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

Guwahati, Dec 26 (PTI) Political leaders across party lines in Assam on Thursday condoled the death of former prime minister Manmohan Singh and said he embodied humility and would be remembered for his exemplary public service and contribution to the country's development. Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died at AIIMS Delhi on Thursday night. He was 92. Also Read | Dr Manmohan Singh Dies at 92: President Droupadi Murmu Mourns Former PM's Demise, Says 'He Will Always Be Remembered for His Service to the Nation'. Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya said the news of the demise of the former PM is extremely sad. "His gentleness, decency and his contribution in strengthening the Indian economy on the global platform will always be remembered. May God grant peace and salvation to the departed soul," he added. Also Read | Dr Manmohan Singh Dies: Kapil Sharma Shares Throwback Picture From His Meeting With Former Prime Minister of India. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had worked closely with Singh as a Congress minister, said that the former PM embodied humility and never surrendered to the trappings of power. "I have had the privilege of knowing Dr Manmohan Singh ji since 1991, when he was first elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam - a state he represented for 28 years. "Dr Sahab embodied humility and never surrendered to the trappings of power. In all my interactions with him, his simplicity and decency combined with his intellectual prowess always stood out," Sarma said in a post on X. During Singh's tenure as the prime minister, Sarma has had the opportunity to interact with him on several occasions regarding issues pertaining to Assam. "...He always gave us a patient hearing and displayed a strong conviction towards social issues. Coming from humble origins in post-partition India, he served the nation in several distinguished positions," the CM said. Sarma uploaded pictures of his Congress stint in which he shared frames with Singh. The Assam CM further said that a generation of Indians will always remember Singh's pivotal role in ushering in a free market economy and "ending decades of regressive socialist policies". "In his demise, the nation has lost a great patriot, an exceptional scholar, an unconventional politician and a fine statesman. My deepest condolences to Gursharan Madam, his family and well-wishers," Sarma wrote. Union Ports, Shipping & Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that Singh embodied the spirit of humility, scholarship and played a key role in India's economic resurgence in a difficult period. "His policies for the welfare of the people were far-reaching and he remained a significant figure in the nation's public life. His passing away leaves a void in our political sphere and I offer my deepest condolences to his family and well-wishers. May his soul find eternal peace," Sonowal added. Assam Congress said that Singh was a visionary leader, renowned economist and statesman, and his contributions to India's progress and global standing will always be remembered. "His integrity, humility, and dedication to public service are an inspiration to us. Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones in this moment of grief. India has lost one of its finest sons. Rest in peace, Dr. Singh ji," the opposition party said on X. BJP's Assam unit offered its condolences and highly praised Singh's role in transforming India's economy. "Dr. Manmohan Singh, who represented Assam in the Rajya Sabha, as Finance Minister abolished the license rule, which was a source of slow economic growth and corruption in the Indian economy," it added. The ruling party also said that Singh transformed India into a free economic system by liberalising the market in the economy. "This gave the Indian economy a boost. He will be remembered for his contribution to the country's development," the Assam BJP said. Raijor Dal President and Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi offered his condolences and remembered his contributions to the country. The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) expressed grief over the death of the former prime minister and said it was an irreparable loss to the country. AAP's Assam unit chief Manoj Dhanowar said the leadership of Singh, and his policies of economic reforms and liberalisation gave a new impetus to the Indian economy. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26 in New Delhi. Singh was 92. Singh was Prime Minister of the Congress-led UPA government for two terms between 2004 and 2014. Singh spent five years between 1991 and 1996 as India's finance minister under Prime Minister Narasimha Rao's government. Singh never won Lok Sabha elections. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha for the first time by the Congress party in October 1991 - four months after he became the Union Finance Minister . Singh represented Assam for five terms in the Rajya Sabha and shifted to Rajasthan in 2019, his last term that ended on in April this year. Here are 10 facts that you may not know about the former prime minister: 1-Two governors of Reserve Bank of India went on to become Finance Ministers – one was Manmohan Singh and the other was CD Deshmukh. 2-Four Finance Ministers went on to become Prime Ministers – Morarji Desai, Charan Singh , VP Singh and Manmohan Singh 3-Four top bureaucrats have gone on to become Finance Ministers – HM Patel, CD Deshmukh, Yashwant Sinha and Manmohan Singh. 4- While Singh could speak Hindi fluently, Singh’s speeches were written in Urdu due to his proficiency in the language. 5- Singh's childhood home in Gah (undivided Punjab) lacked electricity, piped water, and schools, requiring him to walk miles to study under kerosene lamp light. Finance Minister of Year 6- At 14, his family migrated to Amritsar after Partition and started from scratch. 7- Singh was named " Finance Minister of the Year " in 1993 by Euromoney and Asiamoney. 8- Singh was the first non-Hindu to become Prime Minister of India in 2004. 9- In 1962, when first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru offered Manmohan Singh a position in the government, Singh declined the offer, citing his commitment to teaching at his college in Amritsar. 10- Singh had a habit of tuning into the BBC every morning . This routine played a crucial role during the 2004 Tsunami crisis, as he was able to respond promptly and effectively.Mink Ventures Grants Stock Options

VHP plans nationwide drive to ‘free temples’ from govt control

The first was already a given for the draft-eligible junior who plays both receiver and cornerback. The second is a risk-reward play for a projected high first-round pick who averages around 120 snaps a game. In years past, it took two extra postseason wins to capture a national title. Now, it could take up to four additional contests. That’s more of a chance to shine, but also more chance for an injury. “I don’t think nobody will opt out because you’re showing NFL teams that you’re more focused on something else, other than the team goal,” Hunter said of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. “So I don’t think players are going to opt out of the playoffs.” Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders chatted Thursday in a set of Zoom calls about turning around the program at Colorado (from 4-8 last season to bowl eligibility), chasing a Big 12 title, turning pro — Hunter acknowledged he will “for sure” — and, of course, the Heisman race, where Hunter is currently the odds-on favorite in an award each wants to see the other win. “He’s deserving of it, and if it’s between me and him, I want him to get it,” said Sanders, whose 16th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 16 CFP ) travel to Arrowhead Stadium to face Kansas (4-6, 3-4) this weekend. “He does a lot of amazing things that have never been done before.” Countered Hunter: “I know he wants me to win it, but I also want him to win as bad as I want to win it.” Hunter is a generational talent shining on both sides of the ball. As a receiver, he has 74 catches for 911 yards and nine touchdowns. On defense, he has picked off three passes, even though teams are reluctant to throw his direction. Like he did in high school and now in college, he believes he can do both on the next level. But he understands the trepidation of the NFL team that picks him. “They don’t want their top pick to go down too early," Hunter said. “I like when people tell me I can’t do it, because they just motivate me to continue to do what I want to do.” Sanders is turning in a stellar season as well with 27 touchdown passes, one away from tying Sefo Liufau for the most in a single season in program history. He's projected to be one of the first QBs off the draft board. The future certainly looks bright at Colorado thanks to the legacies Sanders and Hunter under coach Deion Sanders. But that's a point to ponder later. “I can’t think too much forward past Saturday,” Shedeur Sanders cracked. “The main thing is winning the Big 12 championship. That’s the main thing we’re focused on." Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballCowboys shutting down CeeDee Lamb with 2 games to go over receiver's shoulder issue FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb with two games remaining after their 2023 All-Pro receiver spent the second half of the season dealing with a sprained right shoulder. Canadian Press Dec 26, 2024 2:44 PM Dec 26, 2024 3:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) breaks a tackle attempt by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter) FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb with two games remaining after their 2023 All-Pro receiver spent the second half of the season dealing with a sprained right shoulder. The team said Thursday that additional exams revealed enough damage to keep Lamb off the field Sunday at Philadelphia and in the final game at home against Washington. The team said surgery was not expected to be required. Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention a few hours before last weekend's 26-24 victory over Tampa Bay . The decision on Lamb means the Cowboys will finish the regular season with at least five former Pro Bowlers on injured reserve. Among the others are quarterback Dak Prescott, who was limited to eight games before a season-ending hamstring tear, and right guard Zack Martin. The seven-time All-Pro made it through 10 games before deciding on season-ending ankle surgery. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence didn't playing after Week 4 because of a foot injury, and cornerback Trevon Diggs battled a variety of injuries while playing 11 games before a knee injury ended his season. Lamb initially injured his right shoulder when it hit the turf hard twice in a 27-21 loss at Atlanta on Nov. 3. He kept playing and had at least 100 yards in each of his last two games — both victories — before getting shut down. The 25-year-old Lamb sat out the entire offseason and preseason in a contract dispute after getting career highs in catches (an NFL-best 135), yards receiving (club-record 1,749) and touchdowns (12) in 2023. The holdout finally ended with a $136 million, four-year extension in late August, but neither the Cowboys nor their star receiver could get that production going again this season. Dallas (7-8) is missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020, Lamb's rookie year. Lamb finishes the season with 101 catches for 1,194 yards and six TDs. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Eagles try to clinch NFC East title with Hurts' head injury looming large Dec 26, 2024 3:04 PM Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant declares for NFL draft Dec 26, 2024 3:01 PM Chargers focused on avoiding a letdown and not a potential playoff berth in matchup with Patriots Dec 26, 2024 2:43 PMPre-booking for iQOO 13 live for Indian buyers, know the pre-booking offers

Kozhikode: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday said, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) performed remarkably well in the bypolls held in the state, despite the Congress-led UDF unleashing a false campaign against the government and joining hands with communal outfits to ensure their victory. He said the LDF achieved a significant victory in the Chelakkara assembly constituency and could increase its vote share in Palakkad segment in the bypolls, the results of which were announced on Saturday. Taking a dig at the opposition front, the CM asked what had happened even after the Congress-led UDF vigorously campaigned that the bypoll would be an evaluation of the state government. Addressing a party programme here, Vijayan said that the UDF made all attempts to wrest the Chelakkara constituency and gave utmost prominence for the constituency during the campaigning. He said the Congress tried to achieve a huge political victory by winning Chelakkara. "Then, what had happened when the results were announced?" Vijayan asked. He also accused the opposition front of joining hands with outfits like SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami to defeat the LDF in the bypolls held to Palakkad and Chelakkara assembly seats and Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency. "If the bypoll result was examined overall, it could be seen that people of the state had stood with the Left government strongly, he said. The UDF candidate could not retain her vote share in Chelakkara, when compared to the performance of the party in the segment in the last Lok Sabha polls. But the LDF candidate could ensure his victory by achieving a remarkable margin," the CM added. Both the LDF and the UDF retained the Chelakkara and Palakkad Assembly seats respectively with a comfortable margin in the bypolls. The Congress won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat with a thumping margin. PTIJohn Parker Romo made a 29-yard field goal to lift the Minnesota Vikings to a 30-27 overtime win against the host Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon. Romo buried the game-winning kick in his third career game for Minnesota (9-2), which won its fourth game in a row. The score capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive for the Vikings after the Bears went three-and-out on the first overtime possession. Sam Darnold completed 22 of 34 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Vikings. Wideout Jordan Addison finished with eight catches for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown. The overtime defeat spoiled an impressive performance from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who completed 32 of 47 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns for Chicago (4-7). D.J. Moore had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Keenan Allen finished with nine catches for 86 yards and a score. Chicago erased an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime. Romo had put Minnesota on top 27-16 when he made a 26-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams trimmed the Bears' deficit to 27-24 with 22 seconds to go. He rolled right and found Allen wide open in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, and moments later he fired a strike to Moore for a two-point conversion. The Bears recovered an onside kick on the next play to regain possession at their 43-yard line with 21 seconds left. Cairo Santos' onside kick bounced off the foot of Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt, and Tarvarius Moore recovered it. D.J. Moore put the Bears in field-goal position with a 27-yard reception across the middle of the field, and Santos made a 48-yarder as time expired to even the score at 27-all. Minnesota led 24-10 after three quarters. Romo made a 40-yard field goal early in the third quarter, and Aaron Jones punched in a 2-yard run with 1:22 left in the period to put the Vikings on top by two touchdowns. Addison and Jalen Nailor each had receiving touchdowns in the first half for Minnesota. Roschon Johnson scored on a 1-yard run for the Bears' only touchdown of the first half. Chicago trailed 14-10 at the break. --Field Level MediaNoneIn a bid to capitalize on the holiday shopping season, Apple has released an AI-infused update for its iPhones. This latest software upgrade, iOS 18.2, promises users the ability to create personalized emojis in just seconds. Set to further Apple's foray into AI technology—following similar moves by rivals Samsung and Google—the update extends the firm's technological capabilities just months after debuting a significant overhaul in October. Besides emojis, the new software introduces 'Image Playground' for AI illustrations and advanced writing tools. Available only on iPhone models from 2023 onwards, the update is expected to drive an upgrade cycle and potentially increase Apple's profits, while privacy concerns are addressed by processing AI on the device or in secured data centers, with recourse to ChatGPT if needed. (With inputs from agencies.)

AP News Summary at 10:21 a.m. EST

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Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says a national drive to reduce red tape and bureaucracy is to be undertaken by the Government. “To achieve rapid economic growth, we must become the most business-friendly and customer/citizen focused country in the region. We are fully committed to making Jamaica the best place to do business in the region,” Dr. Holness said. He was addressing a press briefing to announce the Government’s new policy direction for growth, dubbed ASPIRE Jamaica, at the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday (November 19). This new framework comprises six pillars critical for transforming Jamaica into a modern, peaceful, productive and prosperous society. ASPIRE stands for: • Access to Economic Opportunity for All (Inclusive Growth) • Safety and Security • People (Human Capital Development) • Infrastructure Development • Reform of the Bureaucracy (Ease, Speed and Cost of Doing Business), and • Economic Diversification/New Industries The Prime Minister said with the debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio significantly reduced, it is time to reassess and streamline these processes. “We will simplify approvals, reduce wait times and remove unnecessary barriers that have outlived their purpose. We will take a hard look at existing policies, permitting and approval processes, reform those that have outlived their usefulness, and remove the unnecessary layers of approval that hold us back,” Dr. Holness said. “This is not just about large investors, it is also about making Jamaica a place where micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) can thrive. Cutting red tape and improving efficiency in government also positively impacts citizens by reducing wait times and making it easier and faster for our citizens to do business with government agencies,” he added. Dr. Holness also announced the establishment of an Efficiency Programme Oversight Committee, which will focus on cutting red tape and improving efficiency in government. “We are also looking at our tax and customs policies with a view to streamlining them, making them easier to implement, as well as providing the right incentives to drive productivity and economic growth,” he said. The Prime Minister also informed that the Government intends to move forward with the consolidation of Jamaica’s various payroll taxes into a single payroll tax deduction. “We are exploring an increase in the threshold at which small businesses need to register and account for General Consumption Tax (GCT). In 2019, this Administration increased the threshold from $3 million to $10 million, and we are looking at a further increase to remove this burden from small businesses,” Dr. Holness said. “We are re-evaluating the Urban Renewal Tax Credit, with the aim of enhancing its effectiveness. This involves restructuring its framework and expanding the geographical areas eligible for this incentive. By doing so, we can attract greater investments into underserved communities, transforming them into vibrant economic hubs,” he added. Meanwhile, the Government is considering accelerated capital allowances to encourage businesses to modernise and retool their facilities, as well as for investments in technology. This, Dr. Holness said, will support enhanced productivity and competitiveness, especially in key industries that drive the economy. “We are examining the removal of taxes on tips. This initiative is aimed at rewarding productivity and excellent service, particularly in sectors like hospitality, where service excellence plays a critical role in our success as a global destination. It would not be limited to hospitality, but extend to all service industries,” he pointed out. Dr. Holness said the Government is also exploring the establishment of a National Infrastructure Fund — a vehicle designed to invest in and manage public-private partnership (PPP) projects. This fund, he informed, will create new opportunities for institutional investors, such as pension funds, to directly participate in nation-building, thereby ensuring that critical infrastructure is built sustainably and strategically for the future.Vikings withstand Bears' furious rally, win on field goal in OT

