is committed to comprehensive marketing and communications programmes and demonstrates a strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment. The Putra Brand Personality Award celebrates an outstanding individual with creativity, perseverance and persuasion that have made significant contributions to nation building. The Putra Malaysian Marketer of the Year accolade recognises a company, team or individual exhibiting overall excellence in marketing, innovation and creativity in brand building, while challenging conventional strategies in the product sector. Lastly, the Putra Brand of the Year award is presented to the brand that best exemplifies continuous product innovation, commitment to brand building via communication and exhibits a strong sense of CSR.

If you have any Nintendo items on your holiday shopping list this year, then you'll want to check out the stat to avoid paying full price. Tons of deals are to be had on consoles, games and accessories, but beware: Products are already running out of stock at multiple stores. That includes the Nintendo Switch bundles. So if you're holiday shopping and need to snag some of these best Cyber Monday deals, you might want to act fast before they're gone. As of today, epic discounts are still available on items like the bundle for $75 off, 43% off the legendary and 40% off the hot-off-the-presses game — perfect timing for the upcoming movie hype. Whether you’re shopping for the gamer in your life or looking to join the fun yourself, these deals are here to level up your holiday gift-giving. So grab your cart (and your wallet) because these prices won’t wait. Nintendo Switch 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' Bundle 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' for Nintendo Switch 'Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020' for Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Pro Controller 'Sonic X Shadow Generations' for Nintendo Switch SanDisk 64GB 2-Pack microSDXC Card 'The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom' for Nintendo Switch 'Mario Party Superstars — US Version' for Nintendo Switch 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' This is the Switch that started it all and made the gaming system a must-have in every home with kids (and adult kids). This bundle is packed with straight-out-of-the-box value that includes two controllers, a console, a full download of the deluxe game and a 12-month individual membership download that connects you to a whole slew of other games. While the console is great on the go, this device also connects to your TV for a family game night. You know what? If you have a Nintendo Switch we are just going to assume you have . What's that you say? You don't? Well, we're not here to judge you for not playing the unfathomably excellent follow-up to and one of the top 10 most popular Switch games of all time. We don't get paid to judge. But we do get paid to tell you when there is an excellent deal that you're missing — and this is one of them. Right now, you can score this game from the iconic series for over 40% off. How does snagging 50% off a game featuring two legendary characters sound? This is one of the best gaming deals we've seen this year. This Olympic-themed title brings Mario and Sonic together, letting you play as characters from both of their iconic universes. Compete in sports like skateboarding, karate, boxing, track and field and more. "Great game that all the kids love and has quickly become a new go-to," . "Entertaining for adults as well. Good for quick, fast mini-games or hours of family fun." The Switches' Joy-Con controllers are all well and good, but when you have longer gaming sessions, a pro controller is in order. This wireless option lets you play from any point in the room. Additional buttons and two joysticks make for a more comfortable play experience. Are your kiddos looking forward to the latest Sonic movie? We sure are. Not only are we excited about the Keanu Reeves-voiced Shadow the Hedgehog, we're jazzed about the standoff between the two super-charged furballs. This is a bundle pack that includes two campaigns: Sonic's lighthearted adventures and Shadow's more dramatic ones. If you prefer downloading your games digitally instead of buying and storing physical ones, do yourself a favor and invest in a microSD card. With this deal, you get a pair, each with a generous amount of extra storage. You'll avoid that "low storage" notification thanks to these little green guys. "Got this for extra Switch space and it immediately recognized it," . "No corruption on any files or issues whatsoever." Link is one of those iconic characters in Nintendo history and The Legend of Zelda is a game that both experienced and casual gamers know well. This version is more lighthearted and calming than the original and and easy to play on a day when you just need to unwind, but don't want to concentrate too intensely. The best way I can describe this game is "slow and steady." In terms of price history, this is the lowest it's ever been! "As a long-time Zelda fan, I absolutely love being able to play this with my 7-year-old," . "I also love that for the first time, we get to play as Zelda instead of Link." It goes without saying that Super Mario games are some of Nintendo's most popular, so finding this one on sale is pretty rare since the demand is so high. If you're a fan of the bold colors, vibrancy and adventure motifs in the Super Mario franchise, this game is sure to be your next obsession. "My niece's boyfriend brought it along for us to play and we all loved it," . "Very enjoyable to play as a family. The moment I saw it on sale on Amazon, I bought it, especially since Mario games rarely reduce in price." This was the most popular game during the pandemic. It gave everyone an escape and a little bit of joy while they stayed indoors. Now, it's having a resurgence with the colder months officially here. Create your own island, plant crops, fish, make friends and more with this adorable community-based game that just feels like a warm hug. While this isn't the most affordable it's been all year, you can't go wrong with this deal, especially considering that this game is essentially never-ending. "Great game. Ages better than wine!" . "It's so much fun, so cute, adorable and there's quite a bit to do."

The 50-year-old will be officially handing the reins over to Thomas Tuchel in January after overseeing a largely positive UEFA Nations League campaign as Gareth Southgate 's immediate successor. Carsley masterminded five wins from his six matches in charge of the Three Lions, including the 5-0 demolition of the Republic of Ireland that confirmed England's promotion back to League A. The one blot on Carsley's England notebook was a 2-1 home loss to Greece in October, although Tuchel had already signed his contract two days before that, and Carsley is now set to return to managing the Under-21s. The Irishman's pleasing work in the Wembley chair has led to suggestions that he could step away from his FA role in favour of taking on a club position, having never had a permanent manager's job in the English Football League. © Imago However, The Sun claims that Carsley is happy to bide his time and wait for the England job to become available again when Tuchel's time comes to an end, which as things stand will be after the 2026 World Cup. The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss only signed an 18-month contract with the FA, and it remains to be seen whether a disappointing World Cup campaign in two years' time could extinguish his chances of an extension. Should Tuchel not stick around for any longer, the report claims that Carsley would be an 'automatic candidate' for the permanent position if he stays with the Under-21s rather than trying his hand at club management. As such, it will supposedly take an 'unbelievable offer' to tempt Carsley into the world of the EFL, and his friends have said that he feels he would be more well-equipped to take the reins permanently in 2026. Carsley led England's Under-21s to the European Championship title in 2023, and the 50-year-old handed debuts to no fewer than eight players in Lewis Hall , Noni Madueke , Morgan Gibbs-White , Angel Gomes , Tino Livramento , Taylor Harwood-Bellis , Morgan Rogers and Curtis Jones in the Nations League. © Imago Even though Carsley has never had a permanent job as a club manager, he has often stepped into a caretaker role when necessary, as was the case when Southgate vacated his position in the summer. The 50-year-old's first taste of the touchline came with Coventry City in 2013, where he won three of his five matches in charge before also overseeing 10 Brentford games in 2015, earning five victories. After managing Manchester City's Under-18s and Birmingham City's Under-21s, Carsley was caretaker boss of the latter's first team for three games in 2017, although one of those results was a heavy 6-1 defeat at Hull City. Tuchel will soon find out who his first England game will be against, as the draw for the UEFA World Cup 2026 qualifying cycle will be held on December 13.Scientists in California study ways to stop cow burps fuelling climate change

Bank of America signs again with FIFA for US-hosted Club World Cup that still has no TV deals

NoneAd industry’s depiction of men as dim-witted goofballs is anti-comedyCommercial Bank has partnered with Qatar Post to issue the first special edition post stamps in celebration of its 50th (golden) anniversary. This collaboration symbolises Commercial Bank’s legacy and commitment to Qatar’s growth, marking five decades of innovation, dedication, and service excellence. The stamps were unveiled at a media event held at the Commercial Bank Plaza on Sunday. Throughout the years, Commercial Bank’s efforts have been centred around client convenience and community advancement. That, the bank said, has been evident in the instrumental role it has, and continues to, play in elevating the financial landscape across Qatar. Since its establishment, the bank has envisioned a banking experience poised not only to prosper but to revolutionise the landscape of financial services. Its catalysing vision has enabled it to gradually become a pioneer in the banking sector, introducing many first-of-its-kind services that have contributed to Qatar’s economic success story. Commercial Bank opened the first private bank in 1974, and introduced the first ATM in Qatar in 1994, the first ladies-only branch in Qatar, the first ladies branch manager, the first visa card, and many other notable achievements. With these milestones in place, Commercial Bank views its 50th anniversary celebration as a collective accomplishment, one that should be shared with its stakeholders and the wider community in Qatar, and for that, has chosen to launch the first special edition post stamps in Qatar to commemorate this timeless significance. "Brand presence has consistently been a fundamental priority for Commercial Bank," stated HE Abdul Rahman bin Hamad al-Attiyah, Board Member of Commercial Bank. "Over the years, our brand has gained increasing prominence across Qatar and the region, reflecting our dedication to advancing Qatar's economic leadership and fostering impactful progress. We are honoured to be the first bank to collaborate with Qatar Post in issuing exclusive post stamps to commemorate this significant milestone. “The celebration of Commercial Bank’s golden anniversary marks this moment in our history, illustrating the progression from our modest beginnings to becoming a leading force in innovation and excellence. Through our contributions to Qatar’s remarkable economic development, we have kept the nation’s legacy of perseverance, progress, and agility, which continue to define our aspirations for the future." Qatar Post Chairman and Managing Director Faleh bin Mohammed al-Naemi stated: "We are pleased to collaborate with Commercial Bank in launching the first special edition post stamp to commemorate the Bank's 50th anniversary. This initiative marks an important milestone in our partnership with the banking sector, as it represents the first time that joint post stamps have been created with this vital sector. “Furthermore, it reflects the strengthening of the partnership and the remarkable achievements between Qatar Post and Commercial Bank, particularly in the area of digitising payments for mailbox subscription fees. This new service enables Commercial Bank customers to renew their mailbox subscriptions easily online, providing them with a seamless and user-friendly digital experience. “Qatar Post continues to serve as a leading provider of postal services and a key player in logistics. Additionally, we are proud of our active role in supporting the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 by offering innovative and reliable solutions that meet the needs of both individuals and businesses, as well as facilitating money transfer operations." As Commercial Bank embarks on a new chapter, it stands as a pioneer in a new age of banking; one that integrates cutting-edge technology with world-class financial services and always puts its customers at the heart of everything it does. Related Story QNL backs initiative to preserve Palestinian, Lebanese heritage Qatar Charity distributes food baskets to orphans in Sudan

FACT FOCUS: Vermont ruling does not say schools can vaccinate children without parental consent

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VANCOUVER, BC , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Lumina Gold Corp. LUM LMGDF (the "Company" or "Lumina") is pleased to announce that under the previously announced US$300 million precious metals purchase agreement (the "PMPA") with Wheaton Precious Metals International Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Wheaton Precious Metals Corp., the Company has drawn an additional installment of US$6.0 million . The Company has now drawn US$44.9 million and can draw up to an additional US$3.1 million for specific pre-construction capital items. Investor Relations The Company is also pleased to announce that it has retained Oak Hill Financial Inc. ("Oak Hill") to provide investor relations services at a rate of C$10,000 per month for an initial three-month term beginning in January 2025 , then continuing month to month at the Company's election. Oak Hill will help Lumina to effectively communicate its latest corporate milestones with potential new investors, and further engage with the investment community on behalf of the Company. Oak Hill is an arms-length party to the Company and does not currently hold any interest in the securities of the Company (either directly or indirectly) nor does it hold any rights or options to acquire such an interest. Oak Hill is a leading Canadian investor marketing and distribution and corporate advisory firm, based in Ontario , focused on IIROC retail brokerage networks, servicing both asset managers and public companies. Oak Hill's experienced team of former asset management wholesalers, research analysts and capital market professionals specialize in building credibility for their clients to a network of over 10,000 Canadian IIROC retail brokers and over 300 North American funds. About Lumina Gold Lumina Gold Corp. LUM is a Vancouver, Canada based precious and base metals development company focused on the Cangrejos Gold-Copper Project located in El Oro Province, southwest Ecuador . In 2023, the Company completed a Pre-Feasibility Study for Cangrejos, which is the largest primary gold deposit in Ecuador . Lumina has an experienced management team with a successful track record of advancing and monetizing exploration projects. Follow us on: Twitter , Linkedin or Facebook . Further details are available on the Company's website at https://luminagold.com/ . To receive future news releases please sign up at https://luminagold.com/contact . LUMINA GOLD CORP. Signed: "Marshall Koval" Marshall Koval , President & CEO, Director Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to: the Company's ability to draw up to an additional US$3.1 million for specific pre-construction capital items, the Company's engagement of Oak Hill and the services to be provided . Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "will" or "projected" or variations of those words or statements that certain actions, events or results "will", "could", "are proposed to", "are planned to", "are expected to" or "are anticipated to" be taken, occur or be achieved. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about: the Company's ability to meet its obligations under the PMPA; general business and economic conditions; the prices of gold and copper; and anticipated costs and expenditures. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. Although management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the business of the Company; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities administrators. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lumina-gold-announces-us6-0-million-wheaton-precious-draw-302319984.html SOURCE Lumina Gold Corp. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

​Chinese state hackers, known as Salt Typhoon, have breached telecommunications companies in dozens of countries, President Biden's deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger said today. During a Wednesday press briefing, the White House official told reporters that these breaches include a total of eight telecom firms in the United States, with only four previously known. While these attacks have been underway for "likely one to two years, "at this time, we don't believe any classified communications have been compromised," Neuberger added , as the Journal first reported . "The Chinese compromised private companies exploiting vulnerabilities in their systems as part of a global Chinese campaign that's affected dozens of countries around the world." "We cannot say with certainty that the adversary has been evicted, because we still don't know the scope of what they're doing. We're still trying to understand that, along with those partners," a senior CISA official said in a Tuesday press call . On Tuesday, CISA and FBI officials advised Americans to switch to encrypted messaging apps to minimize Chinese hackers' chances of intercepting their communications. "Our suggestion, what we have told folks internally, is not new here: Encryption is your friend, whether it’s on text messaging or if you have the capacity to use encrypted voice communication," they said . "Even if the adversary is able to intercept the data, if it is encrypted, it will make it impossible." However, T-Mobile's Chief Security Officer, who said last week that the company's systems were breached from a connected wireline provider's network, claims T-Mobile no longer sees any attacker activity within its network. Also tracked as FamousSparrow, Earth Estries, Ghost Emperor, and UNC2286, this state-backed hacking group has been breaching government entities and telecom companies across Southeast Asia since at least 2019. The Salt Typhoon telecom hacks CISA and the FBI confirmed the hacks in late October, following reports that Salt Typhoon had breached the networks of multiple telcos, including T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies. The federal agencies later revealed the threat actors compromised the "private communications" of a "limited number" of U.S. government officials, accessed the U.S. government's wiretapping platform , and stole law enforcement request data and customer call records. While the timing of the telecom network breaches is unclear, a Wall Street Journal report says that Chinese hackers had access for "months or longer." This reportedly allowed them to steal substantial internet traffic from internet service providers serving American businesses and millions of customers. On Tuesday, ​CISA released guidance to help system administrators and engineers managing communications infrastructure to harden their systems against Salt Typhoon attacks. Released with the FBI, the NSA, and international partners, this joint advisory includes tips on hardening network security to shrink the attack surface targeted by the Chinese state hackers, including unpatched devices, vulnerable services exposed to online access, and generally less-secured environments.

GSA Capital Partners LLP acquired a new position in shares of Myers Industries, Inc. ( NYSE:MYE – Free Report ) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 17,767 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $246,000. Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Myers Industries by 6.8% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,846,620 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $65,956,000 after purchasing an additional 182,215 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Myers Industries by 0.3% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,604,324 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $21,466,000 after buying an additional 4,777 shares in the last quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC boosted its stake in Myers Industries by 3.9% during the second quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 1,572,250 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $21,037,000 after buying an additional 58,500 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in Myers Industries by 8.3% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,480,597 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $19,810,000 after buying an additional 113,100 shares during the period. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in Myers Industries during the second quarter worth about $13,684,000. Institutional investors own 90.82% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, KeyCorp downgraded Myers Industries from an “overweight” rating to a “sector weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Myers Industries Price Performance MYE stock opened at $11.13 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $12.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $13.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a current ratio of 1.80 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The stock has a market cap of $414.70 million, a PE ratio of 26.50 and a beta of 1.23. Myers Industries, Inc. has a one year low of $10.35 and a one year high of $23.63. Myers Industries ( NYSE:MYE – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The industrial products company reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.29 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $205.07 million during the quarter. Myers Industries had a return on equity of 14.75% and a net margin of 1.88%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.38 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Myers Industries, Inc. will post 0.95 EPS for the current fiscal year. Myers Industries Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 3rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.135 per share. This represents a $0.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.85%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. Myers Industries’s payout ratio is currently 128.57%. Myers Industries Profile ( Free Report ) Myers Industries, Inc engages in distribution of tire service supplies in Ohio. It operates through two segments, The Material Handling and Distribution. The Material Handling segment offers pallets, small parts bins, bulk shipping containers, and OEM parts, as well as storage and organization, and custom plastic products; and injection molded, rotationally molded or blow molded products, consumer fuel containers and tanks for water, fuel, and waste handling. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MYE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Myers Industries, Inc. ( NYSE:MYE – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Myers Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Myers Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Neil deGrasse Tyson, the world-famous astrophysicist, has always held a deep respect for the pioneers of science, no matter where they came from. His recent comments about Africa 's forgotten scientific heroes serve as a powerful reminder that the cradle of humanity also holds a rich history in science and technology . This article explores Tyson's recommended books that shed light on Africa's scientific giants and their contributions to global knowledge. 'Pathfinders: The Golden Age of Arabic Science' Pathfinders: The Golden Age of Arabic Science' by Jim Al-Khalili (recommended by Tyson) explores the often-overlooked contributions of Arabic scientists, particularly from North Africa. By focusing on figures like Ibn al-Haytham, the father of modern optics, it emphasizes the multicultural roots of scientific thought and broadens our understanding of science history. 'African Cosmos: Stellar Arts' Neil deGrasse Tyson recommends Stephen Belcher's African Cosmos: Stellar Arts This book explores the profound ways in which ancient African civilizations interpreted the universe, utilizing astronomical insights to inform their cultures and belief systems. It serves as a captivating challenge to Eurocentic perspectives on the history of astronomy, emphasizing Africa's integral contribution to humanity's understanding of space and time. 'The Man Who Knew Infinity' Neil deGrasse Tyson recommends The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan by Robert Kanigel. While not focusing on an African scientist, this book emphasizes Srinivasa Ramanujan's mathematical brilliance. This biography, enjoyed by Tyson, demonstrates how diverse backgrounds drive global scientific advancement. This aligns with Tyson's respect for contributions from all parts of the world, including Africa. Finding the hidden dimension This section focuses on Ron Eglash's pioneering research on the presence of fractal geometry in African architecture and art. While not directly recommended by Neil deGrasse Tyson, his passion for interdisciplinary studies implies he would appreciate Eglash's work. These analyses reveal that African designs have intuitively incorporated complex mathematical principles, contributing to Africa's underappreciated role in the academic acknowledgment of these concepts.NoneThe Defense Logistics Agency is integrating artificial intelligence and zero trust into to help protect operational technology systems from cyberattacks through two Phase 1 contracts under the Small Business Innovation Research program. DLA said Wednesday the first SBIR contract, which concluded in September, integrated AI into the cyber digital twins to help detect anomalies associated with potential cyberthreats. Under the second contract, DLA is combining zero trust with cyber digital twins to mitigate unauthorized data access and improve the overall security of OT systems. This SBIR contract is expected to be completed by September 2025. “The insights we learn from cyber digital twins can help DLA continuously strengthen security measures for the agency and our partners,” Humphrey noted. “This helps us build a more resilient cybersecurity posture.”New McDonald’s location opening with Ronald McDonald House fundraiser

