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CHICAGO (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for 90 of his 330 yards in overtime to set up Parker Romo's game-ending 29-yard field goal , and the Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Chicago Bears 30-27 on Sunday after giving up 11 points in the final 22 seconds of regulation. Darnold threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Addison caught eight passes for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown, and T.J. Hockenson had 114 yards receiving for the Vikings (9-2), who remained one game behind Detroit in the rugged NFC North. Caleb Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears (4-7), who lost their fifth straight and fell to 5-18 in one-possession games under coach Matt Eberflus, who is 14-31 in 2 1/2 seasons. Minnesota appeared to have the game in hand, leading 27-16 with 1:56 left after Romo kicked a 26-yard field goal. But the Bears weren’t finished. Deandre Carter made up for a muffed punt that led to a touchdown in the third quarter with a 55-yard kickoff return to the 40. Williams took it from there, capping an eight-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen. A 2-point conversion pass to DJ Moore made it 27-24 with 22 seconds remaining. The Bears recovered the onside kick and Williams hit Moore over the middle for a 27-yard gain to the 30 before spiking the ball. Cairo Santos made a 48-yard field goal as time expired. Chicago won the coin toss, but Williams was sacked for a 12-yard loss on second down, leading to a three-and-out. The Vikings took over at the 21, and Darnold led a 10-play drive, overcoming a sack and two penalties. Darnold connected with Hockenson for a 29-yard completion that put the ball on the 9. He took a knee and then Romo nailed the winner. Darnold surpassed his previous season high of 19 touchdown passes with a 2-yarder to Addison on the first play of the second quarter, and he made it 14-7 with a 5-yard score to Jalen Nailor late in the first half. He completed 22 of 34 passes. Aaron Jones ran for 106 yards and a score for the VIkings. Williams was 32 of 47 with a 103.1 passer rating in his second straight solid performance since Thomas Brown replaced the fired Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator. Moore caught seven passes for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Allen added 86 yards receiving and the late TD. Vikings: LB Ivan Pace Jr. (hamstring) and LT Cam Robinson (foot) left in the first quarter. ... Darnold missed two plays after he was hit by Gervon Dexter Sr. on a pass play with about 6 1/2 minutes. Vikings: Host Arizona next Sunday. Bears: Visit Detroit on Thanksgiving. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

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ROANOKE, Va., Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of RGC Resources, Inc. RGCO , at its meeting on November 22, 2024, declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2075 per share on the Company's common stock. The indicated annual dividend is $0.83 per share, a $0.03, or 3.8%, per share increase over the prior annual level. The Company has now increased the annual dividend 21 consecutive years. Paul Nester, CEO of RGC Resources, Inc., stated, "The Roanoke Gas utility continues to deliver solid operational and financial performance. Further, we are pleased that the MVP was completed in 2024 and now delivering affordable, reliable natural gas to Southwest Virginia. This dividend increase, our 21 st annual increase, reflects our commitment to deliver long-term shareholder value." The dividend will be paid on February 1, 2025 to shareholders of record on January 17, 2025. This is the Company's 323 rd consecutive quarterly cash dividend. RGC Resources, Inc. provides energy and related products and services to customers in Virginia through its operating subsidiaries including Roanoke Gas Company and RGC Midstream, L.L.C. The statements in this release that are not historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, the Company notes that a variety of factors could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ materially from any expectations expressed in the Company's forward-looking statements, regarding customer growth, infrastructure investment and margins. These risks and uncertainties include gas prices and supply, geopolitical considerations and regulatory and legal challenges and those set forth in the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and Item 1-A in the Company's fiscal 2023 10-K. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations only as of the date they are made. The Company assumes no duty to update these statements should expectations change or actual results differ from current expectations except as required by applicable laws and regulations. Past performance is not necessarily a predictor of future results. Contact: Timothy J. Mulvaney VP, Treasurer and CFO Telephone: 540-777-3997 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

North Dakota State's stunning 29-28 loss to the University of South Dakota cost the Bison the top seed in the FCS Playoff and a solo Missouri Valley Football Conference title, but that seemed to be all they lost. The Bison received the number two seed for the upcoming playoffs, meaning NDSU will host games at the Fargodome if they keep on winning. ADVERTISEMENT NDSU will face the winner of Abilene Christian and Northern Arizona next Saturday, Dec. 7. That doesn't mean there's a lack of topics to discuss surrounding Bison football as they head for a bye week. NDSU will practice the next three days before dispersing for the Thanksgiving holiday. WDAY's Dom Izzo and The Forum's Jeff Kolpack discuss the loss to South Dakota and what happened and how it could affect the upcoming playoff run.INTRODUCTION: The words may seem a bit strange now, but a story by Bob Palmer Jr. in the sports section of the Waterbury Republican from Dec. 8, 1970 – exactly 54 years ago Sunday – opened with the following sentence: “The unusual arrangement of having three Waterbury high school basketball teams playing at home in three different gymnasiums – which could very well be a first – is on the agenda for tonight.” There was a time when some of the city’s schools did not have their own snazzy gymnasiums expansive enough to accommodate crowds of a decent size to watch a high school game. Sites such as the Crosby Palace and Wilby’s Reggie O’Brien gym that now regularly hosts the Naugatuck Valley League tournament had not yet been built. Both of those high schools were still in downtown Waterbury, in older buildings with tiny gyms by today’s standards. The lack of top-grade gymnasiums in the city was not an indication that high school basketball had yet to command a following among local sports fans. To the contrary, the State Armory on Field Street had regularly drawn crowds of more than a thousand or two to doubleheaders involving Waterbury schools throughout the 1940s, ’50s and early ’60s, with Bob Markovic, Dick Clary and Billy Finn among the standouts who dazzled the crowds with their hoop skills. Sacred Heart and Wilby captured state titles during the Armory era, while Leavenworth’s 1947 squad provided Waterbury with its only New England champion. Future Major League Baseball player Jimmy Piersall led the Engineers past Durfee High of Fall River, Mass., 51-44, in the final before a crowd of 13,000 at Boston Garden. That storied period in the city’s hoops history had begun to give way when Kennedy High replaced the Armory as host site for most city games, upon the school’s opening in 1965. By the end of the 1970s, less than 15 years later, – three more new high schools with new gymnasiums had been built in the city, which helped to transition Waterbury basketball into the modern era. The 1970s as a decade of change began with a new Catholic school added to the host of rivalries among city teams. As noted in Palmer’s article previewing the scholastic schedule for that December evening 54 years ago, the night’s action included home games for Kennedy, Kaynor Tech and Holy Cross, with Holy Cross competing on the varsity level for the first time, in the school’s third year of operation. Both Crosby (in 1974) and Wilby (in 1978) would move into impressive new school complexes and gyms on the outskirts of town. And by 1980, a trio of new basketball coaches would take over at city schools – Jack Taglia, Ed Generali and Nick Augelli – with each to eventually have city gyms renamed in their honor after outstanding and impactful coaching careers. For two of those three venues, both gyms were officially opened on the same calendar date, Dec. 6, nine years apart, and the two men whose names now adorn each court happened to be on hand for each gym’s first contest, decades before the sites were dedicated in their honor. WATERBURY – Kennedy High’s gym was dedicated Dec. 6, 1965, with a ceremony involving city dignitaries before the annual Waterbury High School Jamboree that included teams from Crosby, Kennedy, Sacred Heart and Wilby. A “turn-away throng of 2,200” people, according to the Waterbury Republican’s recap the following day, was on hand for the traditional season opener for scholastic basketball in the city. Joe Zorsky and Don Sasso scored key hoops in the final minute to lead the Hearts past the host Eagles, 22-19, in the championship quarter. Among the many fans in attendance was the man whose name is now synonymous with the gymnasium. Jack Taglia, who would go on to coach for 31 seasons at Kennedy and lead the Eagles to three Naugatuck Valley League titles, was a Sacred Heart sophomore and member of the Hearts’ junior varsity team at the time. “I was certainly there for that jamboree and I remember that the Kennedy gym was state-of-the-art compared to the Armory,” said Taglia. “Because the four city teams played there, there was a game almost every night of the week. Since I lived within walking distance to Kennedy, I was there for many of those early games.” The following season, Sacred Heart played most of its games at Kennedy, captured the NVL championship and then produced a memorable run through the CIAC tournament to claim a state title. The 6-7 Sasso, Paul Zorsky and playmaker Joe Summa led a deep Hearts team under coach John Gilmore that finished 20-3 and defeated Fairfield Prep for the 1967 Class L crown. “The one game that does stand out that year was when we beat Hillhouse High at Kennedy in the first game of the season,” recalled Taglia. “I don’t ever remember from the Armory days that a Waterbury team ever beat a New Haven team.” Kennedy’s gym would continue to host most contests involving city schools through the mid-1970s (before the Crosby gymnasium was built). And the host school did claim one NVL title over that time, when guard Chuck Giorgio and 6-5 sophomore Bill Eason – who would go on to enjoy a solid collegiate career at Providence College – led the Eagles to a 12-2 record in NVL contests to finish atop the 1971-72 standings. That Kennedy team was coached by Marty Sweeney, who Taglia replaced as head coach in 1977. “And in my first couple of years, wins were hard to come by,” admitted Taglia. “I coached because I loved the game and I loved working with my players and watching them evolve into a team.” The dedication and perseverance would pay off a decade later, when Kennedy claimed three straight NVL titles between 1989 through 1991, marking the first time that any school had accomplished that feat in nearly 30 years. “The most memorable game that I ever coached was when we beat Wilby in the last game of the year in front of a standing room crowd for my first league championship as a coach. I had been coaching 12 years up to that point and I had my doubts that I would ever be involved in a league championship,” said Taglia. “Playing in a state championship game certainly is right up there, but winning the first league title was really something special.” Two more NVL titles would follow, along with an appearance in the Class M title game in 1990, with Jerome Malloy, Malik Williams and Garnett Petteway leading that talented team. Taglia would go on to guide the Eagles through the 2007-08 season. In January 2013, the Kennedy High gym was renamed Jack Taglia Gymnasium. Among the speakers at the ceremony to honor Taglia was retired Torrington coach Tony Turina, who provided some historical perspective on the venue. When city basketball moved out of the old Armory and into the newly built Kennedy High gym, “it was like Madison Square Garden. The new gym took the place of the Armory, and it was the beginning of the future for NVL basketball.” A number of others also offered kind words to honor Taglia, who thanked many family, friends, colleagues and former players during the ceremony. “And I was fortunate to have my wife, my father, and my brother and sister there to share in the honor,” he said. “The dedication of the Kennedy gym in my name was by far the most humbling honor I’ve ever received as a coach. It is not something that ever crossed my mind or that I aspired to while I was coaching,” added Taglia. And surely not something that crossed his mind 59 years ago this weekend, the first time he entered the Kennedy High gymnasium, to attend its opening event.AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The University of Texas investigation into the bottle-throwing incident that disrupted the Texas-Georgia game in October — and drew a harsh rebuke and fine from the Southeastern Conference — resulted in no one being caught or punished. In a report to the league sent last month, Texas officials said a video review did not identify any of the culprits. Texas and Georgia meet again Saturday in the SEC championship game in Atlanta. Their first meeting in Austin, a 30-15 Georgia win , produced one of the most chaotic and controversial scenes of the college football season. Longhorns fans upset about a pass interference penalty pelted the field with debris and briefly stopped the game, giving the officials time to huddle and reverse the call. The incident drew a $250,000 fine from the SEC , which also threatened to ban alcohol sales at future games. The SEC ordered the school to find those responsible and ban them from all athletic events the rest of the school year. In a Nov. 7 report to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said the school “reviewed all available video and other sources of information” to try to find the disruptive fans. “Despite our best effort, we have not been able to identify the individuals at issue. We will take action if new identifying information comes to light,” Del Conte wrote. The school's report was provided to The Associated Press this week. A university spokesman said he was unaware of any new information or punishments since it was sent to the SEC. Del Conte declined further comment Thursday. Del Conte told the SEC that Texas has added additional security cameras and personnel to watch the student section, updated its sportsmanship and fan code of conduct policies, and created digital messaging to encourage good behavior. “Respect, sportsmanship and fairness are values that drive us," Del Conte wrote. “We expect fans to uphold these standards as well.” Sankey declined comment on the investigation report and his conversations with Texas officials. But he praised Del Conte, school President Jay Hartzell and Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife “for being very clear immediately that that conduct failed to meet their own expectations.” Then-No. 1 Texas trailed No. 5 Georgia 23-7 when a pass interference call negated a Longhorns interception. Angry fans in or near the student section lobbed bottles and debris on the field and the game was halted for several minutes. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, who at first was angry about the penalty, crossed the field to plead with the fans to stop throwing things while stadium crews cleaned up the mess. The break gave the game officials time to reconsider and reverse the penalty, a decision that infuriated Georgia coach Kirby Smart. Texas then cut the Georgia lead to 23-15, before the Bulldogs later put together the game-clinching drive. “I will say that now we’ve set a precedent that if you throw a bunch of stuff on the field and endanger athletes that you’ve got a chance to get your call reversed,” Smart said after the game “That’s unfortunate because to me that’s dangerous." Texas officials were embarrassed and the SEC was angry. The league issued a statement that reversing the penalty was the correct decision , but condemned the bottle throwing. Critics wondered if similar scenes could happen again in the SEC or elsewhere, sarcastically noting the Texas slogan, "What starts here changes the world.” The SEC ordered Texas to investigate using "all available resources, including security, stadium and television video, to identify individuals who threw objects onto the playing field or at the opposing team.” It told the school to report its findings to the league. Hartzell warned students the probe was coming. He said the incident had “embarrassed Longhorn Nation," and agreed with the SEC's demands to find those responsible. “Those involved will have ramifications for their actions,” Del Conte wrote in an Oct. 22 message to students. The Texas football stadium has long had an emergency operations room where staff monitor live feeds from security cameras. In 2009, Texas invited the AP into the room where a reporter observed staff watching feeds from 43 cameras. They could see if fans were drinking alcohol (which was prohibited at the time) or disruptive, or take note of unattended bags. Fifteen years later, the report to the SEC said Texas could not identify anyone responsible for throwing debris. The 10-page report includes a review of stadium policies and the administration's statements to students. It includes only a single paragraph about the investigation efforts, which were led by Derek Trabon, director of the campus Office of Emergency Management. The probe included help from game operations staff and campus police. The report offers no investigation details, such as how much video was reviewed, whether cameras actually caught fans throwing things, or if the school considered using facial recognition technology. The brief mention of the investigation does not explain why it was inconclusive. Sankey said Thursday that the SEC will have offseason talks with schools about fan behavior, from bottle throwing to multiple instances of fans rushing the field. “One of the learning experiences we’ve had, and this isn’t the only bottle throwing experience, we don’t always have cameras where there needs to be cameras," Sankey said. "We will work to see how our stadiums may adjust.” 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-footballsword art online games 。

Feds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’Nollywood actress and film producer, Funke Akindele has achieved a groundbreaking milestone with her latest film, “Everybody Loves Jenifa” becoming the first Nollywood film to hit $100,000 in diaspora sales. The talented actress and filmmaker made this disclosure on her official social media handle on Tuesday, December 24, following the movie premiere in the United Kingdom (UK) on Friday, December 20. Taking to her Instagram page, Funke expressed gratitude to her fans, cast, colleagues, and the global diaspora community for their unwavering support. READ ALSO: In her heartfelt post, Funke Akindele described the achievement as a collective success, thanking her loyal fanbase, the “Jenifans,” and everyone who contributed to the movie’s journey. She credited their love and support as the driving force behind this record-breaking success. The film’s international appeal has garnered widespread attention, with tickets continuing to sell rapidly. This milestone not only highlights the global potential of Nollywood films but also solidifies Funke Akindele’s position as one of the industry’s leading figures. The Movie is setting a new benchmark for Nigerian cinema on the global stage.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Jamiya Neal's 19 points helped Creighton defeat UNLV 83-65 on Saturday night. Neal had nine rebounds, nine assists, and four blocks for the Bluejays (7-3). Steven Ashworth added 17 points plus seven assists. Isaac Traudt had 15 points and shot 5 for 8, including 5 for 7 from beyond the arc. The Rebels (4-4) were led in scoring by Jailen Bedford, who finished with 20 points and three steals. Dedan Thomas Jr. added 18 points for UNLV. Julian Rishwain finished with 10 points and two steals. Creighton took the lead with 18:48 left in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 39-27 at halftime, with Neal racking up 10 points. Creighton extended its lead to 49-27 during the second half, fueled by a 10-0 scoring run. Ashworth scored a team-high 10 points in the second half as his team closed out the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