Denmark sees “huge potential” in investing in the Philippine shipbuilding industry, the European country’s ambassador said on Monday, noting that the move can easily create 2,000 new jobs here. Denmark is expected to “explore that in the spring of next year,” Danish Ambassador to the Philippines Franz-Michael Mellbin said in a chance interview. “We are looking at shipbuilding as one of the huge potential [in investments here],” he said. “I think this could be a breakthrough moment for the Philippines,” he said. You only have 2,000 people employed in the shipbuilding sector. I think that could double,” he said. Denmark has been consistent in supporting the Philippines’ rights and stance against China’s illegal presence and aggression in the West Philippine Sea. When asked how Copenhagen can support Manila in terms of beefing ups its capabilities in the West Philippine Sea, Mellbin said: “I think we will go at that in a different way in how some of your partners have been giving you ships.” “We believe you have the capability to build those ships yourselves. It will be part of the ship building initiative. It will be part of the success story,” he said. “If it proves successful? We will find out next year. [But] I am hopeful. I see the potential. I think the Filipino sees that also,” he said. Another Danish company “wants to make a very big investment in making green biofuels here,” Mellbin. “They are gonna go where there are biofuels, obviously, that’s not gonna be central Manila,” he said. “You go down to Mindanao, you have big plantations, you have a lot of green, you have a lot of more viable place to have that kind of business,” he said. Meantime, the Philippines and Denmark signed an agreement to put up Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes which is a big burden for the Filipino health system. There will be “specialized expert centers” for non-communicable diseases and an “exchange of medical information, including tips for health services,” the Ambassador said. As of 2023, bilateral trade between the Philippines and Denmark was pegged at $356.4 million, but the deficit is pegged at $181.9 million, data from the Philippine Trade Department showed. Last year, approved Danish investments in the Philippines was pegged at $2 million. “Danish companies are making huge investments in the Philippines but they are also doing it in those areas where the Philippines has been good at cutting red tape and streamlining processes and making sure that the business environment became more positive,” Mellbin. “Unfortunately the Philippines does not rank high in terms of doing business. There is still a lot more that the government needs to do,” he said. “If the Philippines makes it easier to invest, investors will come.” Investors are also looking for countries with a stable political landscape, said the Ambassador, who earlier said that he was “deeply concerned” over Vice President Sara Duterte’s threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “Political stability is important for all investors because it creates the environment where you can have a long term view,” he said. “It wasn’t the right direction to take. This country has had enough political violence in its past,” he said. “We do not believe in political violence. We do not believe that we should be passive or quiet.” Source: ABS-CBNLauren Oakley praised by Strictly fans after stepping in for injured Amy DowdenALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus in a prime-time interview on NBC after lifting the Lions to a win over the Texans with a 52-yard field goal as time expired. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his Christian faith. “This doesn’t happen without Jesus and by this, I mean any of this, like, living doesn’t happen without Jesus dying on the cross,” Bates said recently at the team’s practice facility. “He put us on a stage to glorify his name.” The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way. Quarterbacks C.J. Stroud of Houston, Kirk Cousins of Atlanta and Lamar Jackson of Baltimore along with Ravens coach John Harbaugh are among the many in the league who speak publicly about their Christian beliefs. Stroud, in particular, has been a source of inspiration for Bates. He especially admires how the quarterback regularly credits Jesus at press conferences. “What he’s been able to do in the media and spreading Jesus’ love has been awesome to see,” Bates said. Harbaugh started his latest postgame news conference, reminding reporters and anyone watching or listening that Christmas was coming up and shared the prayer the Ravens had just heard in the locker room. “It’s a big football week, all right? It’s also a big life week,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a big spiritual week.” Cousins has professed his faith publicly, dating back to his college years at Michigan State and continuing in the NFL with Washington, Minnesota and the Falcons. “We all have a platform,” Cousins said earlier this month. “We all try to steward it the best we can. I just want to be able to give a reason to people who ask for the hope that I have. Although Christianity is the dominate religion at all levels of the sport, some Jewish and Muslim players have also used their platform to publicly share their faith. Recently, for example, Jake Retzlaff became the first Jewish quarterback to play for Brigham Young University, the Utah private school run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has embraced his role as an ambassador of Judaism in football. In the NFL, Bates’ story is perhaps one of the most unique in league history. He grew up about 30 miles northwest of Houston in Tomball, Texas, and played soccer at Central Arkansas before switching sports and transferring twice. Bates was a kickoff specialist for two seasons at Texas State and for one year at Arkansas, earning All-SEC honors in 2022. His hometown Texans signed him on Aug. 1, 2023, and waived him 11 days later to send him searching for a new career in the brick business. “I was still in training, so I hadn’t even sold new bricks yet,” he said. “But that’s what I was getting ready to do.” Bates, though, wasn’t ready to hang up his cleats for good and went to an XFL showcase in fall of 2023. “My last shot,” he said. Bates did enough to get signed by the Michigan Panthers and made three field goals from at least 60 yards while playing for them in the United Football League, a team that shares the same home field with the Lions. Bates believes it was divine intervention. He has made the most of the opportunity, making game-winning kicks against NFC North rivals Minnesota and Green Bay as well as Houston. He earned the NFC special teams player of the month honors in November. While playing football is his job, it is not Bates’ calling. “I’m not here to make kicks or miss kicks,” he said. “I think I’m here to spread the love of Jesus. So, however long he gives me this stage, that’s what I plan to do.”

Israeli attorney general orders probe into report that alleged Netanyahu's wife harassed opponents

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Susan Lorincz, 60, was convicted in August of killing 35-year-old Ajike “A.J.” Owens by firing a single shot from her .380-caliber handgun in June 2023.WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Charles Kushner arrives July 20, 2022, for the funeral of Ivana Trump in New York. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to Kushner's own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, sought. Christie blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.wb777.co 。

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:46 p.m. ESTOnline beauty and fashion products and online grocery shopping are recording growth, while awareness of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI adoption among consumers have been increasing, according to insights presented by Lazada. According to the annual data released by Lazada, as consumers have become increasingly comfortable with online shopping, there has been a seismic shift in terms of consumer behaviour, particularly in the beauty industry. By this year, a significant 56.7% of total beauty and personal care revenue in Thailand is projected to be generated via online channels, signalling explosive growth in e-commerce within this sector. According to Kantar's "Beauty Pulse: Channel Trends in Thailand", nearly half (47.1%) of beauty shoppers now opt for online purchases. This trend is further solidified by the fact that 70% of these shoppers are repeat customers. This mirrors data from Lazada with beauty emerging as a dominant force in 2024. This trend is exemplified by the outstanding performance of specific campaigns and products, fuelled by innovative technologies such as virtual try-on and skin tests. On the fashion scene, items such as women's clothing, handbags and hair accessories recently enjoyed significant sales volume. Thai social media-darling fashion brands are thriving on e-commerce platforms, with a nearly 50% surge in fourth quarter sales on Lazada. Consumer behaviour has shifted significantly towards online grocery shopping, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Lazada's recent launch of LazMart in Thailand represents an example of this trend. By positioning itself as an online supermarket, LazMart is capitalising on the burgeoning e-grocery market. According to Lazada, the rapid growth of online grocery shopping, driven by consumer demand for convenience and flexibility, is clear as 44% of consumers now order groceries online every week, while Lazada has seen double-digit growth in grocery orders throughout 2024, with a significant uptick during festive seasons. The integration of AI is reshaping the e-commerce landscape. A recent white paper by Lazada in collaboration with Kantar titled "Artificial Intelligence Adoption in ECommerce in Southeast Asia" highlights the growing awareness and adoption of AI among consumers. A significant majority of respondents (88%) make purchasing decisions using AI-powered product recommendations. Moreover, consumers are increasingly confident in AI-driven e-commerce. A remarkable 92% trust AI-powered platforms to deliver tailored recommendations and 90% rely on AI-generated product summaries for accurate information. Lazada recently launched AI Lazzie, a virtual personal shopping assistant, in the region. The company says it empowers consumers with personalised recommendations, bundled deals and AI-powered smart reviews, driving informed purchasing decisions and boosting sales for businesses. AI Lazzie is currently live in English in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Dan Campbell stood at the podium after Detroit blew a 17-point lead to San Francisco in last season's NFC title game and talked about how that might have been the Lions' only shot at reaching the Super Bowl. The coach knew how difficult it would be to maintain that high level of play through injuries, attrition and with a target on their back as a top contender in the NFC. Eleven months later as Campbell and the Lions prepare to return to Levi's Stadium for the first time since that loss , that has proved to be prophetic — for San Francisco instead of Detroit. The Lions (13-2) head into the rematch Monday night with the inside track at the top seed in the NFC playoffs, while the 49ers (6-9) have already been eliminated from postseason contention . The element of revenge for last season's 34-31 loss is secondary for Detroit, considering what's on the line the last two weeks of the season. The Lions can clinch the top seed in the NFC by winning their final two games or with a win against the Niners if Minnesota loses to Green Bay on Sunday. “Anytime we lose, the thought of losing is going to motivate you to not want to lose again, particularly with where you were at,” Campbell said. “So, that’s always going to bring its own level of motivation to it. But this is where we’re at in the season, we know that we need another win, we understand where we’re at in the division and the NFC, so I think it’s all encompassing.” While the Lions have no need to search for motivation, that's not the case for the 49ers, who are playing out the string of a lost season after making losing back-to-back NFC title games in 2021-22 and the Super Bowl last season. A run of injuries to key players like Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Nick Bosa and Brandon Aiyuk, combined with inconsistent play all season have led to the 49ers having nothing to play for in the final two games. “It’s obviously not where you want to be this time of year,” Bosa said. "It’s different, especially watching where we’re at last year against this team. Just that feeling of December, January football is a feeling that I’ve gotten used to being really competitive and being in the mix. I think we’re doing a good job of staying engaged and obviously this is our job, so we’re going to finish it strong. Go ing deep Detroit’s faith in Jameson Williams is paying off, taking advantage of his game-breaking abilities with big plays. Jared Goff heaved an 82-yard touchdown pass over Williams’ shoulders and into his hands in last week’s win at Chicago. Earlier this season, Goff threw 70-, 64- and 52-yard passes for scores to the third-year receiver. “We work on it a ton, him and I do, and it’s a testament to him,” Goff said. “He’s asking for it. He wants that work, and I’m more than happy to give it to him during the week. It’s good. Our connection continues to grow. He’s obviously one of the best deep threats in our league, even when it’s not perfect.” Makeshift line The 49ers head into the game scrambling to put together an offensive line. Williams has been out for more than a month with an ankle injury and his backup at left tackle, Jaylon Moore, is now sidelined by a quadriceps injury. Left guard Aaron Banks injured his knee last week, while his backup Ben Bartch is already out with an ankle injury. That will leave the Niners with two third-stringers protecting Brock Purdy. But Shanahan said he isn’t thinking of sitting Purdy to protect him. “People deal with that throughout the year on other weeks, too,” he said. “I mean, we’ve got a football team. We’ve got to go out and we’ve got two games here and we’ve got to see what guys we can put out there and whatever we do we’re going to put a game plan together to, as best as we can to give us a chance to win.” Bag of tricks Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who may have a chance for the second straight offseason to be an NFL head coach, routinely pulls off trick plays and his latest was a doozy. Goff intentionally stumbled after taking a snap and Jahmyr Gibbs went to the ground as their teammates yelled, “fumble,” to fool the Bears on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta. “Those make you feel good because everybody is invested in it,” Campbell said. “It’s fun. It’s different. It’s sound. “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s sound.” Just for kicks San Francisco kicker Jake Moody is having a rough second season after being drafted in the third round a year ago. Moody has missed seven field goals this season, including a 41-yarder last week at Miami. Moody is just 10 for 16 since coming back from a high ankle sprain in his kicking foot, but Shanahan said he still has confidence in him. “I still feel the same about him, that I believe he’ll be our guy,” Shanahan said. "I mean everyone’s got to perform and do things like that. I think he has had a tough year. Before his high ankle sprain, he missed one. ... I think he was 12 of 13 before that, so I thought he was doing really well." ___ AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Josh Dubow, The Associated Press

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777 gbt.com SANTA FE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2024-- The Water, Access, Treatment and Reuse (WATR) Alliance, a newly formed nonprofit organization, today announced its official launch. Headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, WATR Alliance is dedicated to advocating for innovative and sustainable water management practices at the city, state and federal levels throughout the Southwest and in Texas. With a focus on fostering economic growth, social equity, and ecological sustainability, the alliance aims to unite diverse stakeholders in reshaping water reuse and policy. “The Southwest’s unique water challenges demand collaborative solutions—ones that integrate technology, policy and community engagement,” said Jennifer Bradfute, Executive Director of WATR Alliance. WATR will immediately focus on some initiatives in New Mexico during the upcoming 2025 legislative session. “We may not be the loudest voice this session, but we are committed to building the most robust and inclusive membership. What truly matters to us is that our advocacy resonates across many sectors—bringing together diverse perspectives to align on a shared path forward. The establishment of the WATR Alliance is meant to fill a crucial gap by approaching water management from a comprehensive H2O molecule standpoint—considering all aspects of water's journey and impact. This perspective brings together sectors that range from agricultural, local municipalities and acequias to the energy industry, environmental groups and indigenous communities. The shared goal is the preservation of water resources and the maximization of reuse opportunities to support water reuse throughout the Southwest and the communities that have come to rely on water for their economic and social well-being. “The launch of this alliance embodies our shared vision for a sustainable water future,” said Kelly Bennett, Chair of the WATR Alliance Board of Directors and CEO of B3 Insights. “There is an incredible opportunity to augment water supply in this arid region. By harnessing the collective expertise and commitment of a diverse group of stakeholders, we can create a unified framework and amplify our voice to drive improved water access, treatment, and reuse that benefits the Southwestern region of the United States and Texas.” Key initiatives of WATR Alliance include: Advocacy: Engaging with policymakers to support and advocate for a variety of water recycling and reuse initiatives. Collaboration: Building partnerships among businesses, municipalities, and other nonprofit and trade associations to drive collective water management solutions. Education: Offering resources and workshops to promote water sustainability practices and raise awareness about responsible water reuse opportunities and challenges. “The WATR Alliance is about uniting people through the shared resource of water,” said Michael Dyson, Treasurer of the WATR Alliance Board of Directors and CEO at Infinity Water Solutions. “For too long, we have passed judgment based on the origin of water, rather than its fitness for an intended use. All water, regardless of its source, holds immense value for industry and has even greater potential for the broader community, particularly in water-stressed areas. Our region’s water supply, much like its natural resources, is abundant and represents a vital opportunity for economic diversification if we’re willing to embrace water in a circular framework.” The WATR Alliance invites community members, policymakers, and organizations interested in sustainable water practices to join this transformative movement. Through proactive collaboration, the Alliance seeks to drive meaningful change that ensures economic resilience, environmental health, and social progress throughout the Southwest and beyond. About WATR Alliance The Water, Access, Treatment, and Reuse (WATR) Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reshaping water management through advocacy, partnerships, and innovation. With a commitment to sustainable practices, WATR Alliance promotes access, advanced treatment solutions, and the reuse of water resources, aligning with principles of economic development and ecological stewardship. For more information, visit www.watrnm.com View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211506521/en/ CONTACT: Ashley Kegley-Whitehead Chief Communications Officer (512) 660-2898 Ashley@water.energy KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA ARIZONA UTAH TEXAS NEW MEXICO NEVADA COLORADO UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COAL OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES ALTERNATIVE ENERGY HARDWARE MINING/MINERALS ENERGY FOREST PRODUCTS DATA MANAGEMENT AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY NATURAL RESOURCES EDUCATION ENGINEERING CHEMICALS/PLASTICS ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) MANUFACTURING OTHER CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE WHITE HOUSE/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE STATE/LOCAL CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY PUBLIC POLICY SCIENCE PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NUCLEAR ENVIRONMENT URBAN PLANNING LEGAL FINANCE OTHER SCIENCE OTHER ENERGY OTHER TECHNOLOGY BANKING UTILITIES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OIL/GAS SOURCE: WATR Alliance Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/12/2024 05:03 PM/DISC: 12/12/2024 05:03 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211506521/enBeloved Sydney make-up artist dies age 27

