Tim Stutzle on torrid place for 100-plus point season as Senators prepare to face Ducksbet with streamers 。

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Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdrawsDALLAS -- The Hilton Anatole has become Major League Baseball's top destination this week as teams converge for the winter meetings with writers, agents and even some fans circling the vast lobby floors. The biggest offseason news came down Sunday night, when the New York Mets and star free agent slugger Juan Soto reportedly agreed on a 15-year, $765 million deal, which would be the largest contract ever given to a professional athlete. That was a key talking point when managers started meeting with the media on Monday. Nationals manager Dave Martinez reflected on when he was Soto's first manager in the big leagues back in 2018. "This kid, he was different," Martinez said. "The ball comes off his bat differently. The way he approaches the hitting was way different than a lot of kids I've seen. But the one thing that I always remember about him, the first conversation I had, the first thing that came out of his mouth when I asked him what motivates him, what drives him, and he just came out and said, 'I love baseball.' Truly you can see it in him. He loves playing the game." The Red Sox were among the clubs in the mix for Soto. Boston manager Alex Cora didn't get into specific details, but he enjoyed the organization's pursuit of the four-time All Star. "It was fun in a way, you know, to get to know people and players of that status," Cora said. "It's amazing. The kid, he gets it. He gets it. Let me put it that way." Royals manager Matt Quatraro, meanwhile, spoke about the impact such a monumental contract may have on smaller market teams in order to compete in today's market. "We have to be creative. We have to put the best 26 guys on a roster or the best 40 guys on a roster, not the best one or two," Quatraro said. "At the end of the day, you have a chance to compete against those guys. Soto is going to hit four to five times a night. Those are impactful at-bats, but there's other ways to combat that with a full 26-man roster." Sasaki Posted Outside of the Soto reaction, Monday's other main storyline - at least going into the afternoon hours - centered on Japanese ace right-hander Roki Sasaki officially being posted. The 23-year-old phenom is available to sign as a free agent from Tuesday through 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 23. The rumor mill was churning with plenty of speculation and talk about where Sasaki might sign. He was just one of many big-name players being discussed on Monday. The list of top free agents behind Soto includes pitchers Corbin Burnes and Max Fried and infielders Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso and Christian Walker. On the trade front, much attention is being placed on White Sox left-handed starter Garrett Crochet. It was a relatively quiet Day 1 through the standard working hours, although things are always subject to change at meetings of this nature. Tito is Back Terry Francona joked that his desire to manage again resurfaced when his daughters went on a 10-day trip to Europe. "I watched the grandkids. That was the one day I thought maybe I'll go back to baseball," Francona said, laughing. All joking aside, Francona said it simply happened that when the Reds reached out, the timing felt right. He's healthy and refreshed as he's set to enter his 24th season as a manager. "I had a really good year and maybe I just needed that," Francona, 65, said. "Then, when these guys called, it just felt right." Honoring Mays The winter meetings kicked off with MLB announcing that its annual charity auction during the event would help revitalize Willie Mays Park in the late Hall of Famer's hometown of Fairfield, Ala. At a news conference, April Brown, MLB's senior vice president of social responsibility and diversity, said the vision for the project includes access for all levels of players, from youth leagues to advanced levels. "This effort will not just be MLB alone," Brown said. "We have the blessing of so many connected to his legacy and that have the mission to instill the love of our game that Willie had to all of the youth in the area growing up in the neighborhood where he grew up." The auction, which features items from every major league club, runs through Thursday. --Drew Davison, Field Level Media This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.

No. 7 Tennessee extends its season-opening winning streak to 7 games in 78-35 win over UT MartinCartwright feared worst after suffering neck pain

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Michail Antonio had video call with West Ham team before their win over WolvesThe leader of Ireland’s Labour Party has held talks with the Taoiseach and Tanaiste as efforts to form a new coalition government intensify. Ivana Bacik had separate meetings with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris on Tuesday afternoon. Fianna Fail, which won 48 seats in last month’s general election, and Fine Gael, which secured 38 seats, headed up the last coalition in Dublin and are expected to continue that partnership into the next mandate. However, with a combined 86 seats, they are just short of the 88 required for a majority in the Dail parliament. If they wish to return to government together, they would need one smaller party as a junior partner, or a handful of independents. Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have ruled out doing business with Sinn Fein, which won 39 seats. The centre-left Social Democrats and Irish Labour Party, both of which won 11 seats in the election, are seen as the only two realistic options if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael seek to convince a smaller party to join the coalition. In a statement, the Labour Party said Ms Bacik outlined key policy priorities in her meetings with Taoiseach Mr Harris and Tanaiste Mr Martin. “There was discussion in both meetings on policies and manifesto commitments on housing, health, climate, workers’ rights and disability services among other issues,” said the statement. “The parliamentary party will meet at 1pm on Friday where the party leader will provide an assessment of engagement to date and consider the outcome of these meetings.” A spokesman for Mr Harris said there had been a “constructive engagement” with Ms Bacik. “The Taoiseach is grateful for the time and engagement on a range of substantial policy issues,” he said. The spokesman said Mr Harris had also met independent TDs who are aligned together in what is called the regional group. “These meetings have been productive,” he added. Mr Harris and party colleagues are due to meet the Social Democrats on Wednesday. Fianna Fail deputy leader Jack Chambers and Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee met on Tuesday evening for discussions on government formation, with the parties’ full negotiating teams set to meet on Wednesday. Fine Gael said the meeting between Ms McEntee and Mr Chambers was “positive” and focused on the “structure and format” of the substantive negotiations going forward. When the two parties entered coalition for the first time after the last general election in 2020, there was only a three-seat difference in their relative strength. That resulted in an equal partnership at the head of the coalition, with the Green Party as the junior partner. The two main parties swapped the role of taoiseach halfway through the term. With Fianna Fail’s lead over Fine Gael having grown to 10 seats following this election, focus has turned to the future of the rotating taoiseach arrangement and whether it will operate again in the next mandate and, if so, on what basis. There are similar questions around the distribution of ministries and other roles. While Mr Martin has so far refused to be drawn on the specifics, he has suggested that he expects Fianna Fail’s greater strength of numbers to be reflected in the new administration. However, Mr Harris has insisted that Fine Gael’s mandate cannot be taken for granted when it comes to government formation. Richard Boyd Barrett from People Before Profit-Solidarity, which won three seats, urged Labour not to “prop up” up a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael administration. “We think that’s a huge mistake,” he told reporters in Dublin. “They shouldn’t do it. They should learn the lessons of the past and actually work with other parties of the left to form a decent left opposition to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and campaign on the issues that matter.” His party colleague Paul Murphy pointed to the experience of the Green Party, which lost all but one of its 12 seats in the election. “In reality, what is going to happen is a changing of the mudguard for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael,” he said. “And for those who are now auditioning to be a new mudguard for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, there is a very, very sharp and stark lesson in what happened to the Green Party – obviously almost entirely wiped out. “We think it is a very major mistake for anyone who has the perception of being left, with the votes of people who are looking left, to seek to go into coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.”

7-bet ALBANY, N.Y. — As loud as the cheers were last weekend when Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) head coach Bob Burns told his team they’d be heading to the New York State Thruway’s Exit 34a, to Syracuse, that pop was dwarfed by Thursday’s, end-of-practice announcement:“This will be your last conditioning drill of the season,” Burns exclaimed [...]

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TORONTO — Canada's main stock index lost nearly 250 points Thursday, led by weakness in energy and base metals, while U.S. markets also fell. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 246.99 points at 25,410.71. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 234.44 points at 43,914.12. The S&P 500 index was down 32.94 points at 6,051.25, while the Nasdaq composite was down 132.05 points at 19,902.84. “I think the markets had some time to now digest where rates could be going into the near term,” said Adelaide Chiu, portfolio manager, vice-president and head of responsible investing at NEI Investments. On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada announced an outsized half-percentage point interest rate cut and signalled it would slow the pace of cuts going forward. “With the policy rate now substantially lower, we anticipate a more gradual approach to monetary policy if the economy evolves broadly as expected," said Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem. And in the U.S., the monthly report on consumer inflation came in largely as expected, helping set the stage for a quarter-point cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve next week. Globally, interest rate cuts are moderating as inflation reaches targets, Chiu said. On Thursday, the European Central Bank cut rates by a quarter of a percentage point while the Swiss National Bank cut by half a percentage point. A year ago, market watchers couldn’t have predicted just how much equities would rise in 2024, said Chiu. “Earnings growth itself has been quite modest, but the market has done very well,” she said. “It’s really a movement of the interest rates that has really impacted valuations for a lot of these companies in the market.” Now, the news is largely focused on the incoming U.S. president and whether his threatened tariffs will come to pass, Chiu said. The Canadian dollar traded for 70.48 cents US compared with 70.65 cents US on Wednesday. The January crude oil contract was down 27 cents at US$70.02 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up eight cents at US$3.46 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$47.30 at US$2,709.40 an ounce and the March copper contract was down a penny at US$4.20 a pound. -- With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian PressArdelyx executive sells $33,782 in stockHome and Away fans spot wild detail in behind-the-scenes clip: 'As if'

Their ages vary. But a conspicuous handful of filmmaking lions in winter, or let’s say late autumn, have given us new reasons to be grateful for their work over the decades — even for the work that didn’t quite work. Which, yes, sounds like ingratitude. But do we even want more conventional or better-behaved work from talents such as Francis Ford Coppola? Even if we’re talking about “Megalopolis” ? If Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2” gave audiences a less morally complicated courtroom drama, would that have mattered, given Warner Bros.’ butt-headed decision to plop it in less than three dozen movie theaters in the U.S.? Coppola is 85. Eastwood is 94. Paul Schrader, whose latest film “Oh, Canada” arrives this week and is well worth seeking out, is a mere 78. Based on the 2021 Russell Banks novel “Foregone,” “Oh, Canada” is the story of a documentary filmmaker, played by Richard Gere, being interviewed near the end of his cancer-shrouded final days. In the Montreal home he shares with his wife and creative partner, played by Uma Thurman, he consents to the interview by two former students of his. Gere’s character, Leonard Fife, has no little contempt for these two, whom he calls “Mr. and Mrs. Ken Burns of Canada” with subtle disdain. As we learn over the artful dodges and layers of past and present, events imagined and/or real, Fife treats the interview as a final confession from a guarded and deceptive soul. He’s also a hero to everyone in the room, famous for his anti-Vietnam war political activism, and for the Frederick Wiseman-like inflection of his own films’ interview techniques. The real-life filmmaker name-checked in “Oh, Canada” is documentarian Errol Morris, whose straight-to-the-lens framing of interview subjects was made possible by his Interrotron device. In Schrader’s adaptation, Fife doesn’t want the nominal director (Michael Imperioli, a nicely finessed embodiment of a second-rate talent with first-rate airs) in his eyeline. Rather, as he struggles with hazy, self-incriminating memories of affairs, marriages, one-offs with a friend’s wife and a tense, brief reunion with the son he never knew, Fife wants only his wife, Emma — his former Goddard College student — in this metaphoric confessional. Schrader and his editor Benjamin Rodriguez Jr. treat the memories as on-screen flashbacks spanning from 1968 to 2023. At times, Gere and Thurman appear as their decades-young selves, without any attempt to de-age them, digitally or otherwise. (Thank god, I kind of hate that stuff in any circumstance.) In other sequences from Fife’s past, Jacob Elordi portrays Fife, with sly and convincing behavioral details linking his performance to Gere’s persona. We hear frequent voiceovers spoken by Gere about having ruined his life by age 24, at least spiritually or morally. Banks’ novel is no less devoted to a dying man’s addled but ardent attempt to come clean and own up to what has terrified him the most in the mess and joy of living: Honesty. Love. Commitment. There are elements of “Oh, Canada” that soften Banks’ conception of Fife, from the parentage of Fife’s abandoned son to the specific qualities of Gere’s performance. It has been 44 years since Gere teamed with Schrader on “American Gigolo,” a movie made by a very different filmmaker with very different preoccupations of hetero male hollowness. It’s also clearly the same director at work, I think. And Gere remains a unique camera object, with a stunning mastery of filling a close-up with an unblinking stillness conveying feelings easier left behind. The musical score is pretty watery, and with Schrader you always get a few lines of tortured rhetoric interrupting the good stuff. In the end, “Oh, Canada” has an extraordinarily simple idea at its core: That of a man with a movie camera, most of his life, now on the other side of the lens. Not easy. “I can’t tell the truth unless that camera’s on!” he barks at one point. I don’t think the line from the novel made it into Schrader’s script, but it too sums up this lion-in-winter feeling of truth without triumphal Hollywood catharsis. The interview, Banks wrote, is one’s man’s “last chance to stop lying.” It’s also a “final prayer,” dramatized by the Calvinist-to-the-bone filmmaker who made sure to include that phrase in his latest devotion to final prayers and missions of redemption. “Oh, Canada” — 3 stars (out of 4) No MPA rating (some language and sexual material) Running time: 1:34 How to watch: Opens in theaters Dec. 13, running 1in Chicago Dec. 13-19 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.; siskelfilmcenter.org Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.We would often hear from our parents or grandparents about how well they lived during the Soviet Union. They would tell us how cheap and accessible everything was, and that there was always work and even housing available. However, the reality was quite different. For some reason, it is still not customary to talk about the significant disadvantages of living in the USSR. For example, the fact that certain food products never actually existed in the USSR. FoodOboz will tell you about them. Groceries Coffee, tea, canned food, spices, and preserves were associated with something fantastic in the USSR. People had to collect herbs in the summer to enjoy delicious drinks in the winter. Instead of coffee, people also used chopped chicory or barley. There were no spices in the USSR either. Buying black pepper was considered a real stroke of luck. Even salt and sugar were sold in the form of large blocks due to improper storage, which had to be crushed by hand with a hammer to pound meat. Chocolate Soviet stores sold sweets that resembled chocolate, but only in appearance. None of them contained the main ingredient of chocolate, cocoa. When you tasted this dessert, you had to nibble on it, because it didn't melt the way real chocolate should. Seafood Only those Soviet citizens who lived in port cities could see squid and shrimp. The only product that somehow resembled sea food was krill meat. This is a canned small crustacean used for salads and quick meals. This product cannot be considered gourmet. Cheese. Of course, there was cheese in the USSR, but its quality did not reach the standards of other countries. The consistency, smell, and taste of the Soviet product did not make you want to eat it. Wine and beer What was sold in the Soviet Union as "wine" was not really wine. To taste truly natural wine, you had to go to Georgia, Moldova, or Crimea. But even those drinks were very far from today's standards. Beer was available in only a few varieties. But its taste was very bad. People did not drink beer for pleasure, but only to get drunk faster. Fruits and vegetables The unpleasant smell of rotten fruit has always been associated with the store where it was sold. The only products that could be bought in a vegetable store were sprouted potatoes, rotten onions, carrots, and beets. Soviet farmers really knew how to grow good vegetables and fruits, but the state did not know how to preserve them. Therefore, they ended up in the store as they were. Semi-finished products In Soviet Union stores, you could only find frozen dumplings. However, due to improper cooking technology and improper storage conditions, they were sold in one large piece. To taste this dish, one had to carefully separate one dumpling from another without damaging the dough. This was not always possible, and the consumption of semi-finished products was quite high.