Benson Boone Reflects on His Rocket Ride to Pop Stardom, From Backflips to ‘Beautiful Things’

NoneKaidon Salter, Liberty QB, announces plans to enter transfer portalRoy Keane told a supporter that he would 'wait for him in the carpark' in a tense exchange following Ipswich Town's draw with Manchester United at Portman Road. The former United captain also spent time in charge of the Tractor Boys between 2009 and 2011. Keane was only able to muster inconsistent form during his time in Suffolk and was ultimately sacked with the club struggling in the Championship , after clashing with protesting fans. The next chapter of his relationship with Ipswich on Sunday evening saw the 53-year-old prematurely leave the Sky Sports set on the pitch, where he was working alongside Kelly Cates, Izzy Christensen and Jamie Redknapp as a pundit. Keane had been receiving final instructions from producers as they prepared to return from an ad-break when he left the presentation area, putting down his microphone. Keane approached the nearest stand and engaged a fan in a stern conversation , as others around him heckled and declared: "Go in the car park and wait until the show's over. Keane was then filmed telling him. "I'll wait for you in the car park. "Meet me in the car park," the Irishman reiterated before he was ushered back onto the field by a member of Sky's production staff. Redknapp, who had also left the presentation area, watched on in the background. Fans remaining in the stand were encouraged to calm down as Keane departed. It came as more insults were hurled Keane's way, with one man racing across the upper tier to shout "F*** you Keane"- as first reported by Mail Online . It is not the first time that Keane has engaged in a confrontation with a supporter. The former Republic of Ireland international was headbutted at the Emirates Stadium in September 2023 . The disputes he has entered into with fans has seen Keane declare he is has no plans to continue as a pundit for the next decade. The role prove frustrating for the veteran. "I love football, but the hassle of matches, getting to games, and the hassle of fans. I was in court a few months ago with somebody headbutting me do you think I enjoy that side of it? Absolutely not," he said in August. "The games are fine. Getting to the games, parking up, people shouting your name good stuff, bad stuff it's a nuisance. Being a pundit in 10 years, not." Keane was able to undertake some post-match analysis after watching Ruben Amorim's first match in charge of United. he did not hold back in his assessment of the task that lies ahead of the Portuguese head coach. "He's got big problems," Keane said on Sky Sports. "The lack of threat in the second half, and Ipswich looked like they'd go on and win. They've not won at home all season. Same problems for Man United, but he's only had a week with them. "You have to give the man a chance but the threat going forward, it's a huge problem for Man United. It's not good enough." During his time as manager of the Tractor Boys, Keane won just 28 of his 81 matches and was sacked midway through the 2010/11 campaign, with Ipswich 21st in the Championship. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

What To Know About Brian Thompson, The Health Care CEO Shot To Death In New York

NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Priority Income Fund, Inc. ("Priority Income Fund” or the "Fund”) announced today that the Fund's Board of Directors has declared monthly cash "base” and "bonus” common shareholder distributions for December 2024, January 2025 and February 2025. The annualized total cash distribution is $1.34016 per share (12.0% annualized rate for Class R and 12.9% annualized rate for Class I), for distributions with record dates between December 10, 2024 and February 5, 2025 based on the current Class R offering price of $11.16 per common share and the current Class I offering price of $10.41 per common share. The cash "base” distribution will have monthly record dates and will be payable monthly to common stockholders of record at the close of business each month. These declared distributions equal a weekly cash amount of $0.02014 per share of common stock (or $0.26182 on a quarterly basis) as follows: "Base” Shareholder Distribution ($ per share) These distributions represent the 132 nd , 133 rd and 134 th consecutive monthly "base” distributions paid by the Fund. The Fund's Board of Directors has also declared new monthly cash "bonus” distributions, as follows: "Bonus” Shareholder Distribution ($ per share) The September, October and November cash "bonus” distributions represents the 51 s t , 52 n d , and 53 rd "bonus” distributions that the Fund has declared, which are now paid monthly starting January 2024. The Fund has paid or declared cumulative cash distributions totaling $15.72 per common share since inception in January 2014 through February 2025. The Fund also announced today the declaration of distributions on shares of the Fund's 7.00% Series D Term Preferred Stock due 2029 ("Series D”), 6.625% Series F Term Preferred Stock due 2027 ("Series F”), 6.000% Series H Term Preferred Stock due 2026 ("Series H”), 6.125% Series I Term Preferred Stock due 2028 ("Series I”), 6.000% Series J Term Preferred Stock due 2028 ("Series J”), 7.000% Series K Cumulative Preferred Stock ("Series K”), and 6.375% Series L Term Preferred Stock due 2029 ("Series L”). Share Distributions shall first be treated as a distribution of taxable investment company income undistributed from the prior year, and then treated as a distribution of taxable investment company income for the current year. This treatment will not affect tax reporting to shareholders. About Priority Income Fund Priority Income Fund, Inc. is a registered closed-end fund that was created to acquire and grow an investment portfolio primarily consisting of senior secured loans or pools of senior secured loans known as collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs"). Such loans will generally have a floating interest rate and include a first lien on the assets of the respective borrowers, which typically are private and public companies based in the United States. The Fund is managed by Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC, which is led by a team of investment professionals from the investment and operations team of Prospect Capital Management L.P. For more information, visit https://www.priorityincomefund.com . About Prospect Capital Management L.P. Prospect Capital Management L.P. ("Prospect”), headquartered in New York City, is an SEC-registered investment adviser that, along with its predecessors and affiliates, has more than 30-years of investing in and managing high-yielding debt and equity investments using both private partnerships and publicly traded closed-end structures. Prospect and its affiliates employ a team of over 100 professionals who focus on credit-oriented investments yielding attractive current income. Prospect, together with its affiliates, has $8.7 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2024. For more information, call (212) 448-0702 or visit https://www.prospectcap.com . About Preferred Capital Securities, LLC Preferred Capital Securities, LLC ("PCS”) serves as the dealer-manager for Priority Income Fund, Inc. and has been a member of FINRA/SIPC since 2015. Formed in 2013, PCS is a boutique managing broker-dealer that distributes alternative investments, including real estate and credit investment products in private and public structures through broker dealers and registered investment advisors. PCS has raised over $4.8 billion of capital as a wholesale distributor for various alternative investment strategies. For more information, call 855-320-1414 or visit http://www.pcsalts.com . [email protected] (855) 330-6594 [email protected] (855) 422-3223 Additional Information Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Our distributions may exceed our earnings, and therefore, portions of the distributions that we make may be a return of the money that you originally invested and represent a return of capital to you for tax purposes. Such a return of capital is not immediately taxable, but reduces your tax basis in our shares, which may result in higher taxes for you even if your shares are sold at a price below your original investment. Investors should consider the investment objective and policies, risk considerations, charges and ongoing expenses of an investment carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contains this and other information relevant to an investment in the fund. Please read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before you invest or send money. To obtain a prospectus, please contact your investment representative or Investor Services at 866.655.3650. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the future performance of Priority Income Fund, Inc. Words such as "believes," "expects," "projects," and "future" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any such statements, other than statements of historical fact, are highly likely to be affected by unknowable future events and conditions, including elements of the future that are or are not under the control of Priority Income Fund, Inc. and that Priority Income Fund, Inc. may or may not have considered; accordingly, such statements cannot be guarantees or assurances of any aspect of future performance. Actual developments and results are highly likely to vary materially from any forward-looking statements. Such statements speak only as of the time when made, and Priority Income Fund, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise .

Shopping for your loved ones during the holiday season can be exciting — but it can also wreak havoc on your budget. To avoid going overboard, try to keep the gifts you buy under $100 this year. I'm here to help, so I've rounded up a bunch of that are a real treat for just about anyone — , , kids, teens, you name it. Frameo Digital Picture Frame Nekteck Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager Custom Filled Map Print Soundcore by Anker Noise Cancelling Headphones Meater Plus Smart Wireless Digital Meat Thermometer The Ridge Wallet Foghat Glass Topper Cocktail Smoker Kit Sephora Cologne Sampler Set with Redeemable Voucher Bogg Bag Original Extra Large Tote Mejuri Dome Hoops Osea Undaria Body Bestsellers Set Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Double Stripe Throw Blanket National Geographic Pottery Wheel for Kids ArmoGear Laser Battle Set The Official Taylor Swift The Eras Tour Book Flycatcher Smart Sketcher 2.0 Looking for a new gadget for your favorite cook? There's a that connects to their phone, so they can keep an eye on what they're cooking from a distance. What about something for your fashion-forward or ? will be her new go-to. From to , you're bound to find something great to stick underneath the tree — without, ya know, finding yourself on the bank's naughty list. Of course, this is just one piece of the present puzzle. Set the groundwork with a stocking filled with fun and functional finds, including these for the and in your life. A framed picture is an easy win, but this digital version kicks things up a notch. Upload some of your sweetest (or silliest) snaps to the Frameo companion app, so the frame will have a handful of pictures to cycle through upon unboxing. Then encourage the recipient to add more as the years go on. Aches and pains are a part of life, but that doesn't mean you can't help someone try to nip 'em in the bud. They can throw on this heated massager to work out knots, combat stiffness and soothe overworked muscles. There are three intensity levels and temperatures that'll help them find the setting that's just right. Take them back to a sentimental spot — the bar where they first locked eyes, the church where they said "I do" or the home that they built from the ground up. Upload a map of the area, then select a size, color and the text you'd like to appear in the bottom right corner. Prints start at $41 — get it as-is or framed for an additional cost. You can easily spend upwards of $300 on a pair of quality , but Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida says this budget-friendly pair "rivals ones costing three or four times as much." The highlights: They can play for up to 55 hours on a single charge (compared to 20 hours for the Apple AirPods Max), plus they have a handy Easy Chat feature (cup your hand over the left earcup to switch into transparency mode for, well, easy chatting). There's a science to cooking meat just right, and this smart thermometer's got it down pat. Monitor the internal and external temps to ensure it's fully cooked by keeping an eye on the compatible app — even if you're in the next room (or, ya know, 165 feet away). The app will once the meat is done, then it'll suggest a specific "rest time" and let you know when it's good to eat. , and he raved that "I've honestly never grilled better meat — it almost feels like cheating." Bulky wallets, be gone! Slip up to a dozen cards into this RFID-blocking wallet, complete with a cash strap and money clip so he can always have a few bucks on hand. "It is small enough that it is not uncomfortable to carry around in any pocket but big enough that you know it's there and are not panicking that you have lost it," wrote. Make his spirits a whole lot smokier this holiday season. This white oak smoker is the star of the show — it rests on a rocks glass, snifter or cloche, enhancing the flavor of the foods or spirits inside. It comes with a tin of smoking chips, which are made from actual whiskey barrels and air-dried for up to 24 months. Buying a fragrance for someone else is risky. Instead of committing to a single cologne, pick up this sampler and let him make the final pick. Once he tries out all 11 minis, he can take the included voucher to Sephora and redeem it for a full-size version of his favorite. These bags aren't just reserved for the beach. Sure, they're waterproof and washable, but Amazon shoppers use this all-purpose bag for everything under the sun, with that the "Mary Poppins of tote bags" is the "perfect companion for my daughter's cheerleading escapades." Go with the biggest size for maximum storage and tailor it to the recipient with a few Bogg Bits (like this !). A chunky take on a classic, these statement-making hoops can be worn on their own or paired with a stack of sparkly studs for maximum impact. They come in gold vermeil or silver (only $58), but opt for the gold to show that you're up on the trends. (Psst, revealed that gold was the most-searched color of hoop earrings this year.) My philosophy: Everyday upgrades make the best gifts. So, if she lathers up with a body oil and lotion on the daily, then treat her to this hardworking duo by Osea. Victoria Beckham, Kelly Ripa and other celebs swear by this seaweed-packed stuff, which is said to moisturize while improving overall skin elasticity. The full-size bottles come to $100 total if you buy them separately, so save big by snagging this set! Barefoot Dreams blankets are the epitome of luxury — and hence, they often come with a steep price tag. Nordstrom Rack carries a bunch of striped options for over $100 off their original price, including this mauve and cream beauty. She'll appreciate how soft and snuggly the throw is; you'll appreciate the good deal. Talk about a win-win. Budding artists can design, throw and paint their own pottery with this kit. The pottery wheel is made with beginners in mind, so there's a two-speed electric motor and three arm attachments to help turn clay into the creations they've dreamed up. No baking or firing necessary: Let the pottery air dry, then decorate it with a variety of paints and sculpting tools. Now, they can play laser tag right in their living room. The whole family can get in on the action with this set, featuring four vests and guns with an impressive range of 150 feet. Switch between different weapons and turn on invisible mode to kick things into high gear. One thing to note: This set doesn't come with batteries, so make sure you have at the ready. Your Swiftie has lived and breathed The Eras tour for the last two years, but somehow that's not enough. Pick up Taylor's self-published book, complete with never-before-seen performance photos and handwritten reflections, so they can keep the magic going now that the tour's over. Little artists can snap a photo, then project the image on a piece of paper and sketch what they see. Play around with the size of the image by sticking the projector on a stack of books or another elevated surface — the higher it is, the larger the drawing will be. See all of our in one spot. We've got gift ideas for all the different people in your life — , , , you name it.

High school girls basketball: New coach, new roles for North girls

'I spent my wedding night gambling away our money'

LAS VEGAS -- A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women's volleyball program will again be faced with the decision whether to play the school , this time in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five schools forfeited matches in the regular season against San Jose State, which carried a No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in Las Vegas. Among those schools: No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will face off Wednesday with the winner scheduled to play the Spartans in the semifinals on Friday. Wyoming, Nevada and Southern Utah — which is not a Mountain West member — also canceled regular-season matches, all without explicitly saying why they were forfeiting. Nevada players cited fairness in women’s sports as a reason to boycott their match, while political figures from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada suggested the cancellations center around protecting women’s sports. In a lawsuit filed against the NCAA , plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. A judge on Monday rejected a request made by nine current conference players to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on grounds that she is transgender. That ruling was upheld Tuesday by an appeals court. “The team looks forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement issued after the appeals court decision. “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.” Chris Kutz, a Boise State athletics spokesman, said in an email the university would not “comment on potential matchups at this time.” Doug Hoffman, an Aggies athletics spokesman, said in an email Utah State is reviewing the court’s order. “Right now, our women’s volleyball program is focused on the game this Wednesday, and we’ll be cheering them on,” Hoffman wrote. San Jose State, which had a first-round bye, would be sent directly to the conference title game if Utah State or Boise State were to forfeit again. If the Spartans make the title game, it's likely the opponent would not forfeit. They would face top-seeded Colorado State, No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State — all teams that played the Spartans this season. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. ___ AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

Pep Guardiola admitted his Manchester City team are ‘fragile’ after they collapsed in the final 15 minutes of their Champions League tie to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium. City avoided the indignity of a sixth successive defeat in all competitions but alarm bells continue to ring at the Etihad Stadium after a dramatic late capitulation. A double from Erling Haaland – the first from the penalty spot – and a deflected effort from Ilkay Gundogan, all in the space of nine minutes either side of the break, looked to have ensured a return to winning ways. Yet Guardiola was left with his head in hands as Feyenoord roared back in the last 15 minutes with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Sergio Gimenez and David Hancko, two of them after Josko Gvardiol errors. City almost snatched a late winner when Jack Grealish hit the woodwork but there was no masking another dispiriting result, with Guardiola accepting his team are in trouble ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash against Liverpool at Anfield. “The game was fine at 3-0, playing good, but then we concede a lot of goals because we were not stable,” said Guardiola. “We gave them the first and then the other one, that is why it was difficult. “We lost a lot of games lately, we are fragile and of course we needed a victory, the game was good for the confidence. We were playing a good level but the first time something happened we had problems. "I don't know if it is mental. The first goal cannot happen and the second as well. After that we forget what happen, we were desperate to win and do well, we do well but don't win games. “The situation is what it is. We played a good game but at that level we can't give them away. “Right now I am not ready to think about that [need to win final three games to finish top eight]. We have to recover and prepare for the next game. If we are not able to win games like we did today it is difficult to do it.” City defender Nathan Ake was asked whether the problems gripping City are as much mental and physical and he offered this verdict: “Maybe it is. It is difficult to say. “Obviously we have not been in this situation many times but this is where we have to show our character. When everything seems to go against us and everyone is writing us off, we have to stay strong mentally, believe in ourselves and stick together. “Every season there is a period when they write us off. We have to make sure we stay strong as a team and staff and make sure we get out of it. “It’s difficult. 3-0 up and we played quite well and were under control, but then it all changed. “You just have to stay strong mentally. At 3-1 they then push on but I think we need to go for it a bit earlier so we could keep the pressure on them, but we stayed playing at the back and maybe invited more pressure on us. “Then when you concede the second one there is even more pressure and then we have to stay stronger mentally. “If you are 3-0 up at home you can never give it away like this. It is what it is at the moment. The only thing we can do is fight back and stay strong.”Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, is continuing to meet with Senators who will decide whether to approve his elevation to the post. There are still questions about reported sexual misconduct allegations, allegations of mismanagement of funds while leading a veterans' charitable organization, and questions about alcohol and drinking issues that he reportedly had while working at Fox News. Those questions have reportedly come up with Hegseth's meetings with senators. Hegseth met Monday with Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, who is herself a military veteran and a sexual assault survivor. Sen. John Cornyn on Tuesday told reporters he has learned more about Hegseth's reported history with alcohol. "[Hegseth] admitted that coming back from deployment he and a lot of his young single service members did enjoy drinking and partying. I don't find that unusual or abnormal," Cornyn said. "He doesn't currently believe that he has a problem. He has in the past consumed alcohol, but I don't think he would be unique here on Capitol Hill or in the Pentagon for having done that." RELATED STORY | Trump doubles down on support for Hegseth amid contentious nomination process Cornyn and other Republican senators have also reiterated that the allegations of sexual misconduct against Hegseth so far come from anonymous accusers. It's still not clear if accusers would come forward before or during confirmation hearings. Hegseth is expected to meet soon with Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, another pivotal voice in the Senate who could lend crucial support to Hegseth's nominations. Republicans have a large enough majority in the next Congress to not need Democratic votes to confirm any of Trump's cabinet nominations — but that majority is still slim enough that the party can sustain only a few defections.

