Former Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key, one of the top offensive players in the transfer portal, announced on social media Tuesday that he will transfer to Nebraska. Key posted a photo of himself in a Nebraska uniform wearing the No. 6 he wore at Kentucky. The simple post contained the letters "GBR," short for "Go Big Red," with an emoji heart. Key led Kentucky this past season with 47 receptions for 715 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games as the Wildcats finished 4-8. In three seasons, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has 126 receptions for 1,870 yards and 14 TDs in 38 games (35 starts). Key has one season of eligibility remaining after he was a four-star recruit in the class of 2022. --Field Level Mediagame of thrones 1950s super panavision 70 。

NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. People are also reading... There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. January It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. February Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. March “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. Beyonce And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. April Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. May It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. June Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” Stephen Nedoroscik is introduced June 29 at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. July Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. August This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. September One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. October “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. November MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. December “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. 2024 Year in Review The stories and images that defined 2024. What were the most popular Wikipedia pages of 2024? Searching for something? From queries about U.S. politics to cricket in India, Wikipedia has become a source of information for millions of people across the globe. PHOTOS: The top sports images from 2024 From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp... PHOTOS: The top images of 2024 AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable ... PHOTOS: The top images from the US in 2024 In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag... PHOTOS: The top images from the 2024 elections Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. PHOTOS: The top entertainment images from 2024 See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. How to sum up 2024? The Oxford University Press word of the year is 'brain rot' It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. From Kamala to Chappell, here are some of the most mispronounced words of 2024 News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. 'Polarization' is Merriam-Webster's 2024 word of the year Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

A few weeks ago, that in November, “players will be able to play and purchase Xbox games directly from the Xbox App on Android.” It’s almost December and the feature still isn’t live, but Bond says it’s not Microsoft’s fault. The problem is that Microsoft would only be able to do it once a court order takes effect that , like opening it up to competition and ending the requirement for apps to use Google Play Billing. On October 18th, Judge James Donato granted Google’s for a stay while it appeals his ruling that the Android app store is an illegal monopoly, which could leave things hanging in the balance for quite a while. Bond acknowledged that reality , writing, “Due to a temporary administrative stay recently granted by the courts, we are currently unable to launch these features as planned. Our team has the functionality built and ready to go live as soon as the court makes a final decision.” It’s a frustrating situation for anyone hoping to see more options available on their Android-powered devices that don’t require rooting or other workarounds, and Microsoft its mobile app store strategy for . /NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler brought a new putting grip to the Hero World Challenge and felt enough improvement to be satisfied with the result, a 5-under 67 that left him three shots behind Cameron Young on Thursday. Young was playing for the first time since the BMW Championship more than three months ago and found great success on and around the greens of Albany Golf Club, chipping beautifully and holing four birdie putts from 15 feet or longer for his 64. He led by two shots over Justin Thomas in his first competition since his daughter was born a few weeks ago. Thomas ran off four straight birdies late in his round and was a fraction of an inch away with a fifth. The big surprise was Scheffler, the No. 1 player in golf who looked as good as he has all year in compiling eight victories, including an Olympic gold medal. His iron play has no equal. His putting at times has kept him from winning more or winning bigger. He decided to try to a “saw” putting grip from about 20 feet or closer — the putter rests between his right thumb and his fingers, with his left index finger pointed down the shaft. “I’m always looking for ways to improve,” Scheffler said. Scheffler last year began working with renowned putting instructor Phil Kenyon, and he says Kenyon mentioned the alternative putting grip back then. “But it was really our first time working together and it’s something that’s different than what I’ve done in the past,” Scheffler said. “This year I had thought about it from time to time, and it was something that we had just said let’s table that for the end of the season, take a look at it. “Figured this is a good week to try stuff.” He opened with a wedge to 2 feet and he missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 third. But he holed a birdie from about the same distance at the next par 5, No. 6, and holed a sliding 6-footer on the ninth to save par. His longest putt was his last hole, from 12 feet for a closing birdie. “I really enjoyed the way it felt,” he said. “I felt like I’m seeing some improvements in my stroke.” Young, regarded as the best active player without a PGA Tour victory, is treating this holiday tournament as the start of a new season. He worked on getting stronger and got back to the basics in his powerful golf swing. And on this day, he was dialed in with his short game. He only struggled to save par twice and kept piling up birdies in his bogey-free round on an ideal day in the Bahamas. “The wind wasn’t blowing much so it was relatively stress-free,” Young said. Patrick Cantlay, along with Scheffler playing for the first time since the Presidents Cup, also was at 67 with Ludvig Aberg, Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala. Thomas also took this occasion to do a little experimenting against a 20-man field. He has using a 46-inch driver at home — a little more than an inch longer than his regular driver — in a bid to gain more speed. On a day with little wind, on a golf course with some room off the tee, he decided to put it in play. “Just with it being a little bit longer, I just kind of have to get the club out in front of me and get on top of it a little bit more,” Thomas said. “I drove the hell out of it on the back, so that was nice to try something different and have it go a little bit better on the back.” Thomas said the longer driver gives him 2 or 3 mph in ball speed and 10 extra yards in the air. “It’s very specific for courses, but gave it a try,” he said. Conditions were easy enough that only four players in field failed to break par, with Jason Day bringing up the rear with a 75. AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golfOne year on: Husband's tireless search for missing wife with dementia

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the two weeks since Donald Trump won the presidency, he’s tried to demonstrate his dominance by naming loyalists for top administration positions, even though many lack expertise and some face sexual misconduct accusations. It often seems like he’s daring Congress to oppose his decisions. But on Thursday, Trump’s attempt to act with impunity showed a crack as Matt Gaetz , his choice for attorney general, withdrew from consideration. Trump had named Gaetz, a Florida congressman, to be the country’s top law enforcement official even though he was widely disliked by his colleagues, has little legal experience and was accused of having sex with an underage girl, an allegation he denied. After being plagued by investigations during his first presidency, Trump wanted a devoted ally in charge of the Justice Department during his second. However, it was never obvious that Gaetz could win enough support from lawmakers to get confirmed as attorney general. Trump chose for a replacement Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who defended him during his first impeachment trial and supported his false claims of voter fraud. RELATED COVERAGE Several of Trump’s Cabinet picks — and Trump himself — have been accused of sexual misconduct Police report reveals assault allegations against Hegseth, Trump’s pick for defense secretary Former West Virginia jail officers plead guilty to civil rights violation in fatal assault on inmate Now the question is whether Gaetz was uniquely unpalatable, or if Trump’s other picks might exceed his party’s willingness to overlook concerns that would have sunk nominees in a prior political era. What to know about Trump’s second term: Staffing the administration: Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far. Plus, a look at recess appointments and how could Trump use them to fill his Cabinet. Follow all of our coverage as Donald Trump assembles his second administration. The next test will likely be Pete Hegseth, who Trump wants to lead the Pentagon despite an allegation of sexual assault that he’s denied. So far, Republicans are rallying around Hegseth , an Army veteran and former Fox News host. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the controversy over Gaetz would have little bearing on Trump’s other choices. He said they would be considered “one at a time.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, suggested otherwise, claiming “the dominoes are falling.” “The drip drip of evidence and truth is going to eventually doom some others,” he said. Trump’s election victory was a sign that there may not be many red lines left in American politics. He won the presidential race despite authoritarian, racist and misogynist rhetoric, not to mention years of lies about election fraud and his role in sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was also criminally convicted of falsifying business records to pay hush money, and he was found liable for sexual abuse in a civil case. Empowered by voters who looked past his misconduct and saw him as a powerful agent of change, Trump has shown no deference to Washington norms while working to fill his second administration . The transition team hasn’t pursued federal background checks for Trump’s personnel choices. While some of his selections have extensive experience in the areas they’ve been chosen to lead, others are personal friends and Fox News personalities who have impressed and flattered Trump over the years. Several have faced allegations involving sexual misconduct . Hegseth is facing the most scrutiny after Gaetz. Once Trump announced Hegseth as his nominee for Pentagon chief, allegations emerged that he sexually assaulted a woman in California in 2017. The woman said he took her phone, blocked the door to the hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a police report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing, the report said. However, he paid the woman a confidential settlement in 2023. Hegseth’s lawyer said the payment was made to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. Trump’s choice for secretary of health and human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has faced allegations of misconduct too. A woman who babysat for him and his second wife told Vanity Fair magazine that Kennedy groped her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegation and texted an apology to the woman after the article was published. That isn’t the only hurdle for Kennedy; he’s spent years spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines, raising fears about making him a top health official in the new administration. Linda McMahon, chosen by Trump to be education secretary, is fighting a lawsuit connected to her former company, World Wrestling Entertainment. She’s accused of knowingly enabling sexual exploitation of children by an employee as early as the 1980s, and she denies the allegations. Tulsi Gabbard is another person who could face a difficult confirmation battle, but for very different reasons. The former Democratic representative from Hawaii has been a vocal Trump ally, and he chose her to be national intelligence director. But there’s grave concern by lawmakers and national security officials over Gabbard’s history of echoing Russian propaganda. Critics said she would endanger relationships with U.S. allies. Gaetz was investigated by federal law enforcement for sex trafficking, but the case was closed without charges and Republicans have blocked the release of a related report from the House Ethics Committee. However, some allegations leaked out, including that Gaetz paid women for sex. One of the women testified to the committee that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl, according to a lawyer for the woman. As Gaetz met with senators this week, it became clear that he would face stubborn resistance from lawmakers who were concerned about his behavior and believed he was unqualified to run the Justice Department. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction,” Gaetz wrote on social media when announcing his withdrawal. Sen. Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, said he believed there were four to six members of the caucus who would have voted against Gaetz, likely dooming his nomination, and “the math got too hard.” He said some of the issues and allegations around Gaetz were “maybe beyond the pale.” “I think there were just too many things, it was like a leaky dike, and you know, it broke,” Braun said. Trump thanked Gaetz in a post on Truth Social, his social media website, without addressing the substance of the allegations against him. “He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump wrote. ____ Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Stephen Groves and Lisa Macaro contributed from Washington. Jill Colvin in New York and Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also contributed.Guy Ritchie left furious as robbers knick £2million worth of equipment from the set of new drama The Fixer

How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Friday, December 6

Subscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, please join us as a member . When you hear the name Sandro Botticelli, you might be more likely to think of the Birth of Venus than the Birth of Jesus. But since it’s Christmas, now is a better time than ever to call attention to a lesser-known and somewhat ominous Botticelli painting depicting the latter. “Mystic Nativity” (1500), now held at the National Gallery in London, is the only work Botticelli ever signed. It re-emerged in the 1800s after centuries of obscurity, revealing a complex composition rife with symbolism. A cursory glance depicts an ordinary Christmas image. The Virgin Mary and Joseph dote over infant Jesus in his manger beneath the roof of an open-air wooden hut with their ox and donkey. Twelve angels circle above at the opening of the dome of heaven, and shepherds and the three kings eagerly observe and offer their prayers to the young family. But Botticelli’s painted inscription above the floating angels yields a cryptic, foreboding message in Biblical Greek: “I, Sandro, made this picture at the conclusion of the year 1500 in the troubles of Italy in the half time after the time according to the 11th chapter of Saint John in the second woe of the Apocalypse during the loosing of the devil for three and a half years then he will be chained in the 12th chapter and we shall see [...] as in this picture.” The “troubles of Italy” likely acknowledge the upheaval of Florence during the spiritual and de facto reign of Girolamo Savonarola, a fanatical preacher who aimed to morally reform the city with a global reputation for artistic output and lavish lifestyles. Savonarola condemned secular art and literature, decried the city as a corrupt and vice-ridden place bloated with material wealth, and, after warning of a great scourge approaching, saved the Florentines by convincing the French king and military to de-occupy and recede during the Italian War of 1494–98. He became regarded as prophetic , and thousands of Florentines would flock to listen to him preach. In one sermon, he purported that Florence could become the new Jerusalem if its civilians would part with and burn their luxuries, opulent fineries, and pagan or secular iconographies. Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities Under Savonarola’s influence, Botticelli reoriented his practice from decorative to devout, which in turn inspired “Mystic Nativity.” Scholars discovered that the 12 angels at the base of the composition each hold a ribbon that was once inscribed with the 12 privileges or virtues of the Virgin Mary, sourced from a separate sermon Savonarola delivered about a vision he once experienced . The painting itself is rife with subtle premonitions: The sheet infant Jesus rests on evokes the shroud he would be wrapped in after his crucifixion, the mark of the cross is depicted on the hump of the donkey’s back, and the wooden hut he was born in sits in front of a cave where he would eventually be laid to rest in before his resurrection. Also noteworthy is Botticelli’s decision to include three angels embracing mortal men in the foreground — a motif usually relegated to renditions of the Last Judgment in accordance with the Second Coming of Christ. Another unusual aspect is that the three kings welcome Jesus empty-handed, rather than with gold, frankincense, and myrrh — perhaps influenced by Savonarola’s sermon, though it could be argued that the ultimate gifts are their prayers and devotion. Throughout the lower half of the painting, seven miniature devils flee into the fissures and crevices in their return to the underworld, with some impaling themselves on their own spears. Botticelli died in 1510, a decade after he created the painting, and both the work and the artist faded into obscurity despite his prominence and high regard during the Italian Renaissance. “Mystic Nativity” was snapped up at a low price by an English collector and Caribbean plantation owner named William Young Ottley in Rome during the 18th century. He brought the piece back to his home for private display in central London until his death, and the painting was auctioned off for less than £80 to another collector who loaned the work to the city of Manchester for the largest art show in the United Kingdom in 1857, where it was at last seen by millions and reignited a fervor for Botticelli. The National Gallery in London bought “Mystic Nativity” for £1,500 in 1878. The museum holds 14 of Botticelli’s paintings in its collections, and “Mystic Nativity” is on display alongside four other Botticelli works in a gallery devoted to Florentine art under the Medici family . We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn FacebookIT’S less “Lock, Stock” and more “Crock Stock” for poor old Guy Ritchie after his new TV show was plundered by thieves – for a SECOND time. I told last week how two robbers in a Toyota Prius drove up to the London set of Paramount+ series The Associate pretending to be lost, before jumping out and making off with some loot. Advertisement 10 Guy is making his TV show The Associate with Paramount + Credit: Getty Now sources say the duo came back the following day to try their luck for more expensive gear. And sadly for Guy their low-life ploy paid off, as they apparently went on to swipe kit worth more than £1million. My insider told me: “These guys are scum and after the first robbery they came back and did it all over again. “The second time around they made off with camera lenses and some kit that was worth massive money. Advertisement READ MORE CELEB NEWS LAST GOODBYE Harry, Louis, Niall & Zayn Malik arrive at 1D bandmate Liam's funeral “They’ll be making a lot of cash if they can somehow sell it on. The fact the production has been caught out twice makes a total mockery of the security firm and they have been given their marching orders. “Their contract has now ended and another firm is coming on board to tighten things up and make sure this doesn’t happen again. “The Associate is being filmed in and around city streets and naturally there are risks, but this is hugely embarrassing. “Guy is confident it won’t throw filming off but it’s been a hard lesson for everyone involved.” Advertisement Most read in Bizarre CASH VOW Nurse cancels £30k Scots fairytale wedding after 'rose-tinted glasses come off' DOORS CLOSED Major outdoor retailer with 13 Scots branches to shut 2 sites before Christmas 'SEX CRIME' Fireman 'had sex with girl after he met her at school open day when she was 13' NEXT MAN INN There's only one option if Gers pull the trigger on Clement, says Ibrox hero After working in London for well over a decade, I know that even a flash of my crappy old phone is going to make a mugger’s fingers twinge. So leaving kit which is that expensive on the street, you might as well have erected a couple of Belisha beacons either side and a big sign saying: “Free to the man with the fastest Toyota.” Guy Ritchie’s London pub Lore of the Land burst into flames – for the SECOND time in six months 10 The set of Guy Ritchie's new TV show was plundered by thieves – for a SECOND time Credit: Splash Perrie’s tongue ‘n’ groove PERRIE channelled her inner rock chick in this edgy photoshoot. Advertisement The former Little Mix star wore loads of dark eye make-up and stuck her tongue out for the December issue of Xmag , which ought to have been renamed Xmas given she is promoting her festive single Christmas Magic. 10 Perrie Edwards channelled her inner rock chick in this edgy photoshoot Credit: Simeon Asenov 10 The former Little Mix star posed for the December issue of Xmag Credit: Simeon Asenov She released the track earlier this month along with a video, starring her son Axel. Advertisement After launching her solo career this year , Perrie has been working on her debut album, which is expected to come out in 2025. But it remains to be seen whether she’ll beat ex-bandmates Leigh-Anne and Jade in getting hers out first. Chesney's album: A road map for kids CHESNEY HAWKES has announced his first album in over a decade – and a reunion with 80s pop star Nik Kershaw, who wrote his hit The One And Only. The beloved British singer is to release Living Arrows – featuring songs inspired by his kids – on February 28. Advertisement 10 Chesney Hawkes has announced his first album in over a decade Credit: Supplied And last night, he put out new single Live Forever, which was penned by Nik and Jake Gosling, who has worked with Ed Sheeran and One Direction. Chesney said: “I didn’t realise straight away, when I started putting these songs together, that I was creating a sort of road map for my kids. “I had them in mind the whole time, because the messages on songs like Live Forever are to do with taking life by the horns, doing what you love and following your instincts. Advertisement “You have to let them do their own things, make their own mistakes. “That’s what I was doing with this record, trying to give them good advice.” Luke's battle MOVIE hunk Luke Evans admits he beats himself up over body image issues. Despite his bulging biceps, the Beauty And The Beast actor said: “I’ve had to learn to be kinder to myself but I have terrible anxiety about feeling good enough physic-ally. I was on a beach recently and I didn’t want to take my T-shirt off.” Advertisement 10 Luke Evans admits he beats himself up over body image issues Credit: PA He added to the How To Fail podcast: “I don’t want to be in that place. “I know I shouldn’t feel like that, but you know we are sensitive creatures, we’re very delicate.” Corr blimey! THE CORRS put on a spellbinding show at London’s O2 Arena on the final night of their Talk On Corners tour. Advertisement Nearly 30 years on from their debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten, Andrea's vocals were just as sharp as the lead singer delivered some of their biggest hits. 10 The Corrs on their Talk On Corners tour Credit: Alamy A friend of the group said: “The Corrs still have a huge fan base and this tour showed them that there is still a huge appetite for their music. “They will come back and tour again. There might even be some new music.” Advertisement Fans go in-Zayn at comeback gig “IT f***ing feels amazing to be here, not going to lie,” Zayn beamed as he took to the stage at the first of two sold-out shows in the capital. “Thank you for waiting, I know I took a while but we are here, so tonight I want you guys to have an amazing night, really enjoy yourself, sing along, scream.” 10 Zayn on stage at the first of two sold-out shows in London Credit: Camera Press The crowd didn’t need telling twice, losing their minds every time he so much as smiled. Advertisement Vocally Zayn was flawless, powering through a 17-song set with the pitch perfect precision of Celine Dion in her prime. But while he said he was on top of the world, at times it was hard to tell. In 2017 I was lucky enough to see his former bandmate Harry Styles play the same venue and he jumped around the stage with more energy and presence than 99 per cent of his peers. In contrast, Zayn opted for a more subdued show, sticking to the centre of the stage and letting the vocals do the talking. Advertisement Beyond his debut single Pillowtalk and more recent track Sweat, things blended into one. Cher reveals romance secrets CHER has revealed Gene Simmons told her he loved her after just one date. In Cher: The Memoir, Part One, she opens up on her romance with the KISS rocker, which lasted from 1977 to 1979 after they were introduced at a drinks party. She said they went on a date and he flirted with both her and her friend, but neither of them were interested. Then he racked up a massive phone bill calling her from Japan, when he told her of his feelings. Cher recalled: “That’s when he blurted out that he loved me. “We hadn’t even kissed. We’d only been out once before he left. What is it with these men?” Count me Elt, please SIR ELTON JOHN raised some hackles ahead of his Royal Variety Performance after failing to turn up for rehearsals. An irate backstage source told me: “I found it super disrespectful. 10 Elton John failed to turn up for rehearsals ahead of his Royal Variety Performance Credit: Getty Advertisement “Everyone was bloody there doing their bit but Elton wasn’t at any rehearsal – even the final one with all the other stars.” We previously revealed that Elton was set to introduce a performance from the cast of his hit musical The Devil Wears Prada alongside the show’s star Vanessa Williams. His team denied this was the case, but shortly after our story, ITV confirmed that Elton and David Furnish would be introducing the “eye-catching” routine. On the latest claims, an ITV spokesman said last night: “Elton John was not required to attend rehearsals as he was not performing. Advertisement “The same applied to others who were there introducing acts and not performing.” The annual event, hosted by Amanda Holden and Alan Carr, took place at London’s Royal Albert Hall last week and will air on ITV in December. And despite the backstage grumbles, we can assure you the show went off without a hitch. It will be well worth a watch. Advertisement Dua's Cal time DUA LIPA has got her ultimate home comfort while on the road – her boyfriend. Read more on the Scottish Sun LOOKING UP I'm a four-time world champ but my eyesight is going so I've made crucial change ISLE SAY Stunning home with panoramic views for sale for just £135k - but there's a catch The singer was spotted with actor lover Callum Turner at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday during a day off from her world tour in Malaysia. 10 Dua Lipa was spotted with actor lover Callum Turner at the Batu Caves in Malaysia Credit: LS Meanwhile, fans in Blighty can see her recent show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on ITV1 on December 8. AdvertisementSome tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at [email protected] . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020

Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.NEW YORK , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR) announced that it will be participating at the UBS Global Technology and AI Conference, including a fireside chat with management, available on Broadridge's Investor Relations page at www.broadridge-ir.com . UBS Global Technology and AI Conference – Scottsdale, Arizona Date and Time: December 4 , 10:55 A.M. Eastern Time Company Speaker: Ashima Ghei , Interim Chief Financial Officer About Broadridge Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader with over $6 billion in revenues, provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing, corporate governance and communications to enable better financial lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions to banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. In addition, Broadridge's technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of on average more than U.S. $10 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work®, Broadridge is a part of the S&P 500 ® Index, employing over 14,000 associates in 21 countries. For more information about Broadridge, please visit www.broadridge.com . Investors [email protected] Media [email protected] View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/broadridge-to-participate-in-upcoming-investor-event-302313604.html SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

Veteran Wall Street investor Ed Yardeni is doubling down on one of the Street's most optimistic forecasts, projecting the S&P 500 to hit 7,000 by the end of 2025. In a Friday newsletter, Yardeni reinforced his bullish outlook, positioning himself at the forefront of high-stakes predictions for the index's 2025 gains. “We’ve been bullish on the stock market since October 2022. We remain bullish, targeting 7000 on the S&P 500 by the end of next year. That puts us near the head of the pack,” he said. Oppenheimer sets its sights on an even loftier 7,100, while major investment bank firms, including Goldman Sachs , JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley , hover around 6,500. But will the market's stars align or are we looking at overly rosy predictions? Top 10 Wall Street’s 2025 Year-End S&P 500 Predictions Oppenheimer 7,100 Wells Fargo 7,007 Yardeni Research 7,000 Deutsche Bank 7,000 Societe Generale 6,750 BMO 6,700 HSBC 6,700 Bank of America 6,666 Scotiabank 6,650 Barclays 6,660 Yardeni's Roaring 2020s Scenario Yardeni's optimism stems from a “Roaring 2020s” scenario fueled by productivity gains, GDP growth of 3.0%-3.5%, and inflation cooling near 2.5%. Earlier in November, he issued a bold prediction: the S&P 500 – as tracked by the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY – could climb to 10,000 by the end of the decade , buoyed by Donald Trump ‘s return to the presidency. "We believe Trump 2.0 represents a major regime change that’s bullish for the economy and stocks," Yardeni said. Hr also anticipated a significant boost to corporate profit margins, driven by the proposed reduction in the corporate tax rate from 21% to 15%, coupled with tax breaks on individual income from tips, overtime and Social Security. While much of the recent earnings growth has been dominated by the tech sector's "Magnificent 7," Yardeni foresees a broader rally on the horizon. "We expect to see a broadening of the companies and industries for which analysts raise their sights in 2025," he said. Earnings: The Backbone Of The Rally Yardeni forecasts operating earnings per share (EPS) for the S&P 500 to hit $285 in 2025 – an 18.8% year-over-year jump, far above the Street’s consensus of $270. “We're leading the pack on EPS outlook," Yardeni stated, attributing the growth to a record profit margin of 13.9% and rising revenues per share, which are projected to climb 5.1% to $2,050. Wall Street analysts expect robust earnings growth of 14.3% for 2025, up from the estimated 10% for 2024. Sector Winners And Losers: Tech Takes Retains The Crown Tech continues to dominate, with the Information Technology sector predicted to post EPS growth of 21.7% in 2025, up from 20.4% in 2024, according to consensus estimates. Analysts also expect a rebound in Health Care, with EPS growth accelerating from 5.0% this year to 20.1% in 2025. Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology are key drivers, with EPS expected to soar 33.1% and 30.9%, respectively. The Materials sector is gearing up for a strong rebound, expected to shift from an 8.2% EPS decline in 2024 to an impressive 18.3% growth in 2025. Similarly, Industrials are set to thrive, fueled by Boeing's return to profitability and surging growth in key industries such as Copper, projected to rise by 37.6%, Commodity Chemicals by 33.1% and Construction Materials by 24.8%. Read now: 5 Semiconductor Stocks Wall Street Analysts Predict Could Soar In 2025 Image generated using AI Via Midjourney © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.By GABRIELA SÁ PESSOA and MAURICIO SAVARESE, Associated Press SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s federal police said Thursday they indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people for allegedly attempting a coup to keep him in office after his defeat in the 2022 elections. Police said their findings were being delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which must decide whether to refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will either formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation. The former right-wing president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then. Police said in a brief statement that the Supreme Court had agreed to reveal the names of all 37 people who were indicted “to avoid the dissemination of incorrect news.” The 700-page police document likely will take several days for the court to review, Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes said. Dozens of former and current Bolsonaro aides also were indicted, including Gen. Walter Braga Netto, who was his running mate in the 2022 campaign; former Army commander Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira; Valdemar Costa Neto, the chairman of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party; and his veteran former adviser, Gen. Augusto Heleno. The investigation started last year. On Tuesday, four military men and one federal police agent were arrested as part of the same probe . Other investigations focus on Bolosnaro’s potential roles in smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil without properly declaring them, and in directing a subordinate to falsify his and others’ COVID-19 vaccination statuses. Bolsonaro has denied any involvement in either. Another probe found that he had abused his authority to cast doubt on the country’s voting system, and judges barred him from running again until 2030. The far-reaching investigations have weakened Bolsonaro’s status as a leader of Brazil’s right wing, said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo. “Bolsonaro is already barred from running in the 2026 elections,” Melo told the The Associated Press. “And if he is convicted he could also be jailed by then. To avoid being behind bars, he will have to convince Supreme Court justices that he has nothing to do with a plot that involves dozens of his aids. That’s a very tall order,” Melo said. On Tuesday, the federal police arrested four military and a federal police officer accused of plotting to overthrow the government following the 2022 elections, including alleged plans to kill Lula and other top officials.

AGNC Investment Corp. Declares Monthly Common Stock Dividend of $0.12 per Common Share for December 2024Bridging Thailand's climate finance gap

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump used his image as a successful New York businessman to become a celebrity, a reality television star and eventually the president. Now he will get to revel in one of the most visible symbols of success in the city when he rings the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday as he's also named Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Trump is expected to be on Wall Street to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, according to four people with knowledge of his plans. He will also be announced Thursday as Time's 2024 Person of the Year , according to a person familiar with the selection. The people who confirmed the stock exchange appearance and Time award were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who at times has treated the stock market as a measure of public approval and has long-prized signifiers of his success in New York's business world and his appearances on the covers of magazines — especially Time. Trump was named the magazine's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He had already been listed as a finalist for this year's award alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales. Time declined to confirm the selection ahead of Thursday morning's announcement. “Time does not comment on its annual choice for Person of the Year prior to publication,” a spokesperson for the magazine said Wednesday. The ringing of the bell is a powerful symbol of U.S. capitalism — and a good New York photo opportunity at that. Despite his decades as a New York businessman, Trump has never done it before. It was unclear whether Trump, a Republican, would meet with New York's embattled mayor, Democrat Eric Adams , who has warmed to Trump and has not ruled out changing his political party. Adams has been charged with federal corruption crimes and accused of selling influence to foreign nationals; he has denied wrongdoing. Trump himself was once a symbol of New York, but he gave up living full-time in his namesake Trump Tower in Manhattan and moved to Florida after leaving the White House. CNN first reported Wednesday Trump’s visit to the stock exchange and Politico reported that Trump was expected to be unveiled as Time's Person of the Year. The stock exchange regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the ceremonial opening and closing of trading. During Trump’s first term, his wife, Melania Trump, rang the bell to promote her “Be Best” initiative on children’s well-being. Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the opening bell to unveil the magazine's 2023 Person of the Year: Taylor Swift . After the Nov. 5 election, the S&P 500 rallied 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,508 points, or 3.6%, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 3%. All three indexes topped records they had set in recent weeks. The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise regardless of which party wins the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation that Trump favors will mean. Trump has long courted the business community based on his own status as a wealthy real estate developer who gained additional fame as the star of the TV show “The Apprentice” in which competitors tried to impress him with their business skills. He won the election in part by tapping into Americans' deep anxieties about an economy that seemed unable to meet the needs of the middle class. The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests. Trump spends the bulk of his time at his Florida home but was in New York for weeks this spring during his hush money trial there. He was convicted, but his lawyers are pushing for the case to be thrown out in light of his election. While he spent hours in a Manhattan courthouse every day during his criminal trial, Trump took his presidential campaign to the streets of the heavily Democratic city, holding a rally in the Bronx and popping up at settings for working-class New Yorkers: a bodega, a construction site and a firehouse. Trump returned to the city in September to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Manhattan tower and again in the final stretch of the presidential campaign when he held a rally at Madison Square Garden that drew immediate blowback as speakers made rude and racist insults and incendiary remarks . At the stock exchange, the ringing of the bell has been a tradition since the 1800s. The first guest to do it was a 10-year-old boy named Leonard Ross, in 1956, who won a quiz show answering questions about the stock market. Many times, companies listing on the exchange would ring the bell at 9:30 a.m. to commemorate their initial offerings as trading began. But the appearances have become an important marker of culture and politics -- something that Trump hopes to seize as he’s promised historic levels of economic growth. The anti-apartheid advocate and South African President Nelson Mandela rang the bell, as has Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone with his castmates from the film “The Expendables.” So, too, have the actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner for an “Avengers” movie and the Olympians Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. In 1985, Ronald Reagan became the first sitting U.S. president to ring the bell. “With tax reform and budget control, our economy will be free to expand to its full potential, driving the bears back into permanent hibernation,” Reagan said at the time. “We’re going to turn the bull loose.” The crowd of traders on the floor chanted, “Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie!” The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed in 1985 and 1986, but it suffered a decline in October 1987 in an event known as “Black Monday.” Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.

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Ever feel like your fancy 4K TV’s built-in speakers are letting down those epic movie moments? You might be a good candidate for a soundbar. It can turn humdrum sound into huge moments that you’ll feel all throughout the room. And when it comes to sound, it can fundamentally transform things for you in terms of entertainment. JBL’s 9.1 channel soundbar system is basically like bringing a movie theater home, minus the sticky floors and overpriced popcorn. And you can save big (52% off) on one right now if you head over to Amazon. See at Amazon Right now, you can get the JBL Bar Soundbar for just $570 at Amazon, which is a massive $630 off its usual $1,200 price tag . At 52% off, this is an excellent deal on a premium Dolby Atmos soundbar system. For context, most decent 5.1 systems without Atmos cost about this much at full price, and you’re getting that and more here for under $600. Serious sound at an affordable price With the JBL Bar Soundbar, you get an interesting setup: those surround speakers actually detach from the main bar and can be placed behind you, running on battery power. No more trying to hide speaker wires under your carpet or drilling holes in your walls, because who wants to have to wreck their house to get great audio? Once you’ve got it all set up, it’ll immediately make a difference. Imagine watching something like Top Gun: Maverick and actually hearing the F-18s fly overhead and around you, or playing God of War and feeling like you’re really in those Norse battles. The Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support means sound moves in a 3D space – above, behind, and around you. That 300W subwoofer has some serious power as well. It’ll make you feel those explosions and bass notes in your chest in a way your TV just can’t on its own. The 4K passthrough with Dolby Vision support means you won’t lose any video quality running your devices through it, too. At $570 ($630 off), this sound bar is still an investment, but it’s one that’ll make everything you watch and play dramatically more immersive. Just maybe don’t test out that subwoofer at 2 AM. And you should go ahead and snap yours up right now, because with Black Friday on the way, the price could change at any time. Lock yours in and serve some seriously great audio over the holidays. It’ll make everything you watch with your friends and family so much more satisfying. See at AmazonNebraska aims to shut down Oregon St. in Diamond Head final

NEW YORK — A number of President-elect Donald Trump 's most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks," Trump's transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them," Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. President-elect Donald Trump arrives to speak at a meeting of the House GOP conference, followed by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) “In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action,” Leavitt said. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations, Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Susie Wiles, Trump's incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz's replacement, were also targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity amid the ongoing investigation. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees" and was "working with our law enforcement partners. We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” Stefanik's office said that, on Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is seated before President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a meeting of the House GOP conference, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) "New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism," her office said in a statement. “We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7." The New York State Police said a team was dispatched to sweep Stefanik’s home on Wednesday morning in response to the bomb threat but did not locate any explosive devices. A spokesman for the agency directed further questions to the FBI. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X. “My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops.” Police in Suffolk County, Long Island said emergency officers responded to a bomb threat Wednesday morning at an address listed in public records as Zeldin’s home and were checking the property. In Florida, meanwhile, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said in an advisory posted on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area around 9 a.m. this morning.” While a family member resides at the address, they said "former Congressman Gaetz is NOT a resident. The mailbox however was cleared and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results.” Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration amid allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing and unprecedented violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The U.S. Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump's West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Public figures across the political spectrum have been targeted in recent years by hoax bomb threats and false reports of shootings at their homes. The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against Trump in New York and the criminal election interference case against him in Washington, D.C. were both targeted earlier this year. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who recently abandoned the two criminal cases he brought against Trump, was also the subject of a fake emergency call on Christmas Day last year. Earlier this year, schools, government buildings and the homes of city officials in Springfield, Ohio received a string of hoax bomb threats after Trump falsely accused members of Springfield’s Haitian community of abducting and eating cats and dogs. And in 2022, a slew of historically Black colleges and universities nationwide were targeted with dozens of bomb threats with the vast majority arriving during the celebration of Black History Month. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement Wednesday that, “Anytime a Member of Congress is the victim of a 'swatting' incident, we work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners. To protect ongoing investigations and to minimize the risk of copy-cats, we cannot provide more details at this time.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the threats “dangerous and unhinged.” “This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump. Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats,” he wrote on X. “It is not who we are in America.” Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump 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) 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. Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer, Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York contributed to this report. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Several wounded N.Korean soldiers died after being captured by Ukraine: ZelenskyZero Zero Robotics showcases bestselling HOVERAir X1 series at CES 2025None

AP Business SummaryBrief at 5:25 p.m. ESTAs one of China's most populous provinces, Yunnan has long been regarded as a region with significant potential for economic growth. Recent data released by the Yunnan Statistics Bureau further reinforces this perception, highlighting the province's relatively light burden of labor force support and the advantages it enjoys in terms of population dividend compared to the national average.No. 10 Georgia Scores Nearly at Will, Romps UMassgame super game download 。

Wall Street ends bumpy week mixedThe "Yakuza" series, created by Sega's Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, has captured the hearts of players around the world with its captivating storytelling, deep characters, and immersive open-world environments set in the seedy underworld of Japan. As the series has evolved over the years, fans have expressed a growing desire to see earlier titles remade with updated graphics, mechanics, and other improvements.

Lindelof has been out of action with a back injury, but he has been making good progress in his recovery and is now in contention to feature in Manchester United's upcoming matches. The Swedish international's return will be a welcome boost for the team, as they look to maintain their push for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Moving forward, it is crucial that the CPC continues to root out corruption and uphold the values of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Only by maintaining a clean and transparent government can the Party win the trust and support of the people.

No talks being held at any level with PTI, says Ata Tarar

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been slapped with criminal fraud charges in the US for allegedly orchestrating a $250m (£198m) bribery scheme to secure lucrative renewable energy contracts in his home country. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn , New York , unsealed the five-count indictment on Wednesday, alleging Mr Adani and seven other associates, including nephew Sagar Adani, bribed Indian public officials, concealed the scheme, and made false statements to raise $3bn (£2.4bn) from American and international investors. Mr Adani, one of the world’s richest people, has faced fraud allegations earlier as well, but denied wrongdoing. He is regarded as a close ally of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi . Mr Adani, 62, has been charged with conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud, directly advancing the bribery scheme, and obstructing investigations that began in 2022. The contracts to sell 12 gigawatts of solar power that his conglomerate obtained between 2020 and 2024 in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh allegedly through the bribery scheme are expected to generate over $2bn (£1.58bn) in profit. “On several occasions, Gautam S Adani personally met with an Indian government official to advance the bribery scheme and the defendants held in-person meetings with each other to discuss aspects of its execution. The defendants frequently discussed their efforts in furtherance of the bribery scheme, including through an electronic messaging application,” the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement. It said the defendants meticulously documented the bribery scheme. Sagar Adani, 30, used his phone to log details of the alleged bribes. Another accused, Vineet S Jaain, 53, photographed documents summarising bribe amounts owed while Rupesh Agarwal created and shared analyses via PowerPoint and Excel outlining strategies to pay and conceal the bribes, the indictment alleged. The Adani Group has said the allegations are baseless and vowed to seek "all possible legal recourse". “Our stakeholders, partners and employees know that we are a law-abiding organisation, fully compliant with all laws,” a spokesperson said. Lawyers representing Mr Adani have not issued a statement. The indictment against Mr Adani has jolted debt and equity markets in India. Adani Group bonds fell in value after the news broke, but the stocks of the conglomerate’s companies stabilised on Friday after having lost nearly $27bn in market value. India’s main opposition party, the Congress, has called for an investigation into Mr Adani’s ties with the prime minister. “When a top ranking Indian businessman is indicted by a foreign country, it tarnishes our image at the global stage,” the party’s president, Mallikarjun Kharge, said. “The Indian National Congress has been continuously objecting to unethical business practices, which profiteer and promote certain individuals by implementing Modi government’s policy of creating monopolies in key sectors and concentrating wealth in the hands of few by giving undue favours.” Senior Congress member Jairam Ramesh said the indictment is “consistent with a long record of fraud and criminality carried out with impunity with the obvious protection of the prime minister”. Mr Adani has risen from making a fortune in the coal business in the 1990s to becoming one of the richest and most influential people in India. His Adani Group has expanded vastly in the past decade or so, with interests ranging from defence manufacturing to infrastructure to selling cooking oil. In recent years, the group has made big moves in the renewable energy sector, marketing this with the slogan, “Growth with Goodness.” The group has a clean energy portfolio of over 20 gigawatts that includes one of the world’s largest solar power plants in the state of Tamil Nadu. The Adani Group has said it wants to become India’s biggest player in the sector by 2030. Mr Adani said in 2022 the company will invest $70 billion in clean energy projects by 2032.