Column: Tell Congress to preserve renewable energy subsidiesFor-profit consultants across the country make millions each year by charging military veterans for help in filing their disability claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The practice exists in a legal loophole: It’s illegal under federal law for companies that aren’t accredited by the VA to charge veterans fees for helping file their disability claims, but there’s no criminal penalty for breaking the law, and many consultants contend that the services they provide aren’t explicitly forbidden. Recent attempts to regulate this for-profit shadow industry have stalled in Congress. While some state lawmakers are trying to close the loophole by filing bills to restrict the practice, they’re up against their legislative peers and a cadre of industry leaders with a stable of lobbyists who want the loophole sealed into place at the state level. Three states — Maine, New Jersey and New York — passed laws in the past year cracking down on for-profit consultants. Similar bills were introduced in 17 other states. Meanwhile, Louisiana enacted a law hailed by the for-profit industry as a win; it allows companies to charge up to $12,500 in fees for a task that veterans service organizations such as The American Legion will do for free. The issue is pitting veterans against one another. “When we have organizations and companies out there like these claim sharks that are preying on our veterans and taking away their hard-earned benefits and making a profit off them, there’s something empirically wrong with that,” said Missouri Republican state Rep. Dave Griffith, a former Green Beret in the U.S. Army 8th Special Forces Group. Griffith introduced a bill earlier this year that would impose criminal penalties on those receiving compensation for helping a veteran apply for benefits. The bill died in committee, but Griffith has refiled it for the upcoming legislative session. “What’s even more disturbing to me,” said Griffith, who served in Vietnam, “is that many of these organizations are run by veterans.” The for-profit consulting industry argues that veterans should have the freedom to hire whomever they want to help them navigate the VA’s plodding, glitchy application process. Disability claims currently take four or five months on average to resolve, according to VA data, though some languish for a year or more. Some veterans have reported that the expense is worth it — and have chided the government for not doing a better job marketing directly to vets about how to get their benefits. The companies charging exorbitant fees, industry representatives say, are just a few bad apples. “The key for us is having transparent disclosures, processes and statements of fees so veterans can make informed decisions,” said Peter O’Rourke, president of the National Association for Veteran Rights, a newly formed trade association for the claims consulting industry. O’Rourke, a U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force veteran, was formerly acting secretary of Veterans Affairs during the Trump administration before he was forced out in 2018. O’Rourke estimated he and his team have been to 38 states to testify at committee hearings and speak with legislators. “There’s a better way of doing business, and we need to have more of that discussion, versus going back in time and criminalizing what the market has been able to provide veterans,” he said. Promises and profits The urgency from all sides of the issue follows Congress’ passage two years ago of the PACT Act, the largest expansion of veterans’ benefits in generations. It offers disability-related benefits for veterans suffering from the effects of Agent Orange, toxic burn pits in recent wars and other toxic exposures over the past several decades. Under the act, millions more veterans could qualify for aid. That increased funding represents a potential bonanza for private consultants who promise to help military veterans access it — for a price. Veterans with a service-related disability, from cancer to asthma to depression, can apply to receive a monthly cash benefit from the government. Their checks could range from $500 to more than $4,000 per month, depending on the severity of the disability and other factors, such as their number of dependents. But getting approved takes months. The claims process — sluggish and riddled with glitches, according to veterans and the VA’s own data — requires a lengthy application and detailed medical documentation. Enter the private claims consultant. For a fee or a cut of a veteran’s future disability benefits — often five times what the veteran stands to receive from the VA, amounting to thousands of dollars — the consulting company promises to help smooth the process and maximize the veteran’s disability check. “Veterans are often facing delays with the VA, and I can see why there’s a desire to get results. But these companies sometimes use exploitative practices and seize a big chunk of your benefits,” said Florida Democratic state Rep. Anna V. Eskamani. She partnered with Republican state Rep. Michelle Salzman, an Army veteran, to introduce a claim shark bill in the most recent legislative session. The bill died in committee, but Eskamani said they plan to continue talking with veterans and introduce a similar bill next session. Since January, Republican and Democratic lawmakers in at least 17 states — from Rhode Island to Mississippi to California — have introduced bills to ban or restrict private claim consultants from profiting off veterans. Most are based on the federal GUARD Act, currently stalled in Congress, which would impose penalties on unaccredited consultants who charge veterans for claims filing assistance. Organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and The American Legion have been outspoken supporters of the GUARD Act and similar state efforts to rein in for-profit consultants. Last year, New Jersey became the first state to make it illegal for anyone lacking VA accreditation to charge a veteran for assistance filing a disability claim. Maine and New York soon followed. The VA grants accreditation to attorneys, veterans service organizations and other claims agents that meet certain requirements, such as a background check and a written exam. Organizations such as the VFW and The American Legion provide their services for free, though attorneys and agents are allowed to charge fees to assist with some claims, including appeals. Griffith, the Missouri legislator, modeled his bill after the New Jersey law. When he first began researching the issue, he said, he didn’t like what he saw. Often, he said, companies will charge a fee for their services equal to five times the increase of the veteran’s monthly benefit. For example: A new veteran approved for 100 percent disability receives about $3,800 per month from the VA. For help filing that claim, a consulting company might charge a one-time fee of about $19,000. In some cases, Griffith said, consultants can pocket as much as $30,000 through tactics such as holding onto a claim for months before filing so that they can take their cut from the substantial backpay that the VA eventually awards the veteran. Criticism and pushback O’Rourke said his group is in favor of some legal guardrails at the federal or state level to protect veterans from exploitation, such as setting certain limits around fees or requiring transparency in contract agreements. But, he said, private consulting should be freely available because the VA and its current accreditation process haven’t kept up with the needs of veterans. “We’re looking at, after 20 years of war, a strain on our social infrastructure when it comes to how we take care of veterans,” he said, noting that the VA’s claims and appeals process is decades old, complex and cumbersome to navigate, even with accredited groups offering help. “Asking veterans to go into a system that uses a lot of their time and causes frustration ... veterans are going to try to find workarounds for that.” Groups including the VFW have been vocal opponents of for-profit consulting companies, urging lawmakers to take action and waging public relations battles against the industry. For-profit companies have been investigated by media and officials in states including Texas and Louisiana for potentially illegal practices. Last year, the VA issued a fraud alert, warning veterans to avoid consultants who aren’t accredited. But the industry is pushing back. One of the largest for-profit consulting companies spent more than $800,000 last year and $780,000 this year in federal lobbying efforts, according to data compiled by the nonprofit OpenSecrets. That included pushing for a bill that would make the legal loophole permanent. At the state level, representatives from some of the industry’s largest players are showing up in statehouses across the country to speak against bills. “I got very close to getting my bill passed last year,” said Griffith. But claims consulting companies hired a lobbyist in Missouri, he said. “They lobbied the [House] speaker’s office and he delayed the bill.” During a committee hearing, Missouri legislators heard opposition to the bill from O’Rourke, who also testified against Eskamani and Salzman’s bill in Florida. “I was surprised at the amount of money they’re willing to spend to try to keep things the way they are,” said Eskamani, who said she didn’t expect to see such a concerted effort to stop a bill in its first committee meeting. In June, Louisiana quietly enacted a law that will allow unregulated companies to profit from assisting veterans with their disability claims, though it caps consulting fees at $12,500. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry allowed the bill to become law without his signature. It marked an about-face for Landry: When he was the state attorney general, he worked to shut down the types of consulting businesses the law now explicitly allows. Similar bills were introduced this year in Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii and Kentucky, but did not pass. Last month in Alabama, members of the legislative committee for the state veterans affairs department voted to work with state lawmakers on a bill to prohibit claims consultants from profiting off veterans. The issue is likely to show up again next year in state legislative sessions around the country.LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lynne Roberts wasn’t looking to leave the Utah women’s basketball team. Then she got a call from Los Angeles Sparks general manager Reagan Pebley that changed her thinking. Roberts was introduced Thursday as coach of the Sparks, becoming the second coach to make the leap from college to the WNBA this month. Karl Smesko of Florida Gulf Coast got the Atlanta Dream job last week.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elevai Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: ELAB) (Elevai" or the "Company") announced today it will implement a 1-for-200 reverse stock split (“Reverse Stock Split”) of its common stock, which will be effective at midnight on November 27, 2024. This initiative aligns with the Company’s efforts to meet Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement of $1.00 per share under Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). Key Details of the Reverse Stock Split: - Conversion Ratio: Every 200 shares of issued and outstanding common stock will be automatically consolidated into one share, with no action required from shareholders. - Fractional Shares: Shareholders entitled to fractional shares will receive one full share for each fractional portion. - Updated Stock Identifier: While the trading symbol remains "ELAB", the common stock now carries a new CUSIP number (28622K 203). - Equity Adjustments: Outstanding stock awards, options, and the equity incentive plan have been adjusted proportionally to reflect the new share structure. Purpose of the Reverse Stock Split: The Reverse Stock Split is a critical step in ensuring compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements, allowing Elevai to maintain its presence on the Nasdaq Capital Market. A continued listing enhances the Company’s visibility, strengthens investor confidence, and positions Elevai for future growth. Impact on Shareholders: - No Immediate Action Required: Shareholders holding shares through a broker or in "street name" will see their holdings updated automatically. - Certificate Holders: Shareholders with physical certificates can exchange them, if desired, through VStock Transfer, LLC, which will provide detailed instructions. - Share Value: The Reverse Stock Split does not impact the overall value of shareholder equity; it only reduces the number of shares outstanding while proportionally adjusting the share price. Impact on our Common Stock: - Post Reverse Stock Split there will be approximately 3.07 million shares of common stock issued and outstanding Looking Ahead: “The reverse stock split is a required measure to preserve Elevai’s Nasdaq listing and set the stage for our continued progress in innovation and shareholder value creation,” said Graydon Bensler, Chief Executive Officer of Elevai. “We are optimistic about the future and committed to executing our growth strategy.” For additional information, please refer to Elevai’s full Form 8-K filing available regarding the Reverse Stock Split, filed on November 22, 2024, on the SEC’s website, or contact Elevai directly at IR@elevailabs.com . About Elevai Labs, Inc. Elevai Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: ELAB) specializes in medical aesthetics and biopharmaceutical drug development, focusing on innovations for skin aesthetics and treatments tied to obesity and metabolic health. The Company operates a diverse portfolio of three wholly owned subsidiaries across the medical aesthetics and biopharmaceutical sectors, Elevai Skincare Inc., Elevai Biosciences Inc., and Elevai Research Inc. For more information please visit www.elevailabs.com . Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “potential,” “would” and “future” or similar expressions such as “look forward” are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, activities of regulators and future regulations and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described more fully in Elevai’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2024, and its other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov . All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. IR Contact: IR@ElevaiLabs.comThe rivalry between Texas and Texas A&M hasn't lost its vigor in the decade-plus since the last time the Longhorns and Aggies played a football game. Texas won the last meeting between the schools in a 27-25 thriller at Kyle Field on Nov. 24 during the 2011 season. The Longhorns would improve to 7-4 with the win. The Aggies fell to 6-6. The 2024 version of the rivalry had much more at stake for Texas and Texas A&M. The game's winner will face Georgia in the SEC Championship Game with an automatic bid in the College Football Playoff on the line. Things between the two programs got chippy before players entered on to the field. Per video posted on X by Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle, staffers from Texas and Texas A&M had to be physically separated from each other after a yelling match ensued. "Players aren’t even on the field yet but some Texas and Texas A&M staff members had to be separated," Young posted. "Couldn’t tell what started it, but lots of yelling and pointing." Players aren’t even on the field yet but some Texas and Texas A&M staff members had to be separated. Couldn’t tell what started it, but lots of yelling and pointing. pic.twitter.com/O6QCfyI9nR Per CJ Vogel with On Texas Football, a Longhorns staffer warned an Aggies staffer not to touch a Texas player. Brawls occurred a few times on Saturday between rival teams. Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images Police used pepper spray on a couple of Michigan players following a brawl that broke out in the wake of the Wolverines' upset of No. 2 Ohio State. There could be more bad blood brewing for Saturday night in College Station. Related: Fans Demand Justice After Michigan Player Was Unfairly Pepper Sprayed By Police

Israel aims to impose a "sterile defence zone" in southern Syria that would be enforced without a permanent troop presence, as the military says a wave of air strikes had destroyed the bulk of Syria's strategic weapons stockpiles. or signup to continue reading Over the past 48 hours, following the collapse of the government of President Bashar al-Assad, the military said jets had conducted more than 350 strikes on targets including anti-aircraft batteries, military airfields, weapons production sites, combat aircraft and missiles. In addition, missile vessels struck the Syrian naval facilities of Al-Bayda port and Latakia port, where 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked. Israeli officials said the strikes across Syria were aimed at destroying strategic weapons and military infrastructure to prevent them being used by rebel groups that drove Assad from power, some of which grew from movements linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State. "We have no intention of interfering in Syria's internal affairs, but we clearly intend to do what is necessary to ensure our security," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "I authorised the air force to bomb strategic military capabilities left by the Syrian army, so that they would not fall into the hands of the jihadists." Following Assad's flight on Sunday, Israeli troops moved into the demilitarised zone inside Syria created after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, including the Syrian side of the strategic Mount Hermon that overlooks Damascus, where it took over an abandoned Syrian military post. A military spokesperson said Israeli troops remained in the buffer zone as well as "a few additional points" in the vicinity. But he denied that forces had penetrated Syrian territory significantly beyond the area, after a Syrian source said they had reached the town of Qatana, several km (miles) to the east of the zone and just a short drive from Damascus airport. "IDF forces are not advancing towards Damascus. This is not something we are doing or pursuing in any way," Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, the military spokesperson, told a briefing with reporters. Israel, which has just agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon following weeks of fighting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement, calls the incursion into Syrian territory a limited and temporary measure to ensure border security. But the scale of the Israeli strikes echoed a similar wave of attacks in southern Lebanon in September that destroyed a significant quantity of Hezbollah's missile stocks. According to the Israeli military the strikes hit most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria as well as production sites in the cities of Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia and Palmyra. Scud and cruise missiles as well as sea-to-sea missiles, drones, launchers and firing positions were destroyed, it said in a statement. Strikes against military airfields and bases also destroyed Syrian military attack helicopters, fighter jets and tanks. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . Advertisement

Keir Starmer to set out ‘plan for change’ with ‘milestones’ for key missionsNEW YORK , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global smart healthcare market size is estimated to grow by USD 125.7 billion from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.31% during the forecast period. The report provides a comprehensive forecast of key segments below- Segmentation Overview 1.1 Offline 1.2 Online 2.1 Telemedicine 2.2 mHealth 2.3 EHR 2.4 Smart pills 2.5 Others 3.1 North America 3.2 Europe 3.3 Asia 3.4 Rest of World (ROW) Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments - Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! 1.1 Fastest growing segment: The offline segment of the global smart healthcare market refers to the distribution of smart healthcare products and services through physical channels. Retail stores, including specialty stores, healthcare equipment stores, and electronics stores, serve as crucial offline distribution channels. These stores enable customers to personally examine and buy smart healthcare devices such as fitness trackers, smartwatches, blood pressure monitors, and other wearable health technology. Medical equipment suppliers and distributors also contribute significantly to offline distribution. They maintain networks with healthcare providers, hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, facilitating the distribution of advanced medical devices, telehealth systems, remote patient monitoring equipment, and other smart healthcare solutions. Offline segments offer personalized customer experiences with face-to-face interactions, addressing queries, and building trust. Customers often prefer purchasing smart healthcare products through established offline channels due to reliability, expertise, and after-sales support. This personalized experience and customer confidence are expected to fuel the growth of the offline segment in the smart healthcare market. Analyst Review The Smart Healthcare Market is experiencing rapid growth due to the integration of mHealth and information technologies. Vera Smart Health and Teladoc Health are leading the way in remote monitoring and telemedicine services. NHS U, Apple, and Proxxi are also making significant strides in the industry with their innovative smart healthcare products. These include mHealth apps, smart wearables, and RFID-enabled systems. Real-Time Location Systems are enhancing the efficiency of healthcare facilities, while smart healthcare items such as smart syringes and smart medicines offer improved patient care. Big data and cloud computing are revolutionizing the way healthcare information is managed and analyzed. The integration of RFID technology in smart healthcare products is enabling real-time tracking of vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen level, and temperature, leading to more effective and personalized care. Digital technology is transforming the healthcare sector, making it more accessible, efficient, and patient-centric. Market Overview Smart Healthcare Market: Transforming Healthcare with mHealth and Information Technologies The Smart Healthcare Market is revolutionizing traditional healthcare systems by integrating digital technologies such as RFID, Real-Time Location Systems, and sensor-based IoT technology. This market encompasses various smart healthcare products like wearable devices, blood pressure monitors, heart rate monitors, oxygen level monitors, temperature sensors, and more. These devices enable real-time patient monitoring, allowing caregivers, families, and physicians to keep track of health outcomes and intervene early. Cloud communication and big data analytics facilitate efficient medical record-keeping and device integration, providing valuable insights into illness causes and health trends. Advantages of Smart Healthcare include improved access to healthcare services, reduced hospitalizations, and enhanced patient engagement. However, high costs and digital literacy challenges pose market restraints. Key areas of focus include Oral Biology, Craniofacial Research, and eHealth initiatives. Smart Healthcare also encompasses digital health programs, infrastructure development, and the integration of technologies like artificial intelligence and cognitive impairment solutions. Smart healthcare items include mHealth applications, smart wearable devices, smartwatches, health monitors, pedometers, activity trackers, and smart pills. Market participants include healthcare providers, hospitals, insurance companies, and technology companies. Market growth is driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the need for remote monitoring, and the advantages of digital health solutions. The market is expected to continue expanding, with the internet, cell phones, tablets, and health-related apps playing essential roles in its development. To understand more about this market- Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Venodr Landscape 11 Vendor Analysis 11.1 IBM 11.2 Cisco 11.3 GE Healthcare 11.4 Olympus Corporation 11.5 Brooks Automation 11.6 Given Imaging, Inc 11.7 Stanley Innerspace 11.8 Solstice Medical LLC 11.9 Siemens Medical Solutions 11.10 Allscripts Healthcare Solutions 11.11 Samsung Electronics Corporation 11.12 AirStrip Technologies Inc 11.13 Apple Inc 11.14 AT&T Inc 11.15 Logi-Tag; Cerner Corporation 11.16 Pepperl+Fuchs 11.17 Hurst Green Plastics Ltd 11.18 Bollhoff Group 11.19.Wurth Group 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals finally managed to win a close game. Seven of Cincinnati's eight losses this season have been by one score. The frustration of not being able to close out these games had started to fester among the confounded Bengals. That's why Monday night's 27-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys was so satisfying. Joe Burrow threw a tiebreaking 40-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase with 1:01 left. That was set up by a botched punt block that put the ball back in Cincinnati's hands with less than two minutes remaining. “I guess I could say luck went our way on this one,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. Most every other good thing that happened for Cincinnati (5-8) in snapping a three-game skid was earned. Burrow finished 33 for 44 for 369 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Chase caught 14 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. “We needed this feeling because those last three locker rooms haven’t been like this,” Taylor said. “So just to feel that joy and the week’s worth of work has paid off for you, and then you turn the page and move on to the next one. But it helps you during the week just to have this confidence. We got one, and now we’ve got to go do it again.” The Bengals outgained the Cowboys 433-322. “It’s an opportunity for the world to see and we’re going to keep fighting,” Taylor said of getting the win on Monday Night Football. “So when the Bengals walk on the field, you’re going to get our best shot.” What's working The Burrow-to-Chase connection is as robust as ever. “Coming into this game, I was going to feed Ja’Marr,” Burrow said. “I felt he had some opportunities last week (in the 44-38 loss to the Steelers) that we didn’t quite take advantage of. So, I was just going to make sure if I got an opportunity with him, I was going to give it to him.” Both are enjoying prolific seasons. Burrow leads the league in passing yards (3,706) and touchdowns (33). Chase, who is expecting a contract extension that will make him one of the league's highest-paid receivers, leads the NFL in receptions (93), receiving yards (1,319) and touchdowns (15). “We feed off each other,” Burrow said. “We make each other better. We are both really smart players.” Trey Hendrickson’s key sack of Cooper Rush late in the game increased his NFL-leading total to 12 1/2. What needs help The secondary is still inconsistent. The protection provided to Burrow by a reshuffled offensive line was subpar. Granted, he often moves around outside the pocket to try to make something happen, but the franchise quarterback is hit too hard too often. Stock up Chase Brown is growing more every week in his role as the team's No. 1 running back after the season-ending injury to Zack Moss. Brown carried 14 times for 58 yards and caught six passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. ... Cade York, stepping in for the injured Evan McPherson, was 2 for 2 on field goals and made all three of his extra points. Stock down A spongy defense allowed Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle to rush for 131 yards at 7.3 yards per carry. WR CeeDee Lamb beat Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton badly on the Cowboys' first touchdown. Lamb had six catches for 93 yards. Injuries Burrow limped off the field after he was dragged down by his facemask by the Cowboys' Marist Liufau in the fourth quarter. He was seen putting a compression sleeve on left knee before returning for the next Bengals possession. Afterward, he said he was fine. “It’s nothing crazy,” he said. “I just landed on it a couple of times. We’ll see. It’ll be sore for a while, but I’ll be all right.” Key number 4 — Games in a row in which Burrow passed for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns. Monday night's win was the first win in that stretch. Next steps The Bengals have a short week to prepare for the Tennessee Titans (3-10) on Sunday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Mitch Stacy, The Associated PressDecember 12, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Steve Lundeberg, Oregon State University Oregon State University researchers have synthesized new molecules able to quickly capture significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the air, an important tactic in climate change mitigation. The study, which focused on titanium peroxides, builds on their earlier research into vanadium peroxides. The research is part of large-scale federal effort to innovate new methods and materials for direct air capture, or DAC, of carbon dioxide, produced by the burning of fossil fuels. Findings of the research, led by May Nyman and Karlie Bach of the OSU College of Science, were published today in Chemistry of Materials . Nyman's team is exploring how some transition metal complexes can react with air to remove carbon dioxide and convert it to a metal carbonate, similar to what is found in many naturally occurring minerals. Transition metals are located near the center of the periodic table and their name arises from the transition of electrons from low energy to high energy states and back again, giving rise to distinctive colors. Facilities that filter carbon dioxide from the air are still in their infancy. Technologies for mitigating carbon dioxide at the point of entry into the atmosphere, such as at power plants , are more mature. Both types of carbon capture will likely be needed if the Earth is to avoid the worst outcomes of climate change, the scientists say. At present there are a combined 18 active direct air capture plants operating in the United States, Canada and Europe, with plans for an additional 130 around the globe. Challenges to direct air capture include big costs and high energy requirements compared to working with industrial exhausts. Additionally, the atmosphere's concentration of carbon dioxide, four parts per million, is low, challenging the performance of carbon capture materials. "We opted to look into titanium as it's 100 times cheaper than vanadium, more abundant, more environmentally friendly and already well established in industrial uses," said Bach, a graduate student in Nyman's lab. "It also is right next to vanadium on the periodic table, so we hypothesized that the carbon capture behavior could be similar enough to vanadium to be effective." Bach, Nyman and the rest of the research team made several new tetraperoxo titanate structures—a titanium atom coordinated with four peroxide groups—that showed varying abilities to scrub carbon dioxide from the air. Tetraperoxo structures tend to be highly reactive because of the peroxide groups, which are potent oxidizing agents. Related peroxotitanates have been studied for their potential uses in catalysis, environmental chemistry and materials science. However, the tetraperoxotitanates in this study had never been definitively synthesized; Bach was able to use inexpensive materials for high-yield chemical reactions. "Our favorite carbon capture structure we discovered is potassium tetraperoxo titanate, which is extra unique because it turns out it is also a peroxosolvate," Bach said. "That means that in addition to having the peroxide bonds to titanium, it also has hydrogen peroxide in the structure, which is what we believe makes it so reactive." The measured carbon capture capacity was about 8.5 millimoles carbon dioxide per gram of potassium tetraperoxo titanate—roughly double that of vanadium peroxide. "Titanium is a cheaper, safer material with a significantly higher capacity," Bach said. Named for the titans of Greek mythology, titanium is as strong as steel but much lighter. It's non-toxic, does not easily corrode and is the ninth most abundant element in the Earth's crust—found in rocks, soil, plants and even the human body in trace amounts. Other Oregon State authors on the paper included assistant professors Tim Zuehlsdorff and Konstantinos Goulas, postdoctoral researcher Eduard Garrido Ribó, graduate students Jacob Hirschi, Zhiwei Mao and Makenzie Nord and crystallographer Lev Zakharov, interim manager of OSU's X-Ray Diffraction Facility. More information: Karlie Bach et al, Tetraperoxotitanates for High-Capacity Direct Air Capture of Carbon Dioxide, Chemistry of Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.4c01795 Journal information: Chemistry of Materials Provided by Oregon State University

7 bets casino Chemical engineering students from Khalifa University learn about DEWA’s Green Hydrogen projectFacial recognition checks to stop under-13s using social mediaIn the current market session, Apple Inc. AAPL stock price is at $254.02, after a 0.18% drop. However, over the past month, the company's stock spiked by 8.07% , and in the past year, by 31.58% . Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is not performing up to par in the current session. Apple P/E Compared to Competitors The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. Apple has a better P/E ratio of 41.86 than the aggregate P/E ratio of 34.77 of the Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals industry. Ideally, one might believe that Apple Inc. might perform better in the future than it's industry group, but it's probable that the stock is overvalued. In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.TORONTO - Ontario has passed a divisive piece of legislation that will prevent municipalities from adding certain new bike lanes and remove bike lanes on three main Toronto roads. The fast-tracked bill requires municipalities to ask the province for permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a lane of vehicle traffic. It goes one step further and removes sections of Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue bike lanes and restores them as lanes for vehicle traffic. Premier Doug Ford has complained about some bike lanes creating gridlock, in particular a stretch of Bloor Street West that is about a 10-minute drive from his home in Toronto’s west end. Amendments that the government added last week include indemnity clauses, such as prohibiting lawsuits as a direct or indirect result of actions taken to remove bike lanes. NDP Leader Marit Stiles says she believes the immunity clauses were thrown into the legislation after the government heard from members of the public who said that people will be killed and injured as a result of removing protected bike lanes. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024.

