Regenerative Medicine Market to Skyrocket to USD 73,084.2 Million by 2033 at a 18.5% of CAGRTaqadum’s Embrace of the RSF: A Betrayal of Peace and Unity?
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters . The press is the only profession specifically named and protected in the U.S. Constitution. And that’s because our founders knew it was inextricably linked to the success of our states, our country and our young republic. Yet, most people’s experience with the news lately has been terrible. Extreme financial pressure has led to fewer trusted local reporters and diminished local reporting, while national media — especially cable news — has gotten louder and more divisive. Many people are tuning out, turning away, or worse, vilifying journalism as the enemy. Yet regardless of our political affiliations, we pledge allegiance to one shared country, and the future of that country is inextricably linked to the future of a free press. 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These final days of 2024 are critical to sustaining and growing Spotlight PA’s trusted, nonpartisan reporting in the year to come. Your gift of any amount is tax-deductible , and every dollar you contribute by Dec. 31 will be doubled by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism. If you prefer to send a check, mail it to: Spotlight PA, PO Box 11728, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1728. I have seen firsthand how an investment in Spotlight PA can yield one of the greatest returns in public good of any you can make this season of giving. You don’t have to love all that journalism has become, but you need to support the journalism you value. We cannot afford the alternative. Christopher Baxter is the CEO and president of Spotlight PA ( spotlightpa.org ). BEFORE YOU GO: If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate . Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!Sunrun's RUN short percent of float has risen 3.82% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 48.18 million shares sold short , which is 25.83% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 5.8 days to cover their short positions on average. Why Short Interest Matters Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. Short selling is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises. Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish. See Also: List of the most shorted stocks Sunrun Short Interest Graph (3 Months) As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Sunrun has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted. Comparing Sunrun's Short Interest Against Its Peers Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis. According to Benzinga Pro , Sunrun's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.32%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers. Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
The Repair Shop’s live tour dates cancelled 'due to sales struggle' amid Jay Blades charges
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors move forward with two-unit development ruleshe season is moving at a fast pace with games being played every day, as evidenced by the fact that the Quarterfinals start today and we're just two weeks away from . With teams having played about 20-25 games, you can already get a sense of (Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic) and which are falling short (Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Pelicans). There's still a long way to go in the season, though, and teams can get better or worse when Speaking of trades, two names are expected to in the coming weeks, : of the Miami Heat and of the New Orleans Pelicans. Charania reports that , has indicated within league circles that the six-time All-Star and Texas native would be to the or . Whichever team Butler joins would , which is exactly what Butler, now 35, wants after losing two Finals with the Heat - one to the Lakers in 2020 and the other to in 2023. What Would the Heat Get in a Jimmy Butler Trade? Butler has a for this season, with a for 2025-26. The two sides did not agree to an extension last summer, likely because during the offseason. This came after Butler publicly stated that if he hadn't been injured in the playoffs, the . Riley responded by telling Butler not to make such comments because the team was already eliminated and there was no point in looking back. If -who lack a solid second scorer outside of Curry-what could the Heat get in return? It's reasonable to assume that , which includes forward , guards and , or possibly veterans like forward and/or draft picks. Given Miami's strong track record of developing young talent, acquiring players like Kuminga and Podziemski would seem to be advantageous. However, from a fan perspective, replacing Butler, who is already a , could make the team look worse. But sometimes teams need that, a rebuild, especially when you've been close to the title but then come up short. The silver lining for Miami is that are having solid seasons, and . However, the Warriors are in desperate need of a second All-Star to stay competitive. Additionally, integrating a player like Butler into a new team could take time, which could push the timeline for a trade to happen sooner rather than later this season. This situation mirrors moves like the Raptors' last year - early season deals that jumpstarted the Raptors' rebuild while boosting the playoff push for the Knicks and Pacers. Any team looking to acquire and must approach it as a win-now situation. While , time spares no one. During his years with the Heat, he has cemented his name alongside legends like and as the only players in franchise history to record at least 500 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in a single postseason. However, unlike Wade and LeBron, , despite reaching the NBA Finals twice.Matt Gaetz withdraws from consideration as attorney general, citing opposition of John Curtis and others
Groundbreaking broadcaster Greg Gumbel, 78, diesIt 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.” AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
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Kriti Sanon is currently in the hot seat with netizens for what many are calling a case of “Copy Kiya Re.” Her latest dance in the song Akhiyaan De Kol has stirred up the internet, with fans quick to point out the similarities between her moves and Aishwarya Rai’s iconic choreography in Crazy Kiya Re from the movie Dhoom 2.Walking Into Stress In 2025? Take Steps Now To Prepare #Walking #Into #Stress #2025? #Take #Steps #Prepare #USA #Russia #Biden #Ukraine #War #Palestine #Gaza #Israel #Diablo 4 Slay Ride to Hell holiday event leaked: Start date, rewards, more(TFC) - Analyzing Truist Finl's Short Interest
3 recipes to help you through the busy holiday seasonDreams on a Pillow is a video game experience about the 1948 Nakba, an event where roughly 700,000 people were displaced from their land and homes due to Zionist occupation. The game, described as “a pseudo-3D stealth adventure game about a land full of people being made into a people without land,” is from Palestinian developer Rasheed Abu-Eideh. But before I tell you more about that, let me tell you about his previous game. In 2016, Abu-Eideh released Liyla and the Shadows of War , a game about a 2014 assault on Gaza by Israel, known as Operation Protective Edge. Liyla follows a Palestinian girl and her family as they navigate attacks in their neighborhood. It’s short but emotional, and it blends elements of platformers and choose-your-own-adventure storytelling. In 2021, the game was a part of an Indie Bundle Pack that raised nearly $900,000 for Palestinian aid through UNRWA USA. Currently, Liyla and the Shadows of War is free on mobile and Windows. But back in 2016, it was initially rejected as a game in the Apple App Store. Abu-Eideh was told to remove all description of it as a “Game” and re-categorize it as “News” or “Reference” due to its political nature. The hypocrisy of the decision was noted by many at the time: As reported by Eurogamer , Apple denied Liyla as a game, but allowed a game called Israeli Heroes in the game section. After Abu-Eideh spoke about Apple’s decision on social media, Apple finally allowed Liyla to be categorized as a game. Dreams on a Pillow is currently being crowdfunded by Abu-Eideh on LaunchGood till Jan. 13, and funds raised from the LaunchGood campaign will go towards asset creation, outsourcing, and salaries for the current team of 9 individuals. The game is aiming to launch in Q4 2026. Gaming News Video
Several altcoins look set to benefit from an upcoming market breakthrough in early 2025. Rexas Finance (RXS), Hyperliquid (HYPE), and Bitget Coin (BGB) will yield exponential profits because of their unique traits, strong presale and post-launch results, and high institutional and retail demand. Rexas Finance (RXS): Real-World Asset Tokenization’s Future Rexas Finance, a groundbreaking asset tokenization platform, is the Q4 crypto market highlight. Rexas Finance makes high-value investments accessible by converting valuable assets like real estate, art, and commodities into transferable digital tokens using blockchain technology. The platform removes outmoded constraints, increases liquidity, and provides safe, open transactions for institutions and investors. Rexas Finance has extensive market coverage. RWA tokenization has enormous potential, given the $379.7 trillion global real estate market and $486 trillion financial assets. Its ecosystem offers tools such as the Rexas Token Builder, QuickMint Bot, and AI Shield, which make token creation simpler and safer. It provides transparency, minimal costs, scalability, and security. Other features, such as staking and yield farming, attempt to help investors maximize their holdings and generate passive income. Certik’s new audit improves its security by assuring the platform’s smart contract is safe for transactions. The ongoing presale also provides an opportunity to participate in the $1 million sweepstakes, with the top 20 participants winning $50,000 in RXS. This is intended to reward early investors and keep the community involved before the project’s official launch. The current presale has been truly remarkable. In Stage 10, which is 98% complete, each RXS token is priced at $0.15, a 400% increase over the initial Stage 1 price of $0.03. The presale generated $32.3 million and sold 374 million tokens, demonstrating tremendous community support. The choice to forego venture capital funding was critical to its success, as it ensured that control remained with the community rather than outside investors. After completing all presale phases, RXS is scheduled to list on three Tier-1 exchanges at $0.20 per token, marking a significant milestone. Analysts believe that after listing, RXS will jump to $1 or higher, resulting in a 500% return by early 2025. The mix of unique features, robust tokenomics, and strategic listing intentions makes Rexas Finance a coin to consider purchasing before January 2025. Hyperliquid (HYPE): The Decentralized Binance Revolution Hyperliquid, a layer-1 blockchain network, has quickly emerged as the best-performing altcoin in decentralized finance (DeFi). The network’s native token, HYPE, has increased by an incredible 977% since its inception three weeks ago, reaching an all-time high of $34.71. With a market capitalization of $10 billion, Hyperliquid has joined the top 20 cryptocurrencies, demonstrating its enormous development potential. HYPE’s success is driven by its novel fee-to-buyback mechanism, which uses 100% of trading fees to buy back tokens. This generates persistent buying pressure, effectively raising the token’s price. Recently, Hyperliquid used $3 million in trading fees to fund buybacks, resulting in a 63% surge in just one week. HYPE’s airdrop program has also contributed to its spectacular rise. The airdrop distributed 270 million tokens to 94,000 eligible users, increasing community participation and driving instant demand. Furthermore, Hyperliquid has processed $16 billion in continuous trade volume, establishing itself as a decentralized alternative to Binance. HYPE is expected to continue its upward trend with the imminent HyperEVM launch, which promises greater capability and compatibility. Analysts forecast a spike to $60 or more by mid-2025, positioning it as a strong contender for spectacular growth in the following months. Bitget Coin (BGB): Dominates the Exchange Token Market Bitget Coin (BGB) has solidified its position as one of 2024’s best-performing exchange tokens, with a staggering 400% year-to-date return. Starting the year at $0.57, BGB surged to an all-time high of $3.3 in December, outperforming competitors such as Binance’s BNB and OKB. Bitget’s creative methods, such as creating BGB perpetual futures and staking options like Launchpad and PoolX, have increased BGB’s value. These advantages have attracted both retail and institutional investors, increasing the token’s adoption and trading volume by 190% this year. Bitget’s rapid expansion into emerging markets has also significantly contributed to BGB’s success. Localized campaigns and specialized services have increased the platform’s user base, while the ongoing cryptocurrency bull market has strengthened investor confidence. Due to strong demand and ongoing product innovation, analysts expect BGB to reach $5 by mid-2025. Its excellent foundations make it an appealing investment for individuals seeking exposure to the thriving exchange token industry. Conclusion As the cryptocurrency market prepares for a bullish January 2025, Rexas Finance , Hyperliquid, and Bitget Coin stand out as high-potential bets capable of achieving 1500% or more gains. Each of these altcoins has distinct value propositions, cementing its standing as a market leader in its own area. Rexas Finance (RXS) is especially appealing to investors looking for the next big opportunity. With a thriving presale, a creative ecosystem, and forthcoming Tier-1 exchange listings, RXS is set to dominate the tokenization sector by 2025. Don’t pass up the opportunity to acquire before January—this is a coin to watch. For more information about Rexas Finance (RXS) visit the links below: Website: https://rexas.com Win $1 Million Giveaway: https://bit.ly/Rexas1M Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinanceWhich snow sport helmet is best? Whether you’re skiing or snowboarding, a good snow sport helmet is a necessity. The best ones are designed to keep your head protected without limiting your enjoyment on the slopes. But with hundreds of different models on the market, how do you know which is the right one for you? For our buying guide on snow sport helmets, we’ve analyzed the latest developments so we can help you choose. Our favorite, the Smith’s Vantage MIPS Snow Helmet , offers the latest in safety technology and comfort, so your focus is on the experience, not your gear. What to know before you buy a snow sport helmet Construction A snow sport helmet usually consists of three layers: a hard outer shell, an inner impact layer, and a lining. The outer is usually molded plastic — either ABS or polycarbonate. ABS is a little heavier but also cheaper. The other option is carbon fiber. It is very strong and ultralight — but a lot more expensive. The inner layer is usually EPS, a polystyrene foam that’s great at absorbing impact. Other materials are occasionally used, notably Koroyd, which is claimed to deliver equal or better protection but with increased ventilation. Liners are generally made of synthetic fleece. Their features might include being hypoallergenic, antibacterial, moisture-wicking, and washable. MIPS (Multidirectional Impact Protection System) is an additional safety feature designed primarily to reduce rotational injury, which can cause serious brain damage. Essentially, this means that a portion of your helmet slides, dramatically reducing the force transmitted through your head. It’s highly effective, but adds considerably to the cost. When choosing a snow sport helmet, always look for one that meets one of the following safety standards: ASTM F2040 (US), EN 1077 (Europe), or Snell RS-98 (independent). Any one will do, though Snell is considered to be the toughest.) Fit You need to measure your head carefully to get a good fit — but a degree of adjustment is often provided. It can be horizontal and/or vertical, the more you get the better. If you’re buying a kids’ snow sport helmet, use the same principle — go for the best fit, not something they will grow into. If it’s oversized now, it’s simply not safe. What to look for in a quality snow sport helmet Venting Venting is important to keep your head cool — if you start to sweat, you’ll get uncomfortable and probably fog up your goggles. A cheap snow sport helmet might just have a few holes in the shell. The best offer control so you can adjust them for different conditions. Eyewear Drop-down visors are fitted to a few snow sport helmets, but it’s usually a case of wearing goggles. Often, there’s a clip on the back of the helmet to secure the goggle strap. Occasionally, goggles are included, but most of the time, you’ll need to buy them separately. Chin straps Chin straps should have a little padding for comfort and good adjustability so you can make the helmet nice and snug. Quick-release clasps that you can undo with your gloves on are common. The fastest are magnetic. Audio Like listening to music while you’re stuck on the ski lift or speeding down the mountain? Look for helmets with built-in speakers and Bluetooth technology so you can connect to your device and rock out. How much you can expect to spend on a snow sport helmet The cheapest snow sport helmet costs around $30. If it complies with a relevant standard (it should be marked), then safety won’t be an issue — but comfort might. For $50 and up, they tend to be lighter and have more features, with MIPS available on helmets from around $130 and up. Carbon fiber models can top $300. Snow Sport Helmets FAQ How do I get the right size snow sports helmet? A. Measure the widest part of your head — usually about half an inch up from your eyebrows. Keep the tape level. Use that measurement to select from the manufacturer’s chart. Check each one individually. Don’t assume they are the same. Try it on immediately so you can return it if necessary. Is a snow sports helmet required by law? A. In some areas, children may need to wear them, but adults have a choice. Some resorts insist on them, and it might be a provision of your travel insurance if you’re on vacation. However, given the potentially life-saving benefits, wearing one is simply common sense. What are the best snow sport helmets to buy? Top snow sport helmet Smith’s Vantage MIPS Snow Helmet What you need to know: This helmet has advanced safety and comfort features for hard-core snow fanatics. What you’ll love: It has a hybrid ABS/polycarbonate shell with an MIPS safety system. Aerocore adds impact protection and helps ventilation. It has good airflow control and accepts Skullcandy audio. What you should consider: MIPS is not available in all colors. Some feel that the sizing runs a little small. Top snow sport helmet for the money Lucky Bums’ Adult Snow Ski Helmet What you need to know: It’s a great value helmet for the snow sport fan on a budget. What you’ll love: The strong ABS shell meets the EN1077 standard. The lining is hypoallergenic and antibacterial. It has a padded chin strap with a quick-release button. What you should consider: The sizing can be tight, and it has a fragile goggles clip. Worth checking out Giro’s Launch Combo Kids’ Snow Helmet What you need to know: Excellent-quality youth helmet in a wide range of fun and funky colors. What you’ll love: It’s got a quick-and-easy adjustment for a snug fit. It’s well-vented and has a comfortable fleece lining. Matching dual-lens, anti-fog goggles are included. What you should consider: It’s a bit pricey. The clarity of the goggles’ lenses varies. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Republican senators demand an end to science and tech cooperation with ChinaShares of American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF ( NYSEARCA:QGRO – Get Free Report ) saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday . Approximately 191,958 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 252% from the previous session’s volume of 54,584 shares.The stock last traded at $100.69 and had previously closed at $102.68. American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF Price Performance The firm has a market cap of $1.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.83 and a beta of 1.14. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $99.90 and its 200 day simple moving average is $91.78. Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of QGRO. Strategic Equity Management increased its stake in American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF by 8.2% in the 2nd quarter. Strategic Equity Management now owns 2,809 shares of the company’s stock worth $241,000 after buying an additional 213 shares during the period. Cozad Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF during the second quarter worth approximately $241,000. Larson Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF during the second quarter valued at approximately $151,000. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC purchased a new stake in shares of American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,829,000. Finally, Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF in the second quarter worth approximately $105,000. About American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF The American Century U.S. Quality Growth ETF (QGRO) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US stocks. Holdings are selected and weighted by growth and quality factors. QGRO was launched on Sep 10, 2018 and is managed by American Century Investments. Read More Receive News & Ratings for American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