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An Israeli airstrike flattened a multistory building in central Gaza, killing at least 25 people and wounding dozens more, according to Palestinian medical officials, after strikes Thursday across the Gaza Strip killed at least 28 others. The latest deadly strike hit the urban Nuseirat refugee camp just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem that the recent ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for a potential deal to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the deadly strike in Nuseirat. Israel says it is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine in some of the hardest-hit parts of the territory. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 others were taken hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: DAMASCUS, Syria — Mohammad Salim Alkhateb, an official with the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces — an internationally backed group of the opposition in exile — said his group wants to see a transitional government formed via a United Nations-backed process in the wake of Bashar Assad ouster. It is not yet clear if Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group now in control of Syria, will pursue such a process. The insurgents have said an interim government headed by Mohammad al-Bashir, who is also the head of the “salvation government” of HTS in its former stronghold in northern Syria, will oversee the country until March but have not made clear how the transition to a new, fully empowered government would take place. “The transitional governing body should be formed in Geneva to have international legitimacy,” said Alkhateb, who is now in Damascus. “The transitional governing body, whatever its form, whether it is the ‘salvation government’ or any other, what matters is that it has international recognition.” Alkhateb said that the unexpectedly rapid fall of Damascus and departure of Assad after opposition forces launched their offensive had created confusion and a governance vacuum. A day before the insurgents pushed into Damascus, diplomats from countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Iran and Russia met in Qatar to discuss the situation in Syria. Alkhateb said that they had discussed a scenario in which the rebels would halt their advance, keeping the territory they had captured so far in the north — including Syria’s largest city, Aleppo — and the opposition and Assad’s government would go to Geneva for talks on a political settlement to the conflict. However, he noted, “there were no Syrians in that meeting.” Assad fled to Russia before the rebel forces arrived in Damascus but has not officially announced his resignation, which is “why we are living in a vacuum rather than a political transition,” Alkhateb said. He added that creating a professional army should be a priority of the transitional government. “We do not want a civilian who was trained during the revolution to carry military weapons to become the military,” he said. Israel bombed hundreds of military sites in Syria this week in a wave of airstrikes that destroyed “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the wave of airstrikes in neighboring Syria was necessary to keep the weapons from being used against Israel following the Syrian government’s stunning collapse . WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Karine Jean-Peirre says Austin Tice, an American journalist missing in Syria for 12 years, “is a top priority for this president.” During a briefing with reporters on Thursday, Jean-Pierre said of Tice, “There is no indication that he is not alive. There’s also no indication about his location or condition.” “What our goal is, is to bring him home. And so, we hope certainly that he is alive and, as we have stated many times before, we are talking through this with the Turks and we want to do everything we can to bring him home,” she said. BEIRUT — Amnesty International said Thursday that four Israeli airstrikes between September and October that killed at least 49 civilians in Lebanon “must be investigated as war crimes.” The rights organization said in a new report that the four strikes targeted homes in the Bekaa Valley, northern and eastern Lebanon, and municipal offices in the south. “These four attacks are emblematic of Israel’s shocking disregard for civilian lives in Lebanon and their willingness to flout international law,” said Amnesty International’s Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns. The rights group said this report was part of its ongoing investigation into violations of the laws of war in Lebanon. Amnesty International investigated four Israeli airstrikes, including one on Sept. 29 in al-Ain that killed all nine members of the same family. On Oct. 21, a strike in Baalbek city in eastern Lebanon killed six members of the same family. Another on Oct. 14 in the village of Aitou in northern Lebanon killed 23 displaced people, including a 5-month-old baby. A fragment from the attack site in Aitou was identified by an Amnesty weapons expert as likely part of a Mk-80 series aerial bomb, weighing at least 500 pounds. These munitions are primarily supplied to Israel by the United States, Amnesty said. The fourth strike Amnesty investigated was the strike that hit the municipal headquarters in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon, on Oct. 16, killing 11 civilians including the mayor. “The air strike took place without warning, just as the municipality’s crisis unit was meeting to coordinate deliveries of aid, including food, water and medicine, to residents and internally displaced people who had fled bombardment in other parts of southern Lebanon,” Amnesty said. The rights group said it interviewed survivors and witnesses, examined evidence, and found no military targets near the sites of the four strikes. The Israeli military gave no warnings and did not respond to Amnesty’s inquiries, the group said. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike hit the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 25 Palestinians and wounding dozens more, Palestinian medics said, just hours after President Joe Biden’s national security adviser raised hopes about a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. Photos from the scene of the blast that circulated on social media showed a completely collapsed building with people walking through its mangled and charred remains, smoke rising from piles of belongings strewn over the rubble. Officials at two hospitals in the Gaza Strip, al-Awda Hospital in the north and al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, reported they received a combined total of 25 bodies from an Israeli strike on a multistory residential building in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp. Palestinian medics also reported that over 40 people, most of them children, were receiving treatment at the two hospitals. The al-Aqsa Hospital said that the Israeli attack also damaged several nearby houses in Nuseirat. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the deadly strike. Israel is trying to eliminate Hamas, which led the attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war in Gaza . The Israeli military says Hamas militants hide among Gaza’s civilian population. Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. food agency is trying to deal with massive needs in Syria not only from escalating war-related food insecurity and an upsurge in displaced people fleeing Lebanon but also the dramatically new environment following the ouster of Bashar Assad, a senior U.N. official says. “It’s a triple crisis and the needs are going to be massive,” said Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, in an interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday. The WFP estimated that 3 million people in Syria were “acutely food insecure” and very hungry. However, that estimate was made before the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon pushed many Syrian refugees back to their home country, plus the instability caused by the overthrow of Assad. Due to funding cuts, the WFP had been targeting only 2 million of those people, he said. Because WFP has been working in Syria during the 13-year civil war, he said, it has pre-positioned food in the country. It has 500 staff in seven offices nationwide and has operated across conflict lines, across borders, and with all different parties, he said. Skau said Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group now in control of Syria, has promised to provide security for WFP warehouses. Humanitarian aid supplies had been looted at U.N. warehouses in the disorder after Assad fell. “We’re not really up and running in Damascus because of the continued kind of uncertainty there,” he said. WFP initially thought of relocating non-essential staff but the situation in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, has been “quite calm and orderly," he said. In the short term, Skau said, “what we’re seeing is that markets are disrupted, the value of the currency dropped dramatically, food prices are going up, transport lines don’t work,” and it’s unclear who will stamp required papers for imports and exports. This means that a bigger humanitarian response is needed initially, he said, but in the next phase, the U,N. will be looking at contributing to Syria’s recovery, and ultimately the country will need reconstruction. Skau said he expects a new funding appeal for Syria and urged donors to be generous. JERUSALEM — President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Jerusalem on Thursday that Israel’s ceasefire in Lebanon has helped clear the way for another deal to end the war in Gaza. He plans to travel next to Qatar and Egypt — key mediators in the ceasefire talks — as the Biden administration makes a final push on negotiations before Donald Trump is inaugurated. Sullivan said “Hamas’ posture at the negotiating table did adapt” after Israel decimated the leadership of its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon and reached a ceasefire there. “We believe it puts us in a position to close this negotiation,” he said. Sullivan dismissed speculation that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was waiting for Trump to take office to finalize a deal. He the U.S. believes there are three American hostages still alive in Gaza, but it’s hard to know for sure. He also said “the balance of power in the Middle East has changed significantly” since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, especially with the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of Hezbollah and Iran. “We are now faced with a dramatically reshaped Middle East in which Israel is stronger, Iran is weaker, its proxies decimated, and a ceasefire that is new and will be lasting in Lebanon that ensures Israel’s security over the long term,” he said. KHIAM, Lebanon — An Israeli strike killed at least one person Thursday in the Lebanese border town of Khiam, the Health Ministry said, less than a day after Israeli troops handed the hilltop village back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, Khiam is the first Lebanese town Israel has pull out of since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants began two weeks ago, and marks an important test of the fragile truce . Lebanon's Health Ministry and state news agency did not provide details on who was killed, and did not report airstrikes elsewhere on Thursday. The Israeli military said the airstrike in Khiam targeted Hezbollah fighters. Lebanese troops deployed in the northern section of the town on Thursday morning and were coordinating with U.N. peacekeepers to finalize Israel’s withdrawal before fully entering into other neighborhoods. An Associated Press reporter who visited Khiam on Thursday observed widespread destruction, with most houses reduced to rubble. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, with collapsed walls and debris scattered across the streets. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, sharply criticized Israel for striking the town less than 24 hours after the Lebanese army returned, saying it was “a violation of the pledges made by the parties that sponsored the ceasefire agreement, who must act to curb Israeli aggression.” The truce was brokered by the U.S. and France. Israel has previously said the ceasefire deal allows it to use military force against perceived violations. Near-daily attacks by Israel during the ceasefire, mostly in southern Lebanon, have killed at least 29 people and wounded 27 others. Khiam, which sits on a ridge less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the border with Israel, saw some of the most intense fighting during the war. The Lebanese army was clearing debris and reopening roads in the northern section of the town. Civilian access to other areas remained challenging as the army clears roads and works alongside the U.N. peacekeepers to ensure the area is free of unexploded ordnance. AQABA, Jordan -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging the many players in Syria to avoid taking any steps that could lead to further violence. Blinken spoke to reporters in Jordan on Thursday shortly after meeting King Abdullah II as he opened a trip in the region to discuss Syria's future after former President Bashar Assad's ouster. Blinken will next visit Turkey, a NATO ally and a main backer of Syrian rebel groups. Blinken called this “a time of both real promise but also peril for Syria and for its neighbors.” He said he was focused on coordinating efforts in the region “to support the Syrian people as they transition away from Assad’s brutal dictatorship” and establish a government that isn’t dominated by one religion or ethnic group or outside power. Blinken was asked about Israel’s incursion into a buffer zone that had been demilitarized for the past half century. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the move is temporary and defensive, but also indicated Israel will remain in the area for a long time. Blinken declined to say whether the U.S. supports the move, but said the U.S. would be speaking to Israel and other partners in the region. “I think, across the board, when it comes to any actors who have real interests in Syria, it’s also really important at this time that, we all try to make sure that we’re not sparking any additional conflicts,” he said. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, arrived in Damascus on Thursday, according to Turkish media reports. Kalin was seen arriving at the Umayyad Mosque to pray, surrounded by a large crowd, according to video shown on Turkish television. The visit is highly symbolic. Turkish officials, who supported the opposition against Syria’s government, had predicted at the start of the civil war in 2011 that President Bashar Assad’s government would fall, allowing them to pray at the Umayyad Mosque. JERUSALEM — Paraguay reopened its embassy in Jerusalem Thursday, becoming one of a small handful of nations to recognize the city as Israel’s capital and marking a diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel’s international isolation has increased as the war in Gaza drags on, and Paraguay was the first country to move its embassy to Jerusalem since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that kickstarted the war. The United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Papua New Guinea are among the few countries with Jerusalem embassies. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 but it wasn’t recognized by the international community, and most countries run their embassies out of Tel Aviv. Spirits were high at the ceremony marking the embassy’s inauguration Thursday, with Netanyahu and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar lavishing praise on Paraguayan President Santiago Pena. “My good friend Santiago,” said Netanyahu, addressing Pena. “We’re a small nation. You’re a small nation. We suffered horrible things but we overcame the odds of history...we can win and we are winning.” Paraguay had an embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, under Former President Horacio Cartes. That embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv by Cartes’ successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Asuncion. Saar said Israel and Paraguay shared a “friendship based not only on interests but also values and principles.” He and the Paraguayan foreign minister, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, signed a series of bilateral agreements and Saar said he would soon visit Asunción with a delegation from the Israeli private sector. “Israel is going to win and the countries we are standing next to Israel, we are going to win," Pena said. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is renewing calls for Syria’s new leadership to respect women and minority rights, prevent extremists from gaining new footholds in the country and keeping suspected chemical weapons stocks secure as he makes his first visit to the Mideast since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad . Making his 12th trip to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war erupted lasted year but amid fresh concerns about security following the upheaval in Syria, Blinken emphasized Thursday to Jordan’s King Abdullah II U.S. “support for an inclusive transition that can lead to an accountable and representative Syrian government chosen by the Syrian people,” the State Department said. Blinken also repeated the importance the outgoing Biden administration puts on respect for human rights and international law, the protection of civilians and stopping terrorist groups from reconstituting. Blinken met with the monarch and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Aqaba before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on the situation in Syria and the urgency of securing a long-elusive deal to release hostages and end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Abdullah told Blinken that “the first step to reach comprehensive regional calm is to end the Israeli war on Gaza." GENEVA — The U.N. envoy for Syria is calling on authorities to save evidence from detention centers that were a hub of “unimaginable barbarity” that Syrians have faced for many years and cooperate with international investigators looking into such crimes. Geir Pederson referred to new images from the notorious Saydnaya military prison north of the capital, Damascus, after President Bashar Assad fled Syria as armed groups stormed in to overthrow his government over the weekend. “The images from Saydnaya and other detention facilities starkly underscore the unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured and reported for years,” Pedersen said in a statement. Documentation and testimonies “only scratch the surface of the carceral system’s horrors,” he added. Pedersen urged authorities to cooperate with U.N. bodies like an independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which was created in 2011, and an independent group known as the IIIM that was set up five years later to also compile evidence of crimes. ROME — Leaders of the Group of 7 industrialized nations offered their full support for an inclusive political transition in Syria and invited all parties to preserve the country’s territorial integrity. In a message released by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office, the leaders said they were ready to support a transition that “leads to a credible government, inclusive and not sectarian, that guarantees respect for the state of law, universal human rights, including rights for women, (and) the protection of all Syrians, including religious and ethnic minorities.” The leaders also underlined the importance that ousted President Bashar Assad’s government is held responsible for crimes, citing “decades of atrocities.” They said they would also cooperate with groups working to prohibit chemical weapons “to secure, declare and destroy” remaining chemical arms in Syria. Italy currently holds the rotating presidency of the G-7, which also includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it struck Hamas militants in two locations in the southern Gaza Strip who planned to hijack aid convoys. Palestinian Health officials had earlier said that the two strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid deliveries. The committees have been organized in cooperation with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza. It was not possible to independently confirm either account of the strikes, which occurred overnight into Thursday. Israel has long accused Hamas of hijacking humanitarian aid deliveries, while U.N. officials have said there is no systemic diversion of aid . U.N. agencies and aid groups say deliveries are held up by Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid and movement within Gaza, as well as the breakdown of law and order more than 14 months into the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel has repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, which maintained internal security before the war. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the main aid provider in Gaza, said a U.N. convoy of 70 trucks carrying humanitarian aid in southern Gaza “was involved in a serious incident,” resulting in just one of the trucks reaching its destination. It did not provide further details on the incident but said the same route had been used successfully two days earlier. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has caused vast destruction and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, leaving the territory heavily reliant on international food aid. DAMASCUS, Syria — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago. Travis Timmerman appears to have been among thousands of people released from the country’s notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend, overthrowing President Bashar Assad and ending his family’s 54-year rule. As video emerged online of Timmerman on Thursday, he was initially mistaken by some for Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria 12 years ago. In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said he was being treated well and would be safely returned home. The Biden administration is working to bring Timmerman home, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Aqaba, Jordan, without offering details, citing privacy. Timmerman later gave an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago, before being detained. He said he was treated well in detention but could hear other men being tortured. AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Jordan on his 12th visit to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year and his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad that has sparked new fears of instability in a region wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. Blinken was meeting in Aqaba with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday before traveling to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials on Friday. The meetings will focus largely on Syria but also touch on long-elusive hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023. Blinken is the latest senior U.S. official to visit the Middle East in the five days since Assad was deposed as the Biden administration navigates more volatility in the region in its last few weeks in office and as President-elect Donald Trump has said the U.S. should stay out of the Syrian conflict. Other include national security adviser Jake Sullivan and a top military commander who traveled there as the U.S. and Israel have launched airstrikes to prevent the Islamic State militant group from reconstituting and prevent materiel and suspected chemical weapons stocks from falling into militant hands. Blinken “will discuss the need for the transition process and new government in Syria to respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, prevent Syria from being used as a base of terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that chemical weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed,” the State Department said. The U.S. would be willing to recognize and fully support a new Syrian government that met those criteria. U.S. officials say they are not actively reviewing the foreign terrorist organization designation of the main Syrian rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known as HTS, which was once an al-Qaida affiliate, but stressed they are not barred from speaking to its members. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will remain in a Syrian buffer zone until a new force on the other side of the border can guarantee security. After the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Israeli forces pushed into a buffer zone that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war. The military says it has seized additional strategic points nearby. Israeli officials have said the move is temporary, but Netanyahu’s conditions could take months or even years to fulfill as Syria charts its post-Assad future, raising the prospect of an open-ended Israeli presence in the country. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Thursday that Assad’s overthrow by jihadi rebels created a vacuum on the border. “Israel will not permit jihadi groups to fill that vacuum and threaten Israeli communities on the Golan Heights with October 7th style attacks,” it said, referring to Hamas’ 2023 attack out of Gaza, which ignited the war there. “That is why Israeli forces entered the buffer zone and took control of strategic sites near Israel’s border.” The statement added that “this deployment is temporary until a force that is committed to the 1974 agreement can be established and security on our border can be guaranteed.” The buffer zone is adjacent to the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed. The international community, except for the United States, views the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said Thursday that the attacker who fatally shot a 12-year-old Israeli boy in the occupied West Bank overnight turned himself in to authorities. The attacker opened fire on a bus near the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit, critically wounding the boy, who hospital authorities pronounced dead in the early morning. Three others were wounded in the attack, paramedics said. The shooting took place just outside Jerusalem in an area near major Israeli settlements. JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian government has evacuated 37 citizens from Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government, officials said Thursday. The evacuees were taken by land from Damascus to Beirut, where they boarded three commercial flights to Jakarta, said Judha Nugraha, director of citizen protection at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Indonesian Embassy in Damascus said all 1,162 Indonesian citizens in Syria were safe. Indonesian Ambassador to Syria Wajid Fauzi said the situation in Syria has gradually returned to normal. “I can say that 98% of people’s lives are back to normal, shops are open, public transportation has started running,” Fauzi said, adding that most Indonesian nationals living in Syria had chosen to stay. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian medical officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 28 people in the Gaza Strip, including seven children and a woman. One of the strikes overnight and into Thursday flattened a house in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the hospital’s morgue. Two other strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid convoys . The committees were set up by displaced Palestinians in coordination with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. The Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies and an AP reporter counted them. The hospital said eight were killed in a strike near the southern border town of Rafah and seven others in a strike 30 minutes later near Khan Younis. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for not distributing it. The U.N. says Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order after Israel repeatedly targeted the Hamas-run police force, make it extremely difficult to operate in the territory. UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban . The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions to support the agency known as UNRWA. The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group . General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly. Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions.