Saquon Barkley has become the Shohei Ohtani of the NFL. There’s no better home run hitter playing football right now. Barkley had touchdown runs of 72 and 70 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles in a 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. He now has five runs of 50-plus yards this season and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Barkley’s historic performance against the Rams — his 255 yards set a team record — captivated a national audience and turned him into a fan favorite for the AP NFL MVP award. He’s not the betting favorite, however. Josh Allen has the best odds at plus-150, according to Bet MGM Sportsbook. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is next at plus-250 followed by Barkley at plus-400. Running backs have won the award 18 times, including three-time winner Jim Brown, who was the AP’s first NFL MVP in 1957. Quarterbacks have dominated the award, winning it 45 times. Only three players who weren’t QBs or RBs have been MVP. It takes a special season for a non-QB to win it mainly because the offense goes through the signal caller. Quarterbacks handle the ball every offensive snap, run the show and get the credit when things go well and the blame when it doesn’t. Adrian Peterson was the most recent non-QB to win it when he ran for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. Playing for a winning team matters, too. Nine of the past 11 winners played for a No. 1 seed with the other two winners on a No. 2 seed. The Vikings earned the sixth seed when Pederson was MVP. Barkley is a major reason why the Eagles (9-2) are leading the NFC East and only trail Detroit (10-1) by one game for the top spot in the conference. Does he have a realistic chance to win the MVP award? Kicker Mark Moseley was the MVP in the strike-shortened 1982 season when he made 20 of 21 field goals and 16 of 19 extra points in nine games for Washington. If voters once selected a kicker, everyone has a chance, especially a game-changer such as Barkley. Defensive tackle Alan Page was the MVP in 1971 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor won it in 1986. Running back Christian McCaffrey finished third in voting last year and wide receiver Justin Jefferson placed fifth in 2022. The Offensive Player of the Year award and Defensive Player of the Year award recognize the best all-around players on both sides of the ball, allowing voters to recognize non-QBs if they choose. Wide receivers and running backs have won the AP OPOY award seven times over the past 11 seasons. McCaffrey was the 2023 winner. The AP’s new voting format introduced in 2022 also gives non-QBs a better opportunity to get MVP recognition. Voter submit their top five picks for each award, with a weighted point system. Previously, voters made one choice for each award. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league vote for MVP and seven other awards. The awards are based on regular-season performance. The Chiefs (10-1) and Bills (9-2) already are in position to lock up postseason berths right after Thanksgiving. Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with a win over Las Vegas on Black Friday and a loss by Miami on Thursday night, or a win plus a loss by Denver on Monday night. Buffalo can wrap up a fifth straight AFC East title with a victory over San Francisco on Sunday and a loss by the Dolphins. It’s not a given that the Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new head coach after this season. Owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on local radio that Mike McCarthy could end up getting a contract extension. “I don’t think that’s crazy at all. This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there and done that. He has great ideas. We got a lot of football left,” Jones said. McCarthy led the Cowboys (4-7) to three straight 12-win seasons, but they went 1-3 in the playoffs and haven’t reached the NFC championship game since winning the Super Bowl 29 years ago. Injuries have contributed to the team’s struggles this season, but Dallas was just 3-5 before Dak Prescott was lost for the rest of the season. The Cowboys upset Washington last week and their next four games are against teams that currently have losing records. If they somehow end up 9-8 or even 8-9, Jones could make a case for keeping McCarthy. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Giants rookie WR Malik Nabers speaks out after his epic postgame rantU.S. stocks closed at more records after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to reach another all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3% to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.6% as Big Tech stocks helped lead the way. Stock markets abroad saw mostly modest losses, after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office. U.S. automakers and other companies that could be hurt particularly by such tariffs fell. On Tuesday: The S&P 500 rose 34.26 points, or 0.6%, to 6,021.63. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 123.74 points, or 0.3%, to 44,860.31. The Nasdaq composite rose 119.46 points, or 0.6%, to 19,174.30. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 17.72 points, or 0.7%, to 2,424.31. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 52.29 points, or 0.9%. The Dow is up 563.80 points, or 1.3%. The Nasdaq is up 170.65 points, or 0.9%. The Russell 2000 is up 17.64 points, or 0.7%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,251.80 points, or 26.2%. The Dow is up 7,170.77 points, or 19%. The Nasdaq is up 4,162.95 points, or 27.7%. The Russell 2000 is up 397.23 points, or 19.6%.The Dolphins' improbable path to the playoffs isn't in their hands, but they must do their part

Daily Post Nigeria Corporate governance foundation for success, sustainability of the telecoms industry in Nigeria Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Corporate governance foundation for success, sustainability of the telecoms industry in Nigeria Published on November 25, 2024 By Daily Post Staff The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has highlighted how governance frameworks will not only ensure compliance but also promote innovation, trust, and long-term value in the ecosystem. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), in his address at the recent 2024 Annual Corporate Governance Conference, in Lagos made this assertion. The conference was tagged: “Corporate Survival and Sustainability: The New Face of Governance.” Maida, harped on the significance of corporate governance in organisations, affirming that the concept remains the foundation for success, sustainability of the telecoms industry in Nigeria. He also disclosed the Commission is about to release its revised corporate governance code by updating the 2016 version with a key focus on the introduction of mandatory sustainability reporting for telecoms operators in the country. The EVC explained that this initiative aims to align the sector with global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, promoting greater transparency and support sustainable development within Nigeria’s telecoms space. Dr. Maida also highlighted how sustainability reporting involves organisations to disclose information about their ESG performance. This practice provides stakeholders—including investors, customers, and regulators—with insights into how telecoms operators manage risks and opportunities related to sustainability. Key components include reporting on carbon emissions, resource usage, labour practices, community engagement, and data privacy, stated Maida. He further explained essence of sustainability in corporate governance, noting “such practices are no longer optional but essential for the long-term success of telecoms companies.” He stated that in today’s fast-evolving world, corporate governance is not just a regulatory requirement—it’s the foundation of the telecom industry’s success and sustainability. He declared: “As leaders, it’s our responsibility to ensure our governance frameworks are robust, adaptable, and in tune with the changing global landscape.” Underscoring the significance of good governance in the telecoms sector of Nigeria’s economy, Maida as well presented findings from a comprehensive NCC analysis evaluating corporate governance among telecoms operators in Nigeria. According to him, the major indicators examined in the survey included Board composition, diversity, effectiveness, ethical conduct, compliance, risk management, and corporate social responsibility. The analysis, NCC Executive Vice-Chairman stated, indicated a strong correlation between effective governance and regulatory compliance, with companies not excelling in governance facing poor financial performance. This observation demonstrates that “good governance is not merely a regulatory obligation but a strategic necessity for sustainable business success,” Maida asserted. Key elements of future of corporate governance in telecoms industry Besides expatiating on the correlation between effective governance and regulatory compliance in the industry, Dr. Maida further enumerated the essential components shaping the future of corporate governance in the telecoms sector. According to him, these include Adaptability. As digital transformation and emerging technologies redefine the landscape, governance frameworks must adapt while ensuring accountability, he noted. Data Privacy and Security: With telecom operators handling vast amounts of sensitive data, robust data protection measures are imperative. He also warned that “data breaches could have dire consequences for both individual companies and the sector as a whole.” He equally stressed the need for “governance frameworks” that prioritise data security through comprehensive policies and compliance protocols in the ecosystem. The EVC/CEO of the telecoms sector regulatory Commission averred: “Corporate governance is not just a regulatory organisation; it is the foundation for the success and sustainability of our industry.” The Executive Vice-Chairman as well highlighted the impressive growth of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry since its liberalisation in 2001. He said: “From just 305,000 active phone lines in 2001, we now boast over 150 million active telecoms subscribers.” Maida restated the telecoms sector’s significant contributions to the West African country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to include job creation, and economic empowerment for millions of Nigerians. Related Topics: NCc Don't Miss Removal of CCT Chairman Justice Danladi Umar unconstitutional – Bauchi lawyers You may like Be more transparent with yours data billings – NCC tells network providers NCC to resolve telecoms, banks’ USSD debt issue with CBN NCC moves towards digital justice Subscribers to be exposed to only seven data tariff plans – NCC NCC to create new role of corporate officers in line with governance in telecoms industry NCC committed to transparency, accountability in communications sector – Maida Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd

‘We have to go for the third fight’: Serrano looks towards trilogy match with TaylorInfluential investor Scott Bessent is poised to be named U.S. Treasury Secretary as part of President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration, according to sources familiar with the transition talks. Despite the Trump transition team's silence, the choice has sparked widespread discourse among economists and financial strategists. Quoted by multiple industry leaders, Bessent is lauded for his comprehensive market knowledge. His stance on maintaining less aggressive tariffs resonates with fiscal forecasts, potentially easing drastic trade changes. Wall Street veteran John Paulson called Bessent an 'outstanding pick,' recognizing his potential to align with Trump's economic plans. While some express concerns over regulatory adjustments, figures like Lindsey Johnson commend Bessent's deregulatory intentions, proclaiming them beneficial for small businesses and the broader economy. His expected role suggests a likelihood of tempered financial strategies in an evolving economic landscape. (With inputs from agencies.)

Heisman Trophy ceremony has a different vibe this year

On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here . Saquon Barkley has become the Shohei Ohtani of the NFL. There’s no better home run hitter playing football right now. Barkley had touchdown runs of 72 and 70 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles in a 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. He now has five runs of 50-plus yards this season and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Barkley’s historic performance against the Rams — his 255 yards set a team record — captivated a national audience and turned him into a fan favorite for the AP NFL MVP award. He’s not the betting favorite, however. Josh Allen has the best odds at plus-150, according to Bet MGM Sportsbook. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is next at plus-250 followed by Barkley at plus-400. Running backs have won the award 18 times, including three-time winner Jim Brown, who was the AP’s first NFL MVP in 1957. Quarterbacks have dominated the award, winning it 45 times. Only three players who weren’t QBs or RBs have been MVP. It takes a special season for a non-QB to win it mainly because the offense goes through the signal caller. Quarterbacks handle the ball every offensive snap, run the show and get the credit when things go well and the blame when it doesn’t. Adrian Peterson was the most recent non-QB to win it when he ran for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. Playing for a winning team matters, too. Nine of the past 11 winners played for a No. 1 seed with the other two winners on a No. 2 seed. The Vikings earned the sixth seed when Pederson was MVP. Barkley is a major reason why the Eagles (9-2) are leading the NFC East and only trail Detroit (10-1) by one game for the top spot in the conference. Does he have a realistic chance to win the MVP award? Kicker Mark Moseley was the MVP in the strike-shortened 1982 season when he made 20 of 21 field goals and 16 of 19 extra points in nine games for Washington. If voters once selected a kicker, everyone has a chance, especially a game-changer such as Barkley. Defensive tackle Alan Page was the MVP in 1971 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor won it in 1986. Running back Christian McCaffrey finished third in voting last year and wide receiver Justin Jefferson placed fifth in 2022. The Offensive Player of the Year award and Defensive Player of the Year award recognize the best all-around players on both sides of the ball, allowing voters to recognize non-QBs if they choose. Wide receivers and running backs have won the AP OPOY award seven times over the past 11 seasons. McCaffrey was the 2023 winner. The AP’s new voting format introduced in 2022 also gives non-QBs a better opportunity to get MVP recognition. Voter submit their top five picks for each award, with a weighted point system. Previously, voters made one choice for each award. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league vote for MVP and seven other awards. The awards are based on regular-season performance. The Chiefs (10-1) and Bills (9-2) already are in position to lock up postseason berths right after Thanksgiving. Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with a win over Las Vegas on Black Friday and a loss by Miami on Thursday night, or a win plus a loss by Denver on Monday night. Buffalo can wrap up a fifth straight AFC East title with a victory over San Francisco on Sunday and a loss by the Dolphins. It’s not a given that the Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new head coach after this season. Owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on local radio that Mike McCarthy could end up getting a contract extension. “I don’t think that’s crazy at all. This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there and done that. He has great ideas. We got a lot of football left,” Jones said. McCarthy led the Cowboys (4-7) to three straight 12-win seasons, but they went 1-3 in the playoffs and haven’t reached the NFC championship game since winning the Super Bowl 29 years ago. Injuries have contributed to the team’s struggles this season, but Dallas was just 3-5 before Dak Prescott was lost for the rest of the season. The Cowboys upset Washington last week and their next four games are against teams that currently have losing records. If they somehow end up 9-8 or even 8-9, Jones could make a case for keeping McCarthy. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflEven in outwardly inclusive workplaces, LGBTQ+ employees face ‘invisible’ challenges Issues around travel, after-work social events and fertility challenges can cause LGBTQ+ individuals to feel unsafe and alone Ilana Belfer, Special to The Globe and Mail Dec 13, 2024 1:30 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message While most organizations in North America have anti-discrimination policies in place, Ottawa-based talent and brand specialist Lindsay Moorcroft says that doesn’t necessarily mean those policies are sufficient. Marvin Meyer/Unsplash Listen to this article 00:07:52 From Pride employee resource groups to a recurring wave of rainbow logos each June, LGBTQ+-friendly workplaces can feel more like the rule than the exception in 2024. Yet, while corporate leaders pat themselves on the back, many queer employees across Canada are still quietly navigating challenging workplace dynamics tied to their sexual orientations and gender identities. For these employees, true equity and inclusivity goes beyond gender-neutral bathrooms and company-sponsored Pride events. It means addressing deeper, often overlooked issues that remain largely invisible to those outside the LGBTQ+ community. It’s an issue that Nate Shalev, an inclusivity speaker and adviser based in Brooklyn, N.Y., feels strongly about. They posted about some of those barriers in a LinkedIn post, where they are ranked as one of the U.S. and Canada’s Top LGBTQIA+ Voices. “When I was told I would have to travel for work, my immediate reaction would be panic,” they wrote. “I was concerned about booking travel with my legal name and risking my team calling me by a name I no longer use, getting through TSA as a trans person with my dignity intact ... [and] navigating queer and transphobia at hotels or in taxis, or anywhere, in front of my co-workers.” Through their consultancy, Revel Impact, Shalev draws on past experiences with “really bad bosses” to help build more inclusive workplaces, educating companies on the barriers their LGBTQ+ team members may be facing – on top of simply getting their jobs done. Barriers like: “Is the conference you asked me to go to safe? What about that client meeting? The whole team is going for a happy hour, but this bar isn’t LGBTQ-friendly. Should I leave? Would that make me look like I wasn’t a part of the team?” Shalev says these sorts of concerns are routinely dismissed or there’s no clear channel through which to handle them since they don’t rise to a legal level of discrimination, despite having negative affects. Gaps for parents trying to conceive While most organizations in North America have anti-discrimination policies in place, Ottawa-based talent and brand specialist Lindsay Moorcroft says that doesn’t necessarily mean those policies are sufficient. “Unless you’re building your programs and policies with the [affected] people in the room, there’s always the possibility for something to be forgotten,” Moorcroft says, reflecting on a previous job at a small startup where she was the only out queer employee. “Pronouns weren’t being asked in meetings. They weren’t shared in e-mail signatures. There was no option to even talk about that. So then it’s like, do I want to be the person who brings it up?” she says. For Kaitlin Geiger-Bardswich, a communications and advocacy director in Ottawa, the risk of speaking up paid off. Although she works for a national non-profit she calls “progressive” and “feminist,” bereavement leave didn’t include pregnancy loss until she advocated for it after experiencing a miscarriage herself. “Even if it’s not a miscarriage, when a fertility treatment doesn’t work, when an embryo transfer doesn’t work, there is that grief,” she says. Fertility issues aren’t specific to the LGBTQ+ community, but “gay couples, by definition, typically need to access fertility treatment of some kind,” as Geiger-Bardswich says. “So it’s more likely that if you have gay employees who are interested in parenting, they’re going to have to navigate this.” According to Fertility Matters Canada , more than half of Canadian employers don’t provide fertility benefits, including drugs and treatment costs. And only seven provinces provide public funding to cover partial costs of fertility treatment. In Geiger-Bardswich’s case, she and her wife relied on limited OHIP coverage when trying to conceive, while paying thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for medication and donor sperm. She says she was grateful to have flexibility in her work hours, which made it easier to attend doctor’s appointments throughout the in-vitro fertilization process without fear of repercussions. Flexible work arrangements, including remote work, can also benefit transgender employees who are transitioning or who are repeatedly misgendered at the office, says Shalev. Geiger-Bardswich notes that as anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric increases around the world, it adds another layer of concern for queer Canadians. She points to Italy’s push to remove non-biological parents from birth certificates as an example. “I hope that’s not going to happen in Canada,” she says. “But with how things are happening around the world, there is nervousness around the legal benefits and legal situations for parents like us.” ‘Ask folks for what they need’ So, what can workplaces do to achieve real, meaningful inclusivity? Shalev says it’s about taking a pro-active, rather than reactive, approach. This could look like ensuring there’s space for preferred names on all applications, forms and other communications. Before international trips, a systematic pretravel questionnaire might allow queer employees to request extra security, a travel companion, a NEXUS membership or a car service to make the experience safer and smoother, Shalev says. “It doesn’t have to feel complicated. Actively create spaces for these conversations to happen. Ask folks what they need,” says Shalev, noting that this has been more difficult in recent years with LGBTQ+ issues growing increasingly politicized. “Because queer issues have been politicized so much, there’s this sense that it’s a taboo topic. That’s a big shift I’ve seen, versus it just being inclusion work and wanting to support colleagues. Trans folks aren’t politics. We’re people.” One organization that appears to be embracing a pro-active approach is Moorcroft’s current employer, ecobee, a home automation company headquartered in Toronto. The company’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offerings include an LGBTQ+ allyship group, a private social channel for LGBTQ+ employees and a policy-focused working group. Most importantly, Moorcroft says, a variety of voices are in these rooms alongside her, including those of senior leadership. “DEI means nothing if the top of the company is not supporting it, and it’s not in their [budget],” she says. Inclusion that benefits all Every organization has different needs and resources, which is why Shalev says, “It’s not one-size-fits-all.” Pride at Work Canada and Great Place to Work provide toolkits for organizations looking to improve inclusion, with strategies ranging from collecting data on employee demographics to administering queer mentorship programs. While certain measures may seem niche, “LGBTQ+ inclusion benefits us all,” Shalev says. “When I do workshops, of course I know there are other queer folks in the room. But then there are the parents of trans kids, or somebody with a partner who’s trans. Our workplaces are microcosms of our larger society, and if we create better workplaces, we can also create better communities and [and better] worlds.” Interested in more perspectives about women in the workplace? Find all stories on The Globe Women’s Collective hub here , and subscribe to the new Women and Work newsletter here . Have feedback? E-mail us at [email protected] . See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Human Resources & Education Am I entitled to any pay if my employer cancels my shift last minute? Dec 12, 2024 1:30 PM Toxic workplaces are on the rise, experts say, and it starts at the top Dec 10, 2024 7:00 PM I’m considering a leap to another industry. How can I do this in a smart way? Dec 10, 2024 1:30 PM

Creative Biolabs: A Specialist in Lipid-Based Drug Delivery System DevelopmentEven in outwardly inclusive workplaces, LGBTQ+ employees face ‘invisible’ challenges

7 bet login During halftime, Coach Xu received a surprise visit from his old friend, Park Jisung. The two had known each other for years, having crossed paths in their professional football careers. Park Jisung, a retired South Korean footballer and former Manchester United player, was in attendance at the match and was delighted to catch up with Coach Xu. The two friends shared stories and memories from their time on the field, reminiscing about their past victories and challenges.This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with seeking beauty treatments from unverified sources. The lack of proper qualifications and oversight in unlicensed beauty salons can expose individuals to a range of potential dangers, including infections, botched surgeries, and long-lasting complications.