Sudan, a country located in Northeast Africa, has been a region of political unrest and turmoil for many years. Amidst this backdrop, a significant figure emerged in the Sudanese political landscape - Omar al-Bashir. Bashir is widely known as the former President of Sudan, serving from 1989 until his ousting in 2019.The fire at the Alibaba data center has prompted questions about the company's disaster preparedness and risk management protocols. Data center fires can have devastating consequences, leading to data loss, downtime, and financial losses. In response to the incident, Alibaba has issued a statement addressing the situation and outlining its response plan.

In a surprising move, Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan has announced the appointment of former Barcelona manager Quique Setien as their new head coach. Setien, who has previously managed top clubs in Spain such as Real Betis and Las Palmas, will take over the reins at Beijing Guoan following the departure of his predecessor Bruno Genesio.

An Israeli airstrike flattened a multistory building in central Gaza, killing at least 25 people and wounding dozens more, according to Palestinian medical officials, after strikes Thursday across the Gaza Strip killed at least 28 others. The latest deadly strike hit the urban Nuseirat refugee camp just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem that the recent ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for a potential deal to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the deadly strike in Nuseirat. Israel says it is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine in some of the hardest-hit parts of the territory. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 others were taken hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike hit the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 25 Palestinians and wounding dozens more, Palestinian medics said, just hours after President Joe Biden’s national security adviser raised hopes about a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. Photos from the scene of the blast that circulated on social media showed a completely collapsed building with people walking through its mangled and charred remains, smoke rising from piles of belongings strewn over the rubble. Officials at two hospitals in the Gaza Strip, al-Awda Hospital in the north and al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, reported they received a combined total of 25 bodies from an Israeli strike on a multistory residential building in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp. Palestinian medics also reported that over 40 people, most of them children, were receiving treatment at the two hospitals. The al-Aqsa Hospital said that the Israeli attack also damaged several nearby houses in Nuseirat. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the deadly strike. Israel is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. food agency is trying to deal with massive needs in Syria not only from escalating war-related food insecurity and an upsurge in displaced people fleeing Lebanon but also the dramatically new environment following the ouster of Bashar Assad, a senior U.N. official says. “It’s a triple crisis and the needs are going to be massive,” said Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, in an interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday. The WFP estimated that 3 million people in Syria were “acutely food insecure” and very hungry. However, that estimate was made before the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon pushed many Syrian refugees back to their home country, plus the instability caused by the overthrow of Assad. Due to funding cuts, the WFP had been targeting only 2 million of those people, he said. Because WFP has been working in Syria during the 13-year civil war, he said, it has pre-positioned food in the country. It has 500 staff in seven offices nationwide and has operated across conflict lines, across borders, and with all different parties, he said. Skau said Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group now in control of Syria, has promised to provide security for WFP warehouses. Humanitarian aid supplies had been looted at U.N. warehouses in the disorder after Assad fell. “We’re not really up and running in Damascus because of the continued kind of uncertainty there,” he said. WFP initially thought of relocating non-essential staff but the situation in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, has been “quite calm and orderly," he said. In the short term, Skau said, “what we’re seeing is that markets are disrupted, the value of the currency dropped dramatically, food prices are going up, transport lines don’t work,” and it’s unclear who will stamp required papers for imports and exports. This means that a bigger humanitarian response is needed initially, he said, but in the next phase, the U,N. will be looking at contributing to Syria’s recovery, and ultimately the country will need reconstruction. Skau said he expects a new funding appeal for Syria and urged donors to be generous. JERUSALEM — President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem on Thursday that Israel’s ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for another deal to end the war in Gaza. He plans to travel next to Qatar and Egypt — key mediators in the ceasefire talks — as the Biden administration makes a final push on negotiations before Donald Trump is inaugurated. Sullivan said “Hamas’ posture at the negotiating table did adapt” after Israel decimated the leadership of its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon and reached a ceasefire there. “We believe it puts us in a position to close this negotiation,” he said. Sullivan dismissed speculation that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was waiting for Trump to take office to finalize a deal. He the U.S. believes there are three American hostages still alive in Gaza, but it’s hard to know for sure. He also said “the balance of power in the Middle East has changed significantly” since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, especially with the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of Hezbollah and Iran. “We are now faced with a dramatically reshaped Middle East in which Israel is stronger, Iran is weaker, its proxies decimated, and a ceasefire that is new and will be lasting in Lebanon that ensures Israel’s security over the long term,” he said. KHIAM, Lebanon — An Israeli strike killed at least one person Thursday in the Lebanese border town of Khiam, the Health Ministry said, less than a day after Israeli troops handed the hilltop village back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, Khiam is the first Lebanese town Israel has pull out of since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants began two weeks ago, and marks an important test of the fragile truce . Lebanon's Health Ministry and state news agency did not provide details on who was killed, and did not report airstrikes elsewhere on Thursday. The Israeli military said an airstrike targeted Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, without saying if the strike was in Khiam. Lebanese troops deployed in the northern section of the town on Thursday morning and were coordinating with U.N. peacekeepers to finalize Israel’s withdrawal before fully entering into other neighborhoods. An Associated Press reporter who visited Khiam on Thursday observed widespread destruction, with most houses reduced to rubble. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, with collapsed walls and debris scattered across the streets. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, sharply criticized Israel for striking the town less than 24 hours after the Lebanese army returned, saying it was “a violation of the pledges made by the parties that sponsored the ceasefire agreement, who must act to curb Israeli aggression.” The truce was brokered by the U.S. and France. Israel has previously said the ceasefire deal allows it to use military force against perceived violations. Near-daily attacks by Israel during the ceasefire, mostly in southern Lebanon, have killed at least 29 people and wounded 27 others. Khiam, which sits on a ridge less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the border with Israel, saw some of the most intense fighting during the war. The Lebanese army was clearing debris and reopening roads in the northern section of the town. Civilian access to other areas remained challenging as the army clears roads and works alongside the U.N. peacekeepers to ensure the area is free of unexploded ordnance. AQABA, Jordan -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging the many players in Syria to avoid taking any steps that could lead to further violence. Blinken spoke to reporters in Jordan on Thursday shortly after meeting King Abdullah II as he opened a trip in the region to discuss Syria's future after former President Bashar Assad's ouster. Blinken will next visit Turkey, a NATO ally and a main backer of Syrian rebel groups. Blinken called this “a time of both real promise but also peril for Syria and for its neighbors.” He said he was focused on coordinating efforts in the region “to support the Syrian people as they transition away from Assad’s brutal dictatorship” and establish a government that isn’t dominated by one religion or ethnic group or outside power. Blinken was asked about Israel’s incursion into a buffer zone that had been demilitarized for the past half century. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the move is temporary and defensive, but also indicated Israel will remain in the area for a long time. Blinken declined to say whether the U.S. supports the move, but said the U.S. would be speaking to Israel and other partners in the region. “I think, across the board, when it comes to any actors who have real interests in Syria, it’s also really important at this time that, we all try to make sure that we’re not sparking any additional conflicts,” he said. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, arrived in Damascus on Thursday, according to Turkish media reports. Kalin was seen arriving at the Umayyad Mosque to pray, surrounded by a large crowd, according to video shown on Turkish television. The visit is highly symbolic. Turkish officials, who supported the opposition against Syria’s government, had predicted at the start of the civil war in 2011 that President Bashar Assad’s government would fall, allowing them to pray at the Umayyad Mosque. JERUSALEM — Paraguay reopened its embassy in Jerusalem Thursday, becoming one of a small handful of nations to recognize the city as Israel’s capital and marking a diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel’s international isolation has increased as the war in Gaza drags on, and Paraguay was the first country to move its embassy to Jerusalem since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that kickstarted the war. The United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Papua New Guinea are among the few countries with Jerusalem embassies. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 but it wasn’t recognized by the international community, and most countries run their embassies out of Tel Aviv. Spirits were high at the ceremony marking the embassy’s inauguration Thursday, with Netanyahu and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar lavishing praise on Paraguayan President Santiago Pena. “My good friend Santiago,” said Netanyahu, addressing Pena. “We’re a small nation. You’re a small nation. We suffered horrible things but we overcame the odds of history...we can win and we are winning.” Paraguay had an embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, under Former President Horacio Cartes. That embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv by Cartes’ successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Asuncion. Saar said Israel and Paraguay shared a “friendship based not only on interests but also values and principles.” He and the Paraguayan foreign minister, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, signed a series of bilateral agreements and Saar said he would soon visit Asunción with a delegation from the Israeli private sector. “Israel is going to win and the countries we are standing next to Israel, we are going to win," Pena said. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is renewing calls for Syria’s new leadership to respect women and minority rights, prevent extremists from gaining new footholds in the country and keeping suspected chemical weapons stocks secure as he makes his first visit to the Mideast since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad . Making his 12th trip to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war erupted lasted year but amid fresh concerns about security following the upheaval in Syria, Blinken emphasized Thursday to Jordan’s King Abdullah II U.S. “support for an inclusive transition that can lead to an accountable and representative Syrian government chosen by the Syrian people,” the State Department said. Blinken also repeated the importance the outgoing Biden administration puts on respect for human rights and international law, the protection of civilians and stopping terrorist groups from reconstituting. Blinken met with the monarch and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Aqaba before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on the situation in Syria and the urgency of securing a long-elusive deal to release hostages and end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Abdullah told Blinken that “the first step to reach comprehensive regional calm is to end the Israeli war on Gaza." GENEVA — The U.N. envoy for Syria is calling on authorities to save evidence from detention centers that were a hub of “unimaginable barbarity” that Syrians have faced for many years and cooperate with international investigators looking into such crimes. Geir Pederson referred to new images from the notorious Saydnaya military prison north of the capital, Damascus, after President Bashar Assad fled Syria as armed groups stormed in to overthrow his government over the weekend. “The images from Saydnaya and other detention facilities starkly underscore the unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured and reported for years,” Pedersen said in a statement. Documentation and testimonies “only scratch the surface of the carceral system’s horrors,” he added. Pedersen urged authorities to cooperate with U.N. bodies like an independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which was created in 2011, and an independent group known as the IIIM that was set up five years later to also compile evidence of crimes. ROME — Leaders of the Group of 7 industrialized nations offered their full support for an inclusive political transition in Syria and invited all parties to preserve the country’s territorial integrity. In a message released by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office, the leaders said they were ready to support a transition that “leads to a credible government, inclusive and not sectarian, that guarantees respect for the state of law, universal human rights, including rights for women, (and) the protection of all Syrians, including religious and ethnic minorities.” The leaders also underlined the importance that ousted President Bashar Assad’s government is held responsible for crimes, citing “decades of atrocities.” They said they would also cooperate with groups working to prohibit chemical weapons “to secure, declare and destroy” remaining chemical arms in Syria. Italy currently holds the rotating presidency of the G-7, which also includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it struck Hamas militants in two locations in the southern Gaza Strip who planned to hijack aid convoys. Palestinian Health officials had earlier said that the two strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid deliveries. The committees have been organized in cooperation with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza. It was not possible to independently confirm either account of the strikes, which occurred overnight into Thursday. Israel has long accused Hamas of hijacking humanitarian aid deliveries, while U.N. officials have said there is no systemic diversion of aid . U.N. agencies and aid groups say deliveries are held up by Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid and movement within Gaza, as well as the breakdown of law and order more than 14 months into the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel has repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, which maintained internal security before the war. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the main aid provider in Gaza, said a U.N. convoy of 70 trucks carrying humanitarian aid in southern Gaza “was involved in a serious incident,” resulting in just one of the trucks reaching its destination. It did not provide further details on the incident but said the same route had been used successfully two days earlier. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has caused vast destruction and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, leaving the territory heavily reliant on international food aid. DAMASCUS, Syria — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago. Travis Timmerman appears to have been among thousands of people released from the country’s notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend, overthrowing President Bashar Assad and ending his family’s 54-year rule. As video emerged online of Timmerman on Thursday, he was initially mistaken by some for Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria 12 years ago. In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said he was being treated well and would be safely returned home. The Biden administration is working to bring Timmerman home, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Aqaba, Jordan, without offering details, citing privacy. Timmerman later gave an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago, before being detained. He said he was treated well in detention but could hear other men being tortured. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Jordan on his 12th visit to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year and his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad that has sparked new fears of instability in a region wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. Blinken was meeting in Aqaba with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on Friday. The meetings will focus largely on Syria but also touch on long-elusive hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Blinken is the latest senior U.S. official to visit the Middle East in the five days since Assad was deposed as the Biden administration navigates more volatility in the region in its last few weeks in office and as President-elect Donald Trump has said the U.S. should stay out of the Syrian conflict. Other include national security adviser Jake Sullivan and a top military commander who traveled there as the U.S. and Israel have launched airstrikes to prevent the Islamic State militant group from reconstituting and prevent materiel and suspected chemical weapons stocks from falling into militant hands. Blinken “will discuss the need for the transition process and new government in Syria to respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, prevent Syria from being used as a base of terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that chemical weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed,” the State Department said. The U.S. would be willing to recognize and fully support a new Syrian government that met those criteria. U.S. officials say they are not actively reviewing the foreign terrorist organization designation of the main Syrian rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known as HTS, which was once an al-Qaida affiliate, but stressed they are not barred from speaking to its members. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will remain in a Syrian buffer zone until a new force on the other side of the border can guarantee security. After the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Israeli forces pushed into a buffer zone that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war. The military says it has seized additional strategic points nearby. Israeli officials have said the move is temporary, but Netanyahu’s conditions could take months or even years to fulfill as Syria charts its post-Assad future, raising the prospect of an open-ended Israeli presence in the country. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Thursday that Assad’s overthrow by jihadi rebels created a vacuum on the border. “Israel will not permit jihadi groups to fill that vacuum and threaten Israeli communities on the Golan Heights with October 7th style attacks,” it said, referring to Hamas’ 2023 attack out of Gaza, which ignited the war there. “That is why Israeli forces entered the buffer zone and took control of strategic sites near Israel’s border.” The statement added that “this deployment is temporary until a force that is committed to the 1974 agreement can be established and security on our border can be guaranteed.” The buffer zone is adjacent to the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed. The international community, except for the United States, views the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said Thursday that the attacker who fatally shot a 12-year-old Israeli boy in the occupied West Bank overnight turned himself in to authorities. The attacker opened fire on a bus near the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit, critically wounding the boy, who hospital authorities pronounced dead in the early morning. Three others were wounded in the attack, paramedics said. The shooting took place just outside Jerusalem in an area near major Israeli settlements. JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian government has evacuated 37 citizens from Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government, officials said Thursday. The evacuees were taken by land from Damascus to Beirut, where they boarded three commercial flights to Jakarta, said Judha Nugraha, director of citizen protection at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Indonesian Embassy in Damascus said all 1,162 Indonesian citizens in Syria were safe. Indonesian Ambassador to Syria Wajid Fauzi said the situation in Syria has gradually returned to normal. “I can say that 98% of people’s lives are back to normal, shops are open, public transportation has started running,” Fauzi said, adding that most Indonesian nationals living in Syria had chosen to stay. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian medical officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 28 people in the Gaza Strip, including seven children and a woman. One of the strikes overnight and into Thursday flattened a house in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the hospital’s morgue. Two other strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid convoys . The committees were set up by displaced Palestinians in coordination with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. The Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies and an AP reporter counted them. The hospital said eight were killed in a strike near the southern border town of Rafah and seven others in a strike 30 minutes later near Khan Younis. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban . The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions to support the agency known as UNRWA. The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group . General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly. Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions.From China Spring to Houston, family always at the root of Bell coaching tree

In the highly anticipated action-adventure game "Black Myth: Wukong," players are in for a treat as new gameplay features and monster abilities have been revealed. Among these exciting updates is the introduction of a formidable foe known as the Tiger Vanguard, showcasing a range of impressive and stylish new combat techniques.Mark your calendars, horror aficionados, because "28 Years Later" is coming to theaters next summer, and it's sure to be a cinematic event that you won't want to miss. Get ready to be terrified, thrilled, and utterly absorbed in a world where the only thing scarier than the infected creatures is the darkness within humanity itself.In conclusion, the West Street Observation Platform's emphasis on "rights" serves as a shining example of how online platforms can be used to drive meaningful change and promote a more just and equal society. By prioritizing issues related to human, animal, and environmental rights, the platform has succeeded in creating a vibrant community of activists, advocates, and changemakers who are committed to making the world a better place for all. As we move forward, let us continue to support and amplify the voices on the West Street Observation Platform, ensuring that their important work continues to inspire and drive positive change in our world.

Redmi Note 14, Redmi Note 14 Pro and Redmi Note 14 Pro+ Sale Goes Live; Check Price and Other DetailsVanderSat, upon further investigation, discovered a crucial piece of the puzzle that had been overlooked. It turned out that a nearby river, which supplied water to the farms in Teng Haag, had been contaminated with agricultural run-off from upstream sources. This pollution had seeped into the soil, affecting the nutrient levels and overall health of the crops.

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STEPHENVILLE, Texas (AP) — Keitenn Bristow had 23 points in Tarleton State's 70-60 victory over Florida A&M on Sunday. Bristow also had six rebounds and three blocks for the Texans (5-10). Bubu Benjamin added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Marty Silvera pitched in with nine points, five rebounds and six steals. The Rattlers (3-8) were led by Sterling Young with 16 points. Jordan Chatman added 11 points and Kaleb Washington totaled seven points, eight rebounds and two steals. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from . The Associated Pressgame time at the super bowl 。

Ukraine In Contact With All Democratic Political Forces To Increase Support - Ambassador To GermanyInfinity Nikki’s First Major Update, Shooting Star Season, Has a Release Date and a TrailerCanadian facing ‘exponential’ rise in fraud as holidays, ail strike collideWest Ham boss Julen Lopetegui believes his side “deserved to win” as they sealed a 2-0 victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park. Lopetegui came into the game under pressure following some poor displays from the Hammers in recent weeks but they earned a hard-fought victory to end the Magpies’ three-game winning spell. Despite a promising opening from the hosts, Tomas Soucek headed West Ham in front before Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s first goal for the club after the break wrapped up victory. Lopetegui was pleased with his side’s display following a “tough match”. He said: “I am happy for the three points and am very happy against a good team like Newcastle, who have good players and a fantastic coach. “I think today was a tough match and we were able to compete as a team. “I think we deserved to win. Today they had many moments in the first half, but I think the second half we deserved to win and we are happy because you have to do these kind of matches against this type of team if you want to overcome them.” Newcastle started brightly and had plenty of chances in the first half especially, but the visitors responded after the break by retaining possession well. The win eases the pressure on Lopetegui, whose West Ham side face Arsenal on Saturday, and he believes the victory is an important feeling for his players. He said: “I think the only thing that is under our control is to play football, to improve, to defend well, to convince the players we are able to do better. “Today we did, but I think the only thing we can do is to do the things that are under our control, not today but every day. “So we had to keep with this mentality, but above all let me say we are happy for the players because they need this kind of feeling as a team to believe that we are able to do well as a team, to put the best for each player of the team.” Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted defeat was a missed opportunity for his side. The Magpies missed a series of chances in the first half, including efforts from Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff, before Alexander Isak blasted a chance off target. Anthony Gordon also rolled an effort just wide of the post after the break and Isak headed wide of goal. Three points could have seen Newcastle move into the top six and Howe admitted his side need to learn from the match. “Yes, massive because the league is so tight that a couple of wins and the whole picture looks very different,” Howe said. “We’ll kick ourselves tonight because we knew the opportunity we had, a home game, Monday night, a great moment for us potentially in our season, so we have to learn from that and come back stronger.”