2024 was a period of time marked by instability in some locations around the world. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.y8 online games 。

Doing the math, the finalists represent about just two thousandths of all submissions. Among them: two featuring silhouettes of former President Abraham Lincoln; one featuring an orange outline of the state's official butterfly, the monarch; one with a gear and corn kernels to represent the state's robust industrial and agricultural might; and several featuring 21 stars or stripes to symbolize Illinois' status as the 21st state in the nation. And if residents want to maintain the status quo or go back to the future, they will also have the option to keep the current state flag or adopt either the 1918 centennial flag or 1968 sesquicentennial flag. Illinois residents will be able to vote on those 13 choices next month. Whether they are the best options is another question. Social media reaction to the finalists was mixed, with many wondering whether the 22-person commission got it right. Well, folks can now judge for themselves as Lee Enterprises, via a Freedom of Information Act request, has obtained a copy of all 4,838 designs submitted in the contest. They range from serious — incorporating principles of flag design and the key symbols of Illinois such as its waterways and agricultural roots — to silly, such as a Chicago hot dog. They include professionally-designed submissions to those hand-drawn by many of the state's schoolchildren. And some included a political bent, both positive and negative, from the state's status as a beacon for LGBTQ people to its reputation for high taxes and political corruption. Here is a 1,878-page PDF containing every flag submission: Voting will open in January online at www.ilsos.gov/stateflag . Once completed, the commission will submit a report with a recommendation to the Illinois General Assembly by April 1.

When Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Elon Musk and Robert F Kennedy Jr circled up aboard the president-elect’s plane over some McDonalds burgers and fries recently, Donald Trump Jr. was seated in the center of that power foursome. The central spot occupied by Trump’s eldest son, as captured in a photo widely shared online, reflects how Trump Jr. has become a prominent player in his father’s political orbit and a potential heir to his Make America Great Again movement. For the son of a president-elect, Trump has already had an outsized impact on the next White House. He lobbied hard for the former president to choose his good friend, Ohio Sen JD Vance, to be his running mate. “I exerted 10,000% of my political capital,” Trump Jr said of his effort in an interview with Tucker Carlson on the night of the election. “I may get a favor from my father in like, 2076. I used it all.” As an honorary chair of the Republican president-elect’s transition team, Trump Jr is part of a core group of people deciding who will fill top jobs in the next White House, and his imprint is clear. Trump Jr. pushed in particular for roles for former Democratic Rep Tulsi Gabbard, whom the president-elect has chosen to be director of national intelligence, and Kennedy, who is in line to lead Health and Human Services. Another close ally, Sergio Gor, will be running the personnel office. He and Trump Jr. run a publishing company, Winning Team Publishing, which has published two of the former president’s books. The younger Trump has said he has no plans to join his father’s administration in the way his younger sister Ivanka Trump did during the first Trump term. His brother Eric is also an honorary chair of the transition but hasn't been as much of a political player. Eric's wife Lara has been more involved, serving as co-chair of the Republican National Committee. Trump Jr is expected to continue to be a vocal supporter of his father and his agenda and has made it clear he wants to be an influential voice from the outside, according to a person familiar with his thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning. The president-elect's style — brash, indelicate and pugilistic -- is distilled in his son. Donald Trump Jr often takes a more aggressive tack than his father, in his calls for disrupting government as usual, in the way he dives into the culture wars with gusto and in his enthusiasm for trolling. “He’s probably the best embodiment of the take-no-crap attitude of the Republican Party,” said Scott Jennings, a Republican political strategist. Trump Jr.'s attitude and the way he communicates don’t make him sound like a regular political figure, Jennings said, and that’s part of the appeal. “I think that’s one thing about the Trumps that is probably broadly true but certainly for him: They just don’t participate in the normal political pablum that sort of pre-Trump politicians were schooled in or trained to do.” The 46-year-old is fluent in the online world of conservative politics and attuned to cultural issues that catch on with the MAGA faithful. The posts on Trump’s X account, where he has more than 13 million followers, are often peppered with exclamation points and emojis. On Instagram, he is a prolific poster of conservative memes. He flexes between interviews on established media outlets like Fox News and an array of podcasts influential among young conservatives, and he hosts his own twice a week, “Triggered With Don Jr” During the campaign, he pushed for the former president to make appearances on podcasts as part of an effort to reach young men, including the popular Joe Rogan podcast. Trump Jr.’s aggressive style has particular appeal with younger men. “I think that’s one of the reasons a lot of these young men like it because that’s how they talk,” Jennings said. Trump Jr. has said he has no plans to run for office himself, but he’s been working to cultivate the next generation of his father’s movement, boosting like-minded, communication-savvy Republicans. Beyond his political activity, the father of five also serves as executive vice president at the Trump organization’s main family business, has launched a new crypto platform and recently announced he’s joining a venture capital firm that invests in conservative-focused businesses. In an earlier time, Trump Jr appeared with his father on “The Apprentice,” the reality show that helped propel the billionaire’s first presidential campaign. When Donald Trump launched his White House bid in 2015 and faced skepticism from swaths of the Republican Party, Trump Jr’s outreach helped his father win more support, especially among conservatives who saw someone who espoused their views and as an avid hunter and fisherman who is a staunch supporter of the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. He’s been increasingly visible in Republican politics since then, campaigning not just for his father but for like-minded candidates. He was a backer of Vance in his 2022 Ohio Senate race, nudging his father to do the same, and this year threw his support heavily behind successful Republican Senate candidates Jim Banks in Indiana, Bernie Moreno in Ohio and Tim Sheehy in Montana. Trump Jr helped broker a relationship with Kennedy as the Democrat-turned-independent suspended his presidential campaign, working to bring him into the MAGA fold and endorse his father. He floated the idea of Kennedy joining the administration early, saying in an interview with conservative host Glenn Beck that “I loved the idea,” of Kennedy joining a Trump White House. “I love the idea of giving him some sort of role in some sort of major three-letter entity or whatever it may be and let him blow it up,” Trump Jr said, a reference to the many initials for government agencies. The two hit it off, and Trump Jr, an avid outdoorsman, shared images on social media in October of a day he spent with Kennedy enjoying the latter’s favored hobby: falconry. The choice of anti-vaccine activist Kennedy to run the nation’s public health agencies is sure to draw tough scrutiny during confirmation proceedings in the Senate, even with a Republican majority, Trump Jr, in a recent interview on Fox News, acknowledged some of his father's choices will face pushback. “They are going to be actual disrupters,” he said. “That’s what the American people want.”Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . 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SUNNYVALE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 23, 2024 / TechStar Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company listed in Hong Kong, announced that it entered a Business Combination Agreement with Seyond, a solution provider of high fidelity, high-performance LiDAR and intelligent sensing systems. Upon completion of the merger, Seyond is expected to be successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The agreed valuation for this De-SPAC transaction is 11.7 billion Hong Kong dollars. Additionally, Seyond has introduced three PIPE investors with a cumulative investment of approximately 553.1 million Hong Kong dollars. Previously, Seyond has garnered investments from a host of prestigious institutions, including NIO Capital, Temasek, ERVC, Gaorong Ventures, Joy Capital, BAI Capital, Shunwei Capital, and Guotai Junan Venture Capital, among others. Established in 2016, Seyond specializes in providing automotive-grade LiDAR solutions for autonomous driving and a variety of automotive and non-automotive applications. As the first company to achieve mass production of automotive-grade high-performance LiDAR, Seyond ranked first globally in sales revenue of passenger car LiDAR solutions in 2022 and 2023. Rigorously tested with proven automotive-grade reliability and lifetime, Falcon, the flagship 1550nm LiDAR sensor for high-level autonomous driving, is mass-produced, with over 400,000 units delivered globally. Additionally, Seyond achieved a design win for its 905nm wavelength LiDAR products with a leading new energy automotive OEM, becoming the only company in the LiDAR industry with mass production experience in both 1550nm and 905nm products. In addition to the automotive market, Seyond is strategically expanding into the robotic and intelligent transportation markets with combined revenue opportunities of over USD 260 billion globally by 2031, aiming to create a more substantial revenue scale. Seyond is looking forward to embarking on this exciting new journey with its investors, partners, and customers. On January 7-10, the company will exhibit its latest technology at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees visiting Booth #5060 will learn how Seyond's LiDAR solutions power intelligent systems worldwide. About Seyond SeyondTM is a global leader in high fidelity LiDAR solutions, powering a safer, smarter and more mobile world across the automotive, intelligent transportation, robotics and infrastructure industries. Seyond delivers a dynamic portfolio of robust, high resolution LiDAR sensors, perception software, and the Seyond ITS Management Platform (SIMPL). Founded in Silicon Valley with a global footprint, Seyond is dedicated to the highest quality engineering and manufacturing, and unwavering commitment to our customers. About TechStar TechStar is a special purpose acquisition company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a business combination with one or more businesses, with efforts concentrated on companies in new economy sectors, including but not limited to innovative technology, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, life sciences, culture and entertainment, consumer and e-commerce, green energy and climate actions industries. TechStar completed an offering comprising 100,100,000 TechStar Class A Shares at an offer price of HK$10.00 per TechStar Class A Share and 50,050,000 TechStar Listed Warrants on December 23, 2022. CONTACT: Name: Sally Frykman Email: sally.frykman@seyond.com SOURCE: Seyond View the original on accesswire.com

The Friends of Canyon Hills Library will kick off the new year with a Flash Book Sale on Jan. 7 and 8 at the branch. There will be a large variety of fiction, non-fiction, children’s and specialty books from which to choose — all at bargain prices. Also, don’t forget to check out the boutique items in the glass cases in the library lobby. All sales benefit the various programs and services the nonprofit Friends provides for the library and the community. Sale hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. For additional information, call the library at 714-765-6444. The Anaheim Hills, Orange and Villa Park Women’s Connection will host a new year’s celebration luncheon on Jan. 13 at the Black Gold Golf Club, and all women are invited. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for shopping with onsite vendors, followed by the luncheon at 11:30 a.m. A special program is planned that will include a fun makeover with some of Paul’s Wig Products presented by Oakley Semrau. Diane Jackson will provide the afternoon entertainment and guest speaker Anesa Cronin will talk about finding hope. The day concludes at 1:30 p.m. Cost to attend is $32 per person and the reservation deadline is Dec. 30t, contact Barbi Zipperian at 714-280-9062. Members of the Anaheim Hills Women’s Club are planning a “Welcome the New Year” celebration luncheon on Jan. 22 at The Clubhouse at the Anaheim Hills Golf Course. All women in the community are invited to attend. The afternoon will include special entertainment with an unforgettable performance from the talented Douglas Rogiers. This versatile entertainer takes guests on a journey through the Great American Songbook that includes timeless classics capturing the charisma of Frank Sinatra and the energy of David Bowie. The Anaheim Hills Women’s Club is a social organization open to all women in the community interested in fun and friendship. In addition to monthly luncheon meetings, members have the opportunity to participate in various activities. Some of these include a breakfast group, bunco, a wine group and golf group. Gayle Huff is current club president. The cost to attend the January luncheon, which will run from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., is $38 per person and the reservation deadline is Jan. 13. For additional information or to make a reservation, contact Karon Kelleher at gmakelleher@gmail.com or call her landline 714-912-4907. The recent Holiday Basket of Miracles program, sponsored by the Miracle for Kids organization, was a huge success that helped brighten the holidays for more than 400 families with critically ill children, providing gifts, food and household essentials. Combined efforts of businesses, organizations and individuals resulted in a record-breaking number participating in the nonprofit’s “Adopt-a-Family” initiative this year. Volunteers wrapped more than 8,000 gifts, which were then hand-delivered to local families or shipped in time for Christmas. “This program is only possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our sponsors, volunteers and community partners coming together that make miracles happen for 438 families this holiday season,” stated Autumn Strier, co-founder and CEO of Miracles for Kids. This year also marks the 20th year of serving families in crisis helping to provide financial aid, housing, essential resources and basic needs to families struggling to care for their critically ill children. The Miracle Manor, located in Orange near the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, provides long-term housing that enables families to reside close during their child’s treatment. A “Recycle Saturday,” sponsored by the Knights of Columbus at San Antonio Catholic Church, is scheduled from 8 to 10 a.m. on Jan. 4 for collecting CRV containers, including glass, bottles and cans. Those wishing to participate in the recycling event can drop off CRV-marked beverage containers in the church’s south parking lot off Solomon Avenue. The Recycle Saturday fundraiser is held on the first Saturday of the month and helps the Knights of Columbus provide needed assistance to various charitable organizations. Some of these include: Thomas House, Mary’s Path, Patriots and Paws, Isaiah’s House and Camp Pendleton. For additional information, contact the church office at 714-974-1416. Sharon Hlapcich writes about events and happenings in the Anaheim Hills area. Reach her by phone (714-998-4604 or e-mail (smhlapcich@sbcglobal.net).The New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals are headed in opposite directions. Will that facilitate a major trade this winter? On one side, the Yankees are in full-on desperation mode. They just lost the World Series in embarrassing fashion, they're mired in an uncharacteristic 15-year title drought, and they're fighting for their lives to keep superstar outfielder Juan Soto. Meanwhile, the Cardinals look to be entering a mini-rebuild. They have some talented pieces, but their roster slowly started aging out of contender status, and several of their expensive veterans flat-out failed to perform in 2024. All the ingredients are there for the two sides to make a deal. But one recent proposed blockbuster would make the entire Major League Baseball community drop their jaws in unison. Recently, Matt Musico of Newsweek proposed that the Yankees could acquire 10-time Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado, on-base expert outfielder Lars Nootbaar, and reliever Ryan Fernandez in exchange for their longtime top prospect, outfielder Jasson Domínguez. "Dominguez brings top prospect pedigree, but the soon-to-be 22-year-old is far from a sure thing and shaky defensively. (Trent) Grisham is better as a fourth outfielder and as Judge continues aging, it would be better if he didn't spend most of his playing time in center field," Musico said. "Arenado has a no-trade clause in his eight-year, $260 million contract, but his name has been churning through the rumor mill as the Cardinals mull a reset... Nootbar is a primary center fielder, which would allow Judge to move to a corner to preserve his body better." To Musico's credit, it's an intriguing move that would make the Yankees scarier in 2025, regardless of whether or not they land Soto, while giving the Cardinals a potential new superstar. But there are also some red flags. Giving up Domínguez has been something of a cursed suggestion in Yankees circles, so it's possible the deal is a non-starter from that perspective alone. Plus, the Cardinals giving up three quality big-leaguers in exchange for one unestablished one is a tough sell when they're looking to restock the roster. Crazier things have certainly happened, but it feels as though the likelier deal for both sides would involve just Arenado from the Cardinals' side, and keep Domínguez in pinstripes. More MLB: Yankees predicted to sign Diamondbacks $65M slugger after striking out on Juan Soto