NEW ORLEANS — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, T-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Michelle Cheramie, founder of Zeus' Rescues, at her office in New Orleans on Dec. 9 with a whiteboard index of sheltered cats and dogs and a Scrim look-alike recuperating in the background. Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. Scrim on Oct. 24 at the Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie, La. People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. “Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you,” Brown said. Neighbor Tammy Murray had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues van toward reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim came to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter for stealth. Michelle Cheramie, director of Zeus' Rescues, left, walks with Scrim on Oct. 24 at the Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie, La. Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something," she said. "He's doing that, too.” Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim rests in a kennel Oct. 24 at the Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie, La. Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be.” Scrim sits in the arms of Zoey Ponder on Oct. 24 at Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie. Scrim at the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter in Louisiana. A homemade portrait of Scrim hangs Dec. 9 in the Zeus' Rescues shelter in New Orleans. Scrim spends some time outside Oct. 24 with Michelle Cheramie, director of Zeus' Rescues, in a fenced-in area at Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie. A Scrim sticker for sale Dec. 9 at Zeus' Rescues office to raise money for the shelter in New Orleans. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

WASHINGTON — Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter after earlier promising he would do no such thing, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That displeasure tracks with the bipartisan uproar in Washington that ignited over the president's about-face. The survey found that a relatively small share of Americans "strongly" or "somewhat" approve of the pardon, which came after the younger Biden was convicted on gun and tax charges. About half said they "strongly" or "somewhat" disapprove, and about 2 in 10 neither approve nor disapprove. The Democratic president said repeatedly that he would not use his pardon power for the benefit of his family, and the White House continued to insist, even after Republican Donald Trump's election win in November, that Biden's position had not changed — until it suddenly did. Hunter Biden leaves federal court Sept. 5 in Los Angeles after pleading guilty to federal tax charges. "I know it's not right to believe politicians as far as what they say compared to what they do, but he did explicitly say, 'I will not pardon my son,'" said Peter Prestia, a 59-year-old Republican from Woodland Park, New Jersey, just west of New York City, who said he strongly disagreed with the move. "So, it's just the fact that he went back on his word." In issuing a pardon Dec. 1, Biden argued that the Justice Department had presided over a "miscarriage of justice" in prosecuting his son. The president used some of the same kind of language that Trump does to describe the criminal cases against him and his other legal predicaments. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said it was a decision that Biden struggled with but came to shortly before he made the announcement, "because of how politically infected these cases were" as well as "what his political opponents were trying to do." The poll found that about 4 in 10 Democrats approve of the pardon, while about 3 in 10 disapprove and about one-quarter did not have an opinion or did not know enough to say. The vast majority of Republicans and about half of independents had a negative opinion. President Joe Biden and son Hunter Biden walk Nov. 29 in downtown Nantucket Mass. For some, it was easy to see family taking priority over politics. "Do you have kids?" asked Robert Jenkins, a 63-year-old Democrat who runs a lumber yard and gas station in Gallipolis, Ohio. "You're gonna leave office and not pardon your kid? I mean, it's a no-brainer to me." But Prestia, who is semiretired from working for a digital marketing conglomerate, said Biden would have been better off not making promises. "He does have that right to pardon anybody he wants. But he just should have kept his mouth shut, and he did it because it was before the election, so it's just a bold-faced lie," Prestia said. Despite the unpopularity of his decision, the president's approval rating has not shifted meaningfully since before his party lost the White House to Trump. About 4 in 10 Americans "somewhat" or "strongly" approve of the way Biden is handling his job as president, which is about where his approval rating stood in AP-NORC polls since January 2022. Still, the pardon keeps creating political shock waves, with Republicans, and even some top Democrats, decrying it. Older adults are more likely than younger ones to approve of Biden's pardoning his son, according to the poll, though their support is not especially strong. About one-third of those ages 60 and older approve, compared with about 2 in 10 adults under 60. The age divide is driven partially by the fact that younger adults are more likely than older ones to say they neither approve nor disapprove of the pardon or that they do not know enough to say. President Joe Biden walks with his son Hunter Biden on July 26 as he heads toward Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. About 6 in 10 white adults disapprove of the pardon, compared with slightly less than half of Hispanic adults and about 3 in 10 Black adults. Relatively large shares of Black and Hispanic Americans — about 3 in 10 — were neutral, the poll found. "Don't say you're gonna do something and then fall back," said Trinell Champ, 43, a Democrat from Nederland, Texas, who works in the home health industry and said she disapproved of the pardon. "At the end of the day, all you have is your word." Champ, who is Black, voted for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump. "I just had my hopes up for her, but I wasn't 100% positive," she said. Champ also said she does not approve of Biden's handling of the presidency and thinks the country is on the wrong track. "While he was in office, I felt like I really didn't see a lot of changes," she said. "I just felt like everything just kind of stayed the same," Champ said. Overall, though, the pardon did not appear to be a driving factor in many Americans' assessment of Biden's job performance. The share of Black Americans who approve of the way he is handling his job as president did fall slightly since October, but it is hard to assess what role the pardon may have played. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) carries both of his sons, Joseph R. III, left, and Robert H., during an appearance at the Democratic state convention last summer, 1972. At center is his wife Neilia Biden, who was killed in an auto crash, Dec. 20, 1972. With them are Governor-elect Sherman W. Tribbitt and his wife, Jeanne. (AP Photo) Joseph Biden, the newly-elected Democratic Senator from Delaware, is shown in Washington, Dec. 12, 1972. (AP Photo/Henry Griffin) 1972 - Is first elected to the Senate at age 29, defeating Republican Senator J. Caleb Boggs. Wins re-election in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996 and 2002. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) kisses the cheek of an unidentified friend who offered consoling words after a memorial service in Wilmington, Del., Dec. 22, 1972, for Biden's wife Neilia, their 13-month-old daughter Naomi Christina, who perished in a car-truck crash. Biden's two sons were hospitalized with serious injuries. (AP Photo/Bill Ingraham) December 18, 1972 - While Christmas shopping, Biden's first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, and daughter, Naomi Biden, are killed in a car accident. His sons are badly injured, but survive. January 5, 1973 - Is sworn in as US senator of Delaware at son Beau Biden's bedside in the hospital. 1987-1995 - Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. June 9, 1987 - Enters the 1988 presidential race, but drops out three months later following reports of plagiarism and false claims about his academic record. February 1988 - Undergoes surgery to repair an aneurysm in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. In this Oct. 12, 1991 file photo Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Biden, D-Del., points angrily at Clarence Thomas during comments at the end of hearings on Thomas' nomination to the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. looks on at right. (AP Photo/Greg Gibson, File) January 20, 1990 - Introduces a bill that becomes the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The act addresses sexual assault and domestic violence. It is signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994. In this April 9, 1993, file photo Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del. stands in front of a Danish armored personnel carrier at the UN-controlled Sarajevo Airport, making a statement about his trip to the besieged Bosnian capital. (AP Photo/Michael Stravato, File) Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, meets reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003 to discuss the United Nations-Iraq vote. (AP Photo/Terry Ashe) Democratic presidential hopeful, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., presides over a hearing of the committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007 to discuss the remaining options in Iraq. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook) Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden D-Del., smiles during the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Presidential Forum Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007, in Waterloo, Iowa. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) January 31, 2007 - Files a statement of candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission to run for president. August 1, 2007 - His memoir, "Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics," is published. Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., speaks at a Caucus night rally in Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008. Biden abandoned his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday after a poor showing in the state's caucuses. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) In this Jan. 3, 2008, file photo, Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., rests his head on the shoulder of his wife, Jill, as they stand in a hallway awaiting his introductions for a rally at the UAW Hall in Dubuque, Iowa on the day of the Iowa caucus in Dubuque, Iowa. (AP Photo/Mark Hirsch, File) August 23, 2008 - Is named the vice-presidential running mate of Barack Obama. In this Sept. 16, 2008 file photo, then Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del. arrives by Amtrak in Wilmington, Del., (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) In this Oct. 2,2008 file photo, Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., left, and Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin face off during the vice presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam, File) November 4, 2008 - Is elected vice president of the United States. January 20, 2009 - Is sworn in as vice president of the United States. February 7, 2009 - Delivers his first major speech as vice president at a security conference in Germany. September 1, 2010 - Presides over a ceremony in Iraq to formally mark the end of the US combat mission in Iraq. November 6, 2012 - Obama and Biden are reelected, defeating Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. Vice President Joe Biden, with his wife Jill Biden, center, holding the Biden Family Bible, shakes hands with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor after taking the oath of office during an official ceremony at the Naval Observatory, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) October 2, 2014 - Speaking at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Biden tells attendees that ISIS has been inadvertently strengthened by actions taken by Turkey, the UAE and other Middle Eastern allies to help opposition groups fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. May 30, 2015 - Biden's eldest son, Beau Biden, passes away from brain cancer at age 46. October 21, 2015 - Says he will not seek the presidency, announcing that the window for a successful campaign "has closed." December 6, 2016 - Doesn't rule out running for president in 2020, saying "I'm not committing not to run. I'm not committing to anything. I learned a long time ago fate has a strange way of intervening." Vice President Joe Biden pauses between mock swearing in ceremonies in the Old Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, as the 115th Congress begins. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) January 12, 2017 - Obama surprises Biden by presenting him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during a White House ceremony. February 1, 2017 - Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, launch the Biden Foundation, an organization that will work on seven issues: foreign policy; Biden's cancer initiative; community colleges and military families; protecting children; equality; ending violence against women; and strengthening the middle class. February 7, 2017 - Is named the Benjamin Franklin presidential practice professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where he will lead the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement. He will also serve as the founding chair of the University of Delaware's Biden Institute, the university announces. March 1, 2017 - Biden receives the Congressional Patriot Award from the Bipartisan Policy Center. He receives the honor in recognition of his work crafting bipartisan legislation with Republicans and Democrats. In this March 26, 2019, file photo, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the Biden Courage Awards in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File) April 25, 2019 - Announces he is running for president in a campaign video posted to social media. Hours later, the Biden Foundation board chair, Ted Kaufman, announces the immediate suspension of all the organization's operations. In this June 6, 2019, file photo, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the "I Will Vote" fundraising gala in Atlanta. Biden shifted to oppose longstanding restrictions on federal funding of abortion during his remarks. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden signs a copy of his book "Promise Me, Dad" at a campaign rally at Modern Woodmen Park, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Davenport, Iowa. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a primary night election rally in Columbia, S.C., Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 after winning the South Carolina primary. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a primary night election rally in Columbia, S.C., Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, after winning the South Carolina primary. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a primary election night campaign rally Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) August 20, 2020: Joe Biden accepts the Democratic nomination for president Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, with Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., raise their arms up as fireworks go off in the background during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. Looking on are Jill Biden, far left, and Harris' husband Doug Emhoff, far right. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) President Donald Trump, left, and Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, right, with moderator Chris Wallace, center, of Fox News during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, right, and former President Barack Obama greet each other with an air elbow bump, at the conclusion of rally at Northwestern High School in Flint, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden arrives to speak at a rally at Belle Isle Casino in Detroit, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, which former President Barack Obama also attended. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) President-elect Joe Biden gestures on stage after speaking, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, file photo, from left, Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Harris, President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, stand on stage together, in Wilmington, Del. The theme for Biden’s inauguration will be “America United." Unity is an issue that’s long been a central focus for Biden but one that’s taken on added weight in the wake of the violence at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool, File) President-elect Joe Biden announces his climate and energy team nominees and appointees at The Queen Theater in Wilmington Del., Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President Joe Biden speaks about his domestic agenda from the East Room of the White House in Washington on Oct. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) U.S. President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Pope Francis as they meet at the Vatican on Oct. 29, 2021. (Vatican Media via AP) President Joe Biden removes his face mask as he arrives in the East Room of the White House to speak about the evacuation of American citizens, their families, special immigrant visa applicants and vulnerable Afghans on Aug. 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) President Joe Biden holds the microphone to Chocolate, the national Thanksgiving turkey, during a pardoning ceremony Nov. 21, 2022, at the White House in Washington. President Joe Biden holds an Atlanta Braves jersey during an event celebrating the Major League Baseball 2021 World Series champion Atlanta Braves in the East Room of the White House on Sept. 26, 2022, in Washington. President Joe Biden receives his COVID-19 booster from a member of the White House medical unit during an event in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus on Oct. 25, 2022, in Washington. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive to give treats to trick-or-treaters on the South Lawn of the White House, on Halloween on Oct. 31, 2022, in Washington. U.S. President Joe Biden, left, talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo during their bilateral meeting ahead of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, on Nov. 14, 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit meeting Nov. 14, 2022, in Bali, Indonesia. President Joe Biden is greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport on Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv. President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House on Oct. 19, 2023, in Washington, about the war in Israel and Ukraine. President Joe Biden arrives to speak at the Amtrak Bear Maintenance Facility on Nov. 6, 2023, in Bear, Del. President Joe Biden, accompanied by Office of Management and Budget director Shalanda Young, left, and Women's Alzheimer's Movement founder Maria Shriver, right, gives first lady Jill Biden a kiss after giving her the pen he used to sign a presidential memorandum that will establish the first-ever White House Initiative on Women's Health Research in the Oval Office of the White House on Nov. 13, 2023, in Washington. President Joe Biden pauses as he speaks to reporters in Nantucket, Mass. on Nov. 26, 2023, about hostages freed by Hamas in a third set of releases under a four-day cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy depart a news conference in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House Campus on Dec. 12, 2023, in Washington. President Joe Biden speaks during a funeral service for retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor at the Washington National Cathedral on Dec. 19, 2023, in Washington. O'Connor, an Arizona native and the first woman to serve on the nation's highest court, died Dec. 1, 2023, at age 93. President Joe Biden arrives to deliver remarks on the economy on June 28, 2023, at the Old Post Office in Chicago. President Joe Biden, right, stands as an Army carry team moves the transfer case containing the remains of U.S. Army Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Ga., at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Feb. 2, 2024. Sanders was killed in a drone attack in Jordan on Jan. 28, 2024. President Joe Biden speaks during the State of the Union address on Capitol Hill on March 7, 2024, in Washington, as Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Mike Johnson listen. Vice President Kamala Harris embraces President Joe Biden after a speech on health care in Raleigh, N.C., on March. 26, 2024. President Joe Biden greets Zion Schrode, 8 months, of Marin County, Calif., as he is held by his mother Erin Schrode during a Jewish American Heritage Month event, on May 20, 2024, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk in the Normandy American Cemetery following a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, on June 6, 2024, in Normandy. President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event with former President Barack Obama moderated by Jimmy Kimmel at the Peacock Theater on June 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. First lady Jill Biden, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff view the Independence Day firework display over the National Mall from the balcony of the White House, on July 4, 2024, in Washington. President Joe Biden, right, and the Rev. Dr. J. Louis Felton pray at a church service at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ on July 7, 2024, in Philadelphia. President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on July 14, 2024, about the assassination attempt of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. President Joe Biden pauses as he speaks at the Biden campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del., on Feb. 3, 2024. President Joe Biden walks on stage to speak during the NAACP national convention July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. President Joe Biden walks between tombstones as he arrives to attend a mass at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del., on July 6, 2024. Cherelle Griner, wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner, speaks after President Joe Biden announced Brittney Griner's release in a prisoner swap with Russia on Dec. 8, 2022, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Also attending are Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House on Dec. 12, 2023, in Washington. Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, left, and CEO Clark Hunt, right, watch as President Joe Biden, center, puts on a Chiefs helmet during an event with the Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs on the South Lawn of the White House, on May 31, 2024, to celebrate their championship season and victory in Super Bowl LVIII. U.S. President Joe Biden, right, greets Pope Francis ahead of a working session on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Energy, Africa-Mediterranean, on day two of the 50th G7 summit at Borgo Egnazia, southern Italy, on June 14, 2024. President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, participate in a presidential debate hosted by CNN on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. The poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Lightning ride electric power play to 4-2 victory over Canucks VANCOUVER — Brayden Point scored twice and added two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning downed the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Sunday. Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press Dec 8, 2024 3:41 PM Dec 8, 2024 3:50 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) stops Vancouver Canucks' Jake DeBrusk, back right, during third period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck VANCOUVER — Brayden Point scored twice and added two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning downed the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Sunday. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two helpers for the Lightning (14-9-3), while Jake Guentzel put away the game winner on a power play late in the third period. Captain Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood found the back of the net for the Canucks (14-8-4), who fell to 4-6-3 at home. Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced and Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for Vancouver. TAKEAWAYS Canucks: Hughes took a stick to the face 55 seconds into the game, missed more than 11 minutes, then returned to open the scoring 16:08 into the first period. It was the 50th goal of the defenceman's career and extended his points streak to seven games with three goals and 10 assists across the stretch. Lightning: Kucherov, who returned to the lineup Sunday after missing two games with a lower-body injury, added another potent piece to Tampa's red-hot power play. The Lightning were 2-for-4 with the man advantage and scored a power-play goal for the sixth straight game. KEY MOMENT Tampa took the lead 6:29 into the second when Kucherov sliced a pass to Point at the bottom of the faceoff circle and the Lightning winger blasted it in past Lankinen for his 17th of the season. Kucherov put the visitors on the board just a minute and 49 seconds earlier. KEY STAT Point scored his league-leading 10th power-play goal of the season. He’s one away from becoming the third player to score 100 power-play goals for the Lightning UP NEXT Canucks: Continue a six-game homestand Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Lightning: Visit the Oilers in Edmonton on Tuesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Hockey Bjorkstrand scores twice as Kraken rally past Rangers for a 7-5 win Dec 8, 2024 1:12 PM Blackhawks place goaltender Petr Mrazek on IR with a left groin injury Dec 8, 2024 10:07 AM Devils and Avalanche hit the ice in non-conference matchup Dec 8, 2024 1:11 AM

Furthermore, BlueStacks Air supports a wide range of popular Android games, ensuring that users have access to a diverse selection of titles to choose from. Whether you're a fan of action-packed shooters, thrilling racing games, or immersive role-playing adventures, BlueStacks Air has you covered. The extensive game library ensures that there's something for every type of gamer, making BlueStacks Air a one-stop solution for all your gaming needs.In conclusion, the opening of the South Nanjing office marks a new chapter in Amazon's journey towards becoming a leading player in the global e-commerce landscape. With a focus on collaboration, innovation, and sustainability, Amazon is poised to shape the future of cross-border trade and deliver unparalleled shopping experiences to customers around the world.

In conclusion, Ma reiterated his belief in the transformative potential of AI to drive innovation, growth, and prosperity in the years to come. He called on businesses, governments, and society as a whole to work together to harness the power of AI for the greater good and to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the AI era.A condition characterized by extreme fatigue and cognitive impairment due to lack of sleep. During the final week, students may experience sleep-deprived delirium as they sacrifice rest in favor of studying or completing assignments. Symptoms include forgetfulness, confusion, and a strong desire for naps.

Representational image US Universities Expand Tuition-Free Programs: Higher education in the United States is notoriously expensive, leaving many families burdened with debt or unable to afford college at all. While scholarships and grants help some students, they often cater to only a select segment of the population. Recently, a growing trend among top universities has focused on comprehensive tuition waivers aimed at making college more accessible for a broader range of students who are both deserving and in financial need. This week, five prominent universities announced tuition-free programs designed to reduce financial barriers for undergraduates from low- and middle-income families. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction 2025 Live: CSK snatch Ravindra via RTM after Pant, Iyer become most expensive buys IPL 2025 Auction LIVE: Updated Full Team Squads IPL Auction 2025: Who got whom Spanning public and private institutions across multiple states, these initiatives underscore a nationwide push for affordability. Starting in 2025, these programs will provide significant financial relief to families, helping to ensure that cost isn’t a roadblock to higher education. Here's a closer look at how these programs work and what they mean for eligible students. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) MIT is expanding its already generous financial aid program. Starting next fall, students from families earning less than $200,000 annually will qualify for tuition-free education, an increase from the current threshold of $140,000. Families earning under $100,000 will receive full financial coverage, including tuition, room and board, books, and personal expenses—essentially making MIT cost-free. Currently, 35% of MIT undergraduates pay no tuition, and this expansion is expected to benefit an even larger proportion of students. University of Texas System Beginning in the fall of 2025, the University of Texas (UT) System will waive tuition and mandatory fees for students from families earning $100,000 or less annually. This new policy will apply to all nine UT academic institutions, unifying the varying financial aid programs previously in place across the system. By creating a universal income threshold, the UT System aims to provide consistent and accessible opportunities for students regardless of which campus they attend. Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is launching its CMU Pathway program in the 2025–26 academic year, offering tuition-free education to students from families earning $75,000 or less. Additionally, families earning up to $100,000 will benefit from substantial aid, ensuring that most students within this income range can attend without taking on significant student loans. This marks CMU’s commitment to making higher education attainable for a more diverse student body. Brandeis University Brandeis University, a private research institution near Boston, is also stepping up its financial aid. Starting in fall 2025, undergraduates from families earning less than $75,000 will receive grants and scholarships covering their full tuition. Families earning up to $200,000 will see a 50% tuition reduction. This initiative targets affordability while maintaining Brandeis’ commitment to fostering a supportive academic environment for students from varied economic backgrounds. University of Massachusetts (UMass) System The UMass System plans to enhance its existing financial aid offerings by fully covering tuition costs for high-need families earning $75,000 or less. Currently, this applies to 92% of eligible students, and the new initiative aims to close the gap for the remaining 8%. Eligible students must be Massachusetts residents, enrolled full-time, and pursuing an on-campus undergraduate degree. The program will span all UMass campuses, including Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell. Quick overview: Tuition-Free Programs at US Universities — Benefits and Eligibility University Benefits Eligibility Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Tuition-free education for families earning TUI AG (OTCMKTS:TUIFF) Sees Significant Drop in Short Interest

The safety and well-being of the citizens in Zhengzhou are of utmost importance, and any incidents that pose risks to public health are taken seriously by the authorities. With reports of multiple people fainting at various bathhouses, it was imperative for the local government to intervene promptly and decisively. Medical teams were immediately mobilized to provide necessary medical care to those affected, ensuring that they received proper treatment and attention.