Detroit -- China will soon see a massive expansion of electric vehicle battery swapping, as global battery maker CATL said Wednesday it is investing heavily in stations there next year. Battery swapping is not new — but it's had a challenging journey. Adoption of electric vehicles has varied in regions across the globe over the past several years, and that doesn't always bode well for building new infrastructure. While the technology could do well in China, it's uncertain whether it could work in other countries. Battery swapping allows EV drivers to pull into a station on a low battery and receive a swapped, fully-charged battery within minutes. An EV has to be equipped with the right technology to receive a swap — and not many models around the world currently have it. Automakers have to buy into the idea, and EV adoption among consumers also has to grow, so that investing in new infrastructure seems worthwhile. Consumers also have to be comfortable not owning their battery. China is much further along in adopting EVs than other countries. Not only is it the world's largest auto market, but in July, the country hit a milestone with 50% of new sales electric — and it accounts for most of this year's global EV sales. China supports EV growth through government subsidies and mandates. So it makes more sense for companies to invest in unique EV infrastructure there because that's more likely to be needed. The most notable example might be Israeli startup Better Place, which tried its hand at swapping in 2007. But the company shut down a few years later after investing a lot of money and coming up against roadblocks with logistics. EV adoption was especially low at the time. Startup Ample, for example, has a modular battery swapping station that it says can complete a swap in 5 minutes. That’s important as charging time remains a point of concern for prospective EV buyers. Even the fastest fast chargers could take at least 15 minutes for a decent charge. But in the U.S., pure EVs only accounted for 8% of new vehicle sales as of November. Meanwhile Nio, a rival Chinese EV brand, has about 60 swap stations in northern Europe, and the EV adoption is higher there than the U.S., but the same challenges remain. Different automakers put different batteries in their various EV models, so a station would need all of those available if the industry didn't agree to a standardized battery, and not all of those models are out yet in volume. This is something that really needs scale. Swapping could help with EV cost — currently a barrier to adoption for many — because a driver wouldn’t necessarily own the most expensive part of an EV: the battery. Greg Less, director of the University of Michigan Battery Lab, said with proper framing and education, people might like the idea of battery swapping. To him, it's not unlike buying a propane-fueled grill and purchasing a refilled tank every so often. But it would require a rethinking of car ownership. "Where I could see it working is if we went entirely away from vehicle ownership and we went to a use-on-demand model," Less added. “I don’t think we’re there yet.” Battery swapping might make most sense for ride-sharing or other fleet vehicles. Drivers of buses, taxis, Uber or Lyft vehicles want to spend as much time on the road as possible, transporting customers and making money. If battery swapping can shorten the time needed to charge EVs, that makes driving one less disruptive to their business. ___ Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate solutions reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn . Reach her at [email protected] . ___ Read more of AP’s climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .None

SANTA CLARA, Calif. , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FuriosaAI , an emerging leader in AI semiconductor solutions, is closing out the year with rapid technical and customer progress with its second-generation chip, RNGD (pronounced 'Renegade'). The recently announced AI solution has achieved compelling performance metrics in real-world enterprise deployments meeting the demand for inference with advanced large language and multimodal models. The new performance benchmarks showcase RNGD's ability to meet industry-leading throughput demands for Llama 3.1 models, including the 8B and 70B variants, with additional optimizations already in progress. The company also announced key software features that bring advanced optimization for customers currently sampling RNGD hardware in their production environments. These achievements represent the first phase of Furiosa's vision for AI infrastructure that overcomes the inherent limitations of GPUs. RNGD delivers winning throughput metrics with Llama 3.1 8B and 70B : Building on the AI-native Tensor Contraction Processor (TCP) architecture of RNGD , Furiosa is redefining real-world AI deployments, delivering unmatched performance, programmability, and power efficiency. Furiosa's RNGD recently achieved a throughput of 3,200–3,300 Tokens per Second (TPS) when running the LLaMA 3.1- 8B model. In single-user scenarios, RNGD consistently delivers 40–60 TPS performance. Additionally, RNGD demonstrates exceptional power efficiency, consuming 181W per card, with further optimization efforts underway. Rather than excessively boosting per-user performance, the company aims to maintain performance levels exceeding typical text-reading speeds (10–20 TPS or higher) while optimizing for multi-user environments and achieving a balanced performance approach. Furiosa is advancing the performance and efficiency of the LLaMA 3.1- 70B model. With just two RNGD cards, LLaMA 3.1- 70B can be executed effectively. Currently, a single server supports up to 100 concurrent user queries, with ongoing optimizations aiming to achieve 8,000 TPS per server when equipped with 8 RNGD cards. With the release of SDK v2024.3.0, Furiosa will expand the range of preloaded models. The SDK will also include support for tensor parallelism, enabling seamless processing across multiple elements without requiring model modifications, and a torch.compile, providing the foundation for executing customized models. Integration with HuggingFace Optimum will further empower customers to leverage a broader variety of models. Advanced optimization tools delivered to early RNGD customers: Building on these milestones, domestic and global enterprise customers are conducting tests with Furiosa to find a more efficient solution for scaling the inference of their self-developed models, compared to their existing setup. Their objective is to manage TCO effectively as they prepare for large-scale AI adoption. Furiosa plans to provide a high-quality AI development environment through a powerful and user-friendly SDK optimized for RNGD. The SDK v2024.1.0, currently available through the Early Access Program (EAP), is designed to handle high-performance processing of multiple LLM serving requests. It incorporates optimization techniques such as PagedAttention, Block KV Cache, and Continuous Batching, while also supporting various token sampling methods, including Greedy, Beam Search, and Top-k/p. These features allow developers to seamlessly create AI services customized to meet a wide range of requirements. The SDK and online sample will be available after the release of v2024.3.0. Furiosa remains committed to delivering the most sustainable AI deployment solutions through rigorous optimization at an unprecedented pace. "With RNGD now in customers' hands, we are accelerating the next generation of frontier LLMs to unlock emerging Agentic AI applications—bringing advanced reasoning capabilities to enterprise verticals, all at dramatically lower costs," said June Paik , Co-Founder and CEO of FuriosaAI. Furiosa Expands Global Footprint with Strategic Leadership Appointment Furiosa is scaling production and expanding its leadership team with the appointment of Alex Liu as Senior Vice President of Product and Business. A Technology Emmy Award winner and co-founder of NETINT Technologies, Alex brings over 20 years of expertise in startup management, technology innovation, and strategic leadership. At NETINT, he spearheaded groundbreaking achievements, including the development of the world's first VPU SoC, setting new industry benchmarks and securing the prestigious 2024 Technology Emmy Award. At Furiosa, Alex will lead global product management, go-to-market strategies, and partnerships to drive innovation and align the company's AI-native technologies with a vision to empower the development of planet-scale AI infrastructure. RNGD is currently sampling with customers, and mass production will ramp up in partnership with TSMC for 2025 availability. To learn more about Furiosa, please visit https://furiosa.ai/ . About FuriosaAI FuriosaAI is a semiconductor company dedicated to creating sustainable AI computing solutions that make powerful AI accessible to all. With its innovative Tensor Contraction Processor architecture, FuriosaAI is revolutionizing the AI hardware landscape, offering unparalleled efficiency and programmability for the most demanding AI workloads. For more information, please visit https://furiosa.ai/ . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/furiosaai-ends-2024-on-a-high-note-llama-3-1-performance-sdk-release-leadership-expansion-302336756.html SOURCE FuriosaAIAn average of 140 women and girls were killed by a partner or relative per day in 2023, the UN saysCanadians face a fresh wave of scams as fraudsters seize on the Canada Post strike to try to trick victims out of their cash. The last few weeks have seen an “exponential” rise in attempted fraud, ranging from phishing emails to deepfake phone calls, says Octavia Howell, chief information security officer at Equifax Canada. “Any time there is a major political event, a major strike or anything like that, we’ll see an uptick,” she said in a phone interview. “Not only is there a Canada post strike ... it’s the holidays.” Scams related to parcels and deliveries typically tick up in step with online shopping orders this time of year, but the work stoppage at Canada Post has led to even more fraud attempts amid the confusion around shipments, Howell said. Comprehensive figures on the latest batch of scams are not yet available from Equifax Canada, but the credit bureau’s daily updates have marked the rise nonetheless. Rather than the roughly half-dozen daily consumer fraud reports of previous increases, Equifax Canada’s investigations team is filing up to “87 in one report in one day coming from the same IP addresses,” said Howell. She called the trend “insidious.” “We’re seeing exponential growth in the amount of scams that are actually happening ... because, one, holidays, and then two, people aren’t able to get their shipments out.” Mail carriers walked off the job on Nov. 15, halting deliveries of letters and packages at the start of the holiday shipping season. Canada Post cautions users that it never reaches out about a delivery via text or email unless it has been requested to. The Crown corporation has asked Canadians to be on guard for telltale signs of a phishing scam or fraud attempt, including poor grammar, imagery inconsistent with Canada Post logos and a tracking number at odds with its standard format. The Better Business Bureau similarly cautioned users when the strike kicked off. “Watch out for fake package delivery offers during Canada’s postal strike,” the non-profit said in a release last month. It advised potential victims to verify delivery services, avoid unsolicited shipment offers from little-known companies and check for accreditation by the bureau before selecting a service. It also noted that scammers may send false messages claiming to be from Canada Post or another carrier asking for payment for undelivered items or offering “priority service.” “Do not click on links in unsolicited emails or texts. Instead, visit the official website of the courier service for updates,” the bureau said. Canada Post recommends customers contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre if they receive a suspicious email, text or call related to the postal service.

game time for super bowl 2024 The next NFL coaching cycle will feature an impressive list of candidates ranging from proven champions to up-and-coming coordinators. Six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick heads the list of well-known names that includes 2021 AP Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel. Don’t count out Pete Carroll, and Robert Saleh could get another chance quickly. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Buccaneers OC Liam Cohen, Bills OC Joe Brady and Eagles OC Kellen Moore are among a lengthy list of young offensive-minded coaches who will garner plenty of interest. Lions DC Aaron Glenn, Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, Chargers DC Jesse Minter and Panthers DC Ejiro Evero are among the coaches on the other side of the ball who’ll receive attention. Several former head coaches currently serving as coordinators also should be in the mix, including Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Steelers OC Arthur Smith, Vikings DC Brian Flores, Broncos DC Vance Joseph and Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury. Potential college head coaches who could jump to the NFL include Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and USC’s Lincoln Riley. Of course, most college coaches say they’re not going anywhere. Riley made that known Wednesday. Deion Sanders already said he’s not leaving Colorado but never say never. The Jets, Saints and Bears already fired their coaches. More teams will make a change. Since 2019, there have been 43 coaching changes. Sixteen of those coaches have already been fired, one retired and a few more could be on their way out. Of the 43 hired over the past six coaching cycles, 10 previously were NFL head coaches and two were college head coaches. Of the remaining 31 hires, 25 were coordinators. Jerod Mayo (inside linebackers coach), Dan Campbell (tight ends coach), David Culley (passing game coordinator) and Zac Taylor (quarterbacks coach) made the leap from an assistant role. Antonio Pierce went from linebackers coach to interim coach to head coach in Las Vegas. Eight teams hired new coaches after last season. The three teams who chose guys who were previous head coaches are currently sitting in a playoff position. Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) hold the fifth seed in the AFC. Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders (8-5) have the seventh spot in the NFC. Raheem Morris and the Atlanta Falcons (6-6) are tied for first in the NFC South with Tampa Bay but hold the tiebreaker because of a season sweep. Rookie head coach Mike Macdonald has the Seattle Seahawks (7-5) sitting in first place in the NFC West. The remaining first-year coaches are struggling. Pierce, Mayo, Brian Callahan (Titans) and Dave Canales (Panthers) are 11-38 combined. A closer look at one coach from each category: Former coach Belichick is the biggest name of all, and drew headlines Thursday with news that he interviewed with the University of North Carolina for its coaching vacancy. Though he’ll turn 73 before the start of the 2025 season, he’s eager to get back on the job. Belichick needs to win 27 more games to break Don Shula’s record for most regular-season victories. He’s 15 wins away from passing Shula for all-time victories, including the postseason. Belichick only interviewed with the Falcons last cycle after leaving the Patriots. The main issue would be how much control he’d be willing to cede to the general manager. Belichick has stayed in the spotlight working in the media. He’s showing a different side of his personality that could help him this time around. The Giants could be a fit if they fire Brian Daboll. Keep an eye on the Eagles should the team falter again down the stretch. Nick Sirianni just keeps winning but anything less than a Super Bowl in Philadelphia won’t be considered a success. Offensive coordinator Johnson will likely be the most coveted young coach again this cycle. He has already interviewed with seven teams (Chargers, Colts, Commanders, Falcons, Panthers, Seahawks and Texans) over the past two seasons but chose to stay in Detroit to finish the job after the team fell short in the NFC championship game. The Lions lead the conference at 12-1 and are first in the NFL in scoring at 31.9 points per game. The Bears need a coach to help develop franchise QB Caleb Williams so they’re an obvious landing spot. Another team that ends up with a pick to land a top QB in the draft would also have to be in the mix. It’s going to be up to Johnson. His options will be unlimited. Defensive coordinator Minter followed Jim Harbaugh to the NFL from Michigan and has guided the league’s stingiest defense. The Chargers are giving up just 15.7 points per game. Minter previously served as an assistant under John Harbaugh in Baltimore so he has been mentored by well-respected winning coaches. College coach Is it time for Prime Time? Sure, Sanders insists he’s staying put. But suppose the team that drafts Shedeur Sanders to be its franchise QB offers a father-son opportunity. Or, maybe Jerry Jones calls the Hall of Fame cornerback who helped the Cowboys win their last Super Bowl title.

Leidos Holdings Inc. stock underperforms Tuesday when compared to competitorsNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted lower Tuesday in the runup to the highlight of the week for the market, the latest update on inflation that’s coming on Wednesday. The S&P 500 dipped 0.3%, a day after pulling back from its latest all-time high . They’re the first back-to-back losses for the index in nearly a month, as momentum slows following a big rally that has it on track for one of its best years of the millennium . The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 154 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.3%. Tech titan Oracle dragged on the market and sank 6.7% after reporting growth for the latest quarter that fell just short of analysts’ expectations. It was one of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500, even though CEO Safra Catz said the company saw record demand related to artificial-intelligence technology for its cloud infrastructure business, which trains generative AI models. AI has been a big source of growth that’s helped many companies’ stock prices skyrocket. Oracle’s stock had already leaped more than 80% for the year coming into Tuesday, which raised the bar of expectations for its profit report. In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher ahead of Wednesday’s report on the inflation that U.S. consumers are feeling. Economists expect it to show similar increases as the month before. Wednesday’s update and a report on Thursday about inflation at the wholesale level will be the final big pieces of data the Federal Reserve will get before its meeting next week, where many investors expect the year’s third cut to interest rates . The Fed has been easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high since September to take pressure off the slowing jobs market, after bringing inflation nearly down to its 2% target. Lower rates would help give support to the economy, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. Expectations for a series of cuts through next year have been a big reason the S&P 500 has set so many records this year. Trading in the options market suggests traders aren’t expecting a very big move for U.S. stocks following Wednesday’s report, according to strategists at Barclays. But a reading far off expectations in either direction could quickly change that. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.22% from 4.20% late Monday. Story continues below video Even though the Fed has been cutting its main interest rate, mortgage rates have been more stubborn to stay high and have been volatile since the autumn. That has hampered the housing industry, and homebuilder Toll Brothers’ stock fell 6.9% even though it delivered profit and revenue for the latest quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. CEO Douglas Yearley Jr. said the luxury builder has been seeing strong demand since the start of its fiscal year six weeks ago, an encouraging signal as it approaches the beginning of the spring selling season in mid-January. Elsewhere on Wall Street, Alaska Air Group soared 13.2% after raising its forecast for profit in the current quarter. The airline said demand for flying around the holidays has been stronger than expected. It also approved a plan to buy back up to $1 billion of its stock, along with new service from Seattle to Tokyo and Seoul . Boeing climbed 4.5% after saying it’s resuming production of its bestselling plane , the 737 Max, for the first time since 33,000 workers began a seven-week strike that ended in early November. Vail Resorts rose 2.5% after the ski resort operator reported a smaller first-quarter loss than analysts expected in what is traditionally its worst quarter. All told, the S&P 500 fell 17.94 points to 6,034.91. The Dow dipped 154.10 to 44,247.83, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 49.45 to 19,687.24. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed in China after the world’s second-largest economy said its exports rose by less than expected in November. Stocks rose 0.6% in Shanghai but fell 0.5% in Hong Kong. Indexes fell across much of Europe ahead of a meeting this week by the European Central Bank, where the widespread expectation is for another cut in interest rates. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.The New York Rangers have signed their superstar goaltender Igor Shesterkin to an eight-year extension worth $92 million, and an average annual value (AAV) of $11.5 million. Shesterkin has now become the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history, topping the $10.5 million AAV that Carey Price was signed to. Igor Shesterkin 8 x 11.5M with NYR Shesterkin, who is carrying a record of 8-9-0 record and .908 save percentage (SV%) this season, has been one of the best goaltenders over the past few seasons. Over the past four seasons, Shesterkin’s .919 SV% is the second among all goalies. He also ranks second in wins, trailing just Connor Hellebuyck in both categories and ranks fifth with a 2.45 GAA. The Rangers are having their own trouble this year, and Shesterkin’s stats this season are a significant outlier compared to the rest of his career. Sheshterkin’s true coming-out party was in the 2021-22 season, where he recorded 36 wins, a .935 SV% and 2.07 GAA. That season, Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender, and finished third in Hart Memorial Trophy voting, being the first goaltender to be top-three since Sergei Bobrovsky in 2016-17. While Shesterkin’s regular seasons have been fantastic, his postseason play has been even better. In 44 career playoff games, he has a .928 SV% and 2.41 GAA, which has been good enough to be the backbone of the Rangers’ two trips to the Eastern Conference Final in the past three seasons. The Rangers have a lot of moving pieces in their team over the next few seasons. After the departure of their now-former captain, Jacob Trouba, many trade rumors still surround the team, including names like Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and others. Along with the trade rumors, Artemi Panarin only has one more season left after this one, so there are certainly some major changes that could come to Manhatten. The one sure-fire thing is that they will have a true superstar-caliber goaltender for eight more seasons. With high standards for the team, they will have a constant in Shesterkin and can trust that he will not only be able to dominate in the regular season, but also be a key piece towards their Stanley Cup hopes. This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

Sault Ste. Marie police have a plan to curb shoplifting

Roberts strike not enough as Clarets draw with BoroAt just 16 years of age, Gout Gout captured the world’s attention with his record-breaking performance at the Australian National All-Schools Championships. He ran an extraordinary 20.04 seconds for the 200m, breaking a 56-year-old Australian record. Equally impressive was his 10.04 seconds for the 100m – unfortunately it was wind-assisted and ineligible for records, but reinforced his incredible potential. For a moment, let’s reflect on the significance of his performance: breaks Australia’s oldest athletics record set by Peter Norman in 1968 . sets Australian records at Open, under-20 and under-18 levels is ranked second all-time (under-18) and sixth (under-20) globally in the 200m currently the fastest in the world for the 200m at under-18 and under-20 levels has qualified for the 2025 World Championships for the 200m. So, what comes next for this exciting Queenslander? Looking ahead to the LA and Brisbane Olympics With an eye on the 2028 Los Angeles and 2032 Brisbane Olympics, it is important to remember that Gout is still classified a junior athlete. Read more: From challenges to innovations, what lessons can Brisbane learn from the Paris Olympics? Remarkably, he is uniquely positioned to compete concurrently at both the junior and senior World Championships. These competitions alternate every two years, providing invaluable experience in learning to manage international travel, new environments and intense world-class competition. Training approach: what does it take? Elite sprinters typically peak at around 25-27 , so Gout’s progression should lead perfectly into the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. His training revolves around sprint-specific drills, gym sessions for strength and power, and recovery. Under coach Dianne Sheppard, his training will evolve with his age and maturity. To an outsider, it may not seem so obvious, but what will change is the complexity and specificity of the training sessions. As he grows stronger naturally, his gym work will help refine that strength to explode out of the blocks and hold his sprinting technique. Sprint-specific exercises will become increasingly tailored to enhance his acceleration and top-end speed. Recovery will also become more important as his body adjusts to greater physical demands. This is where the role of his coach is crucial. Not only does Sheppard provide the technical guidance in the gym and on the track, she will also need to navigate the multitude of internal and external factors necessary for Gout to perform on the world stage and harness his ability. Performing under pressure Rising to fame at 16 can bring enormous pressure. How an athlete perceives this pressure – as a threat or a challenge – can be the difference between success and failure. Athletes with high self-efficacy, a strong sense of control, and an approach-oriented mindset are more likely to experience a challenge state, where they view pressure as an opportunity to perform their best. In the case of Gout, a key consideration is whether he has the cognitive maturity to cope with the pressures of his rapid rise to stardom and truly understand what it takes to be the best in the world. Even Usain Bolt, widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time , acknowledged this understanding didn’t come naturally: You can’t get to the top with talent alone. You need work, you need sacrifice, you have to be dedicated. It took me time, but I learned [...] when I was young, I didn’t understand the concept of “being great”. Like many athletes, Gout will continue to develop his mental resilience and “ athletic mindset ”. Techniques such as mindfulness , anchoring , and the “quiet eye” method are tools that sports psychologists use to help athletes enter a state of flow during competitions. Managing the expectations placed on him will be essential for his long-term success. Pressure ‘makes diamonds’ With the second fastest 200 metre under-18 time in history, Gout has drawn comparisons to the eight-time Olympic champion Bolt . For some, the pressures of such comparisons would be overwhelming, however when asked about his performance, Gout responded confidently: You know what they say – pressure makes diamonds and I guess I’m better than a diamond right now. This statement should not be perceived as cockiness, but confidence and a display of his athletic mindset. To infinity and beyond Gout’s performance at the recent Australian all-schools event was out of this world. With his technical, tactical, physical, and psychological skills on display for the world to see, he possesses all the tools to not only be Australia’s next sprint sensation but the world’s next sprint king. And with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games just seven years away, he has the ideal timeframe to reach his full athletic potential. In the meantime, as a nation we must be patient and allow him to develop as a person and an athlete. As part of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Legacy, the University of Southern Queensland has developed the Student-Athlete Empowerment Project “ 2 WIN ” to enhance student-athlete health, wellbeing and performance.