Lucknow, Dec 26 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government is set to create the UP Pavilion on a five-acre site, showcasing the state's vibrant cultural and spiritual heritage in the upcoming Maha Kumbh 2025. Organised by the Department of Tourism, the pavilion will provide visitors with a glimpse of Uttar Pradesh's top tourist destinations and cultural treasures, according to an official statement. Also Read | Bank Holidays in 2025: From Festivals to National Holidays and More, Check Complete List of Bank Holiday Dates for Upcoming Year. The pavilion will also feature an exquisite handicrafts market showcasing the region's renowned artistry along with cultural programmes. "The Uttar Pradesh State Pavilion is being constructed near Mahakumbh Kshetra Sector-7 Nagavasuki Temple, spanning approximately five acres. This pavilion will showcase the state's 12 prominent tourism circuits, including the Ramayana Circuit, Krishna-Braj Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Mahabharata Circuit, Shaktipeeth Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Sufi-Kabir Circuit, Jain Circuit, Bundelkhand Circuit, Wildlife and Eco Circuit, Craft Circuit, and Freedom Struggle Circuit," it said. Also Read | Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Dates: When and Where Is Mahakumbh? When Is Shahi Snan? From Important Dates to Key Locations, Here's All You Need To Know. A large 15,000-square-foot 3D map will depict iconic sites such as Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura, Prayagraj, Kushinagar, Sarnath, and Naimisharanya, offering detailed insights into their significance, the statement added. Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said Uttar Pradesh's uniqueness lies in its religious, spiritual, and natural tourism destinations, along with its cuisine, handicrafts, music, and dance forms. "With an estimated 40 crore devotees expected to attend Mahakumbh 2025, the pavilion aims to acquaint visitors with the state's rich heritage and cultural legacy," Singh said. The Pavilion will further feature 75 stalls dedicated to the state's One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, showcasing unique products from each district, he said. Three stages will host cultural programmes while over 20 food stalls will serve local and regional delicacies from across the country. To enhance the visitor experience, special selfie points will be set up across the pavilion, he added. Singh further highlighted that this year's Maha Kumbh will stand apart from traditional editions. Advanced technology will be used for monitoring the fairgrounds, ensuring top-notch security and cleanliness. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)Special counsel moves to abandon election interference and classified documents cases against TrumpDonald Hand Jr. racked up a career-high 29 points and 10 rebounds to help Boston College stave off visiting Fairleigh Dickinson 78-70 on Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Chad Venning added 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting and Dion Brown contributed eight points, eight rebounds and four assists as the Eagles (8-5) wrapped up their nonconference slate with just their second win in six games. Ahmed Barba-Bey, a grad transfer from Division II, exploded for a season-high 31 points to power FDU (4-11). Barba-Bey buried 8 of 9 attempts from the 3-point arc. Terrence Brown added 15 of his 20 points in the second half, as the Knights made it close before falling to 0-10 on the road this season. Bismark Nsiah scored 10 points. Boston College led 70-59 with 3:39 to play when Barba-Bey was fouled attempting a corner 3. He made all three of his foul shots, and after a stop Brown got to the bucket to cut FDU's deficit to six. It was 72-67 when Venning made a clutch turnaround jumper from the high post with 51 seconds left. Boston College let Barba-Bey get loose for his eighth 3-pointer, pulling FDU within four, its closest margin of the half. But Hand drove to the basket and scored with 29 seconds on the clock, and FDU was out of time. The Knights trailed by as many as 12 in the first half, but Barba-Bey kept them in the game. He made a fastbreak layup off Brown's steal and added a 3-pointer on the next possession, turning what was a 10-point deficit to a manageable 29-24 game. Boston College led 38-28 at halftime, with Hand scoring 15 for the hosts and Barba-Bey pouring in 16 for the Knights, including 4-of-5 shooting from deep. FDU pulled within nine points three times in the early stages of the second half, the third coming when Nsiah knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 56-47 with about 10 minutes to go. --Field Level Media

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quarterback was carted off the field late in the third quarter of Las Vegas' at Tampa Bay on Sunday with a knee injury. O'Connell had his left leg placed in an air cast after coming down awkwardly following a seemingly late hit from behind by defensive tackle . "It does not look good," Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said when asked for an update on O'Connell. Pierce did say Kancey's push from behind appeared late, after watching the replay, and requested clarification in real time from the officials, to no avail. "We asked, per usual," Pierce said. "We'll make a report, see what comes back on Monday or Tuesday." , signed off the ' practice squad on Oct. 22, replaced O'Connell. He finished the game 12-of-18 for 101 yards. The only other quarterback under contract with the Raiders is undrafted rookie , who is on the practice squad. O'Connell completed 11 of 19 passes for 104 yards with an interception against the Buccaneers. The lone bright spot for the Raiders on Sunday was , who set a single-season record for most catches by a rookie tight end. Bowers' reception with 27 seconds left was his 87th catch of the season, surpassing the 86 catches had for the in 2023. "He's having a great individual year," Pierce said. "Wish it could lead to more success with our team." The Raiders fell to 2-11 with their ninth straight loss, marking their longest losing streak since they opened the 2014 season 0-10. Las Vegas next hosts the (6-7) on "Monday Night Football" on Dec. 16. According to ESPN Analytics, the Raiders have a 16% chance at the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, third highest in the league.As 2024 comes to an end and we reflect on the past year, a trendy quote comes to my mind. “Two things can be true.” I have heard this often in reference to politics and pop culture. As it applies to our work here at United Way, it is true that we are incredibly thankful for those who support the work of our community partners. We are grateful for monetary donations, volunteers who give their precious time, and those who are vocal and proud advocates of United Way. We are also looking to 2025 with a desire for continued and greater impact and the hope for continued support. The need in southern West Virginia is great and our theme for the 2024/2025 campaign is “United for IMPACT!” This theme represents the outstanding impact United Way creates, identifying the needs of our neighbors, and addressing those needs with our community partners. With the advent of a new year, our community partners are a reminder that hope for the future is what our work is about. Parents on tight budgets who receive car seats, formula, or diapers from baby pantries have great hope for the health and future of their children. Home-delivered meals provide nutrition, interaction, and hope to isolated seniors in our communities. Children who have been abused and the loved ones who suffer with them are given hope for healing by child advocacy centers. Recovery programs offer lifelines to those who struggle with substance use disorders. Hope is the common denominator among the agencies who provide services to our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family members. Our direct services, the 2-1-1 Information and Referral Hotline and the Equal Footing Shoe Fund provide hope to thousands of southern West Virginia residents. Over 1,000 requests are made annually by school personnel for new, athletic shoes for children without proper footwear. Providing shoes offers local children hope for similar learning experiences as their classmates. In southern West Virginia, over 8,000 connections are made yearly by our 2-1-1 resource specialist, providing hope to those who don’t know where to turn when they have unmet needs. Your donation is critical. With your help we can bring significant change to our communities. If you have made your 2025 gift or pledge, thank you. If not, please consider giving today. Every dollar is vital to helping our community reach its $850,000 campaign goal. You can donate safely online at unitedwayswv.org , pledge conveniently and securely by calling 304-253-2111, ext. 105, to speak with a United Way representative, or mail your contribution today to United Way of Southern West Virginia, PO Box 5456, Beckley, WV 25801. Contributions made to United Way of Southern West Virginia stay in southern West Virginia to fund the programs that support our friends, neighbors, family, and colleagues. We are United for IMPACT!Nabity Jensen Investment Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN ) in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm bought 8,769 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock, valued at approximately $1,634,000. Amazon.com accounts for about 1.3% of Nabity Jensen Investment Management Inc’s holdings, making the stock its 17th largest position. A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Semus Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in Amazon.com by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Semus Wealth Partners LLC now owns 17,920 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock valued at $3,339,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Bell Investment Advisors Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Amazon.com by 1.5% during the third quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 3,359 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $626,000 after buying an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. Meridian Investment Counsel Inc. boosted its position in shares of Amazon.com by 1.8% in the second quarter. Meridian Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 3,076 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock valued at $594,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the period. O Connor Financial Group LLC increased its position in Amazon.com by 2.2% during the third quarter. O Connor Financial Group LLC now owns 2,536 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $473,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the period. Finally, Cherrydale Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Amazon.com by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Cherrydale Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,492 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock valued at $1,396,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. 72.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Amazon.com Stock Performance Amazon.com stock opened at $223.75 on Friday. Amazon.com, Inc. has a 1 year low of $144.05 and a 1 year high of $233.00. The company’s 50-day moving average is $209.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $192.81. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The company has a market cap of $2.35 trillion, a PE ratio of 47.91, a PEG ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.16. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have recently issued reports on AMZN. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Amazon.com from $210.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Rosenblatt Securities boosted their price target on Amazon.com from $221.00 to $236.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $250.00 price objective on shares of Amazon.com in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on Amazon.com from $215.00 to $225.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their target price on Amazon.com from $240.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, forty-one have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $243.00. Get Our Latest Analysis on Amazon.com Insider Transactions at Amazon.com In other Amazon.com news, Director Daniel P. Huttenlocher sold 1,237 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $199.06, for a total value of $246,237.22. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 24,912 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,958,982.72. This represents a 4.73 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, Director Jonathan Rubinstein sold 4,351 shares of Amazon.com stock in a transaction on Monday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $229.85, for a total transaction of $1,000,077.35. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 88,203 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,273,459.55. This represents a 4.70 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 6,032,344 shares of company stock worth $1,253,456,822 in the last three months. Insiders own 10.80% of the company’s stock. About Amazon.com ( Free Report ) Amazon.com, Inc engages in the retail sale of consumer products, advertising, and subscriptions service through online and physical stores in North America and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). It also manufactures and sells electronic devices, including Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Echo, Ring, Blink, and eero; and develops and produces media content. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AMZN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Amazon.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Amazon.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

IGIB: Banking Exposure And Duration Concerns Under Trump

OTTAWA — U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and those in his corner continue to muse about annexing Canada, though Canadian officials have largely sidestepped those comments. In a post on the social media platform X, Eric Trump shared a doctored photo of his father purchasing Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal on Amazon, with the phrase "We are so back!!!" Since winning the presidential election in November, Trump has repeatedly referred to Canada as the "51st state." On Trump's Truth Social platform, he's also repeatedly referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the "governor" of Canada. Trump has also threatened 25 per cent tariffs against Canada, which has prompted discussions at both the federal and provincial levels on the best way to deal with the incoming Trump government. Carleton University professor Aaron Ettinger said federal officials have rightly been dismissing the social-media posts and maintained a "focus like a laser beam" on the real and "existential threat" of tariffs. "This strikes me as being profoundly unserious," said Ettinger, who has studied Canada-U.S. relations during the first Trump presidency. "These are taunts; these are churlish provocations that are not mature, and do not reflect just how serious the coming trade war is," he said. Ettinger said Trump is likely continually posting about Canada because it plays well to his supporters, without being seen as a real threat of annexation. "We know his moves. He makes fun of, he belittles, he mocks, because he can," he said. But he said that a vacuum of leadership in Ottawa from embattled Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is spurring "the freelancing of some of the provincial leaders" in response to Trump's comments. For example, Ontario Premier Doug Ford weighed in on Trump's postings on Dec. 18, telling media that "we'll never be the 51st state. We're Canada; we're proud to be Canadians. We'll always fight for that." Ettinger said civil society is similarly better to focus on convincing Americans to not impose damaging tariffs on Canada, instead of amping up anti-Trump rhetoric. "Canadians should worry first about what Canada's actual national interests are," he said. "We're not going to out-trash talk Donald Trump, so don't even bother trying and focus instead on the core stuff that really matters." In response to Trump's threats, the Trudeau Liberal government has unveiled a $1.3 billion spending package over six years to address Trump's threats, which concern border security and the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. Canada's ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman has repeatedly characterized Trump's comments as gentle ribbing between two close countries. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said on Dec. 13 that she has quipped to Republican senators that they could join Canada as the eleventh province. Greenland's head of government, Múte Bourup Egede, suggested that Trump's latest calls to purchase the territory from Denmark would be as meaningless as those made in his first term. "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale," he said in a statement. "We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom." Panama President José Raúl Mulino has also rebuffed Trump's musing about taking over the Panama Canal. "Every square metre of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to," he said in a video, to which Trump fired back on his social media site, "We'll see about that!" This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press Dylan Robertson, The Canadian PressKolkata Metro, India's oldest metro system, is expanding its network and experiencing a surge in ridership. Kolkata Metro's passenger count is steadily increasing, with record numbers reported during Christmas. Kolkata Metro authorities reported 147.2 million passengers until November this year. Last year's metro ridership was 127 million, significantly lower than this year's. The metro authorities thanked passengers for the increased ridership. Metro authorities reported a 15.91% increase in ridership compared to last year. Metro services have been improved, with a focus on technology. Passengers no longer need to queue for tickets. Until November, 934,000 Android and 48,000 iOS users downloaded the 'Metro Ride Kolkata' app. Metro ridership increases during festivals. Handheld terminals were used for ticketing during Puja for the first time. Metro runs from New Garia to Dakshineswar every 7 minutes. Services also operate from Esplanade to Howrah and Sealdah to Salt Lake. From 2025, metro service will extend from Salt Lake to Howrah. Service to the airport is also anticipated.

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info In this instalment of John Murdoch's Drive Time, John reveals how the Renault Scenic E-Tech was awarded the title of Scottish Car Of The Year by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers in association with the Arnold Clark group, and takes a spin in the revamped Kia EV6. The Renault Scenic E-Tech has been crowned the Scottish Car of the Year (SCOTY) by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW) in association with Arnold Clark. A combination of versatility, comfort, driving range, quality, and sleek looks put the Renault Scenic E-Tech ahead of the most talented rivals ever seen vying for the title decided by the ASMW. The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now. Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7. The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you. Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The talented Scenic E-Tech also won the Electric Family Car title. This year’s award ceremony, staged at the Dalmahoy Country Club in Edinburgh, witnessed a strong showing from Kia, which took three category awards with Large EV for the Kia EV9, Manufacturer of the Year, while the Kia Sportage won Used Car Over £15,000. The Suzuki Swift took home prizes for Small Car and Best Eco Performance. The Lexus LBX lifted the trophy for Compact Crossover/SUV, and Lexus also won the Aftersales award. Skoda’s brilliant new Kodiaq won the ICE Family Car title, and the Polestar 3 was named Premium/Executive Car of 2024. Hyundai was another name to celebrate a double victory with awards for the Santa Fe in Large ICE Car and the Performance category with the amazing IONIQ 5 N. Ford also enjoyed lifting two trophies on the night with wins for the Transit Custom in the Utility category, while the Fiesta took home the gong for Used Car Under £15,000. Mazda’s evergreen MX-5 was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award, while Scottish pioneers in leather, Bridge of Weir, were the recipients of the President’s Award for the company’s environmentally sustainable work. Adam Wood, managing director and country head of Renault Group UK, said: “The Renault Scenic E-Tech 100 per cent electric has been designed for modern families. "The judges’ reasoning behind this prestigious award underlines how it is completely unrivalled in what it offers, blending optimum practicality, refinement and convenience with a fantastic driving and ownership experience.” Alisdair Suttie, ASMW president, explained: “The standard of cars across the board for SCOTY 2024 has been exceptional, so it was always going to take a very special car to achieve overall victory and that is exactly what the Renault Scenic E-Tech is. "The judges were bowled over by its comfort, space, versatility, and how good it is to drive, plus the excellent driving range. "It encapsulates all of the great values of the Scenic name in a sharply styled package that is affordable to buy and own, and just as importantly a pleasure to live with.” The full list of SCOTY 2024 winners is: Small Car - Suzuki Swift. Compact Crossover/SUV - Lexus LBX. ICE Family Car - Skoda Kodiaq. Electric Family Car - Renault Scenic. Large ICE Car - Hyundai Santa Fe. Large EV - Kia EV9. Premium/Executive Car - Polestar 3. Performance Car - Hyundai IONIQ 5 N. Utility - Ford Transit Custom. Used Car Under £15,000 - Ford Fiesta. Used Car Over £15,000 - Kia Sportage. Best Eco Performance - Suzuki Swift. Lifetime Achievement - Mazda MX-5. Aftersales - Lexus. Manufacturer of the Year - KIA. President’s Award – Bridge of Weir Leather. Meanwhile, just a couple of years after the Ki EV6 arrived, it has already been given a facelift, with a fresh look, upgraded tech and a longer driving range. A new fourth-generation 84kWh battery, which offers an 8.5 per cent boost in capacity, allows the EV6 to travel further and charge faster. This latest EV6 also boasts a new-look front end with a smart design that includes sleek daytime running lights with Kia’s new Star Map signature, an improved interior, fingerprint recognition technology, and some safety upgrades. Buyers can select between two powertrains and three trim levels Air, GT-Line, and GT-Line S - with prices starting at £45,575. The EV6 also comes with RWD or AWD. I had a drive in the GT-Line S trim with RWD, costing £53,675. It came with the new signature lights at the front and rear of the car, a rear spoiler, privacy glass, GT-Line S badging, a sunroof, and very smart 20-inch alloys. The EV6 has a real premium feel, the seats are powered and can be heated or ventilated, and the smart steering wheel can also be heated for winter driving comfort. The dashboard dominates and features two 12.3-inch screens that merge behind a single curved glass panel and are easy to see and operate even on the move. The left screen provides access to features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, sat nav and a superb14-speaker Meridian sound system, while the other displays all the driving data such as range, speed, and battery charge levels. There’s also a head-up display and thankfully separate climate controls. My car had a claimed combined range of 347 miles but I got a lot less than that in the recent very cold weather. With 225bhp on tap, it was good for 115mph and tackled the sprint to 62mph in 7.7 seconds. It handled well in town or on country roads and was a comfortable and quiet cruiser on motorways. Drivers can choose between different levels of regenerative braking and all round visibility was good even with the narrow rear screen. I was also able to select from drive modes, called Normal, Eco, Sport, My Drive, and Snow. These alter the car’s dynamics to different driving conditions with Sport mode sharpening the handling. The spacious cabin offers enough room for five to travel in comfort, while the substantial 480 litre boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and with the split rear seats folded this rises to 1300 litres. More storage space is also available in the front trunk and in many areas inside the cabin. Charging as always depends on the type of charger, so best to check this out fully before you buy. As you would expect there is a full range of driver aids and safety features and the car also comes with one of the best warranties in the industry - seven years or 100,000 miles, with an eight-year warranty on the battery and electric motors. It is not cheap, but with the significant updates the EV6 is now even more refined and it is a very strong contender in the premium EV market. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here .