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — 2024 was a brutal year for the Amazon rainforest, with rampant wildfires and extreme drought ravaging large parts of a biome that’s a critical counterweight to climate change. A warming climate fed drought that in turn fed the worst year for fires since 2005. And those fires contributed to deforestation, with authorities suspecting some fires were set to more easily clear land to run cattle. The Amazon is twice the size of India and sprawls across eight countries and one territory, storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise warm the planet. It has about 20% of the world’s fresh water and astounding biodiversity, including 16,000 known tree species. But governments have historically viewed it as an area to be exploited, with little regard for sustainability or the rights of its Indigenous peoples, and experts say exploitation by individuals and organized crime is rising at alarming rates. “The fires and drought experienced in 2024 across the Amazon rainforest could be ominous indicators that we are reaching the long-feared ecological tipping point,” said Andrew Miller, advocacy director at Amazon Watch, an organization that works to protect the rainforest. “Humanity’s window of opportunity to reverse this trend is shrinking, but still open.” There were some bright spots. The level of Amazonian forest loss fell in both Brazil and Colombia. And nations gathered for the annual United Nations conference on biodiversity agreed to give Indigenous peoples more say in nature conservation decisions. “If the Amazon rainforest is to avoid the tipping point, Indigenous people will have been a determinant factor,” Miller said. Wildfires and extreme drought Forest loss in Brazil’s Amazon — home to the largest swath of this rainforest — compared to the previous year, the lowest level of destruction in nine years. The improvement under leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva contrasted with deforestation that hit a 15-year high under Lula’s predecessor, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who prioritized agribusiness expansion over forest protection and weakened environmental agencies. In July, Colombia in deforestation in 2023, driven by a drop in environmental destruction. The country’s environment minister Susana Muhamad warned that 2024’s figures may not be as promising as a significant rise in deforestation had already been recorded by July due to dry weather caused by El Nino, a weather phenomenon that warms the central Pacific. Illegal economies continue to drive deforestation in the Andean nation. “It’s impossible to overlook the threat posed by organized crime and the economies they control to Amazon conservation,” said Bram Ebus, a consultant for Crisis Group in Latin America. “Illegal gold mining is expanding rapidly, driven by soaring global prices, and the revenues of illicit economies often surpass state budgets allocated to combat them.” In Brazil, large swaths of the rainforest were from fires raging across the Amazon, Cerrado savannah, Pantanal wetland and the state of Sao Paulo. Fires are traditionally used for deforestation and for managing pastures, and those man-made blazes were largely responsible for igniting the wildfires. For a second year, the , leading some countries to declare a state of emergency and distribute food and water to struggling residents. The situation was most critical in Brazil, where one of the Amazon River’s main tributaries Cesar Ipenza, an environmental lawyer who lives in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, said he believes people are becoming increasingly aware of the Amazon’s fundamental role “for the survival of society as a whole.” But, like Miller, he worries about a “point of no return of Amazon destruction.” It was the worst year for Amazon fires since 2005, according to nonprofit Rainforest Foundation US. Between January and October, an area larger than the state of Iowa — 37.42 million acres, or about 15.1 million hectares of Brazil’s Amazon — burned. Bolivia had a record number of fires in the first ten months of the year. “Forest fires have become a constant, especially in the summer months and require particular attention from the authorities who don’t how to deal with or respond to them,” Ipenza said. Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana also saw a surge in fires this year. Indigenous voices and rights made headway in 2024 The United Nations conference on biodiversity — this year known as COP16 — was hosted by Colombia. The meetings put the Amazon in the spotlight and a historic agreement was made to give Indigenous groups more of , a development that builds on a growing movement to recognize Indigenous people’s role in protecting land and combating climate change. Both Ebus and Miller saw promise in the appointment of Martin von Hildebrand as the new secretary general for the Amazon Treaty Cooperation Organization, announced during COP16. “As an expert on Amazon communities, he will need to align governments for joint conservation efforts. If the political will is there, international backers will step forward to finance new strategies to protect the world’s largest tropical rainforest,” Ebus said. Ebus said Amazon countries need to cooperate more, whether in law enforcement, deploying joint emergency teams to combat forest fires, or providing health care in remote Amazon borderlands. But they need help from the wider world, he said. “The well-being of the Amazon is a shared global responsibility, as consumer demand worldwide fuels the trade in commodities that finance violence and environmental destruction,” he said. Next year marks a critical moment for the Amazon, as Belém do Pará in northern Brazil hosts the first United Nations COP in the region that will focus on climate. “Leaders from Amazon countries have a chance to showcase strategies and demand tangible support,” Ebus said. ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .Following an incident in August, the province’s police watchdog has concluded that a London Police Service officer did not commit a criminal offense. On August 26, police were called to a residence where a 39-year-old man was believed to be injuring a dog in the backyard. Police responded to the home in the area of Dundas and Saskatoon Streets. Upor arrival, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says that when police commanded the man to drop what he was holding and get on the ground, the man tried to walk away. As he tried to walk away, and officer kicked him, and the man squared up to fight. The man was tased and hit his head on the sidewalk when he fell. An officer then struck the man in the head, and he reportedly resisted arrest at which point two officers punched him, and he was handcuffed. The man was transported to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a facial fracture, and admitted for psychiatric exam. It was concluded through the SIU’s investigation that due to the man’s erratic behaviour upon confrontation, and the abuse of the animal ‘with an object’ that officers had reasonable grounds to be concerned that the man may have a weapon and would physically resist efforts to bring him into custody. The SIU investigates incidents where a member of the public is hurt or killed in a confrontation with police, where a firearm is discharged, or where there are allegations of sexual assault. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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The commentary piece in German was launched online on Saturday ahead of being published on Sunday in the flagship paper of the Axel Springer media group, which also owns the US politics news site Politico. Mr Musk uses populist and personal language to try to deny AfD’s extremist bent and the piece expands on his post on the social media platform X that he owns, on which he last week claimed that “only the AfD can save Germany”. Translated, Mr Musk’s piece said: “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has classified the AfD at the national level as a suspected extremism case since 2021. Shortly after the piece was published online, the editor of the opinion section, Eva Marie Kogel, used the US tech mogul’s own platform to post on X that she had submitted her resignation. “I always enjoyed heading the opinion department at Welt and Wams. Today a text by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. Yesterday I submitted my resignation after printing,” she posted. She included a link to the Musk commentary article. The AfD has a strong anti-immigration stance and, like incoming president Mr Trump in relation to the US, is calling for mass deportations from Germany. Earlier in December, Mr Musk not only posted in favor of AfD but the party’s hard line on immigration appeared to resonate with the incoming US vice-president, JD Vance , MSNBC reported. Senior Welt Group figures weighed in on Saturday. “Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression. This includes dealing with polarising positions and classifying them journalistically,” the newspaper’s editor-in-chief designate, Jan Philipp Burgard, and Ulf Poschardt, who takes over as publisher on January 1st, told Reuters. They said discussion about Mr Musk’s piece, which had about 340 comments several hours after it was published, was “very revealing”. Underneath Mr Musk’s commentary, the newspaper published a response by Burgard. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally false,” he wrote, referencing the AfD’s desire to leave the European Union and seek rapprochement with Russia as well as appease China. The AfD backing from Mr Musk, who also defended his right to weigh in on German politics due to his “significant investments”, comes as Germans are set to vote on February 23rd after a coalition government led by German chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed late this autumn. The AfD is running second in opinion polls and might be able to thwart either a centre-right or centre-left majority, but Germany’s mainstream, more centrist parties have pledged to shun any support from the AfD at the national level. – Guardian

It was a big Week 14 for both of these teams, as the 49ers ended a three-game skid and the Rams had one of their biggest wins of the season. Now, the two meet up on a short week on national TV. San Francisco pounded the Bears at home last week while the Rams upended the Bills, 44-42. The Rams previously beat the Niners, 27-24, in September, so Brock Purdy & Co. are looking for payback. They’ll have to do it without both of their leading running backs, Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, who were both injured a couple of weeks ago. Fans looking to watch this week’s “Thursday Night Football” game need to be an Amazon Prime Member to watch it on Prime Video , which offers a 30-day free trial for new users when they sign up. After the 30-day free trial ends, an Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. You can cancel at any time, including before the free trial ends. Who: 49ers vs. Rams When : 8:15 PM ET, December 12, 2024 Where : Levi’s Stadium Stream : Prime Video with an Amazon Prime membership. Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year and offers a 30-day free trial for new users. FuboTV (free trial); DirecTV Stream (free trial) ; Sling ; NFL+ More College Football What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME . From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there’s plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers a free trial, and $20 off the first month for new costumers. What is DirecTV Stream? DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX , Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz. What is SlingTV? SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation. What is NFL+? NFL+ and NFL+ Premium allow fans access to the most NFL content available online. From game replays, coaches film and all-22 field angles of the games to NFL Network original programing, NFL+ and NFL + Premium allow fans to stay fully locked in with every NFL team no matter where you are in the country. RELATED CONTENT: Deebo Samuel says frustration led to now-deleted social media post about lack of opportunities By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The least productive four-game stretch of Deebo Samuel’s career sent the frustrated wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers to social media. In a now-deleted post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Samuel tried to give an explanation on why he has gained only 97 yards from scrimmage the past four games as the big plays that made him an All-Pro in 2021 are no longer coming. “Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!” he wrote on Monday. Samuel later deleted the post, but not after it caused a bit of a social media firestorm. Asked on Tuesday if he wanted to expand on what he wrote, Samuel simply said, “You read what you read. A little frustrated, for sure.” Coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that he would prefer if Samuel had kept his frustrations off social media, but said it wasn’t a distraction to the players and coaches in the building as the Niners prepare to host the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. Shanahan said he and Samuel talk often about his role and getting Samuel more touches is always a priority for the Niners. “I mean I understand Deebo saying that,” Shanahan said. “Deebo wants to help us out and the only way he helps us out is getting the ball more and we’d like to get it to him more. We’ll continue to work at that.” Samuel had a breakthrough season in 2021 starting with a midseason game against the Rams when he caught five passes for 97 yards and a TD and was also used as a runner out of the backfield with five carries for 36 yards and another score. Samuel helped carry the Niners to the NFC title game that season in his new role as a “wide back” who split time lining up as a wide receiver and a running back. He finished that season with 1,770 yards and 14 touchdowns from scrimmage, leading to a lucrative contract extension that offseason. Samuel couldn’t match that output the past two seasons, but has hit some lows this season at age 28 as he says the element of surprise is gone. “We’ve been doing it almost three years now ... they know what’s going on,” he said. He is averaging just 2.9 yards on his 32 carries as teams are more prepared for when he runs the ball and is on pace for his worst season in terms of catches and receiving yards per game with 40 receptions for 553 yards. He hasn’t scored a TD since Week 6. Quarterback Brock Purdy called Samuel one of his best friends on the team and said that he just needs more opportunities. Purdy said defenses have been taking away some of the chances for Samuel to excel. “I want to get Deebo the ball every play if I could,” Purdy said. “I want to have him break all the records as best as possible. I want Deebo to do Deebo things. We all do in this building. It’s just how the games have gone. I love my guy and I’m going to do whatever I can to get him the ball.” NOTES: RB Isaac Guerendo (foot), DE Nick Bosa (oblique), LT Trent Williams (ankle), OL Ben Bartch (ankle) all were expected to miss the team’s walkthrough with injuries. ... LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles tendon), DL Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), S Malik Mustapha (chest, shoulder), LB Dee Winters (ankle) and LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee) were all limited. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL The Associated Press contributed to this articleHaliburton County unveils 'an exciting addition to our community' installed in area parksThe gaming world is abuzz with anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6), Rockstar Games’ next installment in the iconic open-world crime franchise. Rumors, leaks, and speculation have been swirling for years, and the hype is reaching a fever pitch. But while all eyes are on Rockstar, a silent storm is brewing. GTA 6 might be facing some unexpected competition in 2025, and it’s not from the usual suspects like Saints Row or Watch Dogs. We’re talking about a new breed of games that could redefine open-world gaming as we know it. Forget about another “GTA clone” trying to steal Rockstar’s thunder. The real contenders are games pushing the boundaries of technology, storytelling, and player freedom in ways we haven’t seen before. Think massive, dynamic worlds with unprecedented levels of interaction, AI that adapts to your playstyle, and stories that blur the lines between single-player and multiplayer experiences. These are the games that could give GTA 6 a run for its money in 2025. The Rise of Immersive Sims One of the biggest threats to GTA 6’s dominance comes from the resurgence of immersive sims. Games like System Shock (remake) and Arkane’s Redfall are leading the charge, offering players intricate levels, emergent gameplay, and unparalleled player agency. These games emphasize player choice and creativity, allowing you to tackle objectives in a multitude of ways. Want to go in guns blazing? Sure. Prefer a stealthy approach? Go for it. Or maybe you’d rather hack the environment and let the enemies take each other out. The possibilities are endless. This focus on freedom and player expression is something that GTA has always excelled at, but these new immersive sims are taking it to a whole new level. They’re creating worlds that feel truly reactive and alive, where your actions have real consequences. Imagine a GTA game where your choices affect the city’s economy, the political landscape, and even the behavior of individual NPCs . That’s the kind of experience these games are aiming for. Personally, I’ve always been drawn to games that give me the freedom to experiment and find my own solutions. I spent countless hours in the original Deus Ex, meticulously planning my approach to each mission, and I can’t wait to see how these new immersive sims push the genre forward. If GTA 6 wants to stay ahead of the curve, it needs to offer a similar level of player agency and emergent gameplay. The Metaverse Menace Another potential challenger comes from the burgeoning metaverse. While still in its early stages, the metaverse promises persistent online worlds where players can live, work, and play together. Games like Fortnite and Roblox are already laying the groundwork, offering social hubs, creative tools, and a constantly evolving array of experiences. Imagine a GTA-style game set in a persistent online world where players can build their own criminal empires, form gangs, and engage in turf wars with other players. This is the kind of experience the metaverse could enable, and it could be incredibly compelling. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “The metaverse is just a fad.” And you might be right. But it’s a fad with a lot of money and talent behind it, and it has the potential to disrupt the gaming industry in a big way. If GTA 6 wants to remain relevant in the long term, it needs to find a way to embrace the metaverse and its possibilities. AI Revolution Perhaps the most significant challenge comes from advancements in artificial intelligence. AI is rapidly changing the way games are designed and played, and it could have a profound impact on the open-world genre. Imagine a GTA game with NPCs that have their own unique personalities, motivations, and relationships. Imagine a world that truly feels alive, where every encounter is unique and unpredictable. This is the kind of experience that AI could enable, and it’s something that traditional game design techniques simply can’t replicate. Games like This War of Mine and RimWorld have already shown us the potential of AI to create dynamic and emergent narratives. In This War of Mine, you manage a group of civilians trying to survive in a war-torn city, and the AI controls the behavior of both your survivors and the NPCs you encounter. Each playthrough is unique, and the stories that emerge can be incredibly powerful. I recently played RimWorld, a colony sim with incredibly deep AI, and I was amazed by how the game created its own stories. My colonists formed relationships, had mental breakdowns, and even staged rebellions. It was like watching a soap opera unfold in real-time, and it was far more engaging than any scripted narrative I’ve experienced in a game. If GTA 6 wants to truly immerse players in its world, it needs to embrace the power of AI. It needs to create characters that feel real, with their own unique stories and motivations. It needs to create a world that is constantly evolving and changing, even when the player isn’t around. The Indie Underdogs While AAA studios are busy chasing the metaverse and AI, a new wave of indie developers is quietly creating some of the most innovative and exciting open-world games we’ve seen in years. Games like Teardown and Cloudpunk are pushing the boundaries of the genre, offering unique gameplay mechanics, compelling stories, and stunning visuals. Teardown, for example, is a voxel-based heist game where you can destroy literally anything in the environment. This creates a level of freedom and emergent gameplay that is rarely seen in AAA games. Cloudpunk, on the other hand, is a narrative-driven adventure set in a cyberpunk city. You play as a delivery driver who gets caught up in a web of intrigue and conspiracy. The game’s atmospheric world and compelling characters make it a truly unforgettable experience. These indie games might not have the marketing budgets or brand recognition of GTA, but they have something far more important: creative freedom. They’re not afraid to experiment and take risks, and that’s what makes them so exciting. GTA 6 needs to watch out for these indie underdogs, because they could be the ones who truly revolutionize the open-world genre. What Does This Mean for GTA 6? So, what does all this mean for GTA 6? Does it mean that Rockstar’s next blockbuster is doomed to fail? Of course not. GTA is one of the biggest franchises in gaming history, and GTA 6 is almost guaranteed to be a massive commercial success. But it does mean that Rockstar can’t afford to rest on its laurels. To stay ahead of the curve, GTA 6 needs to be more than just another open-world crime game. It needs to be a groundbreaking experience that pushes the boundaries of technology, storytelling, and player freedom. It needs to embrace the power of AI, the potential of the metaverse, and the creativity of the indie scene.