BEIRUT — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials claimed they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Bulldozers remove the rubble of a destroyed building Monday that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations also expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire. “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. Thick smoke, flames and debris erupt Monday from an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Tayouneh, Beirut, Lebanon. Meanwhile, massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut's southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday that 26 people were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs that was not subjected to evacuation warnings on Monday. The deaths brought the total toll to 3,768 killed in Lebanon throughout 13 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah and nearly two months since Israel launched its ground invasion. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians, and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel claims to have killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. Destroyed buildings stand Monday in the area of a village in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel. Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because "we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire." Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were "close to a deal." "It can happen within days," he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. A member of the Israeli security forces inspects an impact site Sunday after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an area in Rinatya, outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel. After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force. Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel demands the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government says such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. There are many obstacles preventing shoppers from upholding eco-friendly habits as much as they may want to—but not all of these barriers are necessarily real, or accurately understood. Shopping sustainably simply isn't convenient or accessible for many. Those who live in apartment buildings are 50% less likely to recycle , according to Ipsos. Reasons for this can vary from lack of space to buildings being excluded altogether because of recycling contamination issues. Many believe that sustainable products are too expensive or of a lower quality. The former is often true, which does create a hurdle for many: The manufacturing processes and materials for sustainable products are pricey. For instance, organic cotton requires an intensive production process free of certain chemicals or pesticides; by definition, true eco-friendly products can't be mass-produced, further upping their price tag. Using recycled materials for packaging, or obtaining an eco certification, can also be expensive. However, although the narrative of eco-friendly products being more expensive is true, there is often more of an effort to use better quality materials that last longer than their noneco-friendly counterparts. This could end up saving consumers money in the long run: By paying more upfront, they can get more wear out of sustainable fashion, for instance. There is also undeniable political rhetoric surrounding eco-friendly products—however, despite many Conservative politicians decrying sustainable products, members of all generations are increasingly choosing to prioritize shopping sustainably regardless of their political affiliation, according to research from NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business . This finding shows a trend toward seeing sustainability as a nonpartisan subject everyone can benefit from, no matter where they lie on the political spectrum. Some might think eco-friendly clothing, in particular, is not fashion-forward; after all, many of the top clothing retailers in the world partake in fast fashion. However, brands are increasingly being recognized as 'cool' and 'trendy' for supporting environmentally ethical practices, particularly as younger generations prioritize sustainability, as noted before. Many increasingly popular online stores are taking advantage of this paradigm shift by offering secondhand shopping options that are not only fashionable, but also more affordable, like ThredUp or Poshmark. Additionally, many legacy large-name brands are hopping on the sustainability movement and are gaining appreciation from loyal customers. Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program partners with third-party certification bodies to make it easier for shoppers to identify eco-friendly products as they browse the website. H&M's newly launched H&M Rewear program debuts a resale platform that allows the resale of all clothing brands—not just their own. Similarly, Patagonia's Worn Wear program allows shoppers to trade in and buy used gear and clothing. The federal government is also working to close this gap. The Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice program is attempting to make sustainable shopping easier for consumers and companies alike. It includes a directory of certified products, a list of safer chemicals to look out for on labels, a "Safer Choice" label that products can earn to denote they are eco-friendly, and resources for manufacturers looking to adopt more sustainable practices. Most of all, though, the biggest way shoppers can shift toward sustainable shopping is through their behaviors and attitudes amongst their peers and communities. Studies show that humans largely care what others think of their actions; the more shoppers make environmentally conscious shopping the norm, the more others will follow suit. From an economic perspective, the more consumers shop eco-friendly, the more affordable and accessible these products will become, too: Sustainable products are currently more expensive because they are not in high demand. Once demand rises, production rates and prices can lower, making these products more accessible for all. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. This story originally appeared on The RealReal and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. On paper, being more sustainable and eco-friendly while shopping sounds great—so why don't more people do it? There is growing consumer consciousness about the environmental impact of where people choose to shop and the sustainability of the products they buy. According to McKinsey, over 60% of individuals surveyed in 2020 said they would be willing to pay more for a product that is packaged in an eco-friendly way. Since 2019, products marketed as being environmentally sustainable have seen a 28% growth in revenue compared to 20% for products with no such marketing, a 2023 McKinsey and NielsenIQ report found. Much of this is thanks to the preferences and attitudes of Gen Z, who, on average, care more than their older counterparts about being informed shoppers. The younger generation also has more social justice and environmental awareness altogether. Shoppers are willing to spend around 9.7% more on a product they know is sourced or manufactured sustainably, with 46% saying they would do so explicitly because they want to reduce their environmental footprint, according to a 2024 PwC report. Sustainable practices consumers look for from companies include production methods, packaging, and water conservation. But despite the growing consciousness around being more environmentally responsible, consumer actions don't always align with their values. In psychology, this is defined as the "say-do gap": the phenomenon wherein people openly express concern and intention around an issue, but fail to take tangible action to make a change. According to the Harvard Business Review in 2019, most consumers (65%) say they want to buy from brands that promote sustainability, but only 1 in 4 follow through. So why don't people actually shop sustainably, despite how much they express a preference for eco-friendly products—and how can we close the gap? The RealReal examined reports from the Harvard Business Review and other sources to explore why some shoppers want to buy sustainably but struggle to follow through. This lack of action isn't due to a lack of caring—in many cases, it's hard to know how to be a sustainable consumer and other factors are often outside of shoppers' control. But the more people shop sustainably, the easier and more accessible that market will be for everyone—making it much easier for folks to buy aligned with their values. Get local news delivered to your inbox!“ Deep Dive ” is an in-depth podcast and video essay series featuring interviews with the stars and creative team behind an exceptional piece of filmmaking. For this edition, the IndieWire Crafts and Special Projects team partnered with Prime Video to take a closer look at “ The Boys ” with creator Eric Kripke, actor Antony Starr, production designer Mark Steel, costume designer Laura Jean Shannon, visual effects supervisor Stephan Szpak-Fleet, supervising stunt coordinator John Koyama, composers Christopher Lennertz and Matt Bowen, as well as editors David Kaldor and Scott Stolzar to examine the emotionally charged and shocking fourth season of the hit series. When it comes to “The Boys,” you can expect the unexpected. Since its inception, creator Eric Kripke has adapted Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s comic book series into a standout among superhero offerings. The Prime Video series is beloved for its dark humor and imaginative violence, but it keeps audiences watching because of its intelligent writing, unforgettable characters, superb acting, and engaging storylines that are rife with conflict and emotional resonance. In Season 4, the complexity of the characters is pushed even further as they’re forced to question wounds from their past. Kripke, actor Antony Starr, and eight members of the creative team spoke to IndieWire about how they were able to weave emotionally charged themes to deepen our understanding of the characters without losing sight of what makes “The Boys” an entertaining satire. In the videos below, watch how those involved in the series developed the engrossing backstories through production design, costumes, score, editing, and visual effects. One might not think death-defying superheroes spend much time considering their own mortality, but such was the case in the fourth season of “The Boys.” Creator Eric Kripke told IndieWire that Season 4 was meant to be “the low point for the characters” where each one confronts “the trauma that really defines them.” For Homelander, played by Antony Starr, the dream of a brighter future prompts a return to a traumatic past. “His humanity has always been his kryptonite. As much as he wants to be a god, he’s always been aware that he’s human,” Starr told IndieWire. “That mortality being on display and the sense of legacy really drives all of what he does through the whole season. He’s really concerned about what’s gonna happen when he dies.” Starr brilliantly captures the weight of the character’s internal conflict, culminating in a terrifying sequence during which Homelander seeks revenge on a group of Vought researchers who conducted experiments on him as a child. In creating the ominous moment, production designer Mark Steel found inspiration from the “Cold War era” to give shape to the laboratory sets, adding nuanced details to heighten the realism. “We put all the dents at kid height and made it sort of feel like this was a familiar place he’d been in before,” Steel told IndieWire. And the composers enhanced the tension twofold. “The tension is so crazy, to think that everyone knows: just the slightest flinch and you’re dead,” said Christopher Lennertz, who worked alongside fellow composer Matt Bowen. “Musically, there’s a lot of things that we took a pause for and it was to have it be this breathing of like, oh my god, tension, tension, tension. Oh, maybe he’s not gonna kill him. And it’s this back and forth.” There are plenty of gruesome deaths in the sequence, including a memorable cremation with a live scientist. “When you’re meeting people, I always ask for as much practical fire as possible. So the very last shot of that sequence was the dummy on the ground,” VFX supervisor Stephan Szpak-Fleet said. “It was a mixture of Indiana Jones and OG face melts and having done so many burning bodies and melty, gross shit for this show by now.” “The way he comes in and the way he goes out are the key moments,” Starr noted of the sequence. “Because he goes in really not knowing what’s gonna come out of it. And then in the elevator on the way out, that smile was everything. That’s like therapy.” In the video above, watch the team break down Homelander’s complicated relationship to his own humanity — and how he handles it. As costume designer Laura Jean Shannon pointed out, “In this season, we built new suits — we took away the flap that he’s had since Season 1, that was his ability to loosen up.” Akin to Homelander, Billy Butcher, stoically portrayed by Karl Urban, faces his own moral dilemma. Does he walk the path of righteousness or release his inner demon? In shaping the character’s arc, Kripke separated Butcher from his group of ragtag partners, leaving him to think about how to make things right with his adoptive son Ryan (Cameron Crovetti). “We knew that Butcher was going to spend so much time alone and he has a literal angel and devil on his shoulder. One character who’s telling him, ‘Show love, show mercy,’ and then he has another who’s like, just become a monster,” Kripke told IndieWire. Crafting the juxtaposition was a key development early on. “He’s really down in the dumps at the beginning of Season 4, and we’ve got hints that he’s losing his mind but maybe hasn’t completely gotten there yet,” noted editor David Kaldor. The angel on his shoulder is his deceased wife, Becca (Shantel VanSanten), while a new character, Joe Kessler (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), plays his devil, who, in a late reveal, turns out to be a figment of Butcher’s imagination. The haunting revelation plays out through a montage of moments where Butcher believes he’s talking to Kessler, but in fact, no one is there. “When he starts to go through the flashbacks, we have this, like, rhythmic piece of distortion that just starts to loop on itself and starts to feedback on itself,” said composer Matt Bowen. “Kessler represents all the bad stuff in Butcher,” editor Scott Stolzar said. “He tried, and he failed, and he immediately reverts back to the absolute worst version of himself.” The event that firmly turns Butcher to the dark side is seeing Ryan send CIA officer Grace Mallory (Laila Robins) through a brick wall. “It’s such an emotional moment. Kripke and I talk about it all the time, some things, kept simple and just fast and violent, hit harder than all kinds of fancy moves and fancy wire work,” said supervising stunt coordinator John Koyama about creating the tragic death of the character. “For Butcher, it feels like a line that Ryan has crossed that he won’t come back from. And if he doesn’t have Ryan, then what the hell is he holding onto his humanity for? That’s when Butcher accepts that fate,” revealed Kripke. Part of what “They Boys” does so well is seamlessly introducing new characters, whether it’s a minor one like Will Ferrell making a cameo as a coach in a Vought-produced film or a major one, like Sister Sage (Susan Howard), the mastermind behind Homelander’s political rise. But no one made a bigger impact this season than Firecracker (Valorie Curry), a right-wing “truth bomber” who cozies up to Homelander as part of the Seven. The political mouthpiece becomes a sore spot for Annie (Erin Moriarty), revealing some of her darkest secrets. “There’s a lot of political figures that are folded into Firecracker,” said Kripke. “A big one, though, is the QAnon movement and just this overall notion of these unfounded conspiracy theories based on misinformation and social media and how they metastasize into this very frightening worldview.” In designing her super suit, costume designer Laura Jean Shannon infused a red, white, and blue color scheme with a customized camo jumpsuit as the base. Leather was infused into the creation along with metal accents and an ammo belt across her chest. “When Vought gets their hands on Firecracker, they take aspects of her costume that she wore, and they bake the DNA of that into their bells and whistles version of the Seven branded super suit,” explained Shannon. Similar thought went into designing her televised special “Truth Bomb.” “The whole idea of that stage set up was this guerrilla event happening across the street,” noted production designer Mark Steel. “Putting her brand in full relief behind, putting it on the floor, so that in every shot, you’re just entirely immersed in her brand. It was a graphic design approach that we took and it was for television.” Before Firecracker and Annie go toe-to-toe, supervising stunt coordinator John Koyama spoke with the actors to find the emotional undertones of the scene to “drive the action.” “It was just so great seeing Annie be a badass in her little quasi-preppy sports coat,” said Shannon. “And there was something really amazing about this sort of clashing of good and evil, but the one that deserved the beating was in her patriotic red, white, and blue.”

Root Number 6 individuals (born on the 6th, 15th, or 24th of any month) will have their fair share of highs and lows in 2025. The total value of the year is equal to 9, which is controlled by Mars, the planet of activity. Mars will bring energy in the year; you can work toward your goals passionately and vigorously. Still, the Moon (number 2) and Mercury (number 5) will temper this energy. Hence, this will be a year where you need to balance action and emotion. Under the influence of the Moon, you will be more connected with your feelings and look for harmony in your private life. Your gut will be your compass for the whole year. Also Read Numerology for 2025: Find your personal year number in 2025 Career Horoscope 2025 Considering the numerology predictions of Root Number 6 people in 2025, if one knows how to combine desire with rationality and empathy, one can expect a year full of great opportunities in their career field. The energy of the communication planet Mercury will help you in your interviews and make a good impression if you seek a new job. Your self-promoting skills will be high, so you can easily find employers or partners for your project. The year allows you to be unique in the job market, especially if the position needs creativity, emotional intelligence, or communication. For others, 2025 may be the year of a new job responsibility. The aspect of Mars will help you continue your efforts and stand up for yourself in your current occupation. Your superiors will quickly see your aspirations; you could have better prospects if you have pushed yourself. But with the Moon, you may need to bond emotionally and have more stability in the workplace than usual. The combination of passion and sensitivity will be the key to sustained career success. Finance Horoscope 2025 For Root Number 6 people, 2025 will be a year of financial success, but choosing the right risk management strategy is necessary. One of the most important things that you will have to master when it comes to your finances this year is the art of getting your head around the idea of short-term gains and long-term stability. This year, fixed-income investments with an element of growth will be most suitable. Do not get carried away and enter into land deals because they appear financially rewarding at the surface level. Other possibilities include stock market investments. Investing in bonds and stocks will help ensure a financially stable future. This is also a favourable year to work on personal development. You can learn new skills, gain certifications or even improve your qualifications. You might also want to think about health and wellness since this is a long-term investment, and it helps you feel healthy and energetic to tackle other financial goals. Love Horoscope 2025 For Root Number 6 people, the year 2025 is going to be a year of emotional maturity in their relationship life. Singles will have a combination of fun and self-reflection on their plates. Mars will inspire you to act and chase love fervently, but the Moon’s influence will make you sensitive and help you aim for deeper love. You may feel a greater need to pursue relationships beyond mere physical attraction. For those who are newly dating, this is an interesting but rather vulnerable year. Mars’ passion and the Moon’s emotional sensitivity will help one easily fall in love with a new partner. There will be a lot of chemistry between you, but there will be a powerful need for comfort and order. The roles in a relationship should be clearly understood by both of you, as well as your emotional requirements and expectations for the future. 2025 will be a year of personal growth and development in terms of emotional state for those in a relationship. This year can become the year of deepening feelings, provided you will express yourselves and listen to your partner. If some outstanding problems are not solved, this is the right time to solve them and move forward. Health Horoscope 2025 In the physical sense, Root Number 6 people are usually robust, but due to the energies in 2025, you may need to be more careful with some areas of your body. Mars, the planet of energy and action, rules the muscles and the adrenal glands. You may want to take your body to extremes this year, but do not let yourself get carried away. You may easily experience muscle strain or injury, especially if you are involved in physically demanding activities. Mercury will impact your nervous system and communication. You are likely to be more mentally alert than usual, which can cause stress or overthinking. The particular months that might be problematic are March, July, and November because the energies of Mars and Mercury might cause increased stress and physical fatigue.