Retailers coax Black Friday shoppers into stores with big discounts and giveaways NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the U.S. have used giveaways and bigger-than expected discounts to reward shoppers who ventured out on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving still reigns for now as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season even if it’s lost some luster. Analysts reported seeing the biggest crowds at stores that offered real savings. They say many shoppers are being cautious with their discretionary spending despite the easing of inflation. Stores are even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Online sales figures from Thanksgiving Day gave retailers a reason to remain hopeful for a lucrative end to the year. Southwest Airlines says it is ending cabin service earlier to reduce chance of injury Southwest Airlines is ending its cabin service earlier starting next month. Beginning on Dec. 4, a company spokesperson says flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. The company says it's making the changes to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries. For passengers, that means they will need to return their seats to an upright position or do other pre-landing procedures earlier than before. While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, injuries have piled up over the years. Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday season PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — While retailers hope to go big this holiday season, customers may notice that the catalogs arriving in their mailboxes are smaller. Many of the millions of catalogs getting sent to U.S. homes were scaled down to save on postage and paper. Some gift purveyors are sending out postcards. In a sign of the times, the American Catalog Mailers Association rebranded itself in May as the American Commerce Marketing Association. Despite no longer carrying an extended inventory of goods, industry experts say catalogs help retailers cut through the noise and still hold their own in value because of growing digital advertising costs. Canada's Trudeau returns home after Trump meeting without assurances that tariffs are off the table WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is returning home after his meeting with Donald Trump without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump says the dinner talks Friday night at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida were “productive.” But he signaling no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. Trudeau spoke of “an excellent conversation” but offered no details. Trump said in a Truth Social post later Saturday that they discussed “many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address.” Trump and Republicans in Congress eye an ambitious 100-day agenda, starting with tax cuts WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans swept to power on Election Day and now control the House, the Senate and the White House, with plans for an ambitious 100-day agenda come January. Their to-do list includes extending tax breaks, cutting social programs, building the border wall to stop immigration and rolling back President Joe Biden's green energy policies. Atop that list is a plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring tax cuts that were a signature domestic achievement of Republican Donald Trump’s first term as president. It's an issue that may define his return to the White House. The ruble's in a slump. For the Kremlin, that's a two-edged sword Russia’s ruble is sagging against other currencies, complicating the Kremlin’s efforts to keep consumer inflation under control with one hand even as it overheats the economy with spending on the war against Ukraine with the other. Over time a weaker ruble could mean higher prices for imports from China, Russia's main trade partner these days. President Vladimir Putin says things are under control. One wild card is sanctions against a key Russian bank that have disrupted foreign trade payments. If Russia finds a workaround for that, the ruble could regain some of its recent losses. Iceland votes for a new parliament after political disagreements force an early election REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Icelanders are electing a new parliament after disagreements over immigration, energy policy and the economy forced Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to pull the plug on his coalition government and call early elections. This will be Iceland’s sixth general election since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy of the North Atlantic island nation and ushered in a new era of political instability. Opinion polls suggest the country may be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Benediktsson, who was named prime minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, struggled to hold together the unlikely coalition of his conservative Independence Party with the centrist Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement. Massachusetts lawmakers push for an effort to ban all tobacco sales over time BOSTON (AP) — A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have weighed similar “generational tobacco bans.” The bans phase out the use of tobacco products based not just on a person's age but on birth year. Lawmakers plan to file the proposal next year. If approved, the bill would set a date and ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after that date forever, eventually banning all sales. Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has approved the construction of a high-speed railway connecting the capital Hanoi in the north with the financial capital of Ho Chi Minh in the south. It is expected to cost $67 billion and will stretch 1,541 kilometers (957 miles). The new train is expected to travel at speeds of up to 350 kph (217 mph), reducing the journey from the current 30 hours to just five hours. The decision was taken by Vietnam’s National Assembly on Saturday. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and Vietnam hopes that the first trains will start operating by 2035. But the country has been beleaguered by delays to its previous infrastructure projects. Inflation rose to 2.3% in Europe. That won't stop the central bank from cutting interest rates FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November — but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new U.S. tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth. The European Union’s harmonized index of consumer prices rose 2.3 percent, up from 2.0% in October, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. However, worries about growth mean the Dec. 12 ECB meeting is not about whether to cut rates, but by how much. Market buzz says there could be a larger than usual half-point cut in the benchmark rate, currently 3.25%.

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For smooth and uninterrupted delivery of essential services and functioning of vital installations across the Kashmir division, CM Omar Abdullah on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting in Srinagar to review the preparedness of various departments to address challenges posed by harsh winter conditions, particularly in the snow-bound zones of Kashmir Valley and Jammu Division. The meeting was attended by all five council of ministers, including deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary. The CM conducted a department-wise review of the winter preparedness measures of all line departments and emphasised the need for a robust mechanism to minimize public inconvenience during severe weather conditions. Omar also engaged with deputy commissioners to assess district-level preparedness and urged them to prioritise timely and effective responses to weather-related challenges and stressed the importance of keeping men and machinery in a state of readiness to ensure the routine functioning of essential installations. “CM directed departments to prioritise uninterrupted trade, transport, and essential supplies while addressing disruptions caused by snow, waterlogging, or power outages. On snow clearance, he was briefed that a sufficient number of hi-tech snow clearance machines have been deployed by the R&B Department, SMC, MED, BRO, and NHAI, with additional machines on standby to handle heavy snowfall,” the official spokesman said adding that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah instructed the concerned authorities to focus on clearing key routes, including inter-district highways and roads leading to hospitals, power grids, water supply systems, and fire and emergency services. “The meeting was informed that adequate stocks of ration, petrol, diesel, and LPG are available to meet the needs of residents for several months. Additional provisions have been made to ensure timely distribution across districts,” the spokesman said adding that the Chief Minister directed for establishment of joint control rooms in all districts to handle winter-related complaints promptly. The spokesman said the CM stressed the importance of a swift response system to minimise public inconvenience and ensure seamless delivery of essential services. Reviewing the health sector’s readiness, the chief minister directed the health department to ensure adequate stocks of medicines, oxygen cylinders, and emergency supplies across all hospitals and asked the officials for maintaining functional central heating systems in healthcare facilities and ensuring the deployment of medical personnel in snowbound areas. The Chief Minister instructed KPDCL engineers to prioritize the restoration of electricity, particularly for essential installations and directed timely replacement of damaged transformers and urged for protection of field staff with proper safety gear to prevent accidents during repair work.The intra-family differences in the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) unfolded in a dramatic fashion at the general council meeting on December 28 after the party’s founder S. Ramadoss announced the appointment of yet another family member as the head of PMK’s youth wing. A war of words erupted at the meeting in Puducherry between the party patriarch and his son Anbumani soon after Ramadoss announced the decision to appoint Parasuraman Mukundan, the son of his eldest daughter Gandhimathi, as the president of the youth wing. Mukundan joined the party four months ago. Soon after the announcement, Anbumani—a Rajya Sabha MP who led the party in the recent parliamentary election and who shared the stage—retorted: “He has just joined. What experience does he have?” The crowd agreed with him, jeering at the selection loudly. A visibly agitated Ramadoss shot back: “I created this party. I will make the decisions here. If anyone does not want to obey my decision, he can leave the party.” Anbumani persisted. “You can appoint anyone...[but] appoint someone with experience. We need good workers in the field. We need those with good qualities.” He also wondered: “How can someone who is just coming in be appointed as the youth wing in-charge?” Irked over the dissent, Ramadoss shouted back: “You all must listen to me.” “You do what you want,” responded Anbumani. Not willing to let go, Ramdoss continued: “The one who doesn’t listen to me does not have a place in this party.” “ Adhu seri [That’s right.],” said Anbumani, who at this point seem to be going through an emotional roller-coaster. Ramadoss, who was clearly in a combative mood, twisted the knife. “ Seri na seri. Po appo [Then, you can leave],” he said. Also Read | PMK’s alliance with the BJP in Tamil Nadu defies logic Anbumani stopped responding at this point but Ramadoss continued. “I am telling you again. Mukundan is being appointed as the youth wing president,” he declared to a stunned audience. “Clap your hands now,” he ordered, and the crowd obliged. It appeared that Anbumani did not expect the cadre to clap when Ramadoss ordered them to. He was heard over the din: “Give more [positions] to the family.” Anbumani’s stance might have appeared principled if not for the fact his wife Sowmiya was PMK’s Dharmapuri candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Sowmiya was not known to be an active PMK officer-bearer though she ran a non-governmental organisation. A PhD in sociology and biodiversity, Sowmiya has yet to comment on the spat between her husband and father-in-law. After the meeting was over, supporters of Anbumani blocked Ramadoss’ car as he was leaving the venue and raised slogans hailing Anbumani. Ramdoss smiled at the cadre with folded hands. Having made their displeasure clear, the crowd made way for the car. A new base Anbumani used the stage to tell the cadre that he had opened a new office for himself at Panayur, just outside Chennai, and that they could come there to meet him. Ramadoss operates out of Thailapuram, about 150 km south west of Chennai. Several national and State political leaders have travelled to this nondescript town in Viluppuram district to cut deals with the PMK ahead of elections. Though Ramadoss appeared to have won the battle of the day, judging by the cadres’ overall reaction, Anbumani seems to have the upper hand within the party. But some of the old school office-bearers, including the 72-year-old G.K. Mani, who has been the party president for over a quarter of a century (and now honorary president), is unlikely to act against Ramadoss. The father-son tussle stems from the fact that the PMK has not been anywhere close to the corridors of power since 2014. In 2016, it went alone in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, with the theme “Change, Progress, Anbumani” [” Maatram, Munnetram, Anbumani ”] which was a rip-off from the former US President Barack Obama’s election campaign in the 2008 presidential election. The PMK lost all the seats it had contested. In the 2019 parliamentary election, the PMK contested seven seats in the AIADMK-BJP alliance and lost all. The party was again in the wrong camp in the 2021 Assembly election, as it contested 23 seats as part of the AIADMK alliance and won a mere five. It remained with the BJP and contested the 2024 parliamentary election and lost all seats. At the meeting, Anbumani, under whose leadership the party suffered several reverses in these elections, contended that all losses were a lesson. He asserted that in 2026, the PMK will be a part of the coalition that forms the government in Tamil Nadu. Also Read | How fake news, propaganda, and big money power BJP’s Tamil Nadu strategy But that is a tall claim and Ramadoss is seeking to chart a new path for the party he founded with the help of some seniors who desire to see a change in direction. A few party seniors believe that the 2026 State Assembly election will be “a make-or-break event” for the PMK. Some do not want to be seen courting the BJP, which is seen as a baggage in the State Assembly election. However, Anbumani is said to be opposed to ditching the BJP. This could probably be due to the potential for a backlash in the form of new trouble over old cases stirred up by Central investigative agencies. With a few senior party members already trying to douse the fire, the latest spat between the father and the son may soon fizzle out. However, unless the equations within the PMK’s first family are set right, the party could face rough times, especially with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam already making inroads into the PMK’s stronghold in north and north-western Tamil Nadu. CONTRIBUTE YOUR COMMENTS SHARE THIS STORY Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp RedditNone

777 online games On Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles, CA, FANMIO hosted a press conference to officially announce the exhibition fight between Ryan Garcia & Rukiya Anpo, which will take place in Japan on December 30. The event will be streamed on FANMIO PPV for $49.99 . Garcia is still serving a year-long suspension due to end in April. Since the fight is in Japan and will be an exhibition, Garcia is allowed to partake in such an event. Whether the New York State Athletic Commission decides to have a say in it after the fact is an unknown. Until then, the show will go on, and Garcia will fight in Japan on December 30. Although fans have already shared their disinterest in the event on social media, come fight night, there will be an abundance of interested people watching the fight as Garcia demands that type of attention. Here is what the press conference participants had to say: RYAN GARCIA “He tried to knock out Manny Pacquiao and it pissed me off, so now I have to teach him a lesson and teach him how to box. He’s got some size and he’s real excited right now, but I’m gonna have to settle him down and knock him out. We’re gonna put a whupping on this boy. “His energy is definitely waking me up. I was ready to enjoy the festivities but now he’s waking the dragon up. I’m definitely looking to knock him out now. “He’s a young fighter who was trying to make a statement against a legend in Manny Pacquiao. That rubbed me the wrong way and now I’m here to show him someone in his prime with speed and power. “I beat up a pound-for-pound champion, and you are not at that level. You’re gonna get a whupping. You’re not good, you’re just big. I’m gonna knock you out in front of the world. You may think this is Hollywood, but this is for real. You’re gonna see who the ‘King’ is. “He’s gonna be the bigger man in that ring. We had to give him something to give him hope. We’re going to adjust and ultimately my skills are going to put me over the top. He’s training like this is a world title fight, so we can’t take this lightly. “I went to Japan this summer to watch Manny Pacquiao and I’m excited to be going back there for this amazing event. Japan is one of the sports capitals of the world and I can’t wait to be there and meet the fans.” RUKIYA ANPO “Hello America! Today I have something I’d like to say directly to Ryan. We know that Ryan likes to make excuses, miss weight and lacks professionalism. He’s got no sportsmanship and no respect. Yet he dares to call himself ‘King’. On fight day I will show him that we fight for honor and legacy. I bring the real Samurai spirit and will show him exactly where he belongs. “As a professional, you have to put on a fun and entertaining fight for the fans. I regret that I couldn’t finish Manny Pacquiao. That’s what we train to do in every fight. I have even more motivation this time and I will knock him out and finish Ryan Garcia as a professional. “He says he doesn’t know who I am, but he will find out on fight day. I will put everything into this fight because I believe in myself and know I will win. I will announce Rukiya Anpo to the global audience. “He’s got a world-class left hook, I’ll give him that. I’ll be aware of it and I’ll be ready for it. He’s unpolished and gets sloppy and over the course of the fight I’ll take advantage of that. “I know how big of an opportunity this is and I know what’s at stake. But I’m not satisfied just being here. I want to show everything I can do in this fight and I won’t be satisfied until I knock him out. I want to take my name to the next level because of what I do in the ring. “He better be grateful to me, I gave him this opportunity. I’ve fought in front of 50,000 people, he doesn’t know what he’s in for. “I feel he’s been very disrespectful to the sport. He’s a fake ‘King’. This article first appeared on Fights Around The World and was syndicated with permission.Prophet of the post-presidency: how Jimmy Carter changed the world