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A STONE coffin believed to be that of the original 'Santa Claus' has been unearthed by archaeologists. The St Nicholas Church in Demre, Antalya, Turkey, has been an excavation site for researchers since 1989. 5 A limestone sarcophagus is uncovered during excavations at a church in Demre district of Antalya, Turkey Credit: Getty 5 The sarcophagus could belong to Saint Nicholas - the inspiration for the figures of both Santa Clause and Sinterklaas Credit: Getty 5 A 13th-century depiction of Saint Nicholas from Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, Egypt Credit: Credit: Pen News It is believed to be the final resting place of the Christian bishop Saint Nicholas of Myra (now known as Demre) who died in 343 AD. The Greek bishop was the inspiration for the figures of both Santa Clause and Sinterklaas. He was a devoted Christian dedicated to helping those in need and he even spent his inheritance on the cause. Saint Nick was particularly known for his secret gift-giving and gained a reputation for leaving coins in people’s shoes. read more on saint nicholas WONDERWORKER Who was Saint Nicholas, when did he die and how's St Nicholas Day celebrated? HO HO WHO? Meet the REAL Santa as scientists rebuild face of Saint Nick after 1,700yrs Now, archaeologists exploring the church's two-story annexe have located a limestone sarcophagus that could belong to Saint Nicholas. The five-foot deep and six-foot-long coffin with a raised lid was located at the burial site of the seventh-century church in the dig led by Associate Professor Ebru Fatma Findik from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University. Researchers who are taking part in the "Legacy for the Future Project" at the site revealed that the stone coffin was about six feet underground. They only realised they were working on a burial site when the researchers started finding animal bones and parts of clay lamps, Findik explained to Turkiye Today . Most read in Tech HORROR BLAZE Huge fire erupts at Scots industrial estate as emergency crews race to scene FERRY WINDY Ferry stranded amid Storm Darragh as passengers stuck on ship for 12 hours BLAST HORROR At least 2 dead after explosion at block of flats as cops hunt 'speeding car' CRASH HORROR Tragedy as boy, 4, dies after being hit by bus in town high street The saint who died in the fourth century was buried at the site of his church and hundreds of years later, at the request of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II, a grand church was built in his honour at the same site. His remains were moved into a sarcophagus which was buried at the new church. Danish archaeologists unearth 50 Viking skeletons But, it is not yet guaranteed that the stone coffin belongs to the devout Christian saint celebrated every December. The location of the Bishop's tomb has long been under speculation but the coffin being found so close to the church has given researchers hope. "Some sources suggest that St. Nicholas was buried near the sacred area of the city of Myra," Findik explained. "The fact that we have found a sarcophagus near the church, which is thought to house his tomb, may indicate that this is indeed the sacred area we have been searching for." "This is a significant archaeological confirmation of historical sources regarding the burial place of St. Nicholas," Findik added. In 1087, some bones were taken from his sarcophagus by Italian thieves from Bari who took them back to their hometown. Sailors from Venice later took the remaining bones during the First Crusade. In 1953, researchers confirmed that both sets of bones found in Bari and in Venice were from the same person, but it is not known if it is Saint Nicholas, according to Heritage Daily. Only the lid has so far been fully unearthed, with only a tiny section of the burial chamber currently visible as researchers hope to soon find a big clue as to its contents. "Our biggest hope is to find an inscription on the sarcophagus," Findik said. 5 The five-foot deep and six-foot-long coffin has a raised lid Credit: Getty 5 Archaeologists discovered it when exploring the church's two-story annexe Credit: Getty "This would help clarify the burial contents and allow us to determine the exact period it dates to." The lead researcher said that further details about the sarcophagus are expected over the next few months. Another group of researchers have managed to rebuild the face of Saint Nicholas after 1,700 years. To create the face, Cicero Moraes and his team used data collected in the 1950s by Luigi Martino, with permission from the Centro Studi Nicolaiani. He said: “We initially reconstructed the skull in 3D using this data. “We then traced the profile of the face using statistical projections. “We supplemented this with the anatomical deformation technique, in which the tomography of a living person's head is adjusted so that the virtual donor's skull matches that of the saint. Read more on the Scottish Sun FERRY WINDY Ferry stranded amid Storm Darragh as passengers stuck on ship for 12 hours HORROR BLAZE Huge fire erupts at Scots industrial estate as emergency crews race to scene “The final face is an interpolation of all this information, seeking anatomical and statistical coherence.” The result is two sets of images: one objective in greyscale, and one more artistic – adding features like a beard and clothes, inspired by the iconography of Saint Nicholas. The legend of Saint Nicholas SAINT Nicholas, the historical figure who inspired the modern-day Santa Claus, is a beloved saint in Christian tradition. He was a 4th-century bishop of Myra (modern-day Demre in Turkey) and is known for his generosity, miracles, and compassionate spirit. Saint Nicholas was born around 270 AD in the Roman province of Lycia, in the town of Patara (present-day Turkey). Raised in a wealthy Christian family, he lost his parents at a young age and inherited a substantial fortune. Rather than keeping the wealth for himself, Nicholas dedicated his life to serving others, living out his faith through acts of charity. Several stories about Saint Nicholas emphasise his generosity and miraculous deeds. Some of the most well-known include: The Dowries for the Three Sisters : A poor man in Myra had three daughters but could not afford dowries for them, leaving them at risk of being sold into slavery or forced into lives of destitution. According to legend, Saint Nicholas secretly provided dowries by throwing bags of gold through their window at night. Some versions of the story say he dropped the gold down the chimney, where it landed in stockings hanging by the fire to dry—a detail that inspired the Christmas stocking tradition. Saving sailors at sea : Saint Nicholas is also revered as the patron saint of sailors. One legend recounts that he calmed a fierce storm while on a voyage, saving the ship and its crew through his prayers. This story spread widely among seafarers, and they began to invoke his protection during their journeys. The resurrected children: Another famous tale tells of Saint Nicholas resurrecting three children who had been murdered by a butcher during a famine. In this story, the children had been dismembered and hidden in barrels, but Saint Nicholas miraculously restored them to life. This narrative contributed to his reputation as a protector of children. Saint Nicholas was known for his habit of secretly leaving gifts for the poor.His generosity earned him widespread admiration, and he became a symbol of selfless giving. After his death on December 6 (the year is uncertain but believed to be between 343–352 AD), Saint Nicholas's feast day became widely celebrated in Europe. Over the centuries, his legend grew, blending with local customs.In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas became known as Sinterklaas, a figure celebrated on December 5 or 6. Dutch settlers brought the tradition of Sinterklaas to America, where it evolved into the modern Santa Claus, further shaped by cultural influences such as Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and Coca-Cola’s iconic 20th-century advertisements. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of numerous groups, including children, sailors, merchants, the innocent, and the wrongfully accused. Icons of Saint Nicholas often depict him as a bishop holding a staff, with gold coins, children, or ships symbolising his miracles and patronage.
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In recent years, the automotive industry has been experiencing a significant shift towards electric and hybrid vehicles as a means to reduce emissions and combat climate change. One of the most notable advancements in this space is the development of plug-in hybrid systems, which combine the benefits of traditional internal combustion engines with the efficiency and cleanliness of electric powertrains. Three standout models that have captured the attention of automotive enthusiasts and environmentalists alike are the Changan UNI-Z, Song Pro, and Enovate L7. In this article, we will compare and contrast these cutting-edge plug-in hybrid systems to determine which one stands out as the most advanced.Trump says US shouldn't intervene in Syria as opposition forces gain ground
The joint deployment from the Education Ministry, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, the All-China Women's Federation, and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League highlights the multi-faceted approach that is being taken to address the challenges faced by teachers in China.
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Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Atlantic City received more than $1 million in state grants this week to increase pedestrian safety and access to public transportation. Four other Atlantic County municipalities — Absecon, Longport, Pleasantville and Somers Point — also received grants to aid in their pedestrian and public transit efforts. In Atlantic City, the grants came from two sources, the first being the state’s $11.7 million Transit Village program, for which the city received $568,000 for a pedestrian safety walkway to the Atlantic City Rail Station . Pleasantville received a $170,000 grant for improvements to its bus pavilion and Park and Ride project. Both cities are among the 35 municipalities in New Jersey’s Transit Village program. The program encourages towns with transit facilities to “develop plans for dense, mixed-use redevelopment that includes housing near their transit facility as a way to create attractive, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods where people can live, shop, work and play without relying on automobiles,” according to the program description. Hammonton police sergeant accused of failing drug test, stealing drugs from evidence room Mays Landing man charged in hit-and-run that injured man, killed dog in Absecon $680,000 Atlantic City charter bus purchase mostly covered by state, Small says Pleasantville man accused of murdering girlfriend Mainland Regional falls to Old Tappan in state final Atlantic County Sheriff's Office warns of new scam Everything you need to know about Mainland Regional's state title game 4 Bridgeton men indicted in alleged sex trafficking ring Wonderland developer to pitch vision again Wednesday at Ocean City Tabernacle Atlantic City mayor waives first appearance on witness tampering charge Holy Spirit overcomes rain, mud, Atlantic City to win Thanksgiving rivalry, clinch WJFL division Northfield Councilman Leeds resigns, citing concerns over Mayor Chau's criminal charges 19 arrested following street operations in Atlantic City Some Atlantic City casino workers call on union boss to resign for opposing a smoking ban Mays Landing man busted for meth “Mass transit is a critical component in moving New Jerseyans efficiently throughout our state and region, and it is critical that we prioritize their safety throughout the entire travel experience,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in announcing the grants this week. Community development corporations are playing a role in the grassroots efforts improving Atlantic City's neighborhoods. There are four CDCs operating in the city in Chelsea, Ducktown, Midtown and the Inlet . Often more nimble than government, the private nonprofits have steadily built a reputation as organizations that can get things done. Atlantic City also received a $557,130 grant as part of the state’s Safe Streets to Transit Program. That money will go to safety improvements at Michigan and Atlantic avenues. Locally, other towns receiving Safe Streets grants included: Absecon, $550,460 for pedestrian crosswalk safety improvements Longport, $761,890 for the second phase of its Bayfront East traffic calming project, which targets Amherst, Sunset, 32nd and 33rd avenues. Somers Point, $457,130 for improvements to Broadway. “Nothing is more important to me than the safety of our transportation system for all users, particularly those who are most vulnerable — pedestrians and the mobility impaired,” state Transportation Commissioner Fran O’Connor said. In all, the two grant programs provided more than $13 million to eligible projects in New Jersey towns, with $2.5 million going to five Atlantic County communities. No awards were given in Cape May, Cumberland or Ocean counties. 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. Executive Editor Author twitter Author email {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — EJ Farmer's 22 points helped Youngstown State defeat Oakland 66-50 on Saturday. Farmer shot 7 for 13 (5 for 8 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line for the Penguins (5-5, 2-0 Horizon League). Nico Galette scored 11 points and added nine rebounds and six assists. Juwan Maxey and Jason Nelson both added 11 points. Allen David Mukeba Jr. led the Golden Grizzlies (3-5, 1-1) in scoring, finishing with 17 points. Tuburu Niavalurua added 12 points for Oakland. D.Q. Cole had 11 points. NEXT UP Up next for Youngstown State is a Saturday matchup with Toledo at home, and Oakland plays Michigan State on Tuesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
When an air cast was placed on Aidan O’Connell ‘s leg prior to being carted off the field, the possibility existed he would be dealing with a major injury. A report from Sunday night indicated the Raiders feared the second-year quarterback suffered a season-ending knee injury , but the worst-case scenario appears to have been avoided. Further testing revealed O’Connell is dealing with a bone bruise, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports . Considering the potential for more drastic outcomes, that is certainly a welcomed development for team and player. O’Connell will attempt to play in Week 15, so his status over the coming days will be key. O’Connell already had a stint on injured reserve earlier this year, with his activation coming in time for him to replace Gardner Minshew in the lineup. The latter is out for the year due to a broken collarbone, an injury which opened the door for O’Connell to once again compete for a potential starting spot in 2025. Things have generally not gone well in that regard, with O’Connell’s play on Black Friday being an exception. If he can manage to suit up, though, the Purdue product could continue auditioning for a role next season. Two more years remain on O’Connell’s rookie contract, so he should still be in consideration for at least a depth spot on Vegas’ QB depth chart moving forward. Minshew is also on the books for 2025, however, and the Raiders are on track to be in position to select a quarterback in the upcoming draft. A strong end to the season would not give the team a chance at a postseason berth, but it would help O’Connell’s stock in the organization. The Raiders’ other healthy option under center is Desmond Ridder , who took over Sunday after O’Connell’s injury. The former Falcon would be in position to start against his former team if he were to get the nod for Week 15, but that will depend on O’Connell’s ability to recovery in short order. This article first appeared on Pro Football Rumors and was syndicated with permission.
DENVER (AP) — Travis Hunter made a pair of proclamations Thursday: He’s for sure entering the NFL draft after this season, but not until he sees Colorado all the way through the College Football Playoff — if the Buffaloes make it there. The first was already a given for the draft-eligible junior who plays both receiver and cornerback. The second is a risk-reward play for a projected high first-round pick who averages around 120 snaps a game. In years past, it took two extra postseason wins to capture a national title. Now, it could take up to four additional contests. That’s more of a chance to shine, but also more chance for an injury. “I don’t think nobody will opt out because you’re showing NFL teams that you’re more focused on something else, other than the team goal,” Hunter said of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. “So I don’t think players are going to opt out of the playoffs.” Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders chatted Thursday in a set of Zoom calls about turning around the program at Colorado (from 4-8 last season to bowl eligibility), chasing a Big 12 title, turning pro — Hunter acknowledged he will “for sure” — and, of course, the Heisman race, where Hunter is currently the odds-on favorite in an award each wants to see the other win. “He’s deserving of it, and if it’s between me and him, I want him to get it,” said Sanders, whose 16th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 16 CFP ) travel to Arrowhead Stadium to face Kansas (4-6, 3-4) this weekend. “He does a lot of amazing things that have never been done before.” Countered Hunter: “I know he wants me to win it, but I also want him to win as bad as I want to win it.” Hunter is a generational talent shining on both sides of the ball. As a receiver, he has 74 catches for 911 yards and nine touchdowns. On defense, he has picked off three passes, even though teams are reluctant to throw his direction. Like he did in high school and now in college, he believes he can do both on the next level. But he understands the trepidation of the NFL team that picks him. “They don’t want their top pick to go down too early," Hunter said. “I like when people tell me I can’t do it, because they just motivate me to continue to do what I want to do.” Sanders is turning in a stellar season as well with 27 touchdown passes, one away from tying Sefo Liufau for the most in a single season in program history. He's projected to be one of the first QBs off the draft board. The future certainly looks bright at Colorado thanks to the legacies Sanders and Hunter under coach Deion Sanders. But that's a point to ponder later. “I can’t think too much forward past Saturday,” Shedeur Sanders cracked. “The main thing is winning the Big 12 championship. That’s the main thing we’re focused on." Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Who Is David Bakhtiari’s Wife, Franki Shebby & What Is Their Relationship History?
As poultry farms and dairies across California continue to battle bird flu outbreaks, residents may be worried about food safety this holiday season.
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Brazil's top court takes on regulation of social mediaLOS ANGELES , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — This holiday season, Reolink, an innovative leader in intelligent visual technology for the home, is extending warm wishes for a joyful and safe celebration. With heartfelt celebrations and meaningful connections in mind, Reolink now offers exclusive holiday deals of up to 31% off. Let’s celebrate the spirit of togetherness while safeguarding homes! Season’s Greetings at Your Doorsteps Add a festive touch to every visit with Reolink’s Holiday-themed quick replies! Whether it’s being away from home, welcoming friends, receiving deliveries, or turning away unwanted visitors, Reolink doorbells offer fun and thoughtful quick replies for every situation, spreading warmth and joy while keeping the doorstep secure. One of the recommendations is Reolink Doorbell WiFi , a smart 2K dual-band Wi-Fi doorbell with a full head-to-toe view. This doorbell makes everyday life easier and safer, with crystal-clear video to capture every detail at the front door, two-way audio for convenient conversations, and smart alerts to protect the security of deliveries during this busy holiday season. Now grab this exceptional doorbell at a 29 % discount, available for $ 127 .99 . Gifts that Keep Your Loved Ones Safe Reolink also highlights its top-tier security cameras as ideal Christmas gifts for safeguarding loved ones and homes. Argus 4 Pro is an advanced 4K battery-powered camera with 180° all-around view. With innovative ColorX technology, it ensures clear and detailed views both day and night. This camera helps monitor the entire yard, offering peace of mind by keeping an eye on the property, even when the home is unoccupied during the holidays. Now available at a 23% discount, stands at $ 254.99. E1 Zoom is an indoor 5MP PTZ camera with person/pet detection and auto tracking capability. Whether it’s keeping an eye on kids playing in the living room, automatically tracking the movement of a pet as it roams the house, or ensuring everything is secure when family members are away, this camera provides peace of mind. This camera also adds two more features of cry detection and privacy mode, which will available gradually over the next few weeks. Now available at a 25% discount, stands at $ 97 .99 . Join #reocap Fun Reolink not only offers amazing security camera deals this holiday season but also invites everyone to join the Reocap Challenge on social media from now to 20 th December , for a chance to win Reolink’s latest innovative cameras. Capture the magic moments of the holidays with Reolink cameras and just simply share them on social media (Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, X, or Facebook), tag with #reocap. Celebrate the season, enjoy unbeatable deals at Reolink.com and Amazon , and share unforgettable stories with #reocap today! About Reolink Reolink offers smart security solutions for homes and businesses, aiming for a seamless security experience with its wide range of products. Serving millions globally, it provides video surveillance and protection, standing out for its commitment to security technology innovation. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/capture-celebrate-and-save-big-reolinks-holiday-deals-and-reocap-fun-302326260.html SOURCE Reolink Innovation Inc.