Accused UnitedHealthcare CEO attacker Mangione fights New York extradition

Art has historically served as a salve for Black folks in times of despair. And for many of us, and removed its shoes following the Nov. 5 election of President-elect Donald Trump. Hence the impact of this now-viral image of a group of Black women watching the world burn against an orange backdrop, which has certainly been the talk of at least one of your group chats or social media feeds this week. The feedback — divided firmly by age group, which we’ll get into in a second — has ranged from “this is powerful” to “why is the cast of ‘Set it Off’ watching 9/11 happen?” The image, created by Atlanta-based influencer and content creator Nikki Free, definitely evokes the frame of the “Set it Off” foursome . Flames and billowing smoke emerge from skyscrapers as the women sit on top of an American flag. One of them wears a shirt reading “92%,” which obviously represents the 92% of Black women voters who supported the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris. Created using AI, the image now sits in the pantheon of viral Black art, filed alongside . Free, a self-described “50+ fashionista,” , saying she had originally created the image with AI and posted in the comments of a friend “to represent how I and so many other are feeling. “Somehow, it struck a collective nerve, going viral in ways I didn’t foresee,” Free wrote. “Right now, many Black women are feeling exhausted—disappointed, let down, and tired of always being the moral compass for a nation that seems to reject us at every turn.” “As this country cracks under the weight of cruelty and chaos, we are choosing something different this time,” she continued. “We are stepping back, standing on the sidelines, and prioritizing ourselves. For once, we’re embracing the power of rest, healing, and self-preservation. It’s long overdue.” What’s notable about the women sitting on the skyscraper is who’s praising it and who’s not. On Facebook — the domain of social media users over age 50 — our moms and aunties are loving the image....share the same fed-up sentiment about the election results that the art is meant to convey. X, on the other hand , questioning and the notable omission of any of the women wearing Harris’ signature silk press. Collectively, after repeatedly being called on to save the country from political turmoil, only to have mud thrown in their face every time. They came out to vote for Harris at a rate that trounced every other demographic — and yet they’re still forced to endure Trump for another four years. How Black women want to communicate that frustration may be the root of this divide: Older folks want to make that intention loud and clear, including viral imagery as part of their ministry, while the younger folks probably want no response as their response. Regardless of how they choose convey it, one thing is certain: Black women — of all ages — are tired.Sindh CM asks deputy PM to stop construction of Cholistan Canal Chief minister tells deputy PM that proposed project has triggered large-scale protests across Sindh KARACHI: Expressing his reservations about the Cholistan Canal, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has asked Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to stop construction on the canal. As per the official letter, the copy of which is available with ‘The News’ and was sent to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the Sindh CM urged that the agenda item of the upcoming ECNEC meeting be deferred, and the office of the Deputy PM should advise the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) forum to recall the decision till the decision of the Council of Common Interests (CCI). The chief minister told the deputy PM that the proposed project has trigerred a large-scale protest move by all political parties, civil society and agricultural organisations. The CM said that the Punjab province’s project of ‘Construction of Cholistan Canal’ was considered in the CDWP meeting on October 11, 2024 and it recommended placing the issue before ECNEC despite repeated agitation by Sindh. The project envisages construction of a feeder channel from Sulemanki Headwork with design discharge of 4,122 cusecs and four new canal systems i.e. New Fateh Canal System, New Murad Canal System, New Hakra Canal System and New Haran Canal System, which will feed canal command area of 610,237 acres in Bhawalnagar and Bahawalpur. Shah added that the government of Punjab is relying on water availability certificate given by IRSA after the January 17 meeting where the member of IRSA Sindh had recorded his dissent. He clarified that the Sindh province has serious reservations on the grant of water availability certificate by IRSA. He said lower riparian provinces faced even more than 50 percent of shortage during several early Kharif seasons which inflicts a loss of billions on the agrarian economy of the Sindh. Shah was of the opinion that the ECNEC in its meeting held on February 7, 2024 considered the subject project titled “Development of National Irrigation Network for Green Pakistan Initiative,” and approved the proposal in the summary related to seeking NOC from IRSA and building consensus of the provinces for new canal projects. He linked it to the approval of the CCI, thus, the consensus on the project and approval by CCI were mandatory before consideration of the project. He further said that the Sindh has already moved the case for consideration of CCI which is pending. It was ensured that the project will be deferred until it is placed and decided by the CCI but surprisingly, during the CDWP meeting held on October 11, 2024 the project was recommended for ECNEC albeit conditionally, despite clear objections by Sindh.An offer of NATO membership to territory under Kyiv’s control would end “the hot stage of the war” in Ukraine, but any proposal to join the military alliance should be extended to all parts of the country that fall under internationally recognized borders, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a broadcast interview. Zelenskyy’s remarks on Friday signaled a possible way forward to the difficult path Ukraine faces to future NATO membership. At their summit in Washington in July, the 32 members declared Ukraine on an “irreversible” path to membership. However, one obstacle to moving forward has been the view that Ukraine’s borders would need to be clearly demarcated before it could join so that there can be no mistaking where the alliance’s pact of mutual defense would come into effect. “You can’t give an invitation to just one part of a country," Zelenskyy said in an excerpt of the interview with Sky News. "Why? Because thus you would recognize that Ukraine is only that territory of Ukraine and the other one is Russia.” Under the Ukrainian Constitution, Ukraine can't recognize territory occupied by Russia as Russian. RELATED STORY | Putin claims Russia attacked Ukraine with a new missile that the West can't stop “So legally, by law, we have no right to recognize the occupied territory as territory of Russia,” he said. Since the start of the war in 2022, Russia has been expending huge amounts of weaponry and human life to make small-but-steady territorial gains to the nearly one-fifth of Ukraine it already controls in east and southern Ukraine. “If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. That’s what we need to do, fast. And then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically,” he said. An invitation for Ukraine to join NATO is one key point of Zelenskyy’s “victory plan,” which he presented to Western allies and the Ukrainian people in October. The plan is seen as a way for Ukraine to strengthen its hand in any negotiations with Moscow. Earlier this week, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that the alliance “needs to go further” to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion. Military aid to Kyiv and steps toward ending the war are expected to be high on the agenda when NATO members' foreign ministers meet in Brussels for a two-day gathering starting on Dec. 3. RELATED STORY | Russia says Ukraine fired 6 US-made missiles at the Bryansk region, days after Biden policy shift However, any decision for Ukraine to join the military alliance would require a lengthier process and the agreement of all member states. There is also uncertainty as to the foreign policy stance of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. While Trump vowed on the campaign trail to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a single day, he hasn't publicly discussed how this could happen. Trump also announced Wednesday that Keith Kellogg, an 80-year-old, highly decorated retired three-star general, would serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. In April, Kellog wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” Meanwhile, during his only campaign debate with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump twice refused to directly answer a question about whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war — raising concerns that Kyiv could be forced to accept unfavorable terms in any negotiations. Zelenskyy’s statement comes as Ukraine faces increasing pressure along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. In its latest report, Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said Saturday that Russian forces had recently advanced near Kupiansk, in Toretsk, and near Pokrovsk and Velyka Novosilka, a key logistics route for the Ukrainian military. At least four people were killed Saturday when a Russian missile hit Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram. Dnipropetrovsk Gov. Serhiy Lysak said that the strike also wounded at least 21 people, of which eight were in a serious condition. Ukraine’s air force announced Saturday that the country had come under attack from 10 Russian drones, of which eight were shot down over the Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson regions. One drone returned to Russian-occupied territory, while the final drone disappeared from radar, often a sign of the use of electronic defenses. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said that 11 Ukrainian drones had been shot down by the country’s air defense systems. Both the mayor of Sochi, Andrey Proshunin, and the head of Russia’s Dagestan region, Sergey Melikov, both in Russia’s southwest, said that drones had been destroyed in their regions overnight. No casualties were reported. On Friday, the Ukrainian president announced a number of changes to military leadership, saying that changes in personnel management were needed to improve the situation on the battlefield. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi, who led the defense of Kharkiv during Russia’s new offensive on Ukraine’s second-largest city this year, was appointed the new head of Ukraine’s Ground Forces. Oleh Apostol was named as the new deputy commander-in-chief responsible for improving military training.

UCF coach Gus Malzahn reportedly resigning to take Florida State OC jobTrump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan

Gambling companies spent big to defeat three California lawmakers. ‘We want to be respected’The Detroit Pistons snapped a three-game losing streak thrillingly Monday night, edging out the Toronto Raptors 102-100 on Jaden Ivey’s first career buzzer-beater. Ivey led the way with 25 points and eight assists, while Jalen Duren anchored the paint with 13 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks. Despite being dominated on the offensive glass—23 to six—the Pistons held on, even as they were outscored 25-13 in second-chance points. The win was not only a morale booster but also marked the return of Ausar Thompson , a key piece of the Pistons’ future. Playing his first game in eight months following a blood clot diagnosis, Thompson contributed five points, three rebounds, and four assists in just 16 minutes. His defense and playmaking were on full display, offering a glimpse of how valuable he can be as he regains his rhythm. As the Pistons approach their 20th game of the season, it’s time to evaluate this team’s early-season performance. What are their strengths? Where are the cracks showing? Let’s break it down. Rising Pistons Combine Defense, Grit For Promising Young Team Isaiah Stewart Thriving: Embodying Pistons Grit on Both Ends While Duren has experienced ups and downs this season, Isaiah Stewart has thrived in his role as the backup center. His consistent impact has been so significant that head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has opted to evenly split minutes between the two. Stewart’s defensive presence has been a game-changer, with him on the floor the Pistons have a 107 defensive rating compared to a 112.2 with him off the court. His physicality and ability to anchor the paint have been evident, particularly during this recent stretch of games. Over the past five games, Stewart has averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 blocks while shooting an impressive 66/44/85%. These numbers reflect a continuation of his strong season. To date, Stewart has recorded four games with 10 or more rebounds, 10 games with two or more blocks, and seven games with three or more assists. Stewart’s two-way contributions provide a steadying presence, especially on nights when Duren struggles. His grit on both ends of the floor ensures the Pistons maintain a competitive edge, even when their starting center is not at his best. Errors Turnovers have been a significant issue for the Pistons, often costing them winnable games. The team averages 16.1 turnovers per game, ranking 24th in the NBA. Their turnover rate of 15.8% per possession ranks 25th , as does their 14.1% turnover rate per offensive play. These figures highlight a recurring struggle: the inability to take care of the basketball and capitalize on possessions. Opponents have taken notice, increasingly applying pressure on Detroit’s guards as they bring the ball up the floor. While Cade Cunningham remains dynamic with the ball in his hands, his propensity for turnovers is evident . This issue stems, in part, from the team’s lack of a traditional point guard to handle defensive pressure consistently. Cunningham is growing into that role as the franchise point guard, and as he continues to fill out the role, it will come with growing pains. Without addressing this need, turnovers will continue to plague the Pistons, limiting their offensive efficiency and putting added strain on their defense. Finding a solution—whether through internal development or roster adjustments—will be crucial for Detroit to minimize mistakes and maximize its potential. Pistons Defensive Grit: A Relentless Force Shaping Their Identity If there’s one word to define Detroit sports teams right now, it’s grit. The Detroit Lions have embraced it on their way to a 10-1 record, becoming one of the NFL’s elite teams. Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons are carving out their own identity after a franchise-worst 68-loss season. The Pistons have always been synonymous with toughness and grit, forcing opponents to earn every victory. This season, they’re rediscovering that rugged brand of basketball. They rank 10th in opponents’ points per game (111.0) and 12th in defensive rating (112.4). On the boards, they’ve been relentless, pulling down 46.7 rebounds per game ( 4th in the NBA), including 11.9 offensive rebounds ( 9th ) and 34.8 defensive rebounds ( 6th ). Their rim protection has also been stellar, ranking 8th in blocks per game at 5.6. If their offense can catch up to the defense, this Pistons team could become a legitimate problem for opponents. The Last Word The Detroit Pistons are beginning to show signs of their desired identity. This team is defined by grit, defense, and effort. Their offense remains a work in progress but has potential. However, their defensive improvements and rebounding dominance are undeniable. Players like Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren exemplify Detroit’s signature toughness. Jaden Ivey’s recent heroics also highlight the team’s offensive potential. The Pistons need to tackle their turnover issues to progress. Balancing their offense with a strong defensive foundation is essential. By addressing these challenges, this young team can compete now while building for the future. Pistons basketball is rising—relentless and fueled by a roster full of grit ready to make its mark. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.Canada's Trudeau returns home after Trump meeting without assurances that tariffs are off the table

Colombia stocks lower at close of trade; COLCAP down 0.52%Ferguson is already one of the FTC’s five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans.

Botafogo won the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history with a 3-1 victory over fellow Brazilians Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. Botafogo played almost the entire match with ten men after Gregore was sent off in the first minute but they showed impressive spirit and resilience to secure victory at River Plate's Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. Midfielder Gregore was shown a red card after a wild, high challenge on Fauto Vera, forcing Botafogo to adjust their game plan, but Atletico failed to press home their numerical advantage. Veteran forward Hulk had an effort from outside the box saved by John but the team from Belo Horizonte created little pressure. Sensing the game might not be the rearguard action they might have expected, Botafogo began to show more attacking intent and they were rewarded in the 35th minute. Marlon Freitas's shot from the edge of the box ricocheted around a crowded box before the ball fell to Luiz Henrique, who fired home from close range. To their credit, Botafogo didn't retreat to defend their slim advantage and they were able to double their lead in the 44th minute. Atletico defender Guilherme Arana attempted to shepherd the ball back to goalkeeper Everson but Luiz Henrique snuck between the pair and went down under challenge from the keeper. After a VAR review, a penalty was awarded and Alex Telles confidently smashed home the spot kick to give Botafogo an unlikely 2-0 lead at the break. Atletico, who won the Libertadores in 2013, made a triple substitution at the interval and it paid off swiftly with Eduardo Vargas heading in from a corner. Inevitably, there was late pressure from Atletico, but Botafogo made sure of the victory when Junior Santos finished off a counter-attack deep in stoppage time. With the win, Botafogo earns the final of 32 places in next year's FIFA Club World Cup to be held in the United States. sev/js

Lindsey Vonn takes another step in comeback at age 40, competes in a pair of downhillsWASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack , President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. Then-President Donald Trump looks to Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, as she speaks during a Jan. 11, 2018, prison reform roundtable in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. Trade Representative and head of the small business administration. Brooke Rollins, assistant to the president and director of the Domestic Policy Council at the time, speaks during a May 18, 2020, meeting with restaurant industry executives about the coronavirus response in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Rollins, speaking on the Christian talk show “Family Talk" earlier this year, said Trump was an “amazing boss” and confessed that she thought in 2015, during his first presidential campaign, that he would not last as a candidate in a crowded Republican primary field. “I was the person that said, ‘Oh, Donald Trump is not going to go more than two or three weeks in the Republican primary. This is to up his TV show ratings. And then we’ll get back to normal,’” she said. “Fast forward a couple of years, and I am running his domestic policy agenda.” Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. Brooke Rollins speaks at an Oct. 27 campaign rally for then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York. President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to strip ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes. In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs. Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Josh Funk and JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Caprock Group LLC Purchases Shares of 9,583 Fox Factory Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:FOXF)

3 Stocks That Turned $1,000 Into $1 Million (or More)'More will die if Belfast roads aren't made a lot safer for cyclists'