MOSCOW (AP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a “tragic incident” following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people. The Kremlin said in a statement that air defense systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, due to a Ukrainian drone strike as the plane attempted to land on Wednesday. It stopped short of saying the plane was shot down by Russian air defenses. According to a Kremlin readout of the call, Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev “for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace.” The plane was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to Grozny, when it turned toward Kazakhstan and crashed while making an attempt to land. There were 29 survivors. On Friday, a U.S. official and an Azerbaijani minister made separate statements blaming the crash on an external weapon. Friday’s assessments by Rashan Nabiyev and White House national security spokesman John Kirby echoed those made by outside aviation experts who blamed the crash on Russian air defense systems responding to a Ukrainian attack. Neither Kirby or the Azerbaijani minister directly addressed the statements blaming air defenses. Kirby told reporters on Friday that the U.S. “have seen some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems,” but refused to elaborate, citing an ongoing investigation. Nabiyev, Azerbaijan’s minister of digital development and transportation, told Azerbaijani media that “preliminary conclusions by experts point at external impact,” as does witness testimony. Passengers and crew who survived the crash told Azerbaijani media that they heard loud noises on the aircraft as it was circling over Grozny. Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia ́s civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia, said Friday that as the plane was preparing to land in Grozny in deep fog, Ukrainian drones were targeting the city, prompting authorities to close the area to air traffic. Yadrov said that after the captain made two unsuccessful attempts to land, he was offered other airports but decided to fly to Aktau in Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea. He didn’t comment on statements from some aviation experts, who pointed out that holes seen in the plane’s tail section suggested that it could have come under fire from Russian air defense systems. Earlier this week, Rosaviatsia cited unspecified early evidence as showing that the pilots diverted to Aktau after a bird strike led to an emergency on board. In the days following the crash, Azerbaijan Airlines blamed “physical and technical interference” and announced the suspension of flights to several Russian airports. It didn’t say where the interference came from or provide any further details.SHEIN X is THE Place to Discover New Fashion Names

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Lampkin, Freeman power Syracuse past Bucknell, 75-63 in final nonconference tune-upNearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report findsROHM's PMICs for SoCs Adopted in Reference Designs for Telechips' Next-Generation Cockpits

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Snowfall paints Kashmir whiteNEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involving the Tampa Bay Rays to the first two months of the season in an attempt to avoid summer weather problems at open-air Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home following damage to Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay is scheduled to play 13 of its first 16 games at home and 47 of 59 through May 28, then play 69 of its last 103 games on the road. The Rays are home for eight of 25 games in July and eight of 26 in August. A series scheduled at the Los Angeles Angels from April 7-9 will instead be played at Tampa, Florida, from April 8-10, MLB said Monday. The second series between the teams will be played at Anaheim, California, from Aug. 4-6 instead of at St. Petersburg, Florida, from Aug. 5-7. Minnesota's first series against the Rays will be played at Steinbrenner Field from May 26-28 and the Twins' second will be at Target Field in Minneapolis from July 4-6. The Class A Tampa Tarpons, Steinbrenner Field's usual team, had six home postponements, two cancellations and four suspended games this year from June 21 through their season finale on Sept. 8. Tampa Bay is now scheduled to play its first six games at home against Colorado and Pittsburgh, go to Texas for a three-game series, then return for a 13-game homestand against the Angels, Atlanta, Boston and the New York Yankees. Tropicana Field, the Rays' home since the team started play in 1998, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9, with most of its fabric roof shredded. The Rays cannot return to the Trop until 2026 at the earliest, if at all. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/ Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Christmas is a holiday full of traditions. You might watch the same movie on Christmas Eve, or you might have a special way you open the stockings and the gifts on Christmas morning. Maybe, you always make that cookie recipe your family has passed down through generations. When Ben Folds was making his new Christmas album, Sleigher , the idea of coming back to those traditions over and over again was on his mind. "I think, at the end of the day, Christmas, because it happens every single year, gives you something to measure your life by. That is what I really connected to," he says. In this session, Folds performs some of his new Christmas songs live, and he talks about his most memorable gift he got as a kid. "That was my first instrument, the tape recorder," he says. "To me, that was the first thing I played — and then piano." This episode of World Cafe was produced and edited by Kimberly Junod. The web story was created by Miguel Perez. Our engineer is Chris Williams. Our programming and booking coordinator is Chelsea Johnson and our line producer is Will Loftus.Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. ( NYSE:HOV – Free Report ) by 0.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 111,942 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 322 shares during the quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC owned about 1.85% of Hovnanian Enterprises worth $22,882,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of HOV. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in Hovnanian Enterprises by 2.9% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 35,054 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $4,975,000 after acquiring an additional 993 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in Hovnanian Enterprises in the 2nd quarter valued at about $37,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in Hovnanian Enterprises by 11.0% in the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 3,298 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $468,000 after buying an additional 327 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Hovnanian Enterprises in the 2nd quarter valued at about $156,000. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers increased its holdings in Hovnanian Enterprises by 3.8% in the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 9,033 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,282,000 after buying an additional 330 shares during the period. 65.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Hovnanian Enterprises Trading Down 0.9 % Shares of Hovnanian Enterprises stock opened at $133.27 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $806.95 million, a PE ratio of 4.15 and a beta of 2.62. The company has a current ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $170.06 and its 200 day moving average is $180.24. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. has a 1 year low of $125.63 and a 1 year high of $240.34. Insider Activity at Hovnanian Enterprises Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Wedbush reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $155.00 target price on shares of Hovnanian Enterprises in a report on Monday, December 16th. View Our Latest Research Report on HOV About Hovnanian Enterprises ( Free Report ) Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc, through its subsidiaries, designs, constructs, markets, and sells residential homes in the United States. It offers single-family detached homes, attached townhomes and condominiums, urban infill, and active lifestyle homes with amenities, such as clubhouses, swimming pools, tennis courts, tot lots, and open areas. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Hovnanian Enterprises The 3 Best Blue-Chip Stocks to Buy Now S&P 500 ETFs: Expense Ratios That Can Boost Your Long-Term Gains How to Calculate Stock Profit How AI Implementation Could Help MongoDB Roar Back in 2025 Do Real Estate Investment Trusts Deserve a Place in Your Portfolio? Hedge Funds Boost Oil Positions: Is a Major Rally on the Horizon? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HOV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. ( NYSE:HOV – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Hovnanian Enterprises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hovnanian Enterprises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission has selected 210 individuals to receive North Carolina Teaching Fellows awards for the Class of 2025 during its early-decision window. The Teaching Fellows program is a competitive, merit-based forgivable loan program providing tuition assistance of up to $10,000 a year for qualified students committed to teaching elementary education, special education, science, technology, engineering, or math in a North Carolina public school. The purpose of the program is to recruit, prepare and support future teachers who attend institutions of higher education in North Carolina. The award winners may attend any of the program’s 10 partner institutions pending admission: Appalachian State University; East Carolina University; Elon University; Fayetteville State University; North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; NC State University; Meredith College; University of North Carolina at Charlotte; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and University of North Carolina at Pembroke. In the early-decision window, the NCTF commission received 307 completed and screened applications. The commission considered grade point average, leadership and experience, awards and honors, written essays, educator recommendations, and video submissions to offer the 210 awards. Standardized test scores from SAT/ACT were optional to align with admission standards from participating colleges and universities. Students who did not receive an early-decision award were deferred to the regular application period, which runs until Feb. 28, 2025. Any potential teachers in the areas of elementary, STEM, or special education are encouraged to apply at www.ncteachingfellows.org during the regular application window. The comprehensive list of the Class of 2025 Teaching Fellows awardees will be finalized in March 2025. “Congratulations to these deserving winners chosen during our early-decision process,” Bennett Jones, director of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program, said. “We look forward to their future careers in classrooms around the state. We are heartened by the continued growth of the program, and we are grateful for the support of lawmakers and education leaders as we continue to promote the teaching profession.” The 210 awards in the early-decision window represent a 61% increase in early-action awards from last year’s window. The early-decision awardees feature 134 high school seniors, 60 college transfer students and 16 licensure-only students. The early-award recipients hail from 126 different cities and towns representing 63 counties across the state. The early class of 2025 includes 30% minority recipients. Finally, 136 of the early-decision award winners intend to study elementary education, 45 are pursuing licensure in the areas of STEM education, and 29 are planning to be licensed in special education. The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission is comprised of four deans from educator preparation programs, a community college president, a beginning teacher, a principal, a member from business and industry, and a local school board member. The NC Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, Superintendent of the Year, Chair of the State Education Assistance Authority Board of Directors, and Director of the Teaching Fellows program all serve as ex-officio members of the commission. Concord — Julia-Madison Pacetti, Sydney Warren, Sydney Williams, and Sarah Wilson Granite Falls — Ava Aldrich and Emily Haas Hamptonville — Allie Reynolds and Mattie Tavano Hickory — Miriam Wood Lenoir — Emma Brown, Natalie Crump Lincolnton — Mary Franklin and Jadyn White Maiden — Madison Dellinger Mooresville — Sophie Baum, Isabel Gamble and Jovi Griffin Morganton — Laney Hodge Mount Pleasant — Ellie Shoe Olin — Stephanie Elkins Rutherfordton — Maytlin Bailey Statesville — Carter Kincaid, Taylorsville — Rebekah Winkler Troutman — Megan Macartney Valdese — Peter Skelton Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale costs in the United States picked up sharply last month, signaling that price pressures are still evident in the economy even though inflation has tumbled from the peak levels it hit more than two years ago. The producer price index — which tracks inflation before it reaches consumers — rose 0.4% last month from October, up from 0.3% the month before. Measured from 12 months earlier, wholesale prices climbed 3% in November, the sharpest year-over-year rise since February 2023. Higher food prices helped fuel the November wholesale inflation reading, which was higher than economists had expected. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. From a 10-year-old to a Muppet to a president-elect, NYSE bell-ringers range from famous to obscure The first guest invited to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange in 1956 wasn’t a company executive, a politician or a celebrity. It was a 10-year-old boy, Leonard Ross, who received the honor by winning a television quiz show. Since then, business titans, political giants and global film stars have all been among those ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. Ronald Reagan rang the bell as president in 1985. Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. have also rung the bell. The even list includes famous Muppets: Miss Piggy was once a bell ringer. Trump is named Time's Person of the Year and rings the New York Stock Exchange's opening bell NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange after being recognized by Time magazine as its person of the year. The honors Thursday for the businessman-turned-politician are a measure of Trump’s remarkable comeback from an ostracized former president who refused to accept his election loss four years ago to a president-elect who won the White House decisively in November. At the stock exchange, Trump was accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, daughters Ivanka and Tiffany and Vice President-elect JD Vance. Trump grinned as people chanted “USA” before he opened the trading day and raised his fist. Ontario to restrict electricity exports to US and bar American-made alcohol if Trump tariffs applied TORONTO (AP) — A senior official in Canada’s most populous province says that Ontario could bar American-made alcohol and restrict electricity to three U.S. states if President-elect Donald Trump imposes sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products. The states are Michigan, New York and Minnesota. An official in Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government said Thursday that it's contemplating restricting Ontario's liquor control board from buying American-made alcohol. Ontario is also considering restricting exports of Canadian critical minerals required for electric vehicle batteries. Stock market today: Wall Street’s rally stalls as Nasdaq pulls back from its record NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes fell following some potentially discouraging data on the economy. The S&P 500 slipped 0.5% Thursday for its fourth loss in the last six days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.7% from its record set the day before. Reports in the morning showed more U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits than expected, while inflation was hotter at the wholesale level than economists expected. Adobe helped drag the stock market lower after giving forecasts for profit and revenue in its upcoming fiscal year that fell a bit shy of analysts’. ECB cuts rates a quarter point amid concerns of tepid growth, impact of Trump trade policies FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank is cutting interest rates by a quarter percentage point amid signs of weakening growth and concern about the impact of political chaos in France and the possibility of new U.S. import tariffs. The bank’s rate-setting committee made the decision Thursday at its skyscraper headquarters in Frankfurt to lower the benchmark rate from 3.25% to 3%. Lower rates should support growth amid signs that the post-pandemic recovery is slowing in the 20 countries that use the euro currency and concerns that U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump might impose new tariffs, or import taxes, on goods imported to the US after he is inaugurated Jan. 20. YouTube TV is hiking its monthly price, again. Here's what to know NEW YORK (AP) — Are you a YouTube TV subscriber? Your monthly bills are about to get more expensive again. YouTube has announced that it’s upping the price of its streaming service’s base plan by $10 — citing rising content costs and other investments. The new $82.99 per month price tag will go into effect starting Jan. 13 for existing subscribers, and immediately for new customers who sign up going forward. YouTube TV has rolled out a series of price hikes over the years. When launched back in 2017, the going price of its streaming package was $35 a month. By 2019, that fee rose to $50 — and has climbed higher and higher since. Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor The head of the Federal Aviation Administration says he will step down next month to let President-elect Donald Trump name his choice to lead the agency. Mike Whitaker announced his pending resignation in a message to FAA employees on Thursday. Since taking the helm at the FAA in October 2023, Whitaker has dealt with challenges that include a surge in close calls between planes, a shortage of air traffic controllers and antiquated equipment. He has led a tougher enforcement policy against Boeing since a panel blew off a jetliner in January.Lampkin, Freeman power Syracuse past Bucknell, 75-63 in final nonconference tune-upNoneHopes for a Santa Claus rally on Wall Street fell Friday as tech stocks slid lower, while a weaker yen lifted Japanese equities. US indices slumped to end the holiday week, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite losing 1.5 percent. Shares in Tesla were closed around 5.0 percent lower, while those in AI chipmaker Nvidia shed around 2.0 percent. Wall Street stocks have historically performed well around the year-end holidays in what is popularly known as a Santa Claus rally. A Christmas Eve jump in equities got the Santa rally off to a flying start and indices barely budged in Thursday trading. Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare also pointed to an increase in 10-year US Treasury bond yields to around 4.6 percent, which he noted is a rise of nearly 0.9 percentage points since the US Federal Reserve made its first recent interest rate cut in September. "The Fed doesn't hold sway over longer-dated maturities like it does over shorter-dated securities, so the bump in rates at the back end of the curve is being watched with an anxious eye as a possible harbinger of a pickup in inflation and/or the budget deficit," O'Hare said. Wall Street stocks took a knock earlier this month when the Fed indicated it would likely cut interest rates less than it had previously expected to. That was in part because of uncertainty tied to President-elect Donald Trump's vow to raise import tariffs, which could boost inflation that is already proving sticky. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei index closed up nearly two percent, with the yen's recent weakness proving a boon for major exporters. The yen hit 158.08 per US dollar on Thursday evening -- its lowest in almost six months -- following comments made by Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda that failed to give a clear signal on a possible interest rate increase next month. Recent data has showed Japan's inflation rose for a second month in December, while industrial production declined less than expected in November and retail sales came in higher than estimated last month. Japan's government also on Friday approved a record budget for the next fiscal year, ramping up spending on social welfare for its ageing population and on defense to tackle regional threats. In Seoul, the stock market closed down one percent after the won plunged to a nearly 16-year low of 1,487.03 against the dollar on Friday morning. South Korea is struggling to emerge from political turbulence in the wake of President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration this month, which prompted his impeachment. Acting President Han Duck-soo was also impeached Friday in a vote that prompted governing party lawmakers to protest with angry chants and raised fists. South Korea's business outlook for January fell in the Bank of Korea's composite sentiment index, the biggest month-on-month slide since April 2020, according to data based on almost 3,300 firms released Friday. In Europe, Frankfurt's DAX index rose after German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved parliament on Friday and confirmed the expected date for the early general election, emphasizing the need for "political stability" in Europe's largest economy. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.8 percent at 42,992.21 (close) New York - S&P 500: DOWN 1.1 percent at 5,970.84 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 1.5 percent at 19,722.03 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 8,149.78 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.0 percent at 7,355.37 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.7 percent at 19,984.32 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.8 percent at 40,281.16 points (close) Seoul - Kospi: DOWN 1.0 percent at 2,404.77 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.1 percent at 20,116.93 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,400.14 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0429 from $1.0424 on Thursday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2579 from $1.2526 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 157.89 yen from 158.00 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.87 pence from 83.19 pence West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.4 percent at $70.60 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.2 percent at $74.17 per barrel burs-rl/rlp/bys/sms