Yes, it’s at a 20-man exhibition tournament in the offseason, but Scottie Scheffler added to his historic 2024 season with a ninth win as he ran away with the Hero World Challenge on Sunday in the Bahamas. The Hero is Tiger Woods’ annual event at the Albany resort where many of the top players in the world play to raise money for the Tiger Woods Foundation. While Woods didn’t play this year as he recovers from another back surgery, the field included Ludvig Aberg, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Sahith Theegala and Tom Kim, among others. And for the second year in a row, Scheffler cruised to a win in his final appearance before the 2025 season kicks off in Hawaii. Advertisement Scheffler, who played four rounds in 25 under par, entered Sunday with only a one-shot lead before opening with three birdies on the first four holes. He was able to then easily carry that four-shot lead throughout the afternoon with a final round 64 to hold off Kim (19-under) and Thomas (18-under). Scheffler also did it while debuting a new putting grip, switching to a claw grip that puts more emphasis on the shoulders and less on the hands. Scheffler’s putting woes were a major issue in 2023 as he won just three events as world No. 1, and while his putting numbers improved to above average in his epic 2024 campaign, his stroke still cost him mightily at the U.S. Open and Open Championship. “I’m always looking for little ways to improve,” Scheffler said, “It’s something that (putting coach) Phil (Kenyon) had mentioned to me last year when we first started working together. Over the last couple of months it’s something that we fiddled around with and figured this is a good week for me to kind of try things out.” That putting stroke will be a big story in 2025, but for now, the focus remains on the cap it places on his historic 2024 campaign. Scheffler now has nine tournament wins, including the Masters, an Olympic gold medal, the Players Championship and the Tour Championship. All of the first eight wins were at either signature events, the FedEx Cup playoffs or the Olympics . While greats like Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead won 10 or more tournaments in a year back in the 1940s and 1950s, reaching nine wins in a calendar year is rarified air in the modern era. Tiger Woods did it three times, including reaching 10 wins in 2000 and 2006, and Vijay Singh won nine tournaments in 2004. Now, Scheffler can join the club. The next question for Scheffler will be how long he can keep this incredible three-year run as the game’s best player alive. The 2025 season begins Jan. 2 at The Sentry in Hawaii. Required reading (Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)xbet casino 。

Good Times Restaurants Inc. ( NASDAQ: GTIM ) Q4 2024 Results Conference Call December 12, 2024 5:00 PM ET Company Participants Keri August - Senior Vice President, Finance and Accounting Ryan Zink - Chief Executive Officer Keri August Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Good Times Restaurants Inc. Fiscal 2024 Fourth Quarter and Year-end Earnings Call. I am Keri August, the Company's Senior Vice President of Finance and Accounting. By now, everyone should have access to the Company's earnings release, which is available in the Investors section of the Company's website. As a reminder, a part of today's discussion will include forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and therefore, you should not put undue reliance on them. These statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the market price of the Company's stock prevailing from time to time, the nature of other investment opportunities presented to the Company, the disruption to our business from pandemics and other public health emergencies, the impact of staffing constraints at our restaurants, the impact of supply chain constraints and inflation, the uncertain nature of current restaurant development plans and the ability to implement those plans and integrate new restaurants, delays in developing and opening new restaurants because of weather, local permitting or other reasons, increased competition, cost increases or ingredient shortages, general economic and operating conditions; risks associated with our share repurchase program, risks associated with the acquisition of additional restaurants, adequacy of cash flows and the cost and availability of capital or credit facility borrowings to provide liquidity, changes in federal state or local laws and regulations affecting our restaurants, including wage and tip credit regulations, and other matters discussed under the Risk Factors

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LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, who blocked the newspaper's endorsement of Kamala Harris and plans to overhaul its editorial board, says he will implement an artificial intelligence-powered "bias meter" on the paper's news articles to provide readers with "both sides" of a story. Soon-Shiong, the biotech billionaire who acquired the Times in 2018, told CNN political commentator Scott Jennings - who will join the Times' editorial board - that he's been "quietly building" an AI meter "behind the scenes." The meter, slated to be released in January, is powered by the same augmented intelligence technology that he's been building since 2010 for health care purposes, Soon-Shiong said. "Somebody could understand as they read it that the source of the article has some level of bias," he said on Jennings' " Flyover Country ," podcast. "And what we need to do is not have what we call confirmation bias and then that story automatically, the reader can press a button and get both sides of that exact same story based on that story and then give comments." Soon-Shiong said major publishers have so far failed to adequately separate news and opinion, which he suggested "could be the downfall of what now people call mainstream media." The comments prompted a rebuke from the union representing hundreds of the Times' newsroom staffers, which said Soon-Shiong had "publicly suggested his staff harbors bias, without offering evidence or examples." "Our members - and all Times staffers - abide by a strict set of ethics guidelines , which call for fairness, precision, transparency, vigilance against bias, and an earnest search to understand all sides of an issue," the Los Angeles Times Guild said in a statement Thursday. "Those longstanding principles will continue guiding our work." The contentious moves from the paper's owner also led to the resignation of Harry Litman, a senior legal affairs columnist for the Times' Opinion page. "My resignation is a protest and visceral reaction against the conduct of the paper's owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong. Soon-Shiong has made several moves to force the paper, over the forceful objections of his staff, into a posture more sympathetic to Donald Trump," Litman wrote Thursday. "Given the existential stakes for our democracy that I believe Trump's second term poses, and the evidence that Soon-Shiong is currying favor with the President-elect, they are repugnant and dangerous." Litman's resignation comes days after Kerry Cavanaugh, the Times' assistant editorial page editor, also announced her exit, Status first reported . In addition to his sweeping changes to the editorial board, a person familiar with the matter said Soon-Shiong has begun reviewing the headlines of all opinion pieces before publication. A spokesperson for the Times did not respond to CNN's request for comment. The moves come as Soon-Shiong looks to restructure the newspaper's editorial board, telling CNN last month that he plans to balance the paper's opinion section with more conservative and centrist voices in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump's victory. "If we were honest with ourselves, our current board of opinion writers veered very left, which is fine, but I think in order to have balance, you also need to have somebody who would trend right, and more importantly, somebody that would trend in the middle," Soon-Shiong told CNN in November. The restructuring follows Soon-Shiong's divisive decision to block a drafted endorsement of Vice President Harris two weeks before Election Day, which resulted in the resignation of several members of the paper's editorial board, staff protests, and thousands of readers canceling their subscriptions. Just three of the editorial board's eight members now remain, according to the Times website. On Wednesday, Soon-Shiong told Jennings that when the editorial board shared it had "pre-packaged" a presidential endorsement "without having met with any of the candidates," he was "outraged." "I did not want our paper to be part of that method of providing information or misinformation or disinformation," he said. "Everybody has a right to an opinion, that's fair," Soon-Shiong said, underscoring that the paper needs to "actually create some level of balance when it comes to opinion and columnist, and then we need to actually let the reader know this is opinion." In his resignation Thursday, Litman called the owner's decision to spike the presidential endorsement a "deep insult to the paper's readership." "Trump has made it clear that he will make trouble for media outlets that cross him," Litman wrote. "Rather than reacting with indignation at this challenge to his paper's critical function in a democracy, Soon-Shiong threw the paper to the wolves. That was cowardly." The-CNN-Wire TM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.Titans QB Mason Rudolph gets another chance at starting, this time against the Jags

Clute Intermediate students excel in new program#apple’s in-house 5G modem plans are just getting started with next year’s #iphone SERUKBAN CAMP, southern Syria — For almost a decade, thousands of displaced Syrians trapped in the desert struggled to survive in one of the most remote camps in the world; left without aid or medical care and largely forgotten by the outside world. The Syrians — some of them soldiers and relatives of the U.S. -backed Syrian Free Army forces against now-deposed President Bashar al-Assad — arrived fleeing ISIS when the militant group swept into Iraq and Syria in 2014. They massed in a desolate corner of southeastern Syria up against the Jordanian border and hemmed in by Syrian regime and Russian forces on the other side. With the fall of the Syrian regime this month, the more than 7,000 camp residents are finally free to leave. But the years of deprivation and isolation have taken a heavy toll. The existence of the community speaks to the complicated regional politics and the low-profile U.S. military role in Syria, as well as the possibility of dramatic transformation in seemingly unchanging conflicts. When Jordan sealed its border in 2016 after an ISIS attack killed six Jordanian soldiers, most of the Syrian civilians were trapped — unable to move forward or go back through roads controlled by the Syrian regime or even move through a desert laid with land mines. NPR traveled to the camp, about a five-hour drive from Damascus — the first journalists to ever go there, according to the main relief organization here, the U.S.-based Syrian Emergency Task Force . The camp is about 30 miles from the U.S. military's al-Tanf garrison , established in 2016. In January, Iran-backed Iraqi militia drones attacked a U.S. military support base — Tower 22 — just a few miles over a sand berm and across the border in Jordan, killing three American troops. Tanks abandoned by regime forces line the main M2 highway, the roadside dotted with cast-off uniforms. Past the U.S. base, the road turns into a rough desert trail of tracks through the black rock. "Before 2014 there were no people here at all," says Abu Mohammad Khudr, who dispenses medication from a tiny pharmacy established two years ago by Syrian Emergency Task Force. "We thought maybe the neighboring countries would help us but they didn't." The first residents came with tents, which were no match for the constant wind, searing heat and bitter cold of the desert. "After a while we decided we had to use the soil and water — so we made bricks and then we made walls and we built houses," he says. After the suicide bombing, Jordan sealed the border — preventing even aid agencies from delivering food to Rukban. Water though is still provided by UNICEF, pumped from Jordan. The sun-dried clay bricks, made by hand, are still the only building material for homes here. Instead of glass, small sheets of clear plastic cover the small window openings. With Syrian regime forces and Russian troops controlling the road out of the camp, food was in short supply and sometimes consisted only of dried bread or lentils and rice. "Most families ate just one or two meals a day," says Khudr. In one home, Afaf Abdo Mohammed says when her children were infants she used plastic bags instead of diapers. Her 16-year-old daughter, She'ala Hjab Khaled, was born with a spinal defect and spends the entire day sitting in a battered wheelchair. Syrian Emergency Task Force opened eight schools here two years ago, staffed with volunteer teachers from the camp. But She'ala has never been. "I can't get there," she says. Now free to leave, with the fall of the Syrian regime, very few residents have money for transportation to leave. Many are not sure if their homes still exist. Among Syria's many and complex tragedies, the camp has been a particular preoccupation of Mouaz Moustafa, an activist and the director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force. Two years ago he began organizing aid shipments for al-Tanf through a provision that allows humanitarian aid to be carried in unused space on U.S. military aircraft. He started bringing in American medical volunteers on two-week missions and persuaded the base commander at the time to visit the camp. Since then he says, U.S. forces have been involved in distributing aid there and when they are able, providing emergency medical care. "It really brought everyone together more," says Moustafa. Syrian Emergency Task Force is funded by donations and staffed largely by volunteers. He says some of the soldiers who helped with the aid missions came back to Rukban to volunteer after being discharged. That humanitarian assistance is not something the U.S. military publicizes. The U.S. military command over the years has declined to bring in visiting journalists to its nearby base — the only access route before the fall of the regime. Syrian fighters funded and trained by the United States raised families in Rukban, according to a senior U.S. military commander. He requested anonymity to be able to speak about the camp because he was not authorized to speak publicly about it. He said doctors on the base had delivered at least 100 of their babies at the base in the case of high-risk pregnancies. The al-Tanf garrison, originally a special forces base, is now part of the anti-ISIS mission in Iraq and Syria. The presence of the U.S. military there helped protect residents from potential attacks by regime forces, he said. Near the water pipes that supply the camp, boys come to fill up smaller tanks and to chase each other in the desert. The environment here is filled with snakes and scorpions — but no trees. Some of the children have never tasted fruit. They've never seen in real life bright flowers or butterflies like the ones painted on the walls of the mud-brick schools set up by the Syrian American organization. Winter here is particularly cruel. Those who can afford to buy sticks of wood to burn in small metal stoves for heat. In one of the clay houses, Fawaz al-Taleb, a veterinarian in his home city of Homs, said he couldn't afford to buy wood this year. "We burn plastic bags, bottles, strips of old tires," he says. "This has been our life for years." Respiratory and other diseases are rampant here. For almost a decade, without a single physician in this camp, when children died, their parents often didn't know why. Outside Taleb's home, there are the beginnings of a garden started with seeds distributed by Moustafa's organization to camp residents. There isn't much that grows in the barren ground here, but Taleb points out fledgling mint, garlic and potato plants. Next to them are lillies and a rose bush. "I've been trying to plant hope," he says. "We want to live, we don't want to say 'we were born here and might die here.' No matter how bad the situation, we still want to live." Copyright 2024 NPR

President-elect Donald Trump said on Dec. 24 that he plans to direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue the death penalty against the worst violent offenders. His remarks came a day after outgoing President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 death row prisoners to life in prison, including several mass murderers and child killers. “As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters,” Trump wrote in the post. “We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!” Besides generally signaling a tough-on-crime approach for his administration, Trump’s message suggests he intends to pursue legal reform that would restore the use of the death penalty as a punishment in cases of rape. This is not the first time Trump has signaled his intention to expand the use of capital punishment and reverse the moratorium on federal executions imposed by Biden. Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump signaled he would undo the moratorium and make more categories of criminals eligible for capital punishment, including child rapists and drug and human traffickers. During Trump’s first term in office, the federal government carried out 13 executions after resuming federal executions in 2020, following a 17-year hiatus. This marked the highest number of federal executions carried out under a single president since the 1950s and reflected Trump’s long-standing pledge to get tough on crime. The Biden administration, by contrast, has prioritized a shift away from the death penalty in favor of life sentences without parole for nearly all crimes. “These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder,” Biden said. “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss. But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.” “President Biden has reaffirmed the power of redemption over retribution and reminds us that state-sanctioned killing does not make us safer,“ Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU, said in a statement. ”The ACLU has long advocated against the death penalty and shed light on its fundamental flaws: it is error prone, racially biased, and a drain on public resources.” Critics of the death penalty, including the ACLU, argue that the punishment does not serve as a significant deterrent to violent crime and that the high costs associated with capital trials and prolonged appeals could be better spent on crime prevention and victim support. Supporters of capital punishment argue that it serves as ultimate justice for heinous crimes, provides closure to victims’ families, and that the financial burden of executions is a necessary cost to uphold justice and deter would-be offenders. In his Dec. 23 decision, Biden commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 death row inmates. The three federal inmates who continue to face execution are 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; Dylann Roof, who fatally shot nine people at a church in South Carolina in 2015; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018.

Drones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.Baltimore Rep. Kweisi Mfume won’t attend Trump inauguration, citing MLK DayThe legal defense fund for Luigi Mangione , the 26-year-old accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , has amassed over $200,000 in donations. The outpouring of support has raised alarms among law enforcement officials who fear the suspect is being idolized. A crowdfunding campaign on GiveSendGo was launched by a group calling itself “The December 4th Legal Committee,” referencing the date of Thompson’s killing in Midtown Manhattan. Mangione is accused of ambushing and fatally shooting Thompson as he walked to a shareholders’ meeting. The campaign claims to support Mangione’s “constitutional right to fair legal representation” and has attracted thousands of donors, many of whom left supportive messages. The fundraiser previously hit $50,000 in donations by Dec. 12 and has continued to elevate toward a $500,000 "goal," according to the GiveSendGo page. One anonymous donor contributed $10, writing: “This is for a young-adult family member who believes in the fight against big U.S. now international insurance companies who use unfair denial of claims to people in need to increase their profits and profitability.” Another donor simply commented, “Eat the rich!” alongside their $10 contribution. GiveSendGo defended its decision to host the campaign in a press statement, stating, “We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to access due process.” However, other platforms, including GoFundMe, have taken down similar campaigns, citing violations of terms prohibiting fundraising for violent crimes. The surge in donations comes as Mangione faces state and federal charges, including terrorism and first-degree murder. Federal prosecutors are pursuing charges that could result in the death penalty. Despite the severity of the allegations, Mangione’s supporters appear undeterred, with some lauding him as a symbol of resistance against corporate greed. Mangione pleaded not guilty Monday during his arraignment in Manhattan Supreme Court. His attorney, Karen Friedman Angifilo, criticized the heavy-handed treatment of her client, calling it a "political spectacle," referring to heavy police presence and perp walk that took place for Mangione's separate federal charges last week. Outside the state courthouse Monday, dozens of supporters, including a group of young women, gathered in frigid weather to show solidarity. Law enforcement officials are increasingly concerned about the glorification of Mangione. Meanwhile, the discourse has served as a callback to other high-profile criminal cases that initially garnered public sympathy, such as the Unabomber case and the Olympic Park Bomber case. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER A recent intelligence bulletin warned of growing online rhetoric supporting violence against CEOs, including the spread of “hit lists” and banners displaying the phrase “Deny, Defend, Depose,” which police say was etched into shell casings found at the crime scene where Thompson was shot and killed. “It's deeply disturbing,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. "And what I would say to members of the public, people who, as you described, are celebrating this and maybe contemplating other action, that we will be vigilant and we will hold people accountable."

Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systems

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St. Ambrose University, Hand in Hand partner to expand research on learning through playCayden Primeau is simply having a terrible start to the season with the Montreal Canadiens. It's really unfortunate, but it's the reality. Some even go so far as to say that, if Cayden Primeau did his job, the Habs would be in the mix right now. Looking closely at the stats, it's hard to disagree. A change is needed in the Canadiens' crease Here's the proposed solution. Why not call up goaltender Connor Hughes to see if he can be a solid NHL goalie? It could turn out to be an incredible discovery. I understand that management wants to protect Jakub Dobes, but Hughes is 28 years old, so there's no need to leave him in Laval for too long. Connor Hughes: 'He looks like an NHL goaltender' Several experts agree with this opinion, so why not give him a chance right away? So, what do you think? Should the Montreal Canadiens take a chance on Hughes? Because clearly, Samuel Montembeault cannot play every game from now until the end of the season. I love the idea. Hughes has a 1.85 goals-against average this season with a save percentage of 0.935 (6 wins and 1 loss) - AHL. Primeau has a 4.67 goals-against average this season with a save percentage of 0.845 (1 win and 3 losses) - NHL. This article first appeared on Habs Fanatics and was syndicated with permission.Zilia SÁnchez (1926–2024)