The Ontario NDP has nominated former city councillor and mayoral candidate Catherine McKenney as their pick to represent the party in Ottawa-Centre in the next provincial election. McKenney announced their bid to run for the seat currently held by MPP Joel Harden since 2018 last month. Harden is seeking the federal NDP nomination in Ottawa Centre in the next election. "I am thrilled to stand alongside Marit Stiles and the Ontario NDP as we fight for a better future for Ontario and a strong voice for Ottawa Centre," McKenney said in a news release on Saturday. "I'm running because I know Ottawa Centre residents want a government that works as hard as they do. Together, we can finally build communities where you can thrive, with homes you can afford, transit that you can rely on, health care that's there when you need it. Together, we can build the Ontario you deserve." McKenney was first elected councillor for the downtown riding of Somerset in 2014, serving two terms as councillor. They finished second in the race for mayor in 2022. McKenney is trans/non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. "Catherine is a powerhouse," said Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles. "They have a track record of effective and compassionate leadership that has served Ottawa residents well. Together, we can get our province back on track and focused on the basics - building homes, hiring doctors, fixing schools, and making life more affordable." In 2023, McKenney launched a new organization to help build better cities, called CitySHAPES. The non-profit agency planned to lead advocacy, policy and community engagement to spark change and build better cities in Canada, according to the group. The next provincial election must be held before June 2026 but Premier Doug Ford has declined to say whether he plans to stick to that date. Ottawa Top Stories Mixed reaction from Ottawa business owners, customers on GST exemption Ottawa councillor violated Code of Conduct for daycare incident last summer, integrity commissioner concludes Ottawa driver fined for hauling thousands of empty cans in trunk of car Catherine McKenney announced as Ontario NDP candidate in Ottawa-Centre 290,000 speeding tickets and counting: A look at how many photo radar tickets have been issued in Ottawa in 2024 What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: Nov.22-24 5 tips on how to winterize your home Seniors facing 60% hike for OC Transpo monthly transit pass in 2025 under new proposal CTVNews.ca Top Stories Trump picks Brooke Rollins to be agriculture secretary U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute, to be agriculture secretary. Walking pneumonia is surging in Canada. Is this unusual? CTVNews.ca spoke with various medical experts to find out the latest situation with the typically mild walking pneumonia in their area and whether parents should be worried. Lotto Max jackpot climbs to $80M, tying record for largest prize The Lotto Max jackpot has climbed to $80 million for just the second time in Canadian lottery history. Retiring? Here's how to switch from saving for your golden years to spending The last paycheque from a decades-long career arrives next Friday and the nest egg you built during those working years will now turn into a main source of income. It can be a jarring switch from saving for retirement to spending in retirement. 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Canada's top general takes on U.S. senator in defending womens' role in combat units Canada's top general firmly rejected the notion of dropping women from combat roles -- a position promoted by president-elect Donald Trump's nominee for defence secretary -- at a security forum underway in Halifax on Saturday. Ottawa driver fined for hauling thousands of empty cans in trunk of car Ontario Provincial Police stopped an Ottawa man for dangerously hauling thousands of empty cans from the back of his car. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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'Still working full time on it:' One year later police continue to search for gunman in Caledon double murder linked to ex-Olympian One year after a couple was shot and killed in their Caledon home in what investigators have described as a case of mistaken identity, Ontario Provincial Police say they are still trying to figure out who pulled the trigger. Maple Leafs' Matthews says Wednesday return possible after visiting doctor in Germany Auston Matthews is back in Toronto and says a return to action Wednesday is possible after the injured Maple Leafs captain visited a doctor in Germany. Montreal Montreal prepares to sell long-abandoned Empress theatre The Empress Theatre, a nearly century-old landmark in Montreal's Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG) neighbourhood, may soon be revitalized. 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ORONO — Even the presence of a Pro Football Hall of Famer couldn’t spark the University of Maine football team Saturday afternoon against rival UNH. Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss was at Alfond Stadium on Saturday, as his son Montigo Moss was honored with the rest of Maine’s seniors prior to kickoff. On a cold, windy and rainy afternoon, UNH earned its third straight win in this rivalry, 27-9. The Black Bears finish the season 5-7. The improvement made by the Black Bears this season was obvious. Coming off back-to-back season in which they went 2-9, Maine won five games, including victories over Albany and Villanova when each were nationally ranked. Newcomer Carter Peevy, a graduate transfer, had a strong season, showing himself to be a quarterback who makes good decisions when he throws the ball, and one who can gain needed yards with his legs. Moss had the best season of his career. Defensively, Xavier Holmes was a disrupter on the defensive line. Linebacker Christian Thomas improved as the season wore on. Aside from a strong first quarter Saturday afternoon, all that improvement was nowhere to be found. In the first quarter, Moss made a one-handed touchdown catch, getting a foot inbounds in the back of the end zone for the kind of catch that makes his father gush on ESPN. Earlier, Peevy broke off a 29-yard run when the entire UNH defense bit on a fake handoff, setting up the 39-yard field goal by Joey Bryson that gave Maine a 3-0 lead. Maine led 9-0 after a quarter, and it looked like the Black Bears had the formula to fend off their biggest rival and reclaim the Brice-Cowell musket, the trophy awarded annually to the winner of this game. Instead, the musket is going back to the south side of the Picataqua River. The problem, as it often was this season, was consistency. Whatever the Black Bears had working in the first quarter couldn’t be sustained. When asked what needs to happen for Maine to take the next step in improvement, Coach Jordan Stevens was clear. It’s that consistency. “Staying consistent throughout those competitive games. I look back at the Rhode Island game (a 24-14 loss). I look back at the Elon game (a 31-25 loss). And then today. We’re in a position to win and continue to stay competitive,” Stevens said. “In those tight games, of course it’s going to be back and forth, but building that consistent belief, no matter up or down, we continue to play, and we’ll be in the position we want to be in the the end.” With a 9-0 lead in the second quarter, Maine blocked a 49-yard field goal attempt, and took over on the 50 with a chance to increase the lead. The Black Bears went three and out. The Wildcats got the ball back at their own 19, and mounted a 13-play, 81-yard touchdown drive, scoring with 11 seconds left in the quarter and taking all of Maine’s momentum and stuffing in its own pocket for use in the second half. In the first half, Maine held the Wildcats to 16 yards rushing on 18 carries. Exceptional work. But on UNH’s first play of the third quarter, Caleb Mead broke free for a 57-yard touchdown run, giving the Wildcats the lead for good and snapping Maine’s defensive effort like a broken shoelace. Mead just moved from cornerback to running back last week as UNH battles injuries in the offensive backfield. In the second half Saturday afternoon, when he ran for 97 of his game-high 113 yards, Mead looked like a savvy veteran instead of a senior making a late career position change. “That’s how you win. They were able to run the ball and control a lead in the second half,” Stevens said in his postgame press conference, and you got the feeling he’d already said as much to his team. A running game that was Maine’s offensive strength in the first half of the season went flat down the stretch. As a team, Maine ran for at least 112 yards in six of the first seven games. The Black Bears gained more than 100 yards just twice in the last five games, finishing below 60 yards rushing in each of the other three. Against UNH on Saturday, Maine ran for a season-low 30 yards. It’s no surprise that was reflected in UNH’s massive advantage in time of possession. The Wildcats controlled the ball twice as long as the Black Bears, 39:11 to 20:43. “I got here in January, and we’ve made tremendous strides since I got here. Obviously, we’ve got a lot to improve on,” Peevy said. After the game, UNH Coach Rick Santos said something that many opposing coaches said throughout the season. Maine is a tough place to play. It’s not easy to get to Orono. The weather can be a factor, as it was Saturday afternoon. For many years, the University of Maine’s location has been seen as a negative in recruiting. It’s so far from the population centers. When you step off campus, social opportunities are, to put in kindly, limited. To take the next step, Stevens and his assistants need to turn that into a positive. Remind recruits that opponents do not enjoy coming here. Remind them Orono is a place where they can focus on academics and football. Remind them of the ongoing improvements being made to the school’s athletic facilities, including upcoming renovations to Alfond Stadium. Five wins is an improvement. It’s up to Stevens now to ensure that’s a starting point, not a plateau. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « PreviousInside UKs binge drinking hotspot where drunk revellers have sex al fresco, run into car washes & flash their t**sWhen Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected President of Sri Lanka in September, and his National People’s Power [NPP] alliance swept the general elections on November 14, most international news headlines stamped the winners as ‘Marxist’. The tag was hardly positive or even neutral with its connotations of wild-eyed radicalism. The insinuation was that Sri Lanka’s ongoing programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would derail, and economic stability and recovery would be disrupted. President Dissanayake, through his November 21 policy statement to the new Parliament, that he will take forward the IMF framework and the aligned debt treatment plans — finalised by his predecessor — tried to allay these fears. President Dissanayake, through his November 21 policy statement to the new Parliament, that the IMF framework and the aligned debt treatment plans with bilateral and private creditors — finalised by his predecessor — will go ahead, tried to allay these fears. So where does this ‘Marxist label’ on Sri Lanka’s new government come from? The NPP is an eclectic social coalition of some 21 groups, including political parties, youth and women’s organisations, trade unions and civil society networks. But one political party forms its political, if not ideological, core — the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP or People’s Liberation Front). In fact, it was JVP leader Mr. Dissanayake who created the NPP in 2019 to widen the party’s appeal beyond its traditional cadre base and boost its chances at the polls. His political enterprise, which has now secured a massive victory, has turned a new page in post-colonial Sri Lanka, where politics has been dominated by just two parties and their offshoots, and the five elite families controlling them. The JVP’s office in Battaramulla, a suburb about 10 km east of Colombo, is located close to parliament, although the party has rarely been close to power in the six decades of its existence. Three large black-and-white portraits of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin adorn the white wall of the main meeting room. Party cadre, regardless of position or prominence, make and serve tea to their guests. Above the reception desk at the entrance is a photograph of the party’s founder and charismatic leader Rohana Wijeweera, an infallible icon for its cadre. His mane, cap, and beard suggest Che Guevara-inspired self-styling. Wijeweera began what became the JVP in 1965, exactly three decades after Ceylon’s left movement birthed the country’s oldest party, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), consequent to serial fractures within the Left. The LSSP split during the Second World War, leading to the formation of a pro-Moscow Communist Party. The cracks within the CP in the 1960s, triggered by the Sino-Soviet dispute, and internal tensions over the parliamentary road to socialism would, in turn, lead to the formation of the JVP, as a revolutionary party with Marxist-Leninist orientation. ‘Five classes’ Attracted to Maoism in his student days in the Soviet Union, Wijeweera joined the Communist Party (Peking wing – CP) of Sri Lanka in 1964, and became a youth leader. He challenged the party’s leadership, on their interpretation of class politics and revolution, and was subsequently expelled in 1965. His independent faction morphed into the JVP. Wijeweera and his comrades held political lessons for rural Sinhala youth, called the “Five Classes” that analysed Sri Lanka’s social and political order; Indian hegemony; the reformist left and coalition politics; and the parliamentary road to socialism. As part of preparation to achieving their objective of seizing state power, they trained in the use of shotguns and put together explosive devices. The story of the JVP’s rise in the late 1960s and fall in the next two decades unravels in the backdrop of two major changes in Sri Lanka — President J.R. Jayewardene’s open economic reform in 1977 and the beginning of a full-blown civil war after the 1983, state-sponsored anti-Tamil pogrom that he falsely attributed to Left parties, including the JVP. The JVP’s first insurrection in 1971 came out of frustration that the left-wing Sirimavo Bandaranaike-led government was not doing enough to meet the aspirations of educated but unemployed young people, and in changing the social, economic and political order inherited from the British. The discourse was anti-imperialist and socialist. The insurgents attacked dozens of police stations, to capture weapons and ammunition. The second insurrection, from 1987 to 1989, roughly coincided with the party’s embrace of Sinhala-nationalism; its fierce opposition to Tamil self-determination; and to the signing of the India-brokered 1987 Accord aimed at ending the war, with boots-on-the-ground in the form of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). To Tamils in the far north of the island, the JVP appeared as Sinhala chauvinist instead of progressive, although the party never directly engaged in anti-Tamil violence. In both insurrections, where the JVP took up arms against the state, its representatives, supporters, and dissidents from the Left [in the second insurrection], the state’s counter-insurgency response was many times more lethal, resulting in the death and disappearance of tens of thousands of Sinhala youth. Wijeweera himself was executed while in state custody in 1989. Somawansa Amarasinghe, the only politburo member to survive the repression of the 1980s, escaped to India and subsequently to Europe. After a few years of underground existence, the surviving cadre resurrected the party, even as the country was increasingly preoccupied with massive human rights violations in the south and the raging war in the north-east. The JVP tentatively contested in the 1994 general election through another party, winning one seat. Within the next few years, the JVP warmed up to the political mainstream, winning more seats in parliament between 2000 and 2004, and four Cabinet-level ministerial portfolios in 2004–05, in a short-lived coalition with the Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga government. Two splits The new course of the JVP is defined by two consequential splits, linked to the party’s proximity to Mahinda Rajapaksa who began dominating the political scene from the early 2000s. They were also fuelled by internal differences on the dilution of leftism for “patriotism” (Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism), versus emphasis on Wijeweera’s socialist ideology and the party distancing itself from Mr. Rajapaksa and his pro-war stance. Since the breakdown of the 2001-03 ceasefire, the JVP unambiguously backed Mr. Rajapaksa’s hawkishness in delivering a political solution to the Tamil question, and the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), with scant regard to Tamil lives. The JVP’s differences with Rajapaksa were more to do with their unease over ‘family-rule’ and his socio-economic policies rather than his militaristic response. However, its parliamentary group leader and reactionary politician Wimal Weerawansa disagreed, and broke away with a quarter of its legislators, forming the Jathika Nidahas Peramuna or National Freedom Front in 2008, that until recently firmly planted itself in the Rajapaksa camp. Four years later a Marxist faction within the residual JVP also split from it, criticising the party’s unconditional support to the Rajapaksa regime on the handling of the war, and its complete surrender to electoral politics. This group led by Kumar Gunaratnam formed the Frontline Socialist Party in 2012, the chief critic of the JVP today, from the left. In 2014, Mr. Dissanayake was named leader of a party that had to stabilise itself, after shedding both its racist right-wing and its dissenting left-wing. The splits allowed the JVP to refashion itself, blurring its past profiles, and making a reputation for itself inside and outside parliament, as a bold critic of corruption and nepotism, and as an upholder of the rule of law and liberal democratic norms. The party, till date, is wary of clearly defining its position on the unresolved ethnic question. It also evades the language of class politics. In an interview to The Hindu in December 2023, Mr. Dissanayake said: “Labels have always given wrong perceptions. Left politics is not a bad thing, it is a good thing. Some people demonise this. That is why we say we are focussed more on working for the majority of our people, rather than on labels.” Published - November 24, 2024 04:00 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Sri Lanka / national elections / The Hindu Profiles / The Hindu Explains