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Replica enables Fortune 100 financial, business and healthcare institutions and Federal agencies such as the US Army and Defense Innovation Unit to securely engage in high risk cyber activities without compromising productivity. FALLS CHURCH, Va. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Grey Market Labs (dba Replica Cyber ), a pioneering leader in cybersecurity solutions, proudly announces it has secured $8M in Series A funding led by Capri Ventures, with participation from Blu Ventures and AFG to accelerate adoption of its groundbreaking platform - Replica. This strategic investment will enable the company to advance its mission of delivering Secure Environments-as-a-Service, bringing unparalleled privacy and security in an increasingly vulnerable digital landscape. With this round, Andy Brown , CEO of SandHill East , former CTO of UBS, and current board member of ZScaler and PureStorage, will be joining the Board of Directors as will Dennis Shaya , Partner at Capri Ventures. In addition, Don Duet , Former Head of Technology at Goldman Sachs, and Tim Estes , founder of Angel Kids AI and former CEO at Digital Reasoning, will be joining the advisory board, complementing an already strong team including: Christopher Caine (CEO – Mercator XXI), Gary Cubbage (fmr. EVP – Booz Allen Hamilton ), Nick Donofrio (fmr. EVP Innovation – IBM), Todd Helfrich (VP Federal – Censys). The Replica platform offers Secure Environments-as-a-Service, revolutionizing how organizations protect and enable high risk activities. This includes targeting Russian misinformation campaigns in Ukraine , safe testing of new tech with proprietary data, disrupting financial scams and fraud aimed at seniors, and identifying and mitigating insider threats within organizations, among other scenarios. By integrating patented technology, intelligence tradecraft, and Zero Trust architecture, Replica quickly creates realistic IT environments that encompass hardware, operating systems, applications, networks, and data layers. This innovative solution not only protects user and organizational privacy but also delivers the data, tools and workflows needed for users to be productive in their most sensitive work. Kristopher Schroeder , CEO of Grey Market Labs, emphasized the significance of this funding round: "Replica is the culmination of over 20 years of experience in embedded tradecraft, intelligence operations, and cutting edge software. Our engineering team, with extensive backgrounds in offensive and defensive cyber warfare, has developed a product that is comprehensive with the protection and efficiency needed for today's enterprises and their users." Schroeder goes on to say, "This funding will allow Grey Marketing Labs to accelerate our vision to deliver even more impactful solutions for our customers." Capri Ventures, the lead investor in this funding round, expressed their excitement about partnering with Replica. "We are thrilled to support Grey Market Labs in their mission to redefine cybersecurity with the Replica platform," said Dennis Shaya , Partner with Capri Ventures. "Their innovative approach and deep expertise position them as a frontrunner in the industry, especially financial services, and we believe this partnership will drive significant advancements in digital privacy and security." Available as both a SaaS product and a hosted service, Replica enables secure work even in a global ecosystem, while reducing burden on the IT organization. The platform's flexible architecture supports rapid deployments (noted as some of the fastest in Financial Services), continuous updates, and seamless integration with existing enterprise services, including single-sign-on, proxies, and data governance. Additionally, Replica offers rich audit and reporting functionalities to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and provide the critical observability needed for leadership. Replica has solved critical problems for major Banks, Health Systems, Global Consulting, and Governments with use cases like: Protected Research (deep/dark web, social, automated collects, OSINT), Isolating Acquired (M&A) tech and activities, Advanced Sandboxing for Malware/ Unknown Files , Complex Training Environments, Enabling Fraud /Cyber Investigations, Secure DevOps with Data Controls, Intellectual Property Sharing and Protection, and more. With this new round of funding, Replica is poised to expand its value to customers, enhance its offerings, and further solidify its position as a leader redefining how to protect and enable high-risk activities. For more information about Replica, please visit ReplicaCyber.com . About Grey Market Labs Founded as Grey Market Labs® (dba Replica Cyber ), a Certified B-Corp with the mission to protect life online. Our work protecting the United States from foreign intelligence evolved to the creation of ReplicaTM, the world's first Secure Environments-as-a-Service platform. This patented SaaS platform simplifies creation of comprehensive hybrid-computing systems, delivering privacy and security while giving control to business users and reducing the burden on IT by 99.73%. We have solved critical problems for major Banks, Health Systems, Global Consulting, and Governments with use cases like: Protected Research (deep/dark web, social, automated collects, OSINT), Isolating Acquired (M&A) tech and activities, Advanced Sandboxing for Malware/ Unknown Files , Complex Training Environments, Enabling Fraud /Cyber Investigations, Secure DevOps with Data Controls, and more. For anyone that has tried to build complex, secure systems and platforms - Replica replaces this expensive work with the automation of secure environments. About Capri Ventures Capri Ventures is an early stage venture capital firm focused on Enterprise Technology. The team is composed of former software executives and leaders from Fortune 500 enterprises, bringing significant resources early in a company's lifecycle to help drive commercialization and market adoption. About AFG Partners AFG Partners < https://www.afgvc.com/ > is an Asian-based VC fund investing in B2B fintech and enabling tech startups addressing the critical needs of financial institutions and corporates globally, particularly in Asia . A core part of the strategy is to invest and help companies in Europe and the US who are interested in expanding across Asia via our network of LPs and ecosystem partners. Previous investments of the principals include N26, Unit, Blockdaemon, Airbnb, Transferwise, Gocardless and Wefox amongst others. About Blu Ventures Blu Ventures, a venture capital firmed based in Washington, DC , provides strategic funding and expert guidance in Seed to Series A companies in cybersecurity, healthtech, and B2B software startups. Blu leverages the deep domain expertise of its partners—all former operators with extensive industry experience—to empower visionary entrepreneurs. Learn more at www.bluventureinvestors.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grey-market-labs-announces-8m-series-a-funding-led-by-capri-ventures-to-accelerate-growth-of-its-replica-platform---first-of-its-kind-secure-environment-as-a-service-302313584.html SOURCE Grey Market LabsElon Musk’s preschool is next step in his anti-woke education dreams

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2025-01-05   

777.gbt com Is it safe to eat turkey this Thanksgiving amid bird flu outbreak? Here’s what experts say

Video Shows Travis Kelce Expressing Frustration With Patrick Mahomes' Errant ThrowASSAULTS on Welsh emergency workers have increased, new data has revealed. In the first six months of 2024, Newport saw assaults at the rate of 1.22 per 1,000 population, Blaenau Gwent 1.33, Torfaen 1.17, and Caerphilly 1.01. More than 3,000 assaults were committed across Wales in the 12 months to June 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of nine per cent. They included kicking, slapping, spitting, biting, head-butting and verbal abuse, and ranged from common assault to serious premediated attacks involving grievous bodily harm. Nine incidents involved a weapon. With Christmas approaching, emergency workers are asking the public to treat them with respect. Jason Killens, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “Ambulance crews are there to help people, but they can’t fight for someone’s life if they’re fighting for their own. “In our control room, meanwhile, the verbal abuse of call handlers could potentially be delaying help for the patient. “The run-up to Christmas means more people are out enjoying the revelry, and with alcohol consumption comes an increase in assaults, both physical and verbal. “Our ask is simple – emergency workers want to help you, so please treat them with respect and work with us, not against us.” The campaign was launched in May 2021 by the Joint Emergency Service Group in Wales to try and reduce the number of assaults on emergency workers. Mark Hobrough, temporary chief constable at Gwent Police, said: “Nobody should be subjected to any kind of assault, and it is concerning that some people believe this is an appropriate way to act towards another person. "Our officers, along with our emergency service colleagues, will often deal with people during difficult times in their lives, but that does not justify the abusive, threatening and violent behaviour they frequently experience. “We will support any officer or emergency service worker who has experienced abuse or violence while also taking firm action against those responsible.” Judith Paget, Welsh Government’s director general for health and social services and the NHS Wales chief executive, said: “The impact of any form of assault, verbal or physical, is incredibly harmful to our NHS emergency workers who work tirelessly to care and treat those in greatest need. “The Welsh Government is committed to working in partnership with NHS Wales, the police and the CPS via the to ensure that we are doing everything to prevent incidents occurring, and to support any staff who do experience threats and violence.”

Littler threatened to overturn an early deficit but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. World number one Luke Humphries retained his Players Championship Finals title with an 11-7 victory over teenager Luke Littler in Minehead. Littler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”

To play Maria Callas, Angelina Jolie had to lean how to breathe againAllar puts critics on mute, keeps winning for Penn State

From Maui to the Caribbean, college hoops' Thanksgiving tournaments a beloved part of the sportA federal judge dismissed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) request to penalize Elon Musk for skipping a court-ordered deposition in its investigation into his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, now known as X. What Happened: On Friday, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco determined that sanctions were unwarranted after Musk complied by testifying on Oct. 3 and agreed to reimburse the SEC's travel costs of $2,923, reports Reuters. The SEC sought sanctions for Musk's failure to attend a Sept. 10 deposition as ordered, contending that merely covering travel costs would not deter individuals from ignoring court directives, particularly someone of Musk's financial stature. According to Forbes, Musk's net worth stands at $321.7 billion. "Because the present circumstances forestall any occasion for meaningful relief that the court could grant, the SEC's request is moot," Corley wrote in the verdict. Musk defended his actions, stating he had fulfilled the court's requirements by testifying in October. On Sept. 10, he was in Cape Canaveral, Florida, overseeing SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission. Also Read: New Book Reveals Elon Musk’s Twitter Buy Fumble And Mix-Up Over Grimes’ Baby Name The SEC is probing whether Musk violated securities regulations by delaying disclosure of his Twitter stock purchases in early 2022. After the decision, Musk expressed his triumph on X . He responded to a post from a user who applauded his success against the SEC. Musk responded to the user saying, "SEC. The middle word is definitely ‘Elon's,' but I can never remember what the other two words stand for." SEC. The middle word is definitely "Elon's", but I can never remember what the other two words stand for 🤔. https://t.co/ZZiPyXecZk The regulator claims Musk waited at least 10 days longer than required, allowing him to acquire shares at lower prices before revealing his 9.2% stake and later announcing plans to buy the platform outright. In July, Musk admitted misunderstanding SEC disclosure rules, calling his actions a "mistake." What It Matters: This is not Musk's first legal clash with the SEC. In 2018, the agency sued him over Twitter posts about taking Tesla Inc. private. Musk settled by paying a $20 million fine, stepping down as Tesla's chairman, and agreeing to have company lawyers vet certain tweets in advance. The case, SEC v. Musk , is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Read Next What A Second Trump Presidency Would Mean For Elon Musk And His Many Ventures This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

EMPOLI, Italy (AP) — Englishman Keinan Davis scored with 14 minutes remaining for Udinese to draw at Empoli 1-1 in Serie A on Monday and snap the visitor's three-game losing streak. The former Watford and Aston Villa striker rose to head home a near-post corner with 76 minutes gone. Pietro Pellegri put Empoli ahead midway through the first half with his third goal in three games. The on-loan Torino striker has endured a lean season but a goal in the 1-0 win over Como was followed by another in the 1-1 draw with Lecce before the international break. The result was the first point in four games for Udinese, after consecutive defeats to Atalanta, Juventus and Venezia, and meant that both sides retained their mid-table positions. Udinese was ninth and Empoli 10th. Story continues below video Later, Venezia missed a chance to move off the foot of the table when it went down at home to Lecce 1-0. Venezia was dominant for most of the game, with Gaetano Oristanio and Jay Idzes hitting the woodwork and Wladimiro Falcone outstanding in the Lecce goal. But the home side paid for its profligacy after 70 minutes. Antonino Gallo’s sublime cross from the left was met by Patrick Dorgu at the far post and he steered the ball into the far corner to give Lecce all three points. Lecce, which started the night only two places above bottom side Venezia, jumped into 15th place. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerJimmy Carter, 39th president, remembered for his integrity and devotion to humanityThere are many differences compared to the UK and the USA with many hilarious social media videos highlighting these. An American gave his thoughts on things you could not find in US supermarkets - with one difference being a real shock to him. TikTok user kjordyyy explained in his video how living in London has impacted him particularly when it comes to grocery shopping. In the video, kjordyy began with Sainsbury’s Smart Shopper and marvelled at the amount of trust involved in such a set up. The second difference he mentions relates to drinks. He described how soft drinks in the UK are much paler looking compared to the US, joking that they are not “radioactive like ours”. In the video he also marvelled at how Sainsbury's supermarkets often have a Argos , calling it the “GOAT”. He described UK Argos’s as being a “mini Amazon”, saying: “If there’s anything you need, it's 90% in Argos”. The craziest aspect he encountered in British supermarkets, however, and the one that grossed him out the most, was the pastry sections. He said: “If you want to, you can just grab one by yourself and put it in a bag. “The fact that these pastries are exposed to the elements always grossed me out a bit”, adding: “You do get used to it though”. And when it comes to products in UK supermarkets, the Brits' love for sausages continues to stump him with the amount of selection of peas available also being an unusual notion for an American. In the video he asked a fellow American also living in the UK what she thought was the weirdest thing at British grocery stores, to which she answered, squash and how much Brits are obsessed with it. She added: “The obsession with sausages, there’s like a whole section just for sausages”. User kjordyyy strongly agreed with this even ending the video asking: “Why do ya’ll like sausages so much?”World News | Israel Says Rabbi Who Went Missing in the UAE Was Killed, Govt Arrests 3

'India a playbook for global solutions': Sandhya Devanathan

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Emerance Maschmeyer turned in 34 saves on 35 shots on goal and the Ottawa Charge held off the New York Sirens 3-1 on Sunday for their second win in six games. Playing their first game in 10 days, the Charge got a first-period goal from Emily Clark and Shiann Darkangelo and Kateřina Mrázová added second-period goals to build a 3-0 lead through two periods. Ottawa has scored at least three goals in all five of its meetings with New York over two seasons. Alex Carpenter earned a third-period assist to extend her scoring streak to nine straight games dating to last season. Sarah Fillier's goal moved her into a tie for the league lead with eight points in her first eight games after being drafted No. 1 by the Sirens. Ottawa's defense neutralized much of New York's speed advantage and used a strong penalty kill to take a 1-0 lead after one period after Clark tipped home a wrist shot from the point by Brianne Jenner six minutes into the game. The Charge added two goals in the first seven minutes of the second period but could not capitalize on a pair of power plays late in the period. Fillier wasted little time getting New York on the board in the third period, firing a shot past Maschmeyer 23 seconds into the period, but the keeper saved the next dozen shots, including an almost three-minute finish when the Sirens pulled goalkeeper Corinne Schroeder to gain a player advantage. New York's Jill Saulnier was activated off long-term injured reserve following an upper body injury sustained in the opening game December 1. ___ AP hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/hockey The Associated Press

NoneNvidia Stock Falls 3% On Rare Downgrade, Missed 'Bullish Whispers'

Closing marks second significant acquisition from RA Capital's Raven incubator in 2024, and first acquisition of a company built by Raven from a technology platform in-licensed from a large pharmaceutical company BOSTON , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RA Capital Management, LP (RA Capital), a multi-stage investment manager dedicated to evidence-based investing in public and private healthcare, life sciences, and planetary health companies, today announced that AbbVie has closed its $1.4 billion acquisition of RA Capital's portfolio company Aliada Therapeutics. Aliada's lead investigational asset is ALIA-1758, an anti-pyroglutamate amyloid beta (3pE-Aβ) antibody, which is in development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial. ALIA-1758 utilizes a novel blood-brain barrier-crossing technology that enhances delivery of targeted drugs into the central nervous system. Johnson & Johnson (through its venture capital arm, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc.), RA Capital, and Raven (RA Capital's healthcare incubator) co-founded Aliada and co-led the series seed financing in 2021 to advance the MODELTM platform created by Johnson & Johnson scientists that was licensed to Aliada at its inception. "Congratulations to the Aliada and AbbVie teams and our fellow investors on the close of this transaction," said Joshua Resnick , MD, Senior Managing Director at RA Capital Management and former board director at Aliada. "The acquisition of Aliada is the second significant acquisition of a Raven-grown company this year, joining Novartis' $1 billion upfront acquisition of radiopharmaceutical developer Mariana Oncology in May." "Delivering therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier with a low-volume, subcutaneous injection would be revolutionary for treating Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders, and has long been a dream in the field," said Laura Tadvalkar , PhD, Managing Director at RA Capital Management and former board chair at Aliada. "We look forward to following ALIA-1758's progress through the clinic, as AbbVie advances this important medicine for Alzheimer's disease patients." About Raven Raven is RA Capital Management's healthcare incubator. Raven's experienced team of scientists, operators, and innovators bring deep sector expertise, insight and executional capabilities across therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, and services. Raven builds companies: from originating and incubating new ideas to accelerating compelling innovations and rejuvenating promising assets. About RA Capital Founded in 2004, RA Capital Management is a multi-stage investment manager dedicated to evidence-based investing in public and private healthcare, life sciences, and planetary health companies. RA Capital creates and funds innovative companies, from private seed rounds to public follow-on financings, allowing management teams to drive value creation from inception through commercialization and beyond. RA Capital's knowledge engine is guided by our TechAtlas internal research division, and Raven, RA Capital's company creation team, offers entrepreneurs and innovators a collaborative and comprehensive platform to explore the novel and the re-imagined. RA Capital has more than 175 employees and over $10 billion in assets under management. The companies presented herein were selected to demonstrate a potential successful outcome of a company being incubated within our Raven incubator. They are not intended to represent a complete picture of RA Capital's portfolio, its exposures, risks or potential for positive or negative returns. Past performance is not indicative of future results. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ra-capital-management-announces-close-of-1-4-billion-acquisition-of-aliada-therapeutics-by-abbvie-302329567.html SOURCE RA Capital Management, LP

Tories urge PM to reject Netanyahu arrest warrant and alter ‘nonsensical’ stanceRA Capital Management Announces Close of $1.4 Billion Acquisition of Aliada Therapeutics by AbbVie