2024 saw the loss of many influential people who shaped the world in significant ways. From political leaders, activists and business pioneers to athletes, entertainers and change-makers, here’s a list of some noteworthy figures who died this year (cause of death cited for younger people, if available): JANUARY Glynis Johns , 100. A Tony Award-winning stage and screen star who played the mother opposite Julie Andrews in the classic movie “Mary Poppins” and introduced the world to the bittersweet standard-to-be “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim. Jan. 4. David Soul , 80. The actor-singer was a 1970s heartthrob who co-starred as the blond half of the crime-fighting duo “Starsky & Hutch” and topped the music charts with the ballad “Don’t Give Up on Us.” Jan. 4. Franz Beckenbauer , 78. He won the World Cup both as a player and coach and became one of Germany’s most beloved personalities with his easygoing charm. Jan. 7. Joyce Randolph , 99. A veteran stage and television actor whose role as the savvy Trixie Norton on “The Honeymooners” provided the perfect foil to her dimwitted TV husband. Jan. 13. Jack Burke Jr. , 100. He was the oldest living Masters champion and staged the greatest comeback ever at Augusta National for one of his two majors. Jan. 19. Marlena Shaw , 81. The jazz and R&B vocalist whose “California Soul” was one of the defining soul songs of the late 1960s. Jan. 19. Mary Weiss , 75. The lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “Leader of the Pack.” Jan. 19. Gigi Riva , 79. The all-time leading goal-scorer for Italy’s men’s national team was known as the “Rombo di Tuono” (Rumble of Thunder). Jan. 22. Dexter Scott King , 62. He dedicated much of his life to shepherding the civil rights legacy of his parents, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Jan. 22. Charles Osgood , 91. He anchored “CBS Sunday Morning” for more than two decades, was host of the long-running radio program “The Osgood File” and was referred to as CBS News’ poet-in-residence. Jan. 23. Melanie , 76. The singer-songwriter who rose through the New York folk scene, performed at Woodstock and had a series of 1970s hits including the enduring cultural phenomenon “Brand New Key.” Jan. 23. N. Scott Momaday , 89. A Pulitzer Prize-winning storyteller, poet, educator and folklorist whose debut novel “House Made of Dawn” is widely credited as the starting point for contemporary Native American literature. Jan. 24. Sandra Milo , 90. An icon of Italian cinema who played a key role in Federico Fellini’s “81⁄2” and later became his muse. Jan. 29. Jean Carnahan , 90. She became the first female senator to represent Missouri when she was appointed to replace her husband following his death. Jan. 30. Chita Rivera , 91. The dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists and shrugged off a near-fatal car accident. Jan. 30. FEBRUARY Carl Weathers , 76. A former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” movies, starring with Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore.” Feb. 1. Hage Geingob , 82. Namibia’s president and founding prime minister who played a central role in what has become one of Africa’s most stable democracies after returning from a long exile in Botswana and the United States as an anti-apartheid activist. Feb. 4. Bob Beckwith , 91. A retired firefighter whose chance encounter with the president amid the rubble of ground zero became part of an iconic image of American unity after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks . Feb. 4. Toby Keith , 62. A hit country crafter of pro-American anthems who both riled up critics and was loved by millions of fans. Feb. 5. Stomach cancer. John Bruton , 76. A former Irish prime minister who played a key role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland. Feb. 6. Sebastián Piñera , 74. The two-time former president of Chile faced social upheaval followed by a pandemic in his second term. Feb. 6. Helicopter crash. Seiji Ozawa , 88. The Japanese conductor amazed audiences with the lithe physicality of his performances during three decades at the helm of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Feb. 6. Henry Fambrough , 85. The last surviving original member of the iconic R&B group The Spinners, whose hits included “It’s a Shame,” “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” and “The Rubberband Man.” Feb. 7. Bob Edwards , 76. He anchored National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition” for just under 25 years and was the baritone voice who told many Americans what had happened while they slept. Feb. 10. Alexei Navalny , 47. The fiercest foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin who crusaded against official corruption and staged massive anti-Kremlin protests. Feb. 16. Lefty Driesell , 92. The Hall of Fame coach whose folksy drawl belied a fiery on-court demeanor that put Maryland on the college basketball map and enabled him to rebuild several struggling programs. Feb. 17. Hydeia Broadbent , 39. The HIV/AIDS activist came to national prominence in the 1990s as a young child for her inspirational talks to reduce the stigma surrounding the virus she was born with. Feb. 20. Jacob Rothschild , 87. The financier and philanthropist was part of the renowned Rothschild banking dynasty. Feb. 26. Richard Lewis , 76. An acclaimed comedian known for exploring his neuroses in frantic, stream-of-consciousness diatribes while dressed in all-black, leading to his nickname “The Prince of Pain.” Feb. 27. Nikolai Ryzhkov , 94. A former Soviet prime minister who presided over botched efforts to shore up the crumbling national economy in the final years of the USSR. Feb. 28. Brian Mulroney , 84. The former Canadian prime minister forged close ties with two Republican U.S. presidents through a sweeping free trade agreement that was once vilified but is now celebrated. Feb. 29. MARCH Iris Apfel , 102. A textile expert, New York City interior designer and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric style. March 1. Akira Toriyama , 68. The creator of the best-selling Dragon Ball and other popular anime who influenced Japanese comics. March 1. Blood clot. Chris Mortensen , 72. The award-winning journalist covered the NFL for close to four decades, including 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN. March 3. David E. Harris , 89. He flew bombers for the U.S. military and broke barriers in 1964 when he became the first Black pilot hired at a major U.S. airline. March 8. Eric Carmen , 74. The singer-songwriter fronted the power-pop 1970s band the Raspberries and later had soaring pop hits like “All by Myself” and “Hungry Eyes” from the hit “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack. March 11. David Mixner , 77. A longtime LGBTQ+ activist who was an adviser to Bill Clinton during his presidential campaign and later called him out over the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer personnel in the military. March 11. M. Emmet Walsh , 88. The character actor brought his unmistakable face and unsettling presence to films including “Blood Simple” and “Blade Runner.” March 19. Lou Whittaker , 95. A legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, and who taught generations of climbers during his more than 250 trips up Mount Rainier, the tallest peak in Washington state. March 24. Joe Lieberman , 82. The former U.S. senator of Connecticut nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in the disputed 2000 election and almost became Republican John McCain’s running mate eight years later. March 27. Complications from a fall. Louis Gossett Jr. , 87. The first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots.” March 28. William D. Delahunt , 82. The longtime Massachusetts congressman was a Democratic stalwart who postponed his retirement from Washington to help pass former President Barack Obama’s legislative agenda. March 30. Chance Perdomo , 27. An actor who rose to fame as a star of “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and “Gen V.” March 29. Motorcycle crash. Barbara Rush , 97. A popular leading actor in the 1950s and 1960s who co-starred with Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman and other top film performers and later had a thriving TV career. March 31. APRIL Lou Conter , 102. The last living survivor of the USS Arizona battleship that exploded and sank during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. April 1. John Sinclair , 82. A poet, music producer and counterculture figure whose lengthy prison sentence after a series of small-time pot busts inspired a John Lennon song and a star-studded 1971 concert to free him. April 2. The Rev. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray , 94. An influential pastor and civil rights leader who used his tenure at one of Los Angeles’ oldest churches to uplift the predominantly Black neighborhoods following one of the country’s worst race riots. April 5. Peter Higgs , 94. The Nobel Prize-winning physicist proposed the existence of the so-called “God particle” that helped explain how matter formed after the Big Bang. April 8. Ralph Puckett Jr. , 97. A retired Army colonel awarded the Medal of Honor seven decades after he was wounded leading a company of outnumbered Army Rangers in battle during the Korean War. April 8. O.J. Simpson , 76. The decorated football superstar and Hollywood actor who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend but later found liable in a separate civil trial. April 10. William Strickland , 87. A longtime civil rights activist and supporter of the Black Power movement who worked with Malcolm X and other prominent leaders in the 1960s. April 10. Robert MacNeil , 93. He created the even-handed, no-frills PBS newscast “The MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour” in the 1970s and co-anchored the show with his late partner, Jim Lehrer, for two decades. April 12. Faith Ringgold , 93. An award-winning author and artist who broke down barriers for Black female artists and became famous for her richly colored and detailed quilts combining painting, textiles and storytelling. April 12. Carl Erskine , 97. He pitched two no-hitters as a mainstay on the Brooklyn Dodgers and was a 20-game winner in 1953 when he struck out a then-record 14 in the World Series. April 16. Bob Graham , 87. A former U.S. senator and two-term Florida governor who gained national prominence as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks and as an early critic of the Iraq war. April 16. Dickey Betts , 80. The guitar legend who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man.” April 18. Roman Gabriel , 83. The first Filipino-American quarterback in the NFL and the league MVP in 1969. April 20. Terry Anderson , 76. The globe-trotting Associated Press correspondent became one of America’s longest-held hostages after he was snatched from a street in war-torn Lebanon in 1985 and held for nearly seven years. April 21. William Laws Calley Jr. , 80. As an Army lieutenant, he led the U.S. soldiers who killed hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the My Lai massacre, the most notorious war crime in modern American military history. April 28. Duane Eddy , 86. A pioneering guitar hero whose reverberating electric sound on instrumentals such as “Rebel Rouser” and “Peter Gunn” helped put the twang in early rock ‘n’ roll and influenced George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and countless others. April 30. MAY Dick Rutan , 85. He, along with copilot Jeana Yeager, completed one of the greatest milestones in aviation history: the first round-the-world flight with no stops or refueling. May 3. Jeannie Epper , 83. A groundbreaking performer who did stunts for many of the most important women of film and television action of the 1970s and ’80s, including star Lynda Carter on TV’s “Wonder Woman.” May 5. Bernard Hill , 79. An actor who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and went down with the ship as the captain in “Titanic.” May 5. Steve Albini , 61. An alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more. May 7. Heart attack. Kim Ki Nam , 94. A North Korean propaganda chief who helped build personality cults around the country’s three dynastic leaders. May 7. Pete McCloskey , 96. A pro-environment, anti-war California Republican who co-wrote the Endangered Species Act and co-founded Earth Day. May 8. Ralph Kennedy Frasier , 85. The last surviving member of a trio of African American youths who were the first to desegregate the undergraduate student body at North Carolina’s flagship public university in the 1950s. May 8. Roger Corman , 98. The “King of the Bs” helped turn out such low-budget classics as “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Attack of the Crab Monsters” and gave many of Hollywood’s most famous actors and directors early breaks. May 9. Alice Munro , 92. The Nobel laureate was a Canadian literary giant who became one of the world’s most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history’s most honored short story writers. May 13. Dabney Coleman , 92. The mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in “9 to 5” and the nasty TV director in “Tootsie.” May 16. Peter Buxtun , 86. The whistleblower who revealed that the U.S. government allowed hundreds of Black men in rural Alabama to go untreated for syphilis in what became known as the Tuskegee study. May 18. Ebrahim Raisi , 63. The Iranian president was a hard-line protégé of the country’s supreme leader who helped oversee the mass executions of thousands in 1988 and later led the country as it enriched uranium near weapons-grade levels, launched a major attack on Israel and experienced mass protests. May 19. Helicopter crash. Hossein Amirabdollahian , 60. Iran’s foreign minister and a hard-liner close to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard who confronted the West while also overseeing indirect talks with the U.S. over the country’s nuclear program. May 19. Helicopter crash. Ivan F. Boesky , 87. The flamboyant stock trader whose cooperation with the government cracked open one of the largest insider trading scandals in the history of Wall Street. May 20. Morgan Spurlock , 53. The documentary filmmaker and Oscar nominee whose most famous works skewered America’s food industry and who notably ate only at McDonald’s for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet. May 23. Complications of cancer. Bill Walton , 71. He starred for John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Fame center for his NBA career and one of the biggest stars in basketball broadcasting. May 27. Robert Pickton , 74. A Canadian serial killer who took female victims to his pig farm during a crime spree near Vancouver in the late 1990s and early 2000s. May 31. Injuries from a prison assault involving another inmate. JUNE Janis Paige , 101. A popular actor in Hollywood and in Broadway musicals and comedies who danced with Fred Astaire, toured with Bob Hope and continued to perform into her 90s. June 2. Brigitte Bierlein , 74. The former head of Austria’s Constitutional Court became the country’s first female chancellor in an interim government in 2019. June 3. Paul Pressler , 94. A leading figure of the Southern Baptist Convention who was accused of sexually abusing boys and young men and later settled a lawsuit over the allegations. June 7. The Rev. James Lawson Jr. , 95. An apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction. June 9. Lynn Conway , 86. A pioneer in the design of microchips that are at the heart of consumer electronics who overcame discrimination as a transgender person. June 9. Françoise Hardy , 80. A French singing legend and pop icon since the 1960s. June 11. Jerry West , 86. Selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive, his silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo. June 12. George Nethercutt , 79. The former U.S. congressman was a Spokane lawyer with limited political experience when he ousted Democratic Speaker of the House Tom Foley as part of a stunning GOP wave that shifted national politics to the right in 1994. June 14. Kazuko Shiraishi , 93. A leading name in modern Japanese “beat” poetry, she was known for her dramatic readings — at times with jazz music. June 14. Willie Mays , 93. The electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players. June 18. Anouk Aimée , 92. The radiant French star and dark-eyed beauty of classic films including Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” and Claude Lelouch’s “A Man and a Woman.” June 18. Donald Sutherland , 88. The Canadian actor whose wry, arresting screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games.” June 20. Bill Cobbs , 90. The veteran character actor became a ubiquitous and sage screen presence as an older man. June 25. Martin Mull , 80. His droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including “Roseanne” and “Arrested Development.” June 27. Pål Enger , 57. A talented Norwegian soccer player turned celebrity art thief who pulled off the sensational 1994 heist of Edvard Munch’s famed “The Scream” painting from the National Gallery in Oslo. June 29. JULY Jim Inhofe , 89. A powerful fixture in Oklahoma politics for over six decades, the Republican U.S. senator was a conservative known for his strong support of defense spending and his denial that human activity is responsible for the bulk of climate change. July 9. Joe Bonsall , 76. A Grammy award winner and celebrated tenor of the country and gospel group the Oak Ridge Boys. July 9. Tommy Robinson , 82. A former U.S. congressman who gained notoriety as an Arkansas sheriff for tactics that included chaining inmates outside a state prison to protest overcrowding. July 10. Shelley Duvall , 75. The intrepid, Texas-born movie star whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.” July 11. Dr. Ruth Westheimer , 96. The diminutive sex therapist became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics. July 12. Shannen Doherty , 53. The “Beverly Hills, 90210” star whose life and career were roiled by illness and tabloid stories. July 13. Breast cancer that metastasized to her brain and bones. Richard Simmons , 76. He was television’s hyperactive court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better. July 13. James Sikking , 90. He starred as a hardened police lieutenant on “Hill Street Blues” and as the titular character’s kindhearted dad on “Doogie Howser, M.D.” July 13. Jacoby Jones , 40. A former NFL receiver whose 108-yard kickoff return in 2013 remains the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history. July 14. Cheng Pei-pei , 78. A Chinese-born martial arts film actor who starred in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” July 17. Bob Newhart , 94. The deadpan accountant-turned-comedian became one of the most popular TV stars of his time after striking gold with a classic comedy album. July 18. Lou Dobbs , 78. The conservative political pundit and veteran cable TV host was a founding anchor for CNN and later was a nightly presence on Fox Business Network for more than a decade. July 18. Nguyen Phu Trong , 80. He was general secretary of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party and the country’s most powerful politician. July 19. Sheila Jackson Lee , 74. The longtime congresswoman from Texas helped lead federal efforts to protect women from domestic violence and recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday. July 19. Abdul “Duke” Fakir , 88. The last surviving original member of the beloved Motown group the Four Tops, which was known for such hits as “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” and “Standing in the Shadows of Love.” July 22. Edna O’Brien , 93. Ireland’s literary pride and outlaw scandalized her native land with her debut novel “The Country Girls” before gaining international acclaim as a storyteller and iconoclast that found her welcomed everywhere from Dublin to the White House. July 27. Francine Pascal , 92. A onetime soap opera writer whose “Sweet Valley High” novels and the ongoing adventures of twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield and other teens captivated millions of young readers. July 28. Betty Prashker , 99. A pioneering editor of the 20th century who as one of the first women with the power to acquire books published such classics as Kate Millett’s “Sexual Politics” and Susan Faludi’s “Backlash” and helped oversee the careers of Jean Auel, Dominick Dunne and Erik Larson among others. July 30. Ismail Haniyeh , 62. Hamas’ top leader in exile landed on Israel’s hit list after the terrorist group staged its surprise Oct. 7 attacks . July 31. Killed in an airstrike in Iran. AUGUST Jack Russell , 63. The lead singer of the bluesy ’80s metal band Great White, whose hits included “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me,” and who was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island. Aug. 7. Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez , 88. A Hall of Fame golfer whose antics on the greens and inspiring life story made him among the sport’s most popular players during a long professional career. Aug. 8. Susan Wojcicki , 56. A pioneering tech executive who helped shape Google and YouTube. Aug. 9. Wallace “Wally” Amos , 88. The creator of the Famous Amos cookie empire went on to become a children’s literacy advocate. Aug. 13. Gena Rowlands , 94. She was hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes. She later charmed audiences in her son’s tear-jerker “The Notebook.” Aug. 14. Peter Marshall , 98. The actor and singer turned game show host who played straight man to the stars for 16 years on “The Hollywood Squares.” Aug. 15. Alain Delon , 88. The internationally acclaimed French actor embodied both the bad guy and the policeman and made hearts throb around the world. Aug. 18. Phil Donahue , 88. His pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre that brought success to Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and many others. Aug. 18. Ruth Johnson Colvin , 107. She founded Literacy Volunteers of America, was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and received the nation’s highest civilian award: the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Aug. 18. Al Attles , 87. A Hall of Famer who coached the 1975 NBA champion Warriors and spent more than six decades with the organization as a player, general manager and most recently team ambassador. Aug. 20. John Amos , 84. He starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots.” Aug. 21. Salim Hoss , 94. The five-time former Lebanese prime minister served during some of the most tumultuous years of his country’s modern history. Aug. 25. Leonard Riggio , 83. A brash, self-styled underdog who transformed the publishing industry by building Barnes & Noble into the country’s most powerful bookseller before it was overtaken by the rise of Amazon.com. Aug. 27. Johnny Gaudreau , 31. An NHL player known as “Johnny Hockey,” he played 10 full seasons in the league. Aug. 29. Killed along with his brother when hit by a car while riding bicycles. Fatman Scoop , 56. The hip-hop artist topped charts in Europe with “Be Faithful” in the early 2000s and later lent his distinctive voice and ebullient vibe to hits by artists including Missy Elliott and Ciara. Aug. 30. Died after collapsing on stage. SEPTEMBER James Darren , 88. A teen idol who helped ignite the 1960s surfing craze as a charismatic beach boy paired off with Sandra Dee in the hit film “Gidget.” Sept. 2. Sergio Mendes , 83. The Grammy-winning Brazilian musician whose hit “Mas Que Nada” made him a global legend. Sept. 5. James Earl Jones , 93. He overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen, eventually lending his deep, commanding voice to CNN, “The Lion King” and Darth Vader. Sept. 9. Frankie Beverly , 77. With his band Maze, he inspired generations of fans with his smooth, soulful voice and lasting anthems including “Before I Let Go.” Sept. 10. Alberto Fujimori , 86. His decade-long presidency began with triumphs righting Peru’s economy and defeating a brutal insurgency only to end in autocratic excess that later sent him to prison. Sept. 11. Joe Schmidt , 92. The Hall of Fame linebacker who helped the Detroit Lions win NFL championships in 1953 and 1957 and later coached the team. Sept. 11. Tito Jackson , 70. One of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5. Sept. 15. John David “JD” Souther , 78. A prolific songwriter and musician who helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s with his collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt. Sept. 17. Kathryn Crosby , 90. She appeared in such movies as “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad”, “Anatomy of a Murder,” and “Operation Mad Ball” before marrying famed singer and Oscar-winning actor Bing Crosby. Sept. 20. John Ashton , 76. The veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films. Sept. 26. Maggie Smith , 89. The masterful, scene-stealing actor who won an Oscar for the 1969 film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and gained new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. Sept. 27. Hassan Nasrallah , 64. The Hezbollah leader who transformed the Lebanese militant group into a potent paramilitary and political force in the Middle East. Sept. 27. Killed in an Israeli airstrike. Kris Kristofferson , 88. A Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor. Sept. 28. Drake Hogestyn , 70. The “Days of Our Lives” star appeared on the show for 38 years. Sept. 28. Pete Rose , 83. Baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied. Sept. 30. Dikembe Mutombo , 58. A Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game. Sept. 30. Brain cancer. Gavin Creel , 48. A Broadway musical theater veteran who won a Tony Award for “Hello, Dolly!” opposite Bette Midler and earned nominations for “Hair” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Sept. 30. Cancer. Humberto Ortega , 77. The Nicaraguan guerrilla fighter and a Sandinista defense minister who later in life became a critic of his older brother President Daniel Ortega. Sept. 30. Ken Page , 70. A stage and screen actor who starred alongside Beyoncé in “Dreamgirls,” introduced Broadway audiences to Old Deuteronomy in “Cats” and scared generations of kids as the voice of Oogie Boogie, the villain of the 1993 animated holiday film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Sept. 30. OCTOBER Megan Marshack , 70. An aide to Nelson Rockefeller who was with the former New York governor and vice president when he died under circumstances that spurred intense speculation. Oct. 2. Cissy Houston , 91. A two-time Grammy-winning soul and gospel artist who sang with Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and other stars and knew triumph and heartbreak as the mother of singer Whitney Houston. Oct. 7. Ratan Tata , 86. One of India’s most influential business leaders, the veteran industrialist was former chairman of the $100 billion conglomerate Tata Group. Oct. 9. Ethel Kennedy , 96. The wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy raised their 11 children after he was assassinated and remained dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter. Oct. 10. Lilly Ledbetter , 86. A former Alabama factory manager whose lawsuit against her employer made her an icon of the equal pay movement and led to landmark wage discrimination legislation. Oct. 12. Philip G. Zimbardo , 91. The psychologist behind the controversial “Stanford Prison Experiment” that was intended to examine the psychological experiences of imprisonment. Oct. 14. Liam Payne , 31. A former One Direction singer whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans. Oct. 16. Died after falling from a hotel balcony. Yahya Sinwar , 61. The Hamas leader who masterminded the surprise Oct. 7, 2023, attack into southern Israel that shocked the world and triggered the longest, deadliest and most destructive war in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Oct. 16. Killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. Mitzi Gaynor , 93. The effervescent dancer and actor starred as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film “South Pacific” and appeared in other musicals with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. Oct. 17. Thelma Mothershed Wair , 83. One of nine Black students who integrated a high school in Arkansas’ capital city of Little Rock in 1957 while a mob of white segregationists yelled threats and insults. Oct. 19. Fernando Valenzuela , 63. The Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981. Oct. 22. Phil Lesh , 84. A classically trained violinist and jazz trumpeter who found his true calling by reinventing the role of rock bass guitar as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. Oct. 25. Teri Garr , 79. The quirky comedy actor rose from background dancer in Elvis Presley movies to co-star in such favorites as “Young Frankenstein” and “Tootsie.” Oct. 29. Multiple sclerosis. NOVEMBER Quincy Jones , 91. The multi-talented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists. Nov. 3. Bernard “Bernie” Marcus , 95. The co-founder of The Home Depot, a billionaire philanthropist, and a big Republican donor. Nov. 4. Elwood Edwards , 74. He voiced America Online’s ever-present “You’ve got mail” greeting. Nov. 5. Tony Todd , 69. An actor known for his haunting portrayal of a killer in the horror film “Candyman” and for roles in many other films and television shows. Nov. 6. Bobby Allison , 86. He was founder of racing’s “Alabama Gang” and a NASCAR Hall of Famer. Nov. 9. Reg Murphy , 90. A renowned journalist whose newsgathering career included stints as an editor and top executive at newspapers in Atlanta, San Francisco and Baltimore — and who found himself the subject of national headlines when he survived a politically motivated kidnapping. Nov. 9. Timothy West , 90. A British actor who played the classic Shakespeare roles of King Lear and Macbeth and who in recent years along with his wife, Prunella Scales, enchanted millions of people with their boating exploits on Britain’s waterways. Nov. 12. Shuntaro Tanikawa , 92. He pioneered modern Japanese poetry — poignant but conversational in its divergence from haiku and other traditions. Nov. 13. Bela Karolyi , 82. The charismatic, if polarizing, gymnastics coach turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport. Nov. 15. Arthur Frommer , 95. His “Europe on 5 Dollars a Day” guidebooks revolutionized leisure travel by convincing average Americans to take budget vacations abroad. Nov. 18. Alice Brock , 83. Her Massachusetts-based eatery helped inspire Arlo Guthrie’s deadpan Thanksgiving standard, “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree.” Nov. 21. Fred Harris , 94. A former U.S. senator from Oklahoma, presidential hopeful and populist who championed Democratic Party reforms in the turbulent 1960s. Nov. 23. Chuck Woolery , 83. The affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19. Nov. 23. Barbara Taylor Bradford , 91. A British journalist who became a publishing sensation in her 40s with the saga “A Woman of Substance” and wrote more than a dozen other novels that sold tens of millions of copies. Nov. 24. Mary McGee , 87. A female racing pioneer and subject profiled in the Oscar-contending documentary “Motorcycle Mary.” Nov. 27. Prince Johnson , 72. The Liberian former warlord and senator whose brutal tactics shocked the world. Nov. 28. Lou Carnesecca , 99. The excitable St. John’s coach whose outlandish sweaters became an emblem of his team’s rousing Final Four run in 1985 and who was a treasured figure in New York sports. Nov. 30. DECEMBER Debbie Nelson , 69. The single mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his hit song lyrics. Dec. 2. Nikki Giovanni , 81. The poet, author, educator and public speaker who rose from borrowing money to release her first book to decades as a literary celebrity sharing her blunt and conversational takes on everything from racism and love to space travel and mortality. Dec. 9. George Joseph Kresge Jr. , 89. He was known to generations of TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin. Dec. 10. Jim Leach , 82. A former congressman who served 30 years as a politician from eastern Iowa and later headed the National Endowment for the Humanities. Dec. 11. Zakir Hussain , 73. One of India’s most accomplished classical musicians who defied genres and introduced tabla to global audiences. Dec. 15. Fred Lorenzen , 89. A NASCAR Hall of Famer and the 1965 Daytona 500 champion. Dec. 18. Tsuneo Watanabe , 98. The powerful head of the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest newspaper, who had close ties with the country’s powerful conservative leaders. Dec. 19. Rickey Henderson , 65. The baseball Hall of Famer was the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball’s leadoff position. Dec. 20. Shyam Benegal , 90. A renowned Indian filmmaker known for pioneering a new wave cinema movement that tackled social issues in the 1970s. Dec. 23. Osamu Suzuki , 94. The charismatic former boss of Suzuki Motor Corp. helped turn the Japanese mini-vehicle maker into a globally competitive company. Dec. 25. Warren Upton , 105. The oldest living survivor of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the last remaining survivor of the USS Utah. Dec. 25. Manmohan Singh , 92. India’s former prime minister who was widely regarded as the architect of a landmark nuclear deal with the United States. Dec. 26. Richard Parsons , 76. One of corporate America’s most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup. Dec. 26. Greg Gumbel , 78. A longtime CBS sportscaster who broke barriers during his career calling some of the biggest sporting events. Dec. 27.