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Russia is using new technology in its attacks on Ukraine World Russia is using new technology in its attacks on... Charles MaynesThe Los Angeles Chargers have been teasing fans with the possibility of introducing alternate helmets, and a recent video may have provided the strongest hint yet. In a promotional video for their collaboration with the Crenshaw City Skate Club , several players were spotted wearing sleek blue helmets. Chargers Embracing Their Dark Side With Navy Helmet While the team hasn’t officially confirmed any plans for alternate helmets, the timing of the video and the popularity of the blue helmet among fans have fueled speculation. It’s possible that the team is gearing up to unveil a new alternate helmet for the 2025 season or beyond. The idea of the Chargers wearing alternate helmets has been a popular topic among fans for years. The blue helmet, in particular, has been a fan favorite, as it harkens back to the Chargers uniforms of the 90s and early 2000s. If the team does decide to introduce alternate helmets, it could be a major boost to fan excitement and merchandise sales. Only time will tell if they will officially unveil alternate helmets. However, the recent video has certainly piqued the interest of fans and has created a buzz around the team. THIS IS FROM THE @CSC90008 PAGE??? THE CHARGERS SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM CROPPED OUT THE HELMET HELLO?? https://t.co/ZYVcEdwBNR pic.twitter.com/HcRIItqctz This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.
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The world must respond to Russia’s use of a new ballistic missile, Volodymyr Zelensky said as Vladimir Putin threatened to strike the UK with his hypersonic weapon. The Ukrainian president said the use of a ballistic missile to hit Dnipro was a “clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war” and he warned that Russian president Mr Putin would attack or destabilise other countries unless stopped. Mr Putin said the use of the new weapon was in response to the UK and US allowing missiles they have supplied to Ukraine to be used to strike targets in Russia. “In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the Ukrainian defence industry,” Mr Putin said in a televised address. “One of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested in combat conditions, in this case, with a ballistic missile in a non-nuclear hypersonic warhead.” He added: “We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities.” But Mr Zelensky urged world leaders – his “dear partners” – not to be cowed by Mr Putin’s actions otherwise there will be “endless Russian strikes” and “not just against Ukraine”. “A lack of tough reactions to Russia’s actions sends a message that such behavior is acceptable,” the Ukrainian president said on X, formerly Twitter. “This is what Putin is doing. Putin must feel the cost of his deranged ambitions. “Response is needed. Pressure is needed. Russia must be forced into real peace, which can only be achieved through strength. “Otherwise, there will be endless Russian strikes, threats, and destabilisation-not just against Ukraine.” The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Mr Putin’s country. Mr Putin confirmed Russia has tested the new intermediate-range weapon in an attack on Dnipro in response. The US said the weapon was a new, experimental intermediate-range missile based on Russia’s existing RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. In Westminster, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “My understanding is that it is the first time that Russia has used a ballistic missile in Ukraine with a range of several thousand kilometres.” Defence Secretary John Healey said it was “yet another example of Putin’s recklessness”. He said: “Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine began, Russia has consistently and irresponsibly escalated the conflict while Ukraine continues to fight in self-defence for a democratic future.” The missile’s range far outstrips that of newly authorised US and British-supplied weapons, which can hit targets around 250-300km away. The distance from Moscow to London is around 2,500km, suggesting the range of the new missile could threaten the UK. Mr Healey said the UK knew Russia had been “preparing for months” to fire a new ballistic missile. Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence have repeatedly declined to comment publicly on Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow. “It risks both operational security and in the end the only one that benefits from such a public debate is President Putin,” Mr Healey told MPs. The head of the UK’s armed forces, Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, met Mr Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss the war on Thursday. Mr Zelensky said: “We discussed defence co-operation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, focusing on developing and enhancing the technological capabilities of the armed forces of Ukraine. “Particular attention was given to Ukraine’s current military needs and the continued support from our partners.”
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Defenders of the Fort: Rangers repeat as WPIAL championsFine Gael won 35 seats in the 2020 election, but 18 of those TDs did not seek re-election in Friday’s poll. An exit poll puts the party’s support at 21%, a fraction of a percentage behind the main opposition party Sinn Fein. Mr Harris, the outgoing Taoiseach, was elected with 16,869 first preference votes, well above the quota. He celebrated with his wife Caoimhe, his parents Bart and Mary, his sister Gemma and his political team at the count centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Ahead of his re-election, Mr Harris told reporters he was “cautiously optimistic” about the election result and said it was “clear that my party will gain seats”. “It’s also clear that Fine Gael will top the poll in at least 10 constituencies, many more than we did the last time, that we will gain seats in constituencies where we haven’t had seats in many years, like Tipperary South and Waterford, and that we will add second seats in other constituencies as well,” he said. “I think the people of Ireland have now spoken. We now have to work out exactly what they have said, and that is going to take a little bit of time.” In one of the five consecutive broadcast media rounds he did from the Greystones count centre, he said there were a lot of areas where there were “straight shoot-outs” between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for final seats. He described the Sinn Fein vote as “pretty significantly down”, the Fianna Fail vote as “marginally down” and the Fine Gael vote as “static” compared with its 2020 vote. He said it was “a very close, a very competitive election” and that “we haven’t seen a Sinn Fein surge or anything like it”. He said: “It was predicted by many that I would become the Taoiseach for a brief period of time, take over from Leo Varadkar, and then have to rebuild my party from the opposition benches as Sinn Fein led a government. “We don’t know what’s going to happen on government formation yet, but that is now looking less likely than it was.” He acknowledged that it was “a very difficult day” for the Green Party and paid tribute to their work in the coalition government, alongside his party and Fianna Fail. “Definitely, politics in Ireland has gotten much more fragmented,” he said. Fine Gael minister Helen McEntee said that her party’s campaign had been “positive”. “The feeling on the doors was very much that people were relatively happy with the government,” she said on RTE Radio. “It will come down to the last seats and it will come down to transfers,” she said of the final result, adding that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were performing better than the exit poll estimated.For the next two days, Alex wrestled with his inner turmoil as he navigated the city with a heavy heart. He couldn't shake the memory of the man's anguished face as he tore the necklace from his neck, nor the shame of his own actions. The weight of his guilt grew heavier with each passing moment, until he could bear it no longer.
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Frontdoor stock soars to 52-week high, hits $58.88As the ceremony drew to a close, the new recruits saluted their commanding officers, their families, and each other, symbolizing their readiness to take on the challenges that awaited them. The parents, their hearts brimming with a mix of emotions, watched as their children prepared to embark on a new chapter in their lives, one that would test their strength, courage, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Fortunately, kind-hearted strangers came to her aid, offering assistance and comforting words. With their help, she was able to find her way back to the city and seek the support she needed to report the fraudulent tour operator. Her story served as a cautionary tale, highlighting the dangers of falling prey to false travel traps and emphasizing the importance of vigilance and awareness when booking tours.According to reports, the singer had gone to a spa for a traditional Thai massage, a popular practice known for its therapeutic benefits and relaxation properties. However, shortly after the massage session, she began experiencing weakness in her arms and legs, eventually leading to complete paralysis. Despite receiving medical treatment, her condition worsened rapidly, ultimately resulting in her untimely death.
Amazon has announced plans to donate $1 million in cash to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. A spokesperson confirmed to CNN on Thursday that the company will also make a $1 million in-kind contribution by streaming the event on its Amazon Video platform. The decision underscores a significant shift in the relationship between Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Trump. Bezos, who is expected to meet with the president-elect in person soon, has previously clashed with Trump over his ownership of The Washington Post and its critical coverage. However, their interactions appear to have improved in recent months. Bezos notably praised Trump earlier this year following an assassination attempt, stating on X, “Our former President showed tremendous grace and courage under literal fire tonight.” Amazon is not the only tech giant seeking closer ties with the incoming administration. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, recently donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund. This came two weeks after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met privately with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. The gesture marks a significant reversal for Meta, which had banned Trump from its platforms following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Trump’s relationship with tech leaders has undergone a notable transformation. During his first campaign, he openly criticised Bezos, claiming in 2015 that “If @amazon ever had to pay fair taxes, its stock would crash and it would crumble like a paper bag. The @washingtonpost scam is saving it!” More recently, The Washington Post faced internal turmoil after Bezos decided against endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. In an op-ed, Bezos defended the decision, arguing, “Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election... What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias.” The move prompted resignations from members of the editorial board and widespread subscription cancellations. According to CNN, Bezos has denied claims that his decision to withhold the endorsement was an attempt to curry favour with Trump. In the same op-ed, he asserted he had no prior knowledge of a recent meeting between Trump and executives from Blue Origin, Bezos’ space exploration company. Meanwhile, Trump has also softened his tone toward other tech leaders, despite longstanding tensions. In a recent book, the president-elect issued a warning to Zuckerberg, stating, “We are watching him closely, and if he does anything illegal this time he will spend the rest of his life in prison — as will others who cheat in the 2024 Presidential Election.” ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNEIn a surprising turn of events, there are now rumors circulating that Manchester United are considering parting ways with Murtough and potentially scrapping the role of Sporting Director altogether. This has left many wondering about the future direction of the club and the decision-making process that will be in place moving forward.Zelensky demands response from allies as Putin threatens West with new missile
The House of Representatives voted to block the immediate release of the ethics report involving former Rep. Matt Gaetz. The vote was 206 to 198 — with all but one Republican, Rep. Tom McClintock, voting to refer the report back to the Ethics Committee. The House Ethics Committee investigated allegations of sexual misconduct involving Gaetz, along with accusations of illicit drug use and the alleged acceptance of improper gifts. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and the Department of Justice announced last year it would not bring charges against him. “Today, the majority of the House of Representatives took the easy way out,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “They could have ensured a vote on whether or not former Members should be held accountable when they face serious and credible allegations of sexual misconduct, including having sex with minors. Instead, the House voted to sweep these allegations under the rug and set an unfortunate precedent that, if you are ever facing scrutiny, resigning from Congress can make your problems go away. Gaetz resigned from Congress in November, days before the potential release of the report. His resignation set off a debate in Washington about whether the report should still be released since he was no longer a sitting member of Congress. RELATED STORY | Johnson against release of House Ethics Committee report involving Gaetz House Speaker Mike Johnson said the report shouldn't be released, claiming it set a bad precedent. "The rules of the House have always been that a former member is beyond the jurisdiction of the Ethics Committee," he said in November. However, there was mounting pressure to release the report from Democrats and some Republicans as Gaetz was the nominee to be the next attorney general. The former congressman ultimately decided to withdraw his name from consideration, saying the nomination had become a distraction. RELATED STORY | Matt Gaetz says he's removing his name for consideration for attorney generalSTANFORD, Calif. — Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford in hopes of turning around a struggling football program that he once helped become a national power. Athletic director Bernard Muir announced Saturday that Luck has been hired as the general manager of the Stanford football team, tasked with overseeing all aspects of the program that just finished a 3-9 season under coach Troy Taylor. “I am a product of this university, of Nerd Nation; I love this place,” Luck said. “I believe deeply in Stanford’s unique approach to athletics and academics and the opportunity to help drive our program back to the top. Coach Taylor has the team pointed in the right direction, and I cannot wait to work with him, the staff, and the best, brightest, and toughest football players in the world.” Luck has kept a low profile since his surprise retirement from the NFL at age 29 when he announced in August 2019 that he was leaving the Indianapolis Colts and pro football. In his new role, Luck will work with Taylor on recruiting and roster management, and with athletic department and university leadership on fundraising, alumni relations, sponsorships, student-athlete support and stadium experience. “Andrew’s credentials as a student-athlete speak for themselves, and in addition to his legacy of excellence, he also brings a deep understanding of the college football landscape and community, and an unparalleled passion for Stanford football,” Muir said. “I could not think of a person better qualified to guide our football program through a continuously evolving landscape, and I am thrilled that Andrew has agreed to join our team. This change represents a very different way of operating our program and competing in an evolving college football landscape.” Luck was one of the players who helped elevate Stanford into a West Coast powerhouse for several years. He helped end a seven-year bowl drought in his first season as starting quarterback in 2009 under coach Jim Harbaugh and led the Cardinal to back-to-back BCS bowl berths his final two seasons, when he was the Heisman Trophy runner-up both seasons. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck throws a pass during the first quarter of a Nov. 27, 2010 game against Oregon State in Stanford, Calif. That was part of a seven-year stretch in which Stanford posted the fourth-best record in the nation at 76-18 and qualified for five BCS bowl berths under Harbaugh and David Shaw. But the Cardinal have struggled for success in recent years and haven't won more than four games in a season since 2018. Stanford just finished its fourth straight 3-9 campaign in Taylor's second season since replacing Shaw. The Cardinal are the only power conference team to lose at least nine games in each of the past four seasons. Luck graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in architectural design and returned after retiring from the NFL to get his master’s degree in education in 2023. He was picked No. 1 overall by Indianapolis in the 2012 draft and made four Pro Bowls and was AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 in his brief but successful NFL career. Before the 2023 National Football League season started, it seemed inevitable that Bill Belichick would end his career as the winningest head coach in league history. He had won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and 298 regular-season games, plus 31 playoff games, across his career. Then the 2023 season happened. Belichick's Patriots finished 4-13, the franchise's worst record since 1992. At the end of the year, Belichick and New England owner Robert Kraft agreed to part ways. And now, during the 2024 season, Belichick is on the sideline. He's 26 wins from the #1 spot, a mark he'd reach in little more than two seasons if he maintained his .647 career winning percentage. Will he ascend the summit? It's hard to tell. Belichick would be 73 if he graced the sidelines next season—meaning he'd need to coach until at least 75 to break the all-time mark. Only one other NFL coach has ever helmed a team at age 73: Romeo Crennel in 2020 for the Houston Texans. With Belichick's pursuit of history stalled, it's worth glancing at the legends who have reached the pinnacle of coaching success. Who else stands among the 10 winningest coaches in NFL history? Stacker ranked the coaches with the most all-time regular-season wins using data from Pro Football Reference . These coaches have combined for 36 league championships, which represents 31.6% of all championships won throughout the history of pro football. To learn who made the list, keep reading. You may also like: Ranking the biggest NFL Draft busts of the last 30 years - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1981-2003 - Record: 190-165-2 - Winning percentage: .535 - Championships: 0 Dan Reeves reached the Super Bowl four times—thrice with the Denver Broncos and once with the Atlanta Falcons—but never won the NFL's crown jewel. Still, he racked up nearly 200 wins across his 23-year career, including a stint in charge of the New York Giants, with whom he won Coach of the Year in 1993. In all his tenures, he quickly built contenders—the three clubs he coached were a combined 17-31 the year before Reeves joined and 28-20 in his first year. However, his career ended on a sour note as he was fired from a 3-10 Falcons team after Week 14 in 2003. - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1969-91 - Record: 193-148-1 - Winning percentage: .566 - Championships: 4 Chuck Noll's Pittsburgh Steelers were synonymous with success in the 1970s. Behind his defense, known as the Steel Curtain, and offensive stars, including Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Lynn Swann, Noll led the squad to four Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1979. Noll's Steelers remain the lone team to win four Super Bowls in six years, though Andy Reid and Kansas City could equal that mark if they win the Lombardi Trophy this season. Noll was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, two years after retiring. His legacy of coaching success has carried on in Pittsburgh—the club has had only two coaches (Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin) since Noll retired. - Seasons coached: 21 - Years active: 1984-98, 2001-06 - Record: 200-126-1 - Winning percentage: .613 - Championships: 0 As head coach of Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and San Diego, Marty Schottenheimer proved a successful leader during the regular season. Notably, he was named Coach of the Year after turning around his 4-12 Chargers team to a 12-4 record in 2004. His teams, however, struggled during the playoffs. Schottheimer went 5-13 in the postseason, and he never made it past the conference championship round. As such, the Pennsylvania-born skipper is the winningest NFL coach never to win a league championship. - Seasons coached: 25 - Years active: 1946-62, '68-75 - Record: 213-104-9 - Winning percentage: .672 - Championships: 7 The only coach on this list to pilot a college team, Paul Brown, reached the pro ranks after a three-year stint at Ohio State and two years with the Navy during World War II. He guided the Cleveland Browns—named after Brown, their first coach—to four straight titles in the fledgling All-America Football Conference. After the league folded, the ballclub moved to the NFL in 1950, and Cleveland continued its winning ways, with Brown leading the team to championships in '50, '54, and '55. He was fired in 1963 but returned in 1968 as the co-founder and coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. His other notable accomplishments include helping to invent the face mask and breaking pro football's color barrier . - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1921-53 - Record: 226-132-22 - Winning percentage: .631 - Championships: 6 An early stalwart of the NFL, Curly Lambeau spent 29 years helming the Green Bay Packers before wrapping up his coaching career with two-year stints with the Chicago Cardinals and Washington. His Packers won titles across three decades, including the league's first three-peat from 1929-31. Notably, he experienced only one losing season during his first 27 years with Green Bay, cementing his legacy of consistent success. Born in Green Bay, Lambeau co-founded the Packers and played halfback on the team from 1919-29. He was elected to the Hall of Fame as a coach and owner in 1963, two years before his death. You may also like: Countries with the most active NFL players - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1960-88 - Record: 250-162-6 - Winning percentage: .607 - Championships: 2 The first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry held the position for his entire 29-year tenure as an NFL coach. The Cowboys were especially dominant in the 1970s when they made five Super Bowls and won the big game twice. Landry was known for coaching strong all-around squads and a unit that earned the nickname the "Doomsday Defense." Between 1966 and 1985, Landry and his Cowboys enjoyed 20 straight seasons with a winning record. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990. - Seasons coached: 26 - Years active: 1999-present - Record: 267-145-1 - Winning percentage: .648 - Championships: 3 The only active coach in the top 10, Andy Reid has posted successful runs with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City. After reaching the Super Bowl once in 14 years with the Eagles, Reid ratcheted things up with K.C., winning three titles since 2019. As back-to-back defending champions, Reid and Co. are looking this season to become the first franchise to three-peat in the Super Bowl era and the third to do so in NFL history after the Packers of 1929-31 and '65-67. Time will tell if Reid and his offensive wizardry can lead Kansas City to that feat. - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1991-95, 2000-23 - Record: 302-165 - Winning percentage: .647 - Championships: 6 The most successful head coach of the 21st century, Bill Belichick first coached the Cleveland Browns before taking over the New England Patriots in 2000. With the Pats, Belichick combined with quarterback Tom Brady to win six Super Bowls in 18 years. Belichick and New England split after last season when the Patriots went 4-13—the worst record of Belichick's career. His name has swirled around potential coaching openings , but nothing has come of it. Belichick has remained in the media spotlight with his regular slot on the "Monday Night Football" ManningCast. - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1963-95 - Record: 328-156-6 - Winning percentage: .677 - Championships: 2 The winningest head coach in NFL history is Don Shula, who first coached the Baltimore Colts (losing Super Bowl III to Joe Namath and the New York Jets) for seven years before leading the Miami Dolphins for 26 seasons. With the Fins, Shula won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973, a run that included a 17-0 season—the only perfect campaign in NFL history. He also coached quarterback great Dan Marino in the 1980s and '90s, but the pair made it to a Super Bowl just once. Shula was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. You may also like: The 5 biggest upsets of the 2023-24 NFL regular season Get local news delivered to your inbox!MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The plan for the Minnesota Vikings was to bring in Sam Darnold as the bridge between Kirk Cousins and J.J. McCarthy, confident his strong arm and starting experience would sufficiently run a high-caliber offense until the rookie was deemed ready to play. Darnold's performance to date has been much closer to superstar than mere stopgap. “He’s a baller," Vikings safety Harrison Smith said. "He can make stuff happen when he needs to. I know with the outside narrative on him and his path and everything, you might not think that, but ever since he got here, it felt like that was going to happen.” Having led the Vikings (10-2) to their fifth consecutive victory with the go-ahead touchdown pass against Arizona last week, one game after a stellar overtime drive to beat Chicago , Darnold has become one of the darlings of this NFL this season with his success in coach Kevin O'Connell's system after the third overall pick in the 2018 draft started his career in rather bleak fashion. His first year in Minnesota sure has been smoother than what Cousins has gone through in his debut with the Atlanta Falcons . Last week in a loss at home to the Los Angeles Chargers, Cousins matched his career high with four interceptions. “I don’t think anybody can put any more pressure on Kirk than he has for himself. He’s carried us through this season when we were figuring out a lot of things on defense,” Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “He’s just having a hard time right now. There’s nothing to say he can’t catch fire and light it up like he’s been doing.” The Falcons (6-6) take their three-game losing streak on the road to face the Vikings, with division races for both teams in full swing. The quarterback contrasts have made this matchup all the more intriguing, with Cousins coming back to the place where he spent the previous six seasons. Cousins has a $25 million salary cap hit this season, the 11th-highest among quarterbacks in the league. Even if the Falcons were to move on in 2026 and swallow the dead money for two more years with eighth overall pick Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings, Cousins will carry a $40 million charge in 2025. Darnold’s cap charge is $5 million this season, just 31st on the list. Though he will become a free agent in March, the Vikings structured his contract with void years to spread his cap hit into next season for another $5 million. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick, won't be ready until next year after having surgery to repair the meniscus he tore in his right knee in his first preseason game. Though Darnold has had a couple of clunkers this year, the Vikings still won those games and he's bounced back strong without letting interceptions linger into future decisions. "He’s kind of found a little balance, at least the last few weeks, of ‘When is it too risky?’ and ‘When can I take my shot at something?’” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. The Falcons have seen as much on tape. “I think he’s playing free,” Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates said. “It’s not a lot of complicated throws or anything that he’s doing. I just think that he’s finally able to feel comfortable in himself.” Falcons coach Raheem Morris decided to address the significance of Cousins’ homecoming with the team, bracing for the type of crowd reaction that will only intensify the noise at U.S. Bank Stadium that's already daunting for opponents. Minnesota's defense has thrived this season at home, using the fans to enhance the effectiveness of a disguise-based, aggressive scheme that leads the league with 18 interceptions and has also been adept at rushing the passer and stuffing the run. “The environment they create up in Minnesota is absolutely outstanding,” Morris said. Cousins isn't the only key figure from the Falcons who's well-known to Vikings coaches. Morris was the defensive coordinator in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams when O'Connell was the offensive coordinator and Phillips was the tight ends coach on that Super Bowl champion team. Vikings running back Aaron Jones has fumbled three times in the last two games, losing two of them, but he hasn't lost the confidence of coaches or teammates as evidenced by the pass called for his go-ahead touchdown catch against the Cardinals. Family is a strong support system for him, too, but sometimes that means tough love. His mother, Vurgess Jones, let him have it after the game when they talked about the turnovers. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to learn from it,'” Jones said. “She was like, ‘You didn’t learn last week?'” He has matched his career high in 2024 with five fumbles and three lost, a fact not lost on a Falcons defense that's aggressive with dislodging techniques despite only four recovered fumbles in 12 games. “You can see it all over the tape: Those guys are coaching it," Phillips said. Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, who was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month after racking up eight tackles for loss in November, carried his pass-rushing mojo into December with a couple of clutch plays in the final minute to preserve the victory over Arizona. Greenard has 10 of the team's 39 sacks. “How many times this year has he affected the quarterback, drawn a penalty, sacked the quarterback, strip-sacked like last week in these critical moments where you need your best players to go make those plays?” O'Connell said. “He’s done it time and time again.” Falcons running back Bijan Robinson set a career high last week with 26 carries. He had 102 yards rushing and was again a significant part of the passing attack with six catches against the Chargers. “I just do whatever I can to help us as a team,” said Robinson, who’s fifth in the NFL with 1,277 combined yards from scrimmage. “I just trust whatever they have in the plan.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
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Hannah Waddingham has made it very clear that Ted Lasso and its cast mean the world to her. She’s besties with Juno Temple , she and Jason Sudeikis are very tight, and she’s loud and proud about the fact that this show has made the most positive impact on her life. However, it’s not just for professional reasons, it’s personal too, as she revealed the emotional story and circumstances behind what led to her auditioning for one of Apple TV+’s best shows . Long before Ted Lasso , Waddingham was in Belfast shooting a project, and her daughter became “seriously ill with a mysterious affliction.” She was later diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein purpura, which is an immune-mediated disease that causes swelling of small blood vessels that can cause kidney damage. The actress had a really hard time getting back home to her kiddo because of travel delays, and that scared her a lot. So, after that, she decided to pursue roles in shows that were shot in London. While explaining this for Jeremy Egner’s book Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, The Show That Kicked Its Way Into Our Hearts , she said she was determined to stay close to home, and she told her management team the following: I said, ‘This is not happening again. Whether that means that I have to dumb down what I’m doing or be less committed to work that might have the possibility of taking me abroad or whatever, I’m perfectly happy to be here doing bits and pieces. I’ll do concerts, I’ll do voice-overs.’ Later, she made it clear that her priority was her daughter, and she put her foot down, saying: And I said, ‘Look, I get it. I don’t want it this way either. But I’m first and foremost a mum and more importantly a single mum, and I’m happy with that decision.’ Then, her daughter got better, and Waddingham started looking for more work again. Two months into that quest, Ted Lasso entered the equation. She explained that before she sought more work she “looked up at the skies” and said thank you for saving her little girl. Then, she asked for a job, specifying exactly what she wanted: ‘...And also, can I be so cheeky as to say, could it be something that shows everything that I can do and things that I don’t feel like I’ve been able to do yet? And is there any way it could be here, maybe around the corner?’ And I’m not joking: in two months, the audition came in for Ted Lasso, which shoots forty minutes away from my house. Completely mental. Ask the universe, people, it works! It couldn’t have worked out any better too. After a great audition process, which included the creators of Game of Thrones sending an email on Waddingham’s behalf, she eventually landed the role. Jason Sudeikis also made it clear that he knew from the minute he saw her audition that she was their Rebecca. In the co-creator and Ted Lasso actor’s words: It’s one of those neat things where sometimes that right thing shows up at the right time, and you’re ready for it and they’re ready for you. And off we went. Well, we know the rest of this story, both Waddingham and Sudeikis won Emmys for their performances. Rebecca went on to have a wonderful story across three seasons. And now, well over a year after we said so long to AFC Richmond after Season 3 , the wait to see if Ted Lasso Season 4 happens is in full swing. CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News Overall, it’s inspiring to hear Waddingham tell this emotional story, and it’s wonderful to know the personal details behind what makes Ted Lasso’s success inspiring. To read the full history behind Ted Lasso , you can buy Beleive on Amazon . To go back and see Hannah Waddingham’s brilliant performance as Rebecca, you can stream all three seasons of the comedy with an Apple TV+ subscription .
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NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 23, 2017: A vintage rotary dial telephone for sale at a flea market in the ... [+] Chelsea district of New York City. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images) If you’ve been watching the emergence of artificial intelligence onto the scene in our societies, you probably agree that it’s happened at a pretty fast clip. Let’s start with this chart of GPT progress, showing what happened in just two years. As presented here, the first model of its kind, GPT-1, was released in 2018 in June. GPT-2 followed in February 2019, and GPT-3 went beta in May of 2020. At the same time, we had the coronavirus pandemic, and all of the resources of the world turned toward how to handle this disease. Quietly, though, GPT kept being iterated, with 3.5 in November 2022, and GPT-4 in March of 2023. Most recently we have the GPT-4o model released this past May – and we have the o1 preview with its chain of thought and reasoning capability, currently in limited release. We also have that model code named Orion that’s said to drop next year. The 130 Best Black Friday Deals You Can Still Shop Now Refresh Your Wardrobe And Home With Quince’s Black Friday Deals Putting GPT Into Our Telephone System How are we using these technologies? Recently, I read an example from a user who had figured out how to turn on ChatGPT into a bot for cold calling other smartphone users. You could think of this as one of the first of many ‘sneak attacks’ of the AI age, a shot across the bow, from oneenterprising soul to a multi-cast audience of other people who may or may not be susceptible to his marketing. This guy was talking about how to automate real estate calls to get people to sell their houses to his company. And according his testimony, ChatGPT worked better than human callers. Specifically, the numbers that this individual put out were around 12-15 actionable leads per 100 calls, as opposed to 2-3 before implementing ChatGPT. What is This? (Not, Who is This?) Major factors in the AI include the novelty factor, which was a focus in this post that I read (you can read it here ). People like new things, the poster suggested, and they’re likely to stay on the line just to figure out what’s going on. By the time they get used to talking to an AI, they may already be in the sales funnel,or considering the overall offer more closely. On the other hand, most of us hang up immediately when we get a call from a person that we don’t want to talk to. Everyone’s LLM This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how people are going to use AI when it’s distributed to every smartphone in America. Basically, the people who learn how to use it first will target the others in a big game of round robin selling. Money will change hands based on this proactive and creative approach,and then slowly, other people will start to catch up. What you’re likely to have is an era of annoying unwanted calls from everywhere, all at once. in other words, all of us are going to blow up everyone else’s cell phones with AI. Part of the response on Reddit to the new reality of LLMs had to do with how you handle this barrage of incoming calls. Many of us already don’t use our phones primarily as a telephone – it’s a small computer that helps us our lives. Slowly, we’re all going to learn that you don’t pick up the telephone when it rings – you let it go to voicemail, and have some kind of sorting technology to show you if there’s somebody you want to talk to or not. But text spamming is off the hook too, and I hardly ever talk to anyone who hasn’t had these annoying intrusions in their lives, sometimes dozens of them every day. The bottom line is we have to figure out a way to adapt quickly to a technology that has developed overnight, so to speak. That’s not even the whole picture: we have Anthropic’s Claude showing us how to use a computer, and other kinds of brand new models from places like China reinventing math and science testing (more on that later.) So in all of that discussion about training data, and logical ability, we have to think about the real practical ramifications for our societies. We’re going to have to learn to talk to each other in a new way, given this kind of automation.La Salle defeats Temple 83-75
Share Tweet Share Share Email The crypto world is always full of innovation, and the opportunities for early investors seem endless. Every now and then, a project redefines how we think about blockchain technology, creating a ripple effect across the industry. While projects like Tron and Cronos have made significant strides in building robust ecosystems, there’s a rising star in the blockchain world that’s turning heads— Qubetics ($TICS). With a visionary approach to interoperability and a presale that’s breaking records, Qubetics is setting itself apart as the best crypto to buy now for investors. This article dives into the game-changing potential of Qubetics alongside insights into Tron and Cronos, giving you a well-rounded perspective on the future of blockchain. Qubetics: Unlocking Blockchain’s Full Potential In today’s blockchain space, most networks feel like isolated islands. You’ve got Ethereum doing its thing, Binance Smart Chain over here, and other blockchains all operating separately. Sure, they’re powerful, but this fragmentation creates real issues—especially for developers and businesses trying to connect the dots. Cross-chain transactions? Painfully slow. Data sharing? Even worse. Qubetics changes the game by becoming a Web3-aggregated chain that unifies these siloed networks into one powerful, interoperable framework. Imagine a world where assets move seamlessly between blockchains, data flows without friction, and decentralised apps actually talk to each other. That’s what Qubetics is building—a system that enhances interoperability, fosters collaboration, and unlocks the true potential of decentralised technology. For developers, enterprises, and users alike, this is the bridge the blockchain world has been waiting for. Tron: The Blockchain for Decentralized Entertainment Tron has carved a niche for itself by focusing on the entertainment and content-sharing sectors of blockchain. Its high throughput and low fees make it a popular choice for developers building decentralised apps (dApps). Tron eliminates middlemen by enabling direct transactions between content creators and consumers, fostering a more equitable ecosystem. Tron stands out in the crowded crypto landscape with its scalable infrastructure and innovative features. Cronos: Bridging DeFi and Payments Cronos has positioned itself as a blockchain that seamlessly bridges the gap between decentralised finance (DeFi) and traditional payments. It’s built to support scalable, fast, and affordable transactions, making it a favourite for both developers and enterprises. With its unique integration with the Crypto.com ecosystem, Cronos brings the convenience of everyday crypto payments to life while also powering cutting-edge DeFi applications. Qubetics Presale: The Numbers Speak for Themselves Here’s where it gets exciting. Qubetics is currently in Presale Phase 10, and it’s nothing short of thrilling. Each phase brings a 10% price hike, culminating in a whopping 20% increase in the final stage. Right now, $TICS tokens are a steal at just $0.025. Over $3.8 million has already been raised, with 4600+ holders and 239 million tokens sold. The best part? The post-presale target price is $0.25 per token, meaning early adopters are looking at a jaw-dropping 900% ROI. But wait—it gets crazier. Analysts are buzzing with predictions: If $TICS hits $10, a modest $100 investment could explode to $40,000—that’s a 39,000% ROI. If the token climbs to $15, that same $100 could skyrocket to $60,000, delivering an incredible 59,900% ROI. Think about it. Could this be the best crypto to buy now? With presale momentum like this, it sure feels like a no-brainer. But time’s ticking, and with the next phase right around the corner, prices won’t stay this low for long. Don’t miss your chance to be part of a project that’s rewriting blockchain history. Conclusion As the crypto market continues to evolve, picking the best crypto to buy now becomes both an art and a science. Tron and Cronos have proven themselves as innovative platforms with strong use cases, but the buzz around Qubetics is impossible to ignore. Its visionary approach to interoperability, combined with an explosive presale offering unparalleled ROI potential, makes it a standout opportunity for early adopters. Analysts predict life-changing gains for Qubetics, with some envisioning a future where modest investments turn into fortunes. The presale momentum, groundbreaking technology, and sheer excitement surrounding $TICS tokens make it clear: Qubetics isn’t just another crypto—it’s the one everyone will be talking about. Don’t wait. Get in on the presale now and be part of something truly transformative. For More Information: Qubetics: https://qubetics.com Telegram: https://t.me/qubetics Twitter: https://x.com/qubetics Related Items: Blockchain , Qubetics Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Is Lightchain Protocol AI the Next PEPE Coin? How This New Blockchain Could Rival Meme Coins Like “Just a Chill Guy” Why BTFD Coin’s Presale Boom Is the Top Choice Among the Best Meme Coin Presales to Buy for 2025 With Popcat and Dogs BlockDAG (BDAG) or Flockerz (FLOCK): Find Your Top Presale Opportunity for Black Friday Gains CommentsNone
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save NEW YORK — The masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words "deny," "defend" and "depose," two law enforcement officials said Thursday. The words were written in permanent marker, according to one of the officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. With the gunman still at large, police also released photos of a person they said was wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company's annual investor conference at a Hilton hotel in Midtown. The reason behind the killing remained unknown, but investigators believe it was a targeted attack. This image shows a man wanted for questioning in connection to the investigation of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. The message left on the ammunition echoes the phrase "delay, deny, defend," which is commonly used by attorneys and insurance industry critics to describe tactics used to avoid paying claims. It refers to insurers delaying payment, denying a claim and then defending their actions. People are also reading... The real reason Corvallis' Pastega Lights moved to Linn County OSU football: Three takeaways from Oregon State's loss at Boise State City officials admit Corvallis' flag is 'bad.' Will it change? Prosecutor: Driver on laughing gas caused double fatal in Sweet Home UPDATED: GAPS teacher strike NOT off after talks over returning to the classroom break down Recently made-over park sees this change after Albany got an earful Corvallis chemical manufacturer eyes Albany for expansion OSU women's basketball: Marotte takes a more aggressive approach on offense Agreement reached (again), GAPS teachers get new contract Strike to end, GAPS reaches tentative deal with Albany teachers Corvallis decides layout for new civic campus — with a side of strife Philomath moves forward following July Nazi flag controversy Albany man pleads to numerous sex crimes Court dismisses jail-related Benton County whistleblower complaint A false start: GAPS strike continues after district, teachers announce deal Health insurers like UnitedHealthcare have become frequent targets of criticism from doctors and patients for complicating access to care. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. Inside a nearby trash can, they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper that they say the gunman purchased from a nearby Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The city's medical examiner was looking for fingerprints. The killing and the shooter's movements in the minutes before and after were captured on some of the multitudes of security cameras present in that part of the city. The shooter fled on a bike and was last seen riding into Central Park. Bullets lie on the sidewalk Wednesday outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in New York. The hunt for the shooter brought New York City police to at least two hostels on Manhattan's Upper West Side on Thursday morning, based on a tip that the suspected shooter might have stayed at one of the residences, according to one of the law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation. The photos police released Thursday of a man wanted for questioning were taken in the lobby of the HI New York City hostel. "We are fully cooperating with the NYPD and, as this is an active investigation, can not comment at this time," said Danielle Brumfitt, a spokesperson for the hostel. Police received a flood of tips from members of the public, many of them unfounded. On Wednesday evening, police searched a Long Island Rail Road train after a commuter claimed to have spotted the shooter, but found no sign of the gunman. "We're following up on every single tip that comes in," said Carlos Nieves, a police spokesperson. "That little piece of information could be the missing piece of the puzzle that ties everything together." Investigators believe, judging from surveillance video and evidence collected from the scene, that the shooter had at least some prior firearms training and experience with guns and the weapon was equipped with a silencer, said one of the law enforcement officials who spoke with the AP. This still image from surveillance video shows the suspect, left, sought in the the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, center, Wednesday outside a Manhattan hotel. Security camera video showed the killer approach Thompson from behind, level his pistol and fire several shots, barely pausing to clear a gun jam while the health executive tumbled to the pavement. Cameras showed him fleeing the block across a pedestrian plaza before getting on the bicycle. Police issued several surveillance images of the man wearing a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face, which wouldn't have attracted attention on a frigid day. Authorities also used drones, helicopters and dogs in an intensive search, but the killer's whereabouts remained unknown. Thompson, a father of two sons who lived in suburban Minneapolis, was with UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years. The insurer's Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., was holding its annual meeting with investors in New York to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid programs. Healthcare history: How U.S. health coverage got this bad Healthcare history: How U.S. health coverage got this bad Key Points Health care in America has evolved in some ways, but in others, it continues to be a complex and arduous process for employees and employers alike. The Affordable Care Act, or ACA, made it a legal requirement for Americans to have a health insurance plan, regardless of employment status. ACA opened the door for health care expansion, including the marketplace, HRAs, and more. In the U.S. healthcare system, even the simplest act, like booking an appointment with your primary care physician, may feel intimidating. As you wade through intake forms and insurance statements, and research out-of-network coverage , you might wonder, "When did U.S. health care get so confusing?" Short answer? It's complicated. The history of modern U.S. health care spans nearly a century, with social movements, legislation, and politics driving change. Take a trip back in time as Thatch highlights some of the most impactful legislation and policies that gave us the existing healthcare system, particularly how and when things got complicated. History of U.S. Health Care 1930s: Great Depression and the birth of health plans that primarily covered the cost of hospital stays. 