betfred nifty fifty results What you need to know: BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Throughout 2024, public safety agencies across the nation responded to everything from severe weather events like tornadoes and hurricanes to devastating wildfires and more, all under some of the most austere conditions imaginable. During this challenging year, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team helped provide mission-critical communications support to the first responders on the front lines of these disaster response operations. Composed primarily of former public safety and military personnel, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team is dedicated to supporting first responders and government agencies during emergencies at no cost to the supported agencies. In 2024, the team: Major response efforts this year included: Wildfire Response: To help enable mission-critical voice and data service during fire mitigation efforts in locations across the country, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team delivered close to 2,000 Verizon Frontline solutions to public safety agencies conducting wildfire response operations in 2024. The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team responded to close to 250 requests for support from wildland firefighters battling blazes everywhere from New Mexico to Oregon and Washington . Hurricane Response: The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team supported public safety agencies and the communities they serve during three major hurricanes in 2024: Helene , Milton and Beryl . Hurricane Helene alone saw more than 600 Verizon Frontline solutions delivered to over 115 public safety agencies in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina as they dealt with the aftermath of the storm. Tornado response: The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team responded to more than 30 requests for support from public safety agencies in 10 different states following tornadoes. The team delivered more than 300 Verizon Frontline solutions to first responders on the front lines of emergency response operations following these severe weather events. Additional 2024 Responses: Verizon Frontline solutions were also deployed in support of public safety agencies: In addition to the Crisis Response Team support, Verizon Frontline also debuted two new deployable assets in 2024. 2024 also saw Verizon Frontline announce a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), signing a three-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to explore new strategies to rapidly deploy uncrewed aircraft systems to collect and distribute imagery of damage resulting from severe storms such as tornadoes or hurricanes. Verizon Frontline is the advanced network and technology built for first responders – developed over three decades of partnership with public safety officials and agencies – to meet their unique and evolving needs. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizon generated revenues of $134.0 billion in 2023. Verizon’s world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit verizon.com or find a retail location at verizon.com/stores. VERIZON’S ONLINE MEDIA CENTER: News releases, stories, media contacts and other resources are available at verizon.com/news . News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/ . Media contact: Chandler Baker chandler.baker@verizon.com 757 725 4806

India's Tech Mahindra aiming for bigger bite of bank tech spends, CEO saysSYDNEY and NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TransPerfect Legal , a global leader in legal technology, AI, and advisory services, has been named a top eDiscovery provider in Australasian Lawyer and New Zealand Lawyer's 2024 Service Provider Awards. In evaluating nominees, judges considered excellence in service delivery, innovation, and demonstrated commitment to research and development. This is the third consecutive year TransPerfect Legal has been recognised by Australasian Lawyer as a leading eDiscovery service provider. TransPerfect's first Australian office opened in Sydney in 2007, with a dedicated TransPerfect Legal support team, servers, and forensic lab added in 2019. Rapid growth followed and with the high demand for its services in Australia, the company later added a Melbourne office. "To be recognised for a third consecutive year is a testament to our local support team and our amazing clients, and I am deeply grateful for both,” remarked Tom Balmer, Director, APAC, TransPerfect Legal. Phil Shawe, TransPerfect President and Co-CEO, stated, "This award shines a light on our team's technical expertise and steadfast commitment to clients in Australia and New Zealand.” About TransPerfect Legal TransPerfect Legal is a global leader in legal technology, AI, and advisory services for Am Law 200 and Global 100 law firms as well as corporate legal departments. With offices in more than 140 cities worldwide, solutions include forensic technology and consulting , eDiscovery and early data assessment , managed review and legal staffing , language services , deposition and trial support , and paper discovery , all offered alongside the Reef Technology ecosystem, TransPerfect Legal's suite of proprietary applications that address the needs of legal and regulatory practitioners around the world. For more information, please visit www.transperfectlegal.com About TransPerfect TransPerfect is the world's largest provider of language services and AI solutions for global business. From offices in over 140 cities on six continents, TransPerfect offers a full range of services in 200+ languages to clients worldwide. More than 6,000 global organizations employ TransPerfect's GlobalLink ® technology to simplify the management of multilingual content. With an unparalleled commitment to quality and client service, TransPerfect is fully ISO 9001 and ISO 17100 certified. TransPerfect has global headquarters in New York, with regional headquarters in London and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit our website at www.transperfect.com . Contact: Ryan Simper +1 212.689.5555 [email protected]Donald Trump is facing widespread mockery online after recounting a "made up story" about a woman returning one apple to a grocery store's refrigerator due to high prices, with many criticizing his understanding of everyday life. The president-elect has made rising grocery prices a key talking point during his campaign to return to the White House, citing supply chain issues and energy policy as contributing factors. Trump: I tell the story about a woman who... went to a grocery store, had three apples and she put them down on the counter and she looked and saw the price and she said will you excuse me? And she walked one of the apples back to the refrigerator pic.twitter.com/MqIQ53bRAK His recent anecdote about the "old woman with three apples," intended to highlight the struggles of average Americans, was met with skepticism and mockery, as social media users questioned the practicality and reality of the story. "I tell this story about a woman who, an old woman, an old woman, no money, went to a grocery store, had three apples, she put them down on the counter, and she looked and she saw the price, and she said, 'Would you excuse me?' And she walked one of the apples back to the refrigerator and came back to pay for the two apples and she left with two apples. And the woman at the counter said that was so sad." Trump said. Critics on social media have dissected the implausibility of the scenario, noting that apples are not refrigerated in grocery stores and are sold by weight, not individually. "Trump announces that he has never bought an apple, or entered a grocery store," one user wrote on X. "It's fake, made up story to feed his poorly educated base," another added . While his supporters may overlook such gaffes, critics are likely to seize on similar missteps to question his credibility. Meanwhile, rising grocery prices will remain a pressing issue for Americans. Originally published by Latin Times

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Central Philippine University (CPU) have collaborated on a series of events to raise awareness of organic agriculture as the nation celebrates Organic Agriculture Month this November. "Our purpose is to promote the importance of organic agriculture, achieve food security, global competitiveness, environmental integrity and alleviating poverty," said CPU outreach program coordinator Dr. Joyce Wendam in an interview on Nov. 22. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.

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

Jimmy Carter age: How old was the longest-living president in US history?Perth South Mayor and former Perth County warden Jim Aitcheson has died, both municipalities announced on Friday. The news came after Aitcheson, a longtime municipal politician, took a leave of absence from both councils last month. A cause of death has not been disclosed. Aitcheson first stepped into public office when he was elected a councillor for Perth South’s Downie Ward in 2006. He served as a councillor for the municipality for roughly 16 years until he was acclaimed as mayor in the 2022 election. Aitcheson also served on Perth County council for 13 years, including a productive stint as warden from 2019 to 2022. Acting Perth South Mayor Sue Orr, who had worked with Aitcheson for the past six years, described the late mayor as a mentor who “became a friend.” Aitcheson had a long-term vision for Perth South that he worked diligently to achieve, Orr added. “(He) Current Perth County Warden Rhonda Ehgoetz, who served as deputy warden under Aitcheson, said it was an “honour to work alongside him.” “His voice and presence will be greatly missed around the council table,” she said in the county press release. Orr said a byelection will not be called. Council will instead be inviting members of the public to put their names forward and, following interviews with the interested candidates, council will appoint a new member. Orr will serve as Perth South’s mayor for the rest of this term. The next municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 26, 2026. Flags will be flown at half-mast at both the county courthouse and the township’s administrative offices in St. Pauls until the day of the funeral. Beyond his public service, Aitcheson had a career as a banker at Victoria and Grey Trust before he purchased his parents’ farm in 1984. Aitcheson was also a member of the Optimist Club of Downie where he was involved in the construction of the pavilion in the St. Pauls Park in 1994. Aitcheson was married to Lori and was father to three children, Tracey, Kelly and Greg. In a social media post, Kelly Byers described her dad as a “staunch advocate for mental health,” particularly for paramedics who may be struggling with some of the pressures of the vocation, and shared an email she received about his advocacy.

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Wisconsin at Nebraska: How we see the game playing out, and over/under picksWOBURN, Mass., Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bridgeline Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLIN ), a global leader in AI-powered marketing technology, today announced financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2024. “HawkSearch is the leader in AI-powered product discovery. This year we nearly doubled our sales contracts, launched a new HawkSearch site every week, had better than 103% net revenue retention for HawkSearch, and released 5 AI products under the HawkSearch brand,” said Ari Kahn, Bridgeline’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We begin 2025 with the largest sales pipeline in the company’s history, an AI product suite that both existing customer and new customers need, and an outstanding industry reputation from customers and analysts.” Financial Highlights – Fourth Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024 Total revenue was $3.9 million, compared to $3.8 million in the prior year period. Subscription and licenses revenue was $3.0 million, compared to $3.1 million in the prior year period. Gross profit was $2.7 million, compared to $2.6 million in the prior year period. Gross margin was 69% compared to 68% in the prior year period. Financial Highlights – Fiscal Year 2024 Total revenue was $15.4 million, compared to $15.9 million in the prior year period. Subscription and licenses revenue was $12.1 million, compared to $12.7 million in the prior year period. Gross profit was $10.4 million, compared to $10.9 million in the prior year period. Gross margin was 68% compared to 68% in the prior year period. Sales Highlights In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, Bridgeline signed 17 license sales, adding over $360 thousand in annual recurring revenue. For fiscal year 2024, Bridgeline signed 83 license sales, adding $2.1 million in annual recurring revenue, totaling $6.2 million in new customer contracts. Demand for AI-powered search is transforming sales, as companies align with customer expectations for smarter search experiences. This surge in demand for higher quality search is driving upgrades to Bridgeline’s HawkSearch platform. Product Highlights The Hawk AI Product Suite now includes advanced features like Smart Search, Smart Response, and Smart Tools. A new Smart Agent lets users adjust prompts and foundation model settings through an intuitive interface to optimize interactions with Hawk AI. HawkSearch launched Conversational Search. Powered by GenAI, this feature uses NLP to interpret user intent and phrasing, transforming searches into conversational interactions with accurate, meaningful results. HawkSearch launched Smart Facets for Concept Search. Powered by GenAI, Smart Facets transforms the search experience by enabling users to ask detailed, context-rich questions that automatically select relevant search facets. HawkSearch announced a new Smart Response feature that analyzes PDF content and delivers specific answers to user queries. The innovation includes tools for extracting content from large PDF repositories and using GenAI to create helpful search features such as thumbnails of PDFs, summaries of pages within each PDF, and extraction of other important metadata such as file names and categorization. HawkSearch’s Rapid UI Framework had a major update launched, which included a new GenAI capability component that accelerates the integration of Smart Response into search interfaces. Partner Highlights Optimizely is promoting HawkSearch as a top paid app in their app store and HawkSearch-AI was showcased at Opticon 2024 in San Antonio, Texas in November. HawkSearch announced a leading distributor of fasteners and industrial supplies has selected HawkSearch to enhance their on-site search capabilities. This distributor, the first lead from our partner Xngage, will use HawkSearch to power their product discovery on the Optimizely platform using the Xngage XConnect connector for HawkSearch. HawkSearch was named Moblico Partner of the Year. Moblico’s integration of HawkSearch’s AI capabilities enhances mobile engagement for distributors, optimizing real-time shopping experiences and increasing customer retention. This collaboration allows distributors to provide personalized customer experiences, leading to increased revenue and stronger market positioning. Product Genius Technology, a leading provider of innovative solutions with decades of experience in the fastener industry, partnered with HawkSearch to provide patented search technology to enhance customer engagement and drive sales by simplifying the search, sort and display of complex product categories. Human Element, Inc., a leading eCommerce services agency, will leverage HawkSearch AI-powered search technology to enhance customer engagement and drive sales for eCommerce platforms. Human Element will partner with HawkSearch to expand its offerings for B2B and B2C merchants to include AI-powered search technology, and the partnership gives Adobe Commerce (Magento), BigCommerce, and Shopify platform users easy access to HawkSearch’s AI-powered search. Customer Highlights Duda has expanded its partnership with the WooRank SEO platform. The agency now offers WooRank’s SEO insights and performance data as part of its top-tier SEO package, enhancing its clients' digital marketing strategies. An aftermarket automotive truck parts retailer has chosen HawkSearch to power product discovery for its eCommerce website. The retailer is set to boost sales using HawkSearch's AI-powered Smart Search which allows customers to enter a concept or question into the search bar and receive more accurate, relevant results tailored to the customer’s query. A top 10 U.S. electrical distributor has expanded its license with HawkSearch to enhance its Salesforce B2B Commerce experience. HawkSearch will support over 740 profit centers, improving the distributor’s product discovery with the Unit of Measure Conversion feature, while providing additional hosting services to address growing traffic demands. A leader in fastener distribution has selected HawkSearch to enhance its search experience across 15 countries and 12 languages, leveraging HawkSearch’s Keyword & Concept Search to improve product discovery. Additionally, it will optimize part number searches, ensure accurate results for terms with varying spacing, support different format variations, and incorporate advanced machine learning and reporting capabilities. A leading manufacturer and distributor of life safety gear, equipment, and training for first responders selected HawkSearch to improve their on-site search and merchandising powered by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. The manufacturer will also leverage Instant Engage for surfacing trending items, categories, and content as soon as the user clicks on the search box. A prominent supplier in the construction materials testing equipment industry has selected HawkSearch and will leverage Instant Engage and Autocomplete to display popular products, category pages, and relevant content as soon as users interact with the search bar. A leading wholesale hardware distributor has selected HawkSearch to deliver an improved product discovery experience with highly relevant, accurate search results and personalized recommendations for their Optimizely Configured Commerce site. Financial Results – Fourth Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024 Total revenue, which is comprised of Licenses and Services revenue, was $3.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $3.8 million for the same period in 2023. Subscription and licenses revenue, which is comprised of SaaS licenses, maintenance and hosting revenue and perpetual license revenue was $3.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $3.1 million for the same period in 2023. As a percentage of total revenue, Subscription and licenses revenue was 78% of total revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to 81% for the same period in 2023. Services revenue was $0.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $0.7 million for the same period in 2023. As a percentage of total revenue, Services revenue accounted for 22% of total revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to 19% for the same period in 2023. Cost of revenue was $1.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2023. Gross profit was $2.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $2.6 million for the same period in 2023. Gross margin was 69% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as compared to 68% for the same period in 2023. Subscription and licenses gross margin was 72% for three months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to 73% for the same period in 2023. Services gross margin was 58% for the three months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to 46% for the same period in 2023. Operating expenses were $3.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $10.8 million for the same period in 2023 which included a goodwill impairment of $7.5 million. Operating loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 was $0.5 million, as compared to $8.2 million for the same period in 2023 which included the impact of a goodwill impairment. The warrant liability revaluation resulted in a nominal non-cash loss attributable to the change in the fair value of the warrant liabilities for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. This compares to a non-cash gain from revaluation of $0.2 million for the same period in 2023. Net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, was $0.4 million, compared to a net loss of $8.1 million for the same period in 2023 which included the impact of goodwill impairment. Financial Results – Year-to-Date Twelve Months of Fiscal Year 2024 Total revenue, which is comprised of Licenses and Services revenue, was $15.4 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $15.9 million for the same period in 2023. Subscription and licenses revenue, which is comprised of SaaS licenses, maintenance and hosting revenue and perpetual license revenue was $12.1 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $12.7 million for the same period in 2023. As a percentage of total revenue, Subscription and licenses revenue was 79% of total revenue for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, compared to 80% for the same period in 2023. Services revenue was $3.2 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $3.1 million for the same period in 2023. As a percentage of total revenue, Services revenue accounted for 21% of total revenue for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, compared to 20% for the same period in 2023. Cost of revenue was $4.9 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $5.0 million for the same period in 2023. Gross profit was $10.4 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $10.9 million for the same period in 2023. Gross margin was 68% for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to 68% for the same period in 2023. Subscription and licenses gross margin were 72% for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to 74% for the same period in 2023. Services gross margin was 52% for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to 48% for the same period in 2023. Operating expenses were $12.5 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $20.8 million for the same period in 2023 which included a goodwill impairment of $7.5 million. Operating loss for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, was $2.0 million, as compared to an operating loss of $9.9 million for the same period in 2023 which included the impact of the goodwill impairment. The warrant liability revaluation resulted in a $0.1 million non-cash gain attributable to the change in the fair value of the warrant liabilities for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024. This compares to a non-cash gain the change in the fair value of $0.6 million for the same period in 2023. Net loss for the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, was $2.0 million, compared to a net loss of $9.4 million for the same period in 2023, which included the impact of the goodwill impairment. Conference Call Bridgeline Digital, Inc. will hold a conference call today, December 23, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results. The Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Ari Kahn, and Chief Financial Officer, Thomas Windhausen, will host the call, followed by a question-and-answer period. The details of the conference call and replay are as follows: Bridgeline Digital Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Call Monday, December 23, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. ET Participants can register for the conference call using the above URL above. Once registered, participants will receive dial-in numbers and unique PIN number. Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release contains the following Non-GAAP financial measures: Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss), and Non-GAAP adjusted net earnings (loss) per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation expense, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, non-cash warrant related income/expense, changes in fair value of contingent consideration, restructuring and acquisition-related costs, amortization of debt discounts, preferred stock dividends and any related tax effects. Bridgeline uses Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss) as supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). Non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss) and Non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share are calculated as net income (loss) or net income (loss) per share on a diluted basis, excluding, where applicable, amortization of intangible assets, change in fair value of warrants, stock-based compensation, restructuring and acquisition-related costs, goodwill impairment charges, preferred stock dividends and any related tax effects. Bridgeline's management does not consider these Non-GAAP measures in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitation of these Non-GAAP financial measures is that they exclude significant expenses and income that are required by GAAP to be recorded in the Company's financial statements. In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgments by management about which expenses and income are excluded or included in determining these Non-GAAP financial measures. To compensate for these limitations, Bridgeline management presents Non-GAAP financial measures in connection with GAAP results. Bridgeline urges investors to review the reconciliation of its Non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures, which is included in this press release, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate Bridgeline's financial performance. Our definitions of Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) may differ from and therefore may not be comparable with similarly titled measures used by other companies, thereby limiting their usefulness as comparative measures. As a result of the limitations that Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss) have as an analytical tool, investors should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP. Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 All statements included in this press release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These statements appear in a number of places and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Bridgeline Digital, Inc. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, business operations and the business of our customers, suppliers and partners; our ability to retain and upgrade current customers, increasing our recurring revenue, our ability to attract new customers, our revenue growth rate; our history of net loss and our ability to achieve or maintain profitability, instability in the financial markets, including the banking sector; our liability for any unauthorized access to our data or our users' content, including through privacy and data security breaches; any decline in demand for our platform or products; changes in the interoperability of our platform across devices, operating systems, and third party applications that we do not control; competition in our markets; our ability to respond to rapid technological changes, extend our platform, develop new features or products, or gain market acceptance for such new features or products, particularly in light of potential disruptions to the productivity of our employees resulting from remote work; our ability to manage our growth or plan for future growth, and our acquisition of other businesses and the potential of such acquisitions to require significant management attention, disrupt our business, or dilute stockholder value; the volatility of the market price of our common stock, the ability to maintain our listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market; or our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls as well as other risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any of such risks could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Bridgeline Digital, Inc. assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law. About Bridgeline Digital Bridgeline is a marketing technology company that offers a suite of products that help companies grow online revenue by driving more traffic to their websites, converting more visitors to purchasers, and increasing average order value. To learn more, please visit www.bridgeline.com or call (800) 603-9936. Contact: Bridgeline Digital, Inc. Thomas R. Windhausen Chief Financial Officer twindhausen@bridgeline.com