'Netanyahu's a weak man, and weak men punish others when they have the opportunity'1. A copy of Subpar Parks: America's Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors filled with a ton of hilarious 1-star reviews of national parks that, somehow, might make them want to get out there and explore 'em all. Promising review: "Without a doubt, this is my favorite coffee table book and surprisingly also super educational. Perfect combination of sassy and informative while poking fun at 1-star reviews of some amazing national parks. I love, love all the added educational snippets along with the review illustrations. And Amber’s writing style is so personal and relatable that I feel like we could be friends. Such a fun book, so worth the buy!" — Anna Get it from Amazon for $16.59 . 2. A "Through The Seasons" Reverse Coloring Book , which is a newer edition of the fan favorite Reverse Coloring Book — perfect for anyone who is tired of coloring *inside* the lines and needs more of a challenge — in this scenario they'll be the one to draw the lines around the colors on the page! Basically, instead of adding the color to these, you draw lines to create images within the colors. Fun! Pair it with these fabulous black fine point pens for $9.99 on Amazon to complete the gift. Promising review : "Kendra Norton’s beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and, therefore, had zero artistic ability. Now this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. T his has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I’m working through ." — K. DeWitt Get it from Amazon for $8.29 . 3. A bag of Reindeer Farts cotton candy because how could anyone not crack a smile from something as silly as this??? It's also made from a small business that donates 10% of all profits to charities that bring toys to kids in need — now *that* is worthy smiling about. Little Stinker is a small business. Promising review: " This was absolutely the best stocking stuffer of all this past year! Everyone, young and old, loved it! The laughs were many and the cotton candy inside was so good! Awesome product! I will buy again." — Peggy N Get it from Amazon for $8.95 . 4. A shaker of Thin Mint seasoning for your bestie who perks up at the mere mention of Girl Scout cookie season — now they'll be able to indulge in their favorite flavor whenever the mood strikes. BuzzFeed editor Emma Lord loves this stuff: "I stared at this for months online before caving and buying it, and when I tell you!! It jazzes up my morning coffee in a way that makes my little '90s baby heart sing. I've also loved it on Greek yogurt, oatmeal, and mug cakes. Plus, when I am feeling lonely for a real Thin Mint, and we're not in Girl Scout cookie season, I'll shake this on an Oreo Thin to stave off the despair." Get it from Amazon for $4.98 (and try their s'mores seasoning blend, too!). 5. Disney: Cooking With Magic: A Century of Recipes , a cookbook inspired by 100 years of Disney movies. The recipes will take them on a magical journey from 1928 ( Steamboat Willie !) all the way to 2023 ( Wish !) and everything in between. BRB, need to go get all the ingredients for Tiana's "Big Daddy Beignets." Promising review: "A perfect gift for the Disney fan in your life! Very high quality pages showing recipes from Disney movies through the ages all the way up to 2023's Wish !" — J. R. Coutu Get it from Amazon for $25.99. 6. A mini Bob Ross paint-by-numbers kit for your BFF who insists on watching "The Joy of Painting" every night to soothe themselves to sleep. It comes with three pre-printed canvases, seven paint pots, a mini brush, and a mini easel (how cuuuuuute) to display their work of art when they're done. The kit's three paint-by-number canvases include two landscapes and one portrait of Bob. They'll also get an instruction sheet and a mini book all about Bob! Promising review: "I have to admit I was skeptical because of the price and size. However, I got these for my husband for his birthday (he loves Bob Ross) and What a find!! We had so much fun mixing colors and painting. Would definitely recommend. The fact that they are small makes them even more special. I wish there were more to paint!" — slb m Get it from Amazon for $7.99 . 7. An Instax Mini 7 camera bundle (including film) so you can snap pics of you and your loved ones exchanging gifts this holiday season then put 'em all together in an album as a keepsake. So fun! The bundles comes with a camera, 40 sheets of film, a carrying case, and a cute photo album. Promising review: "Good bundle and fun product. Pictures are classic look and won't be sharp (but hopefully that's not why you bought this). My partner and I use this to log a lot of our hikes and everyday cameos." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $129.95+ (available in five colors). 8. A dimmable sad duck night-light guaranteed to bring a smile to their face each time they glance down at it. He'll not-so-happily become their companion. (We all need one, honestly.) Promising review : "I ordered this lamp because of its appearance. I didn't NEED a depressed duck lamp ... but it has totally filled a void in my life I didn't know existed. Everyone who sees it pokes it. The lamp is actually very functional. It's got a really nice set of brightness options and the glow is yellowish, which is much nicer than white in a dim/dark room. One thing that isn't mentioned in the description is that its legs are utterly floppy. It's terrific." — Literated Get it from Amazon for $15.99 . 9. A tabletop USB-powered Super Mario Bros. Super Star tree for anyone looking to bring some holiday cheer to their gaming station. It'll also give you an excuse to make punny jokes like "It's ah-meeee, a Christmas tree!" or maybe that's just me... Promising review: "This little Super Mario Christmas tree is absolutely adorable. It’s perfect for any desk or shelf. It comes with lights already attached. You can always add mini ornaments if you wanted to. It’s perfectly cute without. It comes with a USB cord already attached. I definitely recommend this for any Super Mario fan." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $33.88 . 10. A Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas cross stitch kit so they can *~live like Jack and Sally if they want~* or at the very least add them into their home decor. This beginner's kit comes with thread, printed fabric, needle, step-by-step instructions, and a 3-inch plastic hoop, Get it from Amazon for $6.99 . 11. Crayola Globbles , a fun lil' toy they can use to burn off some steam in between meetings or when they just need a quick mental break. Don't worry, they won't leave residue on their walls. Promising review : " I waited over two months to write my review! My daughter is four and plays with these DAILY! YES, they do attract dirt and hair. HOWEVER, they are so easy to rinse off it's not a big deal! We took these to a family gathering and ended up giving two away because they were SO loved! The two we gave away went to a 12-year-old and my 19-year-old brother. They discovered throwing them at the ceiling fan and watching them shoot across the room, which was pretty entertaining! None of these have busted or ripped, and they are definitely NOT gentle with them! I will definitely be buying more! " — Kindle Customer Get a pack of six from Amazon for $11.65 . 12. A set of custom stickers you'll be able to make of whoever you want — your pet, your own face, Harry Styles, the list goes on and on. And all you have to do is click 'Customize Now' and then upload a well-lit image! I bought these as a funny stocking stuffer for my husband a few years ago and it was a big hit. My Sticker Face is a small business. Promising review: "I think this might be one of the best things I've ever bought on Amazon. I bought one sheet for my mom for Christmas, and they just came. She hasn't seen them, but I know they'll crack her up. They look fantastic. I'll definitely buy more!!" — Claudia Basile Get it from Amazon for $15.99 . 13. Or a personalized straw topper that'll hilariously help them mark which cookie cutter tumbler is theirs — I'm begging you, please get one made of something extra silly like a cut out of *your* face or Nicolas Cage's. Promising review: "I was very surprised by the quality of the straw cover. I sent in a picture of my dog with the order, and it was cropped perfectly without compromising the quality of the image. Sooo cute!" — Kim Veliky Get it from Amazon for $4.99 . 14. A " Liquipen " for anyone who grew up with a lava lamp but knows setting one up at their desk probably isn't *ideal*. Watching the little blobs float up and down will ease their mind and give them a chance to regroup before diving back into a project. Promising review: "I broke up the three-pack and gave one pen as a gift for a class gift exchange and put the other two in stockings for Christmas. Good quality and approved by both the 8-year-old and 49-year-old husband who is a kid at heart! Definitely recommend." — Kindle Customer Get a set of three from Amazon for $17.99 . 15. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza — a card game they can play with their squad (turn it into a drinking game?!) on cold nights or even at the beach when the weather is warm. You deal all the cards out to your two to four players, and everyone keeps their mini-deck face down. Everyone takes a turn putting a card down in the middle of the table, saying one of the words "taco," "cat," "goat," "cheese," and "pizza," in that order. If the picture on your card matches the word that's said, everyone slaps their hand on the card in a pile as quickly as possible. The last person on the pile has to take the stack and add 'em to their cards, and whoever runs out of cards first wins! Additionally, this game comes from a small business! Get it from Amazon for $9.95 or check out the festive version Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman (we love a theme!). 16. A toothpaste cap for anyone who typically wakes up singing "Somebooooody once told me the world was gonna roll me" a la one of the greatest soundtracks of all time... Shrek . CasualChicken is a small business based in Irvine, California that sells an array of unique 3D printed items. Promising review: "My order came well packaged and on time. Gifted it to my friend and she thinks it is hilarious." — Grace Get it from CasualChicken on Etsy for $11.99 . 17. A Michael Scott reversible dishwasher magnet that'll make loading/unloading just a bit more fun — I dare them not to giggle to themselves while thinking about what unfathomable things "Prison Mike" might shout about their dishes. Promising review : "My whole family is a fan of The Office , so when I was searching for a magnet we could use on our dishwasher, this was the hands-down winner. Does it go with my farmhouse decor? Nope, not at all. But it does get the attention of two teenage boys. Had I gone with something a bit more my decor style, I can guarantee you it would not be as useful. I mean, we all would much rather see Prison Mike staring back at us than suit and tie Michael Scott, right? And there is only one way for that to happen...clean out the dishwasher!" — R. Funk Get it from Amazon for $8.99 . 18. A set of quirky cat-themed hair clips , so fun they'll want to start planning all of their outfits around them. Everyone's going to want to know where they got these playful accessories. Promising review: "Super cute, holds all my curly hair well, good size!" — Elizabeth Blank Get a set of four from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in four styles). 19. A teensy version of Atari that'll transport them right back to the '80s — a perfect gift whether they actually lived through that iconic gaming era or simply wish they did. Promising review: "I've put probably 10 hours in playing with this little system . It's an excellent little Atari clone, the screen is crystal clear, the games play exactly as expected , the sound is great the controller is a joy. This is an absolute must for anyone who loves retro games." — Doug Welyczko Get it from Amazon for $25.95 . 20. A bookmark book tracker that'll motivate them to actually settle down and read the novel their book club decided on for this month. After they finish a book they can add the title into the spine on the bookmark and color it in — adorable. This shop also offers other versions of the bookmark themed around zodiac signs, very gift-worthy! Britishbookart is a small business based in the UK that sells paintings of literary characters, like Belle from Beauty and the Beast (my personal fave) and Arya from Game of Thrones , as well as reading trackers and bookmarks. Get it from britishbookart on Etsy for $3.92 and check out the zodiac versions here. 21. Murdle, Volume 1 , a compilation of murder mystery–themed logic puzzles that are reminiscent of the ever-popular Wordle game. This version will encourage your pal to use powers of deduction and a variety of clues to solve the mysteries throughout the book. Sherlock Holmes, who? There are 100 puzzles total, and four different levels of difficulty to tackle —each puzzle features a logic grid to help you solve it! Promising review: "The puzzles are a lot of fun but the characters, story lines, and other details take the Murdle experience to another level. I have no idea how the author came up with all of this creativeness! You can Murdle solo or with friends. I look forward to future volumes but this one will keep me busy for awhile!" — Liz Gately Get it from Amazon for $12.99 . If you want to keep the fun going you can *also* snag Murdle: Volume 2 and Murdle: Volume 3 for more puzzling. 22. A hilarious and random "screaming goat" button they can slap every few hours to keep their coworkers on their toes. Who wouldn't love THAT? Novelty888 is a small business that specializes in delightfully and oddly specific talking buttons. Promising review: "Got this for my wife to keep on her desk. She said it’s been a big hit in the office! If she or her coworkers are having a tough time, this lightens the mood with just the press of a button." — Daniel Get it from Amazon for $17.99 . 23. A Calico Critters keychain that'll leave your bestie cackling and forever thinking about those unhinged staged dramas you send each other back and forth on TikTok (IYKYK). If you're not already in on this very niche TikTok trend, please indulge yourself . Promising review: "The absolute cutest thing to hang on your keys or bags. I bought each one available because I couldn’t decide. They are just that cute. Highly recommend!" — Autumn12 Get it from Urban Outfitters for $14 (available in four styles). 24. A Taylor Swift lyric–inspired coloring book which will have their brain screaming "Drop everything now!" a la "Sparks Fly." It has 45 intricate pages to color that are loosely designed to follow the Eras tour in order. (Genius!) Don't forget to snag a fresh colored pencil set on Amazon for $11.99! Promising review : "I never thought I would enjoy adult coloring as much as I do with this book. It provides many opportunities to be creative, mix colors, be whimsical, and enjoy the lyrics." — Sherry Get it from Amazon for $9.99 . 25. And an updated version of the Taylor Swift Little Golden Book fans will take one look and say I'm "enchanted to meet you." The new *~style~* comes with 22 (ooOoOh ooOoOh) bonus pages including stickers and fill-in-the-blank activities. You might find see a lil' Travis cameo within. 😉 I have this book (as pictured above) and by that I mean the second I saw it available for pre-order I added it to my cart faster than you could say "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." As the parent of a 2-year-old and a 6-month-old, I have many Little Golden Books in my home. However, this one is just STUNNING. I'm a big fan of Taylor (obviously) but was really enamored by how beautiful the pages in the first version was — so, naturally, I had to get the updated version! It's a short book, looks cute on my daughter's shelf, and is a hit for bedtime story time with my son who has, ahem, been mildly encouraged to *also* love Taylor Swift. What more could you want??? Get it from Amazon for $8.78 . Note: If they're a diehard Taylor fan here are some other book options they might enjoy: The Story of Taylor Swift: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers You Are Fearless: A Book for the Littlest Taylor Swift Fans Let's Meet Taylor: Story of the Superstar Taylor Swift Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras 26. Bullseye microfleece pajama pants , because there are few things as beautiful as stepping into warm, cozy PJs adorned with the icon of your favorite Target mascot. My best friend and I bought these for each other for Christmas, including the matching top . Shopping at Target is basically the only hobby I've got these days. 😅 Promising review: "The Bullseye print on the pants is so cute! They are soft and warm and a must have for the Target lover!" — boymom2 Get them from Target for $7 (available in unisex sizes XS–2XL) 27. French Truck Coffee K-Cups they can easily pop into their Keurig machine to take their tastebuds on a trip to New Orleans — I can't think of a better way to start the day. This blend is made in small batches and packed with that chicory flavor anyone who has sipped a cup o' Joe in NOLA will recognize. French Truck Coffee is a small business based out of New Orleans that sells small-batch, fresh-roasted coffee. If K-cups aren't your thing you can also check out their whole bean options and their cold brew pods . Get a pack of 12 from French Coffee Truck for $17. 28. A carbonated bubble clay mask that starts to bubble once it's applied — get one for both of you to prepare for a fun night of selfies (all the while banishing blackheads). Promising review: "Wow! I purchased this on a whim after seeing one of my favorite YouTubers try it out. I didn't expect a lot from it. I tried it out and was shocked!!! The mask was simple (and fun) to use. I wasn't sure I felt a lot happening while it was on, but it was pretty cool how the bubbles started to grow off of my face. Upon inspection after using this mask I was completely amazed. My face felt cleaner than it has in a very long time AND my pores looked amazing! I don't remember a time when I felt like my pores looked great before using this mask. I would highly recommend this mask to anyone. It's also so much cheaper than the GlamGlow ones I have been using (and didn't see near these results from)." — Phil Textor Get it from Amazon for $8.65 . 29. An embroidered hat for the Bella to your Jacob — a gift that'll surely elicit some giggles from you both. Where'd U Get That Hat is a small business based in Washington, DC that sells embroidered hats. Promising review: "Every hat I've gotten from this seller has been awesome, 10/10." — Sabrina Jagielski Get it from Where'd U Get That Hat on Etsy for $25 (available in 17 hat colors and 11 thread colors). 30. A Mitzvah Moose (yes, you heard that right) with antlers that'll double as a Hanukkah menorah — if this doesn't turn your pal's frown upside down I'm not sure what will! This precious plush also comes with a cute picture book. You may have seen this adorable Moose on Shark Tank alongside the other Mensch on a Bench (a small business) products! Promising review: "I bought one for my grandson and before I clicked to buy my finger slipped 😉 and I ordered one for myself. I'm very happy with both of them." — Belle Get it from Amazon for $24.99 . 31. A Dracula garlic mincer that'll make even the most serious of chefs let out an audible laugh. Promising review: "I purchased this as a gift for my friend who is a fantastic cook — she uses fresh ingredients almost exclusively — but pressing fresh garlic is a task usually delegated. No longer — Gracula is there for her. She uses him nearly every time she needs garlic (which is basically daily) and, months later, still makes a point of saying how much she enjoys the gift. I'm pretty sure she likes it better than other gifts I've gotten her which were more expensive/thought out , and I'm fairly certain it's what took me from 'good friend' to 'best friend,' but it be that way sometimes. Anyway, definitely recommended for people who cook with garlic and have a sense of humor." — L Get it from Amazon for $9.94 . 32. A realistic Dr. Pepper can(dle ) for when they want to indulge in the scent of their favorite vice but it's a touch too early in the morning to crack open the real thing. Promising review: "I love this candle as it smells exactly like Dr. Pepper. This candle is the same exact size as the real soda can too! This is going to be the perfect Christmas gift for my friend." — Chrysanthemum Get it from Amazon for $26.99. 33. A reviewer-beloved ~croc~ veggie chopper they can use to dice onions in a flash — save the uncontrollable crying for the next Hallmark holiday movie. It can also spiralize, slice, and chop! Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for my husband, who loves cooking AND crocodiles! He loves it! Best of all, it works great too. We’ve used it so many times, and the blades are still sharp. It’s easy to use and clean. Love it!" — Niki Mitchell Get it from Amazon for $34.99 . 34. A light hearted "In This Economy?" candle featuring a lovely floral and amber woody fragrance and cheeky label that says: spent the rest of my non-existent savings on this." It'll surely give anyone a laugh while helping them decompress with it's soothing smell. Evil Queen is my all-time favorite small business, and my go-to shop for candles. They're woman-owned and sell all kinds of candles with fun labels that'll make you want to try 'em even if the scent isn't your typical go-to. Naturally, as a shopping editor, I *needed* this candle. The label makes me giggle and looks great on my desk while the scent is relaxing and helps me focus on my work. The sparkles on top are an added bonus, hehe. Get it from Evil Queen for $24 . 35. A hilarious 100-piece cat puzzle depicting them as graceful lil' ballerinas — I dare anyone not to dissolve into laughter just looking at the box. Promising review: "Whimsical picture, bright colors and easily lockable and uniquely shaped pieces. Very happy with this puzzle experience!" — Karen Bleizeffer Get it from Amazon for $19.99 . 36. And/or cat tarot cards that'll have your friend saying "are you kitten me?" when they open it and offer to give you a reading right on the spot. Promising review: "These cards are great! As someone who owns more than a couple of tarot decks, the card stock on these is superb for the price. This deck is friendly and has a very aesthetically pleasing color palate — even some of the darker cards of the deck are rather light hearted. The images themselves are fantastic, cute, colorful without overdoing it, and harmonious and for the most part true to the tarot and not too gimmicky. My only gripe is that the images don't always lend themselves to intuitive interpretation, however this deck comes with a guidebook so it's not that big of a turnoff. The guidebook itself is great and includes interpretations for upright and reversed cards. I haven't used it for a reading yet because i just got it today, but I am more than pleased with this purchase. If you like tarot and you also happen to like cats get this deck!" — A. Asher Get them from Amazon for $17.90 . 37. And a microwaveable hugging sloths filled with soothing lavender — who better to spend a cold wintry night with?! The pair breaks apart so they can share the love with their roommate when they're having a rough day. 🥹 My sister bought my son a Golden Retriever Warmies plush before he was born and it's recently become a staple in his collection of "crib friends." It smells incredible and is so soothing for bedtime. I love that they're weighted but not *too* heavy that I'd be worried to let him snuggle with it overnight. Promising review: "I have a sloth obsession so I'm adding these to my collection! Perfect size and absolutely adorable! Not sure I'll use them for warming, but I have other Warmies for that purpose!!" — Heather W. Get it from Warmies for $29.99 or Amazon for $26.95 . Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

What Trump brings to the Middle EastStay Toasty This Winter by Finding Your Thermostat's Sweet SpotIndia Issues Midnight Advisory Over Grave Situation In Syria. Details Here

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20. Rollins would succeed , President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. Trade Representative and head of the small business administration. Rollins, speaking on the Christian talk show “Family Talk" earlier this year, said Trump was an “amazing boss” and confessed that she thought in 2015, during his first presidential campaign, that he would not last as a candidate in a crowded Republican primary field. “I was the person that said, ‘Oh, Donald Trump is not going to go more than two or three weeks in the Republican primary. This is to up his TV show ratings. And then we’ll get back to normal,’” she said. “Fast forward a couple of years, and I am running his domestic policy agenda.” Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes. In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs.B&M shoppers flock to grab £4.99 perfume dupe ‘exactly the same’ as £85 designer brand

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South Korea arrests ex-defense minister over martial law --report

A. Baur & Co. (Pvt.) Ltd., also known as Baurs, reputed for its enduring legacy and impactful contributions to Sri Lanka’s economy for 127 years, has announced that their Managing Director/CEO Rolf Blaser and the exceptional management team have been recognised at the Global CEO Leadership Excellence Awards held on December 5, at ITC Ratnadipa in Colombo. Blaser, Baurs’ Senior Management team was celebrated for their collective leadership, which has played a vital role in steering the organization through critical periods, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the socio-economic challenges, and the broader economic crisis that has impacted the country over the last four years. The award shines a spotlight on their synergy and commitment driving and steering Baurs’ sustained growth and innovation. This recognition underscores the resilience, collaboration and forward-thinking approach that define Baurs’ leadership. The team includes Janaka Gunasekara, Deputy MD/Director of Agriculture; Nishantha Weerasinghe, Deputy MD/Director of Healthcare; Anoja Basnayake, Director of IT; Pavithra Samarasinghe, Director of Finance; Ken Vijayakumar, Senior GM of HR, Administration, Purchasing and Sustainability; Nilanga Samarasinghe, Senior GM of Agriculture; Dakshina Hettiarachchi, Senior GM of Research and Product Development; Daniela Munasinghe, Senior GM of Tourism and Education; Anura Weerasinghe, GM of Support Services Healthcare and Devapriya Arthanayake, Senior Manager Industrial Raw Materials. ‘‘This award celebrates the collective spirit and dedication of our team at Baurs. We strive not just to be the best in Sri Lanka, but to be the best for Sri Lanka,’’ said Baurs Managing Director/CEO Rolf Blaser. Under the visionary leadership of Rolf and the team, Baurs has achieved remarkable milestones. Its healthcare business has doubled in the past four years alone, with partnerships with over half of world’s top ten pharma giants. Following its instrumental role in Sri Lanka’s sustainable organic agriculture, Baurs has established a Centre of Excellence together with diverse stakeholders and also introduced Super Urea to boost yields and reduce environmental impact. It’s Swiss Hotel Management Academy (SHMA) and the Skills for Sustainable Growth (SSG) project are seen as trailblazers in bringing world-class hospitality education for Sri Lanka, among others. Rolf Blaser was also named ‘Most Admired CEO of the Year 2022’, including Ken Vijayakumar being recognised as the ‘Most Outstanding HR Business Leader of the Year 2022’. Baurs Director Information Technology Anoja Basnayake was also featured on the inaugural National CIO List 2023 of Computer Society of Sri Lanka. Rooted in its Swiss traditions and values, Baurs will continue to be more resilient and stronger with its visionary leadership team leading innovation and forward-thinking approach in the various businesses. The award is truly a testament to the success that stems from the strength of its collective leadership.Showcasing Italian culture, tradition, cuisine and its position in innovation and agri-tech, the Villaggio Italia exhibition is beckoning visitors at Old Doha Port. Open until Sunday (December 22), the exhibition featuring Italian products is a part of the global tour of the historic sailing ship *Amerigo Vespucci, which arrived in Doha to convey the message of peace and partnership and testify to the diplomatic relations between Qatar and Italy. While opening the exhibition Thursday, Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida said that the Villaggio Italia is dedicated to featuring the entire Italy with its characteristics. “At Expo 2023 Doha, Italy participated while showcasing the innovations in the agriculture sector and technology,” he said, adding that Italy can help Qatar and the countries in the region attain development in the agriculture sector. "Italy and Qatar have a good relationship in various sectors,” he said. “Italian presence is visible in Qatar in the sports, agriculture and technology sectors,” the minister continued. “Italy is known for innovations in the agriculture sector and high-quality agricultural products. And this expertise can be used by the countries in the region.” “The co-operation can lead to establishing a supply chain to achieve food security,” he said. The exhibition is a journey into the Italian taste and artisan tradition. The “Anima Italia” at the exhibition hosts the vegetable garden of Italian excellence with a space of nature dedicated to typical Italian crops. The corner for distinguished Italian cuisine is a tribute to the rich tradition of Mediterranean cuisine and the authentic flavours of Italy. The Villaggio Italia also offers visitors a unique experience to explore cultural activities where Italian music and art performances welcome the visitors. The *Amerigo Vespucci, the historic sailing ship and training ship of the Italian navy, docked at the Old Doha Port for the first time in its 93-year history. Doha is the 30th stop on the Vespucci World Tour which started from Italy on July 1 last year. The *Vespucci is open to the public free of charge from 10am-11pm, until tomorrow. The ship will depart on Sunday. This is the sixth appointment with the Villaggio Italia after those in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Darwin, Singapore and Mumbai. The event in Qatar is with the support of the Italian embassy in Doha, the Italian Trade Agency, and local partners Qatar Tourism, Katara – the Cultural Village and Old Doha Port. Related Story Italian ship Amerigo Vespucci in Doha Ode to Our Land to screen at Msheireb Downtown Doha

Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, state media says

Delay in deciding mercy plea violates convict's rights: Supreme CourtAt a press conference on Dec. 17, the Canadian federal government announced proposed new measures to expand its management of Canada’s border with the United States. These measures were intended to appease the incoming Trump administration and to avoid a threatened 25 per cent import tariff . The proposal includes expansions of border technologies, including RCMP counterintelligence, 24/7 surveillance between ports of entry, helicopters, drones and mobile towers. But what will this mean for people seeking asylum? If the U.S.-Mexico border is any indication, it will mean more death. Criminalizing migration At the press conference, Dominic LeBlanc, the minister of finance and intergovernmental affairs, reaffirmed Canada’s relationship with the incoming Trump administration . Framed around politics of difference, and relying on the fearmongering trope of migration as a “crisis,” Canada’s new border plan will also cost taxpayers $1.3 billion. Read more: Fearmongering about people fleeing disasters is a dangerous and faulty narrative During the press conference, LeBlanc’s remarks conflated migration with trafficking and crime, relying on “ crimmigration ,” or the use of criminalization to discipline, exclude, or expel migrants or others seen as not entitled to be in a country. LeBlanc also made direct reference to preventing fraud in the asylum system, with the driving forces behind this new border plan being “minimizing border volumes” and “removing irritants” to the U.S. However, these framings weaken the global right to asylum, which is an internationally protected right guaranteed by the 1951 Refugee Convention and sections 96 and 97 of Canada’s own Immigration and Refugee Protection Protection Act . Canada’s own courts have also found that the U.S. is not a safe country for some refugees . Read more: Canadian court correctly finds the U.S. is unsafe for refugees Deadly borders Since 2018, I have been researching technology and migration . I have worked at and studied various borders around the world , starting in Canada, moving south to the U.S.-Mexico border and including various countries in Europe and East Africa, as well as the Palestinian territories. Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of people seeking safety and witnessed the horrific conditions they have to survive. Read more: Deadly border technologies are increasingly employed to violently deter migration The Sonoran Desert containing the U.S.-Mexico border has become what anthropologist Jason de Leon calls “ the land of open graves .” Researchers have shown that deaths have increased every year as a result of growing surveillance and deterrence mechanisms. I have witnessed these spaces of death in the Sonoran Desert and European borders, with people on the move succumbing to these sharpening borders. Canadian borders are not devoid of death. Families have frozen and drowned attempting to enter Canada . Others, like Seidu Mohammed and Razak Iyal, nearly froze to death and lost limbs as a result of frostbite; they later received refugee status and became Canadian citizens in 2023. ‘Extreme vulnerability’ Throughout the press conference, a clear theme emerged again and again: Canada’s border plan will “expand and deepen the relationship” between Canada and U.S. through border management, including both data sharing and operational support. The border management plan will include an aerial intelligence task force to provide non-stop surveillance. The mandate of the Canada Border Services Agency will also expand, and include a joint operational strike force. In November, president-elect Donald Trump named former Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Tom Homan as his administration’s “border czar.” Homan explicitly called out Canada after his appointment, calling the Canadian border “ an extreme vulnerability .” Trump has also made pointed comments directed at Justin Trudeau , referring to him as “governor” and to Canada as the 51st state. And with Trump’s aggressive “America First” policies and the 25 per cent tariff threat, appeasing the incoming administration by strengthening border surveillance at the Canada-U.S. border is the lowest hanging fruit for the Trudeau administration to strengthen its hand. Creeping surveillance Border surveillance technologies do not remain at the border. In 2021, communities in Vermont and New York have already raised concerns about possible privacy infringements with the installation of surveillance towers . There are also fears of growing surveillance and repression of journalists and the migrant justice sector as a whole. And surveillance technologies used at the border have also been repurposed: for example, robo-dogs first employed at the U.S.-Mexico border have appeared in New York City and facial recognition technologies ubiquitous at airports are also being used on sports fans in stadiums . The big business of borders Taxpayers will foot the bill of this new border strategy to the hefty tune of $1.3 billion. This amount is part of a growing and lucrative border industrial complex that is now worth a staggering US$68 billion dollars and projected to grow exponentially to nearly a trillion dollars by 2031. But taxpayers do not benefit. Instead, the private sector makes up the market place of technical solutions to the so-called “problem” of migration . In this lucrative ecosystem built on fear of “ the migrant other ,” it is the private sector actors and not taxpayers who benefit. Instead of succumbing to the exclusionary politics of the incoming U.S. administration, we should call for transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of new technologies. There is also a need for more governance and laws to curtail these high-risk tech experiments before more people die at Canada’s borders. Instead of spending $1.3 billion dollars on surveillance technologies that infringe upon people’s rights, Canada should strengthen its asylum system and civil society support. Canada should also remember its international human rights obligations, and resist the U.S. political rhetoric of dehumanizing people who are seeking safety and protection.TRYNGOLZATM (olezarsen) approved in U.S. as first-ever treatment for adults living with familial chylomicronemia syndrome as an adjunct to diet

OTTAWA, Ontario, Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CENGN to develop eight Living Labs across Canada and support over 100 Canadian startups and scaleups looking to prepare their innovative network technology products for market entry, commercial growth, and industry adoption. This initiative will be supported by a $45 million investment from the Federal Government's Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). CENGN Living Labs drive nationwide digital transformation for key Canadian economic sectors. Through Living Labs, CENGN will provide the services, expertise, and infrastructure required to test, validate, and certify network technology solutions. This initiative will advance the competitiveness of Canadian industry while also supporting the development of new IP and the growth of our most innovative tech startups and scaleups. CENGN Collaborates with Partners to Develop Living Lab Testing Environments As Canada's Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks, CENGN drives the innovation and adoption of advanced networking technologies in Canada through connected infrastructure, technical expertise and services, talent development, and the nurturing of a thriving innovation ecosystem. The organization has expanded its services to include eight collaborative Living Labs across the country. These CENGN Living Labs will be supported by a robust network of partners, including 5G and network technology leaders, Ericsson, Nokia, and Rogers. Living Labs will be located in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, focusing on the validation of solutions across several industries, including Smart Mobility, Smart Buildings, Advanced Manufacturing, Robotics, Smart Agriculture, and Network Technologies. Federal Government's ISED Invest $45 Million Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED)'s $45 million investment in CENGN aims to expedite the digital transformation of Canadian industry while directly supporting Canadian innovators through Innovation and Adoption Projects. Each Innovation Project includes up to $250K in co-investment funding to the startup or scaleup, a number which increases up to $500K for Adoption Projects. "Wireless network technologies such as 5G are vital to enabling a fast, responsive and versatile modern economy. That is why we are investing in Canada's advanced networks and telecommunications ecosystem to create a 5G testbed and living labs to ensure that our businesses have the tools they need to compete and thrive in an increasingly globalized economy.” The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. This funding is expected to provide a major return on investment, including Jean-Charles Fahmy, President and Chief Executive Officer of CENGN, explained the concept behind the CENGN Living Labs: "Our CENGN Living Labs leverage the latest cutting-edge technology in cloud, 5G, and edge computing to provide sector-related testing environments that empower Canadian startups and scaleups for their next step in commercial growth. Through Innovation and Adoption Projects, we pair our technology expertise with our Living Lab infrastructure to provide end-to-end validation of digital solutions that utilize technology like AI/ML, IoT, VR/AR, and automation. Our services will be available to help Canadian innovators test, validate, and certify their solutions and generate Canadian IP, driving the digital transformation that is essential for enhancing our country's industry competitiveness and productivity.” Startups and scaleups can access these services through an Innovation Project, where they utilize CENGN Living Lab environments and expertise to test, validate, and certify their solutions for market entry or expansion. Upon project completion, companies are armed with CENGN's trusted report of the solution's value and performance. Alternatively, a startup can participate in an Adoption Project, where they work directly with a potential customer to test and validate their solution against the customer's needs and requirements, potentially concluding the project with a contract to implement the solution into the customer's operations. Uniting a Pan-Canadian Innovation Ecosystem Through CENGN, the Living Labs are connected to a greater pan-Canadian ecosystem of tech-leading organizations, innovation hubs, and sector-focused organizations. This ecosystem will enable the accessibility and promotion of CENGN Living Lab services to startups and scaleups across the country, ensuring all innovative Canadian companies can apply for a project. CENGN will also leverage its ecosystem of partners to share project learnings across Canada, providing project results and knowledge gained through innovation highlights and blueprints to enable further digital transformation across industry. "Since its founding in 2014, CENGN has been a welcome addition to the Kanata tech community. Telecommunications technologies such as 5G provide the infrastructure that allows our economy to thrive, and the sector is a true catalyst for our economy. Every new job in the telecommunications industry creates 1.3 new jobs within the broader Canadian economy, and this investment is expected to create and maintain an estimated 400 new highly skilled jobs across Canada.” Honourable Jenna Sudds, Member of Parliament for Kanata-Carleton and Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. CENGN Internship Opportunities CENGN will partner with Mitacs to provide internships to over 90 Canadian Post-Secondary Institution students. These interns will be paired with participating tech startups and scaleups, as well as CENGN's robust ecosystem of partners. Learning will be hands-on with a focus on critical digital technologies, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Media Contact: Rick Penwarden Senior Communications Manager CENGN -Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks 613-963-1203 [email protected] Photos from today's announcement will be available here . Main 5G and Advanced Network Technology Partner Quotes "Ericsson continues to support the Canadian innovation ecosystem by driving digital transformation in key sectors and enabling the market entry of advanced 5G network solutions. By joining forces on CENGN Living Labs as a main technology partner, we will provide innovative tech startups and scaleups across the country access to the technology infrastructure and expertise needed to thrive.” Jeanette Irekvist, President Ericsson Canada. "Nokia is proud to be one of the main 5G technology partners for CENGN Living Labs. Continuing our long-standing relationship with CENGN, we are committed to encouraging technology innovation and digital transformation across Canada by providing advanced networking resources and our leadership to pave the way for Industry 4.0.” Jeff Maddox, President Nokia Canada. "As Canada's largest and most reliable 5G network provider, Rogers is proud to partner with the federal government on CENGN's Living Labs to support the development of new 5G technology in Canada for smart farming, smart cities, and robotics.” Mark Kennedy, Chief Technology Officer, Rogers. CENGN - Canada's Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks CENGN has 10 years of experience delivering significant impact and growth for Canada's innovation ecosystem: enabling the commercial development of 100s of Canadian startups and scaleups through tech validation projects, training 1000s of individuals in industry-coveted advanced networking and cloud skills, and maintaining a >10:1 ROI for our past federally and provincially funded programs. Our unique expertise and positioning as a neutral third party in an ecosystem of technology, innovation, government, and academic partners, paired with a long track record of overperforming on program mandates, have made CENGN a trusted leader in delivering Government initiatives that support network technology innovation. For more information on the CENGN Living Labs or for general inquiries on CENGN, please contact [email protected] .

NEW YORK — U.S. stock indexes drifted lower Dec. 10 in the runup to the highlight of the week for the market, the latest update on inflation that's coming on Wednesday. The S&P 500 dipped 0.3 percent on Tuesday, a day after pulling back from its latest all-time high. They're the first back-to-back losses for the index in nearly a month, as momentum slows following a big rally that has it on track for one of its best years of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq each fell 0.3 percent. Technology titan Oracle dragged on the market. Its stock sank 6.7 percent after reporting growth for the latest quarter that fell just short of expectations. It was one of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500, even though CEO Safra Catz said the company saw record demand related to artificial-intelligence technology for its cloud infrastructure business, which trains generative AI models. In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher ahead of Wednesday's report on the inflation that U.S. consumers are feeling. Economists expect it to show similar increases as the month before. Wednesday's update and a report on Thursday about inflation at the wholesale level will be the final big pieces of data the Federal Reserve will get before its meeting next week, where many investors expect the year's third cut to interest rates. NEW YORK — A judge has temporarily halted a proposed merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons, an action that could scuttle the deal. U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson issued the ruling Dec. 10 after a three-week hearing in Portland, Ore. Harris Teeter parent Kroger Co. and Albertsons in 2022 proposed what would be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history. But the Federal Trade Commission sued earlier this year, asking Nelson to block the $24.6 billion deal until an in-house administrative judge at the FTC could consider the merger's implications. Nelson agreed to pause the merger. Regulators argue that combining the chains would be bad for consumers and workers by eliminating competition. The companies say a merger would help them better compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon. The case may now move to the FTC, although Kroger and Albertsons have asked a different federal judge to block the in-house proceedings. DETROIT — General Motors said Dec. 10 it will retreat from the robotaxi business and stop funding its money-losing Cruise autonomous vehicle unit. Instead the Detroit automaker will focus on development of partially automated driver-assist systems like its Super Cruise, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel. GM said it would get out of robotaxis "given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market." The company said it will combine Cruise's technical staff with its own to work on advanced systems to assist drivers. NEW YORK — Alaska Airlines said Dec. 10 it will start new service to Tokyo and Seoul from its home base in Seattle next year as part of a plan to boost international flights over the next several years. The carrier also raised its fourth-quarter outlook and publicized a plan to boost profit by $1 billion over three years. It said greater efficiency from combining with Hawaiian Airlines will save the company at least $500 million by 2027. Alaska also plans to introduce a new premium co-branded credit card; similar deals have been lucrative for other carriers. Alaska also announced a plan to spend $1 billion buying back its own stock, which makes existing shares more valuable. The airline's goal is to fly from Seattle to at least a dozen international destinations by 2030, using big jets owned by Hawaiian, which Alaska bought this year. HONG KONG — China's exports slowed in November and its imports declined, falling below forecasts and underscoring potential weakness in trade at a time when its leaders are striving to boost the economy after the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Customs data released Dec. 10 showed exports grew 6.7 percent from a year earlier, down from a 12.7 percent increase in October. Analysts had estimated that exports had risen more than 8 percent. Imports fell 3.9 percent from a year earlier, reflecting weak demand from industries and consumers. With exports outpacing imports, China's trade surplus rose to $97.4 billion. The report came a day after Beijing pledged to loosen monetary policy and provide more support for the world's No. 2 economy, which is South Carolina's largest global trading partner. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to slap tariffs of 60 percent or more on imports of Chinese goods, complicating Beijing's efforts by threatening an area of the economy that has performed relatively well while the property sector remains in the doldrums and consumer spending remains fragile. MEW YORK — Morgan Stanley Smith Barney will pay a $15 million penalty as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission related to four financial advisers who stole millions of dollars of advisory clients' and brokerage customers' funds. The settlement announced late Monday is also related to the firm's failure to adopt policies and procedures designed to prevent and detect such theft. The SEC order said that MSSB failed to adopt and implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent its financial advisers from using two forms of unauthorized third-party disbursements, Automated Clearing House payments and certain patterns of cash wire transfers, to misappropriate funds from customer accounts. The order said the financial advisers, in Texas and California, made hundreds of unauthorized transfers from customers' or clients' accounts to themselves or for their own benefit. Morgan Stanley formed a venture with Citigroup's Smith Barney in 2009 and purchased the business outright in 2013. BEIJING — Chinese official broadcaster CCTV says a former chairman of the state-owned bank China Everbright Group has been jailed 12 years for embezzlement and bribery. Tang Shuangning, who had also held senior posts at the People’s Bank of China and the China Banking Regulatory Commission, was arrested in January, part of a wider wave of prosecutions of senior officials accused of financial crimes. A court in the city of Tangshan, about 100 miles east of Beijing, found him guilty of taking advantage of his position at the state-owned bank in “seeking convenience for others” in jobs and loans, in exchange for illegal payments. The court said he had accepted illegal property with a total value of more than $1.5 million.Rupert Murdoch's audacious bid to cement his eldest son's control over one of the world's most influential media empires has failed, a US report said Monday. The first family of news -- commanding a stable that includes Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and a host of British and Australian media -- had been the inspiration for the hit TV series "Succession." Like the fictional version, this real-life fight pitted the children of a powerful patriarch against each other for who should be the face and the voice of the empire after the old man dies. Murdoch, now 93, had long intended that his children inherit the empire, and jointly decide its direction. The eldest daughter, Prudence, has had little involvement in the family business, but at various times the other three -- Lachlan, James and Elisabeth -- have all been considered as successors. But in recent years Murdoch senior had reportedly grown concerned that Fox News -- the crown jewels of the collection -- might drift away from its lucrative right-wing moorings after his death, to reflect the more centrist views of James and Elisabeth. He had therefore sought to designate Lachlan -- who currently heads Fox News and News Corp -- as the controlling player in the wider business. That had required rewriting the terms of an irrevocable trust that passed power to the four siblings jointly, stripping three of them of voting power, while allowing them to continue to benefit financially. Rupert Murdoch had argued that giving control to Lachlan -- who is understood to share his father's worldview -- was in the financial interests of the whole brood. The family intrigue played out behind closed doors in a Nevada courtroom, where Murdoch senior and his four children were understood to have given several days' evidence in September. In a decision filed at the weekend, probate commissioner Edmund J. Gorman Jr. said the father and son had acted in "bad faith" in trying to rewrite the rules, The New York Times reported, citing a copy of the sealed court document. The plan to alter the trust's structure was a "carefully crafted charade" to "permanently cement Lachlan Murdoch's executive roles." "The effort was an attempt to stack the deck in Lachlan Murdoch's favor after Rupert Murdoch's passing so that his succession would be immutable," the Times cited the ruling as saying. "The play might have worked; but an evidentiary hearing, like a showdown in a game of poker, is where gamesmanship collides with the facts and at its conclusion, all the bluffs are called and the cards lie face up. "The court, after considering the facts of this case in the light of the law, sees the cards for what they are and concludes this raw deal will not, over the signature of this probate commissioner, prevail." Murdoch's lawyer, Adam Streisand, did not immediately reply to an AFP request for comment. The ruling is not final, and must now be ratified or rejected by a district judge. That ruling could be challenged, perhaps provoking another round of legal arguments. The complicated structure of the irrevocable trust reflects the colourful familial relationships that shaped Rupert Murdoch's life as he built the multibillion-dollar empire. The trust was reported to have been the result of a deal agreed with his second wife -- mother of Lachlan, Elisabeth and James -- who wanted to ensure her offspring would not be disenfranchised by children Murdoch had with his third wife, Wendi Deng. The Murdoch empire has transformed tabloid newspapers, cable TV and satellite broadcasting over the last few decades while facing accusations of stoking populism across the English-speaking world. Brexit in Britain and the rise of Donald Trump in the United States are credited at least partly to Murdoch and his outlets. hg/nroAP Business SummaryBrief at 5:15 p.m. EST

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Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report

Now the question is whether Gaetz was uniquely unpalatable or if Trump's other picks could exceed Republicans' capacity to overlook red flags. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.