A bankruptcy judge on Monday delayed a hearing in conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ effort to stop the satirical news outlet The Onion from buying Infowars, keeping the auction sale up in the air for at least another few weeks. Jones alleges fraud and collusion marred the bankruptcy auction that resulted in The Onion being named the winning bidder over a company affiliated with him. A trustee overseeing the auction denies the allegations and accuses Jones of launching a smear campaign because he didn't like the outcome. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez had been scheduled to hear an emergency motion to disqualify The Onion's bid on Monday, but put it off until either Dec. 9 or Dec. 17. That's also when the judge will hear arguments on the trustee's request to approve the sale of Infowars to The Onion. Lopez said it made sense to have one hearing on both requests. “I want a fair and transparent process and let’s just see where the process goes," Lopez said. Lopez could ultimately allow The Onion to move forward with its purchase, order a new auction or name the other bidder as the winner. At stake is whether Jones gets to stay at Infowars’ studio in Austin, Texas, under a new owner friendly to him, or whether he gets kicked out by The Onion. The other bidder, First United American Companies, runs a website in Jones’ name that sells nutritional supplements. Jones continues to broadcast his show from the Infowars studio, but he has set up a new location, websites and social media accounts as a precaution. The trustee shut down the Austin studio and Infowars' websites for about 24 hours last week after The Onion was announced as the winning bidder, but allowed them to resume the next day, drawing more complaints from Jones. Jones declared bankruptcy and liquidated his assets after he was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion to relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. He was ordered to pay damages for defamation and emotional distress in lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas after he repeatedly said the 2012 shooting that killed 20 first graders and six educators was a hoax staged by actors to increase gun control. Proceeds from the liquidation are to go to Jones’ creditors, including the Sandy Hook families who sued him. Last year, Lopez ruled that $1.1 billion of the Sandy Hook judgments could not be discharged in the bankruptcy. On Monday, he denied a request from Sandy Hook families to make the full $1.5 billion not dischargeable, meaning the debt cannot be wiped clean. Also Monday, lawyers for the social media platform X objected to any sale of the accounts of both Jones and Infowars, saying X is the owner of the accounts and it has not given consent for them to be sold or transferred. Jones' personal X account, with 3.3 million followers, was not part of the auction, but Lopez will be deciding if it should be included in the liquidation. Jones has praised X owner Elon Musk on his show and suggested that Musk should buy Infowars. Musk has not responded publicly to that suggestion and was not among the bidders. Jones was permanently banned from Twitter in 2018 for abusive behavior, but Musk restored Jones’ account on the platform he has since renamed X in December last year. Jones alleges The Onion’s bid was the result of fraud and collusion involving many of the Sandy Hook families, the humor site and the court-appointed trustee. First United American Companies submitted a $3.5 million sealed bid, while The Onion offered $1.75 million in cash. But The Onion's bid also included a pledge by Sandy Hook families to forgo some or all of the auction proceeds due to them to give other creditors a total of $100,000 more than they would receive under other bids. The trustee, Christopher Murray, said that made The Onion's proposal better for creditors and he named it the winning bid. Jones and First United American Companies claimed that the bid violated Lopez’s rules for the auction by including multiple entities and lacking a valid dollar amount. Jones also alleged Murray improperly canceled an expected round of live bidding and only selected from among the two sealed bids that were submitted. Jones called the auction “rigged” and a “fraud” on his show, which airs on the Infowars website, radio stations and Jones' X account. He filed a counter lawsuit last week against Murray, The Onion's parent company and the Sandy Hook families in the bankruptcy court. In a court filing on Sunday, Murray called the allegations a “desperate attempt” to delay the sale of Infowars to The Onion and accused Jones, his lawyers and attorneys for First United American Companies of a “vicious smear campaign lobbing patently false accusations.” He also alleged Jones collaborated with First United American Companies to try to buy Infowars. Lopez’s September order on the auction procedures made a live bidding round optional. And it gave broad authority to Murray to conduct the sale, including the power to reject any bid, no matter how high, that was “contrary to the best interests” of Jones, his company and their creditors. The assets of Infowars' parent company, Free Speech Systems, that were up for sale included the Austin studio, Infowars' video archive, video production equipment, product trademarks, and Infowars' websites and social media accounts. Another auction of remaining assets is set for Dec. 10. Jones is appealing the $1.5 billion in judgments citing free speech rights, but has acknowledged that the school shooting happened . Many of Jones’ personal assets, including real estate, guns and other belongings, also are being sold as part of the bankruptcy. Documents filed in court this year say Jones had about $9 million in personal assets, while Free Speech Systems had about $6 million in cash and more than $1 million worth of inventory.NoneSEOUL, South Korea , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SOLVIT System, a recognized leader in innovative technology, will participate in CES 2025, taking place January 7–10 in Las Vegas . The company's iSARTM (intelligent Search and Rescue) has been honored with the prestigious CES Innovation Award in the "Smart Cities" category. At CES, SOLVIT System will showcase its groundbreaking technology to dramatically reduce search areas for individuals lost in radio shadow zones. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Amdocs recognized as winner in two categories - Industry Partner of the Year - Telco (Global) and Industry Partner of the Year - Telco (North America), recognizing top AWS Partners who enable telco customers to drive innovation JERSEY CITY, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / December 3, 2024 / Amdocs (NASDAQ:DOX), a leading provider of software and services to communications and media companies, today announced it is a recipient of the 2024 Geography and Global AWS Partner Award, recognizing leaders around the globe that are playing key roles in helping their customers drive innovation and build solutions on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Amdocs has been named winner in two categories - Industry Partner of the Year - Telco (Global) and Industry Partner of the Year - Telco (North America). Announced during the Partner Awards Gala at AWS re:Invent 2024, the Geographic and Global AWS Partner Awards recognize a wide range of AWS Partners that have embraced specialization, innovation, and cooperation over the past year. Geo and Global AWS Partner Awards recognize partners whose business models continue to evolve and thrive on AWS as they support their customers. Amdocs was recognized as Industry Partner of the Year - Telco (Global) for collaborating with PLDT, a leading telecommunications provider in the Philippines, to support their cloud migration on AWS. Amdocs is supporting PLDT's modernization journey to improve business agility and respond faster to market dynamics, driving innovations and delivering an enhanced connected customer experience. The project, which is being implemented in phases under multi-year agreement, involves Amdocs taking end-to-end accountability for migrating PLDT's legacy applications to AWS, data-warehouse modernization, and deploying Amdocs Intelligent Networking Suite, a next-generation operational support systems (OSS) platform, on AWS to modernize PLDT's network operations. "Our journey to the cloud is a strategic investment to serve customers better. By leveraging this technology, we are committed to delivering innovative products, services, and solutions that enhance experiences and ensure PLDT's relevance to nation building," said Victorico P. Vargas, Digital Office Head and Leadership Transition Officer at PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. Industry Partner of the Year - Telco (North America) recognizes the Amdocs connectX SaaS solution implementation with AT&T, a leading communication service provider in North America, as a Marquee Design Win. ConnectX offers a turnkey "telco-in-a-box" platform powered by AWS, which enables telcos and emerging mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) to launch flexible and versatile digital services rapidly. The solution includes a comprehensive SaaS offering, featuring a catalog, subscription services management, a mobile app, innovative branding, and integration of local payment gateways and network aggregators. AT&T chose the Amdocs connectX cloud-native SaaS platform to support its vision of building an innovative ecosystem for evolving consumer needs. ConnectX empowers MVNOs to quickly create and launch unique brands and services for customers through accelerated timelines, advanced AI self-service, and digital simplicity. Stephanie Ormston, AVP, MVNx Ecosystem at AT&T said: "We're proud to collaborate with Amdocs and implement their feature-rich SaaS platform. This collaboration supports AT&T's mission of building a cutting-edge ecosystem for evolving consumer landscapes by empowering disruptive digital brands to quickly design and launch valuable digital products and innovative services." "We are thrilled to be recognized as ‘Partner of the Year' by AWS in two categories," said Anthony Goonetilleke, Group President of Technology and Head of Strategy at Amdocs. "Amdocs' commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions is backed by our extensive industry expertise and a strong emphasis on creating seamless connected experiences. The two awards reflect on our strong partnership with AWS, which is empowering our customers like AT&T and PLDT to reinvent the way they operate and re-imagine the type of experiences they bring to their customers." The Geography and Global AWS Partner Awards included a self-nomination process across several award categories, awarded at both the geographic and global level. All AWS Partners were invited to participate and submit a nomination. Award submissions were reviewed by a third-party, Canalys, and selected with special emphasis placed on customer success use cases. In addition, there were several data-driven award categories, which were evaluated by a unique set of metrics that helped measure AWS Partners' performance over the past year. Canalys audited the datasets used to ensure that all measurements and calculations were objective and accurate. Finalists represented the top three ranked AWS Partners across each category. The AWS Partner Network (APN) is a global program focused on helping partners innovate, accelerate their journey to the cloud, and take full advantage of the breadth and depth of AWS. Supporting Resources About Amdocs Amdocs helps those who build the future to make it amazing. With our market-leading portfolio of software products and services, we unlock our customers' innovative potential, empowering them to provide next-generation communication and media experiences for both the individual end user and enterprise customers. Our employees around the globe are here to accelerate service providers' migration to the cloud, enable them to differentiate in the 5G era, and digitalize and automate their operations. Listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, Amdocs had revenue of $5.00 billion in fiscal 2024. For more information, visit www.amdocs.com Amdocs' Forward-Looking Statement This press release includes information that constitutes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about Amdocs' growth and business results in future quarters and years. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be obtained or that any deviations will not be material. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to, the effects of general macro-economic conditions, prevailing level of macroeconomic, business and operational uncertainty, including as a result of geopolitical events or other global or regional events, as well as the current inflationary environment, and the effects of these conditions on the company's customers' businesses and levels of business activity, including the effect of the current economic uncertainty and industry pressure on the spending decisions of the company's customers, Amdocs' ability to grow in the business markets that it serves, Amdocs' ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, adverse effects of market competition, rapid technological shifts that may render the Company's products and services obsolete, potential loss of a major customer, our ability to develop long-term relationships with our customers, our ability to successfully and effectively implement artificial intelligence and Generative AI in the company's offerings and operations and risks associated with operating businesses in the international market. Amdocs may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future; however, Amdocs specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These and other risks are discussed at greater length in Amdocs' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 filed on December 13, 2023 and our Form 6-K furnished for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 on February 20, 2024, for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 on May 20, 2024, and for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 on August 19, 2024. Media Contacts - Swati Sharma Amdocs Public Relations E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE: Amdocs Management Limited View the original on accesswire.comCitius Pharmaceuticals stock hits 52-week low at $0.16game zone super stadium baseball game 。

Primark fans loving store's latest £10 gym items that come in 'colour of the season'AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:24 p.m. EST

With much of President Joe Biden’s student loan agenda tied up in court, the incoming Trump administration could have a significant impact on millions of borrowers. Related video above: Rossen Reports: These states have the highest student loan payments President-elect Donald Trump hasn’t made specific promises on student loans or other forms of college financial aid, but delivering student loan forgiveness isn’t a policy priority like it has been for Biden. Republicans have repeatedly challenged Biden’s efforts, and when his sweeping student loan forgiveness program was struck down by the Supreme Court last year, Trump said the proposal “would have been very unfair to the millions and millions of people who have paid their debt through hard work and diligence.” During his first term, Trump proposed ending a program that delivers student loan forgiveness to public sector workers after 10 years, and his administration tried to limit debt relief for borrowers who were misled by their colleges. Both efforts were unsuccessful, but the latter left many people waiting for years to find out if their debt relief claim would be granted. It’s possible for the Trump administration to unilaterally make some changes to the federal student loan system through a rulemaking process, but other actions — like abolishing the Department of Education, as Trump has promised to do — would require Congress to act. Here’s what student loan borrowers need to know about what’s at stake and what Trump could do: One of the first things Trump’s Department of Education may have to address is what to do with Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, repayment plan, which is currently on hold due to litigation. There are 8 million people enrolled in SAVE, and if it is struck down in court, they will have to move to a different repayment plan. A lawsuit brought by several Republican-led states argues that the president does not have the authority to implement the plan. A ruling by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is expected imminently. The Trump administration could decide to rescind the repayment plan, which was created by a regulatory process. It could also decide to stop defending the plan in court. SAVE, which was launched last year, is meant to offer the most generous terms for low-income borrowers. Under the plan, some enrolled borrowers would see monthly payments as low as 5% of discretionary income. It also promises to cancel remaining student loan debt after making as few as 10 years of payments. Borrowers enrolled in SAVE are not currently required to make payments since the Department of Education put them in an interest-free forbearance due to the litigation. The department is expected to reopen two older income-driven repayment plans in December, giving borrowers the option to switch to a plan that might be more affordable than the standard, 10-year plan. Income-driven repayment plans calculate a borrower’s monthly payment based on their income and family size rather than the amount of debt they owe. In addition to lowering monthly payments, the plans promise to wipe away remaining student debt after a borrower makes a certain number of payments — usually 20 or 25 years’ worth. Project 2025, the conservative blueprint published by the Heritage Foundation, calls for creating one new income-driven repayment plan and eliminating all the others. The policy paper also favors eliminating any loan forgiveness provision in the repayment plan, but this would likely require an act of Congress. Trump has distanced himself from the 900-page playbook, but a CNN review found that at least 140 people who worked in the first Trump administration were involved in it. The Biden administration has canceled a record $175 billion of student loan debt for nearly 5 million people — largely through existing relief programs for public sector workers, disabled borrowers and people who were misled by their college. Under Biden, the Department of Education temporarily expanded eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, recounted past payments to correct administrative errors, cut red tape for disabled borrowers and chipped away at a backlog of relief applications left over from the previous Trump administration. Trump has not suggested that clawing back student loan forgiveness that was already granted is on his to-do list for his second term. It could be difficult both politically and logistically. Efforts to reverse student debt relief would be expected to face legal challenges. “If the new Trump administration attempts to reinstate discharged loans by reversing legal positions, they will be held accountable and spend much of the next four years tied up in court,” said Aaron Ament, president of the nonprofit National Student Legal Defense Network. There are some borrowers who may have been notified by the Department of Education that they have been granted debt relief, but they have yet to see the change made to their account balance. Even in that situation, there is a precedent that the forgiveness would still take effect under a new administration. “We don’t think that can be clawed back under the law. We don’t think it should be clawed back, of course, but we’re ready to defend those discharges,” said Eileen Connor, president and director of the Project on Predatory Student Lending, which represents borrowers defrauded by their colleges. Biden has made other efforts to create new programs to deliver student loan forgiveness, but none of them are currently in effect. His signature student loan forgiveness program, which would have delivered up to $20,000 of relief to millions of borrowers, was struck down by the Supreme Court last year. Since then, his Education Department has been working on implementing more targeted debt-relief programs through the regulatory process. But those proposals have not been finalized, and Trump’s new administration could decide not to move forward with implementing them. One proposal, which would cancel interest for some student loan borrowers, is already facing a Republican-led lawsuit. During Trump’s first term, he made some unsuccessful efforts to make it harder for some people to qualify for student loan forgiveness through two existing programs. His education secretary, Betsy DeVos, and many other Republicans argued against some debt relief because it transfers the cost to taxpayers, many of whom didn’t go to college. Public Service Loan Forgiveness program: PSLF was created during President George W. Bush’s administration in 2007. It cancels remaining student loan debt after a qualifying public sector worker makes 10 years’ worth of payments. During his first term, Trump called for phasing out PSLF. But since the program was created by Congress, it would have to be dissolved by Congress, and that move did not receive support in the past. Trump’s proposal would have eliminated the program for new borrowers only. Borrower defense to repayment : Trump’s first administration made attempts to limit the borrower defense to repayment program, which grants debt relief to people who were misled by their college. DeVos tried to change the rule so that eligible borrowers would receive partial relief instead of canceling the full amount of debt. She made it clear that she thought the rule was “bad policy” that put taxpayers on the hook for the cost of the debt relief without the right safeguards in place and made changes to limit its reach. The proposal was unsuccessful, but the department stopped processing borrower defense claims while fighting challenges in court. As a result, a backlog of more than 200,000 claims piled up. DeVos and the department were later found in contempt of court for continuing to collect on some of those loans while the rule was pending. The Biden administration has worked to chip away at that backlog. Trump has called for closing the Department of Education, which currently administers the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. First of all, Trump will need Congress to do away with the department, and it’s unclear if he will have the support from enough lawmakers to do so. Trump’s first administration proposed merging the Education and Labor departments, but the idea didn’t go anywhere despite Republicans having control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate at the time. It’s possible that some programs and funding could be retained and shifted to other agencies, which is where they were housed before the department was created in 1979. If that happens, Project 2025 recommends moving the federal student loan portfolio to the Department of Treasury.Tom Holland surprises Mass. college students while in Boston with Zendaya

EVELETH — A three-goal flurry in the third period put the Minnesota Wilderness past the Willmar WarHawks in an NA3HL matchup Saturday at the Eveleth Hippodrome. The Wilderness came away with a 3-2 victory. That puts Minnesota’s record at 8-8-2-1. Willmar drops to 9-10-0-0. Tied 2-2, the Wilderness’ Kaden Rocheleau scored the game-winning goal with 1 minute, 40 seconds left to play. It was Rocheleau’s 10th goal of the season. The WarHawks led 1-0 in the first period thanks to Ben Branco’s first goal of the season. Branco is a defenseman from Shoreview. After Minnesota went up 2-1 in the third period, Willmar tied the game at 2-2 with a Hayden Stensrud unassisted goal at 12:26. It was the second goal of the season for Stensrud, who is a defenseman from St. Peter. Willmar has three games this week. The WarHawks play Alexandria at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday at the Runestone Community Center in Alexandria. The Blizzard and WarHawks play again at 7:10 Friday at the Willmar Civic Center Arena. Willmar caps off the week against the Wilderness at 7:10 p.m. Saturday at the Willmar Civic Center Arena. Minnesota 3, Willmar 2

Uruguay's voters choose their next president in a close runoff with low stakes but much suspense

Alberta to hike auto insurance premium cap on 'good drivers' to 7.5% in January 2025Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’

Jalon Moore led No. 12 Oklahoma with 22 points in an 89-67 home win against pesky Prairie View A&M in Norman on Sunday. Jeremiah Fears scored 19 points and Duke Miles added 17 for the Sooners, who are 13-0 for the fourth time in program history and the first time since the 1987-88 season. Tanahj Pettway led PVAMU with 22 points while Marcel Bryant added 14. Braelon Bush and Jordan Tillmon each chipped in 11 points for PVAMU (1-13) which played without leading scorer Nick Anderson (18.9 points per game). The Sooners finally pulled away from the determined Panthers with 5:20 left on a 10-3 run that started when Sam Goodwin tipped in a rebound and was capped by a Glenn Taylor Jr. rebound for an 80-63 lead. A Kobe Elvis 3-pointer capped a game-closing 9-0 Sooners run. Pettway connected on a 3-pointer from the wing that gave the Panthers a 5-2 lead. PVAMU hung tight on a Bryant jumper that tied the game at 7. Even though they were short-handed, the Panthers' largest first-half deficit was only 11. A Pettway layup and his steal in the full-court press that led to Bryant's turnaround jumper in the lane as the Panthers closed within 34-30. PVAMU's rally prompted an Oklahoma timeout after which Miles drilled a 3-pointer to kick off a half-closing 9-2 spurt for a 43-32 halftime lead. Braelon Bush's 3-pointer pulled the Panthers within 58-50 with 11:17 left in the game. It was the Panthers' 12th straight nonconference road game. PVAMU returns to its home court Saturday against Grambling. Oklahoma kicks off its first season in the SEC at No. 5 Alabama on Saturday. --Field Level Media

Jimmy Carter, former U.S. president and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, dies at 100

Significant milestones in life and career of Jimmy CarterIIHS launches young entrepreneurs’ hub

granny super game NoneValero Energy VLO has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 2.8% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 14.86%. Currently, Valero Energy has a market capitalization of $42.20 billion. Buying $100 In VLO: If an investor had bought $100 of VLO stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $797.67 today based on a price of $133.29 for VLO at the time of writing. Valero Energy's Performance Over Last 15 Years Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Title: Montolivo: Conte Rarely Trusts Substitute Players, He Should Give Them More Playing Time

Furthermore, it is advisable to consult with a financial advisor or real estate agent to assess individual circumstances and make an informed decision. They can provide valuable insights into market trends, loan options, and potential investment opportunities.As the excitement surrounding the boss challenge update reaches a fever pitch, players are eagerly anticipating what the future holds for "Black Myth: Wukong." With promises of new content, expansions, and even more thrilling challenges on the horizon, players are ready to dive deeper into the world of the game and continue their epic journey with Wukong.The battle that ensued was nothing short of epic, as players witnessed the incredible agility and power of the Crimson Wyrm. Its fiery breath scorched the earth, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. However, the hunters were not without their own skills and tactics. Armed with an array of powerful weapons and armor, they stood their ground against the fearsome beast, determined to emerge victorious.Title: "Map Function Launched in Black Myth: Wukong! Preserving the Joy of Exploration with Traditional Chinese Art Style"

Rafa Leao once again made a decisive contribution to , but he thanked his teammate Yousouff Fofana for giving him a ‘perfect ball’ which allowed him to open the scoring for the hosts with his second consecutive Champions League goal. The Rossoneri still made a late goal from substitute Tammy Abraham in the closing minutes to pick up all three points, but the Portuguese star insisted their victory was ‘deserved’ and that they expected a difficult game, despite conceding they ‘lost focus mentally’ in the second half, allowing the visitors to equalise. Leao is aware that Red Star’s goal made ‘things a bit more complicated’, as the , making the difference between booking a direct spot for the round of 16 or going through the play-off round. “We know the next two matches won’t be easy,” Leao told Milan TV after the match, as . “Today we made things a bit more complicated for ourselves. It’s a goal, of course, and the whole team wants to be among the best in Europe. So we need to start strong in the upcoming games and show that Milan want to win. “The coach had already spoken about it during the week, describing them as a team that waits for the counter-attack, waits for us to make a mistake in the middle, because they defend together with a low block. “There’s no space in the middle, so they were always trying to counter-attack to create danger, and that’s how they scored. “Then, in the second half, we lost focus mentally, we weren’t really in the game. But I have to give ourselves credit because we didn’t stop, we kept battling, kept searching for the goal, and in the end, it came.” “He’s a very important player,” Leao continued, speaking of Fofana. “He’s someone I get along very well with. That movement is something he knows, he knows that when I have space, I make that run. “The ball was perfect; I just had to control it well and then shoot quickly before the goalkeeper arrived. Yes, I’m happy with the goal. But the most important thing was the win. It was difficult, but in the end, we deserved it.”The recent update to the game has introduced new features, improved graphics and gameplay mechanics, and expanded the world for players to explore. Fans have been eagerly waiting for this update, and the positive response on Bilibili, China's popular video sharing platform, has been overwhelming.