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2025-01-06   

777.gbt.com The City of Ottawa's Transit Commission has approved the 2025 draft transit budget and has voted in favour of a smaller, but still significant, fare hike for seniors. The 2025 draft transit budget includes a five per cent overall are increase and an eight per cent hike to the citywide transit levy. Notably, the budget included a planned 120 per cent increase to the monthly pass for seniors, which was met with public backlash. Councillors presented two motions to reduce the fare hike for seniors, one to increase fares by 60 per cent instead of 120 per cent, and another to set the seniors' pass at the same price as the EquiPass, $58.25 per month, effectively an 18 per cent fare increase. The motion by Coun. Tim Tierney to increase the seniors' pass to $78.50 per month from $49 (a 60 per cent increase), as opposed to $108 per month as first included in the draft budget, passed by a vote of 8-1, with Tierney and councillors David Hill, Jeff Leiper, Riley Brockington, Marty Carr, Wilson Lo, Cathy Curry and Glen Gower voting in favour. Coun. Shawn Menard was the lone "no" vote. Tierney's motion also maintains free transit for seniors on Wednesdays and directs staff to encourage low-income seniors to apply for the EquiPass. This would be paid for through an $820,000 reduction to the draft 2025 contribution to the Transit Capital reserve. This means a motion put forward by Coun. Brockington on behalf of Coun. Jessica Bradley to make the price of the seniors' pass the same as the EquiPass was referred to City Council, where councillors could move, debate, and possibly adopt it. Similarly, a motion by Coun. Devine to leave youth discounts in place was also referred to the Dec. 11 council meeting. These two motions will be discussed at council because they involve further increases to the transit levy of 0.11 per cent in Bradley's case and 1.41 per cent in Devine's case. The overall budget roadmap passed by a vote of 6-3, with councillors Hill, Tierney, Leiper, Carr, Curry and Gower voting in favour, and councillors Brockington, Menard and Lo voting against. Dozens of people signed up to speak at the meeting Monday, mostly in opposition to increasing fares for seniors and the U-Pass for post-secondary students. "We are in a delicate situation with OC Transpo. We're trying to recover our ridership since the pandemic, and raising fares just puts an enormous barrier in place," said Alex Cullen, former city councillor and transit commission chair. "The best route to bring riders back? Keep the fares down and improve service. That was my pitch to council today. If you raise the transit levy, you don't lose riders, but you make sure there's a good service and you encourage people to come back on to the system." Several seniors also voiced their concerns, not only about a potential fare hike, but also the possibility of doing away with free transit days for seniors on Wednesdays and Sundays. "For my doctor's appointments, I take those on Wednesdays," said Wendy Laatunen. "Same thing with my banking. I'm still not too good online, so I'll go down on the free days. I'll go down on Wednesdays." Under the 2025 draft budget the price of the U-Pass would also increase by five per cent, double the allowable 2.5 per cent increase the University of Ottawa Student Union (UOSU) says the city had agreed to. A hike of more than 2.5 per cent would have to be approved by the participating universities, and that has some students speaking out. "They are wasting city resources to move a motion to even go officially find an answer [from students]. That takes resources from city council, that takes resources for councillors going out to have official meetings with the student union," said Oscar Lavitt, a student at the University of Ottawa. "We have an answer and the answer is no." A motion by Coun. Menard to direct staff to enter into negotiations and consultations with the four affected post-secondary institutions' administration and students was approved unanimously by Transit Commission. Staff are directed to report back with results by the end of June 2025. Lavitt argues the city should consider other sources of funding that wouldn't force post-secondary students to pay more. "Nobody is really into the idea of paying more tuition because of that. Students are some of the most vulnerable people financially," he said. "There are all sorts of other routes where this money could be found. Look at the people who are going to have their houses by Line 2 or Line 4, their property values is going to go up so why are they not being taxed more?" The transit system is facing a projected $120 million deficit in 2025. In addition to increases to fares and the transit levy, the budget includes $36 million in "expected funding from senior levels of government," which has not been confirmed. OC Transpo focused on improving service: Amilcar Transit Services general manager Renée Amilcar says she is focused on improving transit service, which she called the key to bringing riders back to the flagging system. But OC Transpo is well below its punctuality targets for less frequent bus routes, data presented to the city's Transit Commission show. A presentation Monday showed that an average of one in every four buses that runs at a frequency of every 16 minutes or greater was not on time in the last year. OC Transpo has a target of having 85 per cent of bus trips arriving on time. Frequent routes, which arrive every 15 minutes or less, are more likely to be on time, but the 12-month average from October 2023 to October 2024 was 83 per cent, still below target. In October 2024, one out of every five frequent buses and three out of every 10 less frequent buses was late. The on-time performance for bus routes operating every 16+ minutes has typically been below the 85 per cent target for years. According to public data on OC Transpo's website, the 12-month average was 75.5 per cent in 2020, 76.1 per cent in 2021, and 72 per cent in 2022. When asked whether raising fares would drive people away, Amilcar said reasonable fare increases are not shown to reduce ridership. "We know for fact that increasing fares reasonably will not impact the ridership at all, so that's why we need to continue to focus on service reliability, better service, how we can increase the customer's experience, et cetera," she said. The full city budget will be voted on at the Dec. 11 meeting of city council. Ottawa Top Stories FREEZING RAIN WARNING | 1 to 3 mm of freezing rain possible in Ottawa-Gatineau tonight Transit Commission passes smaller, but still significant, fare hike for seniors Cargo ship runs aground in St. Lawrence River near Morrisburg, Ont. OC Transpo hands out 1,900 fines to riders not paying fares in 2 months Katy Perry coming to Ottawa next summer Renovated pool in Pembroke, Ont. could reopen in early 2025 $10k worth of cannabis stolen from Renfrew, Ont. store MISSING | Ottawa police seek help locating missing 31-year-old man CTVNews.ca Top Stories 'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques Carol Sheaves of Moncton, N.B., says it's not fair that retirees like her won't get the government's newly proposed rebate cheques. Sheaves was among the seniors who expressed their frustrations to CTVNews.ca about not being eligible for the $250 government benefit. NDP support for part of Liberal relief package in question, as House stalemate persists After telling Canadians that New Democrats would back Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's holiday affordability package and help pass it quickly, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh now wants it split up, as he's only ready to support part of it. Public Services Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said the Liberals are 'certainly open to working with the opposition parties,' to find a path forward. BREAKING | Judge tosses Trump 2020 election case after prosecutors' request A U.S. judge on Monday dismissed the federal criminal case accusing Donald Trump of attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat after prosecutors moved to drop that prosecution and a second case against the president-elect, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting U.S. president. Premiers seek 'urgent' meeting with Trudeau before Trump returns to White House Canada's premiers are asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold an urgent first ministers' meeting ahead of the return to office of president-elect Donald Trump. Warren Buffett gives away another US$1.1B, announces plans for distributing $147B fortune after death Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by announcing plans Monday to hand more than US$1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Deer spotted wearing high-visibility safety jacket in Northern B.C. Andrea Arnold is used to having to slow down to let deer cross the road in her Northern B.C. community. But this weekend she saw something that made her pull over and snap a photo. Canada Post says progress 'limited' at negotiating table as strike continues Canada Post says they have made 'limited progress' with the union at the negotiating table 11 days after the strike began. Los Angeles judge postpones hearing on release of Menendez brothers A Los Angeles County judge on Monday postponed a hearing over the possible release of Lyle and Erik Menendez after 35 years in prison for the shotgun murder of their parents, saying he wanted to hear from a new district attorney due to take office on Dec. 3. Canadian Army corporal fined for stolen valour at Remembrance Day ceremony A corporal in the Canadian Army has been fined $2,000 and given a severe reprimand for wearing service medals he didn't earn during a Remembrance Day ceremony in Alberta two years ago. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks 27 Of The Absolute Best Stocking Stuffers For Men 24 Of The Best Host And Hostess Gifts You Can Find Online Right Now 21 Of The Absolute Best Stocking Stuffers For Kids (And They're All From Amazon Canada) Home Our Guide To The Best Stand Mixers In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Our Guide To The Best Nespresso Machines in Canada in 2024 (And Where to Get Them) Our Guide to the Best Jewellery Boxes You Can Find Online Right Now Gifts 19 Of The Best Tech Gifts Under $100 17 Gifts Your Husband Actually Wants 23 Gifts, Add-Ons, And Stocking Stuffers For Anyone Who Spends A Lot Of Time In Their Car Beauty 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit If You Suffer From Dry Skin, You'll Want To Add At Least One Of These Hydrating Moisturizers To Your Cart Deals From Anthropologie To Adidas: Here Are The Best Early Black Friday Deals On Clothing And Accessories These Apple Products Are Majorly On Sale On Amazon Canada Right Now, So It Might Be Time To Upgrade Your Tech Black Friday Has Begun On Amazon Canada: Here Are The Best Deals Atlantic 'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques Carol Sheaves of Moncton, N.B., says it's not fair that retirees like her won't get the government's newly proposed rebate cheques. Sheaves was among the seniors who expressed their frustrations to CTVNews.ca about not being eligible for the $250 government benefit. Man charged with unsafe storage of a firearm in Tyson MacDonald homicide: RCMP A 61-year-old man is facing unsafe storage charges in connection with the homicide of 17-year-old Tyson MacDonald on P.E.I., last December. RCMP investigating after shots fired at residence in Mavillette, N.S. RCMP in Nova Scotia are seeking information in relation to shots that were fired in Mavillette over the weekend. Toronto Ontario government passes bill to limit bike lanes Ontario's Progressive Conservative government has passed a controversial law that will force municipalities to seek approval for installing new bike lanes on arterial roads and could see some existing bike lanes torn up. Toronto mother now facing murder charge in death of four-month old baby Toronto police say they have charged a mother with second-degree murder following the death of her infant, who was found with critical injuries in midtown Toronto last week. 'Embarrassing:' NHL team ditches bus and walks to Scotiabank Arena amid gridlock The Utah Hockey Club got the full Toronto experience Sunday night ahead of their first-ever matchup against the Maple Leafs—bumper-to-bumper traffic that forced the team to walk to the game. Montreal Cases at Quebec's housing tribunal are dragging on, can take 'years' to solve Quebec's housing tribunal (TAL) is frequently a last resort for tenants and landlords trying to resolve an issue. These days, getting in front of a judge can be a difficult task and lawyers say a case can take years to sort out. More people hurt in Quebec road accidents after fall time change, data shows New data from Quebec's auto insurance board shows that evening road accidents -- including those involving pedestrians -- rise sharply in the 30 days following the fall time change, when the sun sets earlier. Montreal mayor says Friday pro-Palestinian protests were taken over by 'professional vandals' Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante told journalists 'professional vandals' took over protests and smashed windows at the Palais des Congres. Northern Ontario 'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques Carol Sheaves of Moncton, N.B., says it's not fair that retirees like her won't get the government's newly proposed rebate cheques. Sheaves was among the seniors who expressed their frustrations to CTVNews.ca about not being eligible for the $250 government benefit. Sudbury, Ont., magic mushroom store sells illegal product as a form of protest There's a new store at the corner of Elm and Durham streets called Shroomyz, selling an illegal product: magic mushrooms. Elliot Lake, Ont., woman charged with choking neighbour's dog An intoxicated woman in Elliot Lake has been charged with breaking into her neighbour's apartment and choking their dog. Windsor City of Windsor to look into curbing prolonged apartment vacancies City councillor Renaldo Agostino is looking to add another tool the city can use to help discourage property owners from leaving apartment buildings vacant. 'Active investigation' underway in Windsor Windsor police are on the scene of what's being called an, "active investigation." "Expect a sustained police presence in the area," read a post on social media. Memorial placed on site of crash that killed Windsor couple The memorial, near the intersection of Walker Road and Niagara Street has flowers, wreaths, pictures of the victims and messages from loved ones, family and friends. London 'It’s getting dangerous downtown': Rear entrance of London business sprayed with gunfire London police said that no-one was injured when the back entrance of a downtown cannabis shop was sprayed with gunfire early on Monday morning. 'I just knew something was up': London family recounts rushing to their burning home where pet perished A weekend house fire has left a family displaced and taken the life of a beloved pet. The blaze at 454 Alston Road broke out shortly after 12:30 p.m. Christmas tax break will be 'challenging' for small businesses, says gift shop owner Tom Fincher is all for a tax break for consumers but implementing the GST tax break announced by the federal government last week at his till will be easier said than done. Kitchener Waterloo reviews most collision-prone areas to improve safety The City of Waterloo is trying to make its roads safer by putting together a report on some of the locations with the most crashes in the past five years. Driver warned after police receive complaints about car decked out in Christmas lights in Waterloo Drivers are being reminded not to take the holiday spirit too far after police received complaints about a distracting vehicle in Waterloo. Kitchener, Ont. doctor officially claims second Guinness World Record A Kitchener, Ont. emergency room doctor has officially earned his second Guinness World Records title. Barrie 'James deceived us,' Slain Collingwood, Ont. woman's family speak ahead of husband's sentencing James Schwalm sat in the prisoner’s box Monday morning weeping as friends and family members told the court about the devastation he caused when he murdered his wife, Ashley Milne, two years ago inside their Collingwood, Ont. home. Novice driver charged with speeding 95km/h over limit on Hwy 11 accused of being impaired A Thornhill resident accused of driving at a high rate of speed along Highway 11 in Muskoka while impaired faces charges. Fire causes significant damage at Tiny Township cottage Fire crews battled flames and thick smoke shooting from a seasonal home in Tiny Township on Monday. Winnipeg Winnipeg police shoot, kill suspect after officer stabbed in the throat Manitoba’s police watchdog is investigating a deadly police shooting at Winnipeg's Unicity Shopping Centre Sunday evening. Mounties looking for missing car in connection with suspicious death Manitoba RCMP are looking for a missing car connected to an investigation into human remains discovered north of Winnipeg. $4.2M from feds to create Indigenous-led family care centre in Winnipeg A new Indigenous-led family care centre will be coming to Winnipeg, with more than $4.2 million for the project coming from the federal government. Calgary Calgary's Green Line discussions focus on alignment Premier Danielle Smith says she is continuing to meet with Mayor Jyoti Gondek about Calgary's Green Line project and her government remains committed to bringing the line all the way to Seton. $3.69M Calgary mansion with basketball court for sale in Aspen Woods If you've ever dreamed of having a home with a basketball court, now's your chance. Alberta seeks to 'de-risk' oil, gas pipeline investments in wake of Trump victory Alberta's government is looking for ways to encourage pipeline companies to boost capacity and increase the province's oil and gas export volumes to the United States. Edmonton 'Be vigilant': 24 arsons in south Edmonton under police investigation The Edmonton Police Service now says it is investigating 24 suspicious fires in south Edmonton. Death of worker in Edmonton smokehouse leads to 26 charges against food processing company An Ontario-based food processing company is facing 26 charges under Alberta Occupational Health and Safety legislation in connection with the death of a worker at an Edmonton facility in 2023. The story of Alberta's rural long COVID program that never was As better diagnosis and symptom management emerged for people with long COVID, researchers in Alberta set to work creating a program that could remotely connect urban specialists and rural patients. Between development and clinical implementation, the project was shelved. Regina Sask. Party prioritizes affordability, civility with opposition in Throne Speech The Saskatchewan Party government said it will prioritize affordability in the coming months during its Throne Speech on Monday, that officially kicked off a short two-week sitting inside the legislature. Regina commits to clearing all 'high priority roads' of snow by Tuesday morning Following a second significant dump of snow in less than a week, the City of Regina says it plans to have all high priority roadways cleared by 7:00 a.m. Tuesday. Sask. NDP takes aim at premier over Shercom deal Saskatchewan’s NDP opposition is again taking aim at the province for its dealings with a Saskatoon-based tire recycling plant, Shercom. Saskatoon Sask. NDP takes aim at premier over Shercom deal Saskatchewan’s NDP opposition is again taking aim at the province for its dealings with a Saskatoon-based tire recycling plant, Shercom. Saskatoon's second big snowfall in a week won't trigger emergency response: City City crews and contractors are at it again — clearing roadways after another major snowfall. Two dead after crash on Saskatchewan Highway 4 Two people are dead following a two-vehicle crash on Highway 4 Friday evening. Vancouver B.C. opens disaster aid to atmospheric river flood victims Deer spotted wearing high-visibility safety jacket in Northern B.C. Andrea Arnold is used to having to slow down to let deer cross the road in her Northern B.C. community. But this weekend she saw something that made her pull over and snap a photo. Wild weather behind 11-cent surge in Vancouver gas prices, analyst says The intense storms that battered parts of B.C. and the United States last week are partly to blame for a significant surge in Vancouver gas prices, according to a petroleum analyst. Vancouver Island Canadian Army corporal fined for stolen valour at Remembrance Day ceremony A corporal in the Canadian Army has been fined $2,000 and given a severe reprimand for wearing service medals he didn't earn during a Remembrance Day ceremony in Alberta two years ago. Deer spotted wearing high-visibility safety jacket in Northern B.C. Andrea Arnold is used to having to slow down to let deer cross the road in her Northern B.C. community. But this weekend she saw something that made her pull over and snap a photo. Vancouver Whitecaps drop head coach Vanni Sartini Two weeks after the Vancouver Whitecaps’ playoff run ended in the first round, the team has fired head coach Vanni Sartini. Kelowna Man in hospital following targeted shooting in Kamloops Police are appealing for information on a targeted shooting that resulted in the hospitalization of a man in Kamloops. Police cleared of fault in fatal 2023 crash in B.C.'s Interior British Columbia's independent police watchdog has cleared officers of wrongdoing in a crash where three people were killed south of Kamloops in July of last year. B.C. woman sentenced for stealing $14K in funds raised for schoolkids A B.C. woman who stole more than $14,000 in volunteer-raised funds that were supposed to be spent on school supplies and programs – including hot meals for vulnerable kids – won't spend any time in jail. Stay ConnectedMr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/aqYmcE9tXi — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) December 29, 2024 His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.Lincoln Tech, Johnson Controls Celebrate First Graduating Class from JCI Academy at Denver Campus