CHICAGO (AP) — Mark Scheifele snapped a third-period tie and Kyle Connor had two assists, helping the Winnipeg Jets beat Chicago 4-2 on Saturday in the first game for interim Blackhawks coach Anders Sorensen. Mason Appleton had a goal and an assist as the Jets picked up their second straight win after a four-game losing streak. Nino Niederreiter and Gabriel Vilardi also scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 12 saves. Sorensen was promoted from the team's top minor league affiliate when Luke Richardson was fired on Thursday. Alex Vlasic scored for the second straight game for Chicago, which has dropped five in a row. Alec Martinez added his first goal of the season. The Blackhawks had a 2-1 lead before Niederreiter converted a backhander 13:10 into the second, beating Arvid Soderblom. It was Niederreiter's 10th of the season. Soderblom entered 11 minutes into the game when Petr Mrazek appeared to aggravate a right groin pull. Appleton had an empty-net goal with 1:41 to play. Jets: Winnipeg outplayed Chicago in the final 30 minutes, not only in shots but in puck possession. Blackhawks: Chicago played with more pace but it still struggled to get the puck to the net. They had only 14 shots on goal. Scheifele beat Jason Dickinson on the face-off that led to Winnipeg’s go-ahead goal. He slid the puck to Connor, then raced to the net for the rebound at 10:18. Blackhawks coaches, interim or full-time, are 6-7-1 in their first game behind the bench since the beginning of the 1995-96 season. Richardson lost his debut at the beginning of the 2022-23 season. The Jets begin a four-game homestand against Columbus on Sunday. The Blackhawks are in New York on Monday night to play the Rangers. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhlBing Crosby dreaming of a BTS Christmas

Salah nervelessly converted a 63rd-minute penalty, his 16th goal of the season, after French referee Benoit Bastien had been advised to take another look at Donny van de Beek’s clumsy challenge on Luis Diaz. In the process, he became just the 11th man to score 50 goals in the competition – Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe later also joined that exclusive club – on a night when victory at the Estadi Montilivi meant the six-time European champions will enter 2025 sitting proudly at the top of the table. ⭐️ A FIVE STAR PERFORMANCE ⭐️ #FCBayern #MiaSanMia | #SHAFCB #UCL pic.twitter.com/WELoxugaGn — FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) December 10, 2024 France international Michael Olise produced a moment of magic to set the seal on Bayern Munich’s demolition of Shakhtar Donetsk and ease them towards the knockout stage. Olise’s brilliant stoppage-time run and finish capped a 5-1 victory for the Germans, in which he had early scored from the penalty spot, in Gelsenkirchen. Kevin’s fifth-minute strike had given the home side the perfect start, but Konrad Laimer levelled before Thomas Muller’s 55th goal in the competition sent the visitors in ahead at the break and set the stage for Olise’s double either side of Jamal Musiala’s strike. Jude Bellingham breathed life back into Real Madrid’s campaign as they held off Atalanta to earn a 3-2 victory in Bergamo. 🫲 @BellinghamJude 🫱 #UCL pic.twitter.com/jTynK04akR — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 10, 2024 After Charles De Ketelaere had cancelled out Mbappe’s opener from the penalty spot, second-half goals from Vinicius Junior and Bellingham in quick succession put the visitors in charge, although Ademola Lookman’s 65th-minute strike meant the contest was alive until the final whistle. Ross Barkley took Aston Villa a step closer to automatic qualification with a late winner against RB Leipzig in Germany. Villa had led twice through John McGinn and Jhon Duran, but equalisers from Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner kept Leipzig in it until substitute Barkley struck five minutes from time to snatch a 3-2 victory. Goals from Goncalo Ramos, Nuno Mendes and substitute Desire Doue – his first in the competition – handed French champions Paris St Germain a much-needed three points after a comfortable 3-0 win at RB Salzburg. He's making a list and checking it twiceB04 won and Nordi scored – nice! 🎅 pic.twitter.com/8bs6FGUaHz — Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) December 10, 2024 Nordi Mukiele left it late to end Inter Milan’s unbeaten Champions League record as Bayer Leverkusen claimed a dramatic 1-0 victory at the BayArena. Mukiele struck in the 90th minute to inflict a first defeat across six games in this season’s competition on the Serie A champions – it was also the first goal they have conceded. Casper Nielsen came off the bench to fire Club Brugge to a 2-1 home victory over Sporting Lisbon after Eduardo Quaresma’s own goal had handed them a way back into the game following Geny Catamo’s early opener. Julien Le Cardinal’s first-half strike was enough to handed Brest a 1-0 victory over Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven, while Kasper Schmeichel’s save from Marko Pjaca’s close-range 80th-minute header ensured Celtic returned from Dinamo Zagreb with a 0-0 draw.None49ers WR Deebo Samuel speaks on his deleted tweet: ‘A little frustrated, for sure’

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Japan's First Memorial At Sado Gold Mines Sparks WWII Controversy

GSA Capital Partners LLP Makes New $302,000 Investment in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO)

How Barbie Project Friendship Imparts an Important Lesson to Kids By ComingSoon spoke to Outright Games producer Ester Zanón about , Barbie Project Friendship. While there are plenty of fun mini-games that kids and parents can play together, it also has a crucial message about making a difference in their community. It is now available on consoles and PC. “It’s a Barbie game like no other! Try new things with friends and family, like caring for pets with Barbie’s sisters, making ice cream with Ken, renovating the arcade with Teresa, customizing scooters with Nikki, or performing a new song with Daisy as your DJ... and what Barbie adventure would be complete without an epic musical finale? Everyone will want to help Barbie and Barbie restore the community center and have a lot of fun along the way,” says the official description for Barbie Project Friendship. : Variety! Setting aside the technical improvement in consoles since the last title from 2015, in Barbie Project Friendship we tried to balance narrative with minigames and activities, giving our players plenty of material to interact with Malibu Waves while getting fully immersed in Malibu and Brooklyn’s summer adventure. Developing a videogame is always a team effort, and in this case it was no different: from Outright Games, we always get immersed in the lore of the IP we are working with alongside our development teams, which made an astonishing work this time. But we also teamed up with Mattel to ensure we portrayed such important characters faithfully for all fans’ enjoyment. For us it is very important to give our players experiences that they truly enjoy. We know that young players really appreciate playing in co-op with their families and friends, thus it was crucial for us to have this option available in the minigames, where the gameplay experience benefits the most from the co-op feature. It was crucial. Barbie has a long tradition as an inspiring figure and we wanted to be loyal with it, as we completely share her values. In my opinion, Barbie and Barbie’s collaborative spirit, working together and with their friends on restoring a cultural place for the surrounding community -and succeeding!- is the kind of story we all need these days, not just children. Precisely because of Barbie’s long history we knew both Malibu and Brooklyn were up for anything! We tried to have minigames and activities that make sense within the current canon and the characters portrayed in the game, but always keeping in mind what could also work in the Malibu Waves Community Center. Mattel’s input was also key on this aspect, helping us and the development teams to get the best Barbie video game experience for consoles. Tyler Treese is ComingSoon and SuperHeroHype's Editor-in-Chief. An experienced entertainment journalist, his work can be seen at Sherdog, Fanbyte, Rock Paper Shotgun, and more. When not watching the latest movies, Treese enjoys mixed martial arts and playing with his Shiba Inu, Kota. Share articleConcerns raised about NHS Grampian ‘intolerable’ risks three months ago

MADRID (AP) — Getafe scored twice in three minutes midway through the second half to beat struggling Valladolid 2-0 and record only its second win in La Liga on Friday. The victory ended Getafe’s five-game winless run and lifted it into 15th place in the 20-team standings. Valladolid remained second to last. In the buildup to the match, Getafe sporting director Rubén Reyes described the game as a final but his team was lucky not to go behind as Valladolid created more of the early chances. However, the home side took control in the 69th minute when substitute Álvaro Rodríguez got the opener. Three minutes later, man of the match Allan Nyom made it 2-0. “There’s been a lot of games where we’ve run and fought but lost or drawn,” Nyom, the veteran Cameroon full back, said. “A game that reflects the effort we’ve put in in training is very welcome.” Adding to Valladolid’s woes, coach Paulo Pezzolano was sent off before halftime. The Uruguayan has the league’s worst disciplinary record, with seven yellow cards before Friday’s red. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerPreview: RB Leipzig vs. Eintracht Frankfurt - prediction, team news, lineups

GSA Capital Partners LLP lowered its holdings in Wix.com Ltd. ( NASDAQ:WIX – Free Report ) by 77.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,852 shares of the information services provider’s stock after selling 6,504 shares during the quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP’s holdings in Wix.com were worth $310,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of WIX. Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in Wix.com by 98.0% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 198 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its stake in shares of Wix.com by 19.0% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 632 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $106,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank raised its holdings in Wix.com by 19.0% in the 2nd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 778 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $124,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc lifted its position in Wix.com by 2.9% during the second quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 4,803 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $764,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Signaturefd LLC grew its holdings in Wix.com by 4.7% during the second quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 3,269 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $520,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares during the period. 81.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Evercore ISI raised Wix.com to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, August 5th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Wix.com from $184.00 to $236.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Wix.com from $200.00 to $249.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Wix.com from $190.00 to $245.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Wix.com from $195.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Wix.com has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $210.44. Wix.com Stock Down 0.9 % Shares of NASDAQ:WIX opened at $217.20 on Friday. Wix.com Ltd. has a 52-week low of $95.65 and a 52-week high of $220.22. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $169.52 and its 200-day simple moving average is $162.14. The company has a market capitalization of $11.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 136.76, a P/E/G ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 1.47. About Wix.com ( Free Report ) Wix.com Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a cloud-based web development platform for registered users and creators worldwide. The company offers Wix Editor, a drag-and-drop visual development and website editing environment platform; and Wix ADI that enables users to have the freedom of customization that the classic editor offers. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Wix.com 3 Natural Gas Stocks That Offer Great Dividend Yields Tesla Investors Continue to Profit From the Trump Trade What Is WallStreetBets and What Stocks Are They Targeting? MicroStrategy’s Stock Dip vs. Coinbase’s Potential Rally Short Selling: How to Short a Stock Netflix Ventures Into Live Sports, Driving Stock Momentum Receive News & Ratings for Wix.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wix.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

British Columbia deploys combined $9.2 million into projects tackling climate, nutrition, health and more

Bitget Wallet’s $20M Plan Meets Hoskinson’s Policy Vision—Where Does Plus Wallet Fit In?

Nantucket Teens Break Into $2M Mansion to Throw PartyLOS ANGELES — It wasn’t going to last forever. It had to end sometime, and in the grand scheme of the season, two embers glowed in the aftermath of the inferno South Carolina traveled into on Nov. 24. One: Better now while there are still games to play. Two: Teams don’t have to be undefeated to win the national championship. The Gamecocks just made that a thing last year. All goals are still in mind and very reachable, despite USC losing for the first time in 605 days on Sunday. Fifth-ranked UCLA on its home floor was far too much to overcome, 77-62, especially when the Bruins (5-0) gave the Gamecocks (5-1) a taste of what they’ve dished out to the rest of the country over the past 10 years. Whether it was Alaina Coates or A’ja Wilson or Aliyah Boston or Kamilla Cardoso, the Gamecocks almost always had a dominant center to score, rebound, intimidate. This year, they do not. UCLA had plenty of height and used every bit of it. The Gamecocks became tentative to try to get the ball in the lane due to so many shots being sent back or never getting out of their hands against the Bruins’ land of giants, and starting 0 for 9 from the floor was a continuation of the same poor offense that’s been evident through USC’s first five games. The Gamecocks could not hit a shot in the first quarter and would not move the ball when they were down big. It forced Dawn Staley to call a timeout instead of waiting for a stoppage in play, an event that happens nearly as often as a politician keeps a campaign promise. Once the Bruins began sniping 3-pointers (they made 10), it was over. The Bruins shot well over 50 percent from the field for most of the game. No. 1 Gamecocks hammer Clemson for series-record 14th straight time Only Tessa Johnson showed signs of offensive life for the Gamecocks, draining her first four shots and finishing with 14 points. Te-Hina Paopao, playing in front of 100 family and friends from her nearby Oceanside, Calif., home, had a team-high 18. It was the first time USC had lost since the 2023 Final Four. It was the first regular-season loss in 1,060 days. USC on Monday will begin just its second week of not being the country’s No. 1 team over the past four seasons when the new Associated Press Top 25 is released. The Gamecocks’ school-record 43-game winning streak was snapped as well as a 33-game road winning streak, the third-longest stretch in Division I history. The Gamecocks begin the Fort Myers Tip-Off against No. 8 Iowa State at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Citigroup’s stock beckons with potential Trump tariff boost and cheap valuation: analystIs Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughing

NoneNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks drifted to a mixed close, as gains for tech stocks nudged the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq to more records. The S&P 500 eked out a gain of under 0.1% Tuesday, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2%. Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. The value of the South Korean won sank against the dollar after its president declared martial law and then later said he’ll lift it. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are drifting around their records on Tuesday as Wall Street's white-hot rally lets off the accelerator. The S&P 500 was virtually flat in afternoon trading, a day after rising tech stocks helped it set an all-time high for the 54th time this year. It's climbed in nine of the last 10 days and is on track for one of its best years since the turn of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down by 56 points, or 0.1%, with 45 minutes remaining in trading, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.2% to its own record set a day earlier. AT&T rose 3.9% after it boosted its profit forecast for the year. It also announced a $10 billion plan to send cash to its investors by buying back its own stock, while saying it expects to authorize another $10 billion of repurchases in 2027. On the losing end of Wall Street was U.S. Steel, which fell 7.9%. President-elect Donald Trump reiterated on social media that he would not let Japan’s Nippon Steel take over the iconic Pennsylvania steelmaker. Nippon Steel announced plans last December to buy the Pittsburgh-based steel producer for $14.1 billion in cash, raising concerns about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains and U.S. national security. Earlier this year, President Joe Biden also came out against the acquisition. Tesla s sank 2.1% after a judge in Delaware reaffirmed a previous ruling that the electric car maker must revoke Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar pay package. The judge denied a request by attorneys for Musk and Tesla’s corporate directors to vacate her ruling earlier this year requiring the company to rescind the unprecedented pay package. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. Continued strength there would raise optimism that the economy could keep avoiding a recession that many investors had earlier thought was inevitable. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.22 from 4.20% from late Monday. Yields have seesawed since Election Day amid worries that Trump's preferences for lower tax rates and bigger tariffs could spur higher inflation along with economic growth. But traders are still confident the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate again at its next meeting in two weeks. They’re betting on a nearly three-in-four chance of that, according to data from CME Group. Lower rates can help give the economy more juice, but they can also give inflation more fuel. The key report this week that could guide the Fed’s next move will arrive on Friday. It’s the monthly jobs report , which will show how many workers U.S. employers hired and fired during November. It could be difficult to parse given how much storms and strikes distorted figures in October. Based on trading in the options market, Friday's jobs report appears to be the biggest potential market mover until the Fed announces its next decision on interest rates Dec. 18, according to strategists at Barclays Capital. Since his victory, Trump has broadcasted his plans for tariffs , including for goods coming from China . Trade relations between the U.S. and China took another step backward after China said it is banning exports to the U.S. of gallium, germanium, antimony and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications. The counterpunch came swiftly after the U.S. Commerce Department expanded the list of Chinese technology companies subject to export controls to include many that make equipment used to make computer chips, chipmaking tools and software. The 140 companies newly included in the so-called “entity list” are nearly all based in China. In financial markets abroad, the value of South Korea's currency fell 0.9% against the U.S. dollar following a frenetic night where President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and then later said he'd lift it after lawmakers voted to reject military rule. Stocks of Korean companies that trade in the United States also fell, including a 1.3% drop for SK Telecom. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 1.9% to help lead global markets. Some analysts think Japanese stocks could end up benefiting from Trump’s threats to raise tariffs on China and other countries. Indexes rose 1% in Hong Kong and 0.4% in Shanghai amid unconfirmed reports that Chinese leaders would meet next week to discuss planning for the coming year. Investors are hoping it may bring fresh stimulus to help spur growth in the world’s second-largest economy. In France, the CAC 40 rose 0.3% amid continued worries about politics in Paris , where the government is battling over the budget. ___ AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed. Stan Choe, The Associated Press

Real Madrid, on the other hand, are faced with a delicate situation as they seek to balance the interests of the player with their own long-term plans for the squad. The club is aware of Raúl de Tomás' talent and potential, and would ideally like to see him continue his development under the guidance of their coaching staff.