The launch of "Endless Warmth" on multiple platforms marks a significant milestone for both Diézhǐ and Aliyun, showcasing their commitment to delivering innovative and high-quality gaming experiences to a global audience. With its enchanting story, engaging gameplay, and seamless multi-platform support, "Endless Warmth" is poised to become a standout title in the competitive mobile gaming market.In the realm of football, recent performances by the Argentina national team and its star players have captured the attention and admiration of fans worldwide. With a midfield duo at the helm and standout performances in top European leagues, Argentina has proven its prowess on the global stage. Let's delve into the remarkable achievements that have solidified Argentina's dominance in the football world.Elly's choice of attire reflects her unique sense of style and flair for fashion. The combination of a classic white T-shirt with a contemporary hoodie and a flirty short skirt showcases her ability to mix and match different pieces to create a cohesive and trendy outfit. The slim fit of the T-shirt highlights her slender figure, while the hoodie adds a cool and laid-back vibe to her ensemble. Paired with the short skirt, Elly's outfit exudes a youthful and playful energy that perfectly complements her age and personality.

The game's stunning visuals, immersive storytelling, and engaging gameplay have captivated audiences since its initial release. Now, with the latest update, players can expect even more excitement and thrills as they delve deeper into the world of "Black Myth: Wu Kong."

In a shocking and tragic turn of events, a female master's student from one of China's prestigious universities, Wuhan University, known as a member of the prestigious 985 Project, was found dead in Japan after starving herself to death. What makes this situation even more appalling is the fact that prior to her death, she had been advocating for the use of nuclear weapons to bomb her own country, China.

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Title: Ahead of the Derby Match, Real Madrid Conducts Special Training for Barcelona's High Defensive Line, Resulting in Mbappé Being Caught Offside 8 Times

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:41 p.m. EST

"Journey of Discovery" is not merely a film, but a reflection of the zeitgeist, a mirror held up to the complexities of modern life and the challenges faced by the youth of today. Dong Jie's directorial debut heralds a new era in Chinese cinema, one marked by a fresh perspective and a willingness to tackle difficult and thought-provoking themes. As the film heads into post-production, audiences eagerly anticipate the opportunity to embark on this cinematic journey of self-discovery and introspection.However, despite the intense speculation, Enmecha himself has made it clear that he has no intention of leaving Dortmund anytime soon. The youngster, who joined the German club from Manchester City's youth academy in 2019, has expressed his commitment to the team and his desire to continue his development under coach Marco Rose.

On the other hand, Dejan Kulusevski, the versatile Swedish midfielder who currently plays for Juventus, has caught the eye of Liverpool's recruitment staff due to his technical skillset, vision, and creativity on the field. Kulusevski's ability to play in various positions across the midfield and attack would offer flexibility to Liverpool's tactical approach and provide depth to their squad.One of the key highlights of the new release is the enhancement of Yuelingxi AI's natural language processing capabilities. Through advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques, the platform is now able to understand and interpret human language with even greater accuracy and precision. This improvement not only enhances the user experience but also opens up new possibilities for applications in areas such as virtual assistants, chatbots, and sentiment analysis.Commentary: President Yoon’s actions have tarnished South Korea’s international reputation

The increase in China's import and export value also reflects the country's efforts to further open up its economy and enhance international trade cooperation. The signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and the ongoing negotiations for the China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment demonstrate China's commitment to promoting free trade and economic integration on a global scale.6. Lack of Fact-Checking: The Daily Mail's failure to fact-check information before publication resulted in numerous inaccuracies and errors in its reporting. By neglecting to verify sources and data, the newspaper undermined its credibility and misled readers on critical issues.4. Forensic Evidence: In today's digital age, forensic evidence plays a vital role in criminal investigations. Detective Zhang Kehan is well-versed in the latest forensic techniques and technologies, allowing him to analyze physical evidence, digital data, and other forensic evidence to uncover vital clues that can strengthen the case. By leveraging forensic evidence, Detective Zhang Kehan can piece together the puzzle of this complex crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.

GRAPEVINE, Texas, Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) (“GameStop” or the “Company”) today released financial results for the third quarter ended November 2, 2024. The Company’s condensed and consolidated financial statements, including GAAP and non-GAAP results, are below. The Company’s Form 10-Q and supplemental information can be found at https://investor.gamestop.com . THIRD QUARTER OVERVIEW Net sales were $0.860 billion for the period, compared to $1.078 billion in the prior year's third quarter. Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $282.0 million for the period, compared to $296.5 million in the prior year's third quarter. Net income was $17.4 million for the period, compared to a net loss of $3.1 million for the prior year’s third quarter. Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $4.616 billion at the close of the quarter. During the quarter, the Company completed its previously disclosed "at-the-market" equity offering program pursuant to the prospectus supplement filed with the SEC on September 6, 2024 by selling 20.0 million shares of its common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $400.0 million (before commissions and offering expenses). The Company does not anticipate any further at-the-market offerings involving the offer and sale of its common stock during the current fiscal year. The Company will not be holding a conference call today. Additional information can be found in the Company’s Form 10-Q. NON-GAAP MEASURES AND OTHER METRICS As a supplement to the Company’s financial results presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), GameStop may use certain non-GAAP measures, such as adjusted SG&A expenses, adjusted operating loss, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors in evaluating the Company’s core operating performance. Adjusted SG&A expenses, adjusted operating loss, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share and adjusted EBITDA exclude the effect of items such as certain transformation costs, asset impairments, severance, as well as divestiture costs. Free cash flow excludes capital expenditures otherwise included in net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities. The Company’s definition and calculation of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from that of other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as supplementing, and not as an alternative or substitute for, the Company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Certain of the items that may be excluded or included in non-GAAP financial measures may be significant items that could impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows and should therefore be considered in assessing the Company’s actual and future financial condition and performance. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS - SAFE HARBOR This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon management’s current beliefs, views, estimates and expectations, including as to the Company’s industry, business strategy, goals and expectations concerning its market position, strategic and transformation initiatives, future operations, margins, profitability, sales growth, capital expenditures, liquidity, capital resources, expansion of technology expertise, and other financial and operating information, including expectations as to future operating profit improvement. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and actual developments, business decisions, outcomes and results may differ materially from those reflected or described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual developments, business decisions, outcomes and results to differ materially from those reflected or described in the forward-looking statements: economic, social, and political conditions in the markets in which we operate; the competitive nature of the Company’s industry; the cyclicality of the video game industry; the Company’s dependence on the timely delivery of new and innovative products from its vendors; the impact of technological advances in the video game industry and related changes in consumer behavior on the Company’s sales; interruptions to the Company’s supply chain or the supply chain of our suppliers; the Company’s dependence on sales during the holiday selling season; the Company’s ability to obtain favorable terms from its current and future suppliers and service providers; the Company’s ability to anticipate, identify and react to trends in pop culture with regard to its sales of collectibles; the Company’s ability to maintain strong retail and ecommerce experiences for its customers; the Company’s ability to keep pace with changing industry technology and consumer preferences; the Company’s ability to manage its profitability and cost reduction initiatives; turnover in senior management or the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; potential damage to the Company’s reputation or customers' perception of the Company; the Company’s ability to maintain the security or privacy of its customer, associate or Company information; occurrence of weather events, natural disasters, public health crises and other unexpected events; risks associated with inventory shrinkage; potential failure or inadequacy of the Company's computerized systems; the ability of the Company’s third party delivery services to deliver products to the Company’s retail locations, fulfillment centers and consumers and changes in the terms the Company has with such service providers; the ability and willingness of the Company’s vendors to provide marketing and merchandising support at historical or anticipated levels; restrictions on the Company’s ability to purchase and sell pre-owned products; the Company’s ability to renew or enter into new leases on favorable terms; unfavorable changes in the Company’s global tax rate; legislative actions; the Company’s ability to comply with federal, state, local and international laws and regulations and statutes; potential future litigation and other legal proceedings; the value of the Company’s securities holdings; concentration of the Company’s investment portfolio into one or few holdings; the recognition of losses in a particular security even if the Company has not sold the security; volatility in the Company’s stock price, including volatility due to potential short squeezes; continued high degrees of media coverage by third parties; the availability and future sales of substantial amounts of the Company’s Class A common stock; fluctuations in the Company’s results of operations from quarter to quarter; the Company’s ability to incur additional debt; risks associated with the Company’s investment in marketable, nonmarketable and interest-bearing securities, including the impact of such investments on the Company’s financial results; and the Company’s ability to maintain effective control over financial reporting. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those reflected or described in the forward-looking statements can be found in GameStop's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings made from time to time with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov or on the Company’s investor relations website ( https://investor.gamestop.com ). Forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws. GameStop Corp. Schedule II (in millions, except per share data) (unaudited) Non-GAAP results The following tables reconcile the Company's selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A expense”), operating loss, net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share as presented in its unaudited consolidated statements of operations and prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) to its adjusted SG&A expense, adjusted operating loss, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) per share. The diluted weighted-average shares outstanding used to calculate adjusted earnings per share may differ from GAAP weighted-average shares outstanding. Under GAAP, basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding are the same in periods where there is a net loss. The reconciliations below are from continuing operations only. GameStop Corp. Schedule III (in millions) (unaudited) Non-GAAP results The following table reconciles the Company's cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities as presented in its unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and prepared in accordance with GAAP to its free cash flow. Free cash flow is considered a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes, however, that free cash flow, which measures our ability to generate additional cash from our business operations, is an important financial measure for use by investors in evaluating the company’s financial performance. Non-GAAP Measures and Other Metrics Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted SG&A expense, adjusted operating loss, adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per share are supplemental financial measures of the Company’s performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. We believe that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations. We define adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before income taxes, plus interest income, net and depreciation and amortization, excluding stock-based compensation, certain transformation costs, business divestitures, asset impairments, severance and other non-cash charges. Net income (loss) is the GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to adjusted EBITDA. Our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Furthermore, non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool because they exclude some but not all items that affect the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Some of these limitations include: certain items excluded from adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital and tax structure; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and our computations of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. We compensate for the limitations of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted SG&A expense, adjusted operating loss, adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per share as analytical tools by reviewing the comparable GAAP financial measure, understanding the differences between the GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures and incorporating these data points into our decision-making process. Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted SG&A expense, adjusted operating loss, adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per share are provided in addition to, and not as an alternative to, the Company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because adjusted EBITDA, adjusted SG&A expense, adjusted operating loss, adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per share may be defined and determined differently by other companies in our industry, our definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing their utility. Contact GameStop Investor Relations 817-424-2001 [email protected]

NoneWhen the Great Recession struck California 17 years ago and hundreds of thousands of workers lost their jobs, the state’s unemployment insurance system crashed. The employer-financed program quickly exhausted its thin reserves, due to a short-sighted political decision six years earlier. In 2001, the Unemployment Insurance Fund had a $6.5 billion positive balance. But the governor at the time, Democrat Gray Davis, owed big political debts to unions that financed his 1998 campaign. He repaid them by doubling unemployment insurance benefits, contending that the seemingly hefty reserve could cover them without raising payroll taxes on employers. When recession struck, the insurance fund soon leaked red ink and the state borrowed about $10 billion from the federal government to maintain cash payments. When the state didn’t repay the loan, the feds raised payroll taxes for nearly a decade to retire the loan. It should have been a lesson for political policymakers about instant gratification and financial responsibility, but it wasn’t. Shortly after the $10 billion loan was paid off, California was hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic, and upwards of 3 million workers lost their jobs as the state ordered workplace closures. Once again, the unemployment insurance program had virtually no reserves to cover the sharp increase in claims. Once again it borrowed from the federal government, this time for $20 billion, and once again its failure to repay forced the feds to increase payroll taxes. In addition to a double dose of financial problems, the Employment Development Department has also experienced managerial failures. In 2011 Elaine Howle, the state auditor, laid out the department’s shortcomings in a sharply worded report, but when the pandemic hit, they once again became evident. There were massive glitches in responding to legitimate claims for insurance benefits, while the department gave tens of billions of dollars to fraudsters. Meanwhile employers are still repaying the last loan, and the state’s insurance fund is continuing to run deficits, unable to cover current benefits of nearly $7 billion a year. With that history in mind, another watchdog agency, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, is urging a complete overhaul of unemployment insurance, declaring the system “is broken.” Noting that the current state payroll tax cannot fully cover current benefits, much less build reserves, the LAO report projects a “perpetually outstanding federal loan” to keep payments flowing that must be repaid with interest. The report proposes a four-part tough love approach to a crisis that has been building for more than two decades and cannot solve itself, to wit it advises the state to: There may be other alternatives, perhaps affecting benefits, but the main thing is that doing nothing will just perpetuate this crisis — even though the politics of the issue are daunting. It’s been a political stalemate for nearly a quarter-century, pitting unions seeking to protect, or even increase, benefits against employers who don’t want to shoulder increased taxes. Successive governors and legislative leaders have shunned engagement, preferring to kick the can down the road. Dan Walters is one of most decorated and widely syndicated columnists in California history, authoring a column four times a week that offers his view and analysis of the state’s political, economic, social and demographic trends.DALLAS — The Mets are leaving the Winter Meetings with only one new player, though that one player, star outfielder Juan Soto , arguably makes them the winners of the week. While they were hoping to land a few others, the market has been more sluggish than expected, especially when it comes to the high-end position players. This makes it tricky to determine what first baseman Pete Alonso is worth. According to sources, a market for the Polar Bear has not yet emerged. However, his agent, Scott Boras, said he is meeting with teams. “Pete Alonso is open to listening to a lot of teams, and has been doing so,” Boras said Wednesday at the Hilton Anatole during his annual press conference. “His experiences with the Mets were extraordinary, both for them and him.” Some in the industry expect him to return to the Mets, but some just aren’t sure how to gauge a fair contract for a 30-year-old right-handed hitting first baseman like Alonso. However, the other position players in Alonso’s tier haven’t signed either and there doesn’t appear to be much movement. That could be changing soon. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said there is plenty of talk between agents and teams about that group, even if there has been little movement outside of the Soto deal. “I think there’s ongoing dialog,” Stearns said Wednesday before departing Dallas. “Tough for me to contextualize exactly where it is, but in all segments of the free agent market, top or or lower tiers, I think this was a very active Winter Meetings in terms of discussion. And we probably have a little surprise that throughout the industry, there hasn’t been more actual signings, but I think it was a pretty active discussion meetings.” As for why there hasn’t been a ton of signings, Stearns isn’t exactly sure. “I have no idea,” he said. “I think both sides are always trying to operate with as complete information as possible. From the player side, he wants to know what his complete market is so that he can make the best choice. From the club side, we also want to know what our complete market is and what our choices are. Sometimes that leads to a lot of information gathering and a lot of discussion, and that seems to be where the industry is.” Alonso is a unique case study. A four-time All-Star, the NL Rookie of the Year and the league’s home run leader in 2019, Alonso was a perennial MVP candidate until 2023, when his production dropped off. That was the year he hit only .217, a career-low average, but he still smashed 46 home runs, surpassing the 40-homer threshold for the third time. Last season, he set out to improve his average, and brought it up to .240, but his power numbers were down. Alonso hit only 34 home runs and posted a career-low .788 OPS. Even more concerning, a once-prolific run producer drove in only 88 runs and hit .232 with runners in scoring position. He finished both seasons with an OPS+ of 123 and a wRC+ of 121 and 122. He went from being a 4.7 fWAR player in 2019 to a 2.1 fWAR player in 2024. However, he did play 162 games last season, and has never played fewer than 152 in a full season. He was also an emotional leader for the Mets and a postseason hero . The Mets are aware that Alonso is a fan favorite and a cursory glance at social media shows fans begging the team to bring him back. He’s marketable, active in the community and well-liked by teammates and coaches. But the Mets have to separate their personal feelings about Alonso when looking at the numbers. “We all have emotions. I mean, I have emotion, Steve [Cohen] has emotion, we all have emotions. It’s one of the reasons we’re drawn to this game,” Stearns said. “While making decisions, it’s also my job to try to strip that away a little bit and try to implement processes and systems within our organization that allow us to make the best decisions possible, both near- and long-term.” The Mets know Alonso better than any other team and have their own valuations. Still, it’s fair for them to want to find out how other teams value him and other free agent first basemen like Christian Walker. While yes, they might need more lineup protection for Soto, it’s possible that it comes from somewhere else. The waiting game does little to comfort fans, but sometimes it’s necessary. “I think we’ve made ourselves better,” Stearns said. “We have been in play in a number of different situations, we talked about starting pitching being a priority, and we’ve been able to add multiple starters already and are still engaged in starting pitching. I think, clearly, we’re working hard to add to our position player group as well.”