1942: Creation of employer-sponsored health care in the wake of wage freezes. 1965: Medicare and Medicaid debut. 1986: COBRA is signed, offering former employees the opportunity to stay on employer health care. 2010: Affordable Care Act signed into law. 2019: ICHRAs introduced. Past Is Prologue In the beginning, a common perception of American doctors was that they were kindly old men stepping right out of a Saturday Evening Post cover illustration to make house calls. If their patients couldn't afford their fee, they'd accept payment in chicken or goats. Health care was relatively affordable and accessible. Then it all fell apart during the Great Depression of the 1930s. That's when hospital administrators started looking for ways to guarantee payment. According to the American College of Healthcare Executives, this is when the earliest form of health insurance was born. Interestingly, doctors would have none of it at first. The earliest health plans covered hospitalization only. A new set of challenges from the Second World War required a new set of responses. During the Depression, there were far too many people and too few jobs. The war economy had the opposite effect. Suddenly, all able-bodied men were in the military, but somebody still had to build the weapons and provision the troops. Even with women entering the workforce in unprecedented numbers, there was simply too much to get done. The competition for skilled labor was brutal. A wage freeze starting in 1942 forced employers to find other means of recruiting and retaining workers. Building on the recently mandated workers' compensation plans, employers or their union counterparts started offering insurance to cover hospital and doctor visits. Of course, the wage freeze ended soon after the war. However, the tax code and the courts soon clarified that employer-sponsored health insurance was non-taxable. The Start of Medicare and Medicaid Medicare, a government-sponsored health plan for retirees 65 and older, debuted in 1965. Nowadays, Medicare is offered in Parts A, B, C, and D; each offering a different layer of coverage for older Americans. As of 2023, over a quarter of all U.S. adults are enrolled in Medicare. The structure of Medicare is not dissimilar to universal health care offered in other countries, although the policy covers everyone, not just people over a certain age. Medicaid was also signed into law with Medicare. Medicaid provides health care coverage for Americans with low incomes. Over 74 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid today. Nixoncare? The Obama administration was neither the first nor the last to champion new ways to provide health care coverage to a wider swath of Americans. The first attempts to harmonize U.S. healthcare delivery systems with those of other developed economies came just five years after Medicare and Medicaid. Two separate bills were introduced in 1970 alone. Both bills aimed to widen affordable health benefits for Americans, either by making people Medicare-eligible or providing free health benefits for all Americans. As is the case with many bills, both these died, even though there was bipartisan support. But the chairman of the relevant Senate panel had his own bill in mind, which got through the committee. It effectively said that all Americans were entitled to the kind of health benefits enjoyed by the United Auto Workers Union or AFL-CIO—for free. But shortly after Sen. Edward Kennedy began hearings on his bill in early 1971 , a competing proposal came from an unexpected source: Richard Nixon's White House. President Nixon's approach , in retrospect, had some commonalities with what Obamacare turned out to be. There was the employer mandate, for example, and an expansion of Medicaid. It favored healthcare delivery via health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, which was a novel idea at the time. HMOs, which offer managed care within a tight network of health care providers, descended from the prepaid health plans that flourished briefly in the 1910s and 1920s. They were first conceived in their current form around 1970 by Dr. Paul M. Ellwood, Jr. In 1973, a law was passed to require large companies to give their employees an HMO option as well as a traditional health insurance option. But that was always intended to be ancillary to Nixon's more ambitious proposal, which got even closer to what exists now after it wallowed in the swamp for a while. When Nixon reintroduced the proposal in 1974, it featured state-run health insurance plans as a substitute for Medicaid—not a far cry from the tax credit-fueled state-run exchanges of today. Of course, Nixon had other things to worry about in 1974: inflation, recession, a nation just beginning to heal from its first lost war—and his looming impeachment. His successor, Gerald Ford, tried to keep the proposal moving forward, but to no avail. But this raises a good question: If the Republican president and the Democratic Senate majority both see the same problem and have competing but not irreconcilable proposals to address it, why wasn't there some kind of compromise? What major issue divided the two parties? It was a matter of funding. The Democrats wanted to pay for universal health coverage through the U.S. Treasury's general fund, acknowledging that Congress would have to raise taxes to pay for it. The Republicans wanted it to pay for itself by charging participants insurance premiums, which would be, in effect, a new tax. The Birth of COBRA Coverage The next significant legislation came from President Reagan, who signed the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, in 1985. COBRA enabled laid-off workers to hold onto their health insurance—providing that they pay 100% of the premium, which had been wholly or at least in part subsidized by their erstwhile employer. While COBRA offers continued coverage, its high expense doesn't offer much relief for the unemployed. A 2006 Commonwealth Fund survey found that only 9% of people eligible for COBRA coverage actually signed up for it. The COBRA law had a section, though, that was only tangentially related. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, or EMTALA, which was incorporated into COBRA, required all emergency medical facilities that take Medicare—that is, all of them—to treat patients irrespective of their insurance status or ability to pay. As Forbes staff writer Avik Roy wrote during the Obamacare debate, EMTALA has come to overshadow the rest of the COBRA law in its influence on American health care policy. More on that soon. The Clinton Debacle It wasn't until the 1990s that Washington saw another serious attempt at healthcare reform. Bill Clinton's first order of business as president was to establish a new health care plan. For the first time, the First Lady took on the role of heavy-lifting policy advisor to the president and became the White House point person on universal health care. Hillary Clinton's proposal mandated : Everyone enrolls in a health coverage plan. Subsidies would be provided to those who can't afford it. Companies with 5,000 or more employees would have to provide such coverage. The Clintons' plan centralized decision-making in Washington, with a "National Health Board" overseeing quality assurance, training physicians, guaranteeing abortion coverage, and running both long-term care facilities and rural health systems. The insurance lobbyists had a field day with that. The famous "Harry and Louise" ads portrayed a generic American couple having tense conversations in their breakfast nook about how the federal government would come between them and their doctor. By the 1994 midterms, any chance of universal health care in America had died. In this case, it wasn't funding but the debate between big and small governments that killed the Clinton reform. It would be another generation before the U.S. saw universal health care take the stage. The Birth of Obamacare Fast-forward to 2010. It was clear that employer-sponsored plans were vestiges of another time. They made sense when people stayed with the same company for their entire careers, but as job-hopping and layoffs became more prevalent, plans tied to the job became obsolete. Thus the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, was proposed by Barack Obama's White House and squeaked by Congress and the Supreme Court with the narrowest of margins. The ACA introduced an individual mandate requiring everyone to have health insurance regardless of job status. It set up an array of government-sponsored online exchanges where individuals could buy coverage . It also provided advance premium tax credits to defray the cost to consumers. But it didn't ignore hat most people were already getting health insurance through work, and a significant proportion didn't want to change . So the ACA also required employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees to provide health coverage to at least 95% of them. The law, nicknamed Obamacare by supporters and detractors, set a minimum baseline of coverage and affordability. The penalty for an employer that offers inadequate or unaffordable coverage can never be greater than the penalty for not offering coverage at all. The model for Obamacare was the health care reform package that went into effect in Massachusetts in 2006. The initial proposal was made by then-Governor Mitt Romney, a Republican who now serves as a senator from Utah. What Came Next Despite an onslaught of court challenges, Obamacare remains the law of the land. For a while, Republican congressional candidates ran on a "repeal-and-replace" platform plank, but even when they were in the majority, there was little legislative action to do either. Still, Obamacare is not the last word in American health care reform. Since then, there have been two important improvements to Health Reimbursement Arrangements, through which companies pay employees back for out-of-pocket medical-related expenses. HRAs had been evolving informally since at least the 1960s but were first addressed by the Internal Revenue Service in 2002. Not much more happened on that front until Obama's lame-duck period. In December 2016, he signed the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which was mainly a funding bill supporting the National Institutes of Health as it addressed the opioid crisis. But, just like the right to free emergency room treatment was nested in the larger COBRA law, the legal framework of Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangements was tucked away in a corner of the Cures Act. QSEHRAs, offered only by companies with fewer than 50 full-time employees, allow firms to let their employees pick their insurance coverage off the Obamacare exchanges. The firms pay the employees back for some or all of the cost of those premiums. The employees then become ineligible for the premium tax credit provided by the ACA, but a well-constructed QSEHRA will meet or exceed the value of that subsidy. That brings this timeline to one last innovation, which expands QSEHRA-like treatment to companies with more than 50 employees or aspiring to have them. Introducing ICHRAs Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements , or ICHRAs, were established by a 2019 IRS rule . ICHRAs allow firms of any size to offer employees tax-free contributions to cover up to 100% of their individual health insurance premiums as well as other eligible medical expenses. Instead of offering insurance policies directly, companies advise employees to shop on a government-sponsored exchange and select the best plan that suits their needs. Employer reimbursement rather than an advance premium tax credit reduces premiums. And because these plans are already ACA-compliant, there's no risk to the employer that they won't meet coverage or affordability standards. The U.S. is never going back to the mid-20th century model of lifetime employment at one company. Now, with remote employees and gig workers characterizing the workforce, the portability of an ICHRA provides some consistency for those who expect to be independent contractors for their entire careers. Simultaneously, allows bootstrap-phase startups to offer the dignity of health coverage to their Day One associates. How We Got Here, Where We're Headed—A Fairer, Kinder Health Care System The U.S. health care system can feel clunky and confusing to navigate. It is also regressive and penalizes startups and small businesses. For a country founded by entrepreneurs, it's sad that corporations like Google pay less for health care per employee than a small coffee shop in Florida. In many ways, ICHRA democratizes procuring health care coverage. In the same way that large employers enjoy the benefits of better rates, ICHRA plan quality and prices improve as the ICHRA risk pool grows. Moving away from the traditional employer model will change the incentive structure of the healthcare industry. Insurers will be able to compete and differentiate on the merits of their product. They will be incentivized to build products for people, not one-size-fits-all solutions for employers. This story was produced by Thatch and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.MrBeast has teamed up with Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady, and other star athletes, along with fellow YouTuber IShowSpeed, for his latest video. However, the fact that IShowSpeed and Ronaldo were in the same video but didn’t meet has fans of both creators gutted. YouTube star MrBeast released his video titled “Beat Ronaldo, Win $1,000,000” on November 30, featuring epic matchups between everyday people and some of the world’s most elite athletes. The collab includes Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles, MLB slugger Bryce Harper, U.S. Open golf champion Bryson DeChambeau, and football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. In the high-stakes challenges, contestants stood to win $100,000 for defeating their celebrity opponents, while losses meant the prize money would go to a charity chosen by the athlete. However, Ronaldo’s competition offered the ultimate jackpot: a $1 million prize for his challenger if they came out on top. The action kicked off with high school quarterback Jake competing against Tom Brady in a balloon-popping challenge. The goal’s to pop four balloons from varying distances to claim victory. Next, MrBeast’s friend Jonah faced off against Noah Lyles in a grueling 200-meter race. Later, Lyles also raced popular streamer IShowSpeed in a lightning-fast 50-meter sprint. The excitement continued with social media star Big Justice taking on Bryce Harper in a home run derby. Meanwhile, amateur golfer Aaron tested his skills against Bryson DeChambeau in a one-hole golf competition to determine who could score better. Finally, Ronaldo squared off against football fan Khalid in a $1 million target shootout, capping off the intense and entertaining series of events. Related: While fans have enjoyed the video , some were disappointed that Speed, who’s a Ronaldo superfan, didn’t share the screen with the football icon. “Excellent video. But not including Speed with Ronaldo is diabolical,” one person wrote. “Speed punching the air right now,” another quipped. Last week, MrBeast urged Ronaldo to collab with IShowSpeed during an interview, while Speed has previously shared that he’d love to work with the athlete if the opportunity ever arose.LVMH’s Luxury Ventures Fund (LLV) has acquired a minority stake in cult-favorite luggage brand Db , marking its very first investment in Norway and second in Scandinavia – the news comes just weeks after LLV announced a similar investment in Swedish label Our Legacy . Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Truls Brataas and free-skier Jon Olsson, Db has built a feverish fanbase from its base in Oslo made up of adventurers, extreme sports enthusiasts and modern day nomads who have all been drawn in by the brand’s simple and incredibly practical bags. Db offers a clear and concise product range – one you might call “minimalist”, especially when compared to other luggage brands with similar target demographics – with backpacks, duffels and totes designed to flow seamlessly between city life and the next big adventure. It creates luggage with a modern, style conscious traveller in mind, bags made with a mix of metal and polycarbonate materials that lend themselves equally to the brand’s elevated aesthetic as to its reputation for creating long-lasting, durable products. Often, the company offers just a handful of color options in some of its models – rarely much more, sometimes even just one. “This is the first-ever major funding round for Db,” Richard Collier, CEO of Db, tells Hypebeast. He added, “The funding will enable Db to accelerate its global development even further, with plans to increase brand awareness through strategic partnerships, double down on its core North European markets, as well as accelerate growth in the US and Asia.” Indeed, while this is Db’s biggest investment to date, it also marks the first time that LVMH’s LLV has invested in a B Corp certified company. According to B Corp’s official website, “Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.” In other words: B Corps often have a guiding sense of purpose that dictates and impacts both how they manage and how they deliver their top and bottom lines – a company morality that’s hard to find and easy to lose in today’s hyper-corporate world. It begs the question, then, how will an investment like this from such a huge, key player in global retail impact a small Scandinavian brand like Db? And what can we expect to see from it going forward? Collier, the company’s CEO, told Hypebeast that “the fund embraces the Db B Corp status,” and added that “Db will continue its sustainability journey with the launch of a ‘repair and re-commerce’ service in Europe in Q2.” The brand has also stated that expanding its retail presence in select new markets will be a key driver to its global success, with regions currently lacking a physical Db store including the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands and the Baltics. Stay tuned, it will be exciting to watch this next chapter in the brand’s journey and we will bring you developments as they happen.PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nick Dorn's 21 points helped Elon defeat Navy 69-63 on Saturday night. Dorn shot 6 of 15 from the field, including 6 for 13 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 4 from the line for the Phoenix (4-3). TK Simpkins scored 20 points while shooting 6 for 14 (4 for 7 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line and added six rebounds. TJ Simpkins had 15 points and shot 4 of 11 from the field, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 7 for 10 from the line. The Midshipmen (3-5) were led by Austin Benigni, who recorded 18 points. Sam Krist added 12 points and two steals for Navy. Cam Cole also recorded 11 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from . The Associated Press
Trump taps Charles Kushner, father of his son-in-law, as envoy to FranceWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. People are also reading... Charles Kushner arrives July 20, 2022, for the funeral of Ivana Trump in New York. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to Kushner's own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, sought. Christie blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump 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, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State 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, Secretary of Defense 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. Pam Bondi, Attorney General 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. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security 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. Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior 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., Secretary of Health and Human Services 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, Treasury Secretary 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. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary 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, Housing and Urban Development 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, Secretary of Transportation 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. Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy 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. Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education 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, Secretary of Agriculture 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. Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce 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, Secretary of Veterans Affairs 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, White House press secretary 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. Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director 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. John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director 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.” Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator 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.” Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission 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. Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations 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. Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO 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. Pete Hoekstra, Ambassador to Canada 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.” Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel 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. Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East 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. Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser 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, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy 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. Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ 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, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator 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 and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency 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, Office of Management and Budget 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. Additional selections to the incoming White House Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. 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.