LITTLETON, Colo. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CONX CORP. (OTC: CNXX) ("CONX") today announced the acquisition of a controlling interest in Red Technologies SAS ("RED Technologies"), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, RED Tech US, LLC, for a maximum purchase price of approximately EUR 18.6 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. CONX acquired approximately 68% of RED Technologies' outstanding share capital at closing, with the remainder of the shares to be acquired in future installments based on the achievement of certain milestones. The executive team of RED Technologies, Pierre-Jean Muller (Co-Founder and CEO) and Michael Abitbol (Co-Founder and COO), will continue to manage the operations of RED Technologies, aimed at establishing the company as a viable alternative in the CBRS market. "The acquisition of RED Technologies by CONX is a pivotal milestone on our path to serve as a viable alternative to the current duopoly in the SAS space," said RED Technologies CEO P.J. Muller . "This partnership strengthens our ability to innovate and enhance the CBRS ecosystem for the benefit of all operators and stakeholders. With support and investment from CONX, we are poised to accelerate the development of cutting-edge features, such as GAA coexistence, Network Planner, and AI-based CBRS analytics, that align with our mission to support the FCC's vision and empower rural broadband and the nascent Private Network industry." "CONX was formed to invest in next generation connectivity opportunities and their supporting infrastructure assets," said CONX CEO Jason Kiser . "Through RED's unique opportunity as a technology enabler for spectrum allocation, we have positioned CONX to create long term value across multiple sectors. We look forward to RED becoming a best-in-class Spectrum Access System (SAS) operator with potential to grow throughout the United States and internationally." CONX also announced Marc Rouanne will join the RED Technologies board. Marc is the Co-Founder, Chairman and CTO of Edgescale AI, a SaaS developer focused on connecting cutting-edge AI with data and devices in physical systems. Most recently, he was the Chief Network Officer for DISH Wireless responsible for designing DISH's 5G Network. In addition, Marc has more than 20 years of international management experience in the telecommunications industry, having held executive positions in R&D, customer operations and product management in the U.S., France and Finland , including as President of Mobile Networks at Nokia and Chairman of the Board of Alcatel-Lucent. About CONX Corporation (OTC: CNXX) CONX is a diversified operating entity seeking opportunities to power the next generation of innovators in communications and connectivity. CONX's mission is to partner with emerging companies with quality management and strong and differentiated business models with the ability to scale quickly. About RED Technologies Established in 2012 and headquartered in Paris, France , RED Technologies SAS ("RED Technologies") specializes in spectrum-sharing technologies and services. The company offers scalable, cloud-based solutions for Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) and Television White Space (TVWS), catering to operators across various sectors, and provides operated 5G connectivity solutions that democratize access to 5G technology for companies aiming to modernize their communications infrastructure in both the U.S. and European markets. RED Technologies has been a pioneer in spectrum sharing technologies and actively contributed to the CBRS regulatory and standard developments. RED Technologies' team is constituted of first-class engineers coming from top tier telecom vendors and operators. Important Notice The description contained herein is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities of CONX. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements which may constitute "forward-looking statements." Actual results could differ materially from those projected or forecast in the forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the following: the possibility that the parties may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies pursuant to the transaction within the expected timeframes or at all and to successfully integrate Red Technologies' operations into those of CONX ; such integration may be more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected; revenues following the transaction may be lower than expected; operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) may be greater than expected following the transaction; the retention of certain key employees at Red Technologies; the parties' ability to meet expectations regarding the accounting and tax treatments of the transaction; CONX and Red Technologies are subject to intense competition; Red Technologies' products must remain compatible with, and its product development is dependent upon access to, changing operating environments; we may become dependent upon large transactions; customer decisions are influenced by general economic conditions; third parties may claim that RED Technologies' products infringe their intellectual property rights; fluctuations in non-U.S. currencies could result in transaction losses; acts of war and terrorism may adversely affect CONX's and RED Technologies' business; the volatility of the international marketplace; and the other factors discussed in "Risk Factors" in CONX's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on May 29, 2024 (as amended), and in other reports we file with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov . CONX expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in CONX's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/conx-corp-announces-acquisition-of-red-technologies-sas-302324446.html SOURCE CONX Corp.Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100‘Y2K’: You had to be there

CHANTILLY, Va., Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) announced today that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has selected the Tutor/O&G joint venture (JV) team, with Parsons as the lead designer, for the Newark AirTrain Replacement Program – Guideway and Stations project. The $1.18 billion project is a critical component of the modernization of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and will replace the existing, aging AirTrain system with a state-of-the-art automated people mover (APM) to better serve the airport's growing passenger needs. The new AirTrain system will enhance passenger experience and improve operational efficiency at one of the region's busiest airports. The replacement system will improve reliability, offer modern amenities, and accommodate increasing passenger demand. As the lead designer, Parsons will be responsible for designing 2.5 miles of elevated guideway, along with three new stations—Station 1, Station 3, and the Rail Link Station. “Parsons is proud to apply our deep aviation expertise to this large-scale infrastructure project,” said Mark Fialkowski, president of Infrastructure North America for Parsons. “The AirTrain is a natural extension of our work on the EWR Terminal A project and will provide a world-class transportation system to support the future of Newark Liberty International Airport.” The award of the AirTrain contract marks a significant step in enhancing Newark Liberty International Airport's connectivity, with Parsons playing a key role in the project. The new system will directly link the state-of-the-art Terminal A, which was also designed by Parsons in partnership with Tutor Perini. Parsons contributed significant design work to the airport’s broader transit network, addressing the long-standing need for direct access. The team provided key foundational work on the project, ensuring a robust and efficient solution for travelers. With the addition of this new project, Parsons continues to strengthen its leadership in delivering complex, mission-critical infrastructure solutions across the New York Metropolitan Area. The company’s proven expertise in alternative delivery methods and role as a trusted partner has enabled it to successfully complete a range of high-profile, large-scale projects for PANYNJ. Parsons has decades of experience designing, delivering, and protecting the infrastructure that connects our communities around the world, including roads and highways; bridges; passenger and freight rail; public transit; airports; and ports and waterways. Our experience includes more than 10,000 miles of roadways, 4,500 bridges, and more than 50 advanced traffic management system deployments that help cities and states improve safety and travel efficiency while also reducing emissions and energy costs to enhance the quality of life in the communities we serve. To learn more about Parsons’ aviation expertise, visit www.Parsons.com/aviation/ . To learn more about Parsons’ rail and transit expertise, visit https://www.parsons.com/rail-transit/ . About Parsons Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the national security and global infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cyber and intelligence, space and missile defense, transportation, environmental remediation, urban development, and critical infrastructure protection. Please visit parsons.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how we're making an impact. Media Contact: Lexus K. White +1 470.510.6690 Lexus.White@parsons.com Investor Relations Contact: Dave Spille + 1 703.775.6191 Dave.Spille@parsons.us

Stock market today: Wall Street edges back from its records as bitcoin briefly pops above $100,000Mired in last place in the NHL standings amid a rebuilding process, the Chicago Blackhawks dismissed coach Luke Richardson on Thursday and named Anders Sorensen interim coach. In two-plus seasons with the Blackhawks, the 55-year-old Richardson posted a 57-118-15 record, including an 8-16-2 start to this season, in his first stint as a head coach. Chicago posted 59 points in his first season, then regressed to 52 in 2023-24, despite having No. 1 overall pick and 2024 Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard on the roster. "Today I made the difficult decision to move on from Luke as our head coach. We thank him for his efforts and contributions to the organization and our community," Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. "As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary. We wish Luke and his family all the best moving forward." The 49-year-old Sorensen had been the coach of the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. He will be succeeded at Rockford by Mark Eaton on an interim basis. Eaton is the Blackhawks' assistant general manager overseeing player development. "On behalf of the entire Blackhawks organization, I'd like to thank Luke for his dedication over the past three seasons," Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said in a statement. "I fully support Kyle's decision in making this change as he continues to do what is needed to move our team forward. I have the utmost confidence in him and the rest of our Hockey Operations team as they begin their search for the next head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks." Richardson was the Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in 1987 and posted 201 points (35 goals, 166 assists) in 1,417 games over 21 seasons. Playing for six teams, the Ottawa native also amassed 2,055 penalty minutes.

In 2008, Ankit tried again and secured an impressive 400th rank in the IIT entrance exam. He was admitted to IIT Delhi Published: November 27, 2024 5:20 AM IST By Edited by Ankit Prasad is a young entrepreneur from the small town of Chaibasa in Jharkhand. His father initially worked as a lab in-charge at Tata College in Chaibasa. He later secured a position at IIT Jamshedpur. From a young age, Ankit and his brother Rahul developed a strong interest in web designing. During their school years, they began exploring various websites and turned their passion into a small venture. Their craze for computers was further encouraged when their father gifted them a computer in 1995. By the age of six, Ankit had already started learning programming. Balancing Studies and Earnings Ankit ranked among the top three in his class 10th examinations. In 2005, while attending college, Ankit and Rahul started earning through web services. They designed websites for hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. Like many youngsters from small towns, Ankit dreamt of cracking the IIT entrance exams. In 2007, he appeared for the exam and secured a rank of over 5,000. Though eligible for admission to NIT Jamshedpur, he decided to aim higher. Journey to IIT In 2008, Ankit tried again and secured an impressive 400th rank in the IIT entrance exam. He was admitted to IIT Delhi, where he pursued Mathematics and Computer Programming. During his time at IIT Delhi, he was exposed to a variety of people that shaped his innovative mindset. Ankit recalls how witnessing the rise of companies like Zomato and Flipkart in Delhi’s budding startup ecosystem inspired him. The exposure pushed him to dream big and think innovatively. Left IIT Ankit shares that during his time at IIT Delhi, he worked with several companies and gained valuable experience. He then created a social networking platform called Touch Talent, but it didn’t achieve significant success. in 2012, Ankit left IIT to pursue his dream. In 2015, he co-founded Bobble AI with his brother Rahul. The app applies a user’s selfie to a database of emojis, stickers, and GIFs, among other graphics in order to make texting more expressive and visual. Success with Bobble AI Their company developed the “Bobble Indic Keyboard,” which supports 37 Indian languages and over 120 global languages. By 2023, Bobble AI had achieved a remarkable revenue of Rs 750 crore. In 2018, Ankit was included on the Forbes 30 under 30 list because of his remarkable achievement. He also appeared in Business World magazine’s list of the 40 under 40. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on or follow us on and . Read more on Latest on . Topics

Stock market today: Wall Street edges back from its records as bitcoin briefly pops above $100,000

DENVER (AP) — Travis Hunter made a pair of proclamations Thursday: He’s for sure entering the NFL draft after this season, but not until he sees Colorado all the way through the College Football Playoff — if the Buffaloes make it there. The first was already a given for the draft-eligible junior who plays both receiver and cornerback. The second is a risk-reward play for a projected high first-round pick who averages around 120 snaps a game. In years past, it took two extra postseason wins to capture a national title. Now, it could take up to four additional contests. That’s more of a chance to shine, but also more chance for an injury. “I don’t think nobody will opt out because you’re showing NFL teams that you’re more focused on something else, other than the team goal,” Hunter said of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. “So I don’t think players are going to opt out of the playoffs.” Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders chatted Thursday in a set of Zoom calls about turning around the program at Colorado (from 4-8 last season to bowl eligibility), chasing a Big 12 title, turning pro — Hunter acknowledged he will “for sure” — and, of course, the Heisman race, where Hunter is currently the odds-on favorite in an award each wants to see the other win. “He’s deserving of it, and if it’s between me and him, I want him to get it,” said Sanders, whose 16th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 16 CFP ) travel to Arrowhead Stadium to face Kansas (4-6, 3-4) this weekend. “He does a lot of amazing things that have never been done before.” Countered Hunter: “I know he wants me to win it, but I also want him to win as bad as I want to win it.” Hunter is a generational talent shining on both sides of the ball. As a receiver, he has 74 catches for 911 yards and nine touchdowns. On defense, he has picked off three passes, even though teams are reluctant to throw his direction. Like he did in high school and now in college, he believes he can do both on the next level. But he understands the trepidation of the NFL team that picks him. “They don’t want their top pick to go down too early," Hunter said. “I like when people tell me I can’t do it, because they just motivate me to continue to do what I want to do.” Sanders is turning in a stellar season as well with 27 touchdown passes, one away from tying Sefo Liufau for the most in a single season in program history. He's projected to be one of the first QBs off the draft board. The future certainly looks bright at Colorado thanks to the legacies Sanders and Hunter under coach Deion Sanders. But that's a point to ponder later. “I can’t think too much forward past Saturday,” Shedeur Sanders cracked. “The main thing is winning the Big 12 championship. That’s the main thing we’re focused on." Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Wingstop Announces Additional $500 Million Share Repurchase AuthorizationStock market today: Wall Street edges back from its records as bitcoin briefly pops above $100,000

abrdn Property Income Trust Limited ( LON:API – Get Free Report ) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as GBX 6.06 ($0.08) and last traded at GBX 6.86 ($0.09), with a volume of 3075678 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 6.55 ($0.08). abrdn Property Income Trust Trading Up 4.7 % The business’s 50-day moving average price is GBX 51.20 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 54. The firm has a market capitalization of £26.15 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -343.00 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 47.99, a current ratio of 3.47 and a quick ratio of 0.16. abrdn Property Income Trust Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 24th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 17th were given a GBX 52 ($0.65) dividend. This is a boost from abrdn Property Income Trust’s previous dividend of $3.00. This represents a yield of 85.81%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 17th. abrdn Property Income Trust’s dividend payout ratio is presently -20,000.00%. Insider Transactions at abrdn Property Income Trust abrdn Property Income Trust Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Actively managing UK real estate looking for higher yield and capital growth See Also Receive News & Ratings for abrdn Property Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for abrdn Property Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Clara Strack scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Teonni Key had 16 points and 13 rebounds and No. 14 Kentucky defeated Arizona State 77-61 on Tuesday in the Music City Classic to remain unbeaten. Kentucky nearly had four players with double-doubles as Georgia Amoore added 20 points and nine rebounds and Amelia Hassett had eight points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (6-0), who shot 42% and scored 13 points off 14 Arizona State turnovers. Jalyn Brown scored 16 points and Nevaeh Parkinson added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Sun Devils (3-3). Arizona State shot just 30%. The Sun Devils cut a 19-point deficit to 11 after three quarters but a 6-0 burst with baskets by Key, Amoore and Strack built the lead back to 15 midway through the fourth. Kentucky led 42-23 at halftime after outscoring the Sun Devils 27-9 in the second quarter, scoring the first 13 points of the period with Struck putting in the final seven in the run. A couple ASU free throws later, the Wildcats went on an 11-2 run capped by a Hassett 3 and the lead was 20. Strack scored 14 points and Key 10 in the half. The teams continue play in the Music City Classic on Wednesday with Kentucky playing No. 19 Illinois and Arizona State facing South Dakota. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballFlex Machine Tools showcases equipment, culture

Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolvedFC Twente will hope to pick up their first win of their Europa League campaign when they host Union SG in their fifth match in the competition on Thursday at De Grolsch Veste. The Dutch side are 27th in the Europa League table with three points and drew 2-2 with Nice on November 7, while their opponents drew 1-1 with Roma on the same date but are 30th in the table with two points. © Imago The hosts' game against Nice was a match of late drama given three goals were scored and both sides received one red card each in the final 30 minutes. However, the Eredivisie team will be bitterly disappointed by the draw considering they were leading 2-0 and played 20 minutes of the second half with a player advantage. Twente have drawn three of their four games in the tournament this season, with Lazio's 2-0 win on October 24 their only defeat. The Reds are currently fifth in the Dutch top flight and have 25 points from 13 outings, but boss Joseph Oosting may be disappointed by the fact his side are averaging slightly less than the 2.03 points per game they managed last term. Oosting's side are in good form having won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five games, though they have failed to achieve victory in any of their 12 most recent Europa League matches, drawing nine. The hosts have been difficult to beat at home considering they have been defeated just two times in their past 19 outings at De Grolsch Veste, but it should be noted that they have drawn five and lost one of their past nine home fixtures. © Imago As for the visitors, they are ninth in the Belgian top flight with 20 points from 15 games, though they are just two points from sixth-placed Gent, who occupy the final championship playoff spot. USG created just one big chance against Roma during their stalemate but they produced 14 shots compared to their opponents' 11 while also limiting the Italian side to just one big chance. Manager Sebastien Pocognoli will be concerned by his players' showing in the final third given they have scored one or fewer goals in eight of their last 10 games, failing to find the back of the net three times in that period. Pocognoli's side are unbeaten in their five most recent fixtures, but they have lost three, drawn three and won just one of their past seven Europa League games. USG have been poor away from home for some time, with the Belgian club triumphant in just one of their last 12 matches on the road, losing five and being held to a draw on six occasions. © Imago The hosts will be without right-back Bart van Rooij , who is suspended as a result of his red card against Nice, so expect Oosting to start a back four of Max Bruns , Gustaf Lagerbielke , Alec Van Hoorenbeeck and Anass Salah-Eddine . Winger Younes Taha is not scheduled to return from a broken leg until February next year and in his absence Daan Rots and Sayfallah Ltaief could flank striker Sam Lammers . Youri Regeer may start in an advanced midfield position behind Lammers, with Gijs Besselink and Mathias Kjolo protecting the defence in a double pivot. Union SG have a largely healthy squad, but will be unable to call upon wing-back Henok Teklab , who has been ruled out due to a broken leg. Kevin Mac Allister and Ousseynou Niang may be fielded either side of centre-backs Ross Sykes , Christian Burgess and Koki Machida . Elsewhere, wide players Alessio Castro-Montes , Guillaume Francois and Mamadou Traore are doubts, so perhaps Pocognoli will select a front two featuring Franjo Ivanovic and Mohammed Fuseini . FC Twente possible starting lineup: Tyton; Bruns, Lagerbielke, Van Hoorenbeeck, Salah-Eddine; Besselink, Kjolo; Rots, Regeer, Ltaief; Lammers Union SG possible starting lineup: Moris; Sykes, Burgess, Machida; Mac Allister, Khalaili, Vanhoutte, Sadiki, Niang; Ivanovic, Fuseini FC Twente have so far failed to impress in the Europa League, and they may struggle to hold onto a lead should they score first. While the visitors managed to earn a valuable point against Roma, they have been poor on the road this season and it would be surprising if they overcame their difficulties on Thursday. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .

The narrative around the state of the Australian team has changed drastically following the first Test horror show against India but the reality is the writing has been on the wall since Justin Langer stepped down. While the condemnation of the team following the three-day demolition job at the hands of India, Australia's fall from grace has been anything but. After Australia offered barely a whimper against an Indian side destroyed 3-0 to New Zealand at home last month, the loss shined a light on the ugly reality that Aussie cricket fans are likely in for a rough few years. So far much of the discussion following the Perth Test has centred around the top five and for good reason. Their aggregate total across both innings (which includes ' night watchman stint in the second innings) was just 57. The last time it was lower was in 1888, some 136 years ago. But the slide hasn't happened overnight, it has been there to see but no one has wanted to look under the bonnet. If you take out , given the fact Perth was his debut Test, every single player in Australia's top five has seen their batting average fall in the last year or so. 's slide is the most notable and has led to calls for him to be axed. The 30-year-old is averaging just 30.28 in Test cricket since February last year. And a look at his last 10 innings shows just how badly out of form he is. Labushcagne has scored 10, 1 not out, 3, 5, 1, 2, 90, 6, 2 and 3 for an average of just 13.66 across that period. While Steve Smith has managed just three centuries in his 36 innings since the start of 2023, a far cry from the years under Langer when he was widely regarded as the best batsman in the world. Travis Head has also seen his Test average slide of late and is starting to show signs that his late-career resurgence may have ended and even if it hasn't he is likely to hang up the gloves either at the end of this summer or next. And while most of the attention is on the batting unit, things are also trending down on the bowling side as well. Apart from the fact Australia's top bowlers are all in their 30s, most of their averages are also getting progressively worse. Since taking over the captaincy, Cummins' bowling average has suffered, going from 19.43 before he was skipper to 24.75. Starc is also trending in the wrong direction and while 37-year-old Nathan Lyon continues to perform, the reality is this will either be his last or second last summer of cricket. The overall age of the squad is a serious issue especially given the lack of top emerging talent coming through at Sheffield Shield level. The average age of Australia's team in Perth was 33.11 years old while the Indian side was just 27.10. While the two waiting in line for their shot in the Test side after impressing at Shield level, and Michael Neser, are 35 and 34 respectively. It is a similar story for the batters, with the batsmen in line for a call-up if Labushagne is dropped. But both of them are in their 30s, further showcasing the dire state of Australia's future cricket stocks. The lack of pressure and talent coming through has also led to a certain degree of complacency in the Australian side. And with that comes the sense that regardless of how they perform their spot in the side is safe. This was perfectly illustrated by skipper Cummins saying he'd be shocked if the Test side was changed ahead of the Adelaide Test despite it being clear changes need to be made after the Perth Test. And a lot of that complacency can be dated back to when Langer was pushed out by the Australian team. when Cricket Australia only offered him a six-month contract extension, despite the coach leading his side to Ashes and T20 World Cup glory just months earlier. Langer saw it as a slap in the face considering the success he brought to the side. But the writing was on the wall that he'd lost the dressing room, with Cummins in particular leading the push for a change of coach. The players spoke out about Langer's intensity and passion for the sport going overboard at times, and several players said they were keen to bring in a calming presence. However, has this change led to the Australian side lacking bite and the fighting spirit that has made the team so feared being lost? While following Langer's exit the Aussies won the Ashes on English soil, the World Test Championship and a World Cup, the lack of fight in the side was laid bare in last year's series against the West Indies and again against Pakistan this year. In the ODI decider against Pakistan many found it troubling to see Cummins taking happy snaps at a Coldplay concert as Australia suffered a series defeat. And following the shock ODI loss the Australian side looked out of sorts in the first Test against India. It is something Langer simply wouldn't have allowed and it could spell bad news in the years to come as culture isn't something that can be fixed overnight and the Australian side has seemingly lost the burning desire to win. The lack of determination and aggression is clear for all to see and it is something that commentator Mark Levy is deeply troubled by. "They are not aggressive enough," Levy told on Tuesday. "They are not in your face, the Aussie teams I grew up with under Alan Border, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and even Michael Clarke, they were just combative to the point where they were called a pack of wild dogs at one stage. "We don’t want to go that way again. But they are just a bit too nice in Perth so hopefully they address that." The sad state of the current side was something called out by several pundits during and following the first Test defeat to India. And only added to it. When asked about where the Aussies need to go after the dismal performance on Sunday, Hazlewood replied: “You probably have to ask one of the batters that question probably, I’m sort of relaxing and trying to get a bit of treatment and I’m looking mostly to next Test." It was an answer that underlined the frustrations of the bowling unit and pointed to a disconnect between the batters and bowlers. even started to question whether cracks had begun to appear and suggested there may be a "divide" in the playing group. Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri also said Hazlewood's comments showed there were "mental cracks" in the Aussie team and went on to say the current side is the first Aussie team an Indian side wouldn't fear in a long time. "Having come to Australia for 30 or 40 years, this is the first time an Indian team is feeling, ‘you know what, we are better than the opposition in their own backyard’," Shastri said. “Quietly they will be thinking ‘we will have to lose it here’."

The highs and lows of commercial real estate in 2024: Bay Area offices, hotels and apartments falter, but tech deals offer hopeProcaps Group S.A. ( NASDAQ:PROC – Get Free Report ) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 163,300 shares, a decrease of 21.7% from the November 30th total of 208,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 96,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days. Currently, 0.2% of the company’s stock are short sold. Procaps Group Trading Down 4.9 % Shares of Procaps Group stock opened at $2.35 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $2.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $265.13 million, a P/E ratio of 4.52 and a beta of 0.10. Procaps Group has a 12 month low of $0.50 and a 12 month high of $4.95. Procaps Group Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Procaps Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Procaps Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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A former NASA astronaut has shared details of a close call with unidentified flying objects while piloting his private plane over Texas. Dr. Leroy Chiao, who has flown three Space Shuttle missions and commanded Expedition 10 aboard the International Space Station, described encountering two metallic orbs during a routine flight. In an interview with NewsNation, Chiao recounted the incident that occurred in August while he was flying from Colorado to Houston. "I had just refueled in the Texas panhandle and was cruising at 9,000 feet in clear air," he said. "Out of nowhere, these two big, metallic, spherical orbs, about three feet in diameter each, zipped past my plane, just 20 feet away." Chiao emphasized the suddenness of the encounter. "It happened so fast that I didn't even have time to get scared," he said. Despite the brief moment, he noted the potential danger. "If they had hit my plane, the outcome could have been disastrous." The orbs, which appeared to move in a stacked formation, did not register on his plane's radar or prompt any warnings from air traffic control. "I don't know what they were," Chiao admitted. "My first thought is they could be part of some military program, possibly drones, but it's hard to say." Chiao described his narrow miss as "dumb luck" and expressed concern about the risks such objects pose to aviation. This sighting adds to growing reports of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). In New Jersey last year, drone-like objects with high-performance capabilities were spotted across the state. Local news footage even captured a mysterious orb flying over the Hudson River. The Pentagon has also acknowledged similar encounters. In 2023, radar footage showed a metallic orb moving through military-controlled airspace. Officials were unable to identify the object, fueling speculation about its origin. Dr. Chiao's experience highlights the mystery surrounding these sightings. "It's hard to believe the government doesn't know what's going on," he said. With increasing incidents of unexplained aerial activity, experts and the public are calling for transparency. Reports like Chiao's add urgency to understanding these phenomena and ensuring aviation safety. This incident underscores the growing need to investigate unidentified aerial objects, whether they are advanced technology or something unknown entirely. 4oNo. 22 Xavier unbeaten but looking for more effort vs. South Carolina

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Caleb McCullough was there for the dark times at Arizona State, when the losses piled up and the cloud of an NCAA investigation was hovering over the program. The senior linebacker opted to stick around, believing in coach Kenny Dillingham’s vision for a better future. It came sooner than anyone outside the program expected. “I’m doing whatever I can to win,” McCullough said. “I’m not really a stat player. This is my last year of college and my main goal is just to win.” The Sun Devils are doing just that, becoming one of college football’s biggest surprises along the way. Picked to finish last in its first Big 12 season, Arizona State (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) now controls its destiny for a spot in the conference title game. The 21st-ranked Sun Devils have already clinched their first bowl berth since 2021, the year they were last ranked in the AP Top 25 before this week. Arizona State has taken down two ranked teams this season, 27-19 over then-No. 16 Utah on Oct. 11 and 24-14 at then-No. 20 Kansas State last weekend. The Sun Devils will play their biggest home game in recent memory against No. 14 BYU on Saturday , the first home game between ranked teams in Tempe since 2014. Beat the Cougars and Arizona State can clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship on Dec. 7 in Arlington, Texas, with a win over rival Arizona in the regular-season finale. RELATED COVERAGE Coach Spencer Danielson says 12th-ranked Boise State must seize moment and respect 2-win Wyoming No. 12 Boise State heads to Wyoming hoping to maintain No. 4 seed in College Football Playoff No. 4 Penn State tries to keep playoff picture out of focus in prep for tough trip to Minnesota “It means a lot to these guys to come in here with that chip on their shoulder and do something that really nobody thought we could do,” Dillingham said. Arizona State faced adversity on and off the field when Dillingham arrived in 2023. After winning eight games in 2021, the Sun Devils went 3-9 the following year while under investigation by the NCAA, a combination that led to the firing of Herm Edwards during his fifth season here. Dillingham had success as Oregon’s offensive coordinator and brought the requisite enthusiasm of being a young — he was 32 at the time — first-time head coach returning to his alma mater. Despite rallying the community around the program, Dillingham fell into hard luck his first season in the desert. The Sun Devils were decimated by injuries, particularly at quarterback, and never recovered, finishing 3-9 for the second straight season. But Dillingham had the pieces in place. He proved to be adept at finding the right players through the transfer portal, landing former Sacramento State running back Cam Skattebo two years ago and former Michigan State quarterback Sam Leavitt prior to this season. The hard-running Skattebo has been one of the nation’s best running backs and Leavitt has been a perfect fit for Arizona State’s offense, making good decisions while extending plays with his legs. The portal success extends across Arizona State’s roster and Dillingham has sprinkled in solid recruiting classes while convincing key players to remain, a combination that’s meshed into a team that could crash the College Football Playoff if the pieces fall just right. “We were a three-win team twice,” Dillingham said. “We were under NCAA sanctions. Most head coaches, to be brutally honest, get fired if you take a job under sanctions. You don’t survive. You’re hired to be fired. That’s the nature of the beast and right now we’re sitting here at 8-2, and I couldn’t be prouder.” Dillingham’s vision for a better future, one the rest of the country didn’t see coming, is here and now. ___ AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football15,633 Shares in SM Energy (NYSE:SM) Bought by Quest Partners LLC

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Do you have a someone in your life who plays Vulture’s every morning? Or maybe they have the kitchen television turned to all day and make a point of organizing at work? Hate to break it to you: They might be a hard-to-please cinephile. But while you might not want to get into a winless debate over the or the with said person, they don’t have to be hard to buy gifts for. The Associated Press has gathered up out there to keep any movie lover stylish and informed. While dreams up his next film, fans can tide themselves over by revisiting his modern classic “Interstellar,” which will be back in on the weekend of Dec. 6, followed by the home release of a new collector’s edition on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray ($59.95). A third disc in the set, available Dec. 10, contains more than two hours of bonus content, like a never-before-seen storyboard sequence, and new interviews with Nolan, producer and famous fans Peter Jackson and . Elaine May does not give interviews anymore. But thankfully that didn’t deter writer Carrie Courogen, who did a remarkable job of one of our culture’s most fascinating, and prickly, talents. is full of delightful anecdotes about the sharp and satirical comedian who gained fame as one half of Nichols and May and went on to direct films like “The Heartbreak Kid” and “Mikey and Nicky.” Courogen writes about May’s successes, flops and her legendary scuffles with the Hollywood establishment. It’s a vital companion to Mark Harris’ . Macmillan. $30. The has an exclusive new “Matrix” sweatshirt for sale in conjunction with its Cyberpunk exhibition. Brain Dead Studios designed and created several items, including the ($140), a white rabbit tee ($54) and a pint glass ($18). If you can’t make it to Los Angeles to check out the “Color in Motion” exhibit for yourself, the Academy Museum also has a beautiful for sale ($55) charting the development of color technology in film and its impact. It includes photos from films like “The Red Shoes,” “Vertigo,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and images of rare prints from the silent era. The Academy Museum Store is having a sale (20% off everything) from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2. Related Articles Want to look like a real film festival warrior, the kind who sees five movies a day, files a review and still manages to make the late-night karaoke party? You’re going to need the . Simple, to-the-point and only for people in the know. $25. Film magazines may be an endangered species, but print is not dead at . Manhattan’s coolest movie theater is starting a biannual print publication “for cinephiles and cultural connoisseurs alike.” The first issue’s cover art is by cinematographer Ed Lachman (“Carol”), and contributors include the likes of Daniel Clowes, Ari Aster, Steve Martin and Simon Rex. There’s also a conversation with Clint Eastwood. It’s currently available for pre-order and will be in bookstores Dec. 10 for $25 ($15 for Metrograph members). This is not a book about filmmaking styles, camera angles and leadership choices. It’s literally about what directors wear. ($40) has over 200 archival photos of filmmakers in action: Spike Lee in his basketball caps, in her Charvet button-ups, Steven Spielberg’s denim on denim and many more. With a forward by the always elegant Joanna Hogg and writing from some of the top fashion journalists, it’s a beautiful look at how filmmakers really dress for work — and might even be a source of inspiration.'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques

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Image via Getty Daniel Jones parted with the New York Giants officially this last week. This season has been full of ups and downs both for Daniel and for the New York Giants; which prompted Jones to request his release from the team, which came through Friday and shocked everyone since this came as an abrupt decision in the middle of the season. After being released, Daniel Jones should clear waivers by Monday at 4 p.m. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction 2025: Who got whom IPL 2025 Auction: Updated Full Team Squads ET, thus making him a free agent. This way, any team interested in acquiring the veteran quarterback can speak with him and reach an agreement regarding his contract terms. Jones to Clear Waivers and Hit Free Agency Although the decision by the Giants to sack Jones is a heavy one, reliable sources suggest the wait for his new destination is not so long. Looking at his experience and potential, there's a good chance that other teams will rush to sign him on once he is finally officially available. Daniel Jones Expected to Join Playoff Contender After Waivers Waiver Procedure and Financial Expense Jones is being placed on waivers since should another team claim him off waivers, it would have to pay the remaining $11.83 million on his existing contract besides the $23 million injury guarantee for next season. Hence, the move to waive or even trade him was probably monetary: It was less expensive to let him go than it was to trade him. With the clearing of his waivers, Jones will directly be able to negotiate with teams without the cost burden for callers, which will make him an easier sell for a number of franchises that need a quarterback. Also Read - Sauce Gardner’s Social Media Slip-Up: A Leaked DM and a Public Apology What's Next for Daniel Jones? A bright future lies ahead of Daniel, who is finally released from the Giants. A couple of teams around the league seek quarterback solutions. And showing his upside in a new system and the ability to bounce back from an injury would bode well for Jones. Whether it's as a starter or an essential backup, this career is far from being over for Jones. His career as a free agent begins now and fans can expect to see him back on the field, doing what he does the best, in no time.‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained?

AIR FORCE 82, MERCYHURST 48By JESSICA DAMIANO Finding the perfect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, functional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget. A pepper grinder, really? Bear with me: The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110. To build a fire Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of Pull Start Fire on hand. Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99. The place for a ladle is on the pot The No Mess Utensil Set from Souper Cubes , a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99. Up your birdwatching with this feeder The FeatherSnap Wi-Fi smart bird feeder could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99. Printing old-fashioned photos via Bluetooth Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by-3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95. Houseplants don’t get much easier than this The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259. Making your own (plant-based) milk Related Articles Things To Do | US airports with worst weather delays during holiday season Things To Do | The right book can inspire the young readers in your life, from picture books to YA novels Things To Do | Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover, from bios and books to a status tote Things To Do | ‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained? Things To Do | Beer pairings for your holiday feasts If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The Nama M1 appliance both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400. The perfect temperature for 350,000-plus wines For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its specific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests food-wine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495. Casting light on the grill after dark Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its doneness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40.