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The UN's marathon climate summit neared the finish line early Sunday, with nations due to approve or reject a hotly-disputed deal for wealthy historic emitters to provide at least $300 billion to poorer countries that had demanded much more. After an exhausting two weeks of negotiations in Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea capital of Baku, COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev declared open the final summit plenary after midnight, two days after the conference was officially scheduled to end. A final text was released following several sleepless nights for negotiators, with tensions boiling over as small islands states and the world's poorest countries walked out of one meeting. "This package is an affront to us. We are the countries that have the most at stake," said Tina Stege, climate envoy of the Marshall Islands, an atoll nation threatened by rising seas. Top German negotiator Jennifer Morgan told AFP that countries would be presented a "take it or leave it" deal. Before the closing session, delegates huddled in small groups on the floor of the main conference room inside Baku's sports stadium to pore over copies of the latest draft deal line by line. "I know that none of us want to leave Baku without a good outcome," Babayev said. A number of countries have accused Azerbaijan, an authoritarian oil and gas exporter, of lacking the experience and will to meet the moment, as the planet again sets temperature records and faces rising deadly disasters. Small island nations and impoverished African states on Saturday angrily stormed out of a meeting with Azerbaijan, saying their concerns had been ignored. "I think it caught a lot of people by surprise," said Brazil's climate envoy, Ana Toni. "It all happened very quickly." The walkout triggered an emergency meeting between those nations and top negotiators from the European Union, United States and Britain with the COP29 presidency in which new proposals were made. Wealthy countries and small island nations have also been concerned by efforts led by Saudi Arabia to water down calls from last year's summit to phase out fossil fuels. The final text proposes that rich nations raise to at least $300 billion a year by 2035 their commitment to poorer countries to fight climate change. It is up from $100 billion now provided by wealthy nations under a commitment set to expire -- and from $250 billion proposed in a draft Friday. That offer was slammed as offensively low by developing countries, which have demanded at least $500 billion to build resilience against climate change and cut emissions. Sierra Leone's climate minister Jiwoh Abdulai, whose country is among the world's poorest, called the draft "effectively a suicide pact for the rest of the world". Developing power Brazil pleaded for at least some progress and said it would seek to build on it when it leads COP30 next year in the Amazon gateway of Belem. "After the difficult experience that we're having here in Baku, we need to reach some outcome that is minimally acceptable in line with the emergency we're facing," Brazil's environment minister Marina Silva told delegates. - Tired and 'disheartened' - As staff at the cavernous and windowless stadium began packing up, diplomats rushed between meetings, some armed with food and water in anticipation of another late night. Panama's outspoken negotiator, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, warned not to repeat the failure of COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009. "I'm sad, I'm tired, I'm disheartened, I'm hungry, I'm sleep-deprived, but there is a tiny ray of optimism within me because this cannot become a new Copenhagen," he told reporters. Climate activists shouted "shame" as US climate envoy John Podesta walked the halls. "Hopefully this is the storm before the calm," he said. Wealthy nations say it is politically unrealistic to expect more in direct government funding. Donald Trump, a sceptic of both climate change and foreign assistance, returns to the White House in January and a number of other Western countries have seen right-wing backlashes against the green agenda. The draft deal posits a larger overall target of $1.3 trillion per year to cope with rising temperatures and disasters, but most would come from private sources. South African Environment Minister Dion George, however, said: "I think being ambitious at this point is not going to be very useful." The United States and EU have wanted newly wealthy emerging economies like China -- the world's largest emitter -- to chip in. The final draft encouraged developing countries to make contributions on a voluntary basis, reflecting no change for China which already pays climate finance on its own terms. The EU and other countries have also tussled with Saudi Arabia over including strong language on moving away from fossil fuels, which negotiators say the oil-producing country has resisted. "We will not allow the most vulnerable, especially the small island states, to be ripped off by the new, few rich fossil fuel emitters," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. bur-np-sct-lth/jm

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The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in the sum of N500 million, with two sureties. Justice Emeka Nwite who presided over the court session on Friday ordered that the two sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and must be owners of Properties in Abuja. In addition, the title documents of the properties, which must be in Abuja, will be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court. The judge also ordered that the Mr. Bello must deposit his international passport with the court, while he and his two sureties are also to deposit two recent passport photographs with the court. He also ruled that the former governor must be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja pending the perfection of his bail conditions. He said: “I have listened to the application from both counsels. First off, bail is at the discretion of the court, whether the bail is opposed or supported. READ MORE: Court Denies Yahaya Bello Bail In N110 Billion Fraud Case “Ordinarily, based on the antecedents of this case, particularly the conduct exhibited by the defendant, I would have reconsidered the application made by the learned senior counsel for the defendant. “However, based on the detour exhibited by the learned senior counsel for the defendant, J.B. Daudu (SAN), which was reciprocated by the learned senior counsel for the prosecution, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), I am inclined to depart from our earlier position on this matter. “In view of the foregoing, I am prepared to grant the application made by both counsel. “I hereby grant bail to the defendant in the following terms: One—bail is granted to the defendant in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties in the like sum. “The two sureties shall own landed property within the jurisdiction of this court, Abuja. “The two sureties shall swear to an affidavit of means, and the documents of the property shall be verified by the chief deputy registrar of this honourable court. “The defendant shall deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of this honourable court. The defendant and the sureties shall each deposit two recent passport photographs with the deputy chief registrar of this honourable court. “The defendant shall be released upon the perfection of the bail terms. The case is adjourned to February 24, 28, and March 6 and 7, 2025, for trial.” Bello faces a 19-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, relating to money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds totalling ₦80.2 billion.CSU faculty, students rally against Board of Trustees policies

Have you heard the one about the batter selected by England for Test cricket despite not yet scoring a first-class hundred and with a career average of just 25? That sounds like the start of a corny joke but a raft of players who have churned out runs in county cricket may not find it very funny. Keaton Jennings, Haseeb Hameed, Alex Davies and James Vince, to name but four, were overlooked when England needed batting cover for the tour of New Zealand following Jamie Smith's decision to skip the trip for the birth of his first child. Jacob Bethell's first-class stats Jacob Bethell was picked instead and will debut in the first Test in Christchurch from Thursday following wicketkeeper Jordan Cox's tour-ending fractured thumb. Ollie Pope will take the gloves, with Bethell coming in at three to get a chance to prove his first-class numbers are no indication of his skill. As going by those, this is a rogue selection, even for England. Trending While they have plumped for bowlers with little or limited first-class experience - Josh Hull and Shoaib Bashir being the prime examples - the batters selected have had a weight of red-ball runs behind them, in addition to the attacking verve Bazball adores. Ben Duckett averaged over 70 for Nottinghamshire in the summer before his Test recall. Harry Brook was peeling off runs for fun for Yorkshire prior to his Test bow. Smith averaged in excess of 50 before he became England's wicketkeeper-batter. Also See: New Zealand vs England homepage All today's cricket scorecards Listen to the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast What cricket is live on Sky and when? Bethell's 2024 red-ball season for Warwickshire saw him average a lick over 31 with four fifties and a best of 93. You have to feel for his Bears team-mate Davies, who scored his 1,115 runs - which included four centuries - at 50.68 and at a decent strike-rate of 61.97 to boot. But perhaps we should not be too surprised at Bethell's inclusion as 1) England management appear to have a disconnect with the county set-up these days and 2) the 21-year-old may just be a generational talent, showing glimpses of that in white-ball cricket over the last few months, internationally and domestically. Bethell England's latest rough diamond? Speaking ahead of left-arm seamer Hull's Test debut against Sri Lanka this summer, England head coach Brendon McCullum said: "We need to identify that county cricket and Test cricket are probably slightly different games. "If we were picking a county side, it would look a little different to what it looks like on the Test side. The decisions that they make might not always line up with us and that's cool. We don't do stuff in spite of them, we understand they have a different job to do. "We're bringing some of these guys who we see as rough diamonds with incredibly high ceilings, into an environment where we're able to shape them, and give them the opportunities and hasten the process of them getting to the level that we think they can get to." Bethell certainly looks a rough diamond. And rough may be being unkind, because he hasn't half sparkled of late. A 15-ball Vitality Blast fifty for Birmingham Bears - one of four half-centuries he struck in that competition - came amid a haul of 361 runs, and he also impressed in The Hundred for Birmingham Phoenix. Bethell made his England T20I and ODI debuts against Australia in September, notably spanking Adam Zampa for four boundaries in a row in his second T20 to help his side to victory. He then enjoyed a homecoming in the West Indies - Bethell was born in Barbados and lived there for his first 14 years - with three fifties across the white-ball tour, one in the ODI leg and two in the T20s. His first T20I fifty made him the youngest to that milestone for England in the format, his second was a 22-ball effort clinched with the third of three successive sixes. 'All the attributes are there with Bethell' In the five-match series, his strike rate was 173.97 and his average, due to only being dismissed once, stood at 127. The power and crispness with which Bethell hits the ball and the quality with which he flashes away late cuts makes him stand out. He has presence at the crease, looking like the sort of guy that could take down Australia in Australia, which is what this England rebuild - one that has seen Ben Foakes, Jonny Bairstow and the bowling Ollie Robinson jettisoned and James Anderson retired - is all about. India may have made light work of the Baggy Greens in Perth this week but England have not won a Test in Australia since a series victory there in 2010/11, when Bethell was seven. Their record in the intervening years reads played 15, lost 13, drawn two. Bethell's batting has caught the eye but he is also a decent left-arm spinner and outstanding fielder, handing England an all-round package that they may come to rely on for years. Marcus Trescothick, who led England in the Caribbean as his interim spell as white-ball coach concluded, said of Bethell. "All the attributes are there. If you have markers to be able to go 'right, you need to do this, this and this', he'd be knocking on the door for that. "There's no reason why he can't break through and succeed because he's flourished in both (white-ball) formats. If he was to get an opportunity, it would be exciting to see what he can do. "You could almost see him breaking through as being the next youngster after Harry Brook - the real exciting one coming through for the next journey they're going to take." England's Test tour of New Zealand

ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old . The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time. Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief" and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. Emphasizing human rights , he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing. But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll. When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise" speech, even though he never used that word. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter's diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states. Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics . Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.” “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Contributors include former AP staffer Alex Sanz in Atlanta.Kyle Shanahan Provides Brock Purdy Update After Packers Blowout

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Rams in search of offensive consistency in New OrleansAncient 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. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

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One Direction star Harry Styles has announced he's returning to work following the tragic death of his former bandmate Liam Payne . The musician, who attended Liam's funeral last month , told his 48.3 million Instagram followers on Wednesday, December 4, that his beauty and lifestyle brand Pleasing is collaborating with British fashion designer JW Anderson. Styles, 30, shared a joint post by Pleasing and JW Anderson on his Instagram Stories, which revealed his new collection with the designer, which features nail polishes, sweaters, and a handbag. Payne joined other One Direction members at Payne's funeral after he died from head injuries sustained after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The private ceremony took place in one of the Home Counties - the counties surrounding London, including Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, and Surrey. Liam had ties to this area, having lived there with his partner Cheryl and their son Bear during the early years of their relationship. The day after Payne’s death, Styles shared a heart-warming tribute to him on social media. He wrote: "I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing," the "As It Was" hitmaker posted on Instagram alongside an image of Payne singing to a huge audience. "His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it. DON'T MISS... Liam Payne's support for ex Cheryl Cole as he was 'only man to be faithful' [INSIGHT] Liam Payne's parenting 'battle' with ex Cheryl exposed after his tragic death [NEWS] Liam Payne funeral preparations underway as slew of A-list stars set to attend [LATEST] "Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious. He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend." The remaining members of One Direction also issued a combined statement where they told how they will miss Payne. They wrote: "In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. "The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam - Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry."‘Overdue’ Lebanon ceasefire must bring lasting solution to crisis, says PMConfident Bucs gear up for stretch run against lighter season-ending schedule