Quick Links Pratt & Whitney F135 Primary application: Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Pratt & Whitney F119 Primary application: Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor General Electric F110 Primary applications: Grumman F-14 Tomcat, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, Boeing F-15EX Eagle II, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon General Electric F404 Primary applications: McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, Northrop F-20 Tigershark, Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk Rolls-Royce F402 Pegasus Primary application: McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II Fighter jets are some of the most capable and robust aircraft in the skies. They are designed to be supermaneuverable while also flying at incredible speeds. As a result, fighter jets will need to be equipped with incredibly powerful engines, those capable of powering an aircraft to supersonic flight while also helping support the maneuverability required for fighter operations. Get all the latest aviation news from Simple Flying! The jet engines that power America's fighter jets are typically built by legacy engine manufacturers, including Pratt & Whitney and General Electric, typically in collaboration with the primary contractor behind a given aircraft program. Unlike commercial jet engines, which may be used to power multiple different aircraft programs, military-grade jet engines are typically designed for a specific fighter jet and are not often applied to multiple programs (with some exceptions). Without robust engines capable of supporting them, fighter jets would likely be in a far weaker position to perform their all-important missions, and an optimal engine is a key element of any fighter development program. Defense contractors are well aware of this, and this is why most have long-standing relationships with manufacturers. RTX, a company formerly known as Raytheon Technologies, even went so far as to acquire legacy engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. Nonetheless, not all military engine programs are built the same, and some go on to be far more successful than others. Let's take a deeper look at five of the most important engines that power US fighter jets today. 1 Pratt & Whitney F135 Primary application: Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Category: Pratt & Whitney F135 Specification: Dry weight: 6,422 pounds Bypass ratio: 0.57:1 Maximum thrust: 43,000 foot pounds The Pratt & Whitney F135 is an afterburning turbofan engine designed exclusively for the F-35, America's next-generation multirole strike fighter. The engine has two variants, one which is equipped for the Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) F-35A variants used by the United States Air Force (USAD) and Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) F-35C variants that land on the decks of the United States Navy's aircraft carriers. A separate variant of the engine features a two-cycle configuration for the Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35B which is used by the United States Marines . This engine includes a forward lift fan, according to the manufacturer , and the first production variants were delivered to Lockheed Martin in 2009. The F135 beat out a competing engine, the F136, which was manufactured by both Rolls-Royce and General Electric, in a bid to power the next-generation fighter. 2 Pratt & Whitney F119 Primary application: Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor Category: Pratt & Whitney F119 Specification: Dry weight: 5,000 pounds Bypass ratio: 0.30:1 Maximum thrust: 35,000 foot pounds The Pratt & Whitney F119 is an afterburning turbofan engine, two of which are used to power the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, one of the most advanced and capable fighters ever built. The engine was designed to allow for supercruise, sustained supersonic flight without the use of afterburners . The engine's nozzles incorporated thrust vectoring technology, allowing the engine's thrust to be developed in a 20-degree spread relative to the pitch access, giving the aircraft exceptional maneuverability. The F-119 would be one of the key inspirations for the F-135, the engine that would incorporate many of its predecessor's design elements to power the F-35 Lightning II. 3 General Electric F110 Primary applications: Grumman F-14 Tomcat, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, Boeing F-15EX Eagle II, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Category: General Electric F110 Specification: Dry weight: 3,830 pounds Bypass ratio: 0.87:1 Maximum thrust: 16,600 foot pounds The General Electric 110, an afterburning turbofan built by American manufacturer GE Aerospace, is one of the most widely used engines by fighter jets in the United States Air Force today. The engine was derived from the earlier General Electric F101 as an alternative powerplant for the F-14 and F-16, competing with the rival Pratt & Whitney F100. The aircraft would eventually be used to power newer variants of the F-15 Eagle and has been licensed for application to many foreign aircraft programs. The F118, a conventional non-afterburning variant of the engine, powers some variants of the Lockheed U-2 spy plane and also serves as the primary engine for the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. Dreamliner customers have a choice of either Rolls-Royce or General Electric engines. 4 General Electric F404 Primary applications: McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, Northrop F-20 Tigershark, Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk Category: General Electric F404 Dry weight: 2,282 pounds Bypass ratio: 0.34:1 Maximum thrust: 17,700 foot pounds The General Electric F404 is an afterburning turbofan engine that was designed by the American manufacturer for use on the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, although the engine has been used on several other different aircraft. Several variants were built, including the F414, a larger engine that powered the F/A-18 Super Hornet, as well as the experimental GE36 propfan engine , according to the National Air and Space Museum . The US Navy has over 800 active F/A-18 aircraft in its fleet. 5 Rolls-Royce F402 Pegasus Primary application: McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II Category: Rolls-Royce F402 Pegasus: Dry weight: 3,960 pounds Bypass ratio: 1.2:1 Maximum thrust: 23,800 foot pounds Another engine capable of directing thrust downwards, the Rolls-Royce Pegasus is a British turbofan engine designed originally by manufacturer Bristol Siddeley and later by Rolls-Royce. The engine's impressive capabilities have made it the key powerplant for the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier , a vertical takeoff jet used by the United States Marine Corps. According to Purdue University's Department of Engineering , the engine has no computerized system for thrust vectoring, making it notoriously difficult to fly .Seahawks-Bears called ‘worst game in NFL history’ as fans demand huge change to Thursday Night Football

Florida State continues torrid star with rout of UMass

Canadian News Publishers Sue OpenAI Over AI Content UseNintendo fans around the world are buzzing with excitement as the beloved gaming company announces the reopening of pre-orders for their highly anticipated Nintendo Alarm Clock. This innovative product promises to wake gamers up in style with its nostalgic designs and fun sound effects. However, the news comes with a twist that has left many fans scratching their heads - the uncertain and delayed shipping times.EASTON, Pa. (AP) — Alex Chaikin led Lafayette over NCAA DivisionIII-member Rosemont on Sunday with 21 points off of the bench in a 91-45 victory. Chaikin went 7 of 11 from the field (5 for 9 from 3-point range) for the Leopards (2-4). T.J. Berger went 4 of 10 from the field (2 for 6 from 3-point range) to add 10 points. Andrew Phillips finished 4 of 6 from the field to finish with 10 points. Bruce Black led the Ravens in scoring, finishing with 11 points. Denelle Holly added eight points for Rosemont. Kelton Warren also recorded seven points. Lafayette took the lead with 20:00 left in the first half and did not give it up. Mike Bednostin led their team in scoring with eight points in the first half to help put them up 38-22 at the break. Lafayette outscored Rosemont by 30 points in the second half, and Chaikin scored a team-high 15 points in the second half to help their team secure the victory. NEXT UP Lafayette hosts LIU in its next matchup on Friday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal?

Photes: Image-to-text note taking toolAs the leader of the Chinese National Table Tennis Team, Wang Chuqin's success reflects the collective strength and determination of his teammates. With a legacy of champions like Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and Liu Shiwen, the Chinese team has set a standard of excellence that is unrivaled in the world of table tennis. Their relentless pursuit of perfection and continuous innovation have propelled them to the forefront of the sport.In an email to HuffPost on Monday, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that Schumer “is opposed to the provisions to strip accused nonprofits of their tax-exempt status.” Critics also found a receptive audience among House Democrats. Fifty-two supported the bill in an initial vote on Nov. 12, many more than the 15 who supported it in the final vote. The prospect of a Donald Trump administration having that new power, after on his political enemies, concerned many Democrats. “Congress must act to stop this abuse of our tax code that is funding terrorism around the world. We must act to end the unfair tax treatment of Americans who have already suffered enough — and whose families have suffered enough — from being held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad,” said Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said in . Related...No. 12 West Virginia women beat Boise State 82-47 to reach title game of Gulf Coast Showcase

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Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain, the French powerhouse backed by the wealth of Qatari owners, are also facing a daunting prospect according to Opta's predictions. Despite boasting a star-studded squad featuring the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi, PSG find themselves languishing in 24th place in the projected group stage standings. The Parisian club has come close to Champions League glory in recent seasons, reaching the final in 2020 only to be pipped at the post by Bayern Munich. However, their inability to convert domestic dominance into European success has been a cause for concern among fans and pundits alike. Mauricio Pochettino will need to find the right balance between attacking flair and defensive solidity if PSG are to defy the odds and progress deep into the competition.McKeithan shot 10 of 19 from the field, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 5 from the line for the Explorers (6-2). Demetrius Lilley added 13 points while shooting 5 for 12, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc while he also had six rebounds. Jahlil White shot 3 of 13 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line to finish with 11 points, while adding 12 rebounds. Quante Berry led the Owls (4-3) in scoring, finishing with 18 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks. Temple also got 15 points from Jamal Mashburn Jr.. William Settle had 13 points and seven rebounds. La Salle took the lead with 14:45 to go in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 42-33 at halftime, with McKeithan racking up 16 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Two Canadian Cabinet ministers left a meeting at Mar-a-Lago on Friday without assurances President-elect Donald Trump will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. The Canadians called the talks “productive” and said there would be further discussions but one official said the Americans remain fixated on the U.S. trade deficit with Canada. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, as well as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department. Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian products if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and fentanyl into the United States — even though far fewer of each cross into the U.S. from Canada than from Mexico, which Trump has also threatened. “Minister LeBlanc and Minister Joly had a positive, productive meeting at Mar-a-Lago with Howard Lutnick and Doug Burgum, as a follow-up to the dinner between the Prime Minister and President Trump last month,” said Jean-Sébastien Comeau, a spokesman for LeBlanc. Comeau said both ministers outlined the measures in Canada's billion-dollar plan to increase security at the border and reiterated “the shared commitment to strengthen border security as well as combat the harm caused by fentanyl to save Canadian and American lives.” Comeau said Lutnick and Burgum agreed to relay the information to Trump. A senior Canadian official, however, said the Americans remain preoccupied on the U.S. trade deficit with Canada and want it to shrink. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Trump has made an issue of the U.S. trade deficit, erroneously calling it a subsidy. Canada’s ambassador to Washington, Kirsten Hillman, has said the U.S. had a $75 billion trade deficit with Canada last year. But she noted a third of what Canada sells into the U.S. are energy exports and said there is a deficit when oil prices are high. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Alberta alone sends 4.3 million barrel s of oil per day to the U.S which tends to consume about 20 million barrels a day. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Further discussions are expected in the coming weeks. Joly will also have dinner with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on Friday. Trump has been trolling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on social media in recent weeks by calling him the Governor of the 51st state. Trudeau has not directly responded, but did post a link Thursday to a six-minute video on YouTube from 2010 in which American NBC journalist Tom Brokaw “explains Canada to Americans.” “Some information about Canada for Americans” Trudeau wrote in the post on X. The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, the massive trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian military in World War 2 and Afghanistan. “In our darkest hours Canada has been with us,” Brokaw says in the video. “In the long history of sovereign neighbors there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada.” Trudeau has told Trump that Americans would also suffer if the president-elect follows through on a plan to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian dollars ($2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Flows of migrants and seizures of drugs are vastly different at the U.S.’s two land borders. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border during the last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Most of the fentanyl reaching the U.S. — where it causes about 70,000 overdose deaths annually — is made by Mexican drug cartels using precursor chemicals smuggled from Asia. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 1.53 million encounters with migrants at the southwest border with Mexico between October 2023 and September 2024. That compares to 23,721 encounters at the Canadian border during that time.

Donald Trump, Cabinet Maker

Article content Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opened his remarks at the NATO summit in Montreal by condemning the rioting that took place Friday. He then proceeded to tell the audience a bunch of utter nonsense about how important NATO is to his government and how much they are spending on defence. Recommended Videos Still sporting his Taylor Swift friendship bracelet to meet leaders from our military allies, Trudeau tried but failed to sound like a leader with moral clarity and conviction. “What we saw in the violence and the riots on Friday night are absolutely unacceptable,” Trudeau said with a concerned tone in his voice. “As a democracy, as a country that will always defend the freedom of speech, it’s important for people to be able to go out and protest and express their anger their disagreements in free and comfortable ways, but there is never any room for antisemitism, for hatred, for discrimination, violence.” The reason that rings hollow is because there has been plenty of room for antisemitism, displayed weekly on the streets of Canada’s major cities. Week after week, mobs have openly shown support for terrorist groups like Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and most recently Hezbollah, for one basic reason – they are fighting with Israel. “We don’t want no two states, take us back to ‘48,” they proclaim. That’s why Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s response to Trudeau on social media the other day rang so true. Poilievre went on a rant Saturday in response to Trudeau’s initial statement about the riots on social media. “You act surprised. We are reaping what you sowed,” Poilievre wrote. “This is what happens when a Prime Minister spends nine years pushing toxic woke identity politics, dividing and subdividing people by race, gender, vaccine status, religion, region, age, wealth, etc.” Poilievre went on to give examples of Trudeau creating problems in Canada and promising that he will stop the division and heal the country, if elected. You get the sense that Poilievre means what he says, while Trudeau is merely an actor playing a part and repeating the lines provided to him. It was the same during his speech on Monday when he tried to act like the military is important to him, that he’s the saviour of the Canadian military by increasing spending after Stephen Harper’s Conservatives cut it. “Canada believes deeply in NATO,” Trudeau said. That can hardly be considered a true statement, given that we haven’t met our NATO spending targets in years. It was just last year that the Washington Post reported on Pentagon documents, where it was revealed that Trudeau had told other world leaders behind closed doors that his government had no intention of meeting that spending target. Recommended video In his speech on Monday, Trudeau even went out of his way, after praising NATO, to say that he doesn’t believe that the spending target of 2% of GDP is the right way to measure things, even though it has always been the target. He even took time at an international conference to say that the previous Harper government cut military spending, while the Trudeau Liberals have been increasing spending. There’s some truth to that, spending is up, but Trudeau let spending decline in the first few years he was in power. According to the public accounts, the official record of government spending, Canada spent less on defence in fiscal year 2016-17 than we had in 2014-15, the last full year of the Harper government. Beyond that, in 2014-15, defence spending accounted for 7.3% of all government program spending, dropping to 6.6% in 2016-17 and just 6.3% of program spending in 2023. Trudeau told the crowd that Canada is well on its way to meeting the 2% of GDP NATO target – by 2032-33. The plan has been called into question by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, claiming the government used some dodgy math to get there. The entire speech that Trudeau delivered was about as serious as the friendship bracelet he was sporting. NATO needs Canada to provide real leadership, we won’t get that from Justin Trudeau.“Kamala is for they/them. Trump is for you,” was the message of a widely aired ad for Donald Trump’ 2024 campaign. But a resurfaced 2016 clip shows how much the president-elect’s view on transgender rights has shifted in eight years. A snippet from Trump’s first presidential run has resurfaced on social media, capturing his drastic shift on the matter, after South Carolina Rep Nancy Mace introduced a resolution to ban transgender women from using the women’s restroom in the Capitol building. The resolution comes after Delaware voters elected Sarah McBride to the House, making her the first transgender member of Congress. The April 2016 clip shows Trump, then considered a long-shot presidential candidate, telling the “Today” show hosts that transgender Americans should be allowed to use any bathroom they want. At the time, North Carolina lawmakers were considering a controversial “bathroom bill,” mandating people use the restrooms that correspond to the sex on their birth certificate. Trump objected to the measure: “Leave it the way it is...There have been very few complaints the way it is. People go. They use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate.” However, once president, his position did not reflect this interview’s sentiment. Two months into his first term, Trump ended Obama-era federal protections for transgender students that required public schools to allow them to use bathrooms matching their gender identities. Two years later, his administration proposed a Department of Health and Human Services rule that would allow faith-based foster care and adoption agencies to continue to receive federal funding while permitting them to exclude LGBTQ+ parents. Following this move, Human Rights Campaign president Alphonso David branded Trump “the worst president on LGBTQ issues ever.” On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump has continued on his anti-trans tirade. At an NRA speech in April, he vowed, if elected, to direct an FDA-formed panel “to investigate whether transgender hormone treatments and ideology increase the risk of extreme depression, aggression and even violence.” Trump slammed Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz as being “very heavy into transgender.” Trump told “Fox & Friends” in August: “Anything transgender he thinks is great, and he’s not where the country is on anything.” His “Agenda 47” promises to cut federal funding for schools pushing “radical gender ideology” onto students and federal programs . He has vowed to bar transgender athletes from playing on sports teams that correspond with their gender identity. He has also promised to use the federal government to “stop” gender-affirming healthcare for minors and labeled the care “child abuse” and “child sexual mutilation” — and baselessly claimed that children go to school and undergo “brutal” gender-affirming operations. Trump’s repeated threats to transgender Americans prompted a massive influx of calls to an LGBTQ+ hotline from young people after he was elected. The Trevor Project , a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention among queer youth, reported a nearly 200 percent increase in conversations with election-related keywords such as “election” and “rights.” It wasn’t just Trump pushing this rhetoric, though. Republican candidates spent more than $65 million on anti-transgender ads this election cycle, according to an analysis from the New York Times .A top adviser to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), which is vying to set up the city’s third medical school, has said the institution could attract top scholars and greater resources despite its lack of experience in training health professionals. “HKUST has no medical background, but it could do it. CUHK also [had] a blank slate when it set up its medical school,” he said, referring to the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “The idea is to uplift Hong Kong’s healthcare by training doctors that can do both clinical and research work that we need ... the school would definitely attract academics who share the same vision.” He said HKUST’s approach had already attracted top overseas experts to join the advisory group. They include former British health minister Professor Ara Darzi, renowned HIV/Aids researcher Dr David Ho Dai-i and Tsinghua University medical school head Professor Wong Tien Yin. The group has yet to convene a meeting. HKUST’s strong research background in basic life sciences and artificial intelligence (AI) also gave it a competitive edge, he added.