Oscar Fairs from Benfleet, Essex, was diagnosed with a rare 7cm ependymoma brain tumour in August 2023 and underwent seven surgeries, one round of chemotherapy and one round of radiotherapy to be told palliative care was the only option. A GoFundMe page was set up to help the family raise £100,000 towards a treatment trial in France. It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United confirm the tragic passing of our U15s Academy goalkeeper Oscar Fairs, following his brave battle with cancer. Rest in peace, brave Oscar. — West Ham United (@WestHam) December 13, 2024 West Ham footballers donated £27,000, chairman David Sullivan donated £10,000 and Arsenal footballer and former West Ham star Declan Rice gave £5,000, according to Ms Fairs. On Friday, West Ham announced that the 15-year-old had died. Sporting director Mark Noble said: “Oscar was adored by everyone at the Academy – not only was he a great goalkeeper, he was a true Hammer and a fantastic young person, who will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him. “I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden – (my son) Lenny and his teammates all loved him. “He was a friendly, happy, well-mannered and polite young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him, and it is just so unimaginably devastating that he has been taken from his family and friends at this age. “The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at the Club are with Oscar’s parents, Natalie and Russell, and his brother Harry, and we kindly ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time.” All scheduled Academy fixtures over the weekend have been postponed as a mark of respect.

ST. PAUL — Kris Bolle is living the “van life” these days with Annie, his mini Australian shepherd. Bolle, 46, bought a 2020 Dodge Ram ProMaster cargo van this past fall. The Hayfield resident planned, essentially, a studio apartment inside. The van with a high roof has room for a full bed, a small kitchen area and a writing desk. ADVERTISEMENT He saves money by forgoing rent, but there is a cost — isolation. It’s a lifestyle he’s grown accustomed to since he had to hide his sexuality over the years, including in the Navy under the now-defunct “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which allowed gay and lesbian service members to stay in the military as long as they weren’t out, he said. “I had to be very, very tight-lipped about me ... so I’m used to it,” Bolle said. “But yes, it wears on you. It wears you down, and you feel isolated and you feel left out.” About 48% of Minnesotans feel left out some of the time or often, according to the “Minds of Minnesotans” survey conducted by APM Research Lab. The poll also finds that about half of Minnesotans feel lonely, at least some of the time. More specifically, 13% say they “often” lack companionship and another 35% lack companionship “some of the time.” Results were similar when Minnesotans were asked how often they feel left out and isolated from others. Bolle was one of 3,399 participants surveyed by the firm Lumaris. He said he often feels a lack of companionship as well. He hasn’t been in a relationship since 2009. He often feels left out and sometimes feels isolated. “I’m isolated in the sense where I really can’t find a suitable partner,” he said. His social connections are at his nursing assistant job, which he looks forward to, Bolle said. He’s never thoroughly enjoyed a job as much as his role at a skilled nursing facility, he said. ADVERTISEMENT “Work is great. I get to see people, I get to interact with people. I get to chat and talk and all the things that you know, that people do,” Bolle said. “That’s really hard to find.” The APM Research Lab included these questions in the survey, conducted this year between July 20 and Nov. 22, to better understand what the U.S. Surgeon General has called “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” The three questions used in the APM Research Lab survey were replicated from the widely used UCLA Loneliness Scale to help assess Minnesotans’ state of mind in the post-pandemic era, and possibly to help identify groups of Minnesotans that are faring better or worse with feelings of loneliness and isolation. In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a report calling loneliness an epidemic, posing significant health risks akin to tobacco usage, obesity and addiction. Loneliness intersects with various aspects of people’s lives, said Carrie Henning-Smith, an associate professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. “Social isolation and loneliness have profound impacts on health, on mortality risks, on all of the ways that our lives play out within health, within that sphere, but in so many other ways, too,” said Henning-Smith, who conducts research on rural populations as the co-director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center and the Rural Health Program. According to the U.S. Surgeon General report, “the physical health consequences of poor or insufficient connection include a 29 percent increased risk of heart disease, a 32 percent increased risk of stroke, and a 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia for older adults.” ADVERTISEMENT A lack of social connections increases the risk of premature death by more than 60%, the report added. Mary Jo Kreitzer, the founder and director of the Earl Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota, said the report is significant. “Just by him [Murthy] touching that subject, everybody remembers that he did,” she said. “People remembered that. Because I’m sure that everybody has somebody like that in their life, or they themselves are feeling lonely.” There’s also a stigma surrounding the idea of loneliness. “People are reluctant to admit that they feel lonely. It somehow means like that you’re unlikable or unlovable or there’s something wrong with you,” Henning-Smith said. “It’s important to have these conversations, because the truth is, just about everyone will feel lonely at some point in their life.” she added. “It's a universal part of being human.” Kreitzer said the data reported by APM Lab is comparable to other global and U.S. data on the subject. ADVERTISEMENT “Other studies, like this one found that loneliness peaks in younger age groups,” she said, calling it “a very interesting finding.” The survey found that the Gen Z cohort of 18 to 27, were the most lonely. “That surprises a lot of people, but I think it’s consistent with other data,” Kreitzer said. She said people assume that older people suffer from loneliness because they lack the social connections they once had earlier in their lives. The survey data, instead, showed that baby boomers, currently aged 60-78, are the least lonely of adult-age generations in Minnesota: 63% score as “rarely lonely” and only 7% indicated frequent loneliness. “Sometimes, like in the boomer generation, when people have retired, they actually have more time to build and strengthen connections,” Kreitzer said. “Boomers can be great at joining groups, pursuing interests, be that hobbies or fitness activities or book clubs or volunteering, and all of those are ways that can really help us build social connections.” She said her local YMCA in Grand Rapids is a hub of activity with engaged older folks. She sees them playing cards, working out, swimming and more. Gen Zers, however, are experiencing numerous life transitions. “During that age, they’re expected to separate from their family, to find a partner, to launch a career,” Kreitzer said. “So there’s been a lot of disruption in social connections that they probably have had in their life for a long, long time.” ADVERTISEMENT Henning-Smith called the loneliness rates among young adults “concerning.” Social media and technology may explain part of the higher rates. “People who live their lives online, people who are digital natives and were born into a world where they’re living their lives online, have fundamentally different ways of connecting with other people,” Henning-Smith said. “I worry that some of those skills and some of the infrastructure for connecting with people in meaningful ways and in-person connections might be lacking for some folks in younger generations.” Kreitzer suggests to those who may have frequent bouts of loneliness to acknowledge the feelings. Don’t ignore them. She advises them to reach out to family and friends to try to build or rebuild social connections. She also encourages people to join groups based on their interests. Kreitzer highly recommends volunteering because of the health benefits associated with it. “There’s actually research on that that, like, volunteering helps improve our own well-being,” she said. “It can actually improve our overall positive outlook, our mental health and well-being.” ADVERTISEMENT Back in Hayfield, Bolle said he tries to find community to fend off his loneliness. His location is a challenge because he finds groups in the Twin Cities some 90 miles away. He belongs to a spiritual group that meets once a week in Rochester, but that’s a 52-mile round trip, so he only goes from time to time. Bolle also prepares himself to encounter situations that bring on feelings of loneliness when he goes to Rochester on his weekends to run errands. “When I see families out having fun together, or groups of people, groups of young people, you know, out together and having fun, that can trigger pangs of loneliness,” he said. “I just feel like I’m missing out on human connection.” He said when he was younger, he bought into society’s emphasis on rugged individualism. “But it just doesn’t work, because you will almost ultimately, always end up feeling lonely,” he said. When he traveled the world with the Navy, Bolle said he saw community and family as top priorities in other countries as well as in the Mexican and Latino communities of Southern California where he grew up. “You really do need that connection with other people,” he said. “It’s almost as important as food and shelter, you know?” The data and the heart appear to agree. This story was originally published on MPRNews.org ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .Drones, planes or UFOs? Americans abuzz over mysterious New Jersey sightings

"Until I was 17, I was addicted to screens, completely dependent on them," shares Yoad Cahal, 22, from Haifa. "When I got home from high school, I would immediately lock myself in my room with the computer. I didn’t want to go outside or meet friends. The screen had so much to offer. "It was easier for me to experience life through the screen than in the real world. In reality, my grades dropped, I became socially disconnected and my health deteriorated. I barely ate. I would skip meals to spend more time on the computer, not even wanting to lose a few minutes heating food in the microwave. It was a time of losing weight, friends and grades." 3 View gallery Yoad Cahal ( Photo: Courtesy of Kan11 ) When did the addiction start? "Screens were always part of my life. As early as third or fourth grade, I had a cellphone with games. Later, those games were replaced by social media apps. At 14 or 15, I asked for a PlayStation as a birthday gift, and I got it. That’s when my time in front of the computer became more intense and serious. "At first, it was a social activity—I’d go to friends’ houses and play with them. Then I started downloading games so I could play at home. Eventually, it became the first thing I did when I got home. I even started looking for ways to shorten the trip back from school. I’d turn down offers to hang out with friends just to get to the computer. Then came the stage where I’d leave school early to play. The more the addiction grew, the less time I spent outside the game." "I would spend endless time on social media, scrolling and scrolling until I ended up looking at completely random things. When you’re uncomfortable with your body, your social situation or your grades—and I never liked structured environments—it’s easier to escape. But my main addiction was to computer games like Fortnite and FIFA, where I could live the lives of characters I wished were mine instead of my own. "After several years of this, around the age of 17, I started realizing something was wrong. I could feel how much I was suffering, not just mentally but physically—I had eye strain and headaches. I would literally collapse into bed when the pain of being in front of the screen became too much. But the next day, I’d be right back at the computer, skipping school to sit in front of the screen. From the moment I opened my eyes until I went to sleep, I lived in the virtual world. On peak days, I spent 12 hours on the computer. "And even when you’re not at the computer, you’re constantly thinking about it. At school, I’d sketch out what I’d do when I got back to the computer, obsessing over it, and I couldn’t relax until I was back in front of the screen." 3 View gallery ( Photo: Courtesy of Kan11 ) What was your relationship with your parents like? "My parents are divorced. My mom worked two or three jobs at the time and would come home late. Even though she was busy, she always cared for me—she’d make sure I had food and ask how I was feeling. Still, years later, she told me, ‘As a parent, it’s convenient when your child has something to do. Sometimes, you just need your peace.’ Because the process was gradual, it took time before they raised a red flag. "At first, they tried to punish me and take away the screen, but it didn’t change how I felt. Today, as someone who helps parents with children struggling with screen addiction, I try to explain that the screen itself isn’t the problem. If you try to suddenly separate a child from their screen, they’ll react defensively, seeing it as their best friend, and turn against the parent. The result will be the opposite of what you want." How did you eventually break free from it? "My parents noticed how bad things had gotten. They were very communicative and tried to reach out to me, making it clear they were there for me. My dad started coming over twice a week to spend time with me and my sister. Each time, he’d suggest going out or doing something together. The most I could offer was to let him take a controller and play with me on the computer. He never stopped suggesting, never gave up, even though I kept refusing. In a way, he kept giving me the choice, and eventually, the ‘no’ turned into a ‘yes.’ "When I started feeling terrible about my situation, I opened the door they left for me. I went out for coffee with my dad, sat on the balcony with my mom. People don’t realize that the best replacement for a screen is human connection. "Around the age of 17, I became fully aware of my situation. For months, I couldn’t even touch the computer—it disgusted me because I realized it was making me hate myself. I suddenly wanted to cut back, do something else, breathe, go outside. I gradually reduced my screen time with that awareness. In my free time, I started going to cafes with my dad or hanging out with friends. My dad, who’s a business consultant, began teaching me things you don’t learn in school, and I found them fascinating. 3 View gallery ( Photo: Courtesy of Kan11 ) Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play : https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store : https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv "I eventually returned to the screen, but this time as a tool—to learn, grow and find things to help me develop. By the time I turned 18, I was ‘clean.’ After what I went through, I realized this is a problem many kids face. I wanted to help others in the position I was once in. I turned my struggle into a business, creating a program for parents called Connecting to Reality, with online content available to help families." What can you say to parents, from the perspective of someone who has experienced this? "It’s less about how much time the child spends on the screen and more about how they behave when they’re not on it. If they’re restless and uneasy when disconnected, that’s the real sign. Many kids are drawn to screens because they’re bored and looking for easy, accessible stimulation—just like many adults. A child’s dependence shows when they’re agitated and struggle with even small activities, like going to school or taking a family trip, because they’re away from the screen. "Parents think the screen is the problem, but it’s not—it’s a symptom. Some kids smoke or drink, and those behaviors are also symptoms of something deeper. Don’t be angry at your child for reaching this point—approach them with empathy." Looking back, what led to your screen addiction? "The need for control over my life. As a kid, your parents tell you what to do, your teachers tell you what to do and sometimes even your friends. I didn’t get along with structured environments and rigid rules—I couldn’t find logic in them. But on the computer, it was different because I set the rules. On the computer, you have a whole world you shape, define, and control according to your desires. It made more sense to keep living there. "Today, I mainly use screens for work. They’ve become a tool, not a dependency. I don’t spend hours scrolling, and I carefully control the content and people I choose to follow. I seek content that provides value." What would you say to a child struggling to let go of the screen? "I understand them. They feel like everyone is mad at them because of this addiction, and they feel guilty. It’s important to remove that guilt from them. When someone feels guilty, it’s impossible to influence them." >

Ludhiana: A local court has sentenced an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) to four years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000. Also, a fine of Rs 25,000 was imposed. The case dates to Nov 22, 2019, when the vigilance bureau (VB) booked ASI Balwinder Ram (54) from Nagar village, Jalandhar, under the Prevention of Corruption Act .Sarabjit Singh, the complainant, is a property dealer who owns a property in Kalsi Market, Doraha. Behind his property is the property of Arun Rattan, with whom he had a dispute over water drainage. Arun Rattan abused and threatened Singh, following which Singh’s wife filed a complaint. ASI Balwinder Ram was assigned the case. Despite multiple meetings, the ASI did not summon the other party and continued to delay. Singh then met the ASI, who demanded Rs 10,000. Despite requests to reduce the amount, the ASI refused. Singh paid Rs 2,000 at that time and was instructed to bring the remaining Rs 8,000, promising immediate action. Unwilling to pay the bribe, Singh arranged Rs 8,000 and approached the VB. Later, the VB recovered Rs 8,000 from the front pocket of the ASI at Sherpur Chowk, in front of the police station. The police then arrested the accused and, after completing the investigation, presented the chargesheet in court, following which he was sentenced to four years of RI. We also published the following articles recently Original form of Sambhal mosque lost: ASI official The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) informed a Sambhal court that recent inspections of the Jama Masjid, under heavy police presence, revealed alterations compromising its original structure. The mosque committee's use of enamel paint, plaster of Paris, and marble flooring has obscured the historical fabric of the building. Original form of Sambhal mosque lost: ASI official The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) filed a court reply regarding the Sambhal mosque case, stating they face difficulty inspecting the site due to local resistance. A 2018 attempt to stop unauthorized construction resulted in threats against ASI officials. A recent inspection revealed alterations like enamel paint, plaster of Paris repairs, and a marble floor, obscuring the mosque's original state. Govt to seek ASIs help to restore port Goa's Minister for Archives and Archaeology, Subhash Phal Dessai, announced plans to restore the ruined Gopakapattana port at Agasaim. Seeking expertise from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), the project aims to study the port's remains, including former palaces and port infrastructure. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

By JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vance is taking on an atypical role as Senate guide for Trump nominees The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Mar-a-Lago scene is a far cry from Vance’s hardscrabble upbringing Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” Vance is making his voice heard as Trump stocks his Cabinet While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance will draw on his Senate background going forward Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.