Wodonga's mayor has expressed surprise at the Victorian government capping its rates at three per cent for the next financial year. or signup to continue reading Michael Gobel said there was an expectation it may have been greater given the level of price increases. "There were a few predicting it might be a little higher, in light of inflation," Cr Gobel said. "It's a surprise that it's only three per cent, because it's still below the headline inflation rate." According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, inflation was 2.8 per cent in the September quarter and 3.8 per cent in the June quarter of 2024. Victorian Local Government Minister Nick Staikos said the three per cent increase was aligned with the cost of living rate. The 2025-26 level of three per cent, and 2.25 per cent for 2023-24. "This rate cap will mean local councils are able to raise necessary revenue for the services they provide, without adding cost of living pressure on households," Mr Staikos said. Cr Gobel could not say if the council would take the full three per cent. "We're not even at the early stage of doing the budget yet," he said. "But I can say as one councillor I will be using every other lever to minimise the rate increase." The 2024-25 budget adopted by the previous elected council saw Wodonga DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementFrom revisiting the political scandal that sparked a cultural reckoning in Canberra to a rich-lister’s unravelling, there were no shortage of court battles being waged — or defended — by the top end of town in 2024. We revisit some of the cases that dominated headlines and left us shocked, perplexed, and — at times — even entertained. Brittany Higgins defended a defamation action launched by Senator Linda Reynolds. Credit: Composite image/Holly Thompson Villain or victim? Reynolds v Higgins It was a story of an alleged rape in the halls of Parliament House and a covert political cover-up, and like all “fairytales”, it needed a villain. That was how WA Senator Linda Reynolds’ lawyer Martin Bennett began the five-week-long trial in her defamation suit against former staffer Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz, the most high-profile case to go before WA’s civil courts in 2024. The former defence minister sued Higgins over social media posts accusing her of mishandling the former staffer’s alleged rape by Bruce Lehrmann in March 2019 — a claim that was later aired by the media and created a storm that led to Reynolds’ political demise. Loading Higgins fiercely defended the action on the basis her posts were true, but opted against taking the stand at the eleventh hour amid concerns for her health. The trial, which the pair mortgaged and sold their homes to pursue, pored over the events of 2019 in excruciating detail, dragged in high-profile figures — from former prime minister Scott Morrison to broadcaster Peta Credlin — and threw private texts into the public arena we imagine the parties would have preferred to remain private. It also spawned fresh evidence Reynolds now wants to use as a weapon in her bid to have Higgins’ $2.4 million compensation claim probed by the corruption watchdog. Lehrmann has maintained his innocence since his 2022 criminal trial was aborted due to juror misconduct, but a Federal Court judgment found, on the balance of probabilities, that he did rape Higgins. Lehrmann is now appealing that ruling. Justice Paul Tottle is expected to hand down a judgment in the court row in the New Year, but we suspect there won’t be any winners in this saga. Western Australia’s mining dynasty, of which the nation’s richest person Gina Rinehart is the most famous member, was embroiled in a court fight over the rights to the Hope Downs projects in the state’s iron-rich Pilbara region. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Gina Rinehart: 1, Bianca and John: 0 The high-stakes clash over the Hope Downs iron ore project , which pitted Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart against two mining dynasties and her eldest children, occupied two floors of the Supreme Court for more than six months in 2023. And yet still, there was unfinished business in the battle for the multibillion-dollar asset. The case made headlines again in April, when Rinehart’s eldest children lost an eleventh-hour bid for 82 top secret documents their billionaire mother claimed were protected by legal privilege. The pair, who have been locked in a bitter battle with their mother over mining assets left behind by their pioneer grandfather Lang Hancock, believed the files might aid their pursuit for ownership of Rinehart-led Hancock Prospecting’s sprawling mining tenements in the state’s north-west. But Justice Natalie Whitby ruled the pair had insufficient evidence, lashing the handling of the case and its burden on the public justice system after revealing the court book spanned 6000 pages. “To say that the resources dedicated to these privilege claims was grossly disproportionate to the issues in the dispute is an understatement,” she wrote. Ouch... We’re still awaiting a judgment from Justice Jennifer Smith on the broader row. We hope Justice Smith is not spending the whole festive season “in the area of or contiguous to” her desk and what we imagine is a very lengthy draft judgment. Beleaguered Mineral Resources boss takes on media to keep court row quiet He gained a reputation as the uninhibited billionaire mining boss behind Mineral Resources’ meteoric rise, but it would be what Chris Ellison kept hidden that would be his downfall. Depressed lithium prices, sweeping cost cuts and a debt-laden balance sheet saw Ellison declare it the “shittiest time” to be a managing director in one newspaper interview. Loading Just a few months later, he would announce plans to vacate the top job, undone by an exposé in the Australian Financial Review detailing his involvement in an alleged decade-long tax evasion scheme. But as shareholders were demanding answers and the corporate regulator was beginning its own probe, Ellison’s lawyers were busy fighting to keep the media from undoing sweeping gag orders over documents filed in his now-settled row with a former contracts boss. The documents were central to the two-year court row MinRes, Ellison and self-proclaimed whistleblower Steven Pigozzo had been fighting on several fronts until inking a peace deal in July — which featured explosive allegations of misconduct. While a string of Pigozzo’s claims had been republished by the media, much of the case had been covered by suppression orders which were broadened when both parties asked that more than 16 legal documents be permanently removed from the case file. “The non-publication orders are sought to fortify matters raised previously about allegations that were not just irrelevant but scandalous,” Ellison’s lawyer told the court. WA Health, scientist ink top-secret stem cell patent peace deal She was the face of Royal Perth Hospital’s state-of-the-art cellular therapy facility, the Perth scientist behind a medical invention that saw her wheeled out by the health department’s publicity team to showcase its life-changing research. That was until the day of Dr Marian Sturm’s retirement in 2021, when the health service dragged her to court demanding compensation and that the licence agreement for the invention be torn up. The three-year medicine ownership battle came to an abrupt end in March after the East Metropolitan Health Service and Sturm’s company Isopogen inked a top-secret peace deal. The lawsuit centred around intellectual property rights to an improved method of manufacturing mesenchymal stromal cells used to treat inflammatory illnesses, which Sturm developed in 2007 and registered in her name and that of her capital-raising vehicle Isopogen. Sturm’s relationship with the EMHS soured amid claims she had breached her contract by asserting ownership over the medicine, which saw Isopogen, two former employees, the state’s own patents attorneys and its insurer embroiled in a bitter legal pursuit with the health service. The parties claimed they had reached a mutually acceptable, confidential settlement which provided a comprehensive framework for “an ongoing relationship”. A spokesperson for the health service told this masthead that gag order extended to how much this three-year sparring match cost the taxpayer. How convenient. Loading Vegan activist Tash Peterson, partner cop $280k bill in defamation row She’s not quite the “top end of town”, but we couldn’t take a look back at the biggest civil cases of 2024 without referencing the whopping damages bill handed to Perth’s most prominent animal rights activist. In November, Tash Peterson and her partner were ordered to pay $280,000 in damages to the owners of a Perth veterinary clinic for defamation after a bizarre dispute in 2021. The dispute, which was later circulated on social media, was sparked after Peterson and Jack Higgs spotted two cockatiels in a large cage at the front of Dr Kay McIntosh and Andrew McIntosh’s Bicton Veterinary Clinic. What unfolded was a bizarre tirade in which Peterson accused the clinic of “advertising animal slavery” — despite neither of the birds being able to survive in the wild — and of eating their own patients. Peterson and Higgs had claimed their tirade was justified as honest opinion, defending the content on the basis it was substantially true and a matter of public interest. But the part of the trial that managed to capture the most attention were revelations about just how deep Peterson’s pockets were, with the V-Gan Booty Pty Ltd entity behind her burgeoning OnlyFans account generating more than $380,000 in earnings in 2022 alone. We suspect this won’t be the last we see of Peterson. Get alerts on breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Courts Perth Jesinta Burton – is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in civil courts, business and urban development. Connect via Twitter or email . Most Viewed in National Loading

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When Russian scientists released a pair of orphaned Amur tiger cubs into the wild in a remote corner of Russia’s far-east in 2014, they were trying to save a species. While the tigers, sometimes called Siberian tigers and the world’s largest big cats, remain endangered, the scientists created something else: an unlikely love story. The cubs, Boris and Svetlaya, had been rescued from the wild as unrelated three- to five-month-old cubs in the Sikhote-Alin mountains, the animals’ main stronghold. They grew up in captivity and were released at 18 months old. The cats were separated by more than 160 kilometres with the goal of expanding the distribution of released tigers as much as possible in the Pri-Amur region along Russia’s border with China. Amur tigers Boris and Svetlaya, observed by a trail camera in 2018. Credit: ANO WCS/The New York Times The scientists tracked the cubs until, more than a year after their release, something strange happened: Boris walked more than 200 kilometres, almost in a straight line, to where Svetlaya had made a home. Six months later, Svetlaya gave birth to a litter of cubs. While the strategy of releasing rescued cats raised in captivity to restore populations in the wild had proven successful with the Iberian lynx in Spain, it had never been tried with big cats. But scientists working with the Wildlife Conservation Society say in a study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management that the successful release of rescued cubs like Boris and Svetlaya may, for the first time, become a viable option for restoring wild tigers to their historical range. Loading Estimates of the number of tigers left in Russia range from 485 to 750. But researchers say that the Russia-China border area, including the Pri-Amur area where Boris and Svetlaya live, could support hundreds more of the animals. The reunited cats were not the project’s only successful reintroductions. Two hunters had found another female, Zolushka (or “Cinderella” in Russian), in a snow drift a few years earlier. After the conservationists returned her to the wild, an unknown male tiger showed up on a camera trap near where Zolushka had been released. In such a vast area, it was an encounter of extraordinary good fortune. “Cinderella’s prince showed up and they lived happily ever after,” said Dale Miquelle, lead tiger scientist for the Wildlife Conservation Society and an author of the study. Zolushka and the male also produced a litter of cubs, the first known cubs to be born in that area since the 1970s. Kolya Rybin, one of the authors of the study, examining the cub Boris, after capture and immobilisation. Credit: The New York Times In all, Russian scientists raised 13 orphaned Siberian tiger cubs in captivity, avoiding any contact between the growing cubs and their human caretakers to prepare them for life in the wild. The team gradually introduced the cubs to live prey so they could learn how to hunt. Also critical to the success was the timing of the cubs’ release: during spring when prey was plentiful. One male cub failed the test of freedom. He wandered into China and preyed on domestic animals, including 13 goats in one shed in a single night. Russian scientists recaptured the young male and sent him to a captive-breeding program at a zoo. But the remaining 12 proved they were able to hunt wild prey and to survive as well as wild tigers that had never spent time in captivity. As the Pri-Amur population grows, the Russian-American team hopes it can join up with other tigers, including across the border in China. “The grand vision is that this whole area would be connected,” said Luke Hunter, executive director of the Big Cats Program at the Wildlife Conservation Society. “There’s lots of habitat that could be recolonised by tigers.” With so much potential habitat across Asia – a 2023 study found there was about 700,000 square kilometres of potentially suitable habitat across Asia where tigers remained absent – the implications of this success are wide-ranging. “These results indicate that it is possible to care for young cubs in a semi-captive environment, teach them how to hunt and to release them back into the wild,” said Viatcheslav Rozhnov, former director of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and leader of the reintroduction project. “These findings provide a pathway for returning tigers to large parts of Asia where habitat still exists but where tigers have been lost.” The Russian-American team hopes that it can join up with other tigers, including across the border in China. Credit: naturepl.com / Edwin Giesbers/WWF And just as Boris and Svetlaya’s unlikely partnership has proved critical to the project’s success, the Russian and American scientists hope their efforts may be a model for international conservation co-operation. “It’s a testimony to how really good things can happen when you start working collaboratively irrespective of nationality and politics,” Miquelle said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times . Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Wildlife Russia For subscribers Animals Most Viewed in World Loading

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California quarterback Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal after losing the Trojans' starting job last month. Moss made his announcement on social media Monday. Moss started the Trojans ' bowl victory last season and their first nine games this season before coach Lincoln Riley replaced him with Jayden Maiava in early November. “Being a USC Trojan was a lifelong dream of mine,” Moss wrote. “Putting on the cardinal and gold and competing on behalf of my teammates and school is something I will forever take pride in. I poured everything I have into this — body, heart, mind and soul — and am humbled by and proud of what my teammates and I accomplished.” Moss, who was born in Los Angeles and went to high school in the San Fernando Valley, signed with USC before Riley arrived at the school. Moss also stayed with the Trojans after Caleb Williams transferred from Oklahoma to rejoin Riley, and he served as Williams’ backup for two seasons before getting his chance to play with six touchdown passes in last year's Holiday Bowl. Moss completed 64.4% of his passes this season for 2,555 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. After a spectacular 378-yard performance to beat LSU in the Trojans' season opener, Moss didn't play poorly as a starter, but he also wasn't a difference-maker while USC stumbled to a 4-5 record. Moss threw seven interceptions in his final five starts before losing the job to Maiava. The Trojans went 1-4 in that stretch under Moss, who plays as a more traditional pocket passer while Maiava has the mobility usually favored for quarterbacks in Riley's spread offense. “Looking towards the future, I'm unwaveringly committed to becoming an even better quarterback and leader, and to achieving this at the next level,” Moss wrote. Moss has already graduated from USC, putting him in the portal as a graduate student. USC (6-6) is headed to a lower-tier bowl game again to finish this season, its third under Riley. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has sharply criticized a former Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili, accusing him of self-interest. Wike also asked between himself and Odili, who has turned Rivers State into his personal estate? Speaking at a thanksgiving service organised by the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oro-Igwe/Eliogbolo Archdeaconry Church of the Holy Spirit, Eliozu Parish, Port Harcourt, on Sunday, Wike, through a statement by his media aide Lere Olayinka, lamented Odili’s alleged habit of prioritizing personal gain over statesmanship. Olayinka quoted Wike as saying that it was unfortunate that somebody who is supposed to be seen as an elder statesman and called a father can reduce himself to a sycophant and a trader. He asked; “Must you be a trader all the time? As governor for eight years, what else are you looking for?” The Minister said; “You know, I didn’t want to say anything. But somebody called me last night and told me what someone said on social media. I said until I read it myself. This morning, I read in the newspapers what our former governor, Sir Dr Peter Odili, said.“What did he say? He said that the present governor has been able to stop one man who wanted to convert Rivers State to his personal estate. Wike pointed to several appointments allegedly dominated by Odili’s family members and questioned his past contributions as governor. He said, “Between him and myself, who has turned Rivers State to his personal estate? His wife is a chairman of Governing Council, his daughter is a Commissioner, his other daughter is a Judge, and he is the general overseer. Who has now turned Rivers State to his private estate? I am sure if care is not taken, if there is a chance, he can even arrange a marriage for the governor. “It was his nephew, his late senior brother’s son that was recommended for Commissioner. He took the slot and gave it to his own daughter. Someone who didn’t remember to stand for the son of his late elder brother, is that an elder statesman? He added, “All of you here remember when I was governor, this same Odili praised me to high heaven. In fact, he said then that all past governors in Rivers State combined did not do better than me. “In 2007, after he left office, he couldn’t come near power in the State because Amaechi was the governor then. He was gone! “Like somebody said that God will use someone to lift up someone. When I came in as governor in 2015, I won’t use the word resurrected, but I brought him back to life. “All of us know about Pamo University. But for us, there wouldn’t have been anything called Pamo University. Rivers State was sponsoring 100 students per session and for every semester, each of the students was paying nothing less than N5m. Then, Rivers people were attacking me up and down. “I personally called Julius Berger to build a mansion for him to live. He was calling everyone to the house then, telling them, come and see what Wike has done for me. Wike has shown me love. He was taking them round the house. Related News You gave me encouragement, Fubara tells Rivers residents I have done more for Rivers, Wike slams Secondus, Omehia Firms award scholarships to 611 Rivers students “Now, because you have organised a Christmas Carol for the governor, I didn’t say you should not do your Christmas Carol. But why reduce yourself to such a laughing stock? People will still see it on television how he was telling the whole world then how God used me to bring him back to life politically. “Why not do your Christmas Carol, collect what you can collect and leave me alone? Wike also expressed disappointment in Odili’s recent comments praising the current Rivers State governor while undermining Wike’s achievements. “The governor that all of us made has not spent one year in office and the same Odili was already saying that the governor has beaten the records of all the past governors of Rivers State. “When I was there, he said I had surpassed the records of all the past governors, including himself. What can he even show that he did in his eight years as governor? But a governor has not spent one year, you are saying he has done more than all the past governors. “You spent eight years as governor and someone who hasn’t spent one year has surpassed your records, what manner of elder talk like that? Is that what an elder statesman should be known for? “When I was governor, my pictures were everywhere in his house. Sitting room, bedroom, kitchen, even in the toilet, my picture was everywhere. But today, all the pictures have been removed. Asking what can be learned from such an elder statesman, Wike said; “What can I learn from this kind of elder? What kind of advice can one get from him? This moment you are saying something, the next moment you are saying something else. “You see, if your children begin to ask you, is this not the same man you were praising before? What would you tell them?” On the state’s governorship issue, the Minister asked; “When I was plotting who will be governor after me, was he (Odili) there? Then, he was complaining about this governor, saying that he couldn’t stand before the public to talk. But today, he is organising Christmas Carol for the same governor he was against then. “He has forgotten all that he said in the past. I named this after you, I named that after your wife. What have I not done? “You said we should not be part of the government, we have left. We are managing, you have taken assembly money, they are not dying of hunger and they will not die of hunger. We are okay. I’m focusing on my job in Abuja and all this sycophancy won’t take him to the level I have attained. “This is a man who wanted to run for president then, he didn’t have the balls, he chickened out. Simply because Obasanjo said no, he would not contest, he ran away. Because of him, I never invited Obasanjo to Rivers State to commission projects. I felt it would humiliate him.” Click the link below to watch the video: https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/1873482169102028823?t=FkZAEo721HmMp1mbzeEjXg&s=19// NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES // VANCOUVER, BC , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BioVaxys Technology Corp. (CSE: BIOV) (FRA: 5LB) (" BioVaxys " or the " Company ") is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche (the " First Tranche ") of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the " Private Placement ") with the issuance of 2,200,000 units (the " Units ") of the Company at a price of $0.05 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $110,000 . Each Unit consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each, a " Share ") and one (1) whole Share purchase warrant (each, a " Warrant "), whereby each Warrant is convertible into one additional Share at an exercise price of $0.15 until December 13, 2026 , being the date that is 24 months from the date of issue. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the First Tranche for working capital. No finder's fees were paid in connection with the First Tranche. All securities issued pursuant to the First Tranche are subject to a statutory hold period expiring April 14, 2025 , being the date that is four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation In addition, the Company announces that it has entered into a debt settlement agreement with an arm's-length consultant of the Company to settle an aggregate of $500,000 in debt owed to the consultant by issuing 5,000,000 Shares at a deemed price of $0.10 per Share (the " Debt Settlement "). The board of directors of the Company has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company to settle the outstanding debt through the issuance of Shares in order to preserve the Company's cash for working capital purposes. All securities proposed to be issued pursuant to the Debt Settlement will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. Closing of the Debt Settlement is conditional upon a number of conditions, including receipt of all applicable corporate and regulatory approvals, including the acceptance of the Canadian Securities Exchange. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy of any securities in the United States . The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 , as amended (the " U.S. Securities Act "), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to available exemptions therefrom. About BioVaxys Technology Corp. BioVaxys Technology Corp. ( www.biovaxys.com ), a company registered in British Columbia, Canada , is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving patient lives with novel immunotherapies based on the DPXTM immune-educating technology platform and it's HapTenix© 'neoantigen' tumor cell construct platform, for treating cancers, infectious disease, antigen desensitization, and other immunological fields. DPXTM is a patented antigen delivery platform that can incorporate a range of bioactive molecules to produce targeted, long-lasting immune responses enabled by various formulated components. The DPX platform facilitates antigen delivery to regional lymph nodes and has been demonstrated to induce robust and durable T cell and B cell responses in pre-clinical and clinical studies for both cancer and infectious disease. BioVaxys' common shares are listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the stock symbol "BIOV", on the Frankfurt Bourse (FRA: 5LB), and quoted in the US on the OTC Markets. For more information, visit www.biovaxys.com and connect with us on X and LinkedIn. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed " James Passin " James Passin , Chief Executive Officer Phone: +1 740 358 0555 Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively " forward-looking statements ") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, the statements relating to the Private Placement and the Debt Settlement, including the expected use of proceeds from the Private Placement and related issuance of the Shares for the Debt Settlement, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates, primarily the assumption that BioVaxys will be successful in developing and testing vaccines, that, while considered reasonable by BioVaxys, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the impact of any changes that may affect the anticipated use of proceeds from the Private Placement and the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary approvals to proceed with the Debt Settlement. BioVaxys does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2415135/5078410/BioVaxys_Technology_Corp_Logo.jpg SOURCE BioVaxys Technology Corp.None

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Deepak Shenoy, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Capitalmind, a financial advisory firm, wants the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to increase the limit for mutual funds investing in foreign stocks by over 10 times to $50 billion. The RBI has set a limit of $8 billion which Shenoy argued has not been changed since 2009. Highlighting the gap in a social media post on X dated 29 December, the Capitalmind CEO wrote that while mutual funds are restricted, individuals can invest up to $250,000 per person per year via a foreign broker in owning overseas stocks. “This sounds ridiculous,” he said. “Why do we still have restrictions on Indian mutual funds investing in foreign stocks, when we can do the same thing as individuals (with a $250K limit per person per year)? RBI has a $8bn limit that it hasn't changed since 2009 or so. Instead of RBI reserves, let's own stocks!” said the Capitalmind founder and CEO in his post on the platform X. Shenoy also highlighted investors' inconvenience of not being able to invest in an Indian mutual fund which owns foreign stocks, but then those investors have to take their money to a foreign broker in order to own that foreign asset. Shenoy also shared a video in his post in which he talked about the same issue with the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) imposing limits on foreign investment. “Why do we have a $7 or $8 billion limit on Indian mutual funds buying US stocks when the money is in India, and the US stocks are controlled by an Indian mutual fund-owning thing. Its actually an Indian asset, why should RBI own all the dollars, why can't people own the dollars?” “Instead of $8 billion, make it $50 billion,” said the Capitalmind CEO. RBI owning US dollar On the RBI owning US dollar front, Deepak Shenoy said that the central bank does not need to own the dollars, giving an example of how the RBI is a representation of people, if people own an asset, the country owns it. “It's the same thing if I own the US dollar, and if RBI owns it. The RBI doesn't need to own it. It's (RBI) is a representation of us, the people. If I own gold, then it actually means India owns gold,” said the executive in the video. He also highlighted how the central bank has classified all the gold imports as imports and how they are not, they are financial assets. “They should be considered as assets of the country. But we don't consider it so. We don't consider that me owning a US asset through an Indian mutual fund is an Indian asset, an Indian ownership of foreign asset,” said Shenoy. He also put forward his views to highlight that a change of mind can push RBI to be free and the central bank to reduce some of its reserves and give people an option to exercise ownership of those foreign assets. “As the more free I (RBI) make it, the more foreign assets we control,” according to the executive. Through the video Shenoy also highlighted the emotions of the Tata Group owning the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and how at a global scale it represents Indian ownership of a foreign asset. “There are a lot of worldwide brands that we should own, we would own a lot more of them if we were allowed to and we could own them through mutual funds,” he said.

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LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jimmy Carter was honored with a moment of silence before the Atlanta Falcons’ game at the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, hours after the 39th president of the United States died at the age of 100 in Plains, Georgia. Beyond being a Georgia native who led the country from the White House less than 8 miles (12 kilometers) away during his time in office from 1977-81, Carter was the first president to host the NFL's Super Bowl champions there when he welcomed the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1980. Falcons owner Arthur Blank in a statement released by the team before kickoff said he was deeply saddened by the loss of his dear friend and mentor, calling Carter “a great American, a proud Georgian and an inspirational global humanitarian.” “He lived his life with great civic responsibility and took it upon himself to be the change he wished to see amongst other,” Blank said, recalling meeting Carter at The Home Depot. “President Carter’s kind and uniting spirit touched so many lives. He was a man of deep faith, and did everything with principal and grace, doing things the right way for the right reasons." AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflJimmy Carter had solid ties to Lewiston-Auburn

The upcoming week promises to be relatively quiet on the earnings front, with no major companies scheduled to release their financial results. The stock market will be closed on January 1st in observance of the New Year. This pause offers a chance to reflect on the past year and prepare for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. After the S&P 500 hovered above 6,000 in mid-December, major banks, including Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, have forecast that the benchmark index will reach 6,500 in 2025. The optimism is supported by confidence in ongoing earnings growth and a favorable monetary policy environment, key drivers of market performance. Read what the experts expect to see from the stock market in 2025. How high will the price of Bitcoin go in 2025? 2024 has been nothing short of monumental for the cryptocurrency industry. Bitcoin began the year hovering around $40,000, only to surge past $100,000 in December. Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be another transformative year. With President-elect Donald Trump coming into office after a pro-crypto campaign, a new era of policy and innovation may be on the horizon. Adding to the excitement in the crypto community is the influential role of Trump ally Elon Musk . Read what experts have to say about Bitcoin’s price in 2025. Key trends that will shape retail in 2025 The retail industry is undergoing a rapid transformation that’s being driven by evolving consumer expectations and new economic realities . As 2025 approaches, retailers will need to adapt to shifting dynamics . Change is on the horizon , whether it’s the slowing growth of discount stores, the rise of tech-powered dining, or the growing demand for convenience. Retailers that are willing to rethink their strategies may be the ones to thrive . Retail in 2025 will require striking a balance between tradition and innovation to capture the attention, loyalty, and wallets of the modern shopper . According to a new report from foot traffics analytics firm Placer.ai, there are some key trends that will shape retail’s 2025 playbook. You can read about those trends here. — Francisco Velasquez contributed to this article 📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.