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ: CUBA) (the “Fund”) today announced that Thomas J. Herzfeld, Chairman of the Board of Directors has resigned from the Board as of December 31, 2024. Mr. Herzfeld has also resigned as Portfolio Manager for the Fund effective as of the same date. Mr. Herzfeld has held the position of Chairman since the Fund’s launch in 1994. He will retain the position of Chairman Emeritus and participate in board meetings on a non-voting basis. The Board has elected Cecilia Gondor to serve as Chairperson effective December 31, 2024. Ms. Gondor has served on the Board of Directors since 2014. She also served as Executive Vice President of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. (the Fund’s investment manager) from 1984 through May 2014. During her years at the investment manager, her research analysis garnered her the reputation as being one of the most knowledgeable analysts in the industry. Additionally, she was the Executive Vice President of Thomas J. Herzfeld & Co., Inc., a broker-dealer, from 1984 through 2010. Ms. Gondor currently is an owner and the Managing Member of L&M Management LLC group of partnerships, a residential and commercial office space investor located in Alexandria, Virginia. In addition, the Board has named Brigitta Herzfeld to fill the board vacancy created by Mr. Herzfeld’s resignation. Ms. Herzfeld is a current member of the investment manager’s executive committee and will join the Board as of December 31, 2024. She is a graduate of Bowdoin College (BA), Stanford University (MA) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology – MIT Sloan School of Management (MBA) and Wharton-Singapore Management University (Executive Management Program). She has held positions at Goldman, Sachs & Co and Lehman Brothers Japan, Inc. Mr. Herzfeld commented: “It has been my privilege and honor to serve on the Board of Directors of The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund for its entire history. As I approach my 80 th birthday, it is with much pride that I turn the leadership of the Fund over to a new generation. Cecilia Gondor has been a consistent source of expert guidance for the Fund for many years and is a great choice to take over the chair position. And Brigitta Herzfeld’s financial background and long history with our firm will be an invaluable source of expertise for the board. While I will remain active with the management company, it is clear that the time has come for me to step down from active leadership of the Fund. As Chairman Emeritus I will be working harder than ever to ensure that we maximize shareholder value; we are currently exploring several options that we think will be beneficial to our shareholders.” Mr. Herzfeld has had a long and illustrious career and is generally considered to be “the father of closed-end fund investing”. Mr. Herzfeld wrote the first of his six books on the subject of closed-end funds in 1979. He is the publisher of The Investor's Guide to Closed-End Funds monthly research report and is quoted and interviewed on the subject of closed-end funds by the world’s most renowned financial papers. He has served as a contributing editor for the Global Guide to Investing (published by Financial Times ), and The Encyclopedia of Investments . Ms. Gondor responded to her election to Chairperson: “To follow in the footsteps of Tom Herzfeld is a very humbling experience. He has been a mentor to me and many others in the closed-end fund industry. I look forward to working with Brigitta Herzfeld and the other board members to continue the work that Tom started 30 years ago and am honored to contribute to the legacy he has built in any way that I can.” A graduate of Philadelphia University in 1966, Mr. Herzfeld served in the United States Army Reserve from 1966-1972, and on active duty in 1967. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (LHD) from Philadelphia University in 2008. He joined the Wall Street firm Reynolds & Co., in 1968 and began a specialization in closed-end funds. He formed the NYSE member firm of Carlino, Herzfeld and Kemm in 1970 and served as the firm's Senior Partner at the age of 25. He also became an Allied Member of the NYSE, an Associate Member of the AMEX and a senior register options principal. In 1981, he formed a stock brokerage firm, Thomas J. Herzfeld & Co., Inc., that was the first to specialize in the field of closed-end funds. He created the industry's first and only Closed-End Fund Index, "The Herzfeld Average," which has been published in Barron’s weekly since its establishment in 1987. He also coined the term “lifeboat provisions” used in the industry to define tactics funds take to narrow discounts and keep prices afloat. About Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc., founded in 1984, is an SEC registered investment advisor, specializing in investment analysis and account management in closed-end funds. The Firm also specializes in investment in the Caribbean Basin. The HERZFELD/CUBA division of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. serves as the investment advisor to The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. a publicly traded closed-end fund (NASDAQ: CUBA). More information about the advisor can be found at www.herzfeld.com . Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. An investment in the Fund is subject to certain risks, including market risk. In general, shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value and at the time of sale may be trading on the exchange at a price which is more or less than the original purchase price or the net asset value. An investor should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Please read the Fund’s disclosure documents before investing. Forward-Looking Statements This press release, and other statements that TJHA or the Fund may make, may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to the Fund’s or TJHA’s future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions. TJHA and the Fund caution that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and TJHA and the Fund assume no duty to and do not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. With respect to the Fund, the following factors, among others, could cause actual events to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) changes and volatility in political, economic or industry conditions, particularly with respect to Cuba and other Caribbean Basin countries, the interest rate environment, foreign exchange rates or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in demand for the Fund or in the Fund’s net asset value; (2) the relative and absolute investment performance of the Fund and its investments; (3) the impact of increased competition; (4) the unfavorable resolution of any legal proceedings; (5) the extent and timing of any distributions or share repurchases; (6) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; (7) the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to the Fund or TJHA, as applicable; (8) terrorist activities, international hostilities and natural disasters, which may adversely affect the general economy, domestic and local financial and capital markets, specific industries or TJHA or the Fund; (9) TJHA’s and the Fund’s ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals; (10) the impact of TJHA electing to provide support to its products from time to time; (11) the impact of problems at other financial institutions or the failure or negative performance of products at other financial institutions; and (12) the effects of an epidemic, pandemic or public health emergency, including without limitation, COVID-19. Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and other regulatory filings of the Fund with the SEC are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on TJHA’s website at www.herzfeld.com/cuba, and may discuss these or other factors that affect the Fund. The information contained on TJHA’s website is not a part of this press release. Contact: Tom Morgan Chief Compliance Officer Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. 1-305-777-1660Yin avoids penalty to keep lead as Korda charges at LPGA Tour ChampionshipThe Irish Times view on not entering government: a rational calculation
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Secretly recorded videos are backbone of corruption trial for longest-serving legislative leaderThe Wanted star Max George has revealed that he is in hospital and could remain there over Christmas. He shared the devastating news on Instagram. The 36-year-old revealed he is having issues with his heart and told his followers how he had been feeling unwell yesterday so headed to hospital. There, he underwent tests before doctors made the scary discovery. In the emotional update, Max admitted he faces a difficult spell but knows he is in the best place. His lengthy message reads: "Yesterday I felt really unwell and was taken in to hospital. Unfortunately after some tests they’ve found that I have some issues with my heart. I have a lot more tests to determine the extent of the problems and what surgery I will need to get me back on my feet. "It’s gonna be a difficult few weeks / months... and Christmas in a hospital bed wasn’t exactly what I had planned! But, as always, I’m surrounded with love and support by my wonderful partner Maisie, her family, my family and friends.. and I’m 100% in the best place." READ MORE: Ireland snow forecast as Met Eireann issues major Christmas weather update READ MORE: 'Grinch' family caught on CCTV 'stealing Christmas decorations from restaurant' The star added that while the discovery is a "huge shock" and "a set back", it’s something he is willing to fight. "I count myself very lucky that this was caught when it was," he confessed before telling fans they can expect regular updates. He ended by joking: "I’ve probably got a month in a bed and there’s not THAT much to do! Let’s do this!" Max paired the post with an image of himself in a hospital bed wearing a hospital gown. Fans were quick to take to the comments section to share well wishes. Among them was Charlotte Hawkins, who wrote: "Oh my goodness hope all OK & you're back on your feet soon xx." His Irish bandmate Siva Kaneswaran also wrote: "Here for you brother. Rest up and get well soon." Former Love Island star Luca Bish commented: "Love ya bro," while 90s star Janice Robinson said: "Praying for you," alongside a love heart and praying hands emoji. Two weeks ago, the Max and Siva revealed they would be performing their first headline gig as The Wanted 2.0 in Manchester on February 27. It remains to be seen whether this will be affected. Max's health worries come two years after bandmate Tom Parker tragically died after a brain tumour battle. The singer was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour while his wife Kelsey was pregnant with their second child. Following the news of Tom's devastating passing, his bandmates have released a heartbreaking statement as they described the dad-of-two as their 'brother'. Max also shared his hospital post on Twitter/X, telling his followers: "Life's full of twists and turns... thanks for all your kind words of support." Max and partner Maisie Smith met while on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020. They currently live together in Manchester. The actress is best known for her role on EastEnders. The duo are expected to play a married couple in Jeff Wayne's musical version of The War Of The Worlds, which will tour in 2025. It remains to be seen whether this will still happen. In April, Max joked about their audition. He said: "It was a bit ropey in parts, but in the end, we got there and yeah, we're buzzing! We can't wait, it's going to be so good!" He added: "Honestly, we're so buzzing for it!" The duo are set to play the parts of Parson Nathaniel and Beth, who are a married couple on the show. They teased at the time that their characters are "against each other" as they have "different thoughts" on the aliens. After their GMB interview, the pair also took to Instagram to share the exciting news. Creating a shared post, which reveals the first date will kick off in March 2025 complete with a 3D hologram of Liam Neeson, they excitedly wrote: "CANNOT wait for this. Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. 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 .
FREMONT, Calif. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lam Research Corp. (Nasdaq: LRCX) today announced that Doug Bettinger , Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the following upcoming investor events: UBS Global Technology and AI Conference, December 3, 2024 , at 1:15 p.m. Pacific Time ( 2:15 p.m. Mountain Time ) Barclays 22 nd Annual Global Technology Conference, December 11, 2024 , at 8:40 a.m. Pacific Time Live audio webcasts of these presentations will be available to the public and can be accessed from the Investors' section of Lam's website at www.lamresearch.com . A replay of the audio webcasts will be available for two weeks after the presentation date. About Lam Research Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ: LRCX) is a global supplier of innovative wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. Lam's equipment and services allow customers to build smaller and better performing devices. In fact, today, nearly every advanced chip is built with Lam technology. We combine superior systems engineering, technology leadership, and a strong values-based culture, with an unwavering commitment to our customers. Lam Research is a FORTUNE 500 ® company headquartered in Fremont, California , with operations around the globe. Learn more at www.lamresearch.com (LRCX). IR Contact: Ram Ganesh Investor Relations (510) 572-1615 investor.relations@lamresearch.com Source: Lam Research Corporation, (Nasdaq: LRCX) View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lam-research-corporation-announces-participation-at-upcoming-conferences-302313593.html SOURCE Lam Research Corporation
NEW YORK — Juan Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. “They showed me a lot of love. ... How they're going to make it comfortable for me,” he said. "That's one of the things I was looking for." Soto was introduced at Citi Field a day after his deal was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, he was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and his agent, Scott Boras. “They always talk about family. They always talk about stick(ing) together,” Soto said. “That's one of the things that opened my eyes.” Security men in gray suits wearing earpieces were off to the side. People are also reading... Soto walked in led by Boras, wearing a dark suit, black turtle neck shirt and gold chain with his No. 22. “I’m excited by the Mets future,” Cohen said. “I think this accelerates our goal of winning championships.” Soto chose the Mets' offer on Sunday, deciding to leave the Yankees after helping them reach the World Series in his only season in the Bronx. Adames plans to play every day for Giants SAN FRANCISCO — Willy Adames wasted little time making one thing clear: He wants to play all 162 games for the San Francisco Giants. So when introduced as their new shortstop Thursday, Adames looked to his left and gently put a hand on manager Bob Melvin's right shoulder, smiled and said, “if he lets me.” Melvin might not need much convincing, thrilled to suddenly have stability at a position that lacked continuity this year in his first season as skipper. Adames didn't hesitate to also offer a thought to new boss Buster Posey: He plans to win a few championships with the Giants just like the catcher-turned-executive did here. Surrounded by his parents and other family and friends, Adames was formally introduced and welcomed at Oracle Park after signing a $182 million, seven-year contract — the first big, splashy move made by Posey since he became President of Baseball Operations in late September. “There’s no words to describe my feeling right now to be here in this beautiful city, I’m just so happy to be here,” Adames said. "... This is a dream come true for me. I’m thrilled to be here, I’m so excited. Hopefully we can win a few championships like you did, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.” Franco trial delayed five months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, was postponed on Thursday and scheduled to resume June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Only three out of 31 witnesses arrived to the hearing on Thursday. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. “There is no case against Wander, for as many witnesses as they present, there is no case now,” Franco's lead lawyer Teodosio Jáquez told The Associated Press after the hearing. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Get local news delivered to your inbox!A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis describes an innovative method of analyzing mammograms that significantly improves the accuracy of predicting the risk of breast cancer development over the following five years. Using up to three years of previous mammograms, the new method identified individuals at high risk of developing breast cancer 2.3 times more accurately than the standard method, which is based on questionnaires assessing clinical risk factors alone, such as age, race and family history of breast cancer. The study is published Dec. 5 in JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics . We are seeking ways to improve early detection, since that increases the chances of successful treatment. This improved prediction of risk also may help research surrounding prevention, so that we can find better ways for women who fall into the high-risk category to lower their five-year risk of developing breast cancer." Graham A. Colditz, MD, DrPH, senior author, associate director of Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, and the Niess-Gain Professor of Surgery This risk-prediction method builds on past research led by Colditz and lead author Shu (Joy) Jiang, PhD, a statistician, data scientist and associate professor of surgery in the Division of Public Health Sciences at WashU Medicine. The researchers showed that prior mammograms hold a wealth of information on early signs of breast cancer development that can't be perceived even by a well-trained human eye. This information includes subtle changes over time in breast density, which is a measure of the relative amounts of fibrous versus fatty tissue in the breasts. For the new study, the team built an algorithm based on artificial intelligence that can discern subtle differences in mammograms and help identify those women at highest risk of developing a new breast tumor over a specific timeframe. In addition to breast density, their machine-learning tool considers changes in other patterns in the images, including in texture, calcification and asymmetry within the breasts. "Our new method is able to detect subtle changes over time in repeated mammogram images that are not visible to the eye," said Jiang, yet these changes hold rich information that can help identify high-risk individuals. At the moment, risk-reduction options are limited and can include drugs such as tamoxifen that lower risk but may have unwanted side effects. Most of the time, women at high risk are offered more frequent screening or the option of adding another imaging method, such as an MRI, to try to identify cancer as early as possible. "Today, we don't have a way to know who is likely to develop breast cancer in the future based on their mammogram images," said co-author Debbie L. Bennett, MD, an associate professor of radiology and chief of breast imaging for the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at WashU Medicine. "What's so exciting about this research is that it indicates that it is possible to glean this information from current and prior mammograms using this algorithm. The prediction is never going to be perfect, but this study suggests the new algorithm is much better than our current methods." AI improves prediction of breast cancer development The researchers trained their machine-learning algorithm on the mammograms of more than 10,000 women who received breast cancer screenings through Siteman Cancer Center from 2008 – 2012. These individuals were followed through 2020, and in that time 478 were diagnosed with breast cancer. Related Stories Exploring the potential of MSCs in cancer therapy Fibroblastic reticular cells power immune defenses in lung cancer Cancer cells block T-cell activation, but new therapies restore immune defenses The researchers then applied their method to predict breast cancer risk in a separate set of patients -; more than 18,000 women who received mammograms through Emory University in the Atlanta area from 2013 – 2020. Subsequently, 332 women were diagnosed with breast cancer during the follow-up period, which ended in 2020. According to the new prediction model, women in the high-risk group were 21 times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer over the following five years than were those in the lowest-risk group. In the high-risk group, 53 out of every 1,000 women screened developed breast cancer over the next five years. In contrast, in the low-risk group, 2.6 women per 1,000 screened developed breast cancer over the following five years. Under the old questionnaire-based methods, only 23 women per 1,000 screened were correctly classified in the high-risk group, providing evidence that the old method, in this case, missed 30 breast cancer cases that the new method found. The mammograms were conducted at academic medical centers and community clinics, demonstrating that the accuracy of the method holds up in diverse settings. Importantly, the algorithm was built with robust representation of Black women, who are usually underrepresented in development of breast cancer risk models. The accuracy for predicting risk held up across racial groups. Of the women screened through Siteman, most were white, and 27% were Black. Of those screened through Emory, 42% were Black. In ongoing work, the researchers are testing the algorithm in women of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, including those of Asian, southeast Asian and Native American descent, to help ensure that the method is equally accurate for everyone. The researchers are working with WashU's Office of Technology Management toward patents and licensing on the new method with the goal of making it broadly available anywhere screening mammograms are provided. Colditz and Jiang also are working toward founding a start-up company around this technology. Jiang S, Bennett DL, Rosner BA, Tamimi RM, Colditz GA. Development and validation of a dynamic 5-year breast cancer risk model using repeated mammograms. JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics. Dec. 5, 2024. This work was supported by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Jiang and Colditz have patents pending related to this work, predicting disease risk using radiomic images. Washington University School of Medicine Jiang, S., et al. (2024). Development and Validation of Dynamic 5-Year Breast Cancer Risk Model Using Repeated Mammograms. JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics . doi.org/10.1200/cci-24-00200 .Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Airbnb ABNB , and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in ABNB usually suggests something big is about to happen. We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 12 extraordinary options activities for Airbnb. This level of activity is out of the ordinary. The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 66% leaning bullish and 25% bearish. Among these notable options, 4 are puts, totaling $348,588, and 8 are calls, amounting to $427,551. What's The Price Target? Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $130.0 to $145.0 for Airbnb over the recent three months. Volume & Open Interest Trends In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Airbnb stands at 2140.78, with a total volume reaching 3,319.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Airbnb, situated within the strike price corridor from $130.0 to $145.0, throughout the last 30 days. Airbnb 30-Day Option Volume & Interest Snapshot Largest Options Trades Observed: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume ABNB PUT SWEEP BEARISH 02/21/25 $8.1 $8.1 $8.1 $135.00 $264.0K 511 388 ABNB CALL SWEEP NEUTRAL 01/17/25 $7.25 $7.05 $7.05 $130.00 $141.2K 4.2K 213 ABNB CALL SWEEP BULLISH 01/17/25 $6.9 $6.85 $6.9 $130.00 $69.0K 4.2K 213 ABNB CALL TRADE BULLISH 01/17/25 $1.51 $1.5 $1.51 $145.00 $60.4K 5.9K 454 ABNB CALL SWEEP BULLISH 01/17/25 $2.82 $2.69 $2.82 $140.00 $42.3K 4.8K 491 About Airbnb Started in 2008, Airbnb is the world's largest online alternative accommodation travel agency, also offering booking services for boutique hotels and experiences. Airbnb's platform offered over 8 million active accommodation listings as of Sept. 30, 2024. Listings from the company's over 5 million hosts are spread over almost every country in the world. In 2023, 50% of revenue was from the North American region. Transaction fees for online bookings account for all its revenue. Having examined the options trading patterns of Airbnb, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance Where Is Airbnb Standing Right Now? Currently trading with a volume of 2,537,634, the ABNB's price is down by -4.19%, now at $131.71. RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold. Anticipated earnings release is in 60 days. Expert Opinions on Airbnb In the last month, 2 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $127.0. Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days? 20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. Click here for access .* Maintaining their stance, an analyst from DA Davidson continues to hold a Neutral rating for Airbnb, targeting a price of $131. * An analyst from Truist Securities persists with their Hold rating on Airbnb, maintaining a target price of $123. Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Airbnb options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro . © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Kohl's Announces CEO Transition ProcessPublished 5:23 pm Friday, December 6, 2024 By Data Skrive The Memphis Grizzlies against the Boston Celtics is one game in particular to watch on a Saturday NBA schedule that has seven compelling contests. Here you can find info on live coverage of all of today’s NBA action. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get access to games, live and on-demand, and more for the entire season and offseason. Watch ESPN originals, The Last Dance and more NBA content on ESPN+. Use our link to sign up for ESPN+ or the Disney bundle. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .
Thousands of Syrians gathered in Damascus’ main square and a historic mosque for the first Muslim Friday prayers since former President Bashar Assad was overthrown , a major symbolic moment for the country’s dramatic change of power. The rebels are now working to establish security and start a political transition after seizing the capital on Sunday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Friday, pressing ahead with efforts to unify Middle East nations in support of a peaceful political transition in Syria. It’s part of Blinken’s 12th trip to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year in Gaza but his first after Assad was ousted. The U.S. is also making a renewed push for an ceasefire in Gaza, where the war has plunged more than 2 million Palestinians into a severe humanitarian crisis. Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The October 2023 attack by Hamas in southern Israel that sparked the war killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and around 250 others were taken hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: Dutch court rejects lawsuit from rights groups seeking to halt arms sales to Israel THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Dutch court on Friday rejected a bid from human rights groups to block weapons exports to Israel and trading with the occupied territories, after finding there were sufficient checks already in place to comply with international law. The ten organizations told The Hague District Court last month that they thought the Netherlands was in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, drawn up following World War II, by continuing to sell weapons to Israel more than a year into the conflict in Gaza. “The government uses my own tax money, that I pay, to kill my own family. I’ve lost 18 members of my own family,” Ahmed Abofoul, a legal adviser for the pro-Palestinian organization Al-Haq, one of the groups involved in the lawsuit, told the court during a hearing in November . The court ruling said that “it is not up to the interim relief judge to order the state to reconsider government policy. That is primarily a political responsibility.” Lawyers for the government argued it wasn’t up to a judge to decide foreign policy for the Netherlands. The activist groups pointed to several emergency orders from another court, the International Court of Justice, as confirming the obligation to stop weapons sales. In January, the top U.N. court said it was plausible Palestinians were being deprived of some rights protected under the Genocide Convention. The coalition said it will review the court’s ruling and is considering an appeal. Israel attacks a hospital in northern Gaza, wounding 3 medical staff amid a night of ‘relentless’ bombardment CAIRO — Israeli attacks in and around a hospital in northern Gaza wounded three medical staff overnight into Friday and caused damage to the isolated medical facility, according to its director. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya said Israeli quadcopter drones carrying explosives deliberately targeted the emergency and reception area of Kamal Adwan Hospital, where one doctor was wounded for a third time. Abu Safiya said “relentless” drone and artillery strikes throughout the night exploded “alarmingly close” to the hospital, heavily damaging nearby buildings and destroying most of the water tanks on the hospital’s roof and blowing out doors and windows. Kamal Adwan Hospital in the town of Beit Lahiya has been hit multiple times over the past two months since Israel launched a fierce military operation against Hamas in northern Gaza. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strikes. “We demand international protection for the hospital and its staff,” Abu Safiya said in a statement released via the U.K.-based aid group Medical Aid for Palestinians, “as well as the entry of delegations with surgical expertise, medical supplies, and essential medications to ensure we can adequately serve the people we are treating.” Abu Safiya said there were 72 wounded patients at the hospital, one of the few medical facilities left in northern Gaza. He said he expected Israeli forces would allow a World Health Organization aid convoy to bring supplies to the hospital on Friday or Saturday, as well as a team of doctors from Indonesia. Israel has allowed almost no humanitarian or medical aid to enter the three besieged communities in northern Gaza — Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and the urban Jabaliya refugee camp — and ordered tens of thousands to flee to nearby Gaza City. Israeli officials have said the three communities are mostly deserted, but the United Nations humanitarian office said Tuesday it believes around 65,000 to 75,000 people are still there, with little access to food, water, electricity or health care. Experts have warned that the north may be experiencing famine . Blinken makes unannounced stop in Iraq amid push to stabilize post-Assad Syria BAGHDAD — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced stop in Iraq on Friday on his latest visit to the Middle East aimed at stabilizing the situation in Syria to prevent further regional turmoil. Blinken met in Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani as part of the hastily arranged trip, his 12th to the region since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian strongman Bashar Assad. Blinken has already been to Jordan and Turkey on his current tour and will return to Jordan for urgent meetings on Saturday with Arab foreign ministers to try to unify support for an inclusive post-Assad transition that does not allow the Islamic State group to take advantage of the political vacuum in Syria and secures suspected chemical weapons stocks. In Baghdad, Blinken “will underscore U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership and to Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty,” the State Department said. “He will also discuss regional security opportunities and challenges, as well as enduring U.S. support for engagement with all communities in Syria to establish an inclusive transition,” it said in a statement. His trip comes as the Biden administration winds down with just over a month left before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump has been highly critical of Biden’s approach to the Middle East and skeptical of the U.S. military presence in both Iraq and Syria. The U.S. and Iraq agreed in September to wrap up U.S.-led military operations against the Islamic State in Iraq next year, although Assad’s ouster and the potential for the group taking advantage of a political vacuum in Syria could complicate the timing of the withdrawal, according to American officials. Bahrain says it is willing to provide support for Syria in international organizations DAMASCUS — The kingdom of Bahrain sent a message Friday to Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It said Bahrain is “fully prepared to consult with you continuously and to provide support in regional and international organizations to achieve what is in the interest of the brotherly Syrian people.” It added, “We look forward to Syria regaining its authentic role in the Arab League.” Bahrain is the current head of the Arab summit. Syria was readmitted to the Arab League last year after 12 years of ostracization. It is still unclear how the international community will deal officially with the new interim government in Syria. Israel’s defense minister asks troops to prepare to remain through the winter on Syria's Mount Hermon JERUSALEM - Israel’s defense minister told troops to prepare to remain through the winter months on the peak of Mount Hermon, Syria’s highest point, located in a swath of southern Syria that Israeli troops moved into after the fall of Damascus to insurgents. The comments by Defense Minister Israel Katz signaled that the military will extend its occupation of the zone along the border, which Israel says it seized to create a buffer zone. In a statement Friday, Katz said that holding the peak was of major importance for Israel’s security and that it would be necessary to build facilities there to sustain troops through the winter. The summit of Mount Hermon, the highest peak on the eastern Mediterranean coast at 2,814 meters (9,232 feet), gives a commanding view over the plains of southern Syria. It also positions Israeli troops about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the center of Damascus. The mount is divided between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Lebanon and Syria. Only the United States recognizes Israel’s control of the Golan Heights. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israeli troops would remain in the zone until another force across the border in Syria could guarantee security. Israeli troops moved into the zone -– set as a demilitarized area inside Syrian territory under truce deals that ended the 1973 Mideast war -- after the regime of Bashar al-Assad fell last weekend. Blinken says there's ‘broad agreement’ between US and Turkey on Syria's future ANKARA, Turkey -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the United States on what they would like to see in Syria following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. “There’s broad agreement on what we would like to see going forward, starting with the interim government in Syria, one that is inclusive and non-sectarian and one that protects the rights of minorities and women” and does not “pose any kind of threat to any of Syria’s neighbors,” Blinken said in joint statements with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The insurgent groups that toppled Assad in Syria have not made clear their policy or stance on Israel, whose military in recent days has bombed sites all over the country, saying it is trying to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands. Blinken also said it was crucial to keep the Islamic State group under control. “We also discussed the imperative of continuing the efforts to keep ISIS down. Our countries worked very hard and gave a lot over many years to ensure the elimination of the territorial caliphate of ISIS to ensure that that threat doesn’t rear its head again,” Blinken said. The Turkish foreign minister said the two discussed ways of establishing prosperity in Syria and ending terrorism in the country. “Our priority is establishing stability in Syria as soon as possible, preventing terrorism from gaining ground, and ensuring that IS and the PKK aren’t dominant,” Fidan said, in a reference to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party. Blinken said: “We’re very focused on Syria, very focused on the opportunity that now is before us and before the Syrian people to move from out from under the shackles of Bashar al-Assad to a different and better future for the Syrian people, one that the Syrian people decide for themselves.” Blinken and Fidan said they had also discussed a ceasefire for Gaza. “We’ve seen in the last couple of weeks more encouraging signs that (a ceasefire) is possible,” Blinken said. Blinken, who is making his 12th trip to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but first since the weekend ouster of Assad, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Thursday. The outgoing Biden administration is particularly concerned that a power vacuum in Syria could exacerbate already heightened tensions in the region, which is already wracked by multiple conflicts, and create conditions for the Islamic State group to regain territory and influence. Later Friday, Blinken is to return to Jordan for meetings on Saturday with Arab foreign ministers and senior officials from the European Union, the Arab League and the United Nations. Turkey to reopen its embassy in Syria ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkey has appointed a temporary charge d’affaires to reopen its embassy in Syria, Turkey’s state-run news agency reported. The Turkish Embassy in Damascus had suspended operations in 2012 due to the escalating security problems during the Syrian civil war and embassy staff and their families were recalled to Turkey. The Anadolu Agency said late Thursday that Turkey appointed Burhan Koroglu, its ambassador in Mauritania, to the post. 2 UN aid convoys violently attacked in Gaza, US food agency says UNITED NATIONS- – Two U.N. aid convoys were violently attacked in Gaza, making it virtually impossible for humanitarian agencies to operate without putting staff and civilians at risk, the U.N. food agency says. On Wednesday, a 70-truck convoy from Kerem Shalom was waiting for personnel to safeguard the food and other aid destined for central Gaza when there were reported attacks by Israeli forces in the nearby humanitarian zone, the U.N. World Food Program said Thursday. More than 50 people are now estimated to have died in the attacks, including civilians and local security personnel who had been expected to ensure the convoy’s safety, WFP said. The Rome-based agency said the convoy was forced to proceed from Kerem Shalom to central Gaza without any security arrangements, using the Philadelphi corridor, an Israeli-controlled route that had been recently approved and successfully utilized twice. On the way, WFP said, conflict and insecurity led to a loss of communication with the convoy for more than 12 hours. ”Eventually, the trucks were found but all food and aid supplies were looted,” the U.N. agency said. In a second incident, Israeli soldiers approached a WFP convoy moving out of the Kissufim crossing into central Gaza, fired warning shots, conducted extensive security checks, and temporarily detained drivers and staff, the agency said. “As the trucks were delayed, four out of the five trucks were lost to violent armed looting,” WFP said. UN chief urges Israel to stop attacks on Syria UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations chief has a message for Israel: Stop the attacks on Syria. Secretary-General António Guterres is particularly concerned about several hundred Israeli airstrikes on several Syrian locations and stresses “the urgent need to de-escalate violence on all fronts throughout the country," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Thursday. The Israeli military said Tuesday it carried out more than 350 strikes in Syria over the previous 48 hours, hitting “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country to stop them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also acknowledged pushing into a buffer zone inside Syria following last week’s overthrow of President Bashar Assad. The buffer zone was established after Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1973 war. Dujarric said Guterres condemns all actions violating the 1974 ceasefire agreement between the two countries that remain in force. And the U.N. chief calls on the parties to uphold the agreement and end “all unauthorized presence in the area of separation” and refrain from any action undermining the ceasefire and stability in the Golan Heights, the spokesman said.VEEA and MARQUEE Wireless Announce a Strategic Partnership that Extends Cellular Networks with Groundbreaking Smart City and Smart Energy ApplicationsAircraft Platforms Market worth $301.19 Billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.2% 12-06-2024 08:22 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire Aircraft Platforms Market The Global Aircraft Platforms Market Size was valued at USD 235.24 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach USD 301.19 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period. The report "Aircraft Platforms Market [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/aircraft-platforms-market-158064874.html?utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=aircraftplatformsmarket ] by Type (Transport Aircraft, Special Missions Aircraft, UAVs), Power Source (Fuel Cell, SAF-Based, Battery-Powered), Propulsion Technology (Turbofan, Turfoprop, Turbojet, Electric) and Region - Global forecast to 2030" The global aircraft platforms market is projected to reach USD 301.19 billion by 2030, from USD 235.24 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 4.2%. This growth is mainly driven by increased air traffic, higher defense budgets due to geopolitical tensions, advancements in aerospace technology, and evolving UAV and UAM regulations. Key developments focusing on enhancing aircraft efficiency, integrating advanced technologies such as AI, and increasing payload capacities. Additionally, the leading players in this market focus on large R&D expenditures in creating advanced systems to fulfill strategic requirements of all major countries, which also include the North American, European, Asian-Pacific, and Middle East regions. Download PDF Brochure @ [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=158064874&utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=aircraftplatformsmarket ] Browse 539 market data Tables and 88 Figures spread through 395 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Aircraft Platforms Market" View detailed Table of Content here - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/aircraft-platforms-market-158064874.html [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/aircraft-platforms-market-158064874.html?utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=aircraftplatformsmarket ] [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/aircraft-platforms-market-158064874.html?utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=PaidPR&utm_campaign=aircraftplatformsmarket ] Based on type, the unmanned aerial vehicles segment is estimated to grow at highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. The UAVs segment is estimated to have highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is primarily because due to their expanding applications in commercial sectors like delivery services, infrastructure inspection, and agriculture, alongside crucial military uses such as surveillance and targeted strikes. The rise in UAV adoption is bolstered by significant technological enhancements that improve operational efficiency, including longer flight durations, greater payload capacities, and enhanced autonomous operations. The integration of sophisticated AI algorithms is transforming UAVs into more autonomous systems capable of complex, decision-making tasks without direct human control. Regulatory environments are also evolving to better accommodate UAV operations, further facilitating growth by defining clearer paths to market for UAV technologies. This combination of advanced capabilities, expanding use cases, and supportive regulations underlines the dynamic expansion of UAVs within the global aircraft platforms market. Based on propulsion technology, the Piston Engine Aircraft segment is forecasted to grow at second highest CAGR during forecast period. The piston engine segment is forecasted to grow at the second highest CAGR during the forecast period in aircraft platforms market. Piston engine aircraft are anticipated to experience the second highest growth rate within the aircraft platforms market due to their cost-effectiveness and essential role in pilot training. These aircraft are significantly cheaper to acquire and operate which makes them ideal for flight schools and private owners, and aligns with the increasing global demand for commercial pilots. Technological improvements have also enhanced the efficiency and environmental compliance of piston engines which enables them to meet stricter emission standards and operate on cleaner fuels like unleaded gasoline. Furthermore, their ability to take off and land on shorter runways and their versatility for use in various flying activities such as from recreational to bush flying drives the market demand. Manufacturers are capitalizing on these attributes by developing new models equipped with advanced avionics and improved safety features, driving broader adoption across the aviation industry. North America is expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period. The aircraft platforms market in north america is expected to hold largest market share during forecast period. North America will lead the share of aircraft platforms during the forecast period driven by substantial investments in both civil and military sectors. The region's dominance is supported by robust infrastructure for aviation manufacturing and a high concentration of leading aerospace companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Northrop Grumman Corporation. These firms are continually innovating in terms of technology and design, particularly focusing on sustainability, reducing emissions, and improving fuel efficiency in civil aircraft, while integrating advanced technologies in military aircraft for superior capabilities in surveillance, stealth, and combat. The growth in North America is also driven by a strong demand for new aircraft to replace aging fleets and to expand capacities in response to increasing air travel demand. Additionally, the US government's significant defense budget allocates funds for advanced fighter jets, helicopters, and UAVs, ensuring ongoing investment in next-generation aircraft. All those segments and regions have drivers and restraints traceable back to either technological advancement or strategic defense requirements and, in aggregate, serve growth for the aircraft platforms sector. Key players in the aircraft platforms market are Airbus (France), Boeing (US), Embraer (Brazil), Textron Inc. (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), General Dynamics (US), Northrop Grumman (US), Israel Aerospace Industries (Israel), Leonardo S.p.A (Italy), DJI (China), Bombardier (Canada), Ehang (China), ATR (France), General Atomics (US), Teledyne Flir LLC (US), Vertical Aerospace (UK), Archer Aviation (US), Dassault Aviation (France), and RTX (US). Media Contact Company Name: MarketsandMarkets Trademark Research Private Ltd. Contact Person: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=aircraft-platforms-market-worth-30119-billion-by-2030-at-a-cagr-of-42 ] Phone: 18886006441 Address:1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 City: Delray Beach State: Florida Country: United States Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/aircraft-platforms-market-158064874.html This release was published on openPR.