A few minutes after delivering his camp-opening address to the full roster this past spring training, manager Oliver Marmol stood outside that same clubhouse and explained how the theme might differ from year to year, but the Cardinals’ expectations, like the number of birds perched on the bat, do not. “That never changes,” he said. “That’s my point in all of it. You show up every year with the same expectations. They don’t change, year to year. We’re looking to win a World Series. And we’re going to prepare and put ourselves in the best position to do that. Take our shot.” This year already has seen a shift in that messaging. It might be another year or more before they’re in that “best position” to take a shot. The formal end Saturday of the Cardinals’ Goldschmidt-Arenado Era was only the most recent of the club’s repositioning of expectations and priorities for 2025. Goldschmidt agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Yankees, according to sources, and the Yankees are one of a select few teams the Cardinals approached about a trade for Nolan Arenado. The Cardinals seek to reduce payroll as broadcast fees shrink and ticket sales are sluggish, and part of that goal is to find a contending team for their third baseman. Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. summarized the adjusted approach in six words: “We’re going young. That’s the message.” How to measure those results is the question. For more than two decades the bottom line by which to judge the Cardinals — Marmol even used those words “bottom line” — was wins, and not just in the standings. Playoff wins. Pennants won. The success of a season could be measured by the calendar and how deep the Cardinals played into October. They could be compared against their history with every move or game scrutinized by fans and media through the lens of whether it got them closer to a World Series. It has been 11 years since their most recent pennant, and now they are striding back from that stance, in comments and actions. So what metric shows if they’re making progress? Thus far, the Cardinals can be measured by how much salary they’ve shed or at-bats they’ve opened for younger players. Should improvement be measured in the square feet of new facilities, the cost of new technology, or the number of new staff members — all of which are going increase? Can it be measured by the growth in performance of young talents or the rankings of on-rushing prospects and the arrival of another top-seven draft pick? The Post-Dispatch asked Marmol how 2025 should be graded if it’s not playoff/fail. “I will say the mindset is still winning baseball,” Marmol said. “Like you talk to any of our players — have a conversation with (Brendan) Donovan and (Masyn) Winn — and those guys, they’re hungry to win. What I’m excited about is that there’s going to be runway for some of these guys. I think some of the pressure is going to be lifted off their shoulders in understanding, man, whether this week goes well for you or doesn’t, you’re going to be in there. And knowing that they have a longer runway than they’re used to having. I think that may lead to more production, to be quite honest with you.” That sounds like the measure of taking two steps back from the usual expectations to go three steps forward in an attempt to gain lost ground on rivals. The same question on how to view and review the upcoming season was asked of John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations, in the team suite during Major League Baseball’s winter meetings. “This is going to be a big test,” he said. “It is about getting young guys an opportunity and we’ll see what they do with it.” A new look Opportunity can be measured in innings pitched, starts, and at-bats. This winter, the Cardinals relocated Willson Contreras to first base and designated hitter to free up playing time for young catchers Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages. There’s still time at first or DH for Alec Burleson and playing him in those spots clears the corner outfield positions for Lars Nootbaar in left and Jordan Walker in right. Michael Siani is going to get a long look at center. If the Cardinals find a trade Arenado will approve, they’ll position Nolan Gorman at third, turn to Brendan Donovan at second, and get rookie Thomas Saggese ample playing time in utility role. It’s an attempt by the Cardinals to do for their young players now what they were too impatient to do previously because of slow starts or poor performances — and opportunity gap proved costly as players, such as Randy Arozarena and Lane Thomas, thrived elsewhere. But it’s also an approach best measured in hindsight, looking back on the opportunities that helped a young player surge forward. “Yeah, if I were to sit here and ask you, ‘What is Herrera?,’ I think we would all have varying responses,” Marmol said. “That’s the whole point of it. At the end of this year, we’ll know what we have in Herrera, in — gosh — Walker, in Nootbaar. You go down the list. Just get them at-bats. Let them pitch. Let them play. And there’s more clarity as to what we have on our hands rather than guessing. So that’s a big part of how we’ll measure this as well.” Other measures will happen beyond the big leagues, below in the minors, where spending, rankings, and comparisons will be the metrics. JJ Wetherholt, the seventh overall pick last summer, already is the Cardinals’ top prospect and could headline a group of three or four who crack Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects. The rise of a fifth, such as shortstop Yairo Padilla, slugger Chase Davis or pitchers Tekoah Roby and Cooper Hjerpe, would be a measure of a farm system on the rise and no longer idling. Cardinals ownership has “given us the green light to make real investments across the department,” special advisor Chaim Bloom said in November. One executive estimated an increase of 8% to 12% in spending on player development — some of that money coming off the major-league payroll and into the minor-league infrastructure. The Cardinals have hired an assistant general manager, Rob Cerfolio, to oversee and unify development and performance departments. Involving the major-league staff in the interviewing and vetting of candidates, the Cardinals also are expanding the pitching development staff and adding or refilling coordinator roles for specific positions. There are areas in which they’ll still have a smaller staff than competitors. The Cardinals are updating and expanding the facilities at their academy in the Dominican Republic. They already added advanced technology in the majors and spring training (such as two cutting-edge Trajekt pitching robots), and are increasing the tech for pitcher development. They’re discussing where to place a lab-like setup for this spring before the Cardinals’ complete, $100-million overhaul of their Jupiter, Florida, campus begins. They don’t track infrastructure stats, but teams are keeping score. “Saying how can we do this best? How can we win at this? How can we be better than our competition?” listed Bloom, who is charged with building out the development for the team he’ll inherit as president of baseball operations next fall. “And if you really want to do that, you have to do that in every area.” The goal: October That is all to get them back to one area that used to be their metric. October. The real measure of this coming season might not be in wins, but it will be in days — as in how many it takes before the autumn expectations that defined the past two decades are repeated each spring. “For me, it’s still winning baseball, (and) we’re going to continue to instill that,” Marmol said. “That’s what we’ve always done. We’ve got expectations. That part doesn’t change, for me. I can tell you in speaking to our guys, it doesn’t change for them, They’re not going into this year just looking at development. “Sure, our approach will signal toward that more than anything as far as when we talk about runway and letting guys play. But the mentality remains the same.”

Harry Kane hat-trick sends Bayern eight points clear in BundesligaNEW YORK , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global natural and organic personal care product market size is estimated to grow by USD 11.67 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 9.45% during the forecast period. Increasing number of female customers opting for organic personal care products is driving market growth, with a trend towards rise of sustainable packaging. However, high cost of natural and organic personal care products poses a challenge.Key market players include Beiersdorf AG, Colgate Palmolive Co., e.l.f. Beauty Inc., Emami Ltd, Gabriel Cosmetics Inc., Groupe Clarins, Herbivore Botanicals, Honasa Consumer Pvt. Ltd., Korres, LOccitane Groupe SA, Miranda Kerr Pty Ltd., Organic Harvest, OSEA International LLC, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., Purity Cosmetics, The Clorox Co., The Procter and Gamble Co., True Botanicals Inc., Weleda Group, and Yves Rocher Amerique du Nord Inc.. Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Natural And Organic Personal Care Product Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2017 - 2021 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.45% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 11669.6 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 8.42 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 40% Key countries US, Japan, China, Germany, and France Key companies profiled Beiersdorf AG, Colgate Palmolive Co., e.l.f. Beauty Inc., Emami Ltd, Gabriel Cosmetics Inc., Groupe Clarins, Herbivore Botanicals, Honasa Consumer Pvt. Ltd., Korres, LOccitane Groupe SA, Miranda Kerr Pty Ltd., Organic Harvest, OSEA International LLC, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., Purity Cosmetics, The Clorox Co., The Procter and Gamble Co., True Botanicals Inc., Weleda Group, and Yves Rocher Amerique du Nord Inc. Market Driver The personal care products market is thriving with a focus on clean label ingredients and organic beauty. Consumers are increasingly preferring natural oils like pomegranate, camellia, jojoba, argan, and grape seed over synthetic cosmetics. Airless packaging ensures product freshness and safety. ECommerce and online retailing have made buying beauty products more convenient. Millennials lead the trend in skincare, seeking solutions for skin irritation, dryness, and dullness. Herbal ingredients, free from BHA, parabens, phthalates, coal tar, and other chemicals, are in demand. Natural plant extracts offer alternatives, with brands like Refresh Botanical leading the way. Skin care and oral care concerns continue to drive growth. Allergies and sensitivities have increased the need for organic skincare products. Social media marketing, product reviews, recommendations, user comments, expert bloggers, and celebrity endorsements influence consumer decisions. Propylene glycol and formaldehyde are under scrutiny for potential health risks. Haircare concerns include anti-dandruff prevention and scalp problems. Stay tuned for more updates in the consumer products industry. The natural and organic personal care product market is witnessing a significant shift towards sustainable packaging. Brands like Juicy Chemistry, Mamaearth, WOW Skin Science, and Forest Essentials are leading this trend by introducing innovative eco-friendly packaging solutions. These include refillable containers and packaging made from recycled materials, such as biodegradable, compostable, or recycled ocean plastic. This shift is driven by growing consumer awareness of the environmental impact of traditional packaging. By adopting sustainable packaging, brands are differentiating themselves in the market and appealing to eco-conscious consumers. This trend signifies a broader movement towards sustainability and responsible consumption in the natural and organic personal care product industry. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! Market Challenges Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! Segment Overview This natural and organic personal care product market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Skincare- The natural and organic personal care product market comprises skincare items such as facial care, body care, and sun care products. These include organic offerings like lotions, creams, oils, moisturizers, face washes, cleansers, exfoliators, scrubs, soaps, body washes, and face and body serums. Natural and organic skincare products have gained significant popularity due to their absence of harsh chemicals, such as parabens and phenoxyethanol. Synthetic ingredients, like propylene glycol, petrolatum, and sulfates, can penetrate the skin, causing irritation, allergies, headaches, breathing difficulties, and hormone disruptions. Moreover, these ingredients may increase the risk of skin cancer. As consumers become more health-conscious, they prefer natural and organic skincare products for their skin health benefits and to avoid the harmful side effects of toxic ingredients. Vendors like Weleda, Rocher Amerique, and others cater to this demand with skincare products tailored to specific skin issues. For instance, acne and pimples are common skin concerns, and consumers often avoid chemical-based anti-acne products due to their perceived harm. Instead, they opt for herbal anti-acne skincare products, boosting the demand for natural and organic personal care products globally. Companies like The Himalaya Drug Co. And Emami Ltd. Provide herbal skincare solutions, such as the Purifying Neem Face Wash and Emami Naturally Fair Herbal Fairness Cream, respectively, to address these concerns. In conclusion, the growing preference for natural and organic skincare products to maintain skin health and avoid the harmful effects of synthetic ingredients is expected to fuel the growth of the skincare segment in the global natural and organic personal care product market. Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics Research Analysis The Natural and Organic Personal Care Product market is experiencing significant growth as consumers increasingly seek out clean label ingredients and organic beauty solutions. This market encompasses a wide range of consumer products, including skincare, haircare, and makeup, all made with natural oils such as pomegranate, camellia, jojoba, argan, and grape seed, and plant extracts. Airless packaging is a popular choice for these products to maintain their freshness and effectiveness. E-commerce and online retailing have revolutionized the way consumers purchase beauty products, allowing for the convenience of shopping from home and access to a wider selection of organic skincare products. Digital marketing and social media play a crucial role in reaching consumers and building brand awareness. However, natural and organic personal care products must still contend with skin irritation, dryness, and dullness, common issues for many consumers. Synthetic chemicals and allergens found in conventional beauty products can exacerbate these issues. By contrast, natural ingredients offer gentle, effective solutions. Despite the benefits of natural and organic personal care products, the challenge lies in maintaining a consistent supply chain and ensuring product quality. The use of synthetic cosmetics and chemicals in the industry can make this a complex issue. Nevertheless, the future looks bright for this market, with continued innovation and consumer demand driving growth. Market Research Overview The Natural and Organic Personal Care Product Market is experiencing significant growth as consumers increasingly seek out clean label ingredients and organic beauty solutions. This market encompasses a wide range of consumer products, including skincare, haircare, oral care, and more. Airless packaging and e-commerce platforms are driving innovation, making it easier than ever for consumers to purchase these products online. Key trends in this market include the use of natural oils such as pomegranate, camellia, jojoba, argan, and grape seed, as well as herbal ingredients. However, concerns over skin irritation, dryness, and dullness continue to drive demand for organic skincare products free from synthetic chemicals like BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), parabens, phthalates, coal tar, and allergens. Marketing in the natural and organic personal care product market is heavily influenced by social media and digital marketing. Product reviews, recommendations, user comments, expert bloggers, and celebrity endorsements all play a role in shaping consumer perceptions and driving sales. However, not all ingredients in personal care products are natural or organic. Some, like propylene glycol and formaldehyde, are synthetic and can cause haircare concerns, such as anti-dandruff prevention and scalp problems. As a result, transparency and education are crucial in this market. Millennials are a key demographic in the natural and organic personal care product market, with many prioritizing natural and organic options over synthetic cosmetics. Skincare is a particular area of focus, with consumers seeking out plant extracts and herbal ingredients to address a range of concerns. Overall, the natural and organic personal care product market is a dynamic and evolving space, driven by consumer demand for clean label, organic solutions and a growing awareness of the potential health risks associated with synthetic chemicals. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/natural--organic-personal-care-market-to-grow-by-usd-11-67-billion-2024-2028-driven-by-rising-female-demand-for-organic-products-ai-impacting-market-trends---technavio-302313451.html SOURCE Technavio

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaquil Barrett is rejoining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs signed the two-time Super Bowl champion on Saturday, while also announcing safety Jordan Whitehead was activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers. Barrett spent five seasons with Tampa Bay from 2019 to 2023. He led the NFL with a franchise-record 19 1-2 sacks in his first year with the Bucs, then helped the team win its second Super Bowl title the following season. In all, Barrett started 70 games with Tampa Bay, amassing 45 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions. He was released last winter in a salary cap move, signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, then abruptly announced his retirement on social media before the start of training camp in July. Barrett, who also won a Super Bowl during a four-season stint with the Denver Broncos, decided to unretire last month. He signed with the Bucs after clearing waivers earlier in the week. Whitehead has missed the past four games with a pectoral injury. His return comes of the heels of the Bucs placing safety Christian Izien on IR with a pectoral injury. On Saturday, the Bucs also activated rookie wide receiver Kameron Johnson from IR and elevated punter Jack Browning to the active roster from the practice squad. NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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In November, the OPEC Reference Basket (ORB) value dropped by $1.47, or 2.0%, month-on-month (m-o-m), to average $72.98/b. The ICE Brent front-month contract dropped by $1.98, or 2.6%, m-o-m, to average $73.40/b, while NYMEX WTI dropped by $2.02, or 2.8%, m-o-m, to average $69.54/b. GME Oman front-month contract dropped by $2.55, or 3.4%, m-o-m, to average $72.48/b. The ICE Brent-NYMEX WTI first month spread remained little changed, widening marginally by 4¢/b, m-o-m, to average $3.86/b. The forward curves of oil futures prices flattened further, with the nearest time spreads contracting but remaining in backwardation. Hedge funds and other money managers raised their net long positions but maintained a bearish stance on oil prices. The world economic growth forecasts remain unchanged at 3.1% for 2024 and 3.0% for 2025. The US economic growth forecast for 2024 is revised up slightly to 2.8%, reflecting robust growth in 2H24. For 2025, the US growth forecast is also revised up slightly to 2.2%. Japan’s growth forecast remains unchanged at 0.1% in 2024, but for 2025, it is revised up slightly to 1.0%. The Eurozone’s economic growth forecasts for 2024 and 2025 remain unchanged at 0.8%, and 1.2%, respectively. China’s economic growth forecasts remain unchanged at 4.9% for 2024 and 4.7% for 2025. India’s economic growth forecasts for 2024 and 2025 remain unchanged at 6.8%, and 6.3%, respectively. The economic growth forecast for Brazil is revised up slightly to 3.1% for 2024, but remains at 2.1% for 2025. Russia’s economic growth forecasts remain unchanged at 3.5% for 2024 and 1.7% for 2025. The global oil demand growth forecast for 2024 is revised down by 210 tb/d from the previous month’s assessment to 1.6 mb/d, year-on-year (y-o-y). This minor adjustment is mainly due to updated data for 1Q24, 2Q24 and 3Q24. In the OECD, oil demand is expected to grow by around 0.1 mb/d, while non-OECD demand is forecast to expand by close to 1.5 mb/d in 2024. Global oil demand growth for 2025 is also revised down by 90 tb/d from the previous month’s assessment to 1.4 mb/d, y-o-y. OECD demand is expected to grow by 0.1 mb/d, y-o-y, in 2025, while demand in the non-OECD is forecast to expand by 1.3 mb/d. Non-DoC liquids supply (i.e. liquids supply from countries not participating in the DoC) is expected to grow by 1.3 mb/d, y-o-y, in 2024, revised up slightly from last month’s assessment. The main growth drivers are expected to be the US and Canada. For 2025, the non-DoC liquids supply growth forecast is expected to grow by 1.1 mb/d, y-o-y, unchanged from last month. Growth is anticipated to be mainly driven by the US, Brazil, Canada, and Norway. Natural gas liquids (NGLs) and non-conventional liquids from countries participating in the DoC are forecast to grow by about 0.1 mb/d, y-o-y, in 2024 to average 8.3 mb/d, followed by an increase of about 80 tb/d, y-o-y, in 2025 to average 8.4 mb/d. Crude oil production by the countries participating in the DoC increased by 0.32 mb/d in November compared with the previous month, averaging about 40.67 mb/d, as reported by available secondary sources. In November, refinery margins rose further to show gains for the second consecutive month in key trading hubs. An improvement in product buying interest and lower feedstock prices underpinned product markets across regions despite rising refinery runs at the end of the heavy refinery maintenance season. On the US Gulf Coast (USGC), unplanned outages at secondary units led to upward pressure on US product crack spreads at the middle and bottom sections of the barrel. At the same time, diesel markets in Europe strengthened due to colder weather and rising heating requirements, while a boost in transport fuel loadings in China ahead of a tax rebate cut, effective from 1 December, provided further support. Global refinery intake began to recover in November, with the end of the heavy refinery turnaround season, rising by 1.3 mb/d, m-o-m, to average 80.2 mb/d, representing a y-o-y increase of 169 tb/d. Dirty spot freight rates fell across all monitored routes in November, continuing the decline seen at the end of the previous month, as higher vessel availability outpaced tonnage demand. On the Middle East-to-East route, VLCC spot freight rates decreased by 9%, m-o-m, in November, while rates on the West Africa-to-East route dropped by 10%. In the Suezmax market, rates on the US Gulf Coast-to-Europe route reversed the previous month’s gains, falling 25%, m-o-m. Aframax spot rates on the Caribbean-to-US East Coast route fell by 34%, retracting after a strong surge the month before. In the clean tanker market, East of Suez rates declined by 15% on average, while West of Suez rates jumped by 19%, m-o-m. Available data for November shows US crude imports recovering from the previous month’s decline to average 6.7 mb/d, as refiners returned from maintenance. US crude exports returned above 4 mb/d for the first time in four months, reflecting higher flows to Asia, as well as Europe. US product imports increased to 1.6 mb/d, amid higher flows of gasoline, while exports remained strong at 6.8 mb/d, also led by gasoline. Preliminary estimates for OECD Europe indicate crude imports in November were marginally higher, m-o-m, while product imports fell as lower inflows of diesel offset higher imports of fuel oil. In October, Japan’s crude imports declined by almost 12%, m-o-m, weighed down by softer domestic sales of refined products. Japan’s product imports were around 7% lower, m-o-m, as declines in naphtha, gasoline and gasoil outweighed increased imports of LPG and kerosene. In China, crude imports fell a further 5% compared to the previous month to average 10.6 mb/d in October, while net product imports increased by about 3%, m-o-m, as the decline in exports outpaced the drop in imports. In India, crude imports averaged 4.6 mb/d in October, representing a marginal gain over the previous month as ongoing refinery maintenance limited gains. India’s product exports fell back 24% following the previous month’s strong showing, with all major products registering declines. Preliminary October 2024 data shows total OECD commercial oil stocks down by 22.3 mb, m-o-m. At 2,777 mb, they were 169 mb below the 2015–2019 average. Among components, crude stocks rose by 7.9 mb, m-o-m, while product stocks fell by 30.2 mb, m-o-m. OECD commercial crude stocks stood at 1,324 mb, which is 130 mb less than the 2015–2019 average. OECD total product stocks stood at 1,453 mb, about 39 mb lower than the 2015–2019 average. In terms of days of forward cover, OECD commercial stocks rose by 0.3 days, m-o-m, in October, to stand at 60.8 days, which is 1.6 days below the 2015–2019 average. Demand for DoC crude (i.e. crude from countries participating in the Declaration of Cooperation) is revised down by 0.3 mb/d from the previous assessment, to stand at 42.4 mb/d in 2024. This is around 0.3 mb/d higher than the 2023 estimate. Demand for DoC crude in 2025 is revised down by around 0.4 mb/d from the previous month’s assessment to stand at 42.7 mb/d, around 0.3 mb/d higher than the estimate for 2024. Source: OPEC

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TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Caleb McCullough was there for the dark times at Arizona State, when the losses piled up and the cloud of an NCAA investigation was hovering over the program. The senior linebacker opted to stick around, believing in coach Kenny Dillingham's vision for a better future. It came sooner than anyone outside the program expected. "I’m doing whatever I can to win,” McCullough said. “I’m not really a stat player. This is my last year of college and my main goal is just to win.” The Sun Devils are doing just that, becoming one of college football's biggest surprises along the way. Picked to finish last in its first Big 12 season, Arizona State (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) now controls its destiny for a spot in the conference title game. The 21st-ranked Sun Devils have already clinched their first bowl berth since 2021, the year they were last ranked in the AP Top 25 before this week. Arizona State has taken down two ranked teams this season, 27-19 over then-No. 16 Utah on Oct. 11 and 24-14 at then-No. 20 Kansas State last weekend. The Sun Devils will play their biggest home game in recent memory against No. 14 BYU on Saturday , the first home game between ranked teams in Tempe since 2014. Beat the Cougars and Arizona State can clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship on Dec. 7 in Arlington, Texas, with a win over rival Arizona in the regular-season finale. “It means a lot to these guys to come in here with that chip on their shoulder and do something that really nobody thought we could do,” Dillingham said. Arizona State faced adversity on and off the field when Dillingham arrived in 2023. After winning eight games in 2021, the Sun Devils went 3-9 the following year while under investigation by the NCAA, a combination that led to the firing of Herm Edwards during his fifth season here. Dillingham had success as Oregon's offensive coordinator and brought the requisite enthusiasm of being a young — he was 32 at the time — first-time head coach returning to his alma mater. Despite rallying the community around the program, Dillingham fell into hard luck his first season in the desert. The Sun Devils were decimated by injuries, particularly at quarterback, and never recovered, finishing 3-9 for the second straight season. But Dillingham had the pieces in place. He proved to be adept at finding the right players through the transfer portal, landing former Sacramento State running back Cam Skattebo two years ago and former Michigan State quarterback Sam Leavitt prior to this season. The hard-running Skattebo has been one of the nation's best running backs and Leavitt has been a perfect fit for Arizona State's offense, making good decisions while extending plays with his legs. The portal success extends across Arizona State's roster and Dillingham has sprinkled in solid recruiting classes while convincing key players to remain, a combination that's meshed into a team that could crash the College Football Playoff if the pieces fall just right. “We were a three-win team twice,” Dillingham said. “We were under NCAA sanctions. Most head coaches, to be brutally honest, get fired if you take a job under sanctions. You don’t survive. You’re hired to be fired. That’s the nature of the beast and right now we’re sitting here at 8-2, and I couldn’t be prouder." Dillingham's vision for a better future, one the rest of the country didn't see coming, is here and now. 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.Louisville scores 52 second-half points to race past No. 14 Indiana 89-61 in the Battle 4 AtlantisAncient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.” Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points.