Agriculture & Natural Solutions Acquisition Corporation Receives FIRB Approval In Connection with Previously Announced Business Combination1. A seasonal winter tree doormat to give your holiday guests a merry welcome. Promising review: "Great sturdy doormat, perfect for winter." — Walmart Customer Price: $16.47 2. A set of two snowflake pillow covers for those dreaming of a snowy holiday but prefer to snuggle on the couch indoors. Promising review: "Very nicely made. Sewn well. Quality fabric...good weight, NOT flimsy, thin or cheap looking. Unbeatable price. AND they arrived less than 24hrs after placing the order. These are the perfect 'finishing touch' to my sofa/loveseat throw pillow collection for Christmas. Wouldn't hesitate to buy them again." — KarenO Price: $10.99 (originally $39.99; available in four colors) 3. A curtain of LED fairy lights that will add some sparkle to your window treatments. There's also no rule that these are just for the holidays, either. Promising review: “I LOVE THESE LIGHTS! When I put these up in my garage for a function, I had my own party with those blinkers!” — MsGee Price: $22.99 (available in two sizes and three colors) 4. A versatile 9-foot garland to place on your doorway or across your mantelpiece. The possibilities are endless, but there's one thing for sure: it'll add a festive touch to your home. Price: $42.74 (originally $56.99) 5. A ceramic tabletop tree so you can add a festive ~pop~ to your tabletop. Promising review: " Beautiful ceramic Christmas tree for a family tradition and to keep for family as the years go by. Really impressed by its quality." — Misty Price: $34.99 (originally $85.99, available in five colors) 6. A pre-lit Christmas tree with snowy branches if your type of holiday decorating includes having most of the work done for you. Just add ornaments and a tree topper, and you'll be golden. Promising review: "This is the tree you have been looking for. If you want a great quality, full Christmas tree- here it is! The lights are the perfect warm white too. Some fluff comes off during assembly but the needles stay put. Easy to assemble; just be prepared to fluff." — BWilliams Price: $64.59+ (originally $121.99+; available in five sizes) 7. A set of eight ornaments made from shatterproof plastic so you don't have to worry about them breaking if a human or pet child gets a hold of them. Promising review: "I missed out on these around the holidays because they were out of stock. I have waited months for them to become available and am so glad I did! They are the perfect size for my 6' Christmas tree and the difference in textures/finishes adds an elegant touch. Well worth it.” — Rhonda Price: $11.50+ (originally $14.97+; available in 23 colors) 8. A festive gnome measuring cup set for sprinkling some *extra* magic into your holiday baking. Price: $10.65 9. A pre-lit artificial wreath that adds a festive touch to your front door. Not only does it look super realistic, but it has extra long-life batteries, so the glow will last throughout the holiday season and beyond. Price: $24.98 10. A set of four pint glasses so you can sip your favorite holiday beverage of choice in a festive fashion. They'll also make sure no one is mixing up their drinks! Promising review: "I purchased it as a gift, but they are so gorgeous, I decided to keep! I'm definitely buying more! Great quality, size, design and weight. Perfect as a gift and for your own holiday collection!" — CHERRY Price: $12.98 (originally $14.98) 11. A set of 10 candy cane pathway lights that will guide guests to your front door and send them on a whimsical holiday journey that wouldn't look out of place in a scene in Elf . Promising review: "Gorgeous! Great pop of color." — Courtney Price: $39.99+ for 10 lights (originally $44.99+; available in three styles) 12. A set of six stockings for Santa to leave your gifts in. No matter how old you get, it's still so exciting to run downstairs on Christmas morning to see if he has been. Promising review: "I can't stand a thin stocking that stretches and loses its shape. These are nice and thick, well made and they look great! They stretch enough to be stuffed but don't lose their shape!" — Yvette Price: $22.99+ (originally $49.99; available in nine color combos) 13. A golden serving set so you can serve up your meal with even more joy. This set comes with everything you need to dish up Christmas dinner. Price: $26.98+ (available in three set sizes) 14. A drink cup to bring a dose of Dolly Parton into your holiday soiree. Use it to sip a festive drink while you have your annual Hallmark marathon. Price: $6.98 15. A fun throw pillow because, after all, 'tis the season to be jolly. Promising review: "Very well made. A nice addition to my holiday throw pillows." — Barbara Price: $24.49 16. A gold star-shaped tree topper that'll be the perfect, shimmering finishing touch to your Christmas tree. Promising review: "This is a great star! The size is bigger than I expected but it's perfect, even on my slim tree. The twinkling light options are fun!" — Momof4 Price: $17.98 (also available in silver) 17. A glass cone-shaped tabletop ornament for adding a subtle festive finish to your dining table or coffee table. Promising review: "Beautiful glass tree, love that it has gold and clear etched parts of ribbon pattern. Will be pretty with gold or silver Christmas themes and will go with any color scheme." — Sandy Price: $14.98+ (available in two sizes) 18. A festive wall print to remind everyone that, you build the best snowmen and they better not forget it. Price: $14.88 19. A set of two plush gnomes so you can give your home a rustic-chic Scandinavian vibe this winter. Promising review: "They are so cute. Great addition to my Christmas decorations." — Donna Price: $11.99 (originally $24.99) 20. A 6-foot Santa perfect for those who want to impress their neighbors with their Danny DeVito in "Deck the Halls" level of commitment to holiday decor. Promising review: "Love it. Looks great in front yard!" — evelyn Price: $36.99 (originally $69.99) 21. A plaid Sherpa throw blanket so you can beat the chill in style. It's designed with classic Christmas colors, making it perfect for the season. Promising review: "Such a great blanket! It is incredibly soft and so fluffy. It's perfect for my couch at Christmas time!" — Becky07 Price: $16.99+ (originally $35; available in five colors) 22. A wooden Christmas sign to bring a farmhouse vibe to your holiday decor. Promising review: "This is so beautiful! Great quality and very festive." — Nina Price: $11.99 23. A sweet light-up Christmas village that looks like it belongs in a winter postcard scene. Pro mising review: "This is absolutely adorable. Perfect larger size.. And the detail work on the houses is awesome! I'm so glad I decided to buy it and it will go perfectly with the other houses I bought last year. Love the fact that they light up! A lovely addition to my Christmas Village." — Lee Price: $25.96 24. A Christmas bedding set because festive bedding is a must at this time of year. This cute set comes with a quilt cover and two pillow shams. Promising review: "Bought for my daughter as a surprise during the Christmas season. She loved it! Price is great! Looking forward to buying more from this brand. It's an easy refresh for the bedroom." — elisa Price: $25.07+ (originally $46.99; available in sizes twin–king and 20 colors) 25. A printed table runner to elevate your festive tablescape in the chicest of ways. Promising review : "This table runner is perfect for the holidays. I have it paired with a black and white buffalo checked table cloth. I get so many compliments. Also, the shipping was fast and the quality is great." — Kristi Price: $8.99+ (originally $15.99; available in various patterns, sizes, and with or without placemats) Need ingredients for all your new recipes? Shop each recipe directly through the app, or check out Walmart’s grocery selection to get veggies, meat, seafood, and more delivered right to your door. Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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NEW YORK , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Agriculture & Natural Solutions Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company ("ANSC"), announced today that the Treasurer of Australia (the "Treasurer") on December 12, 2024 (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) confirmed that the Commonwealth Government of Australia has no objection to ANSC's previously announced proposed business combination with Australian Food & Agriculture Company Limited ("AFA") and the other parties to the Business Combination Agreement dated August 28, 2024 (the "Business Combination") (known colloquially as "FIRB Approval" as the Treasurer is advised on such matters by the Foreign Investment Review Board). FIRB Approval is one of the conditions to closing of the Business Combination. ABOUT AFA AFA is a large-scale, diversified agricultural business established by the late Colin Bell in 1993 with the acquisition of the historic 'Burrabogie' station. AFA now operates one of the largest agricultural portfolios in New South Wales, Australia consisting of three major freehold title land aggregations within the Deniliquin, Hay and Coonamble districts, which total approximately 550,000 acres, and a water portfolio of approximately 45,000 acre-feet. AFA's portfolio includes some of Australia's most iconic properties, including 'Boonoke', 'Burrabogie', 'Wanganella' and 'Wingadee'. The company has total livestock carrying capacity of approximately 247,000 dry sheep equivalent across its sheep wool and meat and cattle operations (excluding the Conargo feedlot). AFA also operates the historic Wanganella and Poll Boonoke merino sheep studs, amongst the most highly regarded studs in Australia . AFA's cropping operations are characterized by flexibility amongst crop types, geographies and seasons. Key crops include irrigated cotton, irrigated rice, wheat, barley, canola, corn, chick peas and faba beans. More recently, the company has developed the state-of-the-art Conargo feedlot with a licensed capacity of 12,000 standard cattle units. ABOUT ANSC ANSC was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination. ANSC represents a further expansion of its sponsors' 18-year franchise in low-carbon investments, having established industry leading, scaled companies with more than $6 billion of equity invested in renewables. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This document includes certain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions, or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other important factors, many of which are outside of ANSC, Agriculture & Natural Solutions Company Limited ACN 680 144 085 ("NewCo") or AFA's management's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing ANSC's, AFA's or NewCo's views as of any subsequent date, and none of ANSC, AFA or NewCo undertakes any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. None of NewCo, ANSC or AFA gives any assurance that any of NewCo, ANSC or AFA will achieve its expectations. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, NewCo's actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: (i) the ability of the parties to complete the Business Combination by ANSC's business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by ANSC; (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the definitive agreements relating to the Business Combination; (iii) the outcome of any legal, regulatory or governmental proceedings that may be instituted against NewCo, ANSC or AFA or any investigation or inquiry following announcement of the Business Combination, including in connection with the Business Combination; (iv) the inability to complete the Business Combination due to the failure to obtain approval of ANSC's shareholders; (v) AFA's and NewCo's success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, their officers, key employees or directors following the Business Combination; (vi) the ability of the parties to obtain the listing of the ordinary shares in the capital of NewCo ("NewCo Ordinary Shares") and warrants to purchase NewCo Ordinary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange upon the closing of the Business Combination; (vii) the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of AFA as a result of the announcement and consummation of the transactions described herein; (viii) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; (ix) unexpected costs related to the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of AFA to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its key employees; (x) the ability of the parties to consummate one or more private placements of securities of NewCo to be consummated in connection with the Business Combination (the "Private Placements") on the stated timeline; (xi) the use of proceeds from the Private Placements by the combined company; (xii) the risk that there will be insufficient cash raised through the Private Placements, or that the amount of redemptions by ANSC's public shareholders is greater than expected; (xiii) the management and board composition of NewCo following completion of the Business Combination; (xiv) limited liquidity and trading of NewCo's securities; (xv) geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations, including legal or regulatory developments (including, without limitation, accounting considerations) which could result in the need for AFA to restate its historical financial statements and cause unforeseen delays in the timing of the Business Combination and negatively impact the trading price of NewCo's securities and the attractiveness of the Business Combination to investors; (xvi) the possibility that AFA may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (xvii) operational risks; (xviii) the possibility that a pandemic or major disease disrupts AFA's business; (xix) litigation and regulatory enforcement risks, including the diversion of management time and attention and the additional costs and demands on AFA's resources; (xx) the risks that the consummation of the Business Combination is substantially delayed or does not occur including the risk that the transaction may not be completed by ANSC's business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain extensions of the business combination deadline if sought by ANSC; and (xxi) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Business Combination, including those under "Risk Factors" therein, and in ANSC's, AFA's and NewCo's other filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. No Offer or Solicitation This communication relates to a proposed business combination between AFA and ANSC. This document shall not constitute a "solicitation" of a proxy, consent, or authorization, as defined in Section 14 of the Exchange Act, with respect to any securities or in respect of the Business Combination. This document also does not constitute an offer, or a solicitation of an offer, to buy, sell, or exchange any securities, investment or other specific product, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any offer, sale or exchange of securities, investment or other specific product in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities will be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom. Additional Information About the Business Combination and Where To Find It In connection with the Business Combination, ANSC, NewCo and AFA intend to file a registration statement on Form F-4 relating to the Business Combination (the "Registration Statement") with the SEC, which will include a proxy statement of ANSC in connection with ANSC's extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders (the "ANSC Shareholders' Meeting") and certain other related matters described in the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement, including the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein, will contain important information about the Business Combination and the other matters to be voted upon at the ANSC Shareholders' Meeting. This communication does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the Business Combination and other matters and is not intended to provide the basis for any investment decision or any other decision in respect of such matters. ANSC, AFA and NewCo may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the Business Combination. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF ANSC AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS ARE URGED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED THEREIN, ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO AND DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE BUSINESS COMBINATION CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ANSC, NEWCO, AFA, AND THE BUSINESS COMBINATION. After the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, ANSC will mail the definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Business Combination to its shareholders as of the record date established for voting on the Business Combination. Shareholders will also be able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials in connection with the Business Combination without charge, once available, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Agriculture & Natural Solutions Acquisition Corporation, 712 Fifth Avenue, 36 th Floor, New York, NY 10019. Participants in the Solicitation ANSC, NewCo, AFA and their respective directors and executive officers and related persons may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from ANSC's shareholders in connection with the Business Combination. ANSC's shareholders and other interested persons may obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding the directors and officers of ANSC and their direct or indirect interests therein in ANSC's Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024 (File No. 001-41861), including, without limitation, "Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance", "Item 11. Executive Compensation", "Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters" and "Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence". Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to ANSC's shareholders in connection with the Business Combination and other matters to be voted upon at the ANSC Shareholders' Meeting will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus for the Business Combination when available. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described above. Media Contact Daniel Yunger / Emma Cloyd Kekst CNC daniel.yunger@kekstcnc.com / emma.cloyd@kekstcnc.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agriculture--natural-solutions-acquisition-corporation-receives-firb-approval-in-connection-with-previously-announced-business-combination-302331743.html SOURCE Agriculture & Natural Solutions Acquisition CorporationBerlin: Tech billionaire Elon Musk caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of Welt am Sonntag’ s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on February 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalise the country’s stagnant economy. Elon Musk has involved himself deeply in US politics - now he’s turned his attention to Germany. Credit: AP Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag — a sister publication of POLITICO owned by the Axel Springer Group — published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD . “The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the last spark of hope for this country,” Musk wrote in his translated commentary. He went on to say the far-right party “can lead the country into a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity and technological innovation are not just wishes, but reality”. Loading The Tesla Motors chief executive also wrote that his investment in Germany gave him the right to comment on the country’s condition. The AfD is polling strongly, but its candidate for the top job, Alice Weidel, has no realistic chance of becoming chancellor because other parties refuse to work with the far-right party. An ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, the technology billionaire challenged in his opinion piece the party’s public image. “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Musk’s commentary has led to a debate in German media over the boundaries of free speech, with the paper’s own opinion editor announcing her resignation, pointedly on Musk’s social media platform, X. “I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag . I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print,” Eva Marie Kogel wrote. Eva Marie Kogel, the editor who quit in protest after her paper ran an Elon Musk opinion piece. Credit: Martin U. K. Lengemann The newspaper was also attacked by politicians and other media for offering Musk, an outsider, a platform to express his views, in favour of the AfD. Candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz, of the Christian Democratic Union, said on Sunday that Musk’s comments were “intrusive and presumptuous”. He was speaking to the newspapers of the German Funke Media Group. Supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany political party hold a placard that reads: “Germany First!” at an AfD campaign rally in Thuringia. Credit: Getty Images Co-leader of the Social Democratic Party, Saskia Esken said that “Anyone who tries to influence our election from outside, who supports an anti-democratic, misanthropic party like the AfD, whether the influence is organised by the state from Russia or by the concentrated financial and media power of Elon Musk and his billionaire friends on the Springer board, must expect our tough resistance,” according to the ARD national public TV network. “In Elon Musk’s world, democracy and workers’ rights are obstacles to more profit,” Esken told Reuters. “We say quite clearly: Our democracy is defensible and it cannot be bought.” Musk’s opinion piece in the Welt am Sonntag was accompanied by a critical article by the future editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Jan Philipp Burgard. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally wrong,” Burgard wrote. A general view of The Reichstag, which houses the German lower House of Parliament or Bundestag. Snap elections are scheduled for February 23. Credit: Getty Images Responding to a request for comment from the German Press Agency, dpa, the current editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Ulf Poschardt, and Burgard — who is due to take over on January 1 — said in a joint statement that the discussion over Musk’s piece was “very insightful. Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression.” “This will continue to determine the compass of the “world” in the future. We will develop “ Die Welt ” even more decisively as a forum for such debates,” they wrote to dpa. AP, Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. EU Germany Elon Musk Most Viewed in World LoadingNovember 24 - John Parker Romo made a 29-yard field goal to lift the Minnesota Vikings to a 30-27 overtime win against the host Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon. Romo buried the game-winning kick in his third career game for Minnesota (9-2), which won its fourth game in a row. The score capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive for the Vikings after the Bears went three-and-out on the first overtime possession. Sam Darnold completed 22 of 34 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Vikings. Wideout Jordan Addison finished with eight catches for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown. The overtime defeat spoiled an impressive performance from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who completed 32 of 47 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns for Chicago (4-7). D.J. Moore had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Keenan Allen finished with nine catches for 86 yards and a score. Chicago erased an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime. Romo had put Minnesota on top 27-16 when he made a 26-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams trimmed the Bears' deficit to 27-24 with 22 seconds to go. He rolled right and found Allen wide open in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, and moments later he fired a strike to Moore for a two-point conversion. The Bears recovered an onside kick on the next play to regain possession at their 43-yard line with 21 seconds left. Cairo Santos' onside kick bounced off the foot of Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt, and Tarvarius Moore recovered it. D.J. Moore put the Bears in field-goal position with a 27-yard reception across the middle of the field, and Santos made a 48-yarder as time expired to even the score at 27-all. Minnesota led 24-10 after three quarters. Romo made a 40-yard field goal early in the third quarter, and Aaron Jones punched in a 2-yard run with 1:22 left in the period to put the Vikings on top by two touchdowns. Addison and Jalen Nailor each had receiving touchdowns in the first half for Minnesota. Roschon Johnson scored on a 1-yard run for the Bears' only touchdown of the first half. Chicago trailed 14-10 at the break. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

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Democrats proved they’re not defenders of democracyGeorge Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, diesbetfred odds 。

Secret documents show that then taoiseach Albert Reynolds sought to rely on “custom and practice” to explain the controversial appointment of Attorney General Harry Whelehan as a High Court judge in 1994. State papers released by the National Archives under the 30-year rule offer insight into the political controversy that would lead to the collapse of the Fianna Fáil-Labour coalition government after just two years in power. They reveal how Mr Reynolds sought to justify pushing ahead with Whelehan’s appointment as a judge, despite the move being opposed by Labour leader, Dick Spring. The government ratified his formal nomination at a Cabinet meeting on November 11, 1994, which was not attended by his coalition partner’s ministers. Paedophile priest The Attorney General had been under criticism at the time over his mishandling of the extradition of a notorious paedophile priest, Fr Brendan Smyth, to Northern Ireland to face child abuse charges. Whelehan had claimed the delay in extraditing Smyth was due to the fact that it was the first case of its type that was covered by new legislation. Beef Tribunal and the X Case The former Attorney General had already been involved in a number of other controversies in his role as the government’s top legal advisor, including his intervention in the Beef Tribunal to prevent minister Ray Burke from being questioned about Cabinet discussions on the beef industry on grounds of breaching Cabinet confidentiality. Whelehan had also sought an injunction in 1992 to prevent a teenager who was pregnant after being raped from travelling to Britain for an abortion in what became known as the X Case. Fr John Duggan case Following his appointment to the High Court, however, his replacement as Attorney General, Eoghan Fitzsimons, dropped a bombshell when he revealed that there had been a previous similar case to Fr Brendan Smyth in 1992 which had been personally dealt with by Whelehan. Mr Reynolds accused Whelehan of seriously misleading the government and stated he would not have proposed or supported his appointment to the judiciary if he had been aware of the earlier case which related to Fr John Duggan. Collapse of coalition Although the taoiseach expressed regret at the appointment in an attempt to repair relations with Labour, Mr Spring collapsed the coalition and formed a new government with Fine Gael and Democratic Left, while Whelehan resigned as a judge a few days later after coming under intense pressure to relinquish his post. Newly-released State papers show that a senior civil servant advised the taoiseach that Whelehan’s appointment could be explained on the basis that it was “custom and practice” by referencing a long-standing tradition of appointing former attorney generals to the judiciary. Records showed that 14 out of the 22 attorney generals in the history of the State had gone on to take up judicial roles. They reveal that in preparation for a Dáil confidence debate on November 16 and 17, 1994, Mr Reynolds was advised to emphasise the historical precedent for such appointments. Draft speech notes prepared for him included references to briefing materials dating back to the tenure of Éamon de Valera with regard to the promotion of an attorney general. Mr Reynolds said he had relied on a briefing note prepared by the government secretary which had in fact first been drawn up when his predecessor was taoiseach and which had been “carried forward in that format and context for almost forty years”. The Fianna Fáil leader said the real point what not what the briefing note said “but the custom and practice which has operated since the foundation of the State”. The draft note concluded with the Latin phrase: “Res ipsa loquitur” which translates as “the thing speaks for itself”.Ping Chayada: Chilling final post of pop singer who dies after Thai massage goes wrong