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Although dollar stores have changed a lot over the years (the biggest change being that everything inside is no longer a dollar), shopping and retail experts say there are still hidden deals that can help ease the financial burden of your holiday shopping essentials and non-essentials. At the same time, just because the word "dollar" is in the name of a store doesn't mean that other big-box retailers like Walmart won't be able to rival (and even beat!) their prices. That's why if you're looking for ways to save this holiday season, it's best to plan out a detailed list of what you're in the market for and do a little research based on which stores have the cheapest items. That way, you won't be caught off-guard with any extra expenses and can make just one trip to a dollar store and another trip to a big-box store like Walmart to pick up all of your essentials. In any case, here are a few things that dollar stores are currently in the lead for for most affordable options. 1. Seasonal decor According to Joanna Clark-Simpson, head of consumer research and consumer expert at PissedConsumer , seasonal decor is one of the things dollar stores continue to excel at. And, as the leader of a review-based website where customers can air their wins and grievances, she sees this as an ongoing win for dollar stores across the board. However, she says, "Shoppers should [still] check price tags carefully, inspect items and plan their purchases." Cheap decor can be dented, broken or flawed, so give it a good once over before putting it in your cart. Things like tabletop Christmas trees are $1.25 at Dollar Tree, where a similar item retails for nearly $3 at Walmart. Fun room add-on items like Christmas-themed soap dispensers are a win from Dollar Tree at $1.25 and an easy way to add a fun pop of color to an often forgotten room like the bathroom. You will, however, have to fill up the dispensers with your own hand soap (which, honestly, sounds like a good idea, because there could be additional fillers added to dollar store soaps). Garland is another find you should head to the dollar store for. But Clark-Simpson recommends staying away from twinkle lights, as electronics and anything power or battery-operated tends to fall short at dollar stores. 2. Stocking stuffers Clark-Simpson says stocking stuffers like socks — even fun, printed socks — can always be found at the dollar store and make great, affordable gift add-ons. You can pick up golf and motorcycle-printed socks for just $1.25 per pair at Dollar Tree and a five-pack of socks for $5 , meaning you've hacked the system and can pay $1 per unit again instead of $1.25. However, if you're in the market for a larger pack of socks to break apart and gift separately, Walmart will be your best bet. You can find a 20-pack of girls socks there on sale for $5 . 3. Baking essentials According to Clark-Simpson, perishable food items should be avoided at dollar stores since customers find expiration dates to be tricky, but shelf-stable items like sugar or cookie mixes will always be a score at dollar stores — even if it's just by a little. A one-pound box of sugar at Dollar Tree is $1.25, and the same box will run you just under $2 at Walmart. If you want to save both time and money, pick up cookie mixes at the Dollar Tree, which will save you about $2 per pack vs big-box stores. 4. Kids' entertainment The kids are home from school during the holidays, which means it's time to find cheap, creative ways to entertain them. Dollar stores offer easy and affordable holiday craft painting kits and DIY ornaments that you can paint from home. 5. Disposable glassware Just like it's a good idea to keep a storage container full of Christmas decor that you can easily stow away when you're not using it, it's a great idea to have a case of cheap glassware that you don't care about your guests breaking. Dollar Tree is a great place to pick up reusable glassware that's just $1.25 per unit , so you don't have to purchase and re-purchase plastic cups each year. These glasses will last through the years and won't cause strife if one of your guests has too much eggnog and accidentally knocks it off the table. Don't forget your coupons Did you know even dollar stores offer coupons and discounts? According to writer, author, and nationally recognized consumer finance and budgeting expert Andrea Woroch, most dollar store shoppers have no idea that they can save even more at the stores. "Dollar stores like Dollar General have their own apps to help you navigate sales, save more through coupons and in-store deals and earn rewards," says Woroch. "For example, the My Dg app offers cash-back opportunities on a variety of products that you may need to buy anyway and you can apply rewards towards future purchases." And, she says, shoppers can take advantage of websites like Coupon Cabin that have deals to Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and more. Even your receipts can hold some money-saving power, as you can actually scan photos of your dollar store receipts to earn rewards. "Take pictures of your receipts using a free rewards apps like www.Fetch.com to earn points for free gift cards to a variety off stores like Amazon, Target and Walmart to offset future purchase needs," says Woroch. RELATED CONTENT ​17 Deal Sites and Tools for Finding Online Shopping Bargains Family Holiday Meal Deals from Walmart, Target, Kroger 25 Best After-Christmas Sales

Four flagship investments with a combined budget of 253 million euros were approved by the Interministerial Committee for Strategic Investments, as part of the implementation of the country’s new production model that was presented on October 21. These investments, implemented through the General Secretariat of Private Investments, concern the defense industry, the self-sufficiency of Greece in paper and alcohol and the safety of flights and civil protection services. Metlen’s strategic investment, with a budget of €45 million, concerns new building infrastructure and specialized mechanical equipment in the area of Thessaly. The aim is to produce special metal structures with advanced technology and high added value. The investment of BGS Alcohols, with a budget of €34 million, aims to establish an integrated unit in Patra for the production and distribution of ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin for multiple uses. Olympic’s strategic investment, with a budget of €74.75 million, is part of a larger investment of over €140 million. It concerns the creation of an integrated aircraft and aircraft maintenance service center, as well as a flight simulator and crew training center at Athens Airport. Finally, Intertrade’s investment of €99 million aims to expand the capacity of an existing unit, which will be implemented in Oinofyta, and create a logistics hub for finished products and paper rolls.

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F1 expands grid, adds Cadillac brand and new American team for '26Making spiking a specific offence is about making sure the law is up to date to deal with it as a crime, justice minister Alex Davies-Jones has said. Labour plans to make spiking a specific offence and has laid out plans for venue staff to be trained in relation to spiking, with a pilot to begin within weeks before a wider rollout next year. Ms Davies-Jones, asked about why it was worthwhile to make spiking a new offence when it is already illegal, said: “Spiking is a crime already. “A lot of people don’t realise that it is a crime already, which is part of the problem.” She said there were around 6,000 reports of spiking last year but that because it is an underreported crime, it is not clear how big of a problem it is. 'Legislation won't fix this on its own...this is about a culture shift' @SophyRidgeSky challenges Minister for Victims @AlexDaviesJones on the govt plan to change the spiking law even though it is already a criminal offence. #PoliticsHub https://t.co/GlTNastFii 📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/Zb65c6KnOM — Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge (@SkyPoliticsHub) November 25, 2024 “Part of the problem we’ve got is around the data collection, so you don’t know if you’ve been spiked with a drink, a needle, a vape, for example,” she told Politics Hub on Sky News. Modernising the offence and giving police the tools to get accurate data allows a clearer picture of where, how and how often spiking is happening, she said. It is about “clarifying it, modernising it, making sure that people know exactly what this is...the law isn’t quite, it isn’t up to date. “It isn’t modern enough.” Sir Keir Starmer earlier said he hopes the change will give people “the confidence to come forward”, in a meeting of police bosses, transport figures and hospitality executives in Downing Street. Spiking will be made a criminal offence. My government was elected to take back our streets, central to this mission is making sure women and girls can feel safe at night. Perpetrators of spiking will feel the full force of the law. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 25, 2024 Ms Davies-Jones and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper were among the attendees at the round-table discussion on Monday morning. Labour pledged in its manifesto to introduce a new offence for spiking, but there was no detail in the King’s Speech this year about a specific crime, though it promised to ensure an improved police response to cases. According to information published by the Metropolitan Police, spiking offences are currently covered by more than one law, but most come under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Sir Keir told the meeting: “There are a number of measures that we are setting out this morning – we want to talk it through with you. “The first is to make spiking a specific offence so that it counts, it’s reported.” He said that such a measure would mean that it “enables everybody to have the confidence to come forward” and also “it allows perpetrators to know that it’s a specific offence”. Detailing the training scheme, he went on: “We’re beginning the piloting of training for staff in venues.” He said the scheme would be “partly to spot what’s happening, but also to know what to do in the event that there is an incident in a venue”. “That will start in December with a pilot then it will be rolled out from March of next year,” Sir Keir added. He also said that the “final” point of discussion for the morning was “police indexing – (the) way that we count it across different police forces”. Sir Keir added: “At the moment it’s quite hard to get your arms around the pure numbers.” Plain clothes officers are being deployed in areas around bars and clubs to spot predatory behaviour. The text-to-report number, 61016, that allows women to contact British Transport Police to report harassment on the train, is due to be relaunched. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Spiking is a disturbing and serious crime which can have a damaging and long-lasting impact on victims. “That’s why today we are taking decisive action to prevent this devastating crime and to crack down on perpetrators, by introducing a new criminal offence for spiking and launching specialist training for thousands of bar staff nationwide. “People shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their drinks on a night out. “These changes are about giving victims greater confidence to come forward, and ensuring that there is a robust response from the police whenever these appalling crimes take place.”

Labour plans to make spiking a specific offence and has laid out plans for venue staff to be trained in relation to spiking, with a pilot to begin within weeks before a wider rollout next year. Ms Davies-Jones, asked about why it was worthwhile to make spiking a new offence when it is already illegal, said: “Spiking is a crime already. “A lot of people don’t realise that it is a crime already, which is part of the problem.” She said there were around 6,000 reports of spiking last year but that because it is an underreported crime, it is not clear how big of a problem it is. 'Legislation won't fix this on its own...this is about a culture shift' @SophyRidgeSky challenges Minister for Victims @AlexDaviesJones on the govt plan to change the spiking law even though it is already a criminal offence. #PoliticsHub https://t.co/GlTNastFii 📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/Zb65c6KnOM — Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge (@SkyPoliticsHub) November 25, 2024 “Part of the problem we’ve got is around the data collection, so you don’t know if you’ve been spiked with a drink, a needle, a vape, for example,” she told Politics Hub on Sky News. Modernising the offence and giving police the tools to get accurate data allows a clearer picture of where, how and how often spiking is happening, she said. It is about “clarifying it, modernising it, making sure that people know exactly what this is...the law isn’t quite, it isn’t up to date. “It isn’t modern enough.” Sir Keir Starmer earlier said he hopes the change will give people “the confidence to come forward”, in a meeting of police bosses, transport figures and hospitality executives in Downing Street. Spiking will be made a criminal offence. My government was elected to take back our streets, central to this mission is making sure women and girls can feel safe at night. Perpetrators of spiking will feel the full force of the law. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 25, 2024 Ms Davies-Jones and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper were among the attendees at the round-table discussion on Monday morning. Labour pledged in its manifesto to introduce a new offence for spiking, but there was no detail in the King’s Speech this year about a specific crime, though it promised to ensure an improved police response to cases. According to information published by the Metropolitan Police, spiking offences are currently covered by more than one law, but most come under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Sir Keir told the meeting: “There are a number of measures that we are setting out this morning – we want to talk it through with you. “The first is to make spiking a specific offence so that it counts, it’s reported.” He said that such a measure would mean that it “enables everybody to have the confidence to come forward” and also “it allows perpetrators to know that it’s a specific offence”. Detailing the training scheme, he went on: “We’re beginning the piloting of training for staff in venues.” He said the scheme would be “partly to spot what’s happening, but also to know what to do in the event that there is an incident in a venue”. “That will start in December with a pilot then it will be rolled out from March of next year,” Sir Keir added. He also said that the “final” point of discussion for the morning was “police indexing – (the) way that we count it across different police forces”. Sir Keir added: “At the moment it’s quite hard to get your arms around the pure numbers.” Plain clothes officers are being deployed in areas around bars and clubs to spot predatory behaviour. The text-to-report number, 61016, that allows women to contact British Transport Police to report harassment on the train, is due to be relaunched. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Spiking is a disturbing and serious crime which can have a damaging and long-lasting impact on victims. “That’s why today we are taking decisive action to prevent this devastating crime and to crack down on perpetrators, by introducing a new criminal offence for spiking and launching specialist training for thousands of bar staff nationwide. “People shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their drinks on a night out. “These changes are about giving victims greater confidence to come forward, and ensuring that there is a robust response from the police whenever these appalling crimes take place.”Seriti Green says G20 will put Mpumalanga on the map for JET discussionsNone

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Luka Doncic returns to Dallas Mavericks’ lineup after missing two games with left heel contusionNone

QB Josh Allen and coach Sean McDermott deserve credit in Bills latest AFC East-clinching season

how many f zero games are there 。

DrBalcony App Redefines Balcony Inspections with Unparalleled EfficiencySecurities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who was aggressive in his oversight of cryptocurrencies and other financial markets, will step down from his post on Jan. 20. Gensler pushed changes that he said protected investors, but the industry and many Republicans bristled at what they saw as overreach. President-elect Donald Trump had promised during his campaign that he would remove Gensler. But Gensler on Thursday announced that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated. Bitcoin has jumped 40% since Trump’s victory. It hit new highs Thursday and was nearing $100,000. Bitcoin moved notably higher still after Gensler's resignation was announced. Gensler's stance on the rise of cryptocurrencies was captured during a speech he gave during the first year of his chairmanship in 2021 where he described the market as “the Wild West.” “This asset class is rife with fraud, scams, and abuse in certain applications,” he said in a speech at the Aspen Security Forum. “There’s a great deal of hype and spin about how crypto assets work. In many cases, investors aren’t able to get rigorous, balanced, and complete information.” Under Gensler, the SEC brought actions against players in the crypto industry for fraud , wash trading and other violations, including as recently as last month when the commission brought fraud charges against three companies purporting to be market makers, along with nine individuals for trying to manipulate various crypto markets. Yet access to cryptocurrencies became more widespread under Gensler. In January, the SEC approved exchange-traded funds that track the spot price of bitcoin. With such ETFs, investors could get easier access to bitcoin without the huge overlays required to buy it directly. Gensler, however, acknowledged the SEC had denied earlier, similar applications for such ETFs, including Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, among the first to eventually be approved by the SEC. “Circumstances, however, have changed,” Gensler said, pointing to a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that said the SEC failed to adequately explain its reasoning in rejecting Grayscale’s proposal. Even there, Gensler made sure not to endorse the merits of bitcoin. He pointed to how ETFs that hold precious metals are tracking prices of things that have “consumer and industrial users, while in contrast bitcoin is primarily a speculative, volatile asset that’s also used for illicit activity including ransomware, money laundering, sanction evasion, and terrorist financing.” Gensler was tested early in his tenure with the rise of the meme stock phenomenon that shocked the financial system in early 2021. Earlier this year, the SEC under Gensler pushed Wall Street to speed up how long it takes for trades of stocks to settle, one of the areas where the commission’s staff recommended changes following the reckoning created by GameStop , one of the first meme stocks. In the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, hordes of smaller-pocketed and novice investors suddenly piled into the stock of the struggling video-game retailer. During the height of the frenzy, several brokerages barred customers from buying GameStop after the clearinghouse that settles their trades demanded more cash to cover the increased risk created by its highly volatile price. In May 2024, new rules meant broker-dealers have to fully settle their trades within one business day of the trade date, down from the previous two. Critics of the SEC under Gensler have called many of the agency's proposals overly burdensome. The investment industry, for example, is pushing against a proposal to force some advisers and companies disclose more about their environmental, social and governance practices, otherwise known as ESG. Critics say the proposal is overly complex and increases the risk of investor confusion, while imposing unnecessary burdens and costs on funds. On Thursday, Gensler stood by the SEC's track record under his direction. “The staff and the Commission are deeply mission-driven, focused on protecting investors, facilitating capital formation, and ensuring that the markets work for investors and issuers alike," Gensler said in prepared remarks. “The staff comprises true public servants." Gensler previously served as Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, leading the Obama Administration’s reform of the $400 trillion swaps market. He also was senior advisor to U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes in writing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) and was undersecretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance and assistant secretary of the Treasury from 1997-2001.

Your last-minute Rose Parade 2025 survival guide: What you need to knowIn an unprecedented political crisis, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has lifted his martial law decree following intense backlash from parliament. The decision came after lawmakers unanimously rejected the decree, which aimed to suppress political activity and media freedom. The martial law declaration, described by Yoon as necessary to counter 'anti-state forces,' led to significant public protests and a rare unified opposition in parliament. Lawmakers, including members of Yoon's party, demanded the repeal, urging respect for democratic norms in the Asian nation. Internationally, allies like the United States watched the developments with concern, while South Korean financial markets showed tentative recovery following Yoon's reversal. It's the first martial law declaration since 1980, highlighting deep political divides in the country. (With inputs from agencies.)Celebrities can spark change when they speak up about their health

This year, Kim Stark’s kids took responsibility for decorating the family Christmas tree. Ornaments include toy cars, puzzle pieces, string and a pair of binoculars — things her three young daughters had handy after the family lost their home in summer’s devastating Jasper wildfire. “I have the most wonderful tree on the planet,” said Stark. “It’s part of our story and part of who we are. “If (the kids) are happy, I’m happy.” Stark is part of the fabric of the Jasper townsite, a 10-year member of the fire department and owner of a coffee shop and bakery. Her family, plus three furry pets and a fish, are living in a condo as they navigate rebuilding their home. “(The kids) miss our house, and we talk about our house,” said Stark. “We make sure we go to our neighbourhood, so that it doesn’t become somebody else’s neighbourhood.” Stark and other residents are anxious and nervous for the future following the fire that hit the town July 24. About 5,000 residents and 20,000 visitors were safely evacuated before the fire breached the western edge of town and destroyed 350 homes and businesses, including 820 housings units. The Insurance Bureau of Canada pegged the damage at $880 million. Six months after the fire, debris is still being cleared — lot by lot. Locals including Stark are quick to say things could have been worse. But anxiety over temporary living situations and what may be a long and slow rebuild process has many residents and municipal leaders feeling unsettled heading into 2025. For Sabrina Charlebois and David Leoni, the top concern is the Alberta government’s $112-million modular housing project. It’s to put up 250 pre-built rental units in the town and rent them to those displaced by the fire. Social Services Minister Jason Nixon said the first homes should be ready by late January or early February, with the rest in April. The majority are to be multi-bedroom suites to accommodate families. “If we can get all of our approvals on time, we definitely are on time to be able to build in the context of what we promised,” Nixon said. It’s complicated, he added, given there are layers of government with an Alberta town in a national park. Charlebois was born and raised in Jasper. The fire destroyed her childhood home, which her late father built, as well as the salon where she worked. “It’s better than nothing,” she said of the housing project, noting at least 2,000 residents were displaced so demand could outnumber the new units. Charlebois, who has been staying in a hotel, said it’s understandable projects like this take time. But “we’re six months into this, and there’s no homes for anyone.” “My fear is not finding a place to live, because I have to be out of my hotel by the spring,” she said. Leoni, a dentist and former Olympic biathlete, and his family also lost their home, as did seven staff at his clinic. He said the April cutoff date Charlebois is facing also applies to his staff staying in hotels. “Hopefully that’s concurrent with the provincial government’s opening of these modular units that they’re putting in, because we’re going to lose staff,” said Leoni. “Without them I can’t do anything.” The clinic needed to replace $160,000 worth of equipment and required a top-to-bottom scrub before appointments resumed in October. Leoni estimates his patient list is down one-third because of the fire. Whether those patients return remains to be seen. Charlebois and Leoni both said their anxiety is heightened when they consider the unpredictable nature of the town’s tourism economy and how it could complicate the pace of rebuilding. It’s a catch-22: residents need houses in order to rebuild and restart the economy, but they can’t restart the economy without tourists. And tourists require services, which require workers, who require housing. Bill Given, the town’s chief administrator, said he’s optimistic the municipality can “thread the needle.” But he has his own anxieties when it comes to rebuilding, namely the complexity of Jasper operating under both federal and provincial oversight. “An associated risk of that is that individual agendas from different orders of government overtake the public interest in delivering on what Jasper needs,” Given said. “I think there’s also a risk, maybe somewhat smaller, that private interests overtake the broader public interest.” Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland, who lost his home in the fire, said they have to find a way. “Failure is not an option for anybody,” said Ireland. “We have one chance to get this right, and that’s what we have to do.” In the meantime, Stark and her daughters watch from behind a fence as what’s left of their home is cleared away. “I’m super excited just to have a hole instead of a burnt spiral staircase that was coming up in my backyard. “Now,” she said, “it’s just this beautiful dirt. “There’s future there.” Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press