Newsom, a Democrat, proposed creating a new version of the state’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program , which was phased out in 2023 after funding 594,000 cars and saving 456 million gallons of fuel, Newsom’s office said. “Consumers continue to prove the skeptics wrong – zero-emission vehicles are here to stay," Newsom said in a statement. "We’re not turning back on a clean transportation future — we’re going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that don’t pollute.” Newsom’s proposal is part of his plan to protect California's progressive policies ahead of Republican President-elect Donald Trump's second term. He called the state Legislature to convene in a special session to help “Trump-proof” state laws by giving the attorney general’s office more funding to fight federal challenges. But a budget shortfall could complicate California’s resistance efforts. Early budget projections show the state could face a $2 billion deficit next year, according to a report released last week by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. That’s an improvement from an estimated $46.8 billion deficit the state faced last year, but the shortfall could still curtail the state’s ability to expand new programs and fight federal legal challenges. Legislative leaders in both chambers have said the state needs to stay prudent in anticipation of future budget deficits. Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump's transition team, said the president-elect would deliver on his campaign promises, “including stopping attacks on gas-powered cars.” “When he takes office, President Trump will support the auto industry, allowing space for both gas-powered cars AND electric vehicles,” she said in a statement. Money for the new rebate system could come from the state's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is funded by polluters under the state’s cap-and-trade program, the governor's office said. Officials didn’t say how much the program would cost or how the rebates would work. California has surpassed 2 million zero-emission vehicles sold, according to Newsom's office. The state has passed policies in recent years to transition away from fossil fuel-powered cars , trucks , trains and lawn mowers . Trump previously vowed to end federal electric vehicle tax credits , which are worth up to $7,500 for new zero-emission vehicles. There’s also a $4,000 credit for used ones. But Trump later softened his stance as Tesla CEO Elon Musk became a supporter and adviser. Newsom's proposed rebates could exclude Tesla and other automakers in an effort to promote more market competition and innovation, according to the governor's office. But that is subject to negotiation with the state Legislature. Musk called Tesla's possible exclusion “insane” in a post on X. About 42% of rebates went to people buying or leasing Tesla vehicles under the state's previous clean vehicle rebate program, according to data from the California Air Resources Board. Trump criticized Newsom on social media after the governor called for a special session, calling out the high cost of living in California and the state’s homelessness crisis. Trump said Newsom was “stopping all of the GREAT things that can be done to ‘Make California Great Again.’” Newsom said on his podcast earlier this month that he reached out to Trump after the election. He said at a news conference last week that he still hadn’t heard back from the president-elect. California's defunct Clean Vehicle Rebate Program offered rebates on electric cars as high as $2,500.EAST LANSING, Mich. — The sight was a common one for Andrew Kolpacki. For many a Sunday, he would watch NFL games on TV and see quarterbacks putting their hands on their helmets, desperately trying to hear the play call from the sideline or booth as tens of thousands of fans screamed at the tops of their lungs. When the NCAA's playing rules oversight committee this past spring approved the use of coach-to-player helmet communications in games for the 2024 season, Kolpacki, Michigan State's head football equipment manager, knew the Spartans' QBs and linebackers were going to have a problem. "There had to be some sort of solution," he said. As it turns out, there was. And it was right across the street. Kolpacki reached out to Tamara Reid Bush, a mechanical engineering professor who not only heads the school's Biomechanical Design Research Laboratory but also is a football season ticket-holder. Kolpacki "showed me some photos and said that other teams had just put duct tape inside the (earhole), and he asked me, 'Do you think we can do anything better than duct tape,?" Bush said. "And I said, 'Oh, absolutely.'" Bush and Rylie DuBois, a sophomore biosystems engineering major and undergraduate research assistant at the lab, set out to produce earhole inserts made from polylactic acid, a bio-based plastic, using a 3D printer. Part of the challenge was accounting for the earhole sizes and shapes that vary depending on helmet style. Once the season got underway with a Friday night home game against Florida Atlantic on Aug. 30, the helmets of starting quarterback Aidan Chiles and linebacker Jordan Turner were outfitted with the inserts, which helped mitigate crowd noise. DuBois attended the game, sitting in the student section. "I felt such a strong sense of accomplishment and pride," DuBois said. "And I told all my friends around me about how I designed what they were wearing on the field." All told, Bush and DuBois have produced around 180 sets of the inserts, a number that grew in part due to the variety of helmet designs and colors that are available to be worn by Spartan players any given Saturday. Plus, the engineering folks have been fine-tuning their design throughout the season. Dozens of Bowl Subdivision programs are doing something similar. In many cases, they're getting 3D-printed earhole covers from XO Armor Technologies, which provides on-site, on-demand 3D printing of athletic wearables. The Auburn, Alabama-based company has donated its version of the earhole covers to the equipment managers of programs ranging from Georgia and Clemson to Boise State and Arizona State in the hope the schools would consider doing business with XO Armor in the future, said Jeff Klosterman, vice president of business development. XO Armor first was approached by the Houston Texans at the end of last season about creating something to assist quarterback C.J. Stroud in better hearing play calls delivered to his helmet during road games. XO Armor worked on a solution and had completed one when it received another inquiry: Ohio State, which had heard Michigan State was moving forward with helmet inserts, wondered if XO Armor had anything in the works. "We kind of just did this as a one-off favor to the Texans and honestly didn't forecast it becoming our viral moment in college football," Klosterman said. "We've now got about 60 teams across college football and the NFL wearing our sound-deadening earhole covers every weekend." The rules state that only one player for each team is permitted to be in communication with coaches while on the field. For the Spartans, it's typically Chiles on offense and Turner on defense. Turner prefers to have an insert in both earholes, but Chiles has asked that the insert be used in only one on his helmet. Chiles "likes to be able to feel like he has some sort of outward exposure," Kolpacki said. Exposure is something the sophomore signal-caller from Long Beach, California, had in away games against Michigan and Oregon this season. Michigan Stadium welcomed 110,000-plus fans for the Oct. 26 matchup between the in-state rivals. And while just under 60,000 packed Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, for the Ducks' 31-10 win over Michigan State three weeks earlier, it was plenty loud. "The Big Ten has some pretty impressive venues," Kolpacki said. "It can be just deafening," he said. "That's what those fans are there for is to create havoc and make it difficult for coaches to get a play call off." Something that is a bit easier to handle thanks to Bush and her team. She called the inserts a "win-win-win" for everyone. "It's exciting for me to work with athletics and the football team," she said. "I think it's really exciting for our students as well to take what they've learned and develop and design something and see it being used and executed." Get local news delivered to your inbox!A melee broke out at midfield of Ohio Stadium after Michigan upset No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday. After the Wolverines' fourth straight win in the series, players converged at the block "O" to plant its flag. The Ohio State players were in the south end zone singing their alma mater in front of the student section. When the Buckeyes saw the Wolverines' flag, they rushed toward the 50-yard line. Social media posts showed Michigan offensive lineman Raheem Anderson carrying the flag on a long pole to midfield, where the Wolverines were met by dozens of Ohio State players and fights broke out. Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer was seen ripping the flag off the pole and taking the flag as he scuffled with several people trying to recover the flag. A statement from the Ohio State Police Department read: "Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games and will continue to investigate." Michigan running back Kalel Mullings on FOX said: "For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's bad for the sport, bad for college football. At the end of the day, some people got to learn how to lose, man. "You can't be fighting and stuff just because you lost the game. We had 60 minutes and four quarters to do all that fighting. Now people want to talk and fight. That's wrong. It's bad for the game. Classless, in my opinion. People got to be better." Once order was restored, officers cordoned the 50-yard line, using bicycles as barriers. Ohio State coach Ryan Day in his postgame press conference said he wasn't sure what happened. "I don't know all the details of it. But I know that these guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys weren't going to let that happen," he said. "I'll find out exactly what happened, but this is our field and certainly we're embarrassed at the fact we lost the game, but there's some prideful guys on our team that weren't just going to let that happen." The Big Ten has not yet released a statement on the incident. --Field Level MediaOne of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used "physician work time values," which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it's unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to “reverse the proposal immediately,” saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It's not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were posted in Virginia and Colorado . People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced, unpredictable human element” of surgery and was a clear “money grab.” “It’s incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care,” he said. "If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we’re delighted that they came to their senses.” Prior to Anthem's announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy wouldn't affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant’s policy change came one day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare , another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis.

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Sebastian Gorka, the pugilistic commentator who leveraged fears about Islam as a threat to Western civilization into a short-lived role in the first Trump administration, is poised for a second run inside the White House. Gorka was tapped to serve as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism, president-elect Trump said Friday night. Previously, Gorka was an adviser on national security matters for Trump for seven months until his abrupt exit .Players Era Festival organizers betting big NIL is future of college tourneysg777 trophies 。

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. In court filings, Smith's team emphasized that the move to abandon their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in one of their filings. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump's incoming White House communications director, welcomed the decision to drop the prosecutions against the president-elect, describing it as a “major victory for the rule of law.” "The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country,” Cheung said in a statement. Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will re-enter the White House free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters' violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. ___ Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this story. Alanna Durkin Richer, Eric Tucker And Chris Megerian, The Associated Press

Carter’s presidency started well, but stalled amid challenges: Calling the Constitution a “guiding light”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it is a matter of pride that it has stood every test of time. Speaking in his monthly radio broadcast "Mann ki Baat", Mr Modi also described the upcoming Maha Kumbh as the "Maha Kumbh of unity" and urged the people to take a vow to banish hate and division from the society at the grand religious congregation. In his address, Mr Modi noted that the next Republic Day will mark the 75th anniversary of the implementation of the Constitution. He said: “On January 26, 2025, our Constitution is completing 75 years. It is a matter of great honour for all of us. The Constitution, handed over to us by our Constitution makers, has stood the test of time in every sense of the term. The Constitution is our guiding light, our guide. It is on account of the Constitution of India that I am here today, being able to talk to you.” The Prime Minister mentioned that this year, on November 26, Constitution Day, many activities have commenced that will go on for a year. “A special website named constitution75.com has also been created to connect the citizens of the country with the legacy of the Constitution. In this, you can read the Preamble of the Constitution and upload your video. You can read the Constitution in myriad languages; you can also ask questions pertaining to the Constitution,” Mr Modi said and urged the listeners of ‘Mann Ki Baat to visit this website and become a part of it. Talking about the Maha Kumbh beginning from January 13 in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, the Prime Minister noted that the speciality of the Maha Kumbh is not only in its vastness but is also in its diversity. “There is no discrimination anywhere. No one is big and no one is small. Such a scene of unity in diversity will not be seen anywhere else in the world. Therefore, our Kumbh is also the Maha Kumbh of unity. This time's Maha Kumbh will also bolster the mantra of Maha Kumbh of unity,” he said. The Prime Minister urged the devotees who are planning to visit to take a vow to banish hate and division from the society. “Let us also make a resolve to annihilate the feeling of division and hatred in the society. If I have to say it in a few words, then I will say... Maha Kumbh ka sandesh, ek ho poora desh and putting it in another way, I will say Ganga ki aviral dhara, na bante samaj hamara," Mr Modi said. The Prime Minister further noted that this time in Prayagraj, devotees from the country and the world will also be witness to the digital Maha Kumbh. “With the help of digital navigation, you will be able to reach different ghats, temples, and ‘akharas’ of sadhus. The same navigation system will also help you reach parking spaces. For the first time, an AI chatbot will be used in the Kumbh event. All kinds of information related to Kumbh will be available in 11 Indian languages through the AI chatbot,” he said. In his radio address, the Prime Minister announced that India will host the “World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit” (WAVES) for the first time from February 5 to 9, next year. Comparing the WAVES to global events like Davos, where the world's economic giants gather, the Prime Minister highlighted that a great opportunity is on the way to showcase India's creative talent to the world. “Giants from the media and entertainment industry, as well as creative minds from across the globe, will gather in India. This summit is an important step towards making India a hub of global content creation,” he said. Mr Modi emphasised the pivotal role of young creators in the preparations for WAVES, reflecting the dynamic spirit of India's creative community and expressed pride in the enthusiasm of the country’s youth and their contribution to the burgeoning creator economy, a key driver as India advances toward becoming a $5 trillion economy. The Prime Minister said: "Whether you are a young creator or an established artist, associated with Bollywood or regional cinema, a professional from the TV industry, an expert in animation, gaming, or an innovator in entertainment technology, I encourage you to be a part of the WAVE Summit.” He also urged all stakeholders in the entertainment and creative industries to actively participate in the WAVES. The Prime Minister also remembered four icons of Indian cinema — Raj Kapoor, Mohammed Rafi, Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR) and Tapan Sinha — in their birth centenary year and stated that these personalities have accorded Indian cinema recognition at the world level. Mr Modi said: “Raj Kapoor Ji introduced the world to the soft power of India through films. Rafi sahab's voice had that magic that touched every heart. His voice was amazing. Be it devotional songs, romantic songs or sad songs, he brought every emotion alive with his voice. His greatness as an artiste can be gauged from the fact that even today the young generation listens to his songs with the same passion—this is the distinct mark of timeless art.” “Akkineni Nageswara Rao Garu has taken Telugu cinema to new heights. His films presented Indian traditions and values very well. Tapan Sinha Ji's films gave a new vision to society,” Mr Modi said, adding that their films always carried the message of social consciousness and national unity, and the lives of these personalities are an inspiration for our entire film industry.

Punjab Govt Should Not Misuse Police, Stand With Us: Farmer LeaderBengaluru: Sexually assaulted boys turning hostile during trial is posing a major challenge in securing convictions in Karnataka, according to prosecutors, investigators and activists involved in counselling sexual abuse survivors. State police data accessed by TOI reveals that for every conviction in Pocso cases where the survivors are boys, there have been more than two acquittals over the past four years. From 2021 till Oct 31, 2024, there were 114 cases registered for sexual assault of boys under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Of them, only seven have ended in convictions, as against 18 acquittals. The remaining cases are still under trial. While 24 cases of sexual harassment against minor boys were registered in 2021, the number rose to 25 in 2022 and 33 in 2023. The first 10 months of this year saw 32 cases. On the poor conviction rate, ADGP (law and order) R Hitendra told TOI: "The survivor, who would be a minor during the incident, could have turned an adult during the trial. He could turn hostile owing to reasons like social stigma. Such incidents psychologically damage survivors." While not ruling out the tendency of families keeping cases of sexual assault of boys under wraps, Hitendra said, "In most cases of sexual harassment of boys, complaints are lodged only in case of serious injury or damage. Such boys are emotionally affected and many turn hostile as they become adults during trial." Stanley KV, co-founder of the Mysuru-based Odanadi, an NGO involved in rehabilitating survivors of sexual assaults and trafficking, said as boys grow into adults, they are imbued with "male pride" and aren't ready to accept being subjected to sexual assault. "Male pride doesn't permit male survivors to accept in courts that they were sexually assaulted, and this is why many turn hostile. They need proper counselling. Psychosocial and sexual counselling will help them overcome such embarrassment and stand firm during trial," he said. The state police numbers, though, are at variance with those collated by Odanadi, which revealed 334 cases of sexual harassment of minor boys were registered in the state during 2021-24. According to Stanley, the NGO got its data from the women and child welfare department through an RTI application. Asked about the differences in data, Hitendra merely said the data provided by state police is based on FIRs registered. BOX SOME RECENT CASES April 2021: Two men, including a truck driver, were arrested on charges of sexually harassing a minor boy in Gauribidanur, Chikkaballapur district. According to the boy, he was playing near the house of one of the accused when they gave him Rs 50 and asked him to bring two cigarettes. When the boy returned with the cigarettes, they sexually assaulted him. Later, his parents filed a complaint against the accused — G Ashok and N Lokesh. Investigating officers from Gauribidanur Rural police station filed a watertight chargesheet against the accused. In Feb 2022, a fast-track Pocso court found them guilty and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment of 20 years each. Dec 2022: A youth and his mother were booked under Pocso Act for allegedly sexually harassing a 10-year-old Kerala-based boy in Nandi Hills. According to the survivor's mother, she, her son, the accused youth, and his mother had visited Nandi Hills when the youth inappropriately touched the 10-year-old. The act was allegedly noticed by the youth's mother, but she kept silent, said the survivor's mother in her complaint. The complaint was filed in Kerala and the case transferred to Nandi Hills police station a few months ago. The accused were arrested and the case is under investigation. Jan 2024: The parents of a 16-year-old student filed a complaint in Gauribidanur taluk against his teacher (a woman) for allegedly sexually harassing him during a study tour. An obscene picture of the student and the accused teacher, taken by the latter, went viral on social media. The incident badly affected the survivor's academic performance. The case is under trial now.LAS VEGAS — Players Era Festival organizers have done what so many other have tried — bet their fortunes in this city that a big payoff is coming. Such bet are usually bad ones, which is why so many massive casino-resorts have been built on Las Vegas Boulevard. But it doesn't mean the organizers are wrong. They're counting on the minimum of $1 million in guaranteed name, image and likeness money that will go to each of the eight teams competing in the neutral-site tournament that begins Tuesday will create a precedent for other such events. EverWonder Studios CEO Ian Orefice, who co-founded Players with former AND1 CEO Seth Berger, compared this event to last year's inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament that played its semifinals and final in Las Vegas by saying it "did really well to reinvigorate the fan base at the beginning of the year." "We're excited that we're able to really change the paradigm in college basketball on the economics," Orefice said. "But for us, it's about the long term. How do we use the momentum that is launching with the 2024 Players Era Festival and be the catalyst not to change one event, but to change college basketball for the future." Orefice and Berger didn't disclose financial details, but said the event will come close to breaking even this year and that revenue is in eight figures. Orefice said the bulk of the revenue will come from relationships with MGM, TNT Sports and Publicis Sport & Entertainment as well as sponsors that will be announced later. Both organizers said they are so bullish on the tournament's prospects that they already are planning ahead. Money made from this year's event, Orefice said, goes right back into the company. "We're really in this for the long haul," Orefice said. "So we're not looking at it on a one-year basis." Rick Giles is president of the Gazelle Group, which also operates several similar events, including the College Basketball Invitational. He was skeptical the financial numbers would work. Giles said in addition to more than $8 million going to the players, there were other expenses such as the guarantees to the teams. He said he didn't know if the tournament would make up the difference with ticket sales, broadcast rights and sponsorship money. The top bowl of the MGM Grand Garden Arena will be curtained off. "The math is highly challenging," Giles said. "Attendance and ticket revenues are not going to come anywhere close to covering that. They haven't announced any sponsors that I'm aware of. So it all sort of rests with their media deal with Turner and how much capital they want to commit to it to get these players paid." David Carter, a University of Southern California adjunct professor who also runs the Sports Business Group consultancy, said even if the Players isn't a financial success this year, the question is whether there will be enough interest to move forward. "If there is bandwidth for another tournament and if the TV or the streaming ratings are going to be there and people are going to want to attend and companies are going to want to sponsor, then, yeah, it's probably going to work," Carter said. "But it may take them time to gain that traction." Both founders said they initially were met with skepticism about putting together such an event, especially from teams they were interested in inviting. Houston was the first school to commit, first offering an oral pledge early in the year and then signing a contract in April. That created momentum for others to join, and including the No. 6 Cougars, half the field is ranked. "We have the relationships to operate a great event," Berger said. "We had to get coaches over those hurdles, and once they knew that we were real, schools got on board really quickly." The founders worked with the NCAA to make sure the tournament abided by that organization's rules, so players must appear at ancillary events in order to receive NIL money. Strict pay for play is not allowed, though there are incentives for performance. The champion, for example, will receive $1.5 million in NIL money. Now the pressure is on to pull off the event and not create the kind of headlines that can dog it for years to come. "I think everybody in the marketplace is watching what's going to happen (this) week and, more importantly, what happens afterwards," Giles said. "Do the players get paid on a timely basis? And if they do, that means that Turner or somebody has paid way more than the market dictates? And the question will be: Can that continue?" CREIGHTON: P oint guard Steven Ashworth likely won’t play in the No. 21 Bluejays’ game against San Diego State in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Ashworth sprained his right ankle late in a loss to Nebraska on Friday and coach Greg McDermott said afterward he didn’t know how long he would be out. Get local news delivered to your inbox!