No Texas fans punished for UGA bottle throwsKansas holds off Auburn for No. 1 in AP Top 25 as SEC grabs 3 of top 4 spots; UConn slides to No. 25 Kansas continues to hold the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. Auburn is pushing the Jayhawks in the latest poll after winning the Maui Invitational and checked in at No. 2. Two-time reigning national champion UConn nearly fell out entirely after an 0-3 week at Maui, falling from No. 2 to 25th. The Southeastern Conference had three of the top four teams with No. 3 Tennessee and No. 4 Kentucky behind the Tigers. The poll featured six new teams, headlined by No. 13 Oregon, No. 16 Memphis and No. 18 Pittsburgh. TCU, Duke climb into top 10, Notre Dame drops in women's AP Top 25; UCLA and UConn remain 1-2 TCU has its best ranking ever in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll after a convincing win over Notre Dame. The Horned Frogs jumped eight spots to No. 9, the first time the school has ever been in the top 10. The Fighting Irish, who were third last week, fell seven spots to 10th after losses to TCU and Utah. UCLA remained No. 1, followed by UConn, South Carolina, Texas and LSU. USC, Maryland and Duke are next. Houston's Al-Shaair apologizes for hit on Jacksonville's Lawrence that led to concussion HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair took to X to apologize to Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence after his violent blow to the quarterback’s facemask led to him being carted off the field with a concussion. Back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win on Sunday. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback. In the long post, Al-Shaair says "To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening.” How to sum up 2024? The Oxford University Press word of the year is 'brain rot' LONDON (AP) — Oxford University Press has named “brain rot” its word of the year. It's defined as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state,” especially from consuming too much low-grade online content. Oxford University Press said Monday that the phrase “gained new prominence in 2024,” with its frequency of use increasing 230% from the year before. It was chosen by a combination of public vote and language analysis by Oxford lexicographers. The five other word-of-the-year finalists were demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl said the choice of phrase “feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology.” Scientists gather to decode puzzle of the world's rarest whale in 'extraordinary' New Zealand study WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Scientists and culture experts in New Zealand have begun the first-ever dissection of a spade-toothed whale, the world's rarest whale species. The creature, which washed up dead on a beach on New Zealand's South Island in July, is only the seventh specimen ever found. None has ever been seen alive at sea. Almost nothing is known about it but scientists, working with Māori cultural experts, hope to answer some of the many lingering questions this week, including where they live, what they eat, how they produce sound and how this specimen died. Hong Kong launches panda sculpture tour as the city hopes the bear craze boosts tourism HONG KONG (AP) — Thousands of giant panda sculptures will greet residents and tourists starting on Saturday in Hong Kong, where enthusiasm for the bears has grown since two cubs were born in a local theme park. The 2,500 exhibits will be publicly displayed at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui, one of Hong Kong’s popular shopping districts, this weekend before setting their footprint at three other locations this month. The displays reflect Hong Kong’s use of pandas to boost its economy as the Chinese financial hub works to regain its position as one of Asia’s top tourism destinations. Violent hit on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence 'has no business being in our league,' coach says JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was carted off the field after taking a violent elbow to the facemask from Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. It prompted two sideline-clearing scuffles. Lawrence clenched both fists after the hit, movements consistent with what’s referred to as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury. Lawrence was on the ground for several minutes as teammates came to his defense and mobbed Al-Shaair. Lawrence eventually was helped to his feet and loaded into the front seat of a cart to be taken off the field. He was not transported to a hospital. He was quickly ruled out with a concussion, though. Al-Shaair and Jaguars rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones were ejected after the first altercation. Big Ten fines Michigan and Ohio State $100,000 each for postgame melee ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — The Big Ten Conference has announced it fined Michigan and Ohio State $100,000 each for violating the conference’s sportsmanship policy for the on-field melee at the end of the Wolverines’ win in Columbus .A fight broke out at midfield Saturday after the Wolverines’ 13-10 victory when Michigan players attempted to plant their flag on the OSU logo and were confronted by the Buckeyes. Police used pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves. One officer suffered a head injury when he was “knocked down and trampled while trying to separate players fighting." The officer was taken to a hospital and has since been released. Marshall Brickman, who co-wrote 'Annie Hall' with Woody Allen, dies at 85 NEW YORK (AP) — The Oscar-winning screenwriter Marshall Brickman, whose wide-ranging career spanned some of Woody Allen’s best films, the Broadway musical “Jersey Boys” and a number of Johnny Carson’s most beloved sketches, has died. He was 85. Brickman died Friday in Manhattan, his daughter Sophie Brickman told The New York Times. No cause of death was cited. Brickman was best known for his extensive collaboration with Allen, beginning with the 1973 film “Sleeper.” Together, they co-wrote “Annie Hall," “Manhattan” and “Manhattan Murder Mystery." The loosely structured script for “Annie Hall,” in particular, has been hailed as one of the wittiest comedies. It won Brickman and Allen an Oscar for best original screenplay. 'Moana 2' sails to a record $221 million opening as Hollywood celebrates a moviegoing feast NEW YORK (AP) — “Moana 2” brought in a tidal wave of moviegoers over the Thanksgiving Day weekend with $221 million in ticket sales. Studio estimates Sunday show that, combined with “Wicked” and “Gladiator II,” made for an unprecedented weekend in cinemas. “Moana 2" blew predictions out of the water, setting a record for Thanksgiving moviegoing. At the same time, the sensation of “Wicked” showed no signs of slowing down with $117.5 million over the five-day weekend. “Gladiator II” collected $44 million. For an industry that’s been battered in recent years by the pandemic, work stoppages and streaming, it was a triumphant weekend that showed the still-potent power of Hollywood’s blockbuster machine.

GOP, Dem lawmakers stunned after Biden breaks vow not to pardon son Hunter: ‘I believed him’

Good luck figuring out the Houston Texans right now. Sunday’s disheartening defeat to the Titans saw DeMeco Ryans’ side fall to 7-5 , but the loss was felt in more ways than one with cornerback Jalen Pitre suffering a pectoral injury. Pitre left the game midway through the first half and did not return, suffering what was initially believed to be a shoulder injury after spending a lengthy period in the blue medical tent. #Texans CB Jalen Pitre has been diagnosed with a pectoral injury. He will have an MRI tomorrow to determine the severity. Per @AaronWilson_NFL Jimmie Ward seems to be filling in at Nickel and just got a pick 6. pic.twitter.com/5A8cwbVq1R Reports surfaced after Houston’s 32-27 loss that the former second-round pick had suffered a pectoral injury, one that could turn out to be a complete tear, hence bringing an abrupt end to his season. An MRI on Monday will give us an official diagnosis, but after falling victim to some friendly fire on a tackle, Pitre’s absence could prove devastating for a Texans defense that has found it difficult to keep opponents off the scoreboard in the second half. Matt Burke’s defense has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after surrendering 19 unanswered second-half points three weeks ago against Detroit, and 12 against Tennessee on Sunday afternoon. Now in his third season, Pitre has developed into one of the league’s most reliable nickel corners, known for his hard-hitting style and elite tackling ability – a category he leads all Texans defenders in. With Pitre’s future status uncertain, Jimmie Ward figures to be the Texans’ answer at nickel moving forward.

Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover, from bios and books to a status tote

Brock Purdy and Nick Bosa are not available for the San Francisco 49ers when they enter Green Bay with designs on finding their finishing kick on Sunday afternoon. Purdy is out with a right shoulder injury and won't leave the sideline at Lambeau Field, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday, when he also declared Bosa out and confirmed journeyman Brandon Allen would make his 10th career start at quarterback. "Outside of here people haven't seen a lot of Brandon. But it's his second year (with the 49ers)," Shanahan said. "Obviously guys want Brock up, but guys are excited to see Brandon play." Shanahan said the 49ers are "a little surprised" Purdy experienced tightness and discomfort in his shoulder after an MRI exam on Monday that showed no long-term cause for concern. "The way it responded this week, it's really up in the air for next week," Shanahan said of Purdy's long-term prognosis. Allen's last NFL start on the road was with the Bengals at the Ravens in 2020. Allen completed 6 of 21 passes for 48 yards with two interceptions. He finished with a passer rating of 0.0 in a 38--3 loss. "It's definitely an opportunity for me to go out and play well and put our guys in a good position to win the game," Allen said Friday. "And obviously we want Brock back and healthy and all that, but for time being, it is an opportunity for me." Purdy took the practice field Thursday with the intent to participate. His shoulder tightened significantly, and the 49ers ushered him off the field to meet with trainers. Purdy beat the Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs at San Francisco in January, but Allen is familiar to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. LaFleur was an assistant coach with the Rams during Allen's two-year run in Los Angeles. Allen broke into the NFL in 2016 with the Jaguars and is 2-7 in nine career starts. He went 1-2 with the Broncos in 2019 and 1-5 in six starts over two years with the Bengals in 2020 and ‘21. A victory against the visiting 49ers on Sunday would bolster the Packers' playoff chances, send a conference rival below .500 and avenge a bitter playoff defeat. Those seemingly rank in no particular order for the Packers (8-3), although they don't shy from living at least partially in the past ahead of a Week 12 showdown. San Francisco eliminated Green Bay 24-21 in the NFC divisional playoffs last season, scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. "That's what you've got to sit with all offseason, is going back, watching the game, trying to see what you could have done better," Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. "What you could have done differently in that game. ... Just knowing that's the team that knocked us out, we're definitely hungry for this game." Ditto for San Francisco. The 49ers fell to 5-5 after last week's 20-17 home loss to Seattle, done in by Geno Smith's 13-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds to play. Still only a game behind NFC West-leading Arizona, the reigning conference champion 49ers are just 1-3 in division play and can ill afford to lose more ground. A visit to AFC East leader Buffalo awaits after the trip to Green Bay. While they're dealing with plenty of not-so-good news on the injury front, the 49ers do anticipate the return of other contributors. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who missed the past two games following the death of his 1-year-old daughter, practiced Wednesday. Tight end George Kittle also is eager to play after a nagging hamstring injury sidelined him against the Seahawks. "Very excited," Kittle said. "Can't pass up playing the Packers, so no, I will be out there for sure." Allen was a three-year starter at Arkansas but has been a journeyman backup since entering the NFL in 2016 as the 201st overall pick of the Jaguars. Shanahan and LaFleur have been fierce competitors since twice working together, first as low-level assistants with the Texans in 2008, then on the so-called "dream team" staff in Washington that also included Sean McVay, Mike McDaniel and Raheem Morris; and two seasons with the Falcons (2015, 2016) where LaFleur was quarterbacks coach and Shanahan called the plays. Shanahan scored the most recent win over LaFleur in January. Green Bay has won seven of the past eight regular-season meetings between the franchises. But the familiarity and shared-brain approach to offense that has the coaches completed each other's play calls has led to some tight games. The past three at Lambeau Field were all decided by three points. Green Bay, which hosts a home game on Thanksgiving next Thursday, is starting a run of three games in 12 days. They'll play back-to-back Thursday games. Their Week 14 game is at Detroit. That might make it good news for LaFleur that surprising contributors have emerged of late. Packers wideout Christian Watson had a career-best 150 receiving yards on only four catches during last week's 20-19 road win against the Chicago Bears. His diving 60-yard reception in the fourth quarter put the Packers in position for Love's go-ahead, 1-yard scoring run with 2:59 to play. Watson entered the game with eight catches for 83 yards over his previous three contests, but LaFleur assured Watson remains a "big part" of the attack. "He's a guy who's got every measurable known to man in terms of the size, the speed, and it's not like those were easy plays he was making," LaFleur said. "He was making tough, contested catches." San Francisco will aim to generate more pressure against Love than the Bears, who sacked him just once. The 49ers collected four sacks against the Seahawks, with Bosa and Leonard Floyd contributing 1.5 apiece. Recent regular-season history between the Packers and 49ers at Lambeau Field has favored Green Bay. The Packers have won seven of their past eight home games against the 49ers and are 22-11 versus San Francisco at home all-time. Green Bay leads the series 34-28-1. --Field Level Media

Gautam Adani, nephew Sagar Adani, and Senior Executive Vneet Jaain are clear of any bribery charges as per the US Department of Justice (DoJ), according to the latest filing with stock exchanges by a Group company – Adani Green Energy Ltd. (AGEL). In its filing, AGEL has cited news reports by various media houses on the bribery and corruption charges against Adani officials ‘Incorrect’. “Media articles which state that certain of our directors, namely Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain, have been charged with violation(s) of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment are incorrect,” said the statement filed by AGEL. “Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and, Vneet Jaain have not been charged with any violation of the FCPA in the counts set forth in the indictment of the US DoJ or civil complaint of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),” it added. In a legal indictment, count refers to individual charges against a defendant. The DoJ indictment, which has five counts, does not have any mention of and has excluded Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, or Vneet Jaain in Count One: ‘Conspiracy to violate the FCPA’; neither does it have mention of these three names in Count Five: ‘Conspiracy to obstruct justice’ (p. 41). Count One of the indictment, which refers to the corruption and bribery charges, only involves Ranjit Gupta, Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal, Deepak Malhotra, and Rupesh Agarwal of Azure Power and CDPQ (Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec – a Canadian institutional investor and Azure’s largest shareholder). No Adani official has been named by the DoJ under this. However, flawed understanding of the DoJ indictment by various media – foreign as well as Indian – has led to incorrect and reckless reporting of Adani Directors being charged with corruption and bribery under one or of all five counts by the US DoJ and SEC. Adani officials are only charged with Count Two: ‘Alleged securities fraud conspiracy’, Count Three: ‘Alleged wire fraud conspiracy’, and Count Four: ‘Alleged securities fraud.’ The DoJ indictment offers no evidence that bribes were paid by Adani Executives to Indian Government officials; the indictment and the complaint solely rest on claims that bribes were promised or discussed. “All of this is based on likelihoods and hearsay from former employees of Azure Power and CDPQ – places the US DoJ’s and US SEC’s action against Adani are on dangerously shaky ground – both morally and legally.” The ill-founded US action and reckless false reporting have led to significant repercussions for the Indian conglomerate, such as international project cancellations, financial market impact, and sudden examination from strategic partners, investors, and the public. Adani Group is India’s largest infrastructure player with sizeable operations in the global energy and logistics space. Over the past few years, the Indian conglomerate has been expanding its operations in international markets and directly competes with several US and Chinese entities in Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Israel, Australia, etc. Since the intimation of the US DoJ indictment, the Group has suffered a loss of nearly $ 55 billion in its market capitalisation across its 11 listed companies.

It's been nearly three weeks since Trump won the election in a LANDSLIDE taking both the Electoral College and the Popular Vote, not to mention every swing state PLUS a red Senate and a red House. This was truly a mandate for Trump against the crazy on the Left and if you've spent any time on social media like I have, you know they're not dealing with it very well, at all. Earlier today I wrote about MSNBC producer Kyle Griffin using the New York Post to somehow prove that Trump's win WASN'T that much of a landslide or a mandate because reasons. They just can't accept America very vocally and openly rejected not only Kamala Harris, but the Democrat agenda as a whole. So you know when they see THIS 'shock poll' the gnashing of teeth and thumping of chests will only get worse. SHOCK POLL: Trump approval surges to 59% (+18), an all-time high (CBS) pic.twitter.com/jlmfQeheXw Trump's approval rating is almost at 60%. That's YUGE. You love to see it, truly. And that is from @CBSNews which tells me it is much higher. Bingo. The MSM no longer controls the political narrative in America And they're not dealing with it very well, like at all. Trump's approval rating aligns with his landslide election performance. Landslide Mandate. Words our pals on the Left just can't accept. Which makes his LANDSLIDE and MANDATE all the better. =========================================================================== Related: Taylor Lorenz FLIPS OUT in Back and Forth When Nate Silver Dares Point Out She NEVER Lists an Age and LOL We'd PAY to See That! Geraldo Rivera BRAGS That He'd 'Square Off' with Dan Bongino if They Met and HOOBOY LAUGHS in Wingman: Joyce Alene Accidentally KNEE-CAPS Obama Making Smug Dig at Trump About His AG Pick Joe Rogan Explains What He'd Do If He Took Over for Rachel Maddow and It's BRUTALLY Hilarious (Spot-On!) MSNBC's Kyle Griffin Trying to Pretend Trump's Win Wasn't ACTUALLY a Big Deal Goes All SORTS of Wrong ===========================================================================‘Like That’: How Kendrick Lamar, Future and Metro Boomin’s Brutal Opening Salvo Against Drake Launched the Beef of the Year

GERMANTOWN, Tenn. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., or MAA (NYSE: MAA), today announced a full quarterly dividend of $1.0625 per outstanding share of its 8.50% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on December 31, 2024 , to shareholders of record on December 13, 2024 . About MAA MAA is a self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT) and member of the S&P 500. MAA owns or has ownership interest in apartment communities primarily throughout the Southeast, Southwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. focused on delivering strong, full-cycle investment performance. For further details, please refer to the "For Investors" page at www.maac.com or contact Investor Relations at investor.relations@maac.com . Forward-Looking Statements Certain matters in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended with respect to our expectations for future periods. Such statements include statements made about the payment of preferred dividends. The ability to meet the payment of preferred dividends in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements could differ materially from the projection due to a number of factors, including a downturn in general economic conditions or the capital markets, changes in interest rates and other items that are difficult to control such as increases in real estate taxes in many of our markets, as well as the other general risks inherent in the apartment and real estate businesses. Reference is hereby made to the filings of Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, reports on Form 8-K, and its annual report on Form 10-K, particularly including the risk factors contained in the latter filing. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maa-announces-regular-quarterly-preferred-dividend-302319993.html SOURCE MAA