Waterproof Security Camera Market: Trends, Scope, and Key Factors 2028 11-22-2024 09:17 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Data Bridge Market Research Waterproof Security Camera Market The global waterproof security camera market has seen significant growth in recent years, fueled by advancements in technology, increasing security concerns, and the demand for robust and durable surveillance solutions. This article explores the market's overview, scope, trends, and the factors driving its growth, providing valuable insights into this dynamic industry. Browse More About This Research Report @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-waterproof-security-camera-market Market Overview Waterproof security cameras are specialized surveillance devices designed to function reliably in various environmental conditions, including rain, snow, and extreme heat. These cameras are equipped with features such as high-definition video capture, night vision, motion detection, and cloud-based storage. They are commonly used in residential, commercial, and industrial settings to ensure safety and monitor activities. The market for waterproof security cameras has expanded rapidly due to the growing emphasis on outdoor security. With urbanization and increased infrastructure development, the need for effective surveillance solutions has become more pronounced. Additionally, advancements in wireless technology and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) have transformed these devices, making them smarter and more efficient. Scope of the Market The scope of the waterproof security camera market is broad, encompassing various applications, technologies, and customer segments. Key segments include: Residential Sector: Homeowners are increasingly adopting waterproof security cameras to safeguard their properties. These cameras provide features like smartphone connectivity and real-time alerts, enhancing home security. Commercial and Industrial Sector: Businesses and industries rely on waterproof cameras for monitoring large outdoor spaces, such as parking lots, warehouses, and construction sites. Advanced models with facial recognition and thermal imaging are becoming popular in this segment. Public Sector: Government and municipal bodies deploy waterproof security cameras for public safety and traffic monitoring. These cameras play a crucial role in urban planning and crowd management. Technological Integration: The integration of AI and IoT (Internet of Things) has expanded the functionality of waterproof cameras, enabling features like automated alerts and predictive analytics. Cloud-based storage and wireless connectivity are driving the adoption of these devices. Market Trends Several trends are shaping the waterproof security camera market, highlighting the evolving demands and technological advancements: 1. Increased Demand for Smart Surveillance: Consumers are seeking cameras that integrate seamlessly with smart home systems and devices. Features like voice control, remote access, and intelligent motion detection are highly desirable. 2. Rise of AI-Powered Cameras: AI-driven cameras can identify objects, recognize faces, and analyze behavior patterns, enhancing their efficiency and reducing false alarms. AI technology also supports advanced analytics, helping users make data-driven security decisions. 3. Growth in Wireless Technology: Wireless and battery-operated waterproof cameras offer greater flexibility in installation and maintenance. These models eliminate the need for extensive wiring, making them ideal for temporary or remote locations. 4. Focus on Sustainability: Manufacturers are incorporating eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient designs into waterproof security cameras. Solar-powered models are gaining popularity, particularly in areas with limited access to electricity. 5. Regional Expansion: Emerging markets in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa are witnessing increased adoption of waterproof security cameras due to urbanization and infrastructure growth. Local manufacturers are entering the market, offering cost-effective solutions tailored to regional needs. Factors Driving the Market Several key factors are driving the growth of the waterproof security camera market: 1. Rising Security Concerns: The increasing prevalence of theft, vandalism, and other criminal activities has heightened the demand for reliable security solutions. Waterproof cameras are preferred for outdoor surveillance, where weather resistance is critical. 2. Technological Advancements: Innovations in camera technology, such as 4K resolution, wide-angle lenses, and infrared capabilities, have improved the performance of waterproof cameras. The integration of AI, IoT, and cloud computing has enhanced functionality and user experience. 3. Urbanization and Infrastructure Development: Rapid urbanization has led to the construction of smart cities and modern infrastructure, where advanced surveillance systems are essential. Governments and private organizations are investing in security technologies to ensure public safety. 4. Affordability and Accessibility: The availability of affordable waterproof security cameras has made them accessible to a broader audience, including small businesses and individual consumers. Online platforms and e-commerce have simplified the purchasing process, boosting market growth. 5. Regulatory Support: Governments worldwide are implementing regulations and standards for security systems, encouraging the adoption of high-quality waterproof cameras. Subsidies and incentives for public safety initiatives further support market expansion. Challenges in the Market While the waterproof security camera market offers significant opportunities, it also faces challenges that may impact growth: High Initial Costs: Advanced features and durable designs can make these cameras expensive, deterring price-sensitive customers. Privacy Concerns: Increased surveillance has raised privacy issues, prompting stricter regulations that manufacturers must navigate. Technical Limitations: Despite advancements, factors like network connectivity and battery life can affect camera performance, particularly in remote areas. Future Outlook The waterproof security camera market is poised for continued growth, driven by technological innovation and increasing security needs. Manufacturers are focusing on enhancing product features, reducing costs, and expanding into emerging markets. As smart cities and IoT ecosystems evolve, the demand for advanced waterproof security cameras will only rise. In conclusion, the waterproof security camera market presents vast opportunities for innovation and expansion. By addressing challenges and leveraging emerging trends, stakeholders can capitalize on the growing demand for robust and reliable surveillance solutions. Browse Trending Reports: https://newsasdbmr.blogspot.com/2024/11/blending-learning-market-size-share_22.html https://newsasdbmr.blogspot.com/2024/11/anterior-lumbar-interbody-fusion-alif_22.html https://newsasdbmr.blogspot.com/2024/11/anti-tack-agents-market-size-share_22.html https://newsasdbmr.blogspot.com/2024/11/medium-density-fibreboard-mdf_22.html About Data Bridge Market Research: An absolute way to predict what the future holds is to understand the current trend! Data Bridge Market Research presented itself as an unconventional and neoteric market research and consulting firm with an unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are committed to uncovering the best market opportunities and nurturing effective information for your business to thrive in the marketplace. Data Bridge strives to provide appropriate solutions to complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process. Data Bridge is a set of pure wisdom and experience that was formulated and framed in 2015 in Pune. Data Bridge Market Research has more than 500 analysts working in different industries. We have served more than 40% of the Fortune 500 companies globally and have a network of more than 5,000 clients worldwide. Data Bridge is an expert in creating satisfied customers who trust our services and trust our hard work with certainty. We are pleased with our glorious 99.9% customer satisfaction rating. Contact Us: - Data Bridge Market Research US: +1 888 387 2818 United Kingdom: +44 208 089 1725 Hong Kong: +852 8192 7475 Email: - sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com This release was published on openPR.49ers look to maintain 'urgency' against rival Rams

Emanuel Wallace, 27, from east London, is better known as Big Manny by his 1.9 million followers on TikTok, where he shares videos explaining various science experiments from his back garden while using Jamaican Patois phrases and London slang. In early December, Mr Wallace won the Education Creator of the Year award at the TikTok Awards ceremony, which he said is a “symbol that anything that you put your mind to you can achieve”. The content creator began making videos during the coronavirus pandemic when schools turned to online learning but has since expanded his teaching from videos to paper after releasing his debut book Science Is Lit in August. He believes his “unconventional” teaching methods help to make his content relatable for younger audiences by using slang deriving from his Jamaican and British heritage. “The language that I use, it’s a combination between Jamaican Patois and London slang because I have Jamaican heritage,” the TikToker, who holds a bachelors and masters degree in biomedical science, told the PA news agency. “That’s why in my videos sometimes I might say things like ‘Wagwan’ or ‘you dun know’. I just want to connect with the young people more, so I speak in the same way that they speak. “The words that I use, the way that I deliver the lesson as well, I would say that my method of teaching is quite unconventional. I speak in a way that is quite conversational.” Examples of his videos include lithium batteries catching fire after being sandwiched inside a raw chicken breast, as well as mixing gold with gallium to create blue gold, earning millions of views. Mr Wallace hopes his content will help make the science industry more diverse, saying “the scientists that I was taught about, none of them look like me”. “Now me being a scientist is showing young people that they can become one as well, regardless of the background that they come from, the upbringing that they’ve had,” he said. “I just want to make it seem more attainable and possible for them because if I can do it, and I come from the same place as you, there’s no reason why you can’t do it as well.” The TikToker has seen a shift in more young people turning to the app as a learning resource and feels short-form videos will soon become a part of the national curriculum in schools. “I’m seeing (young people) using that a lot more – social media as a resource for education – and I feel like in the future, it’s going to become more and more popular as well,” he said. “I get a lot of comments from students saying that my teacher showed my video in the classroom as a resource, so I feel like these short form videos are going to be integrated within the national curriculum at some point in the near future.” He also uses his platform to raise awareness of different social issues, which he said is “extremely important”. One of his videos highlighted an anti-knife campaign backed by actor Idris Elba, which earned more than 39 million views, while his clip about the banning of disposable vapes was viewed more than 4.6 million times. He said there is some pressure being a teacher with a large following online but hopes he can be a role model for young people. “I’m aware that I am in the public eye and there’s a lot of young people watching me,” he said. “Young people can be impressionable, so I make sure that I conduct myself appropriately, so that I can be a role model. “I always have the same message for young people, specifically. I tell them to stay curious. Always ask questions and look a little bit deeper into things.” His plans for 2025 include publishing a second Science Is Lit book and expanding his teaching to television where he soon hopes to create his own science show.

The longstanding strip of garden centres on St. Mary’s Road has been split in two. Confusion and lost sales have resulted, affected businesses say. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * The longstanding strip of garden centres on St. Mary’s Road has been split in two. Confusion and lost sales have resulted, affected businesses say. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? The longstanding strip of garden centres on St. Mary’s Road has been split in two. Confusion and lost sales have resulted, affected businesses say. Signage is top of Dave Hanson’s Christmas list. He’s noticed a 30 per cent decline in holiday traffic at Sage Garden Greenhouses and he believes the new interchange at St. Mary’s Road and the Perimeter Highway is to blame. “Every single day, all day long, people are still — three months in — still bringing it up,” Hanson said. Sage Garden Greenhouses has spent 25 years at 3410 St. Mary’s Rd. Before the province’s interchange project, Sage Garden joined companies like Lacoste Garden Centre on a stretch of St. Mary’s Road beyond the Perimeter Highway. At the time, southbound St. Mary’s commuters would cross the Perimeter via a light-controlled intersection. Now, potential customers pass through two large roundabouts and overtop the major highway. Past the Perimeter, the road continues straight into Provincial Road 200; Sage Garden is further down. However, there’s a right-hand turn-off to another section — St. Mary’s Road — where Lacoste, St. Mary’s Nursery and Ron Paul Garden Centre sit. The St. Mary’s strip ends in a cul-de-sac; it used to stretch to companies like Sage Garden. Karen Burkett estimates it took her twice as long as normal to reach Sage Garden Greenhouses after the interchange opened in September. She didn’t use a GPS — she’d heard maps weren’t yet updated for the new road — and found herself stuck in the cul-de-sac beyond St. Mary’s Nursery. “It feels like it’s unnecessarily complicated,” said Burkett, who’s been a Sage Garden patron for a decade. “I can see how easy it’d be just to give up and not bother.” Ron Paul Garden Centre has clocked a significant decrease in live Christmas tree sales; Lacoste Garden Centre has noticed a drop in artificial tree purchases. Management of both said it’s hard to determine the reason for the trend, but the new interchange could play a role. “We’ve had customers tell us ... ‘We can’t find the place,’” said Jordan Hiebert, co-owner of Lacoste Garden Centre. The calls often come after people have passed the strip’s turnoff, he added. Ray DuBois, president of Ron Paul, said he wore his work shirt to the bank, prompting the teller to say she couldn’t find the centre anymore. Both managers noted the sites are easy to find via Google Maps. However, older clients who don’t use such systems are struggling, they said. All the garden centres the spoke to want more signage. On Friday, there were no signs showing Sage Garden and its neighbour businesses, like Red Valley Plant Market, are beyond the St. Mary’s turnoff. Signage highlighting businesses past the turnoff should come soon if it isn’t already up, said Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River). He visited Sage Garden Greenhouses last week. “I didn’t realize that they were going to terminate the old St. Mary’s Road,” Chambers said. “Signage (has become) very necessary so that these businesses can continue to receive the patronage they have in the past.” Chambers said he contacted the province and the city’s street engineers, who committed to erecting markers near Seniuk Road (the turnoff point). Other companies, including a mechanic and Mom’s Pantry, are also affected by the change, Chambers noted. Tom Miller, owner of St. Mary’s Service, said he’s received calls asking if he’s moved his shop. Lacoste, Ron Paul and St. Mary’s Nursery currently have a government sign to show they’re off the main strip. It’s a small orange rectangle indicating businesses are past the turnoff. “They’ve got to do better than that,” Hiebert from Lacoste said. “There’s a lot of commerce that happens on the strip between the three garden centres.” Lacoste has nearly 200 employees. Hiebert expressed interest in creating a sign jointly with Ron Paul and St. Mary’s Nursery. Private business signs along PR 200 won’t be approved because the location is too close to the interchange, posing a risk of driver distraction, a provincial spokesperson wrote in a statement. Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure has committed to installing “new and modified” signs before 2024’s end, helping identify businesses south of Seniuk Road, the spokesperson added. “(We) will continue to monitor and communicate with the affected businesses to identify potential improvements going forward,” the spokesperson wrote, noting Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure has met with affected companies. Hanson from Sage Garden Greenhouses had hoped for signage by now. “It’s an important and busy time of year for us,” he emphasized, adding his company is stocked with potential Christmas presents. He called the infrastructure change a “double whammy,” coinciding with the ongoing Canada Post strike. Sage Garden ships many gift cards and packages via mail during the holidays. Lately, the company has been delivering its own goods within Winnipeg, but it’s missing customers in rural communities. “I don’t think anyone wants to hurt us,” DuBois from Ron Paul said of the signage issue. “There just has to be a better way.” Construction on the St. Mary’s Road interchange is ongoing. The project should be finished by August 2025, a Manitoba government webpage shows. The configuration was made to “safely and efficiently accommodate all accesses and exits” while eliminating traffic control measures like lights, a provincial spokesperson said. Government has cited trade and safety as reasons for the project in the past. gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the . She interned at the and worked for its sister outlet, , before entering the business beat in 2021. . Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.'Remarkable' Olivia Hussey who has died aged 73 faced rape, beatings, infidelity and cancer after shooting to fame at just 15 as Zeffirelli's Juliet

—NOMBRE COMPLETO: James Earl Carter, Jr. —NACIDO: 1 de octubre de 1924 en la Clínica Wise de Plains, Georgia. Carter fue el primer presidente de Estados Unidos nacido en un hospital. Se convertiría en el primer presidente de Estados Unidos en vivir un siglo. —EDUCACIÓN: Secundaria en Plains, Georgia, 1939-1941; Georgia Southwestern College, Americus, Georgia, 1941-1942; Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 1942-1943; Academia Naval de Estados Unidos, Annapolis, Maryland, 1943-1946 (Clase 1947); Union College, Schenectady, Nueva York, 1952-1953. —PRESIDENCIA: 39no presidente de Estados Unidos, juramentado el 20 de enero de 1977 a los 52 años, tres meses y 20 días de edad, tras derrotar al presidente Gerald R. Ford en las elecciones generales de 1976. Derrotado por Ronald Reagan en 1980, dejó la presidencia el 20 de enero de 1981. —POSTPRESIDENCIA: Puso en marcha el Centro Carter en 1982. Comenzó a trabajar como voluntario en Hábitat para la Humanidad en 1984. Recibió el Premio Nobel de la Paz en 2002. Enseñó durante 37 años en la Universidad de Emory. —OTROS CARGOS DE ELECCION POPULAR: Senador estatal en Georgia, 1963-1967; gobernador de Georgia, 1971-1975. —OTRAS ACTIVIDADES: Oficial de la Marina, llegó al grado de teniente de navío, 1946-1953; agricultor, Plains, Georgia, 1953-1977. —FAMILIA: Esposa, Rosalynn Smith Carter. Se casaron el 7 de julio de 1943. Ella murió el 19 de noviembre de 2023. Tuvieron tres hijos, John William (Jack), James Earl III (Chip), Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff), y una hija, Amy Lynn. Fuente: Biblioteca y Museo Jimmy Carter

Everything you need to know about California government in two stories

Funding streams beckon interest from businessesPolice arrested a “strong person of interest” Monday in the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after a quick-thinking McDonald’s employee in Pennsylvania alerted authorities to a customer who was found with a weapon and writings linking him to the ambush. The 26-year-old man had a gun believed to be the one used in the killing and writings suggesting his anger with corporate America, police officials said. He was taken into custody after police got a tip that he was eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. Police identified the suspect as Luigi Mangione. Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco, and his last known address is in Honolulu, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. Here's the latest: Asked if he needed a public defender, he asked if he could “answer that at a future date.” According to court documents, Mangione was sitting at a table in the rear of the McDonald's wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a silver laptop computer and had a backpack on the floor. When he pulled down his mask, Altoona police officers “immediately recognized him as the suspect” in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the documents say. Asked for identification, Mangione provided officers with a fake ID — a New Jersey driver’s license bearing another name and the incorrect date of birth. When an officer asked Mangione if he’d been to New York recently, he “became quiet and started to shake,” the court documents say A police criminal complaint charged him with forgery, carrying firearms without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing an instrument of crime and providing false identification to law enforcement. Video posted on the social platform X shows a handcuffed Mangione arriving at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. For example, it took about 10 months to extradite a man charged with stabbing two workers at the Museum of Modern Art in 2022. The suspect, Gary Cabana, was also arrested in Pennsylvania, where he was charged with setting his Philadelphia hotel room on fire. Cabana was sent back to New York after he pleaded guilty to an arson charge in Pennsylvania. Manhattan prosecutors could seek to expedite the process by indicting Mangione for Thompson’s killing while he’s still in custody of Pennsylvania authorities. They could then obtain what’s known as a supreme court warrant or fugitive warrant to get him back to New York. Freddie Leatherbury hasn’t spoken to Mangione since they graduated in 2016 from Gilman School in Maryland. He said Mangione was a smart, friendly and athletic student who came from a wealthy family, even by the private school’s standards. “Quite honestly, he had everything going for him,” Leatherbury said. Leatherbury said he was stunned when a friend shared the news of their former classmate’s arrest. “He does not seem like the kind of guy to do this based on everything I’d known about him in high school,” Leatherbury said. One of his cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesperson for the delegate’s office confirmed Monday. Luigi Mangione is one of 37 grandchildren of Nick Mangione Sr., according to a 2008 obituary. Mangione Sr. grew up poor in Baltimore’s Little Italy and rose after his World War II naval service to become a millionaire real estate developer and philanthropist, according to a 1995 profile by the Baltimore Sun. He and his wife Mary Cuba Mangione, who died in 2023, directed their philanthropy through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating her death. They donated to a variety of causes, ranging from Catholic organizations to higher education to the arts. A man who answered the door to the office of the Mangione Family Foundation declined to comment Monday evening. Mangione Sr. was known for Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione Sr. prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday afternoon, Baltimore County police officers had blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. A swarm of reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. “Our hope is that today’s apprehension brings some relief to Brian’s family, friends, colleagues and the many others affected by this unspeakable tragedy,” a spokesperson for UnitedHealth Group said Monday. “We thank law enforcement and will continue to work with them on this investigation. We ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as they mourn.” In an email to parents and alumni, Gilman headmaster Henry P.A. Smyth said it “recently” learned that Mangione, a 2016 graduate, was arrested in the CEO’s killing. “We do not have any information other than what is being reported in the news,” Smyth wrote. “This is deeply distressing news on top of an already awful situation. Our hearts go out to everyone affected.” Mangione, a high school valedictorian from a Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. He had learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His posts also suggest that he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, the New Jersey shore and other destinations. Police said the suspect arrested Monday had a ghost gun , a type of weapon that can be assembled at home from parts without a serial number, making them difficult to trace. The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what’s known as the lower receiver. Some are sold in do-it-yourself kits and the receivers are typically made from metal or polymer. Altoona police say officers were dispatched to a McDonald’s on Monday morning in response to reports of a male matching the description of the man wanted in connection with the United Healthcare CEO’s killing in New York City. In a news release, police say officers made contact with the man, who was then arrested on unrelated charges. The Altoona Police Department says it’s cooperating with local, state, and federal agencies. “This just happened this morning. We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. “And at some point we’ll work out through extradition to bring him back to New York to face charges here, working with the Manhattan district attorney’s office,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. “As of right now, the information we’re getting from Altoona is that the gun appears to be a ghost gun that may have been made on a 3D printer, capable of firing a 9 mm round,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. The document suggested the suspect had “ill will toward corporate America,” police added. Mangione, 26, was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco, and his last known address in Honolulu, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. Police have arrested a 26-year-old with a weapon “consistent with” the gun used in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , New York City’s police commissioner says. Thompson , 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company’s annual investor conference at Manhattan hotel. Thompson had traveled from Minnesota for the event. A man being questioned Monday in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson had writings that appeared to be critical of the health insurance industry, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The man also had a gun thought to be similar to the one used in the killing, the official said. Police apprehended the man after receiving a tip that he had been spotted at a McDonald’s near Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 233 miles (375 kilometers) west of New York City, said the official, who wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Along with the gun, police found a silencer and fake IDs, according to the official. — Michael R. Sisak That’s also according to the law enforcement official. — Michael R. Sisak That’s according to a law enforcement official. — Michael R. Sisak New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected to address this development at a previously scheduled afternoon news briefing in Manhattan. While still looking to identify the suspect, the FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction. That’s on top of a $10,000 reward offered by the NYPD. That included footage of the attack, as well as images of someone at a Starbucks beforehand. Photos taken in the lobby of a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side showed the person grinning after removing his mask, police said. NYPD dogs and divers returned to New York’s Central Park today while the dragnet for Thompson’s killer stretched into a sixth day. Investigators have been combing the park since the Wednesday shooting and searching at least one of its ponds for three days, looking for evidence that may have been thrown into it. Police say the shooter used a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. Police said they had not yet found the gun itself. Ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics . A man with a gun thought to be similar to the one used in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was taken into police custody Monday for questioning in Pennsylvania, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The man is being held in the area of Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 233 miles (375 kilometers) west of New York City, the official said. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The development came as dogs and divers returned Monday to New York’s Central Park while the dragnet for Thompson’s killer stretched into a sixth day. — Michael R. Sisak

betfred offers Optimization technology offers TikTok Shop Live sellers viewer insights to boost sales NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stickler today announced its launch as the first – and only – Live Selling Analytics Platform in the TikTok Shop App Store. With TikTok Shop rapidly expanding its global footprint in live commerce, Stickler's app sets a new standard for data-driven optimization, enabling brands, agencies and sellers to scale their live selling with ease and at very low cost. Stickler's solution also supports every local language where TikTok Shop operates to empower sellers worldwide by providing unparalleled insights into their live stream performance. "We've tracked over 100,000 hours of Live Commerce and understand the best practices of live selling and what makes it work. We're very happy to partner with TikTok Shop to release our technology through the App Store to help merchants in the U.S. when going live on TikTok Shop," said Stickler founder and CEO Fionn Hyndman . TikTok Shop guards its total retail sales closely, but Hyndman said he expects TikTok Shop will be delivering over $3 billion a month in GMV in the U.S. over November and December, and the number of live streams and session length should increase 30-60%, month-on-month. "We think it's safe to say that clients who go live are seeing it generate a return," Hyndman said. "Very few sellers are optimizing their live selling for TikTok's algorithm or the consumer. They need a tool like Stickler to give them the insight they lack. Insights drive effectiveness. Effectiveness drives results. And results drive spend. It has always been that way." TikTok Shop's Product Lead noted Stickler's app is the "best-in-class product that I've seen so far on the market when it comes to serving a global market and the challenges and nuances that come with Eastern and Western markets." Hyndman and team have been offering Stickler's custom app to brands in Southeast Asia since 2023, working with some of the region's leading traditional and direct-to-consumer brands. The Stickler live-selling app is now available now in the U.S. TikTok Shop App Store and across all TikTok Shop markets globally through custom application. For further information about the company and its services, visit http://www.stickler.live/ or please contact; Fionn Hyndman [email protected] STICKLER FACT SHEET Founded in 2022, Stickler is a software-as-a-service platform focused on live commerce optimization. Stickler combines cutting-edge analytics with scalable optimization tools. Its three flagship products –Stickler, LiveScope, and LiveStage – empower brands to maximize their live selling results efficiently and effectively. Key Features of Stickler's TikTok Shop Integration Exclusive Analytics for Live Selling: Stickler is the only platform providing comprehensive analytics for TikTok live streams, capturing video, audio and engagement metrics. Auto-Reporting: Automatically generates detailed post-stream reports, including sales data, audience engagement and actionable insights. Real-Time Monitoring: Seamlessly connects to clients' TikTok Shop accounts to capture every stream and track likes, comments, shares, follows, and gifts. Host and Messaging Analysis: Transcribes audio to identify impactful host actions, promotions, and messaging that resonate—or have a negative affect. Multi-Market and Multi-Language Support: Fully operational in every TikTok Shop market, with tailored support for local languages and cultural nuances. Why Live Commerce Analytics & Optimization Matter As live commerce emerges as a ascendent form of online retail, TikTok Shop continues to lead with its innovative approach to engaging consumers and selling through a marketplace that is more similar to Amazon than Meta. Stickler amplifies this success by equipping sellers with the tools to: Understand What Drives Sales: Correlate host actions, promotions and offers with spikes in engagement and revenue. Protect Brand Safety: Detect any messaging misalignments to safeguard brand reputation. Improve ROI: Use actionable insights from Stickler's analytics to optimize future streams. Stickler's Unique Selling Points Stickler was built to address the complexities of live commerce at scale. Its integration with TikTok Shop's App Store means brands and sellers can – for the first time – access real-time, actionable insights to optimize their live streams across markets. No more guesswork – just data-driven decisions to drive engagement, sales, and ROI. Many companies, brands and prominent sellers have told Stickler they don't understand this new way of going live via TikTok. Looking at available data, most successful brands go live for many more hours on TikTok Live than on other platforms. Stickler has cracked the best, most-effective way to optimize customer engagements and is making it globally available for sellers in every local language where TikTok Shop operates across 10 countries and markets. About Stickler Pte Ltd Stickler is a Live Commerce (Live Selling) enablement platform. We work with brands, creators, agencies and ecommerce companies to help them scale Live Commerce. We help manage the work flow and optimisation and help sellers do more with less resource. We don't believe in multi-streaming, we believe in being as effective as possible when you do stream. We are a multi-platform tool, designed with sellers at heart, aiming to make their Life, and their Lives easier Press Contact: Fionn Hyndman 16462432994 http://www.stickler.live SOURCE Stickler Pte Ltd