(BPT) - Consumers are facing increasing costs on virtually every purchase these days and auto insurance is no exception. While skyrocketing costs of this auto-related expense can be attributed to everything from parts replacement to service — even health costs as a result of accidents — consumers can better manage these increases with thoughtful study and attention to detail. Some of the common causes for higher insurance rates are Inflation, car accidents, extreme weather conditions such as hail, hurricanes and wind, along with increased vehicle theft claims. Mercury Insurance has partnered with financial literacy influencer Sam Jarman to highlight specific ways consumers can address these rising costs. "Your car is the second biggest expense for most people, right behind your home, and car insurance is a big part of that," said Jarman. "Checking rates and coverage with your Mercury Insurance agent makes sense along with choosing a car with low maintenance costs." According to Consumer Price Index data released earlier this year, car insurance rates are up almost 21% year-over-year for the 12 months which ended in February. The last time car insurance rates rose that much on an annual basis was 1976. Here are some auto insurance statistics recently released from Forbes : "Our goal is to help our customers get the best rates possible because we know that every dollar counts." said Justin Yoshizawa, Director, Product Management, State. "We encourage consumers to build a close relationship with their agent and discuss what discounts they may be eligible to receive. The answer might be surprising." Mercury offers the following tips for lowering your insurance costs: Review your deductibles with your insurance agent – It is recommended that you review your coverage and deductible with your Mercury agent at least once a year. Their wisdom and experience can help you make wise decisions regarding your insurance. Explore car insurance discounts – In addition to bundling your home and auto insurance, Mercury offers discounts for multi-car, good drivers, good students and auto pay. Your agent may have additional discounts to offer. Let Your Insurer Track Your Driving – Most insurers offer discounts for customers who install telematics. This technology allows your insurance company to collect information regarding your mileage and driving habits. This can also provide valuable information regarding your driving as well as saving you money. Drive a safe car with low repair costs – According to Bankrate , some of the cheapest cars to insure are the Subaru Outback, Honda CR-V and Honda Pilot. Also, look for cars with lower repair costs such as the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius and Tesla Model 3. Doing some research before you purchase a vehicle can save you money over the length of ownership. Install an anti-theft device on your car – Drivers may receive an additional discount on your auto insurance if you install an anti-theft device on your car. Before you buy a car, compare insurance costs – You can get a fast and easy quote from your Mercury Insurance agent. To receive a quote, you can reach us at 844-514-2893. To learn more about common types of auto insurance discounts, visit https://www.mercuryinsurance.com/resources/auto/understanding-types-of-auto-insurance-discounts.html . For more information on your auto insurance, you can reference the Insurance Information Institute .The Ravens looked better defensively last week, but now Roquan Smith’s injury is a concernMLB NOTES
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday’s Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech to his nation that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia’s bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. “The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined,” he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow’s talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick... there will be consequences,” he said. Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday’s missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He underlined that the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday’s previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations “in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who added this is not the first time such a threat has been received. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office continued to work in compliance with standard security measures, a spokesperson said. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile, whose name in Russian means “hazelnut tree,” was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region, and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. The missile had six nonnuclear warheads each carrying six submunitions and reached a spoeed of Mach 11, it said. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday’s attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles (6 1/2 kilometers) southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad. The stricken area was cordoned off and out of public view. With no fatalities reported from the attack, Dnipro residents resorted to dark humor on social media, mostly focused on the missile’s name, Oreshnik. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia struck a residential district of Sumy overnight with Iranian-designed Shahed drones, killing two people and injuring 13, the regional administration said.. Ukraine’s Suspilne media, quoting Sumy regional head Volodymyr Artiukh, said the drones were stuffed with shrapnel elements. “These weapons are used to destroy people, not to destroy objects,” said Artiukh, according to Suspilne. —— Associated Press journalists Lorne Cook in Brussels, Samya Kullab in Kyiv, Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, and Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary, contributed. —— Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.
Far-right streamer Nick Fuentes, who usually welcomes publicity, received the type he probably didn’t want after Donald Trump’s election victory. The 26-year old white supremacist and antisemite, who has been banned from multiple social media sites for violating hate speech policies, posted on X: “Your body, my choice. Forever.” Although Fuentes has denied being a white supremacist, the U.S. Department of Justice characterized him as such in a brief related to the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. And, judging from the snippets of his opinions that I have heard, Including his trolling about women’s bodies, he appears to fit the description of an all-around bigot. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue, which tracks online hate speech, reported this consequence of Fuentes’ tweet: a 4,600 percent increase in the usage of the terms “your body, my choice” and “get back in the kitchen” on X during a 24-hour period, according to the Washington Post. In response, women started trolling the troll, posting messages aimed at Fuentes and “doxxing” him with suggestions to send tampons, sex toys and other appropriate gifts to his home. “His address, my choice,” one clever user wrote. Kids, do not try this at home. Two wrongs don’t make a right, no matter how amusing it may seem. Such is the price of carefully cultivated infamy. A long-time denizen of the internet’s dark fringes, Fuentes’ renown has grown by leaps after his suspended account on Elon Musk’s X was reinstated earlier this year. A known leader among the angry grievance gangs in the online hive of far-right and neo-Nazi trolls widely known as the “manosphere,” among other labels, Fuentes should not be viewed as anything more than a nuisance, in my view. And, in fairness — and under advice offered forcefully by my millennial generation son — I don’t want to give the impression that every fan of Joe Rogan, Andrew Tate or other hairy-chested manly-men streamers is a member of the angry manosphere. Rather, the manosphere conversation is a product of the widespread anger, frustration and disenchantment that has led to the surprisingly large drop-off in support AND votes for the Democratic Party’s candidates. Trump’s winning strategy involved luring and enlisting mostly a male-oriented following that was largely voting for the first time. That formerly apathetic group paid off well for Trump in his previous campaigns. But it worked for him even more in his contest against Democrat Kamala Harris. He pulled out all the stops and it paid off even more. Scott Galloway, a New York University marketing professor who has studied disengaged young men for decades, told CNN that this election should be remembered as the “testosterone podcast election.” For the first time in U.S. history, a 35-year-old man without a college diploma is making less than his parents were, Galloway observed, citing averages. ”Against that, do (such issues as) trans rights or the territorial sovereignty of Palestinians even register on your screen?” In other words, Galloway is saying what many other critics, including me, have said about today’s Democrats and Harris’ campaign: With its late start, unclear agenda and unfocused message, it failed to excite a critical number of otherwise persuadable voters as, day after day, the polls hardly moved from a 50-50 tie. Kamala Harris’s campaign was “predicated on the dominance and continuance” of a presumed “monoculture,” Jon Caramanica wrote in the New York Times. As a member in good standing of the monoculture, Harris could bask in the endorsements of Oprah, Beyonce and Taylor Swift. Meanwhile, Caramanica continued, “Trump, denied access to this monoculture, took an approach that was both fragmentary and more modern — and in many ways more attuned to the rhythm of a young person’s media diet. He leaned into the evanescent, the niche, the lightly scandalous.” Harris did do some fun podcasts like “Call Her Daddy” and “Club Shay Shay,” but as Caramanica pointed out, they did little to change the narrative of her campaign. Ever since Barack Obama made effective use of Twitter and other social media in the 2008 presidential race, we have seen new technology create new media that have played a central campaign role. But, contrary to Marshall McLuhan’s famous line, the medium is not always the message. Sure, give Trump credit for finding a medium through which to reach disaffected young men. In a tossup race, they helped put him on top. But one wonders if the result would have been different if Harris had reached out to this group with even a marginally more effective message, regardless of the media in question. To win over voters, you have to show them that you understand their problems and that, even when you may not have all the answers, you still truly want to solve those problems. As hard as it may be for Democrats to admit, Trump made a more persuasive case to those outside the monoculture. Email Clarence Page at cpage@chicagotribune.com.'Bas ab. Nahi lag raha zor': Jasprit Bumrah exhausted after Rohit Sharma tells him to bowl 'one more over'A big change in the ration system is coming in the new year. You will no longer need to show your ration card to collect various items from the ration dealer. A new system is being introduced. The ration card is one of the most important identity documents or government documents for Indian citizens. But now the importance of ration cards is going to decrease. Most people have smartphones these days. With a special mobile app on this smartphone, various items can be obtained from the ration dealer. A mobile app called Mera Ration 2.0 is being launched for the convenience of ration consumers. Various items can be collected from the ration dealer through this app. You don't have to carry a ration card with you. Download the Mera Ration 2.0 app on your smartphone and verify your Aadhaar. Then this app will become active. If you have the ration card information in the Mera Ration 2.0 app, just take your smartphone to the ration dealer. With the help of this app, the ration dealer can check the customer's information and give various items.
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The Los Angeles Chargers have been teasing fans with the possibility of introducing alternate helmets, and a recent video may have provided the strongest hint yet. In a promotional video for their collaboration with the Crenshaw City Skate Club , several players were spotted wearing sleek blue helmets. Chargers Embracing Their Dark Side With Navy Helmet While the team hasn’t officially confirmed any plans for alternate helmets, the timing of the video and the popularity of the blue helmet among fans have fueled speculation. It’s possible that the team is gearing up to unveil a new alternate helmet for the 2025 season or beyond. The idea of the Chargers wearing alternate helmets has been a popular topic among fans for years. The blue helmet, in particular, has been a fan favorite, as it harkens back to the Chargers uniforms of the 90s and early 2000s. If the team does decide to introduce alternate helmets, it could be a major boost to fan excitement and merchandise sales. Only time will tell if they will officially unveil alternate helmets. However, the recent video has certainly piqued the interest of fans and has created a buzz around the team. THIS IS FROM THE @CSC90008 PAGE??? THE CHARGERS SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM CROPPED OUT THE HELMET HELLO?? https://t.co/ZYVcEdwBNR pic.twitter.com/HcRIItqctz This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. But any efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It's been in place for decades and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. It's not the practice of every country, and Trump and his supporters have argued that the system is being abused and that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen. But others say this is a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, it would be extremely difficult to overturn and even if it's possible, it's a bad idea. Here's a look at birthright citizenship, what Trump has said about it and the prospects for ending it: During an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Trump said he “absolutely” planned to halt birthright citizenship once in office. “We’re going to end that because it’s ridiculous,” he said. Trump and other opponents of birthright citizenship have argued that it creates an incentive for people to come to the U.S. illegally or take part in “birth tourism,” in which pregnant women enter the U.S. specifically to give birth so their children can have citizenship before returning to their home countries. “Simply crossing the border and having a child should not entitle anyone to citizenship,” said Eric Ruark, director of research for NumbersUSA, which argues for reducing immigration. The organization supports changes that would require at least one parent to be a permanent legal resident or a U.S. citizen for their children to automatically get citizenship. Others have argued that ending birthright citizenship would profoundly damage the country. “One of our big benefits is that people born here are citizens, are not an illegal underclass. There’s better assimilation and integration of immigrants and their children because of birthright citizenship,” said Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the pro-immigration Cato Institute. In 2019, the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 5.5 million children under age 18 lived with at least one parent in the country illegally in 2019, representing 7% of the U.S. child population. The vast majority of those children were U.S. citizens. The nonpartisan think tank said during Trump’s campaign for president in 2015 that the number of people in the country illegally would “balloon” if birthright citizenship were repealed, creating “a self-perpetuating class that would be excluded from social membership for generations.” In the aftermath of the Civil War, Congress ratified the 14th Amendment in July 1868. That amendment assured citizenship for all, including Black people. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” the 14th Amendment says. “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” But the 14th Amendment didn't always translate to everyone being afforded birthright citizenship. For example, it wasn't until 1924 that Congress finally granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. A key case in the history of birthright citizenship came in 1898, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the states. The federal government had tried to deny him reentry into the county after a trip abroad on grounds he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act. But some have argued that the 1898 case clearly applied to children born of parents who are both legal immigrants to America but that it's less clear whether it applies to children born to parents without legal status or, for example, who come for a short-term like a tourist visa. “That is the leading case on this. In fact, it’s the only case on this,” said Andrew Arthur, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports immigration restrictions. “It’s a lot more of an open legal question than most people think.” Some proponents of immigration restrictions have argued the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in the 14th Amendment allows the U.S. to deny citizenship to babies born to those in the country illegally. Trump himself used that language in his 2023 announcement that he would aim to end birthright citizenship if reelected. Trump wasn't clear in his Sunday interview how he aims to end birthright citizenship. Asked how he could get around the 14th Amendment with an executive action, Trump said: “Well, we’re going to have to get it changed. We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.” Pressed further on whether he'd use an executive order, Trump said “if we can, through executive action." He gave a lot more details in a 2023 post on his campaign website . In it, he said he would issue an executive order the first day of his presidency, making it clear that federal agencies “require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident for their future children to become automatic U.S. citizens.” Trump wrote that the executive order would make clear that children of people in the U.S. illegally “should not be issued passports, Social Security numbers, or be eligible for certain taxpayer funded welfare benefits.” This would almost certainly end up in litigation. Nowrasteh from the Cato Institute said the law is clear that birthright citizenship can’t be ended by executive order but that Trump may be inclined to take a shot anyway through the courts. “I don’t take his statements very seriously. He has been saying things like this for almost a decade," Nowrasteh said. "He didn’t do anything to further this agenda when he was president before. The law and judges are near uniformly opposed to his legal theory that the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States are not citizens." Trump could steer Congress to pass a law to end birthright citizenship but would still face a legal challenge that it violates the Constitution. Associated Press reporter Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.Icici Bank Share Price Today Live Updates : On the last trading day, ICICI Bank's stock opened at 1298 and closed slightly higher at 1298.2. The shares reached a high of 1315.55 and a low of 1298 during the session. The bank's market capitalization stood at 915,785.3 crores. Over the past year, the stock recorded a 52-week high of 1361.35 and a low of 970.05, with a trading volume of 261,601 shares on the BSE. Icici Bank Share Price Live Updates: Consensus analysts rating is Buy Icici Bank Share Price Live Updates: The analyst recommendation trend is shown below with the current rating as Buy. These target price estimates are for the next 1 year. Icici Bank Share Price Live Updates: Icici Bank volume yesterday was 5 mn as compared to the 20 day avg of 12353 k Icici Bank Share Price Live Updates: The trading volume yesterday was 59.38% lower than the 20 day average. Yesterday’s NSE volume was 4 mn & BSE volume was 261 k. Icici Bank Share Price Live Updates: Icici Bank closed at ₹1298.2 on last trading day & the technical trend suggests Bearish near term outlook Icici Bank Share Price Live Updates: The stock traded in the range of 1315.55 & 1298 yesterday to end at 1307.15. Following a strong uptrend, the stock is indicating signs of a reversal.