Trump names envoy to Panama after urging US reassert control over canal US President-elect Donald Trump attends the Trump Organisation civil fraud trial, in New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, US, November 6, 2023. — Reuters WASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald Trump has picked Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera to serve as ambassador to Panama after having threatened for the US to reassert control over the Panama Canal it handed over 25 years ago. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); Trump described Cabrera as “a fierce fighter for America First principles” who he said has been instrumental in driving economic growth and fostering international partnerships. “Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin - He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation’s interests in Panama!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday.Middle East latest: WHO chief says he was at Yemen airport as Israeli bombs fell nearbyThese education stories remind us to keep looking beyond the central belt

Byfield scores in 200th career game as Kings hold off Kraken for 2-1 win LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday. David Rittich made 19 saves for the Kings, who improved to 6-2-1 at home. Dan Greenspan, The Associated Press Nov 23, 2024 3:45 PM Nov 23, 2024 3:50 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield (55) reacts after scoring against the Seattle Kraken during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo) LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday. David Rittich made 19 saves for the Kings, who improved to 6-2-1 at home. Kempe and Byfield scored 1:44 apart in the second period. Byfield buried a sharp-angle slap shot on a power play while dropping to a knee. It was his 98th career point in 200 games. Brandon Montour got the Kraken on the board with 1:26 left in the game. He converted a long shot with Joey Daccord off for another skater, but Los Angeles held on. Daccord finished with 19 stops for Seattle. Takeaways Kraken: Jordan Eberle will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery on his pelvis. He had six goals and five assists in 17 games before he got hurt against Chicago on Nov. 14. Kings: The power play had been in a 1-for-16 rut (6.25%) over the previous six games before Byfield found the net. It was the Kings' lone opportunity with the man-advantage. Key moment After following its 1-0 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday with a fourth straight period of extreme low-event hockey, Los Angeles created a lot more activity and offense to start the second and generate its two goals. Key stat The Kings know how to close out games, improving to 9-0-1 when leading after two periods. Up next The Kraken visit Anaheim on Monday, and the Kings play at San Jose on Monday. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl Dan Greenspan, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Hockey Maple Leafs' Matthews says Wednesday return possible after visiting doctor in Germany Nov 23, 2024 1:47 PM Michkov scores in overtime, Flyers rally to beat Blackhawks 3-2 Nov 23, 2024 1:13 PM Central Division opponents meet when Predators host the Jets Nov 23, 2024 1:12 AM

Critics quickly noticed a Photoshop error in one of Kim Kardashian's posts . The SKIMS founder posted pictures on her Instagram Story posing while on set of her new legal drama series for Hulu , All's Fair, which is set to premiere in early 2025. In the pictures, Kim posed in front of a mirror wearing a white matching blazer and skirt set paired with satin red heels, red fishnet stockings and a purse. Kim's hair was styled short with volume. The picture got critics talking after a user of Reddit noticed that Kim forgot to edit the mirror behind her in the picture. They posted two pictures and their different angles with the caption: "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall. Oops! She forgot to Photoshop the mirror. Reality photobombed her Photoshop phuckery." Kim Kardashian drags out famous outfit and tote from reality show brawl with sister Khloe Kim Kardashian slammed for small accessory after Catholic lingerie photoshoot The picture showed a shadow of Kim's bum, which appeared bigger and more round. On the camera, Kim's bum appeared smaller. Others chimed in and noticed the photoshop blunder. One person wrote: "She is such a joke. Everybody grab your popcorn and tune in to see how this s--- show ends. I imagine she will be all head and a-- by 2028." Another person wrote: "Her a-- is HUGE here and she’s clearly photoshopped thinner, so imagine how big it must really be now...." While many agreed that there could have been a photoshop fail, others came to the SKIMS founders defense. One person wrote: "She didn't forget and we're falling for it. Bad photoshop and rage-bait is all that they have left for attention and headlines." Another person wrote: "I disagree, I think the mirror is photoshopped as well." Kim's Hulu series comes after she played Siobhan Corbyn in the 12th season of American Horror Story, titled Delicate. Her character was an overeager celebrity publicist who worked with Anna Victoria Alcott (Emma Roberts). She left an impression on many. In All's Fair, Kim will be acting alongside Sarah Paulson, Niecy Nash, Ed O'Neill, Naomi Watts and others. The show was created by Ryan Murphy, who also created the Monsters series featuring The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter. Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories.

NoneColorado state officials and the Union Pacific Railroad reached a tentative agreement on the future of the 100-year-old Moffat Tunnel — and, in the process, set the stage to in the mountains between Denver and Craig, officials announced Monday. Barring any major hiccups between now and the formal signing in May, the state will extend the 99-year lease allowing Union Pacific to use the tunnel for another 25 years. In exchange, the state will receive expanded access to Union Pacific’s railroad tracks for passenger trains from Denver to northern Colorado over that time frame. The final technical details still need to be finalized, but the state’s key negotiators were confident Monday that this agreement would set the stage for final approval. If all proceeds smoothly, regular daily passenger train service between Denver and Grand County — a portion of the full corridor — could begin in time for the start of the ski season in late 2026. For several years, Amtrak has run the revived Winter Park Express ski train along that route seasonally, but only around weekends — including . The mountain rail expansion could eventually lead to up to three roundtrip services per day between Denver and Craig, with several stops, including Winter Park and Steamboat Springs, along the way. “This is a big step forward in making Mountain Rail from Denver to Craig a reality,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. “Passenger Rail on this corridor will relieve traffic to one of Colorado’s iconic mountain communities and provide safe, reliable, affordable transportation options for tourists and skiers as well as workers traveling along the corridor.” The build-out of passenger rail would happen in phases and likely take decades to complete. This agreement helps set that in motion. The state legislature this spring, with hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government. The deal announced Monday will also settle the use of the Moffat Tunnel, with the expiration of the 99-year lease just weeks away. The state owns the tunnel and leases the tracks that run through it to Union Pacific, which other train operators can then pay to use. The 6.2-mile Moffat Tunnel is the only rail tunnel in the state that spans the Continental Divide. It connects Gilpin and Grand counties west of Denver. At more than 9,200 feet in elevation, it is the highest point in Amtrak’s national rail network, according to . The tunnel serves as a crucial rail connection between the Front Range and the Western Slope, as well as the grander American West. “The historic Moffat Tunnel has been part of the joint Union Pacific and Colorado rail network for nearly 100 years, connecting local, regional and national customers in Colorado to each other and the world,” Union Pacific President Beth Whited said in a statement. “We’re excited about the opportunity this renewed lease gives us to continue to serve our customers, while strengthening our partnership with the State of Colorado. It’s a great example of what is possible when we work together.” The terms of both agreements also cover items such as who’s responsible for maintenance, upkeep and infrastructure upgrades. Union Pacific is generally on the hook for the tunnel, while the state would pay a proportionate share of operating and maintenance costs for the UP-owned tracks along the mountain passenger rail corridor, in addition to shouldering the costs of any needed capital improvements.Israel launches new airstrikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to ceasefire with Hezbollah

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts defense started this season struggling. It couldn't stop the run, couldn't keep teams out of the end zone, couldn't get off the field. Now the script has flipped. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley's group is playing stouter, holding teams — even the high-scoring Detroit Lions — largely in check long enough to give Indy a chance to win, and it's the Colts offense that has struggled. “They are playing their tails off. You don’t want them on the field a bunch and as an offense you want to be able to play complementary football,” running back Jonathan Taylor said after Sunday's 24-6 loss. “I would say specifically on offense, it sucks when you can’t help your defense out when they are fighting their tails off all game.” Indy's defense held up its end of the bargain by limiting the Lions (10-1) to 14 first-half points and allowing just 24, matching Detroit's lowest output since Week 3. The problem: Even when the Colts (5-7) did get Detroit off the field, they couldn't sustain drives or score touchdowns. Again. Anthony Richardson provided the bulk of the ground game by rushing 10 times for 61 yards, mostly early. Taylor managed just 35 yards on 11 carries and a season-high 10 penalties constantly forced the Colts to dig out from deep deficits. Part of that was by design. “We knew Jonathan Taylor was going to be the guy we needed to shut down,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We did that. The quarterback runs. It got us on a couple but overall, we did what we needed to do, and we kept them out of that game." Part of it could be because of an injury-battered offensive line that has started three rookies each of the past two weeks and finished the previous game with the same three rookies. Whatever the fix, Indy needs a good solution. There is good news for Indy is that its schedule now gets substantially more manageable. After losing four of five, all to teams in playoff position and three to division leaders, Indy faces only one team with a winning record in its final five games. The most recent time the Colts played a team with a losing mark, Richardson rallied them past the New York Jets 28-27. But Colts coach Shane Steichen knows that's not the answer. The Colts must get this offense righted now. “We’ve got to get that figured out. We’ve got to get him going on the ground,” Steichen said when asked about Taylor, who has 92 yards on his past 35 carries. “We’ll look at the offensive line. We’ll look at everything." Pass rush. Pro Bowl DT DeForest Buckner's presence certainly has been felt since he returned from a sprained ankle Oct. 27. In those past five games, the Colts have had 14 sacks, including three of Jared Goff on Sunday. Penalties. The Colts have had one of the cleanest operations in the league most of this season. Sunday was an anomaly, but one that can't merely be written off. WR Michael Pittman Jr. The five-year veteran is one of the league's toughest guys, but playing through a back injury appeared to take its toll on Pittman's productivity. Since sitting out in Week 10, Pittman has 11 receptions for 142 yards including six for 96 yards, his second-highest total of the season, Sunday. Tight ends. Each week the Colts want their tight ends to make an impact. And each week, they seem to fail. It happened again Sunday when Drew Ogletree dropped a TD pass that would have given Indy a 10-7 lead. Instead, Indy settled for a field goal and a 7-6 deficit. Through 12 games, Indy's tight ends have a total of 26 catches, 299 yards and two TDs. That's just not good enough in a league where versatile, productive tight ends increasingly signal success. Pittman and WR Josh Downs both returned to the game after leaving briefly with shoulder injuries. WR Ashton Dulin did not return after hurting his foot in the second half. But the bigger questions come on the offensive line. LT Bernhard Raimann (knee) was inactive Sunday, and rookie center Tanor Bortolini entered the concussion protocol Monday. Bortolini was one of three rookie starters the past two weeks, replacing Pro Bowler Ryan Kelly who is on injured reserve. 55.88 — Indy has scored touchdowns on 55.88% of its red zone trips this season. While it puts it near the middle of the NFL, it's cost the Colts multiple wins. Richardson needs to rebound from this latest 11 of 28 performance and show he can lead the Colts to victories week after week. He'll get plenty of chances over the season's final month, starting with next week's game at the New England Patriots. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Grab the 55-inch Samsung Odyssey Ark for $1,200 off at Amazon for Black FridayTHE Christmas message from the evangelist Luke, "Peace on earth, goodwill toward all men," has remained elusive. This is the top concern for the new year as the world reels from widespread polarization, conflict and violence. The Middle East, Ukraine and even the Philippines' backyard in the Indo-Pacific are flash points. Aside from human suffering that wars and conflicts inflict, geopolitical and economic instability threaten food and other supply chains, which affect interest rates and push inflation. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.Newark Central rolls past Newark East Side in NPS Holiday tourney - Girls basketball

Blast of Ontario snow brings weather warnings, signs of white Christmas

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their 19-9 win over the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay's team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don't stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they've mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other's weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay's fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams' offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. Stafford's 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday's weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. CB Cobie Durant didn't play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA's first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon's recent play when asked why Durant didn't get on the field in New Jersey. The Rams' improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee's successful season debut. 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can't clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC's third seed, but that doesn't matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North's two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFLA group of artists who had been testing OpenAI ’s powerful video tool have made it available online. OpenAI revealed Sora earlier this year, saying that it would allow people to create realistic and detailed videos, and shared a number of examples. But it said then that it was not ready to release to the public, in part because it did not believe that it was fully safe. Since then, OpenAI has given access to the tool to some early experts so that they can test it with a view to improving it. That included some experts in misinformation and similar problems who are able to examine how it might be used to trick people, and also to creative professionals such as those working in video, with the hope of making it more useful to artists. Now some of those artists appear to have leaked access to the tool, breaking through that close control. They said that they had been signed up to test the system as "creative partners" but that they had become frustrated with the process. Through their use of Sora, they became convinced they had been "lured into ‘art washing’ to tell the world that Sora is a useful tool for artists", they said in an announcement posted on the Hugging Face platform that was attributed to "PR Puppets" and addressed to "corporate AI overlords". “We are not against the use of AI technology as a tool for the arts," the artists wrote. "What we don’t agree with is how this artist programme has been rolled out and how the tool is shaping up ahead of a possible public release.” Some hours later, OpenAI shut off access to the API that can be used to generate videos with Sora. It has also temporarily paused the early access programme that had made the system available to artists. The artists only leaked access to Sora, rather than the model itself. That means that, even during the period it was available, the public was only able to generate videos with the system, not copy the technology within it. Sora brought plaudits when it was first released, in part through marketing by OpenAI's chief executive Sam Altman, who shared a number of videos in response to prompts from followers. But since then it has shared only limited demo videos, and chief product officer Kevin Weil recently said that it had not yet been released more widely in part because of safety as well as the intense amount of computer power used to make its videos. OpenAI has faced criticism in recent years over the secrecy of its research. As its name suggests, it was originally founded as a public research organisation, but has since moved to a for-profit model that has brought public conflict, including with one of its co-founders Elon Musk.

Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has reacted to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister, stating that the decision is insufficient. Speaking on Monday, November 25 to a gathering of Basij forces, Khamenei said, “The arrest warrant for Netanyahu is not enough; he should be sentenced to execution.” A few days ago, ICC judges issued a controversial arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, which has sparked widespread international reactions. While the Supreme Leader of Iran finds the arrest warrant for Netanyahu inadequate and demands a death sentence, U.S. President Joe Biden has deemed the ICC’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu unacceptable. In his speech, Ali Khamenei also emphasized that Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon, accusing it of labeling its atrocities as “victories.” The ICC’s decision and the subsequent reactions underline the deep global divisions over accountability and justice in international conflicts. While some nations support the move, others see it as politically motivated, further complicating the global discourse on human rights and international law. This incident also reflects the heightened tensions between Iran, Israel, and their respective allies, underscoring the ongoing volatility in the region and the challenges to achieving a resolution in long-standing conflicts. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. ΔKolkata: The Raj Bhavan on Monday said that it has formed a two-member panel to probe media reports that Governor CV Ananda Bose had unveiled his own bust at the Raj Bhavan on completion for his two years as Governor in West Bengal. Notably, on completion of two years as the Governor, Bose on November 1 had started a programme ‘Apna Bharat – Jagta Bengal’. Some government organisations, including the Indian Museum, participated in the Raj Bhavan event, organising a series of events. The office of the Governor also mentioned that the bust of the Governor was gifted to Bose by a sculptor and also denied reports of unveiling of the same by the Governor. “Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose, of West Bengal, stands out for his compassion and dedication, deeply attuned to the hopes and struggles of the everyday citizens. His unwavering commitment to transparency and accessibility embodies his belief that true governance flourishes through a genuine connection with the people; which has earned him the endearing title of "People's Governor" - a testament to his heartfelt devotion,” read part of the statement issued by Raj Bhavan. Incidentally, a political row erupted after Governor CV Ananda Bose unveiled his own bust at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Jawhar Sircar taking to X said, “West Bengal Governor CV Ananda unveils own statue at Raj Bhavan... This is so stupid! No wonder this fellow was rejected as Secretary to the Govt of India — and has been politicking ruthlessly, thereafter, in a Zero-Merit party!”No. 2 Montana State Bobcats roll to Brawl of the Wild win over No. 9 Montana Grizzlies, complete 12-0 regular season

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looked back on the stunning 4-0 home defeat by Tottenham and delivered a simple truth. "We have to accept the reality and break it," he said. Given he began his post-match news conference by saying "when you lose 4-0 there is not much to say" before offering his congratulations to Spurs on their biggest away win at City, Guardiola then spent quite a bit of time talking about it. How, after so much success over such a long period of time, "a dip"was inevitable. How "little details" were the cause of major problems, due in part, but not exclusively, to the number of injuries his side are struggling to cope with. How his belief in the players has not been shaken because of all they have achieved for him. But also how he will not ignore the reality of five successive defeats, something he has never experienced as a manager and City as a club last went through in 2006, when Stuart Pearce was in charge. Nether can he ignore that Liverpool would move eight points clear with a win at Southampton on Sunday - with a meeting with City at Anfield next up. "In eight years we never lived this. I knew sooner or later we would drop. I never expected to lose three Premier League games in a row but we have been incredibly consistent again and again and again. Now we cannot deny the reality that sometimes happens in football and life is here." The stats show several areas - apart from just the results - where City are in decline. City are being hit on the counter-attack much more than during any other season under Guardiola. They have faced an average of 1.17 shots on the counter per game this season. The previous highest total was 0.66 two seasons ago. Four of Spurs' five chances in the second half were from what Opta call a fast break – including Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson's goals. This season, excluding penalties, they are conceding 1.25 goals a game - compared to 0.79 last term. They are only conceding a similar amount of shots per game (7.8 now compared to 7.7 last term) - but the quality of those shots is much better with the expected goals conceded (xGC) of 1.26 v 0.8 last time. They are struggling to cope with the absence of Rodri, the best defensive midfielder in the world and Ballon d'Or winner. In Premier League games with him in the team since the start of last season they have won 78% of games when he plays and 50% without him. On defeats it's even starker - 0% with him and 43% without him. An ageing squad is not helping. Some 52% of their league minutes have been played by players aged 29 or over - the highest figure of any team in this season's Premier League. Their form has visibly dropped during the season too, with their shots on target dropping from an average of 7.3 in their first 14 games in all competitions compared to 4.8 in their five defeats -and opposition shots on target rising from 2.4 to 6. Their goals for and against have almost reversed in that time -from 2.3-0.8 to 0.8-2.8. Despite a bright start, City were ultimately deservedly beaten by a Tottenham side who out played their hosts. "We are a bit fragile right now, that is obvious," said Guardiola. "We struggled to score goals and after when they arrived they scored. "We are playing with a little bit of negativity in our thoughts but this is normal. Football is a sense of mood. "We were always a consistent team conceding few chances. Our game was about control. "This is not a team created to do box-to-box 40 times in a game - we are not good at that. We were always a team who conceded few but now we concede more. I would like there to just be one reason but there are many." Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville described it as a "sobering day" for the champions, while ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie Man City were "too easy to play against". Ex-Man City defender Micah Richards told Sky Sports: "I am flabbergasted. Spurs showed great quality but from Man City it was truly awful. "They got dominated in midfield, they look like there is a lack of energy, a lack of conviction. "I thought Pep's new contract would give them a buzz. Today it feels like more than a blip." It has not escaped anyone's notice that, although City play Dutch side Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday, their next Premier League assignment is at Liverpool next Sunday. Given Arne Slot's men are already five points ahead prior to Sunday's trip to Southampton, the gap could become 11 points by the time next weekend is over. If Liverpool do beat the Saints, only once has a team had a bigger lead after 12 games - Man Utd in 1993-94, who went on to win the title. Opta's supercomputer gives Man City just a 25.3% chance of retaining their title. Asked directly whether 11 points would be too many to claw back, Guardiola stated firmly: "Yes, it’s true. "But we're not thinking about winning or losing [the title], we are not in the situation to think about what is going to happen at the end of the season. If in the end we don't win it's because we don't deserve it. "Now you realise how difficult what we have done is."Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) Market Size, Latest Growth, Forecast By 2024 - 2032 11-25-2024 07:19 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Prudent Markets Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) Market Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) Market Trends In 2024: The Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) Market 2024 report provides a comprehensive analysis of Types (By Physical state, Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) Liquid, Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) Gas, By Production Technology, Direct Process, Indirect Process), Application (Acetonecyanohydrin, Adiponitrile, Sodiumcyanide, DL-Methionine, Cyanuricchloride, Others), Analysis of Industry Trends, Growth, and Opportunities, R&D landscape, Data security and privacy concerns Risk Analysis, Pipeline Products, Assumptions, Research Timelines, Secondary Research and Primary Research, Key Insights from Industry Experts, Regional Outlook and Forecast, 2024-2032. 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President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the sprawling government agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act marketplace — celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz — recently held broad investments in health care, tech, and food companies that would pose significant conflicts of interest. Oz’s holdings, some shared with family, included a stake in UnitedHealth Group worth as much as $600,000, as well as shares of pharmaceutical firms and tech companies with business in the health care sector, such as Amazon. Collectively, Oz’s investments total tens of millions of dollars, according to financial disclosures he filed during his failed 2022 run for a Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat. Trump said Tuesday he would nominate Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency’s scope is huge: CMS oversees coverage for more than 160 million Americans, nearly half the population. Medicare alone accounts for approximately $1 trillion in annual spending, with over 67 million enrollees. UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest health care companies in the nation and arguably the most important business partner of CMS, through which it is the leading provider of commercial health plans available to Medicare beneficiaries. UnitedHealth also offers managed-care plans under Medicaid, the joint state-federal program for low-income people, and sells plans on government-run marketplaces set up via the Affordable Care Act. Oz also had smaller stakes in CVS Health, which now includes the insurer Aetna, and in the insurer Cigna. It’s not clear if Oz, a heart surgeon by training, still holds investments in health care companies, or if he would divest his shares or otherwise seek to mitigate conflicts of interest should he be confirmed by the Senate. Reached by phone on Wednesday, he said he was in a Zoom meeting and declined to comment. An assistant did not reply to an email message with detailed questions. “It’s obvious that over the years he’s cultivated an interest in the pharmaceutical industry and the insurance industry,” said Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a watchdog group. “That raises a question of whether he can be trusted to act on behalf of the American people.” (The publisher of KFF Health News, David Rousseau, is on the CSPI board .) Oz used his TikTok page on multiple occasions in November to praise Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including their efforts to take on the “illness-industrial complex,” and he slammed “so-called experts like the big medical societies” for dishing out what he called bad nutritional advice. Oz’s positions on health policy have been chameleonic; in 2010, he cut an ad urging Californians to sign up for insurance under President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, telling viewers they had a “historic opportunity.” Oz’s 2022 financial disclosures show that the television star invested a substantial part of his wealth in health care and food firms. Were he confirmed to run CMS, his job would involve interacting with giants of the industry that have contributed to his wealth. Given the breadth of his investments, it would be difficult for Oz to recuse himself from matters affecting his assets, if he still holds them. “He could spend his time in a rocking chair” if that happened, Lurie said. In the past, nominees for government positions with similar potential conflicts of interest have chosen to sell the assets or otherwise divest themselves. For instance, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Attorney General Merrick Garland agreed to divest their holdings in relevant, publicly traded companies when they joined the Biden administration. Trump, however, declined in his first term to relinquish control of his own companies and other assets while in office, and he isn’t expected to do so in his second term. He has not publicly indicated concern about his subordinates’ financial holdings. CMS’ main job is to administer Medicare. About half of new enrollees now choose Medicare Advantage, in which commercial insurers provide their health coverage, instead of the traditional, government-run program, according to an analysis from KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. Proponents of Medicare Advantage say the private plans offer more compelling services than the government and better manage the costs of care. Critics note that Medicare Advantage plans have a long history of costing taxpayers more than the traditional program. UnitedHealth, CVS, and Cigna are all substantial players in the Medicare Advantage market. It’s not always a good relationship with the government. The Department of Justice filed a 2017 complaint against UnitedHealth alleging the company used false information to inflate charges to the government. The case is ongoing. Oz is an enthusiastic proponent of Medicare Advantage. In 2020, he proposed offering Medicare Advantage to all; during his Senate run, he offered a more general pledge to expand those plans. After Trump announced Oz’s nomination for CMS, Jeffrey Singer, a senior fellow at the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute, said he was “uncertain about Dr. Oz’s familiarity with health care financing and economics.” Singer said Oz’s Medicare Advantage proposal could require large new taxes — perhaps a 20% payroll tax — to implement. Oz has gotten a mixed reception from elsewhere in Washington. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, the Democrat who defeated Oz in 2022, signaled he’d potentially support his appointment to CMS. “If Dr. Oz is about protecting and preserving Medicare and Medicaid, I’m voting for the dude,” he said on the social platform X. Oz’s investments in companies doing business with the federal government don’t end with big insurers. He and his family also hold hospital stocks, according to his 2022 disclosure, as well as a stake in Amazon worth as much as nearly $2.4 million. (Candidates for federal office are required to disclose a broad range of values for their holdings, not a specific figure.) Amazon operates an internet pharmacy, and the company announced in June that its subscription service is available to Medicare enrollees. It also owns a primary care service , One Medical, that accepts Medicare and “select” Medicare Advantage plans. Oz was also directly invested in several large pharmaceutical companies and, through investments in venture capital funds, indirectly invested in other biotech and vaccine firms. Big Pharma has been a frequent target of criticism and sometimes conspiracy theories from Trump and his allies. Kennedy, whom Trump has said he’ll nominate to be Health and Human Services secretary, is a longtime anti-vaccine activist. During the Biden administration, Congress gave Medicare authority to negotiate with drug companies over their prices. CMS initially selected 10 drugs. Those drugs collectively accounted for $50.5 billion in spending between June 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, under Medicare’s Part D prescription drug benefit. At least four of those 10 medications are manufactured by companies in which Oz held stock, worth as much as about $50,000. Oz may gain or lose financially from other Trump administration proposals. For example, as of 2022, Oz held investments worth as much as $6 million in fertility treatment providers. To counter fears that politicians who oppose abortion would ban in vitro fertilization, Trump floated during his campaign making in vitro fertilization treatment free. It’s unclear whether the government would pay for the services. In his TikTok videos from earlier in November, Oz echoed attacks on the food industry by Kennedy and other figures in his “Make America Healthy Again” movement. They blame processed foods and underregulation of the industry for the poor health of many Americans, concerns shared by many Democrats and more mainstream experts. But in 2022, Oz owned stakes worth as much as $80,000 in Domino’s Pizza, Pepsi, and US Foods, as well as more substantial investments in other parts of the food chain, including cattle; Oz reported investments worth as much as $5.5 million in a farm and livestock, as well as a stake in a dairy-free milk startup. He was also indirectly invested in the restaurant chain Epic Burger. One of his largest investments was in the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Wawa, which sells fast food and all manner of ultra-processed snacks. Oz and his wife reported a stake in the company, beloved by many Pennsylvanians, worth as much as $30 million. ( KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.) ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Arsenal 'earmark William Saliba replacement' as £80m Man City, Liverpool battle emerges

Via When the story of global nickel prices is written for 2024, Indonesia and China will undoubtedly be the main characters. This is not only due to the former country’s high production output but also alleged violations of environmental rules and poor labor practices, which Indonesia has consistently denied. Indonesia is in global nickel production, accounting for 51% of the world’s total mine production. The country also sits on 42% of total global reserves. Because of this, it’s been a major investment hub for Chinese firms. According to SandP Global Commodity Insights, is projected to hit 2.1 million metric tons in 2024—over 50% of the expected global output and more than double its 2020 levels. In the rest of the world, the nickel story has turned sour of late. Everywhere you look, mines and smelters are either closed or about to be. Adding to the woes is the fact that benchmark nickel prices remained down in 2024 from the highs of 2022. The Economist says most sector experts blame these problems on Indonesia because of its , poor environment and labor laws and cheap coal power, a hot mix for those who want to undercut the competition. According to media reports, mining giant Vale is implementing across its global operations due to the continued decline in nickel prices. While the company has not revealed how many of its Sudbury, Ontario employees will be affected, it stated that the layoffs will mainly focus on “non-operating roles.” Nickel is vital to various industries and applications. Despite its relatively low profile, nickel is highly versatile, which makes it an essential component in many modern technologies and products. For example, nickel is a key alloying element in l, which is used in construction, transportation and consumer goods. It can also be used to create high-temperature alloys for aerospace, power generation and chemical processing. However, the most immediate reason for nickel’s prima donna status is its use in rechargeable batteries, such as nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, as well as in electronic components like switches, contacts and connectors. As electric vehicles become more popular in the West and other nations, nickel production and use continue to spike. Indonesia is planning to step on the gas pedal next year as far as production is concerned, as reports claim that its four major publicly listed nickel companies, PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), Merdeka Battery Materials (MBMA), Trimegah Bangun Persada (TBP Harita) and PT Vale Indonesia (Vale), are all in expansion mode. According to a report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, these firms want to within the next 5 years. Last year, these four companies produced 353,000 tons of nickel. At the same time, they generated 5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Indonesia managed to jockey itself into the number one position by implementing a ban on unprocessed nickel ore exports in 2020. Still, processing nickel for EV batteries carries a considerable environmental and carbon footprint. By Sohrab DarabshawIt didn't take Syracuse first-year coach Fran Brown long to figure out the key matchup for Saturday afternoon's Atlantic Coast Conference game visiting Miami. "Syracuse has a really good quarterback," Brown said of Kyle McCord, "and Miami has a really good quarterback (Cam Ward)." With a win on Saturday, the No. 6 Hurricanes (10-1, 6-1 ACC) can clinch a berth in the league championship game against SMU. Miami is a 10 1/2-point favorite for Saturday's game. Syracuse (8-3, 4-3) has reached eight wins for just the fourth time since 2002, going 8-5 in 2010 and 2012 and 10-3 in 2018. However, the Orange haven't defeated a Top-10 team since knocking off Clemson in 2017. Miami leads the nation in scoring (44.7), and the Hurricanes will count on perfect passing conditions in Syracuse's dome. That could be huge for Ward, who leads the nation with 34 touchdown passes, ranking second in passing yards (3,774) and fourth in passing efficiency. Ward's top target is wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, who needs just 21 yards to reach 1,000 for the second straight season. Restrepo also ranks tied for seventh in the nation with 10 TD receptions. Ward has some other top targets, including 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end Elijah Arroyo, who is a walking mismatch because of his size and speed. He leads Miami with 18.5 yards per reception. Hurricanes wide receivers Isaiah Horton and Jacolby George have combined for 12 TD passes, and Sam Brown has added two more. Each of them has more than 500 receiving yards this season. Miami's running game features battering ram Damien Martinez (739 yards, 5.5 average, eight TDs); versatile Mark Fletcher Jr. (499 yards, 5.7 average, six TDs); and game-breaking freshman Jordan Lyle (361 yards, 8.6 average, four TDs). Defensively, Miami's big-play man is safety Mishael Powell, who ranks second in the ACC with five interceptions. "He's all about winning," Miami coach Mario Cristobal said of Powell. "He's a smart, self-starting team player." On special teams, Miami kicker Andres Borregales ranks second in the ACC with 97 points. He is 52-for-52 on extra points and 15-for-16 on field goals. Meanwhile, McCord ranks No. 1 in the nation in passing yards (3,946) and tied for seventh in TD passes (26). McCord, a transfer from Ohio State, has also set Syracuse's single-season record for passing yards. In last week's 31-24 win over Connecticut, McCord passed for a career-high 470 yards. However, McCord is just 46th in the nation in passing efficiency, due in part to his high total of interceptions (12). Syracuse also has three of the top six pass-catchers in the ACC in terms of yards: tight end Oronde Gadsden II (810) and wide receivers Jackson Meeks (801) and Trebor Pena (743). Gadsden, who is from the greater Miami area, has had three straight 100-yard games. He is the son of former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Oronde Gadsden. Syracuse's run game is led by LeQuint Allen, who has rushed for 819 yards, a 4.3 average and 12 TDs. The issue for Syracuse could be its defense, which ranks 13th in the ACC in points allowed (27.8). Miami's defense is fourth (22.3). Even so, Syracuse coach Brown said he's excited about this matchup. "I heard Miami is going to come deep," Brown said of Miami fans. "It's going to be intense in the stands. It's going to be intense on the field. I think this is a game everyone wants to see." --Field Level Media

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Portfolio Change: One Stock To Buy, November 25

Bricklayerdao: Merging Blockchain Agility With Real Estate Stability To Redefine Property InvestmentTrump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systemsbetfred online 。

LeddarTech Announces Receipt of the First Installment of the TI Pre-Paid Royalty Fee

Giants face challenge in hosting Ravens, trying to end 8-game skid

Manchester United teammates Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo exchanged words after the final whistle of a 2-1 victory on Thursday. And manager Ruben Amorin has no problem with it. “For me, it’s a very, very good sign,” Amorin said after his team beat Viktoria Plzen to stay unbeaten in the Europa League. Hojlund scored two goals and hoped for a centering pass from Diallo to go for a hat trick in the final minutes. The Denmark striker didn't get the pass, though. Viktoria had been pushing forward looking for an equalizer, which created space for United counters. On another break shortly afterward, Hojlund opted to keep the ball. The pair then had a heated post-game exchange. “We need to feel something,” Amorin said. “If we need to fight each other, it's like a family. When you don't care, you don't do nothing. When you care — you fight with your brother, with your mother, your father.” ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer Plzen,Czech Republic, The Associated PressLeddarTech Announces Receipt of the First Installment of the TI Pre-Paid Royalty FeeCHARLESTON, S.C. , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the leading provider of software for powering social impact, today filed a Form 8-K with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) stating that the Company concluded a material pre-tax noncash impairment charge, which may be up to approximately $415 million , is required for its EVERFI asset group and will be recorded during the fourth quarter of 2024. As previously disclosed, due to EVERFI performing below expectations, Blackbaud is considering a range of alternatives for EVERFI, one of which includes a potential divestiture of the business. The impairment charge was determined to be necessary as part of this process. "To comply with generally accepted accounting principles, we're planning to record this noncash charge in the fourth quarter," said Mike Gianoni , president, CEO and vice chairman of the board of directors. "We want to emphasize that EVERFI remains well positioned to support its customers and continue helping companies dedicated to social impact reach communities through custom education and workplace solutions for today's key issues. In addition, Blackbaud's core business remains strong, and we are committed to helping customers around the world use technology to drive meaningful social impact. As we determine our long-term strategic approach to the EVERFI business, we will continue to provide updates." Additional details can be found in Blackbaud's Form 8-K filed today with the SEC. About Blackbaud Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the leading software provider exclusively dedicated to powering social impact. Serving the nonprofit and education sectors, companies committed to social responsibility and individual change makers, Blackbaud's essential software is built to accelerate impact in fundraising, nonprofit financial management, digital giving, grantmaking, corporate social responsibility and education management. With millions of users and over $100 billion raised, granted or managed through Blackbaud platforms every year, Blackbaud's solutions are unleashing the potential of the people and organizations who change the world. Blackbaud has been named to Newsweek's list of America's Most Responsible Companies, Quartz's list of Best Companies for Remote Workers, and Forbes' list of America's Best Employers. A remote-first company, Blackbaud has operations in the United States , Australia , Canada , Costa Rica , India and the United Kingdom , supporting users in 100+ countries. Learn more at www.blackbaud.com or follow us on X/Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram and Facebook . Media Inquiries media@blackbaud.com Forward-looking Statements Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K are forward- looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company's estimates regarding the impairment charge related to the EVERFI assets. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Although we attempt to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the risk factors set forth from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or upon request from our investor relations department. We assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward- looking statements, except as required by law. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blackbaud-announces-impairment-charge-related-to-everfi-assets-302330791.html SOURCE Blackbaud

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman's Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union's executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November's election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”

The search for a new director for the Bowlus Fine Arts Center will continue into January. A committee tasked with hiring a director plans to reach out to other applicants after the person they selected was unable to take the job for medical reasons. The committee plans to reach out to some of those who applied for the job in October, when previous director Daniel Kays resigned to take a position in Topeka, said Jennifer Taylor, USD 257 board president and leader of the search committee. At that time, the committee identified five top candidates but invited only the top two for in-person interviews. They selected Andrew Giza, who was expected to start Dec. 2 but faced sudden and unexpected health challenges that prevented him from taking the job. The committee will schedule a new round of in-person interviews in late January, Taylor said. The board officially accepted Giza’s resignation at Monday’s meeting. Meanwhile, the Bowlus continues a full slate of entertainment and activities. In addition to recent school concerts and a play, staff continue with performances during the 60th season. A Christmas show, “Who Brought the Humbug?” is at 7 p.m. Saturday. The high-energy, interactive show takes place at an ugly sweater party, where singers, tap dancers and musicians offer a slew of holiday mash-ups. Santa raps to Rudolph over horn-band funk, Frosty tap dances to a groove, and the reindeer bust out hip-hop choreography, according to a press release about the show. Two singers-turned-investigators beatbox to “The Grinch.” Guests are encouraged to wear an ugly Christmas sweater. Tickets are available online at bowluscenter.org or at the door. Four Iola Elementary School kindergarteners attended Monday’s meeting to show off their holiday project, snowmen painted on boards that are roughly their same height. Don Settlemeyer, building trades teacher at the Regional Rural Technology Center at LaHarpe, cut boards the same height as each student. Students then decorated them, painting a face and buttons, with festive holiday socks used as a stocking cap and ribbons for a scarf. Each snowman includes a poem that says: “Lean the snowman against a wall to remind you when I was this small. Fingerprints make the mouth and eyes. This snowman is just my size. So take them out each Christmas and see I’m not as little as I used to be. Merry Christmas. “ IN OTHER news, Curriculum Director Jenna Higginbotham offered an update on the Kansas Education System Accreditation (KESA) plan. The current focus is on quality instruction. Higginbotham outlined how the district uses professional collaboration to create a culture of high expectations. The school board won’t meet again until Jan. 13 because of the holidays. Superintendent Stacey Fager said he expects representatives from BNIM will give a report about their application for state tax credits. BNIM is the development firm working with the district with hopes to convert three former elementary schools into housing. The group has been unsuccessful in obtaining the tax credits considered essential for the project’s success. This will be their third yearly attempt.Several social media users, most identifying as Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters, have expressed discontent with President Joe Biden 's decision to grant clemency to a Chinese national who pleaded guilty to possession of thousands of child pornography images in 2022. Although the social media users appear to be reacting to the news now, Washington and Beijing engaged in a prisoner swap two weeks ago in which the individual, Jin Shanlin, was exchanged. According to the Justice Department's executive grant of clemency, it was granted by Biden to Jin on November 22. At least three Americans who had been detained in China were released and sent back home. "We are pleased to announce the release of Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung from detention in the People's Republic of China," a National Security Council spokesperson told several news outlets in a statement in late November. Jin was a doctoral student at Southern Methodist University when he was arrested in 2021 and later sentenced to 97 months (or just over eight years) in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography before a U.S. magistrate judge in July 2022, according to court documents. His sentencing also required him to pay $30,500 in restitution and $100 in assessment. Newsweek reached out via email to the White House for comment on Thursday. Jin has family connections to China's Communist Party, according to reports. Biden's clemency grant for Jin says he must leave and "remain outside the limits of the United States." Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene reshared a post on X (formerly Twitter ) with information about Jin, along with a segment from a 60 Minutes interview Leslie Stahl did with her in April 2023. She captioned the post: " Democrats really are the party of pedophiles." In the video segment, Greene reiterated her claims, stating that Democrats "support grooming children" and "sexualizing children." She cited transgender surgeries as an example, arguing that "sexualizing children is what pedophiles do to children." Also on X, user @MJTruthUltra, who is followed by President-elect Donald Trump 's account that reshares his Truth Social posts, called the clemency "just sick," echoing rhetoric similar to Greene's, writing, "The party of pedophiles protecting pedophiles." X user Alexandria Brown questioned the president's reasoning for granting Jin clemency, writing, "I find it difficult to comprehend what grounds there are for clemency." Unrelated to the China-U.S. swap, Biden commuted on Thursday the sentences of 1,499 people who were released from prison to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the largest single-day clemency action in the country's modern history. Biden also pardoned 39 people convicted of nonviolent crimes in an effort to promote second chances and to address problems with the nation's criminal justice system. Though Biden had long promised not to use his clemency power, which is outlined in Article II Section 2 of the Constitution, for his family members, he recently reversed course with his son Hunter, arguing that the prosecution was politically motivated. President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office in a little over a month, on January 20. He said he will immediately pardon people convicted of participating in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.Marketing Technology Leader Celebrates Four Consecutive Years of Recognition for Outstanding Growth and Innovation SAN ANTONIO , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stirista, a leader in data-driven marketing innovation, today announced it has secured the #4 position in the San Antonio Business Journal's Fast Track Awards for 2024. This marks Stirista's fourth consecutive year on the list, moving up two spots from last year's ranking and further solidifying its place as a powerhouse in the marketing technology space. The Fast Track Awards recognize the region's fastest-growing companies, celebrating innovation, success, and contributions to the local economy. Stirista's continued rise on the list highlights its sustained growth, fueled by data solutions, strategic client partnerships, and its commitment to excellence in marketing. "We are honored to be recognized for the fourth consecutive year, and moving up to the #4 spot re-affirms our dedication to exceeding expectations and the trust our clients continue to place in us," said Ajay Gupta , CEO of Stirista. "This achievement reflects our never-ending drive to push boundaries, deliver value, and make a meaningful impact in marketing technology. San Antonio has been an incredible foundation for our success, and we're excited to continue contributing to this vibrant business community." Achieving record growth of 73% (2021-2023), Stirista's upward trajectory on the Fast Track Awards is attributed to its proprietary platforms and data-driven strategies that enable marketers to connect with their audiences effectively and responsibly. Recent milestones include the incorporation of AI, high customer retention, and continued strategic acquisitions. For more information about Stirista and its marketing solutions, visit www.stirista.com . About Stirista Stirista is a data-driven marketing technology provider that combines the power of authoritative identity data with the execution of omnichannel marketing. Through its data and customer-centric approach, Stirista is helping Fortune 500 and mid-market brands increase brand loyalty and acquire new customers. Stirista's privacy compliant data insights helps clients interact with customers and prospects via digital, email and social channels. For more information, please visit http://www.stirista.com . SOURCE Stirista

Blackbaud Announces Impairment Charge Related to EVERFI AssetsFranz Ferdinand singer Alex Kapranos has found fatherhood a familiar experience – as it reminds him of his band's early days. Kapranos and wife Clara Luciani welcomed their first child last year, and the 52-year-old told BBC Scotland News departing on tours with his band is now "really difficult." "Saying goodbye to him is hard," says the singer, speaking as his band prepare to release their sixth album, The Human Fear, in January. "I've spent my adult life shirking responsibility, and being as irresponsible as possible, so being presented with responsibility is quite refreshing. "A lot of people said to me that sleep deprivation would destroy me, but it was just like 2004 when the band was kicking off and I never went to bed. "We'd be playing gigs, going out all night and then be up at 6am to fly somewhere. I slept about two hours a night back then, so this is the same - just without a hangover." Kapranos will be forced to say goodbye on a few occasions as 2025 goes on, with a busy year in store for Franz – now revamped and reformatted since those early days, but still adept at writing artful indie pop. Emerging from Glasgow's bustling music scene Kapranos, guitarist Nick McCarthy, bassist Bob Hardy and drummer Paul Thomson enjoyed chart success with inescapable singles like Take Me Out , earned a reputation as one of the country's finest live acts and snagged the Mercury Music Prize in 2004. That victory came as the band thought "anyone but us would win," recalls the singer. "It's quite a Glasgow attitude. You're like 'we're not the sort of people who win prizes'." Success had taken time to arrive. Kapranos was born in England but moved to to Scotland as a child. As a teenager he became entrenched in the 90s Glasgow music scene, running club nights and playing in the likes of cult indie band the Yummy Fur before forming Franz Ferdinand. Much has changed since their debut album won the Mercury, with The Human Fear marking the group's first studio offering since the exit of original drummer Thomson in 2021. Guitarist McCarthy had left in 2016. A new line-up has formed around original members Kapranos and Hardy, with guitarist Dino Bardot, keyboardist/guitarist Julian Corrie and drummer Audrey Tait joining up. Kapranos believes the band's identity is intact despite the changes. "Whenever we do a cover it always sounds like us, and I like that. We did Good Luck Babe [by Chappell Roan] on Radio 2, which is an amazing song but when we play it, it just sounds like Franz Ferdinand. "Bob and I were talking about this before we made this record, that it's good to be at ease with your identity and your sound. "Knowing your voice and who you are is important. You could listen to early Birthday Party records and then those dark sombre ballads Nick Cave has been writing now, and it's still unmistakeably him -it's the same for PJ Harvey or Leonard Cohen. "That really informed us making this record. I wanted people to listen to this and know it's unmistakeably Franz Ferdinand." A greatest hits compilation in 2021 and ensuing tour helped the singer make "peace with everything that we've done before". "I'm not the kinda person who likes to look back," he adds. "Once we make a record I never really listen to it again, so for the tour I was being forced to listen to that music again, and I found I felt pretty comfortable with it." Celebrating the past meant the band were also eager to try new things for the future. The Human Fear is filled with ideas fresh to the group, from orchestral flourishes on recent single Audacious to a bouzouki being used on Black Eyelashes and the Celtic style riff pulsing through Cats. However, while the title might suggest a record bubbling with dread, Kapranos says it's about the opposite. "The greatest moments in life are when you overcome fear," he says, admitting his own childhood terror was the shark in Jaws . "Watching horror films or riding rollercoasters gives you a buzz and we should maybe approach some wider existential fears with the same attitude. "I remember growing up in the 80s and thinking one diplomatic slip-up would mean we'd all be nuclear toast. There's always something to be afraid of, and you can either submit to it or stand up to it." Politics is something Franz Ferdinand have visited before. In 2014 they backed Scottish independence and two years later they released Demagogue, aimed at the then incoming American President Donald Trump. However the second Presidency of Trump is unlikely to spur such a similiar reaction. "Trump's not my favourite man and there's so much in worldwide politics that's disheartening," says the singer. "But it's also disheartening how everyone is going on about politics all the time. I find it wearying and I'm loathe to do my share of it. It should be obvious Trump is an idiot and self-centred, does it need me to say that? "Some of my friends on social media just bang on about it all the time. The arts is a powerful tool of protest and we should continue to do that, but there's a difference between that and low key whinging." They won't remain silent on some issues, though. In 2024 the group were among Scottish musicians raising concerns over possible arts funding cuts , while a short tour saw them road-test new songs in some of the country's smaller venues. UK dates for 2025 include the larger likes of the Barrowland in Glasgow, with a summer show at the city's SWG3 also booked in, but supporting grassroots music remains a passionate subject for the singer. "I spent so many years in the basement of the 13th Note in Glasgow, so it's part of my DNA. "To be in a dingy wee cellar with a band playing loudly - that's my happy place."

Middle East latest: Israeli strikes in Gaza kill more than 50 people, including kidsCoal and gas-fired power plants will stay open for longer under the coalition's $330 billion nuclear transition plan. or signup to continue reading Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has pledged to build seven publicly-owned nuclear power plants across the country, with predictions the first will come online from the mid-to-late 2030s - a timeline rubbished by some experts. Renewables would make up just over half of Australia's energy grid by 2050, with nuclear accounting for just under 40 per cent and the rest a combination of storage and gas, snippets of the plan dropped ahead of its release contend. Labor's plan is to have the grid firmed by just over 80 per cent renewable energy by 2030. This will increase to more than 90 per cent by 2050 with the rest made up of storage and gas. Nuclear energy would provide the "always-on" power to back up renewables and lead to cheaper power bills in the long run, Mr Dutton claimed. But nuclear energy does not offer a good deal for Australia, a report released just ahead of Mr Dutton unveiling his costings found, while postponing coal power station closures would heighten Australia's carbon emissions in the medium term. For the seventh straight year, the found renewable energy sources are the lowest-cost of any new-build electricity-generating technology. Nuclear energy generation would be 1.5 to two times more expensive than large-scale solar, according to the analysis by the national science agency CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator. Energy market operators would also need to establish new connection points to safely supply the national electricity grid, experts have said. The coalition's plan was modelled by Frontier Economics, which cost Labor's transition around $600 billion. Energy Minister Chris Bowen has rubbished this number, saying the government's plan would cost $122 billion, citing a forecast made by the national energy grid operator. "They're making it up as they go along," Mr Bowen told ABC TV of the coalition's costings on Friday. Mr Bowen said preliminary reports of the coalition's plan ahead of Friday's full announcement that nuclear would need fewer transmission lines - therefore bringing down the estimated cost - was incorrect. "I'm not sure how they'll get the nuclear power into the grid, maybe by carrier pigeon if they're going to assert if somehow you'll need less transmission," he said. "They have had to make some very heroic assumptions here and they have had to really stretch the truth to try to get some very dodgy figures." Keeping coal-fired power plants open beyond their lifespan was a threat to energy reliability, with outages and breakdowns happening on a daily basis, Mr Bowen said. "It's a recipe for blackouts to keep ageing coal-fired power stations in the grid for longer," he said. The coalition is pushing for an end to Australia's nuclear ban but has faced opposition from states. Nuclear power doesn't stack up for Australian families or businesses, Fortescue chairman Andrew Forrest said on Friday. "As our national science agency has shown, 'firmed' solar and wind are the cheapest new electricity options for all Australians," he said in a statement. "The cost of electricity generated on a grid dominated by firmed renewable energy in 2030 will be half what you would have to pay if it came from nuclear, CSIRO found." Mr Forrest, who is a big player in the non-fossil fuels energy market, said that without continued action on "low-cost, high-efficiency renewable energy" Australians will be left with "pricier power and crumbling coal stations". "We must never forget - Australia has the best renewable resources in the world," he added. 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What's New? Toyota followed Ford 's lead and donated $1 million toward President-elect Donald Trump 's inauguration in January, The Hill reported. Why It Matters Trump has pledged to impose tariffs on Chinese, Canadian and Mexican goods, which could result in a 17 percent drop in automakers' profits, according to a recent report from S&P Global. Carmakers and tech giants appear to be trying to get ahead of that by gaining Trump's favor, by way of generous donations, before he takes office. Newsweek reached out to Toyota North America via phone and Ford via email for comment. What To Know Ford Motor Co. announced on Monday that it would donate $1 million and a small fleet of vehicles toward Trump's inauguration. Toyota North America followed suit on Tuesday, pledging $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund, which is a fundraising effort that supports the president-elect's inauguration and related events. Earlier this month, Meta , Amazon and Open AI CEO Sam Altman all pledged seven-figure donations to Trump's inauguration fund. Facebook's parent company announced it would donate $1 million to the fund, sparking anger from some on both sides of the political aisle. The announcement came two weeks after Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Zuckerberg and Trump have had a strained relationship in recent years. Tensions between the two men hit a boiling point after Facebook banned Trump in the wake of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump later repeatedly threatened to jail Zuckerberg, alleging that he personally conspired to rig the 2020 election against Trump. The Meta CEO, for his part, has publicly praised Trump, likely in an effort to defuse hostilities before Trump takes office. In addition to commending Trump's response to a July assassination attempt, Zuckerberg joined a slew of other business and tech moguls in congratulating Trump after he won the 2024 U.S. election. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that Amazon would also be donating $1 million to Trump's fund, as will OpenAI 's Altman. What People Are Saying Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized donations to Trump's inaugural fund, telling The Independent : Trump's "reliance on private donors to fund the transition" is "nothing more than a ploy for well-connected Trump insiders to line their pockets while pretending to save taxpayers money." Ford CEO Jim Farley told reporters earlier this month that he's looking forward to working with the Trump administration: Given "Ford's employment profile and importance in the US economy and manufacturing, you can imagine the administration will be very interested in Ford's point of view." What Happens Next? Trump's will be inaugurated on January 20 in Washington, D.C. At around noon, Trump will recite the following oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."A United Kingdom television host has accidentally announced he was “bisexual” in an awkward on-air blunder when he meant something entirely different. Channel 5′s Jeremy Vine was interviewing etiquette expert William Hanson about politeness when the conversation very quickly derailed after he got confused during the discussion. Hanson began the interaction describing how etiquette has changed over the years, saying: “I think that etiquette has to evolve. It would be ridiculous if people like me were to try and get people to do really antiquated things”. Turning to Vine, he explained: “You are left handed. (I) noticed when you were doing your drawing.” But that’s when the host dropped a clanger and hilariously confused his words.( MENAFN - Asia Times) Too often in the West we suffer from dictator envy, feeling jealous and a bit afraid of the power and decisiveness of today's autocracies such as Russia and China. This month should act as a corrective for such feelings, for it has been a terrible December for dictators. This does not mean that the liberal West has triumphed. But it does mean that our chances of competing with the autocrats are better than our melancholic form of self-flagellation has led us to believe. No one need feel sorry for Bashar al-Assad and his family, and the fact that Syria's brutal dictator has had to swap his palaces in Damascus for humbler premises in Moscow. Let us also not feel pity for President Vladimir Putin for having to act as host to this failed leader whose collapse has exposed Russia's own weakness, potentially depriving it of its naval and air bases on the Mediterranean. We also need feel no sorrow for the Ayatollahs and Revolutionary Guards of Iran, who this year have seen their allies in Gaza, Lebanon and now Syria all destroyed, and the weaknesses in Iran's own defense systems cruelly exposed. Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen can be re-armed and re-born, but the strategy of using these militias to project Iranian power and undermine the Ayatollahs' enemy, Israel, is in tatters. We can feel pity for the estimated 12,000 North Korean soldiers who have been sent to fight alongside Russia's weakened army, as they are now being targeted and many may soon be killed by long-range Ukrainian weaponry. But their dictator back home in Pyongyang deserves no pity for his strategy of supporting Russia. It has gained him some money and some missile technology, but little more. Across the“Demilitarized Zone” that since 1953 has separated North and South Korea, President Kim Jong-un has watched his democratically elected counterpart, President Yoon Suk Yeol make a fool of himself on December 3 by attempting to use martial law to control an unfriendly parliament, but Kim has little to gloat about. President Yoon's failed coup d'etat demonstrated the strength and resilience of South Korea's democracy. The big question is where these December disasters will leave the global axis connecting Russia, China, Iran and North Korea as opponents of the West. Three of the four have been aggressive breakers of international law, while the real superpower in the axis, China, has tried to present itself as a rising, peace-seeking nation that stands as an alternative to the declining, hypocritical United States. Anyone who stood in awe of China and its fellow-travellers as this year began should now have had their eyes opened to the much-less impressive reality. Make no mistake: the West has plenty of problems too. Japan has a weak government; Germany, a collapsed government; France, no government; and the United States has re-elected a president who holds America's own allies in contempt and (like the late Silvio Berlusconi) prefers talking to Putin, Xi and Kim to having to deal with democratic governments. But with such weak opponents the West also has reason to feel optimistic about what could be achieved in 2025. The first opportunity concerns the war in Ukraine. In military terms, both the Ukrainian and the Russian forces are exhausted. During 2024, both armies made gains: the Ukrainians took and held on to territory in Kursk, inside Russia; the Russians moved slowly forward in the eastern region of Ukraine, but despite huge casualties have succeeded in occupying only a further 0.4% of Ukraine's territory since January 1. And now the weakness of both Russia and Iran has led to Assad's fall in Syria. This has greatly reduced President-elect Trump's incentive to bully Ukraine into accepting Russia's extravagant and unrealistic peace conditions. And it has greatly increased Putin's incentive to weaken those conditions in the hope of avoiding further humiliations. Trump has the chance to begin his presidency by looking like a strong representative of the free world rather than someone begging autocrats for favours. A ceasefire in the spring of 2025 could be in both sides' interest. If Ukraine's European allies, led by Poland, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Finland, and the Baltic States can agree to offer security guarantees and finance, which in Russia's weakened state looks an easier task than before, there must be a good chance that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be able to find a deal that maintains his country's sovereignty, democracy and European future. The second opportunity, which is more one for Europe and Japan to exploit than Trump's self-centered America, is to improve relations with the vast, and fast-growing, parts of the world that have preferred to avoid alignments either with China and its axis or with the West. Southeast Asia, the Gulf countries of the Middle East, Africa and Latin America have all avoided supporting the West over Ukraine while welcoming money from China and Russia but not domination. The proven weakness of the anti-Western axis means that the attractiveness of China as an alternative global leader has diminished. China's economy remains important but is now suffering from the sort of slow growth and debilitating deflation that made Japan stagnate during the 1990s. Countries of the so-called“Global South” will not want to antagonize China nor to lose its money, but they will be more open to alternative offers from the West. Italy's Mattei Plan for North Africa now stands a better chance of success, especially given the regime change under way in Syria, as does Japan's effort to provide military aid and guidance in Southeast Asia. Russia's weakness makes it more important than ever that Europe should promote its own values and influence in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, but now with a good chance of being taken seriously. Once a new government is in office after Germany's February elections, this new agenda can take shape, hopefully with a new confidence about the strengths of the liberal West against these fragile autocrats. First published in English on the substack Bill Emmott's Global View, this is the English original of an article published in Italian December 16 by La Stampa. It is republished with permission. Thank you for registering! An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. MENAFN17122024000159011032ID1109004643 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

North Carolina Teaching Fellows selects students from Statesville, TroutmanHome | Hyderabad | Telangana Government Shocks Tet Aspirants Far Off Centres Allotted Telangana government shocks TET aspirants, far off centres allotted Several candidates allotted centres hundreds of kilometres away from their residence. The TG Teacher Eligibility Test is to be held from January 2 to 20, 2025 By Yuvraj Akula Published Date - 28 December 2024, 04:19 PM TG TET from Jan 2 to 20, 2025 Hyderabad: For a two-hour examination, this 24-year-old woman will travel 210 km, a nearly four hour journey, to reach her exam centre. Another candidate will embark on a 130 km commute, taking about two and half hours to reach the centre. This is the challenging situation that some teacher job aspirants face with the School Education department having allotted their Telangana Teacher Eligibility Test (TG TET) 2024 II centres far off from their residence. The TG TET is to be held from January 2 to 20. On downloading their hall tickets, several candidates were shocked to find their test centres allocated hundreds of kms away from their homes. A woman candidate, a resident of Rajanna Sricilla district, who registered for the TET paper -II has been assigned a test centre at JB Institute of Engineering & Technology in Moinabad Mandal, Ranga Reddy district, about 210 km away. Another 26-year-old man, who registered for both TET paper – I and II, has been assigned centres at Laxman IT Academy and iON Digital Zone in Medchal-Malkajgiri district respectively, which are nearly130 km away from his residence in Siddipet. In another case, a candidate from Khammam district received a centre in Siddipet district, which is about 210 km. The situation is particularly challenging for women candidates, who face safety concerns and the possibility of travelling early in the morning to reach the centre in time. The paper – I will be held from 9 am and candidates have to present two hours prior to commencement of the exam. This will necessitate candidates to start their journey as early as 4 am! Candidates lamented that despite selecting nearby areas as preferred exam centres, they were allotted centres hundreds of kilometres away from their residence. Attempts to reach School Education department officials for a comment proved futile. A total of 2,75,773 candidates, including 94,335 for paper – I and 1,81,438 for paper – II, registered. The paper – I is conducted for aspirants seeking teaching eligibility for Classes I to V, while paper – II is held to determine eligibility to teach Classes VI to VIII. The paper – I will be conducted from 9 am to 11.30 am, and paper – II from 2 pm to 4.30 pm. Candidates will be permitted into the centre from 7.30 am for morning session and 12.30 pm afternoon session for capturing biometric finger details. Follow Us : Tags Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) TG TET Related News Telangana TET 2024 schedule announced; Deets inside Telangana TET- II 2024 sees a significant drop in registrations School Education department provides edit option for TG TET- II upto this date Telangana: DSC exams to commence on Thursday despite massive protests seeking postponement

betfred opening times Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the NCAA to block the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports, arguing that it tricks and misleads fans. The lawsuit filed in state district court in Lubbock and announced Sunday argues the NCAA violates the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by promoting women's sports that may include a transgender athlete. The law is designed to protect consumers from being misled or tricked into buying products or services that are not as advertised, the lawsuit said. The Texas lawsuit is the latest attempt by conservative politicians to target transgender athletes and push the NCAA into banning them from competition. President-elect Donald Trump has said he wants to stop trans athletes from competing. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the NCAA from allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports in Texas, or in sports that involve Texas programs. Or it wants the court to require the NCAA to stop marketing events as women's sports if transgender athletes are allowed. In a statement, Paxton appeared to reference the recent controversy involving San Jose State women's volleyball, where several opponents forfeited matches this season on grounds the Spartans had a transgender player. A federal court last month refused to block the school from playing in the Mountain West Conference championship. "When people watch a women's volleyball game, for example, they expect to see women playing against other women, not biological males pretending to be something they are not," Paxton said. "Radical 'gender theory' has no place in college sports." The Associated Press is withholding the player's name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and, through school officials, has declined an interview request. Paxton accused the NCAA of "intentionally and knowingly jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of women" and turning women's sports into "co-ed competitions." The NCAA does not track data on transgender athletes among the 544,000 athletes currently competing on 19,000 teams at various levels across the country. NCAA President Charlie Baker testified in Congress earlier this month that he was aware of fewer than 10 active NCAA athletes who identified as transgender. "College sports are the premier stage for women's sports in America, and while the NCAA does not comment on pending litigation, the Association and its members will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women's sports and ensure fair competition in all NCAA championships," the NCAA said in a statement Monday. Brooke Slusser, the San Jose State volleyball co-captain who was among the players who sued the Mountain West Conference over her teammate's participation, praised the Texas lawsuit on social media. "Hey NCAA, just in case you haven't realized yet this fight will just keep getting harder for you until you make a change!" Slusser posted on X. The NCAA established a policy in 2010 that requires trans athletes who were assigned male at birth to complete at least one year of testosterone suppression therapy before being eligible to compete on a women's team. Trans athletes who were assigned female at birth and transitioned to male can compete on a men's team, but if they have received testosterone treatment, they are ineligible to compete on a women's team. Athletes are required to meet their chosen sport's standards for documented testosterone levels at various points during the season. In 2022, the NCAA revised its policy in what the organization called an attempt to align with national sports governing bodies. If a governing body does not have a trans athlete policy, then the policy of the international federation that oversees the sport applies. If there is no international federation policy, then the previously established Olympic policy criteria would be followed.The insurance industry is projected to grow by 1.5-2.5% next year to achieve total premiums of around 291-294 billion baht, supported by economic and tourism recovery, said the Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA). In the first nine months of 2024, the non-life insurance sector recorded total premiums of 209 billion baht, edging 0.5% lower from the corresponding period of 2023. For the whole of 2024, the industry is projected to grow by 1% with premiums reaching 285-288 billion baht. This modest growth is attributed to several factors, including a sluggish economy, high household debt, structural changes within the industry, the impact of climate change and the country's transition to an aged society. TGIA president Somporn Suebthawilkul said the estimated performance for 2024 reflects ongoing economic challenges and uncertainties. However, the growth of health insurance and increased public awareness of natural disaster risks remain key drivers that underpin the future expansion of the industry. Most insurance categories showed minimal growth during the first nine months of the year compared with the same period last year. The exception was fire insurance, which grew 7.3%, with total premiums reaching 8.3 billion baht. On the other hand, motor insurance was down 1.3% with premiums of approximately 117 billion baht, driven by a 26% drop in new car sales and a decline in average premiums. Marine and transportation insurance saw premiums decrease 2.1% to 5.2 billion baht due to lower export volumes. By the end of the third quarter, the non-life insurance industry reported an overall loss ratio (LR) of 56.9% across all types, which was particularly notable in the categories of motor insurance, health insurance and all-risk insurance. By category, specific LR stood at 61.7% for motor insurance, 23.7% for fire insurance, 30% for marine insurance, 50.9% for miscellaneous insurance, 44% for all-risk insurance, 32% for legal liability, 48.8% for personal accident insurance, 65.5% for health insurance, 32.8% for travel insurance and 40.9% for other forms of insurance. "2025 represents new hope for the recovery of the non-life insurance industry, on the back of the global economic rebound, particularly in developing countries, and the adoption of digital technology or InsurTech, which helps reduce costs, improves efficiency and makes it easier to reach customers," said Mr Somporn. Moreover, there is increasing awareness of emerging risks, such as worsening natural disasters caused by climate change, the growing importance of cyber risk management for organisations at all levels and the intensifying competition within industry. These factors necessitate the continuous development of products to meet evolving customer needs, he added. Fire insurance is expected to attract greater attention next year, along with travel insurance, buoyed by positive factors such as the appreciation of the baht and government initiatives to stimulate the tourism sector. Mr Somporn noted that non-life insurance plays a vital role in helping individuals and businesses manage risks. It provides both financial protection and long-term stability by adapting to evolving circumstances and introducing new products tailored to customer needs. "Our industry's role is not merely a risk management tool but a key pillar that fosters economic stability and paves the way to a sustainable future."

( MENAFN - Jordan Times) AMMAN - Audit Bureau President Radhi Hamadeen on Tuesday underlined the "strong and cooperative" relationship between the bureau and the Parliament in overseeing and protecting public funds. Speaking at a press conference to announce the submission of the bureau's annual report to the Senate and the Lower House, as stipulated by Article 119 of the Constitution, Hamadeen said that the bureau works through ex-post audits rather than performance-based oversight, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. He highlighted the significant improvement in the bureau's internal control and legal departments, which has allowed the staff to focus more effectively on its auditing duties. The 2023 Audit Bureau report included 417 audit findings, 4,883 violations and observations of regulations, of which 2,366 violations were addressed, resulting in a compliance rate of 48 per cent. It also documented 1,226 audit notes, of which 605 were corrected, he noted. Hamadeen pointed out that 11 audit findings were referred to the court following evidence of misuse of public funds, while 21 findings were referred to the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (IACC) for further investigation into potential corruption. Other 10 findings were referred to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau for resolution of disputes between the bureau and the audited entities, the bureau president said. The report also included 40 decisions to recover misspent funds and 93 decisions to recover unlawfully paid funds, he added. In terms of financial impact, Hamadeen confirmed that the bureau's efforts resulted in savings of JD29.327 million in 2023, thanks to audits of tax and fee transactions, recovery of misused funds, and participation in tendering and procurement committees. He also highlighted that the bureau's complaints follow-up unit received 486 complaints in 2023, resulting in 60 audit findings, or 14 per cent of the total findings for the year, which reflects growing public confidence in the bureau's ability to handle complaints effectively and ensure transparency. The bureau issued 31 reports on disbursements related to international loan agreements and 15 specialised technical studies analysing financial data, final accounts and budget estimates of various government entities, he noted. The bureau also audited the accounts of 25 political parties under the government's party financing bylaw, identifying violations and recommending corrective measures in coordination with the Independent Election Commission. The report also assessed the performance of government entities, including the effectiveness of computerised systems, public revenue collection mechanisms, governance frameworks, internal control units, and the financial and operational performance of state-owned enterprises, while ensuring their compliance with relevant legislation. Also on Tuesday, Senate President Faisal Fayez and Lower House Speaker Ahmad Safadi received copies of the 2023 Audit Bureau report. MENAFN24122024000028011005ID1109028677 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson reserve guard Trent Howard will miss the 12th-ranked Tigers game with No. 16 South Carolina after tearing the ACL in his left knee at practice this week. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced Howard's injury Wednesday. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound fifth-year graduate has been a backup much of the season, but had to step into a starter's role due to injuries along Clemson's offensive line. “My heart breaks for him,” Swinney said. Howard came in on the second snap in a 24-20 win at Pitt two games ago when lineman Elyjah Thurmon was hurt on the first play. Thurmon had an ankle injury that required surgery and will not return this season. Howard got his fourth career start last Saturday in a 51-14 win over The Citadel. and was in line for another if injured starter Marcus Tate was unable to go after missing the past three games. Howard was listed as a backup at both right and left guard on this week's depth chart. The Tigers (9-2) face the rival Gamecocks (8-3) on Saturday. —- Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

There are sharks in the Red Sea but encounters with them are relatively rare.A shark attack off Egypt's Red Sea coast has left one tourist dead and another injured, authorities said on Sunday. Also Read | Stocks To Buy or Sell Today, December 30: HDFC Bank, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra Among Shares That May Remain in Focus on Thursday, Know Which Stocks to Buy or Sell on December 30. "Two foreigners were attacked by a shark in the northern Marsa Alam area, which led to the injury of one and the death of the other," the country's environment ministry said in a statement. Also Read | South Korea Plane Crash: EAM Jaishankar, US President Joe Biden, Japanese PM Ishiba Shigeru and Others Extend Condolences After Tragic Accident in Muan Claims Over 170 Lives. According to Italian media, both men were Italian nationals. What we know about the shark attack The attack occurred in deep water outside the designated swimming zone near the jetties in the popular resort town of Marsa Alam, Egypt's environment ministry added. A 48-year-old man from Rome was killed while diving, Italian news agency ANSA reported. He had been spending Christmas in Egypt with his family and had celebrated his birthday on December 21st. A 69-year-old injured man was taken to a hospital in Port Ghalib. Meanwhile, authorities have closed the area to swimmers for two days following the incident. The Red Sea's marine life makes it popular with divers. Shark encounters in the Red Sea are relatively rare. dvv/lo (AFP, dpa, Reuters) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 30, 2024 08:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).Haiti gang attack on journalists covering a hospital reopening leaves 2 dead, several wounded

By ROB GILLIES TORONTO (AP) — Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the United States should President-elect Donald Trump follow through on his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products, a senior official said Wednesday. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across southern and northern borders. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. A Canadian government official said Canada is preparing for every eventuality and has started thinking about what items to target with tariffs in retaliation. The official stressed no decision has been made. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Many of the U.S. products were chosen for their political rather than economic impact. For example, Canada imports $3 million worth of yogurt from the U.S. annually and most comes from one plant in Wisconsin, home state of then-House Speaker Paul Ryan. That product was hit with a 10% duty. Another product on the list was whiskey, which comes from Tennessee and Kentucky, the latter of which is the home state of then-Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell. Trump made the threat Monday while railing against an influx of illegal migrants, even though the numbers at Canadian border pale in comparison to the southern border. The U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone — and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian one between October 2023 and September 2024. Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are happy to work with the Trump administration to lower the numbers from Canada. The Canadians are also worried about a influx north of migrants if Trump follows through with his plan for mass deportations. Trump also railed about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border pale in comparison to the Mexican border. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Related Articles National Politics | Trump selects longtime adviser Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia National Politics | Trump’s tariffs in his first term did little to alter the economy, but this time could be different National Politics | Will Trump’s return lead to a new wave of bestselling books? National Politics | Trump transition says Cabinet picks, appointees were targeted by bomb threats, swatting attacks National Politics | Southwest states certify election results after the process led to controversy in previous years Canadian officials argue their country is not the problem and that tariffs will have severe implications for both countries. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. “Canada is essential to the United States’ domestic energy supply,” Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said. Trump has pledged to cut American energy bills in half within 18 months, something that could be made harder if a 25% premium is added to Canadian oil imports. In 2023, Canadian oil accounted for almost two-thirds of total U.S. oil imports and about one-fifth of the U.S. oil supply. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is holding a emergency virtual meeting on Wednesday with the leaders of Canada’s provinces, who want Trudeau to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the United States that excludes Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.”...Says Police Records 30,313 Arrests, Recover 1,984 Firearms, 23,250 Ammunition ABUJA – The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, on Tuesday held a strategic meeting with senior police officers of the Nigeria Police Force. The meeting, which took place at the Goodluck Ebele Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters Abuja, served as a platform for reviewing the achievements of the Force in the year 2024 while outlining strategic plans for innovation and adaptability as the Force prepares for the challenges of the coming year. The Force Spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement to newsmen said, the IGP acknowledged the hard work and dedication displayed by police officers throughout the year, particularly the significant accomplishments in crime reduction and community engagement. The IGP also noted the importance of collaborative efforts in fostering trust between the police and the public. In the year under review, the IGP revealed that the Nigeria Police Force recorded major successes in tackling crime, leading to the arrest of 30,313 suspects for various heinous offences, the recovery of 1,984 assorted firearms, 23,250 rounds of ammunition of varying calibres, and the rescue of 1,581 kidnapped victims. The IGP further emphasized that the Force will prioritize innovation in technology and operational strategies in 2025, learning from experiences and adapting as we move on. He encouraged senior officers to embrace modern tools and progressive practices that enhance the Force’s effectiveness in crime prevention and investigation. “As the nation approaches the festive season, the Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of IGP Egbetokun, is poised to implement the necessary measures to ensure a peaceful and secure environment for all citizens. “The IGP reiterates the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the public, ensuring safety, and fostering a culture of accountability.”

Los Angeles Clippers @ Denver Nuggets Current Records: Los Angeles 14-11, Denver 12-10 When: Friday, December 13, 2024 at 9 p.m. ET Where: Ball Arena -- Denver, Colorado TV: NBATV Follow: CBS Sports App Online Streaming: Catch select NBA matches on Fubo (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.) Ticket Cost: $13.68 The Clippers have enjoyed a four-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They will take on the Denver Nuggets at 9:00 p.m. ET on Friday at Ball Arena after having had a few days off. The Clippers' defense has only allowed 107.4 points per game this season, so the Nuggets' offense will have their work cut out for them. Last Sunday, the Clippers came up short against the Rockets and fell 117-106. The defeat unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Los Angeles in their matchups with Houston: they've now lost four in a row. Meanwhile, the Nuggets made easy work of the Hawks on Sunday and carried off a 141-111 win. The success was a return to things as normal for Denver, who in their previous outing suffered a shocking 122-113 upset defeat to Washington. Nikola Jokic was his usual excellent self, dropping a double-double on 48 points and 14 rebounds. His evening made it six games in a row in which he has scored at least 30 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Michael Porter Jr., who went 12 for 17 en route to 26 points plus seven rebounds. The Nuggets were working as a unit and finished the game with 43 assists (they're ranked first in assists per game overall). That's the most assists they've posted since back in December of 2023. Los Angeles' loss dropped their record down to 14-11. As for Denver, their victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 12-10. The Clippers are hoping to beat the odds on Friday, as the experts think they're headed for a loss. They might be worth a quick bet since they've covered the spread the last four times they've played Denver. The Clippers didn't have too much breathing room in their contest against the Nuggets in their previous matchup two weeks ago, but they still walked away with a 126-122 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Clippers since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference. Denver is a solid 6.5-point favorite against Los Angeles, according to the latest NBA odds . The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Nuggets as a 7-point favorite. The over/under is 228.5 points. See NBA picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now . Denver has won 6 out of their last 10 games against Los Angeles. Dec 01, 2024 - Los Angeles 126 vs. Denver 122 Oct 26, 2024 - Los Angeles 109 vs. Denver 104 Apr 04, 2024 - Los Angeles 102 vs. Denver 100 Dec 06, 2023 - Los Angeles 111 vs. Denver 102 Nov 27, 2023 - Denver 113 vs. Los Angeles 104 Nov 14, 2023 - Denver 111 vs. Los Angeles 108 Feb 26, 2023 - Denver 134 vs. Los Angeles 124 Jan 13, 2023 - Denver 115 vs. Los Angeles 103 Jan 05, 2023 - Denver 122 vs. Los Angeles 91 Nov 25, 2022 - Denver 114 vs. Los Angeles 104With the Mega Millions jackpot now at the fifth-highest sum in the game's history at a whopping $1.15 billion, what should you do if you find yourself the lucky winner of such a massive reward ? Experts are saying that the smartest thing you could possibly do is actually to keep quiet about it and tell no one about your win. You should keep calm and carry on, financial advisers said. Posting about the win on social media is often a poor decision, some of the advisers told USA TODAY . Rob Burnette, an Ohio-based adviser with Outlook Financial Center, told the publication, "If you're lucky enough to win the lottery, keep it quiet. Get organized and make a plan. Consider staying anonymous, if it's a possibility." Mega Millions jackpot soars over $1 billion as drawing announced for Friday Mega Millions jackpot nears $1 billion just in time for the holidays The massive sum available to whoever is lucky enough to win the Mega Millions by matching all six numbers — the regular five balls and the sixth Mega Millions ball. The chances of that happening are about 1 in 302.6 million. After taxes, an estimated lump sum of about $516.1 million will be available to take home for the lucky winner, who can also opt to receive regular payments over several years. One of the main reasons financial advisers say to keep quiet about winnings is so that scammers won't be as likely to reach out and attempt to siphon off some of the money. Contact should only be had with a financial adviser. Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories. Mega Millions said in a statement, "Crooks usually try to get you to wire money for 'taxes' or 'fees,' or may try to get you to provide them with a bank account number, which they will then clean out. No real lottery tells winners to put up their own money in order to collect a prize they have already won." The lottery organization said no representative from Mega Millions would ever call, text or email anyone about a prize they won, stating that winners should be especially weary of anyone who contacts them out of the blue. The best option is to remain anonymous, which, in certain states, you can do. Steve Azoury, owner of Azoury Financial in Troy, Michigan told USA TODAY, "Get a tax attorney and a tax accountant right off the bat and then a financial adviser. They’ll work hand in hand to figure out the plan." DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter. This should be done before the payout is collected, as the adviser and lawyers can tell you about the options and help you figure out what's best for you. Age, income projections and other life factors can determine what might be the best option for a particular winner, Max Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt, said. Azoury added that finding a "fall guy," or an adviser or other person who will keep you from making loans and other payouts, is also a necessity in most cases, as that person can ensure that you don't squander your money and hand it out to people who might misuse it. Most winners have at least 90 days to claim their prize after finding out they're the winner, and many take that time to figure out what to do with the money. Azoury said "parking" the earnings might be the best option until winners can hire and meet with a financial adviser, tax accountant and attorney who's right for them. Brokerage accounts are also options, as several million can be distributed across multiple banks and accounts, most of it insured, too. The tax accountant and lawyer are both recommended after winning the lottery because doing so is likely to propel an individual into the highest federal tax bracket, but state taxes can be tricky to navigate. Only 12 states don't tax lottery winnings — Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. But others do and to varying degrees. The next drawing for the Mega Millions is scheduled for Friday at 11 p.m. EST. Drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at the same time. Tickets are sold in numerous locations and are available until 15 minutes before each drawing. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.betfred owner 。

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Jaden Green and Geoffrey Jamiel scored on long plays in the fourth quarter and unseeded Lehigh rallied to defeat No. 9 Richmond 20-16 on Saturday in a first-round game of the FCS playoffs. Lehigh advances to a second-round game at eighth-seeded Idaho on Dec. 7. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week'A ballroom of activity': How Black Friday is hitting those closer to homeJOHN DURAN has seen his three-match BAN confirmed after the FA rejected an appeal. The Aston Villa ace was sent off for an alleged stamp on Newcastle's Fabian Schar. Duran, 21, lost his balance while running behind the Toon defender before appearing to direct his right boot down onto Schar's back in frustration. Referee Anthony Taylor then gave Duran his marching orders after just half an hour before VAR confirmed the call. The Premier League Match Centre confirmed on social media: "The referee issued a red card to Durán for violent conduct. The VAR checked and confirmed the referee’s call." The feisty match at St James' Park ended in a 3-0 win for the home side, though with Duran - who had been on fire ahead of the clash - that score may have been different, as Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall was also sent off at half-time. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Feeling he had been wrongfully punished, Villa sent an appeal to the FA to get the ban overturned. However, an announcement from the club on Friday evening revealed the star would NOT have the ban rescinded. A statement said: "Aston Villa can confirm that our decision to appeal Jhon Durán’s red card in our match with Newcastle United has been rejected. "The player will now miss our next three matches." Most read in Football The Colombian risked further punishment as he was seen kicking a water bottle in anger before going down the tunnel. More to follow. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball .

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will unveil a refreshed frontbench line-up in late January, with Bill Shorten’s exit from parliament opening the door to a junior minister being promoted, months out from the next federal election. Senior government sources, who asked not to be named so they could speak freely, say Albanese is considering two options for his frontbench shake-up, with responsibility for Shorten’s former portfolios of Government Services and the NDIS to be handed on as the federal election is not due until May 2025. Anika Wells, Matt Keogh, Amanda Rishworth and Mark Butler are all being considered to assume outgoing Bill Shorten’s responsibilities. Credit: In the reshuffle, government sources said the first and more likely option was that Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth and Health Minister Mark Butler would be handed responsibility for one of each of the portfolios, with NDIS a better fit for Rishworth as the disability agency is part of her department. This would mean the number of cabinet ministers would shrink from 23 to 22 people. The second option being considered is promoting a member of the outer ministry, with Queensland-based Aged Care and Sports Minister Anika Wells and WA-based Veterans and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh considered the frontrunners. Both are in the Labor Right faction, like Shorten. Loading Opposition Leader Peter Dutton must also replace a senior shadow minister on his frontbench after opposition Senate leader and foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham announced on Thursday that he was quitting politics. The first details of how Albanese could recast his frontbench have emerged after a successful end to the parliamentary year for the government, which included the passing of 31 new laws on the final day , after months of delay and lengthy negotiations with the Coalition or the Greens and the crossbench. As parliament wound down for the year, Labor won Senate votes on housing, food prices and a ban on social media apps for under 16s, and other measures. Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers have to release a mid-year budget update before Christmas that could foreshadow more cost-of-living relief, while Dutton has hinted at more detail on the opposition’s nuclear and housing policies before Christmas too. Either scenario would mean that Victoria’s influence around the cabinet table would be reduced with Shorten’s exit, but Labor hopes to gain seats in Queensland and hold on to the swag of seats it picked up in Western Australia in 2022. Promoting a talented new minister from Queensland or WA is seen, internally, as tactically astute and unlikely to cause a fuss, whereas promoting another NSW MP to cabinet at the expense of Victoria would likely put noses out of joint. Shorten’s combined portfolios of the NDIS and Government Services were given to him when Labor won government as he had been one of the disability insurance scheme’s earliest champions. He had also been a frontrunner in pursuing and supporting the robo-debt royal commission, which made Government Services a natural fit. The government sources said the prime minister would ponder the changes during a short Christmas break. Dutton, like Albanese, is expected to be back at work by early January as both men gear up for what is widely expected to be a close election in which a hung parliament is considered a distinct possibility given the size of the crossbench. Both leaders are also planning, at this stage, to make major policy announcements in the second half of January, with a prime ministerial appearance at the National Press Club around Australia Day pencilled in and some members of both main parties anticipating an election to be called days later, though Albanese has indicated he is leaning towards May. Loading The most recent Resolve Political Monitor conducted for this masthead in early November showed the opposition’s primary vote had risen by one percentage point to 39 per cent, while Labor’s held steady at 30 per cent. These primary votes would deliver either major party, at best, a razor-thin majority in the next parliament. While Dutton will feel the loss of Birmingham, a former finance, education, trade and tourism minister at various times under Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull, the need to replace a foreign affairs spokesperson heading into a domestic political campaign is less urgent. While Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley and shadow cabinet ministers Jane Hume, James Paterson and Dan Tehan have all been put forward as possible replacements for Birmingham , moving shadow ministers from domestic portfolios months out from an election could disrupt the shadow expenditure review committee process that is now working on election policies. Another option would be for Dutton to take the portfolio in a caretaker capacity, or for former shadow cabinet minister Julian Leeser to be returned to the frontbench while former ambassador and foreign policy wonk Dave Sharma would be handed an assistant role. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Political leadership Anthony Albanese For subscribers James Massola is national affairs editor. He has previously been Sunday political correspondent and South-East Asia correspondent. Connect via Twitter , Facebook or email . Most Viewed in Politics Loading

New method uses lactic acid bacteria to produce vitamin B2WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden faces a stark choice as he contemplates broad preemptive pardons to protect aides and allies from potential retribution by Donald Trump: Does he hew to the institutional norms he’s spent decades defending or flex the powers of the presidency in untested ways. The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But Biden himself has discussed the topic with senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all. Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes –- and usually to those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for some who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. The president could, if he chose, issue blanket pardons to specific people whom Trump and his allies have threatened to punish. Or he could pardon a broad class of people — not unlike pardons issued to those convicted of federal marijuana offenses or those ensnared in the “don't ask, don't tell” military policies. Some worry that Trump and his allies, who have talked of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for targeted people even if they don’t result in prosecutions. The door has already been opened, given that Biden has extended a broad , who was convicted and pleaded guilty in tax and gun cases. Biden explained that decision by saying he believed the prosecution of his son had been poisoned by politics. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said Biden plans additional pardons before leaving office though she would not elaborate on the process. She repeatedly referenced “changing factors” that motivated the president to pardon his son despite promising he wouldn’t. She said Republicans have continued to try to see Hunter Biden investigated for an array of alleged offenses, a rationale that could support additional pardons for Biden aides and allies. It was two weeks ago that one of the president’s closest allies in Congress, Rep, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, encouraged Biden to pardon his son Hunter. The morning after that conversation, Clyburn told Biden’s staff that he believed the president should also pardon those being targeted by Trump. “I was very forceful in my discussions with him about what I thought he ought to do regarding his son,” Clyburn said Friday. “But I also told them that I thought he ought to go even further, because all the noise about Jack Smith and Liz Cheney and Doctor Fauci and all of that.” Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and for accusations he hoarded classified documents at his home. , was the vice chairwoman of the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection and campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris. All have raised the ire of Trump. Clyburn said he told Biden’s team, only half jokingly, that because the Supreme Court has already said that the president has certain immunities, “let’s give that same immunity to Jack Smith for carrying out his duties and to, Doctor Fauci, Liz Cheney, they were carrying out their duties.” Among those mentioned publicly for possible presidential pardons, there are different sentiments on whether pardons would even be wanted. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supported the president’s move to pardon his son, but has been silent on the speculation that Biden is considering additional pardons for her or others. A top Pelosi ally, Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic congressman who led Trump’s first impeachment, has panned the idea of pardoning Biden's allies. He says “the courts are strong enough to withstand” the worst of Trump’s threats. “I don’t think a preemptive pardon makes sense,” the incoming senator told NPR recently. “I would urge the president not to do that. I think it would seem defensive and unnecessary,” Schiff said. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, who was the lead manager on Trump’s second impeachment, on the charge of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, said members of Congress already are protected by the speech and debate clause in the Constitution, which protects them prosecution for participating in their legislative duties. Raskin said figures like Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, , Trump's former White House chief of staff, would similarly be protected by the First Amendment. But Raskin said the question is, “Should they go through the criminal investigation and prosecution for not doing anything wrong? I think that’s why this whole issue has erupted.” Raksin added that with Trump promising to pardon hundreds of people who assaulted police officers on Jan. 6th, “I can hardly fault President Biden for exploring the use of the pardon to protect people from a fraudulent and unjust prosecution.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he’s had no conversations with the White House regarding any preemptive pardons for current or former members of Congress. Associated